Web Toolbar by Wibiya OTTAWA, ON, July 31, 2020 /CNW/ - The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, will virtually visit small businesses to highlight their resilience in pivoting their operations to reflect new realities, as well as how the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) and other emergency support measures are helping Canadian businesses restart and rebuild. Event: Minister Ng will virtually visit TALO Cafebar, Sweet Side of the Moon Bakery and Cafe, and Collette's Family Restaurant in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2020 Time: 11:30 a.m. ET (12:30 p.m. AT) Notes: Photo opportunity via video call Journalists who want to participate must confirm their attendance in writing to ryan.nearing@international.gc.ca by 8:00 a.m. ET (9:00 a.m. AT) on Tuesday, August 4. They will then receive the video call link. Media are asked to log on no later than 11:15 a.m. ET (12:15 p.m. AT). Event: Minister Ng will virtually visit Carroll's Bakery in Miramichi, New Brunswick Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2020 Time: 1:15 p.m. ET (2:15 p.m. AT) Notes: Photo opportunity via video call Journalists who want to participate must confirm their attendance in writing to ryan.nearing@international.gc.ca by 8:00 a.m. ET (9:00 a.m. AT) on Tuesday, August 4. They will then receive the video call link. Media are asked to log on no later than 1:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. AT). Follow us on Twitter: @CanadaTrade Like us on Facebook: Canada's International Trade Global Affairs Canada Follow @CanadaBusiness on social media for business-related news: Twitter, Facebook SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada For further information: Ryan Nearing, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, 343-551-0244, ryan.nearing@international.gc.ca; Media Relations Office, Global Affairs Canada, 343-203-7700, media@international.gc.ca; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, 343-291-1777, ic.mediarelations-mediasrelations.ic@canada.ca Last Sunday the Tribune-Herald reported on a mystery building bound for 2000 Exchange Parkway, where crews are placing infrastructure. Waco has issued a permit to BL Companies to place there a foundation. BL Companies has ties to Amazon-branded fulfillment centers elsewhere in the U.S., along with an array of other companies. Since the story ran, speculation on what may go there has appeared on the Tribune-Heralds Facebook page and in email messages. A handful of business people in a position to know such things have said privately and off the record that Amazon is the name behind the project. One said the distribution and fulfillment center would bring about a thousand jobs. The site in question covers 93 acres in Texas Central Park. The vacant land is controlled by the Waco Industrial Foundation, was annexed earlier this year by the city of Waco, and affords easy access to Interstate 35, Bagby Avenue, U.S. Highway 84, State Highway 6 and a Union Pacific rail line. Union members hand out masks to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus and lunches to workers at the Franco Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Monday, July 20, 2020, in Miami. Workers need a voice in their workplaces now more than ever, writes Jennifer Dorning, President of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO. Read more In July, Pennsylvanias COVID-19 cases doubled from the previous month, bringing the states total number of cases to more than 100,000. While almost half a million Pennsylvanians are still unemployed due to the coronavirus crisis, thousands of people have gone back to their physical workplaces after furloughs or remote work. One of these groups was the professionals of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, who were called back to the museums when they reopened to the public on June 29. On the same day, the museums more than 500 employees announced they were unionizing with the United Steelworkers to gain a greater say in their workplaces. The employees effort to unionize the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh began before the COVID-19 pandemic. But their managements response to the pandemic further emphasized the need for a union. In early March, a large number of staff were furloughed and work was redistributed without employee input, and when decisions were made around the museums recent reopenings, employees were again left out of the loop. READ MORE: Philadelphia set to be first U.S. city to protect workers against retaliation for calling out coronavirus conditions A key benefit of forming a union is the legally protected say employees have. Employers are legally required to negotiate with union employees on pay, benefits, and working conditions. During this pandemic, Ive heard from many professionals concerned about furloughs, layoffs, and having to choose between their safety and economic livelihood. I continue to encourage these and all professionals to talk to their coworkers about forming a union to gain a voice in workplace decisions, including those around the pandemic. Over six million professionals are already union members, including teachers, engineers, programmers, journalists, nonprofit staff, lawyers, nurses, and doctors. In these difficult times, union professionals have used their legally protected voice to push for flexible work-from-home policies free from intrusive employer surveillance, and allow for work-life balance by requiring employees to check company email or Slack only during core work hours. READ MORE: Construction unions have led the way on safe reopening during the pandemic | Opinion Union professionals have also helped shape workplace health and safety measures and collaborated with employers to avoid layoffs when dealing with the economic consequences of the pandemic. For example, professionals have negotiated with their employers for work-share agreements and salary cuts in lieu of layoffs, maintaining employee positions and health insurance while protecting the economic viability of their workplace. Of course, millions of people in essential jobs have been required to work during this pandemic. Professionals like doctors, nurses, and other health-care providers have struggled with a lack of medical-grade PPE and other causes of unsafe working conditions. It took corporations weeks before grocery clerks, pharmacists, and other retail workers who interact with the public on a daily basis were provided any type of face mask or shield. And even the federal government took weeks to provide airport security screeners and other workers protective equipment. Unions have used their power to advocate for stronger safety standards for essential workers, increased PPE production capacity, hazard pay, and an expanded safety net for the unemployed. ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters. Pre-pandemic, many professionals wanted to form unions. Now even more need unions to have a say in their workplace. I know that many professionals do not know where to start when it comes to forming a union. Here are two important first steps: First, talk with some of your coworkers and start identifying your shared priorities and reasons for wanting to organize a union. Second, reach out to a union at the national or local level to connect with an organizer who can walk you through every step of the process. Professionals who dont know which union to connect with can contact my staff at the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) for more information. Professionals felt squeezed long before the COVID-19 pandemic, but as it rages on, dealing with the lasting effects of the virus has become a top priority. If the economy is going to recover quickly, plans for reopening businesses in Pennsylvania and across the country need to listen to the recommendations of employees to protect everyones health. READ MORE: Essential workers running Phillys Greyhound station are fighting for stronger safety protections By organizing new unions, professionals can gain the power to sit across the table from their managers and negotiate for policies that are truly in employees best interests. Jennifer Dorning is president of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO, a coalition of 24 unions representing more than four million professional and technical union members. Around 10,000 people late on Saturday surrounded PM Benjamin Netanyahu's official residence in massive anti-government protests over charges of corruption and bribery against the incumbent regime in Israel, as the country's political crisis intensifies over the year. Thousands of protesters took part in anti-government protests outside the official residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening (local time). According to The Times of Israel, it is the biggest rally to be held in the capital since the recent start of anti-government protests. As per reports, some 10,000 people took part in protests at Prime Ministers residence. Around a thousand people demonstrated outside Netanyahus private home in the coastal town of Caesarea. Besides these, thousands protested against the premier at bridges and highway overpasses across the country. Also read: Nepal to send revised map to India, Google and international community by mid-August Also read: US house committee expresses deep concerns on arrest of HK activists Police arrested four people earlier in the day for accosting demonstrators at a pair of protests in the south and in Haifa arrested a man who threw a rocket at protesters, injuring a woman, reported Times of Israel. The Israel Police wont allow anyone to turn the protest into a display of violence against police officers, citizens or property. Violent riots, violating law and [public] order and vandalism will be dealt with firmly and enforced accordingly, police was quoted as saying in a statement. The prime minister is facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. The presence of his co-accused will also be required. Netanyahu has been probed within simultaneously several cases on corruption and bribery for a few years now, the reason why he had to abandon all ministerial posts but premiership amid Israel experiencing a lengthy political power crisis with three snap general elections in a year. Also read: US cracks the whip on Chinese Companies, imposes sanctions on companies in Xinjiang for rights violations Amos Ewa Obere SaharaReporters reports that bandits on Friday murdered the village head of Odu, Amos Ewa Obere, in Nasarawa Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. It was gathered that the bandits stormed the village in large numbers on motorcycles, armed with weapons and operated for hours. Some residents of the village were also said to have been injured during the attack. It was also learnt that the bandits rustled animals. A source lamented that security operatives were yet to arrive at the village as at 7:30am on Saturday. Bandits attacks and kidnappings have been on the rise in Northern Nigeria in recent times, leaving many deaths and displacement behind. Iranian parliaments budget committee has once again defended its decision to appoint a controversial operative as the head of its Supreme Court of Audit, despite the publication of numerous documents showing he faked his educational and other credentials. Mehrdad Bazrpash who is a former Basij militia leader, lawmaker and vice president in the government of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected with the support of the hardliner Paydari Front in an open session of parliament. Soon after the election some politicians, observers and opponents on social media began criticizing the move, arguing that Bazrpash has been involved in suspected corruption and has faked various documents related to his education and other matters. However, the head of the budget committee has written to parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf to say that after two more meetings to review the criticism the committee has decided that the appointment was correct, the semi-official ISNA news website reported August 2. The Speaker himself is accused of large-scale corruption and irregularities during his 12-year tenure as mayor of Tehran (2005-2017). Elias Naderan, a member of the budget committee, has also criticized the decision saying legal processes were not followed in Bazrpashs election. Another lawmaker has also tweeted the same criticism, saying the budget committee fell short of performing its duties. Bazrpash served as CEO of two of Iran's largest automakers SAIPA and Pars Khodro -- during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's presidency. There are allegations that he engaged in corruption at this time when the carmakers were losing money. For siblings Kubbra Sait and Danish Sait, Raksha Bandhan celebration werent the usual while growing up. Interestingly, their mother, Yasmin Sait made them tie rakhi to each other with a promise that theyll protect each other for life. I think that was very cute, says actor-host Kubbra as she narrates this fond memory. Danish an actor, digital influencer, host and comedian adds, Mom raised us to be watchful of each others back, while she has got mine and Ive got hers and this would remain like this forever. We were raised as equals, as two human beings and never had that boy or girl sort of a thing. While they might not be tying rakhis to each other now, but as Danish puts it, Were with each other in spirits... the days and occasion doesnt matter. What we loved doing as kids might have changed, but every time were together during Raksha Bandhan, we hang out with each other over good food, sit on the couch and enjoy TV and talk about all things random. This year, owing to the lockdown, the siblings wont be together on this special day. While Danish is in Bengaluru, Kubbra is stationed in Mumbai. In fact, theyve missed celebrating their birthdays together as well. Kubbra says that for them, its more of the bond they share that they celebrate rather than the festival in the traditional sense. Celebrating such occasions makes you happy, brings back memories, but when you grow up, life takes you in different directions. What matters the most is being there for each other throughout the year and not just for one day when he needs to be reminded to protect me or that Im reminded Ive a brother to take care of me, she adds. Talking about this special day, shes also reminded of that one time in their life when she probably wasnt the best sister. It was one of those times when one gets consumed with work and start taking certain relationships for granted. I knew that hell call me when he needs and Id do the same. And then one day, Dan actually told me, You dont do enough for me. Sometimes you need to hear that to understand how youve behaved and what impact it had on someones life. I realised that when he told me things like, You havent spoken to me enough, you dont check on me enough, when was the last time you called and asked me if I was ok?, shares Kubbra, adding that this conversation happened about five years ago. Calling it a wake-up call, she admits that it changed the course of their relationship. I decided to do something every day. Staying apart, we might not be able to meet up much but we do have communication today which is electronics and we try to make the most of it, whether just a random talk, or what our cats have done, to whats the best thing happened to us and what broke us, she ends. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Dublin, July 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Intraoperative Radiation Therapy Market - Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2020 - 2025)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) is an intensive radiation treatment that's administered during surgery. IORT allows direct radiation to the target area while sparing normal surrounding tissue. IORT is used to treat cancers that are difficult to remove during surgery and when there is a concern that microscopic amounts of cancer may remain. The rising incidence of cancer, technological advancements, and advantages offered by IORT over conventional radiotherapy are the major factors driving the growth of the global market. Additionally, growing clinical trials exploring the use of IORT for various cancer applications is expected to offer lucrative growth opportunities to market players. However, lack of skilled personnel to operate the equipment and preference for conventional radiotherapy over IORT are hindering the growth of the market. Key Market Trends Electron IORT is Expected to Cover a Large Share of the Market Electron Intraoperative radiation therapy or Intraoperative electron radiation therapy (IOERT) is the application of electron radiation directly to the residual tumor or tumor bed during cancer surgery. Electron beams are useful for intraoperative radiation treatment because, depending on the electron energy, the dose falls off rapidly behind the target site, therefore sparing underlying healthy tissue. One advantage of IOERT is that it can be given at the time of surgery when microscopic residual tumor cells are most vulnerable to destruction. IOERT is also often used in combination with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) because it results in less integral doses and shorter treatment times. Moreover, Cancer Research UK suggests that the population suffering from cancer is expected to increase in the future. As per the report, if recent trends in incidence of major cancers and population growth are consistent, it is predicted there will be 27.5 million new cancer cases worldwide each year by 2040. This is an increase of 61.7% from 2018 (17 million). Hence, with the increasing prevalence of cancer globally, the demand for novel therapies like IOERT, with advantages over conventional methods is expected to increase, if the awareness regarding these techniques increases. North America is Expected to Dominate the Market Prevalence of cancer in the United States (US) is one of the highest in the world. As per a 2018 report by the World Cancer Research Fund International, the prevalence of cancer in the US is 352.2 per 100,000. As per the same report, Canada also has a high prevalence of cancer with 334 per 100,000 Canadians suffering from the dreadful disease. This high prevalence of cancer has increased the economic burden of cancer of the population of this region. However, the United States (US) and Canada have a developed and well-structured health care system. These systems also encourage research and development. These policies encourage global players to enter the US and Canada. As a result, these countries enjoy the presence of many global market players. Hence, as high demand is met by the presence of global players in the region, the market is further expected to increase. Key Topics Covered: 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Study Deliverables 1.2 Study Assumptions 1.3 Scope of the Study 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 MARKET DYNAMICS 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Market Drivers 4.2.1 Growing Global Prevalence of Cancer 4.2.2 Advancements in Cancer Therapy Technologies 4.2.3 Advantages of IORT over External beam radiotherapy 4.3 Market Restraints 4.3.1 Limitations of IORT and Shortage of Trained Personnel 4.3.2 Preference for Conventional Radiotherapy Over Intraoperative Radiation Therapy 4.4 Porter's Five Force Analysis 4.4.1 Threat of New Entrants 4.4.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers/Consumers 4.4.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 4.4.4 Threat of Substitute Products 4.4.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry 5 MARKET SEGMENTATION 5.1 By Method 5.1.1 Electron IORT 5.1.2 Intraoperative Brachytherapy 5.2 By Product & Service 5.2.1 Products 5.2.1.1 Systems/Accelerators 5.2.1.2 Applicators & Afterloaders 5.2.1.3 Treatment Planning Systems 5.2.1.4 Accessories 5.2.2 Services 5.3 By Application 5.3.1 Breast Cancer 5.3.2 Brain Tumor 5.3.3 Gastrointestinal Cancer 5.3.4 Head & Neck Cancer 5.3.5 Other Cancers 5.4 Geography 5.4.1 North America 5.4.1.1 United States 5.4.1.2 Canada 5.4.1.3 Mexico 5.4.2 Europe 5.4.2.1 Germany 5.4.2.2 United Kingdom 5.4.2.3 France 5.4.2.4 Italy 5.4.2.5 Spain 5.4.2.6 Rest of Europe 5.4.3 Asia Pacific 5.4.3.1 China 5.4.3.2 Japan 5.4.3.3 India 5.4.3.4 Australia 5.4.3.5 South Korea 5.4.3.6 Rest of Asia-Pacific 5.4.4 Middle East and Africa 5.4.4.1 GCC 5.4.4.2 South Africa 5.4.4.3 Rest of Middle East and Africa 5.4.5 South America 5.4.5.1 Brazil 5.4.5.2 Argentina 5.4.5.3 Rest of South America 6 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 6.1 Company Profiles 6.1.1 Ariane Medical Systems, Ltd. 6.1.2 Eckert & Ziegler 6.1.3 Elekta AB 6.1.4 GMV Innovating Solutions 6.1.5 ICAD, Inc. 6.1.6 Intraop Medical Corporation 6.1.7 Sensus Healthcare, Inc. 6.1.8 Sordina IORT Technologies 6.1.9 Varian Medical Systems, Inc. 6.1.10 Carl Zeiss Meditec AG 7 MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ppm67n Story continues Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Karimnagar: Police have arrested seven members of a currency exchange gang and seized Rs 8.20 lakh in valid notes from them, a senior official said on Monday. The gang was allegedly involved in exchanging banned notes on commission basis for valid currencies in Peddapalli district, he said. Acting on a tip-off about the gang, a Police Sub-Inspector, G Vijender, was sent as a decoy customer looking to exchange old notes worth Rs 11.50 lakh for new ones to one of its members, Poorna Chandra Sekhar, said K Vijayender Reddy, Deputy Commissioner of Police at a press meet in Peddapalli. Sekhar promised Vijender to give valid notes of Rs 8.20 lakh in exchange of banned currencies of Rs 11.50 lakh and asked him come to Peddapalli railway station to complete the deal, he said. The moment Sekhar and six of his gang members reached the spot, they were apprehended last evening, Reddy said, adding the police seized Rs 8.20 lakh in valid notes and some mobile phones from them. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Doing a load of laundry during a pandemic requires detergent, a few dollars and a sign-in in downtown Winnipeg. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/8/2020 (534 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Doing a load of laundry during a pandemic requires detergent, a few dollars and a sign-in in downtown Winnipeg. Upon arrival, new patrons at Spin City Laundry Centre on Edmonton Street are required to fill out their full name and contact information into the businesss binder. Each visit requires a time-stamp. "We need to know who is coming and who is coming out because the government can help (if COVID-19 is detected)," manager Alfa Chang said Saturday. The downtown laundromat started taking names in March to get ahead of contact tracing, should it ever be required. If a positive COVID-19 case is ever found to be linked to the business, staff would be able to flip through customer names and dates to determine who might have been in contact with a positive case so patrons can be notified. As public health experts continue to tout contact tracing as an important way to contain the virus, a growing number of local entrepreneurs are taking similar proactive measures. Also in the citys core, at Earls on Main Street, diners are asked for their first and last names, which are recorded by the restaurant for potential tracing in the future. Manitobas contact tracing teams have been expanded in recent months to meet the increased demand for detective tracking work. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Once a COVID-19 case is identified, public health officials first call the individual, inform them they have tested positive and advise them to self-isolate. At the same time, they inquire about close contacts including the people they live with and the health-care workers who have taken care of them. Each of those individuals is then contacted, asked to monitor their symptoms and stay at home for two weeks. Officials are expected to check in on them to see if they experience symptoms and if they do, refer them to a testing site. On Saturday, two new COVID-19 cases were identified in the province, making Manitobas total positive case count 417. The province no longer updates its website with specific details during the weekend; further information is expected to be made public on Tuesday. As of Friday, six people are in the hospital five of whom are in intensive care. The death toll remains at eight. maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @macintoshmaggie Nepal's embattled Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli and the ruling party's executive chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal "Prachanda' have agreed to hold another round of talks on Monday as nearly three-hour long meeting on Sunday failed to resolve their differences, a media report said. "Talks are positive between the two leaders. There was discussion whether to summon the party's Secretariat, Standing Committee or the Central Committee meeting. The meeting also dwelled on holding the party's unity general convention," the Prime Minister's Press Adviser Surya Thapa was quoted as saying by My Republica. "The two leaders are yet to reach any consensus," Thapa said. The meeting between the two top leaders of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP) came six days after Prime Minister Oli postponed the party's Standing Committee meeting on July 28. The Standing Committee meeting has fallen uncertain as differences between the two top leaders continue to exist, the paper said. During Sunday's meeting, the prime minister was accompanied by his close confidante Subash Nembang, who has been working as a mediator to resolve the differences between Oli and Prachanda. Prachanda was accompanied by senior leader Jhala Nath Khanal. The two leaders are scheduled to hold talks again on Monday to find a way out to the current stand-off, the paper said, citing sources. Quoting party insiders, it said the two leaders have held discussions as per the proposal put forth earlier by the party's Vice Chairman Bam Dev Gautam. Oli and Prachanda have held at least nine meetings in recent weeks to sort out the differences between them. But, as the Prime Minister did not accept the condition of a one-man-one-post, the talks failed. Oli has refused to give up his post as prime minister as well as a co-chairman of the NCP. "Although there was no agreement, the meeting broke the silence between the two leaders that existed almost for a week. We are hopeful that some solution could be found in the next meeting," said a leader close to Prachanda. Gautam had proposed that Oli be allowed to stay as prime minister for the remaining term of the House of Representatives (HoR), that is, two-and-a-half years, and chairman of the party until the unity general convention that Oli has proposed to hold by mid-December. Similarly, Prachanda should be given the responsibility as the party's Chairman with all executive powers until the unity general convention of the NCP is held. Gautam also proposed that Oli be allowed to run the government independently even though the Chairman will have all executive powers. He, however, proposed holding consultation in the party before taking any decisions on issues of national and international importance. A bitter internal feud has been brewing in the ruling NCP since the last few weeks after top party leaders, including Prachanda, demanded Oli's resignation, saying his recent anti-India remarks were "neither politically correct nor diplomatically appropriate." They are also against Oli's autocratic style of functioning. The differences grew further after Oli said that some of the ruling party leaders are aligning with the southern neighbour to remove him from power after his government issued a new political map incorporating three Indian territories of Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura. Indonesia's famous holiday island, Bali, has officially re-opened to domestic tourists. Five months after Indonesia belatedly confirmed its first coronavirus case on March 2, 3360 people have been infected in Bali and 48 people have died, with 47 new cases reported on Friday. A trickle of visitors leaves little business at a quiet Bali mall. Credit:Amilia Rosa The island had initially reported low case numbers but in recent weeks infections have risen. With the tourism sector smashed by the pandemic - occupancy rates in hotels have dropped to an average of one to two per cent - the island has thrown open its doors for locals to return. The Deputy Communications Director of NPP, Mame Yaa Aboagye has toured constituencies in the Upper West, Upper East and North East Regions to monitor the ongoing voter registration exercise. Mame Yaa Aboagye, who was part of a team led by the NPP General Secretary John Boadu, supervised the exercise in the Wa Central constituency. Some of the places the team visited include Methodist JHS, Gaamuni, St. Pauls Primary 1 & 2, Gamuni, Gamuni Annex, Guli Primary School, Kperisi Primary 1 & 2 registration centres. The team registered their satisfaction with the registration exercise and registrants adherence to the COVID-19 protocols. Mame Yaa also distributed hand sanitizers, nose masks and other items to the electoral officers and constituents. She further encouraged all eligible Ghanaians to participate in the registration exercise. Present during the tour were a combined team of government and party officials which included the Regional Minister Dr. Hafiz Bin Salih, Regional Chairman of the NPP SB Kangberiye, 2nd Vice Chairman Cletus, Regional Secretary Isaac Halitu, among others. North East is the Location Go out and Register Continuity Maintain Retain Elephant all the way Posted by Mame Yaa Akyaamah on Friday, July 31, 2020 Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A Norwegian cruise ship sailed around with hundreds of passengers on two trips before docking, disembarking the tourists and learning 36 of its crew members had the coronavirus. The liner company, Hurtigruten, said it only learned of the contagion outbreak among its workers Friday two weeks after the ships recent first trip and a week after the second. Now, 209 guests from the first voyage [July 17] and 178 guests from the July 24 departure will self-quarantine in line with Norwegian health authority regulations, Hurtigruten said in a statement Saturday. The company said four of the 158 crew members aboard its MS Roald Amundsen were isolated several days ago because of other disease symptoms, showing no symptoms of COVID-19. Then they were routinely tested, found to have the coronavirus and admitted to a hospital in Tromso, Norway, on Friday morning. The other 32 workers who have since returned positive tests have not shown any signs of disease or symptoms of COVID-19, the liner said. The ship had been set to sail again, for the Svalbard archipelago in Norway, on Friday afternoon, but that trip was cancelled, the company said. Cruise ships became so synonymous with coronavirus outbreaks at the start of the pandemic this past spring that one major line Royal Caribbean dropped Cruises from its name last week. The industry has said it is flailing over continuing fears about catching the contagion aboard the ships. We work closely with the Norwegian national and local health authorities for follow-up, information, further testing, and infection tracking. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. By Express News Service The camaraderie between Bollywood star Emraan Hashmi and author and investigative journalist Hussain Zaidi was apparent in the latest edition of Indulge Time Pass, a series of webinars organised by The New Indian Express group. Titled The Mafia Story, the session, hosted by senior journalist Kaveree Bamzai, touched upon their collaborations, the underworld and much more. Emraan took a trip down nostalgia lane by reminiscing about Hussain pushing him to write his autobiographical book, Kiss of Life (2016), which was about his son's battle with cancer. Hussain said, "I realised this man had a sensitive heart and has gone through trauma. I thought to make him tell his story, something he was reluctant about. I thought it would help many parents going through similar experiences. I was surprised by how the final chapter turned out, the one where Ayaan (Emraan's son) participates in a race. I thought it was wonderful." When asked about the authenticity of Emraan Hashmi's iconic movie, Once Upon Time In Mumbai (2010), inspired by the stories of underworld dons Haji Mastan and Dawood Ibrahim, the author of many bestsellers on the underworld, said, "It was a heavily romanticised version of the events but I told Emraan that his portrayal of a gangster is by far the best. It is not easy for someone, who is known to be a romantic hero, to pull off this role." Emraan remembered that many advised him against taking up the role. "But I got a sense of what Milan (Luthira) and Rajat Arora were trying to do with the film. It also changed my image, as intimacy and I were strange bed fellows till that point." Talking about the seeming fascination Bollywood and the underworld have for each other, Hussain said, "There are several reasons. Initially, Dawood and the underworld were funding Bollywood movies and that made the industry besotted with them. Also, whenever the stars went to Dubai for shows and events, they met Dawood for the parties. Over the years, they became an integral and inseparable part of each other." The conversation touched upon the glorification of gangsters in movies and Hussain noted it has not changed till date. "I still see gangsters being romanticised. They always give a reason for why he turns into a criminal, there is justification." Emraan suggested that this could be the case because the filmmakers try to play to the gallery. "There is a tried-and-tested blueprint and there is safety in that. You notice a certain kind of film work and one doesn't want to tinker with it." The actor wrapped up the conversation by talking about what has kept him going in the film industry for as long. "It was an accident that I became an actor. Just being on the sets... just doing films and acting... That keeps me going," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 21:41:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JAKARTA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- More than 72 doctors in Indonesia have died of the COVID-19, local media quoted the Indonesian Medical Association as reporting on Sunday. "According to the information received by the association, at least 72 doctors have died of the COVID-19 or been COVID-19 patients under surveillance," the association's spokesman Halik Malik said on Saturday. The association reminded that the virus outbreak remained highly threatening and uncontrollable in the country. "The government should put priority on restoring the public health," the spokesman said, adding that testing, tracing, isolating and treatment should also be maximized. The transmission of the COVID-19 remains afloat as of late in Indonesia with daily confirmed cases reaching over 1,500. On Sunday, the Health Ministry reported 1,519 additional confirmed cases, bringing the total to 111,455, with 5,236 people dead and 68,975 others recovering. Enditem Its a way of thwarting speech, and its a way of thwarting activism. But worker advocates say the new guidance will have the opposite effect, making it easier for companies to punish those who criticize or organize against bigotry at work just as the pandemic and killing of George Floyd have spurred a new wave of employee activism. Employees who are fighting back against racism will be fired if an employer thinks a word is not genteel enough, said American Federation of Teachers union president Randi Weingarten. Its a way of thwarting speech, and its a way of thwarting activism. Mark Gaston Pearce, who served as NLRB chair under President Obama, said the employers ability to establish a defense will be a hundred times easier. Under his leadership, the board ruled that a company should reinstate a worker who was terminated for derisive comments about fried chicken and watermelon while picketing during a lockout. Business advocates disagree and appreciate the new rulings clarity. Federal labor law shouldnt protect racist or abusive language or conduct, said Amber Rogers, a partner at the law firm Hunton Andrews Kurth who represents employers. Facebook has been eager to fight misinformation on its platform, but its concerned Brazil might have taken things a step too far. BBC News reports that Facebook has blocked the accounts of a dozen allies of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro after the countrys Supreme Court ordered them blocked worldwide in May. The group, which includes business mogul Luciano Hang and political party leader Roberto Jefferson, was accused of spreading fake news about judges. The social network also paid a fine of 1.92 million reais (about $368,000) for initially refusing to obey the order, and faced additional penalties of 100,000 reais (slightly over $19,000) per day. In a statement, it said it objected as the order hurt free expression and conflicted with laws and jurisdictions worldwide. Facebook only gave in after an employee in Brazil faced the threat of criminal liability, according to the statement. Facebook is appealing the decision with the Supreme Court. Twitter had also been ordered to block 16 accounts, although its not certain if that company also faced a fine. This is far from the only run-in between Facebook and Brazil. The country has temporarily shut down WhatsApp in the past for not blocking or turning over messages. The newest case is unusual, however Facebook was asked to block major personalities, something it does only rarely and usually for promoting hate speech and violence. The appeal outcome could help dictate Brazils influence on Facebook going forward, even for users outside of the country. Aftab Shivdasani and his wife Nin Dusanj have been blessed with their first child, a baby girl. The actor took to his Instagram page to share the happy news. He also posted a picture of the little one. In his post, Aftab wrote, A little bit of Heaven has been sent to Earth.. With Gods blessings, @nin_dusanj and I are elated to announce the birth of our daughter.. we are proud parents and a family of three now. The picture featured Aftab and Nins hands forming a heart shape, with their daughters feet forming the centre of the heart. The babys face was not visible in the photo. Congratulatory messages poured in from fans and well-wishers. Congratulations to you and @nin_dusanj. Loads of love to the little bundle of joy!, one Instagram user wrote. Ohh my god! This is a great news!!! Hearty congratulations Mr & Mrs Shivdasani for this new and cute addition to your family! Stay blessed you 3! May god shower love and blessings in abundance! @aftabshivdasani @nin_dusanj, another wrote. Recently, in an interview with Hindustan Times, Aftab weighed in on the nepotism and insider-outsider debate in Bollywood and said that the audiences love is what matters the most. My greatest achievement has been peoples love and appreciation for me right from my launch film, Mast (1999). I was accepted by the public, he said. Also read | Ankita Lokhande on why she didnt go to Sushant Singh Rajputs funeral: I knew if I see him like that, I will never be able to forget You can be from the best film family, you can be from a legacy but if you dont have acceptance from the audience, nothing can help you. Theyre the only people that can make or break you. Thats what has kept me going, he added. Aftab worked as a child artiste on many popular films such as Mr India, Shahenshah and ChaalBaaz before making his debut in a leading role with Mast in 1999. He has starred in films such as Kasoor, Awara Paagal Deewana, Masti, Hungama and 1920: The Evil Returns. . Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LAGOS (Reuters) - Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos will allow churches and mosques to resume in-person services from August 7, the state's governor said in a press briefing on Saturday. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also said restaurants, social clubs and recreational centres will be allowed to reopen with limited capacity from August 14 as the state, the epicentre of Nigeria's coronavirus outbreak, eases restrictions despite a continued rise in infections. Lagos state, home to the megacity of the same name with 20 million people, has more than 15,000 confirmed cases and 192 deaths, by far the largest share of Nigeria's 43,151 cases. It ordered widespread closures and a lockdown in March to halt the spread of the highly infectious virus. The lockdown was eased in early May, but Sanwo-Olu scuppered plans to reopen churches and mosques in June, citing a continued rise in cases. Christianity and Islam are widely practised in Lagos and the rest of Nigeria, and houses of worship in normal times often host services with thousands of people. Houses of worship will only be allowed to open for services once a week at no more than 50% capacity. Sanwu-Olu also increased the limit on public gatherings from 20 to 50 people. Nightclubs, cinemas and some arcades will remain closed. (Reporting By Libby George and Nneka Chile; Editing by Jan Harvey) Gabe Okoye A Nigerian, Mr Gabe Okoye, is on the ballot in a forthcoming Democratic Partys senatorial primary runoff election in the U.S. Okoye, who hails from Enugwu-Aguleri, in Anambra, is seeking the main opposition partys ticket for the Nov. 3 general election into the Georgia State Senate to represent District 9. Okoye, who is a chieftain of the party in the state, faces a black female challenger, Nikki Merritt, in the second round scheduled for Aug. 11. They both advanced to the runoff stage after defeating a third aspirant, Cheryle Moses, in the first round of the primary held on June 9. The winner will face the incumbent, Sen. Peter Martin, a Republican, who has been representing the district since 2015 and is seeking a fourth term. Okoye is currently a Planning Commissioner in Gwinnett County, the second-most populous local government in Georgia, and is the first black man to serve as a commissioner in the countys 202-year history. The civil engineer and founder of Georgia-based construction firm, Essex Geoscience, also currently serves on the Executive Committee Board of the Gwinnett and state chapters of the Democratic Party. Among other goals, Okoye is seeking to capture the District 9 seat from the Republican Party, which has held it for over 30 years, with nothing to show for it. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was also aspiring to give the black community in Gwinnet County, his base, a strong voice at the state level. In these regards, the senatorial hopeful carved a niche for himself while serving as the Democratic Party chairman in the local government between 2016 and 2018. As of the time he emerged the party chairman in 2016, Gwinnett was a Republican stronghold, with only five of the 25 elected officials in the county being Democrats. However, the tide turned when Okoye led the party into the 2018 mid-term elections and recorded historic wins. They captured 13 elected offices, including the majority of Gwinnett seats in the Georgia state legislature, from the Republicans, who currently hold only seven positions. The Democratic Party swept the two county commission seats that were up for election and also took one of the two School Board seats contested for. Also, the party reclaimed the office of the Solicitor General of the county after decades in the hands of the Republicans. Under my leadership of the party, we elected the first black commissioner, first black school board member, and also the first black Solicitor-General of the county in its 200-year history as of 2018. The Democratic Party also produced the first black state judge from this county under my watch, Okoye told NAN. In recognition of these historic achievements in Gwinnett, the Georgia House of Representatives in Resolution 313 of 2019, designated Nov. 6 of that year as Gabe Okoye Leadership Day. The resolution partly read: Gwinnett County is the most diverse and the second largest county in the State of Georgia, but this diversity was not reflected in the countys leadership. Gabe Okoye exhibited great leadership in mobilising and educating the various 9communities of Gwinnett County on the fundamental right to vote. He worked hard to help make the leadership of the county more inclusive, and the result of his hard work was made manifest during the general election on Nov. 6, 2018. Therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives that the members of this body commend Gabe Okoye and recognise Nov. 6, 2019, as Gabe Okoye Leadership Day in Gwinnett County. Okoye moved to the U.S. in 1981, and has been residing in Lawrenceville, a suburb of Atlanta and headquarters of Gwinnett County, since 1992. On arrival in the U.S., he started life as a security guard, worked his way through college to become a licensed civil engineer, and later became an established Essex Geoscientist. Married and blessed with four grown and successful children, Okoye believes he has realised his American dream, and is fighting for others to realise theirs. Therefore, I will give a fearless, strong voice to the silent majority in our district and our county in general, he said on his campaign website. A former Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Americas (NIDOA), Okoye told NAN that another of his main objectives was to bring the Nigerian community into the mainstream of U.S. politics. Okoye, who represented Nigerians in the Diaspora at the 2014 National Conference in Abuja, decried the absence of his fellow countrymen in the U.S. political and civic space, in spite of their enormous contributions to the countrys development. What we Nigerians do here is to attend our various ethnic meetings and then go home. Our people dont mix with the main stream of this country, and I think it is wrong. I also think that we are not leading our children the right way. We should clear the way for them into the American politics. We dont hear our names in the political lexicon of this area. I want to encourage our children to go into politics, he told NAN Two of four new Covid-19 cases linked to Da Nang People of Ly Son District in Quang Ngai Province inform authorities of their travel and medical history. Photo by VnExpress/Thach Thao. Vietnam confirmed four more Covid-19 cases Sunday morning, taking the national total to 590 and active cases to 214. Two of the new cases are linked to the nations current Covid-19 hotspot Da Nang - a man from HCMC and another from the central province of Quang Ngai. The other two are Vietnamese citizens repatriated from Russia and quarantined upon arrival, the Health Ministry said. "Patient 587" and "Patient 588" were quarantined on arrival July 17 on landing at the Van Dong Airport in Quang Ninh Province. They tested positive for the novel coronavirus Saturday and are being treated at the Hoa Binh General Hospital in the eponymous province. Twenty-one others on the same flight had previously been confirmed infected as well. "Patient 589" is a 42-year-old man from HCMC whod traveled to Da Nang as a tourist. He's being treated at the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases. As of Sunday, over 26,600 people returning to HCMC from Da Nang have informed themselves to authorities. "Patient 590" is a 40-year-old man in Quang Ngai who had close contact with another Covid-19 patient at the Da Nang Hospital, where dozens of Covid-19 cases have been recorded over the past week. He tested positive Saturday and is being treated at a medical facility in Quang Ngai. Vietnam has recorded 44 new cases in the last 24 hours. Since the disease resurfaced among the community Saturday last week, Da Nang has recorded 104 cases, becoming the pandemics latest epicenter in Vietnam. Quang Nam has reported 26 cases, HCMC eight, Hanoi and Quang Ngai, two each, and Thai Binh and Dak Lak one each, all linked to Da Nang. Of the total 590 cases, 373 have recovered and three have died. Over 94,000 are in quarantine. The pandemic has killed over 687,600 globally. A woman has her sample taken for Covid-19 test in Da Nang, August 1, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Le Bao. A centenarian woman is among 30 new Covid-19 cases in six localities confirmed Sunday evening, taking Vietnam's tally to 620 and active cases to 242. Among the new cases, numbered 591 to 620, 16 are in Da Nang, nine in the neighboring Quang Nam Province, two in the Central Highlands' Dak Lak Province, and one each in the southern province of Dong Nai, the south-central Khanh Hoa and northern Ha Nam. The case in Khanh Hoa, number 603, is a 21-year-old male student repatriated from the U.S. on July 30 and quarantined upon arrival. "Patient 591" is a 63-year-old woman in Quang Nam's Duy Xuyen District. She had close contact with another Covid-19 patient in Da Nang on July 19 and 20. "Patient 592" is a 100-year-old woman, also from Duy Xuyen. She was admitted to the Binh An Hospital in the central province on July 22, and treated in the same department as another Covid-19 patient. "Patient 593" is a 75-year-old man in Quang Nam's Hoi An. He went to the Da Nang Hospital last month to see his wife who was being treated there. "Patient 594" is a 68-year-old woman, also from Hoi An, who visited her daughter at the Da Nang Hospital on July 14 and 20. "Patient 595" is a 50-year-old woman from Dong Nai who visited the Da Nang Hospital on July 19 to see her father, and made contact with a Covid-19 patient who was also taking care of her father there. "Patient 596" is a 23-year-old woman from Quang Nam's Thang Binh District. She is an employee of a private clinic who went to the Hospital C of Da Nang on July 14-17 and July 19 to take care of a patient, later diagnosed with Covid-19. "Patient 597" is a 39-year-old man, also from Thang Binh, who has had both parents diagnosed with Covid-19. "Patient 598" is an 8-year-old daughter of "Patient 597." "Patient 599," a 9-year-old girl and "Patient 600," a 7-year-old girl are daughters of a Covid-19 patient who is the sister of "Patient 597." "Patient 601" is a 41-year-old woman and "Patient 602" her 14-year-old nephew, both living in Dak Lak. They went to Da Nang last month and attended a wedding attended by the Da Nang man who was confirmed Saturday last week as Vietnam's first case of community transmission in 100 days. The patients numbered 604 to 619 were recorded at several hospitals and medical centers in Da Nang. "Patient 620" is a 44-year-old woman from Ha Nam who worked in an eatery near the Da Nang Hospital from July 17 to 25. Since the disease resurfaced among the community last week, Da Nang has recorded 120 cases, becoming the pandemics latest epicenter in Vietnam. Quang Nam has reported 35 cases, HCMC eight, Dak Lak three, Hanoi and Quang Ngai two each, and Thai Binh, Ha Nam and Dong Nai, one each. Sunday saw 34 new infections and two deaths of women in their eighties with several underlying conditions. Of Vietnam's 620 cases recorded so far, 373 have recovered and five have died. Over 94,000 people are in quarantine. P olice were forced to move in after crowds of revellers descended on the Forest of Dean for an all-night rave. Just after 3.30am on Sunday morning Gloucestershire Constabulary tweeted: "Police are currently in the Forest of Dean near to Speculation Car Park dispersing a rave. "People are advised not to attend the area due to safety and Covid risks. This will likely take some time to resolve this issue." Gatherings of more than 30 people are still banned under lockdown rules. Officers also blocked roads in the area after "intelligence which had been developed and identified that many of those attending were from outside the county". Some residents took to Facebook to criticise those attending the event. One wrote: "I heard it at 4.30am, I hoped it had stopped very soon after because the police intervened... Makes me angry that some people think it is safe to do so, when it clearly isnt!" In a statement Gloucestershire Constabulary said: "Officers from Gloucestershire Constabulary have been working throughout the night to close down a rave in the Forest of Dean. Police were called to the Speculation Car Park near Lydbrook and Parkend during the early hours of this morning (Sunday 2 August) and have been dispersing the group to ensure the event does not continue and that those attending leave as safely as possible. "Sound equipment has been removed and officers closed a number of surrounding roads to prevent more people from attending. "The road closures were as a result of intelligence which had been developed and identified that many of those attending were from outside the county which allowed officers to target key roads that the individuals would have used to attend. "As part of the police response, two arrests were made for drug driving and two vehicles were seized. "Officers want to thank the local community for their patience and reassure those living in the area that they understand how much of an impact an event like this can have." GoldSeek.com 25 Year Anniversary Since the site was launched on August 1st, 1995, the price for an ounce of gold has risen by nearly 415%, or by $1,600/oz. from $382.85/oz. Today marks the 25th year anniversary for GoldSeek.com, a leading gold news and financial information website established in 1995. The GoldSeek website is ranked as one of the most visited gold websites in the world. On this 25-Year Anniversary, GoldSeek.com is also pleased to announce that the new website is live. Peter Spina, President and Founder of GoldSeek.com stated: The success of GoldSeek.com has been built from our educated readership base seeking a more comprehensive review of global gold markets along with topics related to the global monetary and financial systems. Gold investors have been coming to GoldSeek.com for many years, looking for the full story and seeking financial truth. Since the site was launched on August 1st, 1995, the price for an ounce of gold has risen by nearly 415%, or by $1,600/oz. from $382.85/oz. GoldSeek.com is headquartered in Denver, Colorado with international outreaches including Canada and Europe. The site has grown to receive over 250,000 unique monthly visitors from around the world. Its features include daily commentary from prominent experts in the metals and investment spheres, as well as live gold news and precious metals prices, a popular 16-year old running podcast and analysis on gold mining companies. Peter added, I would like to thank our loyal audience and site sponsors along with our devoted team members for making the site successful. We look forward to delivering the latest news and information to our visitors following this secular bull market in gold for many more years to come. The new GoldSeek website marks the start of our new gold content initiative. This will occur in stages over the coming year with new features being added to the new site to facilitate our growing Gold Seeker community. "Since 1995, GoldSeek.com has provided millions of readers with the latest precious metal information and financial truth. The roll-out of the new version of GoldSeek.com helps to provide gold investors with better, faster site access and expanded gold market coverage," stated Peter. We look forward to connecting gold and gold stock investors with even more insights during this historic period for gold." We invite you to visit us during August to keep updated on these record setting gold prices, latest gold news, commentaries, gold stock analysis and to celebrate our silver anniversary with exciting events to be announced. Contact Information: Peter Spina President, GoldSeek.com | Gold Seek LLC Civil surgeon Dr Rajesh Bagga has marked an inquiry against the doctors of a private laboratory at Field Gunj after the audio clip of a conversation between a doctor and patient seeking a Covid-negative certificate came to fore. Dr Bagga said only labs affiliated with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) were allowed to conduct RT-PCR and True Net tests to establish the presence or absence of coronavirus. We have examined the audio clip and asked the doctor to report at the civil surgeons office and explain the context of the conversation. A probe is underway, he added. In the audio clip, whose authenticity HT could not independently verify, a male patient is heard asking the doctor for a certificate mentioning Covid-19 negative as he was planning a trip with his friends to Morni Hills near Chandigarh. For this, the doctor asks for 1,500 1,000 for the test and 500 for issuing the fitness certificate, a photo copy of his Aadhaar Card and passport-size photograph. Despite repeated attempts, the laboratory doctors were not immediately available for comments. The health department has urged residents to get tested only through government-affiliated medical facilities. Large numbers of people hit by coronavirus could be being missed due to failures in antibody tests for those with only mild infections, according to researchers at Oxford University. A study of more than 9,000 healthcare workers found that significant numbers of people had received negative test results despite being likely to have already contracted Covid-19. The findings could now have major implications for government health policy. It comes after Britain recorded 771 new cases and a further 74 deaths amid warnings the infection rate could be at 'tipping point'. Large numbers of people hit by coronavirus could be being missed due to failures in antibody tests for those with only mild infections, according to researchers at Oxford University (stock image) Antibody tests look signs of past infection in the blood which can only be created if the body is exposed to the virus by getting infected for real or through a vaccine or other type of specialist immune therapy. The tests are currently being used to map the outbreak among the population but it is not yet clear if the antibodies provide any long-lasting immunity. The latest study saw 903 of the healthcare workers test positive for antibodies with 47 per cent of those reporting a loss of their sense of taste and smell - a symptom of coronavirus. But among those who received a negative result, having fallen just below the threshold, 30 per cent also reported a loss of sense of taste or smell. Dr Tim Walker, one of the authors of the study, said: 'You can see that below the cut-off, there is a rising proportion of people who report a loss of their sense of smell or taste, and this suggests that the test threshold is missing people with mild disease 'Of course there will be plenty of people, too, who will have had no symptoms whatsoever and will still have antibodies.' It comes after Britain recorded 771 new cases and a further 74 deaths amid warnings the infection rate could be at 'tipping point' It is thought that the general rate of people who would report loss of senses due to seasonal colds or similar conditions would be around just three per cent. A further 387 participants who tested below the threshold for a positive result had ot exhibited any symptoms. It could have been the case that they were asymptomatic patients but researchers could not say for definite if they had contracted coronavirus. Scientists are now calling for the threshold between negative and positive results to be re-assessed. The researchers behind the study suggested that samples from mild and asymptomatic patients with confirmed infections should be included in the evaluation process. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Social Care told MailOnline: 'We do not yet know whether antibodies indicate immunity from reinfection with coronavirus or if they prevent transmission. 'However, antibody testing is an important part of our testing strategy because it helps us understand how COVID-19 is spreading across the country.' WHAT IS AN ANTIBODY TEST AND WHAT IS IT USED FOR? Antibody tests are ones which look for signs of past infection in someone's blood. Antibodies are substances produced by the immune system which store memories of how to fight off a specific virus. They can only be created if the body is exposed to the virus by getting infected for real, or through a vaccine or other type of specialist immune therapy. Generally speaking, antibodies produce immunity to a virus because they are redeployed if it enters the body for a second time, defeating the bug faster than it can take hold and cause an illness. An antibody test, which involves analysis of someone's blood sample, has two purposes: to reveal whether an individual has been infected in the past and may therefore be protected against the virus, and to count those people. Knowing you are immune to a virus - although whether people actually develop immunity to Covid-19 is still unknown - can affect how you act in the future. Someone may need to protect themselves less if they know they have been infected, for example, or medical staff may be able to return to work in the knowledge they are not at risk. Counting the numbers of people who have antibodies is the most accurate way of calculating how many people in a population have had the virus already. This can be done on a small sample of the population and the figures scaled up to give a picture of the country as a whole. In turn, this can inform scientists and politicians how devastating a second outbreak might be, and how close the country is to herd immunity - a situation in which so many people have had the virus already that it would not be able to spread quickly a second time. Experts believe that around 60 per cent exposure would be required for herd immunity from Covid-19, but the UK does not appear to be anywhere close to that. Early estimates suggest 17 per cent of Londoners have had the virus, along with five per cent of the rest of the country about 4.83million people. This means the virus might spread slightly slower in future but the risk of second outbreak and hundreds or thousands more deaths remains very real. Advertisement It comes after similar criticism last month which said antibody testing kits were only known to be accurate between three and four weeks after someone had Covid-19. The 300-page independent review, led by the Cochrane institute and the University of Birmingham, analysed data from 54 scientific studies of antibody tests used on 16,000 blood samples. Professor Jon Deeks, a medical tests expert at the University of Birmingham, was one of the scientists behind the international review. He said: 'We've analyzed all available data from around the globe discovering clear patterns telling us that timing is vital in using these tests. 'Use them at the wrong time and they don't work. 'While these first Covid-19 antibody tests show potential, particularly when used two or three weeks after the onset of symptoms, the data are nearly all from hospitalized patients, so we don't really know how accurately they identify Covid-19 in people with mild or no symptoms, or tested more than five weeks after symptoms started.' The Cochrane review found that the third and fourth week after someone has been infected with the coronavirus are the optimum time to use them. Too soon, and they are inaccurate, but too late and their accuracy is completely unknown. If someone took one of the blood tests within two weeks of developing symptoms, studies found, only seven out of 10 Covid-positive people would receive a positive result (70 per cent test sensitivity). Between 15 and 35 days after symptoms, this accuracy increased to more than 90 per cent, on average. For patients who had symptoms 35 days ago or longer, there were 'insufficient studies' to estimate how well the tests could work. The research comes as Britain's coronavirus infection rate continues to creep up after a further 771 more cases were recorded yesterday - after experts warned the country was on the brink of harsher lockdown measures to fend off a resurgence. Boris Johnson recently delayed lifting more restrictions following sobering statistics showing a slight uptick of cases in the UK. It followed a snatching back of freedoms for four million people in the North who are no longer allowed to visit friends and loved ones in their homes. Yesterday's infection figures released by the Department of Health are four more than last week, while deaths also rose by 74, more than the increase of 61 published last Saturday. The steady surge in cases and deaths comes after scientists braced thee public for further measures to counter the spread of the virus. Pointing to the rise in infection rate and drawing comparisons with European neighbours, Dr Daniel Lawson, Lecturer in Statistical Science, School of Mathematics, University of Bristol, yesterday implored people to 'take the apparent increase seriously'. After the release of ONS data showed a rise in the infection rate, he said the UK is 'close to the tipping point' and said people should prepare for 'further rapid action'. Prof Chris Whitty suggested that the nation would have to swallow 'trade-offs' whereby restrictions would be slapped on some aspects of life in order to reopen others. This grim forecast was widely seen to pave the way for tighter restrictions on gatherings to allow for the reopening of schools, which the PM called a 'national priority'. India's COVID-19 tally crossed the 17-lakh mark on Sunday, just two days after it went past 16 lakh, with 54,735 cases being reported in a day, while the recoveries crossed the 11-lakh mark, according to the Union health ministry data. IMAGE: A health worker collects sample of a person for COVID-19 test via Rapid Antigen Testing, at Manipuri Basti in Guwahati. Photograph: PTI Photo The total coronavirus cases surged to 17,50,723, while the death toll climbed to 37,364 with 853 people succumbing to the disease in a day, the data updated at 8 am showed. The recoveries have mounted to 11,45,629, while there are 5,67,730 active cases of coronavirus infection in the country presently. The recovery rate among COVID-19 patients has risen to 65.44 per cent while the fatality rate has further dropped to 2.13 per cent, the data stated. The total number of confirmed cases also includes foreigners. This is the fourth consecutive day that COVID-19 cases have increased by more than 50,000. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, a cumulative total of 1,98,21,831 samples have been tested up to August 1 with, 463,172 samples being tested on Saturday. Of the 853 fresh deaths reported, 322 are from Maharashtra, 99 from Tamil Nadu, 98 from Karnataka, 58 from Andhra Pradesh, 48 from West Bengal, 47 from Uttar Pradesh, 26 from Delhi, 23 from Gujarat, 19 from Punjab, 16 from Rajasthan, 13 from Bihar, 11 each from Telangana and Jammu and Kashmir and 10 from Odisha. IMAGE: Policemen impose fine to visitors for not wearing masks near India Gate during Unlock 3.0, in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo Nine fatalities have been reported from Madhya Pradesh, eight from Kerala, seven each from Haryana and Jharkhand, three each from Assam, Chandigarh, Goa and Uttarakhand, two each from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chhattisgarah, Puducherry and Telangana while Manipur has recorded one fatality. Of the total 37,364 deaths, Maharashtra has reported the maximum at 15,316 followed by 4,034 in Tamil Nadu, 3,989 in Delhi, 2,464 in Gujarat, 2,412 in Karnataka, 1,677 in Uttar Pradesh, 1,629 in West Bengal, 1,407 in Andhra Pradesh and 876 in Madhya Pradesh. So far, 690 people have died of COVID-19 in Rajasthan, 530 in Telangana, 428 in Haryana, 405 in Punjab, 388 in Jammu and Kashmir, 309 in Bihar, 187 in Odisha, 113 in Jharkhand, 101 in Assam, 83 in Uttarakhand, 81 in Kerala. Chhattisgarh has registered 55 deaths, Puducherry 51, Goa 48, Tripura 23, Chandigarh 18, Himachal Pradesh 14, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Ladakh seven each, Manipur six, Meghalaya and Nagaland five each, Arunachal Pradesh three, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu two and Sikkim one. The health ministry stressed that more than 70 per cent of the deaths occurred due to comorbidities. 'Our figures are being reconciled with the Indian Council of Medical Research,' the ministry said, adding that state-wise distribution of figures is subject to further verification and reconciliation. in the capital are witnessing a "surge" in residential power connections, with more than half of over 3,700 net metering connections installed in recent years falling under this category, officials said. The BSES discoms have so far energised over 2,700 solar net metering connections in the city, with the highest number of connections in the residential segment (1,526) followed by educational (581) and commercial (473) segments, an official spokesperson said. "An analysis of the data shows that the highest number of net metering connections is in the domestic segment. In fact, rooftop solar connection is a big hit among the central government housing society (CGHS) segment wherein around 90 societies and apartment complexes have opted for it with a sanctioned load of over 5 MWp," he said. The Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) had issued regulations on net metering for in September 2014. The regulations allow registered customers of discoms to install systems and the discoms will allow connectivity of these systems to their network through net meters. A Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) spokesperson said the surge in domestic (residential) sector in this regard has been visible since 2017. "The surge in domestic count can be observed since 2017, which is credited to the Ministry of New and (MNRE) subsidy scheme in Phase-I under which a customer is entitled to flat 30 per cent subsidy on solar plant cost," he said. The TPDDL has so far installed nearly 1,000 rooftop solar net metering connections. "In 2019-20, a total of 374 rooftop solar net metering customers were added that included 245 in domestic category," the spokesperson said. The current cumulative installed capacity is 33.7 MW which is intended to be increased to 40 MW in the next two years, he added. A BSES spokesperson said the response to rooftop solar net metering has been "incredibly encouraging" and consumers across categories have warmed up to the concept in a big way. The BSES discoms -- BRPL (2,197 connections) and BYPL (541 connections) -- have a total 88 MWp solar load at present. In the current year (FY 2020-21), BSES is likely to energise around 1,000 rooftop solar connections, he said. BSES has energised rooftop net metering connections ranging from a sanctioned load of 1 KW to over 1,600 KW. Consumers have begun to see the benefits of rooftop solar net metering and how it reduces their electricity bills. This is reflected in the varied consumer mix," a BSES official said. If the annual savings accruing to consumers in different segments are analysed, they are saving over Rs 62 crore annually, he said. "Every KW of rooftop solar generates about 100 to 120 units of electricity every month and the cost of the system can be recovered within 3.5 to 4 years," the official said. In solar net metering systems, the consumers can sell the surplus electricity after consumption, and get paid by the discoms. The subsidy on capital cost is between 20 per cent to 40 per cent (up to 10 kW) for residential consumers and 20 per cent (upto 500 kW) for group housing societies, depending on the capacity of the solar plant, the BSES official added. (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.) Chandigarh, Aug 2 : Treating safety of students, especially in government-run schools, is of a humongous public interest, the Information Commission in Punjab has ruled that a parent has the right to know about the school, where his or her ward is going or getting admitted to, is safe. During hearings, it was found that some schools, whether they are private, government-aided or government-operated, may not be meeting and complying with the prescribed standards of building and fire safety norms set by the appropriate authority. In a far-reaching order, Information Commissioner Khushwant Singh on July 28 directed that valid certificates of fire and building safety and board affiliations issued by the appropriate authorities be declared suo-motu by all schools in the state on their websites and notice boards. Having gone through the Right to Information (RTI) application and hearing both the parties, the commission observed that the building safety certificate, fire safety certificate and school affiliation or recognition certificate are not the personal information, rather these should be displayed on the notice board of the department. The commission directed the Public Information Officer (PIO) to provide a copy of building safety certificate, fire safety certificate and school affiliation or recognition certificate of Holy Step Public School in Amritsar district to appellant Kamaldeep Kaur. However, financial statements and maps may not be provided. During the course of hearing, the Information Commissioner observed that a larger issue had emerged regarding the safety of children and staff in schools. "That there lies a humongous public interest in taking a broader view of the issue of safety of children and staff in schools than merely confining it to one school about which the information is sought," said the order. "It is evident from the ongoing hearings that some schools may not be meeting and complying with the prescribed standards... These, the bench feels, are the most important requirements for any educational institution, much important than the service that they provide, as human safety is above everything else," said the order. Moreover, every parent has the right to know that the school where his or her ward is going or getting admitted to is safe and has a valid affiliation with a school board to run its day-to-day business. "It is clear that there is an urgent need to bring about transparency in this matter, as these certificates or materials should be a matter of suo-motu declaration rather than being confined in record rooms, only to be sought under the RTI Act," he said. All schools are required to display fire and building safety certification as well as board affiliation certificates. In case a school has no website it will be mandatory to display this information prominently on the notice board, and in case of schools with websites, this information will be displayed on both the forums, said the order. If a school is not compliant with any one of the three, it will still proactively disclose the status quo of all the three points. The order directed the District Education Officers to ensure its compliance with immediate effect, failing which they will be held responsible for not implementing this order. Also they will upload this information on the departmental websites, including the name of the schools that are not compliant. For example, a school can be complaint in one and non-compliant in the other two. Each compliance or non-compliance must be clearly stated on the website, said the order. Listing the case for next hearing on August 25, the Information Commissioner observed that the case is being kept open to ensure that this order is implemented in its true spirit. (Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in) A major fire in California in the United States has led to evacuation of more than 8,000 people from the Riverside County. The uncontrolled blaze has spread across more than 12,000 acres, according to local authorities. It is called Apple Fire by the locals and it started as several small fires on Friday. All of them merged resulting into massive blaze. It first started in Cherry Valley, a community about 75 miles east of Los Angeles. In a tweet posted on Sunday morning, the Riverside County fire department said that the Apple Fire is now 12,000 acres and remains 0% contained. Several EVACUATION ORDERS and warnings remain in place. #AppleFIRE [UPDATE] 8:00 p.m. 08/01/2020 - The Apple Fire is now 12,000 acres and remains 0% contained. Several EVACUATION ORDERS and warnings remain in place. Please visit https://t.co/NNPcufL1ea to search if your address is in an evacuation area. pic.twitter.com/qyV6NMUUqT CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) August 2, 2020 It has also issued new evacuation orders for the area north of Morongo Road, east of Millard Canyon Road, and west of Whitewater Canyon Road. Approximately 2,586 homes totaling approximately 7,800 people are under evacuation orders, a fire department tweet said. NEW EVACUATION WARNING issued for the area north of Morongo Rd, east of Millard Canyon Rd, and west of Whitewater Canyon Rd. An interactive map, where you can search the status of your address can be found at https://t.co/2S9I5zv25f. https://t.co/ouQu1CM3IT CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) August 2, 2020 Photographs shared by the Riverside County fire department showed thick plumes of smoke filling the sky over the mountainous region. The fire had grown from 700 acres on Friday evening to its present form. Wrexham Glyndwr University celebrating after strong student satisfaction and employment prospect performances This article is old - Published: Sunday, Aug 2nd, 2020 Staff, students and graduates at Wrexham Glyndwr University are celebrating after two national surveys showed strong performances in both student satisfaction and employment prospects. The surveys the National Student Survey (NSS) and the Higher Education Statistics Authoritys Graduate Outcomes survey show the university ahead of the higher education sector in Wales on a host of key targets for both student satisfaction and graduate employment. This years National Student Survey has revealed 87 per cent of students at Wrexham Glyndwr University are satisfied with the teaching on their course, and survey respondents at Glyndwr also rated the university above both the UK and Welsh averages on a wide range of measures this year. Every final-year undergraduate across the UK is asked to complete the survey, which offers them the chance to air their views on a wide range of questions about their university, its teaching and assessment, the academic support they have received and more. These ratings saw Glyndwr exceed both UK and Welsh averages in the teaching on my course, assessment and feedback, academic support, learning community, student voice and Students Union scales.* Respondents from eleven courses at Glyndwr gave an Overall Satisfaction rating of 90 per cent or more, with four courses scored at 100 per cent. Overall, students at Glyndwr are more satisfied too, as expressed through an improved score related to Overall Satisfaction. The university was joint top in the UK and top in Wales for Overall Satisfaction in the History and Computer and Games Animation subject areas. It was also the top university in Wales for Overall Satisfaction in Computer and Games Animation, Counselling, Psychotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Forensic and Archaeological Sciences, History, Nursing (Non-Specific), Social Work and Sociology subject areas, and in two subject areas Forensic and Archaeological Sciences and Nursing (Non-Specific) it was top in Wales across all scales. Vice-Chancellor Professor Maria Hinfelaar said: Student satisfaction has risen across a range key areas in this years survey of Wrexham Glyndwr University students. As an institution, we place the student experience at the heart of what we do and it is good to hear that those who have just completed their studies with us agree. Promising figures which show us ahead of the sector in both the UK and Wales demonstrate what students can expect when they study at Glyndwr, and with our continued focus on upgrading facilities, services, and resources, the future looks promising. Wrexham Glyndwr University Students Union Vice-President, Chloe Williams, who took up her post in July after completing a BSc in Mental Health and Wellbeing at the university, welcomed the results and said she would continue to work to ensure students views drove improvements and investment at the university. As someone who has just finished a degree at Glyndwr, Im pleased to see student satisfaction is up, she said. Surveys like the NSS, which capture our students opinions, are vital. The university has listened to what students want and acted and its good to see that action reflected in the results. Im pleased, too that we are seeing investment continuing through the Campus 2025 programme, with new teaching and social learning facilities already in place and much more to come. I look forward to engaging with both our students and with staff right across the university as Vice President to help ensure we keep on building on the good work thats already been done. A separate report, the Higher Education Statistics Authoritys Graduate Outcomes survey, has shown Glyndwr to be the top Higher Education Institution in Wales for graduates securing employment. This years Graduate Outcomes release reports findings from the survey carried out among graduates who secured their degrees at Glyndwr in 2017/8, fifteen months after they had finished their studies at the university. It shows that 84 per cent of graduates were in employment or unpaid work, including 10% who were engaged in both employment and further study the highest figure for any Welsh Higher Education Institution. Glyndwr was first in Wales for full-time employment for graduates from part-time postgraduate course and first in Wales for full-time employment for graduates from part-time undergraduate courses. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Claire Taylor, said: While were keen on ensuring our students have a great experience at university, we know their story doesnt stop there. Our innovative and industry-relevant courses help prepare our students for employment helping to enrich our regional economy, both through our direct partnerships with key employers and through the work our staff undertake nurturing the diverse talents of our students. We must put the lives and well-being of our citizens first. Any incarnation of the staging of Carnival 2022 must make that statement paramount to its planning, says event promoter Randy Glasgow. Glasgow, CEO of Randy Glasgow Productions (RGP), said recent calls by promoters and artistes to stage safe zone concert events around next months originally scheduled Carnival dates is premature at best and irresponsible at worst. Carnival 2022 was scheduled to be held on Monday, February 28 and Tuesday, March 1. Hi Neighbor, Last week, we visited with Staten Island Patriot Artist Scott LoBaido. I took issue with Schotts Blue Lives line down Hylan Boulevards center median in front of the 122nd Precinct stationhouse. Sushant Singh Rajput's flatmate and close friend Siddharth Pithani has revealed that the late actor was feeling very low in the last days. He said when they spoke, he took his hand and started crying saying he had no one. He even mentioned that they went on a road trip to Chandigarh and he seemed pretty fine after they were back. Twitter He also shared that Sushant was upset over his name being used in his ex-manager Disha Salians suicide. Pithani revealed that one of the headlines read, "Sushant Singh Rajput's manager Disha Salian commits suicide.". This news affected him a lot. "That night I have seen him the lowest. He was very low," he said. Sushant Singh Rajput / Instagram Disha was Sushant's manager for a very short span of time reportedly. "He kept crying that day. His sister, Meetu Singh, was there that time and she took care of him. Fed him, gave him water. The day Rhea left, his sister Meetu came to stay with him. This incident had really affected him," he had earlier told Zoom TV. Hotstar Pithani added that unlike others, the late actor's highs and lows were quite drastic in nature. He added that he came to live with him in January 2020 after Sushant called him in Ahmedabad and told him that he wanted to collaborate with him on projects. ISIL claims responsibility for attack on Jalalabad jail that also wounded dozens and saw hundreds of prisoners flee. Afghan security forces have retaken a prison in eastern Afghanistan after an hours-long gun battle with the ISIL fighters who targeted the facility in an attack that killed 29 people, officials said. At least 10 ISIL fighters involved in the assault were also killed while trying to free their comrades from the prison in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, said Ajmal Omar, a provincial council member. The attack is now over, Sohrab Qaderi, a member of the provincial council, told Reuters news agency. The rest of the dead were believed to be prisoners, civilians and Afghan forces, although no official breakdown was given. Another 50 people were wounded in the attack that began on Sunday when a suicide bomber detonated his explosives-packed vehicle at the entrance to the prison complex some 115 kilometres (70 miles) east of Kabul, Omar said. Other fighters simultaneously stormed the prison and took up positions in nearby residential buildings. They fired on Afghan troops for several hours, even after the security forces retook the prison and began recapturing some of the escaped inmates. Omar said about 430 prisoners stayed in their cells or hid during the siege. It was unclear how many prisoners remain at large. A provincial council member in Jalalabad said the attackers detonated a car laden with explosives outside the government-run prison [Al Jazeera] Earlier, a Taliban spokesperson said on Twitter that the group was not involved in the attack, which came on the final day of a rare truce between the armed group and the Afghan government to mark Eid al-Adha. The prison attack came a day after the Afghan intelligence agency said a senior ISIL commander had been killed by Afghan special forces near Jalalabad, about 150km (93 miles) east of the capital, Kabul. Nangarhar has been hit by regular attacks, several of them claimed by ISIL. Afghan security forces transport prisoners who escaped from a jail in Jalalabad following an attack claimed by ISIL [Parwiz/Reuters] On May 12, a suicide bomber killed 32 mourners at a funeral for a police commander in the province in one of the deadliest attacks this year, also claimed by ISIL. A United Nations report last month estimated there are some 2,200 ISIL members in Afghanistan, and that while the group is in territorial retreat and its leadership has been depleted, it remains capable of carrying out high-profile attacks in various parts of the country, including Kabul. Efforts to get peace talks under way between the Taliban and the Kabul government have stalled after the Taliban and the United States signed an agreement in February, touted as the deal to end Washingtons longest war. The agreement, struck in Qatars capital, Doha, lays out plans for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan in exchange for security guarantees from the Taliban. Last week, another UN report said almost 1,300 civilians, including hundreds of children, had been killed in Afghanistan in the first six months of the year, a 13-percent drop compared with the same period in 2019. The report credited the drop in part to the reduction of operations by international forces in support of Afghan government forces and also to a decrease in the number of attacks by ISIL. The novel coronavirus eased its grip on San Antonio as Metro Health reported 374 new cases and three deaths in its daily update Saturday. That brings the total of COVID-19 cases in Bexar County to 41,177 since the pandemic broke out in South Texas in mid-March, up from 40,803 Friday. The death toll stands at 352, up from 349 Friday. Slow but steady progress continued on the hospital front, with another decline in the number of people with the disease in San Antonio hospitals. The Saturday update had 874 people with COVID-19 in the hospital, down from 926 Friday. That is five straight days of declines. We currently find ourselves in a crucial moment in our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said in a Saturday social media video alongside San Antonio chef Johnny Hernandez, urging residents to stay home and frequently wash their hands. This virus has forced us to keep our distance from our family and friends, but this historic moment has also brought us together like never before. Everyone in San Antonio must act together, Nirenberg said in Spanish. While the figures remain high, the city over the last week has made progress in reducing the percentages of hospitalizations and deaths from the coronavirus. Over the last week, the number of patients hospitalized from COVID-19 in Bexar County declined by nearly 17 percent. The number of people in intensive care also fell from 364 Friday to 352 Saturday. In the last week, patients in ICU decreased by 16 percent. On Saturday, there were 244 people on ventilators, down from 252 on Friday. Over the previous seven days, the number of people using ventilators to breath also has fallen by 16 percent. Even so, the percent of available staffed hospital beds ticked down to 13 percent Saturday from just under 15 percent on Friday. Fifty-four percent of ventilators are available citywide, compared with 53 percent that were available Friday. The number of people dying from the virus in San Antonio also has slowed recently. The city averaged just over four deaths per day over the last week, after averaging between nine and 10 deaths each day over the three weeks from July 4 through July 25. Area report Officials in Webb County, where Laredo is located, reported five deaths from COVID-19 on Saturday. Laredo currently has 4,729 active cases, and 204 people are hospitalized. Of those, 73 are in intensive care there. The death toll in Laredo reached 128. Officials reported two more deaths Saturday in neighboring Comal County, where 56 people have died from the coronavirus. The county reported 16 additional cases, bringing the total to 885 active cases there. Fifty-six percent of residents in Comal County who have tested positive for the coronavirus have recovered, up from 54 percent Friday. Diego Mendoza-Moyers covers manufacturing, the automotive industry and the energy sector. To read more from Diego, become a subscriber. diego.mendoza-moyers@express-news.net | Twitter: @dmendozamoyers A missed delivery notice is attached to the door of an apartment in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, Monday, belonging to a North Korean defector who is suspected of having fled to the North while police were investigating rape allegations made against him earlier this month. Yonhap By Jung Da-min The South Korean military and police are facing criticism for failing to notice that a North Korean defector had returned to the North, only becoming aware after the situation was reported by North Korean state media. The military failed to prevent the border crossing, and the police neglected to properly manage the defector, whose identity has not yet been confirmed. However, both the police and the military believe the defector in question is a man surnamed Kim, 24, who has been under police investigation following sexual violence allegations against him. "The combat readiness inspection office of the JCS is checking the military's overall readiness and other conditions including if surveillance equipment and video recording were operating correctly," the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said, hours after the defector's return was known, Sunday. The military is currently investigating the details of the incident, including the specific route of Kim's return to the North. The military suspects he swam across the border from Ganghwa Island in Incheon to the North after going through a drain under barbed wire fences. The Han River is seen from Ganghwa County, Incheon, Monday. A North Korean defector who fled to the North is suspected of having swum across the river. Yonhap UTAH Dramatic decline found in bumblebee populations SALT LAKE CITY A federal review of existing data unveils an alarming trend for the western bumblebee population, which has seen its numbers dwindle by as much as 93% in the last two decades. The find by the U.S. Geological Survey will help inform a species status assessment to begin this fall by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which may ultimately add the insect to its endangered species list. Tabitha Graves, senior author of the study and a research ecologist with the survey, said the trend with the western bumblebee documented between 1998 and 2018 is troubling because of their important role as pollinators. Bumblebees also pollinate plants in the wild, such as huckleberries which are a staple food source for bears. There are multiple factors at play that are contributing to the demise of the bumblebee, including pesticides, habitat fragmentation, a warming climate and pathogens, researchers say. There are concerns that other species of bumblebees used in commercial pollination are spreading pathogens to the western bumblebee, said Diana Cox-Foster, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Pollinating Insects Research Unit at Utah State University, who added that the decline has been noticed since the 1990s. Graves said the research doesn't point to one conclusive cause for the decline, which will be the focus of another research effort to better quantify particular threats. Residents can get in on the action by downloading an app at bumblebeewatch.org and documenting what bumblebees they may come across. There have been an estimated 14,000 submissions from all 49 states where bumblebees occur. Cox-Foster also added that people can plant bee friendly vegetation to encourage their presence around homes. NEW MEXICO State court eyes ban on indoor restaurant dining SANTA FE The state Supreme Court announced July 20 it will weigh a challenge to New Mexico's prohibition on indoor service at restaurants and breweries, as the administration of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham defends its public health orders from a restive restaurant industry. Lujan Grisham in July reinstated a prohibition on indoor dining service based on surging COVID-19 infections and concerns that gathering without face masks to eat can increase risks of transmitting the disease. Face masks are mandated by the state in all public settings, amid prohibitions on most public gatherings of more than four people. The state Supreme Court stepped into the fray hours after a state district court judge in southern New Mexico suspended the indoor dining ban pending court hearings. Instead, the Supreme Court ordered direct briefings from restaurants and the governor's office. Lujan Grisham spokesman Tripp Stelnicki said restaurants present distinct risks and urged people to abide by the ban on indoor service. Carol Wight, CEO of the New Mexico Restaurant Association, said the dire warnings are not borne out by the state's own rapid response investigations into coronavirus outbreaks that indicate greater problems in other industries. Court filings by a group of restaurant owners and the association allege that indoor dining restrictions are unwarranted and discriminatory because gyms, hair salons and churches continue to operate indoors. Several restaurants have continued to provide indoor service in open defiance of state health orders. Food service permits were suspended last week at seven restaurants in Farmington, Hobbs and Carlsbad that declined to halt dine-in service that regulators describe as a "substantial danger" to customers. In court filings, restaurant representatives have said the industry accounts for eight COVID-19 investigations out of more than 440 in the state. Employment in the state's restaurant sector has plunged from about 82,000 to 50,000, the lawsuit said. Troubled sheriff's office to get 'superhero' tool ALBUQUERQUE A New Mexico sheriff, whose office is plagued by racial profiling lawsuits, said deputies will be outfitted with new superhero-style restraining devices but not body cameras. The Albuquerque Journal reports the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office is giving 20 deputies a BolaWrap a handheld device that shoots a Kevlar wire, which wraps around a fleeing suspect several times and restricts movement. Supporters of the device say it's a tool that looks like something Batman would use to take down villains. The company that makes the BolaWrap shooter, Wrap Technologies, markets it as a way to improve officer safety. Each device costs about $1,000, according to the company's website. The move comes as Sheriff Manuel Gonzales says he can't afford to purchase body cameras for his deputies as now required by state law. Gonzales drew ridicule recently after he announced he was looking to allow deputies to put smartphones in their vests and record video instead of purchasing body cameras. Gonzales has faced criticism before for refusing to force deputies to wear body cams amid a string of deputy shootings. Two Black women from Wisconsin are suing the sheriff and two deputies, alleging racial and religious profiling stemming from a traffic stop in July 2017. ARIZONA Police: Fire at Arizona Democratic headquarters was arson PHOENIX A late-night fire that destroyed part of the Arizona and Maricopa County Democratic Party headquarters was an act of arson, authorities said July 24. Investigators were gathering surveillance video from nearby buildings after combing the wreckage and concluding the fire was human-caused, authorities said. Nobody was hurt. Police Sgt. Mercedes Fortune declined to reveal what evidence convinced investigators the blaze was set, saying she doesn't want to tip off the perpetrator. The building, a few miles north of downtown Phoenix, is the longtime home for both the state and county Democrats. The northern portion of the building, which houses the operations for Maricopa County Democrats, was totally destroyed, said Steven Slugocki, the county chair. Damage was less extensive in the state party's portion of the building, he said. The fire destroyed computers, tablets, phone-banking equipment, campaign literature and years of candidate and organizing information, Slugocki said. It also burned political memorabilia accumulated over decades, including campaign materials for John F. Kennedy, he said. He requested donations to help the party replace the tools it uses to mobilize voters. Slugocki and state Democratic Chair Felecia Rotellini said employees have been mostly working remotely since March. Arizona Republican Chair Kelli Ward condemned the act, saying violence is unacceptable. KANSAS Dog makes 50-mile trek to her old home A dog named Cleo who disappeared from her home in Kansas earlier in July turned up a few days later at her old home in Missouri, about 50 miles away. Missing Dog-Old Home This video frame grab provided by KMBC-TV in Kansas City, Mo., shows Cleo, a 4-year-old Labrador retriever-border collie mix who disappeared f Colton Michael told television station KMBC that the 4-year-old Labrador retriever-border collie mix showed up on the front porch of his family's home in Lawson, which is about 30 miles northeast of Kansas City. At first, she wouldn't let anyone get near her, said Michael, who has lived in the home for nearly two years. "She finds her way home, and there's some strangers living in it. That would be scary for anybody," he said. Eventually, he was able to gain Cleo's trust and to get her checked for a microchip, which showed that she belonged to the former owners of his house. Cleo's owners, who had moved to Olathe, Kansas, about 50 miles southwest of Lawson, couldn't believe it when Michael called and said the dog had turned up at their old home. They had posted on Facebook a week earlier about the missing dog. Neither family knows how Cleo made the trip, which would have required her to cross at least one river. By Ismaila Chafe/Abuja The Presidency on Saturday said the views expressed by President Buharis nephew, Malam Mamman Daura, on zoning were personal to him and did not, in any way, reflect that of either the president or his administration. Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, stated this in Abuja. He said that Daura qualified as an elder statesman with a national duty to hold perspectives and disseminate them as guaranteed under the nations constitution and laws of the land. He does not need the permission or clearance of anyone to exercise this right, Shehu said. The statement read in part: We have received numerous requests for comments on the interview granted by Malam Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buharis nephew to the BBC Hausa Service. It is important that we state from the onset that as mentioned by the interviewee, the views expressed were personal to him and did not, in any way, reflect that of either the President or his administration. At age 80, and having served as editor and managing director of one of this countrys most influential newspapers, the New Nigerian, certainly, Malam Mamman qualifies as an elder statesman with a national duty to hold perspectives and disseminate them as guaranteed under our constitution and laws of the land. He did not need the permission or clearance of anyone to exercise this right. In an attempt to circulate the content of the interview to a wider audience, the English translation clearly did no justice to the interview, which was granted in Hausa, and as a result, the context was mixed up and new meanings were introduced and/or not properly articulated. The issues discussed during the interview, centred around themes on how the country could birth an appropriate process of political dialogue, leading to an evaluation, assessment and a democratic outcome that would serve the best interest of the average Nigerian irrespective of where they come from. These issues remain at the heart of our evolving and young democracy, and as a veteran journalist, scholar and statesman, Malam Mamman has seen enough to add his voice to those of many other participants. Related by Tisaranee Gunasekara We have learnt from many political parties in the world. The best two are the BJP and the CCP (Chinese Communist Party). Basil Rajapaksa ( Daily FT 29.7.2020) Basil Ra japaksa is the Rajapaksa familys thinking man. Unlike his brothers and nephews, he doesnt shoot his mouth off. His remarks should be taken seriously, because, often, they point to the shape of the future . Alarm bells need to clang when Basil Rajapaksa says he wants to model the SLPP on Chinas Communist Party and Indias BJP : I want our party to be a party like the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and how they act... We can also be like the Indi an Bharatha Janatha Party (BJP) ( Daily FT 29.7.2020). There cannot be a clearer warning of the politically unfree and ethno-religiously divisive future awaiting us if the Rajapaksas get their two-thirds . The only thing that is communist about the Chinese Communist Party is its name. Under the one-man rule of Xi Jinp ing , the CCP has used big data and face recognition technology to create a 24x7 surveillance state , obliterating even the pretence of a private/personal spac e for its billion plus subjects. But President Xis truly original contribution is to transform the Peoples Republic of China into Han Peoples Republic of China. He has turned Han - supremacism and anti-minority phobia into instruments of rule and weapons of dominance . Using terrorism as excuse, a horrific repression is being visited on Chinas Muslim minority, especially the Uyghur people. This deliberate and successful use of majoritarian - supremacism is something that President Xis CCP has in common with Narendra Modis BJP. After his failure in promoting economic development and combating corruption, Mr. Modi has become almost totally focused on transforming India fro m a multi-national secular state to a Hindu Raj. Regulations such as the openly anti-Muslim Citizenship (Amendment) Act are being accompanied by moves to create and popularise an exclusively Hindu history for India. A committee of scholars have been set up to fabricate this fake history . Its aim is to ultimately shape the national identity to match their religious views, that India is a nation of and for Hindus ( https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/india-modi-culture/ ). The Modi administration is also cr acking down on those who oppose its Hindu - supremacist agenda, thereby vitiating and obliterating the space for critical thinking, open debate and peaceful dissent. It is also making a systematic effort to disembowel Indias independent institutions, to turn them into nothing more than instruments of BJP rule. F or example, in August 2019, the registrar of the JNU wrote to famed historian and merciless critic of the BJP Romila Thapar , asking for her CV to determine if she could continue to be an emeritus professor ! Indias National Herald called the move madness ( https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/jnu-wants-to-verify-historian-romila-thapar-degrees-twitter-seeks-to-see-modi-and-irani ). M adness , yes; surprise, no. What else can we expect onc e the insane starts running the asylum? So the CCP, which has always been non democratic , is moving towards majoritarian - supremacism while the BJP , which has always been majoritarian - supremacist , is moving towards tyranny. These are the two parties Basil Rajapaksa sees as models the SLPP. The future of Sri Lanka under Rajapaksa rule cannot be clearer. Dreaming of Black July from January to December On July 27 th a group of monks led by Galagoda-atte Gnasara and Aturaliye Ratana descended on the office of the ACJU, the apex religious body of Lankan Sunni Muslims, with an ultimatum . They demanded the immediate abolition of madrasas and halal products and the banning of burqa and niqab . We have a programme of action , saffron- rober , Galagoda-Atte Gnanasara said, addressing the media soon afterwards. After the election we will definitely implement that programme. Irrespective of who opposes or not we have a non-violent programme. That is boycotting Muslim businesses in this country. We will bring that programme forward. We will have to make them kneel, teach them obedience ... Why? Because the Sinhalese have no other country in the world. To protect the only country we have, we have to carry out that struggle ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlydHwM4Mfw ). What better way to divert Sinhala attention from rising prices, growing unemployment, and plummeting living standards than the dram a of a boycott of Muslim shops? If the Rajapaksas gain absolute power via a massive majority, Sinhala mobs led by saffron-robed thug s will become even more of a norm, interfering at will and with impunity in the polity, economy and society. A boycott of Muslim businesses , though outrageous enough, will be a just a first step in a new orgy of violent intolerance targeting the minorities. Saffron- rober , Galagoda-Atte Gnan asara has claimed on multiple occasions about a threat to his life, including from the IS. Last month , one of his saffron-robed acolytes made clear how this supposed threat might play out in reality . If anyone even spills a bit of his blood, then they can all find out who we are... thundered Ambale Rathana , the chief incumbent of Dehigolla Viharaya in Mahiyangana . ... if a Muslim or a Tamil even touches him and see if we do nothing... ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxvuudJHCR0 ). He went on to tell the audience that killing to protect Buddhism is no sin, a reference to the deadliest and the most anti-Buddhist of the many Mahawamsa lies the myth of sinless war. So here we are, twenty seven years after Black July, publicly threatening Tamils and Muslims with future pogroms. The police which arrested and remanded Ramzy Razeek under the ICCP R will not lift a finger against these saffron - robed thugs who are openly threatening the minority communities with violence. Though Muslims are the primary targets this time around, even Tamils are not safe. For example, flash points can be created as the Sinhala-only presidential task force gets down to work to protect the archaeological heritage of the East. An early indication of what might happen was the July 4 th incident in Wellawelli PS division , when task force member Panamure Thilakawansha thero , accompanied by the army, descended on a Hindu kovil prom pting protests by Tamil residents ( https://theleader. l k/news/3606-2020-07-18-12-34-47 ). Imagine how easy it would be to incite the next conflagration, and the next and next... Sinhala-Buddhist supremacism bred Tamil separatism. From the disenfranchisement of plantation Tamils of Indian origin to Sinhala Only of 1956 and standardization, majoritarian extremists demonstrated that there is no Lankan identity and that Ta mils can live in Sri Lanka only as second class citizens who accept not only legislative discrimination but also regular bloodletting as their fate and due. Black July proved beyond reasonable doubt that no Tamil can be safe in Sri Lanka, pushing even moderate Tamils into the separatist corner. Th e best argument s for separation were created not only by opportunistic politicians but also by true fanatics who sincerely believed that they were battling separatism. In BJP led India, c ow -vigilantes are killing Muslims to save cows while the Modi government promotes beef exports. For example, the BJP administration reportedly reduced beef export tax from 10% to 6% and India has become one of the three top beef exporters in the world. This hypocrisy is lost on BJP supporters, the same way Rajapaksa supporters are unaware that it was Mahinda and Gotabaya Rajapaksa who in July 2014 suspended salary payments to d isabled soldiers ( http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/sri_lanka/2014/05/140530_disabled_soldiers.shtml ). The Rajapaksas created the disabled soldiers salary cut issue in 2014 and used it to win the presidential election in 2019. That is how Rajapaksa patriotism works in real life. It is first and foremost a mantle to hide their anti-democratic politics and anti-people economics from Sinhala eyes. It is a way to make Sinhalese forget their hunger and homelessness, their poverty and joblessness. It is faux-empowerment of the Sinhala majority at the expense of the minorities. Though its immediate victims w ill be the minorities and a few anti-Rajapaksa Sinhalese, before long it will condemn the country and all its people to another period of political and societal violence and economic collapse. Still something left to lose In the Rajapaksa playbook, election times are when weapons are unearthed and conspiracies discovered. On July 30 th , several pro-Rajapaksa websites highlighted the discovery of a large amount of bombs and other weapons in the North. If one reads between the lines, it is clear these were buried by the LTTE before the final defeat. But the overall impression given is that armed separatists are at it again. In the meantime, the SLPP has lodged a formal complaint with the police about a plot against Basil Rajapaksa. That will probably be used to lock up a few more Rajapaksa opponents. In her Come September lecture, Arundathi Roy talked about the paranoia and ruthlessness of power. The Rajapaksas suffer more than most rulers from the first and generously employ the second as the remedy. Thus we have the arrest of Shani Abeysekara , one of the best sleuths Sri Lanka has produced (if not the best). He is being accused of fabricating evidence, by the same CID which made a barefaced attempt to fabricate evidence against Hejaz Hisbullah just a month ago. Those CID officers who tried to get supposed child witnesses to implicate Mr. Hisbullah in the crime of terrorism are at large while Shani Abeysekara who brought so many criminals to justice is in jail. The darkness is growing, but light still lingers . Magistrate Ranga Dissanayake not only stopped the CID from fabricating evidence. He also revealed the truth in open court. And this week, Ratnapura High Court imposed the death sentence on Premalal Jayasekara , a SLPP candidate. Former parliamentarian and deputy minister Jayasekara and his associates were found guilty of the m urder of UNP activist Shantha Dodangoda on January 5 th 2015. Mr. Dodangoda was helping to organise a meeting of Maithripala Sirisena when he was shot and killed. The SLPP had no compunction about giving nomination to a man who had been accused in a court of law of murder. W hether SLPP voters show themselves to be equally lost to all sense of decency and civility, and reward this convicted murderer with a huge win remains to be seen. Be that as it may, there is little doubt that President Gotabaya will pardon this killer of a fellow Sinhalese just as he pardoned the convicted mass murderer of Tamils, army sergeant Sunil Rat nayake . President Donald Trump caught flak even from his own party when he demanded that officials slow down Covid-19 testing, as a way of hiding the virulence of the pandemic. In Sri Lanka, a former American citizen has trumped Trump with very little fuss. According to the head of Epidemiology Unit, Dr. Sudath Samaraweera , though Sri Lanka has done 150,000 tests, about 110,000 of these are repeats. Meaning only 40,000 people have been tested in Sri Lanka for Covid-19 ( https://theleader.lk/news/3719-pcr-150-000-done-for-only-40-000-people ). In other words, a miniscule 0.18% of the populace had been tested. A recent news story adds an element of dread to this smoke and mirror way of combating the pandemic . The Ravaya of July 17 th , quoting the secretary of the PHI Association , reported that the army ha d taken away self-quarantining members of military families and non military families in the districts of Anuradhapura ( Kekirawa , Nelubewa , Shrawastipura ), Hambantoa ( Ambalantota ) and Matara ( Morawaka ) . Th ese forcible removals happened mostly in the night. The relevant PHIs were not informed of the removals or where the families were taken. We have seen how the police used the pandemic to ban peaceful protests by Rajapaksa opponents. Will white- vann ing be given a Covid-19 makeover , post-elections? Will Rajapaksa opponents be taken away from their homes to undisclosed locations and kept for an indefinite period of time , using the pandemic as an excuse? The darkness need not become Cimmerian, not if the electorate denies the Rajapaksas a massive majority. To prevent Sri Lanka from becoming a Rajapaksas fief, we need to vote for the elephant, telephone or the compass, and within those formations , for candidates we think are least likely to cross over to the Rajapaksas either for money, or out of fear or ideological affinity. In his haunting collection of stories, This way for the gas, Ladies and Gentlemen , Tadeusz Borowski described the station to Auschwitz as A cheerful little station. Very much like any other provincial railway stop: a small squ a re framed by tall chestnuts and paved with yellow gravel. H orror often comes not in monstrous garbs but in ordinary everyday guises. A normal looking station can lead to hell. A periodic election can open the doors to disaster. If in commercial transactions, the watchword is caveat emptor, in elections the watchword should be caveat suffragator . New Delhi: Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday tested positive for coronavirus disease and was admitted to Medanta hospital in Gurugram. Amit Shah, who is the first union cabinet minister to have tested positive for Covid-19, announced this on Twitter : After showing initial symptoms, I underwent a test for coronavirus and the report came out positive. My health is fine but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors. The home minister also requested those who came in his contact in last few days to isolate themselves and get tested. Among those who have met Amit Shah in last few days and have gone into isolation are BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and Babul Supriyo. Babul Supriyo tweeted I had met Honble HM Amit Shah Ji day before in the evening. I am advised by doctors to confine myself, away from my family members, for the next few days with a test to be done soon. Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla, who was attending regular meetings with the home minister, few joint secretaries and Shahs personal staff as well as security personnel deployed in his close proximity are also likely to be in isolation and undergo tests, government officials familiar with the matter said. The officials added that Amit Shah has had a full schedule for the past few days: he was present at the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Wednesday, in which the government approved the new National Education Policy (NEP). However, social distancing was strictly followed along with wearing of masks at the cabinet meeting at the PMs residence, the officials said. There is a strict protocol at PMs residence in the last few months which includes temperature checks, analyzing a persons status through Aarogya Setu app and proper hand sanitization, said an official who didnt wish to be named. During the plast few days, Shah is learnt to have attended crucial meetings on security, party meetings and met several persons at his office. On Saturday, Shah addressed the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) online conference on Bal Gangadhar Tilak, marking 100 years of the freedom fighters death August 1, 1920. While the conference was online, there was a physical component to it as well -- and Sahasrabuddhe , who is also the head of ICCR, met Shah during this. The home minister was also supposed to attend the ground breaking ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5, but the officials said that this seems difficult now. There was no information available on how many leaders have been in touch with Shah in the last few days; the newly appointed state unit presidents of Haryana, OP Dhankar and Gujarat, CR Patil called on him on July 24. The party headquarters is also out of bounds for visitors, only a handful of functionaries are allowed into the building. Soon after the news of Shahs Covid-19 positive result broke, several political leaders from various parties including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Delhi chief minister Arving Kejriwal, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel among others wished him speedy recovery on their Twitter accounts. Defence minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President J P Nadda too posted messages wishing him good health. Amitji, your perseverance and willpower has been an example for every challenge. I believe you will definitely win over this big challenge of coronavirus. I pray to God for your speedy recovery, Rajnath Singh tweeted. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, is currently recovering in a hospital after he tested positive for coronavirus. According to people familiar with the matter in Medanta, Shah is in no discomfort. He was admitted around 4.30pm in the internal medicine department and is under the care of Dr Suhsila Kataria, who is an internal medicine physician at the hospital, and specializes in treating infectious diseases. Ryan King allegedly removed one of a Sydney man's testicles to satisfy a castration fetish after the pair discussed the procedure online A Brisbane electrician accused of cutting out a stranger's testicle at his request suffers from a medical condition which causes undersized genitals. Ryan King allegedly removed one of a Sydney man's testes to satisfy a castration fetish after the pair discussed the procedure for months online. He is charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to maim, which under Queensland law carries a maximum sentence of life in jail. It is yet to be explained how another testicle and a severed penis of unknown origin allegedly came to be stashed in the freezer of King's home. King, 27, was arrested last weekend after paramedics were called to a city backpackers' hostel to treat a man, 26, with a bloody wound to his scrotum. Police were allegedly told the 26-year-old had flushed his own testicle down the toilet after King removed it by cryosurgery. King's lawyer has since said his client was born with the incurable Klinefelter syndrome, which results in men carrying an extra female chromosome. The condition stops the body from producing sperm and testosterone, usually rendering those who suffer from it infertile. A small penis and grape-sized testicles are common; other symptoms include enlarged breasts, broad hips, narrow shoulders and having reduced facial hair. Ryan King's lawyer said his client was born with the incurable Klinefelter syndrome, which results in men carrying an extra female chromosome. King is pictured above Sufferers of Klinefelter syndrome often have small penises and grape-sized testicles. Other symptoms include enlarged breasts, broad hips, narrow shoulders and reduced facial hair Magistrate Judith Daley was told King had been bullied at the private Anglican Church Grammer School, known as 'Churchie' between years four and 12 A court has heard King was also diagnosed with Asperger syndrome as a child and takes a daily dose of 50 milligrams of Ritalin to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Magistrate Judith Daley was told King had been bullied at the private Anglican Church Grammer School, known as 'Churchie', between years four and 12. Family friend Garry Goodley told Daily Mail Australia the accusation that King had performed a partial castration on a man at his request was 'very strange'. 'Hopefully he will get help,' Mr Goodley said. Police allege the 26-year-old travelled from Sydney to Brisbane on July 25 to meet King and satisfy his sexual fetish of having a testicle removed, after they found each other online. King allegedly used a CryoPen to remove one of the man's testicles. A CryoPen is pictured King, who has worked at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and volunteered with the State Emergency Service, is understood to have no medication qualifications. He allegedly studied surgical techniques on the internet and brought medical equipment and anaesthetic to operate on the 26-year-old man. The pair allegedly met at an inner-city backpackers' hostel in George Street where King used a device known as a CryoPen to remove one of the Sydney man's testicles. CryoPens release a high pressure jet of icy-cold nitrous oxide and are generally used to remove skin lesions such as warts. Once the teste was removed police allege the patient flushed it down the toilet. It has also been reported the partial castration was filmed by King and possibly uploaded to a fetish website. After the surgery it is alleged the wound could not be stitched up sufficiently to stop the bleeding and an ambulance was called by one of the men. The 26-year-old was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital for surgery where he was last reported to be in a stable condition. Lawyer Brendan Beavon outlined his client's medical problems to Brisbane Magistrates Court and said the case contained an unusual set of facts and circumstances. King is pictured After the Sydney man's testicle was removed he was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (pictured) for surgery where he was reported to be in a stable condition A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia a search was conducted of the hostel and a number of medical tools were seized. 'Investigations are continuing, and as the matter is currently before the courts it would be inappropriate to comment further,' the spokeswoman said. Police also reportedly searched King's apartment at West End in Brisbane's south and allegedly found a penis and another testicle inside his freezer. No complaint has been made to police about the severed genitalia allegedly in the freezer and detectives are investigating who the body parts belong to. King faced Brisbane Magistrates Court two days after the incident, charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent to maim. Defence lawyer Brendan Beavon outlined his client's medical problems to the court and said the case contained a 'very unusual' set of facts and circumstances. He said police had seized King's iPhone and he would accept a bail condition which barred him from internet access, according to the Courier Mail. Mr Beavon said it was obvious King needed to get a psychiatric assessment but he wanted to get back to work as quickly as possible. Defence lawyer Brendan Beavon said it was obvious King needed to get a psychiatric assessment but he wanted to get back to work as an electrician as quickly as possible King's parents (pictured) cancelled a holiday in Cairns to be at their son's bail hearing but did not comment on his situation when approached by a reporter outside court King was already regularly seeing a psychiatrist and his mental health could deteriorate if he was kept in custody. Ms Daley said it appeared the alleged surgery had been carried out with the alleged victim's consent but there were no conditions under which she could consider granting King bail. 'I find that given the nature of this offence, I think he is an unacceptable risk of committing further offences and also endangering the safety and welfare of other persons,' Ms Daley said. Mr Beavon said it could be 18 months to two years before the case as finalised. King was remanded in custody until the case reappears in court on August 24. King's parents cancelled a holiday in Cairns to be at the bail hearing but did not comment on their son's situation when approached outside court. What is Canadas place in an economy driven by ideas, innovation and technology? As a country, we are preoccupied with our ability to compete and thrive in a world filled with bigger, brasher rivals. We graduate brilliant engineers, conduct world-class research, dream up innovative products and start viable tech companies. The Canadian ecosystem has grown in leaps and bounds, with venture capital investment up 500 per cent over the past decade and hiring up 85 per cent since 2014. But we still need more of our startups and young firms to fully commercialize their ideas and scale up to become global leaders and drivers of Canadian wealth and job creation. A few firms have reached these heights Nortel, Research in Motion, OpenText, Shopify and a few others and others are on track. But imagine what dozens of companies like these could do to secure our future prosperity. How do we build them? What are the most successful ones doing and what do the rest need to get over the hump? These are the questions that have launched a thousand studies and reports; there are no simple answers. To help Canadian firms scale, we need comprehensive solutions that bring together everything weve already learned. Talent is one important piece of the puzzle. Canada has always built its economy around resources and, in the digital economy, our most valuable resource is intellectual capacity. Canada has been making a virtue of restrictive U.S. immigration policies lately by making it easy for tech talent to work here, and the startup community is finding new ways to recruit smart people abroad, such as the innovative Outposts program run by Waterloo innovation centre Communitech, which facilitates cross-border hiring for its member companies. This will amplify the Global Talent Stream program started by the federal government, which has attracted more than 40,000 tech workers since it launched two years ago. Its also critical we make the most of the intellectual property we work so hard to develop. Ontario has just announced plans to implement IP recommendations advocated by a panel led by Jim Balsillie, chair of the Canadian Council of Innovators and former co-CEO of RIM, who has advocated relentlessly on this issue. Too often, the priceless intellectual property developed here in Ontario gets bought up by the big U.S. or international firms, Premier Doug Ford acknowledged while announcing the effort. And government and ecosystem infrastructure is imperative, as we have all been reminded by collaborative efforts to support Canadas entrepreneurs and startup ecosystem during the COVID-19 pandemic. MaRS Discovery District in Toronto, which supports 1,300 startup companies, has recently consolidated services for 53 high-growth firms under its Momentum portfolio: a group of companies with demonstrated potential to reach $100 million in revenue within five years. Momentums goal is to connect the leaders of these future star companies with executives who have been there and done that. Canadians are full of ideas, but this countrys size leaves us with a limited roster of people who have grown tech companies to scale. Our engineering talent, academic talent and entrepreneurial spirit get a lot of firms to their Series A funding, but they need the fuel to go the rest of the way. These founders have built amazing products and companies; now theyre looking for peer-to-peer learning and advice from experienced leaders, plus access to markets, data and qualitative guidance to help them make the right decisions around expansion, financial, hiring, accountability and more. Canadas future economy relies in part on these young companies driving productivity gains and supplying the advanced industries that account for nearly 12 per cent of GDP and employ nearly two million people. We have to remember that not all scaling companies need to fill the same gaps. Joshua Wongs company, Opus One, was looking to Momentum for the right infrastructure for international expansion and sound advice in scaling enterprise software globally. Another venture needed an intellectual property review before heading out to sell to large U.S. companies the process uncovered gaps in their patent approach, which hadnt scaled at the same pace as the rest of the company. A third company shifted its revenue strategy from growth to retention after a peer-to-peer conversation about COVID-19. By temporarily scaling back their ambitions, they solidified their customer base and maintained their entire revenue stream, which put them in a much better position as the economy reopens. These are the kinds of decisions that keep promising startups growing toward the size and commercial scale that benefits not just a company, but a country. If were going to stop fretting about our place in the world and help these companies become Canadas economic champions, we need to support them with the right infrastructure and the right advice. President Donald Trump publicly criticized the nations top infectious disease expert, claiming that Anthony Faucis explanation of why coronavirus cases have been surging in the United States was Wrong! Trump wrote his public rebuke of Fauci in a retweet of a video in which the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases explained why the United States had experienced a new surge of COVID-19 cases while European countries that were hardest-hit by the virus were having more success in getting it under control. During his testimony Friday before a House subcommittee investigating the Trump administrations response to the coronavirus crisis, Fauci noted that while European countries instituted strict lockdown measures that shut down their country by about 95 percent, the United States took a more relaxed approach. Even though we shut down, even though it created a great deal of difficulty, Fauci said, we really functionally shut down only about 50 percent of the totality of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wrong! We have more cases because we have tested far more than any other country, 60,000,000. If we tested less, there would be less cases. How did Italy, France & Spain do? Now Europe sadly has flare ups. Most of our governors worked hard & smart. We will come back STRONG! :: https://t.co/hhwYOrnWZn Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 1, 2020 Trump disputed Faucis characterization of what happened, once again going back to his insistence that the United States has simply done more testing. We have more cases because we have tested far more than any other country, 60,000,000, Trump wrote. If we tested less, there would be less cases. Trump has made the claim before that has been roundly disputed by health experts who point to data that make clear the rise in COVID-19 cases in the United States is not due to increased testing. In most of the country, the number of new cases increases faster than testing. And while its true that some European countries have been testing less over time that largely has to do with the way in which they were more successful at containing the virus by pursuing a strategy of aggressive early testing. Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Anthony Fauci to @GStephanopoulos: I don't tweet. I don't even read them so I don't really want to go there. I just will continue to do my job no matter what comes out because I think it's very important. https://t.co/JgCvhTifYS pic.twitter.com/BJGIqwSjuT Good Morning America (@GMA) July 28, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Trumps public criticism of Fauci comes after weeks of increased tensions between the infectious disease specialist and Trump. Last week, for example, Trump retweeted a message that said Fauci had misled Americans on a number of issues. Fauci disputed that claim: I have not been misleading the American public under any circumstances. Earlier, Trump had characterized Fauci as a little bit of an alarmist. Fauci also pushed back on that assertion, saying he considered himself more a realist than an alarmist. Several senior White House officials have also spoken up against Fauci. Most notably, Peter Navarro, the presidents top trade adviser, published a mid-July op-ed in USA Today that said Fauci has a good bedside manner with the public, but he has been wrong about everything I have interacted with him on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I consider myself more a realist than an alarmist, Dr. Anthony Fauci says in response to President Trump calling him an "alarmist" amid the coronavirus pandemic pic.twitter.com/Ikq9u0sKyH CNN (@CNN) July 21, 2020 Trumps direct attack against Fauci came a day after one of his top cheerleaders, Tucker Carlson, used a segment on his Fox News show to attack Fauci as a total fraud. Carlson used a graphic with the term Dear Leader to blast Fauci for refusing to answer a question from Republican Rep. Jim Jordan about whether the government should limit protests. I just want an answer to the question. Do the protests increase the spread of the virus? Jordan insisted after some back-and-forth. Fauci pressed his point that people gathering in crowds of people, especially if they arent wearing masks increases the risk of transmission. But Fauci refused to answer whether the government should limit protests: Im not in a position to determine what the government can do in a forceful way. Carlson attacked Fauci for his answers: There is nothing Dr. Anthony Fauci wont opine on as long as it doesnt offend the popular and fashionable left. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tucker Carlson lights up Dr. Anthony Fauci for dodging @Jim_Jordan's questions on protests and coronavirus: "What a fraud this guy is!"https://t.co/iPCHZlJO6g pic.twitter.com/c795SqMqXJ Scott Morefield (@SKMorefield) August 1, 2020 For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. By Lee Hyo-sik Thirty-one out of 72 workers arriving from Iraq, Friday, showed possible coronavirus symptoms, according to the government's COVID-10 response headquarters. "Seventy-two people coming from Iraq arrived at Incheon International Airport Friday morning via a chartered flight," a quarantine official at the headquarters said. "Of these, 31 showed a fever or other symptoms of the virus." Quarantine officials in Iraq checked workers' health before they boarded the plane in the Middle East nation. The officials then separated people showing symptoms from those who did not on the plane. The two groups then entered Incheon International Airport through separate arrival gates. On arrival, the 31 underwent coronavirus tests. The remaining passengers will undergo two weeks of self-quarantine. "People who test positive will be quarantined and treated for the virus at treatment centers," the official said. "Those who test negative will be housed at isolated facilities for the next two weeks." On July 24, 293 Koreans were flown from Iraq on two military planes. Seventy-seven of these people tested positive for the coronavirus. California State University has approved a vote requiring all students to take an ethnic and social justice studies class in order to graduate. The decision came in late July from the largest public university system in the United States, commonly known as Cal State. The change is set to take effect in three years. The decision comes in the middle of a national reckoning over systemic racism and police abuse. It represents the first change to the schools general education program in more than 40 years. The state Legislature is also considering a bill to require ethnic studies. However, it would not include social justice classes. If passed and signed by Californias governor, the measure would overrule the action by California State University. School leaders have denounced this possibility, saying it would interfere with university decision-making. State lawmakers still have to examine small changes to the bill before it could be sent to Governor Gavin Newsom. The plan approved by California State University lets students choose from different ethnic studies subjects to meet the requirement. Cal States selection is wider than the state bill. Students at Cal State, for example, can take social justice courses that explore such issues as the criminal justice system and public health inequities. Chancellor Timothy White is among the leadership at Cal State. Before voting in favor of the class requirement, he said, Its grounded in ethnic studies, but it is broader, more inclusive, gives students choice. Lawmaker Shirley Weber is a San Diego Democrat and former professor. She wrote the Legislatures bill. The universitys trustees and state lawmakers agree on the need for more ethnic studies. But Weber and supporters of her proposal say permitting social justice classes makes the university's plan weaker. This is not a requirement for ethnic studies, trustee Silas Abrego said before the vote. He was one of the few members to vote against the Cal State plan. Instead, he favors Webers bill. He said the ethnic studies professors were not included in discussions about the proposal. Webers bill would take effect in the 2021-2022 school year. It would require students to take a class centered on Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans or Latina and Latino Americans. The universitys proposal would take effect in the 2023-2024 school year. The universitys plan would cost $3 million to $4 million, while the state bill is estimated to need $16 million. Tony Thurmond a top official for public education in the state. He is also on the Cal State University board. He voted against the universitys proposal. He spoke in favor of the state bills method that centered on the four ethnic studies subjects. Weber, who leads the Legislative Black Caucus, has written that her bill was needed because the university was too slow to act. It announced ethnic studies plans almost five years ago. Weber noted that the California Faculty Association, a labor union, supports her bill. The group represents 29,000 professors at California State University. It has said the aim should be teaching students about the experiences of minorities and people of color in the United States. Trustee Lateefah Simon called the schools proposal thoughtful and detailed, but she voted against it. She said its social justice umbrella plan might cause students to miss out on ethnic studies education. Im Alice Bryant. The Associated Press reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story graduate v. to earn a degree or diploma from a school, college or university reckoning n. the time when your actions are judged as good or bad and you are rewarded or punished chancellor n. the head of some U.S. universities broad adj. including or involving many things or people trustee n. a member of a group that manages the money of an organization board n. a group of people who manage or direct a company or organization caucus n. a group of people who meet to discuss a particular issue or to work together for a shared, usually political goal umbrella n. something that includes several or many different things 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. 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Digital Editor Trump Urges GOP to Sue Over Nevada Mail-In Voting, Ballot Harvesting President Donald Trump urged Republicans to take unspecified legal action on Aug. 2, hours before Nevadas Democratic-controlled Legislature rushed through sweeping changes allowing voting-by-mail and ballot harvesting in the Nov. 3 election. Nevada is considered a battleground state. The Silver State, which has six electoral votes out of the 270 required to elect the president, was hotly contested in 2016. In that years presidential election, Democrat Hillary Clinton won 47.9 percent of the popular vote in the state, besting Republican Donald Trump, who won 45.4 percent, Ballotpedia reports. The last time a Republican carried the state was 2004. Republicans claim that states such as Democratic-controlled California and Nevada are enacting ballot harvesting laws, which allow organized workers or volunteers to collect absentee ballots from voters and deliver those ballots to a polling place, to make it easier for the votes of illegal aliens and those not interested in the political process to be cast. Democrats counter that they are trying to make sure that exercising democratic rights should be as easy as possible and that they want everyones vote to count. Republican Adam Paul Laxalt, former Nevada attorney general and co-chairman of the Trump campaign in the state, weighed in on what was transpiring among state lawmakers in Carson City. Gov. Sisolak and the NV Dems called a special session with no public present and inside 24 hours are ramming through mail-in balloting and ballot harvesting, he wrote on Twitter on Aug. 1. They are massively altering our election 97 days out entirely without the SecState. They are working to steal our election. Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske, a Republican, reportedly said on July 31 that she preferred returning to in-person balloting, after some problems erupted during the states recent vote-by-mail primary election. That method of voting was challenged, but a federal judge refused to intervene. She said she would need an extra $5 million to be appropriated to cover a second all-mail election. Trump weighed in, reposting Laxalts tweet early on Aug. 2, adding: This is outrageous. Must be met with immediate litigation! He added the Twitter user name @GOPChairwoman to his tweet, which corresponds to Ronna McDaniel, who heads the Republican National Committee. During the Nevada primaries, Trump also tweeted his displeasure with voting-by-mail, writing on May 20: State of Nevada thinks that they can send out illegal vote by mail ballots, creating a great Voter Fraud scenario for the State and the U.S. They cant! If they do, I think I can hold up funds to the State. Sorry, but you must not cheat in elections. On July 30, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, issued a formal proclamation calling the Nevada Legislature into a special session beginning at 9 a.m. on July 31 to, in the words of a press release, address significant policy issues that cannot wait until the regularly scheduled legislative session. One of the agenda items he listed was ensuring Nevadans can exercise their fundamental right to vote in a way that does not dangerously expose them to increased risk of COVID-19 infection. The legislative measure, known as AB4, passed the Assembly 2912 on July 31, and the Senate 138 on Aug. 2. One provision in the bill allows the governor, and not the secretary of state, who normally administers the electoral process, to determine how polling places operate in an emergency. The measure now goes to the governor for signature. Lawmakers shared their thoughts on the bill. No person should ever have to choose between their health and safety and their participation in democracy, said Assemblywoman Shannon Bilbray-Axelrod, a Democrat, as reported by the Nevada Independent. I am proud to support and vote for AB4, as it will go a long way to ensure that citizens of Nevada can participate in a safe manner. Republicans say theres no reason to rush the legislation and that its inappropriate to make significant changes to election law during a special sitting of the legislature. I cannot even begin to try and predict what effect this will have on our state, and on our election process, said Assemblywoman Melissa Hardy, a Republican. This bill swings the pendulum to an extreme without having time to research its unintended consequences. Parks, historic areas get improvement aid Local sites were awarded grants from the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, Department of Environmental Conservation, and the advocacy group Parks & Trails New York to improve the maintenance of their historic open spaces, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office said. They are: Columbia Friends of the Electric Trail ($10,000): To support improvements to communication and membership coordination to promote Albany-Hudson Electric Trail. Friends of Moreau Lake State Park ($13,500): For consultant to create promotional materials designed to raise membership. Friends of Saratoga Spa State Park ($12,000): For consultant, membership management software and promotional materials, digital marketing and Chamber of Commerce membership. Friends of Schuyler Mansion ($28,256): For historic floor cloth covering for ballroom, photographs of Brussels carpeting. Lake George Battlefield Park (Fort George) Alliance ($3,528): New signs. Friends of U.S. Grant Cottage ($48,000): To assess conditions and for master plan for potential improvements including off-site parking, accessible pedestrian pathways and new pavilion. Olana Partnership ($14,400): For planning for trailhead from the Hudson River Skywalk to the historic site with a new gate, signs, benches and bike racks. Wilton Wildlife Preserve ($4,800): For signs, school programs on environmental history of Saratoga Sand Plains. Brookside Museum plans fundraiser BALLSTON SPA From 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, trustees of the Brookside Museum, Saratoga County Historical Society host a barbecue chicken fundraiser to support the museum during the COVID shutdown. Located at 6 Charlton St in Ballston Spa, the history center will use its parking lot to distribute the take out meal. Meals may be reserved by pre-ordering either through www.brooksidemuseum or calling 518-884-9070 or 518-885-4000. When accessing the website look for the barbecue under events. A dinner will cost $13. ShopRite veterans campaign begins ShopRite's 12th annual Veterans Fundraising Campaign, held at 35 stores throughout New York and New Jersey, continues through Saturday, August 15. Donations will be collected at checkout at ShopRite stores throughout the Hudson Valley and Capital Region in New York. The 2020 Veterans Fundraising Campaign will benefit local veterans organizations including Hudson Valley Honor Flight, Committee for the Families of War Veterans, and the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, in addition to other local organizations that serve communities within ShopRite's trading area. Clifton Park Senior Center reopens CLIFTON PARK - The Clifton Park Senior Community Center has reopened its doors to their members beginning in August. Socially distanced outdoor activities will include, tai chi, yoga, watercolor, Latin line dancing, billiards and a new walking club. Class sizes will be limited, daily temperature checks will be taken, and cleaning and sanitizing will take place before and after each class/activity. In the event of inclement weather, activities will be moved to a safe environment inside. All activities require advanced registration. Walk-ins are not allowed. Members can call 518-383-1343 to sign up or for questions. Altamont firm part of Canalway project Carver Construction of Altamont is building the new section of the Erie Canalway Trail between Ilion and Mohawk in Herkimer County, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office. The new 1.9-mile trail will help to close a nearly 20-mile gap in the Mohawk Valley section of the Empire State Trail. The project was approved at the New York Power Authority and the New York State Canal Corporation board meeting this week. Pantry gets aid from Regeneron workers Regeneron employees and interns this week donated more than 56,000 non-perishable food and toiletry items, weighing in at 24,863 pounds, during their fifth-annual food drive to benefit the Regional Food Bank. This year's food drive theme was "Quaranteam" and focused on working together to support those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food Bank said Friday. Shen neighbors plan health presentation Shenendehowa Neighbors Connecting, a nonprofit serving 55+ citizens who live in the Shenendehowa School District, hosts "Remaining Healthy and Independent with Technology" presented via Zoom at 1 p.m. Wednesday Aug. 19. Registration is required. Go to www.snc.clubexpress.com. Click on the upcoming event to register. Rockefeller site's status celebrated The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation and the Friends of Rockefeller State Park Preserve celebrated Rockefeller State Park Preserve's official listing to the National Register of Historic Places on Friday. The preserve unveiled a plaque commemorating listing of the Rockefeller Pocantico Hills Estate National Register Historic District, which encompasses the preserve, 55 miles of scenic carriage roads, as well as the historic estates of the Rockefeller family. Health care site's gala raises $78K BENNINGTON, VT. The Spirit of the Summer Gala, event designed to bring the Southwestern Vermont Health Care community safely together in a virtual way, welcomed more than 400 attendees and raised more than $78,000 from July 17 to 31. "The Spirit of the Summer Gala was an incredible success by all measures," said Leslie Keefe, the vice president of Corporate Development at SVHC, which serves parts of Rensselaer and Washington counties. "It was so inspiring and just what the community needed at this time." British Airways pilots have voted to accept a pay cut as part of a deal to avoid contracts being torn up. Up to 270 jobs will be cut as part of the agreement which averts a 'fire and rehire' threat where contracts would have been scrapped and pilots handed new ones with worse conditions. It means salaries will be temporarily cut by 20 per cent. The scale of the reductions will reduce to 8 per cent over two years and to zero over the longer term, it said. Union bosses said efforts will be made to reduce the 270 job losses 'Our members have made a pragmatic decision in the circumstances but the fact that we were unable to persuade BA to avoid all compulsory redundancies is bitterly disappointing,' said Balpa general secretary Brian Strutton. Union bosses said efforts will be made to reduce the 270 job losses. The union said 85 per cent of members accepted the deal on an 87 per cent turnout. British Airways employs 4,300 pilots. BA had proposed to make 12,000 staff from its 42,000 workforce redundant, with 1,255 pilots' jobs at stake. Talks continue with other BA staff, such as cabin crew, engineers and office staff. Last month trade union Unite threatened industrial action against the airline over plans to scrap contracts and replace them with with less favourable terms. In an article for The Mail on Sunday in June, BA boss Alex Cruz described the 'painful' job cuts as a vital step to safeguard the future of the airline, which he said faced a fight to survive. In addition to Realme launching its 10W wireless charger, reports also talked about Microsoft planning to buy TikTok in the US among others. Heres' the tech wrap. What made headlines today in the world of technology was Facebook introducing official music videos in India. We also saw Google getting the limelight as it adds biometric checks in Chromes autofill security. In addition to Realme launching its 10W wireless charger, reports also talked about Microsoft planning to buy TikTok in the US among others. So, these are your top tech news of the day. Microsoft is in talks to buy TikTok in US As per a report, Microsoft is planning to acquire TikToks operations in the US. A deal is said to give the software company a popular social-media service and relieve US government pressure on the Chinese owner of the video-sharing app. Apples App Store business is the most uneven in the history, feels Epic Games CEO Following Cooks testimony at the public hearing this week, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has also slammed Apple. Sweeney says that he had tried to contact Apple many times about the App Store subscription model but the company denied all his requests. He added that Epic Games reached out to Apple to ask about the possibility of launching the Epic Games Store on iOS but their lawyers had sent Epic Games a letter refusing it. PUBG Mobile Ancient Secret Mode with pyramids showcased in video, to show up in Miramar map What you get in PUBG Mobile Ancient Secret are some new pyramids tombs. Players would have to solve some puzzles in order to access massive loots. The puzzle unlocks the boss battle as well. Defeating the Boss will give you access to level-3 loot. All this was shown in a video posted by a YouTube channel. Facebook brings Official Music Videos in India Facebook has expanded its official music video feature to more countries now and India is one of them. This was introduced in the US recently and can now be seen under the Watch segment in India as well. You can watch the official music videos on both Android and iOS apps. The firm says that this will be coming to desktops soon. Realme launches 10W Wireless Charger in India for Rs 899 Realme has launched its 10W Wireless Charger in the country and you can buy it right now from the Realme website for 899. This wireless charger was first spotted online in February earlier this year and has now quietly made its way in. Black Shark 3S gaming smartphone with Snapdragon 865, 12GB RAM launched in China Black Shark expanded its portfolio with Black Shark 3S handset. Launched in China, the new gaming smartphone is priced at CNY 3,999 (roughly 42,620) for the 12GB+128GB model and CNY 4,299 (roughly 45,800) for 12GB+256GB model. Considering the companys presence in India is not high, we are not expecting it to launch here. At least for now. Your browser experience is now more secure, Google's added biometric checks to Chromes autofill security Google has added a few security tools to protect your passwords and financial information saved on Chromes autofill better. One of these features will use biometric information, like fingerprint etc, to verify your identity when you want to use your credit card online. Facebook rolls out Messenger Rooms shortcut on WhatsApp Web Facebook has been testing support for Messenger Rooms shortcut on WhatsApp for some time. Messenger Rooms is now available on WhatsApp but only on its web version. WhatsApps mobile app doesnt have this feature yet. Taiwan establishes National Human Rights Commission ROC Central News Agency 08/01/2020 04:57 PM Taipei, Aug. 1 (CNA) The establishment of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Saturday is a milestone for Taiwan as it aims to bring local laws and practices more in line with global standards, said President Tsai Ing-wen (). At the commission's inauguration ceremony in Taipei, Tsai described the body as an instrument designed to promote and protect human rights in Taiwan and fulfill the government's commitment to meet the Paris Principles. The Paris Principles are key evaluation criteria for national human rights institutions, adopted unanimously in a resolution by the United Nations Human Rights Commission in 1992 and also by the U.N. General Assembly in 1993. The commission will be responsible for reviewing complaints of abuses and discrimination, drafting and proposing a national human rights report and advising government agencies on related policymaking. Oversight of the NHRC will fall to the president of the Control Yuan and nine other members of the body responsible for investigating and censuring abuse by public officials and agencies. Under the Organic Act of the Control Yuan National Human Rights Commission announced on Jan. 8, the committee's work will be divided into research, investigation and education subcommittees. A NHRC plaque was unveiled at the Control Yuan building on Saturday, in a ceremony attended by Tsai, Control Yuan President Chen Chu () and former Control Yuan President Chang Po-ya (). Chen said the focus of the NHRC will be human rights violations, in particularly against children, and various forms of discrimination, such as prison abuse. (By Wang Cheng-chung, Chen Chun-hua and Ko Lin) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi: With the Covid-19 recovery rate in Delhi now 89.56% and active cases down to 7.52% of the total tally of 137,677, the Delhi government has started to focus on key governance issues that have been on the back burner in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last week, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal spoke about reviving the Capitals economy, completing pending projects, implementing schemes that have been stuck and allowing hotels and weekly markets to resume operations, though it was later turned down by lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage To pump in more resources for non-Covid works, senior officials in the finance department said the government, this time, has lifted the restriction on not considering any non-Covid proposal a decision taken in June which was valid till July 31, when the cases in the city were peaking. There have been several signs of this shift in focus and a gradual return to business as usualover the past three weeks. Since July 21, the government cleared the decks for its flagship doorstep delivery of rations scheme, inspected infrastructure projects such as the redevelopment of Chandni Chowk and flyovers in north-east Delhis Seelampur and Shastri Park, and on July 27 Kejriwal launched an employment portal to facilitate job seekers and employers who have been hit by the lockdown. In June, Kejriwal had no appointment connected to a non-Covid issue. In July, he made two non-Covid visitsto the Shastri Park flyover and Chandni Chowk. To be sure, Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who is also the citys finance minister, issued a caveat that the government will not launch any new projects just yet given the financial crisis that the city faces. We are struggling to pay salaries. It is impossible to think of investing in new projects now, unless we get some financial help from the central government. We had sought 5,000 crore from the Centre but we have not got any money till date, Sisodia said. The government has also consistently warned against complacency and the need to adhere to safety and distancing norms. Also read: Railways to create over 1.1mn man-days work for migrants in 6 states But the administration, once the unlock guidelines were in place, started delivering day-to-day essential services graduallyincluding meter readings for power bills that started July 1, and issuing important documents such as income certificates, disability certificates, caste certificates, mutation of property and works related to stamp dutyhighlighting that Delhi, which is the only place in India where cases are consistently reducing, is starting to look at life beyond the pandemic from a governance perspective. Debolina Kundu, a professor at the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), emphasised three points that the government should consider as it gets back to regular non-Covid affairs. First, workplaces must adhere to social distancing. For that, offices can chalk out plans such as staggered timings and encourage work from home in departments where possible. Second, while drafting welfare policies, the government must consider that a large chunk of people who were borderline above the poverty line (APL) have now dropped below the poverty line (BPL) after the lockdown. All targeted benefit schemes have to be re-assessed and expanded, if needed. Third, while designing habitation schemes for the poor, the government must ensure that houses are capable of isolation of the residents. The policymakers should use Covid management as a learning experience. At this juncture, it is very important to ensure closed drains, toilets and access to clean water for each such household. Here is a look at some of the areas that the administration had started gradually reopening. INFRASTRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT Over the past two weeks, the chief minister has reviewed the Shastri Park flyover project and the plan for redevelopment of Chandni Chowk, which are scheduled to be opened to the public in August and November respectively. Both the projects have been delayed due to labour shortages owing to the pandemic. While the Shastri Park road project consists of two flyovers and is aimed at decongesting northeast Delhis traffic, the Chandni Chowk project aims to establish a decongested and pedestrianised heritage market on the 1.5km road stretch between Red Fort and Fatehpuri Masjid. Senior officials from different government departments who spoke to HT on condition of anonymity said a funding crunch had forced the government to prioritise a handful of incomplete works over several flagship projects. For instance, the plan to start the second phase of the governments CCTV camera scheme, which involved installing 140,000 cameras across the city, is still on hold. There has been no talk on when it will be revived. POWER Due to the Covid-19 lockdown, consumers in Delhi were getting provisional power bills in the months of March, April and May because private power distribution companies (Discoms) had stopped meter readings over safety concerns. The state power department said all discoms had resumed meter readings last week, except in containment zones. A spokesperson for BSES said the pandemic pushed up online payments of power bills. As per our data, in the pre-Covid times, 72% of the consumers of BYPL and BRPL, which constitute around 85% of Delhis total 5.5 million domestic consumers, used to pay their electricity bills online. Until last week, we found that this has now increased to 90%, a BSES spokesperson said. WATER The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) has opened all its offices, said Raghav Chadha, DJB vice-chairperson and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Rajendra Nagar. He said that all the zonal revenue offices (ZROs) of DJB in each of the 11 districts have opened, but very few people are turning up owing to the pandemic. The zonal revenue offices are the offices where the real public dealing used to happen, but despite the unlocking, very few people are coming due to the pandemic. Another reason for fewer people turning up is that the Delhi government has now extended its water bill waiver scheme till September 30, he said. TRANSPORT SERVICES The state transport department said that it is witnessing a deluge of queries regarding driving license, fitness certificates and permit renewals. Services such as making a licence now entails a long wait which can go up to two months at regional transport offices (RTOs) such as Rohini, Sarai Kale Khan and Dwarka. The RTO at Sarai Kale Khan, for example, which is also one of the busiest in Delhi, 200 driving tests used to be conducted every day till March. At the moment, around 80 tests are conducted in a day. The number of online tests for a learners license is now down to around 100 from 250 daily tests conducted before the pandemic. Due to social distancing norms, which cannot be compromised with, we have capped the number of daily driving tests being conducted in every RTO. Hence, demand is much higher. We are also trying to make people aware of the Central governments latest relaxed rule under which expired transport documents such as a licence, fitness certificates and other permits are valid till September 30. So, there is no need to panic, said a senior transport official who asked not to be named. Apart from routine services, the Delhi government has also floated tenders for acquiring 300 e-buses for the Delhi Transport Corporations fleet and also released an instalment of its share to the DMRC to resume work on the Janakpuri West R K Ashram corridor under Delhi Metros phase 4, said a second senior transport official. REVENUE SERVICES More than 23 revenue services that were categorised as non-essential were shut in Delhi on March 20. From June 8, when the first unlocking guidelines were issued, Delhi governments revenue department slowly opened its public services including issuing income, domicile, marriage, caste and solvency certificates, mutation of properties, enrolment of Aadhaar and civil defence volunteers, and registration of documents in sub-registrar offices. Government data seen by HT shows that earnings through revenue services in June this year dropped by almost 44% compared to the same period last year. Various district revenue offices in June 2019 processed and approved 24,709 documents compared to 14,165 in June 2020. In the same month last year, the government earned 49 crore in registration fees and 238 crore in stamp duty. This June, the two collections were 28 crore and 135 crore respectively. With the recent scorching temperatures in the UK, many families will be heading to the coast to enjoy the nice weather. Yet one constant bugbear is how sand, which is difficult to brush off, gets everywhere, including on your hands and feet. But mother Stephanie Scheff, from California, went viral after sharing a video in which she demonstrated how to use talcum powder to remove sand from her son's feet. Mother Stephanie Scheff, from California, shared a video showing how to use talcum powder to brush off sand from her child's feet She originally shared the video on TikTok back in May, but with the sunny weather it's recently resurfaced and has been shared dozens of times in recent days. The mother was seen showing off the bottle of talcum powder before she used it to demonstrate her sand removal hack. She explained: 'I always keep a bottle of baby powder in the car for beach trips. 'You don't want all this sand coming in your car, so sprinkle it on the area that has sand and it comes right off.' She posted the video on TikTok in May - but with the recent hot weather, it has been widely shared again in recent days As she was speaking she was seen sprinkling the talc onto her son's foot, which had been covered in grit. She then rubbed the powder and the sand disappeared with it. 'Look, no more sand. And it smells good,' she added. Stephanie's video has had more than 250,000 views and thousands of comments. One fan commented: 'That's actually pretty smart,' while another wrote: 'Saving this for the future.' A third explained: 'It works because the baby powder absorbs the moisture in the sand that makes it stick.' Taiwan's former President Lee Teng-hui speaks during an exclusive interview with the Associated Press at his home in Taipei, Taiwan in this May 28, 2008, file photo. / AP-Yonhap Taiwan's former President Lee Teng-hui, who defied China and earned the nickname "Mr. Democracy" for the part he played in the island's transition away from authoritarian rule, has died. He was credited with paving the way for Taiwan to become a modern, free society after decades of one-party dictatorship and became a champion of the island's bid to be treated as a sovereign state internationally. Lee had been in hospital since February after choking on some food and had a history in recent years of chronic illnesses. He died on Thursday aged 97, of septic shock and multiple organ failure, Taipei Veterans General Hospital vice president Hwang Shinn-jang told reporters. Lee's 1988-2000 term in office was marked by growing cross-strait tensions as he pitched himself against Beijing, infuriating Chinese authorities for daring to carve out a separate identity for Taiwan. Despite being self-ruled since 1949, Taiwan has never formally declared independence from the mainland and Beijing has vowed to react with force if it ever does. China still regards Taiwan as part of its territory. Born into a colony Lee was born in Taiwan in 1923 and educated in Japan, which at the time ruled the island as a colony. In 1945 Taiwan was handed back to China, then under the rule of Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) leader Chiang Kai-shek. After Chiang lost a civil war to communist forces four years later, he fled to Taiwan to set up a rival government. Ruling with an iron fist, Chiang instigated a "White Terror" purge of opponents which lasted until his death in 1975. Lee, a professor of agricultural economics, was introduced to Chiang's son Chiang Ching-kuo in the 1970s and gained his trust. By 1984 Lee was vice president and four years later was appointed leader following the younger Chiang's death, becoming the island's first Taiwan-born president. China missiles Martial law had already been lifted by the younger Chiang in 1987 but it was Lee who drove forward Taiwan's largely peaceful transition into a fully functional democracy. His government introduced wide-ranging political reforms, including the election of a new parliament and a direct vote for president. Lee then won Taiwan's first ever public leadership elections in 1996, which he took by a landslide despite threats from Beijing. China fired ballistic missiles into the Taiwan Strait in a bid to stop voters choosing Lee, prompting the US to send warships to the area. Once in office, Lee urged local firms to avoid extensive investments in China, promoting a separate cultural identity from the mainland, which in turn branded him a "sinner" and "splittist." Lee was succeeded by Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2000 when the KMT lost for the first time. Lee's commitment to formally declaring an independent Taiwan only became clear after he stepped down and helped found the Taiwan Solidarity Union which advocates a split from China, a move that prompted the KMT to expel him from the party. After Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT succeeded Chen in 2008 and oversaw a rapprochement with China, Lee became a vocal critic of the government's Beijing-friendly policies. He was indicted on corruption charges in 2011 but was acquitted and accused the Ma government of "inventing" offences to persecute him. Since 2016, Taiwan has been run by president Tsai Ing-wen who is also loathed by Beijing because she views the island as a sovereign state. In a statement she described Lee as "irreplaceable, and his passing is a tremendous loss to our country." A spokeswoman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office the mainland's top body overseeing policy towards the island said Taiwan independence was a "dead end." "The historical trend of national reunification... cannot be stopped by anyone or any forces," said Zhu Fenglian on Thursday. China's nationalistic state-run Global Times newspaper meanwhile labelled Lee the "godfather of Taiwan secessionism." "Lee's death is definitely not sad news to most people in the Chinese mainland," the tabloid wrote. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered condolences, saying Washington would celebrate Lee by "continuing to strengthen our bond with Taiwan and its vibrant democracy." (AFP) Foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said that Egypt objects to a seismic survey carried out by Turkey from 21 July to 2 August, saying it overlaps with Egypts exclusive economic zone A seismic survey that is planned by Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean represents a violation and attack on sovereign rights, a statement by the foreign ministry said, further escalating tensions between the two countries. In an official statement on Saturday, foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Hafez said that Egypt objects to a seismic survey carried out by Turkey from 21 July to 2 August, saying it overlaps with Egypts exclusive economic zone. Hafez said the encroachment violates the UN convention on the Law of the Sea and international law. The statement added that Egypt does not recognise any outcomes or implications that may entail from Turkeys activity in the area of overlap. Turkeys announcement of the planned survey has stirred a dispute with Greece and Cyprus over drilling rights, with Athens stressing it will do whatever is necessary to defend its sovereign rights in response to Ankaras planned move. Turkey said it could pause the oil-and-gas research mission pending talks. Egypt, a close ally to Greece and Cyprus, has had strained relations with Turkey since the 2013 ouster of Egypts late Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, a close ally of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogans government. Relations further deteriorated recently over Turkeys intervention in Libya and a signalled military intervention by Egypt in the war-torn country. Search Keywords: Short link: Chandigarh, Aug 2 : As part of its crackdown against drugs, Punjab Police have busted another Pakistan-backed cross-border drugs and weapons smuggling racket, with the arrest of two smugglers and another BSF constable, posted along the Pakistan border in Tarn Taran district. The Police are working to get the kingpin, Satnam Singh, alias Satta, extradited from Muscat, Oman, where he had fled after he was declared proclaimed offender in two smuggling cases, Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta said on Sunday. He used a fake Passport and Aadhaar card issued in the name of Gurmeet Singh to escape, he said, adding that the accused had five cases of smuggling registered against him earlier. Satta's ill-gotten property, which he had purchased using drug money in the name of his family relative Maninder Kaur in Amritsar, has been frozen, he added. Jalandhar Rural Police, which unearthed the racket, had recovered a .30 Bore Pistol (made in China) along with five rounds and Rs 24.50 lakh as drug money from the three accused -- Surmail Singh, Gurjant Singh and BSF constable Rajendra Prashad of Rajasthan, said the DGP. Acting on a tip-off, the Jalandhar Rural Police on July 26 apprehended two smugglers, who were coming in a car from Delhi. On questioning, the duo identified themselves as Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh. Surmail's further questioning led to the recovery of the arm and ammunitions and 35 gm of heroin. During further investigations, both the accused revealed they were working with a cross-border smuggler Satnam Singh in Taran Tarn district, who was closely linked with Pakistan-based smugglers for smuggling of heroin and weapons from Pakistan. They also disclosed that BSF constable Rajendra Prashad was also part of the smuggling racket. The BSF constable was posted at a border outpost at Chhina village in Tarn Taran. The DGP said he contacted his counterparts in the BSF and took the support of central agencies as well, for ensuring the arrest of the said BSF constable, who was apprehended by Punjab Police on July 28 from his residence in Rawala Mandi, where he was availing his leave. The Vintners Federation of Ireland is hitting out at the Government for sending a coronavirus safety message by not allowing pubs to open. It said its members have been closed for five months and they need to get back in business. The National Public Health Emergency Team will decide on Tuesday whether to reopen pubs on August 10 under Phase 4. VFI Chief Executive, Padraig Cribben, feels pubs that do not serve food have been unfairly targetted by the State. Mr Cribben said: "Just before July the 20th there was a spike in numbers which was down to house parties and travel, and the Government decided then to keep pubs closed as a means of sending a message to the public. "Now we believe that is unfair, it is using pubs as almost collateral damage to send a message when they should be tackling issues that are there. "What we are fearful of what's happening now is that the pubs will be used as collateral damage to send a message, instead of going to where the problem is and solving the problem." However, a leading expert believes there is "no question" the re-opening of pubs might have to be delayed if the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise. Kingston Mills, an immunology professor at Trinity College Dublin, said that may have to be put on hold. He said: "The trend over the last week has been worryingly upwards, and if it continues to go upwards then there is no question that the Government will have to look at either delaying stage four or at re-introducing more restrictive measures." Gabrielle Union has called out Terry Crews once again over his recent criticisms of the Black Lives Matter movement and lack of support in her discrimination allegations against NBC and America's Got Talent. And for a third time Crews is apologizing to his former co-star in a tweet. This latest critique by Union happened when she was asked about Crews' comments regarding BLM and her firing from AGT, both of which received strong backlash, during an interview on the Spotify podcast Jemele Hill Is Unbothered. War of words: Gabrielle Union slammed Terry Crews once again over his critique of Black Lives Matter and his lack of support in her battle with NBNC and America's Got Talent 'People hit me all day long and are like, whats happening? And the only thing I know for sure is that Terry Crews gets three checks from NBC,' Union answered back. 'So, I don't know if being worried about job stability which listen, we all know that if you speak up about racism and white supremacy, you absolutely can be shown the door. I don't know if thats the motivation.' The actress went on to add that she feels Crewss recent actions are more proof that he was not on her side during her time on the competition reality show. 'Based on his recent actions, do you really think Terry Crews was an ally, was helpful, was a sounding board? I think Terry Crews is showing us who he is and what he does during times of adversity and its not solidarity,' she said with obvious passion.. Strong opinion: Union, 47, claims Crews has been divisive with his comments about BLM and insinuated that he has to toe the line with NBC and AGT to keep his paychecks coming in So sorry again: Crews issued his third apology to Union following her strong words during an interview on the Spotify podcast Jemele Hill Is Unbothered NBC conducted an investigation into Union claims about working in a toxic environment during her time on AGT and concluded that she was not the victim of discrimination. 'At the end of the day, the work that I am doing to make sure that NBC is a more fair and equitable place of employment will benefit you [Crews] as well,' Gabrielle said as reported by Deadline. 'So it's OK to eat your cereal and let me do my thing and get out of the way. If you're not going to help, then get out of the way. If you don't feel financially comfortable, or spiritually comfortable or you flat out disagree, but at the end of the day he will benefit from a safer, more equitable workplace from what I stuck my neck out to do and got fired for, you know? Instead of actively working against progress,' she added. Wasting little time, Crews took to Twitter after Union's podcast interview and issued his third public apology to his former co-star. 'This will be my 3rd public apology to Gabrielle Union. If a 4th is needed, I will continue to apologize and push for reconciliation between the world, and more importantly, the culture I grew up in. Im sorry, @itsgabrielleu #reconciliation,' he wrote. The give-and-take: Crews, 52, received backlash in recent weeks over a tweet he wrote about 'black supremacy', and how the Black Lives Matter movement may be changing its focus, in light of the recent uprising over racial equality and police brutality This give-and-take started after Crews received backlash over a tweet he wrote about 'black supremacy', and how the Black Lives Matter movement may be changing its focus, in light of the recent uprising over racial equality and police brutality. Just weeks later he took to Twitter and urged people to remember that they are all children of God. 'If you are a child of God, you are my brother and sister. I have family of every race, creed and ideology. We must ensure [black lives matter] doesn't morph into [black lives better.]' From there, the television personality went on CNN and debated the purpose of the BLM movement. Union was a judge for the 14th season of America's Got Talent, but she was let go after that one season in November 2019. She claims she was fired after she speaking up out against racism, and has since filed a discrimination suit in May against the producers of AGT, citing racism and prejudice. A soldier shot dead 12 people and injured nine others during a drunken rampage in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday evening, regional authorities said. Security services are conducting a search for the gunman in the city of Sange, 15 miles (24 km) from the Burundian border, where the shooting took place, the governor of South Kivu province, Theo Kasi, said in a statement. President Felix Tshisekedi called the attack a heinous crime and offered his condolences to the victims families. Congos vast army is widely seen as poorly trained and unprofessional, and its personnel are frequently accused of committing crimes against civilians. Senior generals are under U.S. and EU sanctions for alleged abuses, and are accused by the United Nations of having supplied weapons to rebels and criminal gangs. Source: africanews.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video (Reuters) - Britain is considering minting a coin to commemorate India's independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, the Treasury said on Saturday, amid growing interest in recognizing the contributions of minorities. (Reuters) - Britain is considering minting a coin to commemorate India's independence hero Mahatma Gandhi, the Treasury said on Saturday, amid growing interest in recognizing the contributions of minorities. British Finance Minister Rishi Sunak asked the Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC) to pursue recognition of Black, Asian and other minority individuals, the Treasury said. "RMAC is currently considering a coin to commemorate Gandhi", the UK Treasury said in an emailed statement. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. When the most powerful politician in Ottawa is up on the witness stand, it is fitting that comedy can be found in a power outage. A high point of Justin Trudeaus 90-minute appearance before the Commons finance committee this week was the moment when the power went out in Prince Edward Island, removing chairman Wayne Easter from the teleconference session. After a brief flurry of what do we do now among the members, Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre realized that his title of vice-chair put him charge of the proceedings, and he promptly assigned himself to ask more questions of the prime minister. Alas, the power outage lasted only slightly less time than Poilievres dreams earlier this year of running for the Conservative leadership. Chairman Easter returned on screen from PEI and Poilievre was relegated for the rest of the day to his old role as chief interrogator/interrupter for the opposition. Lightning doesnt strike twice, unless of course you are a prime minister under an ethics cloud once again, enduring a storm that feels a lot like two or three previous controversies during the Trudeau tenure. Power is very much whats at issue here in the wake of Trudeaus appearance at the finance committee namely, whether this is the controversy that is going to plunge the Liberals into danger of losing power. In the meantime as well, Liberals will be talking about how this self-inflicted damage will change the way they are exercising power from day to day. By their own account, some diligence was exercised when Trudeau first learned that the WE Charity had been picked to administer a pandemic-relief program for students but not enough. Trudeau and his chief of staff Katie Telford told the finance committee on Thursday that they were reflecting on ways in which they could avoid messes like this in future. While we did ask many questions to make this program a success, we could have done better, Telford said. We could have done more. We could have added yet another layer of scrutiny to avoid any potential perception of favouritism. The pandemic had already disrupted business as usual in Trudeaus government; a reality that has emerged in much of the testimony so far on the WE saga politicos and public servants working crazy hours, from home, to keep Canadians afloat during the pandemic. The whole controversy is an argument for extra accountability over how quickly money has been going out the door whether that scrutiny takes place inside the PMO before programs are announced, or afterwards, with some hard examination and questioning by the opposition. Even Liberals themselves are saying that some changes are needed to business as usual in the government, and they are talking about what was usual before the pandemic, not just during it. Trudeau had been working on better outreach to caucus and Liberals even before COVID-19 consumed every minute of the governments attention. His warmer relationship with Bob Rae, recently appointed as the new ambassador to the United Nations, is seen as evidence that the prime minister was broadening the tight circle of advice he gets. There has been talk of Telford needing to go just as principal secretary Gerald Butts departed during the SNC-Lavalin drama of 2019 but the chief of staff was talking very much in the future tense about her job during Thursdays testimony, which likely means that she will remain. What may occur, though, is that the PMO will be out looking for some reinforcements to the team, to provide that extra level of scrutiny within the office. A cabinet shuffle is looking increasingly likely too, sooner rather than later. As my colleague Heather Scoffield has written, Finance Minister Bill Morneaus shelf life may be limited in the wake of WE, given how his involvement with the charity has repeatedly put the government into awkward spots. The shuffle may have been in the works for a while, but WE has turned it into a potentially disciplinary one as well. That means we are about to head into another few weeks (some say days) of Liberals sitting by their phone, waiting to get the good or bad news about cabinet. By happy coincidence for the PMO, that atmosphere tends to keep MPs in line, which may mute some of the grumbling that has been coming from caucus during the WE saga. The prospect of another election, while not as imminent, will be weighing on the Liberals too. While a brief power outage may cause a few laughs in the middle of this strange summer, being out of power is no laughing matter. For a few brief moments on Thursday, a bolt of lightning put the Conservatives in charge. Trudeau and his team are highly focused right now in making sure that lightning doesnt strike again, and again and again. Police arrest pro-life activists for Black Preborn Lives Matter sidewalk chalk Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Police in Washington, D.C., arrested a man and a woman in front of Planned Parenthood because they were writing Black Preborn Lives Matter with a piece of chalk outside the abortion facility. Our students and team members were threatened, harassed, and arrested in front of Planned Parenthood in Washington D.C. for painting all Black Preborn Lives Matter, the pro-life group Students for Life tweeted Saturday. The tweet also carried a video of the incident. Hey folks, I need to tell you now, that if you continue chalking youre going to be placed under arrest for defacing property, an officer can be heard saying. A Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman told The Epoch Times that the arrests were for the defacing of property. The man and the woman were released with citations. Weve had several offers from legal organizations to help our @StudentsforLife team in light of the unconstitutional arrests and banning of our #BlackPreBornLivesMatter street painting today, Students for Life President Kristan Hawkins said. @MayorBowser, you messed with the wrong students. Recently, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser painted the streets of the city with the slogan BLACK LIVES MATTER, the pro-life group pointed out in an online petition. In doing this, the petition says, she proclaimed not only what those of us in the pro-life genuinely believe and fight for every day in-front of Planned Parenthoods and other abortion facilities across America. But she also opened up the streets of Washington, D.C. for public expression. After applying and receiving our permit and after being told by the Metropolitan police that the Mayor has opened a Pandoras box by painting public streets, Students for Life arrived at the D.C. Planned Parenthood on Saturday, August 1st to six police cars threatening to arrest our team and student leaders if we painted BLACK PREBORN LIVES MATTER, even using the temporary paint we bought that the Police Department specifically requested. When the members of the group asked if they could use sidewalk chalk to chalk their anti-violence message on the streets, the police threatened to arrest us. This means, the group said, Mayor Bowser apparently only thinks that SOME Black Lives Matter and that only SOME slogans are allowed to be painted on streets. Not only has Mayor Bowser bought into the eugenic and racist lies that Planned Parenthood sells and what their political contributions guarantees that what goes inside of Planned Parenthoods each and every day is anything but violence and racism. But she has bought into the lies that only some people have freedom of speech and expression in America, people like her in positions of power, people like her who pride themselves on their wokeness. Last weekend, the Baby Lives Matter movement painted a blue and pink mural displaying the phrase Baby Lives Matter in front of a Planned Parenthood clinic in the city. The movement began three weeks ago after artist and pro-life activist Tayler Hansen spent seven hours painting a Baby Lives Matter mural on the street in front of a Planned Parenthood abortion facility in his hometown of Salt Lake City, Utah. [Ten] unarmed Black Americans were killed by police in 2019. They have murals all around the country. Almost 400,000 innocent babies were murdered by Planned Parenthood in 2019. Its about damn time they get a mural too. #BabyLivesMatter, Hansen proclaimed at the time. In 2019, abortion was the leading cause of death worldwide. Almost 43 million children were denied the most basic right of all: life, Hansen said in a video posted to Twitter. [That] is why I felt inclined to demonstrate a true peaceful protest dedicated to those abandoned without a voice. Nirupa Sampath By Express News Service CUDDALORE: Even as Jayaraj steps inside the RDOs office, an employee sitting there will look away from him and into the calendar. He will announce a fresh date, even before Jayaraj can ask about the status of his community certificate. This has become a ritual over the past 18 months. The 21-year-old mathematics graduate has lost all hope, but has not given up his attempts. Back in 2018, Jayaraj was an inspiration for the children and youngsters in Samy Nagar, an Irula hamlet in the outskirts of Cuddalore. He had obtained an ST community certificate and was determined to study further. He finished graduation, without major hassles. However, then arose a community certificate conundrum. I went through my entire schooling without a community certificate, explains Jayaraj. Later, I realised that it would be helpful to have an ST certificate, as I would get fee concessions, scholarships, and other government benefits. So, I applied for an SC certificate. I knew I belonged to the ST category, but I just thought it would be easier securing an SC paper. He got an SC certificate. However, later, officials conducted inquiries and gave him an ST certificate too, in 2018. Now, he has two community certificates in hand, and his ordeal has been about getting the SC certificate cancelled. I have been running pillar to post, and its taking a toll on my physical, mental, and financial health, he says. The trouble, activists say, is with officials taking terminologies too literally. Initial definition and general perception is that Irulas are hill-tribes. But, many of them migrated or were forcibly brought down to the plains over the years Jayaraj, so far, has submitted three letters and five petitions. Over the time, officials have misplaced them, he claims. When I approached the RDO office, they told me to submit both my certificates. But, I was apprehensive, as they had misplaced by petitions and documents earlier. It took the officials nearly two months to even see my documents. Jayaraj says he has made multiple trips to Chennai and regular visits to the RDO office. They are yet to cancel my SC certification. Jayaraj was recently asked to go see the Cuddalore Tehsildar. But when I went there, they said they were unaware of the procedures through which they can sort out my case. I am deeply worried. If even the officials do not know what to do, what will I do? Jayaraj at least had the grit to fight. Three of his friends gave up and discontinued studies after class 12. I kept persuading them not to give up. But, their family situations were such that they could not afford this fight. It consumes too much time and money. They gave up. Agreeing that there have been some problems in issuing community certificates to Irulas, Director of TN Tribal Welfare Department Ritto Cyriac says that he has been regularly instructing revenue department officers to consider deserving cases without any undue delay Israel's recent assault on southern Lebanon violates UN resolution: President Aoun Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 August 2020 5:49 PM Lebanon's President Michel Aoun says his country is ready to defend itself against Israel's acts of aggression, which are in violation of a 2006 resolution by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a few days after Israel bombed a Lebanese border town. "We are committed to defend ourselves, our land, our water, and our authority. We will not compromise on this matter," the Lebanese president said in a televised address on Saturday. His remarks came five days after Israeli forces fired dozens of shells into Lebanon's Kafr Shuba town and the vicinity of the Shebaa Farms, which Tel Aviv has occupied since the 1967 Six-Day War. Aoun also said that the Israeli attacks on the southern parts of the Arab country had once again flouted UNSC Resolution 1701, which calls for the full cessation of hostilities and the Israeli regime's complete withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Lebanon remains willing to abide by the resolution and settle all disputes under the UN supervision, the president said. On July 27, the day Israel bombed Lebanon's southern town, Beirut said it would lodge an official complaint with the UNSC. The Israeli regime claimed that it launched the attack after an attempt by Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement to 'infiltrate' into the occupied territories in the Jabal Ros area, boasting that it had managed to thwart Hezbollah's attempt. However, the Lebanese resistance movement, which has been of significant help to Lebanon's army in defending the country against Israeli aggression, rejected all Israeli claims. "Everything that enemy's media say about thwarting an infiltration from the Lebanese soil into the occupied territories is incorrect," it said. Hezbollah also said the regime has come up with the account to falsely claim "victory" against the resistance and try to boost the morale of its forces. Hezbollah had vowed in the past to retaliate if any of its members were killed by Israeli forces in Syria. The resistance group fired a barrage of anti-tank missiles into the occupied territories in September last year after two of its members were martyred in an Israeli strike near Damascus. Israel has recently increased the number of its troops near Lebanon's border. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Donald Trump is the Benito Mussolini to Vladimir Putin's Adolf Hitler, a top House Democrat has speculated. House majority whip Jim Clyburn, the No 3 Democrat in the chamber who is a close ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi and 2020 presidential nominee Joe Biden, made the comments in an interview with CNN on Sunday while describing what he feels is the president's dictatorial, anti-democratic tendencies. I dont think he plans to leave the White House. He doesnt plan to have fair and unfettered elections. I believe that he plans to instal himself in some kind of emergency way to continue to hold onto office, Mr Clyburn said, alluding to Mr Trump's threat last week to postpone the 2020 election over concerns about fraudulent mail-in ballots. "I feel very strongly that he is Mussolini, Putin is Hitler," Mr Clyburn said, referring to the respective fascist dictators of Italy and Germany whose aggression in Europe precipitated World War II. "The American people better wake up," Mr Clyburn said. The president sent a shock wave through the political world last week with a tweet about postponing the election, something that has never been done in the US, even through periods of civil and existential war. After making the baseless claim that states use of vote-by-mail will make Novembers election which he is losing by a substantial margin, per most reputable polls the most inaccurate and fraudulent vote in American history and a great embarrassment, the president suggested delaying it until people can properly, securely and safely vote. Mr Trump cannot unilaterally push back the election from 3 November, as only Congress holds that power. Republicans on Capitol Hill roundly dismissed the president's concerns about an authentic election and said they would take place as scheduled. He can suggest whatever he wants. The law is what it is. Were going to have an election thats legitimate, its going to be credible, its going to be the same as weve always done it, Senate intelligence chairman Marco Rubio told reporters. Democrats have suggested, meanwhile, that Mr Trump made his pronouncement as a desperate attempt to distract from Americans' dissatisfaction over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nearly six of every 10 Americans disapprove of how their president has handled the health crisis, while just 37.6 per cent approve, according to polling data tracked by FiveThirtyEight. US makes deal for 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccine, deaths expected to rise Global Times Source: CGTN Published: 2020/8/1 20:06:22 Two major drug companies will supply the US government with 100 million doses of an experimental coronavirus vaccine, the Trump administration said on Friday, as the nation's top health agency predicted that fatalities would rise in the coming weeks. The agreement calls for the US government to pay French drug maker Sanofi and British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline up to 2.1 billion US dollars to supply it with enough vaccines for 50 million people, with the option to buy another 500 million doses. The purchase falls under the Trump administration's so-called Operation Warp Speed, intended to rush a COVID-19 vaccine to the market by the end of 2020. "Today's investment supports our latest vaccine candidate, an adjuvanted product being developed by Sanofi and GSK, all the way through clinical trials and manufacturing, with the potential to bring hundreds of millions of safe and effective doses to the American people," Alex Azar, secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, said in announcing the deal. The coronavirus has infected 4.5 million people in the US and killed more than 152,000 Americans, according to a Reuters tally. The US Centers for Disease Control on Friday forecast between 168,000 and 182,000 total fatalities by August 22, predicting that deaths will rise fastest in Alabama, Kentucky, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Tennessee and Washington state. The CDC also released a study that said COVID-19 had spread to nearly half the staff and campers at a sleep-away camp in Georgia over a week and a half ago. The investigation demonstrated "that children of all ages are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and, contrary to early reports, might play an important role in transmission." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 01:24:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1.1 million passengers were transported by the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways (IRIR) in the first quarter of the current Iranian year, from March 20 to June 20, Eghtesad Online news website reported on Sunday. The figure shows a 84 decrease compared to the number of rail passengers in the corresponding period of last year, the report said. "Following the outbreak of coronavirus and in compliance with the guidelines of the National Coronavirus Headquarters, tourist trains have suspended operations. Intercity trains also run occasionally due to low demand; even operating trains run at their minimum capacity," Saeed Rasouli, the managing director of the IRIR was quoted as saying. "It's still not evident when the tourist trains will resume their work. They won't run unless the disease is completely controlled," said Rasouli. The government is offering a total of 40 million U.S. dollars worth of low interest loans to rail passenger transportation companies to help them get back on their feet after suffering losses inflicted by the coronavirus outbreak, he said. Also, the Supreme Council of Transport, affiliated to the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, has approved a 20 percent rise in rail fares as of June 21, according to Mehrdad Taqizadeh, the Secretary of Iran's Guild of Rail Transport Companies. Enditem London: The British government is downplaying a photograph of a handwritten memo that seemed to suggest Britain won't be able to remain in the single market after it leaves the European Union. The memo was being carried by an aide to a Conservative Party figure as he left the Department for Exiting the EU offices. It said: "What's the model? Have your cake and eat it." Officials said Tuesday that the notes don't belong to a government official and don't reflect the government's position. The memo lists anticipated problems with the upcoming negotiating process with EU governments. It says it's "unlikely" that Britain will be given a chance to stay in the single market. Prime Minister Theresa May plans to start the formal exit process by the end of March. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Advertisement By The Associated Press Aug. 02, 2020 | PENSACOLA By The Associated Press Aug. 02, 2020 | 03:53 AM | PENSACOLA The first astronauts launched by Elon Musks SpaceX company departed the International Space Station on Saturday night for the final and most important part of their test flight: returning to Earth with a rare splashdown. NASAs Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken bid farewell to the three men left behind as their SpaceX Dragon capsule undocked. It's headed toward a Sunday afternoon descent by parachute into the Gulf of Mexico at 1:48 pm Central time. Despite Tropical Storm Isaias surge toward Floridas Atlantic shore, NASA said the weather looked favorable off the coast of Pensacola on the extreme opposite side of the state. It will be the first splashdown for astronauts in 45 years. The last time was following the joint U.S.-Soviet mission in 1975 known as Apollo-Soyuz. Space station commander Chris Cassidy rang the ships bell as Dragon pulled away, 267 miles above South Africa. Within a few minutes, all that could be seen of the capsule was a pair of flashing lights against the black void of space. The astronauts homecoming will cap a mission that ended a prolonged launch drought in the U.S., which has relied on Russian rockets to ferry astronauts to the space station since the end of the shuttle era. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. By Abankula, with News Agency The confirmed cases of COVID-19 surpassed 18 million on Saturday night, just 3 days after hitting 17million and as the World Health Organisation warned that the pandemic would be protracted. According to the tally by tracking agency worldometers.info, COVID-19 cases are now 18,023,614, as at Sunday 0630 GMT. The new grim height was reached with rising cases in the United States, Brazil, India, Russia, South Africa, Mexico, Peru and Chile. The United States sits above the leaderboard with 4,764,318 cases and over 157,000 deaths. On Saturday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that the coronavirus pandemic would be lengthy and could lead to response fatigue. The WHO declared the global emergency just six months ago. Since then, over 680,000 people have died and the number will keep increasing until a vaccine arrives. South Africa is by far the hardest hit country in Africa, accounting for more than half of diagnosed infections, although President Cyril Ramaphosa said the fatality rate is lower than the global average. Health authorities had been expecting a surge in cases after the gradual loosening of a strict lockdown that was imposed at the end of March. Nigeria on Saturday also announced it would ease a lockdown in the commercial capital Lagos, allowing churches and mosques to reopen next week. An emergency WHO committee reviewing the pandemic highlighted the anticipated lengthy duration of this Covid-19 pandemic, noting the importance of sustained community, national, regional, and global response efforts. WHO continues to assess the global risk level of Covid-19 to be very high, it said in its latest statement. The agency also said the effects of the pandemic will be felt for decades to come. Mexico overtook Britain to become the third hardest hit country in virus deaths after Brazil and the United States with more than 46,600 fatal cases. Although many Latin American countries have begun relaxing stay-at-home measures, the virus is spreading quickly across much of the region, which has now recorded more than four million cases and almost 200,000 deaths. Half of them are in Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro said he believes nearly everyone will catch the virus eventually, after himself recovering from it. The outlook was bleak in Asia as well, where India and the Philippines reported record increases in new daily infections. We are waging a losing battle against Covid-19, and we need to draw up a consolidated, definitive plan of action, said an open letter signed by 80 Filipino medical associations. Japans Okinawa declared a state of emergency after a record jump in cases on the islands many linked to US military forces stationed there. The pandemic has spurred a race for a vaccine with several Chinese companies at the forefront, while Russia has set a target date of September to roll out its own medicine. However, US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said it was unlikely his country would use any vaccine developed in either nation. I do hope that the Chinese and the Russians are actually testing the vaccine before they are administering the vaccine to anyone, he said. As part of its Operation Warp Speed, the US government will pay pharmaceutical giants Sanofi and GSK up to US$2.1 billion (S$2.89 billion) for the development of a Covid-19 vaccine, the companies said. Related In this June 20, 2020, file photo President Donald Trump arrives on stage to speak at a campaign rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Okla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) The White House and Donald Trump's campaign on Sunday sought to shut down the Republican president's musings on delaying the 2020 vote, saying there will be an election on November 3. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said Trump was raising concerns about mail-in ballots when he floated the idea of delaying the US vote. "We're going to hold an election on November 3 and the president is going to win," Meadows said on CBS' "Face the Nation." Read More Presidential campaign adviser Jason Miller echoed the sentiment on "Fox News Sunday," saying, "The election is going to be on November 3rd and President Trump wants the election to be on November 3rd." Trump on Thursday suggested delaying the US elections, an idea immediately rejected by both Democrats and his fellow Republicans in Congress - the sole branch of government with the authority to make such a change. Critics and even Trump's allies dismissed the notion as an unserious attempt to distract from devastating economic news, but some legal experts warned that his repeated attacks could undermine his supporters' faith in the election process. The Republican president has been trying to undermine confidence in mail-in balloting, claiming repeatedly and without evidence that it would lead to widespread voter fraud. Meadows took up his boss's cause on Sunday, warning that mail-in ballots must be handled properly without providing evidence that they have not been in the past. Asked if it were irresponsible for Trump to float the idea, Meadows skirted the question, saying "It is responsible for him to say that if we try to go to 100pc universal mail-in ballots, will we have an election result on November 3? Now I would suggest we wouldn't even have it on January 1." Republican Governor Asa Hutchinson told CNN on Sunday the election should be held on time and it was up to states to ensure balloting be carried out properly. "It's not helpful for the president to think out loud in a public fashion and express some frustration," he added. The coronavirus crisis is expected to drive a surge in mail voting in November. State election officials are working to ensure tens of millions of ballots can reach voters in time to be cast and are returned in time to be counted. Miller criticised efforts by states including Nevada for moving toward expanding mail-in balloting during emergencies like the coronavirus epidemic, as well as other states that will count ballots postmarked November 3 that arrive after Election Day. Trump early Sunday called for a lawsuit to be filed to counter Nevada's legislative efforts to extend mail-in balloting. "This is outrageous. Must be met with immediate litigation!," he said in a Twitter post. GEORGETOWN, Guyana Guyanas opposition party has won a bitterly contested general election, ending a prolonged political standoff that had crippled investment and heightened ethnic tensions in the small South American nation. The opposition candidate Mohamed Irfaan Ali was sworn in on as Guyanas president on Sunday, shortly after the national electoral commission said he had beaten the incumbent, David Granger, by just over 15,000 votes, a margin of more than 3 percent. The governing party said it planned to challenge his victory, alleging fraud. As president, Mr. Ali will manage billions of dollars in new oil revenues, which have transformed Guyana, an impoverished former British colony with fewer than 800,000 people, into the worlds fastest-growing economy this year, despite a slumping global oil market. Mr. Alis assumption of office follows five months of political wrangling between Guyanas two major political parties over the outcome of the March 2 vote, which exposed deep tensions between Black citizens and those of South Asian descent. The power struggle has been amplified by the newfound wealth pouring in from offshore oil fields where production began in January. The lockdown has unleashed a jolt to the several sectors thereby crippling the already looming economy. The hotel industry sector in Karnataka says even after Unlock, only 20-30 percent hotels in the state have opened up. 10 per cent of the 21,000 restaurants in Bengaluru have been put on sale. President of Bruhat Bangalore Hotels Association, P.C. Rao said that during the lockdown a few restaurants were open for takeaways but stated that it was hardly any business at all. 40 per cent of the hotels have not opened up even now. The hotels that are open have zero occupancy and only a few have 5-10 per cent occupancy. One of the major reasons is that the bachelors and the employees of IT/BT industries who were regular visitors to the restaurants and hotels have moved out of the city, he told the Deccan Chronicle. Offering his insights, Rao said that a few fine dining restaurants that have weekend business are also hit due to lack of customers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. There are no banquet parties now. Earlier 80% of the people in Bengaluru used to visit hotels at least once a day. More than 1.25 lakh people employed in our industry have lost their jobs. The industry is making a loss of Rs 500 crore approximately every month, he said. At a time when the industry is worst hit, the demand from the owners of hotels and restaurants is that the rent of buildings should be reduced. The GST rate for rentals should also be reduced from 18 percent to 12 percent. The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) relaxation period should be till March 2021. The bars and restaurants have not opened up even now but we are still paying Rs 75.000 for excise licenses. We want a waiver on that for the next four months. Apart from that we pay Rs 40,000 fixed electricity charges and the state government has not considered anything till now. We have been supporting the government by tying up with hospitals so that the hotels can be used as Covid Care Centres for asymptomatic patients, Rao explained. The situation is grim across the state. Former president of Karnataka Hotel Owners' Association and Hotelier M Rajendra said that the industry is unable to pay electricity bills and is running the business by borrowing money. He stated that due to the piling up of debts most of the hotels in the state will shut down. "We want the government to waive off the interest and put a moratorium on the principal amount for a year. We can pay the principal amount after a year. Otherwise most of the hoteliers will be compelled to lose their outlets. Even if the banks attach hotels for non payment of loans, there will be no buyers," he said. Rajendra opined that in future, only those who are financially stable will last in the hotel business as "in the next one year we will not be able to do business". WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 26: U.S. President Donald Trump exits a briefing on the coronavirus pandemic in the press briefing room of the White House on March 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote Friday on the $2 trillion stimulus package to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) I never thought I'd see the day that a sitting President of the United States would actively spread disinformation that aims to undermine American democracy and disenfranchise voters. Yet on July 30, Donald Trump did just that, making the utterly baseless claim that allowing Americans to vote by mail would lead to an "inaccurate and fraudulent" election in November. Trump has made it clear he's afraid of American voters and hellbent on undermining our democracy. That is simply not true, and Trump didn't even bother to mention why there is such an urgent push for more Americans to be able to vote by mail and by absentee ballot on Nov. 3: COVID-19. Yes, instead of trying to help more Americans safely and securely exercise their right to vote in the midst of a pandemic, Trump once again chose to use Twitter to spread false information meant to confuse people and suppress votes. His tweet was even more shocking and crass in that it came on the same day civil rights leader and conscience of the Congress Rep. John Lewis was being laid to rest in Atlanta. But Trump didn't stop there - he then suggested in the same tweet that we should delay the November election because he thinks voting by mail is bad. This is an absurd and dangerous attack on our electoral system. I don't think I've ever been more dumbfounded or alarmed by a presidential statement in my lifetime. Never in our nation's history - not even during the Civil War - have we delayed a presidential election. And we're not about to let it happen over a disinformation campaign about vote-by-mail. I'd like to correct the record since the president brought it up. Ready for some facts? Fact 1: Trump does not have the power to delay or cancel the Nov. 3 election. Only an act of Congress can change the date of Election Day, the timing of which is set by the US Constitution - not by presidential tweet. Fact 2: Vote-by-mail has long proven to be one of the safest and most secure ways to vote. Mail-in ballots include strong security measures like barcodes that ensure their authenticity and are trackable from the day they are printed to the day they are counted. Story continues For the record, if Trump really cares about the safety of people and the security of their vote, then he should promote vote-by-mail, if for no other reason than to keep the American people safe as the coronavirus rages on and the death toll climbs. And he should support the HEROES Act that gives states $3.6 billion to bolster election infrastructure and allow every American to participate in our democracy. Instead, Trump is trying to confuse Americans and draw a dishonest distinction between voting by absentee ballot and voting by mail. Want in on a little secret? They're the same damn thing. Fact 3: There is no difference between voting by mail and voting by absentee ballot. And one is certainly not more or less secure than the other. In fact, the verification process is the same for both mail-in ballots and absentee ballots, and most states consider them to be the same thing. (By the way, you can sign up to vote by mail or request an absentee ballot on VoteAmerica's website.) There is no precedent for the level of disinformation and disenfranchisement efforts coming from the White House. From his attacks on vote-by-mail to an attempt by the president to undermine the US Postal Service in an election year when voting by mail will literally save lives, Trump has made it clear he's afraid of American voters and hellbent on undermining our democracy. A line is being crossed, and we need to fight back. We're at a point now where the very foundation of our democracy - the power to vote - is being threatened by one of the most powerful men in the world. VoteAmerica will not sit by and just let this happen. We are going to reinforce our democracy against this attack by turning out tens of millions of voters ahead of November's election. And we need you with us. Democracy only fails when we let it. By staying engaged, and by helping others play their part in our elections, we can protect it from those who wish to tear it down for their own personal gain. We hope you will join us. Debra Cleaver is the founder and CEO of VoteAmerica, a national nonprofit leveraging research-driven campaigns to register and turn out the 100+ million Americans who are traditionally excluded by partisan outreach efforts. The online forum also attracted the online participation of representatives from State management agencies, Trade Counselors of Vietnam to the EU, the EU Delegation to Vietnam, diplomats of EU member nations as well as Vietnamese and EU enterprises. Through the event, delegates had the opportunity to exchange comprehensive information and insights about the situation and prospects of economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and the EU after the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) takes effect on August 1. Delegates also updated market fluctuations and specific regulations, policies and trade practices to make practical and specific forecasts and recommendations. According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Hoang Quoc Vuong, the implementation of the EVFTA amid the unpredictable coronavirus pandemic and complicated market fluctuations is expected to bring about great opportunities while creating a new motivation to revive exports and fuel the economy towards sustainable development in the future. Vuong noted that the economic and trade relations between Vietnam and the EU have been continuously expanding, with two-way trade revenue having increased 13 times from US$4.1 billion in 2000 to US$56.4 billion in 2019. Vice Chairman at European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) Jean Jacques Bouflet said that EVFTA demonstrates the belief and expectation of the EU in promoting comprehensive trade and investment cooperation with Vietnam. Accordingly, EU businesses have the opportunity to access one of the most dynamic consumer markets in ASEAN and Asia while competing fairly with goods from countries and regions that have FTAs with Vietnam, such as Japan and the Republic of Korea. He added that the EVFTA not only brings about immediate benefits in terms of tariffs but the deal is also an opportunity for EU enterprises to spread the message of prioritising sustainable development through improvements to the working environment, renewable energy development, the quality of human resources and science and technology transfer. (Newser) Lieutenant Madeline Swegle made headlines Friday by becoming the first Black female tactical aircraft pilot in US Navy history, CBS News reports. The trailblazer received her Wings of Gold along with 25 classmates at a graduation ceremony at the Naval Air Station in Kingsville, Texas. "I'm excited to have this opportunity to work harder and fly high performance jet aircraft in the fleet," she said in a Navy release. "It would've been nice to see someone who looked like me in this role; I never intended to be the first. I hope it's encouraging to other people." She called her three years of study "daunting," but said her dream of flying fast planes went all the way back to childhood. story continues below "My parents raised me and they told me that I can be whatever I wanted to be. We would go see the Blue Angels when they were in town," she said. "They were just so cool I loved them. I love fast planes." Apropos, she finished her undergraduate training in a T-45C Goshawk jet trainer aircraft, and will be heading to Washington state to begin her graduate-level training in an EA-18G Growler. She's following in the tradition of other female US Navy pioneers, including Rosemary Mariner, the first female jet pilot in 1974, and Brenda Robinson, the first Black female Navy evaluator, flight instructor, and VIP transport pilot in the 1980s, per CNN. Said Swegle: "I am really honored that I get to wear the wings and get to fly planes and call myself a pilot." (Read more Navy stories.) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, August 2, 2020 13:59 534 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066af7899 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-Indonesian-abroad,migrant-workers,migrants,coronavirus,TKI,pandemic,Manpower-Ministry,ida-fauziyah Free The Manpower Ministry has announced that it will reopen recruitment and placement of Indonesian migrant workers in a bid to strengthen the countrys economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 20, the ministry issued a regulation to temporarily halt the placement of migrant workers in foreign countries due to COVID-19 pandemic. A new ministerial regulation, issued on July 29, lifts the restriction. To accelerate the recovery of the national economy and seeing that several countries have also reopened to foreign workers, it is necessary for us to also reopen the opportunity for our migrant workers to work in destination countries, Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah said on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com. Ida said 88,973 migrant workers were ready to be sent abroad to 14 countries, namely Algeria, Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Kuwait, Maldives, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates, Poland, Qatar, Taiwan, Turkey, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The potential remittances from the migrant workers is quite large and is expected to boost the economic recovery, she said. Ida added that the government and state-owned lender Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) would bear the costs of COVID-19 tests for the migrant workers. I have already met with the coordinating human development and cultural affairs minister as well as the health minister to allocate some funds from the COVID-19 task force, so that migrant workers will not be burdened by the fees to meet the health protocol requirements, she said. According to data from the ministrys Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI), as many as 3,742,440 Indonesian migrant workers abroad sent home a total of Rp 160 trillion (US$10.9 billion) in remittances in 2019. (trn) NSW residents have been urged to wear face masks in public settings from Monday as coronavirus case numbers in the state continue to rise. Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday said authorities would not make mask usage mandatory in NSW, but revised their current recommendations to address four specific circumstances. Masks should be worn by public-facing employees such as hospitality or supermarket workers, worshippers and residents of suburbs near COVID-19 clusters, as well as in situations where social distancing is impossible. 'We have been talking about masks for several weeks but obviously the persistent situation in Victoria gives us cause for alarm in terms of the potential for further seeding in NSW, and it is about risk mitigation strategy,' Ms Berejiklian said on Sunday. 'We're going to the next stage of assessing what else and how else we can decrease the risk and break the current chain coming through NSW.' NSW residents are being recommended to wear face masks in public as coronavirus case numbers continue to rise. Pictured: a shopper wears a face mask in Woolworths in Sydney on Friday NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she will wear a face mask when she goes grocery shopping Ms Berejiklian said she will be heeding the advice of health authorities in her daily life, calling wearing a mask 'the fourth line of defence'. 'I want to stress it is not compulsory, but it is a strong recommendation from NSW Health, given where we are in the pandemic, given the risk posed from Victoria and given the rate of community transmission in New South Wales,' she said. 'I myself, when I next go grocery shopping, will be wearing a mask.' FACE MASK RECOMMENDATIONS IN NEW SOUTH WALES: Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Sunday the four situations she strongly recommends NSW residents should wear face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state. Residents who live in or near coronavirus clusters are recommended to wear face masks in public, as well as churchgoers in places of worship. Workers who interact directly with the general public such as hospitality and supermarket workers should also wear masks, along with anyone in a situation where social distancing is impossible. 'Firstly, if you are in an enclosed space and you cannot guarantee social distancing, such as public transport, such as when you are buying groceries, you should be wearing a mask,' Ms Berejiklian said. 'We would also like to see more staff to a customer facing wearing masks, whether they are in hospitality venues or whether they are in retail. Whenever they are facing customers, we strongly recommend that they wear masks. 'If you are attending a place of worship, we want you to wear a mask. If you are attending a church, synagogue or mosque, we would like you to wear a mask. 'And finally, if you are in an area where there is high community transmission or a number of cases, we want you to wear a mask.' Advertisement NSW recorded 12 new cases - with just one in hotel quarantine - in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday from almost 22,500 cases. Eight people are in intensive care, with at least 103 being treated for the virus in hospital. Two of the 12 new cases are childcare workers from the Advanced Early Learning Centre in Merrylands, where a staff member worked for three days while infected last week. A nurse takes a nasal swab from a patient at the Bondi Beach coronavirus drive-through testing facility on Thursday The Thai Rock Wetherill Park (pictured) cluster has grown to near 100 cases, while the Potts Point restaurant has reached 24 NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty on Saturday said seven cases in the past week had not been linked to known cases, emanating from southwestern Sydney, western Sydney, southeastern Sydney and Sydney local health districts. It comes after an 83-year-old man connected to the Crossroads Hotel cluster in southwest Sydney died on Saturday, taking the NSW death toll to 52 and the nationwide tally past 200. It was the first coronavirus-related death in NSW since late May. The Thai Rock Wetherill Park cluster is nearing 100 cases, while the cluster in Potts Point has reached 24 and the funeral events cluster sits at 33. A popular venue on Sydney's Northern Beaches, meanwhile, was on Saturday forced to shut after hosting a COVID-positive patron on the afternoon of July 24. The Bavarian in Manly underwent deep cleaning and reopened to the public on Saturday afternoon. Patrons on the afternoon of July 24 should monitor for respiratory symptoms. The Bavarian bar and restaurant on Manly Wharf was forced to close for deep cleaning after a coronavirus scare before reopening on Saturday afternoon A cleaner in Harpoon and Hotel Harry in Surry Hills on Friday after the venue was exposed to coronavirus The Harpoon & Hotel Harry in Surry Hills, Matinee Coffee in Marrickville and Tan Viet in Cabramatta are among other venues required to undertake deep cleaning in recent days. NSW Police Minister David Elliott on Sunday said nine fines had been issued overnight for breaching restrictions, while Liquor and Gaming NSW has fined Sydney's Watsons Bay Hotel $5,000 after finding patrons drinking while standing and poorly-spaced poker machines. It was the 15th NSW venue to be fined in the past three weeks for breaches. 'It beggars belief that anybody would turn on the TV news bulletin today and see what's going on in Melbourne and want to breach the law in NSW,' Mr Elliott told reporters. NSW Police said the fines were issued on Saturday night in relation to large parties in East Jindabyne and Maroubra, while a separate beach party in Mosman is being investigated after two 16-year-old girls required medical treatment for excessive alcohol consumption. New York City police reportedly tried to get Pop Smoke to rat out members of the Crips gang just months before he was shot dead during a robbery at a luxury rental in Los Angeles. The star was killed in a suspected home invasion at a Hollywood Hills home he had rented by a group of masked men at around 4.30am on February 19. According to the New York Post, police questioned the 20-year-old rapper about the 823 Crips, a subset of the Crips street gang, and two shootings after he was arrested in December 2019 for allegedly stealing a Rolls Royce Wraith. During questioning, police asked Pop Smoke, whose real name was Bashar Jackson, about a shooting that occurred in Canarsie in June 2019. At the time, investigators claimed they had video of Jackson driving a car in reverse near the scene. Scroll down for video New York City police reportedly tried to get Pop Smoke (left and right) to rat out members of the Crips gang just months before he was shot dead during a robbery at a luxury rental in Los Angeles The rapper was killed three days after he was scheduled to perform in Brooklyn. He canceled his February 16 show after he was ordered to stay away from known gang members after his second arrest in January Pop Smoke was shot at this house in the Hollywood Hills, which is owned by a Real Housewives star It was also during that interview that police asked him to provide information on Brooklyn's 823 Crips, but his lawyer said Jackson refused to cooperate. Jackson's attorney Peter Frankel told the Post: 'Any conversation with Pop about cooperation was a very short one. Its something he would never entertain doing.' The rapper was initially charged with criminal possession of stolen property, but after his refusal to cooperate, authorities hit him with a federal charge of interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. 'They hoped the force of the federal indictment would persuade him to cooperate meet and speak with them,' Frankel said. Sources told the Post that Jackson was questioned once again after he was arrested in January at the John F. Kennedy International Airport. This time he was questioned about a shooting that had occurred on January 4 with additional questioning about the 823 Crips. He once again refused to cooperate and was released on a $250,000 bond. Jackson also agreed to pull out of the BK Drip Concert that was scheduled for February 16 in Flatbush, Brooklyn and stay away from known gang members. According to the Post, several rappers scheduled to perform that night had been identified as Crips, including Specifically, 8 Trey Cowboy Crip, 90s G-Stone Crip, Slattery Boys and Vice Lords. Jackson was killed just three days after he was scheduled to perform in Brooklyn. Earlier this month two men and two teenagers were charged with killing the rapper on February 19. The rapper was considered a rising star and his death shocked the music world Corey Walker, 19, and Keandre Rodgers, 18, were both charged with murder by Los Angeles County district attorney. The charges carried the special circumstance allegation that the murder occurred during the commission of a robbery and a burglary, making them eligible for the death penalty, according to the announcement. Additionally, two male juveniles, ages 17 and 15, were each charged with one count of murder and robbery in juvenile court. Walker and Rodgers face the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted as charged. A decision on whether to seek capital punishment will be made at a later date. Jackson was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on February 19 when police responded to a call on Hercules Drive in the Mount Olympus area of the Hollywood Hills. He died later at a hospital. Police said the assailants did not know Jackson, but got his address from photos the rapper posted on social media. The rapper suffered his fatal injuries at a rental property owned by Teddi Mellencamp Arroyave, star of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department. Nebraska senators moved forward a bill that would put into place citizen oversight boards to oversee police. Many city officials and police unions are opposed to the bill. Do you support citizen oversight of police departments? My great aunt Marie helped shape my understanding of the world and my place within it without me even realising it. As a child, there was no sight worse than a burgundy Oldsmobile Intrigue in our driveway. I would trudge home from my friends house, each step heavier than the last, knowing who was waiting. To many, Marie Smibert was a devoted friend, loyal travel companion, educator, volunteer, philanthropist or perhaps simply the eccentric conversationalist and feminist with a white metal shopping caddy and floral rain cap who lived on the third floor of a dingy 1970s mid-rise apartment on the outskirts of Toronto. To me, however, she was great aunt Marie. My grandfathers older sister, who never married and always found a reason to gift us something she had previously read. It has been eight years since she died. [Jawahir Al-Naimi/Al Jazeera] I can still hear her voice (raspy) and chuckle (condescending) echoing through our hallway. The fluorescent light above illuminated her tea-stained grin as she would sit at the built-in oak desk attached to the pantry, swirling an ounce of Dubonnet on the rocks, her beat-up black leather-bound address book flopped open with scrap paper made from my old preps newsletters beside her while she made her calls my mother used to tease that she came for lunch merely to confirm her dinner plans and drop off her junk. Old plastic bags with stretched handles always waited for me, full of highlighted clippings from newspapers or magazines with handwritten margin notes in her distinctive flourished cursive. By age 10, I had already become well-versed in various Canadian and American publications, and knew which sections to expect in my bag. Each bag was a carefully curated heap of wisdom, conversation starters and life lessons. Both my parents and brother would receive their own bag, each marked with an initial. My grandparents, too. Her clipping habit extended to friends, as well, and perhaps hinted at what would later develop into a hoarding issue. As I grew up and my interests changed, so did the subjects contained in my bags from Marie. From books, current events, art, music, culture and travel stories, to other things I ought to be reading, each bag was a carefully curated heap of wisdom, conversation starters and life lessons Aunt Marie deemed interesting. Often, my brother and I would sit cross-legged on the stretch of hardwood floor between our bedrooms sifting through papers, our fingers smudged with ink, half intrigued by what was inside comics, bric-a-brac, or a secondhand book with five-dollar bills spread sporadically through it and half in laughter. Though we never said it aloud, our mischievous grins and know-it-all eyerolls posed the question: Does she even know us at all? Perhaps, that was the point. Not to muse the interests we already had or relay the parts of life we would inevitably learn, but rather to expose us to what we ought to know about everything else making difficult decisions, facing lifes hardships with grace, and seizing opportunities; about pushing ourselves beyond the limits of what we believe our capacity for this or that might be. To help us become the absolute best versions of ourselves. How foolish I was for not connecting Maries proverbial dots. When we were young, we just joked that she was a little kooky. [Jawahir Al-Naimi/Al Jazeera] Magic staircases and whale-watching Now, nearing 30, I am single and sitting on the rough beige carpet stained from my childhood, vulnerable perhaps more so than when I called this room mine I manage to manoeuvre the few bags that had remained tucked under my bed for a decade or two out of darkness. These dusty relics, I had assumed worthless, contained trinkets, collections of letters and notes detailing her thoughts I had dismissed long ago, and just maybe the insight I needed to put back together the life which had recently been stripped by way of cruel heartbreak, an autoimmune disorder diagnosis, and unexpected unemployment from my job as a magazine editor. Perhaps, the question I should have been asking all along, was, did I even know her? Marie was born in 1919 on a small farm in Bryanston, Ontario. She took after her mother, my great grandmother Agnes, a teacher, who, according to my grandfather was just as outspoken about her opinions on gender equality, the arts and education. In a time when seeking higher education was not common for women, Marie attended the University of Western Ontario, my alma mater, too and received her Honors in Business Administration in 1940 and, much later, attended the University of Torontos Rotman School of Management where she was awarded her MBA in 1962. With an eight-year age gap between Marie and my grandfather, there is still a sense of mystery regarding her early adult years. My grandfather, busy with his own youth, only remembers her fondness for reading and teaching high school Business English, and the joy she would beam as a result of her students successes. Through sheer determination, hard work, and self-advocacy, Marie became the first female principal within the Greater Toronto Area at a big secondary school and encouraged other women to join her in school board administration until she retired. She devoted the remaining years of her life to volunteering and pursuing her interests in the arts. According to a Globe and Mail article tucked away in a drawer labelled Marie of a basement filing cabinet at my parents house, Marie told the interviewer: I could practically see myself tottering into the grave without having the time to do the things I want to. And so she made the time. She enrolled in classes conversational French, sewing, Chinese painting, and genealogical studies, attended speaker series (she had brunch with Gloria Steinem once), and began taking the trips she had always planned to but never got around to during term breaks. Then, we would saunter to a nearby Dairy Queen for hot fudge sundaes. Because sometimes, a hot fudge sundae was exactly what you needed for lunch. During grade school, my holidays were marked by weekends in Toronto. Together, Marie and I would take the magic staircase underground to the subway and go to the Art Gallery of Ontario. There, she would let me wander into exhibits at my own pace, always a few steps behind, watching me childishly scrunch my nose at abstract ones and ooh at landscapes or portraits I had seen in books at her apartment. As I sketched my favourite Emily Carr paintings with the dull pencil crayons she kept for me, Marie shared the Ritz crackers she would pull out of her handbag in a recycled bread bag and entertained my questions, encouraging me to point out things I liked or did not like, all the while smiling and nodding her head. Then, we would saunter to a nearby Dairy Queen for hot fudge sundaes. Because sometimes, a hot fudge sundae was exactly what you needed for lunch. [Jawahir Al-Naimi/Al Jazeera] As a gift for graduating from eighth grade, Marie, at 85 years old, invited me to join her on an Alaskan cruise the summer before I started high school. I will never forget the fearful look on my mothers face when she sat me down before our departure to go over what to do if Aunt Marie didnt wake up one morning. While away, Marie and I spent our days whale-watching and ventured into the Yukon on an old prospectors route by train. We ate baked Alaska and spent hours wandering between jewellery stores she loved precious gemstones and unique cultural pieces; I could not have cared less at the time (when I found a job working at a jewellery magazine years later, mum and I joked about how we could imagine Marie sitting on the scratchy red chair in our family room chuckling smugly while flipping through my first issue). To my mothers relief, we both made it back in one piece. Unmarried and without children of her own a definitive spinster aunt Marie found her greatest sense of fulfilment helping others. An advocate of the arts, education, and children, her time and resources benefitted various galleries, the Toronto Public Library Foundation, and Sunshine Foundation of Canada among many others. [Jawahir Al-Naimi/Al Jazeera] Had I disappointed her? I pull out an annual Christmas letter Marie circulated to family and friends from one of the bags under my bed. In this particular entry dated December 1991, she writes: Growing old isnt all fun because of aches and pains, yet life gets more interesting all the time because everything has more significance when you approach it with the knowledge and experience gathered over a lifetime, yet still with an open mind. Can interest be taught? I dont know. I think it can be dulled and suppressed; Im sure it can be encouraged. Im especially delighted because I see it in my grandniece, now a year and a half. How terrific if she can keep it active as I so luckily have. I hope also she can live with abandon and be somebody you respect; commit herself to others; turn disappointments into strengths; enjoy lifes process, not just lifes rewards; become involved in something bigger than herself. (Commencement speech 1986 Barbara Hatcher S.W. Texas State U.). I think interest plays a large part of those five secrets Hatcher gives for living life to the hilt. Emily is a joy, healthy, feminine, a mimic, determined, an easy learner, her head on a swivel as she takes note. Carried around my apartment she took a real look at each of my paintings perhaps a future art critic? Mary and John came to Toronto for a few days and I babysat. When they returned from Phantom of the Opera, John grabbed first for his camera to record Aunt Marie curled up on the love seat, with Emily fast asleep on top of her. Then he picked her up and was rewarded with a dazzling smile life was perfect with parents back. But she remembered her manners and turned to bestow a sweet smile upon me after all, Id done my best! Her pictures make me want to weep for those very many less fortunate youngsters; Emily always has such a look of happy anticipation, but so many have so little. Already, shes had the experience of keeping quiet for the verse and joining in on the chorus; shes been taught the correct way to hold a pencil (ever notice how many dont know that?); shes already engaged in show and tell; she thinks books are great. Shes one of the lucky ones. Sitting cross-legged on my carpet strewn with paper, a strand of hair between my pursed lips and fighting tears, I realise just how much of my identity has been shaped through the time I spent with her. This woman, who always seemed an arms length away, yet able to unapologetically insert her two cents (and a clipping or five) into everything, dedicated herself not only to helping others, but to, in some ways, sacrifice the what ifs of her own life so that mine might have more value. So that I might learn to be the person she so fiercely desired. While some measure their growth through life with dated pencil markings of their heights, thanks to Marie, I measured mine through my bookshelf. Had I disappointed her? I glance over my shoulder to the other side of the room and read the spines of books she had given me years ago. While some measure their growth through life with dated pencil markings of their heights, thanks to Marie, I measured mine through my bookshelf. Emily Dickinson, Joan Didion, Anne Sexton, Edith Wharton, Maya Angelou, Virginia Woolf, Edna St Vincent Millay, and Simone de Beauvoir were the markers of my maturation I am sure many would agree Dr Mary Piphers Reviving Ophelia is an unusual gift for a 16-year-old. Perhaps Aunt Marie was trying to show me these books were not simply collections of prose, but rather breadcrumbs for learning to find happiness on ones own. More importantly, if I was destined to become a spinster akin to her I had just been dumped, after all was this a truth I was okay with? The Angel in the House There are few moments when reading something prompts an avalanche of thoughts. This was one of them. I discovered Kate Bolicks Spinster: Making a Life on Ones Own on a bargain shelf at my local bookstore a few days after I had been sorting through Maries things and instantly thought of her. In it, Bolick so eloquently explores various literary and cultural figures I had been exposed to during my undergrad, both their works and personal lives, alongside her own memoir before concluding: the question Id long posed to myself whether to be married or to be single is a false binary. The space in which Ive always wanted to live indeed, where I have spent my adulthood isnt between those two poles, but beyond it. The choice between married versus being single doesnt even belong here in the twenty-first century. The question now is something else entirely: Are women people yet? Are women people yet? While my gut screams, Yes! I cannot help but ponder otherwise. Have we made progress? I think about what life looked like for Marie at my age, or at 20 as a fresh graduate: what her hopes and ambition resembled. Were they similar to mine? I take another gaze at my bookshelf. [Jawahir Al-Naimi/Al Jazeera] In 1931, Virginia Woolf delivered a speech to the National Society for Womens Service titled Professions for Women. In it, she posits the Angel in the House. We all know of this woman: She excelled in the difficult arts of family life. She sacrificed herself daily. If there was a chicken, she took the leg: if there was a draught she sat in it in short she was so constituted that she never had a mind or a wish of her own, but preferred to sympathise always with the minds and wishes of others. Above all I need not say it she was pure. Throughout the essay, Woolf details the role of women in the workforce, particularly as it pertains to the female writer, her experience as such, and her social and economical independence. She explains: And when I came to write I encountered her with the very first words. The shadow of her wings fell on my page I did my best to kill her Had I not killed her she would have killed me. She would have plucked the heart out of my writing Killing the Angel in the House was part of the occupation of a woman writer. If Woolf believes this proverbial death of the patriarchy-bound female is part of the occupation of women, could it be a rite of passage within womanhood itself; part of independence and becoming? Indeed, could self-sufficiency and thus what we know as the spinster actually be viewed as an avenue for female enlightenment? Today, our culture has clung to and popularised a new, less pejorative term for spinster first coined by Emma Watson in Vogue: Self-partnered. For a marital status simply meaning single, it makes sense; the phrase somehow seems to embody independence, while empowering the understanding that women are people no longer bound to the restraints of ideological notions of love or timelines. Self-partnered, I think. Marie would have loved it. [Jawahir Al-Naimi/Al Jazeera] In an excerpt from a letter dated July 2, 2007 (I would have just turned 17, Marie would have been 88), Marie wrote: I want my grandniece and nephew to have as happy and productive lives as I felt Ive had. You may not think Ive had such life, but times and circumstances change over the years, and to each their own. Im happy. Most people do not know their great aunts. I did not just know mine, Marie unassumingly helped raise me. She helped foster how I think, my understanding of the world and my place in it without me even knowing. And retroactively, she taught me to believe a persons character would prevail in the face of uncertainty. She taught me to make others laugh and smile, to listen and speak up. She believed women could make a difference, and believed I, too, can make a difference. Self-partnered is not a trendy term to be used interchangeably with single, nor does it exude wistful ideas of not having met the right person yet; it is a proclamation of fulfilment and celebration of self, and in many ways marks the reclamation of the word spinster. Through it, we expose how romantic love is no longer the raison detre for a single woman of any age. And it should not be. I believe in love and marriage, but my identity and happiness do not hinge on an unshakable desire to be paired with anyone but myself, nor does it sadden me to think Marie died alone, because she did not. Though the gaps in my memory, and lines of these letters, never once recall or make mention of love, I know, at the age of 92, she died happy and surrounded by the love she chose. While perhaps there once was a great love or almost love for Marie my grandfather does remember a lawyer being in the picture for a brief period of time I know now, sifting through the many conversations Marie and I never had the chance to finish spinster or not I will be just fine. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) walks through Statuary Hall to the House Chamber for President Donald Trump's State of the Union address in the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 4, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Pelosi Calls for Passage of Expanded $600 Unemployment Benefits Slowing CCP virus spread necessary before reopening schools, she adds House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) again called for the passage of the $600 expanded federal unemployment insurance while saying that the COVID-19 pandemic needs to first subside to again open the U.S. economy. We have been for the $600, [Republicans] have a $200 proposal, which does not meet the needs of Americas working families, she said on ABC News This Week on Sunday. The idea that they made a proposal is really not actually factual, she added. The expanded benefits expired on July 31 and Republicans, in their HEALS Act, proposed a $200 per week extension, arguing that the increased benefits has created an incentive for people not to return back to work. Democrats, in their HEROES Act, have sought to push the benefits until January 2021. Last week, GOP leaders floated a plan to temporarily extend the benefits in order to keep negotiations going between Democrats and Republicans. Over the weekend, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) met with Trump administration officials, who declared that progress was made on the talks. Pelosi and Schumer also said the talks were productive. But Pelosi said that to reopen the economy, which has been devastated by the pandemic, and schools, the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus needs to be curbed. We have to get rid of this virus so that we can open our economy and safely open our schools and to do so in a way that does not give any cut in benefits to Americas workers, Pelosi said, while still noting that they clashed over reducing assistance. When you reduce the spread, you can open up the schools, when you reduce the rate of infection in a community, Pelosi added. But until you do that, you have to be very careful. On Saturday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows told reporters that their talks were productive but the sides are at an impasse. Were still a long ways apart and I dont want to suggest that that a deal is imminent, because it is not, he stressed. I think it was the most constructive meeting weve had, Mnuchin told reporters, adding that, theres still a lot of open issues. Meadows agreed to extend enhanced unemployment insurance in some form and helping the labor market reopen. Schumer, meanwhile, said that of a major relief initiative, We need to meet those needs in a very very serious way, and just saying, well do halfway doesnt work when people need homes and need jobs and need housing and need help. Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. KABUL - The Islamic State group on Sunday claimed responsibility for a complex attack by a suicide car bomber and multiple gunmen against a prison in eastern Afghanistan, which Afghan officials said killed at least three people and injured 24 others. The hourslong gunbattle between Afghan security forces and insurgents in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, was still ongoing Sunday evening, and casualties were likely to rise, according to Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor. Tariq Arian, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said at least three people were killed, while Zahir Adil, the spokesman for the provincial Health Ministry, provided the figure of 24 wounded. The Islamic State affiliate in Afghanistan, known as IS in Khorasan province, claimed responsibility for the attack. The IS affiliate is headquartered in Nangarhar province. Sundays attack comes a day after the Afghan intelligence agency said a senior IS commander was killed by Afghan special forces near Jalalabad. The Talibans political spokesman Suhail Shaheen told The Associated Press, We have a cease-fire and are not involved in any of these attacks anywhere in the country, but said he was not aware of the details of the Jalalabad attack. The Taliban declared a three-day cease-fire starting Friday for the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The Taliban had also denied involvement in a suicide bombing in the eastern Logar province late Thursday, which killed at least nine people and wounded at least 40, authorities said. Afghanistan has seen a recent spike in violence, with most attacks claimed by the local IS affiliate. A United Nations report last month estimated there are around 2,200 IS members in Afghanistan, and that while the group is in territorial retreat and its leadership has been depleted, it remains capable of carrying out high-profile attacks in various parts of the country, including Kabul. Efforts to get peace talks underway between the Taliban and the Kabul government have stalled after the Taliban and the U.S. signed a deal in February, seen as a blueprint to ending Afghanistans decades of war. That deal was struck to allow the U.S. to end its 19-year involvement in Afghanistan, and calls on the Taliban to guarantee its territory will not be used by terrorist groups. The deal is also expected to guarantee the Talibans all-out participation in the fight against IS. Still, a United Nations report last week said Afghanistan saw a 13% drop in the number of civilians killed and wounded in violence across the country in the first six months of the year, compared to the same period last year. The report credited the drop in casualties in part to the reduction of operations by international forces which now only act when called upon and in support of the Afghan forces and also to a decrease in the number of attacks by IS. The report said the U.N. had recorded 17 attacks by IS that caused civilian casualties during the first six months of 2020, down from 97 attacks in the same period last year. Overall, the U.N. said 1,282 people were killed in violence in the first six months of 2020 in Afghanistan and 2,176 were wounded. ___ Associated Press writer Kathy Gannon contributed from Islamabad. Read more about: Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 10:52:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Saturday that more than 200 illegal immigrants have been rescued off Libya's western coast in the past 24 hours. "More than 200 migrants were returned to Libyan shores in the past 24 hours. IOM staff who were onsite to provide assistance report that ten other migrants are missing at sea," IOM tweeted. Libya has been experiencing insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, which makes the North African country a preferred point for thousands of illegal immigrants bound for Europe. According to the IOM, more than 6,500 illegal immigrants have been rescued off the Libyan coast so far this year. Immigrant shelters in Libya are overcrowded with migrants despite repeated international calls to close them. Enditem By PTI NEW DELHI: Union minister Babul Supriyo said on Sunday that he was going into self-isolation as he had met Home Minister Amit Shah, who has tested positive coronavirus. Supriyo said he would undergo a COVID-19 test soon and would confine himself away from family members. "I had met Honble HM Shri @AmitShah ji day before in the evening," the minister of state for environment tweeted. "I am advised by Doctors to confine myself, away from my family members, for the next few days with a test to be done soon," Supriyo said. "Shall abide with all precautionary measures as per Rules & Protocol." Earlier in the day, Shah said he has tested positive for coronavirus and is getting admitted to a hospital following the advice of doctors. The Union home minister also requested those who had come in contact with him in the last few days to get tested for coronavirus and isolate themselves. A close confidant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 55-year-old Shah made the announcement on Twitter. "I have undergone a coronavirus test after showing initial symptoms and have tested positive. My health is fine but I am getting admitted to a hospital on the advice of doctors," he tweeted in Hindi. The home minister also requested those who had come in contact with him in the last few days to get tested for coronavirus and isolate themselves. It was not officially disclosed where Shah was admitted but officials said privately he is being treated at a private hospital in Gurugram. The home minister was attending his office in the North Block regularly, besides working from home. The last known public function which Shah attended was on Saturday at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) where he addressed a webinar on the occasion of the 100th death anniversary of Bal Gangadhar Tilak. About 50 people were physically present at the event. Government sources said the home minister was also present at the last meeting of the Union Cabinet held on Wednesday by following strict social distancing norms along with wearing of masks. There has been a strict protocol at the PM house in the last few months which includes temperature checks, Aarogya Setu check and no use of internal cars to ferry people, the sources said. Shah's personal staff members have gone for isolation but it is immediately not known whether Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and other officers of the home ministry have decided to keep them in isolation. As the news about Shah testing positive spread, wishes of speedy recovery for the home minister started pouring in. Senior Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Piyush Goyal, Chief Ministers Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), B S Yediyurappa (Karnataka) and Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam) took to Twitter wishing the home minister a speedy recovery. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed speedy recovery to the home minister. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also tweeted her best wishes to Shah and said "Wishing him a speedy recovery. My prayers are with him and his family!" Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal prayed for his speedy recovery. The Trump administration on Wednesday announced an expanded effort to assist local law enforcement in U.S. cities that have seen spikes in violent crime. A deal was announced to withdraw federal forces from the city of Portland, Oregon, where protests for racial justice have entered a third month. It was a case of mistaken identity. Ignacio Martinez Sr. and his wife, Charlotte, were stopped by Raton police officers who were looking for their adult son. Martinez, who was 78 years old at the time, was driving his sons car when they went to deliver a Christmas package to their grandson. The officers pulled up behind the car in the grandsons driveway and asked the elderly and disabled Martinez to get out of the vehicle. He initially objected, telling officers he was there to deliver a Christmas gift. Martinez got out of the car with some difficulty and was forcibly handcuffed by two officers, breaking Martinezs finger in the process, according to court records. Another officer arrived and told the officers on the scene that the elderly Martinez was not the man they were looking for. Officers then told Martinez he was not under arrest but was being detained while they figured out the situation and that he was going to be patted down for weapons. Martinez informed the officer he had a colostomy bag. The officer conducted the pat-down anyway, perforating the colostomy bag causing blood and fecal matter to leak onto his clothes. U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson ruled the officers were within their rights to stop Martinezs car and that requiring him to exit the vehicle were actions protected by qualified immunity. But he also ruled the officers were not protected by qualified immunity once they learned from their fellow officer that Martinez was not the man they were looking for. At that point, Johnson ruled, Martinez should have been released from the handcuffs and that there was no justification for the pat-down or to search Martinez for weapons. The officers appealed the ruling to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, where Johnsons ruling was affirmed. It took more than 14 months from the time the city of Raton filed the motion to dismiss the case based on qualified immunity until the appeals court upheld Johnsons ruling. Raton quickly settled the case after the ruling. After her first cast meeting for Shaun Micallefs Mad as Hell in 2012, actor Emily Taheny was ready to quit. It was the first time the ensemble was in the room together with the producers. Shaun explained what the show was going to be, she tells TV Tonight. I remember seeing the set for the first time and having a slight panic attack, thinking, I cant do this and I might just have to let them know! Id done studio shows like Comedy Inc., but this is more immediate. You shoot it in one night and most of it is going to go to air the following night. But theres also the calibre of scripts. I didnt want to put a foot wrong, because you appreciate the writing. I remember my leg shaking under the desk uncontrollably, but I pushed through. Thankfully for ABC -and fans across Australia- she persevered, creating a wealth of hilarious characters, drawn from the writing of Micallef and co-writer Gary McCaffrie. Taheny remains one of the the original cast in the sketch series, now approaching its 12th season. They range from one-off characters to series regulars, filmed before a studio audience COVID restrictions notwithstanding. They all terrify me! They all terrify me! she admits. I admire Draymella Burt and I would like to have her mouth. I like how shes very combative with Shaun. Its so different from my own personality and fun to inhabit for a little while. Lois Price (pictured top) I quite like. Ive kind of given her a suburban Adelaide accent. She doesnt pronounce her Ls. And I love the seamless plug at the end. Amongst her other favourites are Michaelia Cash spokesperson Mary Brett-Punish (pictured above), ex-Triple J presenter Spakfilla Vole, Christopher Pyne stalker Jelly Canister, and news reporter Bovina Jhizquax. Sometimes you get a character and you think, Ive got nothing left in my toolbox here. But then you might be watching TV or on public transport, always on the lookout for specific things that make someone unique. Generally the writing does all the work really Generally the writing does all the work, really. If youre on the wrong track Shaun will try and steer you in the direction that he thinks will be beneficial for the show. Then you head up to makeup and see what wig Karchis (Magyar, hair and makeup) got in store for you. Its quite astounding how often hes read my mind. But the scripts are also densely written. Taheny, whose credits include comedy and fringe festivals, The Jesters, INXS: Never Tear Is Apart, Get Krack!n and The Flip Side, stresses how important it is to know the script before filming to not rely on the autocue. You have to know the script. Then you can look away and play, she explains. Shaun & Garrys vocabulary is out of this world Shaun & Garrys vocabulary is out of this world, so Im constantly having to look up words and terms of phrase. You really have to understand what youre saying to perform it. Monday night well get the final rundown and the scripts very rarely change. But occasionally it will, depending on whats happening in the politics of the day. Pre-records are on a Monday, theres one location day on Thursday and the show films on the Tuesday. Sometimes weve used sketches from second or third seasons. Theres still a bit of material thats never gone to air that was shot years ago. Because of COVID, cast are now preparing in costume and make-up at ABC before driving themselves to any shooting location. Taheny wonders if that may lead to any hairy situations. I dont have tinted windows and Im terrified of breaking down on Kings Way in a wig. I dont know whether Id stay in character! she laughs. It makes you feel validated Its taken 11 seasons (to be recognised). Im not gonna lie. I love it, because it makes you feel validated. As an actor, you spend a lot of time out of work. So when youre recognised it reminds you Oh, yeah. I do make stuff occasionally. Id love to do more straight acting, she continues. I wonder whether people just see me as a sketch comedy actress? Olivia Coleman was a sketch actress on Peep Show but they also cast her in dramatic roles. They seem to do that more in the UK than here. But Mad as Hell has given me so much cred! Its such a great show to be on. Shaun Micallefs Mad as Hell returns 8:30pm Wednesday on ABC. Tata Group | Representational picture live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Tata versus Mistry legal spectacle that is unfolding before the Supreme Court is probably one of the most closely-watched corporate battles in the history of India's business world. The Supreme Court is scheduled to pronounce on March 26 its judgement on the cross appeals filed by Tata Sons and Cyrus Investments against the NCLAT order which had restored Cyrus Mistry as the executive chairman of the over $100 billion salt-to-software Tata conglomerate. Let's take a look at all the events that led up to one of the most bitter legal battles ever witnessed in the realm of India's corporate world. October 2016: Cyrus Mistry, then the chairman of Tata Sons, was sacked from his post, a move that took most people by surprise. Ratan Tata was subsequently named interim chairman. Mistry then wrote to Tata Sons' board, accusing the trustees of 'shadow control'. He also denied allegations that the board was not consulted regarding the purchase of Welspun Power. December 2016: Cyrus Mistry resigned from all Tata Group firms. Two of the Mistry family-backed investment firms-- Cyrus Investments and Sterling Power-- moved the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). They challenged Mistry's ouster from the position, while also alleging oppression of Tata Sons' minority shareholders. However, Mistry was then served a legal notice by Tata Sons for an alleged breach of confidentiality. January 2017: A contempt plea was filed by the Mistry family in the NCLT where they alleged that Cyrus Mistry's removal from the board of Tata Sons was in violation of the court's December 2016 order whereby none of the involved parties in the dispute was to initiate any action against the other while the matter was under consideration and pending disposal of the company's plea. Meanwhile, former Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) chairman N Chandrasekaran was appointed chairman of Tata Sons. Februrary 2017: Cyrus Mistry was also removes from the post of director of Tata Sons. March 2017: Mistry's plea alleging minority shareholders' oppression was deemed 'not maintainable' by the NCLT under provisions of the Companies Act which require at least a 10 percent ownership in such a case. While the Mistry family did own an 18.4 percent stake in Tata Sons, their holding was under 3 percent excluding preferential shares. April 2017: The waiver of the 10 percent criteria, sought by the two Mistry family-backed firms, was rejected by the NCLT's Mumbai bench. This rejection was then challenged by the firms in the NCLAT, along with the NCLT's dismissal of their petiton alleging minority shareholder oppression. August 2017: A proposal to turn Tata Sons into a private company was passed by its shareholders. July 2018: The pleas challenging Mistry's removal from the post of Tata Sons' chairman was rejected by NCLT on the grounds that the ouster followed the company's board having lost confidence in him. August 2018: Cyrsu Mistry approached the NCLAT in his personal capacity against NCLT order that upheld his removal. December 2019: Cyrus Mistry was restored as executive chairman of Tata Sons and also said that the manner in which the company's shareholders had given a go-ahead to a proposal to turn it into a private company was illegal. However, the NCLAT did add a four-month suspension of the implementation of its order in order to allow Tata Sons time to file an appeal. The Tatas then approached the SC where they appealed against the NCLAT order reinstating Mistry as Tata Sons' executive chairman as well as restoring his directorships in the holding company and three group companies. The apex court stayed the order. January 2020: Cyrus Mistry said he did not seek to return to the position of Tata Sons' chairman. He did, however, mention in a statement that he will be pursuing all options to protect his family's rights as a minority shareholder of the Tata group's holding company, which includes getting back a seat on the board of Tata Sons. His statement came ahead of the SC's hearing on Tatas' plea challenging the December 2019 NCLAT order reinstating Mistry as chairman. July 2020: Tata Sons reportedly said in court filings that the company's brand value eroded under Mistry's chairmanship, while also adding that the financial performance of group companies declined while he was at the helm. Meanwhile, the Mistry firms said in their affidavit to the SC that Tata Sons had withheld key facts pertaining to the company's operation as a public company. According to the Mistry firms' claims, Tata Sons had always been a public limited company. However, it added that the word 'private' was added into the Tata Sons' name by the Registrar of Companies (RoC) on August 8, 2018, right before the NCLAT hearing on the appeal against NCLT Mumbai's order in the matter. September 2020: The SP Group stated before the Supreme Court that a separation from the Tata Group is necessary due to the potential impact this continuing litigation could have on livelihoods and the economy. They stated that it was crucial that an early resolution is reached to arrive at a fair and equitable solution reflecting the value of the underlying tangible and intangible assets. Additionally, it was reported that the Tata Group indicated to SC that it was open to buy out the stake held by the Mistry family. Mistry's side also said maybe it was time for his family to separate from the Tata Group. "The current situation has forced the Mistry family to sit back and reflect on the past, present and possible future for all stakeholders. The past oppressive actions, and the latest vindictive move by Tata Sons that impact the livelihoods of the wider SP Group community leads to the inexplicable conclusion that the mutual co-existence of both groups at Tata Sons would be infeasible. The SP-Tata relationship spanning over 70 years, was forged on mutual trust, good faith, and friendship. Today, it is with a heavy heart that the Mistry family believes that a separation of interests would best serve all stakeholder groups, the Mistry family-controlled SP Group said in a statement. October 2020: Mistry family proposed share swap. SP Group sought pro-rata shares in Tata group's listed companies in lieu of its 18.37 stake in Tata Sons, the holding company of group firms. Tata Sons subsequently rejected the proposal. December 2020: SP Group told the top court that Mistry's removal as the chairman of Tata Sons in October 2016 was akin to a blood sport and ambush and was in complete violation of principles of corporate governance and pervasive violation of Articles of Association in the process. Tata Group, on other hand, vehemently opposed the allegations and said there was no wrong doing and the board was well within its right to remove Mistry as the chairman. During the court hearings, Mistry's representative seeking representation in the company in proportion to the 18.37 percent stake held by his family. "What have we become?" asks the mayor of Crema. A woman died after dousing herself with flammable liquid and setting herself on fire in a field near a restaurant in Crema, northern Italy, at lunchtime on 1 August, reports Italian news agency ANSA. A passing motorist got out of his car and attempted to put out the flames with a towel, helped some minutes later by a man who arrived with a fire extinguisher. In the meantime - the rescuer said - about "20 other people" were standing around in the restaurant car park filming the scene with their mobile phones, as the woman burned to death. The distraught rescuer, writing to the mayor of Crema on social media, said the inaction of the people on their phones "knocked him for six", reports RAI News. "We are talking about a human being, but what did those people with the cell phones do?" - he wrote - "I was sorry that nobody had the idea to intervene sooner..." Crema mayor, Stefania Bonaldi, published the man's story on her Facebook page, commenting: "We still don't know who this poor woman is, and we don't know the dynamics of what happened." However the mayor had this to say about the onlookers: "If the spectators of this tragedy had the coldness to take out their phones and capture the scene, instead of rushing to help or calling for help, then we must ask ourselves questions. Serious, and very, very urgent questions." "What have we become? What if that woman had been our daughter, sister, wife, mother?" - wrote Bonaldi - "What can make us so insensitive and detached from the suffering of others? Why this indifference?" Photo Corriere della Sera The tragic death of young Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14 shocked the nation and the film industry. The death by alleged suicide bitterly divided Bollywood and exposed the fault-lines in tinsel town over the issue of privileged insiders versus struggling outsiders trying to find a toehold in the cut-throat industry. Back in Rajputs home state Bihar, his death has brought together the netas of all hues like never before in a rare show of unity, ahead of crucial assembly polls slated to be held in October-November. The mystery surrounding the actors death has fuelled intense competition among Bihar politicians. Is it only Bihari pride at play or is it a ploy to catch votes? While each and every political outfit in Bihar has rushed to demand a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the circumstances leading to the actors death, the Bihar Police swung into action by dashing off to Mumbai to collect evidence on Rajputs death. A social media campaign, Justice for Sushant, resonated in Bihar. Jan Adhikar Party chief Pappu Yadav was first off the block. He raised the demand for CBI probe, claiming there is a deep conspiracy behind Rajputs death. Lok Janshakti Party chief Chirag Paswan waded in, too, writing to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and asking for the Bihar government's intervention for a probe to punish the guilty. Earlier this week, junior Paswan even spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, reiterating the CBI probe call. Not to be left behind, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejaswi Yadav, too, demanded a CBI investigation while panning the Bihar CM for not meeting Rajputs family. What explains the anger of Bihari politicians? Is it the caste factor? Caste has always been an integral part of Bihar elections. The late actor belonged to the Rajput caste, which has the second-largest population among upper castes in the state at around 5% after the Brahmins. The 5% Rajput voters are more or less evenly distributed across the state. Traditionally, voting patterns of Rajputs have remained fluid with the community, preferring to put its weight behind parties that gave them a larger share in governance. Many big faces from both the ruling National Democratic Alliance and opposition RJD belong to this community. Support from the Rajputs has become all the more critical for the RJD, which is desperate to consolidate its Muslim-Yadav combination by adding a new caste base for an invincible electoral strategy. For the LJP, too, Rajput caste votes play a critical role in the partys electoral fortunes. In Paswan junior's Jamui Lok Sabha seat, the Rajputs, who have over 2 lakh votes, are the second-largest voting bloc after the Yadavs. Similarly, the partys pocket borough Hajipur has over 3.5 lakh Rajput votes and along with the extremely backward classes (EBCs), could tilt electoral fortunes in LJPs favour. As for the ruling Janata Dal (United), analysts say, the social media chatter around Rajputs death could well help Nitish Kumars re-election pitch. The late actors success also fits into the aspirations of millions of young Biharis -- both at home and away. The issue has completely galvanised the culturally and politically divided state, as Justice for Sushant has found a life of its own. Netas were quick to pick up peoples emotional signals, and they've linked the suicide tragedy to Bihari 'asmita' or pride. Nitish Kumar, too, had used a similar plank successfully during 2015 assembly polls. This 'asmita' plank may have the potential to unify Bihar's voters beyond caste fault-lines, evoking a regional pride while fuelling the 'Bahari (outsider) against Bihari' narrative. Restore this hurt pride, and the public pays back in elections. At least that's what the netas are hoping at the moment as the probe charts its own course. The upcoming and long-awaited biography of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry titled "Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family," is making Prince William, Kate Middleton and the rest of the royal family extremely defensive. But why are they feeling that sort of defense mechanism? Authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand have been all over the news ever since they let out some extracts of their book about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. One claim from the book said that neither Prince William nor Kate Middleton was welcoming to Meghan Markle. The authors said that the two duchesses had a "cordial but distant rapport" during the two years of Meghan being a senior royal. The Duchess of Cambridge was accused of purposely snubbing her sister-in-law, avoiding eye contact while they were at a royal engagement. She also didn't feel like they didn't have that much in common, aside from the fact that they both used to live together in one compound in Kensington Palace. Prince William, on the other hand, authors claimed that Prince Harry went ballistic when he referred to his girlfriend as "this girl" and even mentioned how their romance was moving too fast, saying that the couple should "take it slow." The dad-of-four has also been accused of purposely ignoring his younger brother's wife. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other royal members and aides have referred to Meghan Markle as "Harry's Showgirl." But according to friends of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the couple welcomed the former "Suits" actress "with open arms" and have even invited them to their family home in Norfolk. They also revealed how the future King and Queen Consort have done all they possibly could to welcome Meghan Markle to the royal family and have "rolled out a red carpet" for the American-born Duchess. Prince William and Kate Middleton Leaked Lies Archie Harrison's parents are the British tabloids' favorite people. Many believe that Kate Middleton's press secretary is behind the recent press leaks about the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. This includes the one where Kate reportedly sent flowers to Meghan as a "peace offering," but the Duchess of Sussex knew that flowers weren't going to make up for years of hurt. While some of the book's allegations are interesting, that hasn't stopped the 39-year-old British mom from sending her aides to the press to talk and fix any misrepresentation of her that's not-at-all flattering. And why wouldn't her staff or any of the Brits listen to her, as aren't everybody supposed to bow down to the future Queen Consort? Because the royal family is such an influential family in the UK, they can manipulate the stories in the press, continue to feed the British tabloids with gossip, and only turn around and claim to be shocked when the Duchess of Sussex brought it to the public's attention. In the book, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said they were sidelined by royal members and aides and called one of them the "viper" as some of them leaked info about the Sussexes to the press. Because the Cambridges Are in Crisis? It's not a mystery why Kensington Palace allegedly betrayed Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. One claim suggests that the former actress has already broken so many royal protocols and have upset the royal family. But whether or not she was a rebel or just plain ignorant, it is still up for debate. But another claim suggests that Meghan's husband is simply the sacrificial lamb for his brother to cover up Prince William's mistakes, such as hiding his alleged affair with Rose Hanbury. The "Sussex Squad," an unofficial fan page for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, claims that disturbing tabloid stories of the couple only came out, and became even extreme when Prince William's story of infidelity had surfaced. READ MORE: Prince Harry Secret: Duke HATED Being With Prince William and Kate Middleton The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has charged the tricycle rider who fought some of its operatives to court. The agency also demoted its officials involved in the public brawl. In a video clip seen by PREMIUM TIMES in July, the man, angered and scantily dressed, stood on the bonnet of the FRSCs patrol vehicle, assaulting one of the officers in the process. He undressed himself and tore the officers uniform. The incident happened in Benin, Edo State. In retaliation, some of the operatives ganged up against the man and rained slaps and beatings on him. The unclad rider, who was reportedly arrested for driving against traffic, also destroyed the agencys patrol vehicle. In a statement on Sunday, Bisi Kazeem, the agencys spokesperson, said while the prosecution of the tricycle rider has commenced, the officers involved have been recommended for demotion. The Federal Road Safety Corps has commenced legal action against the erring tricycle rider who was seen destroying an FRSC patrol vehicle in a viral video recorded along Sapele road Benin, Edo state, Mr Kazeem said. While the disciplinary panel constituted at the instance of the Corps Marshal that conducted the investigation into the incident recommended that the 7-man patrol team involved in the incident be sanctioned with the award of loss of seniority and reduction in rank. According to Mr Kazeem, the case against the erring driver was filed on July 22 before Magistrate Ojehumen at the Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court 8, Sapele road, Benin. During the proceedings, the defendant pleaded not guilty to a 2 count charge bordering on breach of public peace and malicious damage of FRSC Patrol Vehicle. The Counsel to the defendant eventually applied for bail which was granted by the Court, and the case was adjourned to 5 August, 2020 for further hearing. The Corps Marshal has further directed the redeployment of the affected FRSC staff from their present Command in addition to the reduction in rank that was awarded by the Disciplinary Panel against the affected personnel having been investigated and found liable of patrol misconduct, in civility, unprofessional and unethical behaviour towards a road traffic offender; acts that contradict the patrol operational ethics of the Corps. Mr Kazeem, however, said it will not relent in prosecuting any member of the public who molests its officers or damages its properties. Quarterly Report Sydney, July 31, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - During the quarter, Regeneus Ltd ( ASX:RGS ) received notification from Kyocera Corporation ( TYO:6971 ) that its lead stem cell platform technology Progenza for the treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis (Progenza OA) had passed Kyocera's due diligence process.This milestone aligned with the timelines set out in the non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between the two companies (2 March), which granted Kyocera exclusive negotiation rights for a commercial licence for Progenza OA in Japan.Pursuant to the terms of the MOU, this milestone triggers a further payment of JPY100M when a definitive commercial licence is executed, in addition to any payments that are included in the commercial arrangement.While outside the quarter, Regeneus recently announced Kyocera will continue to have a short extension to the exclusive rights to negotiate the licence until 31 August 2020.Financial updateThe Company's cash balance as at 30 June 2020 was $982k. Net operating cash outflow for the quarter was $376k, including R&D activities, corporate costs and expenditure related to negotiations with Kyocera.Regeneus continued its cost-containment activities over the June quarter. It is anticipated that the cash balance at the end of the quarter and the undrawn facilities of $2.9 million will provide sufficient cash to fund operations until negotiations with Kyocera are complete.OutlookRegeneus CEO and Executive Director Leo Lee said the Company continues to align its activities with the revised strategic direction to address global pain market and deliver long-term shareholder value."The June quarter was another period of progress for Regeneus and we are pleased to have recently provided positive progress on our negotiations with Kyocera. We look forward to updating the market on this front," said Mr Lee.To view the full quarterly report, please visit:About Regeneus Ltd Regeneus Ltd (ASX:RGS) is a Sydney-based clinical-stage regenerative medicine company using stem cell technologies to develop a portfolio of novel cell-based therapies. The regenerative therapies seek to address unmet medical needs in human health markets, focusing on neuropathic pain, including osteoarthritis and various skin conditions, with its platform technologies Progenza(TM) and Sygenus. Visit www.regeneus.com.au for more information. A team of Bihar Police, probing Sushant Singh Rajput death case, recorded director Rumi Jafferys statement in Mumbai on Saturday. During Sushants last days, Rumi Jaffery was close to Sushant and Rhea Chakraborty. So, we have recorded his statement, an officer, from Bihar Police team, said. However, the police officials said they could not reveal any details regarding the progress of the case just yet. According to the Mumbai Police, statements of 41 people, including filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, film critic Rajeev Masand, director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and filmmaker Aditya Chopra have been recorded in the investigation so far. Earlier, Bihar Police had written an application to Mumbais Bandra Police asking them to hand over and share all documents related to Sushants alleged suicide case. The Bandra Police officials have said that they would respond soon, informed Bihar Police. An FIR was filed by Sushants father KK Singh against Chakraborty in Bihar in connection with the death case under several sections including abetment of suicide. Our team is in Mumbai and our Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) is in constant touch with his counterpart there. Yesterday, our team met Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) and he assured that they will cooperate, Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey said on Saturday. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs therapist: He was suffering from depression and hypomania, Rhea Chakraborty his strongest support They are also waiting for the Supreme Court verdict in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, then they will provide us all documents, he added. Earlier today, Bihar Police sources said that they will record the statements of all the actors who worked with Sushant before his death. Sources also said that a team of Bihar Police visited the Cooper Hospital in Mumbai seeking Sushants post-mortem report but could not get the information. Sushant was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14. Follow @htshowbiz for more MOSCOW, July 31 (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Friday it hoped that more than 30 Russian private security contractors detained in neighbouring Belarus and accused of plotting acts of terrorism would soon be released. Russia a day earlier demanded an explanation over what it called Minsk's wrongful arrest of the group, an incident that risks worsening already strained relations between Belarus and traditional ally Moscow. Belarus this week detained the group of Russian men near the capital Minsk, saying it had received information that over 200 fighters had entered the country to destabilise it before an Aug. 9 presidential election. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the men were travelling to another country via Belarus and had nothing to do with Belarusian politics. "The baseless arrest of Russian citizens, 33 citizens, is not quite in line with our relationship as allies," Peskov told reporters on a conference call. "This is why we hope that our Belarusian allies will clarify this incident in the nearest future and that our citizens will be released." (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Andrew Osborn) Reader realizes how fortunate she is during these challenging times Twenty-three employees of a company in Vietnams Central Highlands have been quarantined after their Japanese director tested positive for the novel coronavirus upon landing in Japan on Saturday. The Peoples Committee in Lam Dong Province confirmed on Saturday evening that N.M., a 75-year-old Japanese director of Hokkaido Company in Da Chais Village, Lac Duong District, had tested positive for the novel coronavirus after arriving in his home country earlier the same day. After being brought to a quarantine facility, the Japanese man sent a text message to his employees in Vietnam, who then reported the case to local authorities. Authorities in Lam Dong have quarantined 23 employees who had close contact with him. Family members of these individuals will also be screened for COVID-19. The firm has been locked down, and local authorities will continue tracing people who came in close contact with the Japanese executive. M. has been working at Hokkaido Company for two years and usually travels to other Vietnamese provinces and cities for business purposes. Information from the provincial Department of Health showed that he had boarded flight VN 7385 from Lam Dong to Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, and flew from the southern city to Japan on flight TL 750 that night. He tested positive after landing in Tokyo early on Saturday morning and is expected to undergo a second test on August 6. The Japanese man is currently in stable health conditions and has not showed any symptom of the respiratory disease. The health department also announced his travel history from July 17 to 31. M. traveled from Lam Dong to Ho Chi Minh City on flight VN 7385 on the morning of July 17, and headed back to Lam Dong on flight BL352 on July 19. He stayed at Anada Hoetel in Da Lat City from July 20 to 31. During this period, the man traveled to work on a daily basis and went to multiple locations in Da Lat. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! I think it gives them the chance to have a voice when they wouldnt have had a voice otherwise, Sawyer said. It allows Matt to get a job in the community if he wants to. He loves kids and always talks about working at a day care. He would not be able to do that without the ADA. As Andersons extended family home provider, Sawyer said, Anderson lives with her while she assists him with whatever he needs. She provides him with a family environment and a routine. Anderson said he likes that Sawyer is able to provide him with an extended family home and help him when needed. At the same time, Matt gets to do his own adult stuff and have personal time, Sawyer said. There are people who never get to do anything alone, so Matt is fortunate to have that. He loves riding his bike and does not need me with him. It gives him that independence and is one thing that an extended family home allows. She said Anderson is able to go out to eat and ride his bike to the neighborhood convenience store to buy a pop. She added that in her time as his extended family home provider, she has become really close with Andersons family and takes him to visit his parents in Arizona every year. Amid the simmering tensions between India and China, armies of India and China are scheduled to hold fifth round of Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo on the Chinese side of Line of Actual Control (LAC) on Sunday (August 2). The meeting is set to begin at 11 AM and Indian Army sources told ANI that during the meeting Indian officers will focus on complete disengagement by China in the Finger area near LAC in Eastern Ladakh. On June 30, India had said that disengagement of troops in eastern Ladakh has not yet been completed, two days after China claimed that the process was completed. "There has been some progress made towards this objective but the disengagement process has as yet not been completed," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said at an online media briefing when asked about China's claim that the frontline troops of the two countries have completed disengagement at most localities along the LAC. The MEA spokesperson had also said the senior commanders of the two militaries will be meeting in the "near future" to work out steps towards carrying forward the disengagement exercise. Srivastava had also noted that India expects that the Chinese troops will "sincerely" work with it for "complete disengagement and de-escalation" and "full restoration" of peace and tranquility in the border areas at the "earliest" as agreed during talks between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The tension between India and China spiralled manifold after the violent clashes between the troops of the two countries in Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian Army personnel were martyred. Several reports claimed that the Chinese side suffered more casualties than India but Beijing is yet to provide any details in this regard. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 15:23:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia reported two new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing its total tally to 293, the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Sunday. "A total of 455 tests for COVID-19 were conducted across the country yesterday and two of them were positive," Amarjargal Ambaselmaa, head of the NCCD's Surveillance Department, said at a daily press conference. The latest two cases were servicemen of the Mongolian Armed Forces, who returned home from Afghanistan on a chartered flight in mid-July, said Ambaselmaa. All the confirmed cases in the country were imported, mostly from Russia, and no local transmissions or deaths were reported, according to the authorities. Enditem Late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs ex-girlfriend, actor Ankita Lokhande, said that she decided not to attend his funeral as she could never forget it if she saw him like that. Sushants last rites were performed at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai on June 15, a day after his death by suicide. In an interview with Republic TV, Ankita said that she was woken up by the phone call of a journalist, who informed her about Sushants death. I was sleeping and I just got up with some reporters call. Usually, I dont take unknown numbers. I picked up the call and this reporter said, Ankita, Sushant has committed suicide! And I was finished. It was something that...you dont expect something like this, she said. Ankita said that she immediately turned on the news and saw story after story on Sushants death. I didnt know what to do. I was just there. The next day, there was his funeral and I couldnt make it because somewhere I knew that if I see Sushant somewhere like that, in that position, that stage I have my whole life to live and I will never be able to forget that phase. So I decided that I cannot go to the funeral, she said. Also Watch | Rhea Chakraborty under our watch, say Bihar cops on Sushant death case However, Ankita decided to meet Sushants father KK Singh and his sisters, whom she was in touch with even after their break-up. Apart from that, I had to meet his family. I wanted to make sure that they are okay. Jo jaana tha woh chala gaya but uske papa the, behne thi (He was gone but his father and sisters were there), and that was my duty to go and meet them. So I went and met them, and they were in a very bad condition. Thats it, thats how I got to know, she said. Also read | Ankita Lokhande says people sent her videos of Sushant Singh Rajputs body: Saddest thing that can happen Sushant and Ankita fell in love while working together on their show Pavitra Rishta, which he later quit to pursue a career in films. The two dated for six years before calling it quits in 2016. Ankita has gone on record to say that the Sushant she knew was a cheerful person and could not have been depressed or die by suicide. However, she admitted that she was not in touch with him in the last four years, after their break-up. He was in a relationship with actor Rhea Chakraborty at the time of his death. Sushants father, meanwhile, has filed an FIR with the Bihar Police against Rhea and her family for alleged abetment to suicide. Rhea and her family have been accused of misappropriating Sushants funds and cutting him off from his own family, among other things. Meanwhile, Rhea recently released a video, in which she said that the truth will prevail. I have immense faith in God and the judiciary. I believe that I will get justice. Even though a lot of horrible things are being said about me on the electronic media, I refrain from commenting on the advice of my lawyers as the matter is sub-judice. Satyameva jayate, the truth shall prevail, she said. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 . Follow @htshowbiz for more A MAN sustained a broken nose and a double leg fracture after he was attacked without warning outside a pub in the city centre, a court has heard. James OShea, 31, of no fixed abode was sentenced to four years imprisonment after he admitted assaulting the 59-year-old at Parnell Street on February 23, 2019. During a sentencing hearing, Garda Shane ONeill told Limerick Circuit Court the defendant had been asked to leave Charlie St Georges pub a short time earlier when he has some sort of exchange with the victim in the smoking area. He said the victim was then ambushed by Mr OShea when he left the premises at around 5.45pm. He punched him, he fell down, he said adding that the victim was then kicked several times while on the ground. John OSullivan BL, instructed by state solicitor Padraig Mawe, said the 59-year-old sustained a broken nose and a particularly bad break and had to undergo surgery Croom Orthopedic Hospital. Garda ONeill said the defendant was clearly recognisable from CCTV and that the victim can be seen falling backwards onto the footpath when struck. He said the now 61-year-old did not recover for several months and that he not been able to work since. While Mr OShea made some admissions when questioned, he told gardai he was defending himself as he had been pushed by the defendant during the earlier incident in the smoking area. Lorcan Connolly BL said alcohol had been a factor in his clients behaviour and that he was apologetic. He told gardai that he cant be going around hitting people like that. Mr Connolly asked the court to note that the incident happened two days after the defendant had been released from prison having served a lengthy sentence. He didnt cope when he was released, he said adding that his client is now at a crossroads and requires structure in his life. He accepts it was outrageous, he needs to cop on, he is ashamed of himself, the barrister said. Imposing sentence, Judge Tom ODonnell said the level of violence was frightening although he accepted the victim had a pre-existing leg injury which made him more susceptible to a break. He accepted that Mr OShea had cooperated with gardai and had pleaded guilty avoiding the need for a trial to be heard. Imposing a four-year prison sentence, he noted the defendants personal circumstances and that he has shown some genuine remorse. The sentence is to be served concurrently with a separate four year prison sentence which was imposed for a robbery offence. That occurred near a pharmacy at Edward Street on June 4, 2019. Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder ruled out running to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor, saying he wants to focus on leading the southern German state despite a surge in his popularity on the national stage. Soeder's standing among voters has been burnished by what is widely perceived as an impressive performance during the coronavirus crisis, and the 53-year-old from Nuremberg is the second-most popular German politician behind Merkel. He is well ahead of other challengers to succeed her when her term ends in the fall of 2021, according to recent polls. Soeder heads the Christian Social Union, the Bavarian sister party of Merkel's Christian Democratic Union. Traditionally, the CDU has fielded the conservative group's chancellor candidate, and both times a CSU member ran - Franz Josef Strauss in 1980 and Edmund Stoiber in 2002 - they were unsuccessful. "There are good reasons why the CSU has never provided the chancellor," Soeder said in an interview with Bild am Sonntag newspaper. "I will help with all my strength to make sure things go well for Germany but my task is in Bavaria." Soeder reiterated his intention of staying put in comments to broadcaster ARD later on Sunday. Asked directly whether he would rule out running, he said: "My place is in Bavaria and so that is clear." "There was a recent poll in Bavaria in which a majority of Bavarians believed I could do a job like that in Berlin but the same majority wants me to stay in Bavaria," he added. "And for me that's really a very, very strong indication, a powerful argument. In addition, the CDU always has first rights on nominating a candidate." Possible Merkel successors from the CDU include North Rhine-Westphalia Premier Armin Laschet and former caucus leader Friedrich Merz. Social Democratic Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, who is the vice chancellor in the ruling coalition, and Greens co-leader Robert Habeck, are also in the running for the top job. In a direct vote for chancellor, Soeder would win 41% of the vote, Habeck 20% and Scholz 14%, according to a Forsa poll for RTL/n-tv published Saturday. If Laschet were the conservative candidate, he would get only 19%, compared with 20% for Habeck and 19% for Scholz, the poll showed. Soeder told Bild that there is no need for Merkel's conservative bloc to rush to select its candidate. The CDU must first choose a new leader at a party meeting in early December after Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer decided to step aside. "We'll think about the timing of choosing the chancellor candidate after the CDU congress," Soeder said. "It doesn't have to be January, it also may not happen until March. A drawn-out election campaign with an active chancellor doesn't make much sense." By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency on Sunday carried out a search at the Noida residence of DU Professor Hany Babu, who was arrested five days ago in connection with the Bhima Koregaon Elgar Parishad Case. On Sunday, the agency also alleged that Babu and co-accused Rona Wilson, of helping raise funds for banned outfit CPI (Maoist). Babu was in contact with Paikhomba Meitei, Secretary Information & Publicity, Military Affairs, Kangkeipak Communist Party (MC), an organisation banned under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. READ| Release Hany Babu, repeal draconian laws like UAPA, says body fighting for activists An interview of Ganapathy, General Secretary of CPI (Maoist) was shared by Paikhomba Meitei with the accused Hany Babu. Communications of Hany Babu with other Maoists of Manipur have also been retrieved. The investigation also revealed that after the release of CPI (Maoist) leader Pallath Govindankutty, Hany Babu M. T., along with co accused Rona Wilson, took the initiative to help him financially by raising funds, NIA said. Babu, along with other accused persons Rona Wilson, Anand Teltumbde, P Varavara Rao and Surendra Gadling formed a Committee for the release of GN Saibaba. When future museum curator Leslie Kim was a little girl, her parents took her on regular trips to the Albuquerque Museum. I remember the old exhibit Four Centuries, it was down in the basement, she said I wasnt particularly taken by all the armor. I remember being fascinated by the metate (a ground stone tool) and the indigenous materials. The Albuquerque born-and-raised former history teacher is now the curator of history at the Albuquerque Museum. Long captivated by stories from the past, Kim spent most of the last two decades teaching history at Albuquerque Academy. She graduated from Colorado College with a bachelors degree in the subject. Kim remained in Colorado to work for the well-known Denver art collectors Jan and Frederick Mayer. The couple owns much of the Spanish Colonial art collection housed in the Denver Art Museum. Kim also worked at the Denver Museum of Natural History before heading to the University of Arizona, where she earned her masters degree with a concentration in colonial Mexico. She later interned at the university art museum, where she worked with 17th and 18th century prints and led a seminar on Spanish colonial art. Kim says she loved teaching, but museum work kept calling. I didnt have plans to move on, but when Deb (Slaney, former history curator) retired, I decided to throw my hat in the ring, she said. I love material culture; the objects of life, the material we use, she continued. And I think its a wonderful window into the past. We have thousands and thousands of objects in the history collection. Acquisition is ongoing, as is updating the collection. Kim is currently working on a virtual exhibit called Seven Generations, exploring political activism in indigenous communities. Fittingly, its slated for November. Posters and photographs will comprise the bulk of the show. They were sort of the rallying cry to action, Kim said. Shes also updating the Only in Albuquerque exhibit installed in 2015. Museum re-accreditation also looms. Despite her forays into Colorado and Arizona, she says Albuquerque is home. My familys here, Kim said. I love New Mexico. Obviously, I didnt stray too far from the Southwest. A section of the Alps turned amber on Friday night in a massive pyrotechnic display as Switzerland marked its national day with an event suited to COVID-19 and social distancing rules. The mountain chains of Veisivi and Dent de Perroc, which tower nearly 4,000 metres (13,000 feet)in the southern canton of Wallis, saw more than 100 kg (220 lbs) of magnesium powder ignited in the event. Although Swiss National Day is on Aug. 1, many people celebrate the night before. The date marks the foundation of Switzerland in 1291. The show, which illuminated 12 square km (4.6 square miles) of the mountains, was visible from 20 km (12 miles) away. It is like 100 million candles being lit on the mountains and gives them a lovely warm glow, said organiser Jacques Morard, who runs Jimagine, an events company in Montreux. Flares of magnesium powder are pictured during the illumination of the mountain chains of Veisivi and Dent de Perroc to celebrate Swiss National Day following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Evolene in the Val d'Herens, Switzerland July 31, 2020. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse) Lots of people around Switzerland normally have fireworks to celebrate our national day, but they werent able to this year because of distancing regulations. Gatherings of more than 1,000 people are currently banned to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Thousands of spectators gathered in the Evolene valley below to see the three-minute long display, at a safe distance from each other. Flares of magnesium powder are pictured during the illumination of the mountain chains of Veisivi and Dent de Perroc to celebrate Swiss National Day following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Evolene in the Val d'Herens, Switzerland July 31, 2020. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse) The show followed a similar display in 2015, when magnesium powder was used to turn mountains red for the anniversary of Wallis joining Switzerland, an event also organised by Morard. Morard, 62, said many events he was organising this year had to be cancelled because of COVID-19. As a Swiss person I am very proud to have an idea which works to mark our national day, and bring some joy even in this terrible situation, Morard added. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Sumi Sukanya Dutta By NEW DELHI: If vulnerable groups in India are to be the first beneficiaries of the COVID-19 vaccine, as enunciated by the government, a whopping 40 crore people, or 30% of Indias total population, will need the vaccine, prompting fears of a scramble, at least in the beginning. The sheer scale of the numbers, coupled with the fact that the government appears to be slow in putting together a vaccination distribution plan, is worrying experts and planners alike. On June 30, a statement from the Prime Ministers Office said that PM Narendra Modi had outlined four guiding principles that would form the foundation of the COVID-19 vaccination programme. These principles included identification and prioritisation of vulnerable groups such as healthcare workers, non-medical frontline corona warriors and vulnerable people among the general population and availability of vaccines without conditions such as domicile. ALSO READ: India part of Gavi's new COVID-19 global vaccine access drive It also said the vaccine must be affordable and universal, in other words, no person should be left behind, and the entire process from production to vaccination should be monitored and supported in real time with the use of technology. A query sent to the department of biotechnology secretary Renu Swarup and newly-appointed health secretary Rajesh Bhushan on the vaccination distribution plan remained unanswered but Bhushan, on being asked a related question at a press conference a few days back, had said the vaccine distribution policy was under deliberation. But several government scientists told this newspaper that the pace of discussion and planning for vaccine distribution has been rather slack so far. ALSO READ: Human clinical trial of COVID-19 vaccine candidate 'Covaxin' begins at Odisha hospital I would say that by now we should have had the blueprint ready for who will get the vaccination first under different scenarioswhen varying amounts of vaccines are availablebut that has not happened yet and thats worrying, said a senior government virologist. Another virologist attached with the department of biotechnology said the vulnerable section of the society that are expected to get the medicine first could be nearly 30% of Indias total population. HCA workers, security forces, elderly may be given COVID vaccine first Most likely we will not have doses available for nearly 40 crore people in the beginning. Also, who will be vaccinated first and who will pay for it? I see these details missing, the virologist, attached with the DBT, said. Some others pointed out that apart from healthcare workers, military and paramilitary forces, the elderly and those with non-communicable diseases should get the vaccine first. For that there should be a prioritisation plan in place with mapping done of vulnerable people as quickly as possible, said Sudhanshu Vrati, executive director of the Regional Centre for Biotechnology in Faridabad, Haryana. ALSO READ: Will keep enough COVID-19 vaccine doses for Parsis - Serum Institute of India CEO Shahid Jameel, virologist and CEO of Wellcome Trust DBT India Alliance, said while the policy direction from the PMO was sensible, the real test would be its implementation. It is not yet clear what vaccines would prove efficacious and get approval in India, he said. The next issue would be how many companies would make them for India and what capacity these would have. As of now, early human trials of two vaccine candidates developed indigenously, one each by Bharat Biotech and Zydus Cadilla, are underway. Phase 3 trials of a vaccine developed by Oxford University, UK, are also set to begin in India. Oxfords experimental vaccine, AZD1222, which has been licensed to AstraZeneca with which the Serum Institute of India has tied up for manufacturing, has raised hopes, showing promising results in phase 1 and 2 trials. Apart from this, some vaccines in the US and China, now in advanced stages of trial, could also be months away from being available in significant quantities, provided they are effective. Vulnerable, high-risk sections Healthcare workers: 22 lakh People above 60 years: 12 crore Hypertension, diabetes, cancer patients: 35 crore Police, paramilitary personnel: 15 lakh " " Hey baby, it may be a while before the red planet becomes your off-world playground. David Birkbeck/Image Source/fStop Images/Getty Images By Elon Musk's calculations, humans could be hurtling toward Mars in less than a decade. On Sept. 27, the SpaceX CEO announced the development of a mass-transit rocket system, a fleet of ships that will carry passengers and cargo to and from the planet every 26 months, when Earth and Mars are closest. And he says the first crew of 100 could be on Mars as early as 2022. It would be a first step toward establishing a human colony on Mars, a process that will take a very, very long time if it turns out humans can't reproduce there. Advertisement Scientists aren't sure what would happen if a human were to try to get pregnant, gestate a fetus or raise a developing human being on a planet with one-third the gravity and 100 times the surface radiation of Earth. It's unclear, writes Brandon Keim on Wired, whether "[c]ellular processes that evolved for Earth-specific physics" will work properly in that type of environment. Of course, Hollywood's willing to speculate on how the whole having-a-baby-in-space gambit might work out. Space Is No Place for Babies Cinematics aside, what we do know about mammalian reproduction beyond Earth isn't encouraging. In 1979, five female and two male rats went up in the Russian satellite Cosmos-1129, and while two of the rats got pregnant, both pregnancies were "resorbed." In 2009, biologists bred rats in simulated microgravity, and the rats' embryonic cells didn't divide and mature properly. Similar studies found that fetal rats in microgravity experienced abnormal skeletal and brain development, adult males' developed low sperm counts and shrunken testes, and females' ovaries shut down. Scientists express concern that low gravity also could increase the risk of ectopic pregnancy. Sadly, space radiation poses fewer unknowns regarding human conception and development (thus the "Are you or could you possibly be pregnant" before a woman gets an X-ray). Radiation can interfere with cellular processes and damage DNA. It can wreak havoc on sperm count. And that's at medical doses. Earth's atmosphere stops most space radiation from reaching the surface of the planet. The Martian atmosphere does not. Current radiation-shielding technology can't offset that. Dr. John P. Millis, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Anderson University in Indiana, writes on About Education that even if fertilization were to find a way despite a reduced sperm count, the Martian radiation environment is "severe enough that it would prevent cells in the fetus from replicating, and the pregnancy would end." Which might be the best possible outcome of a space-based pregnancy. The effects of ionizing radiation, the most common and abundant form of radiation in space, on an embryo or fetus are potentially catastrophic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists growth retardation, malformations, impaired brain function and cancer, "even at radiation doses too low to immediately affect the mother." To top things off, sex itself might induce motion sickness, contraception might not work, and reduced gravity might prevent erections. No Sex on the Settlement Mars One, a SpaceX competitor planning to send a crew to Mars around 2026, says it will advise early settlers against trying to get pregnant. The early Mars settlement won't be a suitable environment for children, the company explains on its web site, and the "human ability to conceive in reduced gravity is not known, neither is there enough research on whether a fetus can grow normally under these circumstances." That may translate to abstinence, given questions about contraception efficacy. According to Salon's Chris Impey, some have raised the possibility of voluntary sterilization for Mars explorers. If Musk is thinking about space sex, he's not talking about it. Neither is NASA. When asked to comment on the subject, a NASA representative responded via email, "Our plan identifies the human factor challenges to staying healthy ... that the agency is addressing, which do not include the topic of human reproduction." NASA plans to send humans to Mars by the end of the 2030s. No word on which agency is addressing the topic of human reproduction. Now That's Thinking Ahead Rumor has it the Russian Space Agency has looked into "human-docking procedures" in space. No one's providing details. SEYMOUR A mother and son from Monroe and a teen from Derby were identified by police Saturday as the victims of two separate, serious crashes in town Friday. The first crash happened shortly before 4 p.m. Friday in the area of 179 Roosevelt Drive. The crash catapulted a vehicle into the Housatonic River with two people still inside. Tim Willis, of the Seymour Fire Department, said the Roosevelt Drive call was a large, complex scene with responders from many jurisdictions. Seymour Assistant Fire Chief Chris Edwards called for additional resources to the scene quickly, Willis said, and firefighters immediately worked to reach the vehicle. They commandeered a residents boat and crews entered the water in both life jackets and rescue suits, Willis said. The fire department used a winch to drag the SUV closer to shore, where Willis said a female victim and male victim were rescued from the vehicle. Initial dispatch reports indicated they were pulled from the vehicle around 4:30 p.m. Dive teams confirmed there was no one else inside, Willis said. Officials later confirmed the two victims pulled from the SUV in the river died. On Saturday, Deputy Police Chief Roberto Rinaldi identified the victims as 54-year-old Connie Crowell and her 22-year-old son, John Crowell. They lived in Monroe. Rinaldi said medics gave the two medical care on scene, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful and they were both pronounced dead at the scene. Crews remained on the water investigating for hours Friday night. The investigation continues. Rinaldi asked any witnesses to call 203-881-7638. But once crews cleared from the Housatonic River call, there were two more crashes in Seymour on Friday night one of which involved a fatality, the fire department said. Around 10:30 p.m., fire units and medics responded to Clinton Road to help police on scene with a crash. Willis said a vehicle had gone off the road and rolled over. One male victim was trapped inside the car, Willis said. He said medics pronounced the individual dead at the scene. Fire crews remained on scene to remove the victim from the wreckage until about 4:30 a.m., Willis said. Rinaldi identified the victim Saturday as 18-year-old Richard Ciardi of Derby. Initial investigation shows the vehicle Ciardi was operating was traveling southbound on Clinton Road when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle crossed overinto the northbound lane, struck a tree and went down an embankment, where it came to a rest, Rinaldi said. He said this crash remains under investigation as well, and asked any witnesses to call 203-881-7610. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 15:28:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KABUL, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Scores of Afghans have been victimized in the Taliban-led unrest as violence still lingers in the country even after a Taliban-United States peace deal agreement was reached in February. The Taliban militant group and other insurgent factions conducted scores of targeted attacks against civilians and military and civilian officials in July, killing about 30 people and injuring 20 others. On Tuesday, Mohammad-a-Gul Mujahid, chief of Jail of southern Kandahar province, succumbed to serious injuries in a police hospital in Afghanistan's capital Kabul, days after he was wounded in a shooting raid in Kandahar. On July 24, a prominent politician from eastern Logar province, Mohammad Zaman Charkhi and his teenage boy were killed in a shooting in eastern Kabul. Two police officers from eastern Kapisa province were killed and a provincial police chief was wounded when gunmen spread bullets on a police vehicle in Kalakan, a district on the northern outskirts of Kabul on July 25. On July 21, Hamidullah Jan, a former government official, was shot and killed in eastern Khost province. On the same day, a staff of a local logistic company and a taxi driver who deliver items to a police station, were killed in two separate attacks in Kandahar and northern Baghlan province. Two brothers riding a motorcycle, who were national army soldiers, were shot dead by two gunmen in Qara Bagh district of Kabul on July 18. On July 15, Sheikh Abdul Haq, a local mosque praying leader, and his brother were killed in a shooting attack in eastern Parwan province. On July 14, an army soldier and his seven-year-old boy were singled out from a passenger bus and were killed on the side of Logar-Khost main roadway. On the same day, a national intelligence agency officer Ahmad Farid Sakha was shot dead in Mazar-i-Sharif, capital of northern Balkh province. Haroon Nasir, a senior police officer from Balkh, was killed in a shooting raid in Shakar Dara district of Kabul on July 12. One day earlier from Shakar Dara targeted attack, Mohammad Shouib, an attorney, was killed in an attack in Police District 7 of Kabul. On July 11, an army general and his two colleagues aboard a vehicle were wounded after an improvised bomb struck his SUV in Makroryan locality of Kabul. General director of biometric department of Ministry of Interior Mohammad Anwar Muniri was killed in a shooting attack in Char Hasyab, a district on southern outskirts of Kabul on July 8. On July 7, Mir Zaman, an Afghan Local Police (ALP) commander, was killed and two ALP constables and nine civilians were wounded in a suicide car bomb blast in Khewa district of eastern Nangarhar province. Nafisa Hijran, a female member of Logar provincial council, was wounded in a shooting attack in Logar. Security forces arrested the attacker after the shooting on July 6. On the same day, four Taliban militants involved in targeted attacks were arrested by security forces in southern Helmand province. Other 13 people were also killed in targeted attacks in July in Kabul, Kapisa and northern Jawzjan and western Farah provinces. On July 27, UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a report that civilian casualties in Afghanistan decreased 13 percent in the first six months of 2020 in comparison with the same period of last year. A total of 1,282 civilians were killed and 2,176 others wounded during the period, according to the UNAMA report. "Ground engagements remained the leading cause of civilian casualties with the majority -- two-thirds -- caused by the use of indirect fire, particularly in civilian-populated areas," the report said. The use of improvised explosive devices was the second leading cause of civilian casualties, followed by targeted killings, the report added. The report said that the UNAMA was especially concerned about the deliberate targeting of civilians, including religious leaders, healthcare workers, members of the judiciary, civil society activists, non-governmental organization workers and journalists. Enditem Mexico City: Mexican authorities have arrested Jose Antonio Yepez Ortiz, one of the country's most wanted criminals, whose reign helped transform one of Mexico's most peaceful states into its deadliest. Yepez Ortiz, known as "El Marro" - the Sledgehammer - was the leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, a group based in the central state of Guanajuato that has specialised in oil theft, stealing billions of dollars from the country's pipelines and refineries in recent years. As the group rose to prominence, Yepez Ortiz found himself cornered - pursued by both the Mexican government, which arrested his mother and sister, and the rival Jalisco New Generation cartel, which killed hundreds of his foot soldiers. Jose Antonio Yepez Ortiz, nicknamed "El Marro," (The Sledgehammer), reputed leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel in Guanajuato, was arrested by Mexican forces on Sunday, August 2. Guanajuato state Governor Diego Sinhue Rodriguez Vallejo said the operation that led to Yepez Ortiz's detention Sunday morning was conducted by both state and federal law enforcement, and that a kidnapped business woman also had been freed. Authorities released a photo of Yepez Ortiz wearing a Puma windbreaker and jeans, flanked by soldiers and police. Mexico's minister of security and public safety, Alfonso Durazo, said Yepez Ortiz would be charged with oil theft and organised crime. Under Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the government has struggled to articulate a coherent security strategy, even as the homicide rate has soared. Lopez Obrador took office in 2018 after campaigning on a strategy he called abrazos, no balazos - "hugs, not bullets". He said he would discourage the young from pursuing criminal activity by investing in education, social programs and job development - suggesting that he would not wage war on the country's cartel leaders. There are more than 17.6 million worldwide COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins statistics. The U.S. continues to lead in the number of infections with more than 4.5 million, followed by Brazil with 2.6 million cases, and India with almost 1.7 million. Mexico has replaced Britain as the country with the third largest number of deaths from COVID-19. Johns Hopkins says Mexico now has reported 46,688 deaths. The U.S. leads the world in the number of deaths from the virus with more than 153,000, followed by Brazil with more than 92,000. Russia is gearing up to launch a mass vaccination campaign against the coronavirus in September or October. News media reports quote sources as saying the vaccine was developed at a state research facility. Scientific data about the vaccine or test results have not been released. In South Korea, the leader of a secretive religious sect linked to more than 5,200 of the country's more than 14,000 COVID cases has been arrested. Lee Man-hee has denied allegations that he hid members and underreported the sect's activities in an effort to avoided quarantines. The coronavirus has burned through a summer sleep-away camp in the U.S. state of Georgia, perhaps providing a cautionary tale for school districts currently weighing the pros and con of reopening in the COVID era. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in a study that the camp observed the suggestions the agency provided but did not require the children to wear masks. Only the staff members were required to wear masks. A teenage staffer fell ill shortly after the camp opened. A COVID diagnosis was confirmed the next day and the camp began sending the children home that day. The CDC had tests results for only 344 of the 597 campers and 76% of them were positive. The infection rate could have been higher since the CDC did not have results for everyone. The nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, told lawmakers Friday on Capitol Hill he is "cautiously optimistic" a coronavirus vaccine would be available in the coming months, as infectious continue to rise at an alarming rate in the U.S. "We hope at the time we get into the late fall and early winter, we will have in fact a vaccine that we can say will be safe and effective," Fauci said before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. "One can never guarantee the safety and effectiveness unless you do the trial, but we are cautiously optimistic." Fauci said a Phase 3 trial, the last phase of the vaccine approval process, recently got underway. Fauci also cautioned against importing vaccines made in Russia or China due to concerns over safety. At the hearing's open, panel chairman Democrat James Clyburn and the subcommittee's ranking Republican, Steve Scalise, clashed over whether the Trump administration has a national strategy to contain the coronavirus crisis. "The administration's approach to deferring to states, sidelining experts and rushing to reopen has prolonged this virus and led to thousands of preventable deaths," Clyburn said. "In fact, the United States response stands out as among the worst of any country in the world." Scalise dismissed Clyburn's assessment, arguing with a stack of documents in hand that the administration has, indeed, issued guidance to the country about how to contain the pandemic. "These are just a few of the documents that your agencies have published to show states how to safely reopen, to show schools how to safely reopen, to show nursing homes how to care for their patients," Scalise said to Fauci and the other government experts at the hearing. "If all governors would have followed those guidelines, thousands more seniors in nursing homes would be alive today, if just five governors would have followed your plan that was developed President Trump," Scalise added. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also testified Friday, saying it was in the "public health best interest" for K-12 schools to reopen. He also discussed a decision by the Trump administration to direct all hospitals to send all coronavirus data to a database in Washington and thus passing the CDC. Redfield said he did not know of the decision until after it was made. US Health Experts: COVID-19 Vaccine Could be Ready by 2021 US has topped 150,000 deaths from COVID-19 In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Friday he was delaying plans to ease lockdown measures by at least two weeks after the country reported its highest number of new COVID cases since late June. British Minister for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock said a second wave of the virus is rolling across Europe and that Britain must defend against it. British authorities added Luxembourg to the country's quarantine list, meaning travelers from there must isolate for 14 days after entering Britain. Spain, which had been dropped from the list, has been reinstated and other countries may be added. Botswana's capital, Gaborone, reimposed a two-week lockdown on Thursday after a surge in new confirmed COVID-19 cases. The increase came as the WHO warned against easing coronavirus restrictions throughout Africa. The WHO says the number of infections on the continent has doubled in the past month. "We are concerned that ... we will see an increase in cases as we have seen in [other] countries" where restrictions have been eased too soon," WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti said. She said more than 20 African countries have recorded more new cases than in the previous weeks, with South Africa accounting for the most but increases also reported in Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Moeti said Uganda, Seychelles and Mauritius are doing well in controlling the virus. Olomouc Airport, Olomouc, Czech Republic [ OLO / ] If you are planning to travel to Olomouc or any other city in Czech Republic, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Olomouc Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Olomouc Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Czech Republic. Olomouc Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided. Olomouc Airport Info: Olomouc Airport IATA Code: OLO Olomouc Airport ICAO Code: Latitude : 49.4167 Longitude : 17.3417 City : Olomouc Country : Czech Republic World Area Code : 418 Airport Type : Small Olomouc Airport Address / Contact Details : Olomouc Airport (OLO), 751 02 Troubky, Czech Republic Timezone : Europe/Prague Olomouc Airport Timezone : GMT +01:00 hours Current time and date at Olomouc Airport is 21:36:54 PM (CET) on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022 Looking for information on Olomouc Airport, Olomouc, Czech Republic? Know about Olomouc Airport in detail. Find out the location of Olomouc Airport on Czech Republic map and also find out airports near to Olomouc. This airport locator is a very useful tool for travelers to know where is Olomouc Airport located and also provide information like hotels near Olomouc Airport, airlines operating to Olomouc Airport etc... IATA Code and ICAO Code of all airports in Czech Republic. Scroll down to know more about Olomouc Airport or Olomouc Airport, Czech Republic. Olomouc Airport Map - Location of Olomouc Airport Load Map Czech Republic - General Information Country Code CZ Capital Prague Currency Koruna (CZK) 1 CZK = 0.047 USD 1 USD = 21.503 CZK 1 CZK = 0.041 EUR 1 EUR = 24.357 CZK More CZK convertion rates Tel Code +420 Top Level Domain .cz This page provides all the information you need to know about Olomouc Airport, Czech Republic. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Czech Republic or traveling to Olomouc Airport. Details about Olomouc Airport given here include Olomouc Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes) Coordinates of Olomouc Airport - Latitude and Longitude (Lat and Long) of Olomouc Airport Location of Olomouc Airport - City Name, Country, Country Codes etc... Olomouc Airport Time Zone and Current time at Olomouc Airport Address and contact details of Olomouc Airport along with website address of the airport Clickable Location Map of Olomouc Airport on Google Map. General information about Czech Republic where Olomouc Airport is located in the city of Olomouc. General information include capital of Czech Republic, currency and conversion rate of Czech Republic currency, Telephone Country code, exchange rate against US Dollar and Euro in case of major world currencies etc... OLO - Olomouc Airport IATA Code On 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After, Colt Johnson and his mother, Debbie, have had an eventful trip in Brazil so far. Debbie was able to meet Colts new girlfriend, Jess Caroline, yet she already has her reservations about her. Colt is really hoping that he and his mother can meet Jess family without any issues, but that isnt exactly how things play out. Debbie and Jess get into an argument at the dinner table, and Debbie up and leaves to go back to the hotel. This all happens after Colt is grilled by Jess and her father about what his intentions are. Colt Johnson meets Jess Carolines family Colt Johnson | Bryan Steffy/WireImage It can be nerve-racking meeting the parents of a significant other, but this dinner is unique for all the wrong reasons. First off, Colt doesnt speak Portuguese, so he cant properly communicate without Jess translating for him. The dinner starts off OK at first, and Colt and Debbie try new foods, including chicken hearts. Then, the questions start to come up when Jess mentions that Colts ex was also Brazilian. Jess father, Silvio, wants to know more about Colt being married before, and how long he was married to Larissa Dos Santos Lima, Colts ex-wife. Colt says he was married for six months, and he started dating Jess six months after the divorce. What happens when Jess asks Colt what he wants from her in front of her family? RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Fans React to Debbie Being the Third Wheel With Her Son, Colt Johnson, and His New Girlfriend, Jess Caroline in Brazil Silvio questions whether Colt is ready for another relationship, or if he is trying to just pass the time. He says he doesnt want Jess to be deceived. This prompts Jess to ask Colt what he wants from her in front of everyone at the table. I want a family with you, Colt says. I want a family with your daughter, Colt then tells Jess father directly. I didnt plan on meeting her, but I did. And I fell in love with her immediately. I wasnt looking for a relationship. I think your daughter is the best person Ive ever met. Jess translates for her father to keep him up to date. Silvio seems to like what he hears. I hope he is being a sincere man, Jess father says. I do accept. Jess tells Colt that her father thinks hes a good guy for her. This has to be relieving for Colt to hear, however, that feeling doesnt last when one of Jess relatives mentions marriage. Debbie isnt trying to hear any of that, and she lets it be known. She and Jess get into an argument, which only ends when Debbie gets up and leaves to go back to the hotel. It appears that Colt has Silvios approval, at least for now. But its unclear how this latest argument will change Jess familys opinion of Colt Johnson and his mother, Debbie. Can Colt and Jess relationship survive? Will Jess and Debbie reconcile? Hopefully, well get some answers soon. Fires in Brazilian Amazon rise 28 percent, fuelling fears the worlds biggest rainforest will again be devastated. The number of fires in Brazils Amazon rainforest jumped 28 percent in July from a year ago, official data shows, as environmentalists warned a jump this week could signal a repeat of last years surging destruction of the worlds largest rainforest. Brazils space research agency INPE recorded 6,803 fires in the Amazon last month, up from 5,318 in July 2019. Although that is a three-year high for July, the figure pales in comparison to last years peak of 30,900 fires in August a 12-year high for that month. Still, environmental groups say there are worrying signs of what may come, with the final days of the month showing a sharp spike. More than 1,000 fires were registered on July 30, the highest number for a single day in July since 2005, according to an analysis by advocacy group Greenpeace Brasil. Its a terrible sign, said Ane Alencar, science director at Brazils Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM). We can expect that August will already be a difficult month and September will be worse yet. Sixty percent of the Amazon basin region is in Brazil. Since the blaze last year, it has faced global pressure to do more to protect the massive forest, seen as vital to containing the impact of climate change. The fires are largely set to clear land illegally for farming, ranching and mining. Activists accuse Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right climate change sceptic, of encouraging the deforestation with calls to open up the rainforest to agriculture and industry. Under international pressure, Bolsonaro has deployed the army to fight the fires and declared a moratorium on burning. But activists say that does not go far enough to address the roots of the problem. Fires rose 77 percent on Indigenous lands and 50 percent on protected nature reserves from July 2019, environmental group Greenpeace said, showing how illegal activities are increasingly encroaching on those areas. Greenpeace spokesman Romulo Batista said in a statement that the governments strategy of media-spectacle operations is not working on the ground. On paper, the fire moratorium prohibits burning, but it only works if there is also a response on the ground, with more patrols. Criminals arent known for obeying the law. Instead, the Bolsonaro administration has slashed the budget, staff and programmes of Brazils environmental authority, IBAMA. Everything that was working was thrown out the window, Erika Berenguer, an Amazon ecologist at Oxford and Lancaster Universities, told AFP news agency. Make-or-break month Fire season in the Amazon typically runs from around June to October. But fires are just part of the deforestation picture. Throughout the rest of the year, ranchers, farmers, miners and land speculators are clearing forest and preparing to burn it. The first six months of 2020 were the worst on record for deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, with 3,069 square kilometres (1,185 square miles) cleared, according to INPE data an area bigger than the nation of Luxembourg. If a significant portion of those felled trees burns in 2020, the result could be catastrophic, experts warn. I think August will be the make-or-break month, said Berenguer. Deforestation in the Amazon hit an 11-year high in 2019 and has soared a further 25 percent in the first half of 2020. Last month, scientists with US space agency NASA said higher surface temperatures in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean were drawing moisture away from the southern Amazon. As a result, the southern Amazon landscape becomes dry and flammable, making human-set fires used for agriculture and land clearing more prone to growing out of control and spreading, NASA said on its website. Fires are also worsening in the Pantanal, the worlds largest wetlands, adjacent to the southern Amazon. In July, the number of blazes there more than tripled to 1,684 compared with the same month a year ago, according to INPE data, the most for that month since records began in 1998. A rare ceasefire between the Taliban and Afghan government appeared to hold for the third and final day on Sunday, with hundreds of militant prisoners released in a bid to bring peace talks closer. Calm prevailed across much of Afghanistan, with officials not reporting any major clashes between the two foes since the truce began on Friday to mark the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. President Ashraf Ghani and the Taliban have both indicated that long-delayed negotiations could begin straight after Eid. "This Eid feels different, parks are full with people... you almost forget that there has been a war in this country for 40 years," said Shahpoor Shadab, a resident from the eastern city of Jalalabad. In restive Zabul province, several residents recited poems calling for the ceasefire -- only the third official halt in fighting in nearly two decades of conflict -- to be made permanent. "Peace is everybody's need and aspiration," said Sardar Wali, who took part in the poetry session. "This is a great opportunity to extend the ceasefire today and start intra-Afghan talks tomorrow." Under a deal signed by the Taliban and the US in February, the "intra-Afghan" talks were slated to start in March, but were delayed amid political infighting in Kabul and as a contentious prisoner swap dragged on. The deal stipulated that Kabul would free around 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held captive by the Taliban. The National Security Council said Sunday that a further 300 Taliban prisoners had been released since Friday, taking the total number of insurgents freed so far to just over 4,900. Authorities however have refused to free hundreds of inmates accused of serious crimes that the insurgents had requested for release. The Taliban said they have already fulfilled their side of the exchange. Deadly violence has rocked Afghanistan since the US-Taliban deal was agreed, with more than 3,500 Afghan troops killed in attacks by the insurgents, according to Ghani. Search Keywords: Short link: You are here: China The first batch of contestants from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army set off for Moscow, Russia for the International Army Games 2020 on Saturday. They started the journey from Manzhouli, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region for the competitions in Russia, and will be followed by more batches of contestants from the PLA Army and Air Force. The International Army Games 2020 will be held in multiple countries including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka from Aug. 23 to Sept. 5. All Chinese contestants will compete in Russia, where they will participate in six competitions such as tank biathlon, scouting competition and airborne troops competition. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close (Natural News) A student-led initiative at the University of Vermont is calling not only for the university to cut ties with city police, but also to defund and disarm its own campus police. (Article by Jessica Custodio republished from CampusReform.org) The letter demanding that the school rid itself of police was written by five students and signed by 50 people, 39 of them being UVM faculty members, according to The Vermont Cynic. This included Vermont City Councilor Jane Stromberg. WE DEMAND That The University Of Vermont Campus Police Department Ceases ANY PARTNERSHIPS & FUNDING With The Burlington Police Department IMMEDIATELY, reads the letter. The letter goes on to demand that rescue and social workers be paid as first responders instead of police officers. WE DEMAND The Annual $100,000 Paid To The Burlington Police Department From UVMs Pockets To Cease, the letter continues. The group also insists that the school disarm campus police and eventually abolish the department altogether. WE DEMAND The Disarmament Of Campus Police. In No Uncertain Terms, No more Firearms, Batons, OC Spray, And Tasers On The University of Vermont Campus, wrote the group adding, WE DEMAND The Gradual Abolition Of The University Of Vermont Campus Police Department In Order To Replace Them With A More Equitable System Of Managing Student Situations. The demands also included that a Black Lives Matter Flag be permanently flown outside one of UVMs main buildings. The students compared their initiative to a 2018 series of past student activism by a group called NoNamesforJustice. Campus Reformcovered an incident in 2018 wherein NoNamesforJustice blocked a major intersection, chanting Black lives matter! and delaying ambulances. University of Vermont spokesperson Enrique Corredera confirmed to Campus Reform that Provost [Patricia] Prelock has met with students who submitted the demands to facilitate a discussion about their concerns. We anticipate we will continue to engage with the students, Corredera added. Read more at: CampusReform.org Syracuse, N.Y. -- Onondaga County will provide local school districts with 50,000 face masks and 12,000 face shields as educators prepare to restart in-person learning during the coronavirus pandemic. We need to make sure our educational professionals have proper PPE to go back to work, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said today on Twitter about the personal protective equipment. The distribution is meant to help school districts at the start of the school year -- and as they wait for federal leaders to negotiate future aid packages, McMahon said. By providing the supplies now, the district might be able to apply future federal help to other issues, such as better ventilation systems, testing and technology, he said. The city of Syracuse has the largest school district, with more than 3,000 teachers. McMahon has been outspoken about the need to restart in-class learning, especially for younger students. Last week, he criticized districts that plan to have young students go to school twice a week, rather than five days a week. That abbreviated schedule, he said, would create havoc for people trying to get back to work. School districts across New York were supposed to submit their reopening plans to the state by last Friday. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he will make an initial decision about reopening this coming week. Hes set a metric for deciding when to reopen -- and possibly close down -- schools. School districts can open if their regions seven-day average of positive Covid-19 tests is 5% or lower. Schools in that region will shut if that seven day average climbs above 9%. As of Friday, state data showed an average of 0.9% of people tested in Onondaga County were positive for the virus during the seven days ending Thursday. Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274. A 40-year-old San Leandro woman has pleaded guilty in Marin County to two felony counts of insurance fraud and identity theft for falsifying documents to receive an additional $10,590 on her workers' compensation claim, the California Department of Insurance said Friday. Marlene Cavalcanti filed a workers' compensation claim after reportedly injuring herself in a fall while working as an executive assistant and in all received more than $42,000 in temporary disability payments in addition to her medical treatment, according to the department. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By PATNA: The Bihar government was ready to recommend a CBI probe into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput if the family wants so, states water resources minister Sanjay Jha, who is considered to be one of the closest political aides of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, said on Saturday.It all depends on the willingness of the late actors father or his family because ultimately its the family that has suffered. As far as a probe by CBI is concerned, CM Nitish Kumar will certainly recommend that if the family wishes, Jha said. He also defended the Bihar Polices decision to lodge an FIR and launch a probe into the case. The Patna Police team, which is in Mumbai to probe the alleged suicide, is keeping a watch on Sushants girlfriend actress Rhea Chakraborty, who has been alleged by his father to have driven him to suicide. When asked whether Chakraborty would be interrogated, an official of the fout-member team said, It is not required as of now. But she is under our watch. Another official said a notice has been sent to Chakraborty under sections of CrPC asking her to cooperate in the probe. The team has recorded the statements of six persons so far Sushants sister Mitu Singh, close friend Mahesh Shetty, ex-girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, cook Ashok, servant Niraj and Dr Kersi Chavda, who treated the actor for depression. The Bihar Police denied the allegations of misbehaviour with its team by Mumbai police. Dubbing the allegations of misbehaviour as rumours, Director General of Police Gupteshwar Pandey said, Our team had a meeting with Mumbais Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) on Friday evening. The DCP assured of cooperation... Initially, there was some confusion and non-cooperation. Midland and Martin counties combined for 21.3 million barrels of oil during the month of May, according to production statistics from the Railroad Commission. The amount from the neighboring counties was nearly a quarter of the oil produced in the state. The RRC reported last week that 23.39 percent of the 91.062 million barrels produced across the state came from Midland and Martin counties. TikTok is a popular application that all ages indulge in amid the pandemic. However, The U.S Government has been so concerned that the Chinese Government may use it to get access to the information about Americans who often use TikTok. Let's sort why the U.S President Donald Trump wants to ban Tiktok in the country. Tiktok is 2020's busiest application that hosts short videos of teens, celebrities, or any age users who often dance or sing lip-sync to viral audio clips. TikTok has brought fun and silly moments to its users. What exactly is going on with TikTok? In recent days, The U.S. government is thinking of banning it from the United States. The discussion of ban all starts with first; it is owned by a Chinese internet company ByteDance; second, China is increasingly in the sights of the Trump administration. Washington officials have been genuinely concerned about the chances of the Chinese government to get information about Americans who use TikTok because of the app's Chinese ownership. On the other hand, TikTok denied that Beijing influences the app. The U.S. administration officials say that Chinese-owned companies impose a threat to national security because of the Chinese government's ability to access the system of several companies under local laws. Similar concerns have been raised in the White House previously, such as Huawei and ZTE. These two Chinese companies make equipment for mobile phone networks. Now, TikTok is the newest front in this matter. President Trump said that he is planning to ban the app through an executive order. The owner of the app is said to try to address that concern of the government by selling TikTok to other U.S. operations. The Trump administration has not been particular to how they might ban TikTok and the inclusion of "ban" they want to happen. The administration can use a law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to block foreign products from American app stores, or it could put the owner of the app on a list that prohibits American firms from selling goods without a license. According to N.Y. Times, the administration can also order the Chinese firm to spin off TikTok because if it emerged from ByteDance's 2017 acquisition of a lip-syncing app called Musical.ly.To avoid being ordered to do so, ByteDance could agree to sell TikTok voluntarily. The scenario happened before when a Chinese company had bought Grindr, the gay dating app, to sell it due to pressure from Trump administration. TikTok tried to paint itself as an American brand in May when it hired Kevin Mayer, who formerly worked at Disney, to be TikTok's chief executive. The company highlights its American investors as well as hiring almost 1,000 employees in the U.S. ByteDance was reported to offer the American operations of TikTok to end the Trump administration from banning the app. One of the companies it has talked to about buying is Microsoft. In the most recent report of Latin Post, Microsoft works to acquire TikTok. Besides, ByteDance discussed selling a majority stake of TikTok to American investors. However, the Trump administration seemed to reject the course of action. Latest update: The Wall Street Journal reported that negotiations between ByteDance and Microsoft to buy the U.S. operations of TikTok are on hold. President Donald Trump threatened to bar TikTok and came out against the sale. Microsoft Corp. paused negotiations to buy TikTok's U.S. operations after Trump said he opposed the deal according to people familiar with the matter. Check these out: Microsoft in Talks to Acquire TikTok Pompeo: US is Looking to Ban TikTok and Other Chinese Social Media Apps Latino Dads Use TikTok to Connect With Their Children Locals in Cornwall have complained that they are being overwhelmed by tourists. (SWNS) Cornwall residents have voiced fears that they will become subject to a local lockdown as unprecedented numbers of tourists flock to the area for a staycation. Locals say they are scared to leave their houses as visitors flood the area, with some comparing beaches to Benidorm on steroids. Their concerns come as brawls erupted on beaches across the UK as thousands of people flocked to the seaside on the hottest day of the year on Friday, with police forced to intervene in Bournemouth, Wales and Scotland. Local authorities have also warned that beaches are becoming unmanageable due to large swathes of visitors, prompting fears around keeping people safe in the water. In Cornwall, residents said they have been left feeling uneasy about the numbers of holidaymakers that have descended on the area and fear they will be the ones who pay the price if a local lockdown is imposed. Perranporth High Street in Cornwall, where residents have voiced concerns about a potential local lockdown due to the number of visitors who are flocking to the area. (SWNS) Tina-Marie Lally, from Penzance, tried to visit Porthminster Beach in St Ives last week - but shared photos on Facebook of the beach crowded with people and windbreakers. She wrote: "I think it's safe to say we will be avoiding our beautiful beaches for the next few weeks. Cornwall or Benidorm? We don't know anymore." Read more: Scientists back Boris Johnson's decision to scrap lockdown changes from tomorrow She added that she heard lots of Northern and Midlands accents on the beach, saying: "Silly season is in full swing. We will be avoiding the beaches now until summer holidays are over - we can enjoy them again when it's quieter. Some residents have likened Cornwall's beaches to "Benidorm on steroids". (SWNS) Vicky White, of Newyln, Cornwall, added: It makes me very uneasy to go out with my two young kids. The pavements have been bustling. It is sad for residents to not be able to enjoy where they live. Ian Goodman, of Perranporth, Cornwall, added: We are going to be in trouble soon, Perranporth is heaving. Roads are all blocked and no-one cares. I am talking tourists here. Dave Gambrill agreed, writing: Cornwall will be locked down again very soon. We're all doomed. Story continues Local businesses in Cornwall also voiced concerns about the volume of people visiting the area. David Hall, 55, who runs surf shop Wind & Sea Surfing Centre in St Ives, said the number of people in the town was "unmanageable". He said: There's no social distancing. The plan to keep people to the left out on the pavements and the streets just isn't working. We need to avoid a local lockdown, and I don't feel like the council have done enough. Julian Price, 45, who manages Ticket To Ride Surf School on Perranporth Beach, added: It's showing signs of being one of the busiest summers I can remember for quite a while. A few days ago I was walking along Perranporth beach, past the Watering Hole pub on the beach, and it was a bit like, 'Where's the sand?'. There was definitely no social distancing. I think for the majority of people coming down for holidays, it's not at the forefront of their minds. They just want to get away and not worry about it. Malcolm Bell, CEO of Visit Cornwall, said the tourist board is trying to strike a balance between keeping people safe, and rebuilding Cornwall's social and economic prosperity. He said: "I've been keeping an eye on lots of places, and it's certainly been busy. For locals it probably feels very busy. "It probably seems quite daunting for locals because if you're at street level, walking along in a crowd and looking straight ahead, you can't really tell that there's social distancing going on ahead of you. "But if you look at it from above, you can see that people actually are keeping apart." He added: If it's busy, it doesn't matter if it is busy with tourists or with locals - we all have to maintain social distancing. We're encouraging people to try some of our smaller beaches, if their favourite beach is full. There are 300 beaches in Cornwall - it's about getting an even distribution. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: President Akufo-Addo has described former President John Mahama as the worst-performing President in the past 30 years of the countrys history as the economy under his administration was the worst compared to any administration. Former President John Dramani Mahama says his second coming is to rescue Ghana from the terrible performance of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his appointees. I think that Ghanaians are more discerning now . . . after what weve all gone through, any politician who comes dangling promises before you, youll look at him twice . . . or, if any politician comes to you and says, Try me, youll turn and run away, Mahama said during a meeting with party members in London. Reacting to former President Mahamas claim that he is on a rescue mission to save Ghanaians from a terrible performance of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his appointees, President Akufo-Addo on Kumasi-based Wontumi TV said the assertion of his predecessor is amusing as the records are there to show. That Mahama says my government is a failure, this man who presided over worst statistics in the economic history of our country . . . he signed the economy to 3.4 percent when we took over . . . it is worst performance since the last 30 years in Ghanaian history. If he says things like this, it does not worry me because our record and his record are there for everyone to see; there is no comparison between them, he jabbed. President Akufo-Addo insisted that records of performance will play significant role in the 2020 general elections as Ghanaians will have the opportunity to assess the records of his government and that of former President John Mahama. I am prepared to put my record on the line in each one of the sectors against record of John Mahama in any day, President Akufo-Addo dared. His Excellency President Akufo-Addo described the 2020 general election as a special one as Ghanaians will have to choose a President who has records to show unlike the previous elections where one contestant may not have any record to convince Ghanaians with. He added that the 2020 elections will go beyond the usual manifestos of political parties as there are records to show to Ghanaians; reiterating that the record will determine whether the manifestos of the political parties, especially that of the NPP and NDC can be accomplished. Its not just the manifestos this time. Of course, the manifestos have a role to play but in this case, we both have records and I think that is what will be the influence . . . Ghanaians will examine our works and judge by that, he reiterated when he visited Wontumi TV. He, however, charged Ghanaians who have not registered in the ongoing voter registration exercise to do so in the final phase as it is the only way they can select the leader of their choice. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video It gets more ludicrous with every passing day and more sinister. Take the case of Professor Patricia Simon, from Marymount Manhattan College in New York, who made the mistake of failing to be sufficiently enthusiastic in the course of a Zoom meeting. Accused of daring to nod off during discussion of an 'anti-racist framework' a social-media picture seemed to support the claim that she fell asleep Prof Simon faced nearly 2,000 demands that her contract of employment be terminated and she lose her livelihood. 'I was not asleep as is implied at any point during the meeting,' she said in her defence. 'The photo was taken without permission when I was looking down or briefly resting my Zoom-weary eyes. I listened with my ears and heard the entire meeting.' It's a response worthy of 1960s China and the grovelling apologies forced upon the victims of Mao's Cultural Revolution. But that would be appropriate, because a cultural revolution is exactly what is taking place in today's America, where the woke mob has surrounded the citadels of democracy newspapers, magazines, television stations and, of course, universities. Dissenters live in fear. Serious debate is all but silenced. Patricia Simon, a theater arts associate professor at Marymount Manhattan College, New York, allegedly fell asleep during an 'anti-racist' meeting held on Zoom A recent survey published by the respected Cato Institute reveals that 62 per cent of Americans say today's political climate prevents them from saying things they believe because others might find their views offensive. Just think about that: an overwhelming majority of Americans across all political persuasions have political opinions that they are afraid to share. It is positively Orwellian. How long until the same thing happens here if it has not already? Even liberals are afraid, with a majority 52 per cent feeling they have to self-censor before speaking or writing. The same applies to 64 per cent of people who consider themselves moderates, and 77 per cent of conservatives. These numbers are higher than they have ever been representing a true threat to democracy. And even more worrying for those who value the future of openness and political diversity is the intolerance of the young, who are driving so much of this frightening new trend. Forty four per cent of Americans under 30 support firing company executives if it is discovered they privately donate their own money to President Trump. Fifty per cent of people who call themselves strong liberals support firing Trump donors from their jobs. This tide of aggression towards people who merely happen to hold opposing views cannot be written off as a blip, for it is clearly part of a wider trend that has engulfed other Western nations. China's Red Army soldiers read from Mao Tse-tung's 'Little Red Book' in 1969 When America sneezes, it is never very long before Britain catches a cold. A British political tradition that has for decades prized tolerance of other people's opinions even when, or indeed especially when, we disagree with them is about to be tossed away. Proof that the bacillus highlighted in the Cato Institute's troubling survey is already infecting Britain can be seen in the treatment of Stephen Lamonby, who lost his job as a university lecturer for saying 'the Jewish are the cleverest in the world' and that 'Germans are good engineers'. Mr Lamonby, interviewed in last week's Mail on Sunday, said these things in a one-on-one private conversation with a colleague, Janet Bonar, who denounced him to the commissars of Solent University in Southampton. Who then dismissed him. Quite apart from the fact Mr Lamonby was making these remarks in a private conversation rather than in a lecture to students, or in a public address at Solent, and nothing he said was offensive or demeaning about any race or group, they also happen to be true. I'm happy to state here that I wholeheartedly support his conclusion about Jews. Although they make up less than half of one per cent of the world's population, between 1901 and 1950 Jews won 14 per cent of all the Nobel Prizes awarded for Literature and Science, and between 1951 and 2000 Jews won 32 per cent of the Nobel Prizes for Medicine, 32 per cent for Physics, 39 per cent for Economics and 29 per cent for Science. This, despite many of their greatest intellects dying in the Holocaust. Proof that the bacillus highlighted in the Cato Institute's troubling survey is already infecting Britain can be seen in the treatment of Stephen Lamonby, who lost his job as a university lecturer for saying 'the Jewish are the cleverest in the world' and that 'Germans are good engineers' Mr Lamonby is only the latest person to be cancelled for holding legitimate views, which by no coincidence often tend to be conservative and traditional ones. We are not so far away from the Thought Crime from Orwell's 1984. Once all value judgments regarding races and peoples are banned, my profession history and biography-writing would become impossible. Take any example from history and try to explain what happened without making any statement to the effect that any group of people were better or worse at anything than any other group of people, and you will quickly appreciate it cannot be done, yet that is where the woke-finder generals are taking us. 'At the Battle of Hastings in 1066, Norman battle tactics which were in no way whatsoever superior to Saxon battle tactics won a victory after a Norman archer, whose expertise in archery was precisely equivalent to that of his Saxon counterpart fired an arrow into King Harold's eye. Thereafter, the centuries of Norman rule in England were no better or worse relatively speaking than any other period of history.' This is what the 'Solent' version will be like. In many cases, the 'cancelling' is self-administered. Last week, the president and chief executive officer of an organisation called Technical Safety BC in Vancouver told the Toronto Globe and Mail that she was removing the word 'chief' from her official title in acknowledgment of racism against people of colour. Progressivist absurdity and intolerance was captured brilliantly in Malcolm Bradbury's witty book The History Man, set in a new university in the fictional southern English town of Watermouth where Howard Kirk, the Marxist post-modern professor, persecutes anyone who disagrees with him in the name of 'generating the onward march of mind, the onward process of history'. The treatment of Lamonby and Patricia Simon was thus foretold nearly half a century ago. What this intolerance will do is to force the teaching of history underground. Indeed it already has: Professor Nigel Biggar of Oxford had to hold an academic conference on the British Empire as a private seminar amid fears of how it might affect the careers of the historians who took part. Academic papers will one day be distributed surreptitiously, like samizdat underground newspapers behind the Iron Curtain before the fall of the Berlin Wall. That is the kind of world we are moving towards. For the truly concerning thing about the Cato Institute survey is not that quite so many people fear that they might lose their jobs if they express their opinions, but that they are clearly right to feel that way. Raids have exposed a massive liquor racket extending across several districts, with several dhabas at Shambhu, Banur and Patiala having been sealed Chandigarh: In a major crackdown as spurious liquor claimed 86 lives in three districts of Punjab, police on Saturday arrested 17 more people in over 100 raids from parts of the state, officials said. On Friday, police had nabbed eight people after deaths were reported due to the consumption of spurious liquor in Amritsar, Gurdaspur's Batala and Tarn Taran. So far, 25 arrests have been made in the case, the officials added. According to them, 63 people have died in Tarn Taran, 12 in Amritsar and 11 in Batala after drinking spurious liquor. The tragedy has been unfolding since Wednesday evening in the three Punjab districts. An excise official said though reports of the chemical analysis of the material seized in police raids are yet to arrive, a superficial check showed that the material was denatured spirit, generally used in the paint or hardware industry. Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta in a statement said the raiding parties seized large quantities of 'lahan' (raw material for making liquor) from various villages and dhabas in the region around the Shambhu border, Rajpura and Patiala. The raids have exposed a massive liquor racket, extending across several districts, he said, adding that several dhabas at Shambhu, Banur and Rajpura of Patiala have been sealed. Meanwhile the Batala police arrested Darshan Rani, alias Faujan, a key accused in the case. Another accused, Beeri of Deo village, was arrested by the Tarn Taran Sadar police for supplying spurious alcohol, the DGP said. Prem Singh, owner of Azad Transport, and Bhinda (wanted by the Tarn Taran police) were arrested by the Rajpura police in raids conducted on Saturday. Meanwhile, police arrested a dhaba manager after recovering 200 litres of 'lahan'. Dhaba owner Harjit Singh has also been named in the FIR, police said. At Green Dhaba on the Rajpura-Chandigarh road in Zirakpur, about 200 litres of diesel-like liquid was recovered. The dhaba has been sealed and its owner Gurjant Singh has been arrested. One Narinder Singh, owner of Multani Dhaba, has also been arrested in the case, said the DGP. One of the key arrested accused who was bringing spurious liquor from Tarn Taran to Amritsar has been identified as Govinderbir Singh, alias Gobinda, of Jandiala City. He was the main mastermind in Amritsar district, said police. Describing the modus operandi of the accused, the DGP said the trucks carrying spirit would be stopped at six to seven identified dhabas and their owners collected hooch from the drivers and sold it to one Bhinda of Rajpura, who was also an accused in a Rajpura illegal liquor factory case. Bhinda and Bittu of a village near Patiala's Banur were supplying liquor to Amritsar and surrounding areas. Raids are continuing with the Patiala SSP camping at Rajpura for supervision, the DGP said, adding that efforts were on to smash the supply chain of spurious alcohol. Protests Continue in Khabarovsk, Russia, Against Arrest and Replacement of Popular Regional Governor By VOA News August 01, 2020 Protesters took to the streets of the Russian city of Khabarovsk for the fourth straight weekend on Saturday, angered by the arrest of the region's popular governor. Sergey Furgal was arrested by federal law enforcement in early July on charges related to multiple murders in 2004 and 2005, before he became governor. He was flown to Moscow where he was ordered jailed for two months. Many people in Russia's Far Eastern city on the border with China believe the charges leveled against Furgal, and his replacement last week, are politically motivated. Furgal was elected in 2018, defeating a candidate from Russian President Vladimir Putin's party, United Russia. "What is happening to our governor Sergey Furgal is injustice and the violation of all conceivable human rights, and I can't remain indifferent to this," said protester Natalia Smoktunova. Other protesters expressed their indignation with the falling standards of living. "We've become fed up with this kind of life," said Tatiana, another protester, who didn't give her last name. "We want our children to have everything they needgood schools and a better life, instead of poverty-level salaries and unemployment." The Kremlin replaced Furgal with a young State Duma deputy, Mikhail Degtiarev, to serve as acting governor of the Khabarovsk region. "Wonderful people live here (in Khabarovsk)," said pensioner protester Nadezhda Svobodnaya. "They're hard workers who want to work honestly and live with dignity, without being afraid for the future of our children and grandchildren. But everything is being trampled here: dignity and honor and freedom. We live in a civilized world after all. How much longer can we bear this?" Protests in Khabarovsk, a city about 8,000 kilometers east of Moscow, erupted on July 11. Since then, protesters have been demanding the release of Furgal and an open and fair trial for him. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ensuring Black and ethnic minority participation in coronavirus vaccine trials is key if we want a truly effective coronavirus vaccine, according to top epidemiology experts. This past week, as two massive phase 3 trials slated to enroll 30,000 people each launched in the United States, researchers running those trials are working to ensure a significant portion of the people who volunteer hail from the communities that are hardest-hit by the pandemic. "We know that there are higher mortality rates in Black and ethnic minority people and infections are being propagated at much higher in these groups," Dr. Sam Oh, director of epidemiology for the University of California, San Francisco Asthma Collaboratory, told ABC News. "When we look at these communities, COVID-19 takes its toll on people with specific comorbidities. Is there something specific about these minority races that puts them at risk? We don't know that yet." But here's the issue: Historically, investigations into treatments, including vaccines, have not fairly represented people of Black and minority ethnic people. "When you look deeper into it, medications were made for the average person," said Oh. But when it comes to most research studies, "the average person is white, older and male." PHOTO: Doctors look at a files at the Respiratory & Meningeal Pathogens Research Unit at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, South Africa, on July 14, 2020. (Luca Sola/AFP via Getty Images) Researchers have been worried that clinical trials investigating vaccines haven't been diverse enough. It's a problem because the effectiveness of vaccines can be influenced by many factors, including socioeconomic, genetic and environmental, with racial differences potentially affecting many of these. There are concerns about treatment effectiveness if trials don't include people from different ethnic backgrounds. These lessons have cropped up in medicine time and time again -- tests and treatments that were developed in predominantly white people, that don't work nearly as well in ethnic minorities or people with particular genetic variants. Story continues MORE: Vaccine companies searching for 1-shot dose of COVID-19 vaccine There is a whole discipline called pharmacogenetics, which investigates how genetic factors might influence treatment effectiveness. While vaccines might be less affected than medications when it comes to genetic factors, it's still possible that the immune responses generate to vaccines are subtly different. If the vaccines aren't tested in specific populations, there might also be issues with compliance if the vaccine does eventually get distributed to the general public. "If the vaccine is not tested in the groups that need it the most, I think there is less likelihood those groups will be accepting of it, because it wasn't specifically shown to work in that population," said Dr. Dan Barouch, William Bosworth Castle professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "You really need the buy in from the community from the start," Oh explained. In addition, several clinical trials are partly funded by taxpayer money. "The U.S. taxpayer base is getting more and more diverse," Oh told ABC News, "and as our taxpayer diversifies, that base is becoming increasingly underrepresented in the research they fund." "The vaccine needs to be tested in those that are highest risk, and ultimately needs to be accepted in groups that are in highest risk," Barouch told ABC News. It's clear that engaging minority ethnicities in clinical trials is an important issue to address. But it has been a longstanding challenge with multiple underlying reasons. "The reasons why biomedical studies are under representing minority population is partly in the design and execution of studies themselves, and also because of either preferences or characteristics of study subjects that you would like to bring in," Oh said to ABC News. "Looking at study design, if your study has eligibility criteria and you need to assess people, most assessments are Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. If you have time during the week to go to the study center to be evaluated, you are more likely to enter the study. If you are working a job or several jobs that don't allow you to take time off, you can't," he explained. From the perspective of study subjects, that has been a sad history of unethical experiments on ethnic minorities, the most infamous of which is the Tuskegee Syphilis Trial, where Black participants weren't told that they had contracted syphilis and were not treated effectively for it. MORE: As pandemic endures, COVID-associated discrimination toward minorities persists, study shows "There's a concern about mistrust of science and government," Dr. Eliseo Perez-Stable, director of the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities at the National Institutes of Health, told ABC News. "People don't believe things coming from Washington, and the mistrust of science has been promoted by certain segments of leadership in the U.S. Minorities are also concerned if vaccine trials only have young white adults in the study sample -- people won't believe it's safe in them, because it wasn't tested in them." So, when drug companies and universities are looking for an answer to the coronavirus, how are they ensuring that their study populations are racially and ethnically diverse? Part of the solution lies in the diversity of the researchers in universities and drug companies who are carrying out the trials. "You know, you are more successful recruiting people when you have the reach to speak to a community which you understand," Oh told ABC News. "The more diverse your recruitment staff are, the more likely you can recruit people from a minority population." PHOTO: One of the first South African vaccine participants gets injected during the clinical trial for a potential vaccine against the COVID-19 at the Baragwanath hospital in Soweto, South Africa, June 24, 2020. (Siphiwe Sibeko/POOL/EPA via Shutterstock) "It's important to have diversity in people with decision-making power. Companies have to actively recruit people into those positions; some executives may have to cede some of their own power and authority and give it over to other people," Oh said. "Organizations can also partner with existing networks to increase the likelihood of getting more diversity in their recruitment." Of course, improving diversity don't just happen overnight. Similarly, there is a lot of logistics that goes into recruitment -- so dramatic changes in study populations can't happen too quickly. Progress is being made. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, there have been encouraging signs from the people who have pre-registered for the phase 3 trial conducted by the biotech company Moderna and the NIAID. "I think, up to 15 or more thousand, who are pre-enrolled, of those 19% are African American and 19% are Latinx, which is really good news now because we want, we want to get that, and even more because of the disproportionate numbers, and seriousness among that demographic group," Fauci said, speaking during an Instagram live interview with ABC News' chief medical correspondent Dr. Jen Ashton. MORE: A COVID-19 vaccine will still save lives even if it's not 100% effective, experts say "The topic of inclusion has been a long-standing effort in NIH," Perez-Stable told ABC News. "The last data 40% of all participants in NIH-funded clinical trials were racial and ethnic minority groups as classified in the U.S. census." However, there is still a long way to go. "There has been an FDA requirement since 2017 that trials report the ethnic composition of the studies," Perez-Stable said. "The drug companies still only had around 10% of their participants coming from ethnic minorities -- they haven't yet embraced diversity as their way of operating." Never has the pace of scientific research and clinical trials been so rapid and so intense. There are now lots of opportunities to get this right -- and make sustainable, permanent change in how we design clinical trials to be more inclusive and diverse. According to experts, lives depend on it. Dr. Laith Alexander is an academic doctor at St. Thomas' Hospital, London, working with ABC News Medical Unit. Sony Salzman is the unit's coordinating producer. As vaccines move into phase 3 trials, diversity must be at top of agenda originally appeared on abcnews.go.com The only trouble was some unauthorized private boats that NASA said beelined for the capsule, including one that looked to be waving a Trump flag. Bridenstine said the Coast Guard had cleared the area prior to splashdown, but afterward the boats just came in. The situation could have turned dangerous given the toxic nitrogen tetroxide that had accumulated on the capsule that had to be purged before the astronauts could leave it. A member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, David Setonji, has cried out over the drowning of 14 persons. The incident occurred on Wednesday. Setonji said the increasing use of waterways was caused by the total collapse of Lagos-Badagry expressway. Ten persons died and four others missing after a boat en route Badagry capsized at Kirikiri. Setonji (Badagry Constituency II) told NAN on Saturday that he was devastated by the pictures of the victims. Our people are looking for alternative means of transportation due to the total collapse and neglect of the Badagry expressway. We have made repeated calls for completion of work on this very important access road to Badagry. We have suffered greatly and are still suffering. Governance should be about welfare and safety of the people. I am pleading and begging government to urgently intervene to make the road safer for people. Setonji, the Chairman, House Committee on Home Affairs, urged the government to fast track road repairs. He lamented that the road is in shambles and total mess at the moment, that is why our people resorted to water transport most times. Srinagar, Aug 3 : An Indian Army soldier was abducted by suspected militants late on Sunday in J&K's Kulgam district, police said. Police sources said that the soldier, identified as Shakir Manzoor, was abducted from his home in Rambhama village of Kulgam. Reports said the militants also torched Manzoor's private vehicle. Security forces have started searches to trace the soldier. No militant group has so far owned responsibility for this abduction. Beyonce has done it again with Black Is King, her latest audio/visual masterpiece, which premiered Friday. And the 24-time Grammy winner served looks for days, showcasing some killer ensembles in the visual album. She was opulence personified in some stunning images from Black Is King, modeling some vibrant designs for the aesthetically driven project, which was styled by Zerina Akers. Bridal vibes: Beyonce put on a dazzling display in one custom look by Israeli bridalwear designer Alon Livne for Black Is King, which premiered Friday on Disney+ The 38-year-old put on a dazzling display in one custom look by Israeli bridalwear designer Alon Livne. She donned a plunging white mini dress with tall structured sleeves, that gave the appearance of angel wings. The ensemble was complemented by a matching large structured headwrap, with her gorgeous curls dangling from the sides. Beyonce also adorned a fuchsia chiffon gown by Molly Goddard, which featured a thick layered skirt and ruffled details. Pretty in pink: Beyonce also adorned a fuchsia chiffon gown by Molly Goddard, which featured a thick layered skirt and ruffled details Killer look: The dress may look familiar, as it bears a striking resemblance to a now iconic look (also by Goddard) sported by Jodie Comer in season one of Killing Eve Splash of color: She served body in one skintight mini dress by Thierry Mugler, which featured an assortment of different patterns in alternating splashes of color Mama's girl: The French designer also created a similar look custom for the artist's daughter Blue Ivy, eight, which she wore during one appearance It was accessorized with another matching structured headpiece in a shimmering material, complemented by layered pink hoop earrings. The dress may look familiar, as it bears a striking resemblance to a now iconic look (also by Goddard) sported by Jodie Comer in season one of Killing Eve. She served body in one skintight mini dress by Thierry Mugler, which featured an assortment of different patterns in alternating splashes of color. The dress was complemented with a matching scarf, gloves and leggings, as well as some gold jewelry accents. The French designer also created a similar look custom for the artist's daughter Blue Ivy, eight, which she wore during one appearance. Beyonce's masterpiece is being lauded for its visually striking artistic direction, with images and looks from the visual album taking over social media. Visual masterpiece: Beyonce's masterpiece is being lauded for its visually striking artistic direction, with images and looks from the visual album taking over social media Black designers: Black Is King is also receiving acclaim for showcasing several Black designers, including Duckie Confetti, D.Bleu.Dazzled, Loza Maleombho, Deviant La Vie and more Twinning: Adele even twinned with one of the looks, taking to Instagram in a crescent moon-print bodysuit by Marine Serre, worn in the video for Already Adele even twinned with one of the looks, taking to Instagram in a crescent moon-print bodysuit by Marine Serre, worn in the video for Already. Black Is King is also receiving acclaim for showcasing several Black designers, including Duckie Confetti, D.Bleu.Dazzled, Loza Maleombho, Deviant La Vie and more. The Lemonade artist wrote of the looks on Instagram: 'I believe that when Black people tell our own stories, we can shift the axis of the world and tell our REAL history of generational wealth and richness of soul that are not told in our history books. I pray that everyone sees the beauty and resilience of our people.' Black Is King serves as the visual accompaniment to last year's The Lion King: The Gift, a soundtrack curated by Bey for the live-action Disney film, in which she voiced Nala. She told Good Morning America: 'I worked with a diverse group of very gifted directors and actors and creatives from all over the world to reimagine the story of The Lion King.' Beyonce continued: 'My hope for this film is that it shifts the global perception of the word 'Black,' which has always meant inspiration and love and strength and beauty to me. Black Is King means Black is regal and rich, in history, in purpose and in lineage.' Some 222 Ghanaians who were stranded in Qatar in the Middle East have been evacuated. They arrived at the Kotoka International Airport at 11.30 a.m. Friday. The evacuees, constituting the first batch, flew from the Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, at 3 a.m on Friday aboard a chartered plane belonging to the Ethiopian Airlines. COVID-19 outbreak They included migrants and state officials who became stranded in the Middle East country due to the outbreak of COVID-19. A reliable source at the Ghana Embassy in Qatar told the Daily Graphic that the Ghana Ambassador to Doha, Mr Emmanuel Enos, and some staff of the embassy in Qatar, along with the Chairman of the Ghanaian Community in Qatar, Mr Stephen Adjei, were at the airport to facilitate their departure formalities to bid them farewell. The source stated that the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic and its attendant economic and social challenges left many Ghanaian workers stranded in Qatar. The government, through its embassy in Doha and the executives of the Ghanaian community, organised an evacuation exercise for all the stranded Ghanaians, numbering 222, to depart Doha through the Hamad International Airport, via Ethiopian Airlines flight on Friday, July 31, 2020, it said. The source described the entire repatriation arrangements as impressively successful. Appreciation to Qatar It attributed the success largely to the immense cooperation Ghanas Embassy received from Qatars Foreign Ministry, through its warm and hardworking Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Ibrahim Yousif Abdullah Fakhro, his staff and other relevant Qatari institutions. Without a doubt, the resounding success of the evacuation exercise is a testament to the existing cordial bilateral relations between the two friendly countries. Ghanas Embassy in Qatar is hopeful that the existing bonds of friendship between Ghana and the State of Qatar would continue to be strengthened and deepened, even further, in the coming years for the mutual benefit of the two countries, the source added. The source said with the assistance of the Ghanaian community leadership in Qatar, the Ghana Embassy was still in the process of collecting data of the second batch of stranded Ghanaians to facilitate their evacuation to Ghana. Governments commitment The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has reiterated the government's commitment to assist in bringing home Ghanaians stranded outside the country because of COVID-19. She said the decision was taken to begin the process of bringing Ghanaians home following the alert from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that COVID-19 was most likely to remain a global public health issue until a vaccine was developed. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Climbing about 11% since the start of June, the price of gold has soared higher this summer than ever before. Currently, the yellow metal is trading at about $1,970 per ounce, but there are some on Wall Street who believe that it's bound to continue trading higher -- even reaching as high as $2,300 per ounce by this next time next year. While you may have decided to sell some of your unwanted gold jewelry as one way of benefiting from the historically high price, there's a better way: Yamana Gold (NYSE:AUY). Based in Canada, Yamana Gold is a mining company that operates a portfolio of five producing assets located throughout the Americas. Demonstrating a concerted effort to maintain financial health, Yamana Gold has also shown a commitment to planning for future growth and rewarding its shareholders, making it an ideal choice for gold-hungry investors. A glittering second quarter -- and beyond? Despite the company having to ramp down operations at Cerro Moro and Canadian Malartic in late March due to the coronavirus, Yamana succeeded in smoothly resuming operations at two of the company's cornerstone assets. Yamana exceeded its expectations at Canadian Malartic, as average daily mill throughput in May and June surpassed 60,000 metric tons. In fact, the company reported a record for average daily mill throughput in May: 63,991 metric tons. The strong performance of the two assets contributed to the company achieving second-quarter gold production of 164,141 ounces, and led management to reaffirm the 2020 forecast of 786,000 ounces -- though it also said that gold production is so strong that it may upwardly revise its 2020 forecast. In terms of its financials, Yamana reported operational cash flow of $92 million in the second quarter, and reported its fifth-consecutive quarter of free cash flow generation: $60.3 million (adjusted for costs related to COVID-19). With gold prices expected to remain high, Yamana seems poised to continue reporting strong cash flow in the remainder of the year. According to the company, for every $100 per ounce increase over $1,750 that the company averages in its gold price, management foresees a comparable $70 million increase in net free cash flow. In addition to celebrating the company's strong financial performance in light of the coronavirus pandemic, investors will appreciate management's decision to raise the annual dividend 12% to $0.07 per share. While there's no guarantee of future increases, the fact that management has raised the dividend four times over the last year and the price of gold remains high suggests that management may be motivated to raise it further in the future. Dealing deftly with debt One of the insights that investors are taking away from the global pandemic is that you shouldn't underestimate the value of a strong balance sheet. And in the case of Yamana, investors will find that management is committed to maintaining the company's financial health by way of managing its debt. Since 2017, in fact, management has identified a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 1.5 or lower. And during a recent investor presentation, management set an even more conservative target ratio of 1 or lower. In the second quarter, Yamana shored up its balance sheet and reduced its net debt by $101 million. As a result, the company's net debt now stands at $768 million -- nearly 16% lower than the $889 million it had on its balance sheet at the end of 2019. Moreover, the company ended the quarter with a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of about 1.9. Though this is higher than its target, the company stated in its earnings report that net debt would've been "further reduced if certain costs associated with COVID-19 had not been incurred." Furthermore, the company forecasts net debt to decline further in the second half of the year in line with stronger gold production and free cash flow. While plenty can change over the next year and a half, management estimates that after the company repays the debt it has due in 2022, its leverage ratio, on a pro forma basis, will be close to zero. An eye on the yellow brick road to the future The company's organic growth prospects are another reason potential shareholders may enjoy golden slumbers with Yamana. Jacobina, an asset located in Brazil, is the source of several growth initiatives. For example, Yamana reported positive findings from the Phase 2 optimization project at Jacobina in April -- a project that could increase annual gold production from 175,000 ounces to 230,000 ounces, and there's potential to extend the life of the mine even further beyond the Phase 2 project. Agua Rica represents another auspicious opportunity for the company. Located in Argentina, Agua Rica has proven and probable gold and copper reserves of 7.4 million ounces and 11.8 billion pounds, respectively. Yamana is conducting a feasibility study to be completed in 2021, though it articulated in its Q2 earnings report that it "has concluded that Agua Rica represents an excellent development and growth project which the Company intends to continue to advance through the development process through the Company's controlling interest [56.25%] in the project." You wanna buy Yamana Investors mining the market for interesting gold opportunities should pay particular attention to Yamana Gold. The company's commitment to its financial well-being and its enthusiasm for rewarding shareholders are just some of the reasons why it's a compelling choice. If you decide to pick up shares -- or prefer to keep the stock on a watch list for the time being -- monitoring the company's ongoing commitment to reducing its leverage is critical, as this will fortify the company's financial position in the case of a steep downturn in the price of the yellow stuff. Kiel: The lawyer for the prime suspect in the abduction of Madeleine McCann says his client will never co-operate with police and claims a major new search in Germany was an attempt to sway public opinion ahead of a crucial court decision that could free the paedophile from prison. German authorities believe Christian Brueckner, a 43-year-old convicted thief, drug dealer, rapist and child abuser, was involved in the British girl's sensational disappearance from Portugal in 2007 and have spent the past three years building a case against him. Christian Bruckner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann. Credit: Friedrich Fulscher, Brueckner's lawyer, told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that his client would not assist investigators but denied that meant the career criminal had "anything to hide". "Before our client starts to co-operate with the prosecutor's office, you could order holy water as a long drink in hell," Fulscher said. The pop star, 35, and the Hollywood actor, 43, are planning to tie the knot and are expecting their first child together. Perry told the Sunday Times Style magazine that Bloom is very sensitive, very emotionally evolved. He gets up at 7am and chants for an hour. One of the things that binds us is our desire to be more spiritually evolved. And our desire to investigate that realm. One of our main love languages is the spiritual evolution. We love mysticism, conspiracies, aliens, all that stuff. We love an adventure of the mind. Thats definitely something we are bound by. Perry, who is eight months pregnant, said the couple have not decided on a name for their baby girl. Advertisement Were going to see how she speaks to us. Through her eyes or whatever, she said. She said the pregnancy was planned. I told my management, Im gonna get pregnant. She added of Bloom, who has a son with his ex-wife Miranda Kerr: Ive always been so fond of the way he is with Flynn that I think my primal nature is like, Yes, go. Investing is a tricky business. But many rookie investors fret about the wrong things. While there are innumerable mistakes fresh thumbed traders make, there is one in particular we need to overcome, one Australian investment guru claims. In response to yet another free US brokerage mob launching in Australia (which has come about after individual trading has seen a boon of late), Scott Phillips, Chief Investment Officer at The Motley Fool (a membership-based investment service) took to Twitter to say: Free sells like nothing else. Makes otherwise sane people crazy. Yet another free US brokerage mob launching in Australia. What happens when you remove the friction from transactions? People make more of them. Roll up, roll up. Spin the wheel. Buy. Sell. Buy. Sell. What do you have to lose? Oh, your life savings. I see Scott Phillips (@TMFScottP) July 22, 2020 So far so doom and gloom. But heres where things get interesting. Instead of worrying about the brokerage fee of each trade, Phillips urges traders to think more carefully about the trade itself. Obvious? Sure. But one of the biggest mistakes rookie traders make is making lots of little bets, based on tip-offs they heard at (among other places) Ryans Bar, figuring theres not much to lose in having a dabble (then six months later realising theyve wasted their money on a bunch of highly speculative roulette spins). Investing with a brokerage fee (rather than on a free-trading app) will dissuade people from making this error, Phillips claims. Its true. When I buy $20,000 in a stock I pay $29.95 And I worry about the $29.95! Crazy! But thats human behaviour. Mark (@MxJ61) July 22, 2020 Behavioural psychology has a lot to say about free,' Phillips wrote in a separate tweet. Its a drug: Addictive and boundary lowering/reducing. You really think we should encourage people to trade more??? This will make a lot of people a lot poorer, because theyll convince themselves theyre investing Agreed. Though on large enough trades, its a price Im happy to pay to limit the damage to others. Maybe load the fees onto the sell orders? Scott Phillips (@TMFScottP) July 22, 2020 Of course, one could argue, Phillips, being CIO of a membership-based investment service, has a dog in the fight. But, as comments made on a recent episode of The BIP Show illuminate, at least part of his point (dont make lots of speculative trades) is solid advice. On a recent episode of The BIP Show podcast, James Whelan, Investment Manager at VFS Group in Sydney, explained why making lots of little punts, even if they are free, isnt necessarily the best idea: You duck down to Ryans Bar, catch up with your mates, they say, Ive got a red hot tip for you Jimmy, youve got to get onto this one theyre in Sierra Leone and theyre digging ants out of copper mines. Its just the biggest load of baloney [but] you do a cursory look and purchase. Its the worst possible idea you dont know anything about it, youre not that close to the company, its probably going to be a terrible idea anyway and theres every likelihood that on the other side of it someone is just selling into your buying. The mistake overall I would say is that if youre not close to it, dont even worry about it at the small end of the scale. Its easy to keep up with what the HPs are doing or CBA, Apple or Amazon because its in the news and its well disclosed. But the worst mistake you can make is to have a whole shoebox full of these [speculative] pieces. Read Next In an event which has now left everybody inspired, a man finally got graduated at age of 96 in Italy. Giuseppe Paterno, who is a World War II veteran, recently completed his undergraduate degree with top honours from the University of Palermo. Giuseppe Paterno, 96, prepares for his college graduation from the University of Palermo (Guglielmo Mangiapan) pic.twitter.com/0Hy7ftXwhC Brian M Downing (@BrianMDowning1) August 1, 2020 Born in poverty The subjects chosen by him included History and Philosophy, both of which he aced. According to international media reports, Paterno was born in poverty, and despite his keen interest in reading, he could only attend basic education in his youth. Born in Sicily, he never got a chance to get a formal education and attend university. Paterno joined the navy to serve in World War II before going to work in the railways. He later got married and has two children. Read: Italy: Senators Vote To Lift Ex-minister Salvini's Immunity Read: Italy: 6 Youths Convicted Over Deadly Nightclub Stampede Congratulations Giuseppe ... Knowledge is like a suitcase that I carry with me, it is a treasure At 96, Giuseppe Paterno has had to overcome - childhood poverty, war, and the coronavirus pandemic. Now he has sailed through an exam that makes him Italys oldest uni graduate pic.twitter.com/VtoaV92P1U blakandblack (@BlakandBlack) August 1, 2020 However, he graduated from high school at the age of 31. And beating all odds joined an undergraduate programme in 2017. During his university days, Paterno referred to books, not google to learn about things. In addition, he used a typewriter to type his essays. Despite coronavirus cases and switch to the digital world, the Italian soldier did not give up and finally got his degree. This lit my fire today. "My project for the future is to devote myself to writing; I want to revisit all the texts I didn't have a chance to explore further. This is my goal said Giuseppe Paterno, 96, after graduating with BA in History & Philosophy from University of Palermo. Opiyo Oloya (@OpiyoOloya) July 31, 2020 Inspiration to senior citizen ? Giuseppe Paterno, 96, Italy's oldest student, celebrates after graduating from his undergraduate degree in history and philosophy during his graduation at the University of Palermo,Italy, July 29, 2020. pic.twitter.com/l6vtGyvEBX Shanthi Fonseka (@GLSFonseka1) August 1, 2020 Read: World War II Veteran Giuseppe Paterno Becomes Italys Oldest Student At 96 Read: Italy: Coronavirus State Of Emergency Extended Till October 15 The younger brother of Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark, Prince Joachim Holger Waldemar Christian was born on 7 June 1969 to Queen Margrethe and Prince Henrik. He is sixth in line to the Danish throne, after his brother Frederik and Frederiks four children. Prince Joachim of Denmark is Frederik's younger brother. Photo: Getty Who is Prince Joachim married to? Joachim is married to Princess Marie of Denmark [formerly Marie Cavallier], who is his second wife. The couple first met at a dinner party when Joachim was married to his first wife, Alexandra, Countess of Fredensborg. Marie is French, and Joachim was the only other guest who spoke French, so they were seated next to each other. Marie had never been to Denmark, it was fun to talk to her, he has said. Our romance, however, started much later. The pair were first seen together in 2005 on holiday the same year Joachim and Alexandra got divorced. They announced their engagement in 2007, and were married at Mgeltnder Church on 24 May 2008. Why does Princess Marie look so much like Princess Mary? Much has been made of the fact that Joachim and his big brother Frederik married women who look very similar. Some royal watchers believe the likeness between the two women has been a bone of contention between the brothers, with Frederik feeling that Joachim was trying to copy every aspect of his life. Its also been reported that Marie is jealous of Marys role as Queen in waiting, and feels pushed aside by current monarch, Queen Margrethe. Its no secret behind palace walls that Marie is jealous of Mary and does whatever she can to make her life hell, according to a royal insider. As well as looking alike, having almost the same name, and a very similar dress-sense, both women worked in advertising before marrying into the royal family. Princess Marie of Denmark, Prince Joachim of Denmark, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark. Photo: Getty Who was Prince Joachims first wife? Joachim married his first wife, Alexandra Manley, in 1995. Alexandra become known as Alexandra, Princess of Denmark. The couple announced their separation in 2004, after months of speculation they had grown apart. Story continues After many difficult considerations, we have jointly decided to separate with the intention of seeking a divorce," they said in a statement. They divorced in 2005. When Alexandra remarried in 2007, she lost her title and became known as Alexandra, Countess of Frediksborg. She has since divorced again. Prince Joachim and Princess Marie together with their children and Joachim's former wife Alexandra Christina Manley. Photo: Getty Does Prince Joachim have any children? Yes, he has four children. He has two sons from his first marriage, Prince Nikolai, who was born in 1999, and Prince Felix, who was born in 2002. With his second wife, he has Prince Henrik, who was born in 2009, and Princess Athena, who was born in 2012. Is Prince Joachim happily married? Yes, he has spoken openly about how happy Princess Marie makes him, saying shes extremely attractive, and that there is something very profound about her. He is also on friendly terms with his first wife, Alexandra. Joachim and Marie regularly spend New Years celebrations with Alexandra, and Alexandra was at the family celebrations for her and Joachims son Felixs 18th birthday as well. Prince Joachim and Princess Marie married on 24 May 2008. Photo: Getty What does Prince Joachim do? He works in the military, where his career started in 1987. He became a lieutenant colonel, and in 2019 he and his family moved to France where he enrolled in Frances highest ranking military leadership training, after being invited to do so by the French minister of Defence. He passed his training in June 2020, and was the first ever Danish officer to do so. He also has business interests; he owns and runs faming and forestry operations, based on conventional agriculture. He also collects a royal salary. He is due to start his dream job as a diplomat at the Danish Embassy in Paris, in September 2020. Where does Prince Joachim live? Joachims official Danish residence is at the royal palace of Emiliekildevej in Copenhagen, but in April 2020, he announced that when he is not in Paris, his family will move to the Danish Schackenborg Castle, where they have previously lived for short periods of time. He and Princess Marie are on the board at the castle, so regularly return to live there. Princess Marie has said it is where she feels most at home: This is where Prince Joachim and I got married. This is where our lovely children were born. And, therefore, it is the place where I feel at home, she said. Princess Marie and Prince Joachim of Denmark arrive for the state dinner at Christiansborg Palace in 2018. Photo: Getty Does Prince Joachim like being part of the royal family? When Prince Joachim announced he and his family would be moving to France to allow him to complete his military training, speculation grew that he was trying to distance himself from the royal family, with the Danish press reporting that Joachim was keeping his future options open, and considering cutting his ties with the rest of the family. Prince Joachim announced publicly he was strongly encouraged to move to France by the Queen. However, this didnt stop the rumour mill spinning, with some suggesting this simply added weight to the theory that Prince Joachim isnt well-liked by his own family. Do Prince Joachim and Crown Prince Frederik get on? There have been rumours of a feud between the two brothers for many years. Its believed Joachim felt Frederik, who was known as a party boy before he married Princess Mary, was always treated as the favourite by their parents, and given special dispensation as the heir, despite his lax attitude to his royal obligations. This was thought to have caused some resentment on the behalf of Prince Joachim. There has also reportedly been some competition between their wives, Princess Mary and Princess Marie, who look strikingly similar. There have been rumours of a feud between Joachim and Frederik for years. Photo: Getty Rumours of a feud were put to bed in October 2019, when Joachim, Frederik and their wives met up in Paris. They were seen hugging each other, and Frederik told reporters it was great to see his brother. How many languages does Prince Joachim speak? His mother tongue is Danish, but he also speaks fluent French, English and German. Whats happening with Prince Joachims health? On Friday 24 July, Prince Joachim was rushed to Toulouse University hospital in France, where he was operated on immediately for a blood clot on the brain. The surgery was successful. His doctors later announced: The blood clot in the brain was due to a sudden dissection of an artery, and the hospitals medical team estimates that the risk of recurrence is very small once the artery has healed.It is the doctors assessment that Prince Joachim will not have physical or other consequences as a result of the blood clot. Prince Joachim has no history of illness. Prince Joachim was rushed to Toulouse University hospital on July 24. Photo: Getty Click here to sign up to our daily newsletter to get all the latest news and hacks. Or if you have a story tip, email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com. Kamal Nath to host 'Hanuman Chalisa' recital on Ayodhya event eve India pti-PTI Bhopal, Aug 02:Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath will host a recital of 'Hanuman Chalisa' at his residence here on Tuesday, a day before the ground-breaking ceremony for Ram temple construction in Ayodhya. All COVID-19 protocols will be strictly followed during the event, Congress spokesman Bhupendra Gupta said on Sunday. "'Hanuman Chalisa' recital has been organised at Nathjis residence on Tuesday. He is an ardent devotee of Hanumanji. He has asked the party cadre and leaders to recite 'Hanuman Chalisa' at their homes on Tuesday, Gupta said. On Saturday, Kamal Nath said a Ram temple is being constructed in Ayodhya with the consent of every Indian. Priest at Ayodhya, 15 policemen test positive for coronavirus ahead of Ram Mandir event Asked about the reason behind the event being organised by the former state chief minister, Gupta said Tuesday is an auspicious day. "Nothing should be read into it. It is purely a spiritual event," he said. On 'Hanuman Jayanti' in April, Nath could not hold a grand annual religious event in his constituency Chhindwara in the wake of the fall of his government, he said. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News Some years ago, Nath, who was then a member of Parliament, got a 101-feet-tall statue of Lord Hanuman installed in Chhindwara district, he added. In March this year, 22 rebel Congress MLAs, loyalists of former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, resigned from the party, leading to the fall of the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government in the state. Following the rebellion, Kamal Nath resigned as chief minister on March 20, paving the way for the BJP to return to power in the state. Since March, 25 MLAs have so far resigned from the Congress as well as the state Assembly. DES MOINES, Iowa Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Thursday insisted that the state controls how public schools will resume classes next month, saying districts can provide online learning only if coronavirus cases are surging in their communities. The teachers union immediately pushed back against her demand that schools seek the states permission to send children home, saying the lives of children and teachers are at stake and that science not politics should guide decisions. On July 17, Reynolds said the state will require at least half of classes to be held in person and on Thursday she updated that guidance to say the state will decide when K-12 schools can send students home based on community virus spread and student illnesses. Reynolds new requirements came on a day when the state reported 15 more deaths and 582 confirmed cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. The rate of hospitalizations and patients in intensive care also are increasing. COVID-19 poses low risk to school-age children based on low transmission in the community. Children are not driving the pandemic and transmission from students to students and teachers have been low, Reynolds said at a news conference in the state Capitol. With proper tools and resources, we can reopen safely protecting students, teachers, staff and families. Reynolds rules for school makes exceptions for parents who can choose to keep a child at home for remote learning, and districts must make accommodations for any student to learn remotely if they, a caregiver, or a person they live with has a health condition that would increase their risk of COVID-19. Although some school districts previously said they would seek waivers to the state Education Departments mandates, guidelines outlined by Reynolds would allow exceptions only if counties have coronavirus positivity rates of 15% to 20% over a two week period, and at least 10% of students absent. If granted, such waivers for remote-only learning would expire after 14 days. If community transmission is worse than a 20% positivity rate over a two-week period, districts also could seek to send students home for virtual learning. Reynolds, a Republican, is a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, who has insisted that students return to classes even as case numbers soar nationwide. She noted that the director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that counties with less than a 10% positivity rate should reopen and 93 of Iowas 100 counties meet that threshold. The districts in the seven counties with higher rates can apply beginning next week to start the year with at least partial at-home learning for two weeks. On Wednesday, members of the state teachers union called on Reynolds to rescind her proclamation and establish a rule that places the health and safety of our students, educators school employees and communities ahead of politics. Iowa State Education Association President Mike Beranek said more than 36,000 people have signed a petition that will be mailed to Reynolds asking for local decision control. Most importantly we are not just talking about numbers as we look at this decision. We are talking about childrens lives and the lives of the educators, school employees and the families who are affected, he said. Accusing the Central government of undermining democracy by illegally detaining political leaders, Congress Rahul Gandhi on Sunday pitched for release of Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti from home detention. Mufti, who has been held under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) since the early hours of August 5 last year, is among 20-odd political leaders in the Valley who continue to remain under detention. Indias democracy is damaged when GOI illegally detains political leaders. Its high time Mehbooba Mufti is released, tweeted the Congress leader. Indias democracy is damaged when GOI illegally detains political leaders. Its high time Mehbooba Mufti is released. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 2, 2020 The tweet follows the Jammu and Kashmir administrations decision to extend the detention of former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti by three months even as it released Peoples Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone in Srinagar on Friday. In exercise of powers conferred by section 8 (1) a read with clause a of sub section (1) of section 18 of JKPSA 1978, the government hereby directs that the period of detention of Mehbooba Mufti, D/O Mufti Mohammad Sayeed R/O Bijbhera A/P Nowgam Srinagar be extended for further period of three months and she may be lodged in subsidiary jail Fairview Gupkar Road Srinagar, read the order issued on Friday. This is the second time that PSA has been extended in Muftis case. Under the PSA, a person can be kept under detention for up to two years. Its high time the BJP realises that we as Kashmiris refuse to be trivialised, the PDP said soon after the leaders detention was extended. The National Conference, in a tweet, questioned the rationale of holding on to the Public Safety Act, saying the law does not exist anywhere else in the country. Good to hear that Sajad Lone has been released from illegal house arrest. I hope others under similar illegal detention will also be released without delay, said Omar Abdullah, who also spent considerable time in detention. The PDP ran a coalition government in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir with the BJP until the alliance collapsed in June 2018 that prompted the imposition of the Governors rule. Manchego put on a display of devastating speed in a gate-to-wire victory in the $250,000 Spirit of Massachusetts Trot at Plainridge Park on Sunday (July 26) and set a new world record of 1:49.3 for older trotting mares over a five-eighths-mile track. Manchego broke her own world record of 1:50.1 set at Hollywood Dayton Raceway in 2019. The time also smashed the all-age track trotting record at Plainridge Park, besting the 1:51.2 set by JL Cruze in the 2017 Spirit Trot. Dexter Dunn had Manchego revved up off the gate, and they shot right for the lead with Atlanta (Yannick Gingras) dropping in the pocket from post seven through a blistering :25.2 first quarter. The field remained single file as Manchego marched to the half in :53.3 and three-quarters in 1:21 with Atalanta in deliberate pursuit. As the pair trotted away from the field around the last turn, Gingras pulled Atlanta off the pylons to take her best shot at the leader. But as soon as she pulled, Manchego accelerated, opened up two lengths and proceeded to the finish under no urging at all to win wrapped up by 2-1/2 lengths. Atlanta held on for second and Run Director (David Miller) closed rapidly to finish third. It was the 31st career win for Manchego ($3.00), and it pushed her lifetime earnings to over $2,342,705. The five-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill and Secret Magic is owned by Black Horse Racing and trained by Nancy Takter. One race earlier, in the $100,000 Clara Barton Distaff Pace, Shartin N made herself right at home again at Plainridge as she broke the all-age track record that she set just last year. Shartin N broke her own all-age track record at Plainridge Park with a 1:48.1 score in the Clara Barton Distaff Pace. Shartin N broke her own all-age track record at Plainridge Park with a 1:48.1 score in the Clara Barton Distaff Pace. Tim Tetrick put Shartin N on the point immediately as Kissin In The Sand (Yannick Gingras) left from post four and followed closely with a two-hole trip. After a quick :26.2 quarter and with no pressure at all, Tetrick backed down the second panel to :28.1 and the race seemed well in control for him at that point. By the five-eighths, Gingras pulled Kissin In The Sand and tried to draw alongside Shartin N, but never got closer than a length around the far turn. Tetrick eased the lines a bit and gave Shartin N her head turning for home, and the mare swelled up down the lane, opening up 2-1/4 lengths and winning in 1:48.1. Stablemate Soho Burning Love A (Jordan Stratton) rallied late to finish second, and 38-1 shot Philly Hanover (Dunn) completed the board. The time was a new all-age track record at Plainridge Park, which was set last year in this same stake by Shartin N when she cruised home in 1:49.1. It was only one-fifth of a second off the 1:48 world record for older pacing mares over a five-eighths mile-track that she shares with Somwherovrarainbow. This was the 44th career victory for Shartin N ($2.60), who campaigns for trainer Jim King Jr. and the partnership of Richard Poillucci, Jo Ann Looney-King and Tim Tetrick. The seven-year-old daughter of Tintin In America and Bagdarin has now earned $2,244,946. (Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts) The Home Ministry has sought an additional three months' time for framing rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), officials said on Sunday. The plea was made before the Department Related Standing Committee for Subordinate Legislation as according to the Manual on Parliamentary Work, the rules for any legislation should be framed within six months of the presidential assent or an extension must be sought. The controversial CAA, which facilitates granting of Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, was passed by Parliament nearly eight months ago and had led to protests in different parts of the country. The President had given his assent to the legislation on December 12, 2019. "The home ministry has sought an additional three months time to frame the rules for the CAA. The plea was made before the Department Related Standing Committee for Subordinate Legislation," a senior official told PTI. The home ministry's move came after the panel enquired about the status of the rules for the CAA. The committee is likely to accept the request, the official said. The objective of the CAA is to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities -- Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian -- from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. People from these communities who had come to India till December 31, 2014 due to religious persecution in these countries will not be treated as illegal immigrants but given Indian citizenship. After the CAA was passed by Parliament, widespread protests were witnessed in the country. Those opposing the CAA contend that it discriminates on the basis of religion and violates the Constitution. They also allege that the CAA along with the National Register of Citizens is intended to target the Muslim community in India. However, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had dismissed the allegations and described the protests against the CAA as "mostly political". He had asserted that no Indian will lose citizenship due to the Act. Clashes between pro and anti-CAA groups had spiralled into communal riots in Northeast Delhi early this year which had left at least 53 people dead and around 200 injured. Lok Sabha had passed the CAA legislation on December 9, 2019 and Rajya Sabha on December 11, 2019. The Manual on Parliamentary Work states that, "statutory rules, regulations and bye-laws will be framed within a period of six months from the date on which the relevant statute came into force". The manual also states that in case the ministries/departments are not able to frame the rules within the prescribed period of six months, "they should seek extension of time from the Committee on Subordinate Legislation stating reasons for such extension" which cannot be more than for a period of three months at a time. Also Read: Amar Singh passes away at 64; here's a look at his relationship with Amitabh Bachchan Also Read: Indian, Chinese commanders to hold Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo today Stepping up his attack on the LDF government in Kerala, senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday said the resignation of a Fellow with the Startup Mission created more doubts and pressed his demand for Vigilance probe into alleged illegal appointments in the IT department. The Vigilance department has not taken any action on his complaints into the "illegal appointments" and if the government has nothing to hide it should give permission for the inquiry, the Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly said. "The resignation of Laby George, a fellow with the Startup Mission creates more doubts. The American citizen resigned after her appointment came under scanner. It's a serious matter that a foreign citizen was appointed with a high salary in a government office," Chennithala posted in his official Facebook page. Chennithala, who had raised the issue last month alleging irregularities in her appointment with a high salary, said there was no transparency in the appointments in the IT department. "Now it's clear that many have joined the department by submitting fake certificates and all these must come under the probe," he said in an apparent reference to the appointment of Swapna Suresh, an accused in the gold smuggling case. Startup Mission Chief Executive Officer Saji Gopinath said George has resigned from the post of fellowship. "It's a senior fellowship post for a short period," he told PTI. When asked about Chennithala's allegation that George was an Overseas Citizen Of India (OCI) and how she was appointed as a senior fellow, Gopinath said it was allowed. "As per conditions for OCI, only a few things are not allowed. This was allowed as per the regulations. This person was appointed as product and marketing Fellow of the Startups. She is a person with a huge amount of experience," Gopinath said. Chennithala had on July 9 alleged a woman with American citizenship was working with the Startup Mission here while her name was in the voters' list in the US. Within days of the Congress leader raising the issue, she resigned. On Sunday, Chennithala said a letter was given to the Chief Minister demanding inquiry into "the illegal appointments" during his tenure. "Despite two months after filing the complaint, the Vigilance Director has not taken any action into the issue. When enquired, the director said he was waiting for the government permission. As per new anti-corruption law, consent of government or appointment authority is needed to conduct investigation against a public servant," he said. The leader of the opposition claimed the Vigilance department "has been castrated. The government is protecting the corrupt by delaying sanction for investigation." After the opposition raised allegations of illegal appointments by M Sivasankar as IT secretary, now suspended, many who got such jobs were resigning one after other, Chennithala said. "All who committed corruption should be made accountable. Role of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau is to conduct investigation into such cases. However, the department is unable to launch a probe. I have given two complaints as a responsible leader of the opposition. The government and chief minister are answerable for this," he said. The state government already faced flak over the gold smuggling case accused's appointment in the IT department and she had submitted fake certificates to get the contractual job. A police inquiry is on into the matter. Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesBY: IVAN PEREIRA AND DANIEL MANZO, ABC NEWS (MIAMI) -- Isaias, previously a Category 1 hurricane, delivered torrential rains and high winds to the Bahamas Friday before heading toward Florida, according to forecasters. Early Saturday evening, Isaias was downgraded to a tropical storm. Forecasters predict the storm will travel northwest and arrive in southeast Florida on Saturday and Sunday. Parts of the state could see 2 to 4 inches of rain, with isolated maximum totals of 6 inches, according to the current forecast. "These rainfall amounts could result in isolated flash and urban flooding, especially in low-lying and poorly drained areas," the National Hurricane Center said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Friday that he's declared a state of emergency in every coastal county on the east side of the state, from Miami-Dade to Nassau Counties. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam also declared a state of emergency in advance of the storm, which is expected to affect parts of coastal Virginia starting on Monday. Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern. Please refresh for the latest updates. 8 p.m. Isaias remains a tropical storm As of 8 p.m. ET, Isaias remains a tropical storm with sustained winds of 70 mph. Movement has slowed down further, now northwest at 9 mph and the center is currently about 100 miles southeast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Isaias continues to batter the northwestern Bahamas bringing heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge. The hurricane warning was canceled for the central Bahamas. No other changes to alerts were made with the 8 p.m. update. Isaias' forward speed will continue to decrease overnight and into Saturday. The latest forecast has Isaias becoming a minimal category 1 hurricane once again as it moves near the east coast of Florida throughout the day on Sunday. However, either as a hurricane or tropical storm the impacts will be essentially the same and most dependent on the exact track the storm takes up the Florida coast. 5 p.m.: Isaias downgraded With sustained winds of approximately 70 mph, Isaias was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm early Saturday evening. The storm's movement has slowed a bit, with Isaias now heading northwest at about 10 mph. The storm's center is about 115 miles southeast of Fort Lauderdale. It's possible the storm could regain strength overnight and transform back into a hurricane. 2 p.m.: Isaias batters Bahamas but slightly weakens As of 2 p.m. ET, Isaias remains a minimal Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds now at 75 mph. It is moving NW at 12 mph and the center is currently about 140 miles SE of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There is now the chance that Isaias could weaken to a tropical storm at some point later today, according to forecasters. Little change in strength is forecast over the next 24 hours as Isaias moves near the east coast of Florida later tonight through Sunday. Isaias will then race up the East Coast Monday into Tuesday, continuing to weaken, but likely remaining a tropical storm bringing heavy rain and gusty winds up the coast early next week. In the coming hours and into this evening, more of the outer bands will begin to impact the south Florida coast with downpours and gusty winds. Sunday morning, the storm will pass near the southeast coast of Florida, bringing areas of heavy rain and strong winds. The magnitude of the impacts will come down to how close the storm actually gets to the coast tomorrow. Right now there it looks like wind gusts of 40 to 60+ mph will be possible right along the coast, from West Palm Beach to Jupiter and Port St. Lucie, Florida. 11:04 a.m.: Isaias makes landfall on Northern Andros Island in the Bahamas The brunt of Isaias is hitting northern Andros, New Providence, (including Nassau) and other parts of the central/northwestern Bahamas right now. Heavy rain, strong winds and storm surge will continue to impact these areas and overspread the rest of the northwestern Bahamas through the afternoon hours. As of 11 a.m. ET, Isaias remains a Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds at 80 mph. It is moving NW at 12 mph and the center is currently about 135 miles SSE of Freeport, Grand Bahamas Island. In the U.S., a tropical storm watch has now been issued for portions of the southeast coast of Georgia. A hurricane /tropical storm warning remains in effect along most of the east coast of Florida. Further decrease in forward speed is forecast over the next 24 hours, with little change in strength expected as Isaias moves near the east coast of the Florida Peninsula tonight through Sunday. Isaias batters Bahamas but slightly weakens As of 2 p.m. ET, Isaias remains a minimal Category 1 hurricane with sustained winds now at 75 mph. It is moving NW at 12 mph and the center is currently about 140 miles SE of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There is now the chance that Isaias could weaken to a tropical storm at some point later today, according to forecasters. Little change in strength is forecast over the next 24 hours as Isaias moves near the east coast of Florida later tonight through Sunday. Isaias will then race up the East Coast Monday into Tuesday, continuing to weaken, but likely remaining a tropical storm bringing heavy rain and gusty winds up the coast early next week. In the coming hours and into this evening, more of the outer bands will begin to impact the south Florida coast with downpours and gusty winds. Sunday morning, the storm will pass near the southeast coast of Florida, bringing areas of heavy rain and strong winds. The magnitude of the impacts will come down to how close the storm actually gets to the coast tomorrow. Right now there it looks like wind gusts of 40 to 60+ mph will be possible right along the coast, from West Palm Beach to Jupiter and Port St. Lucie, Florida. 10:43 a.m.: North Carolina governor declares state of emergency North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency in preperation for Hurricane Isaias. The declaration allows trucks and supplies to move where help is needed. The state's Emergency Operations Center -- already activated for COVID-19 -- is preparing for the storm as well, and state and local response teams are at the ready. "Although the track and arrival of the hurricane could still change, now is the time for North Carolinians to prepare," said Gov. Cooper. "Hurricane preparations will be different given the COVID-19 pandemic, and families need to keep that in mind as they get ready." The current forecast is for Hurricane Isaias to increase in intensity over the next 24 hours. The storm shifted west Friday afternoon, and its speed and path indicate it could reach North Carolina as early as Monday, making its greatest impact Monday night and Tuesday. However, the state is already seeing signs of the storm with high risk of dangerous rip currents along the coast, and the danger of tropical storm force winds is increasing. The North Carolina National Guard has 75 guardsman and high-water vehicles on standby should they be activated to respond. The state's Department of Transportation has more than 1,800 personnel, 1,550 pieces of equipment and more than 1,000 chainsaws ready to respond if needed. They have also suspended passenger ferry today, began voluntary evacuations of Ocracoke, waived tolls on evacuation routes, and are preparing facilities and mooring plans for vessels for storm conditions. Some local governments have already issued evacuation orders. While the state is still combating the COVID-19 pandemic, the state is urging people to make every effort to stay with family and friends, or even a hotel, as a first option. The state will coordinate shelters for those who need to evacuate. 9:00 am: President approves Federal Disaster Declaration ahead of Isaias During a press conference Saturday morning, Florida Gov. DeSantis said that the president signed a Federal Disaster Declaration in expectation of Hurricane Isaias. On Friday, DeSantis signed an executive order for a state of emergency for every coastal Florida county on the East Coast yesterday. Twelve Floria counties have declared a state of emergency. The Division of Emergency Management is sending 25 shelter kits with PPE to counties in the path of the storm. Each kit provides PPE for up to 400 people for 96 hours, the governor said. "The State of Florida is fully prepared for this," DeSantis said and that his administration has been in contact with local area hospitals. The hospitals aren't anticipating the need to evacuate patients at this time, but one smaller hospital is going to move some COVID patients to another hospital in Brevard county. DeSantis said everyone in Isaias' path "should have enough food, water and medicine for seven days" and said there is still time to get supplies. 7:53 a.m.: Hurricane Isaias has winds of 85 mph, approaching Florida later today. Hurricane Isais remains a Category 1 storm sustaining winds of 80 mph. The hurricane's eye is near Andros Island Bahamas. Isaias is expected to move through the Bahamas today and near Florida tonight into Sunday. Forecasts warn of a dangerous storm surge. Heavy rains are a main concern as Isaias nears the Florida coast. The storm is expected to run up the East Coast and impact the Carolinas, the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. Significant rainfall in the Carolinas and the major Northeast cities is expected. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. A woman and her minor daughter were allegedly gang raped by six unidentified persons in a village located at Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra border in Burhanpur district, 343 kilometres south west of Bhopal, on Friday late night, said police. The victims were admitted to the district hospital in Burhanpur and their condition is stated to be stable. Khargone range deputy inspector general (DIG) of police Tilak Singh ordered constitution of a special team to identify and nab the accused after the crime came to light on Saturday, according to police. The woman in her early 30s is the wife of a labourer. The family belongs to Chhattisgarh but they moved to Burhanpur a year ago from Bhusaval to work as labourers, at a stone crushing plant at the village where the crime was committed under Shanpur police station. They are living in a hut at the stone crushing plant, said M Tarnekar, additional superintendent of police (ASP), Burhanpur. Roha teen was raped by seven before murder: Raigad Police The ASP said, The accused, six in number, barged into the dwelling of the victims around midnight on Friday. They held the labourer-- head of the family-- captive and looted about Rs 2,500 cash and a mobile phone. When they were taking away the labourers wife and his minor daughter, who were sleeping in the hut, the labourer cried for help, following which a neighbour came to help but was also held captive by the miscreants. Also Read: Karnal woman found dead, husband, his 3 relatives booked for murder The accused beat them up after tying them with a rope. Later, they took the wife and her daughter at knife point to a nearby agriculture field and gang raped them. When the miscreants fled the spot and the victims returned home, the labourer informed the police at Shahpur police station. Police took the woman and her daughter to the hospital. According to the police, the miscreants might have crossed the border, hence two teams of police personnel have been sent to the neighbouring districts of Maharashtra to track the criminals. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Sun, August 2, 2020 19:07 534 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066b043e7 2 News COVID-19,coronavirus,pandemic,travelers,travel,tourism Free The World Tourism Organization's recently-published report on the status of world travel restrictions shows that movement between countries is still very restricted: the borders of 115 countries remain closed to international tourism. As an increasing number of forecasts are postponing the return of air traffic to 2019 levels, many of the world's borders remain closed. Of the 115 countries which are no longer accepting international tourists, 88 of them have been closed for more than 12 weeks. Among the countries refusing entry to foreign travelers are the United States, Canada, and all Central and South American countries with the exception of Mexico, Equator and French Guyana. Read also: Forty-two percent of UNESCO's world heritage sites have not reopened yet This is also the case for all of Asia and the Gulf states, except Cambodia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Pakistan Afghanistan and Turkey. Australia, New Zealand, and Russia have not yet eased travel restrictions either. At the height of the crisis, on May 18, 75 percent of the world's destinations had closed their borders. On the other side of the coin are the 87 countries which are now allowing travelers to enter their territories. This includes 41 European countries and 13 countries on the African continent including Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, and the Ivory Coast. Tanzania is one of the few countries in the world to have lifted all travel restrictions completely. The death toll in the Punjab hooch tragedy rose to 98 on Sunday with 12 more people reported dead in Tarn Taran district after drinking spurious liquor. In Tarn Taran, the death toll is now 75, Deputy Commissioner Kulwant Singh said over the phone. He, however, said the administration put the figure at 75 on the basis of the information received from the field as the victims last rites have already been performed by their families in the past a couple of days. Some of them even didnt come forward for autopsy, he said. Apart from Tarn Taran, 12 deaths have been reported from Amritsar and 11 from Gurdaspurs Batala, in a tragedy unfolding since Wednesday evening. Officials said some of the families were not even coming forward to report the death of their kin after drinking spurious liquor. A senior police official said they have been persuading them to report the death of their family members. Meanwhile, the Opposition AAP held protests at several places, including Patiala, Barnala, Pathankot and Moga, against the Punjab government. The protesters accused the government of negligence, leading to death of people, mostly belonging to poor families. Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann also went to Tarn Taran and met families of the deceased. Mann sought a probe by a sitting judge into the matter. The Punjab government has ordered a magisterial probe into the case. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday had announced the suspension of seven excise and six police officials. He had described the police and excise department failure to check the manufacturing and sale of spurious liquor as shameful. The state government has announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for each of the families of the deceased. Petrol stations and convenience stores in Tasmania are pushing to be able to sell alcohol as they struggle during the coronavirus pandemic. The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores said existing alcohol laws were 'archaic and inconsistent' and 'unfairly favoured the major supermarkets'. The lobby group represent 200 petrol stations in Tasmania, with AACS CEO Jeff Rogut telling Daily Mail Australia the change would be positive for consumers, as buying habits had changed due to COVID-19. 'Some of our operators have been hit very hard, especially in the CBD areas where foot traffic just doesn't exist anymore now people are working from home,' he said. Tasmanian petrol stations and convenience stores have pushed for the right to sell alcohol as they struggle amid coronavirus (stock image) 'We see it as an opportunity for not just our operators but also our consumers who don't want to go into a large liquor barn just to buy beer or wine on their way home.' Four convenience stores across the state have had applications for a liquor licence rejected by Tasmanias liquor licensing commission this year. Tasmania's Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Council chief executive Alison Lai told The Mercury increasing the availability of alcohol into the community could have devastating consequences. 'We need to be very cautious when considering how alcohol products are sold,' she said. 'We know that selling alcohol in places where young people come and go every day has an impact on their relationship with alcohol. 'We also know that the number of places that you can buy alcohol has an impact on the level of harm it has in a community.' A similar proposal demanding the government lift restrictions banning convenience stores from selling alcohol was put to Queensland parliamentary in July. Four convenience stores and petrol stations across the state have had applications for a liquor licence rejected by Tasmanias liquor licensing commission this year But Queensland Attorney-General Yvette DAth said the proposal would not be considered with the inquiry focusing more on supporting employment. 'Our overwhelming focus is on supporting jobs and employment in Queensland, including our pubs, clubs and other licensed venues as they emerge from coronavirus restrictions,' Ms DAth said. Mr Rogut said allowing alcohol in convenience stores would bring Australia into line with operators in Europe, the U.S and south-east Asia. 'About 70 per cent of the alcohol industry is controlled by the two major supermarket groups in some shape or form, so all we are asking is the opportunity to compete in a level playing field,' he said. Mr Rogut said operators had already shown their ability to responsibly sell adult restricted items such as tobacco and lottery tickets and the industry would be happy to comply with all alcohol regulations. He said while there is support for the proposal in the Parliament, none will publicly back it as they do not want to be seen as increasing the availability of alcohol. The Australasian Association of Convenience Stores said the change to allow alcohol sales would be positive for businesses and consumers 'When I have spoken to them one-on-one I have not had a singe politician that has disagreed with the proposal,' he said. 'But when we ask them if they will support these bills the vast majority say: "oh look we can't do that, because there are no votes in it".' Mr Rogut said while increasing the availability of alcohol is a serious social issue that should be considered, he noted it had not stopped operators under Coles and Woolworths from opening up new stores. Hong Kong's Electoral Affairs Commission respects government's decision to postpone LegCo election People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:55, August 01, 2020 HONG KONG, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The Electoral Affairs Commission (EAC) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Friday expressed understanding and respect over the HKSAR government's decision to postpone the 2020 Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election of the HKSAR. "The EAC learned that in view of the severe epidemic situation of COVID-19, the government has decided to postpone the 2020 LegCo election. The EAC understands and respects the government's decision, and will coordinate on the practical arrangements for postponement," said a spokesman for the EAC. HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Friday that the 2020 LegCo election, originally scheduled for Sept. 6, 2020, will be postponed for one year. The EAC wrote to the chief executive on July 28, expressing concerns over the impacts of the COVID-19 on the election, the spokesman noted. Even though the Registration and Electoral Office of the HKSAR government implements various disease prevention measures at polling stations with its utmost efforts, large group gathering is still unavoidable, the spokesman pointed out. The contact and interaction between the polling staff and electors are diametrically contrary to the advice of maintaining social distancing, and it is also hard for the staff at the counting station to observe social distancing, he added. The spokesman reiterated that the EAC is an independent, apolitical and impartial body which decides on and supervises public election matters in accordance with actual and objective considerations and related legislation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By Trend A rally in support of the Azerbaijani state and army will be held in Israels Tel Aviv on August 9, Azerbaijans State Committee for Work with Diaspora told Trend on August 1. According to the committee, the rally will be organized by the Head of "Azerbaijan House in Israel" Nehemiah Shirin Michaeli and held in front of the Armenian Center and the municipal Armenian church. The Head of the Israeli Office of International Center for Multiculturalism, political observer of the Jerusalem Post newspaper Arye Gut noted that the Azerbaijani diaspora is planning to hold a large-scale action of solidarity in Israel for the first time. The rally participants will bear the flags of Azerbaijan and Israel, and posters with "Karabakh is Azerbaijan!", "Karabakh is ours, and will be ours!" slogans. Law enforcement officials will also be at the rally. According to Gut, preparations for the rally show the high level of relations between Azerbaijan and Israel. "This historic event will take place despite on protests of Armenia and its patrons to holding the rally. It will be a historic day in terms of mobilizing the Azerbaijani diaspora in Israel," he said. Appealing to the Jewish immigrants from Azerbaijan living in Israel, he called on them to actively participate in the event. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Prime Minister Narendra Modis first stop in Uttar Pradeshs Ayodhya on August 5 will be a shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman, where he will offer prayers ahead of the grand foundation laying ceremony for the construction of the Ram temple. Mahant Raju Das, the head priest of Hanumangarhi, said they have been allocated seven minutes for Prime Ministers rituals at the temple, according to news agency ANI. Vedic priests will escort the Prime Minister while reciting mantras to the Hanumangarhi temple where the ceremony will also include prayers for his wellbeing and to reduce the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. We have been given seven minutes for the whole premises tour of which three minutes have been allocated for prayers. Today, it will be decided which route the Prime Minister would be coming from. The front has 85 stairs and there are 36 at the back, said Das. After the Prime Ministers arrival special mantras will be recited, Das said about special prayers to be conducted in PM Modis presence. The head priest said only four priests are likely to conduct the prayers in the 10th-century temple. We have to follow social distancing, these are the orders we have received from the Prime Ministers Office. So, following the norms, no one will be allowed to touch the Prime Minister neither will they offer him prasad, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust is organising the bhumi pujan to start the construction of the temple. The construction of Ram temple will begin after the ceremony to lay the foundation stone in which various political and religious dignitaries, apart from RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, are likely to participate. Senior officials of the Uttar Pradesh government are regularly visiting Ayodhya to review arrangements for PM Modis visit. Personnel of the Special Protection Group (SPG), which is in charge of PMs security, reached Ayodhya on Saturday. BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Aug. 1, 2020 - Barbados has recorded 12 new cases of COVID-19, acting Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth George announced Saturday. He told a news conference that of 248 tests conducted on Friday, 12 returned positive results. Dr. George said nine of those testing positive are from the group of 95 nurses who arrived from Ghana on Thursday. All of the nurses went into 14 days quarantine on arrival in Barbados. The other three cases include a Barbadian female who returned to the island on June 29; a male visitor who arrived on July 30; and a Barbadian man who arrived from the United Kingdom with a negative test, but who when required to test to travel again returned a positive result. All of the cases are asymptomatic. Source: wiredja.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video China issues arrest warrants for 6 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists, including US citizen Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Police in Hong Kong issued arrest warrants for six pro-democracy activists living in exile, including in the United States, for violating a controversial China-imposed national security law in the semi-autonomous city. The six named include U.S. citizen Samuel Chu, former U.K. consulate worker Simon Cheng and activists Nathan Law and Ray Wong Toi-yeung, and the charges include taking part in secession efforts and colluding with foreign powers, according to the U.S.-based group China Aid. I think they want to cut off our connection with people in Hong Kong ... it will make people fear that they may violate the national security law by contacting us, Wong, who is currently in the United Kingdom, told Reuters. That Hong Kong has no place for even such moderate views like ours underscores the absurdity of Chinese Communist rule, Law, who is also in the U.K., was quoted as saying. Hong Kong government recently delayed legislative elections, which were supposed to be held in September, for a year as pro-democracy candidates could have won due to anger among the citys people against the new national security law. The law, which went into effect without a review by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, has four categories of crimes: succession, subversion of state power, local terrorist activities and collaborating with foreign or external foreign forces to endanger national security. The law also positions Beijing as over the Hong Kong judicial system in cases deemed related to national security, China Aid said. This means that the judges in these cases must be Beijing-approved. Hong Kong residents can now also be taken to China, where they will face a courtroom with allegiance to the government. In 1997, China had agreed for a one country, two systems arrangement to allow certain freedoms for Hong Kong when it received the city back from British control. The security law undercuts the promised autonomy. This law fundamentally compromises one-country, two-systems, and breach of the handover agreement. The details emerging put human rights in jeopardy, the U.K.-based group Hong Kong Watch wrote on Twitter after a draft of the law was revealed in June. After the passage of the new security law, President Donald Trump approved sanctions on Chinese officials and banks and also ended Hong Kong's preferential treatment, saying it will now be "treated the same as mainland China." Sen. Rick Scott from Florida had commented earlier, Communist China continues their mission to destroy human rights and autonomy in #HongKong. Its plans to suffocate and intimidate those fighting for their basic rights is clear. The US continues to stand with the people of HK. Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Shweta Singh Kirti shared Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tribute to Lokmanya Tilak and appealed to him for justice in her brother's death investigation. She has invoked "the sense of justice" of the iconic freedom fighter and asked the PM to practice it to probe into Sushant's mysterious death. Have a look: My Dear Sir, It is time for us to practice Lokmanya Tilaks the sense of justice that inspires you. Please, my humble request is to look into the matter ASAP. @narendramodi @PMOIndia https://t.co/8kIgyUZpjP shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 2, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday paid tributes to one of the icons of India's freedom struggle Bal Gangadhar Tilak on his 100th death anniversary, saying his intellect, courage and idea of "swaraj" continue to inspire people. He also shared a brief video of one of his 'Mann ki Baat' programmes in which he had referred to Tilak's efforts to unite people against the British rule. Read | Sushant's sister Shweta responds as Ankita Lokhande busts 'depression' theory in his death Sushant's sister writes to PM Earlier on Saturday, Shweta introduced herself as sister of Sushant Singh Rajput and requested for an urgent scan of the whole case. Tagging the Prime Minister and using hashtags like Justice for Sushant and Satyameva Jayate (truth alone triumphs), she expressed faith in Indias judicial system. She hoped that the PM stands with and for the truth. Shweta also wrote that they belonged to a simple family and that Sushant had no Godfather in Bollywood, and they had no one for them right now. She also hoped that the evidence is not tampered with. I am sister of Sushant Singh Rajput and I request an urgent scan of the whole case. We believe in Indias judicial system & expect justice at any cost. @narendramodi @PMOIndia #JusticeForSushant #SatyamevaJayate pic.twitter.com/dcDP6JQV8N shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 1, 2020 Read | Netizens laud Sushant's sister Shweta for demanding truth; chorus #JusticeForSushant Ankita Lokhande breaks silence Ankita Lokhande had broken her silence on Sushant Singh Rajputs death, on the completion of one month of his death, by lighting a lamp for him. However, the actress, despite her social media posts, continued her silence on her thoughts related to the death, something she spoke about for the first time on Republic TVs Nation Wants to Know. Right from stating that he could not be depressed, to asserting that people should remember him as a hero, the Pavitra Rishta star made several strong statements. Read | Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Shweta urges everyone to pray to Lord Shiva for justice Republic TV has led an extensive coverage of the Sushant Singh Rajput case and unearthed sensational details of the mysteries before and after the unfortunate incident. Sushants roommate Siddharth Pithani, close friend Sandip Ssingh, former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, family friend Smita, bodyguard and trainer have all exclusively opened up on the case, and shared their personal experiences. This is apart from the details of the stunning bank transactions from Sushants account, accessed exclusively by the channel. Read | Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Shweta writes to PM Modi, requests urgent scan of whole case The domestic equity market in this coming week will be driven by a number of key developments like RBI monetary policy, macro-economic data release and corporate earnings, according to analysts. At the start of the week, the market will also take cues from July auto sales numbers which signal a recovery in the sector hit hard by COVID-19. With most parts of the country in unlock phase, the automobile industry has performed better in July over the previous month in terms of sales and is now marching towards normalcy in terms of production as well. "Going forward, markets would react to auto sales numbers. On the event front, they would also be keeping a close watch on the RBI monetary policy," said Ajit Mishra, VP Research, Religare Broking. On the macro data front, market participants will be keenly awaiting PMI manufacturing and services sector numbers that are scheduled to be released in the first half of the week. On the earnings side, Bharti Airtel, Tata Steel, Lupin, Titan, Voltas Apollo Tyres, Canara Bank, Adani Power and M&M, among others, will announce their quarterly numbers during the week. "We expect market volatility and stock-specific action to continue for a while. Investors would watch out for quarterly results for stock-specific action and development over US fiscal stimulus which could provide some cheer to the markets," Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Retail Research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd, said. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank is scheduled to meet for three days beginning August 4 and will announce its decision on August 6. Besides, COVID-19 cases trend and geopolitical developments on US-China ties front will remain key market drivers globally. Meanwhile, the number of cases around the world linked to COVID-19 has crossed 1.8 crore and the death toll has topped 7 lakh. In India, the death toll due the disease rose over 37,000 and the number of infections has crossed 17-lakh mark. Investors will also track movement in Brent crude oil and rupee-dollar during the week. During the last week, the Sensex fell 522.01 points or 1.36 percent, while the Nifty declined 120.70 points or 1.07 percent. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fadli (The Jakarta Post) Batam, Riau Islands Sun, August 2, 2020 09:37 534 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066af36a3 1 National Riau-Islands,Riau-Islands-governor,COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-korona-indonesia,self-quarantine,President-Jokowi,inauguration Free Riau Islands governor Isdianto has tested positive for COVID-19 only four days after being sworn into the office by President Joko Jokowi Widodo on Monday. Riau Islands COVID-19 task force spokesperson Tjetjep Yudiana said the governor had taken a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test after learning that his personal bodyguard, an army officer identified as DPS, had contracted the virus. The governor took the test in the Health Ministrys Batam Environmental Health and Disease Control Center (BBTKLPP) on Friday. After the bodyguard was declared positive for COVID-19, the governor entered self-quarantine and immediately took the test. His condition is currently stable, Tjetjep told The Jakarta Post on Saturday. He added that the governor was undergoing self-quarantine in the provincial administration office complex in Tanjung Pinang, accompanied by several medical experts. Read also: Surakarta deputy mayor tests positive for COVID-19, tested shortly after meeting Jokowi Isdianto tested negative for the virus in a PCR swab two days prior to his inauguration in Jakarta. DPS accompanied Isdianto on his trip to Jakarta. However, the army officer was not permitted to go to the State Palace for the ceremony because of strict health protocols. After returning from Jakarta on Tuesday, DPS developed a high fever and was admitted to the Raja Ahmad Tabib Regional Hospital in the provincial capital of Tanjung Pinang. There, he was diagnosed with COVID-19. The governorship is set to last until 2021. Isdianto, who previously served as deputy governor, assumed the top position after his predecessor, Nurdin Basirun, was convicted of accepting a bribe. According to the governments official count, the province had recorded 491 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Saturday, with 18 deaths and 321 recoveries. Nationwide, health authorities have recorded 109,936 cases and 5,193 deaths. (mfp) Union home minister Amit Shah on Sunday tested positive for coronavirus disease and was admitted to Medanta hospital in Gurugram. Amit Shah, who is the first union cabinet minister to have tested positive for Covid-19, announced this on Twitter : After showing initial symptoms, I underwent a test for coronavirus and the report came out positive. My health is fine but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors. The home minister also requested those who came in his contact in last few days to isolate themselves and get tested. Among those who have met Amit Shah in last few days and have gone into isolation are BJP leader Vinay Sahasrabuddhe and Babul Supriyo. Babul Supriyo tweeted I had met Honble HM Amit Shah Ji day before in the evening. I am advised by doctors to confine myself, away from my family members, for the next few days with a test to be done soon. Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla, who was attending regular meetings with the home minister, few joint secretaries and Shahs personal staff as well as security personnel deployed in his close proximity are also likely to be in isolation and undergo tests, government officials familiar with the matter said. The officials added that Amit Shah has had a full schedule for the past few days: he was present at the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Wednesday, in which the government approved the new National Education Policy . However, social distancing was strictly followed at the cabinet meeting at the PMs residence, the officials said. There is a strict protocol at PMs residence in the last few months which includes temperature checks, analyzing a persons status through Aarogya Setu app and proper hand sanitization, said an official who didnt wish to be named. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage During the last few days, Shah is learnt to have attended crucial meetings on security, party meetings and met several persons at his office. On Saturday, Shah addressed the Indian Council of Cultural Relations online conference on Bal Gangadhar Tilak, marking 100 years of the freedom fighters death August 1, 1920. While the conference was online, there was a physical component to it as well -- and Sahasrabuddhe , who is also the head of ICCR, met Shah during this. Shah was also supposed to attend the ground breaking ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on August 5, but the officials said that this seems difficult now. There was no information available on how many leaders have been in touch with Shah in the last few days; the newly appointed state unit presidents of Haryana, OP Dhankar and Gujarat, CR Patil called on him on July 24. Soon after the news of Shahs Covid-19 positive result broke, several political leaders from various parties including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Delhi chief minister Arving Kejriwal, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel among others wished him speedy recovery on their Twitter accounts. Defence minister Rajnath Singh and BJP President J P Nadda too posted messages wishing him good health. According to people familiar with the matter in Medanta, Shah is in no discomfort. He was admitted around 4.30pm in the internal medicine department and is under the care of Dr Suhsila Kataria. Turkish, Iraqi presidents reiterate resolve to maintain strong ties with Iran Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 August 2020 6:09 AM President Hassan Rouhani has expressed Iran's determination to enhance friendly relations with neighboring Turkey in all fields despite cruel US sanctions on the Iranian people. In a Friday telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Rouhani said the friendly and neighboring countries like Iran and Turkey should further boost their cooperation at a time when the US has targeted the Iranian nation with oppressive sanctions. The president hailed Tehran-Ankara ties, especially in the economic and trade sectors, adding, "The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to develop friendly and brotherly bonds and cooperation with Turkey in all fields." Referring to some issues and problems gripping the region, Rouhani expressed hope that stability and peace would prevail through cooperation among all regional states. He further extended congratulations to the Turkish president on the occasion of Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice), which marks the culmination of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Rouhani said he hopes that Iran and Turkey would continue to work together and share experiences concerning the fight against the coronavirus as they have done so far. Erdogan, for his part, congratulated Rouhani on Eid al-Adha and hoped that the festivity would bring blessing for both nations and all Muslims across the world. He also praised the Iranian government and people for making successful efforts to counter the coronavirus, stressing the need for reinforcing bilateral cooperation and transferring experiences in this regard. Iran-Turkey economic relations should develop and their trade exchanges should accelerate in accordance with the coronavirus-related health protocols, Erdogan said, voicing hope that a meeting of the Supreme Council for Strategic Cooperation between the two countries would be held in the near future. Iran has been hit by the coronavirus that first showed up in China in late December 2019 before spreading across the globe. Inhumane US sanctions have hampered the virus fight in Iran, which has so far recorded 304,204 infections and 16,766 deaths. Turkey has recorded 230,873 infection cases and a death toll of 5,691 from the coronavirus pandemic. Iran ties cornerstone of Iraq's foreign policy: Salih In a separate phone call on Friday, Rouhani spoke with his Iraqi counterpart, Barham Salih. During the conversation, the Iranian president described Eid al-Adha as the manifestation of unity among the world's Muslims and commended "a deep relationship" established throughout history between the two nations. Rouhani expressed hope that the coronavirus pandemic would rein in so that the Iraqi and Iranian people and officials will be able to have more contacts. Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi's recent visit to Iran was a positive move that provided an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest, he noted. "We hope that bilateral decisions and agreements would be implemented as soon as possible with the attempts of both countries' officials and that we can further broaden economic relations and trade exchanges," Rouhani said. "The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to develop all-out ties with Iraq and is ready to cooperate and share its experience with the country in the path of the fight against the coronavirus." Salih, for his part, said he hopes that unity and cooperation among all regional countries will develop during the coronavirus outbreak. He appreciated Iran for helping Iraq with the virus battle and emphasized the need for joint efforts to bolster relations and implement deals. Enhancing cooperation with Iran is an inviolable principle of Iraq's foreign policy, Salih added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A COUNTY Limerick dairy farmer has been jailed for a predatory and degrading sexual assault on a young woman asleep in the same bedroom as his 14-year-old daughter. The defendant had not been named to date. Due to the wishes of the injured party, reporting restrictions were lifted by Judge Martina Baxter. The judge stressed the victim was not to be named. Daniel Scanlon, aged 60, of Loughill West, Loughill appeared before the judge at a sentencing hearing in Limerick Circuit Court. He had previously pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting the woman, aged 22 at the time, in his house in the early hours of February 27, 2017. Judge Baxter said the injured party is an impressive and articulate young woman. This prosecution is to her credit, said Judge Baxter. The court had previously heard the woman had been working on accounts for Scanlon until 11pm and decided to stay overnight. She slept in the same bedroom as Scanlons 14-year-old daughter. Detective Garda Jerry OSullivan told Lily Buckley BL, instructed by state solicitor Aidan Judge, when the woman woke sometime during the night she realised she had moved position in the bed and that her leggings and knickers had been pulled down mid-thigh. There were fluids on her clothing and she told gardai she could hear heavy breathing in the room and that she believed it was Scanlon as he was the only male in the house. After leaving the house the following morning, the woman confided in a relative and outlined her suspicions. She subsequently made a complaint to gardai that she believed she had been sexually assaulted. The clothes she was wearing were examined and semen matching the DNA of the accused was found on her knickers, leggings and socks. In sentencing Scanlon, Judge Baxter said the victim described it as a nightmare. She is one smart young woman to keep her clothes and provide them to gardai, said Judge Baxter. The judge said Scanlon gratifying himself sexually, after removing the sleeping womans clothes, was predatory and degrading - and while his daughter was asleep in the same bedroom. In a victim impact statement, the woman said that she blames herself for what happened and that she is embarrassed to talk about what happened as she believes people will look at her differently. I blame myself so much, mentally I beat myself up, she stated, adding that she still suffers from panic attacks and has flashbacks. Judge Baxter said it was not her fault by any manner of means and Scanlon was 100% wrong. Mark Nicholas SC, defending, said the victim was absolutely faultless. He said there is no minimising what happened. The barrister handed in letters from three local businessmen, who knew Scanlon in a professional capacity, that referenced his fall from grace. A plea was entered. He is from a small riverside community, He has lived there all his life. He has been ostracised. It is out there. He is shamed and embarrassed. That remains forever, said Mr Nicholas, who described it as a disgraceful and despicable event. The senior counsel said Scanlon has no previous convictions and the Probation Service found he is at a low risk of reoffending. Mr Nicholas said Scanlon did not receive legal aid and had to sell more cattle to pay for it. His name locally is besmirched forever, said Mr Nicholas. In sentencing Scanlon, Judge Baxter said she took all this into account. Regarding the fall from grace the judge said the fall was caused by himself. Judge Baxter sentenced Scanlon to two and half years imprisonment with the last 12 months suspended. It was backdated to January 14 as Scanlon has been in custody since then. Combination of June 28 (left) and July 6 satellite images provided by Maxar Technologies shows the Ladakh's Galwan Valley. (Image via AP) Indian and Chinese military commanders will hold a fresh round of negotiations on Sunday to finalise modalities for taking forward the disengagement process on friction points like Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, government sources said. The meeting is scheduled to start at 11 AM at a designated meeting point in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control. The key focus of the fifth round of corps commander-level talks is expected to be finalising a framework for total disengagement of troops from friction points besides withdrawal of forces and weapons from the rear bases of the two militaries in a time-bound manner, the sources said. The formal process of disengagement of troops began on July 6, a day after a nearly two-hour telephonic conversation between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on ways to bring down tension in the area. The Chinese military has already pulled back from the Galwan Valley and certain other friction points but the withdrawal of troops has not moved forward from Finger areas in Pangong Tso as demanded by India. India has been insisting that China must withdraw its forces from areas between Finger Four and Eight. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers. On July 24, the two sides held another round of diplomatic talks on the border issue. After the talks, the Ministry of External Affairs said both sides agreed that an early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols was essential for overall development of bilateral relations. The sources said India conveyed a firm message to the Chinese side that it has to implement the disengagement process as agreed to during the four rounds of corps commander-level talks between the two militaries. Popular social media app TikTok has said it is "going anywhere" after President Donald Trump threatened to ban it from operating in the United States (US). Responding to Trump's proposed ban, the Chinese app enunciated that it is here to stay and is in America 'for the long run'. TikTok US General Manager Vanessa Pappas told the users that the company was working to ensure them "the safest app", in the wake of heightened concerns in the US over data security. Also Read: US will ban Chinese app TikTok, says President Donald Trump "we're not planning on going anywhere," Pappas expressed in a video shared on TikTok's official Twitter account on Saturday. She added that "millions of Americans who use TikTok every day bringing their creativity and joy into our daily lives." Pappas went on to say that the app is "a home for creators and artists to express themselves, their ideas and connect with people across different backgrounds and we are so proud of all the various communities that call TikTok their home". Trump said on Friday that he would ban the video sharing app in the US on security concerns that the service could be used by China to gather intelligence. Trump stated that he was considering signing an executive order in this regard as soon as Saturday. Also Read: Microsoft in talks to buy TikTok's US operations from ByteDance The move comes following the news of Microsoft Corp's exploratory talks with TikTok's parent company ByteDance. The US government has been probing potential national security risks owing to the Chinese company's control of the app. US politicians have time and again been criticising TikTok, of being a threat to national security because of its ties to China. ByteDance launched TikTok in 2017, then bought Musical.ly, a video service popular with teens in the US and Europe, and combined the two. TikTok's fun, goofy videos and ease of use has made it immensely popular, and US tech giants like Facebook and Snapchat see it as a potential threat. It has said it has tens of millions of US users and hundreds of millions globally. Police at the scene in Newry. Press Eye Police investigating the suspicious death of a 20-year-old woman in Newry have arrested a 23-year-old man. The woman's body was found at her home in Drumalane Park on Sunday morning. Police are treating her death as suspicious. Detectives from Serious Crime Branch arrested the man on Sunday afternoon. The PSNI said officers are currently not looking for anyone else in connection with the death. Sinn Fein MP Mickey Brady has called on anyone with information about the death to contact the police. The Newry and Armagh MP said the death has shocked the local community. "I want to express my condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the woman who has died at this sad time," he said. "A police investigation is now underway and anyone with information on what happened should get in contact with the PSNI." Suspect seed packages being delivered to homes across Canada and in the United States have arrived in Brandon. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/8/2020 (534 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Suspect seed packages being delivered to homes across Canada and in the United States have arrived in Brandon. Jolene Patterson said Saturday a neighbour had been collecting their mail while they were away at the lake, and about 10 days ago called to tell them they had received a package addressed to her husband, Dave, that felt as though it had seeds in it. Unsolicited seed packages such this one sent to a Brandon couple are appearing across Canada. (Submitted) The neighbour sent them a screenshot from Facebook saying that if anyone receives unsolicited seeds to call the Canadian Food Inspection Agency immediately. Patterson said she called and an agent told her to put the seeds in the freezer to kill any bugs that could be inside. The agency will decide how to pick up all the packages, Patterson said, or will have her drop the package off at the Brandon Research and Development Centre. They are now waiting for instructions on what to do with the package. The agent told Patterson many of the packages have the word jewelry written on them. Their package said it contained a glove. "I'm surprised it was addressed to my husband, because he doesn't order often online," Patterson said. She was even more surprised that the package had their old phone number and cellphone number on the shipping label. "That phone number has not been in the phone book for probably eight months, because that was ported over to my husband's cellphone," she said, adding cellphone numbers are often not readily available. She speculates that whoever sent the package may have been using an old phone book. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency last week issued a notice that it is investigating reports of individuals receiving unsolicited packages of seeds. "Do not plant seeds from unknown origins," the agency wrote. "Unauthorized seeds could be the seeds of invasive plants, or carry plant pests, which can be harmful when introduced into Canada. "These species can invade agricultural and natural areas, causing serious damage to our plant resources," it said. "So far, there have been reports from most Canadian provinces of people receiving seeds of different types," Wendy Asbil, national manager of the CFIAs Invasive Alien Species section, said in a release last Wednesday. "The CFIA is working with our United States counterparts on this issue." Asbil said people who have such seeds should not dispose of them in the trash or compost them because they could sprout. The United States Department of Agriculture said on its website it is aware that people across the country have received suspicious, unsolicited packages of seed that appear to be coming from China. USDAs Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is working closely with the Department of Homeland Securitys Customs and Border Protection, other federal agencies, and state departments of agriculture to investigate the situation, it said. "At this time, we dont have any evidence indicating this is something other than a 'brushing scam' where people receive unsolicited items from a seller who then posts false customer reviews to boost sales," the post reads. "I don't understand why someone would review a product that they didn't order," Patterson said. brobertson@brandonsun.com, with files from The Canadian Press Members of the Rio Rancho Public Schools Board of Education seemed happy Monday evening when they realized for the first time in awhile, their meeting wouldnt last four to five hours. In fact, the July 27 virtual session lasted less than an hour. Superintendent Sue Cleveland told the board that, with registration concluded, nearly one-third of the districts enrollment will be educated virtually for at least the first semester in the 2020-21 school year. The number she gave 6,100 is more than three times the number (1,832) she gave at the boards July 20 meeting, and about a third of the districts total enrollment. The literal return to school for hybrid students in grades K-5 is set for Sept. 8, but is subject to change depending on public-health orders. Middle school and high school students, depending on where their surnames fall alphabetically, return Sept. 8 and 10. She also went over the re-entry plan for RRPS, describing how Google Classroom works for some students and Edgenuity is better for others. Middle school students, virtual and hybrid, will learn via Edgenuity, while elementary students will be on the Google Classroom platform. High school students will have their choice of one or the other. But, they should be aware, the two platforms cannot be merged and only Google Classroom allows for more activities, such as band and JROTC. Special education students will be provided for based on their individualized education program and levels of need, which vary by student. Cleveland also had some bad news for the board: The state Public Education Department reduced its allocation to the RRPS transportation department by $169,210. She noted that regardless of how many students ride a bus, a number substantially reduced in the pandemic, the costs gas, oil, depreciation, etc. remain the same. The unit value, or money per student from the state, was expected to be known by Aug. 1, she said. The board also gave their thanks to the Sandoval County Commission and the countys emergency manager, Seth Muller, for a donation of personal protective equipment masks, face shields, gloves and gowns for district staff and students. And Independence High School Principal Sue Carley told the board of two $10,000 (maximum) grants. One is for the Dare to Be You program, which emphasizes healthy living, avoiding risky behaviors, avoiding cyber-bullying, etc. The other is from the countys DWI program, which enables students in media-literacy classes to devise anti-DWI public-service announcements and billboards to be seen throughout the county. These are both wonderful programs, said board member Noreen Scott. The boards next regularly scheduled virtual meeting will be Monday, Aug. 10, at 5:30 p.m. 2 fewer students In one of the three public comments received by the board via email, a mother of two RRPS students Sheryl Wadin touted the school district as a whole, but lamented that virtual learning for her son didnt pan out the way she had hoped. She was planning to home-school her son and daughter in the coming school year. We completely disagree with the direction our state government and education has advocated, her email read. It is therefore with a heavy heart that we have decided not to send our children to RRPS this year. We will be home-schooling them with materials that will challenge them academically. They will be missing out on the wealth of expertise, experience and passion of the teachers, therapists and staff that they have received thus far though RRPS. Our hope is that in the near future, fear surrounding a virus will not overrule all other important aspects of life that young, developing children desperately need. ROSE (roz) n. One of the most beautiful of all flowers, a symbol of fragrance and loveliness. Often given as a sign of appreciation. RASPBERRY (razbere) n. A sharp, scornful comment, criticism or rebuke; a derisive, splatting noise, often called the Bronx cheer. We hereby deliver: ROSES to the Albany Historical Carousel & Museum and the facilitys third anniversary in August. We realize that the impact of this new attraction has been muted due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. But the carousel and its amazing woodwork is still a showcase for downtown Albany. Whether youre a child or an adult, prepare to be dazzled when you enter this structure. ROSES to Jon Sassaman, who joined the Corvallis Police Department in 1988 and rose through the ranks to become the chief of the agency. Sassaman recently retired, but he left the city and Benton County better off thanks to his service, according to Pete Sandrock, former Benton County district attorney. Its hard to argue with that assessment. ROSES to Ralph Wyatt, who rose to the rank of colonel during a 28-year career in the U.S. Air Force. He then spent another 28 years as Linn Countys administrative officer, making sure directives from county commissioners were put into place efficiently and managing what grew into an operation with almost 700 employees and a $177 million budget. Friday, Wyatt, 81, started a well-earned retirement from public service. Board chairman Roger Nyquist praised Wyatt as the type of person who makes everybody he works with better. Fellow commissioner Will Tucker said Wyatt is a steady rock who does not become emotionally invested in the crisis before us and as someone who cares deeply for the people we serve. Linn Countys 125,000 residents have benefitted greatly from Wyatts wisdom and leadership RASPBERRIES to the ongoing woes of the Oregon Employment Department, which continues to leave out-of-work Oregonians in the lurch. COVID-19 caused a workplace crisis of historic proportions, something unseen since the Great Depression, so we understand that there were going to be problems getting residents assistance given the flood of filings. But we know plenty of residents who havent received unemployment benefits from months ago. ROSES to state Sen. Sara Gelser, state Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis and other legislators who are working tirelessly to help residents get the unemployment checks theyre due. Its great to see elected officials taking direct action to assist your friends or even family members. We cant express our thanks enough, because some Oregonians were, and continue to be, in dire financial straits. ROSES to the $500,000 tally for the Linn County Youth Livestock Auction, which was held online only for the first time ever due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. Thats an impressive sum, and included $28,000 in add-ons, or extra donations, from booster club members. Even if our society returns to normal next year, online elements of the auction should remain, as they could increase participation from the public, and especially those add-ons for hard-working local youth. ROSES to Its On Us Corvallis, a charitable group that is providing food for residents and helping keep local restaurants afloat. The organization has raised about $100,000 to help the public. As of mid-July, Its On Us Corvallis had hosted meals at more than 30 restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops in the city. For more information, go to itsonuscorvallis.org. ROSES to the community of Sweet Home, which has rallied around the Maynard family, whose 6-year-old son, Zachary, was killed when an unmanned jet ski struck him at Lewis Creek Park. His friend, Kennedy Swenson, was severely injured. Hundreds of vehicles recently lined Long Street when the Maynard family returned home from OHSU in Portland. The group was led by a fire truck because Zachary wanted to be a firefighter, a long family tradition. A can and bottle drive filled three semi-truck trailers, Little Promises Pre-School is holding a Walk-a-Thon, there is an online auction and on Aug. 4, the movie Goonies will be shown at the Rio Theater with proceeds going to help the families. A GoFundMe drive has topped $42,000 and donations are also being accepted at the Holley Christian Church. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Queensland's latest case of COVID-19, a man in his 20s, flew on a Jetstar flight from Sydney to Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast while infectious, sparking a public health alert for fellow passengers. The man returned from overseas and was allowed to then board the domestic flight because he is a consulate staffer and they are allowed to quarantine in their home as part of a national exemption. Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said Queensland Health contact tracers were notifying passengers who were also aboard Jetstar flight JQ790 on Friday, July 31. The man, who had followed all of the required procedures, tested positive while in quarantine on the Sunshine Coast. Sure, it might be warm Wednesday, but what about the rest of the week? Days and Jingoli want to see LIT become more than a summer jobs program. Jingoli said next year he would like to see the casino industry recruit LIT kids for work. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} If we can lay out in front of them the next job, the next opportunity, then we believe thats going to change the relationship between the industry and the city, and young people and how they view themselves and us, Jingoli said. I dont think we stop. And we havent reached our goal until every young person in the city of Atlantic City that wants a job and wants to work has that laid out in front of them. Beyond street cleanups, the youth of LIT learn to work with power tools and lawn care equipment. Some will work with technicians this summer to repair street lamps in the city. If the opportunity to work in the summer grooms them, gets them thinking about a career, we believe thats going to affect their decisions as they go on through life if they know theres a place to go, they know theres an opportunity, Jingoli said. General Motors Co. is unhappy with Facebook Inc.s efforts to keep hateful and disparaging content away from the automakers brands and has joined peer Ford Motor Co. and other companies that have stopped advertising with the social-media company. GM said it has paused placing ads on Facebook in recent weeks and is in talks with the company about improving efforts to eliminate harmful content on its popular platform. GMs move is a sign that the pressure on Facebook will continue in August and potentially longer. Ford and Honda Motor Co.s U.S. subsidiary also said Friday they have no plans to resume spending on Facebook. On Thursday, Unilever NV-owned ice-cream brand Ben & Jerrys extended through the end of the year its halt of paid social-media advertising. We are not satisfied with the progress Facebook has taken to date and therefore have paused our media investment with the platform, GM said in a statement. We are encouraging them to move faster to implement meaningful change so that we can quickly return to a safer digital space that mirrors our brand values. ALSO READ: Disney cuts ad spending on Facebook amid growing boycott Ford Reloads YouTube Ford said it is evaluating efforts to curb hate speech on social media operated by Facebook and its unit Instagram Inc., as well as by Snap Inc., Twitter Inc. and TikTok Inc. platforms. However the automaker announced it will resume ads on Alphabet Inc. unit YouTube and Pinterest Inc. after a 30-day pause. This is an ongoing evaluation and we will continue to monitor all platforms with checkpoints on progress towards our ad accountability agenda, Ford spokesman Said Deep said in an email. We will continue to be actively engaged with industry initiatives led by the Association of National Advertisers to drive more accountability, transparency and trusted measurement to clean up the digital and social-media ecosystem. ALSO READ: Facebook ad boycott organizers see 'no commitment to action' in Zuckerberg meeting A month ago, when the #StopHateForProfit campaign started, many big corporations said they would stop advertising for the month of July. At that time, GM said it was reviewing its marketing. The automaker qualified its Friday announcement by saying it already had cut its advertising during the pandemic, reflecting lower production and less traffic in showrooms. Its budget for Facebook advertising did not involve a large sum of money, said GM spokesman Jim Cain. By David Welch and Keith Naughton Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Iran ready to transfer experiences, deepen ties with Azerbaijan in fighting coronavirus ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 1 August 2020 / 14:50 Tehran (ISNA) - Stating that fortunately with the efforts of the officials of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the two countries are witnessing good, friendly and developing relations in recent years, Iranian President stressed the need for efforts to develop and strengthen Tehran-Baku relations. Speaking with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev by telephone on Friday, Dr. Hassan Rouhani congratulated him, the government and people of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the arrival of Eid al-Adha, and expressed hope that all Muslims around the world enjoy the blessings of this holiday as a manifestation of Muslims' unity. Referring to the good relations and cooperation between the two countries and the efforts of the officials to accelerate the implementation of the agreements, the President said, "Development of comprehensive relations with the Republic of Azerbaijan is important for us and I hope to see the implementation of mutual agreements in various sectors, especially the Rasht-Astara railway". Referring to our country's achievements in combatting coronavirus, Dr. Rouhani said, "We are ready to transfer experiences and deepen cooperation with the Republic of Azerbaijan to combat coronavirus". The President also stated that the officials of the two countries can hold consultations via video conference in these situations where face-to-face meetings and travel is hard. He also stressed the need for efforts to conduct trade between the two countries in compliance with health protocols. At the same phone call, the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev congratulated Eid-ul-Adha to the government and people of Iran, and described the relations between the two countries positive and said, "Certainly, Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan will work together in the coming months, and they will take steps to further develop relations and cooperation". The President of Azerbaijan stated, "The Rasht-Astara railway project is very important for the Republic of Azerbaijan and we will do our best to remove obstacles and problems and complete this project as soon as possible". He praised Iran's achievements in combatting coronavirus and called for developing cooperation between the two countries and benefiting from Iran's experience in this field. Ilham Aliyev also welcomed the proposal of holding video conference of the two presidents and officials. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. Jesse Rutledge was sitting in a cell in the Sullivan County jail in early December 2019, watching TV to forget his surroundings, when the possibility of release caught him by surprise. Rutledge, who grew up in Johnson City and now lives in Damascus, had been booked into the jail Nov. 12 on a handful of charges. He violated the probation he was serving for multiple counts of driving with a suspended license a license hed lost for falling behind on child support payments. He also faced charges of identity theft and failure to appear in court. Rutledge was jailed without bond. The 28-year-old had been inside the whitewashed cinder block walls of the jail in Blountville a number of times before. But this time was very, very rough, Rutledge said in a phone interview. I couldnt talk to my kids, I didnt have any visits, nothing, he said. Because the jail was so packed with inmates at the time, Rutledge was sleeping on the floor. When he couldnt sleep, he showered, watched TV, worked out or simply paced his cell. Pretrial Release Program: Cost and Savings The below figures are based on financial information about the program provided by officials from the Sullivan County Sheriffs Office. Costs: Startup cost: $817,000 Recurring annual cost: $564,800 Estimated and Projected Savings: Daily cost of housing a defendant in Sullivan County jail: $46.66 Average number of defendants in the pretrial release program so far: 150 Average daily cost saving: $6,999 Projected annual cost saving (based on the average daily cost saving): $2,554,635 Projected annual cost saving minus recurring annual cost: $1,989,835 Then, one day an officer named Josh Adams asked Rutledge if he wanted to participate in a new program called pretrial release. If Judge J. Klyne Lauderback, the General Sessions Court judge handling Rutledges case, agreed to let him participate, Rutledge could leave the jail and be monitored from home. Was he interested? I was kind of skeptical about it, Rutledge said of his reaction. I didnt know if it was just a joke. But he said the chance to see his family again to not miss any more birthdays, holidays or funerals beyond the many hed already missed was impossible not to take. After several nerve-wracking days, Rutledge said, Lauderback gave him the green light. Adams fastened an electronic monitor around his ankle and showed him how to charge it. Rutledge called his fiancee, Megan, to tell her the good news. I said, Baby, Im on my way home. ... Call my dad, and tell my dad Im walking to my Uncle Randys, he recalled saying. He was so eager to put the jail behind him, he said, that he ran the entire way. Weve got to have short-term relief Rutledge was the first Sullivan County jail inmate to join its new pretrial release program. Half a year after the Sheriffs Office launched the program to help alleviate jail overcrowding, more than 200 inmates have been released under its aegis. For years, the aging jail has struggled to manage an inmate population that has often climbed far above its maximum capacity of 619 people a crisis the Bristol Herald Courier reported on extensively last year in a weeklong series called Critical Mass. We had swelled up to ... around 1,080 inmates, close to 1,100, last September, Chief Jail Administrator Lee Carswell said. Rules and Supervision Levels for Defendants Rules for all defendants Will not violate any federal or state laws Report to pretrial officer three days after release Attend all court appearances as required Will not leave the state without Sheriffs Office approval No contact with victims or witnesses Report change of address, employment or phone number If applicable, pay monitoring fees Rules for administrative (low) Level I Initial prerelease meeting with a pretrial officer Provide contact information and sign pretrial agreement Receive phone call from pretrial officer prior to each court date Defendant will provide verification of court attendance Pretrial officer will document and keep record of court attendance Rules for Basic (moderate) Level II Initial prerelease meeting with a pretrial officer Provide contact information and sign pretrial agreement Receive phone call from pretrial officer prior to each court date Report once monthly or after court date, if it falls within the month, to pretrial officer One weekly phone call to pretrial officer confirm status Special conditions may be applied by the court Defendant must provide verification of special conditions and/or court attendance to pretrial officer Pretrial officer will document and keep record of court attendance Random drug screens, as required or mandated Rules for Intensive (high) Level III Initial prerelease meeting with a pretrial officer Provide contact information and sign pretrial agreement Receive phone call from pretrial officer prior to each court date Report once weekly to pretrial officer Three weekly phone calls to pretrial officer confirm status Special conditions may be applied by the court Defendant must provide verification of special conditions and/or court attendance to pretrial officer Pretrial officer will document and keep record of court attendance Random drug screens Defendant will pay monitoring fees as required Previous proposals for how to get those numbers under control came and went. Back in 2011, for example, former Sullivan County Sheriff Wayne Anderson recommended sentencing nonviolent offenders to house arrest and sending them home with ankle monitors, but the idea didnt get any real traction. And County Attorney Dan Street said he unsuccessfully floated the idea of having the county sign bonds for some defendants who faced minor charges and couldnt afford bail. In 2019, however, Street turned his attention to a pretrial release program in Knox County. That July, he traveled there with Sullivan County Sheriff Jeff Cassidy and a handful of other officials from the county criminal justice system to see it in action. It was really impressive, what they were doing. I think they had, like, 900 inmates out [of jail] on their program, Street said. I thought, if we could just get 20% [of the Sullivan County jails inmates] out, 200 out, that would pull our population way down. Street said he began looking for more information about pretrial release programs, and realized that hed stumbled upon a trend. It was starting to take hold across the nation, Street said. There were other states and counties and cities that were doing it. It was not unique to this area by any means, he said. Meanwhile, the pressure to reduce the county jails population climbed higher in November, when a former inmate filed a $3 million class-action lawsuit against the county, Cassidy, Carswell and a number of other jail officials. The inmate, Travis Bellew, had been assaulted by a former corrections officer named Christopher Sabo in 2018. His suit claimed that the assault stemmed from the violent culture created by decrepit jail conditions, including the overcrowding. That was a catalyst, Carswell said of the lawsuit. We had to take some sort of action to show that we were trying to reduce the population. Just after the lawsuit was filed, the Sullivan County Commission asked Cassidy, District Attorney General Barry Staubus and a variety of other officials in the countys criminal justice system to pitch some short-term solutions to the overcrowding crisis. The commission had already begun working with some design firms to explore its options for renovating the old jail or building a new one. But Carswell said there isnt any money to fund such a project right now, and Cassidy said the construction would be a long process. Even if they put a shovel in the back gate for a jail today, were still talking three, four years [before it would be finished], Cassidy said. Weve got to have short-term relief. One of the solutions Cassidy pitched with support from Carswell, Street, other county attorneys and a number of judges was a pretrial release program. Cassidy said his initial proposal requested five new officers to run it. But on Nov. 21, when the County Commission approved the program, it gave the Sheriffs Office 10 new officers and $817,000 to get it started. Three weeks later, Rutledge was released with his ankle monitor. The mechanics of the program In the programs terminology, Rutledge was released under Intensive or Level III supervision, the highest level of surveillance for participants. To stay out of jail, he had to visit the facility once a week to check in with Adams and call Adams three times a week. He also had to wear the ankle monitor at all times and charge it for at least one consecutive hour each day. Defendants like Rutledge go through several rounds of assessment to determine whether they can join the program. When theyre booked into a jail, a pretrial officer reviews their criminal record using a risk assessment tool basically a checklist that tallies up their previous arrests, convictions and failures to appear. Adams said that anyone with violent charges wont be considered. If the defendant gets a good enough score from the risk assessment tool, and if they can prove they have a place to stay outside the jail, the pretrial team will recommend them to their respective judge as a potential pretrial candidate. We basically take these files to the judges, they look them over, and they determine whether or not they want to let [a defendant] out and whether or not theyll have an ankle monitor, Carswell explained. The program uses two kinds of ankle monitors Carswell said its been impossible to get enough of just one model and they arent free. One, a model produced by a company called ScramNet, costs $8 per day, and the other, a model made by Securus Technologies, costs $10 per day. Adams estimated that so far, about 85% of the programs participants have been responsible for covering the cost themselves. The county and state have paid for monitors for the rest, who were deemed indigent. Adams said the courts criteria for indigence are simple: you have to have an empty jail commissary account, the account inmates use to buy extra food and supplies, or a court-appointed attorney paid for by the state or county, or both. But those eligibility criteria dont seem to be catching everybody who needs help. Brandon Ferrell, another officer on the pretrial team, said that some defendants responsible for their ankle monitor fees have struggled with the bills. Thats a big issue right now, Ferrell said. And its between the ankle monitor company and the client at that point. But I can understand. I mean, $300 a month [in ankle monitor fees] is difficult. Rutledge wasnt saddled with any such bills: The state had been paying for his ankle monitor. But he said that his judge, Lauderback, encouraged him to find work his job at a lawn care company was slow during the winter off-season and Rutledge took the advice seriously. He cooked at a Popeyes in Johnson City until pandemic-induced layoffs forced him out, then found odd jobs until lawn care work took off in the spring. Rutledge was so eager to stay out of jail, he said, that he followed the conditions of his release religiously. He said it helped that Adams, the main pretrial officer he reported to, didnt seem to assume the worst about him. Anytime I would have to come in ... he always started off with, Howre you doing, hows your day? Hes very respectful, Rutledge said of Adams. Which is kind of surprising coming from [the fact that] he works at the Sullivan County jail, and a lot of the officers kind of look down on people there. I guess he saw me as a human being that just made a simple mistake. Carswell said that kind of dynamic is deliberate. What we try to do, more than anything, and what weve tried to push among the [staff] in our program, is ... coach these people, he said. We dont just put them out and ... wait for them to screw up or violate. We try to coach them and push them in the right direction. Upon release, defendants in the program who struggle with addiction are given a list of local rehabilitation centers, and all of them are given a list of local companies that claim they will hire felons the idea being that if they hire felons, theyll hire pretrial defendants. Carswell added that the jail is looking for ways to partner with community groups that could provide additional career training and other support to people in the program. The number one complaint I hear from inmates when they get out [of jail is that] they dont know where to go, they dont know where to get a job, how to get a job but they do know how to sell drugs ... they go back to selling drugs ... till they get caught, Carswell said. And then theyve got more time to serve. Were trying to slow that, he added. And I think the only way were going to slow that is by educating [and] giving opportunities to people. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. (Natural News) Lately, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been taking pot shots at President Donald Trump for calling it the Chinese Virus or the Wuhan Virus, instead referring to it as the Trump Virus. And according to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), this is probably because the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has some kind of dirt on Pelosi, and likely many other Democrats. By calling it the Trump Virus, Pelosi is effectively playing right into the communist Chinese propaganda campaign concerning this plandemic, which originated in China and is thus the fault of China. Neither Pelosi nor any other Democrat can seem to stomach this truth, however, which creates a lot of questions as to why this might be the case? (Related: Check out this article to learn more about how China suppressed important information about the plandemic that cost people their lives). Chinas deception has directly led to Americans deaths, McCarthy stated during a recent press conference, calling out Pelosi for siding with the communists rather than our own president. China covered up the truth about the virus. China hoarded personal protective equipment and tried to extort other countries for political leverage. Now, China is trying to hack our vaccines, which will harm our ability to serve the world and solve this problem, he added. China is no friend to the United States, and that fact is clear to everyone except the Democrats My question to my Democratic colleagues is simple: Are you willing to step up to stop these escalating threats from China, or will you continue to defend the actions of the Chinese Communist Party? Their actions and words continue to show Democrats have a China problem. The Democrats are clearly working with Chinese communists to subvert and overthrow America What Democrats like Pelosi have been doing and saying, on the other hand, would seem to suggest that they are in full support of the CCP and its propaganda campaigns. Not once have they supported President Trump in his efforts to root out Chinese corruption and influence in politics, science, and medicine, which would lead us to believe that the Democrats are actually working with these communists against American interests. Why does the speaker promote their propaganda by trying to blame the president of the United States for the Chinese Communist Partys lies, even calling the virus the name of our president? McCarthy asked point blank. My final question would be: What does the Chinese Communist Party have on the Democrats? Why cant they hold them accountable? It is no longer a matter of speculation that China has been sending communist spies into our country and embedding them in academia, the sciences, and even politics. This is why President Trump made the decision to shutter the Chinese consulate in Houston, which was reportedly a type of beachhead for the CCP to usher its troops into our country. One would think that if the Democrats truly cared about our nation, they, too, would be wanting to root out this destructive force that has been progressively gaining an influence over our society. But instead, they seem to be working in lockstep with our enemies, which begs the question: Is it time to do away with the Democrat Party for the preservation of our Republic? The CCP paid off the Democrat Party with bribes, wrote one Breitbart News commenter, offering her take on the situation. Just look at the $1.5 billion deal that Joe Bidens crackhead son got from the CCP. The Democrats are corrupt, they are pathetic for accepting bribes from the CCP, and I hold them in contempt for selling the U.S. middle class down the river to the CCP. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com Contributed Photo / Connecticut State Police BRIDGEPORT Two gunshot wound victims turned up at a city hospital after a Saturday night shooting, according to police. Officers responded to Bridgeport Hospital around 8:30 p.m. after personnel at the hospital called police about two gunshot wound victims. ALBANY Last year, New York Civil Liberties Union lawyers released a report that showed police in Albany County overwhelmingly arrested minorities for low-level marijuana violations. At the time, police insisted they did not target minorities and Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins vowed to examine what was behind the disparity in his city. But a year later, a Times Union review of Albany police data from July 9, 2019, to July 9, 2020, shows little has changed. The city's police department made arrests or wrote tickets for marijuana-related offenses 134 times, ranging from violation-level tickets to felony-level possession arrests. According to the departments data, 97 percent of the time, those arrested or ticketed were Black. Only four white people were charged with marijuana offenses during the time period despite nationwide evidence that shows Black and white people use marijuana at roughly the same rate. Hawkins said violent-crime and quality-of-life investigations drive many of the arrests, but his vow to conduct an in-depth investigation of the matter was sidetracked by the department's need to focus on matters connected to the coronavirus pandemic. The arrests are happening nearly two years after District Attorney David Soares said he would no longer prosecute minor marijuana arrests when it is the only charge a defendant faces. The data shows that the majority of the arrests were for low-level offenses, either violations or low-level misdemeanors. Seventy six of the 134 incidents were for unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. Twenty-five arrests were for felony amounts of marijuana, which is at least 8 ounces of the drug. Debora Brown-Johnson, president of the Albany NAACP branch, said the organization had a conversation with the police department about its approach to marijuana cases after the NYCLU study was released last year. Last week, she said the organization remains concerned and the issue is something Mayor Kathy Sheehan needed to address. Questions still exist, whats going on here, is this a targeted group? she said. It cant be that it's just us. We know that doesnt make sense. Its one thing for people to say they experienced it but heres the data that shows what's happening. It doesnt make sense at the end of the day and so because this is an issue in the city, its incumbent on the mayor to take a deeper dive herself and take a look and see what changes can be made to address it. In an emailed statement, Sheehan wrote the city would examine the marijuana arrest data as part of a broader, state-mandated overhaul of the citys police force. In response to the police protests earlier this year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushed an effort that will force localities around the state to enact police reforms or face the threat of losing state funds. The city of Albany Police Reform Collaborative will be undertaking a comprehensive review of the Albany Police Department data associated with arrests by race, gender, and other demographics, and we look forward to having a robust community discussion around these statistics, she said. In an interview, Hawkins said a more in-depth examination of the departments marijuana enforcement had been delayed while the city confronts difficulties with the pandemic but he defended the way his officers enforced the laws around marijuana possession. Hawkins said all of the felony-level arrests and many of the other citations were connected with police investigations into violent crime or major quality-of-life issues related to drug use and sales. Its always concerning when you see that all of the arrests were black males, said Hawkins, who is Black. Its not surprising to me that when were concentrating on addressing violent crime were going to pull in some marijuana-related issues. In recent months, violence in the city has spiked but there has been no corresponding rise in marijuana arrests. Since June 13, the department has written one marijuana citation, for a violation-level offense on July 26. From the departments data it is difficult to make connections between specific arrests and investigation into major crimes or shootings. Of the 134 arrests and citations, 117 are related to calls for a crime in progress, according to the data, but the statistics give no indication of what crimes were being committed or investigated. Hawkins said the areas with more marijuana citations are locations where police are receiving more calls for service, such as West Hill, Arbor Hill and the South End. According to patrol-zone-level data, 30 percent of the marijuana citations and arrests happened in the area bordered by Central Avenue, Judson Avenue and Lark Street, which includes parts of Arbor Hill and West Hill. It is unclear if the tickets result in any meaningful prosecutions. Last summer the state decriminalized the possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana. The maximum penalty is $50 for possessing less than 1 ounce of pot and a maximum of $200 for between 1 and 2 ounces. After Soares' office said it would no longer prosecute cases where the sole charge was possessing less than 2 ounces of marijuana, the Sheriffs Department said it would stop writing possession tickets. The city police department, however, decided to continue to make those arrests. The department has had conversations about how to handle low-level possession tickets and Hawkins said officers were not out on patrol looking for minor marijuana crimes. Were not stopping young men in the community and writing them minor possession of marijuana tickets, its just not happening, he said. Im not seeing that these young men are being targeted but its concerning to me that that they are the ones who are impacted by this. The disparity also caught the attention of Douglas Roest-Gyimah, a social worker in the city. In June, Roest-Gyimah began circulating a petition asking Sheehan to order the department to stop enforcing marijuana laws, arguing the practice unfairly harms minority residents and families. Roest-Gyimah said he was inspired to examine the data after recent protests against police brutality in the city that were prompted by the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. I was moved by everything there, not only to protest but to go home and engage and do something, he said. Roest-Gyimah looked at data on the citys website and said what he found shocked him. So he wrote a Change.org petition and shared it on social media. The petition asks Sheehan to acknowledge the data and that the police departments effort to fight drugs is waged on its Black residents. It also asks her to share her views on the causes of the disparity and come up with a specific plan to fix it, pointing out her office issued a three-step community plan to fight illegal fireworks after weeks of complaints. The petition acknowledged that Sheehan has moved to make some changes in the police department, including issuing an executive order banning chokeholds. It also credited her for the decision to move the statute of Gen. Phillip Schuyler, a Revolutionary War hero who was among the region's biggest owners of enslaved people, from in front of City Hall. However, we believe neither of these gestures do much of anything at all to create meaningful, long-lasting change, Roest-Gyimah wrote. We write you to ask that you respond to this ongoing humanitarian crisis with equal enthusiasm and vigor as you did with the fireworks. More than 2,500 people have signed the petition. Roest-Gyimah expressed frustration at the lack of response from the city. He said he emailed the petition to the mayors office and tried calling. He also said he signed up for one of Sheehans Create Change Together chats, a series of in-person or teleconference meetings with the mayor and police chief that began in the aftermath of the protests. Nearly two months later, he said he still hasnt received any response or an invitation to join one of those discussions. The city told the Times Union it has received "dozens of requests" from people who want to talk with the mayor and police chief. The city is prioritizing meetings for those who have had personal police experiences they want to discuss. South Carolinas sales tax holiday from Aug. 7-9 takes on a different dynamic amid the coronavirus. The ongoing pandemic has reduced consumer spending and left many businesses struggling. Schools will operate beginning in August in anything but normal mode. The supply lists that students need for a return to school will be different with classes for many beginning in an online format. But back-to-school requirements remain. Merchants are in need of all the boosts they can get after mandatory shutdowns and slow reopenings. The sales tax holiday is a chance for consumers to save and local merchants to profit. But first, we want to tell you there are arguments against tax holidays, which this year are being scheduled in 16 states. Fourteen of the holidays are in August and, in light of the coronavirus crisis, Tennessee has established a second holiday targeted at restaurants. Janelle Cammenga, policy analyst at the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, is out with a new report: Sales Tax Holidays: Politically Expedient but Poor Tax Policy 2020. Key highlights: Sales tax holidays do not promote economic growth or significantly increase consumer purchases; the evidence (including a 2017 study by Federal Reserve researchers) shows that they simply shift the timing of purchases. Sales tax holidays are not an effective solution to the current economic crisis, as the drop in consumption is caused by a public health crisis, not a drop in consumers desire to spend. Sales tax holidays create complexities for tax code compliance, efficient labor allocation and inventory management. Most sales tax holidays involve politicians picking products and industries to favor with exemptions, arbitrarily discriminating among products and across time. While sales taxes are somewhat regressive, this does not make tax holidays an effective tool for providing relief to low-income individuals. Political gimmicks like sales tax holidays distract policymakers and taxpayers from genuine, permanent tax relief. Give the Tax Foundation credit for consistency in arguing that reform of the tax system is needed. Lets even agree that tax holidays are not a substitute for reform. But lets dont go so far as to agree that if states can afford sales tax holidays, they can afford a more permanent form of tax relief. That depends on the extent of relief. While many South Carolinians will go along with the idea of tax reform, a majority is not likely to echo the sentiment about the tax-free weekend. Taxes will not be imposed on clothing, shoes, school supplies, book bags, computers, printers, bedspreads and linens, and more. Shoppers will save up to 8.5%, depending on local taxes. The state sales tax rate is 6%. Last year, South Carolina shoppers bought more than $21.7 million in tax-free items during the sales tax holiday. "In these difficult times, Tax Free Weekend is a great way for South Carolina shoppers to save money, and even more, it's a time to support our South Carolina businesses," said S.C. Department of Revenue Director Hartley Powell. "Don't forget, online purchases of eligible items are tax-free too, so check out your favorite local retailer's website." Items that wont be exempt from sales tax during the weekend include jewelry, cosmetics, eye wear, furniture, cellular phones and items placed on layaway. Our position is to expand, not do away with, the tax-free holidays. The list of what is and is not free of taxation is confounding and should be altered to include nearly all purchases. The states leaders promote the holiday as a major boost to business and big bonus for consumers during what has become the third busiest shopping period of the year, surpassed only by the weekends after Thanksgiving and before Christmas. If the holiday is good for the economy, and it surely will be this year, lets bring more businesses in on the benefits. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a commercial driver, Habeeb Quadri, for allegedly assaulting a passenger, Emmanuel James, in the Surulere area of the state, resulting in his death. Quadri was arrested by the Bode Thomas Police Division with eyewitnesses claiming that the driver hit James in the chest over an issue bordering on money during which the deceased slumped. The scuffle occurred at the Bode Thomas Junction. Onlookers afterwards prevented Quadri from escaping from the scene. A police source narrated that the deceaseds son reported the matter at the station, after James was rushed to the hospital but confirmed dead by a doctor. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The parliamentary meeting of Fine Gael TDs last week heard that one reason for their abject election result, which saw them finish third in a three-horse race to be the largest party, may have been a comment by then senator Catherine Noone about Leo Varadkar being "autistic", for which she later apologised. Are they for real? The idea that voters turned against FG because of something inappropriate that was said in passing by some senator is almost touchingly preposterous. FG has now lost more than half of the seats it won in the historic 2011 election, a decline which is rooted squarely in the party's repeated failure to understand the continuing public malaise. Nothing crystallises that more than the CervicalCheck scandal, which saw hundreds of women who'd originally been given the all-clear years earlier subsequently discovering that they'd had cervical cancer all along. Many have since died. Rather than hold up its hands and humbly admit wrongdoing, the government continued to fight the women at every turn in the courts, including Ruth Morrissey, who recently passed away at the age of 39, leaving a young daughter. Ministers fulsomely praised the Limerick woman, but, less than two weeks later, two more women whose test results were misread have now had their cases listed in the High Court. These actions will in turn be contested vigorously by the HSE. There are legal issues which need to be clarified in all these cases. It's not unreasonable for the Government to seek to prevent the State being liable for every misdiagnosis. Cancer screening programmes can't get it right every time, but they are essential, nonetheless. Officials also need to be careful with public money, though it's worth asking why it's women with terminal cancer who are made to bear the brunt of this sudden interest in fiscal prudence when millions of euro vanish down the government drain annually. Ministers still need to find a way to speak about these issues without giving the impression that human understanding must be dragged out of them under duress. The Tanaiste even added insult to injury by insisting that the cervical cancer screening programme will now be improved because of Vicky Phelan's intervention in these pages last Sunday, when, roused by the death of her friend and fellow campaigner, she called for action rather than fine words. Leo Varadkar didn't even seem embarrassed to be making that promise. He was Taoiseach for the last three years. He has served previously as minister for health. What took so long? It shouldn't be Vicky Phelan's job as she battles cancer to micromanage the Government's health policy. Not everything that Vicky Phelan is asking for may be achievable. That includes her call for the reintroduction of the 2015 Dying With Dignity private members' bill. The legalisation of euthanasia seems like the compassionate and progressive thing to do, and has the consistent backing of a majority in opinion polls. The experience in other countries suggests, however, that any such move can have unsettling consequences. Up to a quarter of deaths in the Netherlands in 2017 were 'induced' in some way, including people with dementia who'd lost the ability to communicate continued consent, and young people struggling with mental health issues. It's possible to draft legislation strict enough to minimise abuses, but the risk of that infamous slippery slope is not imaginary. It's still outrageous that Vicky Phelan should need to be calling for mandatory open disclosure, nearly two years after it was recommended by Dr Gabriel Scally's report into the cervical cancer scandal. Things will always go wrong in medicine. When they do, the patient has the right to know, promptly, and in as much detail as they request. The paternalistic relationship between heath professionals and ordinary patients needs to be replaced by a partnership of equals. Open disclosure in both public and private healthcare is a central plank of the Patient Safety Bill, which was published last December, but it remains in draft form. Until it's implemented, campaigners can be forgiven some lingering suspicion. The bill names certain "identified patient safety incidents" which would be covered by the new legislation, but they're not comprehensive by any means. The Minister of Health would have the power to add other incidents to the list, but there will be some cultural resistance from the medical establishment. One paper published in the UK in 2014 by the government-funded National Institute for Health Research found, for example, that there was "strong support for the basic principle of being honest with patients or relatives when someone was seriously harmed by health care", but that "in practice... the issues are complex". It concluded: "Health care reforms are often difficult to enact and the changes that policy makers envisage and aspire to may not translate into practice, or change may take longer because working practices are institutionalised." It's in that gap between expectation and reality that campaigners may end up being marooned. Doctors need reassurance that they won't be scapegoated for deeper institutional failures, but what the aforementioned report calls the "protective agenda" in medicine must be challenged. Are ministers up to the task? It remains to be seen what the new Taoiseach and new Health Minister, both Fianna Fail, are planning to do to change the closed culture of the Department of Health, but the stark truth is that there's no point having a new government if it simply repeats all the arrogant, complacent errors of the previous one. What's worse is that the new, or maybe not so new, Government might be laying the groundwork for future tragedies. Up to 40,000 smear tests are normally carried out every month. They were suspended because of Covid-19, along with breast and bowel checks. Shops and restaurants are widely open, but it will be at least September before breast checks return in a limited capacity. They're already back up and running in Northern Ireland. If FF doesn't want to be sitting in a parliamentary party meeting in four years' time, puzzling over its own defeat, it could do worse than start reaching out to women who've been wronged by the healthcare system before, like Ruth Morrissey, it's too late for them, too. The Government should be these women's champion, not their adversary. Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty must join the investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput being conducted by Patna Police in Mumbai if she has nothing to hide, Bihars top police official has said. A four-member team of the Patna Police is in Mumbai to probe Rajputs death after the actors father lodged a complaint under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including those pertaining to abetment of suicide, cheating and fraud, against Chakraborty and six others. The team reached Mumbai on July 27 and began its probe. Also Watch | Rhea Chakraborty under our watch, say Bihar cops on Sushant death case Gupteshwar Pandey, Bihars director general of police, said in an interview to a Hindi television news channel on Saturday that Chakraborty must have the courage to face any investigator. Also read: Sushant had no Godfather, says his sister in appeal to Modi, wants him to step in She was the one who called for a CBI probe I dont know why she wants the Mumbai Police or the Bihar police to investigate the case. If she is innocent, she should come forward and should say it openly that any agency can probe the case, Pandey told Aaj Tak. She should say I am here and anyone can ask any question and probe whatever they want to. Why play a game of hide and seek? he asked. Pandey said they are not accusing anyone and the probe into Rajputs death shouldnt be turned into a Maharashtra versus Bihar battle amid reports that the police team from Patna is not being helped by the force in Mumbai. Also read: Rhea Chakraborty booked by ED as politics heats up in Sushant Singh Rajput death case I am saying a simple thing that one should look at the sentiments of the countrys people. People say that he was a vibrant, enthusiastic and successful young man. They feel there is some kind of mystery if a man who had money and fame hangs himself, he said. That mystery must be probed and truth must come out. Why should anyone have any problem with that? Bihar Police have registered an FIR and started a probe, he added. The top official said they are not out to frame or let anyone off and that they do not have any personal enmity with her without naming Chakraborty. Also read| From theft to cheating: Sushant Singh Rajputs father charges against Rhea Chakraborty The Patna Police team, he said, is using every channel to get in touch with Chakraborty. We have been saying they should come forward. If there is no evidence we wouldnt arrest them but the day we have the evidence we wouldnt let anyone offdirector, producer, a billionaire, a big businessman, he added. It is our moral responsibility to tell the people of the country whats the truth and not make it any more mysterious. Its a big responsibility we have to bear. Mumbai Police also have that responsibility, he added. The DGP said they dont have any document or evidence related to the case except the FIR lodged by Rajputs father. Pandey said Bihar police want the forensic science laboratory reports, inquest report, post-mortem report and relevant CCTV footage in order to facilitate the probe. They also want details of those who were examined by Mumbai Police and what they have said in their statements, the top police official said. We dont want to arrest just anyone and dont want to be called a hero by maligning anyone. The people of Bihar and this country just want to know why has this case become so mysterious, he said. Also read| Ankita Lokhande writes cryptic post after Sushant Singh Rajputs family files FIR against Rhea Chakraborty: Truth wins Pandey had said earlier that the Bihar police is capable enough to investigate the matter and it was for the family of the actor to demand a CBI probe. We do not and should not demand CBI enquiry. Bihar Police is capable of doing the investigation in the case. A senior IPS officer would be sent to Mumbai for assisting the four-member team, he said. Chakraborty has moved the Supreme Court, seeking the transfer of the FIR filed in Patna to Mumbai. The top court will hear her plea on August 5. Both Bihar and Maharashtra governments have already filed caveats in the Supreme Court that they should be heard before any order is passed on Chakrabortys plea. Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his apartment in Mumbais Bandra on June 14. A Chinese industrial company operating in Ghana, Sunda International have made a donation to the Kumasi Central Mosque in the Ashanti Region. The donation coincided with the celebration by Muslims worldwide of Eid Al-Adha, the holiest festival in the Islamic calendar. Eid Al-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice is celebrated to commemorate the obedience of Ibrahim in a four-day celebration that began on 31 July and will last until Monday, 2 August. The yearly ritual is considered a time to think of others as well as repenting for sins committed in the past. The Festival of Sacrifice marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage, where Muslims return from pilgrimage in Mecca. Muslims will sacrifice goats, sheep, lambs, and cows to represent Ibrahims commitment to God, where Allah came to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to God. Participation in the sacrificial festival is mandatory for all obedient Muslims that can afford an animal. It is also mandatory for people with money to give an amount to charity, so less fortunate people can afford to join in on the celebration as well. As part of their corporate social responsibility, SUNDA International donated an assortment of their brands as well as a bullock to the Kumasi central Mosque through astute businessman Herbert Mensah to enhance the celebration of the Eid Al-Adha. King Edward of Hello FM in Kumasi together with Prince Osei of Kessben FM stood on behalf of SUNDA International and Herbert Mensah and presented the items to the leadership of the Kumasi central mosque. They donated a big bullock and other products from Sunda International. He remarked that the yearly gesture by Mr. Mensah is in line with his long-held tradition of keeping a bond with the Zongo community that has always supported him especially during his days as Kotoko chairman, his activities with the May 9 Foundation and his efforts to build Ghana Rugby. King Edward also added, Herbert Mensah believe in the goodness of helping the poor in our society the same way as sponsors like Sunda International. He acknowledged Sunda international for their donation of product brands such as Kleesoft, FasKit, and so on. Receiving donation on behalf of the Muslim community, regional chief Imam Abdul Mumin praised SUNDA International and Herbert Mensah for their dedication and commitment to the Zongo communities and the poor in general throughout the years. Imam Abdul Mumin prayed for blessings of Allah (God) upon the life of SUNDA International and Mr. Herbert Mensah as well as all generous givers to the poor in our society. Thousands of Ghanaians including Ghanas vice president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia have joined millions of other Muslims from all over the world this year to fulfill one of the major pillars of Islam and to celebrate Eid al-Adha in the holy city of Mecca. SUNDA International is a Chinese company in Ghana engaged in the importation and distribution of household consumable products and detergents in Ghana and West Africa for over thirteen years. Bengaluru, Aug 2 : A 200-bed dedicated hospital for Covid patients would soon be opened in central Bengaluru later this month, Karnataka Medical Education Minister D.K. Sudhakar announced on Sunday. "The civic hospital on Broadway Road in Shivajinagar area is being converted into a 200-bed Covid hospital and will become functional in two weeks," he said in a statement here. The renovated hospital will be equipped with all medical facilities, including oxygen cylinders and ventilators, to treat symptomatic and seriously-infected patients from across the city. "The required doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have been identified for deputation to the new hospital. "Infosys Foundation of the global software major is providing the infrastructure to the new hospital," said Sudhakar. The minister, who was a medical practitioner before entering politics, also thanked 570 private doctors of Haveri district for providing free service to Covid patients in the state's northwest region. "The yeomen service by the doctors and healthcare warriors is laudable as they are a role model for society. I salute their spirit of service and professionalism," Sudhakar said. In a related development, Deputy Chief Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan warned civic healthcare workers of action if they failed to complete the door-to-door survey of the vulnerable people by conducting Covid test on them at the earliest. "Booth level healthcare workers of the city civic corporation should speed up the survey to track, trace, test and treat the infected for reducing the cases. Disciplinary action will be taken against those who fail to comply with the order," Narayan said in a statement here. The minister, who was also a medical practitioner earlier, directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to initiate action against private hospitals denying admission and treatment to Covid patients in their hospitals. "All private hospitals and nursing homes across the city and state are required to allot 50 per cent of their beds for treating Covid patients on priority, failing which legal action will be taken against them under the National Disaster Management Act, 2005," he warned. Of the 5,532 new Covid cases reported on Sunday, Bengaluru accounted for 2,105, taking its tally to 59,501, including 37,513 active, while 1,077 succumbed till date since March 9. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) On the Frontline Against China, the US Coast Guard Is Taking on Missions the US Navy Can't Do Competition with China has drawn more Pentagon resources to the Pacific, but the most visible U.S. military presence there... Protests for racial equality and criminal justice reform continue throughout the country. A direct result of the murder of George Floyd, citizens remain up in arms and are willing to speak out. There has not been a sustained movement like this since the Vietnam War protests. Like today, there were stark divisions in the 1960s and 70s in the population. People chose sides based on their political parties or their socioeconomic status. You were either pro law and order and against those unruly hippies in the street; or you felt betrayed by a government that lied about the thousands of young men and women dying in a foreign war. A boiling point was reached on May 4, 1970, when 13 unarmed students were shot by the Ohio National Guard at Kent State University. Four of those students died and it added gasoline to the fire that was already burning across the nation. Todays protests are similar in that a growing cross-section of the population is speaking out. In Portland, community leaders such as Mayor Ted Wheeler are at these street rallies. Blacks and whites have come together to seek change in race relations. They have been joined by moms in yellow shirts and dads carrying leaf-blowers to disperse the tear gas that is unleashed on them nightly. The overwhelming majority of them are simply exercising their constitutional right to protest. After getting hit by tear gas himself, Wheeler called the federal troops invaders. He and the mayors of 10 other cities have resisted the troops because they simply add to the mayhem. On the other side, Attorney General William Barr justifies unleashing armed militia in cities by claiming that violent rioters and anarchists have hijacked legitimate protests to wreak senseless havoc and destruction on innocent victims. Yes, there have been injuries and deaths. It is probably true that a small number of protestors have been destructive; there is no place for that kind of violence under any circumstances. But to deploy thousands of troops armed with guns, billy clubs and mace to supposedly protect one federal courthouse is ludicrous. The overreaction from the feds is not only inappropriate but it provokes more destruction. Now the president is committing to protecting even more cities. Instead of lending a helping hand to urban areas with admittedly high crime rates. Instead of conferring with local leaders to develop real strategies for community police reforms, he prefers a nightly show of force with a splattering of blood for dramatic effect. Just as Hamlet suspected that there was something rotten in the State of Denmark, we need to open our eyes to some underlying realities during this season of discontent. The presidents poll numbers are crashing. Largely a result of his bungling response to COVID-19 and aberrant behaviors too numerous to count, he has just over 90 days to right his own ship. It is not surprising, then, that his messaging has shifted from the painful reality of more than 150,000 pandemic deaths to a tried-and-true Republican strategy served in shocking doses at the end of many campaigns: get tough on crime. Look no further than the Trump television ads. In one, an elderly woman fears for her life because, somehow, Joe Biden has destroyed the 9-1-1 system. In another, a young mother and her baby crouch under a bed because police departments will no longer be effective under President Joe Biden. These ads are demonstrably false and should not be airing at all. The fact that the president of the United States endorses and approves these messages is beyond despicable. At the recent hearing that involved Attorney General William Barr, Republicans branded Portland protesters as rioters and anarchists. They were all too eager to trot out edited video clips to make their point. You can be sure that you will see this footage in campaign ads in the fall. Here is the presidents real message to what remains of his base: Be afraid, be very afraid, of big-city Democrats. After all, they might just get enough supporters to enact real change and real improvements in race relations. Stuck in his own biases and obsessed with his own survival, President Trump is not above trampling on the First Amendment rights of citizens protestors or not. Rather than building consensus from Americans of all colors and perspectives, our president is content to invade his own cities and blame it on his opponents. Two generations after Vietnam, America can look back and say we weathered a divisive storm and may have even gotten stronger because of it. Let us hope that our children and their children can say the same of 2020. Mark S. Singel is a former Democratic Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania. He and Republican Charlie Gerow can be seen at 8:30 a.m. each Sunday on CBS21s Face the State. BIG RAPIDS A new marijuana provisioning center, RAIR, is estimated to begin construction this September in front of Dunham's Sports, at 702 Perry Avenue. We were anxious to get into the cannabis industry, like many businesses, RAIR Chief Operating Officer Patrick Frakes said. Entering their final phases of setting up shop, Frakes said RAIR will be offering both medical and adult-use recreational opportunities including new products, edibles, powder packets, drops and more. Coming from a real estate development background, Frakes said he's had a special connection with knowing how much cannabis can help those around him. I, unfortunately, lost both of my parents to cancer. One in 2012, one in 2015," he said. Frakes said his father had pancreatic cancer, and his mother had esophageal cancer. Though his father did not use cannabis to ease his pain, Frakes said his mother found comfort and relief through cannabis edibles and drops, before her passing. Seeing this had a lasting impact on his, Frakes said. Going through that process as a child, I was really moved by the fact that my mother was able to hold food down and be more active, even until the last day," he said. Moved by the results cannabis can have, Frakes decided to venture into the cannabis industry, hoping to make a living and do good things for the community and his patients. Myself and our founder, Kevin McFadden, were both moved by that opportunity," he said. Originally from Virginia, the two considered Michigan to be a unique state to grow their business. We (now) have 22 people living in various places all over the state, Frakes said. As the business became reality, the two took the plunge, purchasing a 17-acre piece of land in Jackson, and building a grow facility there almost a year ago. We are seed to sale, Frakes said, noting how they grow, package and sell their own products. Were really trying to develop a Michigan brand is what RAIR is all about. According to Frakes, the name RAIR comes from how each of their products are grown aeroponically, meaning they are never put in dirt, but are instead suspended in the air during the growth process. As they grow, the roots are exposed to water, air and the nutrients that are sprayed on them. It provides a real level of consistency to growing, but it also reduces 70% of potential contaminants bugs, bacteria anything you can find," Frakes said, adding that it also helps RAIR continue to be a pesticide-free brand. Becoming operational with their grow unit, Frakes said RAIR really wanted to open up into expanding communities with Big Rapids being at the top of the list. We were really looking at Big Rapids from the get-go, he said. We want to have a very upscale, commercially-attractive building, and we want to have an environment where everyone can feel comfortable coming in. Though building an establishment from the ground up typically takes time, Frakes hope is to be under construction within a few months. We are expected to be under construction, hopefully, by September, he said. (Were) hopeful that well have our building open by next summer." As well as having a business in Big Rapids, RAIR is looking to open shop in Lowell, Kalamazoo, Muskegon and more. What Im really looking forward to, in particular, is being a member of Western Michigan as a whole, he said. Lowell, Kalamazoo and Big Rapids will all open next year, but I would say the coolest thing about Big Rapids and Western Michigan as a whole is one, I think, is the amazing community." As well as connecting with the local community, Frakes said he is looking forward to having his three directors running the industry: Molly McFadden, director of retail operations; Ashley Hubbard, director of cultivation; and Marley Hodson, director of procession and extraction. They are amazingly intelligent, and I think they are incredibly insightful," Frakes said. "They teach me every day, and they are helping take this company and this industry to where its supposed to be." To stay up to date with the business, visit rairsystems.com. Were really excited to become the brand of Western Michigan, he said. Im hopeful that well become the go-to company, and by growing our business successfully, thats going to really allow us to give back to the communities where were participating in, and have a positive impact. When there are seismic shifts in the economy, the companies that will triumph are those that can get ahead of social and economic change rather than be beaten by it. And that is why the John Lewis Partnership should be a beacon for other enterprises faced with a massive challenge. For some firms, obviously the US high-tech giants, the past few months have been one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to stride even further ahead. Adapting to the crisis: John Lewis is looking at converting empty shops into housing Amazon has just reported that its revenues are up 40 per cent in the second quarter. For a giant company, that scale of boom is off the charts. It is getting five years of natural growth in a couple of months. It is not alone. In the space of a few hours Amazon, Facebook, Apple, and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, all beat Wall Street's estimates of their earnings. Their shares duly shot up. But if you are in a business that by its very nature has benefited from the impact of the coronavirus, then that is what happens. If you run department stores and supermarkets in British cities, as John Lewis and Waitrose do, it is very different. This is not about coping with a boom. It is about survival. That is why what they are doing is a beacon for other businesses. I confess to being an admirer of the Partnership, partly because it is the most successful employee-owned business in the land, but more because of its service and quality. You know the joke that if you get an early warning of some impending disaster, get to your nearest John Lewis because nothing bad ever happens there. Well, something very bad indeed has happened to high street retailing and the company has already announced that eight out of its 50 department stores are going to close. We have now got some details of what, under its new chair, Dame Sharon White, it plans to do with the space. Firms must be prepared to change if they are to triumph It will be used for private and affordable housing. More and more of the business will be pushed online, with the John Lewis department stores expecting to generate up to 60 per cent that way, and Waitrose up to 20 per cent. This is naturally devastating for the partners who will be made redundant. Nothing can take away the pain of that. All credit to its people who have come up with ideas for expansion, including a move into horticulture. But the main message here is that we can be confident that the group will survive, not something than can be said about some other retailers. So it is always better to assume that the changes will be greater than most people expect and plan for that, because you can always row back later. There is a general example of this now in the shift to online working. We have no idea whether it will be viable in the long term for businesses to have a majority of staff working from home. NatWest plans for 49,000 of its 65,000 people to carry on working from home until next year A lot of employees like it, or say they like it, but what works for a few months does not necessarily work for years. If staff are used to working together they can carry on doing so. But how do you build morale, train new recruits, give a business drive? NatWest plans for 49,000 of its 65,000 people to carry on working from home until next year. Barclays also has many staff home-working, but wants to get people back to the office. Its chief executive, Jes Staley, explained: 'We want our people back together, to make sure we ensure the evolution of our culture and our controls, and I think that will happen over time.' That must surely be right. Culture and control are two key elements in every business and both can go dreadfully wrong. The banking industry can give us plenty of examples of that. But the chances of something not being picked up are surely even greater if your people aren't in the office and you can't see what they are doing. It is easy to see the winners from these searing changes to all of our lives. It is easy to spot the losers too. I am afraid it will take years for travel and tourism to recover. The hard thing to judge is how well companies in the middle neither obvious winners nor obvious losers are coping. But as a general rule it is those that make the radical, often painful, decisions early that will end up stronger. And those that wait, like Charles Dickens' Mr Micawber, for something to turn up, will find that it doesn't or at least not in time to save them. Hundreds of hectares of woodland around the city of L'Aquila remained ablaze on Sunday in the eastern Italian region of Abruzzo. Sunday marks the third day the fires, set alight by an act of arson, have been burning. L'Aquila's Mayor released a statement on his Facebook page detailing that 4 Canadair aircraft, 3 helicopters and more than 150 people, including firefighters, civil protection volunteers, and Alpine troops, have been involved in trying to put out the fires. Firefighters are also using drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to locate the origin of the fires. Rachel Gorlin, a Capitol Hill veteran who became campaign press secretary for Rep. Les AuCoin, the Oregon Democrat who had tried to unseat Packwood in 1992, said that the revelations shook Congress. I dont think there was any woman or any man on Capitol Hill who was not aware of the fact that the issue of sexual harassment was public and it was no longer under wraps, Gorlin said. You are here: Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita on Saturday held a telephone conversation with his Italian counterpart Luigi Di Maio on Libyan crisis and bilateral relations. Di Maio expressed his country's "appreciation" for the contribution and role played by Morocco for the resolution of the Libyan crisis, a statement by the Moroccan Foreign Affairs ministry said. The talks also focused on the bilateral relations between Rabat and Rome, in the light of the Joint Declaration on the multidimensional strategic partnership signed on November 2019, it added. Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on its website that Di Maio reiterated in this phone call the importance of collaboration with Rabat so as to achieve a political solution of the ongoing crisis in Libya. Concerning the Libyan crisis, Italy is concerned with two priorities which are the achievement of a lasting cease-fire, and the rapid resumption of oil production, the statement added. Its still possible to find a job and get started on your career amid COVID-19. Photo: Getty Everyone has been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic in one way or another. But for students and those graduating amid the crisis, the outlook is particularly bleak. According to a survey of more than 2,500 university students and over 100 graduates by the careers site Milkround and Dig-In, three quarters (75%) feel that the ongoing situation around COVID-19 will heavily impact their future career prospects. Only 18% of students graduating this year have secured jobs and 60% of those are worried their position will be affected. Internships have also taken a hit too, with many being terminated because of the current circumstances. Its never easy to get on the career ladder, but its particularly challenging now. Current forecasts suggest the global recession triggered by COVID-19 will be the deepest since World War II. READ MORE: What is permalancing and what are the pros and cons? Although things are certainly difficult at the moment, its still possible to find a job and get started on your career. So what should you bear in mind if you are graduating soon or have finished your degree? Dont panic Of course, this is easier said than done. The job market might look very different at the moment, but some companies are still hiring. Firstly, dont panic. Employers are still working out their plans and they will be wanting to work with the students to help them through the assessment process, says Michele Trusolino, CEO and co-founder of Debut Careers. Employers will also be making sure that they over-communicate changes to the application process. Although many businesses have been forced to put recruitment drives on hold, the ISE has revealed only a quarter (27%) of companies will be recruiting fewer graduates this year which shows there is still demand. READ MORE: How to ace a pre-recorded interview Students should be reassured there are still various well-renowned companies looking for ambitious entry-level talent, to join their business and help deliver change. Most notably, the education, medical, accounting, IT and engineering, as well as the public sector are amongst the industries still continuing to hire, says Georgina Brazier, jobs expert at Milkround. Story continues Some sectors will be much harder hit than others. We know the travel industry is struggling, so there will be fewer graduate schemes and job openings. Use spare time to your advantage You may well have a little more time on your hands now, so using this productively can give you a real edge, Trusolino says. Use this time to think outside the box when it comes to working out what companies you want to work for. For example if you did finance, every industry requires people in finance, or if you did computer science, dont just limit yourself to tech. Research other sectors as there are some really exciting jobs out there. Keep applying for jobs It can feel futile when you know lots of other graduates are applying for positions too, but its important to keep sending out applications and working on your CV. Normality will resume and when it does, if you have made applications you will be ahead of the curve, Trusolino says. For summer placements, it would be worth investing a little more time to apply to a few extra and give yourself the best chance. Remember to stay optimistic. Prepare for online interviews Online and video interviews via Zoom and Skype are going to form a big part of companies hiring processes for the foreseeable future, so its worth bearing this in mind. READ MORE: Why sleeping on the job might not be a bad idea Online interviews require a slightly different approach than a face to face, says Trusolino. As with anything practice makes perfect. If you can take the time to have a run through with friends it will take away some of the nerves. Keep building your networks According to the UK tech job board CWJobs, business networking has thrived during the pandemic, with two-fifths (40%) of UK office workers having attended a virtual networking event during isolation. The most popular platforms Brits are using to grow and expand their network of contacts include Zoom (38%), Skype (35%) and even WhatsApp (32%). Networking can be overwhelming, but it can be really helpful. Speak to friends and family, friends of friends and more to find out who can help you. You never know when an opportunity will come up. Actor Anthony LaPaglia has described the woeful conditions of hotel quarantine after returning to Australia from America. Speaking to The Sunday Telegraph this week, the 61-year-old claimed the experience 'surprisingly punitive' in a less-than-pleasant review. 'No windows that opened at all for fresh air and a 15-minute walk every second day accompanied by a guard,' Anthony alleged. Conditions: Anthony LaPaglia, 61, (pictured) has revealed what hotel quarantine in Melbourne was REALLY like and called it 'surprising punitive' in an interview with The Sunday Telegraph Anthony claimed he needed to get a representative on the phone in order to get blood pressure medication, but was unable to do so. 'I'd had enough so I put my sneakers on and decided to get their attention by walking out of my room. The problem was resolved. Anthony explained he wanted to 'cut them a break' as it was at a stage when no one really understood the pandemic issue. He also considered the quarantine's vital. 'No windows that opened at all for fresh air and a 15-minute walk every second day accompanied by a guard': Anthony said of the experience earlier this year 'I don't want to criticise Melbourne too harshly as it was very early on in the pandemic,' the actor said respectfully. Anthony went on to explain he had a more positive experience during his second quarantine experience at the Novotel in Sydney's Olympic Park. The Without A Trace actor was forced to defend staff of the hotel following reports he was 'dumped' into quarantine. Balance: 'I don't want to criticise Melbourne too harshly as it was very early on in the pandemic,' the actor said respectfully. Pictured: June, 2017 The public has been at odds with a number of celebrities, with a July Sydney Morning Herald report suggesting there was a 'celebrity pecking order' with actress Nicole Kidman, 53, and Keith Urban, 52, granted special permission by the New South Wales Government to self-isolate at home. Dannii Minogue was also exempt from hotel quarantine in Queensland. After news of the exemptions made headlines, some Australians angrily suggested that COVID-19 travel restrictions only seem to affect ordinary people, and not the rich and famous. Positive: Anthony said second quarantine in Sydney was different, and a much more enjoyable experience. Pictured: Novotel hotel In pictures obtained by Daily Mail Australia, Keith, Nicole and their daughters Sunday, 12, and Faith, nine, appeared happy and relaxed as they walked through their Sutton Forest farm to their $6.5million mansion in the Southern Highlands last month. However, their freedom to head straight home following a long-haul flight from the U.S., where there have been four million confirmed COVID-19 cases, has divided many fans. One fumed on social media: 'If we all have to do it and no one is getting exemptions then EVERYONE should have to do it! And they wonder why people start breaking the rules.' Self-isolating at home: Meanwhile, Nicole Kidman, 53, and Keith Urban, 52, (both pictured in January 2020) skipped hotel quarantine in New South Wales, in favour of isolating in their $6.5million estate in the Southern Highlands last month Not impressed: 'This is SO wrong! First, bloody Dannii Minogue and now these two. Completely unfair and wrong!' one fan fumed on social media Another wrote: 'Two different sets of laws: one for the rich and powerful and one for the ordinary person.' However, many others pointed out that they didn't see a problem with it if the pair stayed at home for two weeks. One supporter wrote: 'This is right decision. They have their own property, why not? They both deserve a little credit for promoting Australia every day... Welcome home.' Despite being granted this exception, the pair still had to spend 14 days at home in accordance with Australia's coronavirus rules. According to the NSW Government website, people returning from overseas are only exempt from staying at a quarantine hotel if there are 'strong medical, health or compassionate grounds'. MELBOURNE, Australia - The premier of Australias hard-hit Victoria state has declared a disaster among sweeping new coronavirus restrictions across Melbourne and elsewhere from Sunday night. An evening curfew will be implemented across Melbourne from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Premier Daniel Andrews says the state of disaster proclamation gave police greater power. He says 671 new coronavirus cases had been detected since Saturday, including seven deaths. It comes among a steadily increasing toll in both deaths and infections over the past six weeks in Victoria. If we dont make these changes, were not going to get through this, Andrews said. We need to do more. That is what these decisions are about. He said there would be more announcements about workplaces on Monday, including the closure of certain industries. I want to ensure all Victorians supermarkets, the butcher, the baker, food, beverage, groceries, those types of settings there will be no impact there, he said. Melbourne residents will only be allowed to shop and exercise within 5 kilometres (3 miles) of their homes. All students across the state will return to home-based learning and child care centres will be closed. The deaths in Victoria took the national toll to 208. Also Sunday, New South Wales confirmed its first coronavirus-related death in more than a month as authorities sought to suppress a number of growing clusters at a hotel and several restaurants in Sydney. In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region: Indias coronavirus caseload crossed 1.75 million with another spike of 54,735 in the past 24 hours. The new cases are down from 57,118 on Saturday. The Health Ministry on Sunday also reported 853 deaths for a total of 37,364. Randeep Guleria, a top government expert, said that New Delhi and Mumbai may have crossed their peak levels with declining trends. The month of July alone has accounted for more than 1.1 million cases in India. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the case fatality rate is progressively reducing and currently stands at 2.18%, one of the lowest globally. Out of the total active cases, only 0.28% are on ventilators, 1.61% need intensive care support and 2.32% oxygen support. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah says he has tested positive for the coronavirus and is getting admitted to a hospital on the advice of doctors. Shah, 55, tweeted on Sunday that his health is fine and requested those who had come in his contact to isolate themselves and get tested. Shah is No. 2 in Prime Minister Narendra Modis government. He has been visiting hospitals and holding meetings with top officials as part of the governments massive efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19 infections in the country. Coronavirus infections in the Philippines surged past 100,000 Sunday after medical groups declared that the country was waging a losing battle against the virus and asked the president to reimpose a lockdown in the capital. The Department of Health reported a record-high daily tally of 5,032, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 103,185, including more than 2,000 deaths. The Philippines has the second-most cases in Southeast Asia after Indonesia. President Rodrigo Duterte eased a tough virus lockdown in the capital, Manila, on June 1. After shopping malls and workplaces were partially reopened and limited public transport was allowed, infections spiked sharply with increased virus testing. More than 50,000 infections were reported in less than four weeks. Confirmed coronavirus cases are hovering at near record levels in Japan, raising worries the pandemic may be growing more difficult to control. The Tokyo government reported 292 new cases Sunday, about half in their 20s. Japan in total reported 1,540 cases on Saturday the second straight day the number was above 1,500. Nationwide cases for Sunday will be tallied at midnight. Numbers are usually fewer over the weekend because of fewer tests. Japan has avoided a total lockdown, encouraging business activity while urging people to wear masks, social distance and work from home. Vietnam reported three more deaths from the coronavirus on Sunday, raising the countrys death toll to six, all in the last few days. The three women who died, aged 53, 84 and 85, were patients at a hospital in Da Nang, Vietnams most popular beach destination. An outbreak began at a Da Nang hospital a week ago and has spread to other parts of the country, including three of the largest cities, forcing authorities to reimpose virus restrictions. The health ministry also confirmed 32 new cases Sunday, including 16 in Da Nang and nine in neighbouring Quang Nam province. Local transmissions were also recorded in Ho Chi Minh City and Quang Ngai, as well as Dong Nai and Ha Nam provinces for the first time. All of the new cases were traced back to Da Nang. South Korea has reported 30 additional case of the coronavirus, most of them associated with international arrivals. The cases announced Sunday by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought the national tally to 14,366 with 301 deaths. The agency says eight of the newly confirmed cases were locally infected while the rest came from overseas. South Korea has recently seen an uptick in imported cases, many of them South Korean construction workers airlifted out of virus-ravaged Iraq and crew members of Russia-flagged cargo ships docked in local ports. Health authorities have said imported cases are less threatening as they continue to enforce two-week quarantines on all people arriving from abroad. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Heres a question doing the TV industry rounds: is the nasty tycoon on Sevens $10 million Sunday night drama Between Two Worlds based on Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes? Seven boss James Warburton. Credit:Illustration: John Shakespeare Nervous laughter from Seven insiders. "No, hes much too nice," jokes one. The official spin is that the character is an "amalgamation" of media moguls Kerry Packer, Rupert Murdoch and, yes, Stokes, who cant have been too fussed given he read the scripts before lending his support. And while the mega-budget drama underperformed in the ratings, Seven West chief executive James Warburton seems to be making some headway in reducing the networks monstrous $541.5 million debt. Covid-19 cases topped 18 million on Sunday, as the World Health Organization warned the pandemic would be lengthy and could lead to response fatigue. A strict curfew began in Melbourne as Australias Victoria state struggled with mounting cases , while infections in South Africa, the hardest-hit in African continent, topped half a million. Melbourne, the second-biggest city in Australia, banned people from moving more than five kilometres from home as the virus is infecting hundreds daily. Declaring a state of disaster, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said Melbourne would move to Stage 4 restrictions until September 13 given unacceptably high levels of community transmission. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage The harshest rules in Australia to date will see city residents face a curfew from 8 pm to 5 am for the next six weeks. Only those carrying out essential work, or seeking or providing care, will be allowed out. Six months after the UN health agency declared a global emergency, the novel coronavirus has killed more than 680,000 people. Even as South Africa accounted for more than half of diagnosed infections in Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the fatality rate is lower than the global average. Health authorities had been expecting a surge in cases after the gradual loosening of a strict lockdown that was imposed at the end of March. An emergency WHO committee reviewing the pandemic highlighted the anticipated lengthy duration of the outbreak, noting the importance of sustained community, national, regional, and global response efforts. WHO continues to assess the global risk level of Covid-19 to be very high, it said in its latest statement. The agency also said the effects of the pandemic will be felt for decades to come. Also read: Delhi logs 961 new Covid-19 infections, 15 more deaths take toll past 4,000-mark Mexico overtook Britain to become the third hardest hit country in virus deaths - after Brazil and the US- with more than 46,600 fatal cases. Although many Latin American countries have begun relaxing stay-at-home measures, the virus is still spreading quickly across much of the region, which has now recorded more than four million cases and almost 200,000 deaths. Half of them are in Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro said he believes nearly everyone will catch the virus eventually, after himself recovering from it. The US, the hardest-hit country in the world, has now tallied more than 4.6 million cases and 154,319 deaths. The outlook was bleak in Asia as well, where India and the Philippines reported record increases in new daily infections. The pandemic has spurred a race for a vaccine with several Chinese companies at the forefront, while Russia has set a target date of September to roll out its own medicine. Seven Chinese health officials were due to arrive in Hong Kong on Sunday, the first members of a 60-person team that will carry out widespread testing for Covid-19 in the territory as it races to halt a third wave of illness. Chinas National Health Commission on Saturday announced their scheduled arrival. Some local residents fear China may use this as an excuse to collect DNA samples for surveillance purposes. Iran, battling the Middle Easts deadliest outbreak, on Sunday also reported its highest single-day infection count in nearly a month. Health ministry said 2,685 more people had tested positive in the past 24 hours. Scientists study cases in minks in Europe outbreaks at mink farms in Spain and the Netherlands have scientists digging into how the animals got infected and if they can spread it to people. Authorities have killed more than 1 million minks at breeding farms in both countries as a precaution. The outbreaks among the minks on the farms in the Netherlands and Spain likely started with infected workers, although officials arent certain. But it also is plausible that some workers later caught the virus back from the minks. Scientists are exploring whether that was the case and how much of a threat such a spread might be. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The pandemic has been particularly tough on new au pairs. Theyve had to adjust to their host families with little space. Yilin Gu, who uses the name Erin with English speakers, is 26 and from Tongxiang, a city in the south of China near Shanghai. In March she moved in with a family in Dallas, with two boys, 5 and 2. The house was crowded. The former au pair, also from China, was still living there because of travel restrictions. The youngest son kept asking for her instead of Ms. Gu, especially in the mornings. There was also a live-in grandmother who loved to chatter, Ms. Gu said. When Im taking care of the kids, she starts telling me the kids need to drink milk, milk, milk, and that those chicken nuggets arent healthy. Ms. Gu thought about returning to China, something friends were doing, especially because the pandemic is under better control there. But she decided against it. I want to explore the cities and learn the culture and perfect my English, she said. If I stopped my journey now, I would feel I didnt finish my purpose. I would have regret. She moved into a hotel to await her next assignment, putting a profile up on her agencys website and interviewing with interested host families. For me its not weird being in a hotel alone, she said. Its less stressful than being in a house. In early June she flew to New York City to start her work with a new host family. CLEVELAND -- Larry Householder is the second recent speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, after Cliff Rosenberger, to be accused or suspected of corruption. But they are not the only Ohio elected officials to get in trouble with the law. Remember, for instance, the late Jim Traficant and Jimmy Dimora. Do you sense a pattern? But whatever happens to Householder and Rosenberger, Ohio will have to go some to rank as the most corrupt state in the union. Consider New York, where former Speaker Sheldon Silver was sentenced recently to nearly seven years in prison for taking illegal payments from real estate developers and a researcher. Silver is only the most recent New York politician to get into legal trouble. Senate leader Dean Skelos was convicted of bribery and extortion. And there was U.S. Rep. Anthony Weiner, the serial sexter. Other New York officials left office under a cloud. Skelos predecessor, Joseph Bruno, had his conviction for mail and wire fraud overturned on appeal. Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned and later admitted he had patronized a high-class escort service. And his successor, David Paterson, was suspected of (but never charged with) witness tampering on behalf of a staff member. Paterson later was fined for unrelated ethics violations. These are just modern examples. They hardly compare with Boss Tweed and Jimmy Walker, legendary New York grafters of yore. Then there is Massachusetts, where three consecutive House speakers got busted between 1996 and 2011. Charles Flaherty pleaded guilty to tax evasion, Thomas Finneran pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, and Salvatore DiMasi was convicted of mail and wire fraud. Those three continued a tradition: Speaker John (Iron Duke) Thompson was indicted in 1964 but died before he could go to trial. One of his predecessors who was indicted at the same time later had his charges dismissed. Jonathan L. Entin is professor emeritus of law at Case Western Reserve University. The Bay State has had its share of other corrupt politicians. In 1962, State Rep. Charles Iannello was re-elected while serving time for taking graft. Iannellos win was not unique: In 1904, Boston City Councilor James Michael Curley accomplished the same feat. Forty years later, Curley won a fourth term as mayor while under indictment for mail fraud; he was later convicted and imprisoned. Add the Massachusetts governors Executive Council, which approves gubernatorial appointments and state contracts: Members of that body have been known to take the opportunities they see. Around the time Iannello got re-elected from jail, four of the councils eight members were either behind bars or under indictment. Finally, consider Illinois. Four governors or former governors have gone to prison. Otto Kerner was convicted of several charges in connection with a racing scandal. Daniel Walker took fraudulent bank loans. George Ryan took bribes for issuing truck drivers licenses. And Rod Blagojevich tried to sell Barack Obamas Senate seat. There are many more examples, notably Illinois Secretary of State Paul Powell, who had more than $800,000 (over $5 million today) hidden in a hotel room when he died in 1970. Still, Ohioans have no reason for complacency. One recent study ranks the Buckeye State eighth highest in public corruption. That makes us less crooked than Illinois and New York but sleazier than Massachusetts. But lets not discount the scandal that is now unfolding in Columbus. The $60 million scheme described in the charges against Householder and his co-defendants far exceeds any of the shenanigans in New York, Massachusetts, or Illinois. Based on the reactions of state officials, this scandal might have more impact than any of the smaller ones elsewhere. Lets hope so, anyway. Jonathan L. Entin is professor emeritus of law at Case Western Reserve University. He has written extensively about the law and politics of the regulatory process. Editors note: This op-ed was updated Aug. 5 to clarify the charges for which Otto Kerner was convicted following an appellate court ruling in his case. 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 on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. Emily Strasser's grandfather George Strasser died before she was born On August 6, 2015, I knelt on the banks of the Motoyasu River in Hiroshima, Japan and floated a paper lantern on the dark water. Following the current, it joined the stream of thousands of others, decorated with hand-drawn peace signs, flowers, globes, and prayers for peace in many languages, flowing past the skeletal ruins of the iconic A-bomb Dome and under the Aioi Bridge, which had served as the target for the atomic bomb, 70 years before. On the night of August 6, 1945, victims of the bombing gathered by that same river in numb shock and horror as their city burned around them. They took refuge in the water, hoping to soothe their wounds. Some peoples skin hung in strips or slipped off in sheets. The dead floated beside the living. Many of the injured cried out for water. Still, many survivors later remembered the eerie quiet of that night. Before setting my lantern in the water, I slid a photograph of my grandfather into the corner where the wood met paper. It flickered ghost-like in front of the candle flame. I wanted him to bear witness to what I dont think he had ever fully faced in his lifetime: that his work in a top secret laboratory in the southeastern United States had contributed to this atrocity. Oak Ridge, Tennessee, codenamed Site X, was a secret city built by the Manhattan Project to house the production facilities and workers needed to enrich the uranium ultimately bound for the Hiroshima bomb. As a mid-level chemist, my grandfather, George Strasser, was likely not told the ultimate purpose of his work for security reasons. He died before I was born, so I could never ask him. I vividly remember a photograph hanging in my grandmothers house when I was a child, showing my grandfather standing in front of a mushroom cloud. At the time I didnt understand what it meant, but it launched a lifelong interest in his involvement in the nuclear bomb. As I came to understand the significance of the photo, I was haunted to know that he played a part in the horror released in Hiroshima, taking an estimated 80,000 lives in the force of a single explosion, and hundreds of thousands in the days, weeks, months, and years after, as the radiation ran its course through the bodies of those who had been there that day. Story continues The bomb took an estimated 80,000 lives in the force of a single explosion - STANLEY TROUTMAN/AP My trip to Hiroshima was the culmination of years of grappling with this history, trying to understand my grandfather and the legacy of his work. Even after Hiroshima, he chose to continue a career in nuclear weapons production. His rapid climb was halted when his mental health began spiraling in the 1960s. He spent nearly a decade in and out of psychiatric hospitals, alcoholic and suicidal, and was finally medically retired, declared totally and permanently disabled by his psychiatrist. Part of my journey has been trying to understand how his work contributed to his unraveling. Ive spent several months of the pandemic quarantined on land outside Oak Ridge that was once my grandfathers farm. As I watched spring, then summer, roll in on this beautiful land bought with nuclear weapons money, I thought about his contradictions how he built bombs and planted trees, how he found his way off the farm and built a middle-class life for his family by making weapons of mass destruction. As we approach Thursdays 75th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Ive been revisiting the history of the bomb through the story of another man: Leo Szilard. A Hungarian physicist and Jewish refugee from Nazi Germany, Szilard was both responsible for the bombs existence and ultimately opposed to its use. In a moment of terrible inspiration while crossing a London street in 1933, Szilard first conceived the idea of a nuclear chain reaction that could make an atomic bomb possible. Then, afraid of such a weapon in Nazi hands, he convinced Albert Einstein to write to President Roosevelt urging him to counter the Nazi threat by building an American bomb first. That programme became the Manhattan Project. After Germanys defeat, Szilard did everything he could to try to stop the bomb from being used, attempting to influence military leaders, and recruiting 155 Manhattan Project scientists to sign a petition urging President Truman to consider the grave moral implications and dangerous precedent of using the bomb. But it never reached the President. George Strasser with his children, Kurt, Dale and Nell in 1965 Id always thought of Szilard as a sort of tragic hero, whose good intentions to curb Nazi power unleashed a nightmare he couldnt stop. Even afterwards, Szilard continued to fight to ensure that the weapon hed dreamed into existence would not be the end of humanity, advocating for international arms control and nuclear truth-telling. He was a rare mix of genius, imagination, and conscience, a man willing to take responsibility for the consequences of his work. In many ways, I wish grandfather had been more like him. In my research, I hoped to find a moment of protest or moral reckoning. But he was a man who accepted a culture of secrecy designed to quell conscience and dissent. He followed directives from above. He did his job. And yet, there is one story that suggests he did, in the end, question the work hed built his life on. My mother, an anti-nuclear activist, met my fathers father only once, with some friends who werent so concerned with gaining Georges approval. They peppered him with direct questions about the morality of nuclear weapons and he answered, without hesitation, that no nation, not even the US, should possess them: we should disarm, he said, even if we did so unilaterally. My mother was stunned. It was a radical position for the time, especially for someone from within the nuclear weapons industry. Im relieved to know that my grandfather faced, at least for a moment, the moral implications of his work, but Im disappointed, even angry, that he didnt speak up sooner, and publicly. Emily Strasser His misgivings, instead, were turned inwards. In July 1983, the same summer that George met my mother, a congressional hearing was held in Oak Ridge to address the revelation that, decades earlier, the production of fuel for hydrogen bombs had leaked massive amounts of mercury into the local environment. My grandfather had overseen that process; one of his former psychiatrists told me hed been tortured by guilt for his part in contaminating his home, the place hed raised his children. George died of a heart attack six months after the hearing. Seventy-five years ago, my country unleashed the bomb on the world. I dont think weve ever fully reckoned with that legacy. Today, the United States has an estimated 3,800 nuclear weapons in its military stockpiles; the world has more than 13,000, according to the Federation of American Scientists. The Doomsday Clock was designed by former Manhattan Project scientists to communicate the existential threat of nuclear weapons to the world. Every year since 1947, experts have met to determine how many minutes to nuclear midnight we are. Since 2006, theyve included climate change in their considerations. At the beginning of this year, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists Science and Security Board moved the minute-hand to 100 seconds to midnight, the closest its ever been to apocalypse, citing the weakening and ending of arms control treaties by global leaders, the increasingly dire threat of climate change, and the cyberwarfare that impedes the international response to these existential threats. Our very survival depends on how boldly we can change course. The Bomb is available as a podcast on BBC Sounds and starts on the BBC World Service today at 7pm. Restating that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy requires the advancement of all regions by decentralization, YSRCP has denounced Chandrababu Naidu for attempting to encourage commercial enterprise by concentrating growth at Amaravati only. Lokesh Reiterating that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy wants development of all regions through decentralisation, YSRCP has slammed Chandrababu Naidu for trying to promote commercial activity by concentrating development only at Amaravati. Speaking to media at separate venues, they said that TDP leadership has no moral right to talk on the capital issue as it planned to create wealth for a few and in one region while depriving others of any benefit and demeaning the institutions of Governor and Legislative Council. Minister for Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Seediri Appalaraju said that the previous government made Amaravati into a commercial venture to benefit the coterie of leadership. The previous government made a tall claim of initially requiring Rs one lakh crores for capital but had spent only Rs 10,000 crore on Amaravati. The Minister criticized Naidu ignoring recommendations of Sivarama Krishnan Committee, that suggested decentralisation. The committee did not favour a single large capital city with a concentration of legislature, judiciary and executive at one place as a feasible option and opposed building a capital city in Amaravati, between Vijayawada and Guntur, as the land was fertile. Instead, the committee suggested decentralisation to avoid an imbalance of development in the State and hence Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy brought this decentralisation of capitals after appointing three committees, all suggesting decentralisation. The Minister said that the opposition TDP leaders tried to stall the Bills in Legislative Council and even went to the extent of holding the Appropriation Bill for salaries. People have witnessed all the political stunts played by the Opposition creating hurdles in the path of development. Minister S Appalaraju said that Chandrababu Naidu completed Pattiseema in one year to draw water for Amaravati region from the right canal of Polavaram but did not touch the left canal which benefits north coastal Andhra. Chief Minister YSJagan Mohan Reddy, who took interest and sanctioned Rs 2022 Crore for the project. Decentralisation of development is the only panacea for backwardness, underdevelopment, and inequality pervading across the State and public wont fall for the words of Chandrababu. Minister for Agriculture, Kurasala Kannababu hit hard on the opposition leaders for finding fault with the Governor in approving the two Bills passed by the Assembly. The Minister asked why Naidu was opposing the executive capital in Visakhapatnam, which is a developed city next to Hyderabad having all the natural resources. Naidu wants capital in Amaravati only to serve the real estate business of his cohorts. The Minister came down heavily on Naidu for claiming that capital in Amaravati was opposed to downgrading a particular caste and asked why Naidu was opposed to lands being given to the poor in Amravati. He questioned Naidu whether the people of that caste were not well established in Vizag? He said it was a monumental decision taken by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for decentralisation which would bring about the all-round development of the state. Meanwhile, senior YSRCP leader and MLA Dharmana Prasada Rao said decentralisation of administration by bringing about three capitals is a novel initiative by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for the development of all regions. The new Bill of having three capitals will stem the possibility of taking up an agitation like that of the Telangana issue. He said people have already realised the benefit of having village secretariats which was the first step in the decentralisation process of administration for better outreach. This has been made possible only due to the strong conviction of Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. MLA Gudivawada Amarnath said that Visakhapatnam has the potential to be the capital and the decentralised administration will result in equitable development of all the regions. People of the state, especially North Andhra and the Rayalaseema region, have recognised the concerns of CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy towards them and are pretty confident that his vision will bring back glory to all regions. Meanwhile, MLA Jogi Ramesh said that any amount of mudslinging by Naidu cannot stop the decentralisation process set in by the Chief Minister. He challenged Naidu to make his 23 MLAs resign and go to polls and said the TDP would not even win a single seat. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ The Buffalo Bills will not have cornerback E.J. Gaines in 2020. Bills GM Brandon Beane announced the news during a conference with the media on Sunday. Gaines is the second member of the Bills to opt out on the 2020 season joining defensive tackle Star Lotulelei. Gaines, 28, was expected to compete for a depth role in Buffalos secondary in his third stint with the team. Gaines originally signed with the Bills in 2017. He started 11 games that season and played well. The cornerback recorded 59 total tackles, one interception and nine passes defensed. When Gaines started, the Bills went 8-3 that season. Groin and hamstring injuries shortened his first campaign. After a one-year stint in Cleveland, Gaines signed with the Bills ahead of the 2019 season. A groin injury during training camp ended his season before it ever began as the team placed him on the IR. He re-signed with Buffalo in late March and was expected to provide depth behind the likes of TreDavious White, Levi Wallace, Josh Norman and Taron Johnson. That role is now open for the taking. READ MORE ON THE BILLS AFC East Roundup: Jets star LB CJ Mosley opts out, Dion Dawkins talks contract, Pats lose WR Buffalo Bills flash briefing (7/31/20): Jon Feliciano has surgery, out 8-12 weeks 5 options for Buffalo Bills to replace Jon Feliciano at right guard Buffalo Bills OL Jon Feliciano undergoes surgery to repair torn pectoral muscle Bills now at 5 players on Reserve/Covid 19 list, add S Siran Neal, CB Dane Jackson Nigeria and the rest of the world continue to battle the coronavirus pandemic which has infected over 18 million people and caused at least 689,075 deaths worldwide. Nigeria has recorded over 43,000 cases and over 850 deaths. The pandemic has disrupted human activities and plans and overshadowed other health issues across the world, such as the World Hepatitis Day celebrated on July 28. Here is a round-up of some of the health stories which made headlines in the week. Coronavirus: Nigeria records lowest number of cases in two weeks Nigeria recorded its lowest number of confirmed coronavirus infections in at least two weeks with 386 new infections announced on Saturday. The new figures brought the number of infections in Africas most populous country to 43, 537, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The latest update was slightly lower than the 462 cases recorded on Friday and the 481 on Thursday. Despite the slight decrease in the past three days, Nigeria still had an average of 500 cases per day in the past two weeks. Over 20 million Nigerians infected with hepatitis Minister About 20 million Nigerian are chronically infected with hepatitis B and C, the minister of health, Osagie Ehanire, said on Tuesday. Mr Ehanire, while speaking at the World Health Organization (WHO) virtual high-level commemoration of World Hepatitis Day, said viral hepatitis B and C is endemic in the country. In 2018, Nigeria conducted a National AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey which showed a prevalence of 8.1 per cent for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) and 1.1 per cent for Hepatitis C (HCV). We can estimate that about 20 million people are chronically infected, he said. World Hepatitis Day: Poor awareness threatens Nigerias battle to eliminate disease At least 30 Nigerians interviewed by PREMIUM TIMES on Monday did not know some of the common symptoms of hepatitis, which include abdominal pain and fatigue. Some have been screened for the disease but do not know there is a vaccine that can protect them against the viral infection. Many victims of the disease have not been lucky to detect it early. Most times, the disease is diagnosed at a late stage or after it has caused other damages to their bodies, especially the liver. HEALTH: Malaria deaths could surge due to COVID-19 if not checked Nigerian govt The National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) has warned that malaria deaths could double in Sub-Saharan Africa by the end of 2020 if prevention and treatment interruptions due to COVID-19 continue. The NMEP National Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Health, Audu Mohammed, who gave the warning, said there had been a reduction in malaria prevalence from 42 per cent to 23 per cent according to an NDHS research in 2018. But he fears that the COVID-19 outbreak has jeopardised the progress made and caused a fall in the 38 per cent reduction of mortality rates already achieved in 2018. FG rejects Reps move to establish Cancer Registry The Federal Government has rejected a House of Representatives Bill seeking to establish a Cancer Registry in Nigeria to provide for compilations of statistics record to the incidence of cancer and give a basis for research and treatment. The Minister for Health, Osagie Ehanire, who disclosed this in Abuja while speaking during a public hearing by the House Committee on Health Services chaired by Tanko Sununu on three critical health bills, noted that the functions of the proposed Registry is already been carried out by Territory health institutions and the Nigeria Institute for Medical Research. One-third of global children population poisoned by lead Study About one-third of children in the world are affected by lead poisoning, a new study has shown. The study carried out by United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and Pure Earth, an international non-profit organisation focused on pollution issues, shows that lead poisoning is affecting children on a massive and previously unknown scale. According to the study, which is the first of its kind, nearly half of these children live in South Asia COVID-19 Response: FG receives 2nd batch medical supplies of UN Basket Fund The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, joined other stakeholders to receive 2nd Batch Medical Supplies purchased with UN Basket Fund for COVID-19 Response on behalf of the Federal Government. Advertisements Olujimi Oyetomi, Director, Information, Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, said this in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja. Mre Oyetomi said Mr Ehanire joined the National Coordinator, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Sani Aliyu, at the Cargo Section of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to receive the medical supplies from EU contributions worth N26 billion. Feature: Giving hope to pregnant COVID-19 patients: LUTH in giant strides With an estimated 6.4 million babies to be born in Nigeria during the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many expectant women who should be glad at the figure have rather become apprehensive. The figure released by the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) shows that the babies will be born up to 40 weeks from March 11, when COVID-19 was recognised as a pandemic. Although, the World Health Organisation (WHO) maintains that, at present, there is no evidence that pregnant women are at higher risk of severe illness than the general population, pregnant women in Nigeria are bothered about bringing life during a pandemic, considering the associated risks, strained healthcare and fear of infection. Before the outbreak of COVID-19, high-quality and timely maternal healthcare services were deficient, inaccessible or not affordable for thousands of women in Nigeria, a factor that contributes to maternal mortality in the country. Trafficking heightens spread of STI, HIV UNFPA Trafficking in persons has been identified as one of the major factors capable of heightening the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV infections globally. Natalia Kanem, Executive Director, UN Population Fund (UNFPA), said this in a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja by Kori Habib, Media Associate, UNFPA. Ms Kanem said that traffickers preyed on the poor and the vulnerable, binding them in unspeakable conditions where every human right was violated. She decried the cruel manner in which traffickers wielded physical and psychological violence, drugs, and sexual abuse as weapons to control their victims especially women and girls. Kano govt distributes 2 million face masks to drivers, students The Kano State Government has distributed over two million face masks to various groups in the state, in an effort to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The distribution of the face masks was flagged off by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. Mr Ganduje said the National Association of Transport Owners (NARTO), the National Union of Transport Workers (NURTW), student unions and market associations, among others, will benefit from the exercise. He noted that the state government had made the wearing of face mask compulsory in public places across the state. Pierre Gasly says he also asked Red Bull for a more experienced race engineer before he was dropped mid last year. The pressure on Gasly's successor, Alex Albon, is continuing to rise, amid rumours Sebastian Vettel is pushing hard for the 2021 seat alongside Max Verstappen. For Silverstone, Red Bull relegated Albon's existing race engineer to the factory, replacing him with the more experienced Simon Rennie, who won races in collaboration with Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo. "Apparently Red Bull is doing that because they think it's the right thing to do," Gasly is quoted by the Dutch publication Formule 1 at Silverstone. Gasly confirmed that, prior to his demotion to Toro Rosso-Alpha Tauri last year, he asked Red Bull for a more experienced engineer. "To be honest, yes, I did," said the Frenchman. "I had only been in Formula 1 for a year, so I had little experience. I knew I was fast, but I would have liked someone next to me who was more experienced. Someone who, unlike me, was not new to Formula 1. "That made it more difficult for me," Gasly continued, "although there were more reasons why we weren't as competitive as we hoped. "I know those reasons, and so does Red Bull. We both know that things could have been better, but that is now a thing of the past," he added. Gasly insists that he is happy with his current seat, and therefore does not envy the under-pressure Albon. "As a driver, I am probably more satisfied with where I am now, because I am able to get the best out of myself. But I am not a different person," he said. As for Albon, he concluded: "I don't know why Alex is struggling, but in four races, I was ahead of him twice in a slower car." (GMM) Babar Ali, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) panchayat-level leader, was murdered allegedly by his rivals in the party, in the Beliatore area of Bengals Bankura district on Saturday night. Local TMC leaders accused Rahim Mondal, husband of the head of the local panchayat who switched over from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and said Left supporters had masterminded the violence. Ali, the former head of the panchayat, was hacked to death after he suffered bomb injuries. While police detained five people till Sunday afternoon, Amiya Patra, CPI(M) state secretariat member representing the district, said his party was not involved in any way and the violence was the fallout of internal feud in the TMC. Shyamal Santra, TMC district president said, Police are probing the violence and the real culprits will surely be rounded up. In similar violence in South 24 Parganas district, Muhammad Sheikh and Shahrukh Sheikh sustained bullet injuries in a clash between two groups of TMC workers in the Basanti area. Additional superintendent of police Indrajit Basu said raids were being conducted and the injured had been admitted in hospital. There were two incidents of violence in West Midnapore district. Five people were injured when some men hurled bombs at the house of a Bharatiya Janata Party worker in the Mohanpur area while a local TMC leader was attacked in Ghatal. The injuries were not critical and raids were on, said local police at both these places. The chief minister said on twitter that he has been recommended hospitalisation Karnataka CM Yediyurappa tests positive for COVID-19 New Delhi: Karnataka chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Sunday said he has tested positive for COVID-19. "I have tested positive for coronavirus. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on the recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with me recently to be observant and exercise self quarantine," the veteran BJP leader wrote on Twitter. AJs Press is a local, family-owned business in Longwood, Florida serving warm pressed sandwiches, soups, pressed breakfast sandwiches, bowls, and great coffee. July marks 3 years of being open and serving delicious food to our community. From walking in, youll be greeted with smiles and the smell of tasty food thatll make you drool at a safe 6+ feet away. Dont worry, youll catch that drool in your mask because its a must to keep yourself and others safe in a scary time like this. AJs Press offers breakfast dishes theyll serve all day. If breakfast items arent your cup of tea, there are many other dishes for you to order. Their sandwiches are made with slow roasted meats, and fresh Bolillo and Telera breads to bind all the flavors together to form a unique take on sandwiches and food. Any of the sandwiches ordered as a regular size is pressed on a locally baked, fresh Bolillo roll, but it can be pressed on a locally baked, fresh Bolillo roll if youre hungry because the second option is 50% larger than the regular sandwich size. While you make up your mind, do yourself a favor and order 6 Jalapeno Bacon Hush Puppies as a starter. Trust me, you wont regret it. It comes with a sauce that youll love forever. Order extra of that sauce the puppies come with. Dont freight, you can get an entire jar of the sauces they offer! What are you going to do with an entire jar of sauce, you ask? Buy more hush puppies to enjoy it with of course. Or to get sandwiches to dip into the sauce. One of my new favorite sandwiches has to be the Crunchy Chicken, which includes sweet and tangy chili sauce, Jack cheese, tomato, and arugula. Shout out to Sydney for recommending this to me. Another favorite of the AJs Press family is this Beer Braised Brisket. It includes full-flavored pulled brisket, Jack cheese, pickled jalapeno, cilantro sour cream, house made salsa, and arugula. This has to be my second favorite. Usually I am a massive fan of brisket, but I cant get that Crunchy Chicken sandwich off my mind. AJs Cuban is also a twist of the original Cuban sandwich. At AJs Press, they use freshly sliced smokehouse pit style ham, Cantimpalo chorizo, slow roasted pork, Jack cheese, mustard, mayo, and pickle. That chorizo adds a nice touch to their twist of a Cuban sandwich. I say add 5 slices on there. I cant get enough of chorizo. Be sure to leave room for some desserts like Sydneys fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and her rice krispie treats. Sydney made cookies one day and now she cant stop because we all love her cookies so much. Gotta meet the demand of delicious cookies, Sydney. For more information, check out AJs Press yourself and grab some magnets for your fridge as well as to share with others. Anand Teltumbdes family is anxiously awaiting his test results. The high court directed the state to inform the family on 1 August. When Monali Raut spoke to her imprisoned brother Mahesh last week, it got her a bit worried. He said almost half the prisoners in Taloja Central Prison have been suffering from flu, cough or cold in the past week, she said. Mahesh himself had fever for two days, and he suffered from dysentery as well. He has never complained about his health over the past two years. This is the first time he mentioned his health in the two-minute call that we had. Mahesh Raut, an activist based in Gadchiroli, is one of the 12 political prisoners arrested in the controversial Bhima Koregaon-Elgaar Parishad case. Arrested in 2018, Raut is booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He is accused of plotting the assassination of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while having links with banned Maoist outfits. The other 11 include writer Sudhir Dhawale, professor Shoma Sen, advocates Surendra Gadling, Arun Ferreira and Sudha Bharadwaj, poet Varavara Rao, activist Vernon Gonsalves, prisoners rights activist Rona Wilson, scholar Anand Teltumbde, activist Gautam Navalakha, and the latest being professor Hany Babu. Critics say the charges against them are politically motivated as they all have a reputation of speaking up for the deprived sections of the society. The nine men except Rao are lodged in Taloja prison in the outskirts of Mumbai. The two women are at Bycullas women's prison. The family members and lawyers have been worried about their well-being in context of the coronavirus. Mahesh wanted to get his test done but was refused, said Monali. We have been a bit worried since Rao tested positive. It is getting difficult with so many inmates suffering from fever. At least two others in touch with inmates at Taloja requesting anonymity have corroborated the claim of inmates suffering from fever. There are 2,201 inmates in Taloja as of 28 July more than its official capacity of 2,124, which in itself becomes fertile ground for the spread of coronavirus. If half the inmates are suffering from fever-like symptoms in Taloja, that number comes to about 1,000. To preserve the rights of inmates and draw attention to the conditions of prisons in Maharashtra, Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) had filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court. It was dismissed on 2 July, but not before forcing the prison authorities to make some important concessions around protecting the prisoners during the pandemic. The high court directed prison authorities to conduct random testing in jails as well, after the state rejected the demand of testing all inmates. But with close to 1,000 inmates suffering from fever, cough and cold in Taloja, only 20 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in the prison up to 28 July. Most of those 20 tests, too, came after Rao tested positive on 16 July. Of those 20, three have tested positive, and two of them have died, put up by the prison authorities on its website. On 1 August, three prison staff of Taloja reportedly tested positive. Jeryl Banait, doctor-activist based in Nagpur, said random testing is science. But if you are testing 20 people among the 1,000 showing symptoms, then it is on the lower side, he said. Even then, the number of tests in random sampling doesnt matter as much as the percentage of positive results. If three out of 20 have tested positive, it means 300 of 2,000 are positive and that is a big number. In Byculla Womens prison, where Bharadwaj and Sen are lodged, only one test has been conducted among the 257 inmates and that one inmate has tested positive for coronavirus. This, in spite of the high court directives of random testing. Therefore, family members and lawyers of political prisoners fear the assurances mentioned in the high court order are not being followed diligently. The state government had assured during the 2 July order that the prison authorities would inform the family members and relatives of the inmates upon their transfer to the temporary jails and/or quarantine/covid centres. When Rao was moved from Taloja to JJ Hospital in Mumbai on 13 July, his family learnt about it from the media. N Venugopal, Raos nephew, and a poet himself, said there was no official correspondence to the family from the prison authorities. Though it was mandatory to inform family about these developments, either government or jail, police, hospital authorities did not provide any official information to the family, he said. Raos family members have been writing letter after letter to the state and National Human Rights Commission, imploring for details on Raos health condition. Their 27 July letter said they have received no information about Raos health condition and treatment at Nanavati hospital for 12 days, and the only official communication they received was when Rao tested positive for covid19. Two days later, the family managed to get through to him via video conferencing, where, the family said, he appeared weak. Once an inmate tests positive, prison authorities are supposed to trace high-risk patients, identified as the ones who have been within three feet of the covid positive patient for 15 minutes. Mr Kurlekar, Superintendent, Taloja Central Prison, said they identified high risk inmates, and they all tested negative. Rao and Vernon were in the same cell, he said. Vernon has also tested negative. Teltumbdes family is anxiously awaiting his test results. The high court directed the state to inform the family on 1 August. Upon being asked what precautions are being taken to protect patients above 60, Kurlekar told this reporter to speak to his superiors. Inspector General of prisons and correctional services, Maharashtra, Sunil Ramanand, told this reporter to speak to the superintendent, and didnt respond after that. During the 2 July order, the court pointed out the state government has said that as far as possible, a separate arrangement shall be made inside the prison itself for inmates above 60 so that they do not come in contact with other inmates of lower age groups. That arrangement, in fact, could be counterproductive, for it merely segregates young from old and doesnt ensure social distancing. In other words, if one of the 60 plus inmates tests positive, it risks all the 60 plus inmates that are already vulnerable. On 15 June, Sunil Ramanand had submitted an affidavit to the high court that said, In order to manage COVID-19, the prisons need to be decongested to 2/3rd of its official capacity (for effective creation of quarantine wards). Hence the manageable prison population in the state of Maharashtra is 16,000. A decrease in the current prison population by almost 14,000 is needed. At two-thirds of the capacity, Taloja should ideally have 1,416 inmates not 2,210 inmates, making it difficult for the prison authorities to isolate vulnerable patients. But the decongestion process has not gone anywhere in Maharashtra. The state government had also agreed in court that all inmates above 60 would be medically examined to locate their comorbidities: Depending on the comorbid conditions, such inmates shall be further periodically checked as per the advice of the doctor and any deviation from the normal parameters must be treated immediately. But the treatment depends on the health facilities available at that point at the prison. And the family members and advocates of political prisoners are not too confident about the facilities at Taloja prison. On 12 July, Raos family held a frantic press conference imploring the authorities to shift him out of prison hospital because since June for over 40 days his health alarmingly deteriorated but he received no treatment. From inside the prison, Vernon had specifically told us that there is no treatment, said Pavana, Raos daughter. A legal expert in touch with inmates inside Taloja said the problem with what was accepted and submitted in the high court is that everything is left up to the discretion of prison authorities. If half the inmates are suffering from flu, we want to know what kind of a flu it is? the person asked. What are prison authorities doing to deal with it? There is no information coming from the Taloja prison or from the administration. When it comes to traumatic injuries, it's a race against time. A person with major hemorrhage can die from blood loss within minutes, so staunching the wound and getting them to a hospital as fast as possible is critical. Bleeding from the extremities can be slowed with compression but what about internal bleeding? In a hospital, internal bleeding can be controlled with the transfusion of clotting agents, such as platelets, but they require careful storage and refrigeration and can't be carried by first responders. As a result, the majority of people who succumb to traumatic injuries outside a hospital die from treatable hemorrhages. Now, researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), in collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Case Western Reserve University, report an injectable clotting agent that reduced blood loss by 97 percent in mice models. The freeze-dried agent, which has a physical consistency of cotton candy, can be stored at room temperature for several months and reconstituted in saline before injection. The research is published in Science Advances. Our goal was to give first responders a tool to stop internal bleeding that could be easily carried in a backpack or stored in an ambulance and, once injected intravenously in hemorrhagic patients, stop internal bleeding for a period long enough to get the patient to a hospital." Samir Mitragotri, Hiller Professor of Bioengineering and Hansjorg Wyss Professor of Biologically Inspired Engineering at SEAS and senior author of the study Mitragotri is also a Core Faculty member at Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. Mitragotri and his team developed a polymer-peptide conjugate called HAPPI (Hemostatic Agents via Polymer Peptide Interfusion) that can selectively bind to damaged blood vessels and activated platelets at the bleeding site. Circulating platelets are like the body's EMTs -- they are constantly surveying the body for wounds. When there is an injury to a blood vessel, the platelets get activated and attach themselves to the damaged vessel, causing a blood clot. HAPPI binds to these activated platelets and enhances their accumulation at a bleeding site. It can be injected anywhere in the body and still make its way to the wound. In mice models, HAPPI significantly lowered the bleeding time and bleeding volume of injuries. The researchers observed about a 99 percent reduction in bleeding time and a 97 percent reduction in blood loss. The researchers also found that for traumatic injuries, the injection of HAPPI increased the median survival rate beyond one hour -- a critical goal for trauma care. "A lot of trauma-related deaths happen within the first hour when blood loss is happening profusely and there is no intervention," said Yongsheng Gao, a postdoctoral research associate at SEAS and the co-first author of the paper. "A key objective for first responders is to keep trauma patients alive during this so-called golden hour and in that time bring them to a hospital because once they get to the hospital, it's a different game altogether." "With HAPPI, we sought to develop a safe and effective internal bandage," said Apoorva Sarode, a former graduate student at SEAS and the co-first author of the study. "We think that the simple design and scalable synthesis process of HAPPI will facilitate its seamless scale-up and translation to larger animal models, and eventually to the patients." Funding from Harvard's Blavatnik Biomedical Accelerator enabled the lab to advance and validate the technology in animal models. Going forward, the team aims to scale up the production of the materials and test it in larger animal models.. Harvard's Office of Technology Development has protected the intellectual property associated with this project and is exploring commercialization opportunities. The paper was co-authored by Anvay Ukidve and Zongmin Zhao from Harvard SEAS, Shihui Guo and Robert Flaumenhaft from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Anirban Sen Gupta from Case Western Reserve University, and Nikolaos Kokoroskos and Noelle Saillant from Massachusetts General Hospital. The research was supported by the National Institutes of Health under grant R01HL129179. 125 years ago 1895: The officials of Coconino County are now getting themselves their new quarters in our new $15,000 courthouse. The seats were moved in on Saturday, and then on Monday the contents of the various county offices were moved from the Babbitt building offices, where the offices of the county have been located. All the offices are on the first floor, the second floor is reached by wide, easy rising steps, and the courtroom is light and airy and is large enough for all courtroom purposes. E.S. Wilcox is now able to get around on crutches. G. E. G. Porter has been appointed Justice of the Peace and is in Prescott this week. L. W. Clancy has returned from California. The climate there did not agree with him. 100 years ago 1920: The contract for the paving of the National Old Trails -- for the slightly more than a mile it runs through the City of Flagstaff -- has been formally approved by city council. Al Baldwin, semi-proprietor of the O. K. rooming house at Williams, worked some of his Yale lock master pass keys at the BabbittPolson store at Williams just once too often when caught stealing on Monday night. He made the mistake of using his gun and is dead from the effect of the bullets Deputy Sheriff and County Ranger S. O. Thompson sent crashing through him just after Baldwin's bullet had narrowly missed. The store manager, Geo. Spellman, reported that someone had been systematically robbing his store. Captain E. M. Robinson of Battery A is much pleased at receiving notice from the War Department that equipment for a full war-strength battery has been ordered and shipped to Flagstaff. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hughes and their daughter, Ruth, returned from Mormon Lake on Thursday where they camped out and fished for two weeks. They caught a number of catfish and bass, and saw some rainbow trout that other fishermen had taken out of the lake. They say the fishing was good but what they had to say about the roads in southern Coconino County is not fit to print. 75 years ago 1945: Issues unavailable for this period of time. 50 years ago 1970: The Chamber of Commerce, along with city and county officials, have expressed dismay with the preliminary census figures that were released last month. They show that Flagstaff grew by only 900 persons in the last five years. Flagstaff District Manager Mrs. Jean Reynolds said the figures would be released and become official between this September and April 1971 Flagstaff is not alone in its protest. Neighboring and other northland cities, Williams and Prescott, are also expressing protest over the figures. 25 years ago 1995: After a weekend of dealing with erratic winds and steep cliffs, firefighters had the Bear Paw Fire that has charred 800 acres on the northeast face of the San Francisco Peaks contained. It was started by a neglected campfire. The Jacker Fire continues to burn in the Coconino National Forest in Jacks Canyon in the Munds Mountain Wilderness about 25 miles south of Flagstaff. The 12-acre fire is being monitored, as it is located on a rocky knoll and very hard to reach by foot. A helicopter has been dumping buckets of water, hoping to contain it, but if the flames leave the knoll then there are two crews standing by ready to fight. Council voted Yes for the rezoning for the Foxwood subdivision on Lake Mary Road. Opponents to the 160-lot development went home feeling slighted. The new development will include 30 homes priced at $100,000 or less. Homes in the rest of the development will cost between $110,000 and $120,000. All events were taken from issues of the Arizona Daily Sun and its predecessors, the Coconino Weekly Sun and the Coconino Sun. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 15 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) President Rodrigo Duterte may not attend the change of command ceremony of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Monday, according to the military. On Sunday, AFP spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said this was due to a "prior commitment". "Ang information that I got from the secretary (of the AFP) Joint Staff, meron daw prior commitment ang ating Pangulo kaya hindi siya personal na makakaattend. But we're not sure yet. He may be sending his (taped) message," he said. [Translation: The information that I got from the secretary of the AFP Joint Staff, is the President has a prior commitment so he will be unable to attend. But we're not sure yet. He may be sending his (taped) message.] If Duterte misses the event, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana will ipreside over the ceremony, the announcement also said. Army Chief LtGen Gilbert Gapay will take his post as the 54th AFP Chief of Staff, replacing Gen Felimon Santos Jr., who has reached his mandatory retirement age of 56. In a statement, the AFP also said it was scaling down Monday's ceremonies due to health protocols amid rising COVID-19 cases in the country. The President also missed last year's change of command ceremony because he has a slight fever, according to then spokesperson Salvador Panelo. Lorenzana took the reins for Duterte last year. Sher Bahadur Deuba to take oath as new Prime Minister of Nepal today Our friendship with India and China remains of 'paramount importance': Nepal at UN Why Nepals decision to send its new map to UN is a wasted exercise India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 02: The Nepal Government's decision to send its new map including Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura to the United Nations may not yield any results. Nepal to send the revised map with Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura to UN | Oneindia News First and foremost, the UN will not show any territories and areas claimed by Nepal as its territories. The UN prints its own maps and each one of them comes with a disclaimer. The UN on the maps printed by it says that the boundaries and names that are shown and the designations that have been used on this map do not imply the official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Nepal to send revised map with Indian territory to UN, Google Moreover the UN also does not use the maps of India, Pakistan or China that is claimed. It only goes by the administration of the areas. "We are soon delivering the revised map incorporating Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura to the international community," Nepali media quoted Minister for Land Management, Padma Aryal, as saying. The Nepal government is also preparing to publish a book including the "encroached territories" of Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura, adding that the first priority, however, is to print the English version of the updated map and distribute it to the international community, local media quoted Aryal as saying. On June 13, Nepal's parliament passed the amendment to include the new political map featuring areas of Lipulekh, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura in its Constitution. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 2, 2020, 8:38 [IST] Buena Vista Images/Getty Police arrested Douglas Marks, 29, in Miami Beach, Florida, for firing "four warning shots" at Crystal Beach Suites Hotel, reported USA Today. No one was injured. He reportedly pulled out a black pistol and started shooting after telling a woman and her son in the hotel lobby they weren't social distancing and needed to leave. The woman told police she heard Marks say, "Let me take care of them, I have two people not following directions." Witnesses and hotel surveillance confirmed the incident. An anonymous bystander said he tried to shield the mother and son. "I grabbed my daughter and everybody and put them on the floor," hotel guest Elio Rodriguez, who heard the shots from his hotel room, told local outlet 7News. Marks claimed he was being followed, according to the police report. He faces several charges, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. This is just the latest public confrontation caused by disagreements over face masks and social distancing. Secret court papers claim that a 'rogue' SAS unit carried out night missions in which they executed civilians in Afghanistan villages have come to light in court documents. The trove of files was previously withheld from an ongoing High Court legal case by the government, causing a judge to demand an explanation from defence secretary Ben Wallace. Communications from within high ranks of the special forces reveal huge concern for the killings of over 33 Afghan people in 11 different night raids on homes by the same unit. Extreme allegations that a 'rogue' SAS unit carried out night missions in which they executed civilians in Afghanistan villages have come to light in court documents (stock photo) The documents, seen by The Sunday Times Insight team, expose one significant incident that has been alleged to be a quadruple murder by UK troops, and is now at the centre of the case. Special Forces emails 'deeply troubling' says lawyer for relative of the deceased Internal Special Forces emails disclosed as part of a High Court case around the deaths of four Afghans shot by the SAS have been described as 'deeply troubling' by a lawyer for a relative of the deceased. Documents showed that 'immediate and serious concerns' were raised about the killings in Helmand province in February 2011, and members of the British Army were raising concerns at the time about a 'pattern of killings by the same unit', the solicitor said. Saifullah Yar, in his 20s, has been granted a judicial review into the deaths of four of his family who were were shot on February 16 2011. The emails were disclosed to his legal team as part of the High Court hearing last month. His lawyer Tessa Gregory, from law firm Leigh Day, said: 'The material disclosed is deeply troubling. Not only does it show that the Afghan Partnering Unit raised immediate and serious concerns about the shootings of our client's relatives, it also shows that members of the British Army were contemporaneously raising concerns that the shootings formed part of a pattern of killings by the same unit, with there even being a suggestion that there was a deliberate policy of killing fighting-aged males when they posed no threat. 'It is a matter of grave concern that all of this nearly remained hidden. 'Our client was almost shut out from bringing this case because the Government repeatedly stated in these proceedings that there was no basis for initiating an independent investigation before 2014, or for considering the shootings were anything other than in accordance with the rules of engagement. 'What has been revealed makes plain that is untrue. It substantially adds to our client's concern that there has been a cover-up and it has left him more determined than ever to find out the truth of what happened to his loved ones.' Advertisement On February 16, 2011, the unnamed SAS unit arrived by Chinook helicopter at the village of Gawahargin in southern Helmand province. They were looking for a young man named Saddam, suspected of being a member of an enemy gang that was planting roadside bombs. With laser gunsights trained, they raided his family home, with family members including his 19-year-old brother Saifullah stepping out into the night with their hands up. The women and children were tied up, with black hoods placed on their heads as they were detained in one part of the small compound. In the next minutes, they heard gunfire. After the special forces soldiers took off, Saifullah went back into the house in search of his father. He found him, and later his brothers and cousin, dead and with several bullet holes in their heads. Two years later, Saifullah's uncle made a claim against the UK government for unlawful detention and mistreatment, as he had been imprisoned for 20 days after the raid by the SAS and then released without charge. As part of the litigation, the allegation about the four civilian killings was passed on to the special investigation branch of the Royal Military Police (RMP), who felt the claims were sufficiently serious to launch an investigation in March 2014. But in extraordinary communications between members of the unit and senior special forces figures revealed in court, the circumstances of the trip are thrown into obscurity. When a computer link to the mission report was circulated earlier that morning, one SAS troop sergeant-major inquired by email at 6.56am: 'Is this about . . . latest massacre! I've heard a couple of rumours.' But in response, a senior non-commissioned officer sent back a note, laying out what appears to be the official line on the details. Describing the death of Saifullah's cousin Ahmad Shah, he writes: 'Basically, for what must be the 10th time in the last two weeks, when they sent a B [Afghan man] back into the A [a building], to open the curtains(??) he re-appeared [sic] with an AK [AK-47 assault rifle].' Then describing the death of his father, he said that they went to a different building, denoted as 'A', with another Afghan man 'B' to 'open the curtains', when the man grabbed a grenade and threw it at them. Luckily it didn't go off, but the man was shot. The email ends with a reference to the shooting outside the compound of one of Saifullah's two brothers, Saddam. 'And finally they shot a guy who was hiding in a bush who had a grenade in his hands. You couldn't MAKE IT UP!' But the strange details of the deaths, where Afghan men magic up AK47s and grenades from beds and behind the curtains that officers had told them to open has raised eyebrows higher up the chain of command. The documents, seen by The Sunday Times Insight team, expose one signficant incident that has been alleged to be a quadruple murder by UK troops, and is now at the centre of the case (stock photo) In one note written on the day of the killings, an officer said he had had a 'very difficult' meeting with the colonel in charge of an Afghan partner unit (APU) about the incident. The colonel brought along nine of his soldiers, one of whom was a relative of Saifullah's family and who gave assurances that the dead men were teachers and farmers, not Taliban supporters. The meeting is thought to have become so heated an Afghan soldier drew his pistol and asked to shoot one of his mentors at the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) , the SAS's maritime regiment. An SBS officer wrote: 'He [the colonel] repeatedly asked me to explain to the officer (present in the room) why his family had been first detained, and then killed by the British, particularly as there was no evidence.' The colonel said his soldiers had reported that nobody had fired at the coalition forces, but the men 'were shot anyway'. The officer's note added: 'He suggests that 2 men were shot trying to run away, and that the other 2 men were 'assassinated' on target after they had already been detained and searched.' There is also concern that of the 33 deaths, 10 were near-identical in their circumstance, where a captured male family member is back into his empty home to clear the way for a search of the premises, only to get their hands on a weapon and attack the soldiers in 'clearly impossible odds'. The deaths and behaviour of the SAS in Afghanistan was a concern at HQ in the UK. A senior commander heard from men there appeared to be a policy from the SAS of 'fighting age males even when they did not pose a threat'. In a note he also said there was a second concern that 'the number of instances where the 'head of family' Bs [Afghan men] were being invited to lead the compound clearance and were subsequently being engaged and killed'. In the same month in April 2011, a special forces commander sent a review to superiors on all the SAS raids since December 2010 detailing concerns that the number of people being killed was higher than the amount of guns actually found by the SAS at the scene. He concluded: 'In my view there is enough here to convince me that we are getting some things wrong right now.' Just days later an email was sent to the commander of the special forces in Afghanistan. It made clear that he was to carry out a review of the tactic of sending a male member of the household back into a building. The missive said: 'there have been several instances in which [redacted name of unit] have been forced to engage and kill the nominated Afghan male because he had reached for a concealed weapon in the accommodation area, either as he returned into the compound or during the clearance phase. This is a relatively new trend.' In response to the Sunday Times' story, the Ministry of Defence said: 'This is not new evidence, and this historical case has already been independently investigated by the Royal Military Police as part of Operation Northmoor. 'It has also been subject to four reviews conducted by an independent review team. 'These documents were considered as part of the independent investigations, which concluded there was insufficient evidence to refer the case for prosecution. 'The Service Police and the Service Prosecuting Authority of course remain open to considering allegations should new evidence, intelligence or information come to light.' The United States on Saturday condemned the Hong Kongs administration move to postpone Legislative Council elections and urged the government to reconsider their decision. Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Friday that the Legislative Council elections scheduled for September 6 will be postponed over the Covid-19 threat. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a statement, said that the elections should be held as close to September 6 date as possible and in a manner that reflects the will and aspirations of the people of Hong Kong. The United States condemns the Hong Kong governments decision to postpone by one year upcoming Legislative Council elections originally scheduled for September 6. There is no valid reason for such a lengthy delay. It is likely, therefore, that Hong Kong will never again be able to vote - for anything or anyone, Pompeo said in the statement published on the State Department website read. We urge Hong Kong authorities to reconsider their decision. The elections should be held as close to September 6 date as possible and in a manner that reflects the will and aspirations of the Hong Kong people. If they arent, then regrettably Hong Kong will continue its march toward becoming just another Communist-run city in China, the statement added. By Noe Torres MEXICO CITY, July 31 (Reuters) - Mexicans laid off during the worst economic downturn in decades are raiding their pension pots by record amounts as they scramble to find cash to weather the coronavirus pandemic, part of a wider Latin American scramble to tap funds once strictly set aside for retirement. Fanned by the crisis, pension withdrawals due to unemployment increased to a record high of 1.856 billion pesos ($82 million) in June, according to data from Mexican pension regulator Consar. Take 27-year-old Ernesto Hernandez, who urgently needed cash after losing his job selling razor blades and deodorants at a Mexico City supermarket. "I was very frustrated," said Hernandez, who is still waiting to collect 8,000 pesos ($355) from his pension. "First, I considered applying for a loan, but they were weekly payments and if I was late with any, I was going to get into more debt." The industry expects the withdrawals to accelerate in the coming months, but the country's main pension fund association told Reuters it expected the sum extracted to be less than 1% of total savings even in the most pessimistic scenario. Through June Mexico's pension funds held about 4.3 trillion pesos ($191 billion) in assets. Private pension funds in Mexico allow workers who have lost their jobs to make a partial withdrawal worth up to three months of their last salary, or 11.5% of their pension savings. But it takes time: you need to be out of work for at least 46 days before you can apply to tap into your pension. Retirement coffers are coming under pressure just as the government is putting in place a reform to boost worker pensions. Mexico has lost over 1.1 million tax-paying jobs and several million more in the informal sector, and the economy shrunk by a record-breaking 17.3% in the second quarter. Elsewhere in the region, Peru enacted a law allowing people to withdraw up to 25% of their holdings in private pension funds and Chile will allow citizens to withdraw 10% of their pension savings. Brazil is also considering an early withdrawal plan to address the coronavirus crisis. Story continues Regulator Consar expects Mexican withdrawals to increase in the coming months as a backlog of paperwork is processed and more out-of-work Mexicans request a withdrawal. Even though 44-year-old Maria Huerta only got 5,000 pesos ($222) from her pension, after losing her job at a foreign-owned factory, she says "it's extra money" she needs to help pay the bills. "My husband makes very little and it's not enough for us," she added. "I have one son in high school, a daughter in middle school and another son who didn't manage to get into college who is living with us too." The ruling MORENA party has proposed making it easier for the unemployed to withdraw funds from their retirement savings during times of crisis. Lawmakers are due to discuss in September the proposal and a reform to boost average worker pensions by 40%. The Mexican pension association (Amafore) said even under the worst-case scenario of 2 million people tapping their pensions, withdrawals will reach 26.7 billion pesos or just 0.6% of total worker savings. ($1 = 22.520 Mexican pesos) (Reporting by Noe Torres; Writing by Anthony Esposito; Editing by Christian Plumb and Marguerita Choy) In pre-coronavirus times, about 30,000 Jews from around the world would spend Rosh Hashanah in Uman every year. The Ukrainian government has agreed to allow at least 5,000 people to visit Uman for Rosh Hashanah, according to Rabbi Rav Yaakov Dov Bleich, JTA reported. The government may increase the number to as high as 8,000 but all visitors will be banned from joining gatherings of over 30 people and will be required to wear face masks, according to The Yeshiva World. The government is also considering other measures such as testing visitors for the coronavirus at the airport and/or requiring travelers to download software on their phones, "but basically, the Ukrainian government is not putting a stop to it," Rav Bleich said. Read alsoCOVID-19 update for Ukraine: 1,112 new active cases, 235 recoveries. In pre-coronavirus times, about 30,000 Jews from around the world would spend Rosh Hashanah in Uman every year. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine's Health Ministry has published a list of red-zone and green-zone countries in terms of COVID-19 spread. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) The province of Siquijor has recorded its first cases of COVID-19, its local government confirmed Sunday. The first two patients are returning residents who traveled from Metro Manila and are now in a quarantine facility, officials said. Siquijor has remained free from COVID-19 for the past few months and is the last province in Central Visayas to report a confirmed case of the infectious disease. Data from the regional Health Department as of August 1 showed Central Visayas has logged over 16,000 cases of the coronavirus. In July, the regional DOH listed three cases under the province, but said the patients were admitted in different regions and only wrote Siquijor as their home address. Despite this development, Siquijor Governor Zaldy Villa reiterated there is no local transmission in the province, and assured that medical personnel and other frontliners are undertaking necessary measures to contain the spread of the virus. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Snow this evening will give way to mostly cloudy conditions late. Low 9F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Snow this evening will give way to mostly cloudy conditions late. Low 9F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 100%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. She has been flaunting her incredible three-stone weight loss during her idyllic Greek getaway following a turbulent split from James Argent. And Gemma Collins looked delighted as she was presented with flowers by a hunky man as she stepped out for an ice cream in Mykonos on Saturday. The TOWIE star, 39, displayed her figure in a plunging pink and gold chain print dress as she posed for pictures with fans along the narrow streets of the Greek island. Wow: Gemma Collins, 39, looked delighted as she was presented with flowers by a hunky man while stepping out for an ice cream in Mykonos wearing a turquoise maxi dress on Saturday The Diva On Lockdown star accessorised her summer evening look with a baby pink Prada cross-body bag and gold metallic sliders. In a stylish display, the star tied her dress in a knot at the side of her thigh to offer a glimpse of her bronzed pins. Gemma went without a scrap of makeup as she highlighted her natural sun-kissed glow and opted for a pretty pink mani-pedi for the outing. Grateful: Gemma was presented with the roses by the man in the streets of Mykonos She wore her blonde tresses in a chic high bun and framed her pretty features with loose strands. The reality star appeared in good spirits as she clutched two Louis Vuitton bags as she headed out with former TOWIE co-star Charlie King, 34. And Gemma put safety first as she donned a face mask in an ice cream parlour before enjoying a scoop of the frozen treat. Glowing: She wore her blonde tresses in a chic high bun and framed her pretty features with loose strands Delicious: Gemma enjoyed an ice cream on the evening out (left) and accessorised her summer evening look with a baby pink Prada cross-body bag (right) The Diva Forever star also displayed her figure in a plunging red swimsuit and floor-length white kaftan in an Instagram post on Sunday. Posing in front of a white Range Rover, Gemma put on an eye-popping display in the red ensemble and tied her kaftan under her bust to accentuate her hourglass figure. Gemma wore her blonde locks in a sleek high bun and went without a scrap of makeup as she thanked her driver for getting her around the island in '#gcstyle'. Pictured alongside her driver, Gemma wrote: 'A massive thank you to the wonderful @king_georgios for getting me around the island in style #gcstyle.' Smiles: Gemma was delighted with the bouquet (left) and appeared in good spirits as she clutched two Louis Vuitton bags Sun-kissed: Gemma went without a scrap of makeup as she highlighted her natural glow and opted for a pretty pink mani-pedi for the outing The beauty also shared a stunning snap of herself flicking her blonde locks in a swimming pool, with a playful caption stating: 'Felt cute might delete later.' Gemma has flown out to Mykonos with her personal trainer pal Charlie to help heal her broken heart following her split from James aka Arg. The Diva Forever star, who has been vocal about her use of controversial 250 SkinnyJabs, has shared a number of bikini snaps from her Greek holiday amid her weight loss. Swish: The beauty also shared a stunning snap of herself flicking her blonde locks in a swimming pool, with a playful caption stating: 'Felt cute might delete later' Memories: The star posed for pictures and chatted with fans in the ice cream parlour Meanwhile, she has reportedly booked a boob job because her 'body is getting smaller'. She told The Sun: 'I can't wait to get rid of these boobs, they're massive and look ridiculous. I have never looked better than I do now and I've never felt so good.' While admitting it tends to be the 'norm' to opt for larger breasts when booking cosmetic procedures, Gemma insisted that she wants a her natural boobs reduced. Choice: Gemma put safety first with a face mask as she selected her ice cream flavour Friend: The reality star appeared in good spirits as she clutched two Louis Vuitton bags alongside former TOWIE co-star Charlie King, 34 Greetings: Gemma looked radiant as she was approached by the man with the bouquet of flowers She added: 'I never have wanted surgery. But as my body is getting smaller, I feel like I am falling over on top and I just want them gone.' Elsewhere, her ex James seemed to be moving on from the couple's recent love split by partying with close friends in Marbella. He was recently in high spirits during an appearance at popular local nightspot Olivia's La Cala, owned by old friend and former co-star Elliott Wright. Treat: Gemma enjoyed the delicious ice cream and tied her dress to offer a glimpse of her glowing pins Say cheese! Gemma looked every inch the star as she smiled for photos with fans on the island Sweet: Gemma clutched her shopping bags and put safety first as she donned a mask in the shop While on Saturday he appeared in a good mood as he rode his motorbike following boat ride the previous day. Arg, who has flown to Marbella with ex Lydia Bright's sister Romana, cut a casual figure in a white T-shirt, red loafers and green patterned shorts. The star, who is still yet to gain his full driving license, picked up a scooter to travel around the city. Wow: Meanwhile, Gemma has reportedly booked a boob job because her 'body is getting smaller' Weight loss: Gemma has lost an incredible three stone and insisted that she wants a her natural boobs reduced Loving: Gemma chatted with a young fan in the ice cream parlour alongside pal Charlie He and Gemma ended their relationship in July after she revealed a string of abusive messages, purportedly sent to her by the TV personality prior to their split. It's understood James had made derogatory remarks abut her weight after she suggested that he had bought another woman dinner. The series of texts began with Gemma saying: 'What man pays for another woman!!!', while Arg responded by saying: 'Insensitive.' Moving on: Arg and Gemma ended their relationship in July and flew out to Mykonos with her personal trainer pal Charlie to help heal her broken heart Reasons: Gemma and Arg ended their relationship in July after she revealed a string of abusive messages, purportedly sent to her by the TV personality prior to their split Fresh: The Diva Forever star, who has been vocal about her use of controversial 250 SkinnyJabs, has shared a number of bikini snaps from her Greek holiday amid her weight loss Stepping out: Gemma put on a sensational display as she arrived for her outing and looked pleased with her new purchases New chapter: After returning to the UK from her own Tenerife getaway, Gemma apologised to her former beau for releasing the messages Incredible: The Diva Forever star also displayed her figure in a plunging red swimsuit and floor-length white kaftan in an Instagram post on Sunday Clearly riled, the blonde said: 'And the woman that saved your life has to pay for herself!!!' Her next message was masked, but her now-ex responded: 'You are supposed to be treating me you hippo.' Moments later, Gemma uploaded another series of messages, where he sent her a plane emoji in reply to a picture of flight details. 'I'll take a mate, I'm not booking it. You said you would be a gentleman!', she penned, before he shockingly said: 'YOU FAT F**K. IVE JUST LOST ANOTHER 2000' (sic). He didn't refer to what he had lost 2000 of. All smiles: Gemma looked radiant following her Greek getaway alongside pal Charlie Bronzed: Gemma looked refreshed from her getaway as she headed out for the evening Blushing: Gemma looked very pleased with her beautiful bouquet from a fan on the island The self-proclaimed diva has decided to take some time off social media, citing that she was 'devastated' and 'heartbroken' by the exchange. However after returning to the UK from her own Tenerife getaway, Gemma apologised to her former beau for releasing the messages. In a screenshot obtained by MailOnline, the Diva On Lockdown star contacted her fellow reality star in the early hours of the morning. She wrote: 'I am sorry about putting the messages up, I was just so hurt you suggested an open relationship, it didn't look like a joke when you typed it. 'I was so upset but I shouldn't have put the messages up, that was anger on my part which was wrong. I am so sorry about that x.' (sic) 1 EVENT TO MARK ON YOUR CALENDAR Jurassic Jam 2020: GLOW in the Park is returning to Peach Creek Ranch. The fundraising event on Aug. 9 from 2 to 6 p.m. features lawn games, bounce houses, a costume contest, a photo booth, face painting and dancing. All ticket sales benefit Johns Boys programs. For more information, visit johnsboys.com. SUNDAY EVENTS The 2020 Saddle & Sirloin Cattle Futurity, all day. Brazos County Expo. For a schedule, visit www.facebook.com/tamuSaddleSirloinFuturities/. MONDAY EVENTS WATERLOO Reopening guidelines issued by the Black Hawk County health department are helping Cedar Valley schools formulate plans for classes this fall. The eight-page document recommends such measures as daily screening and monitoring of all staff, everyone wearing face coverings in school when feasible, and maintaining six feet of social distancing where possible. Among the recommendations to accomplish social distancing are using additional spaces in schools to spread out classes and staggering schedules to reduce the number of people in common areas at one time. School leaders across the county have embraced the guidance as they prepare to bring students back while taking precautions against COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. We found it very helpful. We appreciated the more detailed information that was in the Black Hawk County health plan, said Jane Lindaman, superintendent of Waterloo Community Schools. They are kind of what we expected, Tony Voss, superintendent of Hudson Community Schools, said of the guidance. He noted the guidelines were important in putting together the districts mitigation plans. Public school superintendents are collaborating as they work on implementation of the guidance in their systems. A Cedar Valley approach is really best for families, said Lindaman. I think its a good thing that the Black Hawk County superintendents have joined forces on this, said Travis Fleshner, superintendent of Union Community Schools in La Porte City. I think were just looking for some general consistencies. Andy Pattee, superintendent of Cedar Falls Community Schools, said meeting the social distancing guidelines is something were always going to strive for. And masks will be in the equation when you cant social distance. The biggest issue that everybodys dealing with is What are you doing with face masks? said Tim Cronin, superintendent of Dunkerton Community Schools. Well have face masks and face shields for staff, and weve ordered 2,000 disposable masks for students, he added, noting more would be ordered as the supply is used. Thats something that well put on a list for children to bring. Potentially, 2,000 masks will go pretty quick. Tom Novotney, Cedar Valley Catholic Schools chief administrator, said the Waterloo-based school system is similarly providing masks. The guidance in the Black Hawk County health department (document) was really clear, he noted. We will provide masks for students and staff at the time we cant meet that six foot social distancing. Most of the school systems contacted by The Courier said they will require masks at least when social distancing is not possible. Along with Dunkerton and CVCS, that includes the Waterloo, Cedar Falls and Hudson community school districts. Our language right now is highly recommended, said Fleshner, of Union Schools. The Waterloo and Cedar Falls school districts have said they will provide masks, although Cedar Falls is encouraging students to bring their own if they have them. Some school officials also emphasized that schedules will be staggered to limit the number of people in common areas at one time. Some of our daily routines within a face-to-face or hybrid model will look different, said Pattee, passing time and lunch time among them. Cedar Falls Schools is looking to have less congestion, less contact between students and adults during the day. Dunkerton will make some modifications to its secondary school schedules to limit student contact on a daily basis. Rather than switching each period, were going to look in Dunkerton at having block scheduling, said Cronin. Students would alternate between classes, going twice as long to some one week and to others the next week. Lindaman said Waterloo Schools will work to limit contacts between people at buildings in a number of ways. We will stagger the first days (of classes) for various grades, she explained, at the elementary and middle schools. Were still hammering out the first days for high school. In addition, the district has ordered desk shields that students will use particularly in self-contained elementary classrooms. At the secondary level, the district will strive to minimize the number of transitions that they have moving from class-to-class. In the case of high schools, were going to have to employ a little different strategy. That could include a hybrid approach, with students split between learning at home and in school on a given day. All of the school systems The Courier surveyed had developed options for a hybrid approach as well as for students whose families will want their children to learn from home. However, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Thursday that levels of the virus community spread and student illness will determine when they can learn from home. Many of the school systems said they were still determining their approach in regards to screening and monitoring staff, as the health department recommends. Novotney said CVCS will follow the guidance by temperature screening all the adults when they come into the the building. In Dunkerton, were going to ask staff to screen themselves, but certainly have thermometers for them, said Cronin. All over the guidance is Dont come to school if youre sick. The guidance suggests screening all students isnt feasible. Rather it calls for educating parents on the symptoms of COVID-19 so that they can determine if their child should be kept home. Shiloh the Great Pyrenees pups tale PHOTOS Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Major engineering work to complete the final stages of the Rangitaiki Floodway and to improve the resilience of flood walls on the Rangitaiki River, has received a significant funding boost from the government through the Provincial Growth Fund. Bay of Plenty Regional Council is welcoming the announcement that it will receive up to $23 million for a suite of flood protection infrastructure projects across the regions river scheme networks. The funding was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters and Under-Secretary for Regional Economic Development Fletcher Tabuteau in Rotorua on Friday. It comes from the $210 million set aside for shovel-ready climate resilience and flood protection projects being delivered through a $3 billion tagged contingency in Budget 2020. Regional Council chair Doug Leeder says the announcement is great news for the Bay of Plenty and particularly good news for residents who have been directly impacted by flooding in recent years and who have lost job security through COVID-19 economic downturn. This support from the Provincial Growth Fund will accelerate six major projects that will secure over 130 full-time equivalent positions with local contractors engaged mostly with earthworks and associated culvert, piping, construction, and site and pasture restoration. In addition this stimulus will provide downstream economic and social benefits. The projects are located across the rohe and will complete or upgrade infrastructure that addresses specific flood risks in the Western Bay, Rotorua, Whakatane and Opotiki districts. Completion of the Rangitaiki Floodway and investigation of floodwalls was among the recommendations in the Rangitaiki River Scheme Review. The independent review was chaired by Sir Michael Cullen following the April 6, 2017, breach of the Rangitaiki River stopbank at College Road in Edgecumbe which resulted in widespread flooding of properties and the evacuation of the entire township. COVID-19 Recovery has provided an unprecedented opportunity to work in partnership with central government to accelerate projects that have far-reaching benefits for our region. "Projects that simultaneously create jobs and allow us to deliver our core outcomes, in this case, supporting safe and resilient communities." The Projects: The fifth round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China were held on Sunday to take forward the stalled disengagement process at Pangong Tso and Gogra-Hot Springs, and to discuss the restoration of status quo in the Depsang Plains region in eastern Ladakh. The talks took place at 11am in Moldo on the Chinese side of Line of Actual Control (LAC) as standoff enters 90th day. The waiting game is on in the treacherous heights of Eastern Ladakh where Indian and Chinese troops have been involved in a tense face-off for the last 13 weeks. While both sides have stepped back in Galwan Valley and Hot Springs as agreed upon, the other two friction points Pangong Tso and PP17 Gogra have seen minimal progress. The pulling back has been stalled at Pangong Tso and Depsang Plains and 50 soldiers from both sides remain in a stand-off. So far, four rounds of Army Cdr level talks, two rounds of WMCC meetings and one virtual meet between Special Representatives of India and China, Ajit Doval and Wang Yi have taken place. Lt Gen YK Joshi, GOC-in-C, Northern Command, had earlier told CNN-News18 that troops will continue to be deployed on ground till status quo ante is achieved, that is, till the Chinese go back to their pre mid-April positions. Sources told CNN-News18 that Indian Army is preparing for 40,000 personnel to spend the winters in Eastern Ladakh. It is also going ahead with emergency purchases of high altitude clothing and Artic tents. Uttar Pradesh Minister Kamal Rani Varun, the only woman cabinet minister in the state, died of COVID-19 at a hospital in Lucknow on Sunday. She was 62. IMAGE: Health workers carry mortal remains of BJP leader and UP minister Kamal Rani Varun, who died due to COVID-19, in Kanpur, on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo The Technical Education minister, who tested positive for COVID-19 on July 18 and is the first minister in the state to succumb to the disease, breathed her last at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPIMS). She had comorbidities, including diabetes, hypertension and hyperthyroidism, a senior doctor at the hospital said. Kamal Rani, who is survived by her daughter, was cremated at the Bhairo Ghat crematorium here in accordance with COVID-19 protocols. "A guard of honour was given as soon as her body reached Bhairo Ghat crematorium," District Magistrate Dr Brahmdeo Ram Tiwari said. The ambulance carrying her body wrapped in plastic reached the crematorium at 2 pm where family members, Bharatiya Janata Party colleagues and senior police and administration officials waited to pay their respects from a distance. Kamal Rani, who was the MLA from Ghatampur in Kanpur and had been elected to the Lok Sabha twice, was initially admitted to the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Hospital here. She was later shifted to the SGPIMS. Condoling the death of the minister, President Ram Nath Kovind said she was well respected for serving people at the grassroots. 'Very sad with the death of Uttar Pradesh government minister Kamal Rani Varun. Her whole life was dedicated to social service. She played an important in strengthening the BJP in the state. 'My condolences with her family and supporters in this hour of grief,' Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet in Hindi. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said Kamal Rani died around 9.30 am. 'She was an experienced and capable leader. She discharged her responsibilities with competence. She was a dedicated public representative, who was always working for the welfare of deprived and oppressed sections of the society,' Adityanath said in his message. The chief minister cancelled his visit to Ayodhya scheduled for the day, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said. SGPIMS Director Dr R K Dhiman said in a statement that the minister, who was put on a mechanical ventilator on Saturday, had been suffering from fever, cough and breathlessness. "She also had comorbidities in the form of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. She had bilateral pneumonia at admission and was shifted to ICU on the day of admission itself because of high oxygen requirement," he said. Detailing the treatment given, he said she later required non-invasive ventilation with high oxygen requirements. 'On evaluation she had all the features of severe disease and she was given Inj. Remdesevir followed by Tocilizumab following which she had transient improvement in her clinical status for few days but again her condition started deteriorating with progressively increasing NIV and oxygen requirements,' the statement said. She was immediately transfused with convalescent plasma and steroid doses were hiked, it said, adding that expert advice was taken from Delhi AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria and Ritesh Agarwal of the PGIMER, Chandigarh. "However, she had progressive severe disease unresponsive to maximal medical therapy. She was put on mechanical ventilator on August 1 but she continued to deteriorate... and succumbed to her illness on August 2 morning at 9.30 am," Dhiman said. Her death comes as the number of COVID-19 cases in the state has crossed 89,000 with more than 1,600 fatalities. The national flag will be flown at half mast in the state capital, and in the district on the day of the cremation, principal secretary Jitendra Kumar said. Born on May 3, 1958, Kamal Rani was among the 18 members inducted in the council of ministers headed by Adityanath on August 21, 2019, the first such reshuffle since the BJP government came to power in March 2017. She was the only woman cabinet minister in the state following Rita Bahuguna Joshi's resignation after getting elected to the Lok Sabha. Speaker of the state Legislative Assembly Hriday Narayan Dixit and UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also condoled the minister's death. SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley onboard on August 2, 2020. NASA TV SpaceX safely returned NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley to Earth on Sunday afternoon, concluding a two month test that was historic for both the company and agency. The company's Crew Dragon spacecraft splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola, Florida. The astronauts were recovered by a SpaceX ship shortly after, with Behnken and Hurley waving and giving a thumbs on NASA's webcast of the event.. Known as Demo-2, the mission represented the first time Elon Musk's company has sent astronauts to space making SpaceX the first private company to send people to orbit, a feat only previously achieved by government superpowers. For NASA it marks the return of the United States' capability to launch its own astronauts, which the country has lacked since the Space Shuttle program ended nearly a decade ago. NASA intends to launch its astronauts on SpaceX spacecraft every few months going forward, paying an estimated $55 million per seat. "It's really establishing the business model for the future," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said during the agency's webcast on Sunday. "It's the next era in human spaceflight, where NASA gets to be the customer." The Demo-2 mission marks the final test after SpaceX has spent years developing the Crew Dragon capsule. NASA has awarded SpaceX with $3.1 billion to develop the spacecraft, as well as launch six operational missions. The agency also awarded Boeing with contracts worth $4.8 billion to developing a spacecraft called Starliner, although that competing capsule remains in development due to a failed flight test last December. President Donald Trump tweeted his congratulations shortly after the capsule splashed down. NASA expects to spent about six weeks reviewing the data from Demo-2 before it moves forward with the first operational mission, planned for late September. Recovery after splashdown A SpaceX recovery ship Endeavour endured temperatures as high as 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit during the intense reentry through the Earth's atmosphere although inside Crew Dragon temperatures did not reach more than 85 degrees, thanks to the spacecraft's dense heat shield. The spacecraft splashed down gently in the ocean under its set of parachutes. Notably, Demo-2 marks the first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts, as well as the first splashdown of a crew spacecraft in the Gulf of Mexico. It took just about an hour and a half from splashdown until Hurley and Behnken were out of the capsule. Shortly after splashdown a set of small boats went out to the capsule, securing it for recovery. One of the boats retrieved the parachutes from the water, while the other checked the exterior of Crew Dragon for any potentially dangerous leaks. Then SpaceX recovery ship GO Navigator used a crane to lift the spacecraft out of the water and on to its deck. GO Navigator has a support crew of about 40 NASA and SpaceX personnel onboard, each with specific roles during recovery. Behnken and Hurley stayed seated during this process, with Endeavour's hatch closed. After they get out of the spacecraft, a helicopter carried Behnken and Hurley back to shore, taking off from the helipad on the ship's upper deck. What they did (COMBO) This combination of pictures created on May 30, 2020 shows A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Dragon spacecraft lifts off from launch complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30, 2020. Gregg Newton | AFP | Getty Images Behnken and Hurley launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on May 30, with the Crew Dragon spacecraft reaching the International Space Station the next day. The pair spent 63 days at the space station, where they tested out the SpaceX capsule's systems and features. Behnken and Hurley dubbed the spacecraft "Endeavour" a name shared by the Space Shuttle orbiter, which both astronauts had flown on before, as well as the command module of the Apollo 15 mission. A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company's Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched on the Demo-2 mission with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard. NASA/Bill Ingalls Part of the testing of Crew Dragon while docked with the space station was a habitability test. That was to ensure four astronauts can perform necessary tasks when they are all inside the spacecraft. SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft docks with the International Space Station on May 30, 2020. NASA Endeavour departed the space station on Saturday evening while in orbit above South Africa. Next mission in late September Assuming the data reviews from Demo-2 do not show up any major issues, NASA plans to launch the SpaceX Crew-1 mission in late September. That will be the first operational mission of SpaceX's Crew Dragon and will carry NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, Shannon Walker and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, the first four person crew. From left to right, NASA astronauts Shannon Walker, Victor Glover, Mike Hopkins and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi. NASA Two new game-changing tests will be offered to millions of Britons in a major advance in the war on coronavirus. Hailed as 'transformative', the tests which give results in 90 minutes will start being rolled out from next week. One is so simple it could soon be deployed in airports, offices, schools, pubs and restaurants bringing testing to the bulk of the population. The companies involved would not reveal the cost but claim it is similar or cheaper to current tests which are around 18 privately but less to the NHS. Health Secretary Matt Hancock last night described the move as 'lifesaving' as the Government looks to avert a second wave of the disease, prevent the need for draconian lockdowns and restart the stalled economy. The two tests will initially be introduced in the NHS and care homes before being made available more widely over the next few months. Unlike current tests given mainly to patients who already think they have the virus, the new methods will be used to routinely screen members of the public who show no symptoms. Officials hope they will flag up local outbreaks before they take hold, avoiding the need for local lockdowns such as that imposed in the North West last week. One of the new test kits, made by London-based DNANudge, will be launched next month. It analyses DNA in nose swabs but saves time as the results do not need to be sent to a laboratory The other test, called the Lampore, involves taking a sample of saliva, unlike existing methods which require invasive and difficult nose and throat swabs Matt Hancock described the introduction of two new game-changing tests for coronavirus, which give out results in 90 minutes, as 'lifesaving' Crucially, both tests can also tell patients if they have the flu even if their result is negative for Covid-19. This means health authorities will be able to track the spread of the viral illnesses around the country and carry out flu jab campaigns. Ministers are anxious to avoid a major flu outbreak this winter amid fears it will coincide with a spike in Covid and put an unprecedented strain on the NHS. One of the methods, the Lampore test, involves taking a sample of saliva, unlike existing methods which require invasive and difficult nose and throat swabs. Professor Andrew Beggs, a genetics expert at the University of Birmingham, who has been trialling the Lampore test, described it as 'transformational'. He said: 'A rapid test which works off saliva and gives you a result in a maximum of two hours is enormously powerful. It's definitely an advance on the tools we have at the moment.' Ministers are understood to have made an order for 450,000 of the tests made by Oxford Nanopore Technologies Ltd, which will be available from next week in adult care settings and laboratories. Millions more are due to be rolled out later in the year if they prove to be effective. The other test, made by London-based DNANudge, will be launched next month. It analyses DNA in nose swabs but saves time as the results do not need to be sent to a laboratory. Results of current methods can take from 24 hours to four days to come back. Ministers have purchased 5,000 of the DNANudge machines, which can process up to 15 tests a day, to provide 5.8 million tests in the coming months, the Department for Health said. Health officials have yet to reveal the cost of the deal with Lampore, but DNANudge's website claims the Government placed a 161 million order for its kits. One of the methods, the Lampore test, involves taking a sample of saliva, unlike existing methods (above) which require invasive and difficult nose and throat swabs (file photo) 'Major incident' in Manchester A major incident has been declared in Greater Manchester due to increases in coronavirus infection rates across 'multiple localities'. New data showed numbers still climbing, despite stricter lockdown measures being introduced on Friday, leading to council leader Richard Leese to call for reinforcements. Sir Richard Leese, of Manchester City Council, said people 'should not be alarmed'. He said: 'This is standard practice for complex situations which require a multi-agency response.' He added: 'Although the council and partner organisations have been working closely to tackle the impacts of the pandemic since early this year, declaring a major incident means we can ramp this up further. 'It allows the establishment of a central command structure to oversee the response and enables agencies involved to draw on extra resources.' Advertisement There is currently no publicly available data on the accuracy of either of the new tests. DNANudge, on its website, claims its tests are 98 per cent sensitive. But Sir John Bell, a professor of medicine at Oxford University, who has been advising ministers on tests, said they were just as accurate as the lab swabs currently in use in the UK. The Government has never disclosed how accurate its current tests are, but studies have indicated they give the correct diagnosis about 80 per cent of the time. Similar rapid diagnostic Covid-19 tests have been approved in the US for months. The Food and Drug Administration gave the green light for medics to use tests by California-based Cepheid in cases of emergency in March. Cepheid's on-the-spot tests have a detection time of about 45 minutes and costs between $5 and $20. Today's announcement offers new hope after days of grim warnings of a second wave. Figures last week showed new infections had risen by a third, prompting the Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty to tell the country it had 'reached the limits' of its lockdown easing. In further developments yesterday: There was a backlash against the idea of millions of over-50s being told to stay at home should infections continue to rise; Scientists warned that hairdressers were spreading the virus unwittingly as visors do not offer enough protection; Several major British firms including Lloyds bank, HSBC and the energy firm SSE were revealed to be allowing staff to continue to work from home; The UK recorded 744 new cases up from 676 the previous day although there were just eight new deaths. Mr Hancock described the tests as 'life-saving innovations'. He said: 'Millions of new rapid coronavirus tests will provide on-the-spot results in under 90 minutes, helping us to break chains of transmission quickly. 'The fact these tests can detect flu as well as Covid-19 will be hugely beneficial as we head into winter, so patients can follow the right advice to protect themselves and others.' Neither of the new tests need to be administered by medically-trained professionals. The developers of the Lampore test, Oxford Nanopore, hope it can be routinely used at airports, avoiding the need for quarantine. The DNANudge test has been trialled in eight hospitals, on cancer, accident and emergency and maternity wards. Now 5,000 'Nudgebox' machines will be rolled out across hospitals nationwide. The Government has the capacity to test 220,000 people a day but ministers want to increase this to 500,000 by autumn. Niall Dickson, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: 'The news of quicker tests is encouraging and should mean we have a further weapon in our armoury to defeat the virus.' Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, said: 'Having the ability to rapidly test and report the results will help the NHS and other care providers with the challenge of continuing to restart routine services, plan for winter and deal with a potential second surge in Covid-19.' The development came as ministers ditched a promise to test all residents and staff in care homes throughout the summer due to supply problems. An email sent to local council chief executives last week from the adult social care testing director Professor Jane Cummings warned of 'unexpected delays'. No10 'could BAN travel in and out of local lockdown areas' under new coronavirus-fighting plans that say see over-50s ordered to shield By Jack Elsom for MailOnline and John Stevens for the Daily Mail The government could be poised to seal off coronavirus-hit regions by imposing domestic travel bans, it emerged last night. The radical proposal is under discussion as Downing Street shakes up its crisis response in the wake of a localised flare-ups. Keen to avoid another national lockdown and derail the economic recovery, a 'flexible' strategy to target areas with high infection rates are being hammered out in Whitehall. Ministers are apparently mooting the possibility of restricting movement to and from areas with high infection rates. The Times reports the notion of domestic travel bans has resurfaced in government in recent days, having initially been touted in the early stages of the pandemic when London bore the brunt of cases and was feared to be an epicentre. The plans to insulate the capital to stem the spread of Covid-19 were shelved, but could be revived as part of Boris Johnson's new targeted approach. Beefed-up powers have already handed ministers the ability to mandate such travel bans with police enforcement. The radical proposal is under discussion as Downing Street shakes up its crisis response in the wake of a localised flare-ups (Manchester pictured) The government could be poised to seal off coronavirus-hit regions with domestic travel bans, it emerged last night (Boris Johnson pictured) It comes as officials have drawn up plans that could see millions of people asked to stay at home if a second wave of coronavirus infections takes hold. Under one option, people aged between 50 and 70 would get personalised risk ratings as part of a significant widening of the shielding programme. But, after a weekend when the young flouted distancing rules across the country, the proposals last night attracted a storm of protest. Critics warned that they failed to recognise the important contribution over-50s make to the economy and risked stigmatising older people in the workplace. Rules? What rules? Youngsters pack together for afternoon drinks in central London Former government adviser Joan Bakewell said ministers needed first to tackle the problem of young people failing to socially distance. Baroness Bakewell, who was tsar for the elderly in the last Labour government, said: 'Certainly older people have to take care I have been taking great care myself but what is happening is that young people are not distancing and they are not wearing masks. The young have got to get their act together. 'Young people assume it is over and are not distancing themselves as they should. They know they should, they have been told they should, but they cannot be bothered. That is the crux.' The 87-year-old warned that it would be problematic to ask vast swathes of the population to stay at home again. She said: 'It is hard, I did 115 days of isolating, and it is tough and quite a commitment. To do it again is perhaps putting us under too much pressure.' Former Tory minister Ros Altmann branded the proposals 'dangerous and wrong', as she warned: 'Age 50 is not old, it isn't halfway through your adult life.' She told how that the coronavirus crisis was 'introducing into society a worrying element of ageism that we have worked very hard to try to overcome'. Baroness Altmann said: 'What we're talking about here is a group in society that is being potentially singled out for different treatment just on the basis of their age. 'It's not that the over-50s are somehow old and therefore at risk and the under-50s are young and therefore not at risk.' Labour peer Lord Foulkes said: 'It is both ageist and ill-thought-out. Some under-50s have underlying health conditions, while some over 50s are key to our economy.' Dame Esther Rantzen said people of the same age cannot be lumped together as being identical. But the 80-year-old said she would be prepared to stay at home to prevent another lockdown for all age groups. She said: 'Ferocious as I am in protecting older people's rights, I think that it would be sensible to make a distinction between people in the their 20s and people like me in our 80s. Youngsters fail to socially distance as they gather in Soho Square in the capital 'I don't want people in their 20s, 30s and 40s to be restricted in what they can do because of a desire to protect me. 'It is too high a price for the nation, it is too high a price for our young people to lock them down for my sake. I will lock myself down and if the Government make me because I'm 80, so be it.' Official figures show that almost three quarters of the 51,264 deaths in the UK involving coronavirus were people aged over 75, with much lower mortality rates amongst those younger. According to the Office for National Statistics, just 4,895 people aged 45 to 64 have died and 7,549 aged 65 to 74, compared to 16,586 in the 75 to 84 age bracket and 21,766 aged over 85. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick last night attempted to defuse the row as he insisted that talk about expanding the shielding programme was 'just speculation'. Sun, sea and strife: Two women tussle on the ground on the south coast, as tempers flare among the drinkers packed on to benches He added: 'You would expect the Government to be considering all of the range of options that might be available.' Mr Jenrick insisted that the proposals were not 'being actively considered', but failed to rule out them being adopted if there is a second waveHe, however, denied that ministers were planning to shut down pubs to help reduce infection rates ahead of the re-opening of schools in September. The Member of Parliament (MP) for Akuapem North constituency in the Eastern region, Nana Ama Dokua Asiamah-Adjei has commended the Executive Director at the Centre for Plant Medicine Research in Mampong-Akuapem, Dr. Kofi Bobi Barima for winning big at this years Ghana Pharma Awards in Accra. Dr. Kofi Bobi Barima was named among the to ten (10) Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the pharmaceutical industry. His firm was also acknowledged during the ceremony for its role in the pharmaceutical and herbal industry and their immense fight against COVID-19. Nana Ama Dokua, however, took to her Facebook wall to applaud Dr. Kofi Bobi Barima for his contribution to the Centre for Plant Medicine Research over the years. Okuapemman shares in this joy and we are proud of your stupendous exploits which have brought the Centre for Plant Medicine Research thus far. She said Adding that, Continue with the impeccable services to Mother Ghana and humanity. The MP for Akuapem North Constituency also assured Dr. Kofi Bobi Barima for her readiness and unflinching support to his institution to achieve more in the coming years. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Photograph: Rex/Shutterstock Donald Trump launched an extraordinary attack on his own top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, arguing against the doctors claim that high rates of infection in the US stem from a less aggressive reaction to the virus in terms of economic shutdowns and stay-at-home orders. Wrong! countered the president as he retweeted a video of Fauci making the point in recent congressional testimony. Fauci had explained that differentiations between surging US infections and a sharp decrease seen across Europe could be explained by the different reactions to the virus. Fauci said most European countries shut their economies down by 95%, while the US only shut down its economy by half. Trump countered: We have more cases because we have tested far more than any other country, 60,000,000. If we tested less, there would be less cases. How did Italy, France & Spain do? Now Europe sadly has flare ups. Most of our governors worked hard & smart. We will come back STRONG! But Faucis point accurately describes the US situation. While some states followed Centers for Disease Control guidelines when they started to re-open, many did not, leading to a surge in infections in many southern and western states, Fauci explained. There are some states that did it very well, there are some states that did not, he said, adding that many were doing better now thanks to improved testing. As Trump faces Novembers presidential election, he has been sinking badly in the polls against his Democratic rival, Joe Biden. Much of that loss of support can probably be traced to Trumps lackluster response to the pandemic, which has now cost more than 150,000 American lives and seen the US contract more than 4.5 million cases by far the largest figures in the world. Related: Fauci 'cautiously optimistic' US could have vaccine by end of the year The spat between Trump and his own health official sparked some withering condemnation on Twitter. Story continues Lets be very clear: this is not normal & we should not treat it as normal for a president to be publicly attacking his own top government adviser on infectious diseases, said the commentator and broadcaster Mehdi Hasan. As numbers have surged again in the US in recent weeks, the crisis seems to be getting worse and the Trump administration still appears to be struggling to come up with a coherent response. Trumps latest criticism of Fauci comes as plans to reopen schools and universities are being thrown into disarray by the virtually unchecked spread of Covid-19 across parts of the US before the academic year. Doubts about the US school systems ability to cope with the pandemic grew last week after a high school student at Greenfield Central in Indiana one of the first states to reopen tested positive on the first day of class. Anyone who came within 6ft of the student for more than 15 minutes was told to isolate for two weeks. We knew it was a when, not if, the superintendent, Harold Olin, told the New York Times, but they were very shocked it was on day one. Of the 25 largest school districts in the US, all but six have announced they will start remotely. Some states, including the coronavirus hotspots Florida and Texas, anticipate in-person classes despite strong misgivings or objections from teachers unions, who have threatened to support strikes if their members feel their health is being put at risk. Face masks are shown for sale with backpacks and back-to-school supplies at a Walmart store in Encinitas, California. Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters In California, schools in two-thirds of the state have been barred from reopening in person. Against the backdrop of chaos and widely differing responses, Trump has continued to promote a return to in-person tuition despite the school attended by his youngest son, Barron, receiving a prohibition order until at least 1 October. Barron Trump attends St Andrews Episcopal, a private school in Potomac, Maryland, that falls under the jurisdiction of Montgomery county. At this point the data does not suggest that in-person instruction is safe for students or teachers, the regions health officer, Travis Gayles, said in a statement last week. The virus is even making its way through the halls of Congress. Raul Grijalva, an Arizona Democratic congressman, said on Saturday that he had tested positive for Covid-19 after attending a Washington DC hearing with the Texas Republican Louie Gohmert, who also tested positive and had been a vocal critic of wearing masks just like Trump. The development prompted Grijalva to launch an attack on his fellow members from across the aisle. While I cannot blame anyone directly for this, this week has shown that there are some members of Congress who fail to take this crisis seriously. Numerous Republican members routinely strut around the Capitol without a mask to selfishly make a political statement at the expense of their colleagues, staff, and their families, he said. Earlier this year, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made bombshell decision to step down as senior members of the Royal Family. This move, which has been dubbed as "Megxit," has rocked the British monarchy at its core and overshadowed Prince Andrew's scandal for quite some time. According to reports, the Royal Family felt blind-sided by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision, leading Queen Elizabeth II to call for an emergency meeting with senior royals in her Sandringham Estate. After sitting down with Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II seems to have let go of the Sussexes. In a statement, the 94-year-old monarch that they have come up with a "constructive and supportive way" to help Prince Harry and his family move forward outside the monarchy. The Queen gave the Sussexes a 12-month review period to transition as non-working royals. This agreement includes removing their HRH titles, prohibiting the use of the word royal in their future charity endeavor, and more. While Prince Harry and Meghan are eager to turn their backs on the Royal Family, a royal expert believes that there is one way Queen Elizabeth II could have prevented all the drama that "Megxit" has brought. One Move to Prevent Megxit Speaking to Sky News, royal historian Kate Williams said that instead of letting the Duke and Duchess of Sussex spread their wings in Los Angeles, California, Her Majesty should have allowed the couple to have a "half in, half out" arrangement and remains as senior members of the Royal Family. Williams said that by allowing Prince Harry and Meghan to have a part-time position means, the couple could be under fewer and lighter restrictions, a factor which is said to have pushed them out of the Buckingham Palace. The royal expert emphasized that other European countries like Sweden are practicing this set-up. "Why not? Why can't we try it?" Williams said, as reported by Express. "The European royals do it, Sweden's younger royals do it. They have this relationship of half in and half out, so why can't we try it? I have never really got an explicit or clear answer of why it can't be done," she added. The royal historian also believes that Queen Elizabeth II should have allowed Prince Harry and Meghan to accept jobs and earn a living outside the monarchy. The Hindrance But Williams explained that this set-up is impossible as it would take an entire committee to oversee their unique role. "In the book, the writers are saying that you would have to have a committee to oversee half in half out so we could not have it because we would have to have a committee. I think that is an odd excuse really because we are a country full of committees," Williams said. Would Queen Elizabeth II Allow a Part-Time Royal? Queen Elizabeth II has been reigning the British monarchy for the past 67 years; she has dedicated most of her life in serving the people of the United Kingdom full time while juggling her role as a mother and a wife. Working part-time seems not to be on Her Majesty's vocabulary, so even if she has the option to offer Prince Harry and Meghan a "half in, half out" set-up, it will be contracting on her work ethic. And based on their experience with the media, it looks like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would prefer to be out of the spotlight as part of their bombshell exit. READ MORE: Maxwell Docs Unsealed: Prince Andrew Influenced US Government on Jeffrey Epstein Case The vote to renominate President Donald Trump is set to be conducted in private later this month, without members of the press present, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Convention said, citing the coronavirus. While Trump called off the public components of the convention in Florida last month, citing spiking cases of the virus across the country, 336 delegates are scheduled to gather in Charlotte, North Carolina, on August 24 to renominate him. Deaths in the US from coronavirus exceeded 1,000 for a fifth consecutive day. Texas reported 9,539 daily new cases on Saturday, boosting the states total to 430,485 confirmed cases. Reported deaths slowed in Florida, where a hurricane threat is disrupting efforts to contain the pandemic. We are planning for all of the Charlotte activities to be closed press: Friday, August 21-Monday, 24th given the health restrictions and limitations in place in the state, the Republican convention spokesperson had told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. We are working within the parameters set before us by state and local guidelines regarding the number of people who can attend events. Also read: The political context of Donald Trumps India visit We are happy to let you know if this changes, but we are working within the parameters set before us by state and local guidelines regarding the number of people who can attend events. The vote to formally nominate Trump will be livestreamed, according to CNN. This is an ill-advised decision that the @GOP @GOPconvention should reconsider, Zeke Miller, president of the White House Correspondents Association, said on Saturday. The nomination of a major party presidential candidate is very much the business of the American people. Miller later tweeted: An RNC official now says that the decision is not final and that they are still working through press coverage options. Trump has been forced to scrap his rallies because of the epidemic, which is killing more than 1,000 Americans a day. Former prime minister Pascal Affi NGuessan, once a close associate of ex-president Laurent Gbagbo, announced Saturday he would stand in Ivory Coasts presidential election in October NGuessan, 67, told an extraordinary congress of the Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) he wanted to end the bouts of bloodshed and unrest that have scarred the country for years. I am a candidate to win and we are going to win as the (ruling party) RHDP has failed, said NGuessan, who served as prime minister from 2000-2003. NGuessan runs a wing of the FPI, which was founded by his onetime mentor, Gbagbo, with whom he now has a strained relationship. The presidential race was transformed after Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly died of a heart attack on July 8 at the age of 61. Coulibaly had been styled as the anointed successor to 78-year-old President Alassane Ouattara, who in March signalled he would not seek a third term in office. But his death has now sparked speculation that Ouattara may opt to run for re-election for a third spell if his party cannot settle on a different successor. One of the worlds major coffee and cocoa producers, Ivory Coast is still marked by the trauma of a brief civil war that erupted in 2011 and left around 3,000 dead. Former president Henri Konan Bedie, 86, in midweek won the almost unanimous support of the main opposition Democratic Party (PDCI). Former foreign minister Marcel Amon-Tanoh has also announced he will stand. The elections come two years after violence and fraud allegations marred municipal and regional polls. Gbagbo himself, freed conditionally by the International Criminal Court (ICC), is trying to obtain a passport so he can return to Ivory Coast. In early 2019, the International Criminal Court (ICC) cleared Gbagbo of crimes against humanity for the deadly unrest that followed the 2010-11 presidential election result, when he refused to accept defeat and was eventually forced from power. Sanofi SA and GlaxoSmithKline Plc on Friday said they are in advanced discussions to supply up to 300 million doses of an experimental Covid-19 vaccine for the 27-country European Union. Armed with an emergency fund of more than 2 billion euros (1.80 billion), the European Commission wants to strike deals with up to six drugmakers for their vaccines for their 450 million citizens against the coronavirus that has killed 674,000 people worldwide. The Commission said the aim of the talks with Sanofi was to clinch an advance purchase deal. "The envisaged contract with ... Opinion Policies Editorials are longer opinion pieces that are written by a group of community members recruited across campus who address relevant issues on a local, national and international level. Editorials are research-based. The purpose of the Editorial Board is to promote discussion concerning relevant issues in the community while advising on possible solutions. Topics are chosen via relevancy and interests of the members, which are then discussed by the Editorial Board in order to reach a general consensus concerning the topic or issue. Feedback policy If you have a grievance concerning the content or argument of the Editorial Board, please contact either Opinion Editor Peyton Hamel (peyton.hamel@iowastatedaily.com) or the Editorial Board as a whole (editorialboard@iowastatedaily.com). 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Emails must be tied to the submitted guest column or it will not be accepted or published. Pseudonyms are prohibited and the writer will be banned from submissions. Read our full Opinion Policies here. Updated on 10/7/2020 SAD starts first of its kind social media initiative to reach out virtually to people in each and every constituency For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. If you have a problem, email z.west-meads@you.co.uk. Zelda reads all your letters but regrets that she cannot answer them all personally I love my mum but I dont like her I am an only child and my father died aged 36 from cancer; I was only ten. My childhood was awful after that. My mother started drinking heavily, initially through grief, but she never stopped. She would tell me on numerous occasions that she didnt want children and that I was only here because my father had wanted them. She also assaulted me many times when she was drunk, once ripping an earring out as she slapped me across the face with keys in her hand. She is now 82, living alone, and is in poor health. Unfortunately, I also have health problems, which forced me to give up work three years ago. I live with chronic pain due to fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis and pancreatitis; my husband is my full-time carer. Because of my health I cannot travel, so I havent seen my mum for a year, even though she was recently admitted to hospital following a fall. I dont like her but because she is my mum I love her and I have invited her countless times to move in with us. I dont really want her to but I feel that it is my duty. She has always refused this offer so I eventually stopped asking her. However a couple of weeks ago I received emails from other relatives telling me that I must arrange social services care for my mother. This interference has made me see red. I can barely look after myself without having the added stress of trying to sort out my mum. What should I do? Your mother has let you down very badly. She has been abusive and totally neglectful. To tell you that she never wanted children is an awful thing to say. You say that you dont like her but that you love her because she is your mum. However, I would suggest that perhaps you should question this love for her, as she has not been loving towards you at all. I wonder if you feel that you love her because you so desperately wanted to. You needed a mother, so in your mind you have created an image of one who loves you and convinced yourself you love her back. Of course, it must have been dreadful for her to lose her husband, but you also lost your dad and she should have put you first and looked after you. So I urge you to give up all thoughts of having her to live with you. There is absolutely no obligation for you to do this; it would be far too much for you. You need to put your own health first. I also think it would put a huge strain on your marriage and neither you nor your husband need this. This might sound harsh but it isnt, so tell your relatives that you are not well enough to arrange care for your mum and ask if they could take over. They could contact Age UK (0800 678 1602, ageuk.org.uk) as a starting point. You may feel a lot of grief when she dies because of the love you should have had but didnt. In the meantime you may want to have some counselling to start healing the pain of the past. Ask your GP for a referral or try Relate (relate.org.uk). Hes selfish and lazy, so why cant I leave him? I am 45 and married with three children, aged 17, 14 and nine. I have fallen out of love with my husband. We both work, but the running of the household and childcare falls to me. When I ask for support he says Im just being a martyr. He is irresponsible with money and spends any he has on himself with no thought for what our children might need. He will go into the kitchen to prepare himself some food but will not ask if anyone else wants something. Once I fell and fractured my wrist but when I called him from the hospital the first thing he said was, Who is going to pick up the kids and cook tea? There is no physical relationship any more. I dont know if I can leave him as I dont see Im just a bit miserable as a reason and I have no financial means to go elsewhere. You say that being just a bit miserable doesnt seem like a good enough reason to leave, but your husbands selfishness, his irresponsibility, his thoughtlessness and the fact that you have fallen totally out of love with him and have no sexual relationship are reasons aplenty. Sometimes if someone tells their partner that the marriage is over and they want to leave, the shock can be enough to make them realise they need to change. But sadly I dont see much hope for this here. Your husbands reaction when you broke your wrist was appalling and says it all. It wont be easy, but I think you need out. So contact Gingerbread (gingerbread.org.uk), the charity that supports single parents, and Citizens Advice (citizensadvice.org.uk) to make a plan for leaving and find out about benefits you could be entitled to, plus how to negotiate separating, childcare arrangements and where you will all live. Hopefully he would be forced to hand over more of his income to help support your children. COVID-19: Russian Health Minister Predicts 'Extensive' Vaccine Program In October By RFE/RL August 01, 2020 The global death toll from the coronavirus is around 680,000, with more than 17.6 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness. Here's a roundup of COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions. Russia Russia plans to implement "extensive vaccinations" against the coronavirus in October, the country's health minister said on August 1. Speaking to journalists in Nizhny Novgorod, Minister Mikhail Murashko added that teachers and medical workers would be given priority for the vaccination program. Murashko did not provide any other details about the vaccine or the vaccination program. Earlier in the week, Reuters reported that an unnamed source had said Russia's first COVID-19 vaccine candidate should secure government approval in August. Russia reportedly has two vaccines one developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Institute in cooperation with the Defense Ministry and one by the Vektor state research laboratory in Novosibirsk undergoing approval. In testimony before the U.S. Congress on July 31, Anthony Fauci, the top infectious diseases official in the United States, expressed concern about reported COVID-19 vaccines being developed in Russia and China. "I do hope that the Chinese and the Russians are actually testing the vaccine before they are administering the vaccine to anyone," Fauci said. Serbia Serbia's government has been urged to collect and share data on COVID-19 infections and deaths inside institutions for people with disabilities. Six organizations representing people with disabilities and human rights groups wrote to Prime Minister Ana Brnabic on July 31, saying that understanding the impact of COVID-19 on people in institutions is impossible without transparent and complete data. "It is not known how many people with disabilities living in institutions across Serbia have died or been infected with COVID-19," said Milan Sverepa, director of Inclusion Europe. The government said in April that 574 people living in institutions had been infected. Sverepa said it is "deeply worrisome" that how many of them may have died remains unknown. Based on government figures for 2019, more than 14,512 adults and children, including people with disabilities, live in state-run institutions in Serbia. The groups that sent the letter to Brnabic are Inclusion Europe, the European Network on Independent Living, Validity Foundation, Disability Rights International, Mental Disability Rights Initiative Serbia (MDRI-S), and Human Rights Watch (HRW). Since April, Human Rights Watch and MDRI-S have sought information on what steps the government has taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in residential institutions, HRW said in a news release. The government has not provided the information sought, HRW said. "An important part of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic is understanding the scale and circumstances of infections and deaths," said Emina Cerimovic, senior disability rights researcher at HRW. "Collecting this data is necessary to inform government policy, decision-making, and response. Publishing this data helps the wider public understand the impact of the outbreak on social care institutions." With reporting by TASS, Reuters, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbian-president -urged-to-share-data-on-covid-19-deaths- among-disabled-people/30761036.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Alabama law enforcement agencies are following Gov. Kay Iveys suggestion by not issuing citations and are instead handing out masks and encouraging residents to wear them as coronavirus cases rise. Police and sheriffs departments in Jefferson, Mobile and Montgomery counties have yet to issue a citation or a written warning for not wearing a mask. Some sheriffs, such as Baldwin County Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack, are assisting judges in keeping unmasked visitors out of the courthouse. Furthermore, law enforcement in counties and cities near the Alabama-Georgia state line, say the discrepancies between the two states approaches on masks Alabama has a mandate, while Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp prohibited municipalities in his state from issuing mask mandates isnt creating confusion or leading to blatant violations in Alabama. Law enforcement in Phenix City and Lee County have yet to issue a fine, which can cost up to $500 per violation. Even our local population sometimes forgets Kay Ivey is the governor and will consider Brian Kemp the governor in Phenix City, said Ray Smith, the police chief in Phenix City where more than 32,000 people live adjacent to Columbus, Georgia. Politically, its kind of interesting. They forget we are a part of Alabama. We sometimes get lost in the Montgomery shuffle. He added, For the most part, Columbus, from my experiences, has been fairly compliant with mask wearing even if its not mandated (in Georgia). Phenix City has a compliant population and with (Alabamas) order, there are signs everywhere. I dont see a lot of non-compliance. Role modeling Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp prepares to sign House and Senate bills at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital where the hospital opened a new Emergency Room space, Thursday, July 16, 2020, in Marietta, Ga. Kemp has explicitly forbade cities and counties from mandating face coverings.(AP Photo/Mike Stewart)AP Alabama has had a mask mandate in place since July 15, when Ivey announced the mandate for the first time. She extended the mandate on Wednesday to Aug. 31 and added schools into the mix. Students from the second grade through college are now required to wear face masks as they begin to reopen next month. Law enforcement officers, though, are deferring enforcement within the schools to school administrators and school resource officers who typically monitor the hallways. The purpose of the mask mandate was not to penalize people but to inform them of urgency and importance of wearing a face mask can help provide as we slow down this pandemic, said Ivey, who added she was not worried about the lack of enforcement of the states mask mandate. Governors in states surrounding Alabama are eschewing mask mandates. Aside from Kemp in Georgia, Republican governors in Florida, Tennessee and Mississippi have opted against mandating mask wearing. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves has a mandate in place for 13 of the states 82 counties, including counties closest to Alabama on the Gulf Coast. Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, director of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, was critical on Wednesday of the lack of uniformity in mask requirements. She said the absence of mask mandates in surrounding states was problematic and noted some of the hot spots during the earlier portions of the pandemic occurred in near the Alabama-Georgia state line. It comes back to the idea that were all in this together, said Marrazzo. We need all the help we can get. Having neighboring states that are not jumping in with the kind of advice and role modeling we need is not going to help us. Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said the Alabama-Georgia discrepancies hasnt been an issue at all and Auburn City Manager James Buston said hes confident Georgia visitors to the city and university will comply with the states mask mandate. Obviously, from my perspective, I would like to see a uniform approach to this pandemic on a national scale, said Buston. Most of our businesses have adopted signage that the Governors office provided so that patrons will know that masks are required to enter their establishments. He added, I anticipate we will some visitors from Georgia and elsewhere that may not have gotten the message, but I believe that once they arrive, it will be evident to them that in this community, masks are required. I have confidence that the majority will comply. Extremely complicated issue Alabama has had over 85,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus since the pandemic began in March, and 1,531 deaths. The state continues add a staggering number of cases daily, with the seven-day average at around 1,650 new cases per day, and 24 deaths. Health officials have insisted for a long time that face coverings, social distancing and hand washing remain the most effective ways to curb the spread of coronavirus. But wearing a face mask has become a political wedge issue during the pandemic ever since President Donald Trump first announced he wasnt wearing a face mask in April. The president was first seen wearing a face covering on July 11 and has since touted their usage as patriotic. President Donald Trump wears a face mask as he participates in a tour of Bioprocess Innovation Center at Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies, Monday, July 27, 2020, in Morrisville, N.C.AP Photo/Evan Vucci Polling shows increased support for them. A Morning Consult poll between July 23-26 found that 94% of respondents either planned to wear a mask always or sometimes in the next two weeks. Thats an uptick from late June and early July when a Gallup poll showed only 44% of respondents admitting they wore a face covering all the time, while 14% said they never wore them. Health officials, many whom discouraged the use of face masks during the early portions of the pandemic, are crediting the coverings for slowing emission of airborne droplets and aerosols that spread the virus. In June, the World Health Organization recommended widespread use of masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus. We know masks work, said Marrazzo. You cant dispute that. You can, but youd be wrong. When can we expect a Covid-19 vaccine? Is it safe to return to schools? UABs Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo explains But outrage continues on social media about mask mandates, and Ivey has been criticized routinely for her role as one of the few Republican governors in the U.S. to support one. Said Alabama Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris on Wednesday, I know people dont like being told what to do. I dont either. But its the right thing to do. Iveys support of the mask mandate is a switch from her views on June 30, when she said requiring people to wear them would be unenforceable. Greg Weaver, an associate professor and graduate program officer with the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work at Auburn University, said the citation for violating the states mask mandate is similar to a traffic offense, and that its not necessarily a priority for law enforcement. He also said the complexities of the issue, including the political hot potato surrounding orders instructing people to wear masks, is preventing police and sheriffs deputies from doling out tickets. Some sheriffs, such as Blount County Sheriff Mark Moon, took to Facebook in mid-July to inform the public they were not enforcing the mandate. I would be surprised if there are a lot of tickets written, said Weaver. For a number of reasons. There are so many different things woven into this issue and whether there are differences (in enforcement) by locations, and if a sheriff says they wont enforce the law or if its not a priority. He said, In some ways, its an extremely complicated issue. Smith, the Phenix City police chief, said a failure to comply to the state mandate would be more enforceable through citations for trespassing on private property or disorderly conduct. So far, though, none of those citations have been issued related to a violation of the states mask mandate, Smith said. Another concern, Weaver said, is that some police agencies could be hesitant to enforce the mandate because policing has been under the microscope, so to speak since the Memorial Day killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis by a police officer who knelt on his neck for several minutes. The cell phone video of the brutal killing spurred widespread protests against police brutality throughout the country. Said Smith, Floyds (death) was over a $20 fake (bill). You get into a case of enforcing a minor issue and, due to a lack of training or competence (of an officer), why in the world would you want to make an arrest on a mask? Its the law, but how far would you go to make someone to mask up? Cooperative arrangement Ivey, meanwhile, is praising police officials who are taking the educational instead of punitive route on face coverings. She singled out the Spanish Fort Police Department during her Wednesday remarks, crediting the department for using the mandate as an opportunity to inform people and for having a cooperative arrangement with the community. Spanish For Police Chief John Barber, who was hired in March right around the time the pandemic began, said his department has ensured that officers are educated and aware of the law while handing out a few dozen masks the public since mid-July. No citations have been issued in Spanish Fort, a growing city in Baldwin Countys Eastern Shore region and home to shopping malls and restaurants. I thought there might be more issues than weve seen in the past two weeks, said Barber, referring to concerns police had about people objecting to wearing masks. People, for the most part, have complied with it. Alabama beach cities not issuing fines; plan to educate about mask order Alabama unmasked: Mask-wearing debates a microcosm of polarized issue Execution Of Protesters Sentenced To Death In Iran 'Not Being Carried Out' Radio Farda August 01, 2020 The Head of the Justice Department of Isfahan Province Mohammad-Reza Habibi on Friday denied that the death sentences passed on five young protesters were to be carried out now. A day earlier Habibi had told Mizan, the Judiciary's own news agency, that a final verdict in the case had not been issued. The five young men were arrested in Isfahan, central Iran, for participating in widespread anti-government protests in late 2017 and early 2018. According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) Mohammad Bastami, Hadi Keyani (Kiani), Abbas Mohammadi, Majid Nazari Kondori, and Mehdi Salehi- Qaleh Shahrokhi, received "two death sentences" each for "waging war against God" and "taking up arms against the state". Earlier this week the Director of the Oslo-based Iran Human Rights Organization (IHRO), Mahmoud Amiry Moqaddam told Radio Farda that they had received reports that contact between the five prisoners and their families had been cut off and the prison and judicial officials had not responded to the relatives' concerns. Tens of thousands of Iranian have condemned recent executions in Iran on social media and some activists say this has had an impact on the authorities. Iran executed about 251 people last year, according to Amnesty International. In recent weeks, it has issued a series of death sentences, including in the case of a controversial Paris-based journalist, Ruhollah Zam. Iran also recently executed two Kurdish men in connection with an armed attack in 2010 and a man for repeatedly drinking alcohol and another who was convicted of spying for the CIA. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/execution-of- protesters-sentenced-to-death-in-iran-not- being-carried-out-/30761416.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address London, Aug 2 : The case of Shamima Begum, a British resident who ran away in 2015 to become an Islamic State (IS) jihadi bride and is now fighting to return to the UK from Syria, will go to the Supreme Court, it was reported. On Friday, the Court of Appeal decided that the case raised a point of law of public importance that only the Supreme Court can resolve, reports the BBC. The court also revealed that the Sun newspaper will be referred to the Attorney General after it obtained a copy of the Court of Appeal's draft judgement - or its "essential contents" - in advance of it being handed down on July 16. Judge Eleanor Warwick King, the head of the panel of three judges, said they were referring the newspaper to the Attorney General because of a potential contempt of court in publishing a story about the judgement, seemingly leaked from government, before it was announced in court. This development comes after the three Court of Appeal judges last month ruled that Begum should be allowed back to London to fight for the return of her citizenship, said the BBC reported. But the government said that decision was deeply flawed. In 2015, Begum, then aged 15, was one of three schoolgirls from Bethnal Green Academy who left their homes and families to join the IS. Kadiza Sultana, then 16, and Amira Abase, then 15, and Begum boarded a flight from Gatwick Airport to Istanbul, Turkey, on February 17, 2015, before making their way to Raqqa in Syria. Sultana was reportedly killed in an air strike in 2016, while Abase's current whereabouts remain unknown. After Begum was found in a refugee camp in 2019, her British citizenship was revoked by former Home Secretary Sajid Javid on security grounds. WASHINGTON (AP) Federal authorities say one of the gravest threats to the November election is a well-timed ransomware attack that could paralyze voting operations. The threat isnt just from foreign governments, but any fortune-seeking criminal. Ransomware attacks targeting state and local governments have been on the rise, with cyber criminals seeking quick money by seizing data and holding it hostage until they get paid. The fear is that such attacks could affect voting systems directly or even indirectly, by infecting broader government networks that include electoral databases. Even if a ransomware attack fails to disrupt elections, it could nonetheless rattle confidence in the vote. On the spectrum of threats from the fantastical to the more probable, experts and officials say ransomware is a particularly realistic possibility because the attacks are already so pervasive and lucrative. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have issued advisories to local governments, including recommendations for preventing attacks. "From the standpoint of confidence in the system, I think it is much easier to disrupt a network and prevent it from operating than it is to change votes," Adam Hickey, a Justice Department deputy assistant attorney general, said in an interview. The scenario is relatively simple: Plant malware on multiple networks that affect voter registration databases and activate it just before an election. Or target vote-reporting and tabulation systems. "With the 2020 election, election infrastructure has a target on its back," Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said. "We know that election infrastructure was attempted to be undermined in 2016, and we know the techniques are shifting." The number of attacks has escalated in recent years, with targets including Texas' transportation agency and city computers in New Orleans. A December report by cybersecurity firm Emsisoft tracked attacks against at least 966 entities that interrupted 911 services, rendered medical records inaccessible and hindered police background checks. "We're seeing state and local entities targeted with ransomware on a near daily basis," said Geoff Hale, a top election security official with Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Election Infrastructure Agency. Steps taken to improve security of voter registration systems after the 2016 election could help governments fend off election-related ransomware attacks. They've also acted to ensure they can recover quickly in the event of an attack. Colorado, for example, stores redundant versions of its voter registration data at two separate secure locations so officials can easily shift operations. Backups are regular so the system can be quickly rebuilt if needed. Even so, ransomware is an added concern for local election officials already confronting staffing and budget constraints while preparing for a shift from in-person voting to absentee balloting because of the pandemic. In West Virginia, state officials are more concerned about the cyberthreat confronting its 55 county election offices than a direct attack on the statewide voter registration system. One click from a county employee falling victim to a spearphishing attack could grant a hacker access to the county network and eventually to election systems. "I'm more worried that those people who are working extra hours and working more days, the temporary staff that may be brought in to help process the paperwork, that all this may create a certain malaise or fatigue when they are using tools like email," said David Tackett, chief information officer for the secretary of state. In states that rely heavily on in-person voting and use electronic systems to check in voters, a well-timed attack particularly during early voting could prevent officials from immediately verifying a voter's eligibility, making paper backups critical. For states conducting elections entirely by mail, including Colorado, an attack near Election Day may have little effect on voting because ballots are sent early to all voters, with few votes cast in-person. But it could disrupt vote-tallying, forcing officials to process ballots by hand. In many states, local officials will face an influx of new ballot requests. That means they'll need constant access to voter data as they handle these requests. An attack could cause major disruptions. Hickey said he was unaware of ransomware attacks directly targeting election infrastructure. But local election offices are often connected to larger county networks and not properly insulated or protected. A criminal targeting a county or state "may not even know what parts of the network they got into," Hickey said. But as the malware creeps along and spreads, "what gets bricked is the entire network and that includes but is not limited to election infrastructure." Even if election infrastructure isn't directly targeted, there would likely be immediate assumptions it was, said Ron Bushar of the FireEye cybersecurity company. A February advisory issued by the FBI and obtained by The Associated Press recommends local governments separate election-related systems from county and state systems to ensure they aren't affected in an unrelated attack. That's how Louisiana's election network survived multiple ransomware attacks: one occurred six days before the November election through an IT services company shared by the seven impacted counties. The second hit the state network a day after voting. At a January meeting of state officials, Louisiana's secretary of state highlighted the attacks as a blueprint for how an adversary like Russia could throw November into disarray. Jason Ingalls, whose security firm responded to the Louisiana attacks, said in an interview: "You put me in charge of a platoon of Russian hackers and give me a couple of years to stage this and I could pull this off." READ: Duncannon paid thousands in ransomware attack: officials READ: Renomination of Trump to be held in private: GOP Last year, on August 5, the Narendra Modi government had sent political temperatures soaring by abrogating sections of Article 370 of the Constitution, ending the special status to the-then state of Jammu and Kashmir. Now, a year, later on the same date, Prime Minister Modi will again be creating history by breaking the ground for the Ram temple in Ayodhya at the spot where the Babri Masjid was pulled down on December 6, 1992. When the construction is complete, it will mark the fulfilment of the second major agenda on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Partys list of promises to its voters. A question, however, arises: what does the Bhumi Pujan for the construction of the Ram temple mean for the BJP-RSS political strategy ahead? Will it mark an end to the politics on the issue of Ram Mandir, or open up new roads for the ideology of Hindutva, one that further empowers its electoral-political gains? Nine months ago, when the Supreme Court in a historic judgement awarded the disputed land of the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid controversy in favour of the Hindu litigants, it concluded one of the longest legal battles in independent India. Muslims too have generally accepted the verdict and the nation as a whole looks geared up to move forward. Now with the date for Bhumi Pujan approaching and the Prime Minister all set to reach Ayodhya, the focus is back on the issue. However, at the moment, amid a raging battle against the coronanavirus pandemic, mass hysteria on the issue seems to be some distance away. But that will not be for long. A senior BJP functionary from Uttar Pradesh, not willing to be quoted, said, In the time to come, the party will surely look for mass mobilisation for the Ram temple. If in the past it was kar seva for removing the disputed structure, in future we will look for ways to build a mass emotional connect, with the construction of the temple. Glimpses of what is expected to come can already be seen in the grand preparations that are underway for the August 5 Bhoomi Pujan. Ayodhya is being readied on an unprecedented scale for the event. Paintings are being carefully inked on pillars and walls, roads repaired, and ghats of river Sarayu being cleaned up. The idea is to showcase Ayodhya and the Ram temple as a new attraction in the peoples imagination. Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, has already given a call for Diwali-like celebrations in the temple town. The target is to light around 2 lakh earthen diyas (lamps) on the night of Bhumi Pujan. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has urged devotees across the country to watch the Bhumi Pujan live and light a diya at their home. The idea clearly is to make an emotional connect with Hindus during the Covid-19 crisis when a large gathering at the event is not a possibility. So what about the future? VHP spokesperson Sharad Sharma said, The Ram Mandir movement has been a reflection of the collective consciousness of the Hindus, therefore the temple construction too is the focus of our collective will. In times to come, we will see how to connect the masses with the upcoming temple." Sharma also said, Though unlike the past, when kar seva was meant to remove the obstacles, now it cant be done in the same way for the construction because it is more technical work, which needs experts. But on the level of social connect, a lot can be done and will be done. Sources say the VHP is already looking at the possibility of felicitating the kar sevaks and the family members of those killed in the police firing of 1990 later this year when the coronavirus crisis would probably be over. TEMPLE TO BRIDGE CASTE DIVIDE? A senior journalist, presently an important part of Team Yogi in Uttar Pradesh, said, Ram Mandir has been the biggest symbol of Hindutva in the past. Lord Ram is revered and seen as someone who had also stood against the caste system and social divide. In the past, the Ram temple movement had seen the most enthusiastic participation from the Hindu Dalit and Backward castes. The construction, therefore, will cut ice across the caste spectrum. So how can the upcoming Ram temple be the emblem of consolidation across castes? One strong argument is the symbolism of the visuals. Temple supporters point out that in 1989 it was a man from the Dalit community who was chosen to place the first brick for the shilanyas of the Ram temple. The man was Kameshwar Choupal, a VHP activist from Bihar, who is now a member of the 'Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the body which is supervising the construction work. Kameshwar was a calculated choice at the time. The idea was to form a strong connect with the deprived castes. Now, 31 years later, as Prime Minister Modi will lay the first brick for the foundation of the temple, the caste equations will again be addressed. Though both for the BJP and RSS, on the face of it, Modi will represent the collective will of 130 crore Indians, on the ground it will still be defined by the caste realities. The PMs backward caste identity will also not go unnoticed, and will also be played upon silently in the future. For the BJP, using Modis caste identity is anyway nothing new. In the run-up to the 2014 general elections, Modi as the PM candidate had himself touched upon his OBC identity. Senior journalist Brajesh Shukla is, however, not too convinced by this argument. Ram Mandir can no longer be an issue of electoral prominence. The euphoria of Hindutva around the issue had ebbed since the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. Immediately after the demolition, in assembly elections of four states in 1993, the BJP had failed to return to power. Ram Mandir will now be more like one out of several dishes on the platter and a reminder of the fact that the BJP has delivered a long-mentioned electoral promise, Shukla added. Lucknow-based renowned sociologist Dr Pradeep Sharma of the Shia PG College echoes similar sentiments. The country as a whole has moved forward. Though the ideology of Hindutva has gained more roots over the years, the issues at hand have changed. For the generation born post 1992, Ram Mandir no longer holds a similar sentiment. In the recent past, abrogation of sections of Article 370 in Kashmir and amendment of the citizenship rules had seen a bigger frenzy and uproar amid the Hindutva brigade, rather than the present temple saga." The arrest provides a window into ongoing controversy surrounding the painting of slogans on streets. Ever since Bowser commissioned the painting of Black Lives Matter on 16th Street NW near the White House in June, activists across the country have demanded the right to paint their own messages. City officials have conceded in some cases, allowing protesters in the District, for example, to paint Defund the police next to Bowsers original declaration. But in other cities, including Tulsa, officials have ordered street paintings erased after opposing parties fought to make their mark. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musks SpaceX company. It was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit. The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year. Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken arrived back on Earth in their SpaceX Dragon capsule named Endeavour, less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida. The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters about 40 miles off the coast of Pensacola, hundreds of miles from Tropical Storm Isaias pounding Floridas Atlantic coast. Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX, said Mission Control from SpaceX headquarters. After 62 days in space, approximately 1,024 orbits around our planet and four spacewalks, our #LaunchAmerica crew members are on their way home! Its a little bit overwhelming to see everybody here considering the things that have gone on the last few months since weve been off planet, Hurley said after arriving back home in Houston Sunday evening where they were greeted by a small masked-gathering of family and officials, including Musk. Musk had rushed to Houston from SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, to welcome them. He was clearly moved and relieved while addressing the group. Im not very religious, but I prayed for this one, he said. The astronauts ride back to Earth was fast, bumpy and hot, at least on the outside. The spacecraft went from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph (28,000 kph) to 350 mph (560 kph) during atmospheric reentry, and finally to 15 mph (24 kph) at splashdown. Peak heating during descent was 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,900 degrees Celsius). The anticipated top G forces felt by the crew: four to five times the force of Earths gravity. Within a half-hour of splashdown, the scorched and blistered 16-foot capsule was hoisted aboard a SpaceX recovery ship with a staff of more than 40, including doctors and nurses. To keep the returning astronauts safe in the pandemic, the recovery crew quarantined for two weeks and were tested for the coronavirus. The opening of the hatch was held up briefly by extra checks for toxic rocket fumes outside the capsule. After medical checkups, the astronauts were flown by helicopter to Pensacola and then to Houston. There was one unexpected problem that could have endangered the operation: Once the capsule was in the water, private boats just made a beeline for it, and got too close, said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, promising to do better next time at keeping sightseers on pleasure boats safely away. NASA video showed one vessel flying a large campaign flag for President Donald Trump. The Coast Guard in Pensacola said it had deployed two vessels to keep the public at least 10 miles away from the capsule. Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence, who both attended the launch, congratulated the SpaceX and NASA teams. Great to have NASA Astronauts return to Earth after very successful two month mission. Thank you to all! Trump tweeted. The last time NASA astronauts returned from space to water was on July 24, 1975, in the Pacific, the scene of most splashdowns, to end a joint U.S.-Soviet mission known as Apollo-Soyuz. The Mercury and Gemini crews in the early to mid-1960s parachuted into the Atlantic, while most of the later Apollo capsules hit the Pacific. The lone Russian splashdown was in 1976 on a partially frozen lake amid a blizzard following an aborted mission; the harrowing recovery took hours. Gemini and Apollo astronaut Thomas Stafford the commander of the last crew to splash down watched the reentry on TV from his Florida home. While pleased with the crews safe return, he wasnt overly impressed. Its what we did over 50 years ago, he said. Its throwback splashdown aside, SpaceX made history with the mission, which launched May 30 from NASAs Kennedy Space Center. It was the first time a private company launched people into orbit and also the first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a decade. Hurley was the pilot of NASAs last space shuttle flight in 2011 and the commander of this SpaceX flight. NASA turned to SpaceX and also Boeing to build capsules and ferry astronauts to and from the space station, following the retirement of the shuttles. Until Hurley and Behnken rocketed into orbit, NASA astronauts relied on Russian rockets. SpaceX already had experience hauling cargo to the space station, bringing those capsules back to a Pacific splashdown. We are entering a new era of human spaceflight where NASA is no longer the purchaser, owner and operator of all the hardware. Were going to be a customer, one customer of many, Bridenstine said from Johnson Space Center in Houston. I would love to see a fleet of crew Dragons servicing not just the International Space Station but also commercial space stations. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell called the mission a springboard to doing even harder things, like collaborating on astronaut flights to the moon and then Mars. Theres no question, it was an enormous relief after months of anxiety making sure we could bring Bob and Doug back home safely, Shotwell said. SpaceX needs six weeks to inspect the capsule before launching the next crew around the end of September. This next mission of four astronauts will spend a full six months aboard the space station. Hurley and Behnkens capsule will be refurbished for another flight next spring. A Houston company run by a former NASA official, meanwhile, has partnered with SpaceX to send three customers to the space station in fall 2021. It took years to get here, we brought the capablity back to America, and we came home safely to our families, and it took a lot of people a lot of time to make that happen, Behnken said back in Houston. Boeing doesnt expect to launch its first crew until next year. The company encountered significant software problems in the debut of its Starliner capsule, with no one aboard, last year. Its capsules will touch down in the U.S. Southwest desert. By beating Boeing, SpaceX laid claim to a small U.S. flag left at the space station by Hurley and the rest of the last shuttle crew. Minutes after splashdown, Musk tweeted a flag emoji followed by returned. Also on board: a toy dinosaur named Tremor, sent into space by the astronauts young sons. The two boys recorded a wake-up call for their fathers Sunday morning. Dont worry, you can sleep in tomorrow, said Behnkens 6-year-old son Theo, who was promised a puppy after the flight. Hurry home so we can go get my dog. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Sorry! This content is not available in your region By Dave Graham MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican security forces on Sunday captured Jose Antonio Yepez, a notorious drug gang leader and fuel thief blamed for fanning a sharp surge in violence that has severely tested the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Known as "El Marro" (The Mallet), Yepez was arrested in the early hours of Sunday by soldiers and state officials during a raid on a house in Guanajuato, a central state that has become the main flashpoint of record gang violence, authorities said. "This is a tremendously successful blow for the government," said Raul Benitez, a security expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Boss of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, a Guanajuato-based outfit, Yepez has been engaged in a bloody struggle for supremacy in the state with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico's most powerful and violent gangs. Yepez, 40, is the highest profile narco arrested so far under Lopez Obrador, who pledged to bring down record levels of violence plaguing Mexico when he took office in December 2018. Instead, homicides have further increased, and last October the Lopez Obrador administration suffered serious embarrassment when it botched the detention of Ovidio Guzman, a son of incarcerated kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Guanajuato's government said security forces captured Yepez and five other suspected gang members in a village called Franco Tavera in the Santa Cruz de Juventino Rosas municipality, a few miles north of where the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel was born. During the swoop on two buildings, soldiers freed a local businesswoman who had been kidnapped and seized a cache of weapons including a grenade launcher, the Defense Ministry said. Three people were found in the second property, including a sixth suspected gangster. News network Milenio broadcast a video of the night-time arrest of Yepez, who was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, jeans and sneakers. Flanked by several soldiers, Yepez gave his full name and age before also identifying himself as "Marro." Story continues Security forces have been gradually closing in on Yepez but he had managed to evade capture thanks to a tight network of informers who allowed him to stay one step ahead of his pursuers, according to analysts and media reports. LUCRATIVE TRADE A thorn in the government's side for several years, El Marro has appeared in expletive-laden videos threatening his enemies, and in June a clip of an emotional Yepez lamenting the arrest of his mother and sister was widely broadcast. The women, who are suspected of helping to run the gang, were released when judges picked apart the case against them. Notorious for fuel theft in a state that is crisscrossed by pipelines and home to a major oil refinery, the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel has become increasingly engulfed in a brutal turf war with the CJNG, based in the neighboring state of Jalisco. Hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of fuel were being stolen every year before Lopez Obrador cracked down soon after taking office. Abetted by the complicity of corrupt employees within state-run oil company Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex), the lucrative activity gave the Santa Rosa de Lima outfit outsize financial heft, said security analyst Benitez. "It's even more money than cocaine," he said. Lopez Obrador blamed corruption at Pemex for fuel theft and the new management he appointed has vowed to root it out. Yepez's interrogation could yield rich information on corruption inside Pemex, Benitez said. His detention also suggested that U.S. and Mexican security services had intensified cooperation to curtail local trafficking in the potent opiate fentanyl, a business of which Yepez was trying to secure a bigger share, he added. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau hailed news of the arrest in Guanajuato in a post on Twitter. A carmaking hub, Guanajuato was once one of the safest regions of Mexico. But recent violence there has turned that on its head, and pushed national homicide tallies to record levels. Celebrating the arrest in a video address on Sunday, Lopez Obrador said "shady deals" between local authorities and gangsters had precipitated the breakdown in security of the opposition-controlled Guanajuato. He did not offer any evidence. Once the government dismantles the Santa Rosa de Lima gang, Benitez said, it can increase pressure on the CJNG, which in late June was blamed for a brazen assassination attempt on Mexico City police chief Omar Garcia Harfuch. El Marro's adversary, CJNG boss Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera, is arguably the most wanted capo in Mexico. "Now 'El Mencho' is next up," Benitez said. Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said Yepez would be taken to the Altiplano maximum security prison where "El Chapo" Guzman was housed before he escaped through a tunnel in 2015. Guzman was recaptured in 2016, extradited a year later and convicted of drug trafficking by a U.S. court in 2019. (Reporting by Dave Graham and Noe Torres; Editing by Lisa Shumaker, Daniel Wallis and Diane Craft) Tom Cotton introduces bill banning federal funding to teach 1619 Project in schools Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas has introduced a bill in the Senate to prohibit public schools from using federal funds to teach The New York Times 1619 Project. Many school districts across the country have decided to add the 1619 Project to their U.S. history curricula, which teaches that the Revolution was fought over slavery and the institution of slavery was so embedded in the nation's DNA that the true founding was in 1619. Nikole Hannah-Jones, a staff writer for New York Times and New America Foundation fellow who first pitched the idea for the 1619 Project, wrote in the series introduction last year: Anti-black racism runs in the very DNA of this country. She won a Pulitzer Prize for her commentary in the series. School districts in Chicago, Illinois, Washington, D.C., and Buffalo, New York, began implementing the project in their K-12 course materials earlier this year. In Buffalo, where the materials are a mandated part of the history curriculum for seventh through 12th grade, students are taught about "lesser-known consequences of slavery ... Its essays deal with things like how plantation economics led to modern corporate, capitalist culture ..." NPR reported. The ongoing project being taught in schools, Cotton said, is a racially divisive, revisionist account of history that denies the noble principles of freedom and equality on which our nation was founded. Not a single cent of federal funding should go to indoctrinate young Americans with this left-wing garbage. Jake Silverstein, editor in chief of the New York Times Magazine, said at the time of the 1619 Project's launch last year that its goal was to "reframe American history by considering what it would mean to regard 1619 as our nations birth year. Doing so requires us to place the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of the story we tell ourselves about who we are as a country. After the project was published in the August 2019 edition of The News York Times Magazine, Princeton historian Sean Wilentz co-signed a letter along with Brown Universitys Gordon Wood, Princetons James McPherson and the City University of New Yorks James Oakes listing the factual errors in the 1619 Project that should have been corrected. While Silverstein published the historians' letter, he also rebuffed them. Wilentz wrote in a piece for The Atlantic that Silverstein "flatly denied that the project 'contains significant factual errors' and said that our request for corrections was not 'warranted.'" "No effort to educate the public in order to advance social justice can afford to dispense with a respect for basic facts," Wilentz said in The Atlantic. "In the long and continuing battle against oppression of every kind, an insistence on plain and accurate facts has been a powerful tool against propaganda that is widely accepted as truth. That tool is far too important to cede now." "My colleagues and I focused on the projects discussion of three crucial subjects: the American Revolution, the Civil War, and the long history of resistance to racism from Jim Crow to the present. No effort to reframe American history can succeed if it fails to provide accurate accounts of these subjects," he continued. The historians added that the lead essay in the 1619 Project, written by Hannah-Jones, "argues that 'one of the primary reasons the colonists decided to declare their independence from Britain was because they wanted to protect the institution of slavery.' That is a striking claim built on three false assertions." The Saving American History Act of 2020 authored by Cotton says, An activist movement is now gaining momentum to deny or obfuscate this history by claiming that America was not founded on the ideals of the (July 4, 1776) Declaration (of Independence) but rather on slavery and oppression. This distortion of history is being taught to children in public school classrooms via the project, which claims that nearly everything that has truly made America exceptional grew out of slavery, the bill says. The federal government, it adds, has a strong interest in promoting an accurate account of the nations history through public schools and forming young people into knowledgeable and patriotic citizens. Last month, the American Historical Association broadcast a discussion among historians about removing monuments that aired on C-SPAN. During that discussion, historian and award-winning author, Annette Gordon-Reed, was asked about the 1619 Project, of which she said: "If you want to pick something other than 1776 as the founding, you might pick 1607 when Englishmen rolled up on the North American continent and said, 'we've discovered it,' and began to push indigenous people off the land." "1619 was part of the English Empire," Gordon-Reed added. "There's no United States of America at that point. The founding was racist. ... The Constitution protected slavery ... but it also unleashed an anti-slavery movement the Revolution did. ... The founding means many things, it's not just one thing." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the new education policy announced by the government emphasises on making job creators instead of job seekers and is an attempt to transform the intent and the content of the countrys education system. Addressing the finale of the Smart India Hackathon, he said the National Education Policy-2020 facilitates inter-disciplinary study which will ensure that the focus is on what the students want to learn. It is not just a policy document but a reflection of the aspirations of over 130 crore people. A large section of students feel they are judged on the basis of subjects in which they have no interest... often there is pressure from friends and families and they start studying a particular subject without interest, Modi said. This approach has contributed to a population which is literate but what it has studied is of no use to it... despite having a pile of degrees, individuals feel incomplete and lack confidence which affects their whole life. The new education policy is an attempt to change this approach and bring systematic reforms in the education system by reforming the intent and content, he added. The prime minister said that the new NEP has been framed keeping in mind the aspirations of the youth of 21st century of our country. The 21st century is the era of knowledge. This is the time for increased focus on learning, research, innovation. This is exactly what Indias National Education Policy, 2020 does. We are focussing on the quality of education in India. Our attempts have been to make our education system the most advance and modern for students of our country. The policy is about the spirit which reflects that we are shifting from the burden of the school bag, which does not last beyond school, to the boon of learning which helps for life, from simply memorising to critical thinking. The role of the youth is very important in achieving the goal of ease of living to give a better life to the poor, he said, while addressing students. The NEP approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this week replaces the 34-year-old National Policy on Education framed in 1986 and is aimed at paving the way for transformational reforms in school and higher education systems to make India a global knowledge superpower. Teaching up to class 5 in mother tongue or regional language, lowering the stakes of board exams, a single regulator for higher education institutions except for law and medical colleges and common entrance tests for universities are part of the sweeping reforms in the NEP. Replacing the 10+2 structure of school curricula with a 5+3+3+4 structure corresponding to age groups 3-8, 8-11, 11-14 and 14-18 years respectively, scrapping M.Phil programmes and implementing common norms for private and public higher education institutions are among other salient features of the new policy. Languages of India will progress and develop further due to the changes brought in the education policy. This will not only promote knowledge and learning in the country, but will also strengthen its unity, the prime minister said. Hackathon is a non-stop digital product development competition organised by the HRD Ministry, where problems are posed to technology students to suggest innovative solutions. Smart India Hackathon is an initiative to identify new and disruptive digital technology innovations for solving the challenges faced by our country. This year, we will have more than 10,000 students competing to solve 243 problem statements from 37 central government departments, 17 state governments and 20 industries, a senior HRD Ministry official said. Each problem statement carries a prize money of Rs 1 lakh except the student innovation theme which will have three winners, 1st, 2nd and 3rd, with prize money of Rs 1 lakh, Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively, he added. This is the fourth edition of the hackathon organised by HRD Ministry. As outcome of Smart India Hackathons till date, around 331 prototypes have been developed, 71 start-ups are under formation, 19 start-ups are successfully registered. Further, 39 solutions have already been deployed at various departments, and around 64 potential solutions have been funded for further development, the official said. British Airways owner IAG plans to raise 2.75 billion euros ($3.27 billion) from shareholders to repair the coronavirus-sized hole in its finances and brace for a more chaotic future. Chief Executive Willie Walsh said the plan, backed by biggest shareholder Qatar Airways, was needed to survive the most severe crisis in aviation history after the group lost more in one quarter than it has ever lost in a year. "These are really extreme times," Walsh told the BBC, adding IAG had hoped to be flying at about 50 per cent capacity by July, but was instead at 20 per ... A black bear that attacked a man in North Jersey was euthanized by the state earlier this week. The state Division of Fish and Wildlife trapped and killed the suspected problem bear on Tuesday in West Milford, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said in a statement. The DEP believes the bear, which had entered multiple homes in the past week, was the same one that attacked a man in his garage on July 24. The victim of that attack, 82-year-old Ronald Jelinek, was left with more than 30 stitches, according to a NorthJersey.com report. Jelinek, who lives in the High Crest Lake section of West Milford, was reportedly attacked when he walked in on the bear trying to get into a refrigerator. Jelinek declined to comment when reached by NJ Advance Media. This is the only bear attack recorded so far in 2020. It is extremely rare that black bears attack humans. New Jersey didnt have a recorded fatal bear attack on a person until 2014, when 22-year-old Darsh Patel, a Rutgers student and Edison native, was killed by a black bear while hiking with friends in the Apshawa Preserve, which is also in West Milford. The attack on Patel could be considered to be one in a million, experts said at the time. This year, between January 1 and July 21, there have been 200 bear sightings around New Jersey, according to DEP data. Thats about a 90% increase from the same time period in 2019, when there were 105 sightings statewide. The number of Category 1 bear incidents, in which state policy is to euthanize the responsible bear, has remained mostly steady. There have been 23 Category 1 incidents from January 1 to July 21 this year, compared to 22 during the same time last year. But the number of reported home entries by bears has more than doubled in those comparisons, with nine this year compared to four in the same time during 2019. Those numbers do not include Jelineks bear encounter, which occurred a few days after that date range. The DEP said earlier this year that bear sightings may be up because more people are at home, thanks to the coronavirus. This is the time of year when bears are looking for habitat, particularly younger males that have left their mothers, DEP spokesman Larry Hajna said at the start of July. Reports may have increased due to more people being at home seeing bears as they disperse into habitats. The surging number of bear sightings and incidents has rekindled debate over New Jerseys bear hunt, with hunting advocates like the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance using the statistics to call for an expansion of the annual season. Gov. Phil Murphy campaigned on a promise to end the states bear hunt, a move called for by animal rights activists and some environmental groups. But the governor is unable to take such action on his own, as the states hunting regulations are approved by the New Jersey Fish and Game Council. While he is unable to end the hunt outright, Murphy did ban bear hunting on state lands in 2018. That ban remains in effect. In January 2018, just days before Murphy took office, a report from state wildlife officials warned that ending the bear hunt could cause New Jerseys bear population to double by 2022. The numbers of bears killed by hunters has dropped since Murphys restrictions went into effect. There were 225 bears harvested in New Jersey in 2018, and 315 harvested in 2019. Both are down from the 409 bears harvested in 2017, the last hunt under former Gov. Chris Christie. New Jerseys 2020 bear hunt is scheduled to begin Oct. 12. To reduce the risk of dangerous encounters with bears, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife recommends taking steps to keep sources of food, birdseed, trash and other things that may attract the animals out of reach. These steps range from using bear-resistant garbage containers and avoiding feeding birds when bears are active, to regularly cleaning outdoor grills and removing fruits and nuts that fall from trees into your yard. People who do encounter a bear should remain calm, make the bear aware of their presence by speaking assertively and making noise, avoid direct eye contact with the bear and allow the allow to have an escape route, according to state safety tips. Black bear sightings and suspected instances of bear nuisance in New Jersey should be reported to the DEPs 24-hour, toll-free hotline at 1-877-WARN DEP (1-877-927-6337). Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Michael Sol Warren may be reached at mwarren@njadvancemedia.com. (Natural News) Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has ordered the Ohio Board of Pharmacy (OBP) to withdraw a rule preventing the prescription and use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for treating the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). After receiving a barrage of support for the drug, which Americas Frontline Doctors (AFD) Dr. Stella Immanuel publicly announced helped cure more than 350 of her own patients, as well as at the request of Gov. DeWine, the OBP decided to withdraw a proposed rule that would have banned the controversial medication. Therefore, prohibitions on the prescribing of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine in Ohio for the treatment of COVID-19 will not take effect at this time, the OBP announced. Earlier in the week, Gov. DeWine indicated that he supports the position of FDA (Food and Drug Administration) commissioner Steven Hahn, who has publicly stated that he believes the decision to use HCQ or any other medication or remedy, for that matter should be between doctor and patient, and nobody else, despite the eventual outcome. I agree with the statement from Dr. Steven Hahn, Commissioner of @US_FDA, that the decision about prescribing hydroxychloroquine to treat #COVID19 should be between a doctor and a patient, Gov. DeWine stated. Therefore, I am asking the Ohio Board of Pharmacy to halt their new rule prohibiting the selling or dispensing of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. How much longer are Americans going to let corrupt Fauci run the show? The decision comes after much controversy over the AFD event, which was systematically censored from every major tech platform this week. Many have come out in defense of HCQ ever since, prompting Gov. DeWine to intervene on behalf of patients everywhere who would like to at least try the drug without government interference. AFD is hardly the only authoritative voice supporting HCQ, by the way. Dr. Harvey Risch, an esteemed epidemiologist from Yale University, published a powerful op-ed in Newsweek the other day citing numerous studies and evidences showing that HCQ does, in fact, work. Like many others in his field, Risch has bravely come forward to state that Anthony Fauci is waging a misinformation campaign against HCQ, even after stating 15 years ago that it works to treat coronaviruses. Fauci continues to dig his heels in the sand, having just the other day appeared on an episode of Good Morning America to downplay HCQs purported benefits. Fauci claimed that the overwhelming prevailing clinical trials have indicated that it is not effective in [treating] coronavirus disease. [Fauci] has been maintaining a studious position that only randomized controlled trial evidence has any value, Risch stated during his own subsequent interview with Just the News. Everything else, Risch noted about Fauci, he calls anecdotal. In Rischs view, the key to defeating COVID-19 is to join HCQ with zinc and one of two antibiotics, which he says has been shown to be highly effective. If deployed widely, he adds, then 100,000 peoples lives could be saved. According to Hahn, there is some evidence to suggest a benefit with HCQ, though most of the randomized trials, he says, did not show a benefit to hydroxychloroquine, both in the prophylactic setting and in the treatment both early and late. HCQ is getting shunned because there is no money to be made from it, wrote one Zero Hedge commenter about the reason behind the crusade against HCQ. Fauci is about representing the interests of Big Pharma and the Democrats. He doesnt give a crap about saving lives. More related news about HCQ and the fight for truth about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is available at Pandemic.news. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Myanmars Karen community marches for justice after soldiers are accused of shooting dead a mother and stealing her jewellery. Myanmars military says two soldiers accused of killing a woman from an ethnic minority community will face a court-martial. The mother of threes death has reignited anger in Karen state, where there has been unrest for decades. Karen community leaders say the army is using coronavirus lockdown measures as an excuse to attack villagers. Al Jazeeras Barbara Angopa reports. The new head of the Ukrainian delegation is set to raise the issue of creating a fund for the restoration of Donbas, as well as a free economic zone. First President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk, who has been recently appointed President's Envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas settlement in Minsk, has named his priority steps in talks. The new delegation chair set to raise the issue of establishing a fund for the restoration of Donbas, as well as a free economic zone, he told Ukraine 24 TV channel. "The first step is of an offensive nature. Let's start with the Budapest Memorandum. Back then, Ukraine laid down its nuclear weapons 175 missiles. Each missile had five warheads, so that's 1,000 in total. Each launch site cost a billion dollars at the time, which would be around $300 billion nowadays. And this step by Ukraine was very important for reducing the nuclear arsenals and expenditures on the nuclear arsenals of nuclear powers that are still out there," said the first president. Kravchuk says Ukraine in this regard has the right to raise the issue of establishing a special fund to restore the war-torn Donbas. Read alsoKravchuk says Ukraine's first PM could join TCG talks "If we discuss this and present the idea in a broader sense, through diplomatic efforts by all of us together, and if Russia shows support... I want [to see] the Donbas Reanimation Fund people will start immediately doing some concrete things," he said. Another initiative is about setting up a free economic zone in Donbas. "When I was president, we created a free economic zone, which included Donetsk, Luhansk, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Then everyone forgot about it. I think now this also needs to be done not only in government-controlled territories but in all areas. And when people engage in concrete things, investments will start flowing there. And there'll be no need to talk about any special status for Donbas," said Ukraine's first president. As UNIAN reported earlier, Leonid Kravchuk said that for the sake of peace in Donbas he was ready to engage in dialogue with representatives of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. SCHAGHTICOKE Law enforcement officials searched the Hudson River Sunday for a 77-year-old male swimmer who has gone missing. Rescuers responded to a call of a person in the water off 323 Hudson Ave. in the Pleasantdale section of the town at 8 p.m. Saturday. Emergency responders were searching the section of the river Saturday night which is north of the bridge between Troy and Waterford in Saratoga County. Witnesses reported that the Schaghticoke man had entered the river to swim, when he began having difficulty and went under the surface, state police said. State police continued searching the area Sunday morning with the assistance of state police Aviation and the Underwater Recovery Team. Multiple other agencies also responded to assist including: The Saratoga County Sheriffs Office, Rensselaer County Sheriffs Office, Albany Fire Department, Melrose Fire Department, Pleasantdale Fire Department, and Waterford Fire Department. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. As of Sunday afternoon, the swimmer had not been located. Regina police have ordered the Walking With Our Angels protest camp set up in Wascana Park to take down the teepee and leave. Tristen Durocher and Chris Merasty walked 635 kilometers from Air Ronge to Regina in response to the Saskatchewan government denying a suicide prevention bill earlier this month. Durocher is now on a hunger strike until meaningful legislation is passed. Durocher said he was woken up at 5 a.m. CT this morning at the camp with demands from police to leave the park. "They came to politely say we're here to enforce the bylaws but we will give you the opportunity to take the teepee down," Durocher said. "What I saw them here for today was not to enforce the bylaws, was not to take that teepee down, but to intimidate us into leaving of our own free will." He said the police asked him if he would take down the teepee himself, he said he would not and when asked if they could take it down, he said no. "They knock on the teepee pole maybe [after] ten minutes 'Hello, we would politely like you guys to leave so that we may take this down'," Durocher said. "'Sorry we're a little bit naked right now. We need [to] dress' and they got tired of waiting, they waited less than an hour and they all left." He said he and the camp are in violation of certain city bylaws in the park. Starting a campfire, staying overnight on the property, erecting a permanent structure and not signing a permit to demonstrate there are all against the bylaws, Durocher said. Oliveir Jodouin/Radio-Canada Durocher said this isn't the first time cops have come to tell him to leave since he arrived in Regina on Friday. "They came yesterday to hand me a court summons for a court date set for November and it took them six people in uniform to hand me one piece of paper," Durocher said. "A boy who's sitting cross-legged peacefully sipping a cup of tea." Raising awareness The camp has a teepee set up surrounded by dozens of pictures of suicide victims. Durocher said he has permission from the families of those lost to put up their pictures. Story continues "My Facebook page Walking with our Angels did a call for submissions for families to send us photos of their lost loved ones so we could do a portrait gallery and honour them," Durocher said. "And make this country look at them, make those politicians look at them so that they could see these are not just statistics, these are human beings and these are children. "These are innocent people who for some reason felt so hopeless that they couldn't even believe in tomorrow." Olivier Jodouin/Radio-Canada Durocher said his main reason for setting up the camp and going on a hunger strike is to spread public awareness of the suicide epidemic affecting Indigenous communities across the province. "This province is rich, this country is rich, these politicians and their coffers funded by our public have access to the best experts in Saskatchewan, in Canada and the world," Durocher said. "They could pay for those consultations, the only question is will they and the only question is why haven't they and another question is when will they? "This affects more than just Indigenous people." According to the Saskatchewan Coroners Service, 2,338 people have died by suicide from 2005 to 2019 in the province. Twenty-eight per cent of those people were Indigenous. According to Statistics Canada, in 2016 Indigenous people made up 16.3 per cent of the population in Saskatchewan. Similarities to Justice camp In February of 2018, a camp was set up in the same place Durocher's camp currently sits. The Justice For Our Stolen Children camp was set up in response to the non-guilty verdicts of Gerald Stanley and Raymond Cormier, two non-Indigenous men accused of killing two Indigenous youth. Stanley, accused of killing 22-year old Colton Boushie and Cormier, accused of killing 15-year old Tina Fontaine. Penny Smoke The camp stood for nearly 200 days before being taken down after many police interventions and a court order. Durocher said he expected similar treatment from Regina Police when he decided to set up the protest camp. "I'm anticipating intimidation, I'm anticipating kind of manipulative [and] scare tactics [like] six men to hand me one piece of paper but I'm not really expecting a forced removal," Durocher said. "That would blow this up bigger than it needs to be." Durocher said Black Lives Matter protests are in the public eye right now as is the COVID-19 pandemic. He said his protest creates more tension in an already tense society. "This could be a spark that ignites a blaze that we don't need," Durocher said. "We need to be together, we need to be co-operative." Frequently, during a down and back trip on I-95 to Baltimore, I find myself turning onto Lombard Street in that city and pulling into Attmans, which advertises itself as a New York Delicatessen. Pushing political correctness aside, Attmans is a Jewish deli, plain and simple, started by a Jewish family 105 years ago. In Richmond, Virginia, a similar deli, Perlys, established by Harry and Mary Perlstein in the 1960s, was the Saturday morning breakfast spot for my group of friends for many years. Everywhere I have lived, in the South, the Midwest and here in New Jersey, there has been a flourishing Jewish community and culture. It was not always in the spotlight, but easy to find if one just looks. Attmans, Perlys and many other businesses owned by members of the Jewish community have prospered for several reasons. One is that members of that community deliberately provide their support and patronage. Doing so enhances their community and culture. This is a culture that Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson, TV host Nick Cannon and Philadelphia NAACP leader Rodney Muhammad appear to be intimidated by and unfamiliar with. Such a determination is fair after the three men posted or tweeted disparaging, stereotypical remarks or images about those of the Jewish faith and culture. What is so sad about what they disseminated and apparently believe is that these are experienced, well-versed Black men with broad public platforms and high profiles. It is also safe to say that, at some point in their lives, all three have experienced directly the impact of prejudice and discrimination yet, they were aggressive with their own prejudices and discriminatory comments. Sociology teaches that this type of behavior is not a naturally occurring phenomena, but is learned The Black community not only has no reason to vilify the Jewish community, it has reason to appreciate and recall that communitys historical assistance, and to replicate its formula for success. Perhaps the athlete, the host and the chapter leader should broaden their knowledge and understanding of Jewish contributions to Black freedom and justice by reading the book We Are Not Afraid by Seth Cagin and Phillip Dray. This book details the 1964 Philadelphia, Mississippi, killings of three young civil rights workers, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney, and Michael Schwerner by the Ku Klux Klan and supportive local police. Chaney, who was Black, and Goodman and Schwener, who were Jewish, were killed for simply registering Black people to vote. They willingly went into the Deep South to bring the freedoms white Americans enjoyed to southern Blacks, who often lived in rural areas where voting could get them killed. Perhaps Jackson, Cannon, and Muhammad never heard of this trio, or perhaps they are intimidated or unsettled by the success of the Jewish community and its own ability to overcome. The formula the Jewish minority uses to compete and succeed in business, housing, education and community development seems to be anything but complicated but it is one the Black community seems to be unable to perfect. Jews enjoy group cooperation and group loyalty with respect to these areas. They pool resources and capital to establish their own businesses and then support them with their own dollars. In traditionally Jewish neighborhoods, you will see every business and institution a community needs, from restaurants and retail shops, to hospitals, banks and investment firms. Obviously, many of these services are lacking in predominantly Black neighborhoods, whose residents must spend their dollars in places and with people who are unsympathetic to the needs of the their own community. Often, Black consumers serve to enhance the wealth of others, never reaping any benefit from their combined spending power. The Jewish community has also been very successful in establishing and maintaining its own cultural and educational institutions. Many Jewish youngsters are immersed in Jewish history and language at schools or programs operated by members of the community themselves so the truth is learned. In comparison, the Black community begs for Black history to be taught broadly in public school systems, oblivious to the fact that this critical endeavor is best when it comes from within, not left to others who will frame it in a way beneficial to them. Instead of being angry and disparaging toward the Jewish community, the Black community should analyze and model its success, while never forgetting the sacrifices made by both groups in this fight for freedom. Milton W. Hinton Jr. is retired as director of equal opportunity for the Gloucester County government, and is past president of the Gloucester County Branch NAACP. Email: miltonw@imap.cc. Twitter: MiltonHintonJr@WritestheNation. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. MAYOR of Limerick, Cllr Michael Collins says his hometown has been let down for years with the lack of a big-ticket employer. During his year in office, the Newcastle West man wants to promote local business, and bring more enterprise to the county town. Weve been let down through the years that we havent a major employer in Newcastle West. But in saying that, we have loads of indigenous employers. We have a farming community round Newcastle West, we have Ballygowan, Filtertek. A good few companies holding their own and creating employment, he said. Mayor Collins was first elected in 2004, and survived an era when his Fianna Fail were decimated to become the second largest vote-getter in Limerick last summer. Winding the clock back to those early-millennium days of 2004, one of the things he noted is the fact there were so many more pubs in the town. There was 15, 16, perhaps 18 pubs. Now theres nine. Public houses have been severely hit. Its a national issue, he said. Obviously this year, the hospitality trade has disproportionately suffered due to the Covid-19 lockdown, with the pandemic also claiming another event which would have represented a huge economic boon to Newcastle Wests pub and restaurant trade the Fleadh Cheoil na Mumhan. This Irish music festival, which the mayor was co-organising, was cancelled in April. We did a virtual Fleadh available through Facebook. We had a lot of work done in the background trying to get people to put up their videos. Ive done a few words to introduce it. Weve been working to keep the thing in peoples minds, he said. But, the mayor acknowledges, its not the same as the real thing. Its hoped public houses will be able to benefit from a boost when the festival does eventually come to West Limerick next summer. The hospitality sector has been seriously hit. Who knows, they could see tougher times ahead. They need to be supported. Anything we can do investment-wise, we should do the maximum we can to promote them, he concluded. HONG KONG When Tian Feilong first arrived in Hong Kong as demands for free elections were on the rise, he said he felt sympathetic toward a society that seemed to reflect the liberal political ideas he had studied as a graduate student in Beijing. Then, as the calls escalated into protests across Hong Kong in 2014, he increasingly embraced Chinese warnings that freedom could go too far, threatening national unity. He became an ardent critic of the demonstrations, and six years later he is a staunch defender of the sweeping national security law that China has imposed on the former British colony. Mr. Tian has joined a tide of Chinese scholars who have turned against Western-inspired ideas that once flowed in Chinas universities, instead promoting the proudly authoritarian worldview ascendant under Xi Jinping, the Communist Party leader. This cadre of Chinese intellectuals serve as champions, even official advisers, defending and honing the partys hardening policies, including the rollout of the security law in Hong Kong. Back when I was weak, I had to totally play by your rules. Now Im strong and have confidence, so why cant I lay down my own rules and values and ideas? Mr. Tian, 37, said in an interview, explaining the prevailing outlook in China. Witnessing the tumult as a visiting scholar in Hong Kong in 2014, Mr. Tian said, he rethought the relationship between individual freedom and state authority. Preparations for the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya are in full swing. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will visit here on Sunday for the second time in a week to take stock of preparations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram Temple here on August 5 after which the construction of the temple will commence in Ayodhya. Several dignitaries are expected to participate in the ceremony. Speaking to ANI BJP veteran leader who has been closely associated with Ram Temple Movement Vinay Katiyar told ANI that with the Prime Minister arriving at Ayodhya on August 5 for laying the foundation stone of Ram Temple it is the responsibility of the chief minister of the State that he should oversee the preparations. Preparations for decorating the whole of Ayodhya is also being carried out under the supervision of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath. On Saturday, several areas of Ayodhya were illuminated with diyas (earthen lamps) and colourful lights. Over the last one month all the top officials of the state, including Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya have also visited Ayodhya. Be it the widening of the roads or the other developmental activities in Ayodhya. The picture of the whole city looks like changed now. On Saturday, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Ayodhya, said that Covid-19 protocols have been put in place. Also read: Ram Temple marks the beginning of a new India, says RSS Bhaiyyaji Joshi We have requested everyone to not let more than five people gather at a place. We have also planned route diversions at 12 places to ease traffic movement, the SSP said. A local resident of Ayodhya Ramesh told ANI that commencement of work for the Ram temple was a proud moment for them. This is a historic moment for us and govt is doing wonderful work for all-round development of this city, he said. The Supreme Court, on November 9 last year had directed the Central government to hand over the site at Ayodhya for the construction of the Ram Temple. The World Health Organisation has announced additional efforts to eliminate hepatitis by 2030 . The overall strategy calls for the prevention of new infections through universal implementation of the hepatitis B birth-dose vaccine. It also calls for full vaccine coverage, and access to affordable diagnostics to identify and care for infected individuals. Hepatitis refers to the inflammation of the liver and is commonly caused by viral infections. It is major global public health problem, accounting for more than 1.4 million deaths every year . It can also be caused by medications, substance abuse, toxins, alcohol and autoimmune conditions. There are different strains of the virus, causing hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Of major concern in sub-Saharan Africa is hepatitis B . With a prevalence of 6.1%, it is more common in the region than HIV, which stands at prevalence of 4.9%. In the WHO African region, mother-to-child transmission and horizontal transmission during early childhood are the leading causes of hepatitis B infection. Early protection is vital Women who are have hepatitis B are more than 10 times more likely to pass on the infection to their newborns. The risk of becoming a chronic carrier of hepatitis B stands at 95% for infections acquired during the perinatal period. The current WHO strategy to end mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B includes routine screening of all pregnant women, the treatment of highly infectious infected mothers, birthdose vaccination and the administration of hepatitis B immunoglobulin for exposed infants. Infant vaccination has been shown to reduce the risk of developing hepatitis B by more than three times. This is particularly the case if the vaccine is administered within the first three days after birth. But none of these practices are rigorously enforced in many parts of Africa. This is because of an absence of evidence based policies . The challenge A major challenge in the control of hepatitis globally is the limited attention that it has received in the past from governments and funding agencies. This is largely due to the difficulty in attribution of death as a result of infections. The complications that can result from hepatitis, such as liver cancer, generally get highlighted as a standalone cause of death. Hepatitis is not noted as the reason for death. As a result, more money has been invested in other areas of public health, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis control. This is despite deaths due to hepatitis being more numerous than those caused by HIV/AIDS and comparable to those caused by tuberculosis in the world and in sub-Saharan Africa in particular. In addition, there is a dearth of information on the burden and patterns of the disease. This is despite a 2014 World Health Assembly resolution that urged member states to develop and implement coordinated multi-sectorial national strategies for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of viral hepatitis based on local epidemiological context. These were to be supported by targeted health promotion and prevention actions and appropriate and effective viral hepatitis surveillance systems. The absence of evidence based policy actions continues to limit the establishment of effective responses. For example, women continue to present at maternity centres for delivery without ever having been screened for hepatitis B. The worry is that some are symptomatic, as a recent study from Uganda showed. The hepatitis B vaccine has been available since 1982 and immunisation is an effective strategy. But poor uptake and coverage in the region persists. This is despite various strategies to ensure full vaccination coverage. The hepatitis B vaccine coverage in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated to be at 6% compared to the global coverage of 43% . And the immunisation schedules in this region remain a challenge since it's often difficult to get babies vaccinated within the first hours or days after birth . These challenges are further compounded by weak health systems with limited healthcare budgets that make diagnostics and treatment unavailable to the wider population. All these challenges have been further expanded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Closing the gaps In the journey to a hepatitis free future, several actions are needed. There needs to be more deliberate action to screen all pregnant women. More targeted efforts need to be implemented to reach women, especially those in marginalised and far-flung areas, to ensure that they get antenatal care. Governments also need to allocate resources for epidemiological studies to inform country level control strategies. And there's an urgent need to increase uptake and coverage of both new and old vaccines. For example, estimates show that between 2021 and 2035, Nigeria could prevent between 0.3 and 1.2 million deaths if sufficient investments were made for the inclusion of the hepatitis B vaccine as part of the birthdose round of immunisations. Innovations to ensure continuity of care including access to vaccine services are needed. These could involve the use of technology and mobile clinics. Taking lessons from the HIV/AIDS control measures is invaluable. Co-opting hepatitis B into the HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment messages would also help register quick gains as the viruses have similar routes of transmission. Success in attaining a hepatitis B free future also requires strengthened partnerships between the WHO, governments and funding agencies. The additional recent WHO recommendations, informed by additional evidence on the safety and efficacy of tenofovir (an antiviral drug), is increasing its use. All pregnant women who test positive for hepatitis B infection and have a high viral load can be given preventive treatment with tenofovir from the 28th week of pregnancy. The other change is that, in contexts where hepatitis B viral load testing is not available, HBeAg , a low cost test, can be used to determine eligibility for preventive antiviral treatment. Pauline Bakibinga receives funding from the Medical Research Council (UK), the UK Department for International Development, National Institute for Health Research (UK) and Comic Relief(UK). None of the agencies had a role in the decision to write and/or publish this piece Aheisibwe Hillary is a Director at Neocare Clinic and Fertility centre. Aheisibwe has also previously received research funding from the First Mile Project and MESAU-MEPI, all at Mbarara University of Science and Technology. By Pauline Bakibinga, Associate Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center And Aheisibwe Hillary, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Mbarara University of Science and Technology Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. He was taken to the hospital for testing on Sunday morning as 3 members of Raj Bhawan including 84 security people recently tested positive for the deadly virus. Banwarilal Purohit, Governor of the state of Tamil Nadu has tested positive for coronavirus. He was taken to the hospital for testing on Sunday morning as 3 members of Raj Bhawan including 84 security people recently tested positive for the deadly virus. The governor will be taken care and treated by a team of doctors at his home itself. Purohit has been instructed to remain isolated at his home. He will be monitored by a team of doctors from the hospital. A Chennai based hospital informed of his health status today. An official at Kauvery Hospital said that Banwarilal Purohits condition is mild, asymptomatic and he is clinically stable. Staff posted inside the Raj Bhawan was found with coronavirus symptoms. Later, 147 people were tested against Covid-19. The results of the testing were shocking as 87 members of Raj Bhawan including security and fire staff members were found coronavirus positive. Also read: Amit Shah tests Covid-19 positive, hospitalised Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit tests positive for COVID-19, advised home isolation: Hospital buelltin Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 2, 2020 Also read: Amitabh Bachchan tests negative for Covid-19, discharged from hospital Earlier when the 3 Raj Bhawan members were found coronavirus positive, the governors office issued a statement stating that the three personnel were not working in the main building and did not come in contact with the governor or other senior officials. In the past few days, several other ministers and lawmakers in Chennai have been found coronavirus positive as well. Also, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was found coronavirus positive today. Also read: Sushants sim cards registered under Siddharth Pithanis name, tracking call records: Bihar Police A nightclub in Lancashire has controversially become the first in the UK to reopen after lockdown despite a government ban. The venue lies less than six miles from areas in the north western county which have been placed back on partial lockdown following a spike in Covid-19 cases. Residents in five nearby boroughs of Lancashire as well as Greater Manchester and parts of West Yorkshire have been placed on localised lockdown. Switch nightclub in Preston reopened its doors to party-goers on Saturday night after it was given the green light by council chiefs. It comes despite Boris Johnson announcing last month that nightclubs across the UK must remain closed amid an easing of lockdown restrictions. Footage posted to an Instagram account shows reveller in the busy venue, while dozens more queued up outside. Switch nightclub in Preston reopened its doors to party-goers on Saturday night after it was given the green light by council chiefs Footage on social media shows revellers in the venue, while dozens more queued up outside Some party-goers paid up to 200 for a ticket to enter the venue. Preston City Council announced that the club was legally allowed to reopen just hours beforehand in a surprise U-turn from its earlier position. In a statement at around 7pm on Saturday night, the Council said: 'Following fresh external Counsel advice, Preston City Council has just informed Switch that despite yesterday's clear Government guidance to the contrary, they are legally able to reopen.' They added: 'This is on the strict basis that Switch proceeds with the agreed safety precautions and do not allow dancing in the venue, the venue is now free to reopen this evening.' The Council acknowledged that the decision was 'a very different position to what we announced earlier. ' The announcement sparked backlash from furious locals. 'This is an absolute disgrace!!! I've had to cancel my wedding with a weeks notice yet you're allowing a nightclub to open!! Appalled by this!!' one person wrote on Twitter. Another said: 'Absolutely ridiculous. We will end up in lockdown again by the end of the month. The shock announcement by Preston City Council sparked backlash from furious locals One Twitter user accused the council of being 'spineless', while another insisted that the Council should withdraw the nightclub's license on public health grounds. 'Surely you still have the right to withdraw their licence on public health grounds? That is still a local decision. The councils integrity looks very poor after this U turn. How do you expect people to follow your advice to distance after this?,' they wrote. The Prime Minister reiterated last month that nightclubs across the country must remain closed despite an easing of lockdown restrictions. 'Nightclubs, soft play areas sadly need to remain closed for now, though this will be kept under review,' Mr Johnson said on July 17. A Conservative lawmaker in Britain was arrested this weekend after a former parliamentary employee accused him of raping her, according to British news reports. The lawmaker, who is said to have once held a government leadership position, has not been publicly identified. He was released on bail after being taken into custody on Saturday in an East London police station, the police said. The arrest posed problems for the government of Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain, creating pressure on him to suspend the lawmaker from the Conservative Party and forcing the government to account for when it learned of the allegations. The Sunday Times, the British newspaper that first reported the arrest, said that the allegations were previously raised with two senior members of Mr. Johnsons government. But officials said on Sunday that the lawmaker would remain in the Conservative Party and that they would review the decision only once the police finished their investigation. New Delhi: The Bihar Police recently recreated Sushant Singh Rajput's death scene as part of its investigation. The team also thoroughly investigated the actor's room to get some information and meanwhile, quizzed his staff members. While nothing concrete was found from the spot, one of Sushant's staff members, however, made another startling revelation about his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. The man, who worked has Sushant's sweeper, said that Rhea used to control everything at the house. No one was allowed to enter Sushant's room without her permission. "Madam even used to decide whether Sushant's room will be cleaned or not," the staff member said. He added that there was a time when Sushant was not able to meet his staff. Meanwhile, the Bihar Police is keeping a close check on Sushant's friend-roommate Sidharth Pithani's whereabouts. He was the one who first saw Sushant's body after the actor died by suicide on June 14. It has been learnt that the SIT also wants to question Sidharth in the case but the team is unable to reach out to him. Sidharth, who was questioned by the Mumbai Police, has been changing his statement. Patna SIT has submitted a request to the Mumbai Police to give them access to Sushant's post-mortem report and other important documents for the probe. The Mumbai Police will submit the reports only after getting legal advice. Meanwhile, the Bihar Police has received Sushant's ex-manager Disha Salian's post-mortem report and is trying to probe if there is any connection between the two deaths. Disha allegedly died by suicide in Mumbai a week before Sushant passed away Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore district turned tense after two rival political groups indulged in a violent face-off on Saturday night. Several people were reported injured while one man was killed during the attack. Boats and vehicles were set afire, houses ransacked and the public was plunged in fear as the factions carried out their attacks. Allegedly, the two local groups have held political enmity for a long time now, it escalated after the brother of a former local body chief was reportedly murdered. As per initial reports, 25 boats, 50 fishing nets, 25 two-wheelers, and four cars were set on fire, while ten houses were reportedly ransacked during the arson. Revenue officials and district authorities are evaluating the property damaged. The police officials too swung into action and heavy force was deployed in the village to control the situation. So far, cases have been filed against 50 people for murder and riots in the district. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 11:27:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WELLINGTON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- There were three new cases of COVID-19 to report in managed isolation in New Zealand on Sunday, announced the New Zealand Ministry of Health in a statement. According to the ministry, the first case was a child of a previously reported case, who arrived in New Zealand on July 14 from Pakistan, via Dubai. The second case was a woman in her 30s who arrived in New Zealand on July 28 from Los Angeles. The third case was a woman in her 40s who arrived in New Zealand on Aug. 1 from Manila, via Hong Kong. These three people were currently staying at the Auckland quarantine facility, it said. The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 reached 1,215, which was the number New Zealand report to the World Health Organization, said the ministry of health. The total number of active cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand's managed isolation and quarantine facilities reached 25. However, there was no one in New Zealand receiving hospital-level care for COVID-19, stated the ministry. The ministry said that it has been 93 days since the last case of COVID-19 was acquired locally from an unknown source. New Zealand laboratories completed 2,401 tests on Saturday, which brought the total number of tests completed to date to 470,469. Surveillance testing was ongoing over the weekend in Auckland, Queenstown and Christchurch, which were locations connected to a confirmed case in South Korea, said the ministry. Enditem Former Connecticut Congressman Gary Franks makes a number of interesting points in his Opinion piece of July 20 which I do not quarrel with but there is one strong exception. As an African American youth in the 1930s and 40s, I grew up as a member of an Abraham Lincoln, strongly Republican household and I take strong objection to his analysis and conclusion regarding why todays Republican party is so bereft of substantial Black support. It is my contention that rather than Blacks abandoning the Republicans, the party abandoned them in its love affair with anti-black Dixiecrat and White Citizen Council leaders of the Democratic Party, particularly during the Reagan and Nixon administrations, in an effort to stay in power. Under this pairing, liberals and moderates in the Republican Party became a vanishing breed with strongly diminishing influence and less ability to join successfully with Democrat liberals and moderates on legislation of benefit to African Americans and to groups at the low and bottom end of the economic scale. In pressing for economic, social and humanitarian measures to address their urgent concerns, Blacks looked around and saw that the party of Abraham Lincoln had abandoned them in favor of their new alliance, which continues until today. African Americans align more frequently with Democrats because we find far more commonality with them on issues like social justice, voter suppression, police reform, expanded health care and expansion of workers rights and benefits in general. In general, I agree that politically one should guard against putting all of ones eggs into one of two or more available baskets. But in my view, the basket that is offered by the Republican Party particularly todays Trump-dominated party comes up grievously short. That and only that is why the current political arena contains relatively few Black Republicans. Edgar Russell Milford Members of Generation Z, born in 1996 and after, have begun joining the labor market and will quickly become the major labor force in the economy. T, an office worker in HCM City, said she was surprised about the thoughts and characteristics of young people, especially members of Gen Z. Ts daughter, majoring in graphics design, found a very good job at a prestigious media company when she was a third year university student. However, after one year of working, she decided to give up the job. T said her daughter didn't want to be a hired worker anymore. She would rather become a freelancer, so she can do what she wants, T explained. Since graduation, T has been working at home, receiving jobs, and getting paid via the internet. The decision by T was confusing in the eyes of her mother and people born in the 1960s and 1970s, but understandable to young people belonging to Gen Z. Anphabe conducted a survey of 25,000 Gen Z people, mostly students from 93 universities throughout the country, and reported that 81 percent of the people know what they want and dont want to do. They choose jobs based on their personal interests and abilities, rather than social and family factors (general trends, economic conditions, advice from parents). They choose jobs based on their personal interests and abilities, rather than social and family factors (general trends, economic conditions, advice from parents). The survey found that schools and employers exerted a weak influence on Gen Z people. According to Thanh Nguyen, CEO of Anphabe, many businesses believe they have good HR strategies as they have invested in career guidance programs. In other words, they prepare their labor force by seeking workers when they are still at university. However, things are now different. The survey found that 34 percent of Gen Z people said they want to run private business or join startups after they graduate. And 8 percent said there was no need to work for companies and it would be better to be a freelancer. Fourteen percent said they may work for non-profit organizations instead of companies. An analyst said that the recruitment methods which were once thought to be very professional have been challenged as they cannot touch young people who like to be self-employed and love freedom. The survey also found big changes in Gen Zs thoughts about the attractiveness of careers. Young people today are more open to many careers which dont have relations to their majors. This causes intense competition among businesses to recruit workers, since there is competition between businesses in the same industry but also from many other industries. Le Ha CPI in January hits record high in recent 7 years Vietnams consumer price index (CPI) in January hit a record high, up 1.23 percent over the previous month and 6.43 percent year on year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). By Express News Service CHENNAI: A police inspector was suspended on Sunday in Chennai after a 42-year-old man immolated himself after allegedly being assaulted by the cop over a civil dispute. The inspector G Bensam, serving in Puzhal police station, was allegedly favouring the house owner in a dispute over rent between the deceased and the landlord, who is also a local political functionary. The deceased Srinivasan, 42, who was working as a painter and residing at Vinayagapuram, is said to have not paid the house rents for the last few months due to the lockdown. The landlord Rajendran had complained to the police and it is said that inspector Bensam assaulted Srinivasan to threaten him to pay the rent on Saturday. Subsequently, around 11 pm on Saturday, Srinivasan allegedly set himself on fire and died in a hospital on Sunday. In a video, shot by Srinivasans brother Ganesan, Srinivasan, from his hospital bed, is seen saying that he was assaulted around 7 pm by the police inspector. "The landlord brought the police inspector to my house and they both threatened me to pay the rent after which the inspector attacked me, Srinivasan is seen saying in the video. The video was interrupted by a police personnel who tried to chase Ganesan out of the hospital room. Bensam did not attend phone calls or reply to texts for his comment. A senior police officer, who confirmed that Bensam has been placed under suspension, said the action was taken since he got involved in a civil dispute. However, the senior police officer denied that Srinivasan was assaulted. He said, "On the request of the landlord, the police team went to his house and Srinivasan was drunk. So, police asked him to come to the police station on Sunday morning. They did not beat him. We suspended Bensam on the basis that he intervened in a civil dispute without following proper procedure." Srinivasan was taken to Kilpauk Medical College Hospital with about 90 per cent burns and he succumbed to injuries on Sunday afternoon. Police also alleged that the neighbours had already lodged a complaint against Srinivasan eight months ago for nuisance, but he was booked under minor sections and let off with a warning. However, this is not the first time the police inspector G Bensam is caught for trouble. In July, 2018, Bensam was placed under suspension for showing obscene gestures and flashing his private parts to a woman through a whatsapp video call when he was the inspector of Karungal police station in Kanyakumari. (Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on Tamil Nadus health helpline 104 and Snehas suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050) New Delhi, Aug 2 : India is preparing to bring back around 700 more Sikhs who are have been tortured in Afghanistan. These Sikhs will be brought back in several batches. After the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed, first batch of 11 Sikhs reached India on July 26. The first batch of returnees recieved a warm welcome by the BJP leaders at the airport. The first batch of the Sikh families are living in a gurdwara in Delhi. The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee is looking into the living arrangements for them. BJP National Secretary Sardar RP Singh told IANS on Saturday, "After the first batch, around 700 more Sikhs are willing to come from Afghanistan. The Indian embassy in Afghanistan is in touch with them. We are working out on bringing them back to India. Relatives of most of them live in Tilak Nagar, so there will be no problem in making living arrangements for them." Singh said it was only due to the bold decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Sikh brothers suffering from torture in Afghanistan are been brought back to India. If the CAA was not made, the victims of religious persecution in the neighbouring countries would have not got the citizenship in India. DERBY The Charter Revision Commission has wrapped up its work and will present its recommended charter changes including making the mayors job full time at a public hearing scheduled for Aug. 5. The city charter serves as a guide in the day-to-day operations of town government, including setting the annual budget, guidelines for town meetings and terms of elected boards and commissions. The proposed changes the commission will forward to the Board of Aldermen for review and a vote include making the mayors job full-time; changing the title alderman to alder; going electronic with city notices and budget publication; and increasing terms for elected officials from 2 years to 4. Those are the four main proposals, but we are also looking to clean up some verbiage in the charter as it relates to state statutes, said Commission Chairman Rob Hyder. Hyder said the commission likely will present its recommendations during the next aldermanic board meeting Aug. 13. The board gets the final say on whether to place any proposed charter changes on the November ballot, and must hold a public hearing of its own and cast a vote on the recommended changes by Sept. 3 in order to get the questions on the ballot. Hyder said due to time constraints, hes hopeful the commission can be reappointed to continue its work, as there are more changes members would like to explore further. He said once the board approves the changes, the commission essentially is dissolved. Some of those items for future consideration include making the tax board a subcommittee of the Board of Aldermen and potentially reducing the number of its members, as well as the process of how a police chief is chosen. Hyder said hes pleased with the work the commission achieved in a short time, meeting two to three times a month since June 4, and the work each subcommittee created within the commission did to investigate each proposed charter change. I feel the changes we are proposing are very good for Derby, Hyder said. A common complaint among residents of Derby is about the mayors position being part time. As for making the terms of elected officials 4 years instead of 2 years, Im of the opinion that this would provide elected officials more time to actually govern the city and complete projects already started before having to seek reelection within 2 years. The recommendation to change to electronic postings is a no-brainer. It costs the city approximately $600 each time we post a bid in the printed newspaper. However, state statute mandates that these get printed in a hard copy newspaper rather than online, so we are looking to be proactive with our charter verbiage when and if the time comes that state statute allows for online postings only. It will be a significant savings to Derbys taxpayers. The virtual hearing is set for 6 p.m. Information about how to watch or listen from home can be found online at https://www.derbyct.gov/events/51039. jean.sos@snet.net NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is urging face masks be worn on public transport and in supermarkets amid fears the state remains at risk of Victorian cases jumping the border. Victoria has declared a state of disaster, imposing a curfew and tough new lockdown restrictions following 671 new cases and seven deaths being reported on Sunday. Ms Berejiklian warns NSW has entered a "very critical stage" of the pandemic. NSW reported 12 new coronavirus cases, including childcare workers at the Advanced Early Learning Centre in Merrylands, near Parramatta. Wearing masks will not be mandatory but Ms Berejiklian said "it is a strong recommendation from Health, given where we are in the pandemic, given the risk posed from Victoria and given the rate of community transmission in NSW". Thousands of cancer patients will receive new treatments at home in a drive to spare them the need of going to hospital. The NHS is making available more than 50 drugs which can be administered at home including those for prostate cancer, bowel cancer, leukaemia and a form of blood cancer. Many of these treatments are in effect 'swaps' for chemotherapy or other medicines which would normally be administered in hospital, often requiring several visits a month. The NHS is making available more than 50 drugs which can be administered at home, including those for prostate cancer, bowel cancer and leukaemia (file photo) NHS England said they are safer for patients reducing the risk that they will contract coronavirus in hospital as well as being more convenient, often with fewer side effects. Two of the treatments are enzalutamide and abiraterone for prostate cancer which can be taken by men at home instead of having chemotherapy. In fact trials have shown they may be even more effective than chemotherapy with some results suggesting they reduce the risk of dying within three years by a third. Another is Venetoclax pills for acute myeloid leukaemia which are now being prescribed as an alternative to more toxic standard chemotherapy, which often causes severe side effects such nausea and fatigue. Some bowel cancer patients are being given a medicine called nivolumab instead of chemotherapy, a type of immunotherapy which teaches the body's own immune system to detect and fight tumours. NHS England said the treatments are safer for patients, reducing the risk they will contract coronavirus in hospital, as well as being more convenient (file photo) Simon Stevens, chief executive of the NHS, said: 'Since the first case of Covid in England six months ago, NHS staff have fast tracked new, innovative ways of working so that other services, including A&E, cancer and maternity, could continue safely for patients and it is thanks to these incredible efforts that 65,000 people could start treatment for cancer during the pandemic.' He added: 'We are now adopting new, kinder treatment options which are not only effective but safer for use during the Covid-19 pandemic and more convenient for thousands of patients, who can take medication at home or be given medicines with less harmful effects on their immune system.' Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: 'This is encouraging news for some patients, who could now go ahead with their treatment, when it might have previously been on hold due to Covid-19. 'In recent years, successful price negotiations between the NHS and drug manufacturers have significantly improved patients' access to new cancer medicines, but cancer doesn't stop because of a pandemic, so it's fantastic to see this work continuing throughout this difficult period.' With these projects, the tourist site has welcomed more tourists from across the country. Once again, a new facility which has a creative design and symbolizes the prosperity of the region is taking shape in the tourist site. If tourists want to explore the rustic and natural Mekong Delta, Tra Su tourist site will be an ideal destination with bamboo and wooden bridges which are popular with people in the region. Such bridges hold a typical cultural value during the development of the southwestern region. Therefore, An Giang Tourimex has used materials which are popular in the region, carefully created the design and built the bridge to conserve cultural values in the cajuput forest. The wooden bridge will cross a canal in Tra Su cajuput forest and start at the main gate of the forest. Recently, the forest has been famous for Vietnams longest bamboo bridge. The investor is building a wooden bridge crossing a canal in the cajuput forest and linking the gate of the tourist site with the other side of the cajuput forest. Earlier, tourists had to wait for their turn to take dinghies to visit the cajuput forest. However, the bridge, when in place, will help them reduce waiting time and have more time to experience the landscape. With an innovative and modern design which features the stylized Vietnams longest bamboo bridge, the wooden bridge will be attractive to visitors like Pont des Arts, the famous love lock bridge in Paris. The wooden bridge will help connect people and nature as well as strengthen the ties of tourists, the investor and the tropical museum in the region. The bridge will impress tourists as soon as they reach the tourist site. The bridge will symbolize the strong development of An Giang Province and celebrate the fact that the prime minister has recognized Long Xuyen City of the province as grade-1 urban region. This mirrors a meaningful detail in the novel Roman of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong that when Cao Cao built Tong Que Tai, he required building arch bridges to link the main tower with two other towers, implying his success. The investor will make the cajuput forest more artistic and romantic with the wooden bridge, Vietnams most beautiful wooden bridge in cajuput forest. The wooden bridge in the cajuput forest, when completed, will be Vietnams most beautiful wooden bridge in the cajuput forest, making Tra Su cajuput forest have three records. And the cajuput forest will later set another record: the eco-tourist site with the most records in Vietnam. An Giang, with the key economic sector of tourism, will develop more significantly. Strategic investors, especially An Giang Tourimex, have made great efforts to boost the development of the tourism sector. SGT For a significant portion of Indian readers who grew up in the 80s and 90s in families that put a premium on serious literature, Gabriel Garcia Marquez was the god of the bookshelf. I remember going to houses of relatives and finding One Hundred Years of Solitude in English and Malayalam translations with a myriad of cover designs. One Hundred Years of Solitude, with its enchanting clouds of butterflies and expeditions to find ice, was of course the essential Marquez. Even now, uncles, aunts and cousins and college classmates whod gulped it down decades ago get misty-eyed when quoting from one of the greatest books ever written. The only other Marquez book that caught fire in the popular imagination was Love in The Time of Cholera. But, if I had to name my favourite Marquez book, it would have to be The General in His Labyrinth. This is a novel that has long been slightly overshadowed at least outside Latin America by Marquezs other output. But, it shouldnt be. The book is about the last months of the life of South Americas great liberator, Simon Bolivar. Any other writer looking to fictionalise the life of his home continents legendary leader would probably have chosen to depict Bolivars greatest victories. But Marquez, inspired by a book that his friend had attempted to write about Bolivars final journey down the Magdalena River, chose to show the revolutionary in his frailty, weeks away from death. When it was published in 1989 the English translation would come out a year later there was outrage in Latin America. The idea of depicting their founding father as a constipated, hallucinating wanderer was a bit much for some readers in Colombia and Venezuela. There was also dissatisfaction among anglophone readers when the English version was released this was not the Marquez they knew. Where was the swooning romance and humour? The General in His Labyrinth takes a darker look at most things how revolutions die, how heroes rot, how dreams in this life seldom get realised. Love is a wasteland, too. But the power of the visionary and there are few in history to compare to Bolivar is explored by Marquez with unparalleled skill and empathy. Sure, hes on this expedition on the river to revisit old glories and loves but theres a raging life still inside his failing body. The supporting cast of characters are based mostly on real life figures and none looms as large in the narrative as Manuela Saenz. She was Bolivars lover, spy, protector from assassins and fierce loyalist to the bitter end. Marquez himself regretted the lack of humour in the book, which probably kept it from achieving the mythical status given to One Hundred Years of Solitude. But, this is a story essentially about death and how not even the greatest revolutionary can escape it. And as we watch statues being toppled and historical narratives being questioned, its the Marquez book we need to read right now. The author is a Bangalore-based writer and communications professional with many published short stories and essays to her credit. That One Book is a fortnightly column that does exactly what it says takes up one great classic and tells you why it is (still) great. Come, raid the bookshelves with us. New Zealand's news service Newshub Nation reports on a Korean diplomat accused of sexually assaulting a local staff member in the embassy in 2017, Saturday. Newshub also stated that a New Zealand police investigation is at an impasse due to the Korean government's refusal to cooperate. Captured from Newshub Nation New Zealand said Thursday it has expressed disappointment that South Korea's government did not cooperate with a police investigation into allegations that one of its diplomats sexually assaulted a local embassy employee when he was stationed in Wellington. The male employee has accused the Korean diplomat of groping parts of his body over three different occasions in 2017. The case has drawn fresh attention after New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern raised the issue in a phone call with President Moon Jae-in earlier this week. "The New Zealand government has expressed its disappointment that the Korean government did not cooperate with earlier requests from New Zealand Police in respect of this case," a spokesperson at New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in emailed comments to Yonhap News Agency. "New Zealand's position is that we expect all diplomats to follow the laws of the country they are in, and to be legally accountable for their actions," the official said. "As this matter is a New Zealand Police investigation, the New Zealand Government will make no further comment." Rep. Lee Yong-woo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, left, and Mirae Asset Financial Group founder Park Hyeon-joo / Korea Times files By Park Jae-hyuk It was quite surprising that Mirae Asset Financial Group founder Park Hyeon-joo's name was mentioned at the National Assembly last week. Rep. Lee Yong-woo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea criticized the business tycoon unexpectedly, Wednesday, when Financial Services Commission (FSC) Chairman Eun Sung-soo and Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Yoon Suk-heun were giving briefings to lawmakers at the National Policy Committee. The main agenda for their briefings was a series of fiascos involving mis-selling of private equity funds, but the lawmaker particularly attacked Mirae Asset and its founder during his question time. He called it "inappropriate" for Park to direct global investments by Mirae Asset subsidiaries. "Mirae Asset has invested a lot in real estate overseas, and this has increased risks," he said. "Because the owner has believed that he was going in the right direction, the subsidiaries are facing serious risks in their management." His remarks came as Mirae Asset is in a legal battle with China's Anbang Insurance Group over a $5.8 billion deal regarding the purchase of 15 luxury hotels in the United States. The lawmaker also mentioned the "Insight Fund" the company launched in 2007, to say Park betting on the Chinese market at that time caused a severe loss to his customers. Lee asked the financial regulators whether they think Mirae Asset's management style is appropriate. The FSC chairman said he would review Mirae Asset's management. The FSS governor agreed with the necessity of Mirae Asset's cautious approach to its investments, hinting that the financial watchdog may put the company on its watchlist. Industry insiders are making various guesses about the lawmaker's hidden intention. He is the former co-CEO of Kakao Bank, having moved to the internet-only bank in 2016 from Korea Investment Holdings, the bank's partner. He was elected as a ruling party lawmaker in the 21st general election April 15. Given that Korea Investment Holdings is a rival of Mirae Asset, some observers speculate that Lee slammed Mirae Asset for the sake of his previous workplace. According to a local news outlet, the Korea Economic Daily, he said Korea Investment Holdings Chairman Kim Nam-goo has not intervened deeply in his company's investments. There is another speculation that the reason Lee attacked Mirae Asset was to help Kakao defeat Naver in their intensifying competition in the financial industry. Naver Financial joined hands with Mirae Asset Daewoo to offer cash management accounts to its users in an apparent efforts to compete with Kakao Bank and Kakao Pay. The Naver subsidiary also formed a partnership with Mirae Asset Capital to lend money to small- and medium-sized enterprises. During a press conference, Tuesday, Naver Financial CEO Choi In-hyuk even said financial firms should be on the alert for Kakao instead of Naver citing Kakao offers both banking and mobile payment services. A day after the Naver Financial CEO made the remarks, however, the former Kakao Bank co-CEO condemned Mirae Asset at the National Assembly. Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit has tested positive for COVID-19. He has been advised home isolation as the infection is mild. "He is asymptomatic and clinically stable," Chennai's Kauvery Hospital said in a statement. A medical team from the hospital will be monitoring the governor's health. The governor had been previously advised to go on a seven-day self-isolation period upon doctor's advice. Earlier last week, 84 people in the Raj Bhavan had tested positive for COVID-19. However, the Governor's office had then said none of them came into contact with Purohit or senior officials. Tamil has reported over 2.5 lakh confirmed cases of coronavirus and the death toll due to the infection in the state has already crossed the 4,000-mark. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show I wished the Hon'ble Governor of TamilNadu Shri Banwarilal Purohit ji, a speedy recovery in his fight against #COVID_19 over phone. All our prayers and wishes for him! Edappadi K Palaniswami (@CMOTamilNadu) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami also took to twitter to wish the governor a speedy recovery, After facing major embarrassment over alleged negligence and delayed action from the police, the Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday recommended probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with kidnapping and murder of lab technician Sanjeet Yadav in Kanpur. Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Home, Awanish Awasthi, confirmed that the UP government has decided to recommend CBI enquiry in the case. He said the recommendation has been done on the request of Yadavs family to ensure that they are satisfied with investigation. The state government had earlier suspended 10 policemen, including woman IPS officer Aparna Gupta, who was posted as Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) South, Kanpur, the then Circle Officer Govind Nagar Manoj Gupta, and the then inspector of Barra police station Ranjeet Rai as well as sub-inspector Rajesh Kumar, reportedly for negligence. The government had also deputed Additional Director General (ADG) rank police officer BP Jogdand to conduct an enquiry about the controversy over paying ransom amount to kidnappers reportedly in consultation with the police. Yadav went missing on the evening of June 22. His sister Ruchi had alleged negligence and delayed action by Kanpur Police since beginning of the investigation. She had even alleged that her family arranged 30 lakh after getting ransom call from kidnappers on June 29 and delivered the amount to them as per the instructions from Kanpur Police. The cops had planned to catch the kidnappers if they turned up to collect the money. Ruchi said the polices plan failed as the kidnappers easily disappeared after collecting the bag. The police later arrested five kidnappers, including four friends of the lab technician but couldnt recover the ransom amount and find Yadav, who had been murdered by that time. The police claimed that the kidnappers revealed that they had strangled the lab technician to death on the intervening night of June 26 and 27 when he reportedly tried to flee from their captivity and thereafter made the ransom call on June 29. PATNA: Patna (Central) City Superintendent of Police Vinay Kumar on Sunday (August 2) left for Mumbai in connection with an investigation into the mysterious death of Sushant Singh Rajput. The development comes at a time when Bihar Police, which is probing the death case of the 'Kedarnath' actor, has accused Maharashtra Police of not cooperating and handing over important documents related to the case. Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey confirmed the reports stating there was a need for a senior police official. He said that Patna (Central) City SP Vinay Kumar Tiwari will coordinate and provide his assistance to the police team in Mumbai probing the case. Raising suspicion on Sushant's death, the Bihar DGP, who had earlier spoken about the non-cooperation from the Mumbai Police, stated, "A team of Bihar Police of small-rank officers was sent to Mumbai to investigate the case and some people started losing their peace and sleep. Why is there so much uneasiness? There is something." Meanwhile, Patna Police is on a lookout for the key maker, who was called by Sushant's friend-roommate Sidharth Pithani to break open the door of the actor's room at around 12:30 pm - 12:45 pm on July 14. As per the police, the key maker has been identified and will soon be interrogated about the entire incident. Bihar Police recently recreated Sushant Singh Rajput's death scene as part of its investigation. The team also thoroughly investigated the actor's room to get some information and interrogated some of his staff members, who were employed at his residence. While nothing concrete was found from the spot, one of Sushant's staff members made another startling revelation, disclosing a strange fact about the actor's alleged girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, who used to stay at his Bandra residence. The man, who worked as Sushant's sweeper, said that Rhea used to control everything at the house. No one was allowed to enter Sushant's room without her permission. "Madam even used to decide whether Sushant's room will be cleaned or not," the staff member said. He revealed that there was a time when Sushant was not able to meet his staff. Meanwhile, Bihar Police is keeping a close check on Sushant's friend-roommate Sidharth Pithani's whereabouts. He was the one who first saw Sushant's body after the actor died by suicide on June 14. By Baek Byung-yeul Illustration for POSCO International's sustainability report / Courtesy of POSCO International Four more Oregon lives have been claimed by the coronavirus in Oregon, and more than 400 more people have been added to the positive case list London: The barrister who hired Malcolm Turnbull to act in the famous Spycatcher case says Australia's decision to copy parts of Britain's defamation law will reduce the country's "plaintiff bonanza," saying it halved libel cases in the UK when it was introduced. But David Hooper, QC, warned sky-high legal bills racked up through plaintiffs lodging defamation claims, as has been seen in the UK, could still serve to silence media and other organisations from investigative journalism and research. Johnny Depp at his High Court defamation trial in London. David Hooper, QC, said defamation laws were primarily used by celebrities. Credit:AP On Wednesday, NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman became the country's first attorney-general to introduce the defamation changes to Parliament and the other states and territories will follow suit. The reforms include a new "serious harm" threshold to weed out trivial claims before a trial and a public interest defence aimed at protecting investigative reports, both of which are modelled on British law. An attack by Islamic State (IS) militants on a prison in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar Province has left at least 39 people dead as violence continues in the war-torn nation. Civilians, security forces, prisoners, and militants were among those killed in the assault, Afghan officials said on August 3. The death toll includes at least 10 militants. IS claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq news agency. The assault began on August 2 when the IS militants detonated a car bomb outside the prison in the provincial capital of Jalalabad around 6:00 p.m. local time and then proceeded to storm it, sparking a gun battle with security forces that raged through the night. The militants released some of the compound's nearly 1,800 prisoners, which include Taliban and IS members, along with common criminals. The fighting continued into August 3 as militants exchanged fire with security forces from buildings near the prison, according to an RFE/RL correspondent in Jalalabad. Afghan officials announced later in the day that the attack was over but said many prisoners were still on the loose. Officials initially said between 50 and 100 inmates escaped but that number was revised dramatically upward to more than 300. The surrounding residential area is one of high security, with the provincial governor's office nearby. IS Intelligence Chief Killed The attack came one day after Afghan special forces announced they had killed Assadullah Orakzai, the intelligence chief of IS's Afghan headquarters in Jalalabad. The IS affiliate in Afghanistan has suffered heavy losses over the past year but could still undermine the nations troubled peace process through continued attacks, analysts have said. The U.S. military command in Kabul said in late July that the IS affiliate remains a threat to Afghanistan, the U.S., NATO allies, and our partners despite being flushed out of Nangarhar and Kunar provinces. Meanwhile, the UN warned in a recent report that IS remains capable of high-profile attacks and hopes to recruit more fighters from among opponents of a deal between the United States and Taliban militants, who have long battled against Kabul's authority. The U.S.-Taliban deal, signed in February, is aimed at reducing U.S. troop numbers and encouraging direct peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government. However, Taliban militants have continued to carry out attacks to disrupt the talks, with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani saying on July 28 that more than 10,000 government troops had been killed or wounded since February. The August 2 IS assault came on the third and final day of a cease-fire between the Taliban and the Afghan government to mark the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Ghani and the Taliban have both indicated that intra-Afghan talks could begin immediately after the festival. With reporting by AFP, AP, and Reuters Students would be grouped into so-called pods of 15 or fewer who would stay together throughout the school day. Students would have minimal interaction with other pods and maintain social distancing as much as possible within their own pod. Students who need to take other classes outside of their pod would take those remotely. Teachers would rotate among a limited number of pods. Officials have emphasized this pod model in their efforts to convince parents the plan is safe. Students would enter and exit the building through assigned doors with their pods. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 13:47:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close By James Gashumba, Lyu Tianran, Frank Kanyesigye KIGALI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Rwandan airports on Saturday reopened to international travellers, more than four months after the central African nation suspended commercial passenger flights to mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak. The suspension didn't affect cargo and emergency flights. Tourists travelling by charter flights had been allowed to enter the country that is famous for mountain gorilla tracking since June 17. Rwandan national flag carrier RwandAir, which flew to 29 destinations across 24 countries throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia before it suspended passenger flights on March 20, on Saturday resumed with a flight from Kigali International Airport to Dubai, while Kenyan and Ethiopian Airways made flights to Kigali, Rwandan Minister of Infrastructure Claver Gatete told Xinhua in a phone interview. Gatete reiterated that to ensure the safety of passengers, all travellers are required to adhere to the health guidelines issued by the ministry of health. The fast-growing airline has been "greatly impacted" by the pandemic, which in April said it had resolved to reduce employees' salaries as part of measures to reduce expenditure. It will restart services with selected African routes where travel restrictions have been eased and borders have reopened, and with one long-haul route to Dubai, while other routes will gradually resume. The company's CEO Yvonne Makolo told reporters earlier on Friday that airline will ensure social distancing measures during boarding, deeply clean the planes after each flight, and enforce the policy that every passenger is only allowed to take one piece of cabin luggage on board to avoid congestion and too many physical contacts between passengers and luggage. Precautionary measures also have been implemented throughout the Kigali International Airport, Rwanda's main airport, to maintain the health and safety of customers and staff, according to Rwanda Airports Company, the airports' operator of Rwanda. The measures include using protective plexiglass at check-in and immigration counters, thermal and temperature screening, social distancing markers and increased levels of sanitization in compliance with international standards set out by the relevant authorities, it said. The government guidelines for arrivals require them to be tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours before departure and receive a second test upon entry into the country. Seventeen hotels have been designated by the government for travellers to stay while awaiting the result of the second test. Tourism operators, which have been hit hard by the pandemic, are expecting to bounce back following the resumption of passenger flights in Rwanda and across the world. "We expect tourists to come to Rwanda since airlines have resumed and countries have started opening up borders," Lise Tuyisenge, Managing Director of Phoenix Tour and Travel Agency, told Xinhua. However, G-Step, a leading customized tours company in Rwanda, said its expectations are not high, although the resumption of flights is a very good sign for the improvement of business. The situation of bookings remains dismal and tourists may still not come to the country immediately after airports open, G-Step owner Andrew Gatera told Xinhua in late July. Tourism is one of Rwanda's economic pillars. Endangered mountain gorillas living in Volcanoes National Park contribute about 90 percent of tourism revenues from Rwanda national parks. Currently, land borders of Rwanda remain closed, except for goods and cargo, as well as returning Rwandan citizens and legal residents. Enditem The Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, on Sunday, asked the Punjab Government to Hand over the hooch case, to the CBI. He alleged that none of the similar cases in the past few months were solved by the Punjab Police. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday asked the Punjab government to hand over the hooch tragedy case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation. The Chief Minister alleged that none of the illicit liquor cases from the last few months have been solved by the local police. He added that necessary steps should be taken in order to curb the illicit liquor mafias in the state. Saddened by the loss of lives in Punjab due to illicit liquor. State government needs to immediately take necessary steps to curb such mafias. The case should be handed over to CBI immediately as none of the illicit liquor cases from the last few months have been solved by local police, said Kejriwal in a tweet. Earlier on Saturday, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced Rs 2-lakh compensation each to the families of the deceased in the hooch tragedy that claimed at least 86 lives. He also warned those indulging in spurious liquor business to stop immediately or face grave consequences. Also Read: Also Read: In a first, Mumbai traffic signals, display women pedestrians The Punjab Police has arrested 17 more people in a massive crackdown spanning more than 100 raids. The total number of arrests in the case has gone up to 25, the police said. Most of the deceased are from Tarn Taran, which accounts for 63 deaths, followed by Amritsar Rural at 12 and Gurdaspur (Batala) at 11. Also Read: Over 56 lakh people affected by Assam Floods: SDMA Chicago Police officers and detectives investigate a shooting where multiple people were shot in Chicago, Ill., on Aug. 5, 2018. (Joshua Lott/Getty Images) 8 Dead, at Least 19 Wounded in Weekend Shootings Across Chicago: Police At least eight people have died and 19 more were wounded in shootings across Chicago so far this weekend, police said on Sunday. From Jan. 1 until the end of last month, more than 450 people have been murdered in the city, marking an uptick from previous years, according to a tally that compiles news reports. At least 2,300 people have been shot. During the same time frame last year, there were 290 homicides and 1,480 shootings, according to The Associated Press. The latest fatal shooting occurred early on Sunday morning, officials said. Two men were shot and killed while sitting in a parked vehicle on the West Side after someone approached them and shot them several times in the head, police told the AP. The first fatal shooting involved a 9-year-old boy, identified later as Janari Ricks, who was playing Friday when he was shot in the chest, officials said. He wanted to help rebuild the community, rebuild something that the kids can enjoy later down the line, the boys mother, Jalisa Ford, was quoted as saying by the Chicago Sun-Times. Its gone, its taken away. Now Im burying my son, she told WMAQ-5. I gotta relive this all over again. He [is] all I had. I dont have nobody. My son is gone. Chicago Police investigate at the 25th District station on the northwest side in Chicago, Ill., on July 30, 2020. (Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Chicago Sun-Times via AP) Chicago police told the station that the suspected gunman walked up to a group of people, including the child, before opening fire. Brian McDermott, chief of operations for the Chicago Police Department, told reporters that he believes Janari was unintentionally shot. Its not clear who the intended target was. As violent crime has risen in numerous U.S. cities in 2020, President Donald Trump said he would send in federal officers to some, including Chicago, as part of Operation Legend. Other cities including Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Kansas City, and Albuquerque have received federal agents. Officials said that Chicago is the only city in the program to get a new ballistics van commissioned. It is an excellent example of the partnership between our agency and others, and that case started because of ATFs relationship with the Cook County Sheriffs office and the onset is typical, and that is where we identify and want to disrupt those trafficking schemes and firearms trafficking is a cornerstone of our strategy, said Kristen deTineo, a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) spokeswoman, according to ABC7. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 06:28:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israel's army said on Sunday its troops attacked a "terror squad" that attempted to plant explosive devices near the disputed border between Syria and Israel. A military spokesperson said in a statement that the incident took place late on Sunday night near the Alpha Line between Syria and Israel. "Soldiers thwarted an attempt to place improvised explosive devices (IEDs,)" the spokesperson said. The Israeli troops spotted a "terror squad" of four fighters placing explosive devices adjacent to the security fence, near an IDF post. In response, troops and an aircraft fired simultaneously towards the group. "A hit was identified," the statement read. The spokesperson did not say whether the fighters opened fire at the Israeli forces but said no injuries were reported among the Israeli forces. "The Northern Command maintains elevated readiness for various scenarios," the army said in the statement. "The IDF holds the Syrian regime responsible for all events on Syrian soil and will not tolerate any violation of Israeli sovereignty." Tensions along Israel's borders with Lebanon and Syria have been on the rise since a fighter with Hezbollah was killed in an apparent Israeli airstrike in Syria in July. Last Monday, Israel said it thwarted an infiltration attempt by Hezbollah. Hezbollah denied such an attempt took place. Enditem BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 2 Trend: Azerbaijani Deputy Prime Minister Shahin Mustafayev and Head of the Iranian presidential administration Mahmoud Vaezi talked over phone, the Azerbaijani Cabinet of Ministers told Trend. During the telephone conversation, the sides expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between Azerbaijan and Iran in various fields, in particular, in the field of economy, trade, industry, transit, cargo transportation. Mustafayev and Vaezi discussed the ways to further expand these relations. Having discussed the situation in connection with the pandemic, the sides stressed the importance of joining the efforts in this direction, touched upon the importance of exchanging experience in this sphere between the relevant structures of the two countries. Mustafayev and Vaezi stressed that there are no obstacles to the continuation of economic and trade relations between the two countries by observing the COVID 19 Health Protocols. The sides added that despite the pandemic, trade and transit exchange between the two countries has been preserved and even increased. Mustafayev and Vaezi emphasized that keeping the borders open for import and transit transportation in recent months has contributed to an increase in the volume of cargo transportation between the two countries. The sides expressed confidence that through the joint efforts trade relations will soon be at the same level as they were before the pandemic. During the conversation Mustafayev and Vaezi also discussed the improvement of the International North-South Transport Corridor. Both sides stressed the strategic importance of this project and exchanged the views on the measures which are taken in this sphere. Mustafayev and Vaezi stressed the importance of joint projects, in particular, the expansion of transportation by vehicles and trains not only for the two countries, but also for the region. During the telephone conversation, the sides expressed confidence in further successful development of cooperation between the two countries in economy, industry, transit, in the field of joint production of products, etc. Mustafayev and Vaezi stressed the importance of continuation of contacts between officials of the two countries and joint efforts to comprehensively develop the ties in accordance with the instructions of the presidents of two countries. A critic of Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka who last month fled the country along with his children after his and others' candidacies were rejected for next week's presidential election has reportedly left Russia for neighboring Ukraine. A spokesman for Valer Tsapkala said on August 2 that the 55-year-old politician and founder of a prominent high-tech park in Minsk -- who was seen by some as a serious challenger to the 26-year incumbent Lukashenka -- was on his way from Moscow to Kyiv. The spokesman, Alyaksey Urban, did not provide details or say why Tsapkala, who fled amid rumors of his imminent arrest, preferred the Ukrainian capital to Russia. The announcement comes seven days before Belarus's August 9 vote, which has already been marred by dubious disqualifications and an unprecedented scale of detentions and other persecution against a backdrop of a pandemic and pro-democracy protest. Add to that a fresh accusation by Lukashenka that Russian mercenaries were detained while purportedly trying to destabilize Belarus ahead of the election, and it shapes up as one of the most alarmingly volatile elections of Lukashenka's authoritarian tenure. More than 1,100 people have been arrested since campaigning began, including politicians, organizers, and journalists. Human rights groups and other critics have accused Belarusian authorities of fostering an atmosphere of "fear and intimidation" ahead of the vote, including by banning independent observers from polling stations and threatening to deploy troops to put down any protests. Officials have barred aspiring candidates like Tsapkala and popular vlogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski, whose wife, Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, entered the race after her husband was jailed following his announcement that he would also seek the presidency. Many Belarusians have turned out to rally in support of Tsikhanouskaya amid mounting public opposition to Lukashenka's sixth term in office, with the biggest of the demonstrations attracting tens of thousands of people to Minsks Park of Peoples Friendship on July 30. The Central Election Commission dismissed Tsapkala's application on July 14 after apparently rejecting around half of the 160,000 signatures that accompanied his application to run. Tsapkala appeared on Russian TV 10 days later to say he'd fled out of concern for his safety after prosecutors visited his children's school and "reliable sources" told him he was going to be arrested. Tsapkala's wife, Veranika, is reportedly still in Belarus. Veranika Tsapkala, along with Maryya Kalesnikava, a coordinator of the campaign of another excluded presidential aspirant, former Belgazprombank head Viktar Babaryka, joined forces to support Tsikhanouskaya, who unlike Tsapkala and Babaryka was registered as a presidential candidate. Tsikhanouskaya reportedly sent her two children to an EU member state out of concern for their safety after receiving threats ahead of election. Late last month, Tsapkala's sister-in-law reported being detained briefly for questioning in connection with accusations against Tsapkala by an obcure Turkish businessman that emerged after Tsapkala's attempt to get on the ballot. None of Lukashenka's five electoral victories has ever been regarded as free or democratic by Western standards, and the 65-year-old former Soviet cooperative-farm director routinely jails political opponents, shuts dissent out of state-dominated media, and uses the state apparatus to keep close tabs on and punish perceived rivals or dissenters. Belarusian authorities have tried to link Tsikhanouski and other jailed opposition politicians with a probe launched against 33 contractors from the private Russian military company Vagner who were detained and accused of trying to somehow affect the election. The Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office said on July 31 that Kyiv would ask Belarus to hand over 28 of the Vagner detainees on charges of fighting alongside Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. It said nine Ukrainian citizens are among the 28, although Moscow disputed that status. Lukashenka said after a meeting with senior intelligence and investigative officials late on August 1 that while the Russians "are certainly guilty...these are soldiers. They were ordered [and] they went. We need to deal with those who ordered, who sent them here." Moscow, which has been frustrated at an inability to implement a joint union agreement signed decades ago with Minsk, has dismissed any suggestion of interference in the election. The prime suspect in the Madeleine McCann investigation allegedly boasted to a friend about breaking into a room full of sleeping British girls and performing a sex act. Christian Brueckner reportedly told a close friend he stripped down naked before breaking into the holiday home in Portugal. The convicted sex offender only fled when one of the teens woke up terrified and began to alert her friends, it's claimed. Brueckner's lawyer has claimed that his client won't co-operate with the police but denied it meant he had anything to hide. A close friend of Christian Brueckner (pictured left) has claimed he once boasted about sneaking into a Portuguese holiday home and performing a sex act naked. Brueckner is the prime suspect in the disappearance of three-year-old Madeleine McCann (right in 2007) The close friend broke his silence about the alleged incident after seeing this week's police searches in Germany, the Mirror reports. German investigators believe Madeleine was murdered and named Brueckner as their main suspect last month. Brueckner, 43, already has a string of convictions including the sexual assault of a six-year-old girl and the rape of a woman in her 70s in 2005. He is currently in German custody on suspicion of of kidnapping three-year-old Madeleine from a holiday flat in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. Brueckner's lawyer Friedrich Fulscher told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age that Brueckner would not assist investigators but denied that meant he had anything to hide. He added: 'It is very normal not to talk to the police when you are suspected of committing a crime'. He also claimed the major new search, ahead of a crucial court decision that could free Bruecker, was an attempt to sway public opinion. Police spent several days this week digging up his allotment near Hannover to search a secret cellar on the vegetable plot. They excavated the site, using sniffer dogs, ground penetrating radar and drones. They reportedly found the secret cellar under a stone slab and took away the concrete foundations of his old shack in skips. The close friend told the Mirror: 'The strangest thing he ever told me was about breaking into a room where four teenagers from Britain were sleeping on the sofa and floor. 'He was naked and had left his clothes outside and he was masturbating. When one woke up and tried to wake the others up he panicked and ran out. 'He said he ran naked through the town. He told it like a funny story.' The friend said he didn't know for certain if the incident happened in Praia da Luz, where Madeleine disappeared but he believes it was in the same area. He told how he befriended Brueckner at a kiosk the suspect owned in North Germany in 2013. Brueckner is currently in prison in Germany serving a sentence for drugs offences and should be starting his sentence for rape shortly but his lawyers have appealed the conviction on a legal technicality and the European Court of Justice will deliver its decision later this year. Earlier this week, the Mail revealed Christian Brueckner was filmed at the wheel of a battered VW campervan just weeks before German police believed he used it to kidnap the three-year-old girl. In the footage, obtained exclusively by MailOnline, Brueckner can be seen laughing and joking as he squats down in the back of the van looking at a map. In the footage, obtained exclusively by MailOnline, Brueckner can be seen laughing and joking as he squats down in the back of the van looking at a map. He has previously denied involvement in the McCann case. His lawyer Friedrich Fulscher, who described the searches of the allotments as 'pure desperation', has said he does not think he will be charged. Calls for reform following Boss case BANGKOK: The prosecutors decision not to press the final and most serious charge against Red Bull scion Vorayuth Boss Yoovidhya has sparked public outrage leading to calls for reforms. policecorruptionpolitics By Bangkok Post Sunday 2 August 2020, 04:12PM DAMAGE CONTROL: Police officers look at a Ferrari that was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run accident during their investigation at Thong Lor police station in Bangkok. Photo: Bangkok Post Calls are mounting for urgent reform to improve the efficiency and fairness in due process, particularly involving the police force and the prosecution, reports the Bangkok Post. https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/1961103/calls-for-reform-following-boss-case After four charges against Mr Vorayuth in the case were either dropped or expired, CNN reported that a letter was sent to Mr Vorayuths Bangkok address by Thong Lor police station. The letter was uploaded to The Reporters Facebook page. According to the letter: The Attorney-General has ordered the acquittal of Mr Vorayuth Yoovidhya on all charges and The national police commissioner did not object to the order. The case has ended. Pol Col Kissana Phathanacharoen, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, later told a press conference the Department of Southern Bangkok Criminal Litigation decided in late June not to press the remaining charge of reckless driving causing death against Mr Vorayuth, and police agreed with the prosecutors. All local and international arrest warrants were also revoked following the decision. The reasons behind the decision are still unknown to the public, and the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has not explained. The police have also come under fire for not challenging the decision. Because this case attracted a great deal of public attention since the incident occurred in 2012, the decision to drop the charge of reckless driving causing death charge against a suspect even before it reached court sparked public outrage over the impunity enjoyed by the rich in Thailand. Some citizens pointed out that prisons are used to incarcerate the poor, while the rich who are implicated in serious crimes never see the inside of a jail cell. Mr Vorayuth, now 35, was accused of driving his Ferrari when rear-ended a policemans motorcycle at high speed, dragging the policemans body along Sukhumvit Road before speeding away in the early morning of Sept 3, 2012. The victim was Pol Sgt Maj Wichian Klanprasert, 47, who was based at Thong Lor station. Mr Vorayuth postponed hearing the criminal charges seven times. It was not until April 27, 2017, that prosecutors finally charged him with reckless driving causing death and failing to help a crash victim. Mr Vorayuth reportedly left on a private plane two days before he was due to face the charges. His speeding and reckless driving causing damage to assets charges were later dropped when their one-year statute of limitation expired. The next charge failing to stop and help a crash victim expired on Sept 3, 2017. The charge of drink driving was also dropped. The last and most serious charge, reckless driving causing death, would have remained valid until 2027, but has now been dropped. As pressure mounts, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has set up an independent committee to examine the hit-and-run case while the OAG and the Royal Thai Police have also formed separate panels to look into the case. AN OUTSIDER JOINING THE PROBE Senator Kamnoon Sidhisamarn told the Bangkok Post that the outrage over the Vorayuth case had underscored the need for urgent police and justice reforms. He said police reform is already two years behind schedule, noting the constitution stipulates that reform in various fields must be complete within one year of the promulgation of the charter on April 6, 2017. Three committees were set up successively to pursue police reform, though little progress has been made so far, Mr Kamnoon said. He added that a new bill on the Royal Thai Police (RTP) is finished, but the RTP still disagrees with several aspects of the bill. I dont think the police cannot be convinced to fully agree with the bill, which would overhaul the structure of the organisation. Opinions [on police reform] were gathered from high-ranking officers, while rank-and-file officers had no chance or did not dare to speak out, Mr Kamnoon said. He said since the bill is already finished, the prime minister should be quick to table it to parliament for consideration. Since the bill is part of a national reform under the constitution, it requires deliberation at a joint session of the Senate and the House of Representatives, Mr Kamnoon said. Regarding the reform on the investigation process that precedes court trials, Mr Kamnoon said the acquittal of Mr Vorayuth had exposed a major flaw in the criminal investigation process. The justice system has been fraught with this problem for several decades, and everyone involved in fixing it has yet found a proper replacement, he said. Commenting on calls for an outsider to take part in the investigation process, Mr Kamnoon said that it is difficult to determine who that person should be. The criminal investigation process has its standards. In principle, those involved should be trusted. But the problem is that the police do not have the trust and are seen in a negative light. So are the prosecutors, this time, Mr Kamnoon said. It is too early to say if the Boss case will be revived. Legally speaking, the case is now closed. It will be revived only when there is new evidence. But what is new evidence will still be subject to interpretation, Mr Kamnoon noted. JUSTICE FOR ALL UNDER THE LAW Thammasat University vice-rector and law lecturer Prinya Thaewanarumitkul suggested the Justice Ministry supervise the police, the prosecution and the courts of justice to improve the justice system. To deal with well-connected people implicated in serious crimes who later walk free, Mr Prinya said the law should be amended to allow court judges to step in and investigate a criminal case involving death if prosecutors or the police dismiss it without valid reasons. Mr Prinya also agreed with calls for an outsider to join the criminal investigation process, with members of the civil sector helping create justice and ensure transparency in the system. He also said there is a need for change in the mindset of those working in the justice system. Dont waste time on structural changes [...]. What needs to be done most is a change of mindset. From now on, everyone must achieve the goal of creating justice and equality for all under the law, Mr Prinya said. He also criticised the governments police reform efforts, saying it exists only on paper rather than being put into practice. Since the National Council for Peace and Order was established, how many reforms have been achieved? Mr Prinya said. JUDGES SHOULD STEP IN Jade Donavanik, a legal expert and former adviser to the Constitution Drafting Committee, echoed the view that the criminal investigation process should be reformed while the public should be allowed to participate in the prosecution procedure. He suggested a checks-and-balances system be set up between the police and prosecutors. Mr Jade also said the public should be allowed access to police investigation reports when they are ready to be forwarded to prosecutors. He also agreed the courts of justice should be allowed to investigate if there are problems with cases handled by the police and prosecutors. Commenting on the independent committee set up by the prime minister to examine the Vorayuth case, Mr Jade said this was the result of pressure from the public, rather than a real attempt to solve the problem. Mr Jade also voiced concern that according to the PMs order, while the panel will be able to seek information from various officials, it cannot intervene in the authority of officials responsible for Mr Vorayuths hit-and-run case. This will remain a problem. If the panel finds any wrongdoing on the part of those officials, what can they do next? When the panel cannot intervene, their findings will only end up as another study report, Mr Jade said. EVIDENCE CONCERNS Atchariya Ruangrattanaphong, chairman of the Help Crime Victims Club, backed calls for reform to the police and the prosecution. He said that in the police investigation system, evidence and investigation reports could be tampered with by their superiors. Evidence can be fabricated by investigators, he alleged. He added that currently, officers who studied and graduated in the field of criminal investigation are in short supply, leading to officers who lack the experience to do the investigation work. Mr Atchariya said that there would be no use in bringing in an outsider to take part in the investigation of the hit-and-run case because it is unlikely that the police and the prosecution will allow an outsider to join. They will claim that the investigation report contains classified information, which is off-limits to an outsider, Mr Atchariya said. The government also has no intention to reform the police because the reform committee comprises police offices. Other committee members have no knowledge of the police, he said. Hauntingly Beautiful by Jenni Lada The whole debate about whether or not games are art has been ongoing for at least a decade now. Ghost of Tsushima, Sucker Punch and Sonys latest provides new evidence for those in the for camp. It is a stunning game that revels in its homages, even offering a monochromatic Kurosawa mode in honor of filmmaker Akira Kurosawa. It's gorgeous with an incredible sense of flow and understanding of what makes a game satisfying and work. Which is so good, it helps overshadow its more minor problems. Ghost of Tsushima is a game inspired by historical events. Namely, the Mongolian invasions of Japan and the one that made landfall on Tsushima island in 1274. Like many works of fiction that tap into history, it may not always be entirely accurate and its important to know youre seeing it through Sucker Punchs lens. (Basically, dont use it as evidence for any history papers.) Jin Sakai and his uncle, Lord Shimura, were facing off against Khotun Khan. Khans forces completely wiped the 80-odd samurai who appeared to meet them. Shimura was captured, and Jin was left for dead. Fortunately, he lived and has the chance to fight back and reclaim the island. What makes Ghost of Tsushima different from all of those games based on samurai or that fawn-over the different tactics fictional ninjas employ is that they can focus on one side and element. This is a game where Jin is caught between two worlds. He was raised as a samurai, with the ideas of honor and a nature that drove him to try and protect others. But, his new enemies dont respect or fight like that. So, he has to resort to new, stealthier methods of addressing foes. This is reflected in the character builds you can end up creating and the approach you can take to different missions. You earn different technique points as Jin goes around Tsushima fighting the Mongols. Samurai techniques end up dealing with deflection, evasion, exploration, and mythic skills. As a warrior, he also ends up learning different stances that are extra effective against different sorts of enemies or have an added stagger damage bonus connected to a specific kind of attack. Then, there are the ghost techniques that, well, feel like they would fit into a ninja or rogues repertoire, since archery, bombs, chain assassinations, and kunai all fit into that category. You decide what kind of character you want Jin to be, which is rather freeing. Hottest Stuff On CheatCC! Hottest Stuff On CheatCC! Especially since you can then carry this over into how you approach missions. It is very possible to barrel through with no stealth, running head on into danger. While some duels are scripted, you could also initiate standoffs against enemies to eliminate up to three enemies at once. Or, if you have a more delicate mission or would rather be stealthy, you can bring up your far hearing to keep track of enemies, sneak up on people, and go for assassinations. Its very freeform and handled rather well. The combat is incredibly satisfying. The swordplay is excellent and so beautiful, it might even be distracting the first few times you watch Jin in some of the more elaborate fights or duels. Timing is essential, since you need to read opponents movements for parrying, dodging, and determining which sorts of strikes might be most effective. There were a few times, typically during side quests, where the environment might also be Jins enemy as he attempts to appropriately handle the larger numbers. But its generally a joy to run into a fight. Tsushima is a rather large island and, in a nice twist, you dont constantly have arrows or trails showing you where to go once youre done with one encounter and on to the next. Your map will have points of interest fill in and major quests hinted at, in addition to some largely great Tales that are Mythic or ally-based. But you typically swipe on the touchpad to see how the wind is blowing and to lead you to designated quests. Animals or smoke might draw you in to additional activities. Many of the side-quests that arent designated as Tales arent as enthralling, but can be rewarding in their own way. Plus, they give you even more of an excuse to see more of the absolutely stunning island. It also, and I cant understate this enough, hauntingly beautiful. I would even say Ghost of Tsushima is the sort of game where it looks better when youre engaging in general gameplay than it does when youre watching cutscenes. And the additional visual options, like Kurosawa mode or the filters you can use when playing around with Photo Mode, make it even more stunning. It is extraordinary and sometimes I would find myself pursuing additional quests just so I could maybe find more gear, get new dye to change items appearances, or acquire more helpful charms. The worst thing I can say about it is that sometimes, the pacing can feel a bit off in Ghost of Tsushima. There are some segments that can feel a bit slower than others, especially if you are really taking the time to see as much as possible. So, say, the first five hours might feel perfect. Then, youll have a few that feel more plodding until you start doing enough to really chase Khotun down more. But even then, this could all come down to personal preference and I generally thought it flowed well. Ghost of Tsushima is a gorgeous game that has Sucker Punch taking its shot at telling its own samurai story. The combat feels great; and you have a lot of freedom when it comes to building up Jin. Its simply a stunning way to say goodbye to the PS4. By Jenni Lada Writing Team Lead Date: 07/28/2020 RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 5.0 Graphics Ghost of Tsushima is easily Sucker Punchs most beautiful game 5.0 Control It is so easy to fight back, observe enemies, and make the most of its sword fights. Everything flows very well 5.0 Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting The voice acting is exceptional, whether you go with the Japanese language option or English dub 4.5 Play Value Some of the optional side quests can drag on a bit and there are some minor pacing issues, but the campaign quests and character-focused Tales are great 4.9 Overall Rating - Must Buy Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown. Review Rating Legend 0.1 - 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 - 2.9 = Average 3.5 - 3.9 = Good 4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy 2.0 - 2.4 = Poor 3.0 - 3.4 = Fair 4.0 - 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: Women in Bihar's Rohas district have worked round the clock ahead of Raksha Bandhan to make hundreds of rakhis to honour doctors, cops and other front-line COVID-19 warriors. The women, associated with an awareness campaign called Hello Sister made eco-friendly rakhis following a unique initiative of Dr Madhu Upadhaya -- the deputy chief of Sanjahuli block. It took us more than a fortnight in making rakhis to send the states corona warriors as a blessing of sisters to help them to fight coronavirus. We have mailed the rakhis made from out pocket money saved, to more than 500 corona-warriors, she said. These women have sent their rakhis to Bihar Chief Minister, Deputy CM, Health Minister, AIIMSs doctors, police force, District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Rohtas among others. Dr Madhu Upadhaya a cleanliness icon of the district, who also runs the Hello-Sister' campaign aimed at educating the womenfolk on prevention of Covid-19, said "While medical and scientific measures are being taken to check the rise of COVID-19, we are also praying for the safety of frontline warriors. In this endeavour, we the women of our block Sanjahuli, made rakhis from our saved pocket money and have sent to more than 500 corona warriors as a token of blessing from their sisters. Chandani Devi, Prabhawati Kumari, Vimal Devi, Nitu Kumari and Nilam Devi of villages Karmaini, Sanjahauli, Chitauli, Khaira and Tilal were prominent among those who made those rakhis and sent from their own costs. They believe that blessings from the sisters on this Raksha Bandhan will work as a 'miracle' to help the corona warriors stay safe. A proposed rockfall fence in the Delaware Water Gap on Interstate 80, that is estimated to cost more than $50 million could collapse before its built if a proposal to pull federal funding passes. U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer introduced an amendment Monday to the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, which provides funds to state Department of Transportation agencies around the country. The amendment would prohibit money from the act being used to build a proposed rockfall fence in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in New Jersey. In 2018, the New Jersey Department of Transportation proposed building the fence along I-80 in Knowlton and Hardwick townships. The approximately half-mile-long fence is designed to guard against potential rockfalls in the northern Warren County townships, about a mile from the bridge connecting Pennsylvania and New Jersey and within the 70,000-acre water gap recreation area. The fence would be installed between the 4-lane interstate highway and cliffs that reach over 1,500 feet. DOT has stated that the area on I-80 that winds along the Delaware River has the highest risk of rockfall of anywhere on New Jerseys highways. Rockfalls and related events have closed the highway three times in the last 15 years. Between 2001 and 2017, there were 11 rockfalls that caused 14 accidents, one of which was fatal. Several local elected officials and citizens groups, including I80DWG Coalition, have spoken out against the fence. The fence would detract from the natural beauty of the area and be costly to tourism, fence objectors have said. Local leaders have said theres more they could do with tens of millions of dollars than build a half-mile-long fence to prevent rockfalls. The local economy relies heavily on tourism to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which attracts visitors because of its unparalleled beauty and natural vistas, Gottheimer said in a statement. Building an obstructive and unsightly artificial wall will diminish the attractiveness of the area to tourists and wreak havoc on the economy. Construction could take up to three years to complete with lane closures on the highway. No detour has been established since the highway will remain open during construction but many have said they fear increased traffic will occur on local roads because of lane closures. A DOT schedule anticipates construction to begin in 2023. It is unclear how much support Gottheimers proposed amendment will receive in Congress. Phone and email attempts to reach Gottheimer last week were unsuccessful. John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 22:06:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Health Ministry recorded on Sunday 2,447 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 129,151. The new cases included 489 in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, 472 in Basra, 294 in Karbala, 211 in Babil, 202 in Erbil, and 175 in Nineveh, the ministry said in a statement. It also reported 63 new fatalities during the day, a figure that has been gradually decreasing over the past days, raising the death toll to 4,868. The ministry said 2,611 more patients recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 91,886. The new cases were recorded after 14,399 testing kits were used across the country during the day, and a total of 1,029,159 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease, according to the statement. Meanwhile, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that Turkey has suspended the flights between the two countries until Sept. 1 following recommendations by the Turkish Health Ministry. The return of the Iraqi citizens in Turkey will be "through diplomatic channels between the two countries," it noted. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Iraq has been taking measures to contain the pandemic. On July 26, Iraq's Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, decided to extend the weekly full curfew from July 30 to Aug. 9, including the Eid al-Adha holiday. China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 7 to April 26, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and install an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad. Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem UPDATED 4.22pm A 23-year-old man has been arrested by police following the death of a woman in Co Down. The 20-year-old woman was found dead in her home in Newry earlier Sunday morning. At the time of the discovery in Drumalane Park, police said they were treating the death as suspicious. A post-mortem examination is to be conducted to establish the cause of her death. A PSNI spokesperson said the police are are not searching for anyone else in relation to the death. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sat, August 1 2020 Finally, long-time fugitive Djoko S. Tjandra could no longer evade arrest. Handcuffed and wearing the orange vest for detainees, the graft convict arrived in Jakarta on Thursday after a flight from Kuala Lumpur, where the local police nabbed him upon request of their Indonesian counterparts. While the capture of Djoko, dubbed Joker by many, marked an end to an 11-year manhunt, it should kick start more daunting work for the countrys law enforcers. Djokos arrest has provided a new opportunity for both the National Police and the Attorney Generals Office (AGO) to revamp the system to deter cops and prosecutors from compromising their integrity. The National Police responded quickly to findings that Djoko was able to enter, travel around and leave the country unchecked, allegedly thanks to the help of higher-ups in the police force. National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis has dismissed Brig. Gen. Prasetyo Utomo from his job as head of the Civil Servant Investigator Supervisory and Coordination Bureau at the polices Criminal Investigation Department, Brig. Gen. Nugroho Wibowo from his post as secretary of the National Central Bureau (NCB)-Interpol and Nugrohos direct superior Insp. Gen. Napoleon Bonaparte. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Top political leaders, including Bharatiya Janata Party president J P Nadda, Rahul Gandhi of the Congress, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, wished Home Minister Amit Shah a speedy recovery after he tested positive for coronavirus and was hospitalised on Sunday. IMAGE: Union Home Minister Amit Shah attending a webinar on Saturday. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo Shah's tweet about him testing positive for the infection prompted politicians across the political divide to offer their prayers and wishes for his quick recovery. 'Received the news of Home Minister Amit Shah being infected with coronavirus. I pray to God for his quick recovery,' Nadda tweeted. Gandhi said, 'Wishing Mr Amit Shah a speedy recovery.' Trinamool Congress chairperson Banerjee also wished the senior BJP leader a speedy recovery and said her prayers are with him and his family. Several other leaders, including Union ministers, also tweeted to wish him speedy recovery. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Shah's firmness and willpower in front of any challenge is an example as he expressed his confidence that his Cabinet college will emerge victorious over this 'big challenge' of the coronavirus. 'I pray for the speedy recovery of Hon'ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah ji,' Kejriwal tweeted. Shah, 55, said earlier in the day that he has tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is getting admitted to a hospital following the advice of doctors. He stated this on his Twitter handle. Expressing his concern about Shah's hospitalisation, Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal president wished him a speedy recovery and offered prayers for his long life. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aadityanath said Shah symbolises "firm willpower" and said he with will soon defeat the virus. Gujarat, Haryana and Chhattisgarh chief ministers Vijay Rupani and Manohar Lal Khattar, both of the BJP, and Bhupesh Baghel of the Congress respectively were among several other senior leaders who wished the Union home minister a speedy return to good health. Rupani said the people of the state are praying for the speedy recovery of Shah. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his cabinet colleagues also wished speedy recovery to Shah. 'Home Minister Amit Shah ji, may God heal you completely soon so that you to serve the county with full energy. We wish you all the best!' Chouhan said in a tweet. BJP leader and former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia also wished Shah a speedy recovery. 'I am confident that you will soon be healthy and get ready for public service by your self-determination and resolve,' he said. Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath also wished Shah a speedy recovery. 'It is reported that the country's Home Minister Amit Shah is unwell. I pray to God for his speedy recovery,' Nath tweeted. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also wished Shah a speedy recovery from COVID-19. 'On learning about Shah's indisposition, the chief minister wished him well so that he resumes normal activities with usual vigour,' he said in a statement. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President M K Stalin wished speedy recovery to Shah. 'Praying the almighty God for speedy recovery of Shri @AmitShah ji from his present illness. Best wishes from Tamil Nadu for his good health,' the chief minister tweeted. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said in a statement, 'We are sure you will be able to defeat the virus and recover fast to return to serve the nation at the earliest.' By Trend Addressing Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly in a message, Laszlo Kover the Hungarian National Assembly speaker expressed hope for the development of mutual cooperation between Iran and Hungary in the fields of culture, education, and science, Trend reports via Mehr. He wrote that "on behalf of the Hungarian National Assembly, I would like to express my sincere wishes for you on your election as the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also wrote that by relying on the friendship between the two nations, the countries would be able to further strengthen fruitful cooperation in terms of cultural, educational, and scientific relations. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A recent New York Times op-ed, discussing school reopening and the possibility of a coronavirus resurgence, concluded that schools need to face reality now, make a plan and stick to it. This erroneous implication that schools or school districts have the ultimate responsibility to ensure safety pervades Connecticuts approach to plans for the upcoming school year. Connecticut has mandated that school districts develop reopening plans with three models: full physical reopening, a hybrid model, and remote learning. Each district plan must include, among other things: remote learning for students who elect to remain at home; hiring a liaison to communicate ever-changing COIVD information; maximizing space to ensure adequate distancing when feasible; complying with the Department of Public Health guidelines regarding proper cleaning and disinfecting, and adequate water and ventilation systems; isolating infected individuals; training on safe practices; cohort systems and other methods of ensuring safe teaching; ensuring students who need meals receive theirs safely; provide for different transportation scenarios depending on the level of community infection; and considering the unique needs of each student, including students with disabilities, emerging bilingual students, students who may need de-escalation strategies, students who cannot wear personal protective equipment, etc. District must also figure out a way to provide full curriculum including physical education, the arts and career and technical education. In addition, the state requires district to be flexible in the event of changing conditions. As some districts have noted, the states directive lacks clear guidelines. Some unanswered questions are what level of transmission would result in shifting models, and what protocol to use if an individual tests positive? One district noted that instructing districts to maintain six feet of distance where feasible is poor guidance and undermines confidence in state level decision making. It is possible to craft more explicit guidelines. Indeed, the Connecticut Education Association released a Safe Learning Plan (https://bit.ly/3hXnPom), with specific essential preconditions to a safe physical reopening of public schools, drawing from available documents from public health experts in Connecticut as well as the Centers for Disease Control and the National Academy of Sciences. One of the glaring unanswered questions in the states directive is how to pay for any of the reopening models. The state instructs districts to develop funding scenarios to support the multiple areas that may require increased funding and to maximize access to available federal funding. There is no mention of providing adequate state funding to ensure a safe reopening. Gov. Ned Lamont has been evasive about just how much state or federal money will be provided to school districts to fund their mandated plans. In a recent reopening survey of districts by the State Department of Education (SDE), one district noted that (w)e are eagerly awaiting confirmation on whether or not funding will be provided from the State. In response to the SDEs survey, Connecticut districts estimate it will cost at least $420 million in additional dollars to reopen in the fall. Districts emphasized that these figures are preliminary and do not consider all the costs they will face, such as providing additional social and emotional support to students traumatized by COVID. Districts noted that over the past several years, they have suffered funding cuts resulting in cuts to essential educational resources. These recent cuts exacerbate the states persistent underfunding of Connecticuts public school districts, particularly our neediest. And many districts have endured even more cuts to local budgets this year as a result of the pandemic. They report that they simply cannot fund adequate space, personal protective equipment, appropriate ventilation and many of the other basic requirements for in-person learning. Nor do they have adequate funding to ensure the quarter of Connecticut students who did not appear for remote learning are able to engage this year should school be conducted remotely. While districts struggle financially, the Connecticut Mirror reports that the states coffers are increasing. Connecticuts rainy day fund increased from 2.5 billion to 2.8 billion since the pandemic, and tax receipts are $200 million higher than estimated. The Lamont administration has spent hundreds of millions of dollars less than was expected and possibly needed on vital public services. Moreover, Americans for Tax Fairness reports that Connecticuts billionaires grew richer during the pandemic. The Connecticut Supreme Court has affirmed that a safe and secure environment ... is an essential element of a constitutionally adequate education that the state must provide. By failing to guarantee adequate funding and guidance for districts to operate their schools safely, the state is abdicating its constitutional responsibility. Wendy Lecker is a columnist for the Hearst Connecticut Media Group and is senior attorney at the Education Law Center. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Microsoft said it would pursue the deal over the coming weeks, and expected to complete the discussions no later than Sept. 15. Such a deal would involve purchasing the TikTok service in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand; ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, would continue to own the social media apps operations in Beijing and other markets. Microsoft may also bring on a series of outside investors, which would hold minority stakes in any deal. In recent weeks, investors from Sequoia Capital, SoftBank and General Atlantic have all held talks with TikTok to discuss participating in an acquisition of the company, according to two people familiar with the discussions. Such a deal would be a boon for the Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft, which has pursued corporate and enterprise computing lines of business under the leadership of Mr. Nadella, who took over as chief executive in 2014. Though it has dabbled in consumer acquisitions Microsoft purchased Minecraft in 2014 and bought LinkedIn in 2017 the purchase of TikTok would be largely new ground for Mr. Nadella. More than 800 million people regularly use the app to watch viral videos, with some 100 million of those users in the United States. Acquiring TikTok would also pit Microsoft directly against social media titans like Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit and the mighty Facebook, the latter used by more than three billion people regularly. All of the companies compete for user attention and billions in digital advertising dollars. Administration officials emphasized on Sunday that as is frequently the case with Mr. Trump, no decision is final until paperwork was signed. The forced sale is the latest in a series of punitive actions the Trump administration has taken against China, which the president blames for allowing the coronavirus pandemic to spread and damage the American economy, diminishing his re-election chances. As the election nears, Mr. Trump has increasingly challenged China over security, technology and commercial relations in an attempt to persuade voters that he will be tougher in taking on Beijing than former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. One of Pakistans leading television news channel Dawn TV was hacked on Sunday (August 2, 2020). Soon after it was hacked, an advertisement started running on the screen with the picture of an Indian tricolour. It had a message saying Happy Independence Day. Several photos and video of the channels screen was shared on social media by Twitter users. Though the message was aired at the channels screen around 3:30 pm, it was not clear for how long the message appeared on it. Confirming the incident, Dawn News put out a tweet in Urdu saying, "The Dawn administration has ordered an immediate investigation into the matter." Shayamal Vallabhjee: External environment alone doesn't guarantee you success Sports scientist Shayamal Vallabhjee argues that athletes, monks and business executives harness both their external and internal environments to win at what they do Lets start by analyzing one of your environments. It could be your office, your home, your bedroom, your gym, your car, your study, or even your kitchen. Pick any one. What are five things in this environment that contribute to optimizing your performance, or adding fulfillment to your life? advertisement advertisement 14 July 2019 was a day like no other in the world of professional tennis. Two old rivals, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, fought a gruelling battle that lasted four hours and fifty-seven minutes. It was an epic match for many reasons. Not only was it the longest contested Wimbledon Final in the history of the tournament, but the first Championship to be settled by a final set tie-breaker. Even more remarkable, Djokovic was the first man in seventy-one years to win the Championship from two match points down. advertisement advertisement So, what about this spectacular match underscores the importance of your environment? In a post-match interview, Djokovic said, When the crowd is chanting Federers name, you have to remove yourself from that environment. When the crowd is on your side, it helps. But if you dont have that, you have to find it from within. As the match approached its climax, we saw two equally capable athletes, each drawing strength from two different environments. One, fully absorbing the energy of their external environment, while the other chose to block the external and draw strength from his internal environment. advertisement advertisement Is it coincidental that the athlete who went within was the one who emerged victorious? After two decades of working at the convergence of the physical and mental domains of performance, I have begun to understand the delicate relationship that exists between the external and the internal environments. My approach to optimizing human potential blends both science and spirituality. This dual inspiration has allowed me to discover the intricate balance that exists between the two environments. For the longest time, I focused primarily on the external environment. In fact, I still spend a considerable amount of time engineering an athletes external environment for success. However, after spending time in the Buddhist monasteries in Japan, studying Vedic sciences and learning the art of pranayama (breath work) from traditional yogis in the Himalayas, my perspective has shifted. I have come to understand that we are at first strongly influenced by our external environment; and then, through mindfulness, we can cultivate the ability to rise above the trappings of our external environment. Eventually, with years of practice, we can master the art of mindful awareness. This deep state of awareness is so potent that those who attain it have the power to influence (or transcend) their environment. In other words, mastery over our internal environment eventually translates into the external. advertisement advertisement Shayamal Vallabhjee. Courtesy: Pan Macmillan. Success in any field is directly correlated to an individuals relationship with their environment. Athletes in a state of flow are tuning into their internal environment while navigating the challenges of their external environment. Motivational speakers on stage draw energy from the thousands of guests in the audience, thus utilizing their external environment. Pranayama (breath work) experts who can meditate in icy cold temperatures for hours use the power of their internal environment to block out the external environment. In the pursuit of excellence, understanding the balance between the two is essential.... advertisement advertisement The external environment encompasses everything that is tangible. I will give you examples of how athletes, monks, and business executives design their external physical environments for success and fulfillment. The internal environment involves the cultivation of mind (internal) over matter (external). The internal environment (self), when nurtured mindfully, allows an individual to be guided by their innate intuitive wisdom. When you are guided by this wisdom, you are operating from your Higher Self. From here, your contentment and bliss are no longer dictated by your external environment... James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, says, Motivation is overvalued. Environments often matter more. This is a great place to start. Why? Because in the world of sport, the external environment plays a powerful role in an athletes success. I wouldnt go as far as saying motivation is overvalued. Rather, I would say that the environment in itself is a kind of motivator. advertisement advertisement As a sports scientist and an ultra-marathon runner, I was always drawn to the tiny Kenyan village, Iten, that sits on the escarpment overlooking the African Rift Valley. The overhanging archway that welcomes visitors to the village reads Home of the Champions, a claim that could not be truer. Fellow sports scientist and author of The Sports Gene, David Epstein, called this village the greatest concentration of elite athletic talent, ever, in any sport, anywhere in the world. At the time of printing this book, four of the five fastest marathon times in the history of the sport belong to Kenyans who train at this village. advertisement advertisement This unique running community has single-handedly produced more middle- and long-distance champions than any other city or country in the world. 'Breathe Believe Balance' (Pan Macmillan, 304 pages, Rs350) Iten is a sports researchers heaven. For decades, scientists, journalists, authors, doctors, and academics have travelled there to understand its secret to success. Everything from muscle physiology, and biomechanics to nutrition, geographical location, training methodology, and socio-economics has been researched. The truth is, very little of the research has been conclusive in crediting any single factor for the villages overwhelming dominance in the sport. If you find this hard to believe, a trip to Iten will put all your reservations to rest. The simplicity of their lifestyle is beyond comprehension, especially in light of their achievements. Growing up in modern cities, our idea of excellence often presupposes the necessity of certain lifestyle pre-requisites. Iten shatters those assumptions. advertisement advertisement In Iten, life is as simple as you can imagine. There is a single paved road that runs through the village, with only a few street lamps scattered over its distance. This is why most of the running happens between dawn and dusk. There is no airport, reputable hotel, or big chain supermarket to speak of. As a local resident of Iten, your heroes are the runners. This is why it is so easy to imagine how the next rising star could be the unassuming boy or girl around the corner. Running is in their blood and that is what makes them great. But this isnt a story about running. This is a story about a community. In 2006, two New Zealanders who aspired to become the best professional runners in the world packed their bags and moved to Iten. Twin brothers, Jake and Zane Robertson, believed that training among the best and living their lifestyle would have given them a chance to achieve their dreams. The townspeople doubted Jake and Zane would last even a few months. More than ten years later, this is very much their home. When I met them in Iten, it was heartwarming to see that they are as much local heroes as Wilson Kipsang, Eluid Kipchode, Dennis Kimeto, Mary Keitany, and the other legends of the running world. In 2015, eight years after moving to Iten, Zane Robertson ran a 59 minutes 47 seconds race at the Marugame Half Marathon in Kagame, Japan. This made him only the fourth non-African runner to finish this distance in under an hour. Brother Colm OConnell, affectionately known as the Godfather of Kenyan Running, said that Jake and Zane Robertsons success is testament to how living in an athletic culture or environment, even though you are genetically not belonging to the culture or environment, can significantly impact your life. Ive been going back and forth to Iten for many years and if there is one thing that stands out, it is the Kenyan training philosophy Good People Make People Great. If you find the best and get them together, that ecosystem will cultivate excellence. The running community in Iten isnt just supremely talented or genetically gifted. They have an insatiable hunger for success and are prepared to do whatever it takes to get it. Jake and Zane Robertson arent the only ones who have benefited from this environment. The Home of Champions has become the training hub to almost every runner who has professional aspirations. Why do they all go there? The evidence is unquestionable. Whoever trains in Iten, gets faster. Edited and excerpted from Breathe Believe Balance: A Guide to Self-discovery and Healing with permission from Pan Macmillan. By PTI WASHINGTON: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday said the Chinese-owned video app, TikTok, cannot stay in the current format in the US as it "risks sending back information on 100 million Americans". His comments came two days after President Donald Trump on Friday said he will act to ban TikTok in the US, amidst reports of American technology giant Microsoft being in advanced talks to acquire the popular video sharing platform. "I've said publicly that it's under review. I will say publicly that the entire committee agrees that TikTok cannot stay in the current format because it risks sending back information on 100 million Americans," Mnuchin, who chairs the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, told the ABC News in an interview. Mnuchin said he has spoken to several top American lawmakers and all agree that "there has to be a change". "The president can either force a sale or the president can block the app using IEEPA (International Emergency Economic Powers Act). And I'm not going to comment on my specific discussions with the president, he said in response to a question. Trump on Friday said he could use the emergency economic powers or an executive order to ban TikTok in the US. The president also made it clear that he was not in favour of a deal to let a US company buy TikTok's American operations. India has banned as many as 106 Chinese apps, including TikTok, a move welcomed by both the Trump administration and the US lawmakers. The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported that Microsoft, headed by Indian-American Satya Nadella, is in advanced talks to acquire the US operations of TikTok. The deal could run into billions of dollars. China-based ByteDance is the parent company of TikTok. In recent weeks, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused TikTok of collecting personal information of Americans. Media reports also said the Trump administration will soon order ByteDance to divest of its ownership of TikTok's US operations. Kate Greene knows better than most what its like to live on Mars. As a member of NASAs inaugural 2013 HI-SEAS project, she spent four months in a simulated Martian environment on Hawaiis Mauna Loa. In Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars, Greene examines humanitys yearning for space travel through the lens of her own experience and explores, not just the cold, technical capabilities needed to get us to Mars, but also the human element that will allow us to thrive on the Red Planet once we get there. In the excerpt below, Greene posits what NASA might look like today had the agency not gotten its start as an elite boys club. Cover Aft From ONCE UPON A TIME I LIVED ON MARS by Kate Greene. Copyright 2020 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martins Publishing Group. On February 2, 1960, Look magazine ran a cover story that asked Should a Girl Be First in Space? It was a sensational headline representing an audacious idea at the time. And, as we all know, the proposal fell short. In 1961, NASA sent Alan Shepard above the stratosphere, followed by dozens of other American spacemen over the next two decades. Only in 1983 did Sally Ride become Americas first woman to launch. A certain kind of person might be compelled to ask, why would anyone think a woman should be the first to space, anyway? And to this person I would say, expert medical opinion, for starters. Women have fewer heart attacks than men, and in the 1950s and 60s, scientists speculated that their reproductive systems were more protected from radiation from space than mens because they are on the inside. Whats more, psychological studies suggested that women cope better than men in isolation and when deprived of sensory inputs. But there was another, possibly more compelling reason that women might outshine men as potential astronauts: basic economics. Thanks to their size, women are, on average, cheaper to launch and fly than men for the simple fact that they need less food. Story continues I verified this firsthand. During the mission, part of my job was to collect and manage the crews sleep data. One device used to track sleep was a sensor armband, which, in addition to sleep data and activity logging, also estimated daily and weekly calorie expenditure. Every week, sitting at the table where we ate our meals, Id dump the sensor data into my computer. While I didnt know which numbers belonged to which subject, due to anonymity requirements, I could see each subjects F or M. Over time I noticed a trend. Sian, Yajaira, and I consistently used fewer than half the calories of Angelo, Simon, and Oleg. Fewer than half! Consider the numbers. During one week in particular, the most metabolically active male burned an average of 3,450 calories per day while the least metabolically active female went through 1,475. Overall, it was rare for a woman on the crew to use 2,000 calories and common for male crewmembers to exceed 3,000. We were all exercising roughly the same amountat least forty-five minutes a day for five consecutive days as per our exercise protocol, most of us ardent followers of Tony Hortons P90X workoutsbut our metabolic furnaces were calibrated in radically different ways. Another observation: at mealtime, Sian, Yajaira, and I took smaller portions than Angelo, Simon, and Oleg, all three of whom often went back for seconds. I also remember that one of the guys complained how hard it was to maintain his weight, despite the piles of food he was eating. It all got me thinking about economics and gravity. Astronauts calorie requirements matter when planning a mission. The more food a person needs to maintain their weight on a long space journey, the more food should be launched with them. The more food launched, the heavier the payload. The heavier the payload, the more fuel required to blast it into orbit and beyond. Further, the more fuel required, the heavier the whole rocket becomes which, in turn, requires more fuel to launch. This means every pound counts on the way to space. A conundrum, but a predictable one, thanks to math. The rocket equation was first derived by a British mathematician in 1813, and later independently discovered again and applied to hypothetical space travelby the Russian scientist Konstantin Tsiolkovsky in 1903. Its the equation that guides all decisions around how heavy payloads, and even rockets themselves, can be. A mission to Mars crewed only with women would, on average, require less than half the food mass of a mission crewed only with men. But in any scenario, the more women you fly, the less food you need. You save mass, fuel, and money. When I mentioned my proposal at dinner one night, one of my male crewmates grumpily dismissed it. I figured I was onto something. Our selection for HI-SEAS and the supplies we brought into that dome, including food, had nothing to do with the rocket equation. And of course the question of female astronaut suitability had long been answered. This meant that we were chosen, more or less, in the same way all NASA astronauts are chosen. Fundamentally, they must have the same baseline: be a documented U.S. citizen with at least a bachelors degree in science, math, or engineering and have worked at least three years in their field or have flown at least one thousand hours as a jet pilot. These requirements might make sense to you. Its a technical job. Potential astronauts should have proven their rationality and ability to handle the rigors of a machine dominated environment. This kind of educational prerequisite is a shorthand that says yes they can. But Ive often wondered about all the people who might have made very fine astronautscar mechanics, inventors, oil-rig workers, sculptors, clergy, EMTs, truck drivers, novelists, designers, plumbers, philosopherswho never got a chance. What would the history of spaceflight have looked like if it wasnt just formally educated scientists, engineers, and pilots invited to the party? In any case, I was qualified, but barely. My undergraduate degree is in chemistry, and I have a masters degree in physics. And though I never worked as a physicist after graduate schoolI went straight to science journalismI did take three years to complete my masters rather than the usual two because, as a chemistry major, I needed to make up some undergraduate physics courses. I dont know if the HI-SEAS selection committee considered journalism as relevant experience in addition to my three years in graduate school. In 2015, NASA put out a call for astronauts, and I thought I might as well give it one last shot. I didnt make it past the first round. It made me wonder if the agency or, more specifically, the algorithm programmed by those at the agency to sort through the 18,300 applications, a flood three times the size of the previous hiring round in 2011, operates with a fairly narrow definition of professional astronaut experience so that a journalisteven one with a background in science and time on Marswould always be a no-go. The group that came out the other end of NASAs hiring process two years later was made up of five women and seven men. Most had flight time, many in some branch of the military. Some were scientists, some were doctors, all seemed to be firing on all cylinders and had been for much of their young lives. Reading through their bios, what I read was ambition, and a lot of it. And it wasnt the usual American kind, either, that ambition for money. After all, the most financially hungry among us rarely go into science. Fewer still join the military. Its a different kind of ambition that propels people to NASA, something to do with glory, maybe, or perhaps a sense of something to prove, though Im sure its different for everyone. And while NASA pulls from the military, and the military often pulls from particular segments of the countrys population, I couldnt help but think, looking at those bios, of James Baldwins observation that ambition isnt equally distributed in America. In addressing his nephew in The Fire Next Time, Baldwin writes, You were not expected to aspire to excellence: you were expected to make peace with mediocrity. This was what it was to be black and born in Harlem, Baldwin writes in 1962. This sentiment, and the rightful anger behind it, also may apply to many other nonwhite Americans in other cities and rural towns today, to those born in poverty, to those who lack documentation. There are so many excellent people in this country, living now and throughout history, who have had their ambitions blunted before they could even get started, who have been told that they are not what America is looking for. What of the almost-astronauts or those who never even thought to give it a try? What might they have contributed to humanitys grand space endeavor? How might they have shaped it differently, for everyone? "What did you do when you had the power?" President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is asking former President John Mahama. The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is seeking to be elected as President again after he lost the elections in 2016. However, President Akufo-Addo has questioned the basis for which the former President is seeking a second term. "Whats his record that is making him seek a second term? he queried. The President who was speaking on Wontumi TV, Saturday, during his tour of the Ashanti Region, strongly held the view that Mahama has nothing new to offer and that Ghanaians will make a huge mistake if they vote for him This is the first time in our history that an incumbent president and an immediate past president is contesting for an election. Ghanaians should ask themselves what Mahama used his power for while he was in government. Its not as though Mahama hasnt been president before, he has. He did more than four years because he was even a vice president. What did he do?" he questioned. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video LOS ANGELESCalifornias first major wildfire of the year grew to more than 80 square kilometres overnight after destroying one home, forcing thousands more to be evacuated and sending up a plume of smoke so massive that it generated its own winds, authorities said. The Apple fire in Riverside County was burning up steep and rugged hillsides as it spread north and east toward the San Gorgonio Wilderness while continuing to threaten homes to the south. The fire had burned at least 83 square kilometres and was zero per cent contained as of 6 a.m. Sunday. The terrain is characterized by a web of narrow canyons and drainage channels, which is creating this higher potential for extremely active fire behaviour, said Lisa Cox, fire information officer for the San Bernardino National Forest. What we saw yesterday was a perfect example of that, she said. So we did see a very large pyrocumulus cloud just kind of mushroom up into the sky that people could see all the way to Los Angeles. And what happens is when those really thick fuels start ripping and burning in those canyons, it creates this incredible power. The fire actually it doesnt even matter what the winds doing at that point it just creates its own weather. The cloud pushes embers down and blows them in all directions, creating the potential for rapid and unpredictable spread, Cox said. The concern with that is that firefighters cannot control what that plume of smoke does, she said. Firefighters cannot control when its going up in the sky and coming down in all directions. Still, she said, they can prepare by making sure evacuations are ordered and putting down retardant and water in anticipation of where the embers might rain down. Officials were expecting to see similarly extreme fire behaviour on Sunday. Most of the developed areas being threatened by the fire were along its southern flank, and the fire was expected to grow further in that direction as winds picked up later in the day, Cox said. More than 1,300 firefighters were battling the blaze using both ground equipment and helicopters and air tankers. They included structure protection crews whose mission is to get down into those communities and save homes, Cox said. Multiple evacuation orders and warnings remained in place Sunday in both Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Roughly 7,800 residents in over 2,500 households were ordered to evacuate, April Newman, a public information officer with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Riverside County Fire Department, said Saturday afternoon. An evacuation centre was opened at Beaumont High School for people and animals. The American Red Cross arranged for hotel rooms for 32 people from about 10 households Saturday night, regional disaster officer Debbie Leahy said Sunday. Many of those who were ordered to evacuate appear to have made their own accommodations, she said. Theyre taking care of themselves which is great, and then the Red Cross is assisting those that might need a little help, she said. The evacuation point is staffed by volunteers who are trained in COVID-19 safety protocols and outfitted with face coverings, and social distancing is strictly observed, she said. All who enter must undergo a brief health screening, and nurses are also conducting daily telephone screenings of the evacuees who were placed in hotel rooms, she said. Were in a COVID environment, and then if we have these wildfires at that, it complicates the situation, she said. But if we just all focus on safety were going to be OK. Weather conditions were also contributing to the fires rapid spread. Humidity levels were expected to plummet to the teens by mid-afternoon Sunday, with poor overnight recovery along slopes and ridges. Westerly winds were forecast to pick up after 3 p.m. and peak between 6 and 9 p.m. at 16 to 32 km/h, with gusts of up to 48 km/h, said Miguel Miller, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. The pattern of winds strengthening in the late afternoons and evenings will likely persist for the next several days, he said. Its not anything outrageous or very strong but its enough to push the fire around a little bit, he said. But if the fire spreads another 16 to 24 kilometres to the east, where the San Gorgonio pass creates an intense natural wind tunnel, the situation could change, he said. If we can keep it out of that tunnel ... then well be doing firefighters and everybody a big favour, he said. But hopefully these winds that were having will not send it into that dangerous area. The U.S. Forest Service on Saturday ordered an emergency closure of the San Gorgonio Wilderness, including the Pacific Crest Trail between the forest boundary and Forest Road 1N01. Forest Service recreation areas in the Forest Falls area were also closed. Forest Service recreation staff and volunteers have been visiting trailheads to let hikers and backpackers know that the wilderness area is closed, and on Saturday announcements were also made via helicopter, Cox said. Theyre not in danger right at this moment but we pre-emptively want to make sure they have enough time to get out, she said. The vegetation fire was first reported at 4:55 p.m. Friday in the 9000 block of Oak Glen Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. There wasnt word on its cause. The fire was burning through thick fuels, which were fuelled by seasonal rainfall that was close to average in the area, Miller said. That made for a decent green up, as they call it, in the springtime leafing out the vegetation, the grasses get going, he said. Then by May, June, certainly by July you get a curing. Those grasses simply dry up, they turn yellow, they turn flammable. And thats why summertime is the high fire season. Experts now call this period where weather conditions increase the risk of rapid fire spread high fire season because fire season is largely year-round, he said. High fire season is defined differently for every season because it depends a lot on vegetation growth, winter rains and the number of dry events such as offshore flow and Santa Anas that dry out vegetation prematurely, he said. But late July and early August is certainly right when we start ramping up. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arya Dipa and Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Bandung/Semarang Sat, August 1 2020 Authorities have put the West Java gubernatorial office, Gedung Sate, in Bandung as well as Diponegoro Universitys (Undip) Law School in Semarang, Central Java, on lockdown following the emergence of COVID-19 cases in the two institutions. West Java secretary Setiawan Wangsaatmaja said at least 40 of 1,260 employees working at Gedung Sate had tested positive for COVID-19 during recent swab testing. We found the cases through swab tests conducted on three consecutive days from July 26 to 28, Setiawan told journalists during a teleconference. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login By any measure, Nissan Motor Co Ltd has had a dreadful run in India. A push to revive its lower-end Datsun brand flopped, sales have slumped 60% over the past five years and its sole plant in the country is operating way below capacity. But the amount of money and energy that Nissan - battered by scandal and expecting a record $4.5 billion annual operating loss - will spend to turn its fortunes around in India will hinge on the sales of one vehicle, its new Magnite compact SUV, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The SUV may also determine how much heft Nissan will wield as it and alliance partner Renault SA thrash out their respective roles in the Indian market. Unveiled this month and due to be launched either late this year or early 2021, the Magnite will be Nissans first new vehicle in India in two years. Moreover, it will be just one of three Nissan-branded models in the market after two others were pulled in April when tougher emission rules kicked in. Magnite will buy Nissan a couple of years to figure out a plan for India and the SUVs success will determine whether it invests more or scales down operations, said one source. A second source called the sport-utility vehicle Nissans last hope to revive the brand in India. Japans No. 2 automaker has, however, no plans to withdraw from India, where it has invested over $800 million, and discussions about strategy are ongoing, the sources said. They were not authorised to speak to media and declined to be identified. The Datsun brand is likely to be phased out as part of a global overhaul, they added. Nissans only other models in India are three Datsun cars. Nissan said in a statement to Reuters it is committed to the Indian market and has a well-defined strategy for a sustainable and profitable business. It declined to comment on sales goals for the Magnite. WHO WILL LEAD? Nissans internal plans call for sales of 1,500 to 2,000 Magnites a month, the first source said - which if realised would exceed the average India monthly sales it achieved last business year with seven models. The SUV will be priced aggressively, the sources said without elaborating. Originally developed as a Datsun model, it is now expected to have features typically seen in a mid-range car, including a touchscreen and cruise control. But the market is difficult - demand has been pummelled by the coronavirus pandemic and Indias compact SUV segment is crowded. The Magnite will also go head to head with models from industry leaders - Maruti Suzukis Brezza and Hyundai Motors Venue. Complicating matters, Nissans India sales outlets have almost halved in number from around 270 in 2018 as dealers walked away from the brand, the third source said. The source added that Nissan hopes to export the model. India represents a particularly thorny market for Nissan as it and Renault drastically restructure in the wake of former leader Carlos Ghosns shock 2018 arrest and ouster. To save resources, clarify decision-making and prevent overlap, the two firms have agreed to a leader-follower strategy in key markets where one spearheads operations and the other is more in the backseat. Nissan, for example, is taking the lead in the United States, China and Japan. But India is the sole major market where no such decision has been made, with the automakers saying they will coexist and compete. If Magnite is successful, Nissan has stronger ground to argue to be the leader in India. If not, it is back to the discussion on who is bigger and smaller, said the first source. On one hand, Nissan has less than 1% of the India market, selling just 18,000 vehicles in the last business year. Renault sold five times as many cars in the country. Also Watch: But Nissan holds 70% of their jointly owned plant in the southern city of Chennai and exported 80,000 vehicles from the plant in the last business year, five times more than Renault. Two sources said the automakers are in talks for Renault to increase its stake in the plant, which can build 400,000 cars per year. The plant was operating at just 43% of capacity, Nissan said in January before the spread of the coronavirus in India. Nissan did not respond to requests for comment on the stake sale talks or current utilisation rates. Renault also did not respond to requests for comment on the talks. Zhu Bowen was excited about the possibility of landing an IT job when she travelled to Tokyo in December. Now, with the coronavirus pandemic having completely upended her life, the 24-year-old is out of options and looking to return to China. After graduating from college in the northeast Chinese city of Dalian last year, Zhu took a six-month training course in computer science and then went to Tokyo to receive language training in business Japanese at an IT outsourcing company, which offered IT support for local firms. And this past spring, she was supposed to be dispatched to a company in Japan to do software testing. But the move never happened. The pandemic, and subsequent corporate cost-cutting, stripped away the job opportunity. Before March, Zhu's net income was around 127,000 yen (US$1,210) a month. From March to May, that was cut by 20 per cent. In June, it was slashed another 20 per cent. Finally, she said, the company asked her to voluntarily resign with no compensation. "I eventually resigned," she said. "But there is another Chinese peer who refuses to sign the papers, and he still gets about 30,000 yen. That's not even enough for you to eat. He is also looking for other jobs. But the job market is so bad. If I go for an interview with another local firm, the company will definitely consider Japanese candidates first." Zhu is not alone in her plight. The pandemic has wreaked havoc on numerous overseas workers from China - one of the world's largest labour-exporting countries. These workers include crews on cargo ships and cruises, as well as construction workers on belt and road projects. Some have been stranded abroad for months, with no income, no job and little hope of returning home. Belt and Road Initiative hits roadblock as virus pinches supply of materials and workers Earlier this year, Xiong Gang, a native of central China's Hubei province who emigrated to Singapore 20 years ago, was busy arranging for donations, including medical equipment, to be sent to hospitals in his hometown. Hubei is where the first coronavirus cases were detected, in the city of Wuhan. Story continues But since April, he has turned his focus toward the thousands of Chinese migrant workers living in Singapore's cramped dormitories. He delivers food and other necessities to them - many of whom work in the construction industry. But these packed dorms have become a hotbed for the coronavirus, and the government was forced to transfer some workers to different facilities and to conduct mass testing among them. Estimates indicate that about 200,000 such workers live in 43 dormitories across the city state. "Many Chinese workers want to go home, mainly because they feel like they've been sitting in jail. If there were work here, then they might want to stay," Xiong said. "The food is not good, they can't move freely, and they feel very depressed. "Many receive a monthly government subsidy of 700 Singapore dollars (US$509), but migrant workers largely rely on overtime work for their savings, and they wire money back to the mainland. Most of them feel suffocated." Migrant workers at a Singapore dormitory in April. Photo: Obtained by Reuters alt=Migrant workers at a Singapore dormitory in April. Photo: Obtained by Reuters In Africa, where the World Health Organisation has warned of a larger outbreak than current numbers suggest, there is no shortage of calls by migrant workers to return home. In a video posted on social media in June, Ren Jiagui, a 58-year-old former engineer, pleaded for help alongside other Chinese workers who remain trapped in Nigeria. Ren was laid off in March and now lives off savings and donations. "When we ask the local Chinese embassy about any flights [to take us back home], their answer is always, 'I don't know'. At the same time, they tell you to pay attention to local laws and regulations, customs, and to strengthen your personal health and take virus-prevention measures," Ren told the Post. "Some people asked the embassy if they could borrow some money, because they had lost income. The reply was, 'Ask your family to wire some'." Lisa Dai has been stuck in Kenya since the end of March after the country banned international flights. She had just completed a 10-month internship and was set to graduate this summer. But with job prospects for fresh graduates bleak even in China, Dai is deeply concerned for her future. "I started looking for jobs [back in China] in March," she said, adding that she applied but couldn't meet the interview requirements while abroad. "I missed too many opportunities in April and May; I won't return to Africa for work in the near future." Kenya said it would resume international flights this weekend, and Dai was hoping to get a spot on one of the limited chartered flights arranged by the embassy, given that tickets for commercial flights would be very expensive. Dai said it is difficult to book through official channels without running into fraudulent ticket agents. "Some of the stranded want to wait until September to see if the fares are cheaper," she said. Another Chinese worker in Kenya, who asked not to be identified, said that different Chinese embassies in Africa had taken different measures to help stranded workers. "The Chinese embassy in Rwanda chartered a few direct flights that cost about US$1,000 per person, but not every embassy can do that," the worker said. "In Kenya, apart from migrant workers, there are tourists, children and pregnant women who have been stuck here for half a year." Back in Tokyo, where Zhu Bowen is staying with a friend and has nearly exhausted her savings, she recently opted to bite the bullet and book an expensive flight back to China in September, after weighing all of the pros and cons. She even considered taking on part-time jobs or earning another degree. "I probably need to ask my parents for money next month," Zhu said, adding that her father already wired her 14,000 yuan (US$2,000) to pay for the return flight next month. But rather than return to her hometown in northeast China's Heilongjiang province, Zhu will fly directly to Hangzhou city - about a two-hour drive from Shanghai - where she hopes job prospects are better, and because returning to Heilongjiang before moving to Hangzhou would put her at risk of being quarantined twice. "I feel I have wasted so much time here over the past year," she said. "I am studying for the [Test of English as a Foreign Language], and I want to do something related to English back in China." 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. Former Bachelor in Paradise couple Jarrod Woodgate and Keira Maguire confirmed their split in August 2019, after dating on and off for 21 months. And on Saturday, Jarrod publicly vowed to change his passwords after discovering that his ex-girlfriend was still using his Netflix login. The 35-year-old winemaker explained on Instagram how he'd figured out Keira, 34, was still using his account without his knowledge - more than a year after their split. Scroll down for video 'Change your password!' Jarrod Woodgate (pictured) has exposed his ex-girlfriend Keira Maguire, revealing how she's still using his Netflix login more than a year after their break-up The exes, who fell in love while filming the first season of Paradise in late 2017, had a rocky ride since the start - and it seems they're still clashing despite their break-up. 'If you think your Netflix account is getting hacked by Russian spies, because it keeps saying "continue watching" on shows you've never seen... change your password,' Jarrod wrote. He continued: 'Because it could be the ex you broke up with over a year ago and her boyfriend is using your account. WTAF.' Jarrod also shared a message from Keira's new boyfriend, Love Island star Matthew Zukowski, that confirmed his suspicions. Cheap: The 35-year-old winemaker explained on Instagram how he'd figured out Keira (above) was still using his account without his knowledge - more than a year after their break-up 'If you think your Netflix account is getting hacked by Russian spies, because it keeps saying "continue watching" on shows you've never seen... change your password,' Jarrod wrote Prime suspect: Jarrod also shared a message from Keira's new boyfriend, Love Island star Matthew Zukowski (pictured), that confirmed his suspicions Matthew, 25, had messaged Jarrod: 'Hey mate, hope you're well! Just wondering if you could check where The Last Dance is up to on your Netflix account as we are watching it and we have forgotten where we are up to. Cheers brother' Matthew, 25, had messaged Jarrod: 'Hey mate, hope you're well! Just wondering if you could check where The Last Dance is up to on your Netflix account as we are watching it and we have forgotten where we are up to. Cheers brother.' Keira confirmed her romance with the male model on Instagram last month, in what was a major spoiler for fans of Bachelor in Paradise's third season. She shared a selfie of the pair and wrote: 'I don't need the show to find love.' 'My love': Keira confirmed her romance with the male model on Instagram last month, in what was a major spoiler for fans of Bachelor in Paradise's third season Over: Jarrod and Keira, who fell in love while filming the first season of Paradise in late 2017, had a rocky ride since the start - and it seems they're still clashing despite their break-up Jarrod recently addressed his bitter split with Keira, accusing her of fuelling drama in a desperate bid to stay in the limelight. When asked about his relationship with his ex on the So Dramatic podcast, Jarrod admitted that there was 'no feud between them', but insisted they weren't friends. He has since moved on with Bachelor star Sam Royce, who appeared on Matt Agnew's season in 2019. A couple of companies have recovered very quickly from the fall off a cliff moment in the latter part of the first quarter of 2020. Some stocks have shown remarkable resilience and have already made up the loss in stock prices. West Fraser Timber (TSX:WFT) is one of the worlds largest softwood lumber producers in the world and is a very good barometer for the housing market as it specializes in the remodeling and home construction space. The company reported better than expected results for the second quarter of 2020. Sales clocked in $1.27 billion, up 7% from Q1. Adjusted EBITDA was $184 million as compared to $127 million in Q1. The lumber segment in particular was a surprise where adjusted EBITDA increased by $50 million to $156 million. West Fraser ended Q2 with a cash flow of $439 million that included tax refunds received on account of 2019 results. The company also paid off $325 million in debt to reduce its net debt-to-capital to 28%. Its net debt is now $939 million. Cash liquidity improved by $506 million to $800 million. Why West Fraser will gain momentum Fellow Fool Amy Legate-Wolfe wrote in April that both Canfor and West Fraser Timber were poised to jump dramatically when the housing recovery starts in the next year or so. She hit the nail on the head. Both stocks have reported good Q2 results on the back of a very strong repair and remodel market in the United States coupled with a resilient housing construction market. In fact, West Fraser had slowed down lumber production in the first half of April. The company says that for the first 4-6 weeks, beginning in early-mid March, there was minimal to almost no lumber sales before production had to ramp up to meet the surprisingly strong demand. By the end of the second quarter, manufacturing operations resumed at all West Fraser facilities. The company says, the Wood Products business was in relatively good shape with what appeared to be rising housing starts, solid U.S. consumer strength, and reasonably lean seasonal inventories throughout the supply chain and, of course, low mortgage rates. In the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, demand and pricing both rebounded after construction restrictions were lifted. Story continues Pulp plays spoilsport for the TSX stock The pulp segment was a downer for most lumber companies and it was no different for West Fraser. Its pulp & paper segment had negative operative earnings of $1 million and adjusted EBITDA of $10 million. Pulp inventories across the board were very high, and with the pandemic resulting in a massive decrease in demand for printing and writing, companies were stuck with inventory. West Fraser said that the upcoming quarters are going to be difficult for pulp, and growth should only be looked at from a long-term perspective in this segment. The company is currently trading at $63.50. It has already crossed the $61 levels it was trading at in February before the pandemic broke out and the world went into lockdown. It once traded at around $90 per share in 2018 and there is little reason to believe it wont once again reach that level should the housing market continue to recover. The post 1 TSX Stock That Can Beat the S&P 500 in 2020 and Beyond appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Fool contributor Aditya Raghunath has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020 In January, former NSW premier Morris Iemma was enjoying the cafes and restaurants in northern Italy where he was visiting his extended family. COVID-19 had yet to ravage the region but soon after his departure the relatives he left behind in Turin lived through the devastation it wrought on the country's health system, which "imploded". Thousands died, including 300 in their suburb "which had more deaths than our entire nation". Former NSW health minister Morris Iemma and premier Bob Carr at St Vincent's hospital in Darlinghurst in April 2003 announcing new measures to be employed by NSW Health services to combat any outbreak of the deadly SARS virus. Credit:Jon Reid As the political architect of health measures that helped control the spread of coronavirus in NSW, Mr Iemma and leading health experts have for months been warning aged care homes were the biggest chink in Australia's armour against a second wave of infections. Their fears have been realised in Victoria which as of Sunday has 1053 active cases linked to outbreaks at nursing homes and more than 70 deaths. A lack of clinical management and staffing of aged care threatens to fuel a second wave of infections in NSW after 19 lives were lost in the Newmarch House outbreak earlier this year. Portland rioters burn Bibles outside federal building Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Rioters carrying Black Lives Matter signs threw Bibles into a fire in front of the federal courthouse in Portland and burned an American flag, leaving bystanders wondering what that act of arson had to do with protesting against police brutality. People began starting a fire in the street in front of the federal courthouse which started with burning a Bible, then an American flag, until more and more items were added, according to KOIN reporter Danny Peterson. Finally around 1 a.m. (Saturday), yellow-clad members of the group Moms United for Black Lives Matter went over to the fire and put it out with bottles of water and stamped it out. Left-wing activists bring a stack of Bibles to burn in front of the federal courthouse in Portland, Ian Cheong, managing editor of Human Events, wrote in a post with a video that shows Bibles being tossed into a fire. Do not be under the illusion that these protests and riots are anything but an attempt to dismantle all of Western Civilization and upend centuries of tradition and freedom of religion. Donald Trump Jr. reacted to videos of the incidents shared on social media, saying, Now we move to the book-burning phase. Im pretty sure ANTIFA doesnt actually stand for what they say it stands for. Maybe just remove the anti part of [their] name and its perfect. Riots in Portland have been ongoing since the May 25 death of George Floyd, who was killed while in police custody in Minneapolis. President Donald Trump sent federal law enforcement to Portland to protect federal buildings and crack down on violence. After "repeated requests" from Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, the federal government "agreed to a phased withdrawal of federal officers," which began this week. Brown said the federal officers had acted as an "occupying force" and "brought violence and strife to our community." The Department of Homeland Security said Saturday that violence is abating and their "enhanced presence on the ground will remain for the time being until the Department determines that the courthouse and other federal property are safe." On Friday, 18-year-old Gabriel Agard-Berryhill was charged in a criminal complaint for allegedly throwing an explosive device into the entrance of the federal courthouse in Portland. No legitimate protest message is advanced by throwing a large explosive device against a government building, U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams said, according to Fox News. Mr. Agard-Berryhills actions could have gravely injured law enforcement officers positioned near the courthouse, other protesters standing nearby, or himself. Russel Burger, a U.S. Marshal for the District of Oregon, stated, The violent opportunists engaged in dangerous acts of violence, such as arson, need to realize there will be grave consequences. Serious crimes of this nature go beyond mere property damage to the courthouse and endanger peoples lives. Chestnut-Lee said one of the things that impressed her about Otuwa was her experience in restorative justice practices and closing achievement gaps, which she hopes will benefit Pleasantville. She said she sees herself as not only an advocate for the students but also the employees, and that one of her first acts as the new school leader was to meet with every principal and department head in the districts high school, middle school and four elementary schools, to find out what resources they need. Another goal, she said, is to realign the curriculum so it is consistent across school buildings. South Jersey school districts dealing with aid reductions after passing budgets ATLANTIC CITY When the Atlantic City school boards $198.6 million budget was voted down i Noting her spirituality, Chestnut-Lee said she felt she was sent to Pleasantville for a reason. This is what I am supposed to do, she said, adding she already feels like the atmosphere is turning more positive. Chestnut-Lee has a doctorate in educational leadership from Walden University. She has also worked in the Trenton Public School district as a culture and climate leader, as well as the Philadelphia School District, according to her LinkedIn profile. Lambert here: Hopefully. Im not sure this will work in all cases. But more humor would be welcome, even if only for tactical purposes! By Michael C. Zeller, an Associate Researcher at the Central European University (CEU) Centre for Policy Studies, working on the Building Resilience against Violent Extremism and Polarisation (BRaVE) project. He is also a doctoral candidate in the Department of Political Science at CEU. Originally published at Open Democracy. Counter-mobilisation against far-right activism takes many forms, adopts many practicesbut humour is one of the most persistent tactics. Time and again far-right movement organisations carry out actions laden with pretensions of gravity and solemnity: Nazis mourning Rudolf Hess on the anniversary of his suicide; Ku Klux Klan members protesting against the removal of Confederate flags from U.S. state houses; Hindu extremists protecting people from immorality by assaulting men and women gathered together in a pub; black-clad soldiers of Odin patrolling streets in Finland, are just a few examples. To undermine these activities, anti-fascist activists have repeatedly turned to tactical frivolity or calculated silliness to disrupt the attempts of far-right groups to perform dignified actions. Some examples include converting a Nazi march route into an involuntary walkathon to raise money for anti-extremism social work; mooning KKK members and playing comical tuba music during their march; mailing pink panties to violent Hindu conservatives; and a posse of clowns protecting right-wing vigilante patrollers exemplify the use of japes and mockery to counter the far right. Humour can serve several purposes. In order to illustrate these, this article examines the emergence of humour as a tactic in activism in Germany and the example of the Front Deutscher Apfel, a case which demonstrates the utility of satire among counter-mobilising activists and, specifically, against far-right groups. Spaguerillas or Fun fighters In the broadest terms, the use of humour by social movements serves two types of purposes: internal and external. Within movements, humour often comprises the brick and mortar of collective identity; jokes about the movements activism and the place of opponents helps cement cognitive, moral, and emotional connections between members. Humour also offers enhanced mobilising potential: the prospect of fun activism typically has greater appeal to potential members than more stolid activity. Alone, these advantagesattracting new members and promoting in-group solidaritymake humour a worthwhile attribute for social movements. But it can also serve external purposes. For example, framing opponents claims or stances in a humorous way subverts them, denying their legitimacy. Such ridiculing can effect a sort of soft repression on opposing activists. It may offer greater prospects of persuading bystanders, too. Social movement activists can use humour to break out of entrenched positions and frame opponents from a more advantageous perspective. Thus, as Rachel Kutz-Flamenbaum writes: Humour is a core communicative strategy used to build affiliative ties, expand groups, strengthen communities, and attempt to educate, entertain, and persuade. In its ability to disarm and entertain, humour holds profound potential for changing peoples minds and promoting social change. In Germany, humour became established in the panoply of social movement tactics as a response to rigid social mores and, at times, authoritarian conduct by state authorities. These same characteristics later suggested humour as a useful means to counteract far-right activism, which typically prizes traditional social norms and authoritarian leadership. West Germany in the 1960s was in many ways characterised by enduring authoritarian attitudes and practices. On the one hand, the end of de-nazification drives allowed former members of Hitlers regime to return to important positions in business and state administration in the late 1940s and early 1950s. On the other hand, anti-communism was a hegemonic precept in the West German state and society, so authorities tended to respond to leftist student activists with repression, even if the activists had no truck with the ideology represented by East Germany or the Soviet Union. In this context, as Simon Teune writes, a group of activists sought new forms of protest designed to overcome the limits of classic street demonstrations, characterised by distance between the public and demonstrators and by confrontation with the police. These were the Spaguerillas, the fun-fighters. Fun-fighter activists emerged from the Sozialistischen Deutschen Studentenbund (SDS, German Socialist Student Union), where some members already recognised the need for some levity to help mobilise participants and strengthen morale. Wolfgang Lefevre, a leading figure of the SDS, wrote in 1966: Fun-fighters like Fritz Teufel and Rainer Langhans adopted this approach. Playful tacticssuch as planning to throw pie and pudding at U.S. Vice President Hubert Humphrey, ironically supporting the partisan sensationalism of the right-wing Springer press, and making a mockery of court proceedingscould mobilise young people, who could not get started with Marxist analyses and joyless demonstrations, but who still wanted to criticise the current state of affairs. They also realised it could serve instrumental purposes. While on trial for flimsy charges of incitement to violence, Teufel and Langhans took every opportunity to undermine the petty authoritarianism of the judiciary. Teufel embodied this mockery with his reluctance to stand for the judge, eventually rising only with the dismissive comment, if it serves the search for truth. Front Deutscher Apfel Later anti-fascist activism in Germany bears the stamp of the Spaguerillas, most notably in the imperative to make counter-action engaging to participants and observers alike. The Front Deutscher Apfel (Front of German Apples), also known as the Apfelfront, represents one type of heir to the fun-fighter legacy, embracing performative mimicry as a means of satirising the far right. The Front Deutscher Apfel was formed in 2004, after the September election to Saxonys regional parliament (Landtag). The right-wing extremist Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands (NPD, National Democratic Party of Germany) was conspicuously successful in that election, increasing its vote share by 7.2 per cent (the biggest gain of any party) and winning 9.2 percent of the overall vote. Inspired by the name of the regional NPD party leader, Holger Apfel, a group of artists in Leipzig organised the first Apfelfront demonstration as a response to the election as well as to the announcement of a far-right demonstration in the leftist neighbourhood of south Lepizig. Like the fun-fighters, the Apfelfront eschewed the conventional response to public far-right activism: disruptive counter-demonstrations met by varyingly suppressive police deployments. Instead, when a well-known far-right leader with connections to the NPD organised a demonstration, the Apfelfront came in traditional fascist style: black button-downs with red armbands, but with the silhouette of an apple rather than a swastika. German far-right activists typically adhere to two dictates: do not explicitly glorify the Nazi regime or display any proscribed symbols, both of which are prohibited under German law, and make a powerful show of the far-rights mobilisation capacity. The Apfelfront undermined both these aims, comically heightening the identification with the Nazis and making a farce of the forceful far-right mobilisation with patently silly behaviour. During nearly ten years of activism the Apfelfront echoed several elements characteristic of the Nazi regime: the Apfelfronts founder, Alf Thum, was referred to as the Fuhrer; the Nationales Frischobst Deutschland (National Fresh Fruit of Germany) was their Hitler Youth; and the Bund weicher Birnen (League of Soft Pears) was their League of German Girls. (Having a soft pear is a German idiom meaning very stupid.) The Apfelfront repeatedly asserted the tenets of their fruit-based nationalism: (1) no more foreign domination of German fruit stock, (2) expel tropical fruits, (3) get rid of the false representation of history propagated by the world conspiracy of grapefruits. By parodying the Nazi regime and its far-right sympathizers, Apfelfront activists aimed to subvert legitimacy, to deny the menacing posture of the far right and instead make it an object of fun. Flyer of the Apfelfront listing their three satirical demands Aside from undermining the far rights legitimacy, adopting the fun-fighter approach serves two distinct objectives, as the case of Apfelfront clearly illustrates. First, Apfelfront anticsessentially, various forms of over-identification with xenophobic attitudes and the National Socialist regime, albeit in the realm of groceriesease tensions in a setting fraught with the heavy antagonisms of opposed demonstrations and taut police peacekeeping deployments. Police officers acknowledge this effect; many could not help but laugh when the (male) Apfelfront Fuhrer shouted that he wants to have the far-right leaders baby. Apfelfront humour intentionally de-escalates the situation on the street and likely goes some way toward charming police, which might otherwise view the counter-demonstrators as aggressive troublemakers. Yet more important is escaping the hackneyed, frequently ineffectual or even detrimental, pattern of hostile duelling demonstrations. Movements-countermovement pairs like the far right and anti-fascists often fall into modes of engagement characterised by polarisation, dependency, Manichaeism, and imitation. Playfully imitating the far right and superficially ignoring the us-them division disrupts these fixed patterns of antagonism. The tactics employed by the Apfelfront activists, like the fun-fighters before them, attempt to undermine their targets with ridicule. The use of humour is no panacea. Tactical frivolity is neither necessary nor sufficient to cause the demobilisation of far-right groups or campaigns. But it can serve many useful purposes, which is why the approach modelled by the fun-fighters and exemplified by the Apfelfront continues to influence counter-mobilisation against the far right. In the many instances where far-right activity attempts to exhibit solemnity, gravity, or strength, a well-aimed joke is a powerful act of resistance. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 00:40:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan tourists thronged Maasai Mara National Reserve on Sunday to watch more than 1.5 million wildebeests that had earlier migrated from Tanzania's northern Serengeti ecosystem. Elisha Kimtai, a tour guide said that at least 1.5 million wildebeests and 250 zebras had spread across the grassy plains of the Mara to the delight of domestic tourists. "The grass is very fresh and full of moisture and the wildebeests are everywhere, "Kimtai said. Wildebeests begin to migrate in troops from early July when the Serengeti ecosystem gets dry to enjoy the plenty water and pasture in the neighboring Mara, usually wet and humid during the same period. This spectacular annual event characterized with the animals dashing over the crocodile-ridden Mara River peaks in August before it settles in October when the animals return to Serengeti. Kimtai said the wildebeests have started to move from the eastern part of the Mara River to west. "It has been two weeks now since the wildebeests crossed into Maasai Mara National Reserve through Sand River (a migratory route separating Mara and Serengeti) and they are enjoying the green pasture," said Kimtai. Meanwhile, at least 200 camps and lodges in the reserve are readying themselves for the arrival of the foreign tourists following the resumption of the international flights on Saturday. Moris Simiyu, general manager of Olonana Camp said the arrival of foreign tourists who constitute 90 percent of visitors during the wildebeest escapade would boost revenue. "At least five percent of about 200 camps are ready (to host the tourists)," said Simiyu. "All the camps had been closed due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and now they only have to open upon adhering to the strict health and safety protocols," he added. Malaika Camp is one of the few camps that have already opened having met all the government guidelines for reopening including testing staff, setting up handwashing areas and re-arranging dining areas to the 1.5-meter distance between tables. John Temut, the camp's managing director said the facility was fully booked this weekend. "I have a capacity of 25 people and I was fully booked on Friday and Saturday," he said, adding that each visitor must have his or her temperature checked. He said that all the visitors were from Nairobi. Serif Abeid, general manager of Base Camp, said that 16 tourists had checked in on Saturday to watch the wildebeests. He said that sanitation services had been automated to ensure that visitors do not touch either water taps or sanitizers in order to curb the spread of COVID-19. "We are also not providing communal activities like bush meals," said Abeid. Enditem Houston: US astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley have completed a fiery, high-speed journey back from the International Space Station by splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday after a two-month voyage that was NASA's first crewed mission from home soil in nine years. "Today we really made history. We are entering a new era of human spaceflight," NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine said after the two astronauts emerged from Space X's Crew Dragon capsule after a two-month voyage. Behnken and Hurley undocked from the station on Saturday (US time) and returned home to land in the waves off Florida's Pensacola coast on schedule following a 21-hour overnight journey. "This has been quite an odyssey," Hurley told senior NASA and SpaceX officials at a homecoming ceremony at NASA's Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas. "To be where we are now, the first crewed flight of Dragon, is just unbelievable." Vineet Upadhyay By Express News Service DEHRADUN: India-Nepal border tensions coupled with Covid 19 epidemic has taken a toll over casino business in border areas of Nepal. Mahendra Nagar area of Bhimdatta municipality of Kanchanpur district is a 'Casino Hub' where Nepalese residents are now allowed entry into the casinos exclusively catering to foreigners only, especially Indians. Parmanand Bhandari, a hotelier from Mahendra Nagar town said, "Hotels, casinos and everything else related to tourism is shut down due to Covid epidemic. Every season we have big groups coming from India, mostly Uttarakhand but this year has been proved a dud." Mahendra Nagar along with Champawat, Nainital, Udham Singh Nagar, Bareilly, Moradabad and Rampur areas formed their own small universe of business and leisure activities. Designed exclusively keeping in mind Indian customers, now many of these casinos are nearing permanent shut down amidst apprehensions of further souring of India-Nepal ties. An owner of a casino, on the condition of anonymity, revealing the details said, "Our casinos thrived only because of Indian customers. We have procured license and cater exclusively to Indian customers. Now due to Covid and India-Nepal border tensions, we don't see revival of our business which ran well. It was down only in monsoon times due to rough terrain and floods when Indians did not travel much." Those who involved in running the casino business said that in peak season of Diwali and New Year week, the business touched Rs 10 Crore a day which is a lot. Vikas Kumar (name changed) a businessman from Haldwani who frequented the casinos said, "Kathmandu, Goa and Las Vegas will be too expensive so people from business community who like to play visit Mahendra Nagar. We have list and won sums as large as Rs 5-25 lakh in a day." Indians often ventured to the region for experience in casino, dingy beer bars and safari in Shuklaphata National Park abundance with wildlife such as tiger, leopard and elephant. Lakshman Tiwari, a local resident from Mahendra Nagar, the town which I named after late King Mahendra of Nepal said, "Indian people have been coming to our town since decades. Our people also venture to India for work and Indian also come here for work and leisure both." Kamal Jagati, a resident of Nainital district who has been frequenting Mahendra Nagar for over two decades now said, "Before the era of e-commerce website, it was Mahendra Nahar, hardly 4-5 hours drive from Nainital which was hub for low price foreign products such as garments, shoes and other items. With advent of internet and e-commerce, the area lost it's importance as cheap market for foreign goods and adapted to casino business for Indians and tourism." Intekhab Alam, another resident of Nainital who was a part of tourism delegation said, "Last year a delegation from Kanchanpur arrived in Nainital and on their invitation we went there. They focused a lot on tourism. They gave us a tour of Shuklaphata National Park, their casinos exclusively for Indians and beer bars. So, the focus has shifted from selling items to promoting the place for tourism." Apple took a brief takeover of the oil giant Saudi Aramco as the most valuable company in the world this Friday after it had blockbuster quarterly earnings. The higher earnings sent the tech company's shares up as much as 7%. Last Friday, Apple's shares reached $412 during an intraday high. This made the company's market value reached $1.762 trillion. On the other hand, Saudi Aramco has a $1.759 trillion market value last Friday, just slightly less than the Apple record, Business Insider reported. Overtaking Aramco was better than what the tech giant expected from its earnings, reported Bloomberg. But recently, shares were up about 39% year-to-date. Apple also jumped 10% on Friday; this gave them a record market capitalization of $1.817 trillion by the end of the day. This is the first time Apple overtook the oil company's value. Saudi Aramco first came to the market in Riyadh in December. Before that, Apple was in a tight competition with Microsoft Corp. for the most prominent public company in the U.S. The company also announced on Thursday a 4-1 stock split. They said it would help them appeal to a broader range of investors. The split is set to happen on August 24, and it means that investors holding one $400 share will have four $100 shares. So stocks for Apple are priced lower now, said The Verge. Apple's total revenue for the third quarter of 2020 hit $59.7 billion. This is higher by 11 percent from last year. The company saw a strong Mac and iPad sales boost, something that they also highlighted. There is a good chance this is due to people sheltering in place in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other tech companies like Amazon, Facebook, and Google all announce earnings yesterday too. For the most part, they also see good quarters. Amazon's profits have doubled during the pandemic, and Facebook saw a daily user increase of 12% year over year. Aramco Sees Revenue Drop For the second quarter of this year, Aramco had dropped revenues from $76 billion last year to $37 billion now, according to Bloomberg's analyst estimates. Its stock is also down 6.4% since the end of December, though it is far less than the fall of other oil companies. Take Exxon Mobil Corp. that saw a 40% decline and Royal Dutch Shell Plc that dropped 50%. This can explain the stark difference in revenue for the two companies. One is not used as it should be because of the pandemic, while the other is seeing more and more users with each day. Tech is 'Raking It' The Verge's Liz Lopatto called the pandemic a time for tech companies to 'rake it in.' Amidst the antitrust hearing that tech companies face, people are still in the more frequent use of gadgets and social media apps. The hearing was about how the tech giants come together, and the coronavirus pandemic is doing just that for them. People are looking for ways to amuse themselves amid the pandemic, so it is no surprise that they did so well for the first quarter with the coronavirus. Want to read more? Check these out! Life in Outer Space? US Wants to Build Nuclear Power Plants on the Moon, Mars Understanding Top Automation Technologies in the Automotive Industry Microsoft in Talks to Acquire TikTok Premchand arrived in Bombay on 31 May 1934. He was 54 years old, married with three children, the countrys most famous living Hindi writer and a man in dire financial difficulties. The losses were piling up at the Saraswati Press hed been running since 1923; and his two weekly publications, Hans and Jagran, were bleeding money. On the eve of his departure to Bombay, he wrote to a friend, A drowning man was extended a hand, and has grasped at it. The helping hand was the offer of a one-year contract by a film company, Ajanta Cinetone a somewhat urgent, persistent offer, they sent him two telegrams -- to write stories for films, for which he would be paid eight thousand rupees. (He was so hard up, he didnt even have money for the fare to Bombay his ever-resourceful wife Shivrani Devi gave him one hundred rupees that shed saved.) But Premchand left Bombay in less than a year. What happened during that time? On the occasion of his 140th birth anniversary (which was on 31 July), its worth looking at this singular chapter in Premchands life for a number of reasons. For one, much of what he said about the film industry rang eerily true for decades. Second, the fate of the one film he worked on is dramatic enough to merit a story of its own and indeed has been studied by both film historians and Premchand scholars. Mill/ Mazdoor, Ajanta Cinetones realistic film about the clash between a dissolute mill owner and his workers, was banned across the country by the British government. And finally, there was Premchand the writers own personal journey -- his Bombay stint revealed what should have been a foregone conclusion. This very simple man who lived for his sahitya and came from the highly literary milieu of Banaras, found no happiness in either the commercial world of Hindi films, or a big impersonal metropolis. Shivrani Devi recounts how Premchand didnt sleep the night before the journey to Bombay, afraid he would miss the train which was at the unearthly hour of 4am, and also because he was upset at the prospect of going alone. Shivrani Devi was not accompanying him -- she had two weddings to attend in Allahabad; he would finally go to fetch her only in July. But she felt a serious pang at his departure too, and in her book, Premchand Ghar Mein, about her life with her famous writer husband, she describes how, after he left, she went up to her room and wept for one hour. Soon after he arrived in Bombay (it was a three-day long train journey those days), he wrote to her, grumbling about how he felt so alone and lonely. (It is a very fine place, with clean roads and airy houses, but I dont like it here.) He rented a three-bedroom flat in Dadar for fifty rupees a month and ate his meals by himself at a nearby hotel. Two books -- Amrit Rais biography of his father, Kalam ka Sipahi (translated into English by Harish Trivedi), and a literary biography by the man often referred to as Premchands Boswell, Madan Gopal -- recount Premchands Bombay days, while Shivrani Devis account provides several illuminating and endearing domestic details of his stay there. Given his work ethic, Premchand diligently went to the studio every day. He was writing Mill/Mazdoor, and working with the German-trained director Mohan Bhavnani. Talkies had come to India three years ago (Alam Ara, 1931), and after a predominance of mythological and devotional cinema, it was now time for the social film. Mill/Mazdoor fell in this bracket: A mill owner leaves his textile mill to his son and daughter. But the son is a debauch without a care for workers welfare. His sister, the exact opposite, is in love with a mill worker, and leads the workers in a strike against her brother. Premchand was persuaded to play a cameo and the film was shot on location at a cotton mill, unusual for the time. About Mill/Mazdoor, Premchand wrote to his friend, the Hindi writer Jainendra, I can say, its mine, I can also say, its not mine. The director is all in the all in the film industry. The writer may be the master of the pen but this empire is that of the director. When the film went to the Censor Board to be certified, it faced outright rejection. Apparently, Byramjee Jeejeebohy, president of the Bombay Mill Owners Association and, incidentally, a member of the Censor Board, was the man behind the decision. Luckily, the film was cleared for release (with one cut) by the local Censor Board in Punjab, but on the first day itself a crowd of almost 60,000 workers arrived at the theatre, and massive crowds continued to turn up throughout the first week. The police and army were called in and the Punjab government banned the film. A similar fate befell Mill/Mazdoor in Delhi when inspired by the film -- a mill worker lay down in front of an owners car! Eventually the government of India banned the film altogether. Though in keeping with Premchands Gandhian views -- the film advocated peaceful protest against the mill owner, and stood for amicable partnership between the striking workers and owner, it was considered too dangerous. Also, it depicted the mill owner in an unflattering light, as a violent man who sent thugs to break up the strike and generally spent his time drinking and womanising. The films unhappy fate in some way mirrored Premchands own less-than happy life in Bombay though he now had his anchor, his wife, with him. Shivrani Devi describes his routine in the city: he would go for a walk at five in the morning, eat breakfast by 7.30, then repair to his room to work. Often, visitors would drop in at this time. After lunch he would set off for the studio. And he would work on his book late at night. Sometimes, when she woke up at two or two thirty at night, she would see the light burning in his room. Even so, he wasnt making much headway with the novel (Godaan). He had also started smoking too much and his health, always delicate, had begun slipping. By December 1934, he was fed up. He wrote to a friend: I had come into this line as I saw in it some prospects of achieving economic independence, but I can see now that I was mistaken and I am returning to literature again. He also had his own rather uncomplimentary assessment about the film industry: It is useless to expect any reform in Hindi movies... Those who control it are concerned only with profit. He called it a great money-making machine. In his words: I had gone there with certain ideals but I found that the cinema people have certain readymade formulas and what lies outside those formulas is taboo. The guiding principle of the film industry was to produce what the consumer wanted. Though he did believe that the public wanted to see other stories too stories of love, sacrifice and friendship. But when films were full of naked dancing and public kissing, there wasnt much hope! Despite the fate of Mill/Mazdoor, Ajanta Cinetone offered another contract to Premchand they wanted to send him to England for a year, as part of their plans for expansion, and pay him ten thousand rupees for four or five stories. But Shivrani Devi wouldnt hear of him going overseas. Himanshu Rai of Bombay Talkies also made him an offer, but by then, Premchand had had enough of the movies, of film writing, of the city. He longed to be back in Banaras, working on his novels and short stories, close to his sons who were studying in Allahabad, surrounded by his like-minded literary friends. (Madan Gopal writes that there was also an offer to edit a Hindi daily in Bombay, but Shivrani Devi put her foot down.) It wasnt surprising that Ajanta Cinetone or Bombay Talkies wanted to offer contracts to Premchand. There was his fame as a writer of course. But there was a more basic issue here. After talkies were introduced, the industry needed Hindi writers and lyricists. In a city dominated by non-Hindi speaking people, it was natural that the writers would come from the north, particularly UP the United Provinces as it was called then. (In a letter to Jainendra, Premchand wrote that the people he dealt with knew neither Hindi nor Urdu. I have to tell them the meaning of the story by translating it into English.) Many of the writers and poets who came stayed on and carved successful careers for themselves; many left after short stints. By the third week of April 1935, Premchand was back in Banaras, where he finally finished Godaan, his last masterpiece. Though financial problems continued to dog him, he soldiered on, as he always had, right up to his death in October next year. And what of Mill/Mazdoor? The print cannot be found; the film is lost forever. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Thiruvananthapuram: The centuries-old Padmanabha Swamy temple on Tuesday decided to relax its dress code for women, permitting devotees to wear the traditional Indian salwar kameez and churidar while worshipping at the shrine but the temples senior Tantri (priest) has voiced opposition to the decision. Earlier, women devotees had to wear a mundu (dhoti) over their waist if they were attired in salwars and churidars before entering the famous shrine, considered the richest Hindu temple in the world. A decision was taken today to allow women to wear salwar kameez and churidars..from this evening itself, devotees can offer worship wearing salwars and churidars, Temple Executive officer K N Sateesh told PTI. The Kerala High Court had recently disposed of a petition seeking permission to allow women to wear salwars and churidars inside the temple after directing the Executive officer to decide within 30 days on the matter. Sateesh said he had received mails and mass petitions from devotees, especially women, seeking a direction to temple authorities to permit wearing of salwar kameez and churidars inside the shrine. Devotees from all over the country visit the shrine throughout the year and had been wanting a change in the dress code. Keralites have also wanted this saying it was more convenient..there is no justification for wearing a mundu on top of the salwars or churidars. It is a mockery, he said. Sateesh said he had received several letters from IAS officers, scientists, doctors and from ordinary persons also seeking permission to be allowed to wear churidars as it was a decent and dignified dress. Salwar kameez and churidars were being allowed as it was a traditional Indian attire, he said, adding, however, jeans, tights and such other dresses will not be permitted. Meanwhile, the temples senior Tantri (priest) Nedumpilli Tharanalloor Parameshwaran Namboodiripad has voiced opposition to allowing women to wear salwar and churidar, saying it was against customs and age old traditions of the shrine. The present dress code should continue, he informed the Administrative Committee and Executive officer, temple sources said. The Administrative Committee has also said that the present dress code should be continued. Such a decision has been taken after obtaining the written opinion of Tantri and also after gathering the opinion of other stake holders like the Trustee, Ettara Yogam functionaries and a cross section of the devotees, the committee said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Obama delivered a 40-minute eulogy to John Lewis: Getty Back in February 2008, congressman John Lewis had some bad news for Hillary Clinton and her presidential campaign. It was true that just a few months earlier, the civil rights hero had backed her bid to become the nations first woman president. But now, painfully and after no small consideration, he was having to take that endorsement back. The reason? A young, one-term senator from Illinois who had lit up that primary contest with his rhetoric and vision, and whom his constituents in Georgias 5th congressional district overwhelmingly supported. Something is happening in America, Lewis said. There is a movement, there is a spirit, there is an enthusiasm in the hearts and minds of the American people that I have not seen in a long time - since the candidacy of Robert Kennedy. Barack Obama thanked the often-bloodied veteran of the struggle for civil rights who was famously beaten nearly to death on Selmas Edmund Pettus Bridge not just that day, but on many occasions for his support. In 2010, Obama awarded Lewis the Medal of Freedom (Getty) Among them was a speech in 2015 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Selma March, and the contributions of those who had passed, and those who were still alive including Amelia Boynton Robinson and Lewis himself. Their faith was questioned. Their lives were threatened. Their patriotism challenged, said Obama. This week, Obama found cause to again praise the congressman, and in doing so grasp more firmly than ever before the mantle of not just Lewis, but his entire generation who struggled for the most fundamental rights of American citizenship. Delivering a eulogy at the Atlanta funeral of Lewis, who died aged 80 after contracting pancreatic cancer, Obama said the congressman believed that in all of us, there exists the capacity for great courage. Yet while Obamas speech was partly concerned with the now sepia-hued struggle of Lewis and colleagues such as Dr Martin Luther King, it was also very much about the present, and the fight here in the summer of 2020, 55 years after the passage of the Voting Rights Act to ensure everyone who wants to cast a ballot is able to do so. Story continues That very day, even as the New York Times published an essay Lewis had penned to be published on the day of his funeral, Obamas successor, Donald Trump, had threatened to delay November's election, claiming contrary to all evidence that postal ballots were vulnerable to fraud. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote? Trump had tweeted. Critics of the president, who is trailing badly in the polls to Obamas vice president, Joe Biden, denounced his proposal, which would require an act of Congress, as fascistic. Even Republicans condemned the idea, which Trump would later repeat at a White House press briefing. Obama, 58, is visibly older than the senator who accepted Lewiss endorsement 12 years ago. Yet, when he spoke at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, he did so with close to as much passion as he has ever displayed. And on the matter of race, in particular, he appeared able to speak far more freely than he was as president. Bull Connor may be gone. But today we witness with our own eyes police officers kneeling on the necks of Black Americans, he said. George Wallace may be gone. But we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators. Obama did not mention Trump by name, but he did not need to. We may no longer have to guess the number of jellybeans in a jar in order to cast a ballot. But even as we sit here, there are those in power doing their darnedest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations, and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws, and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision, even undermining the postal service in the run-up to an election that is going to be dependent on mailed-in ballots so people don't get sick. For Democrats, the speech, delivered in one of many states controlled by Republican governors that have sought to limit voting rights, was a call to arms. For the final, 100-odd days of the 2020 presidential campaign, as Trump continues to undermine and the delegitimise the election he fears he will lose, Democrats will be organising filing lawsuits to open access to mail-in -ballots, trying to ensure there are adequate poll workers, and hoping the postal services have sufficient resources. Not for more than half-a-century has the nation been so seized with the issue of racial justice. Yet, say critics of Trump, never has the right to vote been so threatened. In his posthumously published essay, Lewis paid thanks to the American people who had inspired him, saying millions of people motivated simply by human compassion laid down the burdens of division. We now know getting those words into the New York Times, was touch and go. An editor revealed there was a scramble to complete the essay as Lewiss health worsened and that he was even read the final rites before the last approval for the words was granted. When you see something that is not right, you must say something, Lewis urged in that essay. You must do something. Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself. Read more We know what to do if Trump delays the election. John Lewis told us John Lewis urges Americans to redeem the soul of the nation Barack Obama calls for voting reform and filibusters end Obama gives powerful eulogy at John Lewis funeral People's Liberation Army soldiers march next to the entrance to the Forbidden City on May 21, 2020, the day before the beginning of the two-week National People's Congress. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images) Communism Is Not Chinas Chosen Path Commentary Despite the Chinese Communist Partys best efforts to project to the world their efficiency in containing the COVID-19 pandemic inside China, the following facts will go down in history: The attempts to cover up the outbreak at the initial stage and the failure to promptly inform the rest of the world about the emergence of a highly contagious virus when it first appeared in Wuhan in late 2019; The silencing of doctors who tried to warn others of the new virus, similar to what happened with SARS in December 2019, with the result that the virus began spreading to and infecting the rest of the world; Not one but three different types of virus pandemics originated in China in the past 70 years: The 19561958 Asian Flu, a H2N2 virus that started in Guizhou and killed an estimated million people worldwide; the 20022004 SARS-CoV which started in Guangdong and spread to 26 countries, causing nearly 800 fatalities; and the COVID-19 pandemic, which started in Wuhan in late 2019 and is still spreading worldwide, not only causing over 17 million fatalities so far but also damaging many countries economies due to measures taken to contain the spread. Why did the current pandemic not start in some cramped, sewage-soaked refugee camp or in the unhealthy slums of other countries? What is it about China that three different types of virus epidemics began there and spread to the rest of the world? An Imported Foreign Ideology I do not hold sentiments against China. In fact, my forefathers were from there and I am proud to be of Chinese descent. Chinese people are intelligent, hardworking, and resourceful. What I want to focus on is the vile nature of the communist regime that has ruled China since 1949a destructive force that aims to break the Chinese peoples spirit and destroy the culture passed down since ancient times. This is about the Chinese Communist Partys lack of moral ethics and the inhuman way in which the CCP treats its own citizens. The Chinese people have suffered greatly under this cruel regime. China has 5,000 years of its own profound culture and history. Communism is not innately Chinese but an imported foreign ideology. Yet, the Chinese people have been brainwashed to embrace communism like it is in their blood, manifesting it in the way they talk, behave, think, and do things which are inherent parts of the CCPs culture. The Partys culture is instilled in them, indoctrinating them from a young age. Karl Marx in his 1848 Communist Manifesto stated, A spectre is haunting Europe the spectre of communism. A spectre is a malevolent spirit, and this spirit has influenced the Chinese people at the hands of the CCP. Due to the destructive nature of communism and its ideological dogma, the human rights abuses by the CCP over the past 70 years are unprecedented. In addition, Mao Zedong gained control of the country not in a legitimate way, but by force. A thorough and accurate history of the regimes murderous reign can be found in Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party by The Epoch Times. Silencing Critics Through Disappearance Through the emergence and spread of the pandemic worldwide, many of the CCPs brazen tactics and behavioural traits have served to show its true colours, and it is imperative that the regimes hideous atrocities are recorded in history for future generations to see. Several people who were critical of the regimes handling of the virus outbreak in the early days have gone missing, including Dr. Ai Fen, the director of the emergency department at Wuhan Central hospital. Ai Fen was the first whistleblower, warning her colleagues in December 2019 about the emergence of this new strain of pneumonia-like coronavirus. According to media reports, she was severely admonished by CCP officials and accused of spreading rumours, apparently as a result of her criticism of censorship regarding the virus outbreak in a media interview she gave. News emerged on March 29 that Ai Fen had gone missing. Several others, including journalists and activists, who exposed the severity of the outbreak or criticized the government regarding the virus have also gone missing. Read More Silenced: Stories of Citizens Suppressed for Speaking the Truth About the CCP Virus In China, gone missing means being detained on the sly. Friends and family do not know what has happened to the missing person, while the abducted victim would be subjected to grilling and torture until he or she relented. One notorious example is that of notable human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang. Wangs wife told western media in 2017 that her husband had simply vanished without a trace in 2015. Rights lawyers are constantly under siege in China, and Wang was no different. Wangs courage in defending political campaigners, victims of land seizures, and Falun Gong practitioners had rankled the regime. After being detained for almost five years on fabricated charges, Wang was suddenly released in April this year, but rights advocates fear he will be subjected to house arrest, surveillance, and harassment. Unrealistic Death Toll Figures On April 17, officials in Wuhan raised the number COVID-19 deaths in the city by almost 50 percent to 3,869. This pushed the previously reported national totals up from 3,342 deaths to 4,632, and that number hasnt changed since. But the revision didnt quell widespread skepticism over whether Beijing has been transparent about the countrys death toll. In Wuhan alone, the epicentre of the outbreak, news reports related to funeral homes indicate far higher figures. A Chinese-language magazine article quoted a truck driver as saying he had delivered 5,000 urns within two days to a funeral parlour in the city, which has eight funeral homes. A photograph published with the report showed an estimated 3,500 urns stacked up in one funeral parlour. Photos widely circulated on Chinese social media showed thousands of urns and long queues at funeral parlours and cemeteries in Wuhan. This YouTube video titled, Leaked Videos From China Reveal Whats Really Happening in Hospitals, dated Feb. 10 and published by The Epoch Times gives a good idea of the pressure and desperation hospital staff in Wuhan were experiencing at that time. Consider the following rationales. China is the world most populous country, with 1.4 billion peoplea population density of 153 people per square kilometre. It is generally believed that it was on Nov. 17, 2019, that the first person was infected with the coronavirus. In mid-December 2019, a cluster of people in Wuhan became infected. However, Wuhan and other cities in Hubei were only placed under lockdown starting on Jan. 23, 2020 (the authorities didnt acknowledge the outbreak until Dec. 31). How many people in Hubei and other parts of China would have been infected considering the lapse in the period between Nov. 17, 2019, and the lockdown date of Jan. 23, 2020? Furthermore, the Wuhan provincial government estimates 5 million people left before that date as part of the Lunar New Year travelling season, even as Chinese authorities continued to maintain there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission. On Jan. 27, a German man was infected by a colleague from Shanghai who had travelled to Germany for a company training event, and the German in turn infected a Mexican. The colleague had recently been visited in Shanghai by her parents, who live in Wuhan. In this instance, if the colleague from Shanghai could infect the German man, how many more people in Shanghai could have been infected when they came into contact with this woman and her parents? And how many more people in Shanghai could have been infected by the visiting parents during their stay there? And how many people in other places in China could have been infected by the exodus of people from Wuhan? In light of these rationales and considering Chinas population of 1.4 billion, the Beijing regimes official death toll is a blatantly implausible claim. Persecuted Groups Ruling with an iron fist is part and parcel of communism, making the CCP a totalitarian regime. The Partys ruthlessness in history has been well documented. Mao Zedongs Great Leap Forward resulted in the death of approximately 40 to 45 million people between 1958 and 1962. Even the records of mass murderers Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin pale in comparison. Not only human rights lawyers and individual critics bear the brunt of the CCPs iron fist, but entire groups have suffered ongoing repression and persecution by the regime, including Christians, Tibetans, Uyghur Muslims, and Falun Gong adherents. In the case of the Uyghurs, it is estimated that at least a million are being held in massive re-education concentration camps in the Xinjiang autonomous region, where they are persecuted, exploited for labour, and forced to deny their faith and pledge allegiance to the CCP. In leaked documents, former detainees told of physical and psychological torture in the camps. According to Human Rights Watch, countless Uyghur children have been inhumanely separated from their parents and placed in state-run child welfare institutions and boarding schools to be taught in Mandarin and indoctrinated with communist ideology. It has been alleged that the regime is conducting a campaign of cultural genocide against the Uyghurs. The ongoing persecution campaign against practitioners of Falun Gong (a traditional meditation practice also called Falun Dafa) was launched by the CCP in 1999 due to fear of the practices immense popularityit had an estimated 70-100 million adherents by the late 90sand the fact that it was outside the control of the Party. The aim was to eradicate the practice by detaining adherents in the countrys vast system of labour camps, prisons, detention centres, and brainwashing centres and forcing them to give up Falun Gong by any brutal means necessary. The sadistic methods of torture used on Falun Gong prisoners of conscience is beyond ones imagination. Countless have been tortured to death or disabled by torture, and countless more have been killed for their organs to supply Chinas very lucrative transplant industry. An independent peoples tribunal, in its final judgment delivered in London on June 17, said there was clear evidence that forced organ harvesting has taken place in China for years on a significant scale. We, the tribunal members, are all certain, unanimously, and sure beyond reasonable doubt, that in China, forced organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience has been practiced for a substantial period of time, involving a very substantial number of victims, Nice said. While the Chinese regime has maintained from 2015 that organ transplants have come from voluntary donors, the tribunal said it concluded the practice is still taking place. In his 2014 book The Slaughter, China analyst and investigator Ethan Gutmann estimated that organs from 65,000 Falun Gong practitioners, and 2,000 to 4,000 Uyghurs and Tibetans, were forcibly harvested between 2000 and 2008. The finding was based on seven years of research and interview-gathering. No Dynasty Lasted Forever Throughout the history of China, no dynasty lasted forever; dynasty after dynasty changed hands down through the ages. The CCP is not China; it is just the ruling political party of the country, and its reign wont last forever either. The Chinese people didnt choose communismit was imposed on them by the CCP through tyranny, brainwashing, repression, and destructive campaigns like the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. If only the Chinese people could come to realize the negative impact that communist ideology has had on their psyche and reject it, the spectre of communism might be eliminated and they could break free of the control of the CCP. As for the regime itself, I implore the CCP leadership to take the following actions: Stop all persecution of your own citizens including the Uyghurs and Falun Gong practitioners and release them from detention; Release all children held in institutions and let them be reunited with their parents; Release all human rights lawyers, dissidents, and critics who have been arbitrarily detained or put under house arrest. The fact that three virus pandemics originated in China in the past 70 years should give the CCP the insight that man may propose, but it is God who disposes. The world is a stage, and as transient beings we cannot bring anything from this earth with us, but whatever we do while on earth, good or bad, matters. As the saying goes, what goes around comes around; it is only a matter of time. No human law on earth could surpass the law of divine providence in evaluating sincere human kindness. Cleo Lin is a writer based in Singapore. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Airlines for America, the trade group for the biggest U.S. carriers, said it is not pursuing new government help but would take it if no new conditions were attached. A group representing smaller carriers, the Regional Airline Association, has been more vocal in urging Washington to approve the money two of its members have already shut down during the pandemic and a third is in grave jeopardy. Community Music, the worship arm of Chicago's Community Christian Church, has recently released their new single "Nothing He Can't Do." Featuring Dove Award-winning Word Worship Music recording artist Meredith Andrews along with Community Music worship leaders Lucas and Evelyn Cortazio, the powerful anthem was penned by the Cortazios; Andrews; and Andrew Bergthold (We The Kingdom), who also produced the recording. Community Music has released two collections of original worship songs to date, Love Over Fear in 2017 and I Will Follow in 2018. Their recordings of titles such as "Name Above The Grave" began to further the collective's awareness around the globe. Rooted in Chicago's Community Christian Church, pastored by Dave Ferguson, Community Music is comprised of worship leaders from the church's 11 campuses. Led by Brazilian-born husband/wife team Lucas and Evelyn Cortazio since 2013, the collective is closely aligned with NewThing, a church planting network created by Community Christian Church representing more than 3000 congregations internationally. The Cortazios and Community Music lead worship annually at the Exponential Conference, and also host songwriting workshops for worship leaders from across the country and around the world. We are honored to be able to catch up with Lucas Cortazio for this exclusive interview. Q: Thank you for doing this interview with us. Tell us a little about Community Christian Church. Community Christian Church has been around for 30 years in the Chicago area. We have 11 locations- two in the city, eight churches in the suburbs, and one in a prison. Our mission is helping people find their way back to God, and one of the ways we live out this mission by church planting. Community Christian Church founded NewThing, a church planting network that has established over 3,100 churches in nearly 40 countries. Q: I believe Community Music is the worship arm of the church. Tell us a little about the worship team and your involvement with the team. Evelyn and I started Community Music about four years ago. Our team is comprised of worship pastors and leaders from the church. We get to lead and cast vision for our team as we work towards creating a more holistic worship culture for Community Christian Church and the NewThing Network. We also write songs and lead songwriting workshops with NewThing. Q: You are originally from Brazil, how did you come to minister in the US, specifically with Community Music? We both grew up around music, in and out of the church. We met at a Brazilian church in Boston, served on their worship team together, started dating, and got married in 2005. A few years and two kids later, we felt called to an English-speaking church in Boston, and that's when we found Reunion Christian Church, a congregation planted by the NewThing Network. We eventually joined the staff and helped plant a second location for the church. A year later, we were asked to serve as the worship band for the Exponential Conference, the largest church planting conference in the world led by Dave Ferguson, who also pastors Community Christian Church in Chicago. We eventually accepted the worship pastor role at the Yellow Box, the Naperville, Illinois, location of Community Christian Church, and this has been home for six years. Q: You have recently co-written your latest song with Meredith Andrews. How did you get to work with her? What was it like writing with her? We've had so many awesome experiences with songwriters across the country. Our friend Jonathan Mason at Word Worship Music set up a co-write between us, Andrew Bergthold, and Meredith Andrews. Having Meredith and Andrew (who also produced the track) be a part of this song has been a blessing to both us and our community. Meredith has a beautiful heart, is obviously anointed and talented, and writing with her was an amazing experience. Q: What's the story behind "Nothing He Can't Do"? As we got together to write, Meredith shared that she sensed the Holy Spirit's voice telling her to "bless the name of the Lord before the breakthrough," and that became the chorus of the song. During our writing session, we spent four hours together praying, worshiping, and seeking the Lord, and the result of that time was "Nothing He Can't Do." Q: Are you guys working on a new album? What are some of the new music we can look forward to? We are currently working on an EP and are very excited to share this new music soon. The project will feature songs written with friends from Upper Room, Hillsong, and a collaboration our friends Josh Farro and Rebekah Williams who co-wrote "Make Room" with us. Q: You are also aligned with NewThing, tell us more about NewThing. NewThing helps church leaders launch and lead local networks of churches that collaborate to plant and multiply even more healthy churches. Our four core values are relationships, reproducing, resources, and residency. NewThing's vision is to see millions of people find their way back to God through new churches being planted all over the world. Q: What is your vision as a worship leader? How do you wish worship will impact the lives of the church and the world? Our vision is to create a worship culture that transcends both Sundays and songs. We believe that worship is an every-breath practice of surrender to the lordship of Jesus. As we continue to write songs that give language to our local communities, we hope to raise and send out the next generation of leaders that will have the heart posture, excellence, and multiplication DNA to impact the churched and unchurched across the globe. For further information on Community Music, visit communitychristian.org or turningpointpr.com. Follow the group on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Tags : Lucas Cortazio Lucas Cortazio interview Community Music community music nothing he can't do Community Christian Church Meredith Andrews Community Music Interview Lucas and Evelyn Cortazio Lucas and Evelyn Cortazio interview Security is protection against threats from an 'invisible' enemy and is therefore dependent on an accurate information about the same coming in time for preventive action. A 'covert' threat has to be neutralised in its tracks before it reaches the point of open manifestation in violence. In the Age of Information, which is a gift of IT revolution that coincided with the end of the Cold War, a lot of information that could possibly throw some light on the clandestine moves of the adversary does appear somewhere in the cyber space or even other communication media. A competent analysis of the facts available there can provide important connectivities with the enemy camp and an idea of what was going on there. Since the invisible enemy was able to shift the point of origin of its operation, utilise the non-traditional turf to hit its target and use a wide expanse of 'tactical' acts to achieve its strategic aim, it becomes even more important to analyse all circumstantial information available in the public domain for identifying the nature of the 'threat' and broadly ascertaining where did it come from. This is the new dimension of analysis at work -- where this function 'presages' the classical entry of the Intelligence agencies for finally defining the enemy, detecting its precise location and getting the timing of the attack right. The post-Cold War era has thus put new calls on analysis as an instrument of security that determines the framework of how to conduct the business of collection of intelligence itself. First, on account of the rise of the new global terror that announced itself on 9/11 and the advent of 'proxy wars' using terror as their weapon, the entire democratic world faces a kind of threat that was unprecedented. The new global terror has used 'faith-based' motivation for instigating violence and derived sustenance from many Islamic countries who deliberately played down the threat by projecting it as the doing of 'non-State' actors. Since the call of Jehad emanates from within the 'Muslim world', an organisation like OIC was expected to come out with an early declaration rejecting Jehad as a recipe for solving current political disputes. This has not happened. India is a major target of the Pak-instigated 'proxy war' that used cross-border terrorism as its instrument. Analysis for Intelligence has to embrace a constant study of the pattern and linkages of this new global terror -- its focus has to be on Internet and social media that the 'masterminds' used for 'cover' communications to disseminate instructions, organise transfer of funds and weapons and closely guide their operations in real time. Big scale monitoring of cyber space combined with data analytics is needed even before the real time agenda for Intelligence agencies was itself set. Fortunately, India has made tremendous advancement in this sphere. Secondly, a new turf for analysis was laid by the geo-political realities of a uni-polar world order -- emerging post-Cold War -- that created the need for the nations to have a convergence of Intelligence and diplomatic functions to deal with friends and adversaries. For India, an integral assessment of the multiple security threats of this new world -- wherein national interests were heavily weighed in -- has had to be made all the time. The threats may be perceived differently by various countries and a sharing of these is what will determine the 'Intelligence Alliances' to be opted for -- within or outside of the 'political friendships' that would be forged by the same allies for wider purposes. A good illustration of this is the 'Intelligence sharing' arrangement that India has with the US -- in spite of the limitations put on it by a strong American convergence with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia at the political level. National security, consequently, is ultimately going to become the sole responsibility of the sovereign authority ruling the country -- more so because even 'strategic' friendships were becoming a shifting phenomenon in these times. This is a sobering thought. A deep analysis of geo-political scenario and friendship pacts struck by other countries amongst themselves, is a part of national security assessment that would contribute to the determination of the charter of national Intelligence itself. Diplomacy today has to be rooted in a total understanding of external and internal security environ of the home country -- as its own parameters are set by the policy largely determined by the latter. That the military build-up by the Chinese in Galwan valley of East Ladakh and the intensification of cross-border terrorism in Kashmir by Pakistan -- happening together in the period following the repeal of Art 370 -- showed a new level of meeting of minds between China and Pakistan against India, would be an easy pick for Intelligence analysts. This is what has rightly set the ball rolling both for our diplomacy as well as defence. Third, the most important add-on to Intelligence analysis is linked to the changing concept of warfare itself. An opponent can be weakened today through unconventional non-military methods -- economic blockade, cyber attacks on vital infrastructure and deniable covert offensives in which terror groups are used as the instrument of assault. National security is not complete without economic security and the post-Cold War years have seen a resurgence of non-conventional means of bringing down an adversary -- damaging the economic strength of the latter would figure prominently in these. This has made for a paradigm shift in the Intelligence tradecraft to meet the requirement of information gathering in non-military spheres. In turn, Intelligence gathering in the economic sphere puts a premium on mopping up of 'open source' information, including what comes out of appropriate use of 'unconscious agents' in socio-economic and even political interactions, analysis of technologically produced data and deployment of third parties as proxies to get a feedback in a particular sphere. Above all, there is a new speed in the work of Intelligence analysis now because strategic assessments themselves have lost their lasting character and suffered a shortening of their span generally -- because of the pace of change. Intelligence analysis buys its importance more for its short range and medium-term readings now. Fourthly, in the Indian context, an important part of the internal security scene is the domestic threat of caste, communal and regional conflicts that has abated in many ways over the decades of democratic assimilation but had the potential of resurfacing with intensity. The corona pandemic has accentuated the class divide because of the saga of migrant labour, deepened the Hindu-Muslim antipathy after the Tablighi Jamaat Markaz episode and created regional overtones because of the politics-ridden responses of the states. Analysis of socio-economic and political scene -- as different from taking any interest in politics as such -- is an important function of Intelligence as it helped to foresee any destabilising trends that could affect national security. Our Intelligence set-up has, while remaining apolitical, done a good job of reading signs of any such internal developments -- some of these could be instigated from outside -- ahead of time and helping the Centre to effectively cope with the same for preserving national integrity and wellbeing of the people at large. Last but not the least, the study that helps to oversee the new level of civil-military cooperation required for coordinated implementation of the security policy, has acquired newfound importance -- and is by itself an Intelligence analysis function. In this age of terrorism and proxy wars, the army plays a vital part in neutralising the armed militants carrying out plans of the enemy on our own soil. The army needed specially trained units backed by the country's Intelligence agencies for pursuing the difficult mission of foiling the terrorist attacks -- and they needed to acquire a complete understanding of the terrain and the enemy's modus operandi. There is a new responsibility for analysts of bringing 'information' and 'action' to the point of convergence on a running basis for the success of counter-terror operations. Intelligence may be 'embedded' in the operational formation itself, both to provide a feedback on local environ and receive information coming in top down. Terrorism or insurgency affected territories have to have this total civil-military togetherness and India can be said to have achieved this over a period to the nation's total satisfaction. An ongoing evaluation of this coordination to keep the national interest above everything else, is the added task of Intelligence analysts. Intelligence agencies of India do not perform a standalone kind of function any more -- they analyse every facet of the nation's life to help policy makers in achieving the integral objective of protecting national well being and security. The analysts today have to have the ability to see beyond the facts in front to peep into the future -- something that Albert Einstein emphasised when he famously said that 'imagination is more important than knowledge'. The greatest scientist of all times was talking not of a 'flight of fancy' but a wise and cool extension of all that was known in the present, to a perception of what lay ahead. (The writer is a former Director Intelligence Bureau) Accordig to district officials, over 1.50 lakh people in Kaisarganj, Mahsi and Mihipurva tehsils of Bahraich have been affected while 171 houses have been damaged Bahraich: Over 60 villages in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district have been inundated following the release of water by Nepal from its three barrages into rivers, a district administration official said on Sunday. The release of water has affected over 1.50 lakh people and damaged 171 houses, he said, adding National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in the area to rescue people. "Following the release of lakhs of cusec of water by Nepal, at least 61 villages in the district have been inundated. The administration is providing relief to the affected people," Additional District Magistrate Jai Chandra Pandey said. He added that 61 villages located in Kaisarganj, Mahsi and Mihipurva tehsils with a population of over 1.50 lakh have been affected. "The condition is very bad in seven villages. As many as 131 kutcha houses have been damaged. Twenty-three flood posts have been made. Apart from this, one motorboat, 179 boats, one platoon of flood PAC and NDRF have also been pressed into service," Pandey said. He also said 48 medical teams along with veterinary teams have also been deployed for relief work. Medical facilities, vaccination of animals, tarpaulin sheets and food packets are being distributed, he added. "About 3.15 lakh cusec water was released into rivers from Sharda, Girijapuri and Saryu barrages. The levels of rivers at these places were below the danger mark, but Ghagara was flowing 108 centimetres above the danger mark at Elgin bridge. Along with the barrages, the embankments are also being constantly monitored," said Executive Engineer (Flood) Shobit Kushwaha. CLEVELAND, Ohio As the national landscape has expanded the map in the presidential race, the campaign for Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden is making a bigger push in Ohio. That includes the start this week of a virtual tour focusing on more rural areas featuring local officials across the state to counter Republican President Donald Trumps scheduled Aug. 6 fundraiser in Bratenahl. Once seen as a state firmly in Trumps column, Biden has also begun staffing up and spending on television ads as polling shows a more competitive race. The Biden camp will focus on the lagging economy caused by coronavirus in a bid to flip the state that Trump won in 2016 by 450,000 votes. On our Made in America tour, well speak directly to working families across Ohio who have had enough of Donald Trumps broken promises -- and who are ready for a president who will fight for workers and families, not just the wealthy and well-connected, said Toni Webb, the Biden campaigns state director. The virtual tour will start Tuesday in Kent featuring Portage County Commissioner Kathleen Clyde. Chillicothe Mayor Luke Feeney will host a virtual roundtable on Wednesday with Lima Mayor David Berger hosting one Thursday. Sen. Sherrod Brown will wrap up the tour with a Cleveland roundtable on Friday. The roundtables will heavily focus on economic and manufacturing issues, highlighting what they described as broken promises by the Trump campaign. Manufacturing job growth stalled even before the pandemic and coronavirus has sent both the state and nation into a recession. The unemployment rate in the stood at 10.9% in June, according to preliminary figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The tour comes less than a week after Biden began running television ads in the Toledo and Youngstown market, an indicator that theyre considering the state more viable as Trumps approval ratings remain low. Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, many Democrats thought Ohio would be an afterthought for any presidential campaign with states such as Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida, Arizona, North Carolina and Georgia as higher priorities for the Democratic nominee to reach 270 electoral votes. However, the deluge of crises facing the country since February have shifted the dynamics of the race drastically. Polls routinely show a close race between Trump and Biden in Ohio. The first presidential debate on Sept. 29 will also be held in Cleveland after the University of Notre Dame dropped out of hosting. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign aware of that the presidents chances of re-election are essentially nonexistent without carrying Ohio have been spending frequently in the state. That includes reserving more than $18 million in fall television advertisements, a hefty amount indicative that the campaign is preparing for a competitive environment. Read more politics coverage: House passes bill to fund Great Lakes projects and numerous federal departments FBI agents raid ex-House Speaker Larry Householders legislative office Ohio liquor commission adopts rule, Gov. Mike DeWine signs executive order ending alcohol sales statewide at 10 p.m. Ohio Democratic Party relents on controversial PPP loan as legislation is introduced to require a giveback Press Release August 2, 2020 Dispatch from Crame No. 866: Sen. Leila M. de Lima on Duterte's latest push for Death Penalty 8/2/20 Everywhere in the world, people are looking for ways to keep humans alive during this pandemic. Everyone is hoping and working to find solutions to save lives. Apparently, everyone everywhere except our own President, who is preoccupied with bringing back the death penalty by lethal injection. In a moment of sheer shamelessness, Duterte proved that he is more than willing to continue to take undue advantage of a health and public safety crisis in order to move against the interests of his own people, this time in a bid to satisfy his lust for dead Filipinos. Deaths by a virus is not enough for him. It has to be death by his own hands: by hook or by crook; legally or extra-legally. To him, finding a cure is not a priority. Having the legal authority to kill is. What is it about this President that makes him hate Filipinos so much that he has again spoken about bringing back the Death Penalty amidst a coronavirus pandemic? Without even having an answer for the people who are rightfully asking him what are his government's plans to combat COVID-19, he, in his perversion, turns the discussion to killing people instead. Namamatay na po ang mga tao nang walang kalaban-laban. Hindi po ba dapat pagbuhay sa mga Pilipino ang prayoridad ng gobyerno? Bakit pagpatay pa rin ang nasa isip ng Presidenteng ito? It is not even an effective deterrent to crimes, as many factors come into play when a person commits a crime: poverty, environment, education and values. In fact, the real deterrent effect does not come from simply imposing the severest punishment possible. It comes from effective law enforcement: from heightened crime prevention efforts and, if those fail, successful and effective crime detection, investigation and prosecution. None of these things Duterte is good at addressing: not at alleviating poverty, not at improving social environment, or people's education and values. So he resorts to the Death Penalty because, like him, that is good for one thing and one thing only: killing, regardless of innocence or guilt. Nearly every week, corrupt, abusive and suspicious practices (not to mention sheer inefficiencies) in his government are revealed. Even some of his usual supporters in the Senate now express disbelief over the mysterious deaths and resurrections happening in the national penitentiary. Yet, he disregards the danger that such an imperfect system poses to the lives of innocent people who will be wrongfully convicted and killed. But that doesn't matter to him. Katulad ng dati, pinapatunayan lamang n'ya na bale-wala sa kanyang magsakripisyo ng buhay... basta hindi ang sarili n'yang buhay. After the highway robbery that was the ABS-CBN franchise renewal debacle, and the bantay-salakay tactic of the untimely passage of the Anti-Terror Law, a.k.a. the Duterte Pro-Terror Law, we all know that he and his minions in the Davao Government will do as they please. This is no longer our country, where Filipinos are served and protected, and their interests are paramount. This is now Duterte country led by the Davao Government, where Filipinos are terrorized into submission, used, pawned to a foreign power and disposed of, at the dictates of their own personal and vested interests. Mr. President, we already know you are an expert at killing, as you yourself love to remind us. Now, your people - to whom you owe your mandate - are asking you what are your plans to keep them alive against COVID-19. Ang pangako mong pagsakay sa jetski papuntang Scarborough Shoal para ipagtanggol ang soberenya ng ating bayan ay abo na. Patuloy mo rin bang aabuhin ang buhay ng mga kapwa mo Pilipino? Ito ba ang bersyon mo ng "War against COVID"? Nakikipagpaligsahan ka ba sa isang virus sa dami ng mapapatay? Sobra na ang patayan. Sawa na ang mga Pilipino sa apat na taong patayan. In your fifth year, try playing another beat, Mr. President. If you can. (Access the handwritten copy of Dispatch from Crame No. 866 here: https://issuu.com/senatorleilam.delima/docs/dispatch_866) Two-point-eight-billion naira Oil money is still missing Two-point-eight-billion naira Oil money is still missing Them set up inquiry Them say money no lost o Them dabaru everybody Supervisor Obasanjo Them say make him no talk o "Money no lost," them shout again Inquiry come close o E no finish, e no finish, e no finish Fela Anikulapo Kutis army arrangement I hummed to the songand reflected sick politicians, sick followership, sick nation, but we keep moving one day at a time. We wont die, we have a strong resolve, we dont die, and we believe that it cannot end just like that. Our immune system defies medical logic. Myself and my beloved companion had a long conversation, on the status of Nigeria's health sector, from infrastructure, to professionals, it was a sorry story, let us not go into the allied industry like pharmaceuticals, medical education or the technology of medicine etc. we tried hard not to focus or misdiagnosis, half baked and unbaked professionals. It is not a subject for debate that we do not have the best in terms of health practitioners, but we have some of the best that can stand their own anywhere in the world and at anytime. However we are the same country where you hear the story below. The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire has told Nigerian doctors seeking to relocate to countries like the UK, to reconsider such plans as they would lose out on getting hazard allowance. Ehanire said there is no need for doctors to leave the country as the government was working on ensuring better welfare for them. Speaking on the 58 doctors who were prevented from living Nigeria for the UK recently over visa issues, Ehanire said the news came as a surprise, but noted that the movement was irregular as many of them were without visas. The Cable (online medium) quoted the minister as adding that he was not aware if the doctors had eventually left the country. We were all surprised to hear that they were at the airport. I think somehow or the other, it was irregular in that many of them did not have visas. I dont know what evidence you have, maybe its a rumor that they have now left the country, I dont know, but nobody should be leaving the country without visa, he said. Please how did this kind of leaders lay us, who did we offend so the doctors simply went to the airport without visas hoping to travel, and they were leaving because of a lack of hazard allowances. What was rocket science for a Minister to get the exactitudes in terms of information, how is it that doctors are leaving because of hazard allowances, to even risk leaving during this pandemic. If 58 doctors left in one sweep, and thats because there were hitches, how many have left unaccounted for, without hitches, and we never will know them, till they do exploits in other climes. So sometime last week, our neighbor Ghana was pulling off some local miracle, as her Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia,, commissioned a 100-bed Ghana Infectious Disease Centre (GIDC) for treatment and management of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases in the country. The ultra-modern facility worth US$7.5 million was funded by the Ghana COVID-19 Private Sector Fund, which saw 536 patriotic and industrious Ghanaians constructing the project, to support governments efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. The first ever GIDC facility located at the Ga East Municipal Hospital, comprised a level three Biomedical laboratory, a 21-bed Intensive Care Unit, a dispensary, a triage unit, waiting areas, nurses station, VIP and general wards and a medical gas house, was constructed through the collaboration of civilian and military engineers, planners and architects within three months. According to the Chairperson of the Covid-19 National Trust Fund, Justice Sophia Akuffo, Looking at the facility, the way its been laid out for total safety of the medical staff, total safety of the patients, total safety of the public it looks very comfortable. It looks very clean, she said. Its a very well thought out, a very humane installation that has been built and the beauty of it is that most of the inputs for the building and most of all the skills are Ghanaian. Its home grown. In Nigeria we had expended N32 billion to construct tents and medical supplies for the same purpose. And spent even more possibly in SMS to Nigerians and daily press briefings, and adashe (cooperative thrift) induced COVID19 fatality figures. Millions of Nigerians are sick, treatable ailment like malaria and others terminal illness like cancer, and then COVID19 came. The pandemic has disrupted the lives of millions of people. Many have been at home for months. The trauma of the Great Lockdown is taking a serious psychosocial toll. Its completely understandable that people want to get on with their lives. But we will not go back to the old normal. The pandemic has already changed the way we live our lives. Part of adjusting to the new normal is finding ways to live our lives safely. The growth we are seeing in COVID-19 cases in Africa, nay Nigeria, is placing an ever-greater strain on health services across the continent. There are now about 10,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases amongst healthcare workers in Africa. This has very real consequences for the individuals who work in [the healthcare sector]. Doctors, nurses, and other health professionals are our mothers, brothers, and sisters. They are helping to save lives endangered by COVID-19. We must make sure that they have the equipment, skills, and information they need to keep themselves, their patients, and colleagues safe. Our doctors have threatened strikes, nurses have threatened strikes, the conditions of their work and their concerns about how the governments have been managing the pandemic is one that keeps raising concerns. Even before we got into COVID-19, our health system in Nigeria was already ailing. At the top of the list was the shortage of personnel, nurses and doctors. We went into this pandemic with a skeleton health system. Public healthcare systems had been weakened by ridiculous budgetary allocations Our population is increasing, but not our health infrastructure, provision of facilities is not keeping pace with population growth. As a nation, a people and government, we have not increased substantially COVID-19 testing for citizens albeit health workers. We have done little in protecting citizens and health workers by providing high quality PPE and masks, as well as other necessary equipment. Frontline workers are also not being adequately trained to confront the disease. We have as usual continued to talk, and play politics over increasing the salaries of health workers and paying them on a frequent and regular basis, which can help motivation as we put in more effort in scaling up facilities. We have not even been able to guarantee the inclusion of health workers unions on committees that formulate policies for the health sector in general and for the COVID-19 crisis in particular, and that they have a voice in helping to determine such policies. These are elementary demands, policies that any sensitive person would agree to after having seen the catastrophe inflicted upon the population. Indeed after Fela sang many years ago, it is 2020, and we trying to navigate the new normal of COVID19, what are our leaders doing, NDDC money is missing, NNPC money we dont know how much is missing, legislators set up inquiry, and some people faint, others were more bothered about whether one was a Mushin or VI boy, everything has been dabaru-ed, supervisor Buhari talk say people wan him bin trust don fall him hand, no hospital is built, health workers are shortchanged, citizens are suffering, these are not times to be sick in Nigeria, if not in some distant land as one passes you did hear the ancestors singing in Felas voice, E no finish, e no finish, e no finish, na wayo government be this, till whenonly time will tell. South Korean army soldiers wearing face masks to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus pass by a wire fence decorated with ribbons written with messages wishing for the reunification of the two Koreas at the Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, near the border with North Korea, Sunday, July 26, 2020. AP Eleven North Korean defectors went back to their communist homeland from South Korea in the past five years, the unification ministry said Monday, after Pyongyang claimed that a defector suspected of having virus symptoms recently crossed the demarcation line to return home. The 24-year-old defector is believed to have fled back to the North while he was under police investigation over suspicions of raping a female defector last month. His return was made known after the North said Sunday that a "runaway" came back home with coronavirus symptoms. On Monday, the unification ministry said a total of 11 defectors have gone back to the North since 2015. "There were three defectors who crossed back to the North in 2015, four in 2016 and another four in 2017, bringing the total number to 11, based on data, including North Korea media reports," Yoh Sang-key, the ministry's spokesperson, told reporters during a regular press briefing. A section of a road in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, was washed away. / Yonhap Heavy rain pummeled central South Korea on Sunday, flooding homes, triggering mudslides, and forcing road closures and the suspension of train services. One firefighter was missing after a flash flood swept him away, officials said. The firefighter, identified by his surname Song, 29, was standing next to a stream in the central city of Chungju to check swollen waters when the ground collapsed, causing him to fall into the stream around 7:30 a.m. A search was under way, officials said. Torrential rain of up to 60 millimeters per hour soaked northern parts of North Chungcheong Province overnight, including Chungju, about 105 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and adjacent areas that include Cheongju, Jecheon and Danyang county. More than 80 houses in Chungju were flooded, forcing about 120 residents to evacuate early Sunday morning. A destroyed river bank in Geumsan, South Chungcheong Province, Sunday. / Yonhap A flooded village in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province, Sunday. / Yonhap Cars stranded on a flooded road in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. / Yonhap Emergency workers rescue people trapped on a flooded walking trail in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, Saturday. Yonhap Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Youre telling them that everything that theyve done in their life is wrong, Mr. Roberts said, trying to make sense of why he was so hated for saying simply, be gentle. Through Benediction the fawn, Roberts honed further his understanding of how horses communicate. The ears, the eye, the neck, the lowering of the head, the licking and chewing the tongue, all of the appendages or parts of the anatomy of Equus and Cervidae are put to work to let the others know what the reading of the situation is, he said. The point is to answer one question: Is there danger? For a year of my life, Equus was my language. Because on Thanksgiving Day 2010, I became prey. Dawn had not yet broken in my apartment in the West Village. I slept fitfully that night, zapped with excitement for the morning: my first time covering the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade for The Times. As a child I had squished myself among the spectators to watch Snoopy and Popeye float down Central Park West. Later that day, notebook I hand, I would walk beneath the shadows of my childhood icons. In my dark bedroom, I felt a different shadow. Suddenly, I was awake and I was fighting, squalling, kicking my legs as fists descended onto me over and over again. I was screaming, but my voice betrayed me, and my throat made no sound. Deep inside me I heard a truth: This is not a fight you can win. Find another way. I stopped fighting. I lay still. The man in my bedroom smelled like smoke amplified, like a thousand stubbed-out Marlboros. He wanted cash, jewels, electronics, stuff, he told me, and instructed me to lie prone as he ransacked my home. I would survive, I decided, by being the most helpful victim of all time. Confined to my bed, as he rooted around I told him how to find everything of any value. I chided him to get a pen and paper from the kitchen, so he would be sure not to forget my A.T.M. code for whenever he went to the bank to wipe out my savings. When he discovered the only valuables in my tiny apartment were a single laptop and a fistful of costume jewelry, I cracked the New Yorkiest of jokes to appease him: You know how Manhattan real estate is we spend all our money on rent! The stranger had climbed through my second-story window, detectives would later tell me. He left through my front door. I swear on my sons life, I wont hurt you, he said when he was finished robbing me, and the lock clicked closed. DOUALA Suspected militants from Islamist group Boko Haram killed 15 people and wounded six others in a grenade attack on a camp for displaced people in northern Cameroon on Sunday, a security source and a local official told Reuters. In the early hours, assailants threw a grenade into a group of sleeping people inside the camp in the village of Nguetchewe, said district mayor, Medjeweh Boukar. The camp is home to around 800 people, he said. The village is located in the Mozogo district, close to the Nigerian border in the Far North region. Boukar was informed by residents that 15 had died. A security official confirmed the attack and the death toll. The wounded were taken to a nearby hospital, they said. The attackers arrived with a woman who carried the grenade into the camp," Boukar said, adding that women and children were among the dead. Over the past month there have been twenty incursions and attacks by suspected Islamist militants, Boukar said. Boko Haram has been fighting for a decade to carve out an Islamic caliphate based in Nigeria. The violence, which has cost the lives of 30,000 people and displaced millions more, has frequently spilled over into neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad. In June last year, around 300 suspected Boko Haram militants swarmed onto an island on Lake Chad in Cameroons far north and killed 24 people, including 16 Cameroonian soldiers stationed at military outposts. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Are these the last days? In Luke 21, Jesus made three predictions. One: Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (v. 10). Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Russian Navy would be armed with hypersonic nuclear strike weapons and underwater nuclear drones. Such weapons would be difficult for the US to track and intercept. Experts say the risk of military conflict between the US and China is higher than ever. After the closing of the Chinese consulate in Houston, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated, If we bend the knee now, our childrens children may be at the mercy of the Chinese Communist Party. Two: There will be earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven (v. 11). Regarding earthquakes, a magnitude 7.8 quake struck off the coast of Alaska last week. Regarding famines and pestilences, as of this morning, COVID-19 has infected more than sixteen million people and caused more than 648,000 deaths. Experts say the pandemic has put 265 million people at risk of famine. Regarding terrors and great signs from heaven, Hurricane Hanna made landfall in South Texas Saturday afternoon, flooding streets and knocking out power. And Hurricane Douglas is brushing the Hawaiian Islands this morning, bringing as much as eight inches of rain. Three: They will lay their hands on you and persecute you (v. 12). China is escalating its persecution of Christians: Believers are being jailed for praying online and even official churches are being closed. The Communist government is supervising a new Bible translation. Chinese citizens are being urged to use an app dedicated to President Xis sayings that gives the government backdoor access to their social media, contacts, and internet history. What does last times living look like? My purpose this morning is not to predict the return of Christ. Gods word divides history into the former times before the Messiah comes and the last times after his coming. Biblically, therefore, we have been in the last times since Jesus incarnation (Acts 2:17; Hebrews 1:2; 1 Peter 1:20). While Christians disagree about the degree to which the signs of the times will intensify toward the end of history, we can all agree on this fact: we are one day closer to Jesus return than ever before. In the meantime, how are we to live in these chaotic days? How are Gods people to respond to political conflict, natural disasters, and rising persecution? In other words, what does last times living look like? After describing some signs of the times, our Lord stated: This will be your opportunity to bear witness (Luke 21:13). Bear witness translates the Greek marturion, from which we get martyr. We are to make public our faith in perilous days whatever the cost to ourselves. Why we are losing the rhetorical high ground Richard Rorty was one of the most influential thinkers of our time. He did much to promote and popularize the postmodern claim that all truth claims are subjective (which is an objective truth claim, by the way). There are truths but no Truth. However, Rorty also acknowledged that it is difficult to live in a world with no certainties. As a result, societies develop pragmatic values that become their public Truth. As Nathanael Blake notes, such Truth is produced by emotion and intensity of belief more than by reason. As a result, American evangelicals are losing the rhetorical high ground on moral issues. Freedom and equality are examples of values held deeply and passionately by Americans. Consequently, pro-abortion advocates gain the cultural high ground when they accuse pro-life supporters of waging a war on reproductive freedom. Same-sex marriage advocates employ a similar strategy with their support for marriage equality. Generational shifts on abortion and a public reversal on same-sex marriage (60 percent were opposed in 2004 vs. 61 percent who support today) demonstrate the effectiveness of these strategies. In response, Christians should declare and defend biblical values in ways that resonate with a public persuaded by emotion. For example, telling our personal story is vital and effective (cf. John 9:25). And we need to match the passion of those who champion ungodliness with our passionate love for our Lord and our neighbor. The god that is our enemy As we do, we should admit a second fact: evangelicals will pay an escalating price to declare unpopular Truth. The cancel-culture phenomenon shows that it is easier than ever to attack those whose beliefs conflict with public Truth. (For more, see my paper on cancel culture here.) If you risk bringing your Sunday values into your Monday world, you are likely to experience what Jesus predicted: If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you (John 15:20). However, those who oppose biblical truth are not our enemies. Since the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, we should not be surprised when they reject the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). That god is their enemy and ours. In last days living, however long it lasts, telling our story and promoting biblical truth with courage and compassion is the greatest gift we can give the eternal souls we influence. How generous will you be today? Originally posted at denisonforum.org Torgbiga Adamah III, Makorsor of Somey has lamented that the concept of 'chief fisherman' was undermining the traditional chieftaincy institution and appealed to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) to consider scrapping it. He deemed the concept of enstooling chiefs for a section of the working public as disturbing and said there was the tendency of these chief fishermen arrogating powers that were not backed by law to themselves. He said seeing themselves as equals to traditional authorities because theres hardly re-election for new people making their (chief fishermen) reign limitless. Torgbiga Adamah made the appeal, when Rev Johnson Avuletey, Deputy Volta Regional Minister and Mr Elliot Edem Agbenorwu, Municipal Chief Executive for Ketu South led a delegation from MoFAD to pay a courtesy call on him at Agbozume. The visit saw the sector Minister inform the Chief of the distribution of subsidised outboard motors to beneficiaries in the traditional area as part of the Presidents Fishing Input Support Scheme for fishers. It also discussed Illegal Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing practices that threatened the sustainability of the fishing industry. The Makorsor of Somey said issues of IUU fishing practices were still prevailing despite all the efforts at ending them because the chief fishermen who was to regulate the activities of their fellow fishers at the various landing beaches are themselves interested parties in the trade. He said illegal fishing could be a thing of the past as well as misunderstandings surrounding management and sale of premix fuel to fishers, if traditional leaders were involved, but chiefs dont have a say in activities, when it comes to fishers, because they already have their chiefs who are the chief fishermen. Mrs Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, Minister, Fisheries and Aquaculture Development doubted if the Ministry instituted the chief fisherman concept to warrant any attempt to scrap it and noted that Torgbuigas appeal would be considered nonetheless. She said government would soon launch a collaborative fishing management policy, which would have all key stakeholders in fishing communities including; chiefs working together to safeguard the fishing industry. On premix, the Minister said committees were formed at the various landing beaches to empower fishermen to run the premix fuel stations and use proceeds from sales of the fuel to develop the fishing communities. She urged the committees to seek the consent of District Chief Executives and traditional leaders in those communities before carrying out projects. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Las Vegas, New Mexico Two New Mexico Highlands University geology students will work as a team to study water quality in the Upper Pecos River with the goal of protecting the watershed, thanks to grants from the New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute. Letisha Mailboy and Megan Begay, both geology seniors, each received $7,100 grants from the research institute. Their research began in June 2020 and continues through May 2021. The main purpose of my research is to identify degradation sources of the Upper Pecos River, Mailboy said. By identifying the naturally occurring chemical reactions and introduction of human activity pollution, proactive watershed protection plans can be developed and implemented. Mailboy will monitor the environmental chemistry of the Upper Pecos River along 15.5 miles between the Terroro Mine Site and the East Pecos Village. Mailboy said her Navajo, or Dine, heritage influenced her decision to study the water quality in the Upper Pecos River. She is from the Canoncito band of Navajos in ToHajiilee, New Mexico. My Dine traditions and culture connect me to New Mexico history and the land wherever that might be. My research pays homage and respect to the ancestral territories of the Tanoan tribes that include the Northern Tiwa Pueblos, the Apache and the Comanche people, Mailboy said. Looking ahead, Mailboy said her professional goal is to work with the Navajo Nation Abandoned Mine Lands program to help close, safeguard and remediate abandoned mine sites that plague the Navajo Nation people and resources. The main goal of my research is to assess the overall water quality conditions of the Upper Pecos River by establishing baseline level data, said Begay, who is also Navajo. This data will help assess the overall ecosystem of the watershed, including land usage from public and private lands that may be contributing factors in water quality degradation. Begays research will focus on the same stretch of the Upper Pecos River as Mailboys research. Begay said that, as a Native American woman and mother, she wants to see water for future generations. She is from the Navajo Nation in Burntwater, Arizona. My Navajo heritage has influenced my desire to do this water quality research because I believe everyone is entitled to good water quality for agriculture, consumption and recreation. Water is life, a natural filter for everything, and since the Earth is limited in fresh water, it must be cherished, Begay said. Begay said she is interested in pursuing a career in environmental law. Jennifer Lindline, a Highlands geology professor, is supervising both Mailboy and Begay in their research. Letishas and Megans Upper Pecos River monitoring work is vital to document the physical-chemical parameters of this high-quality cold-water fishery and precious community resource, Lindline said. These data are critical for stakeholders to be able to protect water quality where it is good and restore water quality where it falls short. Lindline said that from her first interactions with Mailboy and Begay, she was impressed by their high level of academic responsibility and interest in opportunities outside of the classroom. I invited them to participate in this research because of their strong scholastic skills, as well as their sunny personalities and good humor. Most importantly, they each bring a strong set of scientific, creative and analytical skills to the project, Lindline. Dr Lindline is a wonderful mentor who has helped me overcome the challenges of gender and racial inequality within the science profession by teaming up with Megan and I on this project, Mailboy said. Begay said: I would not trade Dr. Lindline for any other mentor in this chapter of my life. She is a strong woman who helps me develop my critical thinking and always brings awareness to my life with what she teaches me, especially with this research project. New Delhi: After Prime Ministeras major announcement of curbing black money by the means of demonetization, the government has taken an array of measure to provide relief from the cash crunch and move towards becoming a cashless economy. Amid long queues outside banks and ATMs getting easily exhausted, the mode of payment in the country has become a hot topic of discussion. With the availability of various payment channels such as Credit card, Debit card, Net banking and even Mobile banking has been the major relief to public. Even mobile wallets have emerged as a good option to pay for basic needs. Soon smartphones will double up as virtual debit cards and youall be able to send or receive money instantly. Further, now the government is aggressively promoting the use of mobile phones in the form of another payment option. How? Itas really simple. The government has also released an advisory on how to use mobile as a bank, a wallet without the use of cash, which also includes the introduction of unified payment interface (UPI). What is UPI? Unified Payments Interface is a system that powers multiple bank accounts, several banking services features like fund transfer, and merchant payments in a single mobile application. UPI is an initiative by National Payments Corporation of Indiaas (NPCI), set up with the support of the Reserve Bank of India and Indian Banks Association (IBA). With the help of few easy steps you can use your mobile phone for all the cashless transactions online: >> It is as easy as sending a message from your bank. Every bank has its own mobile app so itas possible to transact on your smartphones >> Register your mobile number in the bank or ATM. >> Download the UPI app on your mobile. >> Create a unique user ID >> Set your PIN >> You can now transact from everywhere. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: Amidst rising animosity between the Mumbai and Bihar police in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput suicide probe, senior officers of the visiting personnel will be coming to the city to speed up the probe. The Bihar police have meanwhile met Mumbai crime branchs deputy commissioner of police and sought for cooperation. The Bihar police said that they are keeping a watch on Rajputs actor girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty while the probe speeds up in the case. Rajput was found hanging in his suburban Bandra apartment on June 14. The Bihar police has recorded statements of six persons including Rajput's sister, staying at Versova, former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, a cook, his friends and colleagues, till Saturday. They have also collected details of Rajputs bank transaction. She (Chakraborty) is under our watch and a notice under sections of the criminal procedure code (CrPC) has been sent to Chakraborty, asking her to cooperate with the police probe, said a Bihar police officer. The visiting team also met the DCP detection-I of Mumbai crime branch at Andheri. The visit attracted eyeballs as the city police were videographed bundling the Bihar police team in a police van and whisking them off. Later, the city police clarified that this was for their safety and that they were dropped off at a distance. The investigation has turned into a spectacle with the Bihar police filing a criminal case in the suicide that took place in Mumbai and taking over the probe. The lawyer representing Rajputs have also stated that the Mumbai police wasted time in recording statements of so many people, which has not yielded anything. The Bihar police has booked Chakraborty under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 380 (theft), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 306 (abetment of suicide) as per the Indian Penal Code. China now moves PLA battalion near Lipulekh Pass India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 02: A battalion of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army has been mobilised at the Lipulekh Pass near Uttarakhand. Around 1,000 PLA soldiers have been moved at some distance from the border. Troops have been witnessed here over the past few weeks outside the Ladakh sector, where India and China have been engaged in a standoff since May. However there has been a build up of forces across the Line of Actual Control at Lipukekh Pass, top officials told OneIndia. There has been also been an increase of troops along the LAC in parts of North Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. 'Disengagement process along LAC not yet complete: India slams China Lipulekh Pass has been in the news after Nepal objected to an 80 kilometre road which was built by India to the Himalayan Pass. It may be recalled that Nepal had escalated tensions with India and even redrawn its political map to add the Kalapani area and Lipulekh Pass. It has claimed that these areas which lie close to the tri-junction of India, China and Nepal as its own. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News India has however matched the strength of the Chinese and is also keeping a very close watch on Nepal in this connection. Meanwhile, there has been some thinning of troops at the standoff points. However the disengagement has not taken place. While China had last week claimed that disengagement had taken place, India had contested the claim. The official cited above said that we continue to remain on guard. We do not trust the Chinese especially after the June 15 Galwan Valley aggression. There is also a fear that the Chinese PLQA may come back again to North of Pangong Tso once the winter is over, the official also noted For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 2, 2020, 8:09 [IST] The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has released new guidelines for international passengers coming to India will come into effect from August 8. The new guidelines will supersede the one issued by MHA on May 24. As per the new guidelines, all international arrivals would need to give an undertaking on the online portal www.newdelhiairport.in that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days, that is, seven days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by seven days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health. Here are some of the key highlights of the new guidelines: All inbound international passengers should submit a self-declaration form on the website newdelhiairport.in at least 72 hours before travel. They should give an undertaking on the website that they will remain in 14 days quarantine after their flight lands. 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days of isolation at home with self-monitoring. Travels have an option of avoiding the 14-day quarantine by submitting a negative RT_PCR test report on arrival. During travel, those who had not filled in self-declaration forms on the portal shall fill the same in duplicate in the flight and ship, and a copy of the same will be given to Health and Immigration officials present at the airport/seaport/land port. Alternatively, such travellers may submit a self-declaration form on the online portal at arriving airport/seaport/land port as per the directions of the concerned authorities, if such facility is available. All passengers have also been advised to download Arogya Setu application on their mobile devices. Thermal screening will be carried out in respect of all the passengers by the Health officials present at the airport/seaport/land port. The notice by the MHA gives full authority to states to develop their own protocol on quarantine and isolations depending upon their own evaluation of the inbound international passenger. Meanwhile, the Centre has given the Hyderabad International Airport a mass fever screening system. This will be used to enhance the efficacy of the screening process. The aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation (DCGA) had extended the ban on international flights to August 31. The international flight operations have been suspended since March when the government imposed the initial lockdown to curb COVID-19. This ban on flights does not apply to international all-cargo flights. Also Read: Coronavirus update: Over 54,000 COVID-19 cases in India in single day, tally breaches 17 lakh-mark Also Read: Indian, Chinese commanders to hold Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo today Taiwan recently ordered $620 million worth of missiles and upgrades for its seven U.S. built Patriot SAM (Surface to Air) Missile batteries. Much of this upgrade is for refurbishing older PAC-3 missiles that are reaching the end of their shelf-life. Most military missiles are never fired and are built to retain their effectiveness for a decade or more. This is called shelf-life. Missiles are monitored electronically, and some are built to have a few components (batteries and some electronics) replaced regularly. But after 10-20 years the missiles require replacement or major refurbishments to like-new condition. Taiwan has the facilities and skilled personnel to do most of this work in Taiwan, using components and some technical services purchased from the United States. Taiwan obtained its first Patriot three Patriot PAC-2 batteries in 1997 and these batteries were upgraded to add anti-missile capabilities using the PAC-2 missile. The more effective PAC-3 anti-missile missile entered service in 2003 and Taiwan eventually added that capability to its Patriot batteries. In 2009 Taiwan purchased four more Patriot batteries and hundreds of additional PAC-3 missiles. Taiwan uses Patriot mainly as an anti-missile system. Anti-aircraft duties are performed by a combination of recent Taiwan developed SAMs and upgrades of older American Hawk SAM batteries. The Patriot has been in service since 1984 but did not shoot down its first manned aircraft until 2014, when an Israeli Patriot shot down a Russian made Su-24. Patriot didnt get its first combat use until 1990, when it was used against Iraqi ballistic missiles. There the success rate was 70 percent against missiles fired at Saudi Arabia and 40 percent against those fired at Israel. The relatively low success rate here had to do with the crude modifications Iraq made to its SCUD missiles to give them more range. This caused them to come apart while making their descent to the target. This showed up as multiple incoming warheads. Another problem was that when a missile was intercepted over an urban area, the large bits of missile debris caused casualties. Do you count that as a successful intercept? Even against aircraft, if you destroy it the debris are going to come down in fatal velocities in dangerously large fragments. This is an issue that does not get much media attention even though it has been the reality since ground based antiaircraft weapons were first used to defend urban areas during World War I (1914-18). Israeli Patriot batteries have had more combat experience than anyone else but have shot down more ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and UAVs than manned aircraft. Israel has six Patriot batteries, enough to cover all 1,280 kilometers of land and coastal borders. Patriot is not infallible but it is effective enough to be regularly used to intercept short-range ballistic missiles. Since 2015 Saudi Arabia has used its Patriot batteries to intercept over a hundred Iranian ballistic missiles fired from Yemen. Each Patriot battery is manned by about a hundred troops, and each contains a radar and four launchers. A battery can fire two types of Patriot missile. The $7 million PAC 3 missile is smaller than the anti-aircraft version (PAC 2), thus a Patriot launcher can hold sixteen PAC 3 missiles, versus four PAC 2s. The less expensive PAC 2 missile weighs about a ton, about three times more than a PAC 3. A major difference with the PAC 2 is range. PAC 3 has a shorter range (about 30 kilometers) versus 160 kilometers for the PAC 2 anti-aircraft version, which is also used against UAVs. The Patriot system was in development since the early 1960s and is expected to remain in service until the 2040s. Over 10,000 Patriot missiles (about 25 percent of them PAC-3) and over 1,500 launchers have been produced so far. Most of those missiles served for decades and then were refurbished or retired and scrapped unused. PAC-3 missiles are more likely to be refurbished. Many PAC-3 missiles are now approaching the end of their shelf-lives and most owners want them refurbished. The island nation of Taiwan, which China has claimed as a rebellious province since the late 1940s, has been able to avoid Chinese conquest with its own well-armed military and a military alliance with the United States. Taiwan has one of the most advanced technology economies on the planet, despite having a relatively small (24 million) population compared to 1.4 billion in China. Despite enormous economic growth by China since the 1980s, per-capital GDP in Taiwan is still 2.5 times that of China. However. China has much larger armed forces and the second highest defense budget in the world. On paper China ought to be capable of quickly conquering Taiwan. The reality is different. Chinese military analysts often discuss openly the problems and risks of such an attack. The current Chinese strategy towards Taiwan is more threat than reality but that threat is backed by a lot of ballistic missiles, more than Taiwan can intercept. Since the 1990s Taiwanese defense analysts and military planners have noted the growing number of Chinese ballistic and cruise missiles deployed in nearby China for use against Taiwan. China currently has over 2,700 of these missiles and about half are within range of Taiwan. The basic Chinese strategy appears to be the immediate use of over a thousand ballistic and cruise missiles against Taiwanese military targets. Most of these missiles are based on the coast opposite Taiwan (180 kilometers away across the Taiwan Straits). The Chinese missiles carry one ton or half ton conventional (high explosive or cluster bomb) warheads and are expected to be used to cripple Taiwanese air force and navy, as well as attacking headquarters and communications targets. Almost simultaneously, China would try to invade with airborne and amphibious forces. Without those missiles, Taiwan's air and naval forces would make it very difficult, if not impossible, for the invasion force to cross the straits. Military analysts have examined various targeting strategies, and defensive moves the Taiwanese could take. In most cases, the Chinese succeed. The barrage of missiles can do serious damage to Taiwanese air and naval forces, giving Chinese air and naval forces an opportunity to get ground forces ashore. If Taiwan keeps improving its defenses, China remains unenthusiastic about attempting an invasion. Rajesh Asnani By Express News Service JAIPUR: Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urged him to hold a video conference with chief ministers regarding Covid-19 management in several states. The fight against the Covid-19 pandemic has reached a decisive phase. All states with their full strength and resources have tried to stop the spread of Covid-19. At the same time, financial support has also been provided to needy people, who have lost their means of livelihood during this epidemic, Gehlot wrote in the letter. In such a difficult and challenging time you had meaningful dialogue with the Chief Ministers of the states through video conferencing in the last few months, which is commendable. Along with the ideals of collaborative federalism, such dialogues help in exchange of knowledge, knowledge of better strategies being adopted in various states and establishing mutual coordination, he said. Informing about the Rajasthan governments efforts he said, I have been closely supervising the management of the Covid-19 epidemic in the state. Till June 17, the total samples collected for tests were 6.37 lakh, which has increased to 15.26 lakh as on August 1. He said due to the states efforts, the rate of infected people which was 2.12% as on June 17 has been limited to 2.79% as on August 1. The recovery rate of these infected people is 77.29% as on August 1 in the state. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal When Taos jewelry artist Maria Samora heard about the cancellation of this years Santa Fe Indian Market, she cried. Although she says the annual event comprises one-third of her annual income, her tears were about more than finance. I think Im going to cry right now just talking about it, Samora said in a telephone interview from Taos. Its been so much a part of everyones lives. And the clients; its like a pilgrimage theyve done for 20 years. The Southwestern Association for American Indian Arts cancelled the 2020 event due to the pandemic. Instead, the tradition that lures thousands of tourists and collectors to the Plaza will be virtual at swaia.org through Aug. 31. The winner of first-place ribbons from both Santa Fe and the Heard Museum shows, Samora juried into her first market in 2005 when she was nine months pregnant and working as a waitress. She was afraid the clean, geometric lines of her work would prove too contemporary for market shoppers. She was wrong. It was so well-received, she said. Her teacher and mentor, Taos jeweler Phil Poirer, had encouraged her to professionally market herself, displaying her work in lighted cases and backgrounding her booth with large posters. People said, This is so refreshing, she said, Im so glad I found something at Indian Market that I can wear in New York. Samoras style ranges from rhomboid shapes to pyramids, their crisp lines often set with turquoise or diamonds. Nearly every piece draws in the eye through texture and line, with no polished surfaces allowed, tumbling with her trademark geometry. I was always drawn to mixed metal contrast with oxidized silver, she said. It all started when Samora returned to Taos after college, searching for a path. A friend encouraged her to sign up for a local jewelry-making class. Then, the Taos Institute of Arts offered a weeklong intensive with Poirer. The first day in, I was completely blown away by his expertise, Samora said. She began her apprenticeship with Poirer in 1998 when she was still waitressing. He took me through a traditional European-style apprenticeship, which included sweeping floors and taking out the trash, she said. Samora spent hours on the buffing machine, more hours soldering. I think he saw me as someone to whom he could pass on his legacy, Samora said. Hes kind of a father figure in many ways. In 2009, SWAIA chose Samora for the then-annual Indian Market poster. Her jewelry splashed across the Indian Market merchandise, giving her more and more exposure. Today, she sketches out her designs, then feeds them into a computer-generated milling machine. She adds a sheet of metal and the machine performs the cuts and patterns with precision. From there, I do all the fabrication, the burnishing, the turning, the soldering, she said. Prev 1 of 5 Next Samoras designs continually evolve. Shes unveiling a new collection for the virtual market. I think less is more is something I definitely strive for, she said. Its really easy to over-embellish. Its really hard to keep something simple. She remembers the customer by keeping her pieces comfortable and light. For me, the ultimate thing is that its going to bring joy to the wearer. Last fall, she showed her work in a Milan fashion show. In better times, she shows her work regularly at galleries, including her own Taos showroom, as well as in an annual Heard Museum show. But Indian Market is special. It definitely is a huge part of my life, Samora said. Its a show that is a phenomenon. Ive met people from all over the world. Its just such a lively, fun thing. Although admittedly initially turned off by the idea of a virtual show, she says shes trying to embrace the concept. Throughout this whole pandemic, Ive realized that art is essential. It makes us feel human. Jim Continenza, executive chairman and CEO, Eastman Kodak (Image Source: kodak.com) Jesse Drucker and Ellen Gabler At the beginning of this week, the Eastman Kodak Co. handed its chief executive 1.75 million stock options. It was the type of compensation decision that generally would not attract much notice. But the day after the stock options were granted, the White House announced that the company would receive a $765 million federal loan to produce ingredients to make pharmaceuticals in the United States. The news of the deal caused Kodaks shares to soar more than 1,000%. Within 48 hours of the options grants, their value had ballooned, at least on paper, to about $50 million. The government loan is part of a broader federal effort to increase the countrys ability to respond to the coronavirus and future pandemics. The options grant to Kodaks executive chairman and chief executive officer, Jim Continenza, is the latest example of executives and board members at companies receiving such federal support to benefit from extraordinarily good timing. A number of those companies are involved in the hunt for vaccines and treatments for the coronavirus. Insiders at Vaxart, for example, received stock options shortly before the California biotech company announced in June that its potential vaccine was being tested in a program organized by a federal agency, causing its shares to instantly double. A Kodak spokeswoman declined to comment on the timing of the stock-options grants and emphasized that the value of the options could change before Continenza uses them to buy Kodak shares. Kodak, best known for its iconic camera and film business, has been struggling for years to reinvent itself. The company emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2013, and its shares in recent years have mostly been trading at $2 or $3, giving it a market value of about $100 million. Starting in May, Kodak began talks with the Trump administration about manufacturing the ingredients for pharmaceuticals, Continenza said in a television interview this week. The deal was announced on Tuesday. President Donald Trump said the federal loan from the U.S. International Development Finance Corp. would help reduce the United States reliance on other countries, in particular China and India, for the vast majority of ingredients used to make generic drugs. Trump called the Kodak deal a breakthrough in bringing pharmaceutical manufacturing back to the United States. Kodak said it was creating a new pharmaceuticals division and will expand its facilities in Rochester, New York, and St. Paul, Minnesota. The division will eventually have the capacity to produce as much as 25% of the active ingredients used in generic drugs in the United States. Kodak has been in the chemicals business for more than a century and has the facilities sitting there ready to go, Continenza said in a television interview this week. Its unclear whether the ingredients that Kodak makes will have any role in the fight against the coronavirus. Kodak will coordinate with the federal government and other manufacturers to figure out which ingredients to make, prioritizing those that are deemed critical to Americans and national security. The day before the loan was announced, trading in Kodak shares surged, and its stock jumped about 25%, closing at $2.62 a share. That activity raised suspicion about improper trading ahead of the market-moving news, but The Wall Street Journal reported that it was apparently the result of reports by the media in Rochester, where Kodak is headquartered, about the pending announcement. Around the time that Kodak began talking with the federal government this spring, Kodak insiders began receiving stock options. The pattern was first reported by Non-GAAP Thoughts, a digital newsletter. On May 20, Kodak handed out 240,000 stock options to board members an addition to its usual equity distribution in January. The May stock options awarded to directors are now worth about $4 million. Those options are eligible to be exercised gradually over the course of this year. Arielle Patrick, a spokeswoman for Kodak, declined to answer questions about why the directors were granted stock options in May. On the same day that Kodak was alerting the local media to its about-to-be-announced deal with the Trump administration, the compensation committee of the companys board voted to award Continenza 1.75 million stock options that allow him to purchase shares at prices ranging from $3.03 to $12. By Wednesday morning, Kodaks shares had soared as high as $60 each. They have since retreated to about $24, which means the stock options give Continenza the right to buy shares at a deep discount. Continenza can exercise some but not all of the options immediately. Patrick said that the rapid increase in the values of Continenzas new stock options are paper only. Continenza has not received any proceeds nor does he have any intention of selling. She added that Kodaks board awarded the options to Continenza because when the company last year issued a type of debt that converts into equity, the value of the chief executives stock and options were diluted. She said that Kodak received shareholder approval in May to issue additional shares, and that the compensation committee approved the options at the first meeting of this committee since the annual stockholders meeting, which was on Monday, July 27. She declined to comment on why Kodak did not wait until after the White House announcement to grant the options. The increase in Kodaks shares this week also transformed some stock options that Continenza received when he became chief executive. They had been effectively worthless because of Kodaks low stock price. This week, their value grew to about $59 million, Reuters reported. c.2020 The New York Times Company Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, undergoing treatment at a hospital since Sunday night after testing positive for COVID-19, on Monday said there was no need for anyone to worry and he will soon get back to work after recovery. The Manipal Hospital where the 77-year-old leader is admitted said he was "doing well" and "clinically stable." While one of his daughters has also tested positive for COVID-19 and is admitted to the same private hospital, his son B Y Vijayendra said he was going for seven days of home quarantine as a precautionary measure. Contact tracing and sanitising activities have been carried out at the chief minister's home office and official residence, following which it emerged that at least six staffers have been confirmed with the infection, official sources said. The CM had took to Twitter on Sunday night to announce that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and is being shifted to hospital. "I have tested positive for coronavirus. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on the recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with me recently to be observant and exercise self quarantine," Yediyurappa had said. The hospital in a statement in the evening said the CM was admitted to Manipal Hospitals around 11 pm on August 2 with mild symptoms of COVID 19. "At present, he is doing well and is clinically stable. Appropriate treatment has been initiated as per current protocols. He iss being treated and monitored closely by a multidisciplinary team of doctors," it said. Karnataka Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar, a medical doctor himself, said Yediyurappa has "very mild cough and his chest is clear." "I think eight to ten days," he said when asked how long the CM would have to remain in hospital. Yediyurappa is the fourth member of his cabinet to contract the disease, after Forest Minister Anand Singh, Tourism Minister C T Ravi and Agriculture Minister B C Patil. He was in home quarantine a couple of weeks ago, after some staff members in his home office were found infected with the virus. Subsequently, his COVID-19 test results were found to be negative. In a video released by his office, Yediyurappa from the hospital said, "Doctors after tests last night and this morning have said that there are no issues and I will recover and go out soon. There is no need for anyone to worry, at the earliest I will recover and come out and will indulge in my duties." The CM also said he was in constant touch with officials and has asked them to ensure that there is no disruption in the government's functioning. According to officials, after Yediyurappa tested positive, random tests were conducted at the CM's home office 'Krishna' and official residence 'Cauvery', during which at least six people including gunman, driver, and house-keeping staff have tested positive. They have been sent to to COVID Care Centre set up at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre as they were asymptomatic, sources said. Yediyurappa's personal residence, Dhavalagiri at Dollars Colony has also been sanitised, they said, adding that entry will be restricted to home office and official residence for some time now. Meanwhile, Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala and Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, whom the Chief Minister had met on July 31, have tested negative. In a statement released by the governor's office, his personal secretary Tejas Bhatti said after knowing that the CM tested COVID-19 positive, the governor, he himself and ADC to governor underwent corona Ag test and tested negative on Monday. Bommai's office too in a statement said that the home minister had undergone a rapid antigen test and the results were negative. Leaders across party lines have wished for Yediyurappa's speedy recovery. "I wish Hon'ble CM @BSYBJP a speedy recovery. @CMofKarnataka," former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda tweeted. "I wish Shri B S Yediyurappa a speedy recovery & to return with good health to continue his work for the people," the leader of opposition Siddaramaiah tweeted. Yediyurappa said BJP national president J P Nadda, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman too wished him speedy recovery. BJP workers and Yediyurappa's supporters held prayers in some parts of the state for his well-being. Australia`s second-most populous state of Victoria declared a state of disaster on Sunday and imposed a nightly curfew for the capital Melbourne as part of its harshest movement restrictions to date to contain a resurgent COVID-19. Melbourne, Australia`s second-largest city already under a reimposed six-week stay-home order, has struggled to rein in the disease, with record numbers of infections of the new coronavirus reported last week. On Sunday, Victoria reported 671 infections, one of its highest, and seven COVID-19 deaths. High numbers of community transmissions and cases of unknown origins have forced the new restrictions, which will be in place for six weeks, officials said. "The current rules have avoided thousands and thousands of cases each day, and then thousands of people in hospital and many more tragedies than we have seen. But it is not working fast enough," Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews told a televised briefing. A curfew from 8 PM to 5 AM every day will be implemented from Sunday evening in Melbourne, barring the nearly five million people in the city from leaving their houses except for work or to receive or give care. The sweeping new restrictions limit the time Melbourne residents may spend on outdoor exercise and essential shopping. All schools will move to remote learning from Wednesday. Supermarkets will remain open, and restaurants, already closed for dining in, will be able to continue with their takeaway and delivery services. FEDERAL BACKING The federal government backed Victoria`s measures, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison saying in a post on his Facebook page that they were "regrettably necessary" to stop the spread of the pandemic. "We are all in this together and we will get through it," Morrison said. Australia`s Health Minister Greg Hunt said at a televised briefing the federal government supports the measures with a `heavy` heart. "We do so because they will help save and protect lives," Hunt said. The backing by the federal government, ruled by a Liberal Party-led coalition, for the measures by Victoria`s Labor Party government shows national unity across the political spectrum in a country with a loose federal system. Australia has fared far better than many other countries in keeping the coronavirus from spreading, but at a high economic cost. It has recorded around 18,000 coronavirus cases and just over 200 COVID-19 deaths, but the recent surge in Victoria has proven difficult to contain. The state of disaster gives Victoria police additional powers to ensure people are complying with public-health directions. "We have no choice but to make these decisions and to push on," Andrews said. "This is the only option we have." Restrictions on movement and business operations elsewhere in the state will be less severe than in Melbourne. Andrews said further restrictions for Victoria businesses will be announced on Monday. Neighbouring New South Wales, the most populous state, reported 12 infections on Sunday, with the state now "strongly" recommending the use of face masks in public. Madam Dzifa Abla Gomashie, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate (PC), for the Ketu South Constituency, has called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to address all logistical challenges at registration centres to avoid disenfranchising the people. She said it was important the Municipal EC office provided adequate logistics such as canopies, seats and enough biometric registration kits at all centres. "Creating shortages of materials at the centres will be grand scheme to disenfranchise the people from participating in the December general elections." Madam Gomashie made the call on Saturday, the first day of the last phase of the registration exercise, to have her new voter card at Awakorme Community Centre. Visits by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to registration centres at Awakorme and Atorkukope revealed disregard for social distancing protocols, a prescription to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic. There were however, registration centres including Chicago Basic School at Denu which recorded low number of applicants turning up to register. The former Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts told the GNA that being the last phase of the exercise, the EC ought to put in appropriate measures to avoid disenfranchising residents. This is the last phase of the exercise and I dont know if there will be any arrangement to serve applicants who wont be able to register for their cards at the end of the phase, looking at issues of long queues, inadequate seats for people and the slow pace of the process at some centres. Its in the light of these that I call on the EC to identify centres and provide the needed logistics to enable them deliver uninterrupted service to the people so that no one is left out at the end of the day, she added. Mr Kofi Sakyi Boampong, the Ketu South Municipal EC Director, said the office had used the limited resources at its disposal to hire the canopies and benches/chairs currently in use at the registration centres and could not do more than it had already done. He said the office would not hesitate to deploy mobile teams to provide assistance at centres which needed help, indicating the office had on several occasions done that to release the pressure on officials at the centres. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video By PTI PATNA: Bihar reported 10 COVID-19 fatalities in the last 24 hours raising the death toll to 322, while 2,762 fresh cases took the states coronavirus count to 57,270, the health department said on Sunday. The number of testing in a day has doubled in the state in the last five days, the department said. Of the 10 fresh casualties, three deaths were reported from Kaimur, two from Rohtas and one each from Patna, Buxar, Gaya, Saran and Supaul districts. Patna has, so far, recorded the highest number of 45 COVID deaths. Districts which have reported significant number of fatalities are Bhagalpur (30), Gaya (22), Rohtas (19), Nalanda (16) and Munger (15). Patna also topped the list of confirmed cases with a caseload of 9,824. Other badly affected districts include Bhagalpur (2,808), Muzaffarpur (2,518), Gaya (2,300), Nalanda (2,385), Rohtas (2,295), Begusarai (1,918) and Saran (1,728). The state now has 20,311 active cases, while 36,637 people have recovered from the disease, the department said. The number of testing has gone up from 17,794 on July 29 to 35,619 on Sunday, in a span of just five days, after Pratyaya Amrit took over as the principal secretary of the health department on July 28, sources said. The Nitish Kumar government has been criticized by the opposition leaders especially the RJD's Tejashwi Prasad Yadav alleging that the number of testing in Bihar is low. Till date, the state has tested 6.12 lakh samples. The recovery rate in the state is 63.97 per cent now and it would improve within the next three-four days, an official said. He said that the positivity rate has also declined to 7.75 per cent from 10 per cent a few days ago. The official, however, said that the total number of cases may rise with the increase in the number of testing. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) Several lawmakers are in favor of placing the Senate under an enhanced community quarantine to show support to the call of medical frontliners for a timeout. Senator Ping Lacson on Sunday said they might formalize the decision in a session on Monday afternoon. He noted that there appears to be a consensus among most senators, including the minority bloc. Since we cannot adjourn for more than three session days without the consent of the HOR (House of Representatives) as provided under Art VI, Sec 16 (para 5) of the Constitution, we will have to resolve our way forward in this regard, Lacson said. Among those who have expressed support in the possible move are Senator Ralph Recto, Senator Migz Zubiri, and Senator Kiko Pangilinan. On Saturday, frontline healthcare workers feeling the strain of attending to still-increasing COVID-19 patients urged the government to reimpose strict movement restrictions in Metro Manila and its nearby regions for two weeks. READ: Pagod na pagod na kami: Frontliners appeal for two-week ECQ in Mega Manila amid surge in coronavirus cases President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce Sunday night his response to the call, following a meeting with key Cabinet officials. The country's COVID-19 tally has reached over 103,000, with a death toll over 2,000. James Murdoch Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for National Geographic James Murdoch, the eldest son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, made an abrupt exit from the board of directors at News Corp. on Friday, citing "disagreements" with certain editorial content from the company. "My resignation is due to disagreements over certain editorial content published by the Company's news outlets and certain other strategic decisions," Murdoch wrote in his brief two-sentence resignation letter dated July 31. The Murdoch family controls two major media companies News Corp. and Fox Corp., the parent company of Fox News and the Fox Broadcasting Co. His resignation came six months after he slammed News Corp. and Fox News for promoting climate-change skepticism amid the Australian bushfires earlier this year. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. James Murdoch, the eldest son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, abruptly resigned from the board of News Corp. Friday, according to a company statement. "My resignation is due to disagreements over certain editorial content published by the Company's news outlets and certain other strategic decisions," Murdoch wrote in his brief two-sentence resignation letter dated July 31. The Murdoch family controls major media companies including News Corp. and Fox Corp., the parent company of Fox News and the Fox Broadcasting Co. His resignation came six months after he slammed News Corp. and Fox News for promoting climate-change skepticism amid the Australia bushfires that devastated parts of the country earlier this year. "Kathryn and James' views on climate are well established and their frustration with some of the News Corp. and Fox coverage of the topic is also well known," a spokesperson for Murdoch and his wife told The Daily Beast at the time. "They are particularly disappointed with the ongoing denial among the news outlets in Australia given obvious evidence to the contrary," the spokesperson added. Read the original article on Business Insider LATAM Airlines will fire "at least" 2,700 workers in Brazil, including pilots, its Brazilian arm said on Saturday, as the bankrupt carrier struggles to cut costs and cope with an industry collapse due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, LATAM Brasil said it opened a voluntary redundancy process on Friday which will run through August 4, after which a further minimum 2,700 jobs will be cut. The announcement followed the breakdown in talks with the SNA union over workers' pay, the statement said. O Globo and O Estado de S. Paulo newspapers had reported the redundancies earlier on Saturday. LATAM said it pays its pilots and crew more than its rivals in Brazil, and the pandemic has forced it to "match industry practices." The layoffs are the latest in efforts to downsize Latin America's largest airline. Before the novel coronavirus outbreak, the airline had 43,000 workers worldwide, with most of them in Brazil and Chile. LATAM is seeking to restructure $18 billion in debt. When it filed for U.S. bankruptcy protection in May, it was the world's largest airline to date to seek an emergency reorganization due to the pandemic. BRASILIA, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Brazil's government has chosen Andre Brandao, head of global banking and markets for the Americas at HSBC in the country, as the new chief executive of state-controlled lender Banco do Brasil SA, local media reports said on Saturday. Brandao will replace Rubem Novaes, who tendered his resignation last month and will leave later in August. Banco do Brasil and the Economy Ministry did not respond immediately to a request for comment, although earlier on Saturday a ministry spokesperson said they could not confirm anything yet. Local media, including newspapers Valor Economico and O Globo, reported that Economy Minister Paulo Guedes has given the green light to Brandao's nomination, but it will not be officially announced for a few days. The government has been seeking as a replacement executives with backgrounds both in finance and technology to handle fiercer competition among banks and fintechs. (Reporting by Jamie McGeever and Carolina Mandl; Editing by Daniel Wallis) D owning Street is reportedly considering restricting travel beyond the M25 and telling millions of over-fifties to stay at home under nuclear plans to avoid a second national lockdown. As coronavirus infections rates rise across the country, Boris Johnson is said to be weighing up a radical set of measures to prevent a total shut down of the economy. If the R-rate spikes in London, overnight stays could be banned and people told not to travel in and out of the capital, the Sunday Times reported. [The M25] would be the border point, an insider told the paper. Other potential measures include personalised risk scores for people aged between 50 and 70, adding to the 2.2 million people who were previously asked to take part in the shielding program. Downing Street sources distanced themselves from the detail in the reports, calling them speculative. Loading.... The shielding advice was only lifted on Saturday for those in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and remains in place until August 16 for those shielding in Wales. Getty Images But 24 hours earlier Mr Johnson was forced to announce a slow down of the lockdown easing, with planned relaxations for the leisure and beauty sectors delayed after a rise in Covid-19 cases was recorded. The prevalence of the virus in the community is thought to be rising for the first time since May On Wednesday Mr Johnson reportedly held a war game session with Chancellor Rishi Sunak to run through possible options for averting another nationwide lockdown. On top of the alleged lockdown avoidance preparations, experts have speculated that ministers might have to order the closure of pubs, which were permitted to start serving again on July 4, if schools are to reopen fully in September. Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said earlier a trade off could be required if the Prime Ministers pledge is to be met. Expert warns pubs could close so schools can reopen His comments followed chief medical officer Professor Chris Whittys remarks that the country was near the limit for opening up society following the coronavirus lockdown. A No 10 source told the Sunday Times: Another national lockdown is like our nuclear deterrent we will never rule it out but it should be the very last resort in the fight against Covid. Almost a month before the hooch tragedy struck, the Enforcement Directorate had shot off a letter to the Punjab Police, seeking details of illicit liquor trade cases registered at various police stations of the state. The move had come days after an illegal liquor bottling plant was busted in Ghanaur constituency of Patiala, in which a Congress sarpanch and an aide of the ruling party MLA were booked. Sources in the ED, on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the Punjab Police has so far not provided them any information, due to which the probe is getting delayed. The officials said that they are focusing on 11 FIRs registered at police stations in Patiala, Khanna and Ludhiana and have also asked the police to share details of the accused in the Hooch tragedy as prima-facie, there seems to be a nexus. We have written to the Punjab police but if they dont share the details with us soon, we will move court, said an official privy to the investigation. The central agency officials are also suspecting the role of distilleries in the state. An illegal distillery busted in Khanna and another one in Khadur village of Ludhiana is also under ED lens. As per a conservative estimate, the accused in the Ghanaur illegal distillery case had earned Rs 100 crore in the last five months, said an excise official, pleading anonymity. Congress sarpanch Amrik Singh and Dipesh Kumar of Rajpura, an aide of a ruling party MLA, were booked in the case. Dipesh, who is believed to be the kingpin of the racket, has been arrested. The agency has also asked the excise and taxation department about the details of ENA manufacturing and supply chain. When contacted, Khanna senior superintendent of police Harpreet Singh said that he has to check the records and only then can he comment on the matter. Similarly, Patialas new SSP Vikramjit Singh Duggal said that he will ask his SP (investigation) to give details on the matter. Ludhiana-based RTI activist Kuldeep Singh Khaira who also filed complaint with ED demanding probe into nexus said that it has created doubt over intentions of the Punjab government and police seems to be dragging their feet to share the details . They must share it if they really want to curb the menace, he said. Scott Morrison has donned a mask as he went grocery shopping just hours after NSW residents were urged to wear face coverings in public. Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday advised NSW residents to wear masks outside from Monday as the state desperately tries to avoid a Victoria-style outbreak. In solidarity with the latest advice, the Prime Minister shared a photo on Instagram of himself wearing a disposable covering as he headed out to the supermarket. 'Had to pop out to pick up a few things here in Sydney, so followed the NSW Premiers advice announced earlier today (and put a mask on in the car before heading into the shops),' he wrote. Scott Morrison shared a photo on Instagram (pictured) of himself wearing a mask as he went to the supermarket on Sunday afternoon 'Protects others you come in contact with in enclosed areas, in particular the retail salespeople just doing their jobs. 'Not a lot to ask. All in this together.' Australians praised the Prime Minister for 'leading by example'. 'Well done Scomo ! We are all in this together!' one woman wrote. Another added: 'Youre a champion, leading by example.' Mr Morrison urged NSW residents to follow the Premier's advice to 'protect others you come in contact with' Ms Berejiklian said authorities would not make mask usage mandatory in NSW, but revised their current recommendations to address four specific circumstances. Masks should be worn by public-facing employees such as hospitality or supermarket workers, worshippers and residents of suburbs near COVID-19 clusters, as well as in situations where social distancing is impossible. 'We have been talking about masks for several weeks but obviously the persistent situation in Victoria gives us cause for alarm in terms of the potential for further seeding in NSW, and it is about risk mitigation strategy,' Ms Berejiklian said on Sunday. 'We're going to the next stage of assessing what else and how else we can decrease the risk and break the current chain coming through NSW.' NSW residents are being recommended to wear face masks in public as coronavirus case numbers continue to rise. Pictured: a shopper wears a face mask in Woolworths in Sydney on Friday NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said she will wear a face mask when she goes grocery shopping Ms Berejiklian said she will be heeding the advice of health authorities in her daily life, calling wearing a mask 'the fourth line of defence'. 'I want to stress it is not compulsory, but it is a strong recommendation from NSW Health, given where we are in the pandemic, given the risk posed from Victoria and given the rate of community transmission in New South Wales,' she said. 'I myself, when I next go grocery shopping, will be wearing a mask.' FACE MASK RECOMMENDATIONS IN NEW SOUTH WALES: Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Sunday the four situations she strongly recommends NSW residents should wear face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state. Residents who live in or near coronavirus clusters are recommended to wear face masks in public, as well as churchgoers in places of worship. Workers who interact directly with the general public such as hospitality and supermarket workers should also wear masks, along with anyone in a situation where social distancing is impossible. 'Firstly, if you are in an enclosed space and you cannot guarantee social distancing, such as public transport, such as when you are buying groceries, you should be wearing a mask,' Ms Berejiklian said. 'We would also like to see more staff to a customer facing wearing masks, whether they are in hospitality venues or whether they are in retail. Whenever they are facing customers, we strongly recommend that they wear masks. 'If you are attending a place of worship, we want you to wear a mask. If you are attending a church, synagogue or mosque, we would like you to wear a mask. 'And finally, if you are in an area where there is high community transmission or a number of cases, we want you to wear a mask.' Advertisement NSW recorded 12 new cases - with just one in hotel quarantine - in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday from almost 22,500 cases. Eight people are in intensive care, with at least 103 being treated for the virus in hospital. Two of the 12 new cases are childcare workers from the Advanced Early Learning Centre in Merrylands, where a staff member worked for three days while infected last week. A nurse takes a nasal swab from a patient at the Bondi Beach coronavirus drive-through testing facility on Thursday The Thai Rock Wetherill Park (pictured) cluster has grown to near 100 cases, while the Potts Point restaurant has reached 24 NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty on Saturday said seven cases in the past week had not been linked to known cases, emanating from southwestern Sydney, western Sydney, southeastern Sydney and Sydney local health districts. The announcement followed the Saturday death of an 83-year-old man connected to the Crossroads Hotel cluster in southwest Sydney died, taking the NSW death toll to 52 and the nationwide tally past 200. It was the first coronavirus-related death in NSW since late May. The Thai Rock Wetherill Park cluster is nearing 100 cases, while the cluster in Potts Point has reached 24 and the funeral events cluster sits at 33. A popular venue on Sydney's Northern Beaches, meanwhile, was on Saturday forced to shut after hosting a COVID-positive patron on the afternoon of July 24. The Bavarian in Manly underwent deep cleaning and reopened to the public on Saturday afternoon. Patrons on the afternoon of July 24 should monitor for respiratory symptoms. The Bavarian bar and restaurant on Manly Wharf was forced to close for deep cleaning after a coronavirus scare before reopening on Saturday afternoon A cleaner in Harpoon and Hotel Harry in Surry Hills on Friday after the venue was exposed to coronavirus The Harpoon & Hotel Harry in Surry Hills, Matinee Coffee in Marrickville and Tan Viet in Cabramatta are among other venues required to undertake deep cleaning in recent days. NSW Police Minister David Elliott on Sunday said nine fines had been issued overnight for breaching restrictions, while Liquor and Gaming NSW has fined Sydney's Watsons Bay Hotel $5,000 after finding patrons drinking while standing and poorly-spaced poker machines. It was the 15th NSW venue to be fined in the past three weeks for breaches. 'It beggars belief that anybody would turn on the TV news bulletin today and see what's going on in Melbourne and want to breach the law in NSW,' Mr Elliott told reporters. NSW Police said the fines were issued on Saturday night in relation to large parties in East Jindabyne and Maroubra, while a separate beach party in Mosman is being investigated after two 16-year-old girls required medical treatment for excessive alcohol consumption. PHILADELPHIA (AP) A 7-year-old child playing with a toy on the front porch of a west Philadelphia house was shot in the head after gunfire broke out on the block, authorities said. The shooting occurred in the 200 block of Simpson Street around 7:40 p.m. Saturday. A pickup truck with a bullet hole in its windshield was visible at the scene, according to NBC10. The boy was taken to a hospital and then to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, where he was listed in critical condition. Police said one person who fled from the truck was arrested but no weapon was recovered. Police were looking for additional possible suspects. The city's police commissioner, Danielle Outlaw, said she and other officials were "heartbroken by the tragedy." She said "it is our collective responsibility police, and community to ensure that our children are safe and well-protected." Crime scene investigators are placing evidence markers on Simpson Street in West Philly where a 7-year-old was shot in the head. Hes critical at CHOP. There is a truck that crashed further down with a bullet hole in the front windshield. An arrest was made. @NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/ASx8VolYCK Drew Smith (@drewsmithtv) August 2, 2020 Outlaw said a group of men exchanged gun fire, according to ABC6 Action News. The news station reported at least 16 shell casings were recovered at the scene. ABC6 reported that Outlaw said surveillance video from a nearby camera may prove useful in their investigation. The boys shooting marked a 25-hour period of gun violence in which two other people were killed. On Friday night, a 32-year-old woman was killed and three men in their 20s were wounded in a shooting north of the center of the city. An hour earlier in north Philadelphia, a 32-year-old man died after he was found shot in a vehicle. READ: Man killed in Harrisburg this month had survived being shot earlier this year Herve Martel had barely begun reaching out to irate clients to win back business after a crippling strike at his port ended in January when the pandemic hit French shores, and global trade fell off a cliff. The chief executive officer of the Port of Marseille Fos has been struggling to claw back lost ground ever since, and it's been a challenge. "We now navigate by sight, with only short-term visibility," he said in an interview. France's two biggest ports -- Marseille on the Mediterranean Sea and Le Havre on the English Channel -- are faring worse than other harbors in the region, which collectively are responsible for maritime trade of more than 1.8 trillion euros ($2.1 trillion) a year. While the pandemic has hit global ports hard, for the French ones it came on top of paralyzing strikes that pushed clients such as Mediterranean Shipping Co. to rivals. The two ports were already the only ones among continental Europe's 10 biggest to report a drop in goods handling over the last decade, Eurostat data show. Their inability to shake off a reputation for labor unrest and inefficiency -- with dockworkers torching tires and blocking roads in December and January to protest pension reforms -- is complicating revival efforts."Coming off a series of strikes into the coronavirus crisis was not the most helpful," said Eleanor Hadland, senior analyst for ports and terminals at maritime consultant Drewry. "Any recovery from the strikes just didn't really happen." With European ports starting to report first-half traffic, the combined damage of strikes and coronavirus to French harbors has become clear: tonnage handled by Seine River ports including Le Havre slumped 19%, compared with drops of 4.9% and 9.1% for northern rivals Antwerp and Rotterdam, respectively. In shipping containers, the standardized tool of global trade, the first-half slide was even more pronounced for French ports. Traffic fell 29% in Le Havre and 17% in Marseille. Antwerp reported a 0.4% increase, while Rotterdam recorded a drop of 7%. Marseille's Italian rival Genoa registered a 11% decline. International trade in goods may plunge 20% in 2020 due to the pandemic, after falling 27% in the second quarter, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development forecast in June. French ports have the added problem of unhappy customers. More than 40% of companies using French ports for goods transport were dissatisfied with Marseille and Le Havre, in a Eurogroup Consulting survey from January and February published in June. The discontent reflected anger about the labor unrest, said Eurogroup Associate Director Romain Binard. The smaller French port of Dunkirk continued to operate during the strikes, and got zero negative views. The strikes, linked to the country's broader unrest against pension reforms, came after France in 2008 overhauled the way its ports were structured, privatizing cargo handling and turning port companies into landlords from operators. The reforms made French ports more competitive, bringing them in line with northern European rivals as well as Barcelona and Genoa, said Theo Notteboom, a professor of maritime economics at the University of Antwerp. Then, labor unrest in December and January in Marseille and Le Havre renewed misgivings about their reliability. "Shippers are going to look at the long term, and in case of doubts, you're going to get a trend to consolidate in the large hubs that have fewer problems, and use the French ports as secondary ports," Notteboom said. "A strike isn't really going to help raise the port ranking." Striking dockers "shot themselves in the foot," sacrificing the port to a cause outside its control, Marseille's Martel said. Slamming the brakes on increasing traffic may also have prevented the creation of more employment. An increase of 1 million tons of cargo passing through a port on average creates 300 additional jobs, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development estimates. Business has begun to pick up since the end of June, the CEO said, adding that his biggest worry now is about a resurgence in the virus. Le Havre, too, has seen an up-tick in traffic since mid-June, and the port targets a return to 2019 volumes next year, said Laurent Foloppe, the commercial director of the Le Havre port authority, Haropa. The ports have responded to the virus-induced slowdown with rebates, waiving penalty payments for parked vessels or cargo and postponing property charges. Marseille plans to cut port tariffs by as much as 50% from September, while La Havre is offering a two-year discount for new shipping business. Goodwill gestures could help the ports regain market share, as French shippers are "typically quite loyal" to national ports, said Drewry's Hadland. Still, lower port costs aren't going to stimulate demand, which remains uncertain amid the pandemic, she said. Meanwhile, France's biggest ports do have some trump cards to play, said Notteboom. Marseille Fos has room to expand, unlike rivals Genoa and Barcelona, which are hemmed in by the city, mountains and the sea. For its part, Haropa is working to develop the transport-corridor strategy linking Le Havre with Paris, Europe's second-largest inland waterway port, he said. Le Havre is maintaining a five-year, 500 million-euro spending plan for port improvements, including enhancing the seaport's links with rail and inland waterways. Foloppe said in the coming decade, Le Havre will be scaling up transport flows to the hinterland - the geographic area served by the port. "I'd like to see the glass as half-full," Foloppe said. "A complicated start to the year, but we have a lot of qualities, and our clients know it. There is an economic benefit to going via French ports." The port of Marseille is also sticking by its plan to invest 57 million euros in 2020, including on expanding capacity at its container terminals and improving railway connections, even as Martel predicts a "significant" sales decline this year."What I want now is what we have today: a unified port community that's working on reclaiming the trust of its customers," he said. "Forget this disastrous semester, between the strikes and the covid crisis, and look forward." File photo Nine people have died in India from drinking alcohol-based hand sanitizer after liquor shops in their town were closed due to virus restrictions, police said Friday. The group lost consciousness after consuming a high quantity of hand sanitizer mixed with water or soda, Siddharth Kaushal, police superintendent for Kurichedu town in Andhra Pradesh state told AFP. They were rushed to hospital but declared dead on arrival, he said. The group turned to hand sanitizer as a substitute for liquor after supplies were cut off when authorities ordered a lockdown of the town to combat the coronavirus, he added. An investigation into the nine deaths has been launched, he said. Hundreds of poor people die every year in India due to alcohol poisoning, mostly from consuming cheap hooch. Bootleggers often add methanol a highly toxic form of alcohol sometimes used as an anti-freeze or fuel to their home-brew liquor to increase the alcoholic content. According to Medical Xpress, exposure to significant amounts of methanol can result in nausea, vomiting, headache, blurred vision, permanent blindness, seizures, coma, permanent damage to the nervous system or death. In June, three people died and one was left permanently blind from methanol poisoning after drinking hand sanitizer in New Mexico, United States. The deaths in Kurichedu occurred shortly before Indias coronavirus death toll passed 35,000 on Friday, overtaking that of Italy. Total infections in the worlds second-most populous country are now 1.63 million, surpassed only by the US and Brazil, both of which have much smaller populations. She is one of the world's top models, known for her glamorous ensembles. And Sofia Richie cut a casual figure as she stepped out to go grocery shopping in Malibu, California on Saturday. The beauty, 21, took precautions against COVID-19 as she donned a pastel pink face mask and went make-up free for her outing. Stroll: Sofia Richie cut a casual figure as she stepped out to go grocery shopping in Malibu, California on Saturday Sofia covered up her famous figure in a baggy grey hoodie paired with black joggers. She forewent the heels for the outing, opting instead for flip-flops. Her caramel tresses were swept into an updo which she covered with her hood. Earlier this month, it was reported that Sofia and Scott Disick have gotten back together, after having ended their nearly three-year relationship in May. Low-key: The beauty, 21, took precautions against COVID-19 as she donned a pastel pink face mask and went make-up free for her outing A source revealed to People on Wednesday that this time around the 37-year-old Talentless founder and the daughter of Lionel Richie are 'taking things slow.' '[They are] trying to make things work while taking things slow,' explained the insider, as the pair continue to spend quality time together. On Tuesday, a source confirmed to Us Weekly that Scott and Sofia were 'hanging out again romantically' and that their relationship was 'back on.' With her pal: Earlier this week the model was with her longtime friend Tess Kemper, a graduate of Cornell University. The two were also seen in the front of their car as they wore black face masks Scott and Sofia reunited for the first time on Saturday, since ending their nearly three-year relationship in May. The pair - who first began dating in 2017 - grabbed lunch at Nobu restaurant in Malibu, before heading to a pal's low key Fourth Of July party at the beach. 'They seemed happy together but more friendly than romantic,' a source told People of their get together. Scott and Sofia's break-up occurred in May, shortly 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 Kardashian, 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 and most recently a trip to Wyoming together. Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Savdogar Bank Global Credit Research - 31 Jul 2020 London, 31 July 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Savdogar Bank 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. Savdogar Bank's B2 long-term local and foreign currency deposit ratings are solely based on the bank's b2 Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) and do not include any external support uplift. Savdogar Bank's BCA reflects the bank's (1) low level of problem loans well covered by provisions; (2) good recurring profitability; (3) declining capital adequacy owing to rapid lending growth, as well as (4) historically volatile funding base. The bank's performance will be affected by the slow economic growth in Uzbekistan this year worsened by the global spread of the coronavirus which will continue to exert pressure on the bank's profitability and asset quality of all Uzbek banks. Story continues 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. 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Actress Kangana Ranaut who is currently in Manali on Friday heard 'gunshots' near her house. The Kullu district police immediately reached her house after the incident and deployed security at her house. Though after an investigation the police did not find any evidence of mischief, the actor feels it could have been done to threaten her after her recent statements given in the Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. Talking about the incident the actress said, "I was in my bedroom, at about 11.30 pm. We have three floors. We have a boundary wall, behind which there are apple orchards and a water body. I heard a cracker-like sound at 11.30. At first, I thought it must be a cracker. And then another shot happened, and I got a little alarmed since that sounded like a gunshot. I called my security in charge immediately and he told me that it must be some mischief by kids and will check." Sushant case: Bihar Police denied post-mortem report by hospital? Team Kangana fumes "Now, this person maybe has never heard a bullet sound, but I have. He went around to check but there was no one. So we called the cops. They said maybe somebody in the orchard was trying to shoot bats as they damage apples. So we gave them the benefit of the doubt. And then on Saturday morning, we called the orchard owners and asked them if they had been here, near my house, and did they shoot any bullets at 11.30 pm? They refused. I can only say that I heard the sound of a bullet and I think it was definitely a bullet, very intently fired twice, two shots with a gap of about eight seconds between them. And it was right opposite my room. So it seems like someone was behind the boundary walls." Kangana alleged that this could have been a threatening call to her after the comments she made on political figures related to Sushant Singh Rajput case. She said, "I think some local people may have been hired to come near my place, you know, it is not difficult to pay someone seven-eight thousand rupees here and assign them something like this. People are telling me that they will now make your life miserable in Mumbai. Well, I dont have to be in Mumbai, they are doing it here also. Is there open goondagardi in this country? This is how Sushant must have been frightened. But I will continue to ask questions, she said. The police will still continue probing further. And a team of police officers will be checking all the vehicles and people coming in. Sanjana Sanghi strikes back at Team Kangana on Sushant's #MeToo row: 'Nobody should judge' 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. Published on 2020/08/02 | Source A first issue of a magazine solely dedicated to super boy band BTS was published in Italy earlier this month. Advertisement The bimonthly fanzine, imaginatively titled "BTS", is published by Sprea Editori and includes interviews and photos of all seven band members in 80 pages of glorious technicolor. The publisher said the fanzine was released there due to growing interest in the band in Italy. The Conservative MP wife of self-proclaimed 'naughty Tory' Charlie Elphicke had planned to leave her husband all along and only supported him during his trial because she feared he might kill himself. Natalie Elphicke, 49, stormed out of court yesterday when Mr Elphicke was convicted of three sexual offences against two women. In a private court room at Southwark Crown Court, she told him she would be filing for divorce. Mrs Elphicke said that as early as 2017, when her husband was suspended from the Conservative party for accusations of misconduct, he 'just fell apart' and she became 'afraid of what he might do'. This is the reason she stuck by him through the 'horrible, upsetting and humiliating' trial, she said. 'I would have to sit with him every hour, day and night, never leaving him because I was afraid of what he might do,' Mrs Elphicke told the Sun on Sunday. 'In the beginning I urged him then to stand up and put himself back together and initially to carry on as an MP. 'So when it came to the trial, I felt I couldn't just walk away.' Mrs Elphicke, took over her husband's parliamentary seat in Dover last year, in what critics have described as a 'House of Cards-style coup', as reported by The Sunday Times. It has been reported the local Conservative party did not hold an open selection, with local sources saying they would simply given a 'yes or no' option for Mrs Elphicke. Normally party members are given a choice of three candidates who have been through a vetting process at Tory HQ. Immediately after the conviction, Elphicke's wife Natalie left the court in dark sunglasses and then announced she was leaving him 'Naughty Tory' Charlie Elphicke (pictured with his wife Natalie on Thursday) has been found guilty of three sex attacks against two women She tweeted that her marriage to the 'only man I have ever loved' was over after 25 years after he was convicted of sex attacks in a trial where he also admitted infidelity In the popular Netflix drama House of Cards the character Clare Underwood replaces husband Frank as US President. It comes as Mrs Elphicke said her former husband had used the same terms to flirt with her, as he had with one of his his victims. 'It was the joking around, the kind gestures, the affection,' the mother-of-two said. 'I recognised the Charlie I knew in those texts. It was like turning back the clock to when we were first together.' Mrs Elphicke said she felt her husband had a 'true infatuation' for the woman, adding this upset her more than if it had just been a sexual relationship. Mr Elphicke was convicted of three sex attacks on two women on Thursday and was warned that he may face jail when he returns to court for sentencing. On Thursday, Mrs Elphicke left Southwark Crown Court in dark sunglasses without him shortly after he was found guilty of groping his victims. Moments after she was whisked away in a black taxi, Mrs Elphicke tweeted: 'Today's verdict is one that brings profound sorrow. 'It ends my 25 year marriage to the only man I have ever loved. I would ask for some personal space and time to come to terms with the shocking events of the last 3 years'. According to the Sun on Sunday, Mrs Elphicke filed for divorce on Friday, calling the court case 'horrible, upsetting and humiliating.' She said that the 25-year marriage was 'unlikely to be able to survive' the three-year ordeal, adding that Mr Elphicke had been pushing to get the relationship 'back on track'. 'I knew I had to end it,' she added. Her disgraced husband, also 49, a former lawyer and MP for ten years once touted as a possible cabinet minister, sighed and looked at his lawyer as the jury recorded guilty verdicts in each of the three sexual assault allegations after two days of deliberations yesterday. Mrs Elphicke, who had previously been loyally at Elphicke's side everyday he arrived for the three-and-a-half week trial, had refused to be in the court with him when he was convicted. After the jury delivered its verdict, he then joined her in a private room where they had a brief conversation without his lawyers present, which lasted around 10 minutes. The mother-of-two then marched, stony-faced, out of court alone before jumping into a waiting taxi from and tweeted that their marriage was over. When asked by MailOnline to comment about the verdict, she replied: 'Please don't speak to me.' Mrs Elphicke then hollered: 'Can you just drive,' with the taxi then speeding away. A grim-faced Elphicke then left the building without comment and climbed into a black cab. Former Dover MP Charlie Elphicke leaves Southwark Crown Court alone today after being found guilty of sexual assault with his reputation and marriage in complete tatters The trial judge, Mrs Justice Whipple, released the fallen sex attacker on bail, but warned him he may go to prison, adding: 'There is a very real possibility he faces immediate custody'. Elphicke now faces a six-week wait to hear his fate when he will be sentenced on September 15. Charlie Elphicke: Once rising star of Tory party and dutiful wife who stood by his side... until today by Vivek Chaudhary Charlie Elphicke was once a rising star of the Tory party, whose political career was bolstered by a supportive wife and doting children that gave him the veneer of the archetypal 'Conservative family man.' A former barrister and solicitor, Elphicke lived in a lavish 2million London town house with his wife Natalie, their two children, Anna, 19 and Thomas, 13, and pet dog Star. This is where the first attack against the woman also took place in 2007 while his lawyer wife was away on business. A former Conservative whip who was responsible for keeping MPs in order, Elphicke's conviction has sent his political and domestic life crashing to the ground following a trial which revealed salacious details about his own conduct. Referring to the first victim, Elphicke admitted to kissing the woman in her 30s and drinking wine and feeding chocolate stars to each other at his Belgravia townhouse in 2007, while his wife was away on business. Born in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, Elphicke was educated at the private Felsted School in Essex then going on to study law at Nottingham University. Before entering politics, he was a partner in an international law firm and specialised on securing investment into Britain. Elphicke was first elected as Conservative MP for Dover and Deal in May 2010. He was lost the Tory whip in 2017 when allegations of sexual assault were referred to the police. He was readmitted to the party in December 2018 prior to a confidence vote in then-Prime Minister Theresa May but was again suspended when he was formally charged in July 2019. In December 2019 he stood down as the Conservative candidate for Dover and Deal to fight the sexual assault allegations. He was replaced by his wife. Advertisement For the entirety of the trial, Mrs Elphicke had appeared to be standing by her husband as the couple whose, marriage spanned three decades, arrived every day holding hands as they faced the a scrum of waiting photographers. Once inside the building however, they went their separate ways. He went into the court number one where he was being tried. She opted to remain in a room that had been assigned to her so that she could continue with her Parliamentary work. Mrs Elphicke did not hear a word of the trial as her husband revealed the terrible state of his marriage. Once the day's proceedings came to an end, the couple would emerge from the Southwark courthouse together. From the moment allegations against him emerged, Mrs Elphicke had chosen to publicly show her support, but as he admitted while giving evidence, their marriage is 'hanging by a thread.' Sobbing in the witness box, Elphicke confessed: 'She comes into court with me every day. She's supporting me throughout proceedings. But things are not good. It hangs by a thread. I've got a lot of work to do. She's most upset that I didn't tell her at the outset.' Mrs Elphicke was not in court to hear her husband admit to an affair with another woman who was not one of the complainants. He told jurors he had a sexual relationship with the woman but had not initially told his wife. He said: 'I didn't know how to explain it to Natalie - it was an emotional attachment (to the other woman). I think she would be very hurt, and I didn't want that.' The court heard that he only revealed details of the affair to his wife in March 2018, once rumours began circulating within his constituency. The court heard how the perverted former politician faced three sexual assault charges against two women. In 2007 he 'abused his power' and plunged his hand down a woman's blouse after talking 'suggestively' about bondage in his 2million London townhouse while his wife was away on business and their two children were asleep next door. When she tried to flee he chased her around the kitchen trying to grab her bottom while squealing 'I'm a naughty Tory' in a scene compared to a Benny Hill sketch. In April 2016 he groped and tried to kiss a parliamentary worker, half his age, in her early 20s, while out for a drink in Westminster. A month later he ran his hand up her thigh towards her groin while trying to give her a 'disgusting, slobbery' kiss, leaving her terrified and believing she would lose her job if she reported him to the police. Mrs Elphicke, 49 who is also a trained solicitor only learned of Elphicke's feelings towards his second victim, a parliamentary worker and that he had propositioned her, while she was going through material for his case. Elphicke admitted in court that she became 'very cross with me because she thought I was having an affair.' The former Conservative MP was told he will be sentenced on September 15 after being convicted at Southwark Crown Court today (pictured with wife Natalie, who has supported him throughout the trial) Mrs Elphicke said the guilty verdicts gave her sorrow because it meant her marriage was over. Mrs Elphicke refused to be in the court with her husband when he was convicted In 2007 the perverted former politician had plunged his hand down a woman's blouse after talking 'suggestively' about bondage in his 2million London townhouse (pictured) while his wife was away on business and their two children were asleep next door From secret bondage conession to making young Commons worker rub sun lotion on him... sinister timeline in Elphicke sex assault saga July 6 2020: Elphicke chased a woman around his house attempting to kiss her while screaming 'I'm a naughty Tory'. Elphicke chased a woman around his house attempting to kiss her while screaming 'I'm a naughty Tory'. July 7: Court hears he allegedly text her days later to say that he had 'enjoyed the other night' and wanted to meet again. Court hears he allegedly text her days later to say that he had 'enjoyed the other night' and wanted to meet again. July 8: The claimant called her sister to tearfully tell how he asked her about leather and lace and spanked her; The claimant called her sister to tearfully tell how he asked her about leather and lace and spanked her; July 9: The woman claims she was told to 'dress like Dawn French' and 'wear garlic' to ward off his 'Jekyll and Hyde personality'. The woman claims she was told to 'dress like Dawn French' and 'wear garlic' to ward off his 'Jekyll and Hyde personality'. July 10: Court hears Elphicke sexually assaulted a young parliamentary worker then 'lectured' her 'not to blab', she told the court; Court hears Elphicke sexually assaulted a young parliamentary worker then 'lectured' her 'not to blab', she told the court; July 13: The Parliamentary worker in her 20s claims he shoved his hand down her bra. The Parliamentary worker in her 20s claims he shoved his hand down her bra. July 15: Court hears he told a party whip claims against him could not be true - because the victim did not complain 'at the time'. told a party whip claims against him could not be true - because the victim did not complain 'at the time'. July 16: Elphicke agreed to pay a woman 5,000 in 'compensation' after allegedly sexually assaulting her, court heard. Elphicke agreed to pay a woman 5,000 in 'compensation' after allegedly sexually assaulting her, court heard. July 17: A Tory whip informed Scotland Yard about the allegations against him after local police did not take action, court hears. A Tory whip informed Scotland Yard about the allegations against him after local police did not take action, court hears. July 20: Elphicke wept as he admitted lying to police about his feelings for woman who accused him of sexual assault, the court hears. Elphicke wept as he admitted lying to police about his feelings for woman who accused him of sexual assault, the court hears. July 21: The court hears he sexually assaulted two women in 'almost identical' ways, nearly a decade apart, while his wife was away. The court hears he sexually assaulted two women in 'almost identical' ways, nearly a decade apart, while his wife was away. July 22: The ex-Tory MP 'lied' to the attorney general as he 'hid behind' him to protect himself from sex assault claims, court hears. The ex-Tory MP 'lied' to the attorney general as he 'hid behind' him to protect himself from sex assault claims, court hears. July 23: The court hears he asked a young Parliamentary worker to rub sunscreen on him and gave her the 'shivers'. The court hears he asked a young Parliamentary worker to rub sunscreen on him and gave her the 'shivers'. July 24: His lawyer tells the court he might be a bad husband and 'foolish', but does not mean he sexually assaulted two women. His lawyer tells the court he might be a bad husband and 'foolish', but does not mean he sexually assaulted two women. July 30: Elphicke is convicted of three sexual assaults Advertisement She was not in court when her husband admitted he had been 'besotted' with the young parliamentary worker he wanted to start an affair with her. He cried: 'As the evening wore on, I said to her how much I liked her in many ways and how I had not, er, met someone like her for a very, very long time and how I was clearly liking her a lot.' Elphicke admitted not telling the truth to police when they asked him about the parliamentary worker. He said he hadn't wanted to 'put my marriage in jeopardy' and that it would 'cause chaos'. He later added: 'I should not have lied to the police, I should have just fronted it up.' His first victim, a woman in her thirties, broke down in court as she recalled how he attacked her as they shared a bottle of wine at the family's Belgravia home while Mrs Elphicke was away - six months after she gave birth to their second child. He asked asked her about her sexual preferences and talked about whips, silk, leather and bondage before forcing an open-mouthed kiss on her and grabbing her breasts. She said she stayed silent about it 'protect his family.' Breaking down in court, she said: 'He tried to kiss me and I moved my head, he pushed me down by my shoulders, he had his knee between my legs and he was groping my breast. 'I was just shocked - really, really shocked. He was saying really bizarre things that are embarrassing like 'I'm a naughty Tory'. 'He was trying to grope me and trying to grab my bum. He was following me, it was like a race. I couldn't understand what was happening.' The victim said Elphicke was 'very animated, excited and clearly enjoying himself'. She said she phoned her sister to tell her what had happened after fleeing his home, who later told police the episode sounded like 'a sketch from The Benny Hill Show'. But after a 2017 news report accused the Dover MP of similar behaviour she realised 'I need to do my part and I went to police'. The former Tory whip was also accused of two further sex assaults on the Parliamentary worker nine years after the first attack. The young staffer explicitly spurned Elphicke's advances after he shoved his hand down her top and grabbed her breasts. But he went on to run his hand up her thigh before asking her to rub sunscreen on him and 'rolling his eyes round' while telling her he wanted to kiss her. He then told her: 'I'm so naughty sometimes.' The victim said: 'He had his mouth open, continually trying to kiss me. It was like a disgusting, slobbery mess.' She said she spurned Elphicke's sexual advances, telling jurors she was physically repulsed by him, and that Elphicke told her he had 'not been happy for years' in his marriage. But she said he assaulted her again the following month when he ran his hand up her thigh towards her groin. The former MP's wife Natalie Elphicke (pictured) replaced him as MP for Dover last November. She is now starting a new life Boris Johnson, centre, speaks with then Charlie Elphicke, left, during a visit to the Port of Dover, which was in his consituency The woman, who also wept giving evidence, added: 'I think he thought that if he kept going that I would one day cave. But I wouldn't.' The victim said he was known within Parliament as a bullying 'Jekyll and Hyde' personality and she had been warned by a friend to stay away from him. The married father-of-two sobbed through his evidence as he admitted having a two-year affair with a third woman while in the witness box. He said he slept with his lover three times over a period of three years but claimed he had never felt a 'significant attachment' to her like he had with the young staffer. The three charges against Elphicke: Tory MP groped woman in his 2m London townhouse and tried to kiss and assault another victim on separate occasions The first offence took place in Elphicke's London home in summer 2007, when he invited a woman in her early 30s to share a drink with him while his children were asleep and his wife was away with work. The second complainant, a parliamentary worker in her early 20s, said Elphicke also tried to kiss her and then groped her when they met for a drink in Westminster in April 2016. She said he assaulted her again the following month when he ran his hand up her thigh towards her groin. Advertisement Elphicke claimed he was still in the process of trying to salvage his marriage after coming clean about the infidelity. He claimed that he had lied to police about his attraction to the Parliamentary worker because it would have been the straw that broke the back of his marriage. The former whip told the court he thought the desire was mutual and believed they were consenting to his advances. But a jury of 11, comprising eight women and three men, dismissed his claims as lies, finding him guilty of three sexual assaults with unanimous verdicts. Natalie Dawson, CPS Specialist Prosecutor, said: 'Elphicke abused his power and influence over these women to make unwanted and forceful sexual advances towards them. 'The assaults have had a profound impact on these women who feared for their careers if they reported him. 'Elphicke has lied repeatedly about his conduct and failed to take responsibility for his behaviour and the harm suffered by his victims. 'This prosecution and these convictions show that their reports have been taken seriously. I would like to thank them for their bravery in coming forward. Their courage and strength demonstrate that offenders like Elphicke can be brought to justice. 'I hope these convictions today give other victims the confidence to report sexual abuse, no matter how powerful their abuser.' Metropolitan Police Detective Sergeant Michael McInerney, who gave evidence in the trial, said upon verdict: 'These were alarming, distressing incidents for both women and I would like to acknowledge their courage in reporting the incidents and co-operating with the police investigation. 'Elphicke was persistent in his sexual advances and showed a lack of self-restraint and regard for the women, whose emotional wellbeing and professional lives were affected by what happened. 'Victims of non-recent sexual offences should not be deterred from reporting what happened to them to police. 'Specially trained investigators will investigate the claims and seek prosecutions where possible, whilst providing all the necessary support for victims.' None of the three women can be named for legal reasons. Elphicke initially denied any knowledge of the allegations against the parliamentary worker when he was summoned before Tory party whips in January 2017. He later called on his 'friend', the former attorney general Dominic Grieve, to accompany him to a second meeting, although he failed to mention to Mr Grieve that he had strong feelings for the woman. Dressed in a dark blue suit, Elphicke stared somberly at the floor as a jury of nine men and three women returned their verdicts. Elphicke appeared stunned as Mrs Justice Whipple warned him a custodial sentence is 'still on the table' when he returns for sentencing. Elphicke became a government whip under David Cameron's premiership in 2015, but returned to the back benches when Theresa May came to power the following year. He had the party whip suspended in 2017 when allegations of sexual assault first emerged, but it was controversially reinstated a year later for a crucial confidence vote in then-prime Minister Mrs May. The whip was withdrawn again the following summer when the Crown Prosecution Service announced its decision to charge Elphicke. Court hears how rising Tory party star whose reputation is left in tatters sexually assaulted two women in 'almost identical circumstances' nearly a decade apart while his wife was away ByVivek Chaudhary For Mailonline Charlie Elphicke's glittering career as a former rising star of the Tory party on the cusp of reaching the cabinet came crashing down and his reputation left in tatters during a three-and-a-half-week trial that charted how he sexually assaulted two women in near identical attacks nine years apart. The fallen ex-Conservative MP squirmed as he sat in the dock to hear uncomfortable details of how he attacked his first victim, a woman in her thirties, at the 2million family home in London's Belgravia. Giving evidence via video link during the first week of the trial, she broke down as she recalled how Elphicke chased her around the property after he had groped her, while shouting 'I'm a naughty Tory' as his children slept upstairs. She sobbed that a day later, he texted her to say, 'something like, 'I enjoyed the other night, we should do it again'. I was like 'my God, no'. I was like 100 per cent no.' The fallen ex-Conservative MP squirmed as he sat in the dock to hear uncomfortable details of how he attacked his first victim, a woman in her thirties, at the 2million family home in London's Belgravia The woman said it felt like Elphicke was 'racing' her around his home in central London to grab her bottom. The victim had rejected Elphicke's advances moments earlier as they shared a 40 bottle of wine, while his wife, Natalie Elphicke was away on business, Southwark Crown Court heard. Recalling the attack, she said: 'He started talking about what we (the alleged victim and her boyfriend) liked in a sexual way. 'I sort of wagged my finger at him and said, 'We don't need to talk about that kind of thing'. He was like a totally asexual person, to me. 'He started saying 'Do you like silk and leather?' and bondage. He was jovial, jokey, excited maybe, in an animated way. I was just thinking 'Oh god, how embarrassing'.' Charlie Elphicke's glittering career as a former rising star of the Tory party on the cusp of reaching the cabinet came crashing down and his reputation left in tatters during a three-and-a-half-week trial. Pictured: Elphicke with MP wife Natalie She said the conversation continued for 'a couple of sentences' before he 'basically jumped' on her, the court heard. As Elphicke sat stone faced in the dock listening to her account of the night she continued: 'He tried to kiss me and I moved my head, he pushed me down by my shoulders, he had his knee between my legs and he was groping my breast.' The witness said she told Elphicke to 'get off' and she ran away. 'I just thought 'I've got to get out of here',' the jury heard. 'My adrenaline was going. I was just shocked - really, really shocked. 'I never thought in a million years that he was that kind of person, that he would do anything like that.' She said Elphicke then 'pursued' her around his home as she moved away. She sobbed: 'He was saying really bizarre things that are embarrassing like 'I'm a naughty Tory'. Charlie Elphicke was at one point believed to be a contender for a cabinet position. Pictured: With then Conservative leadership hopeful Boris Johnson in his Dover constituency 'He was trying to grope me and trying to grab my bum. He was following me, it was like a race,' she said. 'I couldn't understand what was happening.' In moving testimony, the witness revealed that she locked herself into a room for her own safety and then called her sister, as Elphicke banged on the door and hollered her name. After Elphicke went away, she eventually made her escape by leaving the house through a side entrance and getting into a taxi. The second victim gave her evidence in person and cried as she relived how Elphicke had sexually abused her twice within the space of a month in 2016. The first incident took place after they shared a bottle of champagne on the parliamentary estate. Elphicke's response to his behaviour was to say, 'I'm so naughty sometimes.' The second attack happened over lunch, when they met to discuss what had taken place on the parliamentary estate. The woman, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, told the court that she agreed to the lunch because she wanted to tell Elphicke that he had 'crossed a line' and that she was not interested in him. Wearing a long-sleeved white top, she wept as she told the jury of how in the first attack when Elphicke grabbed her breast while attempting to kiss her and in the second, ran his hand up the inside of her groin. She sobbed: 'He had his mouth open, continually trying to kiss me. It was like a disgusting, slobbery mess.' In her videotaped police interview, which was played in court, the woman revealed how Elphicke turned into a 'nasty bully' after she rejected his advances. She said: 'I worked so hard to get in Parliament. 'It's the first time in my life I wasn't being paid by the hour. At lunch he said ''do you have a boyfriend?'' I said ''no'', he said ''Why not?'' 'I said ''I don't want one. I run around too much''. He said ''No, why don't you have a boyfriend?'' 'I said: ''I don't want one, they are a waste of time'' and that's when he put his hand over my leg again. 'He went: ''You know, I still really like you'' and I was like ''yes, I know but I've told you I don't like you''. And then he said: ''Oh, why didn't you say so earlier?'' 'I couldn't believe he said that comment - ''Why were you up for that at the beginning?'' 'I was just absolutely shocked and all I said is ''I wasn't. I didn't.'' Like, how can you say I'm up for anything. At what point did you get that from me? 'That was the turning point and that is when he turned nasty. There was fury in his eyes. 'He came up to me one day and said: ''Do you think I'm scary? Do you think I'm scary?'' It was clear bullying. 'He even went through my bag. That angered me so much. You don't go through my stuff. 'You can insult me, you can defame me you can bully me but don't go through my things. 'Later on, he said: ''I behaved terribly, and I've been incredibly inappropriate, and it won't happen again. Things happened that shouldn't have happened, and it won't happen again''. 'I said: ''Promise me that what happened will never happen again'' and he did, and we shook on it.' A U.S. citizen is among six pro-democracy activists to have arrest warrants issued for them by Hong Kong police for suspected violations under a new national security law, Chinese state media reported late Friday. Samuel Chu, the managing director of the D.C.-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, an advocacy group, wrote on Twitter that he "woke up to media reports that I am a wanted fugitive." He added that he had been an American citizen for 25 years. "If I am targeted, any American/any citizen of any nation who speaks out for Hong Kong can and will be too. We are all Hong Kongers now," he wrote. Chu was among six prominent activists named by Chinese broadcaster CCTV and other state media outlets, to have arrest warrants issued for them under the legislation that came into effect on June 30. The individuals were wanted on suspicion of secession or collusion with foreign forces crimes that the new security law punishes with up to life in prison. More from NBC News: "These are trumped-up charges," said activist Nathan Law on his Facebook page, after he got news of his arrest warrant. Law recently fled to Britain from Hong Kong after the security legislation was enacted by Beijing. He briefly met with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in London, last month. "That Hong Kong has no place for even such moderate views like ours underscores the absurdity of Chinese Communist rule," Law said. Vowing, nonetheless, to continue his "advocacy work overseas" adding that he had already severed communications with his family in Hong Kong for their safety. China imposed the contentious security law on its freest city around one month ago, circumventing the local legislature, a move condemned by the U.S. and some Western governments, rights groups and activists in the territory. Several countries have since suspended their extradition treaties with Hong Kong, including Britain, Australia, and most recently Germany, as a possible safeguard against attempts to use the national security law to round up activists abroad. Several countries, including the U.K. have offered Hong Kongers an expedited path to full citizenship. Critics of the security law fear it will crush freedoms in a city that is a global financial hub, while supporters say the legislation is needed to restore stability to the former British colony, after a year of sometimes violent anti-government protests. Along with Law and Chu, Chinese state media named Wayne Chan Ka-kui, Honcques Laus, Simon Cheng and Ray Wong Toi-yeung as the other four individuals Hong Kong authorities were seeking to arrest. China's state-run Global Times newspaper said on Saturday the police notice was the first issued against people who had fled Hong Kong. One commentator told the newspaper that the move sent a clear signal to those who violate the security law that they will be subject to punishment no matter their whereabouts. News of the warrants came hours after Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam delayed upcoming elections for the city's Legislative Council by a year, citing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. Her announcement came around 24 hours after 12 pro-democracy candidates including prominent activist Joshua Wong were blocked from standing in the elections for reasons including opposing the national security law. Wong said the move was a further indication of Beijing's tightening hold on the city. In response to Lam's postponement of the election, Germany became the latest country to suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong. "We have repeatedly made our expectation clear that China lives up to its legal responsibilities under international law," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Friday. China's embassy in Germany hit-back condemning Berlin's decision, saying it grossly interfered with its internal affairs, according to a statement on its website. China "reserves the right to respond further," the statement added, without elaborating. Last month, President Trump signed into law a bipartisan bill that sanctions Chinese officials who undermine the rights to free speech and assembly in Hong Kong. Trump also signed an executive order that ended Hong Kong's special trade treatment, an escalation in an increasingly hostile relationship between Washington and Beijing. Eric Baculinao reported from Beijing and Adela Suliman from London. Reuters contributed to this report. The perception of how a diplomat should appeared upon his return from Korea just before the Korean-American War of 1871. Japan Punch, June 1871 By Robert Neff England as the judge of which country should control Port Hamilton China or Japan. Japan Punch, June 1885 From his ideal location in Japan (Yokohama the primary port), Wirgman seems to have found it amusing to watch the various Western powers seeking to establish treaties with Korea especially the British. In one of his 1876 sketches, the British representative to Japan is shown presenting a shipwrecked Korean sailor to a member of the Korean Embassy. In the sketch, the two officials seem to be communicating with one another, but this conflicts with the reality. According to Horace Allen, the Korean embassy returned to Korea "having refused all overtures of Western foreigners to communicate with them." Wirgman seemed somewhat enamored with possibly jealous of Irishman William George Aston (1841-1911), a member of the British Foreign Service serving in Japan. Both men were skilled linguists. Wirgman was fluent in English, German and French and competent in several other languages, but not Korean. Aston was skilled in Latin, Greek, French, German and Japanese. He also taught himself Korean using textbooks compiled in 1841 by Iwajiro Urase. Urase was an interpreter at the Japanese enclave in Fusan (now Busan) and he compiled a couple of textbooks (in Japanese) of Korean phrases and dialogues. In addition to his self-study, Aston also had a private tutor, a "Korean resident in Japan, who called himself by the Japanese name Asano." The reality of how he appeared on his return to Japan. Japan Punch, June 1871 Despite any differences with the British diplomatic community he might have had, Wirgman was extremely patriotic and did not pull any punches when it came to expressing his pro-British views especially when it involved the Russian-British struggle for dominance in Northeast Asia. In the spring of 1885, a British fleet sailed into Port Hamilton (Komundo a Korean island group off the southern coast of the peninsula) and "preemptively occupied" it before Russia could. This caused a great deal of concern. China seemingly favored the occupation and sided with the British while Japan opposed it and supported the Russians. As for Korea? None of the foreign powers seemed to care. Wirgman made it perfectly clear which side he was on. The British representative trying to curry favor with Joseon by returning a shipwrecked Korean sailor. Japan Punch, June 1876 "As the Japanese are so very anxious to cease to be Japanese and so very desirous to become to become full-blown red-haired hatchet dog faced Western Barbarians at once. Punch suggests to them as the easiest way of obtaining their hearts desire is to HAND OVER their country to Russia." For "throwing out this hint" to the Japanese people, he expected to be made a Russian baron. His opinions seem to have found little favor with the diplomatic community as evidenced when he later wrote: "Diplomatic relations between Punch and the German Legation have been suspended on account of the latter returning all Punches sent to it. We are afraid that this action on its part will lead to serious complications." Torpedoes and politics. Japan Punch, June 1876 He then went noted that "Germany, Spain, America, Holland and Belgium are non-subscribers. We have a very miserly opinion of those countries." Then, almost as an afterthought, he added, "China subscribes. Bully for China!!!" The animosity towards Germany might have been due to Paul Georg von Mollendorff a German national employed by the Korean government as an adviser. Mollendorff was not very popular in the German community and was often criticized for adopting Korean customs and attire. A contemporary newspaper wrote: "A man who adopts Corean manners and customs not only degrades himself in the eyes of the inhabitants of every other country, but also does an injury to Europe in general, by showing the Coreans that there are some men who think so little of civilization and its advantages, that, for the sake of making a few dollars, they will, so far as they can, abandon their country, and its culture and refinement, and instead of teaching the people amongst whom he may find himself, will show their opinion of that conduct." William George Aston studying Korean. Japan Punch, November 1882 In early 1887, the British government returned Port Hamilton to the Korean government, leaving on a handful of graves of British sailors and marines who had died there during the occupation. It would have been interesting to see how Japan Punch, via Wirgman's pen, would have reported the removal of the British forces, but, unfortunately, the magazine folded at about the same time. On February 8, 1891, Wirgman died in Yokohama at the age of 59. The mighty pen was laid to rest in the Yokohama Foreign General Cemetery forgotten by most except for the most ardent historians or manga fans. The poker game for Port Hamilton. Japan Punch, June 1885 Mollendorff being booted out. Japan Punch, July 1885 Switzerland should tighten restrictions to curb the coronavirus again following a recent spike in cases, in order to prevent the need for much harsher lockdown measures in future, the new head of the country's coronavirus taskforce said. Switzerland has seen the number of new cases of COVID-19 surge to more than 200 a day recently after an average of 35 per day in June. Martin Ackermann, who heads the body that provides scientific advice to the Swiss government, said the country was on the brink of a big increase in infections and had little room to manoeuvre. "We should intervene early to prevent exponential growth," Ackermann told newspaper SonntagsZeitung. "Otherwise there's a risk of drastic and expensive restrictions. This must be prevented under all circumstances." Switzerland has lifted a partial lockdown that was imposed in March, when shops, bars and restaurants were ordered to close to prevent the spread of the virus which has infected 35,000 people and killed 1,707 in the country of 8.6 million people. Ackermann, who took over as head of the taskforce on Saturday, said he supported making it mandatory to wear face masks indoors. Face masks are currently only compulsory on public transport and at political demonstrations. The government has relaxed restrictions on gatherings, although it still bans events of more than 1,000 people. The size of public gatherings should be limited again, said Ackermann, who is an expert in microbiology. "I also believe that the size of public events should now be reduced to 100 participants, as there is a risk of an exponential increase in the number of cases," Ackermann told the newspaper. He said it was difficult to say whether large scale events were fuelling the epidemic. "Initial data ...shows that where large numbers of people gather, there are also many infections," he said. "Exact data on who is infected and where (they) are infected is absolutely vital. Without this data we are flying blind." Search Keywords: Short link: The British Grand Prix was forced to run behind a safety car on Sunday after an opening lap crash. Kevin Magnussen of Haas collided with Alex Albon's Red Bull at the final corner, the Danish driver spinning off into the gravel after trying to squeeze past the Thai driver. The front left wheel of his Haas car was smashed off after the impact as he attempted to cut across Albon at the apex of the corner leading on to the start-finish straight. The safety car stayed out for five laps before the race resumed with pole sitting six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton out in front in his Mercedes. The London-born Thai driver Albon said: "I don't know where he expected me to go, to be honest." He pitted on lap seven, following the re-start, just as the stewards announced they were launching an investigation into the collision. Magnussen's exit reduced the field to 18 cars after the pre-race elimination of Nico Hulkenberg whose Racing Point car failed to start. The German had qualified ninth after his dramatic late call-up on Thursday night to replace Sergio Perez, who tested positive for coronavirus. The British Grand Prix ran behind the safety car while Kevin Magnussen's crashed Haas was towed away MASON COUNTY, MI -- The body of a 64-year-old man was found in the Pere Marquette River, police said. Emergency crews were called on Thursday, July 30 to a found, overturned kayak on the Pere Marquette River south off Budzynski Road in Branch Township. Upon arrival, emergency responders located property in the river, which indicated the kayak had been occupied prior to it overturning, according to a press release from the Mason County Sheriffs Office. Mason County Sheriffs Office Dive Team members and Marine Patrol searched the area until 2:00 a.m. with no results. The search resumed at 7:00 a.m. Friday. Shortly before 10 a.m., Marine Patrol deputies located the body of Nicholas Howard King, 64, from Commerce Township Michigan. Kings body was located approximately 200 yards downstream of where the kayak had been located the last night. He was wearing a life jacket, according to the press release. A cause of death has yet to be determined by the WMED Medical Examiners Office. More on MLive: Indiana father drowns in Lake Michigan trying to save his children, 12 and 17, who survived Otsego girl, 13, drowns at Warren Dunes State Park beach Off-duty DNR officer saves swimmer in Lake Superior Google has taken one step closer to banishing third-party cookies from Chrome. The internet giant has started testing its trust tokens with developers, with promises that more would move to live tests soon. As before, the company hoped to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome once it could meet the needs of both users and advertisers. Trust tokens are meant to foster user trust across sites without relying on persistent identifying data like third-party cookies. They theoretically prevent bot-based ad fraud without tying data to individuals. This would be one framework as part of a larger Privacy Sandbox including multiple open standards. The company still hopes to eliminate third-party cookies by 2022. The testing comes right as Google is improving the transparency of ads. Its introducing an About this ad feature that shows the verified names of advertisers. Itll initially be available only for ads bought through Google Ads and Display & Video 360, but it should expand elsewhere in 2021. Google has vowed to curb ad misinformation on its sites, and proving the authenticity of some ads might help. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) Imposing a stricter enhanced community quarantine measure in Mega Manila will prove to be difficult, the Trade Department says in response to pleas from the medical community for tighter COVID-19 restrictions in the area. In a message to CNN Philippines on Sunday, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said he supports calls to address the concerns of healthworkers, but noted there are other ways to help alleviate the crisis situation. How can we help our frontliners? They need more support in all aspects, Lopez said. But (its) difficult to go back to ECQ. (Its) damaging to peoples health, with unemployment and poverty affecting health and wellness and nutrition intake. (It) will affect long-term health and capacity to learn for children, he added. Lopez said local government units have the capacity to impose granular lockdowns, and that strict health protocols have been set in place to avoid the spread of the virus. The DTI chief also stressed the importance of balancing health and economy during this crisis, adding that citizens need to manage and live with the virus which is here to stay. READ: Gyms, internet cafes allowed to partially reopen in GCQ areas by August On Saturday, several medical societies appealed for President Rodrigo Duterte to place Mega Manila back to ECQ until August 15, citing an overwhelmed healthcare system and burned out frontliners. Mega Manila is composed of Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and Mimaropa. The move will also pave the way for healthcare workers to refine pandemic control strategies, the group added. Some officials and experts, however, expressed concern over the proposal, saying it may cause possible repercussions on the countrys economy. Metro Manila remains under the more relaxed general community quarantine until mid-August, but LGUs have the authority to declare strict localized lockdowns in areas that see a hefty increase in COVID-19 infections. In day-long talks between corps commanders, India demands a return to status quo ante of May 5 New Delhi: Talks between the corps commanders of India and China went long into the night on Sunday, and although there was no official word on the outcome of the talks, it is learnt that India held out for a return to status quo ante at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. This effectively would require China to withdraw its forces from the finger areas in Pangong Tso back to the position they held prior to May 5 when the standoff started. India is demanding a complete disengagement by the Chinese from all points of friction in the entire Ladakh sector. Its stance is that the process of de-escalation can only start when Chinese troops disengage from all these points completely. This meeting, the fifth round, between India's 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military Region, commander Maj Gen Liu Lin started at around 11 am at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), and went on beyond 10 pm, nearly as long as the fourth round of talks. That round on July 14 lasted 15 hours, finishing at 2 am in the morning (4:30 am Beijing time). The long duration of these meetings is due to the language problems as conversations between the lead officers have to be translated. Since that last meeting on July 14 there has been no progress on disengagement with the Chinese dragging their feet on moving back to their position as of May 5, 2020, when troops clashed at Pangong Tso and Galwan Valley. The Chinese have not vacated the finger 5 area in the Pangong Tso and are still continuing to hold ridges in the finger 4 area. During the initial phase of disengagement, Chinese troops vacated the banks of the Pangong Tso lake in the finger 4 area on July 9 and went back to finger 5. But the troops still have to vacate the area between finger 5 and finger 8, which India claims is its territory. Satellite images have shown the huge build-up by the Chinese at Pangong Tso including construction of permanent bunkers, installation of artillery guns and stationing of boats. These indicate that the Chinese are preparing for a long haul in the area. In May 2020, Chinese troops in an aggressive move occupied the area between Finger 4 to Finger 8 and prevented Indian troops from patrolling there. In the Hot Springs area, Chinese troops have reportedly not moved back to that extent in the first phase as was agreed in the agreement of June 6 and has still some presence. Galwan Valley is the only point of friction where the Chinese have completely disengaged as per the agreement. There is a 4 km distance between the two armies there. The Indian Army is now preparing for a long stand-off with China and has started to outline stocks and materials needed for winter deployment of troops at high altitude. It is in the process of placing orders for additional tents and shelters from indigenous as well as foreign vendors. The Indian army is reported to have also moved its mountain divisions from two locations along with armoured columns deployed around Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. China has brought a large number of troops, estimated at 40,000, to the front and depth areas at the LAC in the Ladakh sector where they have also amassed tanks, artillery, aircraft and radars, jammers. India has done mirror deployment of its troops in Ladakh to counter the Chinese. India has also deployed tanks, heavy artillery and air defence system in the Ladakh sector to counter any Chinese challenge. Mumbai: The Patna (Central) City Superintendent of Police Vinay Tiwari reached Mumbai on Sunday (August 2, 2020) and joined his team which is probing the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Bihar Police, which is probing Sushant's death after an FIR was filed by his father KK Singh against late actor's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty in Bihar, have so far come across several leads. As per sources, initial investigations have revealed that the actor changed as many as 14 SIM cards between June 9-13. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) suspects that the 34-year old actor had come to know the reason behind the suicide of his former secretary Disha Salian, and this was probably the reason why he went on to change several numbers. According to police officials, Disha had reportedly called Sushant before her death and shared some crucial information with him. It was because of this reason, Sushant was 'threatened' and went on a number-changing spree. If police sources are to be believed, Sushant's room partner Siddharth Pithani also had come across some startling revelations from Sushant on Disha Salian's death. Also read | 2 SIM cards used by Sushant Singh Rajput wasn't in his name: Bihar Police The SIT also doubts that the CCTV footages around Sushant's Bandra residence were tampered, since the team has not yet been able to gain access to the footage. Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh condemned the demand for a CBI investigation into the case and said that even though the Patna Police has filed an FIR into Sushant's death and is probing the case, it will be the onus of Mumbai Police to carry out the investigation as per jurisdictional norms. As per reports, Mumbai Police has so far recorded statements of as many as 37 people including Rhea, Mahesh Bhatt, Aditya Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sanjana Sanghi along with actor's personal staff members and doctors. Sushant, a resident of Patna, reportedly died by suicide at his Bandra residence in Mumbai on June 14. Also read | Sushant Singh Rajput's choreographer friend Ganesh Hiwarkar says actor once stopped him from committing suicide The National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in the area to rescue people UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath did an aerial survey of the flood hit regions of Uttar Pradesh. PTI photo Over 60 villages in Uttar Pradesh's Bahraich district have been inundated following the release of water by Nepal from its three barrages into rivers, a district administration official said on Sunday. The release of water has affected over 1.50 lakh people and damaged 171 houses, he said, adding National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in the area to rescue people. "Following the release of lakhs of cusec of water by Nepal, at least 61 villages in the district have been inundated. The administration is providing relief to the affected people," Additional District Magistrate Jai Chandra Pandey said. He added that 61 villages located in Kaisarganj, Mahsi and Mihipurva tehsils with a population of over 1.50 lakh have been affected. "The condition is very bad in seven villages. As many as 131 kutcha houses have been damaged. Twenty-three flood posts have been made. Apart from this, one motorboat, 179 boats, one platoon of flood PAC and NDRF have also been pressed into service," Pandey said. He also said 48 medical teams along with veterinary teams have also been deployed for relief work. Medical facilities, vaccination of animals, tarpaulin sheets and food packets are being distributed, he added. "About 3.15 lakh cusec water was released into rivers from Sharda, Girijapuri and Saryu barrages. The levels of rivers at these places were below the danger mark, but Ghagara was flowing 108 centimetres above the danger mark at Elgin bridge. Along with the barrages, the embankments are also being constantly monitored," said Executive Engineer (Flood) Shobit Kushwaha. New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday strongly advocated for cashless economy and demonetisation policy implemented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking on an exclusive chat show on News Nation TV, MP CM Shivraj Chouhan recounted the important landmarks of 11 years of his term in the office. During the live show, the CM interacted with public and took questions about his personal and political life. On this day in 2005, Shivraj Singh Chouhan assumed the office of chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and has gone on to become the longest serving CM of the state. Also read : CM to speak to public through radio show Shiv Samvad | Know all about longest serving Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Here are the live updates: #First Opposition suggested bandh, when people did not support it, they turned it into an Akrosh rally, but even that flopped as people stand by PM on this: Shivraj Singh Chouhan #Protest against demonetisation in only political, public stands with PM: Shivraj Singh Chouhan #Cashless transactions will create a transparent system in economy and enable rich and poor alike to be part of progressive India: Shivraj Singh Chouhan #Demonetisation was a risky and brave decision by PM Narendra Modi but very important to curb black money, corruption and terrorism: Shivraj Singh Chouhan #Want to see entrepreneurs like Tatas-Birlas to rise and shine from the land of Madhya Pradesh; we have built venture funds for this purpose: Shivraj Singh Chouhan #Skill India is an important scheme for a nation with so many young brilliant minds: Shivraj Singh Chouhan #Life is more peaceful and joyous in India as compared to foreign nations: Shivraj Singh Chouhan # I respect all religions equally as every religion means good human values: Shivraj Singh Chouhan #Conditions of labourers has concerned me since childhood: Shivraj Singh Chouhan #If you will not save daughters how will you progress, thus Beti Bachao Yojna is crucial for MP: Shivraj Singh Chouhan #Have done farming with manual methods myself. I understand the dedication and hardships faced by famrers: Shivraj Singh Chouhan For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. According to the Florida appellate court ruling, the judges said the Reynolds-Lorillard asset purchase agreement did not in any way vitiate the responsibilities and obligations of Reynolds under the Florida settlement agreement to the state of Florida. We find the Florida settlement agreement to be a clear and unambiguous contract, which required any amendment to the contract to be in writing and agreed to by all the parties to the contract. We find, simply put, that a contract is a contract, and that Reynolds continues to be liable under the contract it signed with the state of Florida. The trial court also correctly found that ITG did not assume liability for payments to Florida under the APA, and that ITG was not a successor or assign under the FSA, according to the appellate court ruling. Bondi estimated the annual payment for the four brands is about $30 million. Kerala gold smuggling: NIA arrests six more people, conducts searches at 6 places India pti-PTI New Delhi, Aug 02: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested six more people and conducted searches at six places in connection with the Kerala gold smuggling case, an official said on Sunday. The agency has so far arrested 10 people in the case of smuggling of gold through diplomatic baggage addressed to the UAE consulate in Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram. On July 30, two accused - Jalal A M of Ernakulam and Said Alavi E of Malappuram - were arrested for conspiring with the arrested accused Ramees K T, an NIA spokesperson said. Kerala Gold Smuggling: ED gets custody of Swapna Suresh On July 31, two more accused, Mohammed Shafi P and Abdu P T, both residents of Malappuram, were arrested in the case, he said. On August 1, the NIA arrested two more persons - Ernakulam-residents Muhammad Ali Ebrahim and Muhammad Ali - after investigation revealed that they were part of the conspiracy, besides aiding and assisting Jalal A M in collecting the smuggled gold from Ramees K T in Thiruvananthapuram and distributing the contraband among other conspirators, he said. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News Muhammad Ali is a member of the Popular Front of India and was earlier charge-sheeted by the Kerala Police with chopping the palm of a professor but got acquitted after trial in 2015, the official said. On August 2, the NIA conducted searches at six places - the residences of Jalal A M and Rabins Hameed in Ernakulam, and of Ramees K T, Mohammed Shafi, Said Alavi and Abdu P T in Malappuram - the official said. During searches, two hard disks, one tablet computer, eight mobile phones, six SIM cards, one digital video recorder and five DVDs were seized, besides various documents including bank passbooks, credit/debit cards, travel documents and identity documents of the accused, he said. The NIA took over the probe and registered a case on July 10 against four people, including a key woman suspect, for their alleged involvement in smuggling 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore in a diplomatic baggage in Kerala. Further investigation in the case was underway, the official added. New York: Thirty-six crew members have tested positive for COVID-19 onboard Hurtigruten's MS Roald Amundsen, currently docked in Troms, Norway, according to a statement provided by line spokesperson Oystein Knoph. But the virus might not have been contained onboard. Passengers from the two voyages had already disembarked a cruise on July 24 and the last cruise on Friday, leaving ample time for passengers to begin their voyages home and potentially spread the virus. The Roald Amundsen is the same cruise ship that more than 100 Australians were stranded aboard when Chile refused it entry to port in March. The Roald Amundsen cruise ship, which is at the centre of a fresh coronavirus outbreak. The cruise line has contacted passengers who had been on the MS Roald Amundsen for its July 17 and July 24 departures. There were 209 guests on the first voyage and 178 guests on the second voyage, though the ship holds between 530 and 600 passengers, according to CruiseMapper. All have been asked to self-quarantine in accordance with Norwegian regulations, according to the cruise line. simon2579/iStockBY: DR. LAITH ALEXANDER AND SONY SALZMAN, ABC NEWS (NEW YORK) -- When it comes to vaccines, experts agree that a hassle-free single shot is always preferred over a two-shot vaccine requiring multiple trips to the doctors' office. "In the history of vaccines, anything that has been a two-shot vaccine has been a pain in the neck," said Professor Arthur Caplan, the Drs. William F. and Virginia Connolly Mitty professor of bioethics at New York University Langone Medical Center. When it comes to new vaccine candidates for coronavirus, scientists need to answer a lot of questions: Is the vaccine safe? How should it be delivered? How long can immunity last? But another key question is how many doses are needed. Many of the front-runner vaccine candidates -- those that have entered phase 3 trials with around 30,000 people -- need two shots. These include vaccine candidates from Moderna and Pfizer, which entered phase 3 trials in late July. Others, such as the one being developed by Oxford University and Astra Zeneca, are testing a single shot as well as a two-shot regimen to see which works best. The answer to why different vaccines need different numbers of shots may lie in both the safety and effectiveness of current candidates. "These single-shot vaccines are often limited to one shot because of limitations in technology," Joseph Payne, president and CEO of Arcturus Therapeutics -- which is also developing a COVID-19 vaccine candidate -- told ABC News. "These vaccines use viral delivery systems, and they are limited to one shot because there is an undesired immune response to the second administration." The amount of immune response a vaccine generates is called its immunogenicity. Too little immunogenicity and the vaccine is ineffective. Too much, and the vaccine produces side effects, including skin reactions. There are two sides to every story, however. Sometimes, having more than one shot is actually beneficial. Two-shot vaccines have the added benefit of stimulating a longer, sustained immune response. "We know that a second shot will likely increase the immune responses," Dr. Dan Barouch, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, told ABC News. "We do think a two-shot vaccine would raise more robust response." "In humans we're actually testing both," added Barouch, referring to Johnson & Johnson's vaccine candidate, which this week moved into phase 1/2 trials in people. New vaccine technologies are, however, being developed -- ones that only need one shot, but generate a sustained, yet controlled, immune response. For example, the Arcturus vaccine developed by Payne and his colleagues uses a special technique. The vaccine contains a small piece of genetic material, which not only instructs the body to produce a protein that will trigger an immune response, but also adds an extra packet of instructions that effectively helps turbocharge the amount of protein produced. This turns up the immune response, without using a viral mimic -- reducing the side effects. "Our vaccine mimics the [corona]virus, without just 'killing' the coronavirus and injecting it, meaning it's safer," Payne told ABC News. But with current data, it isn't clear whether the vaccine can generate immunity after just one dose. Amidst ongoing questions about the nature and duration of coronavirus immunity, it might be the case that these vaccines will need booster doses later down the line. But Payne is hopeful. He explained that vaccine durability relies on stimulating two key "arms" of our adaptive immune system: antibodies and T-cells. "There are two aspects of vaccine durability -- one is the antibody response, the other is the T-cell response," Payne told ABC News. "Most vaccines generate antibodies, but what everyone wants to get is T-cells. If you can do both, you can use a single shot and be done." Early evidence suggests their vaccine does trigger both antibody and T-cell production. There are undoubtedly benefits of a single-dose vaccine, including convenience. People don't want to come back for second shots, which means some people have incomplete courses of the vaccine, offering minimal protection and potentially wasting the first shot. The second benefit of a single-dose vaccine is cost. It's no surprise that producing just one dose of a vaccine is cheaper than having to produce two or more per person. "A single-shot vaccine would have particle advantages for global deployment. We think a single-shot vaccine has incredible value in terms of pandemic control," Barouch told ABC News. But it's worth noting that even with the single-shot vaccines, there will likely be subgroups of people who might need more than one dose to get full immunity. So an ideal single-shot vaccine should also be able to be administered more than once in the people who need it. Having a vaccine is important to curtail the pandemic, but also crucially important if the virus becomes endemic with a constant background rate of infection. When it comes to developing vaccines, each virus behaves differently and needs its own tailor-made solution. The race for a coronavirus vaccine is well underway, and one-shot vaccines could emerge as the most competitive candidates. Dr. Laith Alexander is an academic doctor at St. Thomas' Hospital, London, working with ABC News Medical Unit. Sony Salzman is the unit's coordinating producer. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. A trendy Sydney pub has been hit with a $5,000 fine after undercover officers found it was blatantly breaching coronavirus restrictions. The Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel in the city's eastern suburbs was slapped with the fine on Friday night, after it failed to follow its own COVID-19 Safety Plan. Undercover inspectors from Liquor and Gaming NSW found patrons were standing while drinking and there was no spacing between gaming machines. The Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel (pictured) in the city's eastern suburbs was slapped with the hefty fine on Friday night, after it failed to follow it's own COVID-19 Safety Plan Undercover inspectors from Liquor and Gaming NSW found patrons were standing while drinking and there was no spacing between gaming machines (a picture of the breaches) All gaming machines were operational, which goes against the venue's Safety Plan where every second machine should be switched off. Separate groups and tables were also found to be sitting within 1.5metres of each other. Liquor & Gaming NSW Director of Compliance, Dimitri Argeres, said the popular pub is the 15th venue to be fined in three weeks. 'While most venues are making serious efforts to comply with all the conditions, it's disappointing that some are simply not getting the message,' Mr Argeres said. 'Flouting these measures is not only bad for the health and safety of patrons; it's also bad for business.' The fine is part of a crackdown on venues across Sydney as the city tackles a growing number of outbreaks linked to hospitality businesses. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian increased regulations on July 17 following the outbreak at the Crossroads Hotel. People were found to be sitting within 1.5metres of other groups of people at the pub All gaming machines were operational (pictured), which goes against the venue's Safety Plan where every second machine should be switched off. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian increased regulations on July 17 following the outbreak at the Crossroads Hotel 'This latest penalty serves as a reminder to all hospitality businesses that the chances of being caught for non-compliance are high,' Mr Argeres said. 'In addition to 240 inspectors from the NSW Department of Customer Service, there are over 15,000 police officers who can inspect venues at any time anywhere in NSW.' NSW VENUES FINED FOR BREACHES Watsons Bay Boutique Hotel - Watsons Bay Mapo Galbi Korean BBQ - Gosford Yai Thai - Gosford Thai Thyme - Erina Hero Sushi - Erina Heart 2 Heart - Merrylands Master Hot Pot - Auburn Tamworth Service Club - Tamworth Greyhound Social Club Ltd - Yagoona Hurlstone Park Hotel - Hurlstone Park Kingswood Hotel - Kingswood Golden Sheaf Hotel - Double Bay Royal Hotel - Ryde Auburn Hotel - Auburn Star Casino - Pyrmont Advertisement The undercover operation on Friday found the popular Golden Sheaf Hotel in Double Bay to be fully compliant with its safety conditions. It comes after the pub was the first venue to be fined under new COVID-19 enforcement powers when police were called to disperse 250 people in a line on July 9. 'It's pleasing that the Golden Sheaf has learnt from its mistake and was not only found to be fully compliant but was also using best practice measures such as having staff escort new patrons to tables and drinks being served to tables,' Mr Argeres said. Ten other hospitality businesses are due to be fined over serious breaches of public health orders over the weekend. Inspectors visited 420 licensed venues and issued up to $50,000 in penalty infringement notices. The fines are additional to four already issued by Liquor and Gaming which brings in the total number of penalties issued to $70,000. Venues that will be fined include Mapo Galbi Korean BBQ and Yai Thai in Gosford, as well as Thai Thyme and Hero Sushi in Erina. Heart 2 Heart in Merrylands, Master Hot Pot in Auburn, Tamworth Service Club, Greyhound Social Club in Yagoona, Hurlstone Park Hotel and Kingswood Hotel were all issued fines. Most breaches were for not having a COVID-19 Safety Plan in place, non-compliant record keeping and insufficient physical-distancing. Executive Director of Compliance, Peter Dunphy, said any business willing to put patrons at risk of COVID-19 was 'reckless'. 'It beggars belief that anyone would want to eat, drink and mingle, shoulder to shoulder with others during a pandemic,' Mr Dunphy said. Heart 2 Heart in Merrylands (pictured) was also issued a fine for breaching coronavirus restrictions Venues that will be fined include Mapo Galbi Korean BBQ and Yai Thai in Gosford (pictured) 'On Friday the mandatory COVID safety measures were expanded from pubs to cover all hospitality venues and that message was communicated loud and clear.' Mr Dunphy said pubs, clubs, bars, casinos, cafes and restaurants are all considered high-risk for transmission of the virus. 'They are subject to public health order conditions specifically designed to keep them open and keep our communities safe,' he said. 'It is public knowledge that COVID clusters have spread rapidly at restaurants and jumped from suburb to suburb. The measures have not been taken in vain they are vital protections for workers and customers. 'We all need to play it safer businesses as well as customers.' On Saturday it was announced an 83-year-old man linked to Sydney's Crossroads Hotel COVID-19 cluster has died. New South Wales has recorded 17 new coronavirus cases and the first death in nearly three months (pictured, testing in Rushcutters Bay on Friday) Pictured are residents from Sydney's eastern suburbs lining up to be tested It takes New South Wales' death toll to 52. NSW Health recorded 17 new COVID-19 cases in the 24 hours to 8pm on Friday. Of those cases, one does not have a known source and two remain under investigation, while three of the 17 cases were returned travellers in hotel quarantine. NSW Police Minister David Elliott on Sunday said nine fines had been issued overnight for breaching restrictions. 'It beggars belief that anybody would turn on the TV news bulletin today and see what's going on in Melbourne and want to breach the law in NSW,' Mr Elliott told reporters. NSW Police said the fines were issued on Saturday night in relation to large parties in East Jindabyne and Maroubra, while a separate beach party in Mosman is being investigated after two 16-year-old girls required medical treatment for excessive alcohol consumption. Remarks made by Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi and a report by IRGC-linked newspaper in Tehran have cast more doubt on the Ministry's claim about arresting the leader of "a US-based terrorist group." Alavi said on the Iranian state TV Saturday night that Jamshid Sharmahd was arrested in Iran. The remark was made after Persian-speaking media outside Iran accused the ministry of abducting Sharmahd in a neighboring country. The media referred to Iran 's track record of luring opposition figures to places such as Turkey, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates and abducting them before taking them to Iran. They referred to the abduction of Amad News Editor Rouhallah Zam as the latest example. He has been sentenced to death. Sharmahd is said to be the leader of a monarchist group called Tondar (Thunder). Meanwhile, Alavi told the Iranian state television that Sharmahd was supported by U.S. and Israeli intelligence agencies. However, he did not offer any proof for his claim. Alavi said that Sharmahd worked on the "6th floor of the FBI" building and Iran was aware of that! In a development that highlighted the rivalry between the Rouhani administration's Intelligence Ministry and the revolutionary guards' IRGC Intelligence Organization, IRGC-linked newspaper Javan in Tehran reported Sunday morning August 2 that Sharmahd was arrested in Tajikistan and was subsequently handed over to Iran. On Saturday August 1, Iranian official news agency IRNA quoted Irans Intelligence Ministry as saying that it had arrested "the ringleader of a terrorist group known as Tondar which is based in the United States, and that Iran has dealt a heavy and severe blow to a terrorist group based in the U.S. New Delhi: A joint team of Punjab and Delhi Police on Tuesday interrogated Khalistan Liberation Front chief Harminder Singh Mintoo, who was arrested at Nizamuddin railway station here after escaping from Nabha Central jail. During the interrogation, Delhi Polices Special Cell sleuths and Punjab Police officer cross-verified the facts about the daring jailbreak case on November 27. Mintoo is a cool-headed and tactful person. He had told us many things but maintained silence on many. Whatever he has told us, we will check with Punjab Police to get more details about the jailbreak case and how it was planned and we will also be questioning him about where the others could be hiding, said a senior police officer privy to the probe. ALSO READ: (Nabha jailbreak: Punjab Police arrest 2 jail officials, shop owner for facilitating attack) The Punjab Police team arrived here this evening. It has emerged during the interrogation that Mintoo had access to mobile phone in the Nabha jail, sources said. He is claiming it was a common cell phone used by other inmates also, the source said. Mintoo said he used the phone to call only his family members but sources said police will examine through the Call Detail Records if he was in contact with ISI. Also we will be examining if he had access to social media and Skype as one of the escapees was a regular on Facebook from inside the jail, a source said. Mintoos claim that he tagged along when others were escaping will also be verified, the source said. He will also be questioned whether he was planning to revive the activities of his outfit. The police will also be questioning him whether Delhi was only a transit point or there were some other plans, the source said. Yesterday, police had said Mintoo was planning to move either to Malysia or Germany and there are chances he was planning to shift his network to either of the two countries, sources said. ALSO READ: (Harminder Singh Mintoo chief of Khalistan Liberation Front nabbed hours after escape from Punjab jailbreak) Meanwhile, several teams of Delhi Police, including Special Cell and Crime Branch, are looking for leads that could throw any clue on Kashmeer Singh, who had accompanied Mintoo to Delhi and separated from him at Kashmere Gate bus stop, said a senior police officer. Railway stations, bus stops, guesthouses and other possible hideouts are being scanned for Kashmeer Singh, who like Mintoo, had trimmed his beard to conceal his identity, he said. The 48-year-old was nabbed from Nizamuddin railway stations parking area, marking the second arrest in the sensational jailbreak case of November 27 morning in which eight people had stormed the prison to free six inmatestwo militants and four dreaded criminals. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Hot from the beauty obsessives of Tokyo, and endorsed this week by a top U.S. medic, the latest skincare trend is the exact opposite of indulgent. It's not labour intensive, it's not exclusive, and it doesn't cost a single penny. Welcome to skin fasting, which sees you ditch your entire skincare regime from cleansers and moisturisers to make-up and even soap in order to enhance your natural beauty. If the idea of allowing your skin to go entirely au naturel makes you nervous, imagine how much fear it strikes into the heart of the beauty industry. The average British woman spends an estimated 570 on skincare every year. And yet the theory that giving your skin a rest allows it to repair and rejuvenate itself, leaving it more glowing than ever, is gathering an increasingly sizeable and fashionable following. Welcome to skin fasting, which sees you ditch your entire skincare regime from cleansers and moisturisers to make-up and even soap in order to enhance your natural beauty What's more, the past few months of home working have given us the perfect opportunity to test it. Freed from the tyranny of daily make-up application and the end-of-day removal rituals that a full face of slap demands, many of us have been at the cutting edge of skincare cool without even knowing it. 'Skin fasting has its origins in the philosophies of Hippocrates, an ancient Grecian physician who believed that abstinence can lead to body healing,' explains dermatology nurse Emma Coleman, who runs her own skin clinics in the South of England. Dr Ophelia Veraitch of London's Cranley Clinic says: 'It's a beauty trend popularised by Mirai Clinical, a Japanese skin and body brand. It recognised skin fasting as a way to strengthen the skin's protective barrier, which can be weakened by excessive nourishing, and to rebalance the secretion of oils to support the body's rejuvenation process.' You could go on a 'skin fast' temporarily, to reset its natural health, or, if you're an ultra-brave purist like Dr James Hamblin, forgo lotions and cleansers for ever. Dr Hamblin's new book, Clean: The New Science Of Skin And The Beauty Of Doing Less, is set to put the cat among the beauty pigeons. Identical twins Anna Kichenside (right) and Sophie Ryan, 37, from Dunstable, Bedfordshire tested the method with one twin continuing her normal routine and the other skin fasting In it, he posits that the multi-billion-pound skincare industry has cultivated highly profitable but harmful and misleading attitudes to cleanliness. He suggests that our overuse of products can actually cause untold damage to our skin's vital microbial layer, which influences everything from acne to dry skin. Little wonder he's a fan of the skin-fasting trend. Emma Coleman suggests that most followers have been attracted to it for a simpler reason they have been swayed by the pictures of clear, radiant skin posted by hundreds of evangelical influencers and bloggers. Given the cyclical nature of these things, it's possibly no coincidence that the fad for going minimalist with your lotions and potions follows hot on the heels of the intensive Korean 12-step skincare regime that took the Western world by storm in 2015. Skin fasting feels like a serious backlash against the K-beauty trend. AND WE PUT IT TO THE IDENTICAL TWIN TEST... We asked identical twins Anna Kichenside and Sophie Ryan, 37, from Dunstable, Bedfordshire, to see how skin fasting affected their skin for a month. While Sophie wears more make-up than Anna, and Anna says her skin is more sensitive and oilier than her twin's, both admit that their olive-toned skin is generally well behaved, which they put down to their skincare routine. In the morning they use a gel cleanser, followed by a spritz of a hydrating vitamin E spray, and SPF if it's sunny, before putting on make-up. In the evening they remove make-up with wipes before another gel cleanse, then apply a heavier moisturiser if their skin feels dry. Which twin has been skin fasting? Anna (right) and Sophie pictured together. Anna tried skin fasting for one month while Sophie continued using products For one month, we told Sophie (left) to continue with her usual routine, and asked Anna to stop using all her products entirely that meant no bronzer, blusher, lipstick, cleansers, sprays, wipes or moisturisers. Instead she just used water to wash her face. 'I was surprised that my skin didn't feel as dry as I thought it would,' says Anna. 'I live in an area where the water is quite hard so I usually always moisturise after a bath. But although my skin felt a bit tight for ten minutes after washing, that feeling soon went away, so I did start to wonder whether my need for moisturiser was psychological. 'When it was really sunny, I used a bit of SPF. After being out in the sun, my skin felt tight, but it wasn't dry or flaky. Some people say my skin looks like it's glowing more, although I haven't noticed any changes in the texture or colour. 'That said, my T-zone does seem a little less oily, and I've saved some cash, too.' 'Anna's skin fasting made me a lot more conscious of how I was treating my own skin,' says Sophie. 'I was grateful I could use moisturiser on sunny days when she said her skin felt tight and I can't see myself giving it up any time soon.' Advertisement And perhaps, given that we're behind masks so much these days, this is the perfect time to give it a go. After all, if you don't get the desired results, nobody will see. But, before you jump on the bandwagon, is there any actual science behind it? According to Dr Hamblin, who gave up using all skincare and haircare products, except for hand soap, five years ago, the answer is a categorical yes. He believes that disrupting the microbiome or the natural balance of our skin by using skincare products can weaken it and leave us prone to skin conditions. Using eczema as an example, he explains how this process works. 'Perturbing the skin barrier by washing can change the microbial population. That can rev up the immune system, which tells the skin cells to proliferate rapidly and fill with inflammatory proteins.' Would you be willing to go one month without your skin care products? The benefits are so far only a theory suggested by U.S medic Dr James Hamblin However, not all of the claims made by skin-fasting enthusiasts pass muster. 'The idea that covering the skin affects its ability to breathe or detoxify and remove impurities has no good evidence behind it,' says Dr Veraitch. 'However, thick and oily moisturisers and make-up can block pores and cause acne, while perfumed products can cause eczema-like allergies.' Facialist Dija Ayodele of West Room Aesthetics in London agrees, adding that skin fasting can prompt you to do an audit of what you're using on your skin and why. 'The idea of skin fasting does have merit in that it gives the skin time to rebalance and can also make people aware that they are using far too many products and ingredients,' says Dija. 'On social media you'll often see people showing their nightly or morning skincare routines with up to ten products which is, frankly, too many.' For Emma, a skin fast can be a useful tool to help reboot your complexion. 'If a client is experiencing acne and dry skin concurrently [which is unusual, because acne is often the result of skin producing too much oil, rather than being too dry], removing an intense skincare routine will allow me to explore the root cause,' she says. Patients might think their acne is being caused by a poor cleansing routine, so use products which dry out the skin and aim to reduce sebum production. But these might actually cause the skin to produce more oil, exacerbating the problem. Experts said that the way some products work means it is necessary to use them along with others, for example sunscreen can stick to the skin meaning you need to use a cleanser In these instances, she would normally prescribe a bare-bones routine, which involves 'face washing with tepid water to gently remove pollutants and dead skin cells; moisturiser as needed; and sunscreen to protect the skin from dehydration and sunlight'. Emma recommends fasting for a minimum of 14 days, and ideally 28 the time it takes for the outer layers of your skin to go through a cycle of production and replacement. However, she says: 'If it's day seven and you are struggling to control your skin, I would recommend getting some professional advice.' But it's not just individuals with acne who can be helped by skin fasting. If you don't have any skin issues and just want more of a glow, paring things back can help, too. Most of the experts I spoke to agreed that minimising the number of products we layer onto our skin is definitely worth exploring. A word of caution, though: even if you're not wearing make-up, if you're wearing SPF which is designed to stick to the skin and not let go you will need to use a decent cleanser, or you could find yourself suffering from breakouts. Dr Veraitch says that if you're serious about your skin, SPF is non-negotiable. 'When skin cells are exposed to UV light, collagen degenerates which in turn causes loss of volume, fine lines and wrinkles. There's no such thing as a safe tan.' So what happens when you are ready to break your fast? Now you know what your skin can do with minimal external intervention, you can start adding in serums and moisturisers as needed but keep your routine simple. dIJA says: 'You need active and potent ingredients, with intelligent delivery systems [so they get to where they need to be in your skin] in as few products as possible, for you to get the best results and be able to optimise your skin.' Of course, you might simply enjoy your existing skincare regime, and relish that time in the morning and evening when you give yourself a little bit of attention. But if you want to see what your skin can do for itself, and save cash and time, consider a period of abstinence that might just boost your glow. MUMBAI: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Sunday (August 2) once again condemned the demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. He shared on social media that even though the Patna Police has filed an FIR into Sushant's death and is investigating the case, it will be the onus of Mumbai Police to carry out investigation as per jurisdictional norms. "@MumbaiPolice already began investigating allegations about @itsSSR's unfortunate alleged suicide. Even if Bihar Police registered an offence in Patna, under Ch. 12 & 13 of the #CrPC it has to be investigated, inquired and tried by police and courts within whose jurisdiction...," Deshmukh said in a tweet. "...the offence is committed. I condemn the demand for the @itsSSR case to be handed to #CBI. The case is now being politicised for political gains. #MaharashtraPolice is inquiring into the case professionally and are competent in digging out the truth, leaving no stone unturned!" he added. Meanwhile, fresh reports have come out that Sushant's alleged girlfriend, against whom the actor's father KK Singh have registered a FIR in Patna, reportedly left her building along with her family members. An Actress Rhea Chakraborty, who has been missing over the past few days, reportedly left her building in the middle of the night along with her family. On July 31, a video of Rhea went viral, where she was seen addressing the allegations against over the death of her boyfriend Sushant. In the clip, she said: "I have an immense faith in God and the judiciary. I believe that I will get justice. Even though a lot of horrible things have been said about me in the electronic media, I will refrain from commenting on the advice of my lawyer as the matter is sub judice." "Satyamev Jayate. The truth shall prevail," Rhea concluded in the video message. The Mumbai Police has so far recorded statements of at least 37 people including Rhea, Mahesh Bhatt, Aditya Chopra, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Sanjana Sanghi along with actor's personal staff members and doctors. Sushant Singh Rajput, 34, was found dead at his rented Bandra Palli Hill apartment on July 14. Irans Zarif hails substantive, frank and friendly discussion on virus and bilateral, regional and global issues. The foreign ministers of longstanding regional foes Iran and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have held rare talks on several bilateral and regional issues, including the outbreak of coronavirus in the Middle East. In a video call on Sunday during which they also exchanged greetings for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan told his Iranian counterpart that strengthening bilateral cooperation was important in tackling COVID-19, according to WAM, the Emirati, state news agency. For his part, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian foreign minister, said in a Twitter post that it was a very substantive, frank and friendly video conversation on COVID-19 as well as bilateral, regional and global situations. We agreed to continue dialogue on theme of hope especially as region faces tough challenges, and tougher choices ahead, he wrote. Just had a very substantive, frank and friendly video conversation with UAE FM @ABZayed, discussing Covid as well as bilateral, regional and global situations. We agreed to continue dialog on theme of hopeespecially as region faces tough challenges, and tougher choices ahead. pic.twitter.com/lPNsujwtM3 Javad Zarif (@JZarif) August 2, 2020 Iran has long been at odds with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Gulf Arab allies of the United States. Tensions between decades-long rivals Washington and Tehran have been on the rise since 2018, when US President Donald Trump withdrew from a nuclear deal signed in 2015 between Iran and world powers and reimposed crippling sanctions on the Iranian economy. Washington blamed a series of attacks against oil interests in the Gulf last year on Iran, while the UAE did not publicly hold a particular country responsible. Iran denied the allegations. The two ministers also held a telephone call in March in which Sheikh Abdullah expressed the UAEs support for Iran during the coronavirus outbreak. Iran, battling the Middle Easts deadliest outbreak, on Sunday also reported its highest single-day infection count in nearly a month, warning that most of its provinces have been hit by a resurgence of COVID-19. It has so far registered more than 309,000 confirmed cases and 17,000 related deaths, while the UAE has recorded nearly 61,000 infections and 351 fatalities from the coronavirus. Indigenes of Ibadan in Oyo state have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint one of the four of them vying for the position of Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan. They also want an indigene appointed the next Chief Medical Director of the University Teaching Hospital, (UCH) Ibadan. The indigenes under the auspices of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) made the demands on Sunday at a press conference in Ibadan. They said they had been marginalised in past appointments to the position. CCII is the apex socio-cultural group in Ibadan. A new vice chancellor is due to take office on December 1 when the tenure of the incumbent, Abel Olayinka, runs out. Speaking for the CCII, its president, Adeyemi Soladoye, said it is time an Ibadan indigene also became the Chief Medical Director of UCH. The University of Ibadan, which was established in 1948, has not had an Ibadan indigene as vice chancellor. UCH has also never had an Ibadan indigene as CMD. Mr Soladoye, who addressed the press conference at Ibadan House, allege that qualified indigenes of the ancient city have been marginalised in the appointment of vice chancellor since the inception of the university 72 years ago. Mr Soladoye said this neglect is not for absence of qualified Ibadan indigenes within the U.I system or in the academic circle of Nigeria to occupy the coveted seat of the Vice-Chancellor of the U.I. He said it is unfortunate that the university in its 72-yearnhistory has produced 14 Nigerian vice chancellors since 1960 but none of them has been an Ibadan indigene. Mr Soladoye said there are four professors in the university who are indigenes of Ibadan that are qualified for the position. He named the professos as Remi Raji-Oyelade, who is a former Dean of the Faculty of Arts and current Member, University of Ibadan Governing Council; Kayode Adebowale, who is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration; Emiola Olapade-Olaopa, who is the immediate past Provost of the College of Medicine; and Kolapo Hamzat, who is the Head of Department of Physiotherapy. He appealed to President Buhari to pick one of the four indigenes to succeed the outgoing vice chancellor this year. Federal universities in Nigeria elect their vice-chancellors with the governorning councils presenting the three top candidates from the elections to the president as visitor of the universities to pick from. CCII also made the same demand concerning the UCH, which is the teaching hospital of the UI. In similar vein, it is also now 54 years since Ibadan gave large expanse of land to build the University College Hospital (UCH), still, no Ibadan man has ever emerged as the Chief Medical Director of UCH this one again seems to be the exclusive right of the indigenes of Ekiti and Ondo States. Sincerely, these records call for caution even on the part of the beneficiaries. Despite all the above, everybody is aware of the trademarks of tolerance and hospitability of Ibadan people. All ethnic and religious groups in Nigeria live in wisely assigned compounds on Ibadan land and there has never been ethnic or religious riot on Ibadan land. We do not want innocent oversight on the part of some Nigerians to cause disharmony between us and our Yoruba kinsmen but then this handshake is going too far beyond the elbow, he said. New Delhi, Aug 2 : Amid raging debate on social media between the Congress leaders close to Rahul Gandhi and the seniors over the United Progressive Alliance's (UPA) performance during its 10-year rule, the party has cautioned senior leaders to desist from making remarks on social media and asked them present their views at the appropriate party fora. Responding to a question during a press conference, here on Sunday, Congress communication department chief Randeep Surjewala said, "I will advise friends who are playing twitter-twitter to stop making comments on social media. We have internal democracy. Present your views at appropriate party fora." In this time of crisis, senior leader who have worked in the government and the organisation should stand together with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. "It's responsibility of senior leaders to guide youngsters, promote them and also make way for them," said Surjewala. The intra-party verbal spat intensified after an exchange of views during a meeting, chaired by Sonia Gandhi, on Thursday. When Rajiv Satav, a newly elected member of the Rajya Sabha and considered close to Rahul Gandhi, called for introspection over the UPA's 10-year rule, he was countered by the seniors. After that former Union Ministers Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma, Milind Deora and Shashi Tharoor rallied behind former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and slammed those who were raising questions over it. Pointing to MNREGA, the Right to Information Act, the Food Security Act and the Right to Education ACt, Surjewala said the UPA government did a remarkable job during its 10-year rule. But it couldn't take on the conspiracy hatched against it, he said and criticised the people behind the Anna agitation under the Bharatiya Janata Party's guidance and the Prime Minister, without taking names. Hackers are carrying out a "malicious" cyber attack on Telstra, creating connectivity issues for some home internet users. Telstra reported the denial of service attack on its servers on Sunday which has led to widespread internet outages in Australia's eastern states. A denial of service attack floods a network with traffic or information to trigger a crash, denying legitimate users access. Hackers are carrying out a "malicious" cyber attack on Telstra, creating connectivity issues for some home internet users. Source: AAP Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are the main outage hotspots. Other internet providers have not reported connectivity issues despite reports of NBN problems spiking just before 11am. The telecommunications giant said it was confident it had now blocked all "malicious traffic" and is continuing to work on getting users back online. Telstra insists customers' personal data hasn't been compromised and apologised for the outage. "Your info isn't at risk," the company tweeted. 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. KEY FACTS 7:02 a.m.: Philippines virus cases top 100,000 in losing battle 6:57 a.m.: Indias cases cross 1.75M 6:50 a.m.: Australia declares disaster in Victoria, imposes curfew The latest coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Sunday. This story is no longer updating 9 p.m.: The City of Toronto is reporting 14 new infections Sunday, bringing the total to 15,401. There were no new deaths reported, 82 are still in hospital and 24 more have recovered, for a total of 13,945. 7 p.m.: Toronto teens will attend high school every day for half a day, taking two courses at a time in classes of 15. They wont eat lunch there, cant use their lockers and all sports are on hold. Details of what schools will look like starting this September are part of a final report that Toronto District School Board trustees will receive Tuesday before it is submitted to the education ministry. The Stars Kristin Rushowy and Miriam Lafontaine has the full story. 5:40 p.m.: Nova Scotia Health advised people about two potential COVID-19 exposures in the province since mid-July. The first took place between 3 and 3:30 p.m. Friday at the playground of the Maritime Muslim Academy in Halifax, the authorities said. The agency said anyone potentially exposed to the virus at that location should self-monitor for symptoms, which may appear between now and Aug. 16. It also warned of an earlier potential exposure on WestJet flight WS 254 that left Toronto at 9:45 p.m. on July 12 and arrived in Halifax just after midnight on July 13. Nova Scotia Health said passengers in seats A-C in rows 14 through 20 are more likely to have been exposed to the virus. While the two-week exposure period has ended, the agency said passengers who may have had COVID-19 symptoms between July 12 and July 27 should get tested. 3:30 p.m.: Quebec reported 141 new COVID-19 cases and three more deaths linked to the novel coronavirus on Sunday as it gets ready to increase public gathering limits. The province is set to permit indoor and outdoor public gatherings of up to 250 people beginning Monday, up from 50. But a 10-person limit will be maintained for private gatherings, such as in homes and chalets. The province has now reported 59,599 COVID-19 cases. Health authorities added three deaths on Sunday including two which occurred before July 25. Quebec continues to have Canadas highest COVID-19 death tally with 5,681 reported since the beginning of the pandemic. Hospitalizations dropped by five to 172, while the number of patients in intensive care stood at 17, a decrease of one. One day after setting a record with 18,437 tests performed on July 30, the province reported 14,934 tests completed on Friday the last day for which those figures were available. 1:15 p.m.: Nova Scotia is now reporting two new cases of COVID-19, both related to travel outside of Canada. Both cases are in the central zone, which includes Halifax, and are in self-isolation. The province now has four active cases all travel-related but no one is in hospital due to the virus. A mandatory mask rule came into effect Friday in most indoor public spaces across the province, including businesses and places of worship. Dr. Robert Strang, the chief medical officer of health, said the measure is necessary to minimize any potential second wave of COVID-19. Nova Scotia now has a total of 1,071 cases. 12:15 p.m.: As COVID-19 restrictions ease and restaurants start to welcome customers back, one thing Canadians may soon have to get used to is providing their personal information before they grab a bite. Guidelines for restaurants vary in each province. But some jurisdictions are requiring a customers name and phone number or email address, along with their table number, to help with contract tracing in the event of an outbreak. Ontario announced Friday that it will require bars and restaurants to keep client logs for 30 days. These will have to be disclosed to the medical officer of health or an inspector if tracing is needed. In Toronto, collecting the info can be done at the time of reservations or through another system, said Toronto Public Health spokesperson Vinita Dubey. She said indoor bars and restaurants present a higher level of risk for COVID-19 transmission because they involve crowds, close contact and closed spaces. Similar guidelines apply to restaurants and bars in British Columbia, where public health officials now require restaurants to collect personal information from customers when they make reservations or at the time of seating. The details also have to be kept for a month. Restaurants Canada vice-president David Lefebvre said there are costs associated with collecting personal details. And it can be time-consuming for places that provide quick service to a lot of customers. Our position as an association on this is: lets make sure everybody, as a recommendation, respect the public health requirements, he said. But at the same time, lets make sure that its not something that becomes too onerous and costs too much. 10:15 a.m.: There are now a total of 116,599 cases of COVID-19 in Canada, with 116 new cases in Ontario. Health Minister Christine Elliott said that represents a 0.3 per cent increase as the province once again processed over 30,000 tests. Locally, 27 of 34 public health units are reporting five or fewer cases, with 16 of them reporting no new cases. There are 122 more resolved. She also tweeted that hospitalizations, ICU admissions and patients (on ventilators) all remain largely stable today and noted that the next update on coronavirus numbers will come Tuesday, because of the holiday on Monday. Total confirmed cases across Canada to date: Alberta: 10,843 (including 196 deaths) British Columbia: 3,641 (including 195 deaths) Manitoba: 403 (including 8 deaths) Newfoundland and Labrador: 266 (including 3 deaths) Nova Scotia: 1,069 (including 64 deaths) New Brunswick: 170 (including 2 deaths) Ontario: 39,333 (including 2,777 deaths) Prince Edward Island: 36 Quebec: 59,458 (including 5,678 deaths) Saskatchewan: 1,334 (including 18 deaths) Yukon: 14 Northwest Territories: 5 Nunavut: No confirmed cases Canada: 116,599 (14 presumptive, 116,585 confirmed including 8,941 deaths) 9:31 a.m.: Toronto has been in the coronaviruss grip for just over six months, though it may feel like a lifetime. The path of the virus has twisted wildly: nearly every month has brought a new upheaval. In July, Toronto Public Health released an important dataset: a catalogue of every case reported in the city since the first known case in late January, roughly 15,300 total. Identifying details have been removed to protect privacy, but each case includes the persons age bracket, neighbourhood and source of infection; whether they were hospitalized, in critical care or intubated; whether they recovered, are still fighting infection, and more. You might think you know the story of COVID-19 and Toronto. But the dataset, which TPH says it released in the interest of transparency, contains revelations about how the virus slipped into Toronto and gained a foothold before taking aim at the most vulnerable residents and neighbourhoods. Read the Stars analysis of this trove of information and full story here. 7:15 a.m.: Coronavirus outbreaks at mink farms in Spain and the Netherlands have scientists digging into how the animals got infected and if they can spread it to people. In the meantime, authorities have killed more than 1 million minks at breeding farms in both countries as a precaution. The virus that first infected people in China late last year came from an animal source, probably bats, and later spread from person to person, as other coronaviruses had done in the past. Some animals, including cats, tigers and dogs, have picked up the new coronavirus from people, but there hasnt been a documented case of animals spreading it back to humans. The outbreaks among the minks on the farms in the Netherlands and Spain likely started with infected workers, although officials arent certain. But it also is plausible that some workers later caught the virus back from the minks, the Dutch government and a researcher said, and scientists are exploring whether that was the case and how much of a threat such a spread might be. 7:10 a.m.: Confirmed coronavirus cases are hovering at near record levels in Japan, raising worries the pandemic may be growing more difficult to control. The Tokyo government reported 292 new cases Sunday, about half in their 20s. Japan in total reported 1,540 cases on Saturday the second straight day the number was above 1,500. Nationwide cases for Sunday will be tallied at midnight. Numbers are usually fewer over the weekend because of fewer tests. Japan has avoided a total lockdown, encouraging business activity while urging people to wear masks, social distance and work from home. 7:02 a.m.: Coronavirus infections in the Philippines surged past 100,000 Sunday after medical groups declared that the country was waging a losing battle against the virus and asked the president to reimpose a lockdown in the capital. The Department of Health reported a record-high daily tally of 5,032, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 103,185, including more than 2,000 deaths. The Philippines has the second-most cases in Southeast Asia after Indonesia. President Rodrigo Duterte eased a tough virus lockdown in the capital, Manila, on June 1. 6:57 a.m.: Indias coronavirus caseload crossed 1.75 million with another spike of 54,735 in the past 24 hours. The new cases are down from 57,118 on Saturday. The Health Ministry on Sunday also reported 853 deaths for a total of 37,364. Randeep Guleria, a top government expert, said that New Delhi and Mumbai may have crossed their peak levels with declining trends. The month of July alone has accounted for more than 1.1 million cases in India. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the case fatality rate is progressively reducing and currently stands at 2.18%, one of the lowest globally. 6:50 a.m.: The premier of Australias hard-hit Victoria state has declared a disaster among sweeping new coronavirus restrictions across Melbourne and elsewhere from Sunday night. An evening curfew will be implemented across Melbourne from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Premier Daniel Andrews says the state of disaster proclamation gave police greater power. He says 671 new coronavirus cases had been detected since Saturday, including seven deaths. It comes among a steadily increasing toll in both deaths and infections over the past six weeks in Victoria. If we dont make these changes, were not going to get through this, Andrews said. We need to do more. That is what these decisions are about. He said there would be more announcements about workplaces on Monday, including the closure of certain industries. Melbourne residents will only be allowed to shop and exercise within 5 kilometres (3 miles) of their homes. All students across the state will return to home-based learning and child care centres will be closed. 5:15 a.m.: Early bands of heavy rain from Isaias lashed Floridas east coast before dawn Sunday as authorities warily eyed the approaching storm, which threatened to snarl efforts to quell surging cases of the coronavirus across the region. Isaias weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm late Saturday afternoon, but was still expected to bring heavy rain and flooding as it barrels toward Florida. Dont be fooled by the downgrade, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned during a news conference on Saturday after the storm pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs spent hours roughing up the Bahamas. Florida authorities closed beaches, parks and virus testing sites, lashing signs to palm trees so they wouldnt blow away. The governor said the state is anticipating power outages and asked residents to have a weeks supply of water, food and medicine on hand. Officials wrestled with how to prepare shelters where people can seek refuge from the storm if necessary, while safely social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. Saturday 7:30 p.m.: South Africa surpassed 500,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, representing more than 50 per cent of all reported coronavirus infections in Africas 54 countries. Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize announced 10,107 new cases Saturday night, bringing the countrys cumulative total to 503,290, including 8,153 deaths. South Africa, with a population of about 58 million, has the fifth-highest number of reported cases in the world, behind the U.S., Brazil, Russia and India. Saturday 6:40 p.m.: The head of Mexicos efforts to fight the coronavirus pandemic has sidestepped calls to resign after Mexicos death count rose to overtake the United Kingdom as the third-highest in the world. Assistant Health Secretary Hugo Lopez-Gatell said that I express my respect to the nine of Mexicos 32 state governors who called for his resignation, adding I hope we can continue to work together. On Saturday, Mexico reported yet another new daily high for confirmed cases 9,556, which raised the total cases to almost 425,000. The country also posted 784 more confirmed COVID-19 deaths, raising its total to 47,472. Click here to read more coverage from Saturday. India on Sunday pressed for complete disengagement of Chinese troops at the earliest from Pangong Tso and a couple of other friction points in eastern Ladakh during the nearly 11-hour-long intense negotiations between senior commanders of the two armies, people familiar with the developments said. The fifth round of Corps Commander-level talks began at 11 am at a designated meeting point in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and continued beyond 10 pm, they said. Even as both sides are engaged in diplomatic and military talks, the Indian Army is making elaborate preparations to maintain its current strength of troops in all key areas in eastern Ladakh in the harsh winter months as a resolution to the border row appears dim, they said. At the talks, the Indian side insisted on complete disengagement of Chinese troops at the earliest and immediate restoration of status quo ante in all areas of eastern Ladakh prior to May 5 when the standoff began following a clash between the two armies in Pangong Tso, they said. The Indian delegation was led by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, while the Chinese side was to be headed by Major General Liu Lin, commander of the South Xinjiang military region. The previous round of Corps Commander-level talks had taken place on July 14 and it lasted for nearly 15 hours. The Chinese army has pulled back from Galwan Valley and certain other friction points but the withdrawal of troops has not moved forward from the Finger areas in Pangong Tso since the last round of military talks as demanded by India, sources said. India has been insisting that China must withdraw its forces from areas between Finger Four and Eight. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers. The focus of the talks was to be on finalising the modalities for further de-escalation, and disengagement of troops from various friction points, said the sources. There was no official word on details of the meeting. On July 24, India and China held another round of diplomatic talks on the border issue. After the talks, the Ministry of External Affairs said both sides agreed that an early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols was essential for overall development of bilateral relations. The formal process of disengagement of troops began on July 6, a day after a nearly two-hour telephonic conversation between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on ways to bring down tension in the area. 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 on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed as the two sides significantly bolstered their deployments in most areas along the LAC. The Chinese side also suffered casualties in the June 15 clashes but it is yet to give out the details. According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35. The second round of talks took place on June 22. In the third round of military talks on June 30, both sides agreed on an "expeditious, phased and step wise" de-escalation as a 'priority' to end the standoff. Following the Galwan Valley incident, the government has given the armed forces 'full freedom' to give a 'befitting' response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC. The Army has sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border following the deadly clashes. The IAF has also moved air defence systems as well as a sizeable number of its frontline combat jets and attack helicopters to several key air bases. A 26-year-old woman tried to surreptitiously video an assault on the New York City subway system but ended up becoming a victim after the attackers caught her filming. The punch-up happened on Monday in the middle of the day, just after 1pm in Long Island City, Queens when a straphanger in a red t-shirt could be seen assaulting another passenger. The man could be seen getting into an argument with a 20-year-old male rider in which he was punched leaving him with a swollen left eye and cuts on his face. Police in New York City are on the lookout for a couple who assaulted a man and then a woman It was at this point the woman, called Victoria, who was sitting at the other end of the train car took out her cellphone and began recording on the southbound 7 train. 'He was just being polite, nothing rude about him,' she said of the man who was attacked to the Daily News. 'He was harmless.' The man took out his phone to make a call whereupon the assailant accused him of calling the police. He punched him and knocked the phone to the floor. The man began moving up the train car threatening shocked passengers while yelling about the phone. 'F*** that s***,' he yelled. 'Go buy a new one, n****.' A man could be seen assaulting another subway rider, 20, around 1pm on Monday in Queens After the initial attack, shocked subway riders were verbally abused by the man who swore 'Who else got issues on here? Who else got issues on here?' he yelled while swearing. But the man behind the initial attack was accompanied by a woman in a black and white striped outfit who also dared riders to challenge them. 'I dare somebody,' the accomplice said before suddenly noticing the woman covertly filming. 'You got an issue, why are you recording? Why you recording?' she shouted. 'Delete it! delete it!' she demands. The video then suddenly shakes and abruptly cuts off. The first victim, 20, seen in the striped shirt, right can be seen with blood on his hands with the suspect following close behind The man was quickly followed his female accomplice as they walked down the subway car threatening other straphangers 'I really just wanted their faces on camera,' Victoria said. 'It's not like I had the phone out up in the air... it was barely pointing at them. I was trying to be discrete.' The pair then suddenly attacked her. 'She punched me, then the man turned and they both started hitting me,' she said. 'You get punched in the face that many times, you just don't really know what's going on around you, I just couldn't believe it was happening,' she said. 'I have a black eye, a swollen lip, and I had a lot of neck pain for the days afterwards,' Victoria told the News. 'My face was pretty swollen, and I had some scratches on my arms, and bruises on my arms and legs.' The two suspects got off the train at Queensboro Plaza. The woman, in a black and white dress, suddenly spotted the woman, Victoria, 26, filming The footage Victoria captured was posted on Twitter this week by her brother, identified as Peter. 'Couple attacked 2 New Yorkers 7/27/20. One was my 26 year old sister who was badly beaten and bruised. Please spread the word and bring them to justice.' Detective Sophia Mason, an NYPD spokesperson, said police are investigating the attacks but that so far, no one has been arrested. 'I would walk my friends home at night, I'm not the one who's scared. But now I'm the one who is scared, and that's weird for me.' the woman who filmed the footage told the News on Saturday. Nevertheless, Victoria says she would still film people if something similar happened again. 'I'd probably be smarter about it next time, maybe not leave it running too long, but I think I would because it's just the right thing to do,' she said. Meadowlands Racetrack contested a pair of $50,000 eliminations on Saturday (Aug. 1) for the 95th renewal of the Hambletonian, with the filly Ramona Hill prevailing in the first and Ready For Moni scoring in the second. Caught racing last midway around the final turn, driver Andrew McCarthy angled Ramona Hill wide and ripped to first under wraps to beat the boys in 1:51.2. I think as a group we all kind of knew what we were thinking in the back of our minds, winning trainer Tony Alagna said after the race of opting to race Ramona Hill in the Hambletonian. We all waited to pull the trigger at the same time. We were all willing to give it a shot and the big decision was the fact that they dont go two heats in one day. Big Oil crossed to the front while Back Of The Neck sat second before circling to the lead passing a :27 first quarter. Third Shift raced third and began to edge off the pylons to race first over heading to a :55.4 half. Ramona Hill meanwhile raced seventh, tracking Beads as he started to gap the field. The lead expanded for Back Of The Neck rounding the final turn as Big Oil gave chase from second inside of Third Shift. McCarthy had to tip Ramona Hill three wide nearing three-quarters in 1:24 and from there began to recoup ground. Back Of The Neck cruised uncontested through the lane until Ramona Hill flew towards the pacesetter into the final eighth and slid to the lead in the final strides to score as the 6-5 favourite. Back Of The Neck, the 9-5 second choice, settled for second. Amigo Volo, Big Oil and Hollywood Story finished third, fourth and fifth respectively to also qualify for the final. Around the last turn I was trying to figure out what was going to happen if I went out on the track and grabbed ahold of some people that were roadblocking and put them in a headlock, Alagna said jokingly after the race of Ramona Hills positioning. I figured I better not do that and the filly showed what she can do so fortunately everything worked out good. [With] what she did last year, she was a very immature two-year-old and she was still able to get the job done, Alagna also said. We were so happy with how she came back down in Florida. Last week she was sparkling and tonight shes even better. Winning her eighth race from 10 starts, Ramona Hill has banked $556,865 for owners Brad Grant, Crawford Farms Racing, Robert LeBlanc and In The Gym Partners. The Muscle Hill filly paid $4.40 to win. Ready For Moni, in just his second start of the year, motored to victory in the other Hambletonian elimination, stopping the clock in 1:51.3. Threefiftytwo charged for the front heading to a :27 first quarter but settled as Sister Sledge tipped first over and brushed to the lead into the backstretch. Driver Yannick Gingras then cued Ready For Moni to move for the lead, angling first over from fourth and clearing control past a :55.2 half. Circling the final turn Ready For Moni endured mild pressure from Rome Pays Off, who parked past the quarter and gradually advanced uncovered. Ready For Moni passed three-quarters in 1:23.4 and kicked away into the stretch, maintaining command while chased by Threefiftytwo charging down the center of the track for second. Capricornus kicked through a seam at the pylons to take third with Sister Sledge and Rome Pays Off fading to fourth and fifth respectively. The way the schedules been this year, its been a little difficult to find races and so forth for the horses, trainer Nancy Takter said after the race. We didnt want to have him overraced going into the Hambletonian, so he had a couple nice qualifiers to kind of just let him get into his own and hopefully hell take this race in the right way and hell be even sharper next week. A three-year-old colt by Ready Cash, Ready For Moni won his sixth race from 10 starts, earning $374,020 for owners John Fielding, Lindy Farms of Connecticut, Herb Liverman and Bud Hatfield. Yannick Gingras drove the $4.40 to win. Following the evening's 11th race, Meadowlands management conducted the draw for the $1 million Hambletonian. The field for the 95th edition (with drivers subject to change) appears below: PP-Name (Driver, Trainer)-ML 1-Ready For Moni (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter)-3/1 2-Back Of The Neck (Scott Zeron, Ake Svanstedt)-4/1 3-Hollywood Story (Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander)-15/1 4-Big Oil (Andy Miller, Julie Miller)-15/1 5-Ramona Hill (Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna)-5/2 6-Threefiftytwo (Scott Zeron, Luc Blais)-6/1 7-Capricornus (Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander)-15/1 8-Rome Pays Off (Mattias Melander, Marcus Melander)-15/1 9-Sister Sledge (Brian Sears, Ron Burke)-12/1 10-Amigo Volo (Dexter Dunn, Richard "Nifty" Norman)-12/1 Hypnotic AM strolled to a 1:52.3 win in the $15,000 Three-Year-Old Filly Trot on the undercard, an event which served for many as a prep for the $600,000 Hambletonian Oaks. Solsbury Hill swept to the lead early but yielded for the pocket past a :27.1 opening quarter as Hypnotic AM rolled uncovered to the top. Up the backstretch May Baby angled first over from fourth, marching up to the even-money favourites wheel passing a :54.2 half and remaining on guard at her neck by three-quarters in 1:22.1. Into the stretch Hypnotic AM gained some separation. May Baby gave pursuit from between horses to hold second as Solsbury Hill battled at the pylons for third and Reba Blue Chip swung wide off the pegs to rally late for fourth. Hypnotic AM coasted to the finish in front by one-and-a-quarter lengths. I was just going to try to go forward if it looked like it was possible and take it from there, Sears said. Weve come back this year and tried to get her to relax a little bit, Sears said after the race. At the end of last year she was getting a little warm with us, but Marcus [Melander] has done a great job keeping her calm and shes been doing everything weve asked so far. A homebred Chapter Seven filly for Courant Inc., Hypnotic AM collected her third win from four starts this season and her 10th from 13 overall, earning $624,725. Brian Sears steered the Marcus Melander trainee who paid $4.00 to win. Following the evening's ninth race, Meadowlands management conducted the draw for the $600,000 Hambletonian Oaks with the field (and drivers subject to change) appearing below: PP-Name (Driver, Trainer)-ML 1-Crucial (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke)-15/1 2-Next Level Stuff (Tim Tetrick, Jim Campbell)-9/2 3-Reba Blue Chip (Verlin Yoder, Verlin Yoder)-20/1 4-May Baby (James Yoder, James Yoder)-10/1 5-Tricky Sister (Corey Callahan, Andrew Harris)-20/1 6-Whose Blues (Daniel Dube, Luc Blais)-20/1 7-Sorella (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter)-7/2 8-Fortune Starlet (TBA, George Ducharme)-15/1 9-Solsbury Hill (Scott Zeron, Rick Zeron)-12/1 10-Absattitudexpress (Tim Tetrick, Lucas Wallin)-20/1 11-Panem (Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter)-6/1 12-Hypnotic AM (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander)-5/2 As hunters and conservationists, we are nothing short of grateful that our states citizens demand their leaders to lead on public lands issues. Montanans know that the tie that binds us all in Montana is, well, Montana. Thats why it was so alarming to read William Perry Pendleys recent opinion piece that sang the virtues of two management plans he just approved for the Lewistown and Missoula areas. Mr. Pendley is the acting director of the Bureau of Land Management and was recently formally nominated by the president to lead the agency. He now needs a vote of the Senate to keep the job. Perhaps this is why he is trying to position himself as a champion of public lands with these plans. The problem is, the regional management plans he just announced, which will dictate the management of these lands for the next 20 years, completely miss the mark for ensuring future generations have the same opportunities we have on our public lands. How can anyone say, as Mr. Pendley did, that a plan that opens up 95 percent of its acreage to oil and gas development would make Theodore Roosevelt proud? We think itd make him hopping mad. Sure, the plans include designations of a new tool called backcountry conservation areas that are meant to ensure hunting and recreation opportunities, a good idea. But under these particular plans, that designation doesnt preserve the lands as Pendley describes. Rather, you can literally and figuratively drive a truck through the loopholes in the designations, which would still allow for those areas to be drilled, logged, and mined. It did not have to be this way. Take the Lewistown plan, which covers acreage extending from the Rocky Mountain Front to Charles M Russell Wildlife Refuge. For years, Montanans worked together to find agreement on how the lands should be managed, which was represented in a draft plan in 2016. The plan acknowledged the importance of wilderness characteristics and recommended protection for some of them. It recommended other areas for some measure of protection. It called for responsible development. It understood the growing value of the recreation economy in our communities. Our country demands many uses of our public lands, and the draft plan mostly did that. But that work, informed by Montanans, was tossed aside. Why? The Trump administration has made clear its priority for the West is an energy dominance agenda their phrase, not ours so our hunch is that is what drove the re-writing of the document. Ninety-five percent of the lands open for oil and gas development is indeed dominance. Mr. Pendley oversaw the whole thing. Its no surprise. Hes simply been on the wrong side of history, repeatedly, on public lands issues. He claims public lands are unconstitutional, that public lands shouldnt belong to you and me. He was the lawyer who tried to overturn the cyanide heap leach mining ban that Montana voters overwhelmingly passed twice and that protected the Blackfoot River for generations to come. He was also the attorney who represented the wealthy out-of-staters who tried to strip away our stream access law. No amount of wrapping his newly released plans in press statements with Orwellian language about public lands can undo what is in the plans themselves. Nor can it erase his long track record advocating against our public lands. Montanans deserve better. These plans are wrong for our communities and our public lands. And Mr. Pendley is wrong for the job of running our biggest public land agency. The Senate should reject him. Tracy Stone-Manning is the Associate Vice President for Public Lands at the National Wildlife Federation. Alec Underwood is the Federal Conservation Campaigns Director at the Montana Wildlife Federation. Love 2 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 01, 2020 | PADUCAH By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 01, 2020 | 12:49 PM | PADUCAH As fall classes at West Kentucky Community and Technical College begin August 17th, several new online courses are being offered, including a history class that will examine the African American experience spanning over the past 150 years. The class, taught by history instructor Stacey Watson, will focus on the Reconstruction to the present, with an emphasis on the rise of segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, and race relations in the 21st Century. Watson said the course will engage students by providing a deeper understanding of a group of people and events that have been hidden, forgotten and overlooked. The course will help students to analyze, examine and discuss the truth about the United States while connecting the past to the present. "It is a recurring theme in the broader context of history that the voices of the African American community have been ignored, their demands have been unheard and their communities have been under represented. It is important to understand the history of these people and why they currently continue to fight for both equality and representation in every aspect of life," Watson said. "Education is the best tool to breakdown stereotypes, combat racism and understand the triumphant steps taken on the behalf of the African American community to fight against systemic racism." The 12-week online class begins September 14th, and requires no textbook. Two other new online courses offered this fall are "Terrorism and Political Violence," which begins also begin September 14th, and "Introduction to LGBTQ Literature," which begins August 17th. "Through education, we teach critical thinking, persuasive and argumentative writing, to debate modern social problems, the evaluation of history, and interpersonal and public speaking skills, to name a few," said WKCTC President Anton Reece. "We can encourage individuals to become educated, skilled, and trained for meaningful employment, the more giving back will be fostered, and the more our community relations are improved." Fully online classes are part of WKCTC's three-pronged approach to fall semester that also include face-to-face and hybrid classes to promote a healthy teaching and learning environment. Online classes are available for in-state tuition. For more information about hybrid/online classes this fall, visit https://westkentucky.kctcs.edu/education-training/hybrid/index.aspx. Abraham Lincoln had many great attributes, but his sense of humor topped the list. And in the summer of 1859, the residents of Council Bluffs witnessed firsthand the quick wit that helped catapult Lincoln into the White House the following year. When the tall, gangly, clean shaven lawyer from Illinois visited Council Bluffs that fateful summer, the citizens prepared for him a frontier farm feast (known back in the day as a bowery dinner). Among the fare: pounds of fried chicken, fresh baked cakes and more. About an hour before dinner commenced, a gang of marauders watching the preparations from just outside of Bayliss Park rushed in and, in a flash, scooped up and ran off with the whole spread. Keeping his cool and with customary dry wit, Mr. Lincoln praised the thieves on the astuteness of their taste. With the theft of dinner, Lincoln walked across the street to the Pusey home (now occupied by Cutler ONeil funeral home) for a private dinner. Lincoln had been acquainted with the William Pusey and his family when the banker lived in Springfield, Illinois. During dinner he drank from among a delicate set of Baccarat crystal goblets now on display in the Dodge House dining room. Not one, but many railroads will center here, Lincoln is remembered to have proclaimed to his host a bold pronouncement for that time. No steel tracks had yet been laid at Council Bluffs, thus forcing Lincoln to travel by steamship up the Missouri River from St. Joseph, Missouri. The only visible railroad work to be seen from the bluffs was some grading that a young Grenville Dodge, employed by the Rock Island Railroad, had completed that year. Lincolns visit to Council Bluffs was serendipitous, as he was not in town primarily for political purposes, although at the time he did have his eye on a presidential run and delivered two speeches. His visit was motivated first and foremost by personal business. This business trip impacted the fate of the nation up and to this very day. Dodge and his younger brother, Nathan (whose descendants continue his real estate business), had sold property to a business and political associate of Lincolns, Norman Judd. Widespread speculation had it that land values in the area would skyrocket upon the arrival of railroads. While that hunch would ultimately prove correct, the panic of 1857 temporarily dashed those hopes. Land values collapsed and Judd was in need of money. He asked Lincoln for a loan of $3,000. Given that he was just down the river from Council Bluffs in St. Joseph, Missouri, Lincoln decided to sail north to inspect Judds properties which would serve as collateral for the loan. Lincoln stayed at the Pacific Hotel on Broadway. The hotel was known for its sagging floors and double-wide porches: a perfect place for a meeting an historic meeting. Grenville Dodge had been on the frontier, engaged in his third survey of the Platte River Valley on the behest of his railroad employers. He returned to Council Bluffs the same day those 200 miscreant marauders stole the fried chicken and fixings. The next day he was walking down Broadway, just blocks from his home on Pierce street, when William Pusey spotted him. And, in an event that would change history, Pusey introduced Dodge to the visitor from Illinois, telling the soon-to-be President that the young engineer knew more about railroads that any two men in the country. It is remembered that Lincoln sat down, crossed his long legs, paused, swung his foot for a few moments and asked: Dodge, whats the best route for a Pacific railroad to the West? From this town out the Platte Valley, Dodge replied immediately. Why do you think so? Because of the railroads building from Chicago to this point. And Dodges logic did not end with the developing infrastructure approaching from Chicago. He reasoned that the Platte River Valley was relatively level, with plenty of sand and gravel for grading, and ready access to water. Years later Dodge wrote that Lincoln stated that there was nothing more important before the nation at that time than the building of the railroad to the Pacific Coast. He ingeniously extracted a great deal of information from me ... the secrets I had been holding for my employers in the East had been given to him. No doubt this moment cemented in Lincolns mind the best route for the Transcontinental Railroad. Dodge and Lincoln would meet twice more in Washington DC, in 1863 and 1864, where further discussions influenced executive orders Lincoln issued in clarifying congressional railroad legislation. Lincolns prophecy proved true: Not one, but many railroads will center here. Just over 20 years later, Council Bluffs was North Americas fifth largest railroad center, with 17 passenger depots and the second largest postal exchange center in the nation. In no time at all Council Bluffs evolved from a village into a national transportation hub. Without that fateful August, 1859 meeting between Lincoln and Dodge, the growth and development of both Council Bluffs and Omaha would have been severely stunted. This example of how the past makes the present is one of many opportunities waiting for you to discover at the Historic General Dodge House. The Pope to donate 100,000 to help migrants on border of Belarus and Poland Fourth vaccine against COVID-19 is not enough for Omicron World is on verge of country defaults French Foreign Ministry considers unacceptable Azerbaijan statements about Pecresse US to return two valuable artifacts over 4,000 years old to Iraq Germany may consider halting Nord Stream 2 if Russia attacks Ukraine Israel successfully completes test of anti-ballistic missile system Plane landing in Sochi struck by lightning Putin and Aliyev discuss Ukraine situation Greek PM Mitsotakis threatens Turkey with sanctions Handelsblatt: US and EU abandon idea of disconnecting Russia from SWIFT international payment system Artsakh President meets representatives of non-governmental organizations Avalanche kills person in Iran Erdogan says he is pleased with decline in volatility of lira NEWS.am daily digest: 18.01.22 Turkey and Azerbaijan to start laying gas pipeline to supply Nakhichevan UK begins to supply Ukraine with anti-tank weapons Armenian PM holds meeting on Armenia's Transformation Strategy until 2050 Nagorno-Karabakh: Remains of another Armenian soldier found in Jrakan region Tehran to not accept any border change in South Caucasus Dollar holding relatively steady in Armenia Armenia special representative: Future process depends on Turkeys constructiveness degree Erdogan: Gas from Mediterranean to Europe can only be pumped through Turkey Iranian Consul General discusses customs cooperation in Nakhijevan Inecobank brings Apple Pay to customers Parliament vice-speaker says he is familiar with Armenia proposals on border demarcation commission work US Secretary of State to visit Kyiv Russia, Iran and China to hold joint naval drills OSCE Chairmanship on Aliyev statement: We reiterate our full support to Minsk Group Co-Chairs Artsakh NSS denies rumors about penetration of Azerbaijanis into Karabakh villages Indonesian parliament approves bill to relocate capital Armenia PM to Bulgaria colleague: Our interstate relations are marked by continuous development of cooperation Armenian President meets Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Azerbaijan to ban foreigners from visiting Nagorno-Karabakh occupied part European Parliament new speaker elected Armenian National Interests Fund participates in Abu Dhabi Sustainable Development Week summit North Korea fires missiles for fourth time this year ECHR recognizes violation of Armenian PM's rights after 2008 elections Turkey reveals plans to produce combat aircraft Karabakh official: Azerbaijan presidents impudent behavior is due to OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs silence Azerbaijan special services force Artsakh resident to intelligence work Copper price is stable Minister of State: OSCE MG Co-Chairs must accept exercise of Karabakh people's right to self-determination Armenia President, UAE Minister of State discuss possibilities of cooperation in science and technology Investigation into criminal case of several Armenia soldiers returned from Azerbaijan captivity is over Canada sends detachment of special forces to Ukraine Armenia ex-President Kocharyan, former deputy PM now MP Gevorgyan case trial resumes 2 more persons die of coronavirus in Artsakh Armenia family has 10th child Converse Bank brings Apple Pay to customers Gold is getting weaker Lacote: French institute to operate in Armenia (PHOTOS) Ardshinbank Brings Apple Pay to Customers Armenia President in UAE, meets with Emirati environment minister Armenia legislature approves changes to several laws Differences in data on coronavirus deaths in Armenia are corrected 360 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Norway to begin Breivik early release hearing Economy minister to head Armenia side of commission on economic cooperation with Kazakhstan Mexico crime photojournalist killed Newspaper: Criminal case against Armenia archbishop dropped Newspaper: Opposition Armenia Bloc in parliament to toughen its tactics Scientists discover large breeding colony of icefish in southern Antarctica China creates low-gravity artificial moon Tehran welcomes normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations Russian and Iranian Foreign Ministers discuss regional issues UN Secretary-General: Vaccinate whole world to end pandemic Giant asteroid to fly past our planet Armenian President meets with Executive Director of Mubadala Investment Company UAE counting on Turkey Indonesia to move capital by 2024 Passenger traffic at Armenian airports decreased by 30% Armenian Investigative Committee: Six soldiers captured in November arrested Turkish government to discuss Rubinyan-Kilic meeting results German FM threatens Russia in case of aggression against Ukraine Armenian MFA senior staff meets with ambassadors to European countries Turkish court acquits German journalist Mesale Tolu Turkish UAV intercepted over Greek island Protest in front of Armenian Health Ministry France introduces vaccine passes Bitcoin begins to lose out competitors Exchange rates in Armenia Safari browser caught leaking user data Xi Jinping: Confrontation between major powers can have disastrous consequences Lukashevich: Russia concerned that OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs may not be able to visit Nagorno-Karabakh Court obligates Armenia ruling force MP to prove ex-President Sargsyan lost more than $100M in casinos Ex-ruling party official: Armenia authorities may renounce Genocide, Karabakh Armenian PM's party decides to provide free textbooks to non-state schools Times: Johnson prepares cadre purge to save his own skin Pecresse accuses French government of inaction after Aliyev's statements on her Karabakh visit Armenia President attends Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week forum opening Armenia legislature ruling majority member: It is possible for us to have neighborly relations with Azerbaijan President approves Artsakh government decisions on provision of financial assistance Armenia parliament opposition faction leader on canceling US visit: We must fulfill our international duties Fire in Abu Dhabi kills three people ANIF Anti-Crisis Fund to invest in Armenia cargo transportation Azerbaijan to soon open bus routes to Artsakhs occupied Shushi Armenia ruling force MP, businessman: Turks will be able to use our medical services in Gyumri, Yerevan Erdogan wants to save Turkish economy with oil production in the Black Sea Copper rises in price The Centre will not impose any language on any state through the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Union Minister for Education Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said on Sunday. Nishank's clarification, through a tweet in Tamil, comes in the backdrop of opposition to NEP in Tamil Nadu on the grounds that the policy allegedly imposed Hindi and Sanskrit. In his tweet to former Union Minister from the state Pon Radhakrishnan, Nishank said he was looking forward to the guidance of the ex-central minister in implementing NEP in Tamil Nadu. "I once again like to insist that the Central government will not impose any language on any state," he said. The M K Stalin-led DMK and many opposition parties in Tamil Nadu have opposed NEP and want a review of the sweeping reforms it has proposed. On Saturday, the DMK chief said the policy was an attempt at alleged imposition of Hindi and Sanskrit and vowed to fight against it by joining hands with like-minded political parties and Chief Ministers of other states. The reforms were not a new education policy but "a glossy coat on the old oppressive Manusmriti," he said. By John Burton Could the Korean Peninsula see a renewed nuclear crisis in 2021? The probable election of Joe Biden as the next U.S. president in November will be viewed as unfavorable by North Korea. Biden has historically adopted a tougher stance on North Korea than Donald Trump, whose conciliatory approach to Pyongyang has reduced tensions since early 2018. North Korea may be emboldened to resist further U.S. pressure on the nuclear issue if it receives increased support from Beijing as Sino-American relations continue to deteriorate. Meanwhile, a diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Pyongyang on the nuclear issue before the November election appears unlikely. North Korea is pressing for the relaxation of sanctions before making any concessions on reducing its nuclear arsenal and there is almost no indication that the Trump administration is willing to do that. Biden will thus inherit a stalemate on the nuclear issue if he is inaugurated as the 46th U.S. president in January 2021. Biden's previous foreign policy track record as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and then vice president under Barack Obama suggests that he would adopt a hardline policy on North Korea. He is unlikely to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as Trump has done, unless concessions have been made by Pyongyang. There is already bad blood between Biden and North Korea. Biden last year described Kim as a "murderous dictator," which caused the North Korea media to call Biden a "rabid dog" that ought to be "beaten to death." Biden would be expected to place increased emphasis on human rights abuses in North Korea, a subject that Trump has largely ignored. Biden is also likely to resume scaled-up joint U.S.-South Korean military exercises (COVID-19 permitting) and maintain current U.S. troop levels in South Korea. The strength of the national security hawks in Washington has already been apparent even during Trump's administration despite his conciliatory moves. Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have been effective in blocking any concessions on North Korea, such as sanctions relief, that Trump may have contemplated. Faced with a renewed hardline policy under the Biden administration, Pyongyang may decide to abandon its freeze on nuclear and long-range missile testing that it adopted in the later part of 2017. Frustrated about the lack of progress in talks with the U.S. there are indications that Kim Jong-un is already considering abandoning his "byeongjin" policy, which aims to balance North Korea's nuclear weapons program with economic development, and switching back to his father's "songun" (military-first) policy where nuclear weapons took precedence. The resumption of long-range missile tests could come even before the U.S. elections, with one date being suggested as Oct. 10 when North Korea celebrates the 75th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. This would enforce Pyongyang's message that whoever is elected president, it will remain a nuclear power and either Trump or Biden must continue to engage North Korea. Any decision by North Korea to resume missile testing either before or after the U.S. election would also depend on whether Pyongyang receives covert or overt backing by China in confronting what they perceive as their common enemy, the U.S. And Biden is likely to pursue a tough line against China, a policy that is enjoying growing bipartisan support in the U.S. This would include shoring up U.S. defense commitments to South Korea and Japan. In conducting testing, though, North Korea runs the risk of discouraging the Biden administration from considering what appears to be the most realistic solution to the nuclear issue. This would be the freezing of the North's nuclear weapons program and a limited reduction of its warheads in return for diplomatic recognition and economic rewards. A hardline policy on North Korea by the Biden administration could also strain relations with Seoul under the current administration of President Moon Jae-in. Although Biden would most likely pursue a more conciliatory policy when it comes to defense cost-sharing, the Moon administration would be unhappy if the U.S. is seen as hampering Seoul's renewed outreach efforts to North Korea. Moon's recent appointments to the unification ministry and the National Intelligence Service signals that he wants to pursue a more independent course on North Korea by raising questions about the effectiveness of sanctions and emphasizing the need for "out of the box" solutions. Further complicating the situation are several "known unknowns" such as the state of the health of Kim Jong-un, who has dramatically reduced his public appearances this year. Another would be a surprise election victory by Trump, who would likely try to pursue a "grand bargain" with North Korea during his second term in office. This deal would be expected to include some degree of acceptance of North Korea's nuclear status and an easing of sanctions. John Burton (johnburtonft@yahoo.com), a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and consultant. DES MOINES Standing on steps at the state Capitol, socially distanced and wearing white lab coats and face masks, roughly two dozen medical and public health professionals Saturday reiterated their call for Gov. Kim Reynolds to require Iowans to wear face masks in public during the coronavirus pandemic. Iowa is on the cusp of catastrophe. And we need to do everything we can do now to fight this pandemic before it turns even worse, said Dr. Austin Baeth, an internal medicine specialist at UnityPoint Health in Des Moines. The group held the news conference to draw attention to a letter signed by more than 300 medical professionals in Iowa, including leaders of 16 Iowa health care organizations they sent last week to Reynolds, imploring her to require Iowans wear face masks in public. Public health and infectious disease experts are in near unanimous agreement, and multiple studies have verified face coverings slow the spread of the coronavirus. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization recommend individuals wear face masks in public. Iowas public health department also recommends face masks when people are unable to remain at least six feet away from others in public, and Reynolds has organized a public information campaign encouraging Iowans to wear masks in public. But Reynolds has resisted a mask mandate, in part because she said it would be difficult to enforce. She said Thursday when asked why she will not issue a mandate, But theres people that would tell you just the opposite. Those people were not at the Iowa Capitol on Saturday morning. The scientific evidence is now convincing: face masks work, Baeth said. There is science behind our recommendations. This is not politics. In fact, in my opinion there should be no room for politics when were discussing how to beat this disease. Baeth addressed the pushback from some who claim a mandate would violate personal freedoms. He noted research shows the virus can be spread by people who are infected but do not know it. He compared a mask mandate to impaired driving laws, in that they instruct a person how to behave in public in order to protect other peoples lives. We acknowledge concerns that a mask mandate might appear to be in opposition of the personal freedoms enjoyed by Iowans, Baeth said. We contend, however, that due to the unfortunate prevalence of asymptomatic viral transmission, individuals who choose not to wear a mask endanger the personal freedoms of others. They do so by imperiling their life. Face masks are required in public or for some workers in 42 states, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization that monitors health care policy. As of Saturday morning, nearly 45,000 Iowans had contracted the coronavirus, and 872 Iowans have died. For (wearing face masks) to work, we need for everyone to adhere to it, said Dr. Rossana Rosa, an infectious diseases physician at UnityPoint Health in Des Moines. And a mandate from the governor is the most expedient way for us to get to that goal. They worry about who will care for the children and how far their education will slide. They anxiously await details on what distance learning will actually look like this fall, hopeful but skeptical that there will be more structure and support than a spring of crisis education that left many dissatisfied. Theyre furiously networking on Facebook and Nextdoor in the tens of thousands to form learning pods or arrange childcare. Theyve placed a huge number of calls to local tutoring services in search of help. Some wonder who will watch their child let alone supervise online classes while they work essential jobs. Parents of more than 5.9 million California K-12 children are scrambling to adapt to a new reality without schools to send their children to. Ninety six percent of the states total enrollment calls one of the 37 counties currently on the states watch list home. Many students still do not have computers and internet essential for connecting online, and research has increasingly shown the inequitable toll distance learning took on disadvantaged students who lacked opportunities to meaningfully engage in learning. Many teachers and parents remain worried that physically reopening schools while coronavirus cases surge in most of the state will endanger educators and students and further spread the virus. Schools, which spent weeks devising plans for socially distant classrooms, still lack financial support from the federal government they say they need to safely reopen. Last month, as coronavirus cases continued to rise in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled new requirements that effectively shut the door for most schools to begin school with in-person instruction until their respective counties stabilize infections and hospitalizations. Now, millions of working parents like Rebecca Hill in Chico have to wade through constantly evolving scenarios about the school year ahead, weighing the twin stressors of how prolonged campus closures will affect their childrens learning and mental well-being, as well as their own livelihoods. Hills son and daughter will start second grade and kindergarten in less than a month under distance learning after Butte County landed this week on the states COVID-19 watch list, which now governs whether local public and private schools can physically reopen for in-person instruction. But Hill, 38, is also back at work as a code inspector in neighboring Yuba County, where she spends her days scoping out buildings, nuisance calls and illegal marijuana grows in the rural northern county. A few weeks ago, Hill and her husband debated whether to opt for morning or afternoon in-person classes under proposed hybrid scheduling an anxiety-inducing prospect since her husband is immuno-compromised and receives dialysis three days a week. After their district said last week that it would start the year online, the question became whether to enroll full-time in an online school offered by the district, which Hill is leaning toward to minimize chances that her husband will get sick if and when schools do re-open in person. Homeschooling might be an option if they had the time. One thing is for sure: We definitely dont have the ability for me to not work, said Hill, the family breadwinner. Unanswered questions In Los Angeles, Tunette Powells three sons will begin the new year under distance learning, but details so far remain sparse three weeks before schools begin instruction, adding stress for how she and her husband, an essential worker, will balance work and co-teaching their kids. As it did when it initially closed schools in mid-March, L.A. Unified, a massive district of 600,000 students, created a ripple effect across the state when it said July 13 that it would begin the year with full-time distance learning, citing surging cases in the county. Superintendent Austin Beutner and school leaders across California have told families that distance learning programs will be more rigorous and robust than what schools offered this spring. New statewide standards for distance learning will attempt to hold schools accountable, and students will be graded for their work. A recent survey by Speak Up, a Los Angeles-based parent advocacy group, found wide disparities in the amount of live instruction Black and Latino students received this spring compared with their white peers. Many were dissatisfied with how little live, or synchronous, instruction their students received, and the group has called on the district to gather input from parents over how to improve distance learning. Several critical questions remain unanswered for Powell and other parents as the first day of school draws closer. What will the school day look like? Will there be a consistent start time every day to plan her workday around? How much face time will her kids get with their teachers, and will her 11-year-old receive more live interaction than the weekly, one-hour check-ins from this spring? Will the district distribute newer devices to replace the outdated ones that resulted in several technical headaches last spring? Will there be support for Powells kindergartner and other young students not yet adept at using technology to learn? I dont know any of that. I know none of that. It worries me, said Powell, interim director of UCLAs Parent Project, a think tank aiming to improve parent engagement in schools. Powells oldest son, the 11-year-old entering sixth grade, is not enthusiastic about continuing distance learning. Shes especially worried about her youngest son, a 5-year-old who will start kindergarten at Baldwin Hills Elementary. Many academics believe younger students should be among the most prioritized groups for getting into physical classrooms once its reasonably safe to do so, arguing that elementary students stand the most to lose from being away from classrooms. He knows hes going to a new school, Powell said, but I dont think hes fully grasped that going to a new school is going to happen in his room, so thats been difficult. DIY education With schools across the country planning for distance learning starts, parent interest in arranging learning pods, in which small groups of students are taught by a tutor or teacher, has grown. Shannon Mulligan, owner of Marin Tutors, has seen that spontaneous interest firsthand. As soon as Gov. Newsom announced schools werent going to open, my phone rang every day, all day, for four days in a row, Mulligan said, with parents inquiring about teachers or tutors willing to participate in a learning pod. The pod concept has attracted everyone from working class moms holding down full-time jobs looking for tutors to help guide their students during distance learning to a dad looking to secure a teacher for more than 60 hours a month to teach curriculum supplementing what his kids learn online. Mulligans tutoring company, which also works with the county to offer services for foster youth, charges hourly rates that vary depending on educators experience. Individual rates for parents go down as students are added to the pod, with a cap of five kids. Once inside a pod, everyone wears masks outside, socially distanced. Traffic on Mulligans website has increased by 75% since Newsoms July 17 announcement. She said many calls come from parents with incoming kindergartners wary of how the tots will fare learning remotely. So many (parents) said to me when they called, I didnt want to have this happen, but Im forced to homeschool now, Mulligan said. Insufficient support Comprehensive current data on how working parents are adapting to school closures remains elusive. Its unclear how many parents statewide have been laid off, reduced work hours or quit their jobs and filed for unemployment, since neither the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics or the California Employment Development Department include parental status in monthly job reports. Thats especially true for essential workers, who in California are disproportionately Black and Latino and have experienced higher infection rates, since policy analysts usually rely on longer-term Census surveys to gauge economic status. I dont know if we do know a lot about those families, to be honest, said Kristin Schumacher, a senior policy analyst at the California Budget & Policy Center, who is also juggling her 6-year-olds Zoom classes while she works remotely. The reality is a lot of families are really scrambling under impossible situations to make this work. In Santa Cruz County, Erendira Guerrero and her team at Encompass Community Services are trying to help fill the gaps for parents who work at farms, grocery stores, cleaning services and medical offices with remote versions of their Head Start and Papas program for fathers. Wellness check-ins are now done by phone or video chat, and more than 600 care packages have been distributed with diapers, toys and learning aids like puppets, bubbles and songs in English and Spanish. Still, the pandemic has exposed major holes in systems like unemployment, rent assistance and health care, especially for undocumented families. A big part of our programs work is focused on connecting parents with resources in the community to support their needs, Guerrero said. Some of our families are just not as comfortable sharing their needs over the phone or video. Existing regulations offer limited protection for working parents considering requesting time off or other alternatives to juggle school and jobs. For companies with 25 or more employees, California workers are guaranteed five days of job protection for emergencies under the Family School Partnership Act. The California Family Rights Act allows workers at companies with 50 or more employees to take 12 weeks off for a new child or family illness. In March, the federal government enacted the Families First Coronavirus Response Act to extend 12 weeks off for school conflicts, but it only applies to companies with 500 or fewer employees and excludes industries including health care providers. For many families, that leaves no great options, said Katherine Wutchiett, senior staff attorney for San Francisco advocacy group Legal Aid at Work. We always recommend talking with your employer, seeing if theres something that you can work out with them, Wutchiett said. But outside those limited exceptions, At the end of the day, if the employer says you have to be at work and they cannot be at work there isnt any legal obligation on their employers part to continue holding their job. Education policy advocate and former teacher Elliot Haspel floated the idea of a Parent Protection Program, modeled off forgivable loans made to businesses under the federal Paycheck Protection Program, but the prospect of major reform is uncertain. A bill from Santa Barbara Democrat Hannah-Beth Jackson, S.B. 1383, would expand state requirements for employers to provide 12 weeks of unpaid family leave and was approved by the state Senate but still requires sign off in the Assembly. Presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Bidens plan for universal childcare, introduced this week, could help, but is several months away at best. In the meantime, remote schools offer a prime example of the states increasingly polarized economy. Some employees of deep-pocketed companies, especially in the tech industry, are offered company-funded online tools, additional paid time off or flexible schedules. Many essential workers have no recourse. The toll on womens employment and the gender wage gap, kids educational attainment and costs for businesses seeing employees leave the workforce are just the beginning. What economists dont consider often enough is the economic cost of duress, said Tracey Grose, founding principal of Bay Area business consultancy Next Curve Strategy, who herself helped supervise Zoom classes for the children of two working neighbors in the fall. When a family is stressed out trying to keep a roof over their heads, they cannot be the best parents they can be. Felecia Przybyla, a Sacramento County mom, is trying to answer long-term questions on short deadlines before classes resume. She works remotely for a company out of state while her husband reports to his job with the county, leaving her to juggle her own work calls and her three elementary-age childrens need for instruction and technology help. While she doesnt want to rely on the state, Przybyla has considered leaving her job to focus on school and file for unemployment with expanded aid available to contractors like her. So far, shes held off. Were hoping to buy a house in the next six months, and I need to have a job, Przybyla said. I dont want to give that up, either, and I dont think I should have to be put in a position to decide between a job that provides for our family and my kids schooling. Watch Now: Steps You Can Take to Help Cope With Loneliness Right Now CalMatters is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization covering the major state issues in California. A failure by the UK to reach a new agreement with France on how to deal with migrant crossings could lead to numbers reaching crisis levels, an ex-Border Force chief has warned. It comes after a record number of crossings to Britain in a single day last week, and follows a Government minister branding the number of incidents unacceptably high. Tony Smith, the former head of UK Border Force, said the UK and France need to agree a treaty with a joint patrol whereby migrants picked up in the Channel can be returned to France to have asylum claims considered there. He said: What Im advocating is that we need to try as best we can to replicate the juxtaposed controls for legitimate applicants in the same way as for illegitimate applicants. A record number of people crossed the channel to Britain last week / AFP via Getty Images If they want to come to the UK they need to make their case on the French side, and if they are found in the waterways or even make it as far as Dover we say Im sorry but you go back there and thats where you will be interviewed and processed, on the French side. Last month Home Secretary Priti Patel sought to level blame at her French counterparts, telling the Commons Home Affairs Committee of the unacceptable numbers of people making the perilous journey in small boats. On Saturday Immigration compliance minister Chris Philp called on France to be stronger on intercepting vessels at sea and directing the return of boats which are trying to get to the UK. At least 202 migrants managed to cross to Britain on Thursday in a surge of 20 boats, a single-day record. Asked how hopeful he is of the Home Office being able to reach a new deal with France, Mr Smith said: I wouldnt like to call it as to whether or not they can make the breakthrough. All I would say is weve done it before and the numbers then were far greater. I think there are potentially opportunities but there will have to be some kind of a quid pro quo which would satisfy the French that this was a measure that was designed to help both parties, not just a one-way street where the UK essentially is able to blockade anybody coming over from France. He said the current approach is putting peoples lives at risk and fuelling the smuggling supply chains. The number of migrants in small boats intercepted by Border Force on Friday fell to 96, but Mr Smith said if daily numbers were to continue in the high hundreds youre going to start getting up to the numbers that actually were indeed a crisis almost 20 years ago. He added: I do worry that if we cant get a new agreement with the French on returns were not going to be able to stop this and we could see numbers of the scale of which weve seen in years gone by. Another primary election is upon us, and voters in Natrona County will soon take to the polls to cast ballots in races ranging from their local councils to Congress to the county coroner. But this is anything but a typical election year. With COVID-19 cases still rising, not only statewide but across the U.S., going to the polls will look different this year. Plexiglass barriers and face masks will separate voting judges and Election Day volunteers from voters. Voters themselves won't be required to wear masks, but social distancing will be enforced, Natrona County Clerk Tracy Good has said. It's also likely fewer voters will be present at their physical polling places once Aug. 18 rolls around. Good said the office has received far more absentee ballots this year than is typical. She guessed COVID-19 was a major contributor. By mid-July, Good already had 62% more absentee ballots than the office received in all of the 2018 election. While the presidential election in November may be the star of this year's show, how things plays out at the local level both this month and in the general election will also factor into running trends in the county. In anticipation of the primary, the Star-Tribune analyzed voter and candidate data going back to 2012 to contextualize this years local races within the county. Our analysis looked at County Commissioner and Casper City Council primary races and touched on voter turnout, diversity among the bodies, how many candidates have run in the past and what the urban-rural divide has looked like in voting data. Voter turnout Registered voter turnout in Natrona County exceeded 55% in 2016, but otherwise turnout percentage has hovered in the mid to high 40s. Despite relatively high turnout countywide in 2016, broken down by voting precinct, more precincts had a higher rate of turnout in 2018. Only seven precincts in the county had higher voter turnout in 2016 than 2018, despite higher turnout overall for the 2016 presidential election. The explanation? Far more Natrona County residents registered to vote in 2018 than in 2016. Voter registration in 2018 exceeded registration in 2016 by nearly 8,000 voters. Ballots cast exceeded the 2016 figure by roughly 2,000. Contested races When a Ward III Casper City Council seat opened up last summer after Chris Walsh resigned to take a job in Douglas, 13 people rushed to fill his seat. The decision fell to the remaining council members, who after an hourlong interview process ultimately appointed sitting Councilman Steve Cathey. Council members at the time encouraged the remaining 12 who were not selected to run when the seat was vulnerable which it is this year. None of those applicants filed to run in the election. Councilman and former mayor Charlie Powell said at the time the number of people who apply for council vacancies always exceeds the number of people who ultimately run. At least in this example theres truth to that. Thirteen people applied to be appointed to a vacant seat. Only three people are running for the very same, now-vulnerable seat. The data does challenge another assertion made at the time: that few people run for local races. But between County Commissioner and City Council races since 2012, only two went uncontested both in 2018. They were both for non-typical city council seats, in that they were unexpired for two-year terms rather than a four-year term. All other races have been at least somewhat competitive, though the degree varies. The County Commissioners race has remained largely contested. This years race is the sparsest field since at least 2012, with six candidates vying for two vulnerable seats. The prior races all had between eight and 11 candidates. City Council races are somewhat less competitive but still vary in degree mostly between two and six candidates vying for each seat. Caspers Ward II is routinely the most contested City Council ward. Rural-urban divide The rural-urban divide stands out when analyzing voter trends in the Natrona County. In 2018, 56% of municipal registered voters in the county turned out to the polls, according to municipal voting district data. Just 42% of rural voters did. In 2016, the difference was less stark but still there. Average turnout in municipal districts was about 45%. It was about 42% in rural districts. This doesnt mean all urban districts show up in higher proportions than all rural districts. But in 2018, only three rural precincts had enough turnout to be in the top half of precincts. In 2016, eight rural precincts were in the top half for turnout. Precincts in the city of Casper also tend to have higher turnout than county precincts, but its voters aren't the only ones turning out in higher proportions. Evansville's voting precinct, 4-1, had the highest registered voter turnout in the entire county in 2018. In 2016, that precinct just missed the top 10. The difference between rural and municipal issues comes into play most significantly with the Natrona County Commissioners, who are elected from anywhere in the county, but who make decisions that can affect county residents more than those in municipalities with their own councils. The County Commissioner race this year is equally split between county and municipal residents. Three candidates live in Casper: Brook Kaufman, Vickery Fales Hall and Worth Christie, and three live in the county: Jerry Cook, Dave North and Kevin Christopherson. At a recent forum hosted by the county library, Cook, in answering a question about serving residents outside of the countys urban center, said rural voters feel neglected by local officials. Data does suggest rural voters are limited in at least one capacity. Its difficult to get a true sense of participation between the groups because of how voting districts are drawn, both at the local and state level. At the county level, voting precincts sometimes include municipal and county residents. Five precincts in Natrona County combine rural and municipal voters. Still, the vast majority isolate municipal and rural residents, so a rough picture locally can be seen. The overlap is also represented in how state legislative districts many of which intersect both county and municipal boundaries are drawn. In those cases, the distinction is more difficult, as the areas are larger and a greater number of those intersections exist. Gender representation The Star-Tribune's analysis found that of the 57 candidates who have vied for a City Council seat since 2012, 14 have been women, or just under 25%. Broken down by ward, of the 20 candidates who have sought seats in Ward 1 since 2012, eight have been women. In Ward 2, five of 22 candidates have been women, and in Ward 3, one of 15 candidates has been a woman. The County Commissioners race has also been sparse with female candidates since at least 2012. Of the 45 candidates who have run in that time frame, nine or 20% were women. No female candidate has won a commissioner seat since at least 2012. Brook Kaufman, who is currently a commissioner, was appointed to her seat in February 2019. Only one woman currently sits on Casper City Council as well. Vice Mayor Khrystyn Lutz won her seat in 2018 on a rare two-female candidate ticket. The trend exists in the state Legislature, too, where there are five times more male lawmakers than female, despite women making up 49% of the states population. And in the U.S. Congress, women make up only 23.7% of seats. Vickery Fales Hall, a current candidate for County Commissioner, said in a recent interview that the lack of female representation in Natrona County government is one of the reasons she chose to run for office. She said as a woman and as a mother, shed like a greater diversity of voices on the County Board, adding that without those different voices, fewer diverse interests will be considered. What to know about the primary election When is it? August 18, 2020. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Where do I register to vote? You can register to vote in-person at the Natrona County Clerk's Office, or you can register via mail. How do I register by mail? Complete the voter registration application, available on the Wyoming Secretary of State's website. The form must be notarized. You'll also need to send a copy of valid voter identification. What counts as valid voter identification? Wyoming drivers license United States passport Driver's license or identification card issued by any state or outlying possession of the United States Identification card issued by the federal government, any state or local government, or an agency thereof A tribal ID of any federally recognized tribe Photo identification card issued by the University of Wyoming, a Wyoming community college, or a Wyoming public school United States military card Identification card issued to a dependent of a member of the United States Armed Forces. You may also use any two of the following: Certification of United States citizenship Certificate of naturalization United States military draft record Voter's registration card from another state or county United States Social Security card Certification of birth abroad issued by the department of state Original or certified copy of a birth certificate bearing an official seal Any other form of identification issued by an official agency of the United States or a state. How do I vote absentee? You can request an absentee ballot at any time up to the day before the election, but it must be returned by 7 p.m. Election Day. To request an absentee ballot in Natrona County, contact the county clerk's office. Natrona County polling places 1-1: Roosevelt 1-1, 140 E. K St. 1-2: Natrona County Library, 307 E. Second St. 1-3: Industrial building. 1-3, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 1-4: Casper College Tbird Gym, Thunder Bird Gym 1-5 : Industrial building. 1-5, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 1-6: Industrial building. 1-6, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 1-7: Senior Citizens Center, 1831 E. Fourth 1-9: Industrial building. 1-9, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 1-11: Industrial building. 1-11, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 1-12: Industrial building. 1-12, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 2-1: Industrial building. 2-1, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 2-2 : Industrial building. 2-2, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 2-3 : Industrial building. 2-3, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 2-4 : Industrial building. 2-4, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 2-6: Shrine Club, 1501 W. 39th 2-7: Industrial building. 2-7, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 2-8: Industrial building. 2-8, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 2-9: Industrial building. 2-9, 1700 Fairgrounds Road 2-10: Bethel Baptist Church, 3030 S. Poplar 3-2: Restoration Church 3-2, 411 S. Walsh Drive 3-3: Restoration Church 3-3, 411 S. Walsh Drive 3-4: Restoration Church 3-4, 411 S. Walsh Drive 3-5: Restoration Church 3-5, 411 S. Walsh Drive 3-6: Restoration Church 3-6, 411 S. Walsh Drive 3-8: Prince of Peace Lutheran, 2300 E. 15th. 3-9: Restoration Church 3-9, 411 S. Walsh Dr. 3-10: St Patrick's Conunons 3-10, 400 Country Club Road 4-1: Evansville Community Center, 71 Curtis 4-2: Evansville Community Center, 71 Curtis 5-1: Evansville Community Center, 71 Curtis 7-1: Midwest Town Hall, 531 Peake 7-2: Edgerton Town Hall, 311 N. Second 8-1: Mills Community Center 8-1, 401 Wasatch 8-2: Mills Community Center 8-2, 401 Wasatch 8-3: Wardwell Water and Sewer, 4150 Salt Creek Road 8-4: Christian Church of Casper, 8188 Zero Road 8-5: Bar Nunn Fire Hall, 1705 Sunset Blvd. Follow local government reporter Morgan Hughes on Twitter @morganhwrites Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Vietnam develops two more sets of coronavirus test kits Vinmec Stem Cell Research and Genetic Technology Research Institute (Vingroup Group) has successfully developed two sets of SARS-CoV-2 virus test kit (VinKit), reaching the same quality as recommended diagnostic bio-products of the World Health Organization (WHO). The difference between the 2 sets - VinKit SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR 1.0 and VinKit SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex RT-PCR - is the implementation process. While the VinKit SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR 1.0 kit is operated with three independent reactions to confirm the results, the VinKit SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex RT-PCR set combines three independent reactions into one to save biology products, time, and costs, while minimizing operational steps and technical errors. According to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Liem, Director of the Vinmec Research Institute of Stem Cell and Gene Technology, the VinKit SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex RT-PCR kit is capable of integrating the 3 in 1 reaction, reducing two thirds of the technical steps, increasing the testing speed by 2 times compared to other commercially available kits while ensuring high accuracy with low cost. Independent testing results from the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, National Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals show that 02 sets of Vinkit are stable, 100% accurate on clinical samples, reaching detection thresholds equivalent to the diagnostic bio-product according to WHO recommendations. The SARS-CoV-2 virus testing kit is the second production project of Vingroup to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2020, a ventilator developed by Vinsmart Company (of Vingroup Group) with a localization rate of up to 70% was licensed by the Ministry of Health, and awarded to Russia, Ukraine and Singapore. Earlier in April 2020, Viet Nams test kit for COVID-19 diagnosis made by the Viet Nam Military Medical University and Viet A Company met all standards defined by the WHO. The kit was also certified as meeting European standards by the United Kingdom, whilst obtaining a Certificate of Free Sale (CFS) in Europe. The mother of celeb manager Disha Salian, Vasanti, has said her daughters death on June 8 has no connection with Sushant Singh Rajputs death. Disha has worked with Sushant for a short period of time. There have been speculations about a connection between the two deaths, with reports suggesting that Bihar Police may investigate Dishas death by suicide as well. Dishas mother also said that while she is open to an investigation into her daughters death, she doesnt want to experience the same pain all over again. Talking about the cases, Dishas mother told Zee News in an interview, This cannot have a connection with Sushants death, she never took his name. We didnt know that she was Sushants manager. We came to know later. Only once, she had told us that she had gone to Sushants house with somebody. How can there be a connection aftee meeting him just once? She was his manager for a very short time. Also Watch | Sushant death: Cops look for flatmate as Bihar dy CM blames Bollywood mafia She said her daughter had earlier worked with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan for two years. She worked with her for three films: Jazbaa, Ae Dil Hai Mushkil and Sarabjit, she said. She added that Disha was a bit tense after she was asked to work on Ranbir Kapoors wedding but was later removed from the deal. She was at home, she couldnt celebrate her birthday on June 26. She used to work all the time. She was a bit tense during lockdown due to work but I wasnt aware that she was depressed. She used to enjoy every moment and used to love travelling. Denying that Disha was suffering from depression, she went on to add, We dont believe that she could die by suicide. She was a very brave girl. We dont know what happened during those last moments. We used to talk about her wedding. Talking about her last chat with Disha, her mother said, She said her friends were there and she was busy cooking for them. I cant doubt her friends, they were with her since school. She added that the family dont doubt anyone. She was at home during the entire lockdown. She had just gone for the shoot of her fiances show one day. She was happy at that time and didnt look tense, she added. Dishas mother also denied that they were being threatened by anyone. I am not afraid of anything. I am not going to get my daughter back. I dont care what happens to me. My life has no value. Disha was my future and now shes not here and now I dont even worry about her. What more can happen in our life no?, she said. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs SIM cards not registered in his name, we are tracking all call detail records: Bihar Police Sharing her pain on hearing of various conspiracy theories around her daughters death, she said, My daughter was not like what we had to hear from the news channels. On being asked if Bihar Police should investigate the matter, Dishas mother said, We are pained by reopening everything. I dont know how long will they dig into the matter. Our daughter is not going to come back. If I could bring back my daughter by reopening the matter, we would have done something. We are open to investigation if anyone has done something wrong. Just dont bother us. Follow @htshowbiz for more Two aircraft collided in mid-air on Friday near the Soldotna Airport on Kenai Peninsula in the U.S. state of Alaska, killing seven people, including Alaska House Representative Gary Knopp, Anchorage Daily News report updated on Saturday. One of the aircraft involved in the crash was a single-engine de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, according to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration. The other twin-engine aircraft had been later confirmed as a Piper PA-12. Alaska Department of Public Safety said in a statement that one plane carried six people. Gary Knopp was the only occupant in the other aircraft. All were confirmed deceased on the scene except for one person that succumbed to injuries during transport to the local hospital, the statement said. It added that positive identity has been made on all occupants of both aircraft and next of kin notifications have been made. Mr Knopp was a certified flight instructor and registered pilot. He was elected to the Alaska Legislature in 2016 after serving on the Kenai Borough Assembly. He was a candidate in this years Republican primary for House District 30, according to the ADN report. READ ALSO: Alaska Governor, Mike Dunleavy, has ordered the U.S. flag and Alaska state flag to be flown at half-staff in honour of Knopp, beginning mid-day Friday and ending at sunset on Monday. Throughout his 42 years on the Kenai Peninsula, Gary became well known as an avid outdoorsman, a skilled pilot, and a dedicated public servant. His presence will no doubt be missed by those he faithfully served, Mr Dunleavy said. The Alaska legislative leaders, on both sides of the political aisle, also expressed their grief over Mr Knopps death and extended condolences to his wife and family. (Xinhua/NAN) Parents of private school students in Ogun State have protested against a N25,000 fee returning boarding students have been asked to pay for a coronavirus test. The state had earlier fixed resumption of SS3 students for Tuesday, months after a nationwide halt of academic activities over the COVID-19 pandemic. The reopening is to allow the students to prepare for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) slated to begin on August 17. However, as part of the conditions for school resumption, the state government announced that COVID-19 and malaria tests are mandatory for returning boarding students. While the COVID-19 test is free for public secondary school students, their counterparts in private schools are required to pay N25,000. The PUNCH newspaper reported how some of the parents took their demonstrations to the streets, faulting the decision of the government to ask them to pay. The dissatisfied parents on Sunday thronged the 250-bed MTR specialist hospital, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the designated place for the pupils in Abeokuta after attempts to get their wards tested for free failed. Some parents who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday described the fee as insensitive on the part of the state government. How many parents can afford to pay N25, 000 in Ogun where there is acute poverty? a parent whose child attends Redeemers High school in Mowe asked. The ministers of health and education should better think of another means to rake in money from people, she said . Another parent, who spoke with our reporter in a telephone interview, also questioned the rationale for the test fee. My brother has been told to pay N30,000 before the school resumes for COVID-19 test. The test is supposed to be free if truly the government is concerned about the people, the parent who gave her name as Ms Akinkuebi said. She said the government was also not making necessary preparations for social distancing and other safety protocols in schools. Reacting to the grouse, however, the Special Assistant to the Governor on public communication, Remmy Hassan, said private schools students were meant to pay N25,000 because the government had subsidised the cost by 50 per cent. The COVID-19 test costs about N50,000. For the students in public schools, it is free but because the private schools could not provide us with the total number of their students, we could only subsidise the cost by 50 per cent. The reagents for the test have to be made available by NDDC because the students need to resume in the next 48 hours. All these are very important and it will cost money. That was why we decided that private schools should pay half of the cost since they are profit makers, he told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday. As of the time of filing this report, a total of 43, 537 cases of the respiratory disease have been confirmed in Nigeria. While 20,087 patients have recovered and been discharged, 883 persons have died. Kim Peacock was once the purveyor of first-class luxury, but now her Arlington company has more than 87,000 pounds of nuts and no idea if her airline customers will ever want them again. American Airlines supplier GNS Foods in Arlington is now trying to unload dozens of pallets of mixed cashews, pistachios, pecans and almonds after the COVID-19 pandemic forced air carriers to stop serving the first-class perk on flights. GNS opened a retail store at its factory and started peddling nuts online in hopes of getting rid of them at their wholesale price, even though the company spent the effort to roast, salt and package the nuts. We have pallets and pallets of nuts here, Peacock said. We didnt know how long this was going to last. The airlines were in a state of disarray themselves and they didnt know if they were going to be bringing them back or not. There are about 70,000 bags remaining that weigh 1.25 pounds a piece. First-class nuts have been one of the surprise victims of the global COVID-19 pandemic that has overtaken all aspects of life and sent airlines into a frenzy of how to protect customers and avoid bankruptcy. Vaibhav Saxena from Vietnam International Law Firm The new Law on Enterprises (LOE) is expected to take effect next year with a number of positive changes in rights and responsibilities. For example, if there is more than one legal representative at a company, and if the charter does not specify the rights and obligations of each legal representative, any of them can be the fully authorised representative and all of them will jointly be responsible for any damages incurred by the company. There are also changes to enterprise registration and admin procedures. Besides minutes of annual general meetings, the new LOE further requires companies to keep records of votes and minutes of vote-counting in the companys custody. The new LOE abolishes the requirement of reporting changes of the information of an enterprises managers. Currently, the licensing authority must be notified of changes to such personal details within five days. The law also allows the application dossier for enterprise registration to be submitted directly at the licensing authority, by post, or online via the National Business Registration Portal. The upcoming legislation confirms that both online and offline registrations have the same legal validity. It is understood that those who use the online registration method do not need to subsequently submit a paper application for enterprise registration to the business registration authority. Instead of specifically requiring capital contribution/transfer/repatriation to be conducted via a capital bank account, the new LOE removes this regulation and generally refers to the laws on foreign exchange control. The new LOE also abolishes the requirement of registering seal specimens before using them. It recognises registered e-signatures under e-transactions regulations as a type of company seal. It also clarifies that representative offices of enterprises are not allowed to conduct any business. New rules require members/shareholders register of a company to be updated with any change on a more timely basis. Other than when founding members/shareholders establishing a company (where the time limit of 90 days for capital contribution is applicable), a person is considered a member/shareholder of a company not only when he/she completes a capital contribution but also when his/her name is recorded in the members/shareholders register of the company. Along with the aforementioned procedure changes, there are other areas to look at. Time limit for injecting charter capital The updated LOE maintains the time limit for injecting charter capital at 90 days from the date of the issuance of enterprise registration certificates (for both limited liability companies and joint-stock companies) but provides certain exceptions for this time limit. This change is an attempt to resolve the current difficulties of contributions for land use rights by Vietnamese members/shareholders, which is time consuming, and are unlikely to be met by the 90-days limit in practice. Bond private placements by non-public companies The new LOE provides more conditions for private placements of bonds by limited liability companies (LLCs) and joint-stock companies (JSCs). A company can offer only convertible bonds and bonds with warranties to strategic investors, but can offer these bonds and other classes of bonds to professional securities investors. LLC management structure The requirement of having the board of inspection/controllers applicable to LLCs that are not owned by the state has been removed. This change allows LLCs to simplify their management structures. The legal representative of an LLC must at least hold the position of either chairman or [general] director of the company. If the charter does not specify clearly, the company chairman will be the legal representative. The new LOE clarifies that the individual owner of a single-member LLC is the chairman of the company. JSC management structure For the first time, the concept is introduced of non-voting depository receipt (NVDR), which clearly identifies the owners to have full economic benefits corresponding to the number of shares deposited to issue NVDR, but exclude (without) voting rights. The government will provide further guiding regulations. The new LOE allows a shareholder or a group of shareholders holding 5 per cent or more (or a smaller percentage as stipulated in the companys charter) of the total ordinary shares to have the right, inter alia, to request the convening of a general meeting of shareholders (GMS) in certain cases or to request the board of inspection/controllers to investigate certain matters relating to the operation of the company. A shareholder or a group of shareholders holding 10 per cent of voting rights or more can now nominate candidates for the management board or the board of inspection/controllers. In addition, the new LOE removes the requirement that a shareholder must hold shares for at least six months to exercise his/her above rights. This is a welcome change since the new owner of a JSC can take control of the company as soon as it acquires the respective shares. The new LOE clearly requires that prior to the issuance of shares under a private placement plan, the company must offer the newly-issued shares to the existing shareholders in proportion to their shareholding ratio. The existing shareholders may transfer their pre-emptive rights to subscribe for new shares to a third party. Only residual shares not subscribed by existing shareholders can be sold to the designated investor approved by the GMS under terms and conditions that are not more favourable than those offered to the existing shareholders. The threshold for passing a GMS resolution with respect to non-critical issues is reduced from at least 51 per cent to more than 50 per cent of the total number of the voting shares of the attending shareholders. This new threshold is also applicable to a written GMS resolution. More rights for the GMS are added, for example deciding remuneration for board members and controllers; approving internal management and operation regulations; and approving an independent auditing company. An independent member of the management board (where the JSC with more than 11 shareholders operates without a board of inspection/controllers) can be appointed for two consecutive terms only. Like current regulations, a shareholder or group of shareholders holding 1 per cent can now lodge a petition against the board members or [general] director who breach their duties to compensate the company. The GMS or the management board must approve certain transactions between the company and the related persons/entities of its shareholders. The new LOE adds a new requirement that those transactions which have value of more than 10 per cent of the companys total assets stated in the latest financial statement of the company between the company and shareholders holding from 51 per cent of total voting shares or their related persons/entities must now be approved by the GMS. Transactions with related persons/entities without proper approval from the GMS or the management board shall be deemed invalid by a court. Enterprise restructuring The new LOE removes the list of circumstances/methods of company restructuring. This provides flexibility to companies in dividing and separating enterprises according to the enterprises decisions instead of limiting them to the current specific methods. With respect to liquidation procedures, the current law requires the liquidation decision/resolution to be signed by the legal representative of the company. The new one specifies that this decision must be signed either by the company owner or a chairman. Moreover, the liquidation decision/resolution is not required to be declared in the timeline for paying debts and liquidating contracts, which must be within six months. In practice, this timeline is rarely met and a liquidated company has to issue a new decision to adjust it. This is a positive change in line with current practice. The new LOE allows private enterprises to be converted directly into JSCs. Currently, private enterprises must first be converted into LLCs before being converted again into JSCs. Definition of state-owned enterprises Under the new legislation, a state-owned enterprise (SOE) is a company with 50 per cent or more of its charter capital or voting shares owned by the state, rather than 100 per cent as currently stipulated in the 2014 equivalent. The new LOE returns to the definition of SOEs stipulated in the 2005 law. As a result, the term state-owned enterprise in the relevant laws will be now read as enterprises wholly owned by the state. Whether people will return to offices or not still hangs in the balance. Photo: Getty As prime minister Boris Johnson squeezes the break pedal on some UK businesses reopening, and markets gear up for another uncertain week, investors will be looking to key central bank announcements from the Bank of England (BOE) and jobs data from the US for clarity. Fears of a second wave of the coronavirus have plagued markets in recent weeks, and steps to mitigate risk, from both policy makers and officials will be closely watched. The market will also be watching for developments to stories that broke over the weekend: Key company results to watch this week come from: HSBC Interim results (Monday) BP Q2 (Tuesday) ITV Interim results (Thursday) UK BOE announcements, house price index, key policy updates Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey. Photo: Tolga AKMEN / POOL / AFP via Getty Images The BOE rate decision will be one to watch this week, as Andrew Bailey and the monetary policy committee continue to grapple with the economic effects of the coronavirus, and a potential second wave. Economists polled by Reuters last week on average predicted the BOE would keep the rate at its record low of 0.1% this year and next, but that policymakers would announce 70bn ($91.6bn) of asset purchases in November or December. Other UK developments to watch for are revisions to the rolling list of travel restrictions, and whether key holiday destinations in Europe will be exempted from quarantine. Halifaxs house price index is also due, and is likely to show further weakness in the housing market, despite stamp duty rollbacks. This week, Rishi Sunaks eat out to help out scheme comes into effect, offering customers money back on their meal if they dine out in participating restaurants on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays throughout August. It will give 50% off food and soft drinks, with a maximum discount of 10. Europe PMIs and retail sales Story continues Eurozone retail figures will give a read on the speed of recovery. Photo: Getty Investors will be watching for any significant fallout from key manufacturing data released this week. Markit PMIs across Europe will show how output fared in July, with releases from Italy, France, Germany, Europe and the UK on Monday. The PMIs are forward-looking indicators meant to signal the direction of activity in the broad manufacturing and services sectors and are based on sub-indices. Eurozone retail sales for June released on Wednesday will also be a good temperature gauge on how quickly economies are rebounding. A sharp rise is still to be expected before things start to level off, say analysts at ING. US jobs and other economic indicators Employment insurance claims forms. Photo: Getty Eyes will be on US jobs numbers again, as the report details payrolls for the week of 12 July. Economists expect to see an increase following rising employment in the second half of June and beginning of July most job losses in July fell in the second half of the month. Predicting the numbers, economists at ING say: We are more cautious than the market though and look for a figure closer to 750,000 versus the current consensus of 1.5 million. The market will also be looking to see what will happen as the $600 a week unemployment benefit ends. The payout has boosted more than 30 million people and is due to be replaced with something a lot smaller. Markit PMIs are also on the slate for the US on Monday. A SpaceX capsule carrying NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday after more than two months at the International Space Station, drawing to a close the first mission of the privately owned craft. The successful mission opens the door for a new era of spaceflight, one in which NASA contracts with private companies such as Hawthorne-based SpaceX to take its astronauts to the space station. NASA has said such an arrangement cuts down on costs while allowing the agency to focus its attention on more complex endeavors, such as missions back to the moon or forward to Mars. And even those missions will be accomplished with commercial partnerships, said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "The Commercial Crew program has really just proven the business model for how we go forward," he said of NASA's partnership with SpaceX and Boeing Co. to ferry astronauts to the space station. The spacecraft, dubbed Dragon Endeavor, left the space station Saturday afternoon. Behnken and Hurley were able to sleep aboard the capsule before being awoken Sunday morning with an audio message from their young sons. The capsule maneuvered closer to Earth and then began its de-orbit burn a little before 2 p.m. Eastern time. Crew Dragon then hurtled through the atmosphere, reaching temperatures of 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool air was pumped through the capsule and into the astronauts' suits to keep them comfortable. By 2:43 p.m. Eastern time, live footage from a high-altitude NASA research plane showed a tiny white dot rushing into the frame as the spacecraft sped toward its landing site at about 400 mph. A minute later, drogue parachutes deployed, slowing the craft down to about 150 mph. Then four main parachutes shot out from the capsule and ballooned into the air, slowing its downward drift to about 15 mph before the craft splashed down at 2:48 p.m. Eastern time near Pensacola, Fla. Less than 30 minutes later, a recovery ship came to reel in the capsule onto its deck. The capsule's hatch was opened around 4 p.m. Eastern time, and Behnken and Hurley were helped out of the capsule shortly after. Both waved or gave a thumbs-up at a camera onboard the ship as they were escorted to a medical examination. Story continues The crew said shortly after landing that they were feeling good. Thank you for doing the most difficult parts and the most important parts of human spaceflight getting us into orbit and bringing us home safely," Behnken said over the capsule's communication system shortly before he was helped out of the capsule. "Thank you again for the good ship Endeavor. The hatch opening was delayed by the detection of toxic fumes in the outer shell of the capsule. The vapors did not leak into the cabin, but crew aboard the recovery vessel flushed the air around the capsule to make sure it was safe. Fume checks are common with spacecraft, including the space shuttle, said Steve Stich, manager of NASA's Commercial Crew program. In the future, the spacecraft may purge the system sooner, said SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell. Had there been more wind, the fumes might have dissipated on their own, she said. It was the first time in 45 years that astronauts have returned to Earth via an ocean landing. The last such landing came in July 1975 when an Apollo capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission. Since then, spacecraft have made landings on terra firma the space shuttle landed on a runway and the Russian Soyuz capsule lands in Kazakhstan. NASA and SpaceX teams will now comb through the data from the capsule and the flight, and prepare to certify the Crew Dragon craft for future, regular missions to the space station. The first of those missions could happen as soon as September. SpaceX will also begin to refurbish the capsule for another crewed NASA flight. In 2014, NASA awarded multibillion-dollar contracts to SpaceX and Boeing Co. to develop craft to transport U.S. astronauts to the space station. Under those contracts, SpaceX and Boeing design and own the craft and NASA is simply a customer. NASA has said the arrangement lets the agency focus its attention on more ambitious missions to the moon or Mars, while commercial companies take over more routine spaceflight operations in low-Earth orbit, such as carrying cargo or crew members to the space station. Boeing's Starliner capsule made its first uncrewed test flight in December, but the spacecraft failed to make it to the space station because of several problems and had to return to Earth days ahead of schedule. Boeing will fly another uncrewed test mission to the space station before launching crew. Behnken and Hurley brought back to Earth about 330 pounds of cargo, most of which is science and sampling hardware. But there was also a special item an American flag left on the space station by the last space shuttle crew for the next crew launching from the U.S. to retrieve. New studies show how to save parasites and why it's important Parasites have a public relations problem. Unlike the many charismatic mammals, fishes and birds that receive our attention (and our conservation dollars), parasites are thought of as something to eradicate -- and certainly not something to protect. But only 4% of known parasites can infect humans, and the majority actually serve critical ecological roles, like regulating wildlife that might otherwise balloon in population size and become pests. Still, only about 10% of parasites have been identified and, as a result, they are mostly left out of conservation activities and research. An international group of scientists wants to change that. About a dozen leading parasite ecologists, including University of Washington's Chelsea Wood, published a paper Aug. 1 in the journal Biological Conservation, which lays out an ambitious global conservation plan for parasites. "Parasites are an incredibly diverse group of species, but as a society, we do not recognize this biological diversity as valuable," said Wood, an assistant professor in the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. "The point of this paper is to emphasize that we are losing parasites and the functions they serve without even recognizing it." The authors propose 12 goals for the next decade that could advance parasite biodiversity conservation through a mix of research, advocacy and management. "Even though we know little to nothing about most parasite species, we can still take action now to conserve parasite biodiversity," said Skylar Hopkins, paper and project co-lead and an assistant professor at North Carolina State University. Perhaps the most ambitious goal is to describe half of the world's parasites within the next 10 years. Providing taxonomic descriptions allow species to be named, which is an important part of the conservation process, the researchers said. "If species don't have a name, we can't save them," said Colin Carlson, the other project co-lead and an assistant professor at Georgetown University. "We've accepted that for decades about most animals and plants, but scientists have only discovered a fraction of a percentage of all the parasites on the planet. Those are the last frontiers: the deep sea, deep space, and the world that's living inside every species on Earth." Importantly, the researchers stress that none of the parasites that infect humans or domesticated animals are included in their conservation plan. They say these parasites should be controlled to safeguard human and animal health. The paper is part of an entire special edition devoted to parasite conservation. Wood is the lead author on one study in the collection that finds the responses of parasites to environmental change are likely to be complex, and that a changing world probably will see both outbreaks of some parasites and a total loss of other parasite species. "We need to recognize that there will be a diversity of responses among parasite taxa and not take for granted that every parasite is dwindling toward extinction or about to cause a major outbreak," Wood said. Parasites often need two or more host species to complete their lifecycle. For example, some parasites first infect fish or amphibians, but ultimately must get transmitted to birds to reproduce and multiply. They ensure that this happens through ingenious ways, Wood explained, often by manipulating the behavior or even the anatomy of their first host to make these fish or amphibians more susceptible to being eaten by birds. In this way, the parasite then gets transmitted to a bird -- its ultimate destination. Given this dynamic, Wood and colleagues wanted to see what would happen to the abundance of parasites if the ecosystems in which they live changed. They designed an experiment across 16 ponds in central California's East Bay region. In half of the ponds, they installed structures such as bird houses, floating perches and mallard decoys intended to attract more birds, thus temporarily altering the natural ecosystem and boosting biodiversity in these ponds. After a couple of years, the researchers analyzed parasite biodiversity in each of the 16 ponds. What they found was a mixed bag: Some parasite species responded to elevated bird biodiversity by declining in abundance. But other parasites actually increased in number when bird biodiversity increased. The authors concluded that as biodiversity changes -- due to climate change, development pressure or other reasons -- we can expect to see divergent responses by parasites, even those living within the same ecosystem. Traditionally, the field of disease ecology assumes one of two paths: That we are either heading toward a future of more disease and massive outbreaks or toward a future of parasite extinction. This paper shows that both trajectories are happening simultaneously, Wood explained. "This particular experiment suggests that we need to anticipate both trajectories going forward. It starts to resolve the conflict in the literature by showing that everyone is right -- it's all happening," Wood said. "The trick now is to figure out what traits will predict which parasites will decline and which will increase in response to biodiversity loss." Wood's lab is working on that question now by reconstructing the history of parasites over time, documenting which parasites increased in abundance and which declined. However, there's almost no historical record of parasites and without this information, it's difficult to know how to conserve them. By dissecting museum specimens of fish, the researchers are identifying and counting various parasites found in the specimens at different places and times. "These pickled animals are like parasite time capsules," Wood explained. "We can open them up and identify the parasites that infected a fish at its death. In this way, we can reconstruct and resurrect information that previously we didn't think was possible to get." ### Co-authors on this paper are Pieter Johnson and Margaret Summerside of the University of Colorado Boulder. This research was funded by the Michigan Society of Fellows, National Science Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, the University of Washington, the University of Colorado, the National Institutes of Health and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. See the journal for the full list of authors and funders for the special edition. FROM: Michelle Ma University of Washington mcma@uw.edu (NOTE: Researcher contact information at end) For more information, contact Wood at chelwood@uw.edu and Hopkins at hopkins@nceas.ucsb.edu. Grant numbers: NSF: OCE-1829509, DEB-1149308, DEB-1754171 NIH: RI0 GM109499 This story has been published on: 2020-08-01. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. It has been a long time since I've had that feeling of being winded. As a kid I'd be climbing on the monkey bars, enjoying the sensation of hanging upside down when suddenly I'd be on the ground searching for breath. The last few weeks have felt just like that as we returned to lockdown in Melbourne, the wind knocked out of us and our confidence shaken. The daily number counts, and the realisation of what the spread to aged care homes will mean for too many families. But this crisis has two interconnected dimensions health and the economy. These are dark days for the city on many fronts. Lockdown bites: An empty Flinders Lane. Credit:Getty Answering the question of what this will mean for the Melbourne and broader Victorian economy in the short term is a relatively easy exercise of adding up the weekly hit to economic output. The calculation for stage three restrictions was about $1 billion a week. But will our setbacks have longer-term consequences? Bay of Plenty Do you want the opportunity to work on one of the busiest ports in New Zealand? Then read on! We have an exciting role for... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz Many of the so-called TikTok Teens have already waged a digital vendetta aimed at Trump, using their Internet know-how to try to make it seem like merchandise is sold out on his site and flooding his campaign app with bad reviews in the App Store. But their most high-profile stunt may have rankled the president even more: A big coalition of young users hatched a plan to reserve tickets to his June Tulsa rally that they never planned to use, aiming to disappoint the campaign. A pipe transporting jet fuel offloaded from barges in seen at Kinder Morgan's Westridge Terminal on Burrard Inlet in Burnaby By Stephanie Kelly, Koustav Samanta and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin NEW YORK/SINGAPORE/LONDON (Reuters) - For a faint moment, energy traders had an inkling that demand for jet fuel, the worst-hit product in fuel markets due to the coronavirus pandemic, might stage a bit of a rebound. The number of flights increased in the United States in early July, making some traders optimistic. That spurred a bevy of shipments of jet fuel to the U.S. West Coast from locales in Asia. But with a resurgence in coronavirus cases, passenger air traffic has pulled back. Commercial aviation was easily the hardest-hit of the major transport sectors when coronavirus hit, given the close proximity of passengers in an air-conditioned space where viruses can spread. International flights remain down more than 80% from year-ago levels, Rystad Energy said. In Europe, traders were hopeful that the summer vacation season would increase demand for jet fuel. But stocks recently hit a record high despite subdued imports to the region and high exports as more countries impose border restrictions to control the new wave of the pandemic. Stocks had set new records in July at 984,000 tonnes in a fifth weekly consecutive rise, according to data from Dutch consultancy Insights Global. They slightly fell last week to 937,000 tonnes. Exports westward have come largely from countries such as South Korea, Japan and India. That has decreased jet fuel and kerosene floating storage in Asia to 1.1 million barrels from four million barrels in early May, according to Vortexa. The rising stocks in Europe and the low demand in summer encouraged many traders to look into export options. The United States was one of the main destinations in June and July, according to Kpler. But air travel in the United States also has not recovered. Activity rebounded around the July 4 U.S. holiday, but has since stalled, Standard Chartered said Wednesday. The week-over-week rolling seven-day average for passenger number growth in the United States fell below zero in mid-July for the first time since April 20, the company said. Story continues Jet fuel imports to the United States in July increased to 190,000 barrels per day, still 45,000 bpd under year-ago levels, but up 33,000 barrels per day versus June, according to data intelligence firm Kpler. Much of that went to the U.S. West Coast, which at times relies on imports, given its lack of connectedness to other markets in the country, Kpler's Reid l'Anson said. "Airlines might have been marginally more active in the region than initial expectations, prompting the need for some international jet volumes." Meanwhile, while the imports of most products from East of Suez to Europe fell in July according to Kpler data, imports of jet fuel remained stable versus June. However, shippers have grown so pessimistic about near-term demand that some vessels are now taking longer routes to arrive in Europe at the end of summer. (GRAPHIC: Scheduled flights edge higher in July https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/editorcharts/rlgvdnxgrvo/index.html) (Reporting by Stephanie Kelly in New York, Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in London and Koustav Samanta in Singapore; Editing by Dan Grebler) While Dr Anthony Fauci on Wednesday told Americans to consider wearing goggles as well as cloth masks, the Dutch government on the same day decided against advising the public to wear masks because they haven't been "proven" to be effective. From Reuters, "Dutch government will not advise public to wear masks - minister": The Dutch government on Wednesday said it will not advise the public to wear masks to slow the spread of coronavirus, asserting that their effectiveness has not been proven. The decision was announced by Minister for Medical Care Tamara van Ark after a review by the country's National Institute for Health (RIVM). The government will instead seek better adherence to social distancing rules after a surge in coronavirus cases in the country this week, Van Ark said at a press conference in The Hague. "Because from a medical perspective there is no proven effectiveness of masks, the Cabinet has decided that there will be no national obligation for wearing non-medical masks" Van Ark said. [...] RIVM chief Jaap van Dissel said that the organization was aware of studies that show masks help slow the spread of disease but it was not convinced they will help during the current coronavirus outbreak in the Netherlands. He argued wearing masks incorrectly, together with worse adherence to social distancing rules, could increase the risk of transmitting the disease. Meanwhile, Sweden is also advising against masks and focusing on social distancing. From The Financial Review: Dr Tegnell, the author of Sweden's controversial lockdown-lite strategy, this week welcomed a decline in new cases and deaths as he continued to champion the country's largely voluntary approach to social distancing. "The curves go down, and the curves over the seriously ill begin to be very close to zero. As a whole, it is very positive," he told reporters. "With numbers diminishing very quickly in Sweden, we see no point in wearing a face mask in Sweden, not even on public transport." These countries are pretty different from the US as they're more naturally prone to social distancing. According to reports, Hispanics in southern states disproportionately make up the bulk of coronavirus infections (47 percent in Houston despite being 40 percent of the population) which the Washington Post is blaming in part on "crowded housing" conditions (which are likely even worse due to the lockdowns). 6 of the top 10 places we found with the most severe coronavirus hospitalization rates were in Texas: Rio Grande Valley most likely has the worst rate of hospitalization in the U.S. In Corpus Christi, at least 87 people have died from the virus in the past 3 weeks. pic.twitter.com/cTd55O86N1 The New York Times (@nytimes) July 23, 2020 If you have 10 or more people in a modest home social distancing is not much of an option and while some Texas officials are encouraging people to wear masks in their homes, cloth masks cannot filter out viruses the way P100 or N95 mask can. Enforcing occupancy limits and our nation's immigration laws would probably do a lot more to help stop the spread than recommending everyone wear goggles. Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab and Minds. Quarterly Activities Report Brisbane, July 31, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Emerging lithium miner Sayona Mining Limited ( ASX:SYA ) ( FRA:DML ) ( OTCMKTS:DMNXF ) announced today its activities report for the June quarter 2020, as it continues to advance its lithium projects in Canada and Australia amid growing demand for the metal of the 21st century.North American Lithium (NAL) bidIn February 2020, Sayona submitted its official bid for North American Lithium (NAL) with the courtappointed monitor (administrator), Raymond Chabot Inc.NAL has a lithium mine and concentrator located in Abitibi, near the established mining district of Val d'Or, Quebec. Sayona considers NAL a near-term growth opportunity, given its proximity to the Company's flagship Authier Lithium Project. It provides Sayona with the unique competitive advantage of being able to combine ore produced from Authier with ore produced at NAL, facilitating a significant improvement in plant performance and economics.Sayona has assembled a world-class bid support team to ensure a successful turnaround operation. The team comprises environmental, engineering and financial expertise and includes former NAL management. In early July, subsequent to period end, Sayona announced the addition of Evercore Group LLC (Evercore) to the bid team. Evercore is a global banking advisory firm with a strong track record of advising corporations and investors on acquisitions and investments amounting to billions of dollars of transactions since its founding in 1995.However, the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec has caused delays to the bidding process, which was extended by the administrator to the end of July, pending any mutual agreement for a further extension. This comes amid broader industry restructuring, including Nemaska Lithium, which had its bidding process similarly extended under a court-administered process.A successful bid for NAL would fast-track the Company to becoming a world-scale spodumene producer, advancing from junior explorer to mid-tier miner with potentially three operating mines supplying a central concentrator. It would also secure local jobs and investment and support Quebec's plans for a clean energy future based on the development of its own battery industry.As highlighted in a recent investor presentation at the Noosa Mining Virtual conference (refer ASX release 17 July 2020), Quebec is the economic, strategic and green supplier of choice for the North American battery industry, which continues to show rapid growth in line with the acceleration of the electric vehicle (EV) and battery storage industry.Authier Lithium ProjectThe Company's flagship project, the Authier Lithium Project in Quebec is a hard rock spodumene lithium deposit scheduled for development as an open cut mine.A revised definitive feasibility study (DFS) announced last year (refer ASX announcement 11 November 2019) showed its potential to become a sustainable and profitable new mine, with an estimated NPV of C$216 million, a pre-tax IRR of 33.9% and estimated capital payback within 2.7 years. It also showed its potential to generate up to 176 new jobs for the benefit of the local community.Pending the necessary stakeholder support and regulatory approval, which is expected by late 2020 or early 2021, construction could commence as early as 2021, with the start of mining operations the following year.To view the full quarterly report, please visit:About Sayona Mining Ltd Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is an Australian, ASX-listed (SYA) company focused on sourcing and developing the raw materials required to construct lithium-ion batteries for use in the rapidly growing new and green technology sectors. The Company has lithium projects in Quebec, Canada and in Western Australia. Please visit us as at www.sayonamining.com.au A man is fighting for life in hospital after he was hit by a car in the eastern Brisbane coastal suburb of Wynnum overnight. The 35-year-old local was hit at the junction of Tingal Road and Chestnut Street about 6.15pm on Saturday, and the area was closed in the aftermath while police examined the scene. The man was treated at the scene by specialist critical care paramedics. The victim was rushed to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical condition with a severe head injury after being treated at the scene by specialist critical care paramedics. He was initially unidentified and police issued a public appeal for help to do so. He was described as bald, tanned and wearing shorts with a brown jumper. NapCity cabin. NapCity NapCity started out smalling private pods travelers could rent to take a rest in airports. The company pivoted to selling the pod as private, contactless spaces because of the coronavirus pandemic. They're customizable, and start at $50,000. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Since March of 2020, millions of people around the world have been forced to figure out how to work from home, from improvised office space to quick childcare solutions. NapCity makes tiny pods mostly used in airports, where travelers can take a quick nap on a layover. The COVID-19 pandemic completely upended the travel industry, and the company has pivoted to selling what president Stephen Rosenfeld calls "private space as a service." With travel way down, and many international routes closed, Rosenfeld is pitching his Napcabs as hotels, offices, wellness centers, and anything else that can fit in 50 square feet. Features that were good for convenience before, like touchless check in and online payments, are now key safety features in high demand. Rosenfeld predicts that more companies will be looking for ways to use tiny spaces like Napcabs. In the past few months, the Internet has been flooded with tiny backyard office designs, so there may be room for more growth in the tiny space industry. Look inside a Napcab here. Napcabs started as a convenient option for getting some rest during a layover at an airport. NapCity cabin. NapCity In airports, the 43 square foot pods offered a small area of privacy. NapCity cabin. NapCity They've already been implemented at the Munich and Berlin-Tegel airports, and are coming soon to Frankfurt. NapCity cabin. NapCity They can be reserved online by the hour from about $12 to $18 per hour. Napcab reservation. Napcab The company was also working towards installing Napcabs in airports and hotel chains in the US before COVID-19 hit. NapCity cabin. NapCity Since March, the coronavirus has drastically changed how and when people travel. NapCity cabin. NapCity Now, the company is pivoting to "automated private space as a service model," according to NapCity Americas president Stephen Rosenfeld. Story continues NapCity cabin. NapCity The pod comes in a few different versions and can be customized to different situations. NapCity cabin. NapCity If the company creates a partnership with a hotel chain, Napcabs could be rented out as smaller, less expensive hotel stays. NapCity cabin. NapCity The pods could use the same mattress, sheets, and pillows as standard rooms. NapCity cabin. NapCity With experience from Napcabs in airports, check-in and check out could be quick and contactless. NapCity cabin. NapCity The pods can be equipped with secure, touchless payments, facial recognition, and biometrics. NapCity cabin. NapCity The interior and exteriors can both be customized. NapCity cabin. NapCity Some buyers are even interested in franchise options, Rosenfeld told Business Insider. NapCity cabin. NapCity A standard Napcab costs $50,000 with assembly, while the slightly larger ADA compliant pod is $60,000. NapCity cabin. NapCity The design is modular, so single or multi-units sales are both possible. NapCity cabin. NapCity Rosenfeld predicts more industries will continue to turn to private space options like NapCity. NapCity cabin. NapCity "From workspace companies to wellness centers we have the only 'private space in any space' amenity that people want in a world of chaos," Rosenfeld told Business Insider. NapCity cabin. NapCity Read the original article on Business Insider Love Island's Siannise Fudge knew her angles as she showcased her ample cleavage in a plunging swimsuit during her Greek getaway with boyfriend Luke Trotman on Sunday. The reality star, 26, took to Instagram to share the sexy snap of herself sat in a hammock wearing the monochrome one-piece which clung to her stunning figure. A sun-kissed Siannise shielded her eyes behind a pair of cat-eye shades while her bronzed limbs glistened with water droplets from a recent dip in the Mediterranean. Having a swinging time: Siannise Fudge, 26, showcased her ample cleavage in a plunging Tiki swimsuit during her Greek getaway with Luke Trotman on Sunday The brunette star wore her wet, waist-length tresses slicked back as she savoured the quiet moment by closing her eyes in the pic she captioned 'Island Girl'. Siannise is currently enjoying her getaway with boyfriend of seven months, Luke Trotman, 23, after they met at the Love Island villa in January. The Bristolian beauty has been delighting her 1.8 million followers with a string of snaps of the loved up pair frolicking under the Mediterranean sun. Loved-up: Earlier on Sunday, Siannise shared a romantic pic of herself and beau Luke Trotman, 23, cuddled up close on the island's beach while enjoying an idyllic sunset Earlier on Sunday, Siannise shared a romantic pic of the pair cuddled up close on the island's beach while enjoying an idyllic sunset. Siannise showcased her phenomenal physique in a flesh tone body-con dress with spaghetti straps and finished off her outfit with raffia wedges and a metallic gold cluthchbag. Luke had perfected the smart-beachwear look in a pastel blue polo shirt, white khaki shorts and some classic white trainers. Flawless: Siannise also flaunted her impressive figure in a sizzling selfie as she donned a black strappy top during the luxury break before showing fans her sunset dinner location Looking every inch the amorous couple, cheeky Luke couldn't keep his hands off his girlfriend and was lightly cupping Siannise's peachy posterior in the snap. After being hit with Cupid's arrow in South Africa, the loved-up couple went on to place second in the ITV2 competition, narrowly losing out to Paige Turley and Finn Tapp. The pair's commitment to each other recently came under fire, when Siannise's break from social media led to rumours of a breakup. No way! Siannise slammed suggestions she had gone her separate ways from Luke in an impassioned post on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday However, on Wednesday Siannise took aim at the trolls suggesting the fairy tale was over by taking to social media. Hitting back at the speculation, Siannise wrote: 'I just wanna get something straight here. I am STILL a human being, if there's a day or a few days where I don't feel like posting or I want to take a break that is ok. 'Just because you don't see it on social media doesn't mean it isn't happening guys. 'Oh and me and Luke are very happy! We're off to Greece this week week (sic)' They pair have recently moved into their own flat in London after both staying with Luke's mum in Luton during lockdown. Siannise recently wrote on Instagram: 'We did it! Today myself & @luketroytrotman moved into our apartment and we love it. I feel so overwhelmed, this is something I have always wanted and it reminds me of how far we have both come. 'I'm excited for our next chapter in London and going on lots of adventures with my best friend, I love you (sic).' In February, the loved-up pair said they were planning to move to Windsor - because it is between their hometowns of Luton and Bristol. Candid: Hitting back at the speculation, Siannise wrote: 'I just wanna get something straight here. I am STILL a human being, if there's a day or a few days where I don't feel like posting or I want to take a break that is ok' What have the astronauts been doing aboard the space station? Originally, the mission was to last only up to two weeks, but Mr. Behnken and Mr. Hurley ended up with a longer and busier stay at the space station. Because of repeated delays by SpaceX and Boeing, NASA ended up short-handed, with only one astronaut, Christopher J. Cassidy, aboard the space station when the Crew Dragon and its two passengers docked. They stayed two months, helping Mr. Cassidy with space station chores. Mr. Behnken and Mr. Cassidy performed four spacewalks to complete the installation of new batteries on the space station. Mr. Hurley helped by operating the stations robotic arm. The men have also been contributing to science experiments in low earth orbit. They assisted in a study of water droplet formation in the low gravity environment of the space station using a shower head, and another that used fruit punch and foam to look at how to manage fluids in space. They also helped install new equipment inside the station that will be used in future scientific research. Mr. Cassidy will remain aboard the station with two Russian astronauts, Anatoly Ivanishin and Ivan Vagner. All three are to stay on board through October when another crew of one American and two Russian astronauts will replace them. When are the next Crew Dragon flights, and who will they carry? The first operational flight of the Crew Dragon will launch no earlier than late September. It will take three NASA astronauts Michael S. Hopkins, Victor J. Glover and Shannon Walker and one Japanese astronaut, Soichi Noguchi, to the space station. The second operational flight, tentatively scheduled for February 2021, will carry two NASA astronauts, Robert S. Kimbrough and K. Megan McArthur; Akihiko Hoshide of Japan; and Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency. Ms. McArthur is married to Mr. Behnken. Which other companies are building rides to space? SpaceXs counterpart in the commercial crew program, Boeing, will almost certainly not be able to launch astronauts until next year. An uncrewed flight last year suffered significant software errors, which prevented the spacecraft from achieving its primary goal of docking at the space station, and could have led to a loss of the spacecraft during its orbital test. Boeing will now repeat the uncrewed test later this year before putting astronauts aboard. Closer to Earth, a couple of companies Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic are developing spacecraft that provide brief up-and-down tourist rides to the edge of space, although neither is capable of making the trip to the space station, or even to orbit. Protesters Brave Drenching Rain To Demonstrate In Khabarovsk For 22nd Day By RFE/RL's Russian Service August 01, 2020 KHABAROVSK, Russia -- Thousands of people braved rainy weather in Russia's Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk on August 1 to attend a fourth weekend of mass demonstrations against President Vladimir Putin's role in a regional political crisis. There also were similar, but smaller, protests on August 1 in other Far Eastern cities, including Komsomolsk-na-Amur, Vladivostok, and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The demonstrators in Khabarovsk have been showing their support for the Khabarovsk region's jailed former governor, Sergei Furgal. A member of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), Furgal was elected by a wide margin in 2018 over the incumbent candidate from Putin's ruling United Russia party. But on July 9, Furgal was arrested and transferred to a jail in Moscow for what authorities said was suspicion of involvement in several murders in 2004 and 2005. Furgal was then sacked by Putin, who appointed LDPR member Mikhail Degtyaryov as the Khabarovsk region's acting governor. Furgal's supporters say the charges against him are politically motivated retribution for his 2018 election defeat of Putin's ally. The Kremlin says Furgal has serious charges to answer. The protests highlight growing discontent in the Far East over what demonstrators see as Moscow-dominated policies that often neglect their views and interests. "The government [in Moscow] doesn't think of us as people," one woman demonstrator told journalists on August 1. "We're scum to them." Putin's popularity has been declining as the Kremlin tries to deal with an economy suffering from the coronavirus pandemic and years of ongoing international sanctions. Sheltering from sporadic rain beneath umbrellas on August 1, protesters could be heard chanting, "Freedom!" and "Putin resign!" outside a government building. One banner at the demonstration read: "Russia without Putin." Others chanted: "We need the entire country's support," and mocked Russia's state media for failing to report on their demonstrations and grievances. "Shame on the Russian media," protesters chanted. Municipal officials said they estimated the crowd at about 3,500 people. Some local media put the number above 10,000 protesters but said the crowds were smaller than in previous weeks. Sustained demonstrations against the government in Moscow are unusual for Russia's regions, as is a lack of response from authorities to break them up. With additional reporting from Current Time and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/several-thousand -demonstrators-continue-protests-in- russia-s-khabarovsk/30761227.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By PTI PATNA: Bihar police is looking for Sushant Singh Rajput's flatmate Siddharth Pithani to record his statement in the actor's death case but has failed to locate him so far, a top state police officer said on Sunday. Pithani is a creative content manager and flatmate of the late actor who was found dead at his Bandra apartment in Mumbai on June 14. Bihar police is looking for Siddharth Pithani to record his statement as he used to stay with the actor. Efforts to contact Pithani have been futile. He has not come forward before the police. Notice will be served if he does not appear, Inspector General, Patna Zone, Sanjay Singh told PTI. Pithani had alleged in an email to Mumbai police two days ago that he was being pressured by Rajput's family to record a statement against his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. Pithani had said that he shared a professional relationship with the late actor. Singh said that IPS officer Vinay Tiwary, who is posted as City SP (Central) Patna, has already left for Mumbai to lead the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case. Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey had Saturday said, if needed, an IPS officer would be sent to Mumbai to join the investigation. ALSO READ: Bihar Police to probe suicide of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's former manager Pandey had also said that Bihar police team had failed to locate Rhea Chakraborty, whom Rajput's father has accused of abetting the actor's suicide. Rajput's father has also accused Chakraborty of wrongful confinement of the actor, spiriting away Rs 15 crore from one of his bank accounts, and having him undergo treatment for mental illness without keeping his family informed. A four-member team is already in Mumbai to probe the Bollywood actors death case after his father K K Singh lodged a police complaint in Patna on July 25, more than a month after his demise. Mumbai police is also parallelly probing the case. Several political leaders including Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi have alleged that Mumbai police was not cooperating with their Patna counterparts in the investigation. "Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra CM) is under pressure from the Congress-funded Bollywood mafia. So it's bent on saving all the elements responsible in the case," the BJP leader had tweeted in Hindi on Saturday, and accused the Mumbai police of creating hurdles before the Bihar police team. Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, meanwhile, said the state police team in Mumbai had not yet got any documents from the metropolitan police. "Apart from the FIR that we have registered, we have nothing. We have not received the inquest report, postmortem report, video footage of the building. That the investigation moves forward and truth is unravelled is the responsibility of both Mumbai and Bihar police. Sushant's death is not a simple matter," he told a TV news channel. On Wednesday, the House's top antitrust subcommittee grilled big-tech CEOs Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, Tim Cook and Jeff Bezos, who appeared via videoconferencing software. Some people called it tech's "Big Tobacco moment" while others compared it with past antitrust investigations of Microsoft and AT&T. To me, the hearing - and the ongoing investigations - conjured another set of hearings from 70 years ago: the probe into mob activity led by Sen. Estes Kefauver, D-Tenn. Those hearings led to a wave of enforcement, new laws and eventually, in 1970, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. What we learned at Wednesday's hearing suggests the behavior of Facebook, Microsoft, Apple and Amazon calls for a comparably comprehensive and forceful response. (Bezos, the chief executive of Amazon, owns The Washington Post.) There are more than a few similarities between the organized crime and these four companies. Like the Mafia, the threats that Apple, Amazon, Facebook and Google pose to American democracy flow from the power they have over key services (from email to social media to music and film), the way they use dominance in one area to achieve dominance in others and their ability to use fear to stop challenges to their control. Like the Mafia, they are a resilient, surveillance-based shadow government. So citizens are dual subjects - of the country, and of the flawed online markets created by these companies. Like the mob, big tech has friends in very high places. Likewise, big tech is an oligarchy with several bosses, who compete in some territories but generally divide power among themselves, without consulting elected officials. Obviously, I am not saying Facebook and Google murder and kneecap their opponents, or burn down businesses that refuse to play by their rules; I am not equating tech companies with the mob. While just about every Mafia enterprise was illegal, big tech operates in a legal gray area; these companies argue that they have broken no laws. They evade taxes using legal loopholes, not as the mob does by simply refusing to report income. Still, the analogy is useful, because it helps us think about a certain kind of oligarchic governing power that exists alongside - is interwoven with - responsive democratic systems. It helps us to think through what an effective governmental response to systemic interference with, dominance of, and bullying of businesses with less power might look like. The hearing, compressed into one afternoon with all the CEOs present at one time, was not ideal, but arguably the best Congress could get without getting dragged into an extended legal fight over subpoenas. In one of the funnier moments, Bezos said, "I don't want to be sitting here," and then trailed off, revealing a basic truth. It went far worse for the titans than you might have expected, given that oversight hearings often feature a series of sleepy (or pointlessly grandstanding) speeches and that big tech has at its disposal potent lobbyists and consultants from every recent presidential administration. Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., who heads the subcommittee, kicked off the hearing with an explosive opening statement, arguing that the heads of the tech companies are acting like emperors, and they use three basic strategies - copy, kill and acquire - to make it impossible for upstarts to get a foothold. Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., described the result as an "innovation kill zone," because nobody is going to want to create a new product or service if they know their ideas will either be stolen, suppressed or bought at discount, under threat. A lot of the questions were about territory and fear - how the big four built their territories, how they protect it and how they intimidate small business owners and app developers. Cicilline's subcommittee used the time constraints well, pinning down the CEOs by using easy-to-understand examples of abusive strategies and explaining how they undermine freedom, equality and fairness. In Amazon's case, the hearing showed how the company directly competes against independent sellers in its online marketplace. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., forced Bezos to admit that while his company has a policy against using the data it collects on sellers and their products to create competing goods, he cannot promise the policy has not been violated. Bezos also admitted that a seller may get preferential treatment in a search result if they use affiliated Amazon services such as "fulfillment by Amazon," Amazon's storage, packing and shipping service. The result? Amazon made $60 billion from seller fees last year, and the average fees Amazon charges sellers has jumped from 19% of an average sale to 30% in five years. While Amazon demands tribute, Google focuses on steering those of us who depend on its search engine to its own products. On average, 40% of the space on the first page of Google search results direct people to Google products, according to an analysis by the Markup, an investigative nonprofit group focused on tech. Rivals charge that the company scrapes content from other sites and uses it for its own purposes - content such as pictures from Yelp restaurant reviews. Cicilline said the committee had evidence that when Yelp complained about this behavior to Google, Google threatened that Yelp would not show up in search results. Cook, of Apple, was sharply questioned about the 30% cut Apple takes when consumers pay for an app by an independent company, and why rival screen time apps disappeared from the store at the very moment Apple was promoting a similar product. Cook's repeated response that protecting the "privacy and security" of consumers was the reason for expelling such apps - not protecting Apple's financial interests - reminded me of the catchall "national security" defense that government officials often give when asked about questionable activities. The committee presented documents it had uncovered showing that two months before buying Instagram, Zuckerberg wrote that the "nascent" business "could be very disruptive to us." On the day Facebook bought Instagram, he told an engineer he was correct that "Instagram was our threat," adding: "one thing about start-ups though is you can often acquire them." These are not small revelations. It is a violation of the Sherman Act to protect a monopoly by buying out or shutting out a direct competitor. It is telling that a congressional committee, not an antitrust enforcement agency like the Federal Trade Commission, revealed these exchanges. The federal enforcers seem not to have been looking - although state antitrust enforcers, who are already in the middle of their own big tech probes, will likely use the new evidence in those investigations. But the subcommittee's goal involved more than merely revealing specific instances in which laws might have been broken. This is where the echo of the Mafia hearings is strongest: Like Kefauver, Cicilline wants to reveal and then root out a creeping form of oligarchic power. The Kefauver hearings educated the country about the potency and reach of organized crime and led to short- and long-term legal change. That committee's final report recommended a "racket squad" within the Justice Department, a federal crime commission, bans on some forms of betting and the creation of what became known as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (when it was finally passed in 1970). RICO created major new penalties and civil cause of action for crimes that occurred as part of an ongoing criminal enterprise. What the country understood after the Kefauver hearings was that when a large, networked institution engages in systemic bullying it is far more dangerous than occasional or individual wrongs; shadow governments cannot be squashed with piecemeal whack-a-mole enforcement. If the analogy to Kefauver's mob hearings holds, Wednesday's hearings could spell the beginning of the end of abusive big tech power. Congress will rouse itself to use its subpoena power to unearth even more damning documents, and the public will realize that four self-important men should not govern us. The equivalent of a RICO Act for big tech would be robust new antitrust laws and regulations, such as the structural breakups proposed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. All of these companies simultaneously own marketplaces and compete in those marketplaces, and they use their clout to maintain their clout. An effective solution would aim directly at their power, not just their practices - just as Kefauver did with the Mafia. - - - Teachout is an associate professor of law at Fordham University. This years convention originally had been scheduled to take place in Charlotte. But state officials said they could not guarantee a large-scale event in the city amid the pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 150,000 Americans. Advisers scoured the country for an alternative venue, settling on Jacksonville, Fla., where the mayor and the states governor are allies of the president. SAN DIEGO - Eight troops missing after their landing craft sank off the Southern California coast during a training exercise are presumed dead, the Marine Corps announced Sunday. The Marines said they had called off the search that started late Thursday afternoon when the amphibious assault vehicle sank with 15 Marines and one Navy sailor aboard. Eight Marines were rescued, but one later died and two are in critical condition. The 26-ton, tank-like craft took on water and quickly sank in hundreds of feet of water too deep for divers making it difficult to reach. It is with as heavy heart that I decided to conclude the search and rescue effort, said Col. Christopher Bronzi, commander of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. All of the Marines aboard were attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, based at nearby Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego. They ranged in age from 19 to early 30s and all were wearing combat gear, including body armour and flotation vests, according to Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman, commanding general of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. The craft was one of 13 amphibious assault vehicles that had just completed an exercise. It was heading back to a Navy ship when it began taking on water about a half-mile from the Navy-owned island off San Diego. Troops on board two other amphibious assault vehicles responded quickly but couldnt stop the sinking, Osterman said at a Friday news conference. Over the course of the search, dozens of helicopters and ships searched more than 1,000 square nautical miles (2,590 square kilometres) of sea. Efforts will now turn to finding and recovering the service members and investigating the circumstances surrounding the sinking, officials said. The names of the victims will be released 24 hours after their families are notified. The vehicle, nicknamed an amtrac -- short for amphibious tractor -- was designed to be buoyant and had three water-tight hatches and two large troop hatches. The Marines use the vehicles to transport troops and their equipment from Navy ships to land. The vehicles have been used since 1972, and continually refurbished. The Marine Corps commandant, Gen. David Berger, suspended waterborne operations of all of its more than 800 amphibious assault vehicles across the branch until the cause of the accident is determined. He said the move was out of an abundance of caution. It was the deadliest of several accidents involving amtracs that have occurred during Camp Pendleton exercises in recent years. In 2017, 14 Marines and one Navy sailor were hospitalized after their vehicle hit a natural gas line at the camp, igniting a fire that engulfed the landing craft. And in 2011, a Marine died when an amphibious assault vehicle in a training exercise sank offshore of the camp. Talks are reportedly 'paused' after Trump voiced opposition to a sale. Photo: Getty Talks between Microsoft (MSFT) and Bytedance, the US arm of controversial video-sharing app TikTok have reportedly been put on hold, the Wall Street Journal has reported. The software giant was believed to be in advanced negotiations with TikTok to buy its US arm, but talks are said to be paused after US president Donald Trump opposed the deal on Friday. Bytedance is said to have made significant concessions in a last-ditch effort to win support from the White House by agreeing to created as many as 10,000 jobs in the US. Trump has been vocal about banning TikTok in the US on the grounds of national security fears, after accusing the Chinese video-sharing app of collecting Americans personal data. READ MORE: Microsoft and TikTok in exploratory deal talks Voicing his opposition to the deal, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he preferred to ban TikTok all together and wouldnt support a sale. Trumps calls to ban TikTok come at a time of heightened tensions between his administration and the Chinese government over issues including, trade disputes and Beijing's handling of the coronavirus crisis. Any transaction between the two companies could face regulatory hurdles. In 2017 ByteDance created a social media hit in the US after it bought Musical.ly Inc. and merged it with TikTok - the first Chinese app to do so. READ MORE: What is TikTok? The 15-second video platform explained TikTok saw a spike is users recently due to the coronavirus lockdown, which saw the popular app gain 200 million downloads in the first quarter of 2020. A sale to Microsoft, which also owns LinkedIn, would help the tech giant create a larger presence on social media an area dominated currently by rivals such as Facebook. Acquiring Bytedance would also help Microsoft bolster its advertising business, and could help Bytedance resolve data issues and ease US policy makers concerns over Chinese firms operating in America. Spokespeople for Microsoft and TikTok declined to comment on any potential talks. According to people close to the matter, broad strokes of a deal is expected to be in place by Monday. (Newser) Bad news for a Norwegian cruise ship: After wrapping up a voyage Friday, it tested the crew for the coronavirus and found 36 positives. Meanwhile, all the passengers had already left. Now the MS Roald Amundsen is docked at the Norwegian city of Tromso with 154 of the original 158 crew members confined to the ship, USA Today reports. "We are now focusing all available efforts in taking care of our guests and colleagues," says Rune Thomas Ege, a top official at the ship's company, Hurtigruten. "We work closely with the Norwegian national and local health authorities for follow-up, information, further testing, and infection tracking." The ship's woes began when four crew members recently fell ill, according to a press release. story continues below The Japan Times quotes Hurtigruten as saying that all four "were isolated several days ago because of other disease symptoms, with no symptoms of COVID-19. There was no reason to suspect COVID-19 when the ship docked in Tromso based on the symptoms they were showing." Among the ill crew members, 32 are from the Philippines, while others are from Norway, France, and Germany. Nearly 400 passengers on the ship's two recent voyages may be affected by the onboard outbreak, and all have been told to self-quarantine as per Norwegian law. The MS Roald Amundsen made headlines in July by embarking on the first international cruise during the pandemic. (Read more cruise ships stories.) A boutique owner ran over four people in Delhi's Amar colony area causing injuries but when confronted by Delhi Police team, she blamed her dog for the accident. The incident which was reported on Friday night near Sapna Cinema in East of Kailash when a speeding BMW rammed into an ice cream cart injuring four people. The injured were identified as Mukesh Kumar, Sapna Kumari, Guddu and Harshit Kaur. Harshit Kaur received wound in her ankle. During the course of investigation the offending car was seized and 29-year-old Roshani Arora, a resident of Faridabad, Haryana was arrested in the case. To rule out consumption of alcohol by the accused, her medical examination was conducted, where no alcohol was found. However, the woman alleged that its her dog which has to be blamed for the accident. "On interrogation the accused stated that while she was eating ice cream sitting inside her car, her dog jumped and the gear of the car was changed and incident happened," said R.P. Meena, DCP South East Delhi. As the world is struggling with the ongoing health crisis, Mexico reported its largest single-day jump with a record number of new coronavirus cases on August 1, racking up more than 9,000 cases for the first time. The countrys healthy ministry reported 9,556 fresh cases of the deadly virus, passing the previous peak of 8,458 cases recorded on July 31. The total tally of the country now stands at 434,193. The ministry also reported 784 additional causalities, taking the countrys total death toll to 47,472. Recently, Mexico overtook Britain and became the country with the third-highest coronavirus death toll caused by the ongoing pandemic. Read: Mexico Overtakes UK For The World's Third-highest COVID-19 Death Toll Read: Brazil, Argentina Witnesses Record Number Of Cases As Latin America Exceeds 4 Mn Mark Mexico recorded 688 new deaths on July 31, taking the tally to 46,688, with 424,637 confirmed cases. Mexico has been struggling to combat the spread of the deadly virus. Along with battling a health crisis, the country has also been trying to restart its economy since late May, which in the April-June period shrank by over 17% quarter-on-quarter. Mexico is right after Brazil as the pandemic hard hits Latin America. Reportedly, the virus has claimed 1,088 lives in Brazil. More than 93,000 people have died in Brazil, the second-hardest hit country by the virus. On July 29, Brazil reopened international air travel, which had been banned since March due to the ongoing pandemic. As per reports, the government said that tourists from all countries could travel to Brazil as long as they have a health insurance. Read: COVID-19: Brazil Starts International Flights Even As Country Crosses 2.5 Million Cases Current situation in Mexico Reportedly, the situation in Mexico is far worse than what the records suggest. The government stated the actual number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases. The upsurge in the number of COVID-19 cases has made Latin America an epicentre of the virus. Cases in the region have doubled over the last month to more than 4.7 million. Read: UN Says Latin America And Caribbean Are COVID-19 `hot Spot On July 31, Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said that the country will go ahead with the Independence Day celebrations at the Zocalo Square. He further added that the ceremony would be 'social distanced' and all the precautions and regulations will be followed. The September 16 ceremony celebrates a historic call to revolt known as El Grito. The first coronavirus case in the country was recorded on February 28 and the first death on March 19. Since first emerging in China last December, the virus has spread worldwide. The US, Brazil, India, and Russia are currently the worst-affected countries in the world. (Image credit: AP) During the week of July 26, Kim Kardashian West flew to Wyoming to see Kanye West as he repeatedly made headlines for behavior attributed to his bipolar disorder. She was seen crying during a tense conversation with the Yeezy designer for reasons that were unknown at the time. However, a source has since said that she was allegedly telling him that their marriage was not working out. Kim Kardashian and Kanye West at a party | David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images A quick recap of the drama between Kim Kardashian and Kanye West The drama started on July 19 when West held his first presidential campaign rally and revealed personal information about their relationship. As his statements swept the Internet, West went on Twitter and claimed his wife had been trying to fly to his Wyoming ranch with two doctors to lock [him] up. He also called out her mom, Kris Jenner, for ignoring his phone calls and said she was not allowed around their kids: North, 7, Saint, 4, Chicago, 2, and Psalm, 1. Kardashian West kept quiet as the Flashing Lights rapper continued his Twitter tirade, which included jabs at her sex tape and a claim that he had been trying to get a divorce for years. But a source told People that his behavior had taken a serious toll on their marriage. Things have broken down significantly between the two of them, and its happened pretty suddenly, said the insider. RELATED: The Kardashian-Jenners Think Kanye West Has Crossed the Line by Airing Them Out on Twitter, Report Says When Kardashian West did finally speak out, she acknowledged that West had been struggling with his bipolar disorder and asked the world for compassion. She did not comment on the status of their marriage, but West attempted to right his wrongs on July 25 when he apologized to her on Twitter. Kim Kardashian Wests trip to Wyoming After several failed attempts to see West, the reality star reunited with her husband on July 27 at their second residence in Cody, Wyoming. Upon her arrival, she was photographed crying while having what appeared to be a heated conversation with West in his car. As soon as Kim got to the ranch, she and Kanye came out together in his car, a source told People of the trip. [Kim] is very emotional about everything and also exhausted. She feels very hurt by Kanye. She has tried to reach him multiple times and he just ignores her. So she decided to fly to Cody to speak to him in person, according to the source. She doesnt want to be ignored anymore Its all a bad situation. A day later, the KKW Beauty founder was seen leaving Wyoming without West, whom she married in 2014 following a two-year relationship. RELATED: Kim Kardashian West Has an Idea for a Wyoming-Based Reality Show The reported reason Kim Kardashian West flew to Wyoming revealed On July 30, a source told People that the Wests had had a heated conversation about their future together. She isnt getting back what she needs from Kanye, the source shared. She was to the point that she flew to Cody to basically tell him their marriage is over and to say goodbye. The insider claimed that West seems open to the idea of staying with his wife but also suggested that he doesnt understand the damage hes allegedly caused thus far. He doesnt seem to get what she is saying, the source continued. He hasnt changed anything that she told him needs to change. But even so, Kim is very torn, according to the source. The last thing she wants is to be divorced with four kids. She knows that she will be fine financially, but her concerns are the kids and the partnership. She is moving towards a divorce, but who knows if she will actually sign papers. Neither of them has addressed the report, at the time of this writing. But if its true, we wish both of them the best. RELATED: Kim Kardashian West Gives 1 Reason Why She and Kanye West Are Still Together Thirty journalists comprising news editors, senior journalists, media managers and regional correspondents from state and private media organizations across Ghana have undergone a week-long training on Journalism, Fake News and Disinformation.' The training was jointly organised by Media Response (NGO) and the Ghana Journalists Association on the GJA-Media Response Virtual Learning Platform from July 20 to 26, 2020. The course provided participants with strategies for evaluating the quality of information and for understanding differences in the ways that high and low quality information emerge in the digital era. A statement issued and signed by the Founder and Executive Director of Media Response, Mr Samuel Dodoo, on July 26, this year, said some of the Key topics treated under the course were news literacy, what is fake news, key terminologies, technology that makes fake news possible, how big a problem is fake news, evaluating fake news and what you can do to fight fake news. Below is the statement: JOURNALISTS TRAINED ON FAKE NEWS AND DISINFORMATION Thirty journalists comprising news editors, senior journalists, , media managers and regional correspondents from state and private media organizations across Ghana have undergone a week-long training on Journalism, Fake News and Disinformation. The training was jointly organized by Media Response (NGO) and the Ghana Journalists Association on the GJA-Media Response Virtual Learning Platform from 20th to 26th July, 2020. The course provided participants with strategies for evaluating the quality of information and for understanding differences in the ways that high and low quality information emerge in the digital era. Key topics treated under the course were: News Literacy, What is Fake News, Key Terminologies, Technology that makes fake news possible, How big a problem is fake news, Evaluating fake news and what you can do to fight fake news. Mr. Samuel Dodoo, Founder and Executive Director of Media Response mentioned that the GJA-Media Response Virtual Learning Platform was established to offer journalists and media practitioners the opportunity to upgrade their skills in critical areas of their profession. He said the training on Journalism, Fake News and Disinformation was the first to be organized on the GJA-Media Response VLP and added that other courses to be rolled out soon were Media Ethics, Elections Reporting; Writing Right Reporting in a Covid-19 era; and Media Training on the Right to Information (RTI) Law. He urged prospective learners to visit www.gjamediaresponse.org for more information. Mr. Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, the course administrator stated that the virtual platform offered a flexible and friendly learning environment which enabled participants to study at their own pace without necessarily interrupting their busy work schedule or missing out on lessons. He called on stakeholders in the media landscape and corporate institutions to embrace the concept of e-learning and take advantage of the GJA-Media Response learning platform in order to enhance the professional competencies of their staff. Some of the participants who completed the course shared their views as follows:- Diana Yaba Bassaw, Newscaster, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation - It's been an eye opener for me and I'm most grateful, thanks. Thumbs up! Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Senior Reporter/Eastern Regional Correspondent, New Times Corporation The quizzes were well organized and materials provided were very flexible. Doreen Hammond, Editor, Graphic Communications Group Ltd. I could do the quiz and study at my own pace within the time frame. Prosper Kwame Kuorsoh, Chief Reporter, Ghana News Agency The training materials were very brief and concise. The quizzes were also on point. Agnes Ansah, Reporter/ Parliamentary Correspondent, The Chronicle The materials used were very good. Lambert Kofi Atsivor, Assisting Editor, Volta Online I love the flexibility of the training as well as its virtual nature. Nana Kwasi Asuman-Frimpong, Reporter, Daily Statesman I appreciate the succinct nature of the reading materials. Each of the course participants will receive a Certificate of Achievement. Media Response is a non-governmental organization engaged in the promotion of media growth and development in Ghana. In June 2020, the organization is partnering with the Ghana Journalists Association to develop the GJA-Media Response Virtual Learning Platform with the aim of meeting the urgent training needs of journalists in an era of Covid-19 and beyond. The organization has collaborated with GJA, GIBA and GNA to train journalists in migration reporting and the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons. To learn more about Media Response please visit www.mediaresponse.org. Issued in Accra, Media Response T: 0244366693 Source: Graphic.com.gh Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has issued state-wise quarantine guidelines for domestic air travellers. The AAI in a tweet said, "To address the concerns regarding quarantine norms in different states, latest state-wise quarantine regulations for domestic passengers have been issued." All states have mandated thermal screening of all passengers upon arrival. In Jammu and Kashmir, the COVID-19 test is mandatory for all passengers, excluding defence personnel. In Amritsar, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Andaman and Nicobar Islands coronavirus tests will be performed on a random basis. In Tripura's Agartala, and Tamil Nadu COVID-19 test will be done for all arriving passengers. In Assam's Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Silchar, and Jorhat airports, the COVID-19 swab test will be conducted upon arrivals. Karnataka will conduct a swab test for symptomatic passengers. In Raipur, Goa, Kerala, Gujarat and West Bengal, COVID-19 test will be done for symptomatic passengers. In Manipur, the coronavirus test will be conducted during the institutional quarantine. Meghalaya will conduct an RT-PCR test for all arriving passengers. In Mizoram, the test will be done for passengers opting for home quarantine. The installation of the Aarogya Setu app continues to remain mandatory for all domestic passengers. However, AAI has mentioned a list of rules for the passengers that varies in states and union territories. AIRPORT AUTHORITY OF INDIA ISSUES RULES FOR AIR PASSENGERS: 1. Himachal Pradesh: Entry and exit from state borders will only be allowed from 6 am-8 pm. 2. Jammu and Kashmir: Passengers will be required to fill out the ICMR Health form on arrival. They are required to undergo the COVID-19 test at the airport. 3.Madhya Pradesh: Passengers will be required to undergo COVID-19 test at the airport if advised by the health authorities. 4.Punjab: All passengers must register on the COVA Punjab App before commencing their journey. 5.Chandigarh: Passengers are required to fill out a health declaration form upon arrival. They are also required to undergo COVID-19 test at the airport. Air travellers must register on COVA Punjab App before starting their journey. 6.Uttar Pradesh: Passengers will need to register on the state website (reg.upcovid.in) or call 1800-180-5145 before they exit the arrival hall. Moreover, passengers exiting UP within 7 days of arrival will be exempted from mandatory quarantine. 7.Uttarakhand: All passengers travelling to Uttarakhand need to register on state website--smartcitydehradun.uk.gov.in 8.Assam: All passengers must fill out the health declaration form prescribed by the state upon arrival. 9.Chhattisgarh: All passengers must register for e-pass before their journey on epass.cgcovid19.in. 10.Manipur: Passengers must install and register QuarMon App or quarmonmanipur.nic.in portal. 11.Meghalaya: passengers must register on the state portal to generate a unique registration ID meghalayaonline.gov.in/covid/travel.htm. 12.West Bengal: All passengers must fill out and submit a declaration form using Sandhane App. 13. Goa: Passengers need to produce COVID-19 negative certificate issued by ICMR recognised lab no more than 48 hours prior to arrival in Goa. 14.Gujarat: It is mandatory for all passengers arriving at Surat airport to fill an online "Novel corona self-reporting form" and to download the "SMC COVID-19 Tracker" app. 15.Madhya Pradesh: All passengers will be required to download the Indore 311 app and do self-registration before arrival. 16.Maharashtra: Passengers intending to exit Mumbai or Aurangabad within 7 days of their arrival should be able to produce confirmed tickets for onward/return journey to get quarantine exemption. At Pune, Nagpur, and Shirdi airports, an air traveller needs to submit a health declaration form upon arrival. 17.Andhra Pradesh: All passengers are required to register themselves on the Spandana website (spandana.ap.gov.in) and obtain clearance prior to booking their tickets. 18. Karnataka: All passengers must obtain a confirmed e-pass from Seva-Sindhu portal. 19. Kerala: All passengers shall be required to register their details on covid19jagratha.kerala.nic.in and obtain e-pass. 20. Tamil Nadu: All passengers travelling to Tamil Nadu shall be required to register on the state's website and obtain e-pass--tnepass.tnega.org. The AAI also requested passengers to regularly check the state government's websites regularly for the latest updates as conditions are changing on an everyday basis. Congresswoman Karen Bass Emerges As Contender for Biden VP Slot Rep. Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, has emerged as a contender to be Democratic presidential candidate Joe Bidens vice presidential pick, according to multiple published reports. Biden, who promised he would pick a woman for the spot during a Democratic primary debate in March, has said he will make his decision in the first week of August. Speculation by political analysts has focused on a handful of names, including California Sen. Kamala Harris, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, former National Security Adviser Susan Rice, Illinois Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Bass. ADVERTISEMENT Bass, 66, chairs the Congressional Black Caucus. She has served in Congress since 2011, first in the 33rd Congressional District and then the 37th Congressional District after a 2012 redistricting. The district stretches from Westwood to South Los Angeles. Bass is also a former speaker of the California Assembly, where she served for six years. She has been active in politics and community organizing since she was a teenager, volunteering for Robert Kennedys doomed 1968 presidential campaign at age 14. Among Bass priorities in Congress have been criminal justice reform, child welfare and working to combat famine in Africa. She was asked about her possible selection for the VP spot on CNN last week, but declined to directly address it. I want to do whatever the vice president needs if he wants me to go out and safely walk precincts, I would be happy to do that, Bass told the network. I am so concerned about where our country is at at this point in time and Im willing to serve my country in whatever way I am called upon. Although Biden has not revealed who is on his short list, Harris names howed up on a notepad the former vice president was holding during his news conference on Tuesday, leading to speculation that he had decided to pick Californias junior senator. As is customary in such cases, a flurry of news reports came out containing negative quotes about Harris. Bass was facing a similar situation this weekend, with a few tweets attacking her for a 2010 speech she gave at the grand opening of the Scientology building at 4810 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles. ADVERTISEMENT The congresswoman took to Twitter on Saturday to address the issue herself. Just so you all know, I proudly worship at First New Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in South LA, Bass wrote. Ten years ago, I attended a new building opening in my district and spoke to what I think all of us believe in respect for one anothers views, to treat all people with respect, and to fight against oppression wherever we find it. I found an area of agreement in their beliefs where all people, of whatever race, color, or creed are created with equal rights, which is what my remarks were about. Since then, published first-hand accounts in books, interviews and documents have exposed the group. Everyone is no aware of the allegations against Scientology. Back in 2010, I attended the event knowing I was going to address a group of people with beliefs very different than my own, and spoke briefly about things I think most of us agree with, and on those things respect for different views, equality, and fighting oppression my views have not changed. Trump says fed agents to stay in Portland to finish 'cleanup of anarchists, agitators' Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 August 2020 10:29 AM US Homeland Security agents, who were to begin pulling out of central Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, in an embarrassing retreat by the White House, made it clear they would not leave quietly. The troops, who were guarding the federal courthouse in downtown Portland which has become the focus of protests, fired teargas, rubber bullets and stun grenades into the early hours of Thursday morning against hundreds of demonstrators. Kate Brown, governor of Oregon, announced on Wednesday that she had secured an agreement with the White House for most of the federal forces to withdraw from the courthouse, and for it to be guarded by state police instead. This was met with equal joy and skepticism with some regarding the retraction of troops a face-losing defeat for President Donald Trump, who had personally sent the DHS to Portland a month ago, saying they would bring an end to "anarchy" in the city after weeks of Black Lives Matter protests. That obviously didn't go according to the presidential plan. Trump tweeted late Friday, "Homeland Security is not leaving Portland until local police complete cleanup of Anarchists and Agitators!" Hundreds of demonstrators were still on the streets of Portland on Saturday morning, without any federal law enforcement in sight. Earlier, Portland police cleared parks and nearby roads around the city center on Friday in anticipation of the phased pullout by federal forces. City mayor Ted Wheeler said the deployment was part of the agreement for federal officers to leave. "The federal officers are using CS gas broadly, indiscriminately and nightly," he said. "That is why it is escalating the behavior we're seeing on the streets rather than de-escalating it, and that's why this must come to an end." Wheeler apologized for the Portland police using tear gas in late May and June to break up Black Lives Matter protests. "It should never have happened," he said. In a tweet late Friday, Wheeler thanked the peaceful protesters, and said they had "reclaimed the space that has been a staging ground for violence, to share their powerful message of reformative justice." The deployment earlier this month of federal tactical teams by the administration, many wearing combat-like gear, to intervene in the city after weeks of protests against racism and police brutality saw windows broken and graffiti scrawled on the federal courthouse and other buildings. The arrival of the "Trump Troops," as they are being called by some, exacerbated the situation, particularly when footage of protesters being snatched off the street by federal agents and put into unmarked cars went viral. Democrats have said this "police state" intervention was, in all likelihood, a political move to present Trump as a strict law-and-order president to voters ahead of the presidential election in November. US Attorney General Bill Barr has, predictably, came out in defense of utilizing federal officers, and rejected any suggestion of the political motivation. "In the wake of George Floyd's death, violent rioters and anarchists have hijacked legitimate protests to wreak senseless havoc and destruction on innocent victims," Barr said in testimony to the House Judiciary Committee. The federal forces were to begin withdrawing from the city on Thursday, under an agreement between Oregon officials and the Trump administration reached on Wednesday. The withdrawal, however, was conditional to local law enforcement ensuring the security of the federal courthouse and other buildings that have been targeted by protesters. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf had warned earlier this week that a full pullout depended on the security situation "significantly" improving. And on Thursday, Trump reiterated the need for federal intervention. "The governor and the mayor, we've been dealing with them, and we think they don't know what they're doing, because this should not have been going on for 60 days," he told reporters. "It's not our job to go in and clean out the cities. That's supposed to be done by local law enforcement," Trump added. "If the mayor and governor do not stop the Crime and Violence from the Anarchists and Agitators immediately, the Federal Government will go in and do the job that local law enforcement was supposed to do!" the president added. Not only did the DHS agents fail to rectify the situation, but they also managed to compound it by using unnecessarily violent tactics, which in turn prompted a backlash in other parts of the country after agents in camouflage were filmed snatching protesters from the streets in unmarked vans. Whether the deployment of state police will defuse the situation, given weeks of conflict between protesters and the Portland city police before the federal agents arrived, is not clear. For some, however, the fact that state forces are independent of the man in the White House is blessing enough for the moment. "It's a step in the right direction. At least the state police are not under Trump's control," said a demonstrator, who gave his name only as Alex. "I was afraid he would send the national guard in and it would be chaos." Governor Brown had told the state police to "use each and every strategy to deescalate" protests and avoid the level of force used by the federal agents. But she said they will protect the courthouse. "They will use crowd control tactics only as a last resort," she said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday tested positive for novel coronavirus infection and was subsequently admitted to Medanta hospital in Gurugram on doctors' advice. The Home Minister made the announcement on Twitter saying he got tested after showing initial symptoms of COVID-19. "On getting the initial symptoms of Corona, I got the test done and the report came back positive. My health is fine, but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors", Mr Shah said. Mr Shah also requested those who came in contact with him in the last few days to get tested for Coronavirus and isolate themselves. According to sources, Shah, 55, was having minor symptoms and was advised for hospitalization. As news of his contracting the disease spread, BJP leaders wished the Home Minister speedy recovery. Expressing concern, Bharaitya Janata Party President J P Nadda said "News of Home Minister@AmitShah being infected with Corona was received. I pray to God for his speedy recovery." Party Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy tweeted "I am sorry to hear from news media that Amit Shah has to be admitted to hospital because he has tested positive for Coronavirus. I wish him a speedy recovery and pray for his early discharge." The Home Minister on Saturday addressed a webinar 'Lokmanya Tilak: Swaraj to Atmanirbhar Bharat' organised by ICCR Delhi on the 100th death anniversary of Tilak. UNI SD JAL 1753 ANN ARBOR, MI While Ann Arbor Public Schools Superintendent Jeanice Swift said it was important to announce the district is beginning the coming school year virtually, she stressed its only the first step in mapping out the unprecedented year ahead. The district is beginning to flesh out its plans, providing more details about what the school year might look like as the first day of classes approach on Tuesday, Sept. 8. A ship carrying Iranian goods bound for Thailand left Chabahar port last week, marking the first time the strategic port has been used to ship a consignment to a Southeast Asian country. MV Libra sailed from Shahid Behesthi terminal of Chabahar port, which is operated by an Indian state-run company, with 123 containers on July 29. This included the first ever shipment from Chabahar to Bangkok, people familiar with developments said. The merchant vessel sailed to Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai and Mumdra port, from where the consignment will be transhipped to Thailand, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity. They said the shipment is significant in view of efforts by India and Iran to enhance the economic viability of Chabahar port. The director general of Irans Sistan and Baluchestan Ports and Maritime Organisation, Behrouz Aghaei, was quoted by the Iranian media as saying that this was the first time aquatic products were shipped from Chabahar to Thailand. Afghanistan recently sent a consignment of different products, including dried fruits, to India and China through Shahid Beheshti terminal as well, Aghaei said. The vessel carrying the Afghan goods was the fourth ship that left Chabahar for destinations such as India, China and Thailand during July. India, Afghanistan and Iran signed an agreement in 2016 to jointly develop Chabahar as a trade and transit hub, including for markets in the landlocked Central Asian states to the north. India has used Chabahar since 2017 to transport essential goods and humanitarian supplies, including wheat, to Afghanistan. About 60,000 tonnes of wheat has been shipped from India to Afghanistan through Chabahar since March. The port has also been used by Afghanistan since last year to export goods to India. Hossein Shahdadi, deputy director general of Sistan-Baluchestan provinces ports and maritime department, told IRNA news agency the main goal of the Chabahar development plan is to boost the volume of transit and exports from Iran. A total of 627,000 tonnes of goods were unloaded at the port since March 20, and Shahdadi described the growth in the ports handling of goods over the past two years as remarkable. Chabahar is also the safest and the most economically efficient route for export and import of commodities from India, Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries, he said. Iranian officials are also eyeing the possibility of making Chabahar, which was granted a special waiver from US sanctions, the countrys third trade hub after Bandar Abbas and Imam Khomeini ports. A HiteJinro's newspaper ad from the 1960s / Courtesy of HiteJinro By Kim Hyun-bin HiteJinro, the country's leading soju and beer maker, is on the verge of meeting its 100th anniversary. Marking its 96-year anniversary this year, HiteJinro has become a "global brewery enterprise" taking over the top seed in the country and further expanding its presence overseas. The company, established in 1924, announced its vision for the next century and means to maintain the lead in the industry. HiteJinro has encountered numerous obstacles and crises over the decades, but was able to overcome adversity and represent the country in the alcoholic beverages market while receiving recognition for its quality. In 1954 the company was the first local supplier to win a contract with the U.N. making its products available to troops who were stationed here. Since 1970, the company's flagship brands Chamisul for soju and Hite for beer have been able to take the lead in the brewery market through to 2010. In March last year, HiteJinro introduced Terra beer, which includes Australia-grown barley as an ingredient. Terra has been able to find great success in the Korean market. Within the 14 months of its release, 860 million 330ml bottles have been sold through late May, which is equivalent to 22.7 bottles sold each second. Terra recorded the fastest initial sales for the company in the beer category. The company released Jinro Soju with a retro design concept which has gained popularity with those in their 20s and 30s, while the design gave older drinkers a chance to reminisce on the past. Jinro sold over 100 million bottles within the first seven months and as of the end of May has sold over 300 million bottles. In four years, HiteJinro will become the country's first brewery company to mark its 100-year anniversary. The company is considered a major part of Korea's alcohol history and has been the leader in the industry while obtaining numerous titles in the field. "As the first brewery company representing Korea to reach 100 years and with its long traditions and brewing techniques, we will prepare for the next 100 years," an official from HiteJinro said. HiteJinro was established on Oct. 3, 1924, in South Pyongan Province, part of modern-day North Korea. Since 2001, Chamisul has grown into a nationally recognized brand and also has been in the lead of global soju sales for over 18 consecutive years. WASHINGTON _ As millions of Americans drifted toward financial crisis, the two parties remained deadlocked after weekend talks on another round of economic relief intended to ease the burden of job losses from the worsening coronavirus outbreak. Administration officials and Democratic congressional leaders spent hours Saturday huddled in the Capitol suite of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) without reaching a deal on extending enhanced unemployment benefits. That relief expired Friday, jeopardizing many families' ability to pay for rent and food while they wait for opportunities to return to work. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin said he was concerned about the legislation's potentially multi-trillion-dollar price tag. "There's obviously a need to support workers, support the economy," Mnuchin told "This Week" on ABC News. But he added, "On the other hand, we have to be careful about not piling on enormous amounts of debt for future generations." Pelosi, who appeared on the program shortly before Mnuchin, said Democrats didn't want to accept anything less than the $600-per-week enhanced unemployment benefit that began earlier this year. She blamed the impasse on Republicans struggling to reach an agreement among themselves. "We are unified in our support for the $600," she said. "They are in disarray." Although Pelosi said some progress was made Saturday, she did not share a timeline for reaching an agreement. Senate Republican leaders were absent from the meeting, deferring to the administration after President Trump called their proposal, which included only $200 for enhanced unemployment benefits, "sort of semi-irrelevant" during a news conference last week. Trump appeared disengaged from the negotiations, spending much of the weekend on his golf course in Virginia. He seemed to sleep little, however, tweeting repeatedly and mostly about unrelated issues until after dark Saturday and before the sun rose Sunday. On Saturday afternoon, he again proclaimed his support for a payroll tax cut, a proposal that his own party in Congress rejected and was never seriously considered in the negotiations on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, one of his top scientific advisers shared a dire picture of the coronavirus outbreak, which has already killed roughly 150,000 Americans, that contrasted with his own repeated claims that the nation is weathering the crisis well. "It is extraordinarily widespread," said Dr. Deborah Birx, who leads the White House task force on the pandemic, during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union." Although Trump has demanded that schools reopen, Birx was notably more cautious. "If you have high case load and active community spread _ just like we're asking people not to go to bars, not to have household parties, not to create large spreading events _ we're asking people to distance-learn at this moment so we can get this epidemic under control," she said. Birx wasn't the only member of the administration to contradict the president Sunday. Adm. Brett Giroir, a top health official, told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he doesn't recommend using hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug touted by Trump, as a treatment for the coronavirus. +6 Louisiana businesses brace for worst as unemployment benefits lapse: 'We're afraid' Later this week, hundreds of thousands of Louisianans who lost their jobs in the pandemic will see their unemployment benefit checks slashed b "The evidence just doesn't show hydroxychloroquine is effective right now," Giroir said. "I think we need to move on from that and talk about what is effective." Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Giroir forecasted more tragedy in the near future. "Deaths will continue to increase for the next few weeks," he warned. Trump recently restarted his regular briefings about the coronavirus in an effort to show the country that he's taking aggressive action, but he hasn't stopped spreading misinformation about the pandemic. On Saturday, he tweeted his disagreement with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert who recently testified that the U.S. is seeing more coronavirus cases because it shut down less of its economy than Europe did. "Wrong!" Trump tweeted. "We have more cases because we have tested far more than any other country, 60,000,000. If we tested less, there would be less cases." Not only was Trump falsely blaming testing for the increasing coronavirus caseload, as he often does, but he also overstated the number of tests. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the United States had conducted nearly 53 million tests as of Saturday. Louisiana Spotlight: What happens when state's unemployment fund runs dry? Louisiana's unemployment trust fund, a healthy $1.1 billion account before the coronavirus pandemic, is on track to run out of money by mid-Se The U.S. has become the global epicenter for the pandemic, and many countries are limiting American visitors to prevent the spread of the virus. But Trump is eager to portray the situation here as no worse or better than anywhere else. "Big China Virus breakouts all over the World, including nations which were thought to have done a great job," he tweeted Sunday. "The Fake News doesn't report this. USA will be stronger than ever before, and soon!" Trump continued to face sharp criticism for his recent suggestion that the election could be delayed. The president does not have the power to change the date, which is set by Congress, and Republicans have dismissed the idea. Democrats said they were unnerved by Trump's suggestion, fearing he will attempt to undermine the election or cast doubt on the outcome if he loses to Joe Biden, the former vice president. "I don't think he plans to leave the White House. He doesn't plan to have fair and unfettered elections," said Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), a House leader and close ally of Biden, on CNN. "I believe that he plans to install himself in some kind of emergency way to continue to hold onto office." Clyburn compared Trump to Benito Mussolini, the fascist leader of Italy during World War II, and said the "American people had better wake up." +18 Under 'evictions = death' sign, protesters block entrances to New Orleans courthouse Shortly after 9 a.m. Thursday, two masked people clambered up a ladder to the roof of a courthouse in downtown New Orleans and dropped a banne ___ (c)2020 Los Angeles Times Visit the Los Angeles Times at www.latimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has eulogized the Board Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) Messrs Sammi Awuku and Justin Kodua Frimpong for their transformational leadership at the Agency. The president is particularly happy with new course the two leaders have charted for the Agency in terms of relevance, vibrancy, efficiency and effectiveness. President Akufo-Addo who made known his admiration for the duo during the sod cutting ceremony for the construction of the North East Regional Office for the YEA in the Regional Capital, Nalerigu on Wednesday, July 28, 2020 encouraged them to continue on that path. The President said The YEA since it had its new leadership under Sammi Awuku and Justin Kodua has become a new organization in terms of its efficiency and effectiveness and the type of services it is offering the young people of Ghana. In his view, the effective performance of their duty of creating sustainable jobs for the generality of the Ghanaian youth is a huge contribution towards building a great and prosperous country. The various skills and services that youre offering the young people of Ghana, the more effective you can do your work, the better our population will be, the happier our young people will be and greater will be the progress of our nation the President further opined. While commending them for championing the construction of the North East Regional Office of the YEA in line with his call for government agencies to place premium on having administrative offices in the six newly created regions, the president was hopeful the one-storey multipurpose office complex when completed in five months time will bring about increased opportunities for the youth in the region. We want you to continue that way and to say that what theyre doing here today, putting up an office, an infrastructure, office is all very important, but the most important thing is the work that will be done when these offices have been put up. That is what I want to leave with you. President Akufo-Addo added. The president is particularly happy with new course the two leaders have charted for the Agency in terms of relevance, vibrancy, efficiency and effectiveness. President Akufo-Addo who made known his admiration for the duo during the sod cutting ceremony for the construction of the North East Regional Office for the YEA in the Regional Capital, Nalerigu on Wednesday, July 28, 2020 encouraged them to continue on that path. The President said The YEA since it had its new leadership under Sammi Awuku and Justin Kodua has become a new organization in terms of its efficiency and effectiveness and the type of services it is offering the young people of Ghana. In his view, the effective performance of their duty of creating sustainable jobs for the generality of the Ghanaian youth is a huge contribution towards building a great and prosperous country. The various skills and services that youre offering the young people of Ghana, the more effective you can do your work, the better our population will be, the happier our young people will be and greater will be the progress of our nation the President further opined. While commending them for championing the construction of the North East Regional Office of the YEA in line with his call for government agencies to place premium on having administrative offices in the six newly created regions, the president was hopeful the one-storey multipurpose office complex when completed in five months time will bring about increased opportunities for the youth in the region. We want you to continue that way and to say that what theyre doing here today, putting up an office, an infrastructure, office is all very important, but the most important thing is the work that will be done when these offices have been put up. That is what I want to leave with you. President Akufo-Addo added. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Western Australians have blasted Scott Morrison online after he shared a seemingly innocent selfie of himself cooking a curry for his family. The prime minister posted snaps of his 'Lamb Rhapsody from Rajasthan' to his Facebook on Saturday night, giving Australians an inside look at his life outside of office. Mr Morrison said the meal was a hit with his daughters, wife and mother, to whom he also paid tribute, writing 'family gets us through most things'. 'Its been another very busy day as we work to help Victoria get on top of the outbreak as well as working through some issues in WA,' he wrote. Scott Morrison shared a selfie of him cooking a curry to his Facebook page on Saturday night 'And while we dont always get there, whenever Im home on a Saturday night, I try to make it a family curry night.' But Western Australians appeared to take offence to the prime minister's suggestion there were 'issues' with their state. The state's hard border closures have been a contentious topic, with Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer launching a challenge in the High Court, claiming the move is unconstitutional. Premier Mark McGowan says it is necessary to protect citizens, with his stance garnering overwhelming support from residents. The hashtag '#istandwithmarkmcgowan' has begun trending across posts by Western Australians online. Many were seen in the comment's section box of the prime minister's post, as they demanded Mr Morrison 'leave the state alone'. 'It is great you can spend time with your family. Thanks for keeping Australia safe. Please leave WA alone. I think we are moving forward the right way,' one person wrote. 'We don't have any issues. I certainly miss my family and friends over east, but please prioritise how far we have come because of our earlier lockdown sacrifices and also our unique isolation, which until COVID, has always hurt us,' another added. A picture of the finished Lamb Rhapsody from Rajasthan that Mr Morrison said was a hit with his daughters, wife and mother 'Leave WA alone! We are doing just fine exactly as we are,' a third comment read. Someone else said they thought it was 'sad' Mr Morrison perceived WA's desire to 'be safe' as an issue. 'What issues in WA? We're fine thanks. Dont create issues where there are none,' they wrote. 'You're part of our issue in WA. There is nothing for us to work through here,' a woman added. Hundreds of others swarmed to the comments to praise Mr Morrison's efforts - and for making time to be with his family. 'Family is vital! Be blessed, you are doing a great job. So grateful to be in Australia,' one person wrote. 'Well done! You really deserve family time and your family deserve time with you. Keep up the good work,' another said. Mr Morrison addressed the flood of angry comments the next day. Mr Morrison responded to the flood of angry comments the following day, sharing a letter he wrote to Premier Mark McGowan in which a different set of border proposals were laid out 'Last night I said I had been working on some WA issues,' he wrote in the comments. 'For those who commented, you can see from my attached letter to the WA Premier what we were working on. 'We will not be continuing our participation in the High Court case. A lot has changed and we have found a better way to deal with this.' But many Western Australians said it was 'too late' for their forgiveness. 'Probably shouldnt have supported Clive in the first place. Dont think the Liberals will have much luck in the next election. I certainly wont be voting for them,' one man wrote. Another said: 'You should never have supported Clive over WA in the first place.. see you at the next election Scotty from marketing!' 'Too little too late,' a third read. On this week's Majlis, a discussion not only about rights defender Azimjan Askarov, who died in a prison in Kyrgyzstan on July 25, but the fate of other political prisoners across Central Asia who have been wrongly imprisoned. Actor Sushant Singh Rajputs sister Shweta Singh Kirti appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to ensure no evidence is tampered with in the probe into her brothers death even as Bihar Police said it was capable of probing the sensational case on its own. Kirti posted a message tagging the prime minister on social media amid growing controversy and politics surrounding 34-year-old Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead in his Bandra flat in Mumbai on June 14. We are from a very simple family. My brother had no Godfather when he was in Bollywood nor do we have anyone right now. My request to you is to immediately look into this case and make sure that everything is handled in a sanitised way and no evidences are tampered with. Expecting justice to prevail, Kirti wrote in her appeal. Also read: Ankita Lokhande says people sent her videos of Sushant Singh Rajputs body: Saddest thing that can happen The developments came on a day Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said he could hand the case over to the Central Bureau of Investigation if the family of Sushant Singh Rajput made the demand. Kumar said it was the duty of the Bihar Police to conduct an investigation and it was doing so. Mumbai police should cooperate with Bihar police since a case was lodged by the actors father. Bihar police is investigating the case with full honesty and sincerity. The family should get justice. Bihars director general of police Gupteshwar Pandey insisted his force was capable of investigating the case, and said the four-member Patna Police team in Mumbai had recorded the statements of Ashok Kumar (Rajputs chef), Neeraj (Rajputs help), Ankita Lokhande (Rajputs former girlfriend), Mahesh Shetty (Rajputs friend), Meetu Singh (Rajputs sister) and Dr Chawra (who treated Rajput). When asked if Rhea Chakraborty, who was in a live-in relationship with Rajput, would be interrogated, an official of the Bihar police said, It is not required as of now. But she is under our watch. In Mumbai, parliamentary affairs minister and Shiv Sena leader Anil Parab said the government asked police to question people levelling allegations of political involvement in the probe. The statement came a day after actor Shekhar Suman said the case was not being handed over to the CBI to save son of a politician. Honourable chief minister has clarified on Friday that whoever has any information related to the case should come forward and give it to the police. On the other hand, I have also appealed to the police that they should summon the people who have been making such claims. They should take the information about the information of the involvement of any politician, Parab said. The minister reiterated that Mumbai police are competent to handle the case. Investigation in the case stoked a row last week after Rajputs father, KK Singh, lodged an FIR in Bihar where he named Chakraborty and her family members and alleged that they developed an acquaintance with his son as part of a deliberate conspiracy so that she could establish herself in the film industry, and with an eye on his sons money. He claimed there were unexplained transfers from his sons account including a Rs 15 crore transaction. He also alleged that on June 6, less than a week before Rajput was found dead in his house, Chakraborty left with many of his belongings, including his laptop, ATM card and some documents. Since then, the governments and police forces of two states, top Bollywood stars and politicians have waded into the row. Chakraborty released a statement on Friday rejecting the allegations. Her plea asking for the transfer of the probe from Bihar to Mumbai will be heard in the Supreme Court on August 5. The governments of Bihar, Maharashtra and Singh have all filed caveats in the case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a money laundering case. In Bihar, attention has been focused on Chakraborty with the DGP saying on Saturday that the police team could not locate her. The police team visited banks to gather details about the transactions. All evidences are being collected. The team also tried to collect CCTV footages, video clips, FSL report, medico-legal report, postmortem report and all related papers from the Mumbai police, he said. (with agency inputs) We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Summer drug sales and an autumn prison sentence. Thats the payoff for a Willowbrook man who, prosecutors allege, peddled cocaine on three occasions last year to an undercover officer. Joseph Smith-Davis, 44, has pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance to resolve his case. An indictment said the deals occurred between late July and early September 2019. Smith-Davis, an Uxbridge Street resident, was indicted on multiple felony counts of criminal drug sale. He was also accused of felony and misdemeanor counts of criminal drug possession. In exchange for his plea, Smith-Davis will be sentenced on Oct. 20 in state Supreme Court, St. George, to three years behind bars. He remains free on his own recognizance until then. Mr. Smith-Davis took responsibility for his actions, and the district attorney took into consideration his employment and otherwise lawful life in crafting this disposition, said defense lawyer Mario F. Gallucci. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump has been paying a lot of attention to the suburbs over the last few weeks. He's talked about protecting them from Democrats who, he says, want to "abolish" them and about protecting "suburban housewives" from the plans of presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. A campaign focusing on the suburbs is nothing new, but in tone and tenor the Trump team's approach seems aimed at suburban voters from a different time. In 2020, America's suburbs are complicated places that defy easy explanation. Their population and politics have changed, and the way campaigns spoke to them 20 or 30 or 40 years ago as places that are fearful of cities and crime, with low diversity and white picket fences feels dated. Consider two of the County-to-County communities that we are watching through Election Day, Kent County, Michigan, and Maricopa County, Arizona. Both places are home to urban areas but also large swaths of diverse suburban terrain, and both seem to be leaning away from Trump as August begins. Start with Maricopa County. It includes Phoenix, one of the largest cities in the United States, but the city is surrounded by hundreds of square miles of suburban sprawl. Most of the massive county's growth in the last decade has been in the suburbs outside Phoenix, and it has left the county a changed place. Since 2000, the percentage of Maricopa's population that is white and non-Hispanic has dropped by more than 11 percentage points, to 54.8 percent. At the same time, the percentage of residents older than 25 with bachelor's degrees has climbed by more than 7 points, to 33.2 percent. And the suburban changes aren't happening just in the fast-growing Southwest. Kent County has undergone similar shifts. It includes Grand Rapids, but the real growth in the county since 2000 has been in the suburbs around it. The county is still predominantly white, but it's a different population. Story continues Since 2000, the white, non-Hispanic population in Kent County has declined by nearly 7 points, to 73.4 percent. Meanwhile, the percentage of residents 25 and older with bachelor's degrees has increased by more than 10 points, to 36.5 percent. In other words, the populations driving the growth in both places minorities and college-educated voters are the same groups that are problematic for Trump, according to poll data. Recent polls in Arizona and Michigan show that suburban voters have become a strength for Biden. An NBC News/Marist poll of Arizona, released July 26, showed Biden leading among registered voters in Arizona by about 5 points 50 percent to 45 percent. But among suburban voters, Biden held a massive 62 percent to 37 percent edge. In Maricopa County, Biden led by 12 points, 54 percent to 42 percent. And a Fox News poll of registered voters in Michigan from July 23 gave Biden a 9-point edge over Trump, 49 percent to 40 percent. In the Michigan suburbs, Biden held onto that 9-point edge, leading Trump by 50 percent to 41 percent. This isn't a new trend. Suburbs, particularly those that are diversifying and that have higher numbers of people with college degrees, have been a challenge for Trump since he entered politics. Both counties were challenges for Trump in 2016. He won them both but by narrower margins than Mitt Romney did in 2012, when he was the Republican nominee. The latest poll numbers suggest that Trump may see further erosion in November. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics In short, the Trump team is right to think it has work to do in suburbia, particularly upscale suburbia. The question is one of approach. It's not just talking about the suburbs. It's how you talk about them. The Trump campaign announced last week that it was rethinking its messaging. That's a common move for a team that believes it is behind and needs to make up ground. Where the suburbs are concerned, it's probably better to have messaging aimed at the suburbs of 2020, rather than the suburbs of 1980. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Like almost everything else in the year of COVID-19, the peace vigil in Los Alamos held annually on the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, will be a virtual event this year. We had been planning this for three-and-a-half years. It never occurred to us that we would have to cancel it, said Rev. John Dear, a Catholic priest, author and lecturer who has led a gathering at Ashley Pond that has typically drawn hundreds of peace-loving, anti-nuke petitioners for the past 17 years. Dear said organizers planned a huge gathering this year, as 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the first war use of an atomic bomb, which was developed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Actor Martin Sheen was going to be there to speak. So was civil rights activist and New Mexico native Dolores Huerta. Jackson Brown and Joan Baez were invited, too, in an effort to bring attention to nuclear weapon production at LANL. There are always rallies at the Pentagon and at Livermore Labs, but nobody comes to Los Alamos because its so remote and hard to get to, Dear said. But, this year, a massive throng of demonstrators were expected to march from Ashley Pond to the labs entrance on Diamond Drive on the diamond anniversary on Thursday Aug. 6, 1945, the date of the Hiroshima bombing. In conjunction with the peace vigil, a national conference on nonviolence was to be held in Albuquerque two days later, drawing other national and internationally known faith leaders, political scientists and peace activists. But then the pandemic hit and we were forced to move everything online, Dear said in a phone interview last week from his home base in Big Sur, California. So planners scrambled to reorganize the event, now condensed into a one-hour video that serves as the finale to a daylong webinar commemorating Hiroshima, which along with the bombing of Nagasaki three days later, killed hundreds of thousands of Japanese and ultimately led to the end of World War II. A pacifist who has been arrested 75 times for acts of civil disobedience but who has also been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize multiple times and called the embodiment of a peacemaker by Archbishop Desmond Tutu Dear believes there are better ways to settle differences between nations. Were trying to create the imagination for peace, he said. Were saying, Hey, we dont have to have nuclear weapons. We can end this. Because it has to stop. Dear will host the portion of the program put together with the help of Pace e Bene Nonviolence Services, a Corvallis, Oregon-based nondenominational nonprofit whose mission is to foster justice, peace and the well-being of all. The video will open with a Native American blessing from Evelyn Naranjo of San Ildefonso Pueblo, which is adjacent to where the U.S. government established Project Y, the secret lab that carried out the Manhattan Projects mission to design and build the atomic bomb on Pajarito Plateau. Jay Coghlan of Nuclear Watch New Mexico will then speak about the history of the lab, the Manhattan Project and the role LANL continues to play in the production of nuclear weapons. A reflection and remembrance led by Roshi Joan Halifax, founder of the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, will follow Coghans talk. The keynote speaker will be two-time Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Ira Helfand, who will discuss the need to build a global grassroots movement in order to eradicate nuclear weapons. This is how change happens, through a global, people-powered movement, Dear said. The program will conclude with what Dear said is a not-to-be-missed address by John Wester, Archbishop of Santa Fe, who will speak about the morality of nuclear weapons and also deliver a blessing. He (Wester) heard about what we were doing and wrote us to ask, How can I help? I want to be a part of it, Dear said. The video will air on several platforms at 6 p.m. on Thursday. People interested in attending the free webinar can register online at www.paceebene.org. The daylong Campaign Nonviolence national conference on nonviolence that was planned for Albuquerque will also move online. The conference will feature Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar and spiritual writer from Duke City, and Erica Chenoweth, a professor of public policy at Harvard whose focus is nonviolent resistance movements. The conference will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8. Registration for the event, which does require a $50 fee to attend, can also be found at the Pace e Bene website. Aside from COVID-19 disrupting the annual peace vigil, Dear said the movement to eliminate nuclear weapons has changed since he first led the rally in Los Alamos. These arent just peaceniks; thats not whats happening any more, he said. Like Jay Coghlan says, were the new abolitionists. LOS ALAMOS CELEBRATES 75 YEARS VIRTUALLY While anti-nuclear activists canceled their annual peace vigil and march in Los Alamos, held each year on the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Los Alamos County is urging people to celebrate World War II-era anniversaries online or, in some instances, in person. In a news release last week, the Los Alamos Economic Development Department invited people to get educated and a little exercise about the role Los Alamos played in bringing an end to the war 75 years ago. August 6 marks the anniversary of the first use of the atomic bomb, Aug. 14 (or 15, depending on your location) is recognized as V-J (Victory over Japan) Day, and Sept. 2 is the date Japan formally surrendered. Each of these dates had a huge impact on the world as a whole, Kelly Stewart, marketing manager for Los Alamos County, says in the news release. In Los Alamos, were proud to have been the home of groundbreaking science that led to the end of the war, as well as groundbreaking science that continues to this day, and we invite everyone to celebrate these anniversaries with us either socially distanced, or virtually. Folks can physically visit the site of the Manhattan Project and learn some of its secrets by taking a self-guided walking tour. The Los Alamos History Museum also offers a list of History Hikes, allowing people to learn about the history of the Secret City while enjoying the outdoors. But Stewart also urges people to explore the city and its attractions online. We cant wait to welcome out-of-state visitors again, once its safe to do so, she said. However, our community has been hard at work to ensure that those who would like to visit can still enjoy some of the incredible attractions and see some of the spaces virtually. Among them are the History Museums online overview of the Trinity Site, where the bomb was first tested, and the Bradbury Science Museums website. Theres also a recently released YouTube video titled Project Trinity: The Myth, the Legend, the Legacy presented by Los Alamos National Laboratory historian Alan Carr that debuted at last months Los Alamos ScienceFest. People are invited to visit the Manhattan Project National Historical Parks 75th commemoration website, or its Facebook page, to learn the history behind the design and development of the first atomic bomb. The women who make up the Atomic Citys history are also recognized. Celebrating the incredible historical contributions of women in Los Alamos, as well as the centennial anniversary of womens right to vote, Pioneering Women in Los Alamos offers an incredible lesson on the powerful women of the areas history, according to the news release. Finally, people can participate in the Messages of Peace program, where they can follow directions to make their own paper origami crane and submit their own message. The messages are placed in a time capsule to be opened in 2045, the 100th anniversary of the atomic bomb. Until visits can resume, we encourage those from out of state to join us virtually, and learn about the history and science that shaped our town and the history of the world, Stewart said. Mail-in voting If I can walk into Home Depot, Walmart, CVS, Lowes, Target and other stores, why cant I go to my polling place and vote using a machine. I have to show an ID, my name and address has to match the log book, and I can vote. The machine can be wiped down in about 20 seconds. No fraud there. We already had 4 Democrats arrested in North Jersey for voter fraud and also in Philadelphia and its rampant across the country. People are voting more than once. A reader Full disclosure, this email was MUCH longer, but chock full of disinformation, so I thought we could just discuss this portion that has some things we can discuss. No one is calling to replace in-person voting with mail-in, but to make sure both options are available and easily accessible. Several states already have permanent mail-in options that have proven reliable and safe. And your baseless claim that fraud is rampant is just false. Statistics show that voter fraud has happened, but is not a frequent occurrence and has happened with machines, paper ballots, computers, and at all ends of the political spectrum. There is no 100% secure voting method, but there is also not a lot of occurrences of fraud happening, and even fewer instances of it actually impacting election results. Citing an article on patriotedition.com is not going to convince anyone otherwise. At least find a reputable source that doesnt just steal content from other right-wing websites. Ed Note Attorney General Barr I had to stop watching that farce of a hearing by the House Judiciary Committee and Attorney General William Barr. Most of the committee members, led by its chairman, Rep. Jerry Nadler, made fools of themselves by attacking and trying to destroy AG Barr. The hearing was embarrassing to watch. AG Barr was not even given a chance to respond to questions because, if he was, he would have shredded the committees rants to pieces. The committees disrespectful treatment of the attorney general will forever mark them as buffoons who live in their own fantasy world. The mean-spirited, and poisonously partisan chairman, Jerry Nadler, and his whole party should be ashamed. Hamilton Reader Heres the thing with these dog and pony shows, er, I mean hearings, no one wins in these scenarios. As someone who genuinely thinks the Democrats and Republicans are just two sides of the same filthy coin, I cant handle the partisan bickering that these things devolve into. I dont disagree that the Dems look like fools, but Barr wouldnt have shredded anyone there. Hes full of the same bombastic nonsense that the people questioning him were. No winners in these charades, and the losers are you and I who pay taxes and pick up the tab for these ridiculous displays. Ed Note Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. In a statement late Friday, the US Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said that it was dismayed by the sentencing of the journalist, calling for his immediate release, reports Xinhua news agency. Tripoli, Aug 1 (IANS) The UN has demanded the immediate release of Ismail Abuzreiba, a Libyan journalist sentenced to 15 years in prison by a military tribunal in the eastern city of Benghazi. "The Mission is concerned that the detention and trial appear to violate Libya's laws as well as its international obligations," the statement said. Abuzreiba is known for opposing the eastern-based army, which controls eastern Libya. The eastern-based authorities of Libya have not announced the reasons for Abuzreiba's arrest yet. Libya has been engaged in a civil war since the ouster and killing of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The situation escalated in 2014, splitting power between two rivals with warring forces -- the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) based in the capital Tripoli and the eastern-based Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar. Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates support Haftar's LNA, while the GNA is mainly backed by Turkey and Qatar. --IANS ksk/ Authorities are warning Australians against importing medicines after they detected a significant spike in substances rumoured to help treat COVID-19. Australian Border Force officers have detected a sharp increase in the importation of the herbal medicine ephedra and hydroxychloroquine, a medication for malaria and auto-immune conditions and touted by US President Donald Trump, among others. Australian authorities are warning against buying drugs such as hydroxychloroquine after an increase in imports. Credit:Australia Border Force Both drugs have been touted overseas as being able to prevent or cure COVID-19, but these claims are unproven. Health experts, including bodies such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), warn against using the substances unless they are medically prescribed and say misuse does more harm than good. Two groups are not pleased with the new National Education Policy (NEP): The Communists and the Islamists. The new National Education Policy (NEP) has found good words from most shades of the political spectrum. It has been praised for having a bold vision, and most importantly, making life of a child much easier with interdisciplinary flexibility, study breaks and a greater opportunity to learn in owns mother tongue or regional language. Two groups, however, are not pleased. The Communists and the Islamists. These two have been somewhat entwined by their motive to usurp Indias rooted culture and traditions with their monolithic, extra-national ideologies, or their minimal contribution to the national good. They sense grave danger to one of the last bastions in which they wield disproportionate influence: academics. It is also the tool which Communists and Islamists have used to distort history, subvert Hindu civilisational knowledge and manipulate the software of this nation, its young minds. 1. Left fears losing Fort Academia Bypassing Parliament, ignoring opinion of state governments and rubbishing opinions of all stakeholders, Modi government is unilaterally destroying our education system, CPM chief Sitaram Yechury tweeted. Bypassing Parliament, ignoring opinion of state governments and rubbishing opinions of all stakeholders, Modi government is unilaterally destroying our education system. pic.twitter.com/TxhS4GRzOi Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) July 29, 2020 That is a gross lie. If at all, the government can perhaps be pulled up for stretching the limits of democratic process. On 26 January, 2015, the Ministry of Human Resource Development started formulating the NEP. Doing away with the top-down approach of the past, it embraced an extensive, time-bound, participatory approach. In all, 33 themes were identified for focused discussions. Village education committees across 2.5 lakh gram panchayats took part in the deliberations, along with parents, students, teachers, elected officials, administrators, members of civil society and citizens. By 26 November, 2015, a staggering 1,00,421 villages, 5,155 blocks, 1,201 urban local bodies, 573 districts and 11 states had uploaded their recommendations on how they wished to see education in the country. More than 29,000 citizens submitted recommendations on MyGov.in. More than 15,000 students submitted their suggestions through the CBSEs portal. If that is not democratic enough, one wonders what is. Actually, the Lefts fear stems from the fact that the massive bottom-up exercise will replace the elitist stranglehold of the Left, which has run education as if British colonisers and Muslim invaders had outsourced to it the job of keeping the nations children in darkness and denial, thus stunting the growth of the nation. 2. Left-Islamists fear NEP signals revival The Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Telangana and Odisha is fuming. It has accused the Centre of trying to resuscitate a Sanskrit, a dead language. It is also distraught that yoga, which it calls a polytheistic practice deeply rooted in Hindu mythology, will be promoted. Yoga involves shlokas for the sun and the moon, which are creations, it says. Muslims worship the creator. Its fears are not unfounded. The NEP draft makes the intention to unlock ancient knowledge from the iron cage of Leftist-Islamist control amply clear. The Indian education system produced great scholars such as Charaka, Susruta, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Bhaskaracharya, Brahmagupta, Chanakya, Chakrapani Datta, Madhava, Panini, Patanjali, Nagarjuna, Gautama, Pingala, Sankardev, Maitreyi, Gargi and Thiruvalluvar, among numerous others, who made seminal contributions to world knowledge in diverse fields such as mathematics, astronomy, metallurgy, medical science and surgery, civil engineering, architecture, shipbuilding and navigation, yoga, fine arts, chess, and more, it says. Indian culture and philosophy have had a strong influence on the world. These rich legacies to world heritage must not only be nurtured and preserved for posterity but also researched, enhanced, and put to new uses through our education system. Decades of political patronage have given Jamaat and others the brazenness to badmouth and attempt to block Sanskrit, Indian civilisations mother language which is revered the world over. There are over a dozen university courses in Sanskrit in just Germany; many more across the West and Southeast Asia. Yoga is popular across the world including Muslim nations, but Indian mullahs have a problem with it. 3. They fear NEP is pro-poor, anti-caste Spurious arguments about the NEP being casteist has come up on social media from little-known handles. Opposition hawks like Digvijaya Singh have amplified these posts. One such argument is that the NEP is anti-Dalit and it will widen the economic gap. That rich kids will learn coding from Class 6 on their expensive computers but poor ones wont. And that poor children will be deprived of learning English in school while the rich ones will learn in private tutorials. This is the last-ditch effort to create a fake divide in the face of blurring caste faultlines, at least electorally, under Modis BJP. First is the assumption that the poor only come from the lower castes and lower caste means being poor. After decades of reservation and creation of a creamy layer, that is patently untrue. The argument that only the rich use of technology in India is bunkum. In fact, technology has been a great leveller. A 2020 Mobile Phone survey report by MoMagic Technologies says 81 percent of Indians use 4G phones. Also, India has one of the lowest 4G mobile data prices in the world. It is going to have more than 600 million internet users by 2021. Only a tiny fraction of them are rich. The Left propagandists also conveniently forget that English as a medium of instruction causes rampant dropouts and comprehension problems for children from non-urban or poor backgrounds. Jyoti Basus Left Front government in the 1980s was at the forefront of advocating and carrying out mother tongue as the medium of instruction in schools. Besides, the Centre isnt proposing to do away with English, just defer its introduction till Class 5 or 8. The Communist-Islamist cabal faces an existential crisis on campuses. Its restlessness and dismay are understandable. The imminent changes in the National Curriculum Framework are likely to take the last flicker of light out of its once resplendent space. The party is over, and they know it. A Dandenong catering firm that was forced to close after council inspectors found a slug in its kitchen has accused an independent auditor of conspiring with the council and the Department of Health and Human Services to shut down the family business. The owners of I Cook Foods in Dandenong South have launched fresh court action against food safety auditor Gavin Buckett and his company, The Gourmet Guardian, after pursuing a separate civil case against the DHHS last month. The offending slug, which Ian Cook claims was planted in his kitchen. Police from the Dandenong crime investigation unit are investigating allegations that I Cook Foods was deliberately sabotaged by officers at Dandenong City Council and DHHS, which have both denied any wrongdoing. A parliamentary inquiry is also examining the circumstances surrounding the firm's sudden closure. After three consecutive months of raising its crude oil prices, the worlds largest oil exporter, Saudi Arabia, is widely expected to make the first cut to its official selling prices (OSPs) since the OPEC+ group started their record production cuts to prop up the market and prices amid crashing demand. Oil refiners and traders in Asia largely expect the Saudi oil giant Aramco to cut the price of its crude oil going to Asia in September as faltering oil demand recovery is depressing refining margins and weakening the Middle East oil benchmarks against which the producers in the Gulf set their prices for Asia. According to a Reuters survey of five Asian refiners, the industry expects Saudi Arabia to cut the price of its flagship Arab Light crude grade to Asia for September by an average of US$0.61 per barrel. A Bloomberg survey of eight Asian traders and refiners showed similar expectations, with a median forecast of a cut of US$0.48 a barrel. This would mean that Saudi crude Arab Light loading for Asia in September could be priced at a premium of US$0.72 a barrel over the Dubai/Oman benchmark, down from the premium of US$1.20 per barrel for the August loadings, which Saudi Aramco announced in early July in the third hike of its crude prices in three months. While the Saudi price hikes in the past three months signaled oil demand recovering and Middle East Dubai/Oman benchmarks strengthening as supply grew tighter after the OPEC+ cuts, the expectations of lower Saudi prices going forward is a sign that demand recovery is stumbling and dragging the Middle East benchmarks and refining margins down. Related: Oil Market Contango Returns In A Sign Of New Glut The pricing of Saudi crude, typically released around the fifth of each month, generally sets the trend for the pricing for Asia of other Gulf oil producers such as Kuwait, Iraq, and Iran. The pricing of Saudi Aramco affects as much as 12 million barrels per day (bpd) of Middle Eastern crude grades going to Asia. The Saudi crude pricing is also a telltale sign of demand for its crude and of the market fundamentals and refining margins across regions. The first reduction of Saudi oil prices in four months if Aramco matches refiners and traders expectations will be yet another signal that oil demand recovery is slower than anticipated just a month ago. There are already signs that demand is faltering and another glut is imminent. The Dubai market structure flipped again in late July into contangothe situation in which front-month prices are lower than prices in future months, pointing to a crude oil oversupply. Over the past week, the Brent Crude futures curve has also flipped to contango as sluggish demand and returning production from the U.S. and OPEC+ weigh on market sentiment. Refining margins across Asia, especially for jet fuel and gasoline, are weakening because of stalling demand. Chinese exports of fuel are also weighing on regional margins. Related: Ocasio-Cortez Could Deal A Fatal Blow To U.S. Oil Pipelines Refiners in India, for example, are now cutting processing rates because fuel demand up from the lows in April and May has slowed this month as fuel prices are higher and parts of India are again under local lockdowns, while the monsoon rain season is also stalling economic activity and transport, officials at refineries told Reuters this week. Weeks ago, it became evident that oil demand recovery wouldnt be a V-shaped story, but the recent resurgence in COVID-19 cases in many parts of the world and the real possibility of new lockdowns albeit localized has slowed, if not stalled, the fragile recovery. Faltering demand, the influx of supply as OPEC+ eases the cuts from August 1, weak market structure, and still weak refining margins may leave Saudi Arabia no choice but to meet customer expectations and cut its oil prices, for the first time in four months. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Prasanta Mazumdar By GUWAHATI: The Assam government is preparing to reopen schools and colleges from September 1. We are mentally preparing to reopen schools and colleges from September 1. However, it will depend on the decision of Central government, Assams Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Saturday. There will be no school for students up to class IV. The reopening of schools will come with a set of riders. One of them is that all teachers and staff have to mandatorily undergo the Covid-19 tests before August 30. For the students of V-VIII, the classes can be conducted at a village field or an open space. A maximum of 15 students can attend the classes at a time. Students whose schools are located away can attend such classes. These will be like gurukuls of ancient times, the Minister explained. Educated youth can volunteer to assist the teachers by taking classes and they will be provided with a certificate. Without elaborating, Sarma said the certificate could benefit them in the long run. He said the private schools could also take the classes by following the guidelines. He said it was a voluntary exercise which the state government wanted to start.The government would allow schools to conduct classes on their campus for the students of classes IX to XII. The students of IX and XI will have the classes twice a week. The classes will be four days a week for the students of X and XII. There will be two shifts of three hours each and a maximum of 15 students will be allowed to sit in one room. Sarma said the timings would be such that the students of two classes would not meet each other. As regards colleges, he said the classes would be conducted only for the final semester students. Students, who study elsewhere but are stranded at home, can attend the classes in nearby colleges. The decision on the conduct of classes in the universities will be taken by the respective vice chancellor. Bhutan King lauds Assam CM for help Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck lauded Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and his government for helping Bhutan during the Covid-19 lockdown. Wangchuck described the gesture as a true reflection of close ties of friendship and brotherhood between people of Assam and Bhutan. I remain appreciative of your goodwill and look forward to your continued support, the king wrote. He believed that the efforts, being taken by the Assam government, would stem the spread of the virus. The Bhutan king empathised with people of Assam in these trying times. Sonowal expressed gratitude to Wangchuck on behalf of Assam. Bhutan, Assam have shared a cordial relationship. Critics have accused Duterte and his top officials of failing to immediately launch massive virus tests to be able to identify and contain hotspots early on, especially when they placed the capital under a police-enforced lockdown in mid-March. The poverty-stricken country has struggled with polio, measles and cholera outbreaks for years and officials have been aware of inadequate health resources long before the pandemic hit, the critics said. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Deborah Birx, the physician overseeing the White House coronavirus response, warned Sunday that the United States had entered a "new phase" of the pandemic and urged people to take extreme health precautions as infections and deaths rise sharply throughout the county. "I want to be very clear what we're seeing today is different from March and April," Birx told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday, noting that cases were increasing in rural and urban areas. "It is extraordinarily widespread." Asked about an estimate from former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb that virus deaths could top 300,000 by the end of the year, Birx said "anything is possible." She said such an outcome would be far less likely if people practiced social distancing and avoided large gatherings. The Republican National Committee said no final decision has been made about whether President Donald Trump's renomination will be held in private at the GOP convention, contradicting previous reports that restrictions on crowd size during the coronavirus pandemic would prevent members of the press from attending. Two RNC officials insisted Sunday that they are still working through the logistics and press coverage options, a break with a statement reportedly made by a GOP convention spokesperson the previous day. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin made clear in separate interviews Sunday that they remain far apart on a coronavirus relief deal that would restore expired unemployment benefits for millions of Americans. Pelosi said the administration continued to resist a public health strategy to attack the virus. Mnuchin defended the administration's response and said Democrats' demand for $1 trillion in new state and local aid was a non-starter. Tropical Storm Isaias is closing in on Florida as the state grapples with soaring coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and deaths. The storm will unleash strong wind gusts, heavy rain and possibly storm surge flooding along its eastern shores from south to north through Sunday night. At least four schools - Corinth High School in Mississippi, Greenfield Central Junior High School in Indiana and two schools in Indiana's Greater Clark County Schools district - reported that a student had tested positive for the coronavirus during the first week back in session, forcing people who had been in contact with them to self-quarantine. Birx has faced mounting criticism over her handling of the coronavirus response following a New York Times report last month stating that her optimistic outlook on the pandemic's trajectory helped justify reopening decisions that preceded new outbreaks. In a Sunday morning interview, ABC News's Martha Raddatz asked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., whether she had confidence in Birx. "I think the president is spreading disinformation about the virus, and she is his appointee," Pelosi said. "So I don't have confidence there, no." Birx defended her decisions. "I have tremendous respect for the speaker. I have tremendous respect for her long dedication to the American people," she told CNN. "It was unfortunate the New York Times wrote this article without speaking to me. ... I have never been Pollyannaish or nonscientific or non-data driven." Birx's remarks came after another week of grim signs that the country's pandemic response was failing. The seven-day average for new coronavirus-related deaths rose in nearly half of U.S. states over the past week, pushing the national death toll past 150,000 and prompting health experts to warn that the trend was unlikely to reverse anytime soon. Numerous states have reported record daily fatalities in recent days, including California, which reported 219 on Saturday, according to tracking by The Washington Post. Florida reported a record 257 deaths on Friday, and seven-day averages for new deaths reached new highs in states across the South, West and Midwest. Nationwide, the daily coronavirus death toll exceeded 1,000 for the sixth day in a row on Saturday, according to The Post's data. The 1,198 new fatalities marked the most that officials have counted on a Saturday, when death reports tend to be lower than those tallied midweek, since May 9. Birx and Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious-disease expert, have warned 20 states in the Sun Belt, the Midwest and the Pacific Northwest that the virus spread is accelerating within their borders. Mitigation efforts have helped in some places, Birx said, but people need to practice strict social distancing and wear masks. She also raised concerns about the virus spreading within multigenerational households, urging people in those settings to "really consider" wearing masks inside their homes. With the new academic year starting soon in many communities, Birx also suggested that schools avoid in-person instruction in places where infections are rising - a departure from recent demands by Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that schools fully reopen in the fall. "We need to stop the cases," Birx said. "If you have high caseload and active community spread - just like we're asking people not to go to bars, not to have household parties, not to create large spreading events, we're asking people to distance-learn at this moment so we can get this epidemic under control." The increase in deaths has trailed a massive surge in coronavirus cases by several weeks, as health experts predicted when infections started trending upward in June. The time lag was greater than in the pandemic's early months, when deaths followed infections more closely. Experts say the change may be because many of the new outbreaks have started among young, healthy adults who passed the virus to older, more vulnerable people and because expanded testing has allowed health workers to identify cases closer to the time of infection. "Overall, what this tells us is that now that deaths have started to increase, we can expect them to increase for several more weeks," Ellie Murray, an epidemiologist at Boston University, told The Post. "We cannot afford to pretend everything is fine and heading back to normal." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's most recent analysis of pandemic fatalities shows weekly reports of new deaths increasing over the next month, with 5,000 to 11,000 new deaths projected in the third week of August. The national death toll could climb to more than 168,000 by that time, with a high estimate of 182,000, according to the CDC's review. Amid the rising deaths, Trump on Sunday struck an optimistic note, tweeting, "USA will be stronger than ever before, and soon!" Trump and other prominent Republicans have continued to promote the drug hydroxychloroquine as a silver-bullet solution to covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, despite evidence that it does not help patients recover. Last week, he tweeted then deleted a viral video of a doctor falsely claiming that the drug was a "cure for covid." Twitter removed various versions of the video, saying they violated its covid-19 misinformation policy. Asked about hydroxychloroquine on NBC's "Meet the Press" Sunday, Adm. Brett Giroir, the official in charge of the administration's testing efforts, stressed that the drug was not an effective treatment. "At this point in time, there has been five randomized controlled, placebo controlled trials that do not show any benefit to hydroxychloroquine," Giroir said. "So, at this point in time, we don't recommend that as a treatment. There's no evidence to show that it is." - - - The Washington Post's Eli Rosenberg, Felicia Sonmez, Joseph Marks and Jacqueline Dupree contributed to this report. Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization further expands its commitment to climate protection Focus on energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technology All European sites utilize green electricity Savings of more than 4,500 tons of carbon dioxide since 2014 RAVENSBURG, Germany, July 29, 2020 / B3C newswire / -- Environmentally focused movements such as Fridays for Future are dedicated to increasing public awareness of climate protection. Vetter, a globally leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), is equally committed to protecting the environment and has been focused on the issue of climate change as part of its corporate agenda for many years. In 2020, the pharmaceutical service provider reached another milestone when all its European company sites became carbon dioxide neutral. The goal was made possible thanks to a long-term sustainability strategy involving appropriate action packages. Vetter has continuously invested in energy efficient and environmentally friendly technology such as its own cogeneration units as well as solar panels and geothermal energy resulting in savings of over 4,500 tons of carbon dioxide. Since 2014, all European sites have been operating using green power from hydroelectric plants. Any inevitable residual emissions are offset as Vetter supports climate protection projects through the purchase of carbon credits. "As a sustainable, family-owned company we have taken our responsibility towards the environment and the issue of climate protection seriously for many years and take concrete actions to support this cause. Wherever feasible, we implement the most environmentally friendly solutions," said Managing Director Thomas Otto. The pharmaceutical industry by its very nature involves high standards and numerous regulatory requirements which are necessary to create aseptic manufacturing conditions. Vetters Senior Vice President for Technical Service/Internal Project Management, Henryk Badack, describes the company approach. It is these very conditions which ultimately enable us to manufacture effective drugs for patients worldwide. However, these same high standards also make it impossible to entirely avoid residual emissions. That is why it is of even greater importance that we compensate for them in a sensible way." Carbon dioxide compensation is one approach, i.e., the emissions of greenhouse gases are offset by financing climate protection activities. "We will continue to work on keeping our company's ecological footprint as small as possible," said Managing Director Peter Soelkner. "As a company with a long-term focus, we consider this an important part of our social responsibility efforts not just for today, but for generations to come. In addition to reducing greenhouse gases, the company is also focusing on environmentally friendly cooperation. For example, Vetter integrates its suppliers in ecological matters in order to promote the use of energy- efficient technologies. Beyond its core business, the pharmaceutical service provider makes an important contribution to improving the quality of life through these sustainability activities. Please find an interview on the subject of responsibility with Managing Director Peter Soelkner here. For high resolution please click the image. 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. 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: Humans; Greenhouse Gases; Climate Change; Carbon Dioxide; Geothermal Energy; Quality of Life; Syringes; Patient Safety; Goals; Conservation of Natural Resources; Drug Packaging; Investments; Pharmacy; Pharmaceutical Services; Social Responsibility Published by B3C newswire New house under construction framing beam against a blue sky New homes, schools and hospitals will be given automatic permission to be built, under a radical shake-up of planning reforms. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has proposed a complete overhaul of the outdated and complex planning system, to build homes faster, in a complete overhaul of a system that has been in place since 1947. The announcement came after Boris Johnson pledged 5bn ($6.6bn) to build, build, build, to create more affordable homes to boost Britains economy after the coronavirus crisis. The government also said that the new process will be done through a democratic local agreement, which will make it more clear cut and cut out the red tape. READ MORE: The Week Ahead: BOE announcements, US jobs and European retail data Jenrick said: For too long home ownership has remained out of reach for too many, as a complex and outdated planning system has failed to keep up with the needs of our country. I am completely overhauling the system so we can build more good quality, attractive and affordable homes faster and more young families can finally have the key to their own home. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph ahead of consultations to be launched next week, Jenrick said the government is cutting the red tape but not standards, he also unveiled plans for a digital transformation that will allow people to see plans in their area via digital maps. As part of the new process, land will be designated into three categories; land for growth, renewal areas and protected land. READ MORE: Coronavirus: UK economy wont fully recover until 2024 Under the new rules, land for growth will allow homes, hospitals and GP surgeries to be built automatically - if local councils deem it necessary. In renewal areas, building plans in mostly existing urban areas, will get permission in principle, to speed up the process while allowing for appropriate checks for new housing developments, and in order to restore UK high streets. Story continues New development will be banned on protected land such as the green belt and areas of outstanding national beauty. The governments announcement is in line with the Conservatives election manifesto which promised to build 300,000 new homes a year in the areas that really need them. The new approach will work through an interactive and accessible map-based online system placing planning at the fingertips, the government said. By relaxing the planning laws, the government hopes to create millions of new jobs in the construction sector to help soften the economic impact of COVID-19, as the retail and hospitality sectors continue to struggle. Sunday, August 2, 2020, marks thirty years since the United States became embroiled in what seems endless wars, at great cost, in Southwest and Central Asia. That was the day that Iraq invaded Kuwait. It seems that an ambiguous comment made to Saddam Hussein by Ambassador April Glaspie had led him to believe the United States would take a hands-off approach if he used force in disputes with Kuwait over border and oil-export issues. Ambiguous policy positions can be misinterpreted with disastrous consequences; Thucydides informs us that they have been at least since the Peloponnesian War. Likewise such a statement by Secretary of State Dean Acheson in January, 1950, was probably a factor in the decision by North Korea to invade South Korea that June. So Saddam invaded and Prime Minister Thatcher understood that strong action was imperative. She conveyed to President George H.W. Bush her concern that he might go wobbly. As she recollected their conversation of August 26: He was clearly very uneasy about the line he was taking. He began by making a forty minute statement which yet again justified what the Iraqis had done. I said that I was amazed at his account of what was in fact a blatant act of aggression. Iraq was a country which had used chemical weapons not just in war but against its own people. Saddam Hussein was an international brigand.. The United States had already begun Operation Desert Shield on August 7, to protect Saudi Arabia, believed to be Iraqs next victim. The prime minister was concerned that President Bush would back down from what should be the next step: not merely to hold the line, but to throw back the aggressor. The United States military had already begun to examine that next step. On the morning of August 3, I was on a team that had just completed a major seminar war game in which Iraq was a potential enemy. The Pentagon wanted to know our lessons learned from that exercise. Our answer went beyond that and pointed out that the situation had a strong resemblance to that in North Africa in 1942. The British responded with a carefully prepared offensive that threw back the German Afrika Korps in the battle of El Alamein. This was a prolonged air offensive that struck at front-line positions, lines of communications, supply and storage facilities, followed by a three-week ground offensive by armor and infantry: the main effort being a left hook, with a right jab along the coast. What worked for Montgomery should work against Saddam Hussein who was, by everyones estimation, no Rommel. It was only fifteen years after the disastrous conclusion to our long war in Southeast Asia. Given the opposition to Vietnam, there were good reasons to believe that the American people would go wobbly. But they didnt. Several things had happened in those fifteen years after Vietnam: President Ronald Reagan had restored national morale, rebuilt the military, and had been instrumental -- to say the least -- in ending the Cold War after fifty years. The American military also restored its morale and self-confidence; it had learned about how to engage in conventional combat operations effectively and, with precision munitions, to reduce noncombatant casualties to almost zero. Civilians are unaware of how the Maneuver Warfare and Air-Land Battle combat doctrines of the 1980s proved their worth in the two successful ground wars against Iraq. In those wars, and in Afghanistan, U.S. and allied fatalities have been around 8,500. The history of this Thirty Years War shows that: What has been won by the troops has largely been lost by politicians; Those in authority above combat commanders dont seem to have a clue about using force. For example, the coalition war against Iraq in 1991 was halted abruptly. It appeared that the Bush Administration was alarmed by videos of the total destruction of Iraqi mechanized columns retreating from Kuwait along the "highway of death": bad press could result. Months later, Bob Simon of CBS traveled to Baghdad, where he had been a civilian PW after the Iraqis captured him. The locals berated him: "Why didn't you liberate us?" A dozen years later came the Second Iraq War. In the post-9/11 environment, we feared a second strike and believed that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction (WMD); he may no longer have had them but he wanted everybody to believe that he did. To the United States, he was a danger. Operation Iraqi Freedom was a classic blitzkrieg, in a league with the German invasion of France in 1940, the Red Armys Operation Bagration in 1944, and the Six-Day War of 1967. The military won the war and deposed Saddam, but the Bush Administration threw the victory away. It appointed a Wall Street lawyer, Paul Bremer, to run postwar Iraq. No MacArthur in Japan was he. He declared the Iraqi Army to be illegal. Rather than ordering Iraqi troops report to barracks or some convenient rendezvous point, there to be outprocessed, receive some pocket money from Saddam's treasury, and told to have a good day, Bremer virtually invited the Iraqi troops to take their AK-47s and go underground. We know the result. Then there's Afghanistan. The ruins of the World Trade Center were still smoldering when U.S. troops entered Afghanistan to support the Northern Alliance. Troops on horseback picked out targets for B-52s, and those targets would cease to exist. The mistake that the U.S. made was to believe that it should, and could, do more than supporting the Northern Alliance; to rebuild Afghanistan. The folly of the politicians in Washington was mirrored by some equally-disastrous decisions by some senior commanders in the field to implement D.C.s mandate. The Outpost (2020), the film based on Jake Tappers book on this misbegotten 2009 battle, is to the Afghan War what Black Hawk Down (2001) was to the disastrous operation by Rangers and Delta Force in Somalia in 1993. These seemingly unending wars result from impossible goals set by leaders far from the scene. The Cold War, in contrast, featured wars for limited objectives and with limited means (in theory at least). They also contrast with World War II, in which the objectives were limited to regime change in the aggressor states but with unlimited means. A result of our approach to war in 1941-45 is seen in a photo taken exactly ten years after V-J Day, when Japanese Foreign Minister Shigemitsu met with MacArthur in New York. Both were smiling, like old friends they had become after V-J Day, when it had been Shigemitsu who had signed the surrender document on the deck of the USS Missouri. By 1955 Japan had become a reliable ally, as had West Germany, where the chancellor was Konrad Adenauer, the pre-Nazi mayor of Cologne, and former Wehrmacht officers held responsible positions in NATO. Such were results of regime change being the goal in World War II. The war was not nation building, as some seem to believe. The German and Japanese nations, with complete social and economic structures, already existed; there was no need for them to be built by armies of occupation and/or social science experts. In 1945, in Germany and Japan regime change was followed by restoration of the regimes that had been in power before the dictatorships. The same process had begun in Italy after the Fascists were overthrown in 1943. If regime change had been the objective in Iraq, had we not been Wilsonian progressives attempting to make that part of the world safe for democracy by engaging in nation building, and had we not been ignorant of history, perhaps there would be more images like that of Shigemitsu and MacArthur, conqueror and conquered-become-ally-and-friend. But by attempting too much, indeed attempting the impossible, we are still spending blood and treasure in West and Central Asia, thirty years after the invasion of Kuwait and almost nineteen after 9/11. Thucydides again enlightens us about hubris: on the one hand, the Athenians embarked upon the disastrous Sicilian expedition after people of Egesta had asked the Assembly for aid; Alcibiades reminded the people that they had a constant readiness to support all, whether barbarians or Hellenes, that invite assistance. And, they had nothing to fear: The cities in Sicily are peopled by motley rabbles without any feeling of patriotism. Those motley rabbles annihilated the Athenian force. Athenians ignored the wisdom of Pericles who, years before, had reminded the Assembly that the judgment of mankind is jealous of the arrogance that aspires higher than its due. The land war in Sicily demonstrated that truth. Their true element, however, was sea power: your naval resources are such that your vessels may go where they please, without the King [of Persia] or any other nation on earth being able to stop them. If the chairman of China is to be as powerless against American ships as the King of Persia was to those of Athens some 2,450 years ago, the United States would be well advised to cease doing the impossible in Southwest Asia and Central Asia in order that we may do the possible in the Western Pacific. Huawei has become the biggest maker of smartphones after rivals took a hit from the Covid crisis. The Chinese company, whose brand ambassadors include Wonder Woman film star Gal Gadot, shipped 55.8million phones in the second quarter of this year, outpacing Korea's Samsung for the first time. Samsung's 53.7million smartphone shipments were a 30 per cent fall on the same period last year. Screen star: Wonder Woman actress Gal Gadot is an Huawei ambassador More than 70 per cent of the phones produced by Huawei, which is barred from operating large parts of Britain's 5G network, were sold to Chinese customers. Canalys, the research company that compiled the data, said coronavirus was a key factor. Its senior analyst, Ben Stanton, said: 'This is a remarkable result that few people would have predicted a year ago. Samsung has less than 1 per cent market share in China, and has seen its core markets, such as Brazil, India, the US and Europe, ravaged by outbreaks and lockdowns. 'Huawei has taken full advantage of the Chinese economic recovery to reignite its smartphone business.' Huawei's main business is designing equipment to connect buildings to broadband, in which it is the world leader. But amid security concerns about its links to the Chinese Communist Party, Boris Johnson last month said he would strip Huawei out of the UK's 5G network by 2027, having given it the green light in January. The much-awaited foundation-laying ceremony for the grand Ram Temple is to be held on August 5 in UP's Ayodhya, likely to be attended by high dignitaries including PM Modi, various Chief Ministers and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, as Ayodhya gets embellished and illuminated to welcome the occasion. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths visit to Ayodhya today to review the preparations for Ram Temple foundation laying ceremony, stands cancelled. The visit has been cancelled due to the demise of the Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kamala Rani Varun who was was receiving treatment for COVID-19. He was scheduled to visit Ayodhya today to take stock of preparations for the Ram temple foundation stone laying ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5. Also read: Amar Singh, Former Samajwadi Party leader passes away Also read: 11 dead as massive crane collapses at shipyard in Visakhapatnam The construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya will begin after the ceremony to lay the foundation stone in which chief ministers of several states, ministers from the Union Cabinet and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, among others are also likely to participate. The Supreme Court had on November 9 last year directed the Central government to hand over the site at Ayodhya for the construction of a Ram temple. Also read: One arrested after cow vigilantes attack meat supplier barbarically in Gurugram India reported nearly 55,000 new coronavirus cases on Sunday and Japan recorded more than 1,500 for a second day, while Florida was braced for a tropical storm that threatened to hamper efforts to combat the disease. A curfew was imposed on Australias second-largest city, Melbourne, following a rise in infections. The United States, India and South Africa are struggling to rein in their first wave of infections, while South Korea and other countries where the disease abated try to avert a second wave as curbs on travel and trade ease. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Indias 54,735 new cases were down from the previous days record 57,118, but raised the countrys total to 1.75 million. July accounted for more than 1.1 million of those cases. The major cities of New Delhi and Mumbai might have passed their peaks, said a government expert, Randeep Guleria. Cinemas and other public facilities are closed until August 31. The Philippines reported 5,032 new cases, raising its total to 103,185, with 2,059 deaths. On Saturday, leaders of medical organisations appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to reimpose a lockdown on the capital Manila, warning the health system is in danger as personnel fall ill or quit due to fear or fatigue. In Japan, the government said all but five of its 1,540 new cases were transmitted domestically. The daily total was close to Fridays record of 1,579. The rise in Japanese cases, most of them people in their 20s and 30s, prompted warnings that young people were letting their guard down. Governor Yuriko Koike of Tokyo, which has about one-third of the new infections, says she might declare an emergency to contain the outbreak. In Florida, authorities were trying to prepare storm shelters while enforcing social distancing, as Tropical Storm Isaias churned towards the heavily populated state. It was due to be near the coast early Sunday. Expand Close A womans temperature is measured in Quezon city, Philippines (Aaron Favila/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A womans temperature is measured in Quezon city, Philippines (Aaron Favila/AP) Florida reported 179 deaths on Saturday, raising its total to more than 7,000. In Australia, Premier Daniel Andrews of the southern state of Victoria announced an 8pm to 5am curfew on Melbourne, a city of five million people. Schools statewide are to return to home-based teaching and day care centres were closed. Mr Andrews said there were seven deaths and 671 new cases since Saturday. If we dont make these changes, were not going to get through this, he added. Also on Sunday, China and South Korea reported more infections but spikes in both countries appeared to be tailing off. China had 49 new confirmed cases, up from the previous days 45. Thirty were in Xinjiang in the northwest, where authorities are trying to contain an outbreak focused on the regional capital, Urumqi. Three cases were found in students who returned from Russia to Wuhan, the southern city where the pandemic began in December. Expand Close A man walks past a mural that pays tribute to healthcare workers in Toronto (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A man walks past a mural that pays tribute to healthcare workers in Toronto (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP) Most anti-disease controls were lifted there after the ruling Communist Party declared victory over the disease in March. Hong Kong reported 125 new infections as authorities tried to find the source of its latest outbreak. The Chinese government said a team of seven virus testing experts was sent to the city to help. South Korea reported 30 new cases, raising its total to 14,366 with 301 deaths, but said only eight were acquired in the country. The government warned earlier case numbers would rise as South Koreans came home from the Middle East and other places with outbreaks. Authorities say cases from abroad are less threatening because arrivals are quarantined for two weeks. On Saturday, the leader of a secretive Korean church was arrested in an investigation into whether the group hampered the anti-virus response after thousands of worshippers were infected in February and March. Governments worldwide have reported 684,075 deaths and 17.8 million cases, according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University. The United States has the worlds biggest number of cases at 4.6 million, or one-quarter of the total, and 154,361 deaths. On Saturday, South Africa reported 10,107 new cases, raising its total to 503,290. That put the country fifth behind the United States, Brazil, Russia and India in total cases, though its population of 58 million is much smaller than theirs. In Europe, the number of new cases reported in Italy dipped below 300 for the first time. A senior Department of Homeland Security official has been reassigned, two sources familiar with the matter told ABC News, after The Washington Post reported Thursday that his unit put out three reports to its vast law enforcement network containing two journalist's tweets about documents that were leaked from the department. Brian Murphy, the head of the Department of Homeland Securitys Intelligence and Analysis unit, was reassigned Friday night, the sources said. The Department of Homeland Security on Friday said it would discontinue collecting information on members of the press -- a practice that experts said was out of the agency's purview and was alarming and "disheartening." Upon learning about the practice, Acting Secretary Wolf directed the DHS Intelligence & Analysis Directorate to immediately discontinue collecting information involving members of the press. In no way does the Acting Secretary condone this practice and he has immediately ordered an inquiry into the matter, a department spokesperson told ABC News. MORE: Police declare riots as protests turn violent in cities nationwide; 1 demonstrator dead in Austin Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee sent a letter to DHS on Friday, looking for answers, including whether or not DHS intelligence gathered information of individuals in Portland, Oregon, where there have been clashes between federal agents and protesters. "Have I&A personnel been indirectly engaged with detainee operations, for example, by providing collection requirements or requests, or suggested lines of questioning, to detaining authorities or otherwise requesting or receiving information related to detainees," they wrote. Three former intelligence officials, all of whom served in DHS, however said that practice of collecting information about U.S. citizens is alarming. PHOTO: A federal agent confronts members of the press near Multnomah County Courthouse, the epicenter of unrest in Portland, on July 26, 2020. (Alex Lourie/Redux) This seems a misguided use of DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) resources on a set of priorities from what they should be. Its not clear why they issued these open-source intelligence reports, Javed Ali, who worked on the Trump National Security Council, and in intelligence positions at the FBI and DHS I&A said. Story continues I just dont know if thats the way the DHS authorities were designed to be used--especially against journalists or policy experts who appear to be exercising their First Amendment rights, he continued. John Cohen, a former acting undersecretary at the department and ABC News contributor, said this is very troubling for DHS. At the very least they have a perception problem, because it would be highly inappropriate for the department or any intelligence community entity to collect and disseminate information on reporters, or U.S. persons who are not involved in criminal and national security-related activity, Cohen, an ABC News contributor, told ABC news. And if this was part of an intentional effort, it would be highly inappropriate and wrong. MORE: Trump administration has taken a 'belligerent, aggressive tone' with Oregon officials: Former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff A DHS internal document, obtained by the blog Lawfare, justifies the use of broad surveillance powers ostensibly to protect monuments, which has been a priority for the Trump administration during the time of civil unrest after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. Elizabeth Neumann the former assistant secretary for threat prevention and security policy in the Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans the actions by DHS are disheartening. Yet again we see DHS, taking steps that are outside of the spirit of the intent of what DHS has stood up for. It's not outside of the letter of the law, she said. This is causing damage to the department's reputation. What were fringe conversations about dismantling DHS that have been around for years, have now become mainstream, Neumann explained. Neumann said that it distracts the men and women inside DHS from their overall mission. Senior DHS official reassigned after unit collected information on members of the press originally appeared on abcnews.go.com In the midst of a heated discussion on a gun stores Facebook page, a local Republican Party leader in Parker sent a message to another user saying he [had] your exact location and Patriots are on the way. Tropical Storm Isaias is skirting along Florida's eastern coast and, through Sunday night, will unleash scattered areas of strong winds, heavy rain, and, along the shore, rough surf. But the storm, which has spared the Sunshine State from its most severe weather, is just beginning its tour of the U.S. mainland. It is set to charge up the entire East Coast, crashing ashore in the Carolinas on Monday night before surging up the rest of the Eastern Seaboard from Virginia to Maine and exiting late Wednesday. Tropical storm warnings and watches stretch from the Florida coast to Long Island, including Norfolk, the Chesapeake Bay area, D.C., Philadelphia, coastal New Jersey, and New York City. Heavy rains are predicted to drench large areas of the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, as well as New England. "Flash and urban flooding, some of which may be significant in the coastal Carolinas and Virginia, is expected through midweek along and near the path of Isaias along the U.S. East Coast," the National Hurricane Center wrote. Along the coast, the storm will push ocean water ashore, resulting in flooding. When Isaias makes landfall in the Carolinas, the National Hurricane Center is warning of a "dangerous" storm surge that could result in several feet of inundation. Areas at particular risk of storm surge flooding include Charleston and Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Wilmington, N.C., and eventually vulnerable areas in coastal Virginia. - - - As of 5 p.m. Sunday, Isaias was centered 65 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral, Fla., moving northwest at 9 mph. The storm's maximum sustained winds were 70 mph, making Isaias a strong tropical storm. (The threshold for hurricane intensity is sustained winds of 74 mph.) Although it is passing over warm water, which would ordinarily support strengthening, Isaias has battled dry air and wind shear since Friday, which has not allowed it to become well-organized. Wind shear occurs when winds change in strength and/or direction with height. Despite hostile influences, the Hurricane Center found that Isaias has intensified slightly since Sunday morning, and it could even regain hurricane intensity before landfall in northern South Carolina or in North Carolina on Monday night. Its official forecast calls for small fluctuations in strength and for it to remain just shy of hurricane intensity through landfall. Along Florida's eastern coast, the storm's outer rain bands have produced periodic showers and gusty winds, sometimes reaching tropical-storm force. However, dry air west of the storm center has cut back on the rainfall, and on Sunday afternoon, shower coverage was spotty. Rain and wind may increase Sunday night along Florida's eastern coast if the storm center draws closer, which is a possibility mainly from Melbourne north. Generally, because Isaias's center has remained just offshore and its heaviest rain and strongest winds are to the east, Florida has avoided serious storm damage. About 100 miles off the coast, Isaias was substantially more severe as its towering thunderstorms put on quite a show, emitting 19,000 lightning events in less than four hours Sunday morning. The Hurricane Center forecasts Isaias to remain a tropical storm as it surges up the East Coast through Wednesday, with the greatest threat coming from the storm's heavy rains and coastal surge, and damaging winds confined to coastal areas closest to the storm center. From the eastern Carolinas into the Northeast, the storm may interact with other weather systems to create periods of heavy rain on Monday into Tuesday. More than half a foot of rain or more could fall somewhere in the corridor from Raleigh, N.C., to Washington to New York, some of which could fall well ahead of the tropical storm itself. A tropical storm warning extends from Jupiter Inlet, Fla., to Ocracoke Inlet, N.C., and is likely to be extended north. This warning zone includes Melbourne, Daytona Beach and Jacksonville in Florida; Savannah, Ga.; and Charleston, S.C. It does not include West Palm Beach, Fla., and points south. A tropical storm watch covers the North Carolina Outer Banks northward to Watch Hill, R.I., including the Chesapeake Bay, the Tidal Potomac River, Delaware Bay, Long Island and Long Island Sound. Since the storm is unlikely to move inland over Florida and push large amounts of ocean water into the coastline, the Hurricane Center discontinued the storm surge watch along Florida's eastern coast. Even so, minor storm surge inundation is still possible from Jupiter Inlet north, especially around high tide. The Hurricane Center issued a new surge warning from Edisto Beach, S.C., to Cape Fear, N.C. This includes Charleston and Myrtle Beach, S.C., near where the storm is more likely to come ashore. A Storm Surge Watch is in effect from Cape Fear to Duck North Carolina, including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds. Coastal flooding from high water may also become a concern along the shore farther north. A mandatory evacuation order was issued for Hatteras Island in North Carolina effective Sunday at 6 a.m. Before skirting the Florida coast as a tropical storm, Isaias caused damage in Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas as a hurricane. Since Friday, the storm has drenched the southeastern and central Bahamas, buffeting the islands with hurricane-force winds. It was also expected to produce several feet of storm-surge inundation. The northwestern Bahamas caught the brunt of Isaias on Saturday as it closed in on Florida, making landfall on northern Andros Island midday Saturday. - - - The tropical threat to the Sunshine State comes as officials continue to grapple with a sharp increase in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the past one to two months. Weather Service offices and Hurricane Hunter aircraft are staffed with crews wearing protective equipment, including masks, observing social distancing protocols to the extent possible. Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, issued a state of emergency for counties along Florida's Atlantic coast. Wind gusts could top 60 mph right along the Treasure and Space coasts Sunday night. Farther inland, tropical-storm-force winds, with gusts to 45 to 55 mph, may occur. One to three inches of rain are possible before the storm pulls away. - - - Sunday night through early Tuesday morning, Isaias will move parallel to the coast of the Southeast, causing strong winds and squally weather in southeastern Georgia before potentially making landfall near the South Carolina-North Carolina border late Monday or early Tuesday. On its track up the East Coast and through the Gulf of Maine, the Hurricane Center calls for Isaias to persist as a strong tropical storm. Heavy rain and flooding, tropical-storm-force winds and coastal flooding are possible in coastal Georgia and the Carolinas. Landfall is predicted between coastal South Carolina and southeastern North Carolina. Just north of wherever the center comes ashore, the Hurricane Center says, a "dangerous storm surge" is possible. This is most likely in the zone from Edisto Beach, S.C., to Cape Fear, N.C., "where water rises of 2 to 4 feet above ground level are possible." The National Weather Service office serving Charleston is advising coastal residents to "[p]lan for life-threatening storm surge flooding of greater than 3 feet above ground" and the possibility of evacuations. Charleston has seen increasing instances of coastal flooding in recent years as sea level rise and land subsidence combine to make the city more vulnerable. Over a broad area of the Carolinas and Virginia, including inland locations, the National Weather Service predicts three to five inches of rain and isolated amounts to seven inches. One to three inches of rain is favored in southeast Georgia. Where the heaviest rain falls, flash, river and/or urban flooding could occur. - - - From Virginia Beach to coastal Maine, tropical storm conditions are possible from Isaias between late Monday and Wednesday. This may include very heavy rainfall, strong winds, dangerous surf and coastal flooding. Even areas well inland from the coast, including the Interstate 95 corridor all the way west to the southern and central Appalachians, are forecast to receive two to five inches of rain, with isolated amounts to six or seven inches. The extremely humid air transported north by Isaias will interact with a cold front preceding an approaching dip in the jet stream. That will help focus the rainfall and probably will cause at least isolated flooding issues, particularly in the Mid-Atlantic and along the Appalachians. - - - The coronavirus pandemic complicates the decisions of local emergency management officials tasked with ordering evacuations and opening shelters, and of residents who may find themselves forced to use them. On Thursday, the American Meteorological Society released guidance on sheltering during the pandemic, stressing that "if you evacuate to a shelter, you are responsible for your health." The document notes, however, that states and municipalities that open shelters will most probably provide for social distancing and mask use, among other precautions. They recommended that residents procure and bring their own sanitation supplies while following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. The Federal Emergency Management Agency plans to rely less on deployed field teams in areas where community spread of the coronavirus is occurring, instead processing damage claims remotely. Storm planning documents encourage officials to consider ordering those not vulnerable to storm surge or other flooding effects to stay home. - - - Isaias became the ninth named Atlantic storm of 2020, a number not usually reached until about early October. It's the earliest "I" storm on record by more than a week, and the latest domino to topple in a season that has also brought the earliest-forming C, E, F and G storms on record in the Atlantic - Cristobal, Edouard, Fay and Gonzalo. Including Isaias, 2020 has produced five named storms in July, tied for the most on record, with 2005. It is the first time on record that the last week of July has produced two hurricanes (Isaias and Hanna) in the Atlantic. - - - The Washington Post's Matthew Cappucci contributed to this report. On August 2, 1944, German guards murdered thousands of men, women and children in the camps gas chambers. State officials and survivors have gathered at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland to mark European Holocaust Memorial Day for Sinti and Roma, commemorating Sinti and Roma people who perished at the hands of the Nazis. Sundays event was timed to commemorate a massacre on the night of August 2, 1944, when German guards liquidated what was then called the Gypsy family camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, murdering thousands of men, women and children in gas chambers. In all, historians estimate half a million Sinti and Roma perished in Nazi-occupied Europe, about a quarter of their population. Some 20,000 died alone in Auschwitz, where representatives of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) and Germanys Central Council of Jews gathered for their first shared remembrance of the Sinti and Roma killed there. They laid wreaths at a ceremony, and Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, chairman of the EKDs council, spoke of the shame of Christian anti-Judaism and welcomed the joint commemoration. The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, said at the event that people had to stand up together for democracy and against inhumanity. A moral duty European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen appealed to EU member states to protect todays minorities from discrimination and racism. She paid tribute to Raymond Gureme, a French Roma survivor of the internment camps, who died in May, aged 94. Delegations lay wreaths in the former Nazi-German extermination camp Auschwitz II-Birkenau in Poland [Lukasz Gagulski/EPA-EFE] We consider it a moral duty to acknowledge and remember all those who suffered under the Nazi regime: among those people were the Roma, Von der Leyen said in a joint statement with Commission Vice President Vera Jourova and Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli. Remembering their persecution reminds us of the need to tackle the challenges they still face today and which are too often overlooked, the statement said. As the number of survivors and witnesses of these atrocities is dwindling, it is our duty, now more than ever, to continue their work of memory and to pass on their testimonies, it said. Discrimination continues European Parliament president David Sassoli called for active remembrance, saying in a Tweet: Remembering must never become a hollow act, it requires constant effort and will. Echoing von der Leyen, he said anti-Roma prejudice should be fought at every level, and urged Europeans to continue to protect the values that underpin EU integration. To this day, Roma children are segregated in mainstream schools in several central and eastern European countries, the UN educational agency UNESCO said in a report in June. In Hungary, segregation of pupils on ethnic grounds is illegal but the practice is widespread, particularly in areas with large populations of Roma, the countrys largest ethnic minority at around seven percent of the 9.7 million population. Commemorations also took place online, due to the coronavirus pandemic. Other speakers, including Romani Rose, the chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma and leader of the German Bundestag, Wolfgang Schaeuble, emphasised the need to combat all forms of discrimination. They called for further research into the Roma Holocaust, and said action was needed to combat ongoing discrimination against Roma communities. Today, when we recall the tragedy of the Roma Holocaust, it is the obligation of us politicians to firmly reject any form of racism, anti-Semitism, anti-Gypsyism, homophobia and other forms of intolerance, Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova said in a statement online. Former Samajwadi Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh died in Singapore on Saturday (August 1, 2020). He was 64. Singh was admitted to a hospital in Singapore to undergo treatment for kidney-related ailments. He is survived by wife Pankaja and twin daughters. Born on January 27, 1956 at Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, Singh was a flamboyant businessman-politician, who once counted Indias most influential icons from industry, politics and Bollywood among his closest friends, including megastar Amitabh Bachchan. Singh had friends in all political parties but he was also known for his controversial political decisions and statements. Here are some of the controversies involving the late leader: Cash for votes controversy, 2008 Amar Singh was allegedly involved in a cash-for-votes scam when the United Progressive Alliance government was facing a trust vote in Parliament. He was chargesheeted for this alleged act of purchasing votes. Phone tapping controversy, 2011 Amar Singh was allegedly heard fixing deals with top officials across various professions politicians, businessmen, bureaucrats and members of the Bollywood industry over phone calls, which was 'exposed' by the media in 2011. Amar Singh had denied these allegations, saying that it was not his voice in the recordings. Bipasha Basu controversy A 2006 controversy surrounding Singhs telephone conversations, after his phone was illegally tapped, snowballed into a major storm, especially with regard to a purported inappropriate conversation between him and Bollywood actor Bipasha Basu. Singh had denied the remark was made to Basu, saying it was from a conversation with a male friend. Amar Singh and the Bachchans Amar Singh and actor Amitabh Bachchan were once very close friends and even the politician said that he considered the actor like his elder brother. Amar Singh was one of the biggest support to Amitabh Bachchan when his Bollywood career was going through a bad phase. Singh even mentored the political career of Jaya Bachchan during her stint with the Samajwadi Party. However, the friendship started sinking during 2009 Lok Sabha elections. Singh wanted Jaya to quit SP after he was expelled from the party, but the actress-turned-politician did not agree to do so. Amar Singh vs Mayawati In July 2008, a massive controversy broke out when Amar Singh accused Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati of kidnapping six MPs of his party from Uttar Pradesh and holding them captive in Uttar Pradesh Bhavan ahead of the crucial trust vote. Later, the six MPs including him were expelled from the party. 2011, 'fix-a-judge' CD controversy: A CD which purported to have a conversation between Singh, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, and former law minister Shanti Bhushan. On the CD, Bhushan is allegedly heard suggesting that a judge could be bribed for Rs 4 crore for a desired court verdict. Connie Culp, who became the first person in the US to receive a partial face transplant after surviving a gunshot blast to the face, has died from an infection. Culp died 12 years after the groundbreaking operation, aged 57. The Cleveland Clinic, where her surgery was performed in 2008, said that Culp died on Wednesday at the clinic of complications from an infection that was unrelated to her transplant. A transplant can help recipients to resume basic tasks such as breathing, eating and speaking, and it can restore important non-verbal communication through smiles and frowns. The operation, which has been performed around the world only a few dozen times, can mean a life-long struggle to stop the body rejecting the implanted organ. Immunosuppressant drugs, which help stop such a rejection, can leave the person vulnerable to infections and cancers. Connie Culp, 57, the first US recipient of a partial face transplant, died from an unrelated infection on Wednesday. She is pictured here in 2010, two years after the surgery Culp was grievously wounded in 2004 when her husband shot her and then turned the gun on himself. She is pictured here before she was shot, left, and right after the transplant Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic -- (L-R) Dr. Risal Djohan, Dr. Daniel Alam, Dr. Francis Papay and Dr. Maria Siemionow -- completed the operation on Connie Culp in December 2008 Dr. Frank Papay, who is the chair of Cleveland Clinic's dermatology and plastic surgery institute and was part of Culp's surgical team, called her 'an incredibly brave, vibrant woman and an inspiration to many.' 'Her strength was evident in the fact that she had been the longest-living face transplant patient to date,' Papay said in a statement. 'She was a great pioneer and her decision to undergo a sometimes-daunting procedure is an enduring gift for all of humanity.' Culp was left severely disfigured in September 2004 after she was shot in the face by her husband, Tom Culp, in a botched murder-suicide attempt. He shot her from eight feet way, blasting off her nose, cheeks, the roof of her mouth and an eye. Only her forehead, chin, parts of her eyelids and her lower lip were left intact. Tom Culp was convicted of attempted aggravated murder and was sentenced to only seven years in prison for the shooting. Her husband Tom Culp (pictured with Connie) blasted a gun at her shattering her nose, cheeks, roof of her mouth and her right eye. Her husband was jailed for seven years over the attack Culp had 30 surgeries before undergoing transplant surgery in 2008 in an intensely complex procedure that took 22 hours over two days CT scan photo, supplied by Cleveland Clinic, of Connie Culp, after an injury to her face led her to become the first face transplant patient in the United States, left, and after the surgery, right Culp's features were so gnarled that children ran away from her and called her a monster. Culp underwent 30 operations to try to fix her face. Doctors took parts of her ribs to make cheekbones and fashioned an upper jaw from one of her leg bones. She had countless skin grafts from her thighs. Still, she was left unable to eat solid food, breathe on her own, or smell. In December 2008, Dr. Maria Siemionow led a team of doctors in a 22-hour operation to replace 80% of Culp's face with bone, muscles, nerves, skin and blood vessels from a donor, Anna Kasper. It was the fourth face transplant in the world, though the others were not as extensive. After the operation, her expressions were a bit wooden and her speech was at times difficult to understand, but she could talk, smile, smell and taste her food again. Connie Culp at the Cleveland Clinic in 2009. She was the longest-living face transplant recipient in the world, a hospital official said Culp underwent the delicate operation nearly 12 years ago. Doctors used 77 square inches of transplanted tissue In 2011, Siemionow said Culp had 'a normal face' after doctors refined the droopy jowls and extra skin they purposely left to make checkup biopsies easier. 'She's smiling, she's perfect. When she jokes, she kind of flickers her eyes. Her face is vivid. You can see emotions,' Siemionow said. Culp made several television appearances and become an advocate for organ donation. Two years after her operation, Culp met with the family of Kasper, the donor, who had died of a heart attack. Culp told The Cleveland Plain Dealer: 'They're just really nice people.' Kasper's 23-year-old daughter, Becky Kasper, said she could see part of her mother in Culp, though their bone structures were different. 'I can definitely see the resemblance in the nose,' she said. 'I know she's smiling down on this, that she's very happy.' Ahead of the Ram temple bhumi pujan on August 5, the Ram Janmabhoomi land was transferred to Ram Lalla virajman in official records (nuzool) of Ayodhya on Saturday. Ayodhya district magistrate Anuj Jha handed over a certified copy of the land transfer to Champat Rai, general secretary of the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra Trust. Additional district magistrate, Ayodhya, Gorelal Shukla confirmed the land transfer. The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court on September 30, 2010 had apportioned one-third of the 2.77 acre then disputed land to Hindus, one-third to Muslims and one-third to Ram Lalla, the deity. It is this 2.77 acre land that the sanctum sanctorum of the Ram temple (on which Babri Masjid once stood) will be constructed. Also Read: 20,000 temples get fresh paint. Ram dhun reverberates as Ayodhya decks up for the big day This order of the high court was challenged in Supreme Court. On November 9 last year, the Supreme Court put an end to decades-old Ayodhya title suit by granting the entire 2.77 acre of disputed land in Ayodhya to deity Ram Lalla, who was one of the petitioners in the case. The infant form of Lord Ram- Ram Lalla--was deemed a perpetual minor and a juristic person with legal rights for the purpose of the case. Also Read: A video invite for LK Advani, MM Joshi for Ram temple ceremony in Ayodhya The deity was represented by his next human friend, a VHP leader, in the court proceedings in the land title dispute. Index Resignations 'Blow to Media Freedom' in Hungary By Eric Neugeboren August 01, 2020 Working as a reporter and deputy editor for the Hungarian publication Index was a pinnacle in Szabolcs Panyi's career as a journalist. From 2013 to 2018, Panyi covered Hungarian politics, uncovered corruption scandals and won numerous awards for his work. People would recognize him on the streets or at protests, shaking his hand. He even saw a government official on TV reading a printout of one of his stories. "That was the influence Index had," he told VOA. "Both personally and professionally, it was one of the best parts of my life." During his time at the news website, Panyi said he never received external pressure that influenced his reporting. But rumors lingered about a "set date" for when the publication would be bought out by a pro-government businessman. "We knew that it was just too popular and powerful to be simply shut down in a very obvious manner," said Panyi, who now reports for Direkt36, a nonprofit investigative journalism center in Hungary. "So, the government tried to find more covert ways to try to influence Index." Fears of outside interference grew last month when editor-in-chief declared that its independence was "in danger" and under threat from "outside interference." On July 22, Dull was fired and two days later more than 70 Index staffers and the editorial board resigned in protest more than half of the publication's staff. Now, journalists and media freedom advocates worry about the state of press freedom in the country. Pro-Orban Owner of Hungarian News Portal Index.hu Sacks Chief Editor Index has set its independence barometer to 'in danger' to signal what it calls external attempts to sway its content, by far the largest media organization critical of the government of Prime Minister Viktor Orban. "Index was one of the flagship outlets for independent reporting in Hungary," Tamas Bodoky, executive director of the Hungarian watchdog and investigative news group Atlatszo, told VOA. "This is a huge blow for the remaining press freedom in Hungary." Independent journalism has been in steady decline in Hungary since Viktor Orban was elected prime minister in 2010. Media ownership is concentrated among allies of the ruling party, including via the KESMA conglomerate formed in 2018 that accounts for 40% of all news outlets. In December, only nominees from the ruling party were elected to the state Media Council, journalists say they have difficulty accessing information, and analysis of distribution of state advertising shows bias to pro-government outlets. In 2013, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked the country 56 out of 180 countries in its annual press freedom index, where 1 is the most free. It has since fallen to 88. Against that backdrop, Index was one of the few large outlets offering independent news. The Hungarian government's International Communications Office told VOA, "The government does not engage in matters related to the media market." Why resign? In an editorial published last month, Dull warned that the editorial staff was in danger and raised concerns over an "organizational overhaul." Plans by directors to restructure the staff were framed as a way to cut costs, according to a Facebook group formed by some of the former staff. The journalists, however, said the plans risked compromising editorial standards. Top editors repeatedly lobbied for assurance of the site's independence but were given no answers from management. "This is such a strong infringement on the editorial independence of Index.hu that we simply could not accept," the staffers wrote on the Facebook page. Following changes to parts of its ownership in 2018, Index started publishing a barometer to alert readers to any potential interference. Further changes came in March, when businessman Marco Vaszily acquired a 50% stake in the company that sells Index's advertising. Vaszily is chair of pro-government television outlet, TV2 and was involved in the 2014 takeover of Origo, at the time Hungary's largest online news site. More than 30 Origo journalists later resigned over what they said was a pro-government shift in editorial content. Laszlo Bodolai, head of the foundation that owns Index, denied the site's independence was at risk, Reuters reported. He said Dull's inability to control internal newsroom tensions led to a drop in revenue as advertisers stayed away. Index did not respond to VOA's request for comment. Bodoky, from the Hungarian watchdog group, said he wished the employees had stayed with the news outlet. Right now, he said, "the stakes are too high" for journalists to leave independent publications. "I think they left the ship too early," he said. The full circumstances of the resignations are unclear: the employees have non-disclosure agreements, which can only be waived by the publication's owner, they wrote on Facebook. One journalist told VOA the agreements were signed recently and were not common in Hungary. Loss for independent news Index is the largest independent news outlet in Hungary, accounting for the reach of about half of all of the country's independent publications. The publication receives more than 1 million viewers every day. Panyi compared the loss of the outlet to Americans losing both the Washington Post and the New York Times. "This is a country of 10 million, which just lost its largest source of independent news," Panyi said. "It's a huge blow to media freedom in Hungary." Independent outlets remain, but they have significantly smaller audiences than Index, Bodoky said. Pro-government news sources are overwhelming the media landscape, he added. "If you are an average person in Hungary and you don't actively look for critical or independent reporting, then you get the government propaganda," he said. "You get it on the state-owned television channel, you get it on the commercial radio channels, in the daily papers and so on." In addition to the lack of independent news outlets, Panyi said another element to the Hungarian media landscape is advertising. When state-owned companies take control over advertising for publications, it can give the state the power to determine which publications get advertising. This forces publications to make a difficult decision. "Editor in chiefs and CEOs have to make the decision whether to accept money from the government, which will eventually save them because there's a huge hole in their budget," Panyi said. "But in return, they are cutting deals like they're not going to report on certain issues regarding the prime minister's family." The changes at Index are part of a "moment of alarming symbolism," according to the Media Freedom Rapid Response consortium of rights groups. In a letter to the presidents of the European Council and Commission, the group said that independent media in Hungary are under enormous pressure and cited a 2020 Media Pluralism Monitor report that found funds from the European Union, distributed through the prime minister's office, are used to finance pro-government media. The Center for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom is a research center funded in part by the EU. The fight to restore press freedom will likely be "a long fight," Panyi said. But, he added, hope remains. He said Hungarians are still in search of unbiased news and independent journalism. As for the staffers who resigned, they have no immediate plans other than a commitment to independent journalism. "We sincerely hope that we will manage to stay together, work together, and keep doing what we have been doing for the past 20 years," the staffers wrote. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address CHESTER A limited number of guests returned to city council chambers for a recent meeting as new members joined the fire department ranks. Five recent graduates of Philadelphia Fire Academy, Class 197, were sworn in to the position of firefighter for the Chester Bureau of Fire during the meeting, each allowed two family members in attendance for the ceremony. Mohommed J. Anding, Jamiel L. Church, Emanuel G. Delva, Andre D. Grant and Ronald E. Thompson entered the academy in September 2019, graduating Monday, July 13, after completing the 10-month training program. Delva received the Fellowship Award and placed second for the Physical Fitness Award at the academy. They will now enter a two-week bureau orientation under Battalion Chief John-Paul Shirley, training officer for the department. I am extremely proud of all five of these men, who are also Chester natives, city Fire Commissioner William Rigby IV said prior to the ceremony. These cadets earned nationally recognized certifications in Firefighter 1, Firefighter 2 and Hazardous Materials Operations, as well as being certified as Emergency Medical Technicians. You all are embarking upon one of the greatest opportunities and jobs that the city has to offer, said Councilman William Al Jacobs, city Director of Public Safety, said to the cadets. There is great leadership within the fire department, and I hope every single one of you takes full advantage of whats here because there are opportunities to build a career or even become fire commissioner, if you set your sights on it. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. In one document, the transcript of Giuffre's deposition, she describes how Maxwell brought her and her father from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club - where they both worked - to the Epstein mansion, gaining their trust. Giuffre recounts that Maxwell even stripped naked with her the first time she was abused as a minor by Epstein. Virginia Roberts Giuffre during an interview on the BBC Panorama program last year. Credit:AP "So then Ghislaine told me that she wanted me to undress and began to take off my shirt and skirt, my white uniform from Mar-a-Lago, she also took off her shirt and got undressed, and so I was there with just my undies on, and she was completely bare," Giuffre recounted. She detailed how Maxwell took nude photographs of her for Epstein, and described a secret room with the entire wall covered with photographs of nude underage girls who'd been through the Palm Beach mansion. And she alleged that within nine months Maxwell involved her in efforts to procure other underage girls for Epstein. That same transcript also names people who travelled with Epstein. While many of the names have been publicly linked to Epstein before, seeing them in the context of the document was jarring. Giuffre tells of celebrities travelling with Epstein like magician David Copperfield, model Naomi Campbell, former Sony Records president Tommy Mottola and Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of the famed undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in New York in 2005. Credit:Getty Images Giuffre also provides a sworn statement about former US president Bill Clinton visiting Epstein's Little St James Island. "When you say you asked him why is Bill Clinton here, where was he?" Giuffre was asked in her deposition, answering, "On the island." In the newly released 24-page transcript of "Document 16," Giuffre added that two young girls from New York and Maxwell were on the island at the same time as Clinton, who has denied any improper relations. So have the numerous men she identified. The earlier documents also included the names of a number of men whom Giuffre said she and other victims were directed to have sex with, including former US senator George Mitchell, former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson, Hyatt hotels magnate Tom Pritzker, the late scientist Marvin Minsky, modelling scout Jean-Luc Brunel, and prominent hedge fund manager Glenn Dubin. Giuffre has said she was directed to have sex with prominent defence attorney Alan Dershowitz, who previously represented Epstein, as well as Prince Andrew. A picture of Giuffre, Maxwell and Prince Andrew, which Giuffre said was taken by Epstein, has been seared into the public consciousness. All the men have denied the claims, and Giuffre and Dershowitz are suing each other for defamation. Maxwell was arrested on July 2 at a secluded 156-acre estate in New Hampshire that had been purchased in December in all cash through a shell company. She was charged with four counts of sex trafficking of a minor and two counts of perjury, related to statements she made in connection with the Giuffre lawsuit. Her lawyers have argued that the perjury charges come from protected depositions in the civil lawsuit, but they have not provided proof that they were shared and not the product of a subpoena. The criminal sex trafficking charges stemmed from Maxwell's alleged recruitment and grooming of three girls between 1994 and 1997 to be abused by Epstein. In one case, Maxwell allegedly participated in the abuse herself. "Maxwell's presence as an adult woman helped put the victims at ease as Maxwell and Epstein intended," said Audrey Strauss, the acting US attorney in the Southern District of New York, in announcing the charges against Maxwell at a news conference in early July. Alexander Acosta, US Secretary of Labour, held a media conference to defend his role in the Epstein case on July 10, 2019. He later resigned from the Trump administration. Credit:Bloomberg The charges against Maxwell came almost one year after federal prosecutors in New York had brought new charges against Epstein, driven in part by The Miami Herald's Perversion of Justice series, which detailed Epstein's lenient sentence for sex charges a decade earlier. In the wake of the new Epstein charges, then-US Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta, who as US attorney for Southern Florida signed off on a lenient plea deal more than a decade earlier in a state case that spared Epstein a federal prison sentence, resigned from the Trump administration. A 2015 email unsealed on Thursday between Epstein and Maxwell appears to suggest that Maxwell was "not part of, nor ... (had) anything do with, JE plea bargain." Maxwell has been accused by Epstein's victims of recruiting them for sexual exploitation by Epstein when they were girls, sometimes participating in sex acts along with the multimillionaire. "Without Ghislaine, Jeffrey could not have done what he did," one of the three alleged victims said in a statement at Maxwell's arraignment. "She was a predator and a monster." Maxwell's lawyers argued that federal prosecutors had obtained Maxwell's deposition from the Giuffre lawsuit in violation of a protective order barring it, and other confidential materials from the case, from being shared. They suggested that Giuffre's legal team was responsible for sharing the material, but offered no evidence to support the claim. Legal woes are catching up with Maxwell on numerous fronts. The attorney general of the US Virgin Islands is pursuing a civil enforcement action against the estate of Epstein, who died last August 11 in a Manhattan jail, alleging the estate was an ongoing criminal enterprise that defrauded the islands of tax money. Maxwell has filed a claim against the estate, seeking to have it reimburse her for her legal defence and the costs of hiding and security in the year after Epstein's death. It is widely believed that any serious look at Epstein's business would ensnare his longtime associate Maxwell. A victims compensation fund has recently started operating to help Epstein victims quietly achieve settlements out of court, even as Giuffre and other women seek legal remedies too. The source of Maxwell's wealth is coming under scrutiny. Prosecutors said there were large sums of unexplained wealth and the cash purchase of the mansion where she was arrested was notable. Federal prosecutors say that Maxwell toured the property under the pseudonym Jen Marshall, saying she was a journalist looking for privacy, and her name didn't appear on any of the documents connected to the sale, according to someone with knowledge of the transaction. A "Tucked Away" sign marks the New Hampshire property where Ghislaine Maxwell was arrested. Credit:AP The Maxwell case also figures in national politics. Not only was she friends with Bill Clinton, but Trump created a stir earlier this month when from a White House podium he responded to a question about Maxwell by saying, "I wish her well." The crowd on Friday evening was larger than in previous nights. Whereas the speeches at the start of the night had once focused on the removal of federal law enforcement officers, on Friday, those officers were rarely mentioned. For many here, the larger battle is ongoing: There are still widespread calls to defund the city police or improve inequalities in housing access, for example. The Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has charged the personnel of the Air Task Force (ATF) Command, Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), to maintain the pace of fight against Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast. He gave this disclosure during an Eid-el-Kabir feast, recently arranged for the front line troops at the Nigeria Air Force (NAF). Abubakar who was ably represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, AVM Isiaka Amawo, advised the troops to at all times be combat focused and ready. According to CAS Abubakar, the significance of having a feast such as this, is to present soldiers in front line with a sense of belonging during the Eid-el-Kabir festivity, since they are not celebrating with families. The ATF commander is doing a great at the moment, so far the activities in the Northeast is running smoothly and everyone is motivated in the fight against terrorism, adding that much is still expected. We all have to be prepare, so we will not be taken without notice, he said. He commended the troops for their efforts and said they shouldnt for once relent in the battle field, as attack can come at anytime. Abubakar lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the support and resources rendered to them. We are being motivated by President of the country, he provides the necessary supply used in the fight against insurgency. He further tasked the personnel to display resoluteness and discipline, so as to effectively protect peoples lives throughout the period of festivity. Meanwhile commander ATF, AVM Precious Amadi applauded the CAS for his presence and motivation he is giving to the troops. After suspicions on incomplete disengagement at the Line of Actual Control from the Chinese side, India and China will hold the 5th round of Corps-Commander level talks at the Chinese side of the LAC in Moldo today, focus to rmain expeditious disengagement process and restoration of peace between the countries. Armies of India and China will hold Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo on the Chinese side of Line of Actual Control today, said Indian Army sources. Armies of India and China to hold Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo on the Chinese side of Line of Actual Control today. The meeting is scheduled to start at 11 AM today, Indian Army sources said. India side will focus on complete disengagement by China in the Finger area, it added. India said on Thursday that some progress has been made in the disengagement of troops along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh but it has not yet been completed and noted that it expected that the Chinese side will sincerely work for complete disengagement and de-escalation and full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas at the earliest. Also read: Yogi Adityanath to review bhoomi-pujan preparations in Ayodhya today Also read: Amar Singh, Former Samajwadi Party leader passes away External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that the two sides held the 17th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination last week and reviewed the situation in the India-China border areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western sector. Indian and Chinese troops are engaged in a standoff along the Line of Actual Control since May. The tensions between the two neighbouring countries along the border escalated on June 15 face-off in Galwan valley leading to casualties on both sides. India and China have held multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks to resolve the matter. Also read: Andhras three capital bill gets governors nod, Committed to Amaravati, says state BJP A California man driving a stolen truck rammed some two dozen other vehicles on U.S. 101 along the southern Oregon coast on Saturday morning, police say, leaving a 40-mile path of destruction from Coos Bay to Florence. The Oregon State Police are seeking accounts from witnesses and victims who might not have reported the crash. At least one person was injured. The agency said a green Dodge 1500 pickup was first reported to have struck several cars in Coos Bay while headed north on the Oregon Coast Highway. A short while later, just after 10:30 a.m., state troopers responded to a report a green truck had intentionally struck a vehicle stopped at a red light just north of North Bend. The truck accelerated in an attempt to push the vehicle into the intersection, police said. The truck was also reported to have hit several vehicles at the Siltcoos Lake trailhead, just south of Florence. One person inside of a struck vehicle was injured and taken to a local hospital. Police eventually caught up to the truck about two miles further north, where police said the driver crashed through a gate onto private property before getting stuck in the sand. State troopers found 47-year-old Kevin Simpson of Eureka, California, nearby along the highway. He was arrested on suspicion of failure to perform the duties of a driver, reckless endangerment, reckless driving and criminal mischief and lodged in Lane County Jail. Police said the truck was reported stolen in Eureka. Simpson told police he recalled hitting 26 different vehicles, the Oregon State Police said. Investigators are seeking statements from witnesses and victims, who can contact Oregon State Police Southern Command Center at 541-269-5000 or dial *OSP and leave information for Trooper Douglas Laird. -- Elliot Njus Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev has directed the PWD to coordinate with agencies like NDMC, MCDs, DJB and DSIIDC to address in the city and asked them to work as a team failing which responsibility will be fixed, officials said Sunday. Officials have been asked to monitor round-the-clock during rains and videograph or photograph a particular site as "proof" that water has been pumped out. In view of the ongoing season, the chief secretary recently held a meeting with agencies and instructed them to ensure no in the city, an official said. "Concerned executive engineer (civil) and executive engineer (electrical) will coordinate with other agencies namely NDMC, three MCDs, DJB, DDA, I&FC, DSIIDC, Railway etc by personally contacting with them and work as team at the local level failing which responsibility will be fixed," the PWD said in an order. It added that non-performance may attract action against the concerned engineers. The Public Works Department has also asked the executive engineers looking after the work to pump out water to maintain a log book which should indicate "stagnant problem area", "step taken to pump out stagnant water" and "time taken to pump out water" among others. "All controlling officers will ensure any good work supported by documents be put up to higher officer so that the same can be forwarded to principal secretary (PWD) for recording appreciation in the APARs (Annual Performance Assessment Reports)," it said. If any lapse is found, all controlling officers, will submit it for fixing the responsibility on the concerned officials, it added. Last month, a 56-year-old man drowned under the waterlogged Minto Bridge. Later, the PWD decided to barricade roads leading to the bridge if the water level rises over 45 centimeters during rains and also warned that it will file an FIR against those not following traffic restrictions. It had also said that all vehicular traffic moving towards the Minto Bridge would be stopped in coordination with police when the water level rises above 45 cm. (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.) October 22, 1961 - July 30, 2020 EMORY, Va. David A. Kidd, age 58, of Emory, Va., has gone to see his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ after an extended battle with cancer. He was born on October 22, 1961, in Burlington, N.C.. where he graduated from Cummings High School. He then earned a Bachelor's degree from Emory & Henry College in Emory, Va. David was the son of the late Lonnie A. and Grace Kidd, and the late stepmother, Audra Kidd. David is survived by his wife, Susan J. Kidd; as well as two sons, Daniel A. Kidd and wife, Morgan, and Wesley D. Kidd. He is also survived by three stepbrothers, Jim Mitchell and wife, Jenny, John Mitchell and wife, Gayle, and Joe Mitchell; one stepsister, Linda Piazza and husband, Joel; one aunt, Jerry Nall and husband, Joel and son, Mike Nall and wife, Beth. In addition, he is survived by several cousins, nieces, and nephews as well as a very special great niece and great nephew. David was a member of Pleasant View United Methodist Church and attended the Horizon Contemporary Service where he was a member of the praise band. He attended the Sonrise Sunday School class. These men and women made David feel loved and accepted. He often said that he felt at home in this church and Sunday School class. David worked for Somic America in Wytheville, Va., where he was an Automation and Controls Engineer. He loved his job and the people he worked with. He developed machinery and was excited when he could improve the production process for the auto industry. Even as a child and teenager, he loved to take things apart and rebuild them to improve them. Previous jobs were at Bristol Metals and Federal Pacific. He was an electrician and electronics engineer who loved working with computers and wrote software for many applications. He taught both sons about computers and helped them build their own first computers. He was also honored to be an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 1. He was extremely proud of both of his sons who earned their Eagle Scout rank. David loved music. He wrote songs, played guitar, and had the most amazing voice. He loved to sing for his church and other events. David was an avid bike rider and thought of the outdoors as God's beautiful gift to us to enjoy. He rode the Virginia Creeper Trail many times in its entirety and enjoyed this with both sons. In the past six years, he found the New River Trail to be most rewarding. He loved to ride and enjoy God's beauty along the trail, where he would often stop and enjoy the river and beautiful scenery. He felt like this was time spent with God. He enjoyed getting back into riding a motorcycle where he could feel the wind in his face. A Celebration of Life service will be held for David on Saturday, August 8, 2020, at 7 p.m. at Pleasant View United Methodist Church in Abingdon, Va., with the Rev. Stan Green officiating. Services will be conducted outside. Due to current Covid-19 CDC guidelines and state mandates, face coverings are required inside the church and social distancing is encouraged when possible. At David's request, contributions in lieu of flowers should be made to, Pleasant View United Methodist Church, and earmarked for future Horizons Worship and multipurpose building.18416 Lee Hwy., Abingdon, VA 24210. Online condolences may be expressed at frostfuneralhome.com. Frost Funeral Home and Cremation Services is honored to serve the Kidd family. Frost Funeral Home 250 E. Main St., Abingdon, VA 24210 After the talks, the Army said both sides are committed to "complete disengagement" of troops New Delhi: Senior military commanders of India and China are holding a fresh round of talks on Sunday with an aim to ensure expeditious disengagement of troops from all the friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, military sources said. It is the fifth round of corps commander-level talks in nearly two months with an aim to defuse the border tensions triggered by a violent clash between the two militaries in Pangong Tso area in eastern Ladakh on May 5. The meeting was scheduled to start at 11 AM in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The sources said the Indian side will insist on total withdrawal of Chinese troops from the Finger areas in Pangong Tso at the earliest besides completing the disengagement process on a couple of other friction points. The previous round of corps commander-level talks took place on July 14 and lasted for nearly 15 hours. In the talks, the Indian side had conveyed a "very clear" message to the Chinese army that the status quo ante must be restored in eastern Ladakh and it will have to follow all mutually agreed protocols for border management to bring back peace and tranquillity in the area. The Indian delegation also apprised the China People's Liberation Army (PLA) about the "red lines" and conveyed that the onus was largely on China to improve the overall situation in the region. After the talks, the Army said both sides are committed to "complete disengagement" of troops, adding that the process is "intricate" and requires "constant verification". The Chinese military has pulled back from Galwan Valley and certain other friction points but the withdrawal of troops has not moved forward from the Finger areas in Pangong Tso as demanded by India, sources said. India has been insisting that China must withdraw its forces from areas between Finger Four and Eight. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers. On July 24, India and China held another round of diplomatic talks on the border issue. After the talks, the Ministry of External Affairs said both sides agreed that an early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols was essential for overall development of relations between the two nations. The formal process of disengagement of troops began on July 6, a day after a nearly two-hour telephonic conversation between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on ways to bring down tension in the area. In Sunday's talks, the Indian delegation was set to be led by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, while the Chinese side was to be headed by Major General Liu Lin, Commander of the South Xinjiang military region. The sources said the focus of the talks would be on finalising a framework for a "time-bound and verifiable" disengagement process from all the friction points like Pangong Tso and Depsang and pulling back large numbers of troops and weapons from rear bases along the LAC. The first round of the corps commander 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 clash on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out any details. According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35. Following the Galwan Valley incident, the government has given the armed forces "full freedom" to give a "befitting" response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC. The Army has sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border following the deadly clashes. The IAF has also moved air defence systems as well as a sizable number of its frontline combat jets and attack helicopters to several key air bases. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Joshua Howat Berger (Agence France-Presse) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Sun, August 2, 2020 15:03 534 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066af92f7 2 Environment Brazil,Amazon,wildfire,fire,environment Free The number of forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon last month rose 28 percent from July 2019, satellite data showed Saturday, fueling fears the world's biggest rainforest will again be devastated by fires this year. Brazil's national space agency, INPE, identified 6,803 fires in the Amazon region in July 2020, up from 5,318 the year before. The figure is all the more troubling given that 2019 was already a devastating year for fires in the Amazon, triggering global outcry. That has put pressure on Brazil, which holds around 60 percent of the Amazon basin region, to do more to protect the massive forest, seen as vital to containing the impact of climate change. The fires are largely set to clear land illegally for farming, ranching and mining. Activists accuse Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right climate change skeptic, of encouraging the deforestation with calls to open up the rainforest to agriculture and industry. Under international pressure, Bolsonaro has deployed the army to fight the fires and declared a moratorium on burning. But activists say that does not go far enough to address the roots of the problem. Fires rose 77 percent on indigenous lands and 50 percent on protected nature reserves from July 2019, environmental group Greenpeace said, showing how illegal activities are increasingly encroaching on those areas. On July 30 alone, satellites detected 1,007 fires in the Amazon, INPE said. That was the worst single day for fires in the month of July since 2005, said Greenpeace. "More than 1,000 fires in a single day is a 15-year record and shows the government's strategy of media-spectacle operations is not working on the ground," Greenpeace spokesman Romulo Batista said in a statement. "On paper, the fire moratorium prohibits burning, but it only works if there is also a response on the ground, with more patrols. Criminals aren't known for obeying the law." Instead, the Bolsonaro administration has slashed the budget, staff and programs of environmental authority IBAMA. "Everything that was working was thrown out the window," Erika Berenguer, an Amazon ecologist at Oxford and Lancaster Universities, told AFP. Read also: Amazon deforestation increases 25 percent in Brazil 'Conditions ripe' Fire season in the Amazon typically runs from around June to October. But fires are just part of the deforestation picture. The rest of the year, ranchers, farmers, miners and land speculators are clearing forest and preparing to burn it. The first six months of 2020 were the worst on record for deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, with 3,069 square kilometers cleared, according to INPE data -- an area bigger than the nation of Luxembourg. If a significant portion of those felled trees burn in 2020, the result could be catastrophic, experts warn. "I think August will be the make-or-break month," said Berenguer. Last year, the number of fires surged nearly 200 percent year-on-year in August, to 30,900, sending a thick haze of black smoke all the way to Sao Paulo, thousands of kilometers away, and causing worldwide alarm. The number of fires has fallen since then, under increased scrutiny and pressure -- including from companies and investors worried about the impact on Brazil's brand. But Berenguer said it was a matter of time before the newly deforested land went up in flames in the name of farming and ranching. "It's an economic investment to deforest. It's expensive.... You need heavy machinery: bulldozers, tractors, people, diesel," she said. "You don't deforest to leave all those trees on the ground. You need to burn it, because you need to recover your investment." Furthermore, US space agency NASA warned last month that warmer ocean surface temperatures in the North Atlantic mean the southern Amazon is facing a major drought this year. It said that made "human-set fires used for agriculture and land clearing more prone to growing out of control and spreading." "Conditions are ripe," it said. Exacerbating the situation this year, experts say the resulting smoke risks causing a spike in respiratory emergencies in a region already hit hard by COVID-19. Brazil has more infections and deaths from the new coronavirus than any country except the United States: more than 2.6 million and 92,000, respectively. Topics : Brazil Amazon wildfire fire environment Picture for representation (Pixlr) The country's sweets industry would suffer an estimated financial loss of Rs 5,000 crore during this Raksha Bandhan festival due to the coronavirus pandemic, an industry association claimed. A national federation of sweet makers says that sales of sweets on this Raksha Bandhan are expected to be halved due to the alleged mismanagement of the administration in different states in addition to the epidemic hitting customers. This may cost the sweets industry about Rs 5,000 crores. The director of the Federation of Sweets and Namkeen Manufacturers, Feroz H. Naqvi, on Sunday told PTI, "Sweets worth around Rs 10,000 crore were sold across the country on Raksha Bandhan last year. This figure expected to come down to around Rs 5,000 crore this time." The purchasing power of the customers is already affected due to the economic crisis arising out of Covid-19. There has been a lot of confusion in many districts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and some other states about the opening of sweet shops on Saturday and Sunday falling just before Raksha Bandhan (Monday). As a result, sweets could not be manufactured and stocked adequately to meet the festive demand. He said that the government's mismanagement on Raksha Bandhan has increased the problems for the sweets industry. These problems could have been mitigated by a timely decision by the administration about the opening of shops, Naqvi said. Naqvi said according to a rough estimate, the sweet business from Raksha Bandhan to Janmashtami accounts for about 25 percent of annual festival sales. He demanded that the administration across the country should rectify its mistake and announce the plan about the opening of sweets shops in advance during the upcoming festivals so that their sweet makers can prepare accordingly. Meanwhile, Indore's district administration in an order issued late on Saturday, citing instructions received from the state government regarding the festival of Raksha Bandhan, said that sweets-namkeen shops besides those selling puja items can be opened on Sunday. However, in an order earlier on Wednesday, the administration had clarified that according to the instructions of the state government, the Sunday curfew will remain enforced in the district on August 2 and normal business activities will not be allowed. There is a lockdown across the state on Sundays to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But local politicians were constantly demanding that shops should be allowed to open in Indore on this Sunday due to festival-related needs. But local politicians were constantly demanding that shops should be allowed to open in Indore on this Sunday due to festival-related needs. Boris Johnson was told he should prioritise getting young people to follow social-distancing rules before targeting over-50s with another lockdown tonight. Officials have drawn up radical plans that could see millions of people asked to stay at home if a second wave of coronavirus infections takes hold. Under one option, people aged between 50 and 70 would get personalised risk ratings as part of a significant widening of the shielding programme. But, after a weekend when the young flouted distancing rules across the country, the proposals last night attracted a storm of protest. Critics warned that they failed to recognise the important contribution over-50s make to the economy and risked stigmatising older people in the workplace. Rules? What rules? Youngsters pack together for afternoon drinks in central London Former government adviser Joan Bakewell said ministers needed first to tackle the problem of young people failing to socially distance. Baroness Bakewell, who was tsar for the elderly in the last Labour government, said: 'Certainly older people have to take care I have been taking great care myself but what is happening is that young people are not distancing and they are not wearing masks. The young have got to get their act together. 'Young people assume it is over and are not distancing themselves as they should. They know they should, they have been told they should, but they cannot be bothered. That is the crux.' The 87-year-old warned that it would be problematic to ask vast swathes of the population to stay at home again. She said: 'It is hard, I did 115 days of isolating, and it is tough and quite a commitment. To do it again is perhaps putting us under too much pressure.' Boris Johnson (pictured) was told he should prioritise getting young people to follow social-distancing rules before targeting over-50s with another lockdown Former Tory minister Ros Altmann branded the proposals 'dangerous and wrong', as she warned: 'Age 50 is not old, it isn't halfway through your adult life.' She told how that the coronavirus crisis was 'introducing into society a worrying element of ageism that we have worked very hard to try to overcome'. Baroness Altmann said: 'What we're talking about here is a group in society that is being potentially singled out for different treatment just on the basis of their age. 'It's not that the over-50s are somehow old and therefore at risk and the under-50s are young and therefore not at risk.' Labour peer Lord Foulkes said: 'It is both ageist and ill-thought-out. Some under-50s have underlying health conditions, while some over 50s are key to our economy.' Dame Esther Rantzen said people of the same age cannot be lumped together as being identical. But the 80-year-old said she would be prepared to stay at home to prevent another lockdown for all age groups. She said: 'Ferocious as I am in protecting older people's rights, I think that it would be sensible to make a distinction between people in the their 20s and people like me in our 80s. Youngsters fail to socially distance as they gather in Soho Square in the capital 'I don't want people in their 20s, 30s and 40s to be restricted in what they can do because of a desire to protect me. It is too high a price for the nation, it is too high a price for our young peop le to lock them down for my sake. I will lock myself down and if the Government make me because I'm 80, so be it.' Official figures show that almost three quarters of the 51,264 deaths in the UK involving coronavirus were people aged over 75, with much lower mortality rates amongst those younger. According to the Office for National Statistics, just 4,895 people aged 45 to 64 have died and 7,549 aged 65 to 74, compared to 16,586 in the 75 to 84 age bracket and 21,766 aged over 85. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick last night attempted to defuse the row as he insisted that talk about expanding the shielding programme was 'just speculation'. Sun, sea and strife: Two women tussle on the ground on the south coast, as tempers flare among the drinkers packed on to benches He added: 'You would expect the Government to be considering all of the range of options that might be available.' Mr Jenrick insisted that the proposals were not 'being actively considered', but failed to rule out them being adopted if there is a second wave. He, however, denied that ministers were planning to shut down pubs to help reduce infection rates ahead of the re-opening of schools in September. Lets not panic now we CAN deal with this virus, says Professor KAROL SIKORA Commentary by Professor Karol Sikora Hard to imagine now, but it was only a fortnight ago that Boris Johnson set today as the date when the nation should scrap the previous exhortation to work from home, and, where possible, get back to the office. So this week should have been the crucial point at which our national recovery began, when we slipped the shackles of Covid-19 and started to rebuild the economy. Instead, everything Ive heard or read since last week and particularly over the weekend suggests the very opposite. Indeed, the incoherent messaging seems almost eerily designed to foster anew a pervasive sense of panic, fuelling fears that we are heading towards wide-scale partial lockdowns or even back to a total national lockdown. Thursdays announcement of new restrictions in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and East Lancashire followed by Fridays U-turn on lifting restrictions on bowling alleys, skating rinks, wedding receptions and some beauty salon procedures, followed loose talk of a second wave of the coronavirus. Together they have created exactly the wrong atmosphere at a time when a sense of national renewal is desperately needed to get people off their sofas and into their workplaces. Most alarming of all, it is reported the Prime Minister and his Cabinet have been war-gaming anti-Covid nuclear options such as a re-imposition of a full quarantine regime for air passengers, draconian restrictions on London travel and even confining millions of the over-50s to their homes. This is despite the fact that the chances of an otherwise healthy 50-year-old suffering serious health consequences from infection are statistically very small. And that if you remove people over 50 from the workplace, either by order or by fear, you are effectively decapitating the workforce and condemning all of us to permanent economic impoverishment. Panic at this stage is not just foolish, but unnecessary. By most measures, things are going well. Hospital admissions for those with Covid-19 complications are flat, and so is the mortality rate. And far from being overwhelmed, the NHS is operating at only about 50 per cent capacity overall. The most sensible single measure the PM could take today would be to ban his Cabinet and Downing Street advisers from using the term second wave. It is a dangerous phrase because it deters people from even thinking about a return to normal working which is the only way the economy can recover. It is also inaccurate: we are not witnessing a second wave or even the beginnings of one. We are seeing geographically separated, localised spikes. We also know why they are happening, and to whom. These postcode blips are overwhelmingly in communities where strong family values mean households are large, and often comprise three, or sometimes four, generations with all the attendant comings and goings. On the margins, there are other factors, including possibly a greater genetic susceptibility to the virus and a higher than average prevalence of conditions such as diabetes (a risk factor for Covid-19) in these communities. These spikes can be flattened by targeted measures, and the model for this is Leicester where rates began to decline rapidly after rigorous action was taken locally with full co-operation by all. We do know how to tackle coronavirus and we should have some confidence in our ability, yet national morale is once again plumbing the depths. For that I blame parts of the media and particularly the BBC for giving too much prominence to epidemiologists of a rather pessimistic stripe. This science tracks epidemics and models worst-case scenarios. The danger is it leaves out other considerations, such as the long-term economic consequences of mitigation efforts. Only the PM can really take rounded decisions about what level of risk is tolerable for the overall good of society. My area of expertise is cancer and in a normal year 360,000 cases are diagnosed in the UK. Due to the collapse of the NHS diagnostic network during the pandemic, and the fact that many people have been reluctant to visit GPs, we are running at roughly half that rate of diagnoses this summer. As a result, tens of thousands of people who might have survived their cancers with early diagnosis may die. I dont wish to depress or alarm anyone, but we cannot ignore that there are grave consequences to the excessive countermeasures being taken to control a virus which is statistically unlikely to kill anyone except the very old, and those at greater risk because of a pre-existing condition. And it is particularly stupid when a senior Government scientific adviser sees fit as Professor Graham Medley did to suggest that if schools are to reopen next month, then we might have to shut down pubs again in a trade off. The two options are not related, and to attach a false connection is to spread alarm and confusion. It would be disastrous if hard-liners in the teaching unions were given yet more ammunition in their efforts to frustrate a return to school, which is essential not just for educations sake, but our childrens mental well-being. Mr Johnson has had a bad seven days in his Covid-19 war. The nation cannot afford any further signs of a lack of grip or nerve. Protesters gathered in front of Toronto police 52 Division on Saturday night to mark Emancipation Day and call for the abolition of police and prisons. The march began at Bellevue Square Park in Kensington Market at 8 p.m., then moved south on Spadina Avenue and east on Dundas Street to 52 Division, near University Avenue. You do not deserve the privilege of serving and protecting our communities! You are not doing good jobs! Innocent people are dying at your hands! shouted one of the speakers at the protest. Toronto police, in a series of tweets, called the demonstrators unco-operative as they blocked traffic on Dundas. In 2008, the province of Ontario declared Aug. 1 Emancipation Day to mark the end of slavery in most British colonies, which took effect on Aug. 1, 1834. But for Not Another Black Life, the group behind the protest, emancipation means something more. Emancipation isnt real until the systems that oppress us are abolished. Our ancestors abolished slavery. We will abolish the prison industrial complex, the group wrote on Twitter. Not Another Black Life, which calls itself a Black-Femme activist group, has sent a petition to the House of Commons in Ottawa, asking the federal government to also recognize Aug. 1 as Emancipation Day. On the heels of the Joint Trade Union Movement calling for an independent third party to eva Xinjiang COVID-19 cases show steep decline Friday Global Times Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/1 10:43:22 New COVID-19 infections in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have been in decline for seven consecutive days, a trend that epidemiologists hail as the "tipping point" in the latest outbreak in the far western region. Xinjiang reported 45 infections on Friday, marking seven consecutive days of declining cases and a sharp drop from the day before, when 112 new infections were reported. The trend is hailed by experts as "possible tipping point for Xinjiang." An outbreak was expected after the first case was detected less than two weeks ago, which is the usual incubation period, Zhang Yuexin, a medical expert who is part of the Urumqi anti-epidemic group and director of the infectious disease department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, told the Global Times. The expert also attributed Xinjiang's previous high daily increase to the city's mass testing program. The declining cases mean authorities have tested all those who should be tested and the outbreak has plateaued, said the epidemiologist. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Panic buyers desperate to stock up on essential groceries ahead of a stage four lockdown have flooded supermarkets across Melbourne. Shoppers in face masks were waiting outside the doors of some stores as early as 7am on Sunday in a bid to snap up dwindling meat supplies before the morning rush. Thousands of people were seen waiting patiently at South Melbourne Market, despite massive lines for fresh and local produce. Butchers and bottle shops were also flooded with customers desperate to stockpile meat and booze. The panic buying has already left fresh meat shelves bare in some Woolworths stores in central Melbourne, angering other locals who have called for calm. It comes as Daniel Andrews declared a state of disaster in Victoria - announcing an 8pm-5am curfew across all of Melbourne as part of radical new lockdown measures. The shutdown comes into place at 6pm on Sunday and will last until at least September 13. Panic buyers have crammed into Melbourne supermarkets to stock up on essential groceries ahead of an expected stage four lockdown (pictured, shoppers at the South Melbourne Market on Sunday) Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to announce more than 650 new positive tests as the state's worsening crisis shows no signs ending (pictured, shoppers wearing face masks visit the South Melbourne Market on Sunday) Racing.com editor in chief Paul Tatnell said one store had likened the Sunday morning rush to holiday shopping. 'Lockdown panic is well and truly alive,' he said. 'Shortage of meat and staples already. One shop likened it to the Christmas rush.' The move to harsher restrictions comes as coronavirus cases continue to yo-yo, more than halfway through the state's initial six-week lockdown. 'If we don't make these changes, we're not going to get through this,' Mr Andrews told reporters. 'We need to do more. That is what these decisions are about.' Under the 'stage four' restrictions, Melbourne residents will only be allowed to exercise for an hour a day and can't travel more than 5km from home for the purpose of shopping. Only one person from each household will be able to go to the shops each day. Near empty shelves are seen at the vegetable section of a supermarket in Melbourne on Sunday Supermarkets were flooded with customers on Sunday as a Stage Four lockdown is expected to be announced Metropolitan Melbourne will be under a nightly curfew, between the hours of 8pm to 5am, from Sunday night with some exemptions for those providing care and travelling to and from work. Regional Victoria will move to 'stage three' restrictions, with restaurants, cafes, bars, gyms and other businesses to shut from midnight on Wednesday. The premier flagged further announcements would be made about workplaces on Monday, including the closure of certain industries. 'I want to ensure all Victorians supermarkets, the butcher, the baker, food, beverage, groceries, those types of settings, there will be no impact there,' he said. Victoria recorded seven new deaths from coronavirus on Sunday, taking the national toll to 208, along with 671 new cases. Six of the deaths were connected to the age care sector. Seventy-three of the new cases are linked to known outbreaks while 598 remain under investigation. Although supermarkets are still allowed to operate under the new restrictions, some residents have rushed to the shelves and angered fellow locals who call the panic buying unnecessary. Shoppers have rushed to South Melbourne Market as Victoria premier Daniel Andrews is expected to announce stage four lockdown will begin on Wednesday A long queue is seen lining up outside of the South Melbourne Market on Sunday Another customer posted a photo of an empty meat shelf at her local supermarket 'What's up with the panic buying guys seriously,' one person tweeted. 'Who here thinks the announcement is gonna be 'Food is hereby banned, no supermarkets open for the next six weeks, those who can go that long without food will make up the new Melbourne'.' Another customer posted a photo of an empty meat shelf at her local supermarket. 'Panic buying in full swing at my local Aldi in Melbourne,' she tweeted. 'Virtually no meat on the shelves.' Others have stepped in to defend the sudden surge of shoppers. 'People are talking about panic buying in Melbourne ahead of tighter lockdowns. Is it panic buying or just being prepared? 'It makes sense to stock up...the less visits to the supermarkets, the better. (I know there will always be a few greedy people).' The panic buying comes as Australians face a possible meat shortage with abattoirs and meat factories confirming a number of positive COVID-19 cases. On Friday, the coronavirus-stricken abattoir Cedar Meats confirmed that another employee had tested positive for COVID-19 after working on July 22. The vegetable section of a Woolworths store in Melbourne is almost empty as people panic buy on Sunday Shoppers have been filmed waiting patiently in queue with shopping bags outside of the South Melbourne Market on Sunday A Woolworths in Melbourne has shoppers queuing outside its supermarket as panic buying hits the city It comes after 111 workers and close contacts of the Melbourne abattoir were forced to self-isolate in April after being diagnosed with the virus. Three Australian Meat Group abattoir workers in Dandenong South have also tested positive to COVID-19. Patrick Hutchinson, the chief executive of the Australian Meat Industry Council, warned that closures could have a knock-on effect across the industry. 'The impacts of any potential closures of processing plants has a flow through effect to our wholesalers and retail network chains, which ultimately affects our farmers and producers,' Mr Hutchinson said, the Herald Sun reported. Nasa astronauts have dropped into the sea after a pioneering SpaceX mission to the International Space Station. Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley became the first American astronauts to splashdown in 45 years when they landed in the capsule made by Elon Musks space firm. The arrival in the Gulf of Mexico after having blazed through Earths atmosphere, and being carried safely down by parachutes brought an end to a mission that is set to change space travel in the US. The mission began at the end of May, when the two men took part in the first launch of astronauts from US soil in nearly a decade. The successful finish to the mission means that SpaceXs Dragon capsule in which the astronauts were carried up to space, docked with the ISS, and then safely came back down has passed the last of its tests, and will now go into regular use flying astronauts. On behalf of the SpaceX and Nasa teams, welcome back to planet Earth. Thanks for flying SpaceX, SpaceX mission control said upon splashdown. For the return sequence, on-board thrusters and two sets of parachutes worked autonomously to slow the acorn-shaped capsule, bringing Behnken and Hurleys speed of 17,500 mph in orbit down to 350 mph upon atmospheric reentry, and eventually 15 mph at splashdown. Recommended Nasa launches mission to Mars in search of alien life During reentry to Earths atmosphere, the capsules outer shell withstood temperatures as high as 1,900C while Behnken and Hurley, wearing SpaceXs white flight suits strapped inside the cabin, experienced 29C. The crew will spend up to an hour floating inside the capsule before joint recovery teams from SpaceX and NASA retrieve them for a helicopter trip ashore. There the duo will undergo medical checks ahead of a flight to Nasas Johnson Space Centre in Houston, Texas. Musks SpaceX became the first private company to send humans to orbit with the launch of Behnken and Hurley, who will have spent more than two months on the space station upon returning. Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Mystic Mountain, a pillar of gas and dust standing at three-light-years tall, bursting with jets of gas from fledgling stars buried within, was captured by Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope in February 2010 Nasa/ESA/STScI Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures The first ever selfie taken on an alien planet, captured by Nasa's Curiosity Rover in the early days of its mission to explore Mars in 2012 Nasa/JPL-Caltech/MSSS Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Death of a star: This image from Nasa's Chandra X-ray telescope shows the supernova of Tycho, a star in our Milky Way galaxy Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Arrokoth, the most distant object ever explored, pictured here on 1 January 2019 by a camera on Nasa's New Horizons spaceraft at a distance of 4.1 billion miles from Earth Getty Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory in January 2012. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures The first ever image of a black hole, captured by the Event Horizon telescope, as part of a global collaboration involving Nasa, and released on 10 April 2019. The image reveals the black hole at the centre of Messier 87, a massive galaxy in the nearby Virgo galaxy cluster. This black hole resides about 54 million light-years from Earth Getty Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Pluto, as pictured by Nasa's New Horizons spacecraft as it flew over the dwarf planet for the first time ever in July 2015 Nasa/APL/SwRI Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures A coronal mass ejection as seen by the Chandra Observatory in 2019. This is the first time that Chandra has detected this phenomenon from a star other than the Sun Nasa Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Dark, narrow, 100 meter-long streaks running downhill on the surface Mars were believed to be evidence of contemporary flowing water. It has since been suggested that they may instead be formed by flowing sand Nasa/JPL/University of Arizona Nasa's groundbreaking decade of space exploration: In pictures Morning Aurora: Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station in October 2015 Nasa/Scott Kelly The landmark mission, launched from Nasas Kennedy Space Centre on 31 May, marked the first time the space agency launched humans from US soil since its shuttle program retired in 2011. Since then the United States has relied on Russias space program to launch its astronauts to the space station. The last time an American crew splashed down into the ocean was in 1975, during an Apollo mission. Since then, astronauts have always landed on dry land. Additional reporting by agencies The European Union has denied funding to six Polish towns that declared themselves to be "LGBT-Free Zones." In announcing the decision on Thursday, the European Commission said it was affirming that the union stands for equality for all people. "EU values and fundamental rights must be respected by Member States and state authorities," European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, wrote on Twitter. EU values and fundamental rights must be respected by Member States and state authorities. This is why 6 town twinning applications invilving Polish authorities that adopted 'LGBTI free zones' or 'family rights' resolutions were rejected.#LGBTI #UnionOfEquality Helena Dalli (@helenadalli) July 28, 2020 Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz said: "Six applications have been rejected because the answer given by the legal representative of the project did not provide the evaluation committee with sufficient assurance that the project would be in line with those objectives and general features." Jahnz told CNN he was "not at liberty" to identify the rejected applications, adding: "We do not disclose the applicants who were rejected to get EU funds, this is a really a principle of equality of treatment that is at the heart of our selection processes." In a statement on Twitter, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "Our treaties in Europe ensure that every person in Europe is free to be who they are, live where they like, love who they want and aim as high as they want. I will continue to push for a #UnionOfEquality." In March, the International Observatory of Human Rights said one-third of Polish towns had declared themselves "free from LGBTI ideology" since 2019. Commission spokesman Adalbert Jahnz said: "Six applications have been rejected because the answer given by the legal representative of the project did not provide the evaluation committee with sufficient assurance that the project would be in line with those objectives and general features." Jahnz told CNN he was "not at liberty" to identify the rejected applications, adding: "We do not disclose the applicants who were rejected to get EU funds, this is a really a principle of equality of treatment that is at the heart of our selection processes." In a statement on Twitter, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "Our treaties in Europe ensure that every person in Europe is free to be who they are, live where they like, love who they want and aim as high as they want. I will continue to push for a #UnionOfEquality." In March, the International Observatory of Human Rights said one-third of Polish towns had declared themselves "free from LGBTI ideology" since 2019. Nearly 8,000 residents of Riverside County in Southern California were forced to evacuate their homes on Saturday as a wildfire spread uncontained across more than 4,000 acres, the County fire department said even as a tropical storm hit the state of Florida on the other side of the United States on Sunday. The fire, dubbed the Apple Fire by local firefighters was reported on Friday in Cherry Valley, a community about 75 miles east of Los Angeles and had destroyed at least one family home as of Saturday. Residents of 2,586 homes, totaling around 7,800 people, had been told to evacuate, the department said. The fire had grown from 700 acres on Friday evening to 4,125 acres by Saturday evening and was 0% contained, according to the County fire department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Meanwhile, bands of heavy rain from Isaias lashed Floridas east coast on Sunday while officials dealing with surging cases of the coronavirus kept a close watch on the weakened tropical storm. Isaias was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm on Saturday, but was still expected to bring heavy rain and flooding as it crawled just off Floridas Atlantic coast. Dont be fooled by the downgrade, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis warnedat a news conference. Upper-level winds took much of the strength out of Isaias, said Stacy Stewart, senior hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center in Miami. The storm also slowed down considerably. Authorities closed beaches, parks and virus testing sites, lashing signs to palm trees so they wouldnt blow away. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Harsh rhetoric from Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah appeared to threaten further conflict after border unrest this week, but experts predict both sides will try to avoid escalation. As the coronavirus pandemic has deepened Lebanon's economic turmoil and also rocked Israeli politics, the last thing either of the arch foes wants now is a new military conflict, they argue. Tensions spiked last Monday along the UN-demarcated Blue Line after months of relative calm when Israel said it thwarted an infiltration attempt by up to five Hezbollah gunmen, a claim denied by the Iran-backed group. Israel reported an exchange of fire that forced the "terrorists" back into Lebanon and said it fired artillery across the heavily guarded border for "defensive" purposes. The incident came a week after an alleged Israeli missile attack hit positions of Syrian regime forces and their allies south of Damascus on July 20, killing five, including a Hezbollah member. Hezbollah said at the time a response to the deadly Syria strike was "inevitable", heightening tensions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Monday that Hezbollah was "playing with fire" and that Israel's response to the border incursion would "be very strong". Since then the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) remain on "alert" to see if Hezbollah is "going to do anything else," said analyst Orna Mizrahi of the Institute for National Security Studies. However, Mizrahi, who previously served in Netanyahu's national security office, argued that a full-blown escalation now was in neither side's interest. With the pandemic wreaking havoc -- especially in Lebanon, stuck in its deepest economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war -- she argued that "both sides don't want a conflict now". - 'False calm' - The last major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah broke out in 2006. A month of fighting left more than 1,200 Lebanese dead, mostly civilians, and killed 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers. The Blue Line has remained tense ever since, as an AFP team experienced on a visit last month, 10 days before the border incident. Officer Jonathan Goshen said Israeli forces could see Hezbollah "preparing for the next war". Hezbollah's military presence along the Blue Line is not immediately visible to visiting reporters, but a March report from the United Nations said the group has fighters and weapons deployed there. "The border looks calm, but it isn't," Goshen told AFP, weaving in a Jeep amid the trees near Metula, the northernmost village on the Israeli side. According to Goshen, when Israeli forces approach the Blue Line, "it's quiet for the first 10 minutes and then we see them coming all the time, trying to collect intelligence". During AFP's visit, a small group was visible moving among the fruit trees on the Lebanese side, sparking heated discussion among IDF troops on whether they were Hezbollah or farmers. "Hezbollah!" Goshen said, before ordering his soldiers to pull back. - Avoiding 'imbroglio' - Hezbollah specialist Didier Leroy of the Royal Higher Institute for Defence also argued that the group remains primarily focused on the turmoil gripping Lebanon, which has seen protests since last year against a political system widely deemed corrupt and incompetent. The demonstrations, which have also shaken Hezbollah strongholds, are a "significant factor" in its calculations, he said, adding that "the atmosphere in Lebanon is not favourable for a hardline anti-Israel agenda". While Israel's financial crisis is less severe, the Jewish state is struggling to contain surging coronavirus transmission while street protests over economic hardship, and against right-wing Netanyahu's leadership, have grown by the week. Nahum Barnea of the Yediot Aharonoth newspaper, one of Israel's most prominent columnists, reported that when the gunmen crossed the Blue Line, IDF soldiers were ordered to take extraordinary steps to avoid an escalation. "What made the engagement unusual, maybe even unprecedented, was the unequivocal (do not kill) order that the IDF soldiers were given," Barnea wrote. The Israeli army declined to comment when asked by AFP if its soldiers indeed had orders to refrain from using lethal force. Barnea, in his column, argued that "the logic behind the decision is clear: killing members of the cell would have necessarily led to a day of fighting in the north, and maybe more than one day. "The decision-makers faced the imbroglio from 2006: they didn't want to roll into the Third Lebanon War." burs-cgo/bs/fz Israeli soldiers monitor the country's border with Lebanon near the northern town of Metula on July 14 The United Nations peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) on patrol along the southern Lebanese border with Israel near the northern Israeli town of Metula on July 28 Armoured vehicles and 155 mm self-propelled howitzers are deployed in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel on the border with Lebanon on July 27 The Israeli northern town of Metula in the foreground and the Lebanese southern plain of Marjayoun Microsoft Corp has put on hold discussions to acquire Chinese-owned video app TikTok's US operations following President Donald Trump's proposed ban threat. Trump on Friday said he would ban the app in America and was considering signing an executive order in this regard. He also came out against TikTok's sale to Microsoft, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. Trump has pledged to take a tough stand on the popular video-sharing app, which US officials have alleged to be a tool used by China to gather intelligence. This claim has been repeatedly denied by the TikTok's parent company ByteDance. Whilst there has been no sign yet of the ban Trump threatened to impose on Friday, this has only added to uncertainties for the Chinese app. Also Read: TikTok reacts to Trump's proposed ban, says it's in America 'for the long run' "Before Mr. Trump's remarks, the two sides believed the broad strokes of a deal could be in place by Monday," the publication reported citing sources adding that Trump's opposition to the Microsoft-TikTok deal had prompted the app to make further concessions. These comprise adding up to 10,000 jobs in the US over the course of the next three years. Meanwhile, responding to Trump's proposed ban, TikTok said that it is here to stay and is in America 'for the long run', adding that it is not "going anywhere". Also Read: US will ban Chinese app TikTok, says President Donald Trump TikTok US General Manager Vanessa Pappas told users that the company was working to ensure them "the safest app" in the wake of heightened concerns in the US over data security. "We're not planning on going anywhere," Pappas expressed in a video shared on TikTok's official Twitter account on Saturday. She added that "millions of Americans who use TikTok every day bringing their creativity and joy into our daily lives." Pappas went on to say that the app is "a home for creators and artists to express themselves, their ideas and connect with people across different backgrounds and we are so proud of all the various communities that call TikTok their home." Also Read: Microsoft in talks to buy TikTok's US operations from ByteDance Many countries in sub-Saharan Africa and some in Asia continue to experience rapid population growth and high fertility rates, the 2020 World Population Data Sheet released by the Population Reference Bureau (PRB) stated. It said the population of 25 countries including Ghana, is expected to at least double between now and 2050. The Data Sheet copied to the Ghana News Agency said older adults ages 65 and older now account for nine per cent of the global population, in part because of declining fertility rates. In 91 countries and territories, nearly 45 per cent of the worlds population total fertility rates were below replacement level, the average number of children at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next in the absence of migration. And in 21 countries and territories, including several that have suffered devastating loss during the COVID-19 pandemic, people ages 65 and older account for at least 20 per cent of the population with this trend most pronounced in Europe and Asia. Published since 1962, PRBs annual World Population Data Sheet tracks global population data. This years edition provides 24 population indicators for more than 200 countries and territories. Users can also explore key trends through an interactive map. Jeff Jordan, PRB President and CEO said As the experience with the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us, population changes such as aging and rapid urbanisation are important factors for countries to consider as they plan for future disease outbreaks, long-term health care needs and other developments. PRBs World Population Data Sheet provides objective data and analysis policymakers need to make... Among the key findings for 2020 are the world population is projected to reach 9.9 billion by 2050, an increase of more than 25 per cent from 2020. The global total fertility rate is 2.3 births per woman, while the replacement level is 2.1 births per woman. Western Europe and Southern Europe have the largest shares of people ages 65 years and older (21%), while sub-Saharan Africa has the smallest share (three per cent). It said that Angola and Benin are projected to grow by at least 150 per cent of their current population between 2020 and 2050, while Nigers population is expected to increase by almost 175 per cent. Thirty-eight countries and territories, including Armenia, Germany and South Korea, are projected to have a smaller population in 2050 than in 2020. On fertility, it said Niger had the highest total fertility rate (7.1 average births for each woman), followed by Mali (6.3) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (6.2). Some of the lowest total fertility rates are in South Korea (0.9), Taiwan (1.0) and Singapore (1.1). The Data Sheet noted womens life expectancy at birth is highest in Hong Kong (88) and lowest in Central African Republic (55). Life expectancy at birth for men is highest in Australia (83) and lowest in Central African Republic and Lesotho (51). Among the regions, Eastern Europe has the largest gap in life expectancy between men (69) and women (79). Sub-Saharan Africa has the youngest population of any region, with 43 per cent of its population under age 15. In contrast, 14 per cent of Southern Europes population is under age 15. At 84 per cent, South America has the highest percent of the population living in urban areas of any region with 12 countries and territories, at least 50 per cent of the population lives in cities with a population of one million or more, including Republic of the Congo (63%), Australia (62%) and Israel (61%). Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Wealthy countries have already locked up more than a billion doses of coronavirus vaccines, raising worries that the rest of the world will be at the back of the queue in the global effort to defeat the pathogen. Moves by the US and UK to secure supplies from Sanofi and partner GlaxoSmithKline Plc, and another pact between Japan and Pfizer Inc., are the latest in a string of agreements. The European Union has also been aggressive in obtaining shots, well before anyone knows whether they will work. Although international groups and a number of nations are promising to make vaccines ... The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer. Letters to the editor Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer. Washington, Aug 2 : The Republican Party's vote to nominate President Donald Trump as its candidate for the November elections will be held in private, without press in attendance, the media reported on Sunday. A Republican National Convention spokeswoman gave coronavirus health guidelines as the reason, the BBC reported. The party was "working within the parameters set before us by state and local guidelines regarding the number of people who can attend events", the spokeswoman said on Saturday. The 336 party delegates will meet on August 24 in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina to formally renominate Trump. They will cast proxy votes for some 2,500 official delegates. Trump is the party's sole remaining nominee, and his renomination will officially launch his re-election bid. Saturday's decision marks a significant change for the convention, which historically has worked to draw media attention to spread party messaging to the public, said the BBC report. Trump had switched the location of the convention to Jacksonville, Florida, after the Democratic governor of North Carolina insisted in May on limiting the crowd size at the convention, on the grounds of social distancing. But he later scrapped the Florida convention, blaming the state's coronavirus "flare-up". President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has touted his administration as far better than that of his predecessor, John Dramani Mahama, asking journalists not to bother him with his predecessors innuendos. Speaking in an exclusive interview on Wontumi TV and Wontumi Radio in the Ashanti Region, the president said that his predecessor and a main contender in the 2020 elections, John Mahama is only desperate for attention. Comparing my administration to that of Mahama is like chalk and cheese, theres no semblanceYou shouldnt worry me with things that will disturb my peace. His administration is the worst government the country has ever experienced in the last thirty years. Leave him. We are in an election year so he needs to say something and thats what he is doingI am confident that on December 7, the verdict will vindicate my hard work and the good works of this administration. President Akufo-Addo also thanked the people of Kumasi for their support for him and his government, urging them to go out and register in their numbers. Source: ghanacelebrities.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Logistics and delivery companies have been boosted by a surge in demand for medical goods and online shopping amid the coronavirus crisis, with some recording triple digit surges in profit. But they will have to readapt in the post-pandemic era, as many of the businesses they rely on shrink or close down altogether in what promises to be a prolonged global recession. Hong Kong-based Kerry Logistics Network, owned by Malaysias richest man Robert Kuok, foresees a double-digit percentage gain in earnings for the first half that is likely to extend to the whole of 2020, its chief financial officer Ellis Cheng said in an interview. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. The cross-border cargo freight businesses now are mainly related to Covid-19, for example, masks, protective medical gowns and ventilators, Cheng said. He said clients are not too sensitive to the price of the goods or delivery, which has helped us earn a decent profit. Kerry Logistics, which generates most of its revenue in Asia, operates in three major business segments international freight forwarding, logistics operations such as storage and distribution, and leasing of warehousing space. The companys peers in mainland China, especially ones that deliver direct to consumers, have also recorded big gains during the pandemic, even in the face of increased costs and disruption to global transport networks. In the first six months of the year, 34 billion packages were delivered in China, up 22.6 per cent year over year, according to Chinas State Post Bureau. Delivery revenues increased 12.6 per cent to 382.6 billion yuan (US$54.6 billion) from a year earlier. Boosted by strong business volumes, Chinas leading delivery service firms have seen their stock market valuations soar. Shenzhen-based SF Holdings share price has surged 92 per cent so far this year, while YTO Express has gained by almost a quarter in the same period. Story continues Logistics and delivery companies that mainly target consumers are growing fast as they are being boosted by the acceleration of online shopping during the pandemic, said Yang Xin, head of transport and infrastructure research at CICC Research Department. But logistics firms that are mainly serving businesses depend on the progress of the resumption of work and production [for growth]. Chinas business-to-business logistics companies are being dragged down by the slow economic growth compared with pre-pandemic levels, she said. In other parts of the world, Deutsche Post DHL Group, a German logistics company, expected operating profit to surge 16 per cent to around 890 million (US$1.06 billion) in the second quarter, thanks to gains in shipment volumes through e-commerce. It also predicted operating profit of between 3.5 billion and 3.8 billion for the whole year. American delivery giant FedEx, meanwhile, reported net income of US$1.3 billion in the financial year ended May 31, a huge 138.1 per cent increase from the previous year. But the global economic slump and its effect on business growth caused by the health pandemic poses risks for logistics companies, Cheng warned. We cant grow larger when clients are not growing larger, he said. When the goods that we are transporting become less, our income declines. The financial support, and relief on tax and fees offered by many governments is helping, he said. But we believe the government aid will not last long, and once it is suspended we are concerned that problems will arise, Cheng said. Did you know that among the world's top five health care markets, China is the only one growing at double digits? Get a comprehensive industry review and insights on Covid-19 induced market shifts with the China Healthcare Report, brought to you by SCMP Research. Sign up for our 50% early bird discount now. You will also receive access to 6 closed-door webinars led by China healthcares most influential C-suite executives. Offer Valid until August 12th 2020. More from South China Morning Post: This article Logistics and delivery companies see profits soar as coronavirus boosts e-commerce, demand for medical goods first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Have you ever wondered what Ram, Lakshman and especially Sita wore when they were exiled from Ayodhya, for 14 long years? They surely could not have been wearing the costly raiment they would normally wear at court, so I like to think that they wore the simplest of hand-spun and hand-woven khadi; the men in classically-draped dhotis or lungis, and the lady in sturdy cotton, softened by many washes and faded to a whisper of its original, vegetable-dyed colour. A small bag of saris and few gamchhas to cover the upper body with would have completed Sitas wardrobe. Colonial prudes Cholis and petticoats came much later. These were actually designed to conform to prudish Victorian wardrobe diktats, issued to prevent Indian women from exposing their bodies to the male gaze. The women of Kerala dressed only in the mundu, or lungi, leaving their upper bodies bare, much to the colonists consternation. The concept of patterned garments comes to us from the Mughals It is said that Rabindranath Tagores sisters were once banned from attending the British governors ball in their delicate, transparent, muslin saris which left little or nothing to the imagination. For good measure, they had painted their lower halves with alta, a deep red vegetable dye, to further enhance their contours. We can only imagine the scandal this caused amongst the prim expatriates. Cholis and petticoats were designed to conform to prudish victorian wardrobe diktats The concept of patterned garments comes to us from the Mughals. Until then, we draped ourselves in fabrics like cotton, wool and silk, in myriad styles. Even now there are almost 18 different styles of sari-draping still in use all over India. The most common style of wearing a sari is the Mysore style: the ulta-palla where the usually embellished palla is thrown over the left shoulder, with the pleats in front. Other variations include the seedha-palla, where the palla is taken behind and pulled forward over the right shoulder, as seen in the Gujarati sari with the pleats in front, or the Coorg sari where the pleats are at the back. Both styles wear the palla draped forward over the right shoulder. The dhoti styles for men also vary, and you mostly find these still worn in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Bengal and Odisha. Designers are trying to reinvent the sari to make it appealing to the youngsters Winning the wardrobe Indian women in the South managed to retain wearing the sari through several invasions, including the Mughals and the British. They preferred the hand-woven sari, possibly the most unstructured garment in the world. When worn, it has the ability to change character and affords a high degree of flexibility in the wearers choices. Most photographs of the colonial years show our grandmothers and mothers always in a sari, while our male ancestors looked like brown sahibs in their highly unsuitable suits. In fact, when Gandhiji called for the burning of imported textiles as a mark of protest against the British rule, the women hardly had anything to burn. Till 1785, people only wore khadi in wool, silk and cotton In recent years, there has been a move to bring draping styles for men back to the fashion forefront. It has limited popularity in the wedding market, because for men, the idea of having to drape five meters of fabric for a dhoti is daunting. This led to that abomination the tailored dhoti, which you pulled on like a pair of pants, with the pleats artfully arranged and pre-stitched for convenience. The lungi is an easier option and you find it all through India, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. The woman who knows how to drape the perfect sari with little individual touches will be the woman who always has something to wear! The ancient Greeks and Indians had much in common. Both favoured draped garments, though the Greeks introduced elements of tailoring into their togas and wraps. The evolution of weaving across more than 30 centuries ran undisturbed till the advent of the power loom by Edmund Cartwright in 1785. Till then, the human race only wore khadi in wool, silk and cotton. Dating back to the Indus Valley Civilisation, the art of fabric draping evolved slowly across the centuries and textile weaving became a refined and valuable craft. The idea of draping a dhoti is a daunting one for men but not for Prasad Bidapa Designers are now scrambling to reinvent the sari to make it more appealing to the younger generation. The tailored sari is worn like a gown and the designer fits it to your body with a lot of extra embellishments like ruffles, pleats and pin-tucking. But the woman who knows how to drape the perfect sari with little individual touches will be the woman who always has something to wear! Prasad Bidapa is a Bengaluru-based style and fashion curator, with over four decades of experience in the fashion industry From HT Brunch, August 2, 2020 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch The US Navy Mocks Iran's Target Practice On A Replica Of An Aircraft Carrier Radio Farda August 01, 2020 In a series of pictures and messages on Instagram, the U.S. Navy has mocked the Islamic Republic for making a replica of an American aircraft carrier and using it for target practice in the Persian Gulf. "They are experts in this," the U.S. Navy captioned one the images on its Instagram account, which shows a mock-up of an American aircraft carrier in the port of Bandar Abbas, on the Persian Gulf. U.S. Navy messages on Instagram followed the IRGC's naval drills on Tuesday and Wednesday in the Persian Gulf. During the exercise, the IRGC fired missiles at the bogus aircraft carrier, a replica of the nuclear-powered Nimitz class carriers. The naval drill was broadcast on Iran's monopolized state-owned television, and the United States condemned it as "irresponsible and reckless behavior by Iran," calling it an attempt "to intimidate and coerce." Meanwhile, Daily Mail reported on July 31, the Islamic Republic show of force "paled in comparison to the US Navy's unmatched prowess, which includes 11 aircraft carriers." Yahoo News also said Iran has none of the mammoth vessels, except for the replica. The fake carrier was towed by a tugboat to the Strait of Hormuz from the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas for target practice on Tuesday. During the IRGC naval exercise, speedboats moved in the region's waters, and then artillery and missile-equipped helicopters fired at some targets in Iranian territorial waters. In a part of the Iranian TV report, a missile was fired from a military truck that hit the deck of the mock-up aircraft carrier. Then, a helicopter also targeted the dummy vessel with a rocket that apparently hit it on the shipboard. Seconds later, swarms of the IRGC speedboats surrounded the replica and combat units were shown invading its deck. On the sidelines of the naval drill, the IRGC Chief Commander Hossein Salami said, "What was demonstrated today at aerospace and naval levels was totally offensive." However, he immediately insisted that the Islamic Republic's strategy is "defensive". About 30% of the world's oil tankers cross the Strait of Hormuz and about 18.3 million barrels of oil and roughly 1.7 million barrels of oil products and liquefied natural gas pass through the Strait daily. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/the-us-navy-mocks -iran-s-target-practice-on-a-replica-of- an-aircraft-carrier/30761135.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, the newly inducted Vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has pledged to transform UCC into a World class entrepreneurial university with a global competitive edge. He said the concept of entrepreneurial university was necessary and more significant in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic where efforts were being made to focus on new ways of doing things. Speaking at his investiture ceremony on Saturday, Prof. Boampong underscored the importance of an entrepreneurial University to the economy but said it required a significant increase in research and development. Prof Boampong, who takes over from Professor Joseph Ghartey-Ampiah, becomes the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the University. Dr Sir Sam Jonah, Chancellor of UCC, administered the Oath of Office to Professor Nyarko Boampong before an audience comprising academicians, diplomats, government officials, traditional rulers, family members, friends and loved ones. The ceremony also saw the induction of Mr Jeff Teye Emmanuel Onyame, the 13th Registrar of the UCC, who took over from Mr. Kofi Nyan. What makes this emerging concept significant and appealing to me, particularly within these uncertain times, is how the COVID-19 pandemic has called to question existing paradigms and it is attempting to redirect our focus to novel ways of doing things, he said. Prof Nyarko Boampong said his vision was to re-position UCC as the global hub of creative thinkers, offering demand-driven programmes, integrated with practical entrepreneurial courses and actively translating the products of its innovative research, for sustainable development. He pledged to provide exemplary academic leadership and operate an all-inclusive governance system to achieve his vision. He said he would also focus on increasing students intake and ensure their success and welfare, emphasise academic distinctiveness as well as to generate additional revenue and maintain fiscal discipline. He would also enhance the universitys visibility both locally and internationally and create an organizational culture that improves the efficiency and effectiveness of the governance system. In pursuing his vision, he said a thorough audit of all academic programmes, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, would be conducted to reduce duplication of courses at various departments. Also, new demand-driven programmes would be introduced and a stimulus fund for STEM and Entrepreneurship education would be created. The School of Business Incubation Centre will further be developed and resourced to become the University-wide Entrepreneurial Centre to be called UCC Design Thinking and Business Development Centre, he added The Centre, he said would collaborate with the Ministry for Business Development, Industry, financial institutions and UCC Enterprise Limited, to reinforce practical entrepreneurship, nurture the entrepreneurial talents of students, and assist them to create and manage their businesses. Prof Nyarko Boampong expressed gratitude to the Universitys Governing Council for the confidence reposed in him saying, Under my leadership, the University will work to produce ethically responsible graduates with employable and entrepreneurial skills. Professor Joseph Ghartey-Ampiah, the out-going Vice-Chancellor of UCC expressed gratitude to the university community for their support and commitment to his vision during his four-year tenure as the VC. He described the VC position as bittersweet and encouraged the new administration to be courageous in the discharge of his duties and urged them to continue to amicably co-exist with the universitys neighbouring communities while pledging his support to them. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video By Paresh Dave OAKLAND, Calif. (Reuters) - Alphabet Inc's Google said on Friday that 20 U.S. states and territories, representing about 45% of the country's population, are "exploring" contact tracing apps for the novel coronavirus using a tool it developed with Apple Inc . In addition, the company said public health authorities in 16 countries and regions outside the United States had launched apps using the Apple-Google tool, up from 12 previously. They include Austria, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Gibraltar, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Northern Ireland, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Uruguay. The technology enables app users to track encounters with other people through Bluetooth signals and anonymously notify contacts if they later become infected with the virus. Google had previously said in May that three states - Alabama, North Dakota and South Carolina - would be launching apps using the exposure notification tool. But South Carolina lawmakers halted the release of the state's app last month, while Alabama officials are still weighing the launch of their completed app. North Dakota's app has yet to launch. On Friday, Google said the first of the U.S. apps would be released in the "coming weeks," but declined to name the states. It added that its system with Apple now enables apps launched by different countries to talk to each other, allowing contact-logging to continue even when users cross borders. Northern Ireland's app, which was released on Friday, is the first that can also trace users in another country, Ireland. The company that developed the app told Reuters that it also is making one for the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. (Reporting by Paresh Dave; editing by Diane Craft and Tom Brown) Officials have said that Russia and China are actively seeking to weaken the US's global standing to undermine confidence in American democracy. New York: As the 3 November presidential vote nears, there are fresh signs that the nations electoral system is again under attack from foreign adversaries. Intelligence officials confirmed in recent days that foreign actors are actively seeking to compromise the private communications of US political campaigns, candidates and other political targets while working to compromise the nation's election infrastructure. Foreign entities are also aggressively spreading disinformation intended to sow voter confusion heading into the fall. There is no evidence that America's enemies have yet succeeded in penetrating campaigns or state election systems, but Democrat Joe Biden's presidential campaign confirmed this week that it has faced multiple related threats. The former vice president's team was reluctant to reveal specifics for fear of giving adversaries useful intelligence. Because of such secrecy, at least in part, foreign interference largely remains an afterthought in the 2020 contest, even as Republicans and Democrats alike concede it poses a serious threat that could fundamentally reshape the election at any moment. Biden's campaign is increasingly concerned that pro-Russian sources have already shared disinformation about Biden's family with President Donald Trump's campaign and his Republican allies on Capitol Hill designed to hurt the Democratic candidate in the days leading up to the election. When asked directly, the Trump campaign refused to say whether it had accepted materials related to Biden from any foreign nationals. Trump was impeached last year after being caught pressuring Ukrainian leaders to produce damaging information about work Biden's son did in the country, even though repeated allegations of corruption against the Bidens have been widely discredited. A Biden spokesman said absolutely not when asked if the campaign had received any materials from foreign actors. Joe Biden has been demonstrating international leadership to protect the sovereignty of our democracy for years, whereas Donald Trump has actively encouraged attacks on our elections, said Biden spokesman Andrew Bates. Meanwhile, Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, a key Trump ally and chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, denied having accepted any damaging materials on Biden from foreign nationals after at least one Ukrainian national, Oleksandr Onyshchenko, told The Washington Post he had shared tapes and transcripts with Johnson's committee and Trump ally Rudy Giuliani. House Democrats announced Friday they have subpoenaed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for documents he turned over to Johnson's panel. It does a disservice to our election security efforts when Democrats use the threat of Russian disinformation as a weapon to cast doubt on investigations they dont like," Johnson spokesperson Austin Altenburg said. The 2020 campaigns and party committees have been receiving regular briefings from the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, whose director, Bill Evanina, released a rare public statement last week confirming Russia's continued work to meddle in the US election. Evanina said that Russia, as part of an effort to weaken the US and its global standing, has been spreading disinformation to undermine confidence in American democracy and to denigrate what it sees as an anti-Russia establishment in America. The threat is not limited to Russia. China, a target of escalating condemnation across the Trump administration in recent weeks, has been looking for ways to affect American policy, counter criticism of Beijing and pressure political figures it views as opposed to Chinese interests, Evanina said, while Iran has been involved in circulating disinformation and anti-American content online. Trumps team reported no specific foreign threats against the president's campaign, but campaign general counsel Matthew Morgan highlighted the Republican Party's yearslong effort to install various voter ID requirements across the country including photo verification, signature matching and witness requirements as an important tool to block foreign interference. Contrary to their narrative, the Democrats efforts to tear these safeguards apart as they sue in 18 states across the nation would open our election system up to foreign interference, Morgan said. "Thats why were fighting back to protect the sanctity of our election system. Despite Morgan's argument, there is no evidence of significant voter fraud in US politics, whether by American voters or foreign nationals. And there is no evidence, as Trump repeatedly charges, that increased reliance on mail balloting this fall leaves the electoral system particularly vulnerable to outside meddling. The president pointed to those baseless claims this week to suggest delaying the election, something that can't be done without support in Congress, where Democrats and Republicans alike rejected the notion. There is ample evidence, however, that foreign powers are trying to sow confusion by spreading misinformation in addition to seeking to hack into political campaigns, as Evanina said last week. Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, a Republican, described Trump's warnings about mail voting absurd and ridiculous. He should be far more forceful and far more direct in condemning foreign interference, Ridge said in an interview. The enemy is not within. Foreign interference played a significant role in the 2016 election, of course. US intelligence agencies determined that Russian operatives seeking to boost Trumps campaign hacked into the Democratic National Committees servers and later shared damaging messages with WikiLeaks while running a covert social media campaign aimed at sowing discord among American voters. All told, the Justice Department charged 25 Russian nationals in a covert effort to spread disinformation on social media and in the hacking of Democratic emails. While Trump has downplayed the threat of Russian meddling, he authorized a 2018 cyberattack against the Russian troll farm known as the Internet Research Agency. Lest there be any doubt about continued foreign interference in 2020, US officials confirmed this week that Russian intelligence services have been using a trio of English-language websites to spread disinformation about the politically charged coronavirus pandemic. Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in an interview that foreign adversaries never stopped trying to interfere with our election process. He noted that the foreign meddling includes some new tactics compared with 2016. He noted, for example, that the Internet Research Agency is operating under a different name. Warner declined to be more specific about 2020 interference, which has been discussed in classified briefings. He said he has a huge concern that voters don't appreciate the true nature of the threat. "The idea that we could be headed into Labor Day without the American public being officially put on notice seems grossly inappropriate, Warner said. GERRY Conlon would have stood by his close pal Johnny Depp over wife-beating allegations, his biographer has said. The campaigner and the Hollywood actor, accused of domestic violence by ex-wife Amber Heard, were so close that Mr Depp said he would have "taken a bullet for him". The Pirates of the Caribbean star's libel action against The Sun newspaper ended on Tuesday after 16 days of shocking accusations and counter-accusations against the actor (57) and his 34-year-old former spouse. Judgement is due in the case in September or October. Expand Close Amber Heard alongside her sister Whitney Henriquez (second right) and lawyer Jen Robinson (right), outside the High Court (Victoria Jones/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Amber Heard alongside her sister Whitney Henriquez (second right) and lawyer Jen Robinson (right), outside the High Court (Victoria Jones/PA) But Mr Conlon, who was wrongly convicted over the Guildford pub bombings and died in 2014, would have stuck by Mr Depp, according to biographer and lifelong friend Richard O'Rawe. He also told Sunday Life, however, he would have advised his movie star friend against taking the libel case, which heard allegations of violence from both sides, all denied. Mr Depp acknowledged taking multiple drugs over the years, including cocaine, ecstasy and magic mushrooms, but he vehemently denied acting violently towards his ex-wife. Expand Close Gerry Conlon and his sister Ann outside the Old Bailey in London after his release in October 1989 PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gerry Conlon and his sister Ann outside the Old Bailey in London after his release in October 1989 Among numerous shocking claims, the actress alleged he once threw a magnum bottle of champagne at her. Mr Depp claimed, however, his ex-wife was abusive towards him and once even defecated in their bed - claims she later denied. Ms Heard told the High Court in London that her former husband threatened to kill her many times during their tumultuous relationship. With the case now at an end, Mr O'Rawe is certain Gerry Conlon would have stuck with Johnny Depp through thick and then. "Gerry loved him, absolutely loved him - he thought he was the bee's knees," he said. Expand Close Johnny Depp was greeted with cheers when he arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice for the final day of his libel action against The Sun newspaper (Yui Mok/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Johnny Depp was greeted with cheers when he arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice for the final day of his libel action against The Sun newspaper (Yui Mok/PA) "Gerry would have been aghast at all these allegations. He probably would have said to him, 'Don't do it (the case)', because he was going to expose (things about his life). "Gerry would have been totally backing Johnny up. He'd have been over in London making sure Johnny knew that he was physically there and supporting him. Expand Close Actress Amber Heard leaves the High Court (Victoria Jones/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actress Amber Heard leaves the High Court (Victoria Jones/PA) "Their friendship was so strong that when Johnny was in London or Gerry was in L.A, they would have met up for something to eat. They were really good friends and very close. "Gerry knew that Johnny took drugs. Gerry took drugs with him, but that's the way it was. That's life. He would have been absolutely supporting him." Released from prison after his conviction was quashed in 1989, the Belfast man went on to strike up an unlikely friendship with the Hollywood megastar when they met in the US a year later. The actor even penned a heartfelt eight-page foreword to Mr O'Rawe's biography In The Name Of The Son: The Gerry Conlon Story. The writer said the picture painted of Mr Depp in court was at odds with descriptions from Gerry and his sister Ann. He added: "I didn't know him that well, but my understanding of him was that he was a very sweet man, a very kind man. "During the stuff that I got for the book, I spoke to Ann Conlon, who was a great friend of Johnny's, and I also spoke to Gerry about him (Mr Depp) when Gerry was alive. "I never got any impression whatsoever that he was in any way violent. "When I was researching the books, those to whom I spoke about him had nothing but praise. "He actually came across as quite a timid person. "I interviewed a girl for the book who ran around with Gerry and Shane MacGowan and Johnny Depp. There was about 20 of them and they were all students back in the day during the late eighties early nineties. "She said that he (Mr Depp) was like a mouse. "Just after making Edward Scissorhands, they went to a club and there was a poster of it on the wall outside. They wanted to go for a drink and they weren't allowed in. He didn't stand up and say, 'That's me. I'm Edward Scissorhands. I'm Johnny Depp. For f*** sake, let us in'. "He just stood at the back like a mouse, so that's the impression that I got of him." Mr O'Rawe also admitted he was surprised by the frank admissions the actor made during the trial. "I take a great, close interest in this, as you would expect, and the one thing that struck me about the trial was Johnny Depp's honesty," he told Sunday Life. "He was brutally honest about his life, about his drug-taking and his defects. "I was just really struck by his approach. He could have been probably a bit more circumspect in my view in some of his answers, but he was brutally honest. That's just the way I viewed it. "It was a horrendous thing for him to have to do in that forum. He risked his whole career in taking this case. "I mean, if he hadn't have taken this case, it could probably just have been one of those ones that drifted off into the ether. "But he felt strongly enough about it to take the case and in doing so he laid bare his whole soul. That's just the way I see it. "I admire him for that honesty, absolutely. It takes a big man to stand up in front of a judge and the world's press and say, 'Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Here are my sins'." As cases of COVID-19 continue to spread around the world, Canadians are increasingly concerned about their health and safety. This is a timeline of cases dating from July 16-31. For the latest cases around Canada, you can click here. July 31 More cases linked to Boucherville day camp outbreak; Quebec jumps back to over 140 daily cases Quebec health officials continue to identify cases linked to a Boucherville day camp, which is located on Montreals South Shore. There are now 19 secondary patients that are connected to the initial 27 cases that were identified among children and staff at Les Ateliers de Charlot lEscargot. Four additional secondary cases were confirmed in the lastest 24-hour stretch, according to CBC, who received confirmation from the regional public health authority. The secondary cases are primarily siblings, parents and friends of the initial patients. An outbreak was initially declared July 20. All children and employees who were at the camp between July 13-21 have to isolate at home for at least 14 days from their last time at the location. Les Ateliers de Charlot lEscargot joined four other day camps with COVID-19 infections on the South Shore, according to CBC. The Boucherville camp will have to now stay closed for at least 11 more days, while the outbreak has raised concerns about the potential of COVID-19 spreading among children and staff once school restarts in the fall. Throughout the province, Quebec health officials recorded 164 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, along with one additional death. For a second straight day, officials announced that a data problem led to an error in the previous days update. Instead of 122 cases on Thursday, the province should have announced 139 new cases of COVID-19. The latest daily update ends its two-day stretch of reporting fewer than 140 daily cases. The province has now reported at least 140 cases on 14 of the last 16 occasions. Before the recent stretch, it had not identified more than 140 cases since June 25. Story continues Quebecs streak of at least 100 daily cases continues, now entering its 20th straight day. Its part of a worrisome trend, considering between June 26 and July 11, it stayed below 100 daily cases except on two occasions. Throughout the pandemic, Quebec has identified 59,312 cases of COVID-19. That includes 5,674 fatalities and 50,886 people who have recovered from the virus. Of the provinces now 2,752 active cases of COVID-19, there are 189 people in hospital (down by 19) and 15 in intensive care (down by three). Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its outputs from two days prior. In its latest 24-hour stretch, the province completed a record-high 17,293 tests for COVID-19, which is above its goal of 14,000. Officials recently launched a massive round of testing, in which they investigated all doctors and staff in order to contain a outbreak at a hospital in St-Eustache. Since Monday, there have been 14 patients and 11 employees who have tested positive, with outbreaks reported in three of the hospitals 13 units. Montreal remains the epicentre with 28,772 total cases (up by 71), but the spread of COVID-19 also continues to gain pace in surrounding areas of the city. The Laurentides region has 3,877 (up by 34), the Monteregie region has 8,779 cases (up by 32), the Laval region has 6,052 (up by 17), and Lanaudiere has 4,497 (up by seven). Passengers wear face masks on a Halifax Transit ferry as it arrives in Dartmouth, N.S. on Friday, July 24, 2020, the first day they have been mandatory on public transit. Masks will become mandatory in most indoor public places in Nova Scotia on Friday and the province's health minister says it will be up to the public to carry out its responsibility to wear them. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan Nova Scotia no longer has zero active COVID-19 cases as mask policy comes into effect Nova Scotia reported two cases of COVID-19 on Friday, the first for the province in over two weeks. The last time officials identified a case was on July 15. By July 26, all of its remaining patients had recovered, leading to zero active cases. The two recent patients are in the Central Zone and recently travelled outside of Canada. Theyve been following self-isolation rules since returning. Nova Scotia continues to share the Atlantic bubble with the other three Atlantic provinces, allowing them to travel between their provincial lines without having to self-isolate for 14 days after arrival and departure. Premier Stephen McNeil said his government wants to find the safest way to reopen to the rest of Canada, but the province is not there yet and a timeline remains unclear. "We cannot continue to keep ourselves locked down," McNeil said. "There are many parts of the country that are doing as well as we are. "There's certainly a level of anxiety in our provinces about doing that. But we need to make sure that as we protect the public health of our citizens, we ... begin to look at the economic health." On Friday, the province started applying its mask policy, making them mandatory in most public spaces, such as shopping centres and gyms, as well restaurants and bars when people are not eating or drinking. Nova Scotia Health Minister Randy Delorey said the province doesn't plan to take a "strong-arm approach to enforcement" and will instead take the honour-system approach. Failure to adhere to the order could result in "fines and other provisions," but Delorey said there are no plans to enforce it. "The reason that it's important to make masks mandatory now, even with few active cases, is part of being prepared for the likely occurrence of a second wave, Delorey said. Throughout the pandemic, Nova Scotia has had 1,069 cases of COVID-19. That includes 64 victims of the respiratory virus, and 1,003 people who have recovered. The two patients announced Friday are the only active cases in the province. British Columbia reports one of its highest daily increases in months British Columbia reported 50 newly identified patients of COVID-19, including five epi-linked cases, as its concerning case trend continues. Its the biggest jump in daily cases since July 18, and the second biggest since April 28. The latest update marks the 21st day of the last 23 that the province has recorded at least 20 cases. Before the recent stretch, it had not surpassed the 20-daily case mark since June 3. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 3,641 cases of COVID-19 in British Columbia. That includes 3,168 people who have recovered (up by 13 since Thursday). Of the 278 active cases of COVID-19, there remain five people in hospital and two in intensive care. The death toll is now 195, after a COVID-19 related death in the Vancouver Coastal Health region in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. There has been one new health-care facility outbreak at Dania Home in the Fraser Health region. There are now two long-term care facilities and one acute-care facility with active outbreaks, said a press release by health officials. Ontario returns to over 100 daily cases of COVID-19; Ottawa surge continues Ontario reported 134 new cases of COVID-19, which ends a two-day streak of reporting fewer than 100 daily cases. Before the recent stretch, it had not done so since March 24. Of the most recent patients, 26 were identified in Ottawa, 24 in Windsor-Essex, 20 in Peel, and 19 in both Toronto and Southwestern Public Health. Twenty-eight of the provinces 34 public health units reported five or fewer cases, while 16 of them reported zero. The cases were identified after the province completed 30,033 tests for COVID-19 in its latest 24-hour stretch. Ottawa has recently seen a surge in cases, many of them linked to private house gatherings. According to CBC, the national capital had 40 active cases on June 30. That number now stands at 271. "These numbers are concerning," said Dr. Vera Etches, Ottawa's medical officer of health. "They don't appear to be linked to the implementation of Stage 2 and Stage 3, rather, what we're seeing is primarily linked to our social behaviours and indoor gatherings." On Friday, Ontario also reported three additional deaths on Friday, raising the death toll to 2,775 in the province. They are among Ontarios 39,209 cases of COVID-19, including 35,074 recovered patients, up by 168 since Thursdays update. Of the provinces 1,360 active cases of COVID-19, there are 78 people in hospital (down by six), which includes 29 people in intensive care (up by two), and 15 who require a ventilator (down by one). According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there are 17 active outbreaks among facilities in the province. In those facilities, nine residents are currently infected (down by three) and 37 staff members. Saskatchewan continues to identify cases in communal living settings Fourteen new cases were identified in Saskatchewans latest 24-hour stretch, which includes nine from multiple communal living settings across the province. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 1,319 reported cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. That includes 1,008 people who have recovered, up by 24 since Thursday. Of the 293 active cases of COVID-19 that remain, there are 15 people in hospital (up by one), while there remain six in intensive care (up by one). One case was recently removed from the provinces total since it involved an individual who was not a Saskatchewan resident, according a press release. As of Friday, the South region has 109 active cases, the Central region has 83 and the North has 62. The Far North has five active cases, after being home to 348 patients throughout the pandemic. In the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, a record-high 1,804 COVID-19 tests were performed, for a total of 98,510. Another Alberta resident dies at Edmonton LTC One additional person died in Albertas latest 24-hour stretch, and its once again in connection to an outbreak at the Good Samaritan Southgate Care Centre in Edmonton. Throughout the pandemic, 22 residents of the long-term care facility have passed away. There are currently 49 active cases among residents, down by five since Thursday. According to the latest figures, there are 16 active cases among employees, while eight have recovered along with six residents. On Friday, Alberta Health Services also announced 127 new cases of COVID-19, after completing 8,384 tests for COVID-19. The province has now reported over 100 cases in 13 of the past 16 days. Before the recent stretch, the province hadnt recorded a triple-digit daily case increase since May 1. Throughout the pandemic, Alberta has had 10,843 cases of COVID-19. That includes 9,261 people who have recovered, up by 148 since Thursday, and 196 victims. There are now 1,386 active cases in the province (down by 22), which includes 86 people in hospital (down by five) and 17 people in intensive care (down by one). Six new cases in Manitoba Health officials announced six new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, increasing its total case count to 415. Two of the new cases were identified in the Prairie Mountain Health region, three in the Interlake-Eastern health region, and one in the WInnipeg region. Of the provinces total cases, 337 people who have recovered (up by 12 since Thursday) and eight people have died. Of the 70 active cases that remain, there remain six people in hospital, but there are now five in intensive care (up by one). An additional 1,073 laboratory tests were completed on Thursday, bringing the total number of tests completed since early February to 88,621. July 30 A punch to the gut: Toronto report shows people of colour make up 83 per cent of citys cases Toronto Public Health unveiled data on Wednesday to shed light on the ethno-racial identity and income of COVID-19 cases in Canadas most populous city. There is growing evidence in North America and beyond that racialized people and people living in lower-income households are more likely to be affected by COVID-19 infection, said Dr. Eileen de Villa, the medical officer of health for Toronto. We believe it is related to poverty and racism. The data shows that those who identify as a person of colour represent 83 per cent of the cases, while they make up 52 per cent of the population. The white population makes up 48 per cent of the population, but only 17 per cent of the cases. Population data is current as of the 2016 Census, while COVID-19 case data was collected between May 20 and July 16 in Toronto. Credit: Toronto Public Health Of the cases identified between May 20 and July 16, Black people made up 21 per cent of the citys cases, even though they represent nine per cent of Torontos population. Race data is similar across those who identify as male or female. However, those who are male and identify as South Asian and Indo-Caribbean make up 23 per cent of the cases, even though they make up 13 per cent of the male population. De Villa said that the data also shows that East Asian and white people are under-represented compared to the size of those populations. Dr. Kwame McKenzie, the CEO of the Wellesley Institute, which is a Toronto-based think tank that aims to improve health equity in the Greater Toronto Area, called the data "very concerning." "They seem to confirm our worry that racialized populations and low-income residents of Toronto are doing worse during the pandemic," said McKenzie. "The data should lead to urgent action...We clearly need a pandemic response which protects racialized groups and low-income groups, and that means we need to do some things differently." In terms of income, 51 per cent of reported cases in Toronto were from people living in low-income households, though only 30 per cent of the city's population is considered low income. People in households of at least five people make up 27 per cent of cases, while making up only 20 per cent of the population. Credit: Toronto Public Health Those part of households that make under $30,000 a year make up 14 per cent of Torontos population, but they comprise of 27 per cent of the cases. In comparison, those in households with incomes of at least $150,000 make up 21 per cent of the population, but only 6 per cent of the cases. Those under 30 years old and who make under $30,000, they make up 34 per cent of the cases, even though they represent 14 per cent of that age demographic. Among those 30-59 who make $30,000-$49,999, they comprise of 27 per cent of the cases, but represent 13 per cent of that age demographic. Of those who are at least 60 years old and make under $30,000 they make up 32 per cent of the cases, and 18 per cent of the age demographic. In a stark comparison, those who make at least $150,000, make up three per cent of the cases, and 17 per cent of the population. Credit: Toronto Public Health Toronto Public Health said that the reasons for the difference in data are unclear, but according to the City of Toronto they could include: Existing health disparities linked to social and economic factors Stress caused by racism and other forms of discrimination Challenges in participating in the public health response to COVID-19, including difficulties in limiting COVID-19 exposure because of being an essential worker, and difficulties in physical distancing because of overcrowding Inequitable access to health care and social services "If we want to protect our communities, we need urgently to increase access to affordable, healthy housing. Our racialized populations are much more likely to be overcrowded. Low-income populations are much more likely to be overcrowded," said McKenzie, noting that overcrowding makes physical distancing difficult. "Our racialized communities are also more likely to be essential workers. If we want to protect those communities, we need to properly protect essential workers. We need to protect them at work but we also need to protect them when they are home." Data will now be shared monthly, and will be used to reduce inequities in how COVID-19 affects various populations in Toronto. The data currently does not consist of those living in long-term care or retirement senior homes, nor those who identify as Indigenous. Toronto Public Health shared that some limitations of the data is that about 27 per cent of people did not have socio-demographic data collected. De Villa said targeted testing, an increase in social supports such as voluntary isolation sites, and enhanced communication are short-term options to help those communities that are especially at risk. In the longer term, however, if we want to have a true impact, a real impact on improving health we need to address these health inequities and get to the root cause of what underpins our overall health, said de Villa. We need to focus on the social determinants of health, like affordable housing opportunities, access to employment and income supports and educational opportunities, and yes we need to address systemic racism. Coun. Joe Cressy, who is the chair of Torontos board of health, said that when he heard the statistics, it felt like a punch to the gut. Perhaps they shouldnt surprise us. We know that race and income have long determined health status, but they do represent a call to action, he said Thursday afternoon. COVID by no means created these racial and economic disparities in Toronto they existed long before but COVID has certainly exposed and taken advantage of them. This is not the first time that Toronto has shed light on the discrepancy in how COVID-19 affects different demographics. Earlier in the pandemic, the province released a neighbourhood breakdown which showed the COVID-19 infection rate among all areas of the city. As of Wednesday, the City of Toronto has had 15,334 cases of COVID-19, the most of any of Ontarios public health units. That includes 13,824 people who have recovered, and 1,153 people who have died after contracting the virus. Five more fatalities linked to LTC outbreak in Alberta Five fatalities occurred in Albertas latest 24-hour stretch, and theyre all connected to an outbreak at the Good Samaritan Southgate Care Centre in Edmonton. Fifty-four of the 184 long-term care residents have active COVID-19 cases and 21 residents have died, as of Thursday morning. There are also 16 staff members who have contracted the virus, and eight who have recovered. "This is a stark example of the devastation this virus can cause. I want to offer condolences to the families and friends of these individuals," said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Albertas chief medical officer of health. The update increases the provinces death toll to 195. Hinshaw also announced 113 new cases of COVID-19 after health officials completed 8,670 tests for the respiratory virus. The province has now reported over 100 cases in 12 of the past 15 days. Before the recent stretch, the province hadnt recorded a triple-digit daily case increase since May 1. Throughout the pandemic, Alberta has had 10,716 cases of COVID-19. That includes 9,113 people who have recovered, up by 130 since Wednesday. There are now 1,408 active cases in the province (down by 22), which includes 91 people in hospital (up by four) and 18 people in intensive care (up by one). Ontario starts new trend of reporting under 100 daily cases Ontario reported 89 new cases of COVID-19, which marks the second straight day that the province has announced fewer than 100 daily cases. Before the recent stretch, it had not done so since March 24. Of the most recent patients, 15 were identified in both Ottawa and Windsor-Essex, while there were 12 in Peel and 10 in Toronto. Twenty-eight of the provinces 34 public health units reported five or fewer cases, while 17 of them reported zero. The cases were identified after the province completed 27,676 tests for COVID-19 in its latest 24-hour stretch. Ontario also reported three additional deaths on Thursday, raising the death toll to 2,772 in the province. They are among Ontarios 39,075 cases of COVID-19, including 34,906 recovered patients, up by 165 since Wednesday. Of the provinces 1,397 active cases of COVID-19, there are 84 people in hospital (down by seven), which includes 27 people in intensive care (down by one), and 16 who require a ventilator (down by one). According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there are 17 active outbreaks among facilities in the province (up by two). In those facilities, 12 residents are currently infected (up by two) and 37 staff members (up by one). Quebec announces data error, drops to below 140 daily cases for first time in almost two weeks Quebec health officials announced 122 new cases of COVID-19, along with one additional death in its latest 24-hour stretch. In a press release, officials announced that a data problem led to an error in Wednesdays update. Instead of 176 cases, the province should have announced 112 new cases of COVID-19. That update would have ended the provinces 13-day streak of reporting at least 140 cases of COVID-19. Before the recent stretch, it had not identified more than 140 cases since June 25. Quebecs streak of at least 100 daily cases continues, now entering its 19th straight day. Its part of a worrisome trend, considering between June 26 and July 11, it stayed below 100 daily cases except on two occasions. Throughout the pandemic, Quebec has identified 59,131 cases of COVID-19. That includes 5,673 fatalities and 50,886 people who have recovered from the virus. Of the provinces now 2,572 active cases of COVID-19, there are 208 people in hospital (up by 18) and 18 in intensive care (up by nine). Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its outputs from two days prior. In its latest 24-hour stretch, the province completed 16,397 tests for COVID-19, which is above its goal of 14,000. Montreal remains the epicentre with 28,701 total cases (up by 45). On July 11, officials asked anyone whos been to a bar in the city since Canada Day to get tested, prompting thousands to come forward. The spread of COVID-19 also continues to gain pace in surrounding areas of the city, in some cases in connection to bars and parties. The Laval region has 6,035 (up by seven), Laurentides region has 3,843 (up by five), the Monteregie region has 8,747 cases (down by 11 due to the data error), and Lanaudiere has 4,490 (down by one). Manitoba identifies two new cases Health officials announced two new cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba, involving two males in their 30s in the Prairie Mountain Health region. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 409 cases of COVID-19 in Manitoba. That includes 325 people who have recovered and eight fatalities. Of the 76 active cases that remain, there are six people in hospital, which includes four people in intensive care. An additional 1,179 laboratory tests were completed on Wednesday, bringing the total number of tests completed since early February to 87,548. One new death in Saskatchewan Through a press release, health officials in Saskatchewan announced that one person in their 90s in the South region has passed away. It raises the death toll to 18. Thirty-eight new cases were also identified in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, which includes 23 from multiple communal living settings across the province. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 1,306 reported cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. That includes 984 people who have recovered, up by 55 since Wednesday. Of the 304 active cases of COVID-19 that remain, there are 14 people in hospital (down by one), while there remain five in intensive care. The South has 119 active cases, the Central region has 80 and the North has 66. The Far North has five active cases, after being home to 348 patients throughout the pandemic. In the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, 1,682 COVID-19 tests were performed, for a total of 96,706. British Columbia continues to report over 20 cases of COVID-19 British Columbia reported 29 newly identified patients of COVID-19, as its concerning case trend continues. The latest update marks the 20th day of the last 22 that the province has recorded at least 20 cases. Before the recent stretch, it had not surpassed the 20-daily case mark since June 3. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 3,591 cases of COVID-19 in British Columbia. That includes 3,155 people who have recovered (up by 46 since Wednesday). Of the 242 active cases of COVID-19, there are five people in hospital (down by one), while there remain two in intensive care. The death toll also remains at 194, since no COVID-19 related deaths were recorded in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. There are no new community outbreaks, with no new cases on Haida Gwaii and 59 cases connected to Fraser Valley Packers Inc. Public health teams continue to support these active outbreaks, said a press release by health officials. July 29 Some will die: Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe sends grim warning to Hutterite colonies about COVID-19 Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said of the 322 active cases in the province, 244 of them are in Hutterite communities, as worrisome trends continue. The premier said that most of the province's 80 or so colonies have been co-operative in trying to contain COVID-19. However, there are some that have been resistant to testing and also unwilling to change parts of their communal lifestyle, such as worshipping and eating in large groups. "This needs to change. ... Every single one of us in this province has been asked to and the vast majority have changed how we are living each and every day," said Moe, in a direct statement to Hutterite communities on Wednesday. "You all need to as well. If you don't, many will get sick in your community. Some will get very sick. Some will die." Moe said on Wednesday that health officials will visit all Hutterite colonies in Saskatchewan to provide information and guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Officials will also be making sure that non-essential travel restrictions are being followed, while continuing to perform testing and contact-tracing when necessary. According to the Canadian Press, Hutterites are Anabaptist religious groups who live communally in rural colonies across the Canadian and U.S. Prairies and share most personal property. On Wednesday, Saskatchewan announced 50 new cases of COVID-19, which marks its second-highest increase in daily cases since the start of the pandemic. Of those patients, 44 are from one communal living setting in the North region, according to a press release by provincial officials. The Hutterian Safety Council has asked the Saskatchewan provincial government to stop identifying COVID-19 cases related to Hutterite colonies, since it has led to stigmatization issues in communities. Manitoba has stopped identifying Hutterite colonies in their daily reports as a result of similar issues, but Moe says that Saskatchewan officials have named other outbreaks in the past. "No one in Saskatchewan should stigmatize anyone in their community, or is visiting their community, or should assume that because they may be Hutterite they have COVID," said Moe. Updates from the rest of Canadas jurisdictions Ontario reported 76 cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, which marks the first time since March 24 that the province has recorded fewer than 100 daily cases. One more fatality was also announced, increasing the death toll to 2,769. Of the recent patients, 22 of them were identified in Windsor-Essex, which now remains the only region in Ontario to still be in Stage 2, after both Peel and Toronto were given the green light to move to Stage 3 on Friday. Quebec health officials identified 176 new cases in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. Its now the 14th straight day that Canadas worst-hit province has recorded over 140 cases and the 18th straight day it has recorded over 100. Before the recent stretch, Quebec had not identified more than 140 cases since June 25. Between June 26 and July 11, it stayed below 100 daily cases except on two occasions. On a positive note, the province didnt record a new victim for the third time in the past week. Nova Scotia continues to have no active cases of COVID-19, but health officials did announce one more fatality in the province, increasing the death toll to 64. The patient died several weeks ago, and health officials have been investigating the fatality to determine if COVID-19 was a factor. The individual was not a resident of a long-term care home. Newfoundland and Labrador reported no new cases on Wednesday. There remain four active cases in the province, which were all identified last week. Prince Edward Island did not provide an update Wednesday, after all of its 36 patients recovered by Tuesday. New Brunswicks active case count also remains at three, after not identifying any new patients in its latest 24-hour stretch. No new cases were also identified in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Yukon is the only one with active cases, involving three residents who are currently travelling outside of the province. Theyll return to the territory once theyve been cleared of the virus. Manitoba health officials identified three new cases of COVID-19, but also announced that one case, which was reported on July 25, has been removed from its total case count. The individual had recovered from a previous infection from another province, according to a press release. The total case count in Manitoba is now 407, which includes 74 active cases. Health officials in Alberta reported 133 new cases of COVID-19, which ends a two-day stretch of reporting under 100 daily cases. The province has now reported over 100 cases on 11 of the past 14 days. Before the recent stretch, the province hadnt recorded a triple-digit daily case increase since May 1. As of Wednesday, there are 1,430 active cases in the province, with Calgary being home to 713 of them. Three more deaths were also reported at a Edmonton long-term care home, increasing the provincial death toll to 190. British Columbia reported 41 newly identified patients of COVID-19, as its concerning case trend continues. The latest update marks the 19th day of the last 21 that the province has recorded at least 20 cases. Before the recent stretch, it had not surpassed the 20-daily case mark since June 3. On Wednesday, officials also announced that there now 31 cases connected to Fraser Valley Packers Inc. in Abbotsford, as well as 20 positive tests on Haida Gwaii. In positive news, the outbreak at the neonatal intensive care unit at Vancouvers St. Paul's Hospital has been declared over after an infant tested positive about two weeks ago. July 28 There were 111 new cases of COVID-19 identified in Ontario on Tuesday. However bucking recent trends, only six of those cases were in Toronto. Ottawa region saw the most new cases with 25, and also one death related to COVID-19. Four deaths in total related to the virus were reported on Tuesday. In Quebec, there were three deaths linked to COVID-19, as well as 169 cases of the virus reported by the province. Two of the deaths were recent, while one was before July 20. In Atlantic Canada, the news continues to be good for now. New Brunswick health officials warned residents today to be prepared for the second wave of COVID-19, even though there have been no new cases in over a week in the province. It has been 13 days without any new COVID-19 cases in Nova Scotia. Newfoundland and Labrador remains at four active cases, three of which are related to a person who travelled from Ontario back to the province. Prince Edward Island says all of its current cases are recovered, bringing them back to no active cases. Manitoba reported its eighth death related to COVID-19 on Tuesday. The man who was in his 70s was in southern Manitoba, and was not in hospital at the time of his death. Its the first death related to COVID-19 in the province since May 5. There were also five new cases of the COVID-19 virus identified or probable in the province, including the most recently deceased individual. There was also an additional COVID-19-related death in Saskatchewan today, brining the total number of deaths to 17. The deceased was in their 70s and from the southern part of the province, officials said. There were also nine new cases in the province. Alberta announced 80 new cases in its latest 24-hour stretch, a slight decrease from the last week. There are currently 1,397 active cases in the province with more than half 710 in the Calgary zone. The province also announced two additional deaths. Albertas total case count and death toll are now 10,470 and 187. In British Columbia, some better news was announced. For the first time since a public health emergency was declared, fewer than 10 patients are hospitalized with COVID-19, including three in intensive care. The province announced 23 new diagnoses and one death in its latest 24-hour report. July 27 On Monday, Ontario reported 119 new cases of COVID-19 had been identified in the last 24-hour testing period, as well as one additional COVID-19-related death. The province did note, however, that some hospitals had not submitted data over the weekend, and there is likely to be a jump in the number of cases reported when they do. Quebec reported 145 new cases, but no deaths related to the virus. Today also marks the end of the two-week grace period for wearing a mask on public transit in the province; riders who do not abide by the mandatory mask policy can now be denied service. Nova Scotia continued its positive trend, reporting no new COVID-19 cases for the last 12 days. The last case of the virus in the province was marked as resolved over the weekend, making it the only province with no active cases at present. The case count remains unchanged in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. There were six new cases of COVID-19 identified in Manitoba on Monday. Officials have issued a potential exposure warning to customers and staff of Sherwood Grocery Store in Gull Lake. A person who has since tested positive went to the grocery store on July 19, 20 and 21. In Saskatchewan, 31 new cases were reported by the province on Monday. The cases are in the central (10), south, (9) Saskatoon (8) and north (3) regions. British Columbia is reporting 81 new cases over the course of the last three days, bringing the provinces total case count to 3,500. Two more people died of COVID-19 in the province bringing the death toll to 193. In Alberta, 304 new cases were added over the last three days for a total of 10,390. Eight more people died, bringing Albertas death toll to 186. Dr. Deena Hinshaw put it plainly: The curve is no longer flat in Alberta. July 26 Three infectious people attend large party in Ont.s Schomberg York Region Public Health is urging anyone who was at a large party in Schomberg, Ont., on July 12 to get tested for COVID-19. Three confirmed cases, and one probable case, have been linked to the party at 17,015 8th Concession in the Township of King. They involve people who are non-York Region residents, but health officials did not specify where theyre from. The three confirmed cases were infectious while at the party and cases reported that they did not practice physical distancing and did not wear a face mask or covering, said a press release by health officials. Anyone who was at the party from 6:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. may have been exposed to the respiratory virus. The alert was sent to assist with contact tracing efforts. If you attended a large party at 17015 8th Concession in #Schomberg in @KingTownship on July 12 please call #YorkRegion Public Health at 1-800-361-5653 and visit an Assessment Centre for testing. See Public Notice at https://t.co/wr4cKHtzKQ pic.twitter.com/oA2SF04d5w York Region (@YorkRegionGovt) July 25, 2020 King Township Mayor Steve Pellegrini wrote in a Facebook post that he is "disappointed that individuals living in King chose to blatantly disregard the conditions that only permit a gathering of 10 people within your bubble and put our community at risk." People who were at the party should self-monitor for symptoms until July 27 (14 days after the last possible exposure), but officials are also asking that all attendees get tested. Throughout the pandemic, York Region has had 3,250 cases of COVID-19. That includes 240 active cases, since 2,760 patients have recovered and 250 have died as of Sunday. King has had the fewest cases (49) of the nine municipalities in York Region. York was one of the seven regions on Friday that was allowed to move into Stage 3 of Ontarios reopening plan. All regions are now in that stage, except for Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex. On Sunday, Ontario health officials announced 137 new cases of COVID-19, along with four deaths and 119 recently recovered patients. The latest cases were identified after health officials completed 26,144 tests for COVID-19. Among the recently identified patients, 39 are from Toronto, 26 are in Ottawa, 25 in Windsor-Essex and 12 in Peel. Fifty-seven of the cases involve people between 20-39 years old, the most of any age group. Fourteen of Ontarios 34 public health units reported no new cases. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 38,680 cases of COVID-19 in Ontario. That includes 34,359 recovered patients and 2,763 victims. Of the 1,558 active cases that remain (up by 14), there are 87 people in hospital (down by 10), 29 in intensive care (down by one) and still 21 who require a ventilator. According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there are 12 active outbreaks among facilities across the province. Sixteen residents remain infected and 41 staff members (down by one). Nova Scotia has no more active cases of COVID-19 There are no active cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia as of Sunday, according to a press release by provincial health officials. Throughout the pandemic, the province has had 1,067 total cases. Sixty-three people have died, while 1,004 people have recovered, including one in the past 24 hours. Nova Scotia has also now gone 11 straight days without identifying a new COVID-19 patient. In its latest 24-hour stretch, the province completed 433 tests for COVID-19. Nova Scotia is currently the only province in Canada without an active case. Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador are not far behind with two, three and four cases, respectively. The Northwest Territories and Nunavut also have no active cases, while Yukon has three active cases involving residents who are currently travelling outside of the territory. Saskatchewan continues to identify cases on Hutterite colonies Saskatchewan health officials have identified 42 new cases of COVID-19, which includes 35 patients on Hutterite colonies in the provinces south, central, Saskatoon and north regions. The latest update is tied for the second-highest increase in daily cases the province has reported throughout the pandemic, only behind the 60 cases it announced on July 22. Forty-two cases were also reported on July 23 and 16. Over the course of the last five days, Saskatchewan has identified 208 cases, which includes 150 patients among Hutterite communities. Over the weekend, officials did not provide an update of how many colonies currently have active cases. As of Friday, there were 21. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 1,178 cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. That includes 873 people who have recovered, which is an increase of 11 in the past 24 hours. Of the 289 active cases that remain (up by 31), there are 153 in the South region (up by 13), and 80 in the Central region (up by six). The Far North continues to have 10 active cases, after it was home to 347 patients throughout the pandemic. Among the active patients, there remain 13 people in hospital and four in intensive care. To date, 91,183 COVID19 tests have been performed in Saskatchewan, after health officials completed 1,396 tests in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. Four cases in a week for Newfoundland and Labrador after everyone else recovers A fourth case of COVID-10 has been identified in Newfoundland and Labrador this week. Before the recent stretch, all of its other remaining patients had recovered by July 17. The latest patient that was announced Sunday involves a woman in the Central Health region between 20-39 years old. The case is a close contact of an existing case, according to health officials. Earlier this week, two other cases were identified in the Central region that were linked to each other. The first one involved a man in his 20s who returned from Ontario, and the other was a female under 20. Another case was also identified in the Eastern Health region, involving a resident who recently returned from Southeast Asia. The four patients identified this week are the only active cases in the province. Throughout the pandemic, there have 266 cases in Newfoundland and Labrador, which includes three fatalities and 259 recovered patients. To date, 23,657 people have been tested in Newfoundland and Labrador, after health officials completed 296 tests in their latest 24-hour stretch. . Quebec continues to report over 100 daily cases with upticks in and around Montreal Quebec health officials announced 169 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, and one additional death related to the respiratory virus. Its now the 11th straight day that Canadas worst-hit province has recorded over 140 cases and the 15th straight day it has recorded over 100. Before the recent stretch, Quebec had not identified more than 140 cases since June 25. Between June 26 and July 11, it stayed below 100 daily cases except on two occasions. Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its outputs from two days prior. In its latest 24-hour stretch, the province completed 15,602 tests for COVID-19. It marks the first time that Quebec has reached its goal of 14,000 on four straight occasions. Among the provinces 58,583 total cases of COVID-19 are 50,812 people who have recovered, up by 109 since Saturday. The death toll now stands at 5,667. Of the 2,104 active cases in the province (up by 59), there are 197 in hospital (down by nine), which includes 10 in intensive care (down by two). Montreal remains the epicentre with 28,475 total cases (up by 50). On July 11, officials asked anyone whos been to a bar in the city since Canada Day to get tested, prompting thousands to come forward. The spread of COVID-19 also continues to gain pace in surrounding areas of the city, in some cases in connection to bars and parties. The Monteregie region has 8,648 cases (up by 35), Laurentides region has 3,785 (up by 22), Laval has 5,988 (up by 18), and Lanaudiere has 4,460 (up by 11). Six more cases in Manitoba Health officials in Manitoba have identified six new cases of COVID-19, increasing its total case count to 394. Through a tweet, officials said that their data about the state of COVID-19 in Manitoba will be updated Monday, which should include details about the latest cases from over the weekend. Of the provinces 394 total cases throughout the pandemic, there have been seven victims. As of Friday, 319 people have recovered. If no one has recovered since then, it would mean that there are 68 active cases in Manitoba. On July 14, all of Manitobas initial cases were marked resolved. But since then, theyve announced 69 new cases of COVID-19. July 25 Quebec reports one of its highest increases in weeks, more bars voluntarily close in Montreal Hundreds of people lineup at the COVID-19 testing clinic Tuesday, July 14, 2020 in Montreal. The city has recommended that anyone who has been in a bar since July 1, 2020 to get tested. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press via AP) Quebec health officials announced 171 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, and three additional deaths related to the respiratory virus. The increase in daily cases is its second-highest since June 12, behind Tuesdays update of 180. Its also now the 10th straight day that Canadas worst-hit province has recorded over 140 cases and the 14th straight day it has recorded over 100. Before the recent stretch, Quebec had not identified more than 140 cases since June 25. Between June 26 and July 11, it stayed below 100 daily cases except on two occasions. Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its outputs from two days prior. In its latest 24-hour stretch, the province completed 16,440 tests for COVID-19. It marks the first time that the province has performed over 16,000 tests on back-to-back occasions. Montreal remains the epicentre with 28,425 total cases, up by 85 since Friday. On July 11, officials asked anyone whos been to a bar in the city since Canada Day to get tested, prompting thousands to come forward. The spread of COVID-19 also continues to gain pace in surrounding areas of the city, in some cases in connection to bars and parties. The Monteregie region has 8,613 cases (up by 34), Laurentides region has 3,763 (up by 18), Laval has 5,970 (up by 11), and Lanaudiere has 4,449 (up by eight). According to Aaron Derfel of the Montreal Gazette, health officials said on Monday that there were 113 people who had tested positive after visiting bars, but its not for certain that they all contracted the virus at drinking establishments. Of those cases, 65 are believed to have been infected at three Montreal bars. Officials are also investigating eight cases linked to a possible fourth venue. Derfel has repeatedly called out Quebec officials over their lack of transparency, and consistency, when updating their COVID-19 stats relating to bar outbreaks. In the meantime, Quebec officials have continued to keep bars open, which were given the green light on June 25 as part of a grand reopening announcement. Instead of closing them, Premier Francois Legault and health officials have pegged the rise in cases on private parties, a spike in transmission among family contacts, health-care workers, and also an increase in testing. On July 9, Quebec did decide to enforce new restrictions on bars, such as reducing capacity to 50 per cent. It was a move that was implemented after people in Monteregie tested positive for COVID-19, following a visit to a bar in Brossard and a couple of house parties, which have led to at least 20 infections. Even with additional measures, some Montreal bars have taken it upon themselves to close. According to the Montreal Gazette, two more bars in Montreal closed their doors Friday after realizing how difficult it was to enforce safety measures amid COVID-19. Due to the recent increase of COVID cases we have decided that the only possible way to protect our staff and customers is by closing the bar for the next 14 days, said the management of the Stock Bar in a Facebook post. It has become evident that social distancing in a bar is nearly impossible. Despite a recent uptick in cases in Quebec, the province will be allowing public gatherings of up to 250 people starting Aug. 3, which is up from the previous limit of 50. Among the provinces 58,414 total cases of COVID-19 are 50,703 people who have recovered, up by 88 since Friday. Of the 2,045 active cases in the province (up by 80), there are 206 in hospital (down by 14), while there remain 12 in intensive care. Of the three most recent victims, two died in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, while the other occurred before July 18. 138 new cases in Ontario, mainly across four public health units Ontario reported 138 new cases, one death and 140 recently recovered patients in its latest 24-hour stretch. The recent patients were identified after the Ministry of Health completed 25,640 tests, which is above its current seven-day average of 25,640. Of the recently identified patients, 33 were identified in Windsor-Essex, 23 in Toronto, 28 in Ottawa and 12 in Peel. Sixteen of the 34 public health units reported no new cases on Saturday. Windsor-Essex, which has the highest infection rate per 100,000 people in Ontario, continues to deal with agri-farm outbreaks. Of its 33 recent patients, 19 are part of that sector, while another eight cases are believed to have stemmed from community spread. There are six agri-farm outbreaks in Windsor-Essex region, which is down by two since Friday, but health officials did identify a new manufacturing outbreak in Tecumseh, for a total of three. An outbreak is declared when there are at least two employees who test positive within a reasonable timeframe. The Windsor-Essex region has the highest number of agri-farms that are participating in Canadas Temporary Foreign Worker Program, according to the regions medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed. Because of the continued spread of the virus, along with failed testing initiatives, Premier Doug Ford said on Friday that he is looking into mandatory testing for migrant workers who arrive in Ontario. "I tried to work work until you can't work any longer with the folks. I would like to look into mandatory testing, said Ford, noting that Windsor-Essex is expecting 3,000 more migrant workers to arrive. We have to check the constitution. I've got to make sure I go through the lawyers. I have to make sure to call the federal government. But what's the problem to get a quick test? I've been tested a couple times. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 38,543 cases of COVID-19 in Ontario. That includes 34,240 people who have recovered, and 2,759 victims. There remain 1,544 active cases (down by three since Friday). Among those patients are 97 people in hospital (down by 44), 30 in intensive care (down by one) and 21 who require a ventilator (up by one). According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there are 13 active outbreaks among facilities in the province. Sixteen residents remain infected (down by one), along with 42 staff members (down by nine). Saskatchewan identifies more cases on Hutterite colonies after record-high testing Saskatchewan health officials have identified 37 new cases of COVID-19, which includes 29 patients on Hutterite colonies in the central and south regions of the province. For the second straight day, health officials have completed a record-high number of tests, this time with 1,799. Over the course of the last four days, Saskatchewan has reported 166 cases, which includes 115 patients among Hutterite communities. On Saturday, officials did not provide an update of how many colonies currently have active cases. As of Friday, there were 21. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 1,136 cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. That includes 862 people who have recovered, which is an increase of 14 in the past 24 hours. Of the 258 active cases that remain (up by 23), there are 140 in the South region (up by eight), and 74 in the Central region (up by 18). The Far North continues to have 10 active cases, after it was home to 347 patients throughout the pandemic. Among the active patients, there are 13 people in hospital (down by one), while there remain four in intensive care. To date, 89,787 COVID19 tests have been performed in Saskatchewan. Four new cases in Manitoba Health officials in Manitoba have identified four new cases of COVID-19, increasing its total case count to 388. Through a tweet, officials said that their data about the state of COVID-19 in Manitoba will be updated Monday, which should include details about the latest cases. Of the provinces 388 total cases throughout the pandemic, there have been seven victims. As of Friday, 319 people have recovered. If no one has recovered since then, it would mean that there are 62 active cases in Manitoba. On July 14, all of Manitobas initial cases were marked resolved. But since then, theyve announced 63 new cases of COVID-19. No new cases among the Atlantic provinces Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick did not report any cases on Saturday. Alberta, British Columbia, Nunavut, Yukon and the Northwest Territories dont provide updated statistics on weekends, while Prince Edward Island only does so on rare occasions. There remain three active cases in Newfoundland and Labrador, which were all identified this week. Nova Scotia has one active case, but has not announced a new patient since July 15. New Brunswick has three active cases, while the recent one was identified July 20. For more on the three territories, Alberta and British Columbia, please see our updates from July 24. July 24 Windsor-Essex has Ont.s highest infection rate, Ford looks into mandatory testing for migrant workers Premier Doug Ford said hes looking into mandatory testing for migrant workers as agri-farm outbreaks continue to grow in the Windsor-Essex region, and testing initiatives continue to fall short. The announcement came after Windsor-Essex reported 53 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday, 43 of which are among workers in the agri-farm sector. The region also currently has the highest infection rate per 100,000 people in Ontario. "If someone comes into our country ... that's a privilege," said Ford during a media conference, noting that Windsor-Essex is expecting 3,000 more migrant workers to arrive. "I tried to work work until you can't work any longer with the folks. I would like to look into mandatory testing. ... We have to check the constitution. I've got to make sure I go through the lawyers. I have to make sure to call the federal government. But what's the problem to get a quick test? I've been tested a couple times. According to the Ministry of Health, Windsor-Essex surpassed Toronto for having the highest infection rate per 100,000 people on July 18. But for months, outbreaks among agri-farm workers have continued to grow, while testing initiatives have caused confusion between officials and employers. "It is definitely stressful, concerning and we've been dealing with this for quite some time now. For some it may be just a number as well, but it also means the time, the energy [and] the efforts that our staff are putting in are also multiplied significantly," said Windsor-Essexs medical officer of health Dr. Wajid Ahmed on the infection rate. As of Thursday evening, the infection rate in Windsor-Essex stands at 484 per 100,000 people. Torontos infection rate is 448, while the Ontario average is 257. Credit: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Windsor-Essex is currently dealing with eight agri-farm outbreaks, with six in Kingsville and two in Leamington. Throughout the pandemic, 1,002 of the regions 2,124 cases have been in the agri-farm sector, according to the local health unit. Its unclear how many of the cases involve migrant workers. Over the course of the pandemic, hundreds have been infected, and two have died in Windsor-Essex. Each year, about 20,000 migrant workers come to Ontario to work in greenhouses and on farms, many from Mexico, Guatemala and the Caribbean. Theyve been required to self-isolate upon arrival as part of the Quarantine Act, but there have been reports of them facing inadequate working and living conditions. The Windsor-Essex region has the highest number of agri-farms that are participating in Canadas Temporary Foreign Worker Program, said Ahmed. It doesnt hurt anyone, you come into the country, you self-isolate for two weeks, you get tested and it makes everyone feel more comfortable, said Ford on his proposed testing initiative. Credit: Windsor-Essex County Health Unit On Thursday, Ontarios chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, said that testing in the region was starting back up again after what he called confusion and a lack of communication with agri-farm employers. As of July 6, only 19 of the 176 farms in the region had been tested after participating in an on-farm testing effort. After two weeks, that number had stayed the same. But now, Williams and Ford say the goal is to test every farm in the region, with health officials prepared to bring on-site labs to employers. Guys, Im just going to cut to the chase here. If you have migrant workers, get them tested. Bottom line. Full stop. Thats it. We cant keep playing this cat and mouse game, said Ford to farmers. Sorry for being frustrated, but its like banging your head against a brick wall, begging and asking for it, and theyre just ignoring it. Ahmed said Friday that he himself wont rule out mandatory testing on farms, but that so far farm owners have followed public health recommendations. I didnt have to force anyone at this point. But in the worst case scenario, if we are in that situation because of the risk, that option will be available for me to use, said Ahmed. While the outbreaks have been a primary reason, Ahmed says that the spike in cases has also likely been the result of the region moving into Stage 2 of Ontarios reopening plan. Leamington and Kingsville were the final two areas of the province to move into that stage on July 7. Windsor-Essex is one of three regions that is still currently in Stage 2, after seven more regions made the shift on Friday for a total of 31. Ford said increased testing of migrant workers will help them contain the situation, and hopefully allow the region to move into Stage 3. Ahmed said that the amount of cases in the region is currently stretching local hospital capacity in Windsor and Leamington. Sorry for being frustrated, but its like banging your head against a brick wall, begging and asking for it, and theyre just ignoring it Throughout Ontario, there have been 38,405 cases of COVID-19, which includes 34,100 recovered patients and 2,758 deaths. On Friday, Ontario reported 195 cases, three deaths and 137 resolved cases in its latest 24-hour stretch. Thirty-one of the recent cases were identified in the Toronto Public Health region, 27 in Ottawa, 18 in Peel and 13 in Chatham-Kent. The 195 cases are the most since July 21, and the second most since June 29. The recent cases were identified after health officials completed 28,809 tests for COVID-19, which is above its seven-day average of 25,489. After watching its active case count decrease for two straight days, it went up on Friday to 1,547. That includes 141 people in hospital (down by 13 since Thursday), 31 in intensive care (down by four) and 20 who require a ventilator (down by one). According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there are 14 outbreaks among facilities in the province. There remain 17 residents who are currently infected, and 51 staff members (down by two). Another case in Newfoundland and Labrador A third case of COVID-19 has been identified in Newfoundland and Labrador this week. The news comes after the last of the regions previous cases were marked resolved on July 17. Throughout the pandemic, the province has recorded 265 cases. Three of them now remain active. The latest patient, a female between 20-39 years old, is in the Eastern Health region, according to a press release. The N.L. resident returned from Southeast Asia and was symptomatic while en route back to the province. She self-isolated upon her return to the province, and contact tracing is currently underway. Officials did not indicate the flight she was on for her return to Canada. The other two cases that were identified this week in Newfoundland and Labrador involve a male in his 20s who recently returned from Ontario. A close contact of his was also diagnosed a day later. To date, 23,254 people have been tested in Newfoundland and Labrador, after health officials completed 270 tests in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. Alberta continues to report over 100 daily cases of COVID-19 Alberta health officials have identified 111 new cases in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, after completing 8,735 tests for COVID-19. It marks the eighth day of the past nine that officials have announced at least 100 cases. Before the recent stretch, the province hadnt recorded a triple-digit daily case increase since May 1. Two more deaths were also recorded in the Edmonton region, increasing the death toll to 178. According to CBC, one of the victims was a woman in her 100s, linked to the Good Samaritan Southgate Care Centre, while the other was a woman in her 80s linked to Shepherd's Care Greenfield. Throughout the pandemic, Alberta has had 10,086 cases of COVID-19. That includes 8,567 people who have recovered, up by 61 since Thursday. There are now 1,341 active cases of COVID-19 across the province, which is a stark increase compared to 568 there were on July 10, according to Alberta Health Services. The Calgary zone has 703 of the provinces active cases (up by 37), the Central zone has 167 (up by six), the South has 141 (up by seven), while the Edmonton zone still has 132, and the North has 90 (down by two). Health officials did not hold a press conference Friday, but a day earlier the provinces chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw said the recent numbers need to be a wake-up call. What has the last week in Alberta looked like? - 867 total new cases, or 123/day - With 56,470 total tests, that's a 1.54% positive rate - Active cases now up to 1341 (+482) - Hospitalizations now up to 95 (+27), ICU 19 (+6) - 11 new deaths#yeg #yyc #ableg #covid19ab https://t.co/a9GX3i40Rv Courtney Theriault (@cspotweet) July 24, 2020 Of the currently active cases, there are now 95 patients in hospital (down by 11 since Thursday), which includes 19 in intensive care (down by two). The province hit its peak with 113 overall hospital admissions on April 30, and 23 ICU admissions on May 1. To date, 623,442 tests have been performed in Alberta. Six more Hutterite communities in Saskatchewan with active cases Saskatchewan health officials have identified 27 new cases of COVID-19 after completing a record-high 1,604 tests in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. Of the recent cases, 21 are from Hutterite colonies in the southwest and west-central regions of the province. Over the course of the last three days, Saskatchewan has reported 129 cases, which includes 86 on colonies. There are now 21 Hutterite communities with active cases of COVID-19 in the southwest and west-central regions of the province, up by six since Thursday. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 1,099 cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. That includes 848 people who have recovered, which is an increase of 10 in the past 24 hours. Of the 235 active cases that remain (up by 17), there are 132 in the South region (up by 21), and 56 in the Central region (down by four). The Far North has 10 active cases (down by one), after it was home to 347 patients throughout the pandemic. Among the active patients, there are 14 people in hospital (up by one), while there remain four in intensive care. To date, 87,988 COVID19 tests have been performed in Saskatchewan. B.C. reports one new community exposure event, another 20-case increase Twenty-seven new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in British Columbias latest 24-hour stretch, including one epi-linked case, which ends its four-day run of at least 30 daily cases. Despite the relatively lower daily update, the 27 cases are still part of a concerning trend in B.C. as the province tries to control the spread of the respiratory virus. The latest update marks the 14th day of the last 16 that the province has recorded at least 20 cases. Before the recent stretch, it had not surpassed the 20-daily case mark since June 3. Throughout the pandemic in B.C., there have been 3,419 cases of COVID-19, which includes 2,934 people who have recovered (up by 36 since Thursday). One-hundred and ninety-one people have died, including one in the past 24 hours. There remain 294 active cases in the province, which is down by 10. Of those active cases, there are 12 people in hospital (down by four), while there remain three in intensive care. Through a press release, health officials announced a new community outbreak in Haida Gwaii. There are 13 total confirmed cases of COVID-19 part of the outbreak, including one person who has recovered. The initial source of transmission is still being investigated. There also continues to be additional community exposure events throughout the province, including at Fossellos clothing store in Kelowna, said the press release by health officials. On Thursday, officials announced that theyre going to add restrictions that limit the number of guests and visitors allowed at rental properties, including houseboats, rooms, Airbnbs and houses. The news came after a number of possible high exposure events, particularly in and around the Kelowna area, that have been linked to at least 70 cases. Officials believe many of the infections in the Kelowna outbreak stemmed from two private parties at hotel resorts around Canada Day. Before the patients were notified by health officials of their infections, some of them visited Kelowna businesses. The virus continues to spread throughout the province in connection to the events, but its also led to at least seven public exposure warnings in B.C.s Interior Health region. One new case added to Yukons total Yukons total case count increased to 14 on Friday, after officials were notified of another resident who tested positive outside of the territory. On July 17, two other residents also tested positive while outside of the territory. The three patients remain the only active cases that belong to Yukon. None of them will be allowed to return until they are no longer infectious. The cases will be added to Yukons total, since all provinces and territories have an agreement to report on the case count based on permanent residency. Before the recent stretch, Yukon had not identified a case since April 20. All of its first 11 patients had recovered by May 1. The last case to be identified in the Northwest Territories was on April 5. All five of its patients had recovered by April 20. Nunavut remains the only Canadian jurisdiction to not have a confirmed positive patient. Throughout the pandemic, it has had four false positive tests. Quebec continues to report triple-digit case increases Quebec health officials have announced 163 new cases of COVID-19 and one new death in its latest 24-hour stretch. Its now the ninth straight day that it has recorded over 140 cases and the 13th straight day it has recorded over 100. Before the recent stretch, it had not recorded more than 140 cases since June 25. Between June 26 and July 11, it stayed below 100 daily cases except on two occasions. Among the provinces 58,8243 total cases of COVID-19 are 50,615 people who have recovered, up by 110 since Thursday. Of the 1,965 active cases that remain (up by 52), there are 220 in hospital (down by one), which includes 12 in intensive care (down by two). Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its outputs from two days prior. In its latest 24-hour stretch, the province completed 16,256 tests for COVID-19, which is above its goal of 14,000. Montreal remains the epicentre with 28,340 total cases, up by 66 since Thursday. On July 11, officials asked anyone whos been to a bar in the city since Canada Day to get tested, prompting thousands to come forward. The spread of COVID-19 also continues to gain pace in surrounding areas of the city, in some cases in connection to bars and parties. The Monteregie region has 8,579 cases (up by 32), Lanaudiere has 4,441 (up by six), Laurentides region has 3,745 (up by 18), and Laval has 5,959 (up by 17). Nine more cases in Manitoba Health officials in Manitoba have identified nine new cases of COVID-19, increasing its total case count to 384. The latest cases involve a girl between 10-19 years old, a man in his 60s, a man and a woman in their 40s, and a woman in her 20s from the Southern Health region. The rest of the nine cases include two men in their 30s from the Interlake-Eastern Health region, a man in his 20s from the Prairie Mountain Health region, and a man in his 60s from the Winnipeg health region. Health officials said on Thursday that they will no longer indicate which cases are on Hutterite communities, unless there's a risk to public health. The change comes after reports of colonies being profiled. The minister of a southwestern Manitoba colony also suggested he might file a human rights complaint against the province if health officials continued the practice. As of Wednesday afternoon, there were 35 cases among Hutterite communities, according to CBC. Of the provinces 384 total cases throughout the pandemic, there have been seven victims and 319 people who have recovered. There remain 58 active cases in Manitoba. On July 14, all of Manitobas initial cases were marked resolved. But since then, theyve announced 59 new cases of COVID-19. An additional 1,640 laboratory tests were performed on Thursday, bringing the total number of tests performed since early February to 81,186. July 23 This needs to be a wake-up call, says Albertas top doctor after case spike The sharp rise in COVID-19 cases over recent weeks should act as a wake-up call for Alberta, said the provinces chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw. On Thursday, Hinshaw announced 114 new cases of COVID-19, marking the seventh day of the past eight that officials have announced at least 100 cases. Before the recent stretch, the province hadnt recorded a triple-digit daily case increase since May 1. "This needs to be a wake-up call," Hinshaw said. "I am very concerned by these numbers." As of July 23, there are 1,293 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, compared to the 590 there were on July 9, according to Alberta Health Services. Of the currently active cases, there are now 106 patients in hospital, which includes 21 in intensive care both near record-highs for Alberta. The province hit its peak with 113 overall hospital admissions on April 30, and 23 ICU admissions on May 1. Of those in hospital, 24 are under the age of 60, and seven are under 40, said Hinshaw. One out of 50 cases between 30-39 has needed to be admitted to hospital. Among those 40-69, its one out of every 20. Of those in their 70s, one out every 10 have died, along with one of every four among those patients at least 80 years old. "I believe the recent increase in numbers is in part reflective of the fact that fatigue has set in," Hinshaw said. "After several months of not catching the virus, it is easy to say that you feel fine, so why wash your hands? Why stay two metres apart in public? Why avoid sharing food at a barbecue?" Hinshaw urged Albertans throughout the province to adhere to best practices, in order to have the virus better under control by early August. Cases have been spreading all throughout the province, said Hinshaw, such as in the Central zone, which has not seen high case numbers so far, but now has 33 patients in hospital, seven of them in the ICU. Of the 1,293 active cases, the Calgary zone has 666 of them and 20 patients in hospital, while the Edmonton zone has 232 and 30, respectively, which includes 14 patients at Misericordia Community Hospital in connection to the outbreak. Surviving this virus can still be awful and life changing, said Hinshaw, noting that research has shown that some patients can face a higher risk of diabetes and permanent lung damage after their infection. For the sake of our families and communities, we need to act each day as though everyone we spend time with has the virus. Even among friends, and even if you feel perfectly healthy. Throughout the pandemic, Alberta has had 9,975 cases of COVID-19. That includes 176 victims, after two more were announced Thursday. Among those total cases, there are 8,506 people who have recovered from the virus, up by 70 since Tuesday. To date, 614,692 people have been tested in Alberta, which includes the 8,222 tests that were administered in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. As Alberta continues to try and limit the spread of infection, Hinshaw wants people to continue to learn from the experiences of others who have battled the virus, and adhere to public health restrictions. "We are all tired of COVID-19, but this virus doesn't care. We have no choice but to learn how to live with it," said Hinshaw. "I think what we need to do right now is to make sure that people understand the guidance is not a list of suggestions that can be disregarded if they are inconvenient ... The message is clear. B.C. has its most active cases in months after another 30-patient increase British Columbia health officials announced 30 new cases of COVID-19, including one epi-linked case, on Thursday. Its now the fifth time over the past six days that the province has recorded more than 30 cases. Before the recent stretch, it had not done so since May 7. Throughout the pandemic in B.C., there have been 3,392 cases of COVID-19, which includes 2,898 people who have recovered (up by 10 since Wednesday). One-hundred and ninety people have died, including one in the past 24 hours. There remain 304 active cases in the province, which is the most its had since May 22. Of those active cases, there are 16 people in hospital (down by one), while there remain three in intensive care. On Thursday, officials announced that theyre going to add restrictions that limits the number of guests and visitors allowed at rental properties, including houseboats, rooms, Airbnbs and houses. The news comes after a number of possible high exposure events, particularly in and around the Kelowna area, that have been linked to at least 70 cases. Officials believe many of the infections in the Kelowna outbreak stemmed from two private parties at hotel resorts around Canada Day. Anyone who was at Discovery Bay Resort (July 1-5) and Boyce Gyro Beach Lodge (July 1) has been asked to self-isolate. Before the patients were notified by health officials of their infections, some of them visited Kelowna businesses, such as restaurants and bars. On July 10, Interior health issued an advisory to warn people that if they attended gatherings in the Kelowna downtown and waterfront areas from June 25 to July 6, that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. After observing footage from Kelowna, after observing footage of a drum circle in the Lower Mainland, I have to say to British Columbians come on, youre better than that, said Premier John Horgan on Thursday. We need bigger spaces and fewer faces, we need to make sure that were respecting not just our own space but other peoples space. One new death in Saskatchewan, cases continue to increase among Hutterite colonies One person in their 60s in Saskatchewans North region has passed away after contracting COVID-19, increasing the provinces death toll to 16. Its the first fatality that the province has recorded since July 7. On Thursday, the province also announced that 42 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Saskatchewan, which is tied for its second-highest increase to its total case count throughout the pandemic. A day earlier, the province had recorded a record-high 60 cases (48 among colonies), after registering 42 cases on July 16. Of the most recent 42 patients that were identified in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch, 17 are from colonies in the southwest and west-central regions of the province. There are currently 15 Hutterite colonies with active cases, down by two since Wednesday. Saskatchewan officials are currently working with communities where a significant number of cases exist to enact further restrictions on all non-essential travel into and out of their communities. This includes travel between Hutterite communities, according to a press release. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 1,072 cases of COVID-19 in Saskatchewan. That includes 838 people who have recovered, up by 13 since Wednesday. Of the 218 active cases that remain (up by 28 since Wednesday), there are 111 in the South region (up by 18), and 60 in the Central region (up by three). The Far North has 11 active cases (up by three), after it was home to 347 patients throughout the pandemic. Travel restrictions were previously imposed on Saskatchewans Far North, when it was the epicentre of the provinces situation. Among the active patients, there remain 13 people in hospital, which includes four people in intensive care (up by one). To date, 86,384 COVID19 tests have been performed in Saskatchewan, after health officials completed 1,468 tests in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. Ontario reports zero deaths, relatively low daily case increase Ontario reported 103 new cases of COVID-19, zero fatalities and 151 recently recovered patients in its latest 24-hour stretch. Aside from when it reported zero deaths on July 6, the last time it announced no new fatalities was March 28. The 103 cases are the fewest since July 17, and the second fewest since March 25. The Ministry of Health completed 26,001 tests for COVID-19, which is above its seven-day average of 25,826. Of the cases, 24 were identified in the Toronto Public Health region, 23 in Windsor-Essex, 15 in Peel, and 14 in Ottawa. Twenty-one of the 34 public health units reported no new daily cases on Thursday. There were 42 cases identified among people 20-39 years old, the most of any age group. There were also 35 cases among those between 40-59 years old. Throughout the pandemic, Ontario has recorded 38,210 cases of COVID-19. That includes 33,936 recovered patients and 2,755 deaths. There remain 1,492 active cases in the province, down by 48 since Wednesday. Among those active cases are 154 people in hospital, an increase of 36, and the most there have been since July 3. That includes 35 people in intensive care (down by two) and 21 who require a ventilator (up by two). According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there are 15 active outbreaks among facilities around the province. There remain 17 active cases among residents (down by eight) and 53 among staff (down by 13). No new deaths in Quebec, as it continues to report triple digits for daily cases Quebec health officials have announced 142 new daily cases of COVID-19 in its latest 24-hour stretch, but no new fatalities. Its now the eighth straight day that it has recorded over 140 cases, and the 12th straight day it has surpassed 100. Before the recent stretch, it had not recorded at least 140 cases since June 25. Between June 26 and July 11, it stayed below 100 daily cases except on two occasions. The last time the province had announced zero fatalities was on June 22, and before that on March 29. The death toll now remains at 5,662. Among the provinces 58,080 total cases of COVID-19 are 50,505 people who have recovered, up by 132 since Wednesday. Of the 1,913 active cases that remain (up by 10), there are 221 in hospital (down by 14), which includes 14 in intensive care (up by two). Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its outputs from two days prior. In its latest 24-hour stretch, the province completed 14,289 tests for COVID-19, which is above its goal of 14,000. Montreal remains the epicentre with 28,274 total cases, up by 46 since Wednesday. On July 11, officials asked anyone whos been to a bar in the city since Canada Day to get tested, prompting thousands to come forward. The spread of COVID-19 also continues to gain pace in surrounding areas of the city, in some cases in connection to bars and parties. The Monteregie region has 8,547 cases (up by 46), Lanaudiere has 4,435 (up by eight), Laurentides region has 3,727 (up by 14), and Laval has 5,942 (up by 14). One new case in Manitoba Health officials in Manitoba have identified one new case of COVID-19, involving a male in his Interlake-Eastern health region. The latest patient increased the provinces total case count to 375. That includes seven victims and 319 recovered patients, up by one since Wednesday. There remain 49 active cases in the province, which includes one person in intensive care. On July 14, all of Manitobas initial cases were marked resolved. But since then, theyve announced 50 new cases of COVID-19. An additional 1,262 laboratory tests were performed on Wednesday, bringing the total number of tests performed since early February to 79,546. July 22 Saskatchewan reports its most ever daily cases, primarily among Hutterite communities Sixty new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Saskatchewan, which marks the largest single-day increase to its case count since the start of the pandemic. Of the recent cases, 48 are from Hutterite colonies in the southwest and west-central regions of the province. That includes 43 cases that are located in a single commune in the regional municipality of Lawtonia. As of Wednesday, there are 17 Hutterite communities with active cases. Of course, [it] does not mean to suggest the risk clearly only resides in these communities ... The risk is widespread. There are sporadic cases throughout the province. But we do know that in community living settings, that is where you can get an explosive increase in cases, said Saskatchewans chief medical health officer Dr. Saqib Shahab. The provinces previous record-high for daily cases was set last week. On July 16, 42 cases were announced, with the vast majority on Hutterite colonies in the southwest and west-central part of the province. Officials in Saskatchewan are now working with the leaders of all communities where a significant number of cases exist to enact further restrictions on all non-essential travel into and out of their communities. This includes travel between Hutterite communities, a press release read. According to the Canadian Press, Hutterites are Anabaptist religious groups who live communally in rural colonies across the Canadian and U.S. Prairies and share most personal property. Credit: CBC Last week, officials said they didnt want to enact further restrictions because of the cooperation they were receiving from Hutterite colonies. The relationship between Hutterite colonies and the Saskatchewan government was called into question in mid-June, when there was resistance to testing and the implementation of adequate COVID-19 protocols after outbreaks were declared in two Hutterite colonies inside the rural municipality of Maple Creek. On Tuesday, the Hutterian Safety Council called on colonies in Western Canada to comply with regulations to help stave off stigmas. Cases of COVID-19 have also been identified among colonies in Manitoba and Alberta. "The question we need to ask is, 'What are a minority of our people doing that brings suffering like this upon the rest of us?' Such situations are a golden opportunity to be a light to the world and show mainstream society that we have many great people among us," said a blog post by the Hutterian Safety Council. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 1,030 cases of COVID-19 throughout the province. That now includes 825 people who have recovered, up by 12 since Tuesday, while the death toll remains at 15. Of the 190 active cases that remain, there are 93 are in the South region and 57 in the Central region of the province. The Far North now only has eight active cases, after it was home to 344 patients throughout the pandemic. Travel restrictions were previously imposed on Saskatchewans Far North, when it was the epicentre of the provinces situation. Among the active patients, there are 13 people in hospital, which includes three people in intensive care. To date, 84,916 COVID19 tests have been performed in Saskatchewan. Ontarios active case count decreases for the first time in almost a week Ontario reported 165 new cases, two deaths and 207 recoveries in its latest 24-hour stretch. There are now 1,540 active cases in the province, a decrease of 44 since Tuesday. The update comes after five straight days of watching Ontarios active case count increase. On Tuesday, the province recorded 203 new cases, which marked the first time it had surpassed 200 cases since June 29. Of the 165 newly-identified cases, 39 of them were reported in Windsor-Essexs public health unit, 33 in Ottawa, 28 in Toronto and 25 in Peel. Sixty-six of the cases were among people 20-39 years old, which is the most of any age group. The latest cases were identified after health officials completed 23,990 tests for COVID-19, which is below its current seven-day average of 25,896. Throughout the pandemic, Ontario has identified 38,107 cases of COVID-19. That includes 33,812 recovered patients and 2,755 victims. Of the 1,540 active cases that remain, there are 128 people in hospital (up by eight since Tuesday), which includes 37 in intensive care (up by one) and 19 people who require a ventilator (down by four). According to the Ministry of Long-Term Care, there are 16 outbreaks among facilities around the province. Twenty-five residents are infected (down by seven), while there remain 66 active cases among staff members. B.C.s Kelowna outbreak grows worse, health officials impose new restrictions for bars, clubs Thirty-four new cases of COVID-19 were identified in British Columbia, as officials continue to identify patients linked to the Kelowna outbreak. Its now the fourth time over the past five days that the province has recorded more than 30 cases. Before the recent stretch, it had not done so since May 7. "The B.C. COVID-19 curve is trending in a direction we don't want it to go upwards," said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. There are now over 70 cases linked to community exposures in and around the Kelowna area, up from the 35 cases that there were as of Friday. Henry also said that there are now close to 1,000 people, spread throughout the province, that are in self-isolation after being in close contact with someone who tested positive in relation to the Kelowna outbreak. This means people are unable to work, see friends, enjoy the summer," said Henry. Because of the recent spike in cases, Henry and health minister Adrian Dix announced Wednesday that new measures will be brought in for bars and nightclubs around the province. All patrons will need to remain seated at their designated seat, alcohol self-service wont be available, and dance floors will be closed. Owners must also enforce measures that will help reduce lineups and gatherings at pressure points in venues. Officials believe many of the infections in the Kelowna outbreak stemmed from two private parties at hotel resorts around Canada Day. Anyone who was at Discovery Bay Resort (July 1-5) and Boyce Gyro Beach Lodge (July 1) has been asked to self-isolate. Before the patients were notified by health officials of their infections, some of them visited Kelowna businesses, such as restaurants and bars. On July 10, Interior health issued an advisory to warn people that if they attended gatherings in the Kelowna downtown and waterfront areas from June 25 to July 6, that they may have been exposed to COVID-19. Contact tracing three or four people is much faster and easier than trying to reach 20 or 30 people. With each additional person, transmission is greater and more people are at risk, which means more people need to self-isolate and limit contact with others, said a press release by Henry and Dix. As of Wednesday, there are have now been 3,362 cases of COVID-19 in British Columbia. That includes 2,888 people who have recovered (up by 15 since Tuesday), while there remain 189 victims. Among the provinces 285 active cases, there are 17 people in hospital (up by two), which includes three in intensive care. Cases among Hutterite colonies in Manitoba continue to increase Eight new cases of COVID-19 were identified in Manitoba, which includes seven on Hutterite colonies. There have now been 374 cases of COVID-19 throughout the pandemic, which includes 318 recovered patients and seven victims in Manitoba. There are now 49 active cases in the province. Cases have been appearing in Hutterite colonies in Manitoba since last week. Saskatchewan and Alberta have also reported cases involving colonies. In Manitoba, an additional 722 laboratory tests were performed on Tuesday, bringing the total number of tests performed since early February to 78,283. Alberta continues to report above 100 cases of COVID-19 Health officials in Alberta have identified 133 new cases of COVID-19 after completing 8,148 tests. Over the course of the past seven days, Alberta has recorded at least 100 daily cases of COVID-19 on six different occasions. Before the recent stretch, it had not done so since May 1. Throughout the pandemic, there have been 9,861 cases in the province. That includes 8,436 people who have recovered (up by 73 since Tuesday). The death toll now stands at 174, after two more people died in the provinces latest 24-hour stretch. According to CBC, the fatalities are both linked to an outbreak at the Good Samaritan Southgate Care Centre in Edmonton. Across the province, there are now 1,251 active cases of COVID-19 (up by 58 since Tuesday). The Calgary zone has 635 of those cases (up by 46), and Edmonton has 236 (up by three). There are 102 people in hospital (up by nine), which includes 18 in intensive care (up by two). To date, health officials have completed 606,465 tests for COVID-19. Two cases in Newfoundland and Labrador in as many days For the second straight day, Newfoundland and Labrador has recorded a new case of COVID-19. The news comes after the last of the regions previous cases were marked resolved on Friday. Throughout the pandemic, the province has recorded 264 cases. Only two of them now remain active, since three people have died and 259 have recovered. The latest patient, a female under the age of 20, is a close contact of the patient that was identified Tuesday, which involves a male between 20-29 years old who recently returned from Ontario. Both cases are in the Central Health region. Quebec continues to stay above 100 daily cases Quebec health officials have announced 142 new daily cases of COVID-19 in its latest 24-hour stretch. Its now the seventh straight day that it has recorded over 140 cases, and the 11th straight day it has surpassed 100. Before the recent stretch, it had not recorded at least 140 cases since June 25. Between June 26 and July 11, it stayed below 100 daily cases except on two occasions. On Wednesday, the province also announced four fatalities, increasing the death toll related to COVID-19 to 5,662. Among the provinces 57,938 total cases throughout the pandemic are 50,373 people who have recovered, up by 75 since Tuesday. Of the 1,903 active cases that remain, there are 235 people in hospital (down by 12), which includes 16 in intensive care (up by one). Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its outputs from two days prior. In its latest 24-hour stretch, the province completed 11,760 tests for COVID-19, which is below its goal of 14,000. Montreal remains the epicentre with 28,228 total cases, up by 61 since Tuesday. On July 11, officials asked anyone whos been to a bar in the city since Canada Day to get tested, prompting thousands to come forward. The spread of COVID-19 also continues to gain pace in surrounding areas of the city, in some cases in connection to bars and parties. The Monteregie region has 8,462 cases (up by 39), Lanaudiere has 4,427 (up by 15), Laurentides region has 3,713 (up by 13), and Laval has 5,904 (up by eight). July 21 New cases of COVID-19 continued to be reported across Canada on Tuesday, with a disturbing trend of young people being the majority of those cases. There were 203 new cases of COVID-19 in Ontario, with the majority being people under the age of 39. Peel, Ottawa and Windsor-Essex regions saw increases of 57, 43 and 24 new cases, respectively. Peel health officials say that the jump in cases can be attributed to a backlog recently cleared in their testing system, and the real increase is actually 22 from the last 24 hours. There were also 30 new cases reported in Toronto. Quebec saw 180 new cases in the province, and one death linked to COVID-19. One of the new cases was a child attending a day camp in the Gatineau region. Slightly more than half of the total new cases reported were in the Montreal region. In Atlantic Canada, one new case emerged. Newfoundland and Labrador reported a travel-related case involving a man in his 20s who had recently returned from Ontario. Prince Edward Island saw no new cases, nor did Nova Scotia, which has had no new cases for six days in a row. New Brunswick had no new reported cases, either. In Manitoba, 12 new cases were identified, and the province discussed plans to open casinos and movie theatres as soon as Saturday. Saskatchewan identified eight new cases of the respiratory virus, however the province is moving forward with easing more restrictions this week, including allowing door-to-door solicitors and the resumption of yard and garage sales. In a statement, British Columbia announced 30 new cases and a warning to residents that the provinces curve is trending upwards. There are 266 active cases in B.C. now. Alberta is sounding the alarm after days of very concerning case reports. On Tuesday, the province announced 141 new cases and two deaths. There are currently 1,193 active cases in the province. July 20 On Monday, Canada saw some regions report slightly higher daily cases than previous weeks, but deaths related to COVID-19 remained quite low. Ontario reported 135 new cases of the virus, and one additional virus-related death. The province also announced it would have more regions enter Stage 3, however Toronto, Peel and Windsor-Essex regions will remain in Stage 2 at this time. Quebec reported two deaths related to the virus, as well as 150 newly-reported cases from the last 24 hours. While Quebec had been below the 100 new cases mark previously, the last seven days has all seen the number of new cases between 109 and 166. Most of Atlantic Canada remained flat and saw no new cases in any of the provinces, however New Brunswick had one newly-reported case of COVID-19 linked to a recent travel case through close contact. Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island have all been without a new case for five days, ten days and six days respectively. The Haida Nation has also reported its first case of COVID-19, as a resident of Haida Gwaii self-reported a positive COVID-19 test result on Friday. The residents of the island community off the north coast of B.C. had expressed concern earlier when two fishing lodges in the islands reopened recently, despite travel to the islands remaining restricted. Manitoba saw 18 new cases reported over the weekend leading into Monday, ten of which are tied to three Hutterite communities in the province. There are currently 29 active cases in Manitoba, 20 of which are in those communities. Saskatchewan reported 19 new cases in the province, with patients located in the central, Saskatoon, north and south regions. British Columbia is sounding the alarm after a surge in cases were reported over the weekend. B.C. saw 102 new cases since Friday afternoons announcement, bringing the provinces total to 3,000, including 253 that are still active cases. Alberta reported 368 new cases over the weekend (165 on Friday; 106 on Saturday; and 97 on Sunday). The province now has 1,109 active cases. July 19 Quebec reports its most cases in a month Quebec health officials have announced 166 new daily cases of COVID-19, the most since June 19. Its now the fourth straight day that it has recorded over 140 cases, and the eighth straight day it has surpassed 100. Before the recent stretch, it had not recorded at least 140 cases since June 25. Between June 26 and July 11, it stayed below 100 daily cases except on two occasions. The increase in cases comes as Quebec continues to process tests, after officials on July 11 asked anyone whos been to a Montreal bar since Canada Day to get tested for COVID-19. Quebecs testing numbers are reflective of its outputs from two days prior. In its latest 24-hour stretch, the province completed 15,864 tests for COVID-19, which is its highest output since the start of the pandemic, and above its goal of 14,000. As of Wednesday evening, at least 45 cases have been linked to 14 venues. Montreal public health officials have yet to provide updated statistics, a move that has drawn criticism over its lack of transparency. On Friday, Premier Francois Legault said that Quebecs bars will remain open, after they were given the green light on June 25. Officials instead believe that private gatherings are the root of the problem as cases continue to rise in the province. On July 9, Quebec decided to enforce new restrictions on bars. It was a move that was implemented after people in Monteregie tested positive for COVID-19, following a visit to a bar in Brossard and a couple of house parties, which have led to at least 20 infections. Montreal remains the epicentre with 28,000 total cases, up by 49 since Saturday. But the spread of COVID-19 continues to gain pace in surrounding areas of the city, in some cases in connection to bars and parties. The Monteregie region has 8,395 cases (up by 52), Lanaudiere has 4,381 (up by 26), Laurentides region has 3,676 (up by 10), and Laval has 5,904 (up by five). On Sunday, the province also announced one fatality, increasing the death toll to 5,655. Among the provinces 57,466 total cases throughout the pandemic are 50,050 people who have recovered, up by 23 since Saturday. Of the 1,761 active cases that remain, there are 251 people in hospital (up by three), which includes 18 in intensive care (up by three). Ontario reports worst two-day stretch this month, cases rise in Windsor-Essexs agri-farm sector Ontario reported 164 new cases, three deaths and 113 resolved cases in its latest 24-hour stretch. The announcement comes a day after the province recorded 166 cases, for a two-day total of 330. Its the most the province has recorded in a two-day stretch since June 29-30, when it logged 414 cases. Of the recently identified 164 cases, 80 of them were diagnosed in public health units part of the Greater Toronto Area and 37 in Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. Twenty-eight of Ontarios 34 public health units reported five or fewer cases, while 15 reported no new patients at all. The latest cases were identified after labs administered 26,890 tests for COVID-19, which is above Ontarios seven-day average of 24,972. The agri-farm sector in Windsor-Essex continues to produce new cases of COVID-19, with four outbreaks in Kingsville and two in Leamington. Of the 38 patients identified in the regions latest 24-hour stretch, 19 are part of the agri-farm sector. Nine are the result of community spread, which has been gaining pace in the region. The latest update comes a day after the region recorded 47 cases, including 41 in the agri-farm sector. Throughout the pandemic, Windsor-Essex has had 1,964 confirmed cases, with 915 of them in the agri-farm sector, according to local health officials. Many of the infections have been among migrant workers, who have been subject to inadequate living and working conditions. Two of the three migrant workers who have died in Ontario throughout the COVID-19 pandemic were in the Windsor-Essex region. Windsor-Essexs infection rate of 458.8 per 100,000 people is the highest in Ontario, according to the Ministry of Health. Toronto, where ther Iran's Intelligence Ministry Claims Arresting Leader Of US-Based 'Terrorist' Group Radio Farda August 01, 2020 Iran's Intelligence Ministry claimed on Saturday August 1 that it has arrested "the ringleader" of what it called the US-based "terrorist" group Tondar [Thunder]. Iranian official news agency IRNA quoted the Ministry as having said that the arrest was a "a heavy and serious blow" to the group. Tondar is an offshoot of the monarchist group, the Royal Association whose leader Fathollah Manouchehri also known as Foroud Fouladvand disappeared during a visit to Turkey in the 2007 with two of his aides. Iranian opposition groups in the West have at the time accused Iran of abducting Manouchehri. Manouchehri used to run an opposition TV station in London that operated under the name of Shoma [You] and broadcast programs that seriously annoyed the officials of the Islamic Republic. The statement by the Intelligence Ministry does not name the individual it says it has arrested but government-controlled media has named him as Jamshid Sharmahed. Sharmahd had said in an old video aired by Persian broadcasters outside Iran that some of the members of the Royal Association believe he is their leader while some others still recognize Manouchehri as the group's leader. According to the Intelligence Ministry statement that was published by IRNA, "Sharmahd, who guided armed and sabotage acts against Iran from the U.S., was arrested in complicated operations by the Iranian security forces and is now in the hands of the country's intelligence ministry." Being "in the hands of the country's intelligence ministry" is a jargon that has been previously used to describe individuals abducted abroad but have still not arrived in Iran. It was used most recently to describe Rouhollah Zam, the editor of Amad News Telegram Channel Iranian agents abducted in Iraq and later brought to Iran. The Intelligence Ministry promised in its statement that it will give away more details about the arrest later. Various Iranians on social media have said that Tehran is going to use Sharmahd to justify recent explosions and fires at strategic targets in Iran including Natanz nuclear establishment and some military installations near Tehran. According to Iranian sources including IRNA, Tondar had claimed responsibility for a January 2010 explosion at a mausoleum in Shiraz which killed 14 and left over 200 others wounded. At the time, Iran claimed that two young men, Arash Rahmanipour and Mohammad Reza Alizamani had planted the bomb and that they were the members of the Royal Association. Iran later announced that it has executed the two men. However, at the same time, prisoners who were in jail with the two said that they strongly denied any involvement in the bombing. According to the Intelligence Ministry, the two men were charged with "fighting against Allah and attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic regime." IRNA added that Tondar had also plotted several other terrorist acts in Iran in recent years, including plots to blow up Sivand dam in Shiraz, detonating a cyanide bomb at the Tehran book fair and planting bombs during gatherings at Ayatollah Khomeini's tomb. The agency added that "all ofthese terrorist plots were foiled by the Iranian security forces," meaning that the attacks never happened. In 2010, Iranian officials said they had arrested and hanged three of the group's members, Mohsen Eslamian, Ali Asghar Pashtar and Rouzbeh Yahyazadeh. The executions were widely criticized by international human rights watchdogs in 2010. Tondar or the Royal Association was established in 2001 by Manouchehri, who was a filmmaker in Iran before the 1979 Islamic revolution. Following Manouchehri's abduction in Hakkari in Turkey on 17 January 2007, Amnesty International reported that Manouchehri and his aides were in jail in Tehran. However, their whereabouts is still not known after 13 years. Sharmahd who took over after Manouchehri claimed responsibility for the blast at the Shiraz mausoleum. The group disclosed information in 2010 which indicated the Iranian Intelligence Ministry had plans to assassinate him. Mohammad Reza Sadeqnia, the man the Iranian Intelligence Ministry sent to the United States to assassinate Sharmahd was arrested and briefly jailed in the United States but he returned to Iran later. In 2013, the Royal Association announced that it was not an armed group and that Tondar website was not linked to it. Nevertheless, later the group assumed responsibility for the assassination of one of the commanders of Iran's Cyber Army and one of Iran's nuclear scientist, but Iranian officials ruled out the group's involvement in the assassinations. In the meantime, Iranian officials accused several inmates of being members of the Royal Association, but the association refuted the claim. The Royalist Association is against reinstating Iran's previous dynasty and believes that a young man or woman should be elected as the new king of Iran. However, it has still not named anyone. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-s-intelligence -ministry-claims-arresting-leader-of-us- based-terrorist-group/30761586.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address If you imagine the entire city of Melbourne as a COVID-19 patient, then it has now been placed in intensive care. A state of disaster has been declared. Police have orders to stop and question anyone caught outside their homes after 8pm. Our kids are being sent home from school. More businesses will be shut in an economy already bedridden by the virus and rolling restrictions. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced stage four restrictions and a "state of disaster" on Sunday afternoon. Credit:Justin McManus Victorias health authorities have lost control of this disease. This much is clear from the 760 active cases now confirmed in which those responsible for tracking this virus have no idea how people were infected. Premier Daniel Andrews says our contact tracing, the states front-line response to the second surge, has been overwhelmed by the volume of cases. Conducting quick COVID-19 tests for people (Source: VNA) Hanoi The Health Ministry on August 1 evening announced 28 more COVID-19 cases, 19 of them are related to Da Nang Hospital, seven in Da Nang and two imported ones. The two imported patients arrived at Can Tho International Airport in Can Tho city from Indonesia on July 29 and were immediately quarantined at Tra Vinh Tuberculosis Hospital. Those who caught the virus via community transmission are aged from nine to 86, and from Da Nang city, Quang Nam province, HCM City and Thai Binh province. They were either patients at Da Nang Hospital, had close contact with COVID-19 patients, or were caring for family members at the hospital. As of 6pm on August 1, Vietnam recorded a total of 586 cases, including 304 imported ones which have been quarantined following their arrivals. Since July 25, there have been 142 cases related to Da Nang Hospital. At present, 91,462 who had close contact with patients or entered from pandemic-hit areas are under quarantine, including 953 in hospitals, 18,063 in other concentrated facilities and 72,446 at homes. President Ram Nath Kovind in his message on the eve of Raksha Bandhan on Sunday urged people to pledge to stand for the honour and dignity of women so that they can contribute their best for the nation and the society. "On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens," the President said in his message. He said that Rakhi is the sacred thread of love, affection and trust that sisters tie on the wrists of their brothers, and that the unique festival strengthens our will to protect the interests of women and work for their well-being. "On this day, let us all take a pledge to stand for the honour and dignity of women so that they can contribute their best for the nation and society," the President said. Raksha Bandhan is an auspicious day that celebrates the unbreakable bond between a brother and a sister. The true meaning of the festival resonates from its literal translation that reads 'safety' and 'bond'. This sacred festival is observed on the last day of Hindu lunar calendar month of 'Shraavan', which typically falls in August. This year, it will be celebrated on August 3 (Monday). BEIJING (Reuters) - China reported 49 cases of the new coronavirus in the mainland for Aug. 1, up from 45 cases a day earlier, the health commission said on Sunday. Of the new infections, 30 were in the far western region of Xinjiang, three were in the northeastern province of Liaoning, and the remaining 16 were imported cases, according to a statement by the National Health Commission. China reported 20 new asymptomatic cases, down from 23 a day earlier. As of the end of Saturday, mainland China had 84,385 confirmed coronavirus cases, the health authority said. The COVID-19 death toll remained at 4,634. (Reporting by Judy Hua, Tina Qiao and Ryan Woo; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Namita Bajpai By Express News Service AYODHYA: Uttar Pradesh police is making every effort to lay a fool proof security cover around Ayodhya ahead of August 5 Bhoomi Pujan ceremony. Besides, special attention is being given to COVID-19 protocol and other preventive measures. Notably PM Narendra Modi is expected to take part in Bhoomi Pujan ceremony for construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5. The event will also be attended by several other dignitaries. According to Deepak Kumar, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Ayodhya range, besides the elaborate security arrangements in the temple town for PMs visit, a COVID-19 protocol has also been followed and Covid warriors will also be deployed during the ceremony. "The outsiders will not be allowed entry into Ayodhya. However, there will be no restriction on the movement of Ayodhya residents," said the DIG adding that drones were deployed for a strict vigil was being maintained across all the VIP routes. ALSO READ | Phase one of new Ayodhya station to be completed by June 2021: Railways Police personnel, who have tested negative for the coronavirus disease and are below the age of 45, will be deployed in the Prime Ministers security detail on the day. Senior police authorities claimed that an assembly of more than five persons would not be allowed in the temple town but the shops would be allowed to open. The key sources claimed that there would be a three-tier security blanket in Ayodhya during PMs visit. The inner most security ring of the PM will be handled by the Special Protection Group (SPG) officers. But police personnel, who have tested negative for the infection as well as those kept in reserve in complete isolation, would preferably be deployed closer to the inner security ring of the PM. Police have also planned route diversions and put in around 75 barricades across the town to ease traffic movement. The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 687,000, with nearly 18 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness. Here's a roundup of COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions. Kosovo Kosovar Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti has tested positive for COVID-19, the latest world leader or official to catch the potentially deadly illness. Avdullah said on August 2 that he has a mild cough but no other signs of symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19. "From tonight, I will be in isolation for the next two weeks. I will perform my obligations from home," he added in a Facebook post. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Brasil's President Jair Bolsonaro, and Prince Albert II of Monaco are among the other leaders and officials who have contracted COVID-19. There have been nearly 18 million registered cases of COVID-19 worldwide with nearly 700,000 people succumbing to the illness. Many of those who have died from the coronavirus had underlying health conditions or were elderly. Kosovo has experienced an increase in cases and deaths over the past four days, with more than 953 new cases and 53 fatalities. Iran Iranian officials said on August 2 that the latest one-day rise in confirmed coronavirus infections there was the highest in nearly a month. Home to the Middle East's worst COVID-19 outbreak after the pathogen emerged in central China late last year, Iran has seen a gradual return of cases in the holy city of Qom and other population centers that were hard hit in the initial stages of the pandemic. AFP quoted Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari as saying 2,685 people had tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours, the highest count since July 8. She called the epidemiological situation "concerning" in 25 of Iran's 31 provinces. Iran has the ninth-most infections of any country at more than 306,000. The resulting disease, COVID-19, has killed nearly 17,000 Iranians, the 10th-highest death toll in the world. Iranian media also reported that 79-year-old filmmaker Khosro Sinai had died of the virus on August 1. Sinai, perhaps best-known for his film Long Live, was the first Iranian film director to win an international prize after the country's 1979 revolution. Even with the local outbreak taking a worrisome trajectory, Iran's main stock exchange eclipsed the 2-million-point mark for the first time in its history on August 2, according to local media. Analysts warn that the Tehran Stock Exchange's stubborn rise risks leaving investors exposed to a market bubble, AFP said, against a backdrop of slumping economic indicators and exchange-rate woes from the coronavirus outbreak and pressures from U.S. sanctions. Iran's clerical leadership has been encouraging Iranians to invest in local stocks to boost the economy. With reporting by RFE/RL's Balkan Service and AFP About 6 a.m., officers were called to the 2300 block of South Kolin Avenue in the Lawndale neighborhood after the citys gunshot detection system reported shots fired. According to a police statement, officers discovered two men inside a vehicle who were unresponsive, each with apparent gunshot wounds to the head and body. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 20:03:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People wearing face masks walk in the Central area of Hong Kong, south China, July 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) HKSAR government officials said the postponement is well justified in terms of the risk of massive scale gatherings, absence of stranded voters overseas and in Chinese mainland and elderly voters reluctant to go out and vote due to the COVID-19 epidemic. HONG KONG, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Top officials of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Sunday said the postponement of the 2020 Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election of the HKSAR is well justified and in the public interest. Chief Executive of the HKSAR Carrie Lam on July 31 announced the postponement of the election, which was originally scheduled for Sept. 6, 2020, due to the current COVID-19 outbreak. Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR government Matthew Cheung said in his blog on Sunday that it was a very difficult decision to postpone the election, but it was necessary to protect the public's health and to ensure the election to be conducted openly and fairly. A staff member demonstrates protective measures at the personal protective equipment (PPE) gown up area of a makeshift hospital for COVID-19 patients at the AsiaWorld-Expo in south China's Hong Kong on Aug. 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Wu Xiaochu) Cheung said that the LegCo General Election is massive in scale with over three million voters likely to participate in the event, which would cause a very high risk of infection. Under the existing regulation to prohibit group gatherings, it would be difficult for candidates to carry out any meaningful rallying activities. Furthermore, a large number of voters are stranded in the Chinese mainland and overseas due to the epidemic, and would not be able to return to Hong Kong in view of the border control measures. Elderly voters may also refrain from voting amid the severe epidemic situation due to their higher risks of infection. If the election is held as scheduled, it will be difficult for the election to be a fair and open one. It may also undermine the safety of the voters, the candidates and their supporters as well as the polling staff, Cheung added. Cheung stressed that the current wave of the epidemic was likely to last for weeks or even longer, and there might also be a winter surge. People wearing face masks take a bus in the Central area of Hong Kong, south China, July 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) He said the LegCo performs important and substantive functions and has an annual business cycle, and the preparation work and the voter registration exercise would take months before an election can be held, which makes it reasonable to postpone it for a year. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said in his blog that prevention and control of the epidemic are very important as they are related to people's health and lives and should not be hindered by political disputes. He urged everyone to put aside their differences and work together to contain the epidemic. Chan stressed that the HKSAR government's priority is to combat COVID-19, and at the same time, to ensure people's well-being and stabilize the economy. He believed that once the epidemic is brought under control in Hong Kong, the huge market of the mainland and the potential of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area will help Hong Kong's economy to fast recover. The condotel market has faced a gloomy period due to low absorption rate while inventory has been on the rise, experts said. Condotel projects are mostly located in localities with tourism strengths. Photo bnews.vn Statistics from the HCM City Real Estate Association (HoREA) showed the country now has some 82,900 condotels with a total investment of VND100 trillion (US$4.3 billion), mostly located in localities with strong tourism markets like Ha Noi, HCM City, Da Nang, Thanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan and Ba Ria - Vung Tau. However, after five years of rapid growth, the condotel market now has a large inventory. Figures from real estate distributor DKRA Vietnam Company revealed big cities in Viet Nam are short of apartments while the absorption rate of condotels is low. Nearly 5,000 condotels from the central province of Thua Thien - Hue to Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang Province have not been sold. In the second quarter of the year alone, the market had 158 new condotels from two projects on offer, but only 31 were sold, equivalent to 1 per cent in the same period last year. This meant purchasing power in the condotel market is at a very low rate, to the point of nearly being frozen. Even in localities which used to lead the market such as Binh Thuan, Phu Quoc and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, sales of condotels have also been very low at 30 per cent, 17 per cent and 4 per cent of the total estate transactions in the first half of the year. Nguyen Hoang, Director of the R&D Department of DKRA Vietnam, said the tourism property segment had been almost hibernating due to previous development consequences and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Without a change in conditions, this segment would remain hibernating for a long time. According to HoREA, the strong development of condotel projects and resort real estate over the past 10 years has met the surging need of the tourism with the growth of tourist arrivals in recent years, up to about 30 per cent a year for domestic tourists and about 15 per cent a year for international tourists. In 2019, the country's tourism industry served more than 85 million domestic tourists and some 18 million international tourists. There was a rapid development of condotel projects in recent years but with a lack of transparency, stability and sustainability, leading to oversupply in the segment, HoREA said. Many investors have been mobilising capital and selling condotels to be built in the future to customers and secondary investors, while the Government has not completed a legal framework for this type of real estate. However, to attract customers, investors often offer high profits, up to 10-12 per cent a year, even up to 15 per cent for 8-12 years, pushing risks onto customers. The tourism estate segment has not only faced difficulties of oversupply, an unclear legal framework and profits of investors not being guaranteed, it has been also hit by the pandemic. After showing signs of recovering in recent months, COVID-19 has recurred in some localities, especially in the major tourism market of Da Nang. This showed the tourism real estate market would likely continue to struggle. According to the latest Savills Vietnam market report, the real estate market for the first six months of this year has seen the worst performance ever due to the pandemic. Room occupancy had fallen to 32 per cent while room prices fell 13 per cent year-on-year to US$74 per room per night. The 5-star segment has been most heavily affected by its dependence on international visitors. According to the HCM City Department of Tourism, the number of international visitors in the city in the first half of the year fell by 69 per cent to 1.3 million. Legal framework needed The Ministry of Public Security has proposed not granting ownership certificates to allow condotels, tourist villas and officetels to be turned into residential projects. Earlier, some localities like Da Nang City and Ba Ria Vung Tau Province proposed changing land use purposes and issuing certificates of ownership for condotels, gradually legalising them into residential apartments. Le Hoang Chau, HoREAs chairman agreed with the ministry, saying if the Government allowed the conversion of condotels to residential apartments, infrastructure planning would be destroyed. This would also increase the pressure on urban infrastructure systems, especially to reduce the value of the whole area planned for tourism development, business services, trade as well as sustainable revenue sources for the Government, Chau said. He added that planning and adjustment had been strictly and synchronously stipulated in the Planning Law, the Land Law, the Construction Law, and the Urban Planning Law. However, in practice, there are areas that had been planned for tourism development but were no longer suitable, so they could be considered for adjusting land use purposes. However, the planning adjustment must comply with the law and be based on a scientific and practical basis as well as undergoing a strict approval process. Deputy head of the Department of Housing Management and Real Estate Market under the Ministry of Construction, Nguyen Manh Khoi said the ministry received many proposals from property developers to converse condotels into residential apartments. Lawyer Nguyen Duc Hong Son said the concern of the Ministry of Public Security in granting certificates to condotel and officetels was completely grounded as land for construction of such projects is commercial and service land, not residential. At this time, the only way forward would be to wait for the completion of the legal framework to adjust the type of tourist apartment. This means buyers would be assured their rights are protected and they aren't hurt by a lack of transparency, he added.. VNS As the coronavirus has resurged in many parts of the country in recent weeks, experts and politicians alike have implored people to protect themselves and others by wearing a face mask in public. Does that apply when you have to be out in the gusting wind and driving rain of a tropical storm like Isaias? Our health columnist Tara Parker-Pope says, probably not: Face masks arent as effective when they are wet. For one thing, its much harder to breathe through a wet mask than a dry one, Ms. Parker-Pope notes. And on top of that, a moist or wet mask doesnt filter as well as a dry mask. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends mask-wearing in general, says they should not be worn when doing things that may get the mask wet. It doesnt take a tropical storm to drench a mask, of course. They can become soaked with condensation from your breath or sweat from your face, and some people think of wetting them deliberately to cool off in hot weather. But the harm done is the same, wherever the moisture comes from. A paper surgical mask that gets soaked should probably be discarded, Ms. Parker-Pope advises, but a cloth mask can be washed, dried and reused. If rain is coming down in buckets, social distancing is not likely to be a problem, and any viral particles exhaled by an infected person probably would be quickly diluted by gusting wind and rain. So there is little need to wear a mask out in a rainstorm, Ms. Parker-Pope notes: In fact, you should take it off and keep it dry, so if you need to duck into a store to wait out the storm, you have a dry mask to wear indoors. Business tycoon Anand Mahindra on Sunday expressed optimism over turbulence in global financial markets after top infectious disease specialist and senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump Dr. Anthony Fauci hinted that a coronavirus vaccine could be ready by the end of this year or early next year. The chairman of Mahindra Group in a tweet wrote, "In today's world, this one man's statements (Fauci) could affect global financial markets more strongly than the words of any political leader or central bank governor. Let us see now markets respond this coming week". Appearing before a House panel on Saturday, Fauci expressed "cautious optimism" that a vaccine would be available by next year. "I believe, ultimately, over a period of time in 2021, that Americans will be able to get it," Fauci said, referring to the vaccine. Under direction from the White House, federal health authorities are carrying out a plan dubbed Operation Warp Speed to manufacture 300 million doses of the vaccine on a compressed timeline. Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease official, said a quarter-million people have expressed interest in taking part in studies of experimental vaccines for the coronavirus. Fauci added that 250,000 people have registered on a government website to take part in vaccine trials. Meanwhile, US biotech firm Moderna and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer have launched late-stage trials of the coronavirus vaccine. The US government is funding vaccine development for both companies. Moderna has received nearly $1 billion from the federal government for the same. Pfizer has an agreement with the US government whereby the government will pay the pharma company around $2 billion for delivery of 10 crore vaccine shots by December if approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Also read: Coronavirus vaccine update: Russia's COVID-19 vaccine set for mass rollout in October; check details Also read: Coronavirus vaccine will be ready by early 2021: Dr Anthony Fauci Usman is one of the 602 ex-Boko Haram members, who completed a de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme in July. The repentant terrorists A repentant Boko Haram fighter, Abdulwahab Usman, has said that he cant remember the number of people he had killed while in still with the terror group. Usman is one of the 602 ex-Boko Haram members, who completed a de-radicalisation, rehabilitation and reintegration programme in July, according to a report by Saturday PUNCH. Thanking the Nigerian Government for giving them a new life, Usman said, None of us was killed during the de-radicalisation process. I really enjoyed my stay in the camp because many of us were not expecting such hospitality from the Nigerian Government. We were well taken care of. They taught us different trades. In the camp, we were exposed to skill acquisition such as welding, barbing and carpentry etc. But I chose to learn barbing. When I return to my hometown, I wish to continue with barbing. I will not go back to Boko Haram. We were given the Quran because of our assurance that we would become good citizens. I will not return to that group (Boko Haram) no matter the suffering since the government has chosen to be responsive. I was forced into the group for about five years. I cant remember the number of people I killed as a Boko Haram member because they are many. Boko Haram people came to our village looking for those who are of school age and that was how my friends and I were forced into the group. Eventually, we escaped from Boko Haram hideout, so soldiers took us to Giwa barracks in Borno. South Africa has surpassed 500,000 confirmed coronavirus cases, but President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday said he sees promising signs that the rapid growth of cases has stabilised and that the countrys strained health system is managing to cope. Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize announced 10,107 new cases Saturday night, bringing the countrys cumulative total to 503,290, including 8,153 deaths. South Africa has now tallied more than 50% of all reported coronavirus infections in Africas 54 countries. With a population of about 58 million, South Africa has the fifth-highest number of cases in the world, behind the US, Brazil, Russia and India, all countries with significantly higher populations, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Experts say the true toll of the pandemic worldwide is much higher than confirmed cases, due to limited testing and other reasons. Ramaphosa, in a letter to the nation on Sunday, said despite the high number of confirmed cases, he sees some positive developments. After a rapid rise in infections over the last two months, the daily increase in infections appears to be stabilizing, said Ramaphosa. He said the number of new infections has slowed in the provinces of the Western Cape, which includes Cape Town, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, which hosts the major cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria. South Africas hospitals have been stretched to the limit but in most provinces they are succeeding in providing treatment to Covid-19 patients, he said. The health system has so far had sufficient capacity to cope with the number of admissions, said Ramaphosa of the hard-hit provinces of Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. He said, however, that in the Eastern Cape several public hospitals were overwhelmed and a specialist team has been deployed to help. He said his government is working hard with greatest urgency to deliver adequate supplies of personal protective equipment to areas where shortages have been reported. South African authorities are also working to root out corruption in the purchase and distribution of medical equipment, he said. It is unconscionable that there are people who may be using this health crisis to unlawfully enrich themselves, said Ramaphosa. South Africas case fatality rate the number of deaths as a proportion of confirmed cases is at 1.6%, significantly lower than the global average, said Ramaphosa. While South Africa has the fifth-highest number of total Covid-19 cases globally, we have only the 36th highest number of deaths as a proportion of the population, said Ramaphosa. For this, we are grateful to the work of our health professionals and the innovative treatments they have pioneered. South Africa also has a younger population than countries in Europe that were hard hit in the pandemic, and the virus kills elderly patients at a far higher rate than younger people. Regular Press Conference of the Ministry of National Defense on July 30 PLA Daily Source: China Military Online Editor: Wang Xinjuan 2020-08-01 22:28:09 By Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, Deputy Director General of the Information Office of China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND (The following English text of the press conference is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.) Ren Guoqiang: With the approval of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the PLA Army and Air Force will send service members to Russia to participate in the International Army Games (IAG) 2020, which will be held from August 23 to September 5. The army troops will participate in five contests including the "Tank Biathlon" for tank teams, "Safe Environment" for nuclear biological and chemical (NBC) reconnaissance teams, "Masters of Armored Vehicles" for armored vehicles teams, "Army Scout Masters" for army reconnaissance units, and "Open Water" for pontoon bridge units. The air force troops will get engaged in the "Airborne Platoon" for airborne unit competition. At the critical moment of the global fight against COVID-19, China dispatches troops to the IAG to further strengthen strategic coordination between the Chinese and Russian militaries, deepen practical cooperation in the field of military training, carry out friendly exchanges and promote mutual learning with participating teams from the rest of the world. This is also a way to improve training and combat readiness of our troops. Ren Guoqiang: Recently, the Naval Aviation of the Southern Theater Command deployed new-type aircraft including H-6G and H-6J bombers to conduct high-intensity training during day and night time in the relevant waters of the South China Sea. The troops completed training subjects such as take-offs and landings during the day and at night, long-range raids and strikes against maritime targets, and achieved expected effect. This training is a routine arrangement within the annual plan. It can help hone skills of the pilots and improve all-weather combat capability of the troops. Question: We have noticed that this year's flood control situation is very serious in China. Many troops are still fighting on the front line in hard-hit provinces such as Fujian, Jiangxi, Jiangsu and Anhui, racing against time to save the lives of the people and their property. Could you brief us on the military's participation in flood control and disaster relief? Answer: Since the start of this year's flood season, there have been floods and geological disasters in many provinces in China. President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to disaster control and relief and has made important instructions, directing the PLA and the People's Armed Police Force (PAP) to actively participate in rescue and disaster relief. The people's military always follows the Party's command. Soon after the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, it quickly transferred to the battleground against the floods. Following President Xi's instructions, the military took saving people's lives and property as its priority and made quick efforts to respond to the floods. They went all out to carry out rescue and disaster relief work, and have achieved remarkable results. As of July 28, the Chinese military has deployed 725,000 soldiers, 228,500 militia, 7,749 boats, and 54,116 construction machinery and vehicles in total to participate in 3,749 rescue operations. The military has assisted in the transfer of 137,000 people and over 4,560 tons of materials from the disaster-stricken areas. There are over 11.8 million sandbags filled, 3,800 piping leaks blocked, 900 kilometers of embankments reinforced, and 224 kilometers of roads restored. The military always follows the instructions of the Party. It is the unchanging soul and purpose of the people's military to obey the Party's command and serve the people. Since the beginning of this year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the CMC, and President Xi, the military has been actively involved in both the fight against COVID-19 and the flood. Together with all Chinese people, we will overcome all the hardships and difficulties, fight the flood with unity and courage and strive to win the final victory in flood control and disaster relief. Here are some photos of battling the flood. Question: US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said in a recent speech that China is undermining international rules and taking malicious and coercive actions. He also said that China's aggressive activities including military drills targeting the Taiwan region in the East China Sea and the South China Sea will increase the risk of miscalculation. What's your comment? Answer: The remarks from the US side about China are groundless and unreasonable, full of arrogance, bias, attacks and smears. We are firmly opposed to these remarks. It is a well-known fact that the US always bends international rules as it sees fit and is aggressively pursuing "America first" and unilateral bullism. Unlike the US, who has withdrawn from many international organizations and treaties, China is taking solid actions to fulfill its international responsibilities and obligations and joined the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) on the same day the US announced its withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). The US has held and bragged about some highly-targeted military exercises in the Indo-Pacific region, deployed game-changing weapons and equipment to the region, and even openly pursued an alliance against China. We urge the US to stop undermining world peace and regional stability, and stop sowing discord among countries. Recently, the US has strengthened its military contacts with the Taiwan region, promoted arms sales to Taiwan and floated possible joint military training with Taiwan. These actions have sent extremely wrong messages to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities. These are the latest moves from the US that violate the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques. These attempts to contain China with Taiwan interfere in China's internal affairs and undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. They are completely wrong and extremely dangerous. The US should realize that China must and will be reunified, and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation must and will be achieved. We can always seek wisdom from the past to enlighten the days to come. The past has proved that both China and the US would gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. In the future, a community with a shared future and diversity is the only prospect for human development. We hope that the US can abandon the Cold War mindset and zero-sum concept, view China-US relationship and the military-to-military relationship in a rational way, stop the negative words and deeds, and do meaningful things to improve bilateral ties and mil-mil relationship and protect the common interests of China and the US. Question: In July, the US Department of State issued US Position on Maritime Claims in the South China Sea, claiming that China is seeking to build a "maritime empire" in the South China Sea. It accused China of causing instability in the South China Sea by carrying out military exercises in waters off the Xisha Islands. Meanwhile, the US military has posted on multiple Twitter accounts in a high-profile manner that it has conducted dual-carrier operations in the South China Sea twice this month. It is reported that this is the first time the US military has made such an arrangement in many years, which will seriously undermine the peace and stability of the South China Sea. What's your comment? Answer: We are firmly opposed to the US statement. Ignoring historical and objective facts on the South China Sea issue, the US side has flagrantly violated its own commitment to not taking side on the sovereignty claims of the South China Sea, willfully and groundlessly criticized China, sowed discord among countries in the region and even conducted dual-carrier operations in the South China Sea. These have fully exposed the "hegemonic mentality" and double standards of the US. It calls itself an "arbitrator" of the South China Sea issue, but is in fact actually a disruptor of regional peace, cooperation, and international relations. China has indisputable sovereignty over South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters, which has full historical and legal basis. At present, with the joint efforts of China and Asean countries, the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable, and positive progress has been made in relevant consultations. China urges the US to stop making false remarks, stop taking provocative military actions, and stop sowing discord among countries in the region. The attempts made by the US concerning the South China Sea can only make China more firmly defend its own sovereignty and security, and to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea. Question: We have noticed that the US and the Taiwan region have been continuously strengthening military exchanges recently. The US Department of State has just approved a new arms sale to Taiwan worth 620 million US dollars, which was acclaimed as a helpful move to "maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region" by Taiwan's defense authorities. At the same time, a promotional video of the US Special Operations Forces showed images of "joint military training" with Taiwan. Taiwan media said it was a clear strategic message to the Chinese mainland. What's your comment? Answer: In regard to the US announcement of a new round of arms sales to Taiwan, China has stated its solemn position and imposed sanctions on Lockheed Martin, the main contractor of the arms sale. The US sending military personnel to Taiwan for exercises and exchanges has seriously violated the fundamental principles of international relations and the political commitment the US has made to China. It has a severe negative impact on bilateral relations and mil-mil relationship between China and the US, and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. It has sent a wrong message to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces and is a deliberate provocation. The Chinese side has expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to it and has lodged solemn representations to the US side. We urge the US side to immediately correct its mistake, stop its official and military contacts of any form with Taiwan, earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques, and promise that no similar incident would occur again. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The future of Taiwan lies in reunification and the welfare of the Taiwan compatriots lies in national rejuvenation. There is no way out for Taiwan to bank on foreign support, and it is doomed to be futile for the US to contain China with Taiwan. We have the firm will, full confidence and sufficient capability to thwart any form of external interference and separatist attempts for "Taiwan independence". And we will resolutely defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and safeguard peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Question: China and Latin American countries are working together to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. Please brief us on the anti-pandemic cooperation between the PLA and Latin American militaries. Answer: Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, China has been closely following the development of the pandemic in Latin America. China and Latin America have helped each other in the fight against the pandemic and demonstrated their profound friendship with practical actions. At the request of the militaries of Argentina, Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela, China has provided them with medical supplies including protective clothing and surgical masks. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of China-Latin America diplomatic relations. Over the past six decades, China and Latin America have been working hand in hand and become "bosom friends living thousands of miles away from each other". Under the guidance of the leaders of China and Latin American countries, the PLA and Latin American militaries have carried out active and practical military exchanges and cooperation, and achieved fruitful results in high-level exchanges, military training, and personnel training. Today, the relationship between the PLA and the militaries of Latin American countries has been further improved through collaboration on the COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control. China will actively deepen military relationship with Latin American countries and make positive contributions to deepening bilateral cooperation. Question: According to reports, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) recently held a series of video conferences on defense affairs. Could you please brief us on the participation of the Chinese military? Answer: From July 7 to 8, representatives from the Chinese military attended video conferences of the Asean Defense Senior Officials' Meeting Plus (ADSOM Plus) and the ASEAN Regional Forum Security Policy Conference (ASPC). The participating parties exchanged ideas on topics including the militaries' participation in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and current international and regional security, and exchanged views on strengthening the coordination between the Asean Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) and Asean Regional Forum (ARF). The Chinese side introduced the Chinese military's experience in the domestic fight against COVID-19 and the international cooperation in fighting the pandemic, and proposed that all parties should strengthen capacity building in jointly coping with non-traditional security challenges. The meetings have yielded positive results in enhancing understanding and building consensus. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the defense departments and militaries of China and Asean countries have maintained close communication and coordination, explored exchanges and cooperation under ling-term pandemic prevention and control and achieved positive results in providing anti-pandemic material assistance, dispatching medical expert groups, and holding video conferences in exchange of experience. Next, the Chinese military will continue to strengthen practical cooperation with relevant parties in the fields of pandemic response, joint exercises and training and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief so as to jointly maintain regional security and stability. Question: Recently, the Japanese government issued the Defense of Japan 2020 (Annual White Paper), claiming that China's military development lacks transparency, China has unilaterally changed the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and China has used anti-pandemic assistance as a pretext to seek its own political interests. It also described the cross-Strait relations as "China-Taiwan" relations. What's your comment? Answer: On July 14, the Japanese side released the Defense of Japan 2020 white paper and its contents related to China are inconsistent with facts. The white paper made irresponsible remarks on China's national defense and military development and exaggerated the so-called military threat of China. It distorted facts and discredited China on issues such as the South China Sea, the East China Sea and China's pandemic response, and made extremely irresponsible remarks on the Taiwan question. We are strongly dissatisfied and firmly opposed to these contents and have lodged solemn representations to the Japanese side. At present, China-Japan relationship is in a critical period of improvement and development. We urge the Japanese side to take history as a mirror and look to the future, and stop making wrong remarks. Following the strategic consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, the Japanese side should work with the Chinese side towards the same goal, jointly promote a constructive bilateral security relationship, and make positive efforts to enhance mutual political and security trust, safeguard regional peace and stability, and promote the continuous improvement and development of China-Japan relationship. Question: Recently, provinces across China have released the results of College Entrance Examination (CEE) successively, and students are filling in their application forms for colleges. Would you please brief us on the progress of the admission of China's military schools? Answer: According to this year's arrangement in military school admission, in order to cultivate new-type high-quality and specialized military talent and meet new requirements of the college entrance examination reform, the 27 military schools plan to admit around 13,000 high school graduates from 31 provinces with strict qualification requirements and admission standards. Currently, political reviews, physical examinations and application interviews are under way in various provinces. Students intending to apply for military schools can pay close attention to the information released by the admission offices of respective provinces or provincial military commands to learn about admission requirements. Besides the programs for officer candidates admitted in advance by the military schools, students can also apply for programs for civilian students in the National University of Defense Technology and the three military medical universities of the PLA Army, Navy and Air Force. What needs to be emphasized is that military school enrollment will be carried out in strict accordance with enrollment plans and procedures and there are no so-called additional or internal quotas. Students and their parents are welcome to keep watch on the enrollment to maintain the fairness and justice of military school admission. Question: Are there any new policies for the enrollment of soldiers to military schools this year? Answer: In order to implement the decision made by the Central Military Commission in military reform, broaden the channels for selecting officer candidates from enlisted personnel, and attract enlistees with great potential and high CEE scores, a pilot program has been set for enlistees recruited from colleges (with their college admission qualification reserved or being recruited in the military with their names still on the school roll) in the "Double First-Class" initiative (namely world-class universities and first-class disciplines). According to the pilot program, such enlistees are exempted from exams to be admitted to military schools. However, their CEE scores should have reached the threshold for the first-tier universities in their provinces and they should have scored high in basic military skills tests, and the majors they study should be in need in the military. In addition, they still need to meet the political, physical, mental, and other requirements for military school admission. For enlisted personnel who have participated in important operations or the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the military has identified how to calculate the bonus scores for them and applicable situations. Besides, the service time requirement has been relaxed for enlisted personnel who have participated in UN peacekeeping operations or overseas maritime escort missions to apply for vocational and technical education for non-commissioned officers. Question: According to media reports, the PLA Tibet Military Command has conducted a number of military exercises at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters on the plateau area. Please brief us on it. Answer: Recently, the PLA Tibet Military Command has organized day-and-night fire strike drills involving multiple types of artillery and artillery fire assault drills in high altitude areas, aiming to test the troops' long-range precision strikes and fire assault capabilities in plateau environment. The exercises mentioned above are within the annual training plan and are not targeted at any specific country. Question: Since the clash between China and India in the Galwan Valley region, the border troops of the two militaries have held multiple rounds of talks. Please tell us more about the relevant situation. Answer: China and India have conducted effective communication and coordination through both diplomatic and military channels since the clash at the Galwan Valley occurred. At present, the situation in this region has been deescalated, and the disengagement between the border troops of the two countries are gradually carried forward. China and India are important neighbors to each other, and maintaining peace and tranquility in the border area is in the common interests of both sides. China hopes that the Indian side will work with the Chinese side toward the same goal, follow the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, bear in mind the importance to protect overall China-India relationship and maintain regional peace and stability, focus on cooperation, properly address differences, and earnestly promote the relationship between the two countries and the two militaries to continuously develop along the correct direction of friendly cooperation. The 93rd anniversary of the founding of the PLA is to come in two days. In the past 93 years, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, the heroic people's military has has fought numerous battles, overcame great hardships and difficulties, and won glorious victories one after another. It has played a great and historical role in the process that the Chinese nation stood up, became prosperous and grew strong, and made important contributions to safeguarding world peace and prosperity. Since the beginning of 2020, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the Chinese military has thoroughly implemented President Xi Jinping thought on strengthening the military, faithfully fulfilled its missions and tasks, and comprehensively strengthened training and preparedness. In the fights for defending the motherland, pandemic prevention and control, poverty alleviation, and flood prevention and disaster relief, it has always obeyed the command of the Party and served the people, and has not been afraid of hardship and sacrifice. It has lived up to the people's expectations through hard work. On the occasion of the "August 1st" Army Day, the People's military will report to the Party and the people with victory and dedication, while celebrating its own birthday! Here, we are willing to extend our high respect to all service members, in particular, to the border troops, and officers and soldiers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and the flood. The whole military will continue to carry forward the fine traditions, always maintain the nature, purpose, and inherent qualities of the people's military, shoulder the historical mission of strengthening the Chinese military in the new era, and make new contributions to realizing the Chinese Dream of strengthening the military and safeguarding world peace with concrete actions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi: Two armymen were killed on Tuesday as terrorists opened fire at army camp in Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, the district administration has ordered to shut down schools in Nagrota as a precautionary measure. The terrorist opened fire at the army camp at around 5:30am and gunbattle is still on, ANI reported. More details awaited. Also read | Jammu and Kashmir: BSF jawan injured in gunbattle with infiltrating militants Here are the updates: Jammu and Kashmir: Security on high alert in Katra following #Nagrota terror attack pic.twitter.com/dG0qD5eAhT ANI (@ANI_news) November 29, 2016 Udhampur is on high alert following #Nagrota terror attack, inputs came early the moment attack started: Shailendra Mishra, SSP pic.twitter.com/LGmKFMDYGm ANI (@ANI_news) November 29, 2016 Udhampur (J&K): Security beefed up, area on high alert following #Nagrota attack pic.twitter.com/H4KkRTFHtY ANI (@ANI_news) November 29, 2016 #NagrotaEncounter We have issued high alert in Katra region including Vaishno Devi shrine & other religious places: Sanjay Rana (SP, Katra) pic.twitter.com/FEebOCCWil ANI (@ANI_news) November 29, 2016 #No civilian has been targeted as they seek local support. PM has been briefed on it: Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Nagrota attack #Statistics have shown attack is on military installations. Civilians not being targeted: Manohar Parrikar on Nagrota attack #When challenged, BSF patrol was fired upon by miscreants holed up in a tube well pumphouse,firing been retaliated: BSF #In general area of Border Out Post Chamliyal,Samba(J&K) suspicious movement was noticed.Immediately area was cordoned off: BSF For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. By Vali Nasr and Ariane Tabatabai Vali Nasr Ariane Tabatabai In a war-torn country hungry for heroes, the tale of a teenage girl who allegedly shot Taliban militants to avenge the murder of her parents has proved potent. In mid-July, reports emerged about Qamar Gul, 15, who says she gunned down two fighters with her fathers AK-47 weapon. Almost immediately, the story electrified some in Afghanistan, a country buffeted by decades of war. When I heard about her bravery, I just felt proud of her, that we have powerful women like her, Farhad Omer, 30, who is from the Afghan capital, Kabul, said. Afghanistan needs heroes like her. Ahmad Turkmen, 25, said Qamar had given a surge of power and confidence to Afghan women. Yesterday it was Malalai, today it is Qamar Gul, said Turkmen, a student of political science, comparing her to the female folk hero Malalai of Maiwand, who is remembered across the country for rallying fighters against the British during the second Anglo-Afghan war in 1880. Image: Taliban fighters (Raumat Gul / AP file) Turkmen was not the only one to evoke the ghost of Malalai. Malalai has emerged in Qamar Gul, Eima Sultani, 27, a homemaker from Kabul, said. Guls act reminds the entire world that Afghan women still have courage to resist against violence. But truth can be hard to come by in conflict, especially in remote Afghan provinces like Ghor, which is contested by the Taliban and where the incident is said to have unfolded, and NBC News was not able to independently verify her account. "Ghor has a complex and volatile security situation, with the Taliban, various criminal groups and pro-government militias all vying for power and control," said Ashley Jackson, a researcher at the Overseas Development Institute, a London think tank. Qamar NBC News by phone that she gunned down the two Taliban fighters after they broke into her house while her family was asleep and fatally shot her parents. "I was forced to pick up my fathers gun," she said. "I feel proud that I killed the Taliban who killed my father and mother." Story continues A Kabul official and the police chief of Taywarah district backed up Qamar's story, but offered no evidence for what they say had happened. Habiburahman Malikzade, the police chief, said the confrontation occurred when the Taliban entered the pro-government village of Geriveh, where Qamar lives, in an effort to occupy the area. Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that the confrontation was allegedly a family dispute and that one of the attackers Qamar killed was her own husband. This version of events is disputed by the police chief who said the teen was not married, as well as by a man who picked up the phone whichQamar had previously answered and introduced himself as her half-brother. Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics The Taliban, meanwhile, denied reports that the teenage girl had killed any of its men. But it did say that two fighters had been injured when they stormed a camp of government-linked militia in the province. The puppet Afghan government has become frustrated and they now resort to making up these types of baseless stories, which have nothing to do with reality, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, offering no evidence to back up his claims. While NBC News was not able to independently verify any of the accounts of what happened in the village of Geriveh that night, Qamar's story appeared to take on a life of its own. A photo of the 15-year-old looking stoic, wearing a long brown patterned dress and black hijab while holding her father's gun circulated on social media. The story was embellished as it spread, with some praising her for having killed 10 Taliban fighters after they tried to rape her. Women have long been marginalized in Afghanistan, but their mistreatment under the Taliban, whose government was deposed by U.S.-backed forces in 2001, was extreme. While the teen's apparent bravery may stand out, her alleged experience of violence in the remote province offers a window into how 40 years of conflict have torn apart the lives of countless Afghans. The conflict remains one of the deadliest in the world for civilians. In the first six months of this year, 1,282 were killed and 2,176 injured, according to the United Nations. So far, any hope for peace has failed the Afghan people. In February, a U.S.-Taliban pact on the withdrawal of U.S.-led foreign forces in exchange for Taliban security guarantees was followed by an increase in violence. Even as a hero, it is unclear what the future holds for this Afghan teen. But she says she is not afraid. "Whatever is going to happen, I dont fear the Taliban," she said. Here are todays leading news stories: Society -- Vietnam logged four new cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Sunday morning, including two imported cases, one in Ho Chi Minh City, and one in the central province of Quang Ngai. The countrys tally stands at 590, with 373 having made a recovery. -- Tropical storm Sinlaku, the second to hit Vietnam this year, was located about 120km southeast of north-central provinces as of 4:00 am on Sunday and is forecast to make landfall within the next 12 hours, bringing heavy downpours to the region. -- Twenty-three employees of a company in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong have been quarantined after their Japanese director tested positive for the novel coronavirus upon landing in Japan on Saturday. -- As of Saturday afternoon, authorities in Hanoi have conducted quick COVID-19 tests on nearly 50,000 out of 72,725 people returning from central Da Nang City, Vietnams current epicenter. -- Police in the northern province of Quang Ninh on Saturday busted three karaoke parlors for operating and letting their guests use narcotics despite social distancing regulations implemented by provincial authorities. -- Officers in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang are investigating a road accident where a three-year-old girl was fatally hit by a tipper truck while crossing a street on Saturday morning. -- A woman in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue has been fined VND7.5 million (US$321) for posting the travel history of a COVID-19 patient on Facebook when the information was yet to be confirmed by local authorities. Business -- An online forum co-hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam has recently been organized in Ho Chi Minh City to discuss the positive impact of the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). World news -- Nearly 18 million people have been infected with the new coronavirus around the world while more than 687,800 have lost their lives, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Health's statistics. Above 11.3 million patients have recovered. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Amid soaring US-China tensions, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo targetted the Asian superpower on August 2 and said that America is gravely concerned by the situation in Hong Kong. Pompeo not only noted the recent arrests of students in the former British colony but also mentioned Chinas illegal fishing in Ecuador. The relations between both superpowers remain at an all-time low over an array of issues from responding to coronavirus outbreak to Chinas territorial developments. According to Pompeo, China has consistently broken its promise of Hong Kongs freedom by its actions including the barring of anti-government candidates from upcoming legislative elections. We are gravely concerned by the arrests of four students in Hong Kong under the new National Security Law and by the disqualification of pro-democracy electoral candidates. Beijing continues to break its promises and eviscerate Hong Kongs autonomy. Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 2, 2020 Meanwhile, according to reports, Chinese boats are fishing between the protected islands and the Ecuadorian coast leading to endangering of local marine life. US Secretary of State took this also into notice and lashed out on Asian superpower for rule-breaking and willful environmental degradation of the oceans. Pompeo reaffirmed US stance of supporting Ecuador and called on China to halt its movements of unregulated and illegal fishing. Reports have stated that Chinas fishing boats are threatening one of the most vulnerable ecosystems in the Pacific Ocean in the pursuit of aquatic animals, generating waste. It is time for China to stop its unsustainable fishing practices, rule-breaking, and willful environmental degradation of the oceans. We stand with Ecuador and call on Beijing to stop engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) August 2, 2020 Read - Chinas Aggression In Ladakh, Claims For Real Estate In Bhutan Indicative Of Its Intentions: Pompeo Read - Mike Pompeo Says 'tide Is Turning' Against China After 'vigorous Diplomacy' By US Pro-democracy candidates disqualified in Hong Kong Mike Pompeos Twitter post came after at least 12 anti-government candidates in Hong Kong were disqualified from standing in the upcoming legislative elections including Joshua Wong who had acquired the highest vote share in the primaries. Wong, who got more than 30,000 votes in the primary, lashed out on China for showing total disregard to the will of Hong Kong residents by invalidating the candidates wanted by the majority. Calling it the biggest-ever crackdowns on citys election, former leader of the 2014 Umbrella Movement said that Beijing disqualified the pro-democracy candidates by citing their disagreement with the controversial national security law. Earlier this week, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that the elections have been postponed from September 6, 2020, to September 5, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As per reports, the term of the office of the current parliament will expire on September 30. As the date nears, Hong Kongs Chief Executive sent an urgent report to the central government for recommendations and guidance. Read - 'Quad Has Been Reinvigorated': Pompeo Tells US Lawmakers In Big Signal To China Read - US Secretary Of State Pompeo Says Threats To US In Afghanistan Raised With Russia BP is being widely tipped to slash its 6.7billion dividend this week. The FTSE 100-listed oil giant, which is run by Bernard Looney, is scheduled to unveil half-year figures on Tuesday. City analysts said BP could cut or shelve its payout alongside the figures, which have been forecast to show a $6.8billion (5.2billion) loss in the second quarter of this year. City analysts said BP could cut or shelve its payout alongside its half year figures on Tuesday Colin Smith, an analyst at Panmure Gordon, said: 'We now expect BP to cut its dividend... with the second quarter results.' Analysts at Quest, the cash flow specialist division of Canaccord Genuity, have also placed BP on its 'dividend at risk' list. BP generates the largest dividend payments amongst the FTSE 100 blue chip stocks. Both private investors and big City pension funds and institutions would be upset by the cut. Small shareholders in particular rely on companies such as BP for income in retirement especially as bank savings accounts now generate almost zero returns. The potential reduction of BP's dividend comes after Royal Dutch Shell cut its payout for the first time since the Second World War. Shell's dividend was slashed by 66 per cent from $15billion last year to $5billion this year. The move came after the oil price crashed following a massive row between Saudi Arabia and Russia. At one point in April, the oil price in the US fell below zero for the first time in history. Ben van Beurden, Shell's chief executive, said the 'monumental' decision to reset the company's dividend earlier this year was difficult but necessary to preserve the financial resilience of the company against the crisis of 'uncertainty'. BP, though, opted not to cut its dividend, which at the time surprised many City analysts and investors. Analysts expect BP will next week unveil a $6.8billion loss for the second quarter. During the same period last year, it generated a $2.8billion profit. Experts also expect BP to reveal that it will take between $13billion and $17.5billion of non-cash charges following financial blows and exploration write-offs. The latter could total between $8billion and $10billion. Aside from BP, other FTSE 100 dividends could be at risk this week. Diageo, the Johnny Walker to Smirnoff drinks giant, is also scheduled to announce full-year results which may include a cut in its shareholder payout. Royal Dutch Shell cut its payout for the first time since the Second World War The company will come under pressure to reduce the dividend after the closure of pubs and hospitality venues for months due to lockdown hammered its sales. Last year, Diageo handed shareholders 1.6billion in dividends. The total amount of dividends paid out by British firms is expected to halve this year as companies look to preserve cash. Some of the most reliable dividend payers including BT and HSBC have slashed their payouts. Research by investment firm Octopus Investments found many income-focused fund managers have already removed BP from their portfolios over fears for the dividend. The proportion of equity income funds that include BP dived from 61 per cent in January to 43 per cent by the end of May. An HSBC banker concluded that Huawei's business dealings in Iran were "above board" after a meeting with company CFO Meng Wanzhou, whose representations turned out to be "deceitful" and put the bank at risk, a Canadian government lawyer said in court submissions released on Friday. The revelation will be included in evidence to be presented by Canadian lawyers on behalf of the US government that Meng - whose extradition case began in the British Columbia Supreme Court in January - deceived Huawei creditor HSBC. "Everything appears to be above board," the senior HSBC employee said in an email to other high-ranking personnel, who were weighing whether to retain Huawei as a client after reports in 2012 and 2013 that it controlled an Iranian firm that was allegedly violating US sanctions against Iran at the time. "Huawei [has stated that it] complies with all laws and sanctions ... I am pretty much reassured," the banker said, according to the court documents. As well as testimony from former and current Huawei staff in Iran and HSBC employees, the lawyers are relying on claims made by FBI agents who have investigated Huawei's relationship with an Iranian firm that sold US products to an Iranian-government-owned telecommunications equipment maker. The lawyers will argue that HSBC relied on fraudulent assurances by Meng that Huawei had severed its relationship with Iranian supplier Skycom in 2009. US sanctions against Iran prohibit the sale of US products to any government-controlled entity in the country. Those allegedly fraudulent assurances convinced HSBC to retain Huawei as a client at a time when the telecoms giant was depending on the bank to coordinate a US$1.5 billion loan. In a hearing scheduled for August 17, lawyers will call witnesses - including a former Huawei employee in Tehran - who will testify that they were told in 2013, after receiving an employment verification letter on Skycom letterhead that "in Iran, Huawei is Skycom". Story continues They will also call an FBI special agent who will say that HSBC documents and email records demonstrate that Huawei controlled Skycom's bank accounts, even after Huawei sold its stake in the company and Meng vacated her seat on its board. "Ms Meng's deceitful representations to HSBC about Huawei and Skycom thwarted HSBC's efforts to eliminate its risk exposure, putting HSBC's economic interests at risk," Heather Graham, counsel for the attorney general of Canada, said in her submission. Meng is under partial house arrest in Vancouver. Her legal team has used several strategies attempting to convince the court to end the extradition effort, accusing US President Donald Trump of having "poisoned" the case for political purposes and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of complicity in using Meng as a "bargaining chip". Her case is expected to last well into next year, but appeals could extend the process even more. 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. Researchers are testing a fungus known to grow in high radiation environments to see if it could possibly protect humans traveling in space. One fungus being studied survived even thrived in areas around the former Chernobyl nuclear power center in Ukraine. In 1986, a reactor there exploded and caught fire, sending huge amounts of radiation into the air. Chernobyl was the worlds worst nuclear disaster. The accident caused widespread harm to people and other living things in the surrounding area. Several kinds of fungi, however, have continued to experience growth within the highly radioactive environment. Researchers are studying a substance found within some fungi called melanin. It is a pigment that gives skin, hair and eyes their color. Studies have shown that melanin in the cell walls of some fungi can take in radiation and turn it into chemical energy. Recently, a report about one kind of melanin-containing fungus was published on the internet in pre-print form. This means the research has yet to complete a peer review process. The study is a project of scientists from the University of North Carolina and Californias Stanford University. The scientists reported that the fungus, called Cladosporium sphaerospermum, was sent to the International Space Station - ISS - for testing. Earths atmosphere and magnetic shield protect us from extreme radiation found throughout the universe. But the U.S. space agency NASA notes that while the ISS sits within Earths magnetic field, astronauts receive over 10 times the radiation that we receive on Earth. It warns that space travelers spending long periods in places like the moon or Mars will face high levels of harmful radiation. The researchers say the melanin-containing fungus that thrives in Chernobyl could be used to create protective shields for future astronauts. In the report, the researchers said growth of the fungus on the ISS was observed for 30 days. Radiation levels were also measured. During the test period, the measured radiation levels decreased by at least 1.82 percent and potentially up to 5.04 percent, the report said. The researchers said that the experiment demonstrated that the fungus not only adapts to, but thrives on and shields against space radiation. They noted that since the fungus reproduces itself in high-radiation environments, small amounts could be transported to space and then grown in large amounts. Further testing is planned with similar fungi. Last year, researchers from Johns Hopkins University said they had shipped melanin from a similar fungus, called Cryptococcus neoformans, to the ISS. This fungus lives in environments across the world and was found thriving in the area around Chernobyl. One of the researchers on that project is Radames J.B. Cordero, with the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Cordero said in a statement that the goal of the ISS research is to see how melanin from the fungus can protect astronauts and equipment in space. But he added that radiation is also a big concern for health care providers and patients who are exposed to the material during medical treatments. If you have a material that can act as a shield against radiation, it could not only protect people and structures in space, but also have very real benefits for people here on Earth," he said. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from BioRxiv, Johns Hopkins University and the CDC. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Quiz - Scientists Study Chernobyl Fungus as Protection against Space Radiation Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story fungus n. any one of a group of living things (such as molds, mushrooms, or yeasts) that often look like plants but have no flowers and that live on dead or decaying things thrive v. to grow very well pigment n. a substance that gives something color peer adj. someone holding the same position or social standing as other member of a group review n. the process of considering something to decide whether to make changes to it shield n. something used as protection against harmful things potential adj. having the possibility to do something adapt v. to change behavior to fit a new situation expose v. subject to risk from a harmful action or condition benefit n. something that helps you or gives you an advantage By Ko Dong-hwan A popular beauty-related YouTube content creator with a self-deprecating style of humor around her weight, has confessed that she was rejected by a beauty surgeon for "being too fat." Lee Joo-young, who goes by the nickname Holy, from two months ago in a YouTube video on a Korean fitness guru's channel in late July. "I had sought the clinic to do some adjustments here and there" said Lee in the video, gesticulating around her eyes and nose during her conversation with Park Ji-eun, who runs a fitness center in Yeoksam-dong area in Seoul's Gangnam-gu District. "You know what the doctor told me? 'There is nothing I can do for you'," said Lee, followed by laughter from the pair. "But it was instead suggested that I lose weight first." Park, whose social media channels on and under nickname JJ are also in hot demand, sided with the doctor's tip, saying she "also proposes the same tip to her clients because it reveals one's true appearance." "It might not be too late to decide then whether to undergo plastic surgery," Park told Lee. The conversation led to Lee deciding to embark on a fat-burning mission under Park's instructions. Lee, with nearly 600,000 subscribers to , is well known for videos showing her self-transformations with audacious makeup techniques. Her motto, as declared in her past videos, has been "fat people can be pretty, too." In June, Lee and her younger brother, with whom she has another high-profile YouTube channel, signed with Ice Creative, a management company handling influencers on beauty, fashion and lifestyle. Thousands Attend Three Rallies Organized By Belarusian Opposition Presidential Candidate By RFE/RL's Belarus Service August 01, 2020 MINSK -- Belarusian presidential candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya, whose recent campaign events have drawn large crowds, staged three rallies on August 1 ahead of the country's August 9 election. Tsikhanouskaya was appearing on August 1 at rallies in the Belarusian towns of Hrodno, Vaukavysk, and Slonim. Thousands of people were attended the rallies, with aerial footage of the event in Hrodno showing a large crowd gathered near a stage from where she spoke. Tsikhanouskaya announced her candidacy after her husband, vlogger and activist Syarhey Tsikhanouski, was arrested and banned from the election after he had expressed his intention to run for the presidency. "He was detained and thrown into jail. But it just so happens that he had a wife who also wants changes!" Tsikhanouskaya told the cheering crowd in Hrodno. Tsikhanouskaya, a 37-year-old former teacher, has said that all events planned for her campaign would proceed despite a warning from the Belarusian Security Council about the need for additional security measures at public events. The warning came after Belarusian authorities earlier this week detained 33 contractors from the Russian private military group Vagner on allegations that they were trying to destabilize the country ahead of the election. Moscow has rejected the claims, saying the contractors were only transiting through Belarus on their way to Turkey and "a third country." Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office said Kyiv would ask Belarus to hand over 28 of the detainees on charges of fighting alongside Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. At least 63,000 supporters turned out for Tsikhanouskaya's rally in Minsk on July 30, according to the Vyasna human rights center, making it one of the largest opposition rallies in the country since the start of the campaign for the August 9 presidential election. Tsikhanouskaya and several other candidates are running to unseat President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who is facing mounting public opposition after 26 years in power. The campaign has become contentious since the arrest of hundreds of people, including activists and bloggers, as the government has cracked down on rallies and demonstrations supporting opposition candidates. Tsikhanouskaya spoke on July 31 in Lida, promising peace and an increase in pensions. She asked civil servants not to be afraid to express their opinion and not to falsify election results, even if threatened with dismissal. Only about 300 people turned out for the event, but participants told RFE/RL's Belarus Service that rain was a factor and they said more people would have come if the rally had been held more centrally or at a location easy to reach on public transportation. The Investigative Committee of Belarus says Tsikhanouskaya's husband has been charged with "committing actions to incite social hatred and the assault of law enforcement officers." A statement from the committee on June 30 said Tsikhanouski was charged with preparing mass disorder -- along with veteran opposition politician Mikalay Statkevich, who was also jailed in the run-up to the polls, and several unnamed individuals. If convicted, they could be sentenced to eight years in prison. Tsikhanouskaya has rejected the charges against her husband. With reporting by Current Time and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus- presidential-candidate/30760999.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNEASY: US President Donald Trump at a Covid-19 response and storm preparedness conference with Florida governor Ron DeSantis at the Pelican Golf Club in Belleair. Photo: Tom Brenner/Reuters Too late to salvage their electoral prospects, but perhaps not too late to salvage their honour, America's Republicans have remembered what they are supposed to stand for. Donald Trump's suggestion that the November election be postponed was too much for even the most obedient of his Congressional supporters. One after another, they lined up to distance themselves from the US president's outrageous tweet. They took their time. Over the past four years, American conservatives have performed some wrenching contortions. Foreign policy hawks have forgiven the president's closeness to Vladimir Putin. Evangelical Christians have found themselves arguing that it is fine to pay off a porn star and then lie about it provided there is no technical violation of campaign finance rules. Fiscal conservatives went along with a pre-coronavirus deficit of a trillion dollars. Republicans who extolled the importance of character defended one needy, blustering, dishonest pronouncement after another. To some extent, their attitude was transactional. As long as Trump was cutting taxes and regulations and appointing judges who believed in the constitution, conservatives were prepared to overlook his character flaws. There was also, in a few cases, a fear of getting on the wrong side of the party's base in advance of the primaries. In any case, human beings are tribal. Once we pick our side, we exaggerate its virtues and minimise its faults. Not that Trump was interested in qualified support. He wanted to be adored on his own account, and expected Republicans to change their positions when he changed his. He demanded loud flattery from his party - and, to an extraordinary degree, he got it. Until now. The 'big-R' Republican party prides itself on upholding 'small-r' republican virtues: self-reliance, self-control and, not least, self-government. Electing the head of state under rules that stand above party and faction is arguably the supreme republican principle. Whether Trump was seeking to undermine the legitimacy of an election he expects to lose, or whether he simply wanted to shift the conversation away from bad economic news, he was playing with fire. Civil wars happen, not when people can't agree on what to do, but when they can't agree on who constitutes the legitimate government. The American republic has lasted for two-and-a-half centuries - longer than many countries which think of themselves as older - precisely because it has been, in the phrase of John Adams, its second president, "a government of laws, not of men". So why this late parting of ways? Partly because Republican legislators have a sense of decency. Their party has traditionally sought to constrain executive power, and Trump represents precisely the kind of "Caesarism" that the founders warned against - the belief, in other words, that the ends justify the means, and that the ruler is bigger than the rules. Trump's latest idiocy - not even during the world wars did anyone cancel a presidential election - was too much. Perhaps more significantly, they can see a post-Trump GOP coming into view. If, as now seems likely, the Donald is dumped in November, there will be a power struggle between his autocratic admirers and those mainstream Republicans who believe in free trade, low spending and limited government. Those are not easy precepts to extol when, as now, the world is in an authoritarian spasm. But if traditional conservatives miss this chance, they won't get another. The top Democrats in Congress are "not close yet" to reaching a deal with the White House to pump more money into the US economy to ease the coronavirus's heavy toll, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters yesterday, after an essential lifeline for millions of unemployed Americans expired. "This was the longest meeting we had and it was more productive than the other meetings," Schumer said. "There are many issues that are still very much outstanding." Schumer made the remarks after he and US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi concluded a three-hour meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows at the Capitol yesterday. Congress for the past several months has been unable to reach an accord for a next round of economic relief from a pandemic that has killed more than 150,000 Americans and triggered the sharpest economic collapse since the Great Depression. In a meeting on Thursday night between top White House officials and congressional Democratic leaders, negotiations focused on an extension of the $600 (510) per week in federal unemployment benefits, which Americans who lost jobs because of the health crisis have been receiving in addition to state jobless payments. The House in May passed a $3tn deal that addressed a wide range of coronavirus responses, including more money for testing, for elections and support to financially strapped state and local governments. Trump said he will take action immediately to ban TikTok, a popular Chinese-owned video app that has been a source of national security and censorship concerns. Trump's comments came after published reports that the administration is planning to order China's ByteDance to sell TikTok. There were also reports last Friday that software giant Microsoft is in talks to buy the app. Microsoft declined to comment. "As far as TikTok is concerned, we're banning them from the United States," Trump told reporters on Friday on Air Force One as he returned from Florida. Trump said he could use emergency economic powers or an executive order to enforce the action, insisting, "I have that authority." TikTok posted a short video from its US general manager Vanessa Pappas on TikTok and Twitter yesterday, saying that "We're not planning on going anywhere". ByteDance launched TikTok in 2017, then bought Musical.ly, a video service popular with teens in the US and Europe, and combined the two. TikTok's fun, goofy videos and ease of use has made it immensely popular, and US tech giants like Facebook and Snapchat see it as a competitive threat. It has said it has tens of millions of US users and hundreds of millions globally. But its Chinese ownership has raised concerns about the censorship of videos, including those critical of the Chinese government, and the potential for sharing user data with Chinese officials. TikTok has maintained it does not censor videos based on topics sensitive to China. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 21:20:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Legal professionals and organizations in Hong Kong said on Sunday that there is sufficient legal basis to postpone the 2020 Legislative Council (LegCo) election of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for one year, which will better safeguard the health and well-being of Hong Kong residents. Maria Tam Wai-chu, deputy director of the HKSAR Basic Law Committee under the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said that when dozens of countries and regions around the world have postponed elections, the HKSAR government's decision to put off the election aims to create a more stable environment and concentrate on dealing with the COVID-19 outbreak. Tam said the COVID-19 outbreak is severe in Hong Kong which poses a threat to public health. The decision made by the HKSAR government was reasonable and legal and has taken full account of the public interest. Priscilla Leung Mei-fun, chairwoman of the LegCo's Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services, said the decision made by the HKSAR Chief Executive in Council can stand the test of law. Postponing the election cannot be construed as depriving Hong Kong residents of their right to vote, as some people may not be able to return to Hong Kong to vote due to the pandemic and the willingness of older people to vote will also be greatly reduced. Former Secretary for Justice of the HKSAR government Elsie Leung said the postponement of the election is aimed at ensuring public safety, especially when the daily additional cases of COVID-19 have been over 100 for many days. If the election is held as scheduled, a larger outbreak might be resulted. Tong Ka-wah, a member of the HKSAR Executive Council, also a senior counsel, said the LegCo will deal with specific matters at specific times every year, including the policy address and the budget. In order not to disrupt these arrangements, it is better and safer to postpone the election for one year. Chan Hiu-fung, head of Hong Kong and Mainland Legal Profession Association, said there is sufficient legal basis to postpone the election and this is the best plan to protect the health of the public and safeguard the fairness of the election. This also respects the voting rights of hundreds of thousands of residents who cannot return to Hong Kong. The Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said earlier that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will at the earliest possible date decide on how to deal with the vacancy of the LegCo incurred due to the postponement. In response, many legal professionals and organizations pointed out that NPC Standing Committee's decision will have indisputable legitimacy and will make the operation of the LegCo more stable. A statement issued by the Hong Kong Legal Exchange Foundation said that according to Article 158 of the HKSAR Basic Law, the power of interpretation of this Law shall be vested in the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. Therefore, the NPC Standing Committee's decision will have indisputable legal effect, which can avoid unnecessary judicial review and legal proceedings. This is in line with the public interest, Hong Kong's actual situation and international standards, the statement said, urging the public to support the HKSAR government in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, to protect the lives, safety and health of Hong Kong people, and to ensure the steady and sustainable development of "one country, two systems." Priscilla Leung believed that the decision of the NPC Standing Committee will give greater legitimacy and constitutionality to the decisions of the HKSAR government, and would also make the operation of the LegCo more stable in the coming year, so as to better protect the public interest. Enditem Egypt has expressed solidarity with Sudan after a dam in the countrys Blue Nile state collapsed, destroying hundreds of homes. In a statement on Saturday, Egypts foreign ministry stressed its support for Sudan under the fraternal bonds between the nations of the Nile Valley, the historical relations, and the unified fate and path between the two countries. Last Thursday, a dam in the southeastern Sudanese district of Bout collapsed after heavy rain, destroying over 600 houses and flooding others. Local Sudanese media outlets said the dam held five million cubic meters of water used for agriculture and drinking. A local official told AFP on Saturday that residents have successfully evacuated their homes, adding that the exact size of the damage has not yet been determined. Torrential rains are common in Sudan between June and October, leading to significant flooding. Search Keywords: Short link: WASHINGTON, July 31 (Reuters) - A group on Friday filed a new suit against U.S. President Donald Trump demanding he unblock additional Twitter users from viewing his account. Trump lost a prior lawsuit in May 2018 on behalf of other Twitter users and agreed to unblock those accounts. The new suit filed by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University in U.S. District Court in Manhattan is on behalf of five additional individuals who remain blocked. The White House did not immediately comment. (Reporting by David Shepardson Editing by Chris Reese) The United States has the worlds biggest number of cases at 4.6 million, or one-quarter of the total, and 154,361 deaths. Birx said mitigation efforts across the west and the south are beginning to work but warned that people need to take the virus seriously and employ significant safety precautions when cases first begin to tick up. A search for eight service members has been called off and all are presumed dead, after their amphibious assault vehicle sank in deep water off the coast of Southern California. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit tweeted early Sunday that the rescue operation was now a recovery mission, after a 40-hour search that covered 1,000 nautical miles. The seven marines and one sailor have been missing since their amphibious assault vehicle sank in 600-feet deep water near San Clemente Island in Los Angeles County about 5:45pm Thursday. Eight more marines who were on the vessel when it sank were rescued from the water, and one died in hospital. The troops were wearing full combat gear and flotation devices at the time of the disaster. Next of kin were notified, the unit said in the social medial post. The names of the victims have not yet been released by military officials. A search for 8 service members has been called off and all are presumed dead, after their amphibious assault vehicle sank in a deep section off the coast of Southern California. Marines with Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team, are picture during the search The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit tweeted early Sunday that the rescue operation was now a recovery mission after 40 hours of searching. A helicopter is pictured during the search The unit tweeted that seven marines and 1 sailor were presumed lost after their amphibious assault vehicle sank in water 600 feet deep about 5:45pm Thursday 'Keep our 15thMEU families in your thoughts and prayers,' the Marines said on Twitter. 'I know all of us in the USMC family are extremely saddened following the announcement of the end of SAR operations,' added General David H. Berger, 38th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps in comments he tweeted following the announcement. 'This difficult decision was made after all resources were exhausted.' The marines said they conducted an extensive '40-hour' search. More than 1,000 square nautical miles were covered. The submarine support ship HOS 'Dominator' had joined the search Friday. One sailor and 15 Marines were inside the 26-ton military vehicle when it sank into the Pacific Ocean Thursday. The Marines have suspended the use of the amphibious assault vehicles in water while they are inspected. General David H. Berger, 38th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, tweeted it was a 'difficult decision' to call off the search for the missing service members Eight marines were rescued from the water after the vehicle sank. One marine was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla where he died. Two injured marines were taken to San Diego-area hospitals where one is in a critical condition and the other is stable. A marines spokesperson was not immediately available when DailyMail.com reached out for an update. The Marine Expeditionary Force is the Marine Corps' main war fighting organization. There are three such groups which are made up of ground, air and logistics forces. The vehicle took on water at around 5:45pm while 15 Marines and one sailor were inside near San Clemente Island in Los Angeles County. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit is seen during training on Monday Berger said during a press conference at Camp Pendleton that all their AAV's will undergo a review. 'All AAVs across the fleet will be inspected,' said Gen. Berger, USNI News reports. 'This is to ensure out of an abundance of caution that we take the time, give the time to the recovery and find out what actually happened. [AAV] units can continue to train ashore. Well wait until we have a better picture.' Pictured: A U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawk lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD-8) during ongoing search and rescue relief operations Pictured: Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Joseph Rivera, a search and rescue swimmer assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island , looks out of a U.S. Navy MH-60 Seahawk while conducting search and rescue relief operations following The AAV sank while leaving Clemente Island for amphibious warship USS Somerset, and is believed to have dropped down in 600ft of water But it's unclear how long the wait will be because the sheer depth of the AAV's descent into the water complicated matters. Gen. Osterman added that the AAV 'is really below the depth that a diver could do. 'So we are working and we really owe an incredible gratitude and thanks to our Navy and Coast Guard brethren whove helped us in this endeavor. They are actually working with us to provide assets that can basically get down and take a look at the AAV.' Military officials classified the mission as a recovery after an 'extensive' 40 hour search The identities of the service members have not been disclosed, but an official said their ages likely ranged from mid-30s to as young as 18-years-old. A service member perched from a helicopter is pictured during the search Pictured: HOS Dominator, part of the US Navy Military Sealift Command Search and rescue options began immediately after the AAV sank. At the time of the accident, the Marines had been training on San Clemente Island and were returning to the amphibious warship USS Somerset. 'An immediate response was provided by two additional [AAVs] that were with them. as well as a safety boat,'said Osterman. The island, which sits about 78 miles from Camp Pendleton, is managed by the Navy and houses a number of training facilities. The New York Times reports that two nearby amphibious vehicles witnessed the AAV sink and were able to positively identify the exact location. 'The adjacent A.A.V.s watched it go down, and at 26 tons, the assumption is that it went down to the bottom,' said Lt. Osterman. Two nearby AAV's witnessed the accident and were later able to help locate the exact area where the ship sank The Marines have suspended the use of AAV's on Friday and they vehicles were undergo inspections He estimated that oldest service member aboard was in their mid-30s and the youngest was near 18-years-old. 'This mishap is under investigation. We will share the results of it once it is complete,' said Gen. Berger. There are about 800 AAVs in the Marine's inventory and each weighs 26 tons and can carry up to 21 people. In 2017, 15 Marines were injured when a AAV they were training in caught fire at Camp Pendleton. Marines have utilized the vehicles to move troops from water to land since the 1970s. The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit said that they have notified all the families of the Marines and Sailor involved in the tragic accident The Bihar police have meanwhile met Mumbai crime branchs deputy commissioner of police and sought for cooperation Mumbai: Amidst rising animosity between the Mumbai and Bihar police in connection with the Sushant Singh Rajput suicide probe, senior officers of the visiting personnel will be coming to the city to speed up the probe. The Bihar police have meanwhile met Mumbai crime branchs deputy commissioner of police and sought for cooperation. The Bihar police said that they are keeping a watch on Rajputs actor girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty while the probe speeds up in the case. Rajput was found hanging in his suburban Bandra apartment on June 14. The Bihar police has recorded statements of six persons including Rajput's sister, staying at Versova, former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, a cook, his friends and colleagues, till Saturday. They have also collected details of Rajputs bank transaction. She (Chakraborty) is under our watch and a notice under sections of the criminal procedure code (CrPC) has been sent to Chakraborty, asking her to cooperate with the police probe, said a Bihar police officer. The visiting team also met the DCP detection-I of Mumbai crime branch at Andheri. The visit attracted eyeballs as the city police were videographed bundling the Bihar police team in a police van and whisking them off. Later, the city police clarified that this was for their safety and that they were dropped off at a distance. The investigation has turned into a spectacle with the Bihar police filing a criminal case in the suicide that took place in Mumbai and taking over the probe. The lawyer representing Rajputs have also stated that the Mumbai police wasted time in recording statements of so many people, which has not yielded anything. The Bihar police has booked Chakraborty under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 380 (theft), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 306 (abetment of suicide) as per the Indian Penal Code. Scientists and environmental groups have expressed alarm after new data revealed there were 28 percent more fires in Brazil's Amazon rainforest this July compared with the same time last year. Satellite images released by Brazils space research agency INPE on Saturday revealed 6,803 fires in the Amazon last month. There were 5,318 in July 2019. I am super concerned," Erika Berenguer, an Amazon ecologist and a senior research associate at Britain's University of Oxford, told NBC News Sunday. Adding that she was "alarmed by the numbers," Berenguer said that July was the beginning of "burning season" when areas which have been deforested have to be burned to clear the land. "This is an indicator that the rest of the burning season is going to be very intense, she said. Her comments were echoed by Ane Alencar, science director at Brazils Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM). Its a terrible sign, she told the Reuters press agency. We can expect that August will already be a difficult month and September will be worse yet. Image: A tract of Amazon jungle burns as it is cleared by farmers in Rio Pardo (Ricardo Moraes / Reuters) Brazil is home to 60 percent of the Amazon, which is the worlds largest tropical rainforest. After analyzing the data, Greenpeace International concluded that more than 1,000 fires were registered in the Amazon on July 30. It said this was the highest number of hotspots on a single day in July since 2005. NBC News was not able to independently verify this. We cant continue to break such records, the environmental organization said in a tweet. Greenpeace has previously warned that 2020 could be even more devastating for the rainforest and the Indigenous peoples who call it home. And a report released by IPAM last fall found that deforestation and not drought was the primary driver behind the record fires in 2019. However, Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, a climate change skeptic, has urged for more development and economic opportunities in the Amazon region, which is often referred to as the lungs of the planet." Story continues Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics With pressure mounting, Bolsonaros government announced earlier this month that it planned to ban setting fires in the Amazon for 120 days. Greenpeace called the measure insufficient. The organization shared images of what it said were fires burning in the central state of Mato Grosso despite the ban. It said the photos show smoke, flames, and just how ineffective the ban has been. Bolsonaro also sent the military to fight forest fires starting in May. The greatest evidence that both of these measures were not effective is the number of fires seen in July, Berenguer said, adding that IPNE has also released data last week to show that July 2020 was already the second worst July on record for deforestation, behind July 2019. Its clearly not working when we see such high deforestation rates combined with a high number of fires," Berenguer added. Image: An aerial view shows a deforested plot of the Amazon near Porto Velho (Bruno Kelly / Reuters) Researchers at NASA also warned earlier this month that conditions are ripe for an active fire season in the Amazon, saying warmer than average sea surface temperatures in the tropical North Atlantic Ocean so far in 2020 have elevated the risk of fires in the southern Amazon. Warmer surface waters near the equator draw moisture northward and away from the southern Amazon, the space agency said, resulting in the Amazon landscape being dry and flammable. That in turn makes human-set fires used for agriculture and land clearing more prone to growing out of control and spreading, it added. Berenguer said that this could produce a "double whammy" this year with fires able to sustain themselves even in untouched forest. IPAM also warned in June that a deforested area of at least 4,500 square kilometers in the Amazon is ready to burn. This fallen vegetation on the ground can go up in smoke with the dry season that began in June in another season of intense fire like we observed in 2019, it said in a statement. If this happens, the number of hospitalizations for respiratory problems can increase significantly, putting further pressure on the regions healthcare system, which is already severely affected by COVID-19." Brazil has been struggling to contain the epidemic, with the worlds second highest toll of cases and deaths. Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Senior military commanders of India and China are holding a fresh round of talks on Sunday with an aim to ensure expeditious disengagement of troops from all the friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, military sources said. It is the fifth round of corps commander-level talks in nearly two months with an aim to defuse the border tensions triggered by a violent clash between the two militaries in Pangong Tso area in eastern Ladakh on May 5. The meeting was scheduled to start at 11 AM in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control ... New Delhi, Aug 2 : International travellers will be exempted from institutional quarantine on submitting a negative RT-PCR test report on their arrival in India, according to the latest guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. However, "this test should have been conducted within 96 hrs prior to undertaking the journey. The test report should be uploaded on the portal for consideration", the guidelines say. Also, a self-declaration needs to be furnished, vouching for the authenticity of the test report. All others need to give an undertaking on the portal that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days (7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health). All travellers are also required to submit a self-declaration form on the online portal at least 72 hours before the scheduled travel, according to the new guidelines for inbound international passengers. Before boarding a flight to India, not only is downloading Arogya Setu app on their mobile devices mandatory but at the time of boarding, only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after thermal screening. The same set of rules will also apply to those crossing through land borders. During travel, those who have not filled in the self-declaration form on the portal shall fill the same in duplicate in the flight or ship and a copy of it will be given to Health and Immigration officials present at the airport, seaport or landport. "Alternatively, such travellers may submit a self-declaration form on the online portal at arriving airport/seaport/landport as per the directions of the concerned authorities, if such facility is available," reads the new guidelines. While announcements informing about the pandemic need to be made at airports, seaports or landports, precautions such as wearing masks are a must, says the Union Health Ministry. Upon arrival, thermal screening would be carried out in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present. Thereafter, the self-declaration form filled online will need to be shown to the airport health staff. However, the passengers found to be symptomatic during screening will be immediately isolated and taken to a medical facility as per health protocols. Post thermal screening, the passengers who have been exempted from institutional quarantine will need to show this exemption to the respective state counters on their cell phones/other mode before being allowed home quarantine for 14 days. The rest will be taken to "suitable institutional quarantine facilities", which will be arranged by the respective state and UT Governments. These sets of passengers will be kept under institutional quarantine for a minimum period of 7 days and they shall be tested as per the ICMR protocol. "If they are assessed as asymptomatic/pre-symptomatic/very mild cases, they will be allowed home isolation or isolated in the Covid Care Centre (both public & private facilities) as appropriate," says the guideline. But, those having mild/ moderate/severe symptoms will be admitted to dedicated Covid Health facilities. Meanwhile, if found negative, they will be advised to further isolate themselves at home and self-monitor their health for 7 days. "In case any symptoms develop they shall inform the district surveillance officer or the state/national call centre (1075)," it states. A man believed to be in his early 20s has been rushed to hospital after a stabbing in Orpington, Scotland Yard has said. Police were called by the London Ambulance Service to Farnbrough Way in Orpington in southeast London at 7.05pm on Sunday. Officers remain on the scene and await an update on the victim's condition. No arrests have been made yet and enquiries continue. Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting CAD 6880/02AUG or Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111. Kangana Ranaut Takes A Jibe At 'Silly Ex' Hrithik Roshan Wishing Taapsee Pannu On Her Birthday, Says 'Chatukarita Has Many Perks' New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, left, shakes hands with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha during his visit to Seoul in October 2019. Peters urged Korea's former deputy ambassador to New Zealand, surnamed Kim, to return and face investigation for alleged sexual harassment of a local staff member when he was stationed in Wellington. Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo New Zealand is putting pressure on Korea to cooperate in its investigation into a senior Korean diplomat who has been accused of sexually harassing a local staff member while posted in New Zealand in 2017. The country's ranking government officials have called on the diplomat, surnamed Kim, to return to New Zealand and undergo police investigation, which could put him behind bars for years according to the laws there, while he received only a slap on the wrist by Korea's foreign ministry. The pressure is getting heavier following the telephone talks between President Moon Jae-in and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, July 28. It was a very rare occasion for such a topic to be discussed between leaders of countries, showing how seriously the New Zealand side is taking this issue. New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said, Saturday, that the issue is being dealt with on the highest level of the two countries' foreign affairs ministries. "It's over to the Korean government, and for them to allow him to waive the diplomatic immunity and return him to this country," Peters told Newshub Nation, a New Zealand news service. "Now remember this the crime which he is alleged to have committed is a crime in our country; it's not a crime in Korea. But when in Rome, you do what the Romans do. He did it in New Zealand, that's the allegation," Peters said. "If he was innocent as he thought, he could come back and submit himself to our judicial procedures himself. However he does have something called diplomatic immunity, and that's worldwide protection not in cases like this," he said. A thick cloud of black smoke took over the skies of Longuyon on Saturday evening as firefighters responded to a large blaze. Firefighters arrived at the tyre storage facility at around 18:30, where a fire was threatening to spread to another building and the nearby forest. It took more than four hours for the firefighters to declare the incident under control. ITLF ITLF ITLF ITLF ITLF The photos published on this site are subject to copyright and may not be copied, modified, or sold without the prior permission of the owner of the site in question. According to the Meurthe-et-Moselle fire service, around 50 men and women were needed to control the flames. At around 11pm, the fire was under control but not yet fully extinguished, and some firefighters were forced to spend the night at the facility to ensure it did not take hold again. The number of dental fillings during lock down plunged by 140,000 in Northern Ireland, official statistics showed (Andrew Milligan/PA) The number of dental filling procedures during lockdown plunged by 144,000 in Northern Ireland, NHS statistics showed. The official subsidy to maintain the viability of general dental services increased by around 1 million a month over the first month of the pandemic. Total extractions was just more than a quarter of the corresponding period last year, the Department of Health said. Expand Close Appointments were curtailed with routine dental care restricted from the middle of March due to the risk of passing the virus through aerosol generating procedures (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Appointments were curtailed with routine dental care restricted from the middle of March due to the risk of passing the virus through aerosol generating procedures (Liam McBurney/PA) Appointments were curtailed with routine dental care restricted from the middle of March due to the risk of passing the virus through aerosol generating procedures. Urgent care centres have been established in each trust. The report from the Department of Health said: The need to provide financial support to maintain the viability of general dental services means that approximately 1 million in additional net payments are being made to dental practices each month compared with the same period in 2019, in spite of the reduction in activity. Hundreds of thousands of patients will lose access to dental care if better protective equipment is not provided by the NHS, dentists have said. Routine treatment resumed recently, with limited numbers of appointments to allow for regular cleaning of surgeries. Urgent care centres remain open until the end of August. Expand Close Tristen Kelso, Northern Ireland director of the British Dental Association, said dentists were appealing for a rescue package (British Dental Association/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Tristen Kelso, Northern Ireland director of the British Dental Association, said dentists were appealing for a rescue package (British Dental Association/PA) Tristen Kelso, Northern Ireland director of the British Dental Association, said dentists were appealing for a rescue package. He added: It is as stark as it gets here. There is no way health service dentistry can be done without some sort of extra support here. We are waiting to hear if that will be forthcoming. Dentists have urged the Department of Health to cover the cost of purchasing a higher level of personal protective equipment. They believe it is needed during aerosol-generating procedures such as fillings. The Health and Social Care Board has launched a scheme to provide funding to general dental practices for mask fit testing. The minister has also announced that a financial support scheme, which has already provided 16 million in payments to local dentists, will continue for a further month to support the return of non-urgent dental care as the restrictions are lifted. In the interim, the department said it would engage with the profession around the provision of ongoing financial support for the remainder of 2020/21. Baker drowned This morning baker John Phearson left as usual on his morning run to deliver bread to his Emu Plains customers. He served several customers and got as far as the Nepean river bridge. That was the last seen of him alive. His body was subsequently found floating in the river near Bennett's Wharf. A coroners inquest was held and the jury brought in an open verdict. The deceased's eyes had been affected for some time and he was fearful of blindness. Class act Professor Bristols equine class made their first appearance on a sawdust strewn stage at the Criterion Theatre. Denver, the mule, brushed the professors coat, put away his overshoes, rang the bell, brought the mail and gave an exhibition of fishing. Alphonsos specialty was mimicry and laughter while Sultan the handsome piebald excelled at figures. The professor said that his system of horse education was based on kindness and minimal use of the whip. The almighty Waterbury Democrats crowing that their 2020 platform on Israel is a victory for the moderates is disingenuous. The Democrat partys 2020 platform is not pro-Israel. It is pro-Iran. The Democrat partys platform promises to return to the Iran nuclear deal and rejects regime change as the goal of U.S. policy toward Iran. The opening statement of the platform stresses: Democrats will call off the Trump Administrations race to war with Iran and prioritize nuclear diplomacy, de-escalation and regional dialogue. Democrats believe the United States should not impose regime change on other countries and reject that as the goal of U.S policy towards Iran. Translation: Obamas appeasement of Irans nuclear and regional ambitions is back. A nuclear Iran is an existential threat to Israel. The Obama/Biden administration handed $150 billion to the Iranian mullahs, which financed both Irans nuclear program and its financing of global terrorism. This money propped up a regime that had been facing strong internal opposition. Bidens campaign promise to return to the Iran nuclear deal on Day One is memorialized in the Democrats platform. They will undo President Trumps stringent sanctions which are destroying the economic base of the Iranian regime. This one action alone undermines all the Democrats assurances about support for a strong, secure, democratic Israel. A nuclear Iran by definition makes Israel insecure. The platform does not guarantee that Israel will remain a Jewish state. The language in the platform before 2012 made clear that there was no Palestinian right of return to Israel. Removing the explicit language that Palestinians have a right to resettle is creating another existential threat to Israel. The Democrats platform promises to oppose any effort to unfairly single out and delegitimize Israel. Who is going to define unfairly? According to Democrats, BDS is not unfairly singling out Israel; it is protected free speech. The Democrat platforms opposition to settlement expansion will lead to the same endless criticism of Israel that marked the Obama/Biden administration. What is settlement expansion? Is it adding bathrooms to existing structures, as Obama/ Biden insisted? Memorably, Biden threw a temper tantrum when Israeli authorities had the temerity to announce an advance in a stage towards building permits for homes in a Jerusalem neighborhood while Biden was in town. With that outburst, Biden has signaled just how shaky his pledge is to keep Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The platform never reveals its definition of Jerusalems boundaries. And while the document affirms Bidens statements that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and that he would not move the embassy back to Tel Aviv, Biden has also said that he would open a consulate in eastern Jerusalem for the Arab Palestinians. So are the Democrats creating a new entity of East Jerusalem? So much for the denunciation in the Democrats platform of unilateral steps, which apparently only refer to ones taken by Israel. The Democrats party platform, with its firm opposition to Israel extending sovereignty to Jewish communities, also leaves the Palestinian Authority with no incentive to negotiate with Israel. No, with this platform, everything reverts back to the PA simply waiting for the inevitable appeasement by a Democrat administration and pressuring of Israel to make still more concessions just to bring the PA back to the table. While the Democrats platform does not tie U.S. military aid to Israel renouncing its sovereignty in areas byond the 1949 Armistice Lines, Senator Van Hollen (D-MD) led an effort joined by 19 Democrat senators to block U.S. military aid if Israel uses it to annex territory. Well, that sure sounds like the Democrats are gearing up to tie military aid to controlling Israels internal decisions. The Democrats 2020 platform is a return to the Obama policy of appeasement to Irans nuclear ambitions and to Irans plans for regional hegemony. According to former Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Oren, The Biden/Obama administration deliberately damaged the relationship between the United States and Israel. So the Democrats claim that the 2020 Platform reveals that the Progressive wing of the Democratic party was shut down was greatly exaggerated. Carol S. Greenwald is Chairman of Jews ChooseTrump A lobbying firm with close links to the Chinese government has gained access to influential Establishment figures, including George Osborne and Prince Andrew, an investigation by The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Hampton Group, which has its HQ near St Paul's Cathedral in Central London, was founded by a former Chinese government official. It also had a three-year commercial relationship with a PR firm in Beijing whose clients include China Central Television, the state broadcaster accused of pumping out government propaganda, and the 48 Group Club, a group of business and political figures in favour of closer ties with China. Until now, Hampton's work and the web it has spun between Beijing, Westminster and Royal palaces has gone unnoticed. A lobbying firm with close links to the Chinese government has gained access to influential Establishment figures, including George Osborne (left) and Prince Andrew (right) But MPs last night claimed its activities, while legitimate and lawful, provided further evidence of 'subtle and troubling behaviour by China'. Former Tory Minister Tobias Ellwood said: 'What is really concerning is the way China is subtly infiltrating areas of influence. 'We have to be very worried about how the regime is manipulating Britain's important areas of interest using these kind of tactics.' The revelations follow claims in a book called Hidden Hand: Exposing How The Chinese Communist Party Is Reshaping The World that the 48 Group Club has become a networking hub 'through which Beijing grooms Britain's elites'. Hampton was set up in 2005 by Chinese businessman Yang Tengbo, who goes by the more anglicised name of Chris Yang The club insists it is independent and acts purely in the UK's national interest. Hampton was set up in 2005 by Chinese businessman Yang Tengbo. After graduating from the University of Yunnan in 1995, he spent seven years working for the Chinese government, according to a BBC profile, before studying public relations at York University. In 2014, Mr Yang who goes by the more anglicised name of Chris Yang arranged the first UK-China Business Leaders Summit, where he was photographed with then chancellor George Osborne. He is not the only senior Hampton executive with close links to China. Jean Jameson, its senior vice-president, is UK secretary-general for the Chinese arm of Pitch@ Palace, the organisation established by Prince Andrew in 2014. Mr Yang and Alistair Michie, an adviser to the firm and an ex honorary secretary of the 48 Group Club, were pictured with the Prince at a Windsor Castle event. Last night, Hampton said: 'We have never lobbied UK politicians or public figures about China on behalf of the Chinese government.' A spokesman for Prince Andrew declined to comment. Ahmedabad: In a boost to BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation move, the party has captured two municipalities and one taluka panchayat in local bodies polls, the results of which were declared on Tuesday. In the ongoing vote counting, BJP is also ahead on 23 out of 31 other seats of various municipalities, taluka and district panchayats where by-polls were held. Gujarat Nagarpalika poll Results (Updated till 1pm) Vapi (44 seats) BJP - 41 Cong - 3 Surat (28 seats in Kanakpur-Kansad) BJP - 27 Cong - 1 Saurashtra (22 seats in Gondal Taluka Panchayat) BJP - 18 Congress - 4 ALSO READ | BJP wins bypolls in Arunachal Pradesh; 108 voters opt for NOTA As per the final result declared by the Gujarat State Election Commission, BJP has registered victory in Vapi municipality of Valsad district by capturing 41 out of total 44 seats. Only three seats went to Congress in the recently held polls to this local body. Vapi municipality was earlier held by BJP. Similarly, BJP made a near clean sweep in the polls to Kanakpur-Kansad municipality of Surat, where it captured 27 out of 28 seats, leaving only one to Congress. It was also held by BJP earlier. ALSO READ | PM Modi thanks people for BJP's win in Maharashtra bypolls, hails it as pro-poor In Rajkot, BJP snatched Gondal taluka panchayat, which went for mid-term poll, from Congress by winning 18 out of total 22 seats. Congress settled for only four. Earlier, Congress was ruling Gondal taluka panchayat. Apart from these three elections, Gujarat SEC conducted by-elections on 31 seats of various municipalities, taluka panchayats and district panchayts across the state. The bypolls were necessitated as these seats fell vacant due to various reasons. Though final results are yet to be announced, BJP is running ahead on almost 23 seats. The result assumes significance for the BJP in the run up to the state elections next year, and that they were held just after the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes by the Centre. Taking a potshot at Congress over the results, Gujarat BJP's media convener Harshad Patel said the result has once again proved that the entire state is with BJP. "Regular as well as by-polls were held in different parts of Gujarat. Right from Vapi in south Gujarat to Gondal in Saurashtra region, people have chosen BJP over Congress. The opposition party should now understand that people are really unhappy with them," Patel said. Gujarat Congress conceded its defeat and vowed to work hard for the people. "We accept our defeat. BJP must not forget that it was only by-polls on some seats. Congress has always raised issues concerning people like notes ban and we will continue to do so," Gujarat Congress spokesperson Manish Doshi said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. India's telecom sector has been through dizzying peaks, troughs, policy U-turns, court battles, brutal competition, and daily controversies. India could go back to a private sector duopoly with just Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel surviving the mayhem. The third player, Vodafone Idea, could be history. 1994:The government projects the market for mobile phones in New Delhi to be 30,000 subscribers. When Essar builds a network of 100,000 subscribers, everyone is taken aback. In Kolkata, Modi Telstra, which launched the first mobile network, was struggling to get 30 subscribers a day. With a charge of Rs 18 a minute for voice calls and Rs 40,000 for a phone, this luxury was only for the well-heeled. 2020: The government projects the New Delhi subscribers number at 53 million, voice calls are free, and India is the largest user of data in the world. A 4G phone costs Rs 500, the cheapest perhaps anyway in the world. Mobile density soars from 4 per cent in 2001 to over 88 per cent today. It is impossible to over-state the scale and impact of the telecom revolution. At another level, its an industry whose overdependence on regulatory or policy interventions has not changed. Nor has the impact of court orders on disputes. In 1996, it was clear that the two licensees each who were operating in the 23 circles did not have a viable financial business model to survive. The operators collectively spent a staggering Rs 27,000 crore as licence fee. But at least eight of them were accumulating huge losses, with revenues not even matching their annual licence fee outgo. The mobile dream was about to collapse. But the government bailed out operators by migrating them from an annual licence fee to a revenue share model. The duopoly of two players per circle was also changed with state-owned corporations allowed to join in. This migration package happened just two years after the mobile revolution began. All these years later, a court verdict the Supreme Courts judgement last year on telcos having to pay their AGR dues - could change the course of telecom once again. India could go back to a private sector duopoly with just Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel (at one time there were even 12 operators per circle) surviving the mayhem. The third player, Vodafone Idea, could be history. Stung by the payouts it has to make, financially stressed Vodafone Idea told the court that it lost Rs 6 trillion in revenues and as much as Rs 1 trillion of equity has been washed away. Even if the court gave it 15 years to pay Rs 50,000 crore, it will have to double its ARPUs to stay afloat. Thats tough. Looking back, the revenue share model was a game changer: the number of subscribers went up dramatically. Twelve million were added between 1999 to 2002 compared with less than a million between 1995 and 1999. The move was reinforced by the government and Trai through other key decisions. For example, an interconnect regime was put in place to ensure level playing field between private and state-owned telcos, access deficit charges were reduced and later abolished, and forbearance on tariffs was introduced. But the most impactful was the introduction of the calling party pay regime in 2004 which made incoming calls free. Subscriber numbers boomed five-fold between 2004 and 2007, hitting 233 million. Yet in the same period, the government created another crisis by allowing fixed-line operators to offer limited mobility within their circles in 2002. GSM operators felt this was a backdoor entry to Reliance and Tata. The then communications minister Arun Shourie pushed the two sides to arrive at an out-of-court settlement. Still, not everyone was happy. Meanwhile, Reliance's attempt to stir a data revolution in mobile was ahead of its time. Monsoon Hungama offer - mobile phones bundled with data and talk-time for only Rs 501 - was snapped up. The rates weren't sustainable though. Reliance was forced to write off Rs 4,500 crore as losses. Not only Reliance, even the government made mobile affordable to the masses. Then telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran pushed operators to cut roaming charges up to 56 per cent and introduce one-year validity cards. Two more operators were allowed in every circle and the FDI cap was raised from 49 to 74 per cent. Between 2004-05 and 2005-06, FDI inflow jumped from Rs 541 crore to Rs 2,751 crore. Mobile companies were making money and the sector held promise. But in 2008, controversial decisions by then telecom minister A Raja brought the industry to its knees. First, he successfully conducted a 3G auction but limited the spectrum to five MHz an operator (against 20 MHz globally), leading to fierce competition. Operators paid as much as Rs 67,000 crore for limited 3G spectrum. Even the most aggressive of bidders, such as Bharti Airtel and Vodafone, did not have the cash to acquire pan-India 3G spectrum. Telcos ran out of money, service roll outs were slow and 3G tariffs were kept high, restricting the expected data revolution. Raja's second decision was more catastrophic. He changed the rules on licences to a first-come-first-served basis, allegedly to help his friends. He offered four to five new players licences and suddenly there were a dozen odd players in each circle, prompting cut throat competition. Tariffs dropped to 2005 levels. The business looked unviable while customers had a field day. The final nail in the coffin came when the Comptroller and Auditor General alleged that the government had made a notional loss of Rs 1.76 trillion by giving away spectrum at throw-away prices. Raja was imprisoned and the case was subjected to a CBI probe which eventually found little to nail Raja. Taking cognizance of the CAG, the Supreme Court cancelled 122 licences, including those of top global telcos. These companies lost huge sums and global investors questioned Indias investment environment. The storm, however, led to the first consolidation, with nearly five to six operators shutting shop. Cut-throat competition was over, operators could increase realisation per minute, and subscribers were ready to pay for it. The average revenue per user or ARPUs went up from under Rs 100 in Q4 FY13 to Rs 128 in Q1 FY16. The industry Ebidta nearly doubled from Rs 29,500 crore in 2012-13 to an attractive Rs 54,000 crore in 2015-16, on a gross revenue of Rs 2.53 trillion. But there were other worrisome winds of change. It was clear that all spectrum would be auctioned by the government and with the introduction of the UASL licence, spectrum would be de-linked from services so that telcos could use any spectrum for any service. The auctions that followed in 2015 saw a massacre, especially in the 900 MHz band (the licence for this band was expiring for incumbents but it was a popular band for 4G), and prices went up by three to five times. The telcos spent more on spectrum (Rs 1.75 trillion in just two years, 2015 and 2016) than they had spent since launching their services (Rs 1.5 trillion). That was not the only challenge. Mukesh Ambani unleashed a disruptive strategy offering a 4G network across the country while his competitors were far behind. Ambani made voice free, offered data at rock bottom prices, and made the services free for six months, despite complaints by rivals. Companies like Vodafone Idea who were sceptical about the future of 4G, had to change tack. Financial mayhem ensued. Incumbent operators not only had to pay for the huge loans they had taken to finance spectrum costs, they had to invest more to catch up with Jio - and compromise on margins by dropping their tariffs to avoid losing too many customers. The industry debt burden skyrocketed from Rs 2.8 trillion in 2015 to Rs 7.7 trillion in 2018. ARPUs, which had hit an attractive Rs 141 in Q1 FY17, sank to half. Industry Ebidta also fell by half from Rs 54,000 crore in FY 16 to a mere Rs 24,400 crore in FY 19. The Jio onslaught forced the second consolidation. Many operators like Rcom and Aircel went to NCLT. Tata and Telenor sold their assets at throwaway prices. The market pecking order changed. Jio was the number one player in revenue share, ousting Bharti and Vodafone. But Jios relentless push to grab 500 million mobile customers eased and it moved away from a pricing war last December. Tariffs as well as ARPUs slowly moved up. The lockdown has also helped in increasing usage and therefore revenues for all operators. Beyond 2020:The future of telecom will depend on two things: how much time the Supreme Court gives them to pay the AGR dues and whether Vodafone Idea is game. GOSHEN The hot and sunny weather Saturday was perfect for a food truck festival at the Goshen Fairgrounds, held to benefit Brooker Memorial and St. Maron Church in Torrington. The Food Truck Drive-Thru Festival was held Saturday and Sunday, and featured a variety of vendors, including Low and Slow, Johnny Potato, Ultimate Sundae, Debs Cafe, Chicken Shack, Dads Lemonade, Landons Lunch and Dollys Dogs. For those who wanted to stay after receiving their food, tailgating was allowed in the fairgrounds parking lot. Group sizes were limited and social distancing was encouraged. Last week, Brooker Memorials program manager Lisa Ferris said she was expecting between 700 and 800 carloads of people to attend the festival. Earlier this year, the two organizations were scheduled to hold their annual joint fundraiser, a brew festival at Ski Sundown. But COVID-19 complications and executive orders about large gatherings put that event on hold, leaving organizers wondering what they could do to continue to raise money. The brew festivals proceeds are used to support the church and Brooker Memorials programs in the community. This event supported Brooker Memorials pediatric dental center, early learning and child care programs and its occupational, physical and speech therapy programs, and St. Maron Church in Torrington. We postponed the brew fest were not canceling it, but we had to hold off, Ferris said. We came up short with our fundraising goals this year, because of COVID-19. Brooker Memorials child care program, its dental program, and other services we offer (are supported by) fundraising efforts, so it was important for us to come up with an alternative, she said. One of our community members went to a food truck festival in Harwinton, and thought, maybe we could do that too. So we decided we wanted to pursue it. Ferris contacted Frank and Dawn Flood, of Core Event Planning, who have helped organize similar events in the state in recent months. Frank Flood and his wife Dawn have been wonderful, Ferris said. We were fortunate enough to be able to work with them, and they knew exactly what to do. They said theyd be happy to work with us. Theyve been phenomenal, helping us with advertising, using social media, Ferris said before the event. Were expecting a good crowd. In addition to the support from Core Events, about 60 people volunteered to work at the festival. Patrons, who did not pay an admission fee, were given menus at the gate. After they made their selections, volunteers brought the food to their cars. We have a wonderful group of people to support us, Ferris said. President Moon Jae-in announces the Korean New Deal investment initiative at Cheong Wa Dae, July 14. Cheong Wa Dae Press Corps By Nam Hyun-woo The Moon Jae-in government has unveiled a grand initiative, the Korean New Deal, which will "define the next century" of the country's economic growth through huge investments in "green" energy industries. Though the initiative is decorated with fancy words and a rosy outlook on job creation, criticism is rising that it lacks information regarding the country's objectives on reducing carbon emissions and how to achieve them. Experts said the initiative neither impressed environment advocates nor those in the conventional energy industry, as it lacks clear objectives and action plans. They added the policy package indicates the direction in which energy businesses and municipal governments should go, but fails to suggest how far they should go and what awaits at the end. President Moon announced the Korean New Deal policies highlighting big spending on digital and eco-friendly businesses July 14. Among them, he named renewable energy and eco-friendly businesses the "Green New Deal," and pledged to pour 73.4 trillion won ($61.4 billion won) by 2025 into building a renewable energy infrastructure and environmentally conscious firms. In announcing the Green New Deal, the administration has set out a direction for the country's energy industry "pursuing carbon neutrality" and "transforming the economic foundation to emit less carbon and be more eco-friendly." Missing in this was the timetable and level of emissions cutting. In its recent Green Deal, the European Commission announced plans to end net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 and declared that economic growth will be decoupled from resource use. The city of Los Angeles also announced that it will reach carbon neutrality by 2050 and the state of New York set its target of providing carbon-free electricity by 2040 and establishing a net-zero carbon economy by 2050. Unlike these plans, Korea's Green New Deal does not provide a timetable and has vague rhetoric, only saying the country will "pursue" carbon neutrality. As criticism stirred, Environment Minister Cho Myung-rae said "the purpose of the Green New Deal is not confined to emissions cuts," and "the target year and amount for carbon neutrality will be revealed within this year." Lacking specifics Also missing in the plan is how these objectives will be achieved, experts said. The government proclaimed it will pursue net-zero emissions, but failed to suggest the level of emissions cuts, how the country will accomplish these goals and how the government will help companies in so-called sunset industries make a soft landing during this change. "The direction itself can get an optimistic response," Yonsei University economics professor Sung Tae-yoon said. "But concerns remain on the burden on private companies, as the policy does not suggest how they will handle the costs of transforming into renewable energy and eco-friendly businesses." One of the main plans of the Green New Deal is the expansion of offshore wind power farms, with the government pledging to expand the country's total wind power capacity to 12 gigawatts by 2030, almost 100 times higher than the current 124 megawatt capacity. While suggesting this, however, the government did not elaborate on how to soothe ardent opposition from fishermen near target areas, and improve the efficiency of the farms. Fishermen and residents of candidate areas in South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang provinces are already expressing strong opposition to offshore wind farm projects near their towns, worrying about the potential damage to fishing grounds. On July 17, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy announced that it had reached an agreement with residents and fishermen of the southwestern area of South Jeolla Province on establishing a 2.4 gigawatt offshore wind farm, only after the parties involved in the project spent a year handling disputes. Efficiency is also in question. Currently, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction is the only Korean company which has succeeded in generating power from wind, but the efficiency of its generator lags far behind that of foreign rivals. Since 2018, Doosan Heavy has been developing an 8 megawatt wind turbine with a plan to complete it by 2022. However, its rivals, including General Electric, Siemens and Vestas have already commercialized 8 megawatt turbines and are preparing for the commercial use of 12 megawatt turbines. This means Korea has the option of using less efficient turbines or importing global firms' products, neither of which serve the Green New Deal's purpose of seeking economic growth in Korea through eco-friendly businesses. To avoid this, experts said greater support is needed to allow Korean wind turbine makers to ramp up their R&D efforts, but the Green New Deal does not contain plans for this. Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction's wind power turbines / Courtesy of Doosan Heavy India is preparing to bring back around 700 more Sikhs who are have been tortured in Afghanistan. These Sikhs will be brought back in several batches. After the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed, first batch of 11 Sikhs reached India on July 26. The first batch of returnees recieved a warm welcome by the BJP leaders at the airport. The first batch of the Sikh families are living in a gurdwara in Delhi. The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee is looking into the living arrangements for them. BJP National Secretary Sardar RP Singh told IANS on Saturday, "After the first batch, around 700 more Sikhs are willing to come from Afghanistan. The Indian embassy in Afghanistan is in touch with them. We are working out on bringing them back to India. Relatives of most of them live in Tilak Nagar, so there will be no problem in making living arrangements for them." Singh said it was only due to the bold decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Sikh brothers suffering from torture in Afghanistan are been brought back to India. If the CAA was not made, the victims of religious persecution in the neighbouring countries would have not got the citizenship in India. Hes one of the survivors of Australias infected blood scandal, but Greg Ball says it has cost him nearly everything, including his home and a thriving business. Now the 60-year-old is in a fight for his life, after developing cancer linked to the hepatitis C that was passed to him through contaminated blood products used to treat his haemophilia in the 1980s. Greg Ball is one of the surviving victims of Australia's infected blood scandal but is now fighting liver and bowel cancer. Credit:Paul Harris The Brisbane man was due to undergo a lifesaving liver transplant in March when doctors delivered yet another devastating blow: tumours on his liver had spread to his bowel, forcing them to call off the surgery. Mr Ball is making a last ditch bid for compensation for his family and to make the country aware of the plight of thousands of Australians he says were abandoned by their own government after being infected through no fault of their own. Biology student Ma Jingjing wandered the hall of a job fair in central China among other young Chinese hoping to find work in an economy crushed by the coronavirus pandemic. Ma, 26, is one of almost nine million people graduating and entering the job market this year at a time of great uncertainty, an issue that has the ruling Communist Party worried to the point that President Xi Jinping has made it a priority. The world's second-largest economy may have rebounded sharply from a historic virus-induced contraction, but its young graduate jobless rate in June was more than three times that for urban unemployment. Ma was among hundreds of young faces streaming in and out of the job fair on a recent weekend in Zhengzhou, where employers in industries ranging from real estate to manufacturing were recruiting. Like many others, the aspiring teacher is "at a loss" and wondering if she should settle for any job or hold off work for further education. "I have applied to seven or eight private schools, but only one has called me back for an interview," she told AFP at the fair. "I've studied for so many years and don't want my family to pay for further training," she said. "I'm especially worried about my finances." Aware of the risk that mass unemployment can spark political unrest -- jeopardising the party's pledge of prosperity in return for unquestioned political power -- the government has been making efforts to boost graduate employment via state-owned enterprises (SOEs). But poorer opportunities this year are pushing some into further studies, less ideal jobs or other options. - 'Extremely anxious' - Although China's economy appeared to make a strong comeback in the second quarter -- growing 3.2 percent on-year -- analysts caution the rebound may be overestimated, with a gap re-emerging between national figures and higher-frequency data. Louis Kuijs of Oxford Economics told AFP there is no doubt China is recovering, but the magnitude would determine if growth is "strong enough to re-absorb some of the labour market problems" that emerged earlier this year, such as layoffs. A gap in growth of a few percentage points could lead to a difference of millions of jobs created, he added. Although China's urban unemployment rate slipped to 5.7 percent in June, 19.3 percent of new graduates remained jobless, UOB economists said in a report, adding the labour market "continued to face challenges". Top-level economic data has not necessarily meant better hiring on the ground. A 27-year-old surnamed Kang, who graduated in 2017, is back in the market after his contract in the communications industry in Beijing ended. He decided to return to Zhengzhou, but has only received around five callbacks after sending more than 30 resumes to firms -- and is still looking for a job. "The virus outbreak has limited travel and a lot of job fairs have been postponed or cancelled," he said. "I'm extremely anxious." Lu Yifan, 25, said the pandemic had caused many overseas Chinese students like him to return home sooner than planned -- adding to the flood of jobseekers. And Guangdong graduate Zhao Jingying, 22, told AFP: "For us (this year), getting a single job offer is a feat." Another, Beijing-based Huo Ruixi, 23, left university in July but is planning a second round of further education after an unsuccessful five-month job search. - 'Pressures are larger' - The crisis is also causing problems for employers. Yang Changwei, manager at Deyou Real Estate, told AFP at the Zhengzhou fair it was getting harder to hire sales staff based on commission. "It feels like jobseekers' mindsets have shifted," he said. "In sales, you may or may not make deals but with other jobs there can be more stability in income. Because of the epidemic, financial pressures are larger as well." Officials are ramping up efforts to boost graduate employment, and Premier Li Keqiang announced over nine million new roles will be created this year. A State Council guideline in March said smaller firms that recruit graduates with contracts longer than a year will be given a subsidy, while SOEs will "continuously expand" the scale of graduate-hiring this year and next. Henan authorities, for one, said at least half the recruitment positions at SOEs within the province should be reserved for this year's graduates, while Nanjing city in Jiangsu province set aside one billion yuan ($143 million) to provide 100,000 internships for struggling graduates, Xinhua news agency reported. A COFFEE company in San Francisco named Andytown by its west Belfast exile founder has been forced to close by the coronavirus crisis only weeks after it was praised for helping frontline hospital workers tackling the pandemic. The Andytown Coffee Roasters chain set up by ex-musician Michael McCrory shut its cafes late last month (July) after a former employee was tested positive for Covid-19 but there are hopes that as no other workers have shown symptoms of the virus the outlets could re-open soon. Michael's American wife Lauren Crabbe who set up Andytown with him said "If a few days of closure mean that we can be assured that our team and customers are safe then it's a very small price to pay." At the height of the pandemic the award-winning Andytown firm which started roasting its speciality coffee in 2014 was applauded after the owners pioneered a scheme to encourage customers to assist them in supporting what they called the health 'heroes' The clientele made financial donations so that Michael, Lauren and their staff could start delivering coffee and treats to hospital staff who weren't able to take a break away from their punishing schedules. Andytown whose logo is a copy of the Andersonstown Leisure Centre's 'A' symbol has been a massive success expanding to four cafes and one private outlet in a commercial firm. But the lockdown announced by the city's Mayor London Breed on March 16 impacted badly on the Andytown business which had to be scaled back with the shutting down of two cafes. But thanks to the supplying of coffee, pastries, granola bars and juice to hospital staff Michael and Lauren were able to provide a boost not only for the workers but also for their own chances of survival. Expand Close Staff at Zuckerberg hospital San Francisco. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Staff at Zuckerberg hospital San Francisco. "We decided to open up on our website the ability for customers to buy as little as one cup of coffee, to contribute to a large donation for a hospital. That's how it started and people really liked the idea," she said. Within days of launching the initiative, people had handed over $20,000, leaving Michael and Lauren stunned. Donations had soared to $20,000 dollars within days. Lauren's husband Michael who lived at various times in his youth in Lenadoon, Poleglass and Shaw's Road moved to the States in 1997 after studying at the University of Ulster in Coleraine and after working in bars in New York he went to San Diego where he met his future wife in 2008 when they were both employed as baristas in a cafe. "We always wanted to own our place," says Lauren, who studied journalism at university. But not having any loans from the banks, she and Michael launched a crowd-funding appeal to raise the money to open their first cafe. Much of Andytown's offerings were influenced by Michael's background and their espresso blend is named Short Strand, a nod to where his grandmother lived in Belfast. The Andytown mission statement at the outset said a visit to their cafes was 'like a visit to your Irish grandmother's kitchen' and it flagged up its Northern Ireland inspired menu including soda farls, wheaten bread, scones and home-made jams. Its soda bread was voted number 41 in a poll of San Francisco's top 100 foodstuffs. A while back Lauren said Andytown was roasting 1200lbs of coffee per year on its premises and some of its blends and merchandise have recently appeared on the menu of the popular Established coffee shop in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. A SAN Francisco coffee company owned by a man from west Belfast has been forced to close by the coronavirus crisis just weeks after it was praised for helping frontline workers tackling the pandemic. Andytown Coffee Roasters, named after the area where co-founder and former musician Michael McCrory grew up, was forced to shut its cafes last month after a former employee tested positive for Covid-19. With no other workers showing signs of the virus, however, hopes are growing that the company will be able to get back to business in the near future. Michael's American wife Lauren Crabbe, who launched the company with him, said closing was a necessary step. "If a few days of closure mean that we can be assured that our team and customers are safe, it's a very small price to pay," she added. The award-winning firm was applauded at the height of the pandemic after it pioneered a scheme to encourage customers to support medics risking their lives to save people battling coronavirus. Their clientele made financial donations so that Michael, Lauren and their staff could start delivering coffee and treats to brave hospital staff unable to take a break from their punishing schedules. Since launching in 2014, Andytown Coffee Roasters - the logo of which is based on Andersonstown Leisure Centre's 'A' symbol - has gone from strength to strength, expanding to four cafes and a private outlet in a commercial firm. But lockdown, announced by San Francisco mayor London Breed on March 16, hit the business hard, with two cafes having to be shut down and staff hours scaled back. Rather than hunkering down and waiting for the pandemic to pass, Michael and Lauren started supplying coffee, pastries, granola bars and juice to hospital staff. "We decided to open up on our website the ability for customers to buy as little as one cup of coffee to contribute to a large donation for a hospital," she said. "That's how it started and people really liked the idea." Within days of launching the initiative, customers had handed over $20,000, leaving the company founders stunned. Michael, who at various points in his youth lived in Lenadoon, Poleglass and on Shaw's Road, moved to the States in 1997 after studying at the University of Ulster in Coleraine. After working in bars in New York, he went to San Diego, where he met his future wife in 2008 when they were both employed as baristas in a cafe. "We always wanted to own our place," said Lauren, who studied journalism at university. Rather than go down the traditional route of borrowing from a bank, the couple launched a crowd-funding appeal to raise the money to open their first business. Many of the products sold by the company are influenced by Michael's background. Their espresso blend, for example, is named Short Strand, a nod to where his grandmother lived. It also sells soda bread, soda farls, wheaten bread, scones and homemade jams. The company's mission statement says that a trip to one of its cafes should be "like a visit to your Irish grandmother's kitchen". Lauren said on social media that the business roasted a huge 1,200 pounds of coffee each and every year. A number of its blends recently appeared on the menu at the Established coffee shop in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter. Robert Dingwall, professor of sociology at Nottingham Trent University, says there needs to be a 'sense of proportion' with coronavirus A leading sociology professor has today called for calm over Covid-19, as he branded the virus a 'nasty infection' that 'simply brought deaths forward be a few weeks'. Robert Dingwall, professor of sociology at Nottingham Trent University, says there needs to be a 'sense of proportion' over coronavirus. The killer respiratory virus is thought to contributed to the deaths of more than 45,000 people in the UK and 685,000 worldwide. But Professor Dingwall says figures show around 80 per cent of victims in the UK already had life-limiting medical condition. Writing a column in the Daily Express today, he said: 'Covid-19 has been linked to about 50,000 deaths in the first 16 weeks of the UK pandemic - but about 1,000 people normally die every week. 'In the past five weeks, fewer than usual have died. Covid-19 simply bought deaths forward by a few weeks or months.' He added: 'Six months into this pandemic, we have learnt that it will not wipe out human life on this planet. It is a nasty infection and every death represents a person loved by someone. But it is time for a sense of proportion. Coronavirus is thought to contributed to the deaths of more than 45,000 people in the UK and 685,000 worldwide. Pictured: Shoppers wearing face coverings in London 'While some people become seriously ill, and a few die, most shrug it off.' Professor Dingwall, who previously accused the government of 'terrorising' the UK population with its coronavirus message, also took aim at government scientists in his column. Describing them as a 'narrow minded scientific elite', he hit out at the government's lockdown laws, saying they risked 'eradicating' the country's industry, as well as liberty and privacy. Professor Dingwall was one of the scientists who called for the government to change its two metre-social distancing rules earlier this year in a bid to get the economy moving again. In an interview with the Daily Telegraph in May he was also heavily critical about the government's coronavirus message. He said: 'We have this very strong message which has effectively terrorised the population into believing that this is a disease that is going to kill you. And mostly it isn't... '....We have completely lost sight of that in the obsession with deaths.' It comes as it has today been reported that millions of overs 50s could be given orders to stay at home as part of Boris Johnson's 'nuclear plans' to avoid another national lockdown. The Prime Minister was forced to announce a slow down of the lockdown easing on Friday, with planned relaxations for the leisure and beauty sectors delayed after a rise in Covid-19 cases. It comes just days after around 4.5million people in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire were hit with fresh lockdown restrictions last week. It comes as it has today been reported that millions of overs 50s could be given orders to stay at home as part of Boris Johnson's 'nuclear plans' to avoid another national lockdown The PM is thought to have held a 'war game' session with Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday to run through possible options for averting another nationwide lockdown that could put the brakes on a potential economic recovery. Under the proposals, a greater number of people would be asked to take part in the shielding programme, based on their age or particular risk factors that have been identified since March, said the Telegraph. It could even see those aged between 50 and 70 given 'personalised risk ratings', said the Times, in a move that would add to the 2.2 million who were deemed most vulnerable and asked to shield themselves from society during the spring peak. The plans could prove controversial as the factors under which the elderly could be asked to self-isolate might be more heavily influenced by age than clinical vulnerabilities. Also being considered under the proposals is a city-wide lockdown in London which would include restricting travel beyond the M25, as reported by The Sunday Times. Any 'close contact' services, such as going to the hairdresser, would also be stopped if the capital sees a sudden surge in cases. The advice for shielding was only lifted on Saturday for those in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and remains in place until August 16 for those shielding in Wales. By ANI MUMBAI: Evergreen actor Madhuri Dixit Nene on the occasion of Friendship Day started an initiative 'Stay Connected' and asked people to conversate with their friends with whom they haven't spoken to in a long while. "Dost banaana aasaan hota hai,lekin nibhaana utana hee mushkil," noted the 'Kalank' star as she shared a special video on Instagram. In the video Dixit says, "Happy friendship day everyone. You know friendship is a very beautiful and meaningful relationship and it's very easy to be friends but it's equally difficult to maintain. We often lose track of our good friends because of our busy schedules, priorities and even personal differences." Talking about friendship amid the coronavirus pandemic, the actor added, " This year, with the global pandemic, we are all stuck at home... which makes it very important for us to interact with friends and 'Stay Connected. So this friendship day, join me and break the silence." The 'Gulab Gang' actor said to pick up the phone and speak to a friend one hasn't spoken with for long. " Take that first step, and reach out to a friend... because we never know who might be in need of a friend." As the video concludes, Dixit is seen dialling on her phone and urges people to call their friends too. Along with the video, the 'Devdas' actor asked her fans to send in the screenshots of calls and urged them to share their 'Stay Connected' moments,. She noted, "Dost banaana aasaan hota hai,lekin nibhaana utana hee mushkil. This Friendship Day let's #StayConnected and reach out to our friends who we haven't spoken to for a long time and make it count. I would love to see your #StayConnected moments. Upload your pictures & call screenshots tagging me.#HappyFriendshipDay." Earlier in the day, scores of Bollywood celebrities including Anushka Sharma, Paresh Rawal, Kajol among many others also extended Friendship Day wishes to their fans on social media. Tea shops, tea houses, tea bars or tea cafes. Whatever name they go by, spaces specializing in tea are popping up all over Japan and drawing a heavily female clientele, offering beverages with fruity aromas and Instagram-worthy colors. Starbuck's tea-focused shop that opened July 1 at Tokyo's trendy Roppongi Hills shopping center serves drinks like a yuzu, citrus lavender and sage herbal tea that sells for 590 yen ($5.60). While Starbucks Coffee Japan has offered Teavana-branded teas since 2016, this marks the company's first cafe in Japan to specialize in tea. The company will consider adding more Teavana locations as it aims to develop tea into a strong income earner like coffee and Frappuccinos. Nayuki Tea & Bakery, one of China's biggest tea shop chains, launched its first Japanese cafe in Osaka's popular Minami district July 4, drawing fans with offerings such as cocktail-like sparkling grapefruit rosemary tea with fresh fruit and tea leaves from its own farm. Other popular items include baked goods topped with fresh fruit. "We're promoting a new lifestyle culture of combining tea and fruit," an executive at the tea house's Japanese operator said. The company plans to branch out into Tokyo this year and set up 10 to 15 stores by the end of 2021. Hugely popular among 20- and 30-somethings back home, Nayuki expanded its network to about 360 outlets in China in the first five years. China's other top tea chain, Heytea, is apparently also eyeing the Japanese market, according to media reports. Nayuki opened its first Japanese cafe on July 4 in Osaka. (Photo by Keiko Maruyama) Japan was home to 1,300 tea cafes at the end of 2019, more than tripling from three years earlier, according to market research firm Fuji Keizai. While this was far less than the 62,900 coffee shops, the latter decreased by 4%. The tea boom started with the craze around bubble tea, or iconic iced milk teas with tapioca pearls offered by Taiwanese cafe chains. Gong Cha, which launched its first Japanese outlet in 2015, now has 71 locations here and is shooting for 90 by year-end. Major chain Tully's Coffee is set to open a new location highlighting tea, its 10th, in Okayama this September. Nana's Green Tea, which serves drinks based on matcha green tea and roasty hojicha, has grown over roughly two decades to boast 87 locations. The overwhelming majority of patrons at these tea houses are women enamored of fruit-infused, photogenic and fancy drinks. In Soap and Water and Common Sense, Dr Bonnie Henry traces the evolution of common sicknesses and explains how staying healthy boils down to basic hygiene. As the coronavirus intensifies it's grip on the world, the 2009 book Soap and Water and Common Sense: The Definitive Guide to Viruses, Bacteria, Parasites, and Disease by Dr Bonnie Henry becomes a vital read to revisit. An epidemiologist and public-health doctor, Henry has spent over two decades chasing bugs all over the world, from Ebola in Uganda to polio in Pakistan and SARS in Toronto. In this book, she traces the evolution of common sicknesses and explains how staying healthy essentially boils down to basic hygiene. She offers three basic rules for people to avoid getting sick, phrases that have attained an intimate familiarity today: clean your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, and stay at home when you have a fever. In this excerpt, she references Microbes Inc., a global "company" that has evolved over billions of years to rule the planet. Through a lively example, she discusses food-borne illnesses. This excerpt has been published with permission from Juggernaut Books. *** Bear meat bites back was the headline in a Canadian newspaper near the end of September 2005. It had been the trip of a lifetime for 10 hunters from across France who set out for the wilds of northern Quebec, to hunt for bear, and it was a successful one too. The group feasted on barbecued black bear that evening in the lodge. Most had their meat prepared medium or medium rare, despite its gaminess. A few days later two of the hunters took the remains home to France to share with family and friends. Sadly, none of them foresaw the terrible impact this simple act would have only days later. Within two weeks all ten hunters were complaining of symptoms ranging from muscle aches and headaches to high fevers, severe muscle pain, facial swelling, and inflammation of the brain. Several required extended treatment at a Paris hospital. One hunter had shared the delicacy with six relatives in central France, and half of them became ill about a week later. The other hunter shared his prize meat with seven friends soon after returning to his home in southern France, and one of the guests began suffering from the same symptoms. All in all, fourteen of the twenty-three people who feasted on the black-bear meat contracted an illness from a parasite called Trichinella, a common boarder in bears, wild cats (such as cougars), foxes, dogs, wolves, seals, and walruses. Trichinella enters the human intestinal tract, where it releases its progeny into the blood. The larvae then migrate to the muscles, where they can live relatively protected from antibiotics for decades. Trichinellosis, the disease the parasite causes in humans, has been around for centuries, and we have known how to prevent it for almost as long thoroughly cooking meat effectively kills the parasite. This story of international disease spread serves to remind us of the inherent risks in our food supply, and it is a small but potent example of the complexity of our global food economy. Since scientists began tracking food-borne illnesses around the world, it has become painfully clear that nothing is immune to the many divisions of Microbes Inc. Common bacteria that cause food-borne illness include Salmonella and Shigella, which cause serious gastrointestinal illness, often resulting in bloody diarrhea (a sign of the severe inflammation the bug causes in the intestines), and Escherichia coli (E coli), whose many strains can cause everything from mild diarrheal illness to a severe systemic disorder called hemolytic uremic syndrome (hus), which causes bloody diarrhea and kidney damage and can be fatal. In the Virus Division the most common bugs to cause disease through food include the Noroviruses, which bring on a short but explosive illness, symptoms of which include watery diarrhea and vomiting, and hepatitis A, a virus that affects the liver and can cause prolonged illness that may be passed on to others through contaminated food and water. In addition, several parasites have invaded our food and water systems, including Cyclospora and Trichinella, the bug that so affected the French hunters. Finally, some bacteria have the ability to produce potent toxins in humans. They go by names such as Clostridium perfringens, which causes the short but nasty illness that is often referred to as food poisoning. Food is a fundamental human need, and much of our existence is spent in one way or another searching for sustenance. Since the beginning of time we have been locked in an intricate dance with the divisions of Microbes Inc to find food that provides us with the nutrition we need without giving the bad bugs direct entry into our systems, where they can make us sick. With the globalisation of our food supply and the complexity of our food production systems, it has become increasingly difficult to achieve and maintain this delicate balance. The 75-year-old Japanese director of Hokkaido Lotus Farm Investment JSC has been working in Lac Duong District for the past two years. He traveled to HCMC on July 17 to meet several partners and friends in Districts 1, 2 and 4, among others, before flying to Lam Dong's Da Lat on July 19, according to the Lam Dong Center for Disease Control (CDC). On July 31, he flew from Da Lat to HCMC and then to Tokyo. He tested positive for the novel coronavirus at the Narita International Airport and was quarantined. He is expected to be tested again five days later. Upon receiving the news, the Lam Dong CDC visited the company to take samples from the employees, said Nguyen Duc Thuan, director of the Lam Dong Department of Health. "Lac Duong District has quarantined 23 employees, but since the director's itinerary was very complex, we're still trying to trace back anyone who has been in close contact with im," Thuan said. As of Sunday, Lam Dong had not confirmed any Covid-19 case. Vietnam has recorded 590 cases so far, with five deaths and 212 active cases. More than 94,000 people are in quarantine. On Tuesday, July 28, the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing featuring Attorney General William Barr. C-SPAN posted the video of the hearing at YouTube, and it lasts for four hours and fifty minutes. Despite the length of the hearing, the transcript shows that there were 25 instances of our representatives uttering reclaiming my time. Seems that at this hearing the Dems didnt want to hear what Mr. Barr had to say. In any event, at the 2:12:38 point in the hearing (also below), New York Democrat Rep. Hakeem Jeffries had this exchange with A.G. Barr: JEFFRIES: Thank you, Mr. Barr. That is inaccurate. Thats a myth. Thats a lie. [Barr attempts to speak.] Reclaiming my time. In April, President Trump irresponsibly suggested that the American people inject them selves with bleach. Was that superb? Yes or no? BARR: Thats not what I heard. JEFFRIES: Thats exactly what he said. Thats what the American people heard. And you know it. And you cant defend it. Lets move on to May. But thats not exactly what President Trump said, not even close. Its Jeffries who is lying. Even so, Jeffries wouldnt allow Barr to enlighten him and the American people on what was actually said in April. You see, Jeffries was reclaiming his time. Voters in New Yorks 8th congressional district ought to reclaim their House seat and give it to someone who doesnt continually embarrass them. If Jeffries had repeated exactly what the president had said, wouldnt he have quoted him? But he couldnt quote the president because Trump never said anything remotely like what Jeffries said he said. Instead, Jeffries uses the weasel word suggested. In fact, if one Googles or Bings Trump disinfectant, one will see that suggested is also part of the rhetoric the media uses to perpetuate the lie that our president thought folks should inject themselves with bleach. Actually, the word bleach was never used by Trump at the April 23 briefing in which disinfectants were discussed. Bleach was used twice by DHS Acting Undersecretary Bill Bryan: Weve tested bleach, weve tested isopropyl alcohol on the virus, specifically in saliva or in respiratory fluids. And I can tell you that bleach will kill the virus in five minutes. The only other use of bleach was in a question from the press pool: the President mentioned the idea of cleaners, like bleach and isopropyl alcohol you mentioned. Theres no scenario that that could be injected into a person, is there? Sec. Bryan answered: No, Im here to talk about the findings that we had in the study. And then Pres. Trump immediately interjected: It wouldnt be through injection. The only other time during the briefing that the president used the word injection was in a question: And then 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? On May 1, Laura Ingraham had a segment on her nightly Fox News show that looked at the ongoing research on disinfectants. I reported on Lauras report in a May 5 blog. The blog ended with quotes from failed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who continued the lie about bleach. But contrary to Ms. Abrams, the word Clorox was never used at the briefing, nor was Lysol. Whats really worth reading in that short blog on May 5 is the last block quote, which nicely encapsulates the approach that researchers are taking at Pulmotect, Inc. Its quite different from the vaccine approach, as it involves triggering the innate immune system, rather than the adaptive immune system, as with vaccines. It sounds far more sophisticated than vaccines. As Trump said at the April briefing, Maybe it works, maybe it doesnt work. Pulmotects method, as I understand it, is to get the body itself to produce its own disinfectants. If Rep. Jeffries were an honest politician, he or one of his aides would have prepared for Barrs hearing by reading up on the latest research. But this isnt about possible cures for the Wuhan virus; its about the mendacity virus, the pandemic of lying sweeping through the House of Representatives. Decent Americans who witnessed the dishonest antics of the Democrats at the Barr hearing this last week should be ashamed if they voted for any of those bozos. On July 28, the day of the hearing, former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy wrote, Some days, it just feels like were doomed. The Democrats are simply unfit for office. Jon N. Hall of ULTRACON OPINION is a programmer from Kansas City. Two years ago, a dozen or so Adirondack homeowners prepared to sue the state of New York for polluting their drinking water. They had evidence that road salt dumped by the state Department of Transportation was flowing into their wells, making their water unsafe to drink and reducing their property values. Their lawsuit never got off the ground. In New York, residents who want to take the state to court often have just 90 days to file a lawsuit. At least some of the afflicted homeowners had learned of their problems years earlier. Even for homeowners with still undrinkable water, New Yorks strict time limits make it nearly impossible to challenge the state in court, the Adirondack Explorer found. Such rigid filing deadlines undermined the residents case and have insulated the state in other cases where the DOT has said it is likely polluting water supplies with road salt. Carina Moore moved into a home along State Route 86 in Gabriels eight years ago. From the first taste of the homes water, she knew something was wrong. Even though her family had tested the well for bacteria before buying, they hadnt tasted water from the tap or checked for sodium and chloride, the two chemicals that make up salt. Later tests ordered by the state found four times more chloride than federal rules recommend for drinking water. Moores family doesnt drink the water. Their cat and dog dont drink the water. The two kids have dry skin that constantly itches. Everything you take for granted in a normal, first world country, we dont have now, Moore said. A rallying cry She and other homeowners began talking with Bill Owens, an attorney and former congressman from Plattsburgh. He knew the residents could be in for a long and expensive fight if they wanted to prove the state DOT wrong in court. New York, he told the group in summer 2018, will use all of its resources to try to wear them down. Despite that, the planned lawsuit got media attention and became a rallying cry for Adirondack activists as a first-of-its-kind challenge to road salt pollution. But a legal tradition known as sovereign immunityoriginating in England and often summarized as the king can do no wrongsurvived the American Revolution. It still shields federal, state and local governments from many citizen lawsuits. Under political pressure, government officials have opened themselves up to some lawsuits over the last century, but with all kinds of caveats and restrictions. In New York, residents can sue the state for almost anything, thanks to a system created to compensate property owners for damage caused by construction of the Erie Canal. But the state put two big conditions in place, allowing it to maintain home field advantage in court. Every citizen lawsuit against the state is routed through a special court of claims. People have tight time frames to make a claim. In high doses, salt endangers human health by raising blood pressure, which leads to heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease. The chemical properties of salt that help it fight off snow and ice also ruin cars, appliances and plumbing. Much of that damage is gradual, taking years instead of months to show itself. Its hard to know how much damage road salt may be causing to drinking water supplies. One rough estimate, by the team of Virginia Tech researchers who helped uncover the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, found nearly a half-million New Yorkers drink from wells that could be contaminated by salt, though researchers admitted their guess was on the high end. More exacting research by the Adirondack Watershed Institute at Paul Smiths College has tested hundreds of wells in the Adirondacks and found more than half of the wells downhill from state roads had elevated salt levels. So far, the state hasnt had to quantify the damage or pay for widespread cleanup, despite knowing about salts environmental and health dangers for decades. Evidence piles up Owens had already tangled with the state once on behalf of a North Country community. Salt had appeared in water wells around a storage shed uphill from the village of Dannemora. The state first learned of the problem in 1997. Tests had shown about 20 homes with salty wells by the time the state spent millions of dollars to run a water line to the community. That one was really accomplished by political pressure, Owens said. Going to court against the state is a different matter. The legal time limits, which also apply to claims against local governments including town and village highway departments, have repeatedly flummoxed property owners who allege their water is contaminated with road salt. When homeowners have found salt in their tap water, any delayeven hoping to get the governments help instead of going to courtcan be fatal to their court case. Judges have taken a hard line in road salt cases, the Explorers review of rulings found. A group of dozens of residents with contaminated water in the southern New York town of Greenville repeatedly struggled with the 90-day window. When residents first filed their claims against the state in November 2002, a judge limited the states liability to any damage that happened after August 200290 days earlier. The groupwhich started out with more than 100 people but dropped to 42 as the case dragged on for 15 yearssaid DOT and the state Thruway Authority caused the problems in Greenville, knew about them since the 1990s, made promises to do something and never followed through. In 2017, White Plains-based claims Judge Stephen Mignano finally ruled on those allegations. He found it reasonable for the state to apply road salt even if it pollutes drinking water. Then, he added, even if the Greenville residents could prove the state had acted unreasonably, the state still would prevail because the residents hadnt filed their claim within 90 days of discovering salt in their wells sometime in the mid-1990s. Every day counts The ruling showed the state has other arguments against road salt casesnamely, that allegations of water pollution shouldnt get in the way of its duty to protect the driving public. The state DOT says on its website that it responds to road winter conditions in tandem with local municipalities and other state agencies. "The Snow and Ice Program continues to promote progressive snow and ice operations while striving to safely provide as much mobility as economically possible while ensuring that environmental considerations are taken into account." But the 2017 ruling also showed how the state usually wins with the help of a timing technicality. In an appeal of Mignanos ruling, an attorney for the residents argued that strict deadlines dont make sense because the state is applying more road salt each winter, causing new damage each time. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Every day can count, as George Potanovic, an environmental activist, learned. He remembers when people used to bring bottles to fill up on the delicious well water at his house in Stony Point, a town along the Hudson River. Then, in September 1994, following a harsh winter where lots of road salt was used, he received a letter from Rockland County saying it had found elevated levels of salt in his water. That November, he received a second letter with new test results that showed the salt levels were even higher and the water was totally unsafe to drink, rendering his home effectively worthless. He ended up on the phone with Robert Kennedy Jr., the prominent environmental attorney. Kennedy warned Potanovic that he would have to act fast to sue Rockland County, which took care of the nearby roads and is protected by the same filing deadlines as the state. Potanovic filed a claim against the county in January 1995, 41 days after he got the November letter. It was already too late. Judges ruled the 90-day clock started ticking when Potanovic received the first letter, not the second. Potanovic argued that only the second letter revealed the real damage. I acted as quickly as any human being could have acted, he said. I was even more knowledgeable than the average person. Precedent set Now, judges and other government attorneys have cited that case as precedent to dismiss other road salt claims. In a 2018 court filing, the state attorney generals office cited the Potanovic case and Judge Mignanos ruling against the Greenville families to get another road salt case thrown out. In that case, the Sweeney family, with a farm just southwest of the Adirondack Park, notified the state that it intended to sue the DOT in February 2004. A few days earlier a state official had admitted in a letter that the state had polluted the farm with road salt. But in 2006 an attorney for the Sweeneyswho would eventually have his law license suspended for other reasonsmissed a second filing deadline by five days. An assistant state attorney general, G. Lawrence Dillon, successfully argued that that was a fatal blow to the Sweeneys claim. Road salt lawsuits arent the only cases subject to tight time limits. The 90-day filing deadline also applies to simpler accident cases involving state vehicles and property. The limit has a purpose, to keep the state from being blindsided by claims about supposed wrongs that happened years ago. The state, by contrast, seems to have no deadline for dealing with road salt contamination. As far back as 1971, the state DOT has known that it can pollute water supplies by improperly stockpiling road salt out in the open. After years of attention on the problem, the state now keeps salt in sheds and the state is paying to help town and village highway departments cover their salt piles. Meanwhile New York has guidelines for how much salt it should apply to roadways, but no system for detecting where salt may be accumulating to a dangerous degree. Pushing for change Last year, as some Adirondack activists tried to get lawmakers to act on road salt, they discussed changing the rules for property owners harmed by the states winter road maintenance. One idea was to extend the deadline for people to file claims. Others included setting up a victim compensation fund. The head of DOT, Marie Therese Dominguez, already has the power to pay to drill new wells for residents, but the law doesnt require her to act and the state DOT has declined to say how often she does. Those concrete steps didnt make it into legislation sponsored by Sen. Betty Little, R-Queensbury, and Assemblyman Billy Jones, D-Plattsburgh. Their proposal, which both chambers recently approved, would instead create a road salt task force to study the issues, including some ways to give relief to property owners who can prove theyve been harmed by road salt. Task forces are a way to get everyone on the same page, Adirondack Council lobbyist Kevin Chlad said. An earlier task force on invasive species, for instance, eventually helped lead to boat-washing stations to prevent their spread to new lakes. This story was first published by the Adirondack Explorer online. 02.08.2020 LISTEN The third verse of the Wailers' Get Up, Stand Up hit song records the legendary Peter Tosh giving this revolutionary moral stance, as: "we're sick and tired of your ism and schism game. Die and go to heaven in Jesus' name, Lord. We know and we understand, Almighty God is a living man. You can fool some people sometimes, but you can't fool all the people all the time. So now we see the light, what you gonna do? We're going to stand up for our right". The Jamaican reggae icon of African descent said this decades ago, and as it's said in my native Goka, 'the tongues of the prophets of old never rot', his words are still relevant in our lives today as it was at the time he said it. The ills of today's religiosity even makes the words of the martyr needing much review and adaptation than to them whose ears drank it afresh then. Here in Ghana, watching TV3 Morning Show on Friday, thirty-first July, 2020, bespoke of the Muslims Eid celebration, there were these two panelists that came to stoke the ravaging flames of the ism and schism Peter Tosh laid down his precious life to stymie mankind into labouring its queasy and mortifying muddy path. They were western educated man and woman drawn from the Christian and the Islamic faiths respectively. The host, Berla Mundi, enquired from them if a Christian can marry a Muslim, and a vice versa. Using verses upon verses from their adopted religious books, they all came to conclusion that, "it's a hell impossible for such two opposing faiths to intermarry". After suffering my ears to listening to them, I concluded that: "these are the axis of folly of religiosity who have caused for our continuous marking of time in our progressive march as Africans". Who a good God would encourage divisiveness than unity for purpose? Are these guys different from the radical austere fanatic religious adherents in northern Nigeria, Boko Haram, the Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda, and the Al-Shabab militants in Somalia? If yes, for the reason being that the Ghanaians who preach the despicable isms and schisms are not up in arms to promote their divisiveness agenda, readers should be reminded that all insurgents, including the founding father of Boko Haram, Muhammad Yussif, started as innocuous preacher who sought to place morality above indulgence and self gratification. But in the end, it's ammunition we see them use to forward their jihadism agendum. Is Ghana ready for that nonsense? Let's think and act fast. If marriage, as now the adherents of the New World Order explains it, is the union between two consenting adults, and here in Ghana we mean a man and a woman union, why should two lovers be crossed by pedestrian caveats as: "imagine you don't eat pork and that's your husband's delicacy? For this reason you can't intermarry on religious grounds". Foolishness at its highest peak, unapologetically. Is the worshipping of a God, undergirded by love for mankind replaced with glamorising foodie and self gratification? Did the Christ of the Bible preach a love of food ahead of the agape love for a fellow mankind created in the image of God? Or did the Islam Muhammad say to inhabitants of Mecca and Madina to choose whom they would love in likeness of the food they would eat? Thanks be to God, and the still living souls of our forebears in some of our African leaders today who are counted amongst the ones "you can't fool all the time", they're few good examples to look up to. The ones who don't see a fellow mankind as lesser than a God, but a God living in a man walking with men. The vice president of Ghana, Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia, is a Muslim, but he's accepted the marriage to be the political consort, a second man to president Akuffo Addo, a Christian. In Nigeria, we see a Muslim, Muhamadu Buhari, having his vice president from the Christian denomination. Last year, the head of the Islamic community in Ghana, the chief Imam, Dr. Nuhu Sharaboutu, congregated with the Catholic church, he is wise, the folly of religiosity is not blinding his knowledge of the ideal path of unity for progress. But amongst his circle, the axis of religious follies spoke in the media, as it's in the lizard that spoils its nice looking white faeces with black at the end, to take shine out of the international commendation the centenarian chief imam got worldwide for sharing a religious space with the Christians. They, with myopic understanding of the religious books they read, spoke against the noble moves of the Chief Imam, claiming it's a sacrilege to the Islamic faith for such a leader to mingle with Christians. He the Chief Imam, as it's in Dr. Bawumia and other few people in Ghana and Africa have seen the light. And they stand up for their rights. The rights which is not stolen by follies of religiosity that seeks to break than to mend, that kills than grow, that drains than fill, and that which calls the so called "unbeliever" an anathema and contemptible than drawing parity for cohabitation. If those leaders have had intermarriages in their faiths, and are leading their countries, is it not only an unteachable foolish religious conservatives that would promote divisiveness when the world now more needs unity for development? Another angle is seen in the same denominations who preach divisiveness amongst themselves, being they of Christian or Muslim. Seemingly, evangelicals and orthodoxes are at odds in the Christan faith. The Sunni and the Shiites see themselves as opposing faiths in the Islamic religion. Another nonsense. You follow it in the news today. A priestess, "commanded by her God", caused for the lynching of a ninety year old woman in Kafaba, northern Ghana. Her crime, "she's a witch who thwarts the progress of the youths". The many youths who are only after quick money but frowns on training and hardworking that enriches the serious minds. In the central region, the birth place of Ghana's education, where we thought people would act with their heads, there's a report of a woman who following the commandment of her pastor had beaten to pulp his thirteen year old son whom the so called pastor accused of being a witch, the cause of woes for the foolish mother. If there was to be more space to fill the foolishness religiosity is fomenting in Africa, the reader would be more angrier than I am now. Let's make do with these few, and arm ourselves knowledgeably to combat these religious nonsense. You can't fool people all the time. The follies of religiosity should be buried today, it has no place in our forward march to the promised land. From whence came the Bible and the Qur'an, they're not fighting religious wars as we the recipients here are fooling ourselves with here in Africa. Our common enemies are illiteracy, hunger, poverty, exploitation and hopelessness for the teeming youths. Religion should help stemming these ills, not complicating it. *Written by: Charles Yeboah (Sir Lord)* *The Founder Of One Ghana Movement (#1GhM)* *Contact/WhatsApp: +233249542111* *Email: [email protected]* The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) has postponed the trading of renewable energy certificates (REC) scheduled on July 29, by four weeks. In an order issued on July 24, APTEL postponed the RECs trading session scheduled on July 29, 2020 by four weeks in three separate appeals filed by Green Energy Association, IWPA (Indian Wind Power Association) and Techno Electric and Engineering Company Ltd against the CERC order issued on fixing REC floor and forbearance price. "Trading of RECs scheduled on July 29, 2020 shall be postponed by four weeks. It is made clear that if validity for any REC is going to be expired within four weeks, as stated above, the same shall be extended by the concerned authority," the APTEL order said. There was no trading of RECs or green certificates in July. REC trading is done at two power exchanges -- Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange of India Ltd (PXIL) -- on last Wednesday of every month. Under the renewable purchase obligation (RPO), bulk purchasers like discoms, open access consumers and capacitive users are required to buy certain proportion of RECs. They can buy RECs from renewable energy producers to meet RPO norms. One REC is created when one megawatt hour of electricity is generated from an eligible renewable energy source. "The recent CERC order on correction of the floor and forbearance prices of RECs is aligned with the price discovery through the RE (renewable energy) auctions from time to time. We feel this move is in line with times when RE prices have come down," Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, Director - Strategy and Regulatory, Indian Energy Exchange told PTI. He further said, this will encourage buyers to come to REC market to meet RPO. "On petition filed by few RE associations, APTEL has stayed the REC trading for 4 weeks, and we could not facilitate REC trading on July 29. We are of the view that REC trade sessions should not have been halted as it prevents needy Discoms and OA (open access) customers to meet their statutory requirement of RPO," he said. According to a CERC order in June, the floor price of solar and non-solar RECs have been reduced to zero from Rs 1,000 earlier. Similarly the forbearance (ceiling) price of solar and non-solar was reduced to Rs 1,000 for both from Rs 2,400 and Rs 3,000 respectively. The forbearance price and floor price fixed by the CERC are effective from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 or until further orders of the Commission. In June, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain Green Energy Association (GEA) appeal on stopping REC price revision by the CERC. Industry experts think that the higher REC prices put additional burden on consumers in power tariff. Sales of renewable energy certificates declined over 29 per cent to 89.27 lakh units in 2019-20, compared to 1.26 crore units in 2018-19. The banks included: Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank); Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank); Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV); Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank); and Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB). The official letter noted that Vietnam has reported many Covid-19 cases in the community in recent days, mainly in Da Nang. Therefore, the demand for Covid-19 diagnostic tests among the local residents and tourists staying there is very high. In the spirit of joining hands to prevent and control the pandemic, the SBV mobilised the above banks to donate VND25 billion (VND5 billion each) for Da Nang to buy biological products for COVID-19 testing. The banks will proactively contact the Da Nang City Peoples Committee and the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement and report their results to the SBV. * Facing the situation of the Covid-19 outbreak, the Hai Phong City Peoples Committee issued a document to ask the citizens not to go out if not necessary and wear face masks as well as to not allow a crowd of more than 30 people at public places. The local people were also advised to restrict to discos, bars, karaoke venues, gyms and places with high risk of Covid-19 infection. Hong Kong police seeking 6 fugitives, to uphold national security Global Times By Zhang Han and Zhao Yusha Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/1 14:54:44 Hong Kong police are seeking secessionist Nathan Law Kwun-chung and five others for promoting independence of Hong Kong and colluding with foreign forces, signaling the government's determination to punish people who jeopardize the national security, Chinese observers said Saturday. Former UK consulate staffer, Simon Cheng Man-kit, who was previously detained for soliciting prostitutes, and Samuel Chu of the Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC), a Washington-based secessionist organization, are also on the wanted list. Observers noted the police are performing their duties under the national security law for Hong Kong, and demonstrates the law's authority and China's determination to punish secessionists and perpetrators who violate the law. The police notice is the first issued against people who have fled Hong Kong. Fan Peng, a member of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong & Macao Studies, told the Global Times the move sends a clear signal to perpetrators of the national security law that they will be subject to legal punishment, no matter their whereabouts, identity and other conditions. And, the authority could hold clear evidence that those people committed crimes against the law after it was enacted, as the law is not retroactive. Chu, now a US citizen, said that "If I am targeted, any American and any citizen of any nation who speaks for Hong Kong can, and will be, too." Fan noted Chu's use of his US citizenship to undermine the law's authority by setting the law against US citizens in general. It actually highlights the law's power and scope, as anyone, of any nationalities, is destined to receive the punishment if they violate national security legislation for Hong Kong. Law and Cheng, and two other wanted secessionists Ray Wong Toi-yeung and Lau Hong, are reportedly in the UK. The whereabouts of Chu and Wayne Chan Ka-kui is not clear but Chan was previously reported to be in Amsterdam. While the UK has severed its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, China is seeking them under the current framework of domestic and international laws and agreements. Zhi Zhenfeng, a legal expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times Saturday that the suspects can take a breather in countries like the UK that intentionally shielded suspects for political purposes, but their ability to disturb Hong Kong society has been largely diminished. The suspects can no longer stir trouble in Hong Kong, Zhi said, noting when situation changes and countries renew their extradition treaties, the secessionists will have no place to hide. The Hong Kong police department is a member of the Interpol, and countries that shield the suspects are showing no regard the Interpol framework and will face pressure from it, Zhi said. Canada, Australia, the UK, New Zealand and Germany have suspended their extradition treaties with Hong Kong. US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on Hong Kong, including ending the city's special status and tearing up its extradition treaty. Analysts also noted although these countries' original intention might have been to shield violators from the national security law for Hong Kong, a lack of an extradition treaty will encourage other outlaws to flee to these countries, including robbers and murderers. As for secessionists still in Hong Kong, including Joshua Wong Chi-fung, Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and Tai Yiu-ting, Fan said they are safe for now as the law is not retroactive. But they should not think they have dodged a bullet for good, as they continue to play fire after the law was enacted and they face the same fate as Nathan Law and others if they are found to have crossed boundaries of the law, Fan warned, citing Benny Tai's open pledge to opposition candidates in the "primaries" to paralyze the HKSAR government, and Lai and Wong's collusion with US authorities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Universities in the UK will ban parties and overnight stays for students from September as part of their strict social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic. Students who live in households, or 'bubbles', will no longer be allowed to mix with their peers from other households and could face 'disciplinary action' if they breach the public health measures The new move comes just a month after the University of Buckingham's Sir Anthony Seldon described Covid-19 as the 'biggest crisis that the university sector has faced' and 'the biggest crisis ever in the history of universities'. As hundreds of students gear up for the highly-anticipated freshers week, this week the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol announced that 'unacceptable behaviour' could lead to students being issued with fines. Students will being barred from attending parties and having overnight guests from the start next academic year. (Stock image) A spokesperson for the university told The Sunday Times: 'Given the seriousness of the threat posed by Covid-19, we are committed to taking disciplinary action against any student found to be in breach of the rules, or behaving in ways that [are not] mindful of our university and city communities. Unacceptable behaviour may lead to fines being issued.' Meanwhile the University of East Anglia confirmed it too had taken the decision to ban 'overnight guests' from outside the student household as the crisis continued to grapple the nation. Students at University College London and Cambridge have also been banned from having parties or inviting people to stay overnight. Following the announcements, Nick Hillman, director of the think tank, the Higher Education Policy Institute, said the move would pose a challenge for students looking to meet new people but universities were doing the 'right thing'. He told The Sunday Times 'This will clearly make having close student friendships and intimate relationships difficult. 'Universities are doing the right thing [but] I do hope it will be temporary. Certainly the experience of freshers' week will be very different.' This week, Oxford University made it compulsory for students to wear a face covering in any shared indoor space, including the students' union and any libraries, unless they had a medical exemption. Students who live in households, or 'bubbles', will no longer be allowed to mix with their peers from other households. (Stock image) In a statement the university said: 'Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all staff and students is paramount, which is why we will bring in a range of measures to protect you when you are in University and College buildings. 'Face coverings will be required during in-person teaching and in indoor shared spaces with exceptions being made for those students and staff with health conditions which mean they can't wear them.' The university will also install Perspex screens in labs, and have a special 'seat-finder' app to secure distanced spots in libraries. They will also be installing two private testing for students and staff- one in central Oxford and the other in Headington. In June, the University of Cambridge confirmed all 'face-to-face lectures' would be moved online during the 2020-21 academic year to ensure social distancing can continue amid the pandemic. In June, the University of Buckingham's Sir Anthony Seldon described Covid-19 as the 'biggest crisis that the university sector has faced' A number of universities across the UK are also planning to offer a blended learning approach - with a mix of online lessons and face-to-face teaching - when they reopen campuses to students in the autumn. Earlier this year, the University of Buckingham's Sir Anthony Seldon described Covid-19 as the 'biggest crisis that the university sector has faced'. The Vice Chancellor told the i paper that the crisis has led to an 'unprecedented disruption to the pattern of university life' and a drop in international students. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- One person was injured Sunday morning after being stabbed in a residential section of Port Richmond, authorities said. The incident drew an emergency response just after 9:30 a.m. to an address on Homestead Avenue, though it wasnt immediately clear if the apparent assault took place indoors or on the street. The victim was transported in serious condition to Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, an FDNY spokesman said Sunday. Police were searching the area for at least one suspect, according to emergency radio transmissions. This is a breaking news story. More information will be provided as it becomes available. Vietnams logistics market has great opportunities to improve as the EVFTA has been inked and the country is receiving investment inflow from Europe. Aeon in recent years has become a channel through which Vietnams farm produce penetrates the Japanese market. However, Shiotani Yuichiro, CEO of Aeon Vietnam, said Vietnams mangoes are not selling well in Japan because they are 20 percent more expensive than Thailands and the Philippines, though the quality is high. The higher logistics fee in Vietnam is one of the factors driving up costs for Vietnams mangoes. This is also why the expenditure on logistics services by Vietnams textile and garment companies is 6 percent higher than in Thailand and 7 percent more than in China. EU investors High logistics costs not only weaken the competitiveness of Vietnams goods, but also hinder businesses to penetrate new markets. With EVFTA, Vietnams logistics market now has the opportunity for renovation. This will encourage EU investors to provide logistics and goods transportation services in Vietnam, including shipping firms, cargo/container handling, storage and warehousing services. A report showed that 15 percent of businesses said their revenue has decreased by 50 percent, while 50 percent of businesses saw the number of logistics services decreasing by 10-30 percent. Many companies have had to cut their workforce, and they still need a lot of money to maintain operations. Nguyen Canh Cuong, Trade Counsellor to the UK, commented that this will serve as a great opportunity for Vietnams logistics firms to call for capital from multi-national corporations and modern big fleets. According to VLA, the logistics industry in Vietnam has been witnessing a high growth rate of 14-16 percent in recent years, worth $40-42 billion a year. Around 3,000 domestic firms and 25 leading freight and forwarding groups in the world are operating in Vietnam. The logistics market has value equal to 21-25 percent of GDP. However, 80 percent of the market share is in foreign hands. About 30 firms providing transnational logistics services are operational in Vietnam, including big names such as DHL, FedEx, Maersk Logistics, APL Logistics, CJ Logistics and KMTC Logistics. M&A wave With EVFTA, which serves as the leverage, analysts believe that M&A activities will be more bustling in the time to come. Many big deals worth millions of dollars, were made in 2019. Symphony International Holdings (Singapore) bought into ITL Corp in a deal worth $42.6 million. SSJ Consulting spent $40 million to acquire 10 percent of voting Gemadept shres. CRE, a Japanese large group, through its subsidiary CRE Asia, invested $6.2 million in Sembcorp Infra Services (SIS). According to Vietnam Logistics Association (VLA), logistics firms are bearing big impact from Covid-19. A report showed that 15 percent of businesses said their revenue has decreased by 50 percent, while 50 percent of businesses saw the number of logistics services decreasing by 10-30 percent. Many companies have had to cut their workforce, and they still need a lot of money to maintain operations. Kim Chi Investing in automation to help VN logistics firms compete As the pandemic brings opportunities to the e-commerce sector, the local logistics industry also has a chance to grow. Many in the West now agree that the Xi regime is a menace. But few will accept Pompeos thesis that Chinas integration into the global economy should be regretted, much less reversed. This is rhetoric designed to win over red-state Republicans in an election year, not audiences in Europe or key Asian states, such as Communist Vietnam. No wonder German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and even Indian leader Narendra Modi have carefully distanced themselves from the Trumpians new Cold War. Merkel has resisted U.S. pressure to boycott Chinese telecommunications champion Huawei; Abe declined to join the U.S. denunciation of Xis crackdown on Hong Kong. Modi responded to the border clash by upgrading military relations with . . . Australia. The woman and her son Ndubueze Melody, a Nigerian woman, has taken to her social media handle to celebrate her son, Amazing, who she welcomed when she was six months pregnant with him. Sharing photos of his amazing transformation despite being born prematurely, Melody, chronicled Amazings journey from birth, his time in the incubator, and his growing up up til today as he turns three. The excited mum wrote: HBD SON We named u Amazing Nikechukwu Evra bcos of the mystery sorrounded with ur birth. So u horriedly came out frm d womb a day to ur 7th month.yes u heard me right(approximately last day of ur 6thmonth) bcos u wouldnt wait to make my whole word to be summed up to 3 letter words-mum. Oxygen and every other equiments where set to aid ur survival as u where so tender and immature to survive and u where quickly transferred to the baby unit it became a big shock. The unit seems like a space-age control room very hot, with lots of flashing lights, beeping monitors and other mystifying pieces of equipment. Among all these are the incubators. My tiny baby was at the centre of a tangle of tubes, surrounded by equipment inside the incubator(i and ur daddy where separated 4rm u and can only see u through the glass of the room window.. (this was to avoid him contracting infection 4rm outside the world) oh how sad it feels only to be apart 4rm ur long awaited miracle. My tears, my sadness, my heart jumping out of my chest for months it was so distressful but God, hubby,my pastor and members,my parents, siblings, in-laws, and very few bossom frnds where they althru and made me hv hope again. my Son inside the incubator was looking quite different to what i had imagined. (Newborn babies never look like the bouncing bundles that you see in the nappy adverts, but a baby born prematurely will be at an earlier stage of development, and so may look quite different to what you might expected) he had a very red skin,his eyes hasnt sprought out yet, very trace noise and undeveloped mouth, so he fed(from extracted breast milk 4rm my breast through a tube fixed 4rm his mouth down to his stomach for 3months consecutively, wit 2 times blood tansfusions and lots of injections through the canular monuted on his forehead for mounths and God saw us through an we came out miraculously. Today is my Sons 3 yrs and i and ur daddy , aunties and uncles are giving all we hv to u Sonand pray u wil live a fulfilled life of sweetness. Ur word of prays wil impact in his life positively. Hbd our miraculous son.. Experts arent sure what the future of hugs, handshakes, and high-fives, but one thing is certain: Its going to get awkward before it gets better. Read more David Sylvester has given hugs and high-fives to more than half a million people in 42 countries since starting his Big Dave Hugs the World project in 2001, but the West Philly resident hasnt embraced anyone since March 16. Its been rough, said Sylvester, 55, a personal trainer at the Union League of Philadelphia. This has been the longest Ive gone without hugging somebody in my life. The hug withdrawal is so real for Edie Weinstein, 61, of Bucks County, whos been offering hugs to strangers since 2014 with her Hug Mobsters, that one night she dreamed people discovered a way to hug each other back-to-back. I dont know when its going to be safe to go out and hug deprived people out there, but whenever it happens, watch out, because theres a lot of people who need hugs, said Weinstein, a therapist and licensed social worker. Experts and on-the-ground greeters like Sylvester and Weinstein arent sure what the future of hugs, handshakes, and high-fives will be in a post-coronavirus world, but one thing is certain: Its going to get awkward before it gets better. I think its going to be like a high school dance. Everyone is nervous about getting on the dance floor, said Sylvester. Our nonverbal greetings usually answer three questions, according to Tricia Jones, communications professor at Temple Universitys Klein College of Media and Communication: Are you a threat? Who am I to you? And what kind of relationship are we in? The greetings most of us rely on so much and frankly, that COVID is getting in the way of are those greetings that, with one gesture, answer Who am I to you?' in terms of dominance and intimacy, she said. READ MORE: The impact of COVID-19 on our future vanity? Well-being will trump how we look. At the same time, these greetings stimulate pressure receptors that calm the nervous system, decrease stress hormones, and save immune cells, said Tiffany Field, founder and director of the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine. Its ironic that were here in a viral pandemic and one of the things that works at killing our viral cells is moving the skin, she said. A survey Field conducted in April found 60% of people are feeling touch-deprived as a result of the pandemic. READ MORE: Well still share dessert, and all the other ways we wont change our restaurant behavior after COVID-19 Given that the United States is a pretty low-contact culture, greetings are one of the only ways we get physical contact outside our romantic partnerships, said Katie Dunleavy, associate professor of communications at La Salle University. Physical touch is really, really important, but we dont get it enough, she said. Even before the coronavirus, our society was becoming more vigilant about not touching, Dunleavy said, amid increasing concerns raised by the Me Too movement and child advocates. I think its like a lot of things with the coronavirus. Its like, Wait, this is changing, but is it necessary to go back? she said. Alternative nonverbal gestures from bowing to the peace sign have been proposed, but nothings stuck yet. Field said she likes the elbow and ankle bumps, which allow for increased eye contact, which she believes is critical when greeting people. READ MORE: What will sex, dating, and marriage look like on the other side of the pandemic? David Matsumoto, a psychology professor at San Francisco State University who founded the schools Culture and Emotion research lab as well as Humintell, a nonverbal behavior research and training company, believes our greetings are so entrenched in us they will return. I do believe the strength of that need based on human nature is stronger than the fear of a pandemic, he said. Humans will not let this overwhelm the need for connection. What Matsumoto does see evolving are our conventions about greetings. For instance, traditionally, if someone offers you a palm for a handshake, its rude to decline. That may change. READ MORE: Could COVID-19 inspire the faithful? Scholars predict spirituality surge in our future. Theres more individual respect about people who have different feelings about that, he said. That will mean we have to get better at other kinds of communication, Jones said. If you show hesitancy to shake someones hand, how skilled are you at knowing how to explain to that person whats going on? she said. Weinstein and Sylvester arent worried about those awkward moments (theyve been asking strangers to hug them for years). They just cant wait until they can hug again. Ill figure out a way to get it done. I havent done this for 19 years with a half a million people because this doesnt mean anything, Sylvester said. It means something and its important. Fans of the hit series Vikings were recently treated to an epic at-home panel for the show. On Friday, July 24, 2020, a few of the main characters, as well as the creator, Michael Hirst, took part in a panel called Vikings: A Look Back with the Lothbroks for San Diego Comic-Con@Home 2020. Clive Standen, who plays Rollo, participated alongside Travis Fimmel, who played Ragnar Lothbrok, Katheryn Winnick, who played Lagertha, Alexander Ludwig, who plays Bjorn Ironside, and Jordan Patrick Smith, who plays Ubbe. Clive Standen talks about Rollos relationship with his brother, Ragnar Lothbrok Clive Standen | Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for SCAD aTVfest 2020 Rollo has had his fair share of problems with his brother Ragnar over the years. Theyve always had a fierce rivalry, and its evident from the very beginning. During the panel, Standen was asked by the moderator about his views on Rollo and if he can defend any choices hes made. Well, I think its always justified from Rollos point of view, Standen revealed. When they first agree to go west together, they agree to be equal. In Rollos eyes, when they come back it seems like some people are more equal than others. It seems like once Ragnar becomes the earl, and takes over from Earl Haraldson, I think from Rollos point of view, I mean he even says it in the script, How can we ever be equal now brother? I think thats the start of it. I think its that, gnaws away at him from the very beginning, but he never feels quite equal. He always feels in the shadow. When Rollo makes his choice, it changes his life, as well as his brothers life, forever RELATED: Vikings: The Real Reason Rollo Reacted in Shocking Ways Towards Ragnar Lothbroks Sons Rollo has always had this rivalry with his brother, and when he has the opportunity to make a name for himself to challenge even his brothers legacy, he leaps at the chance. After the Vikings raid Paris for the first time, Ragnar is too weak from being wounded to decide who will stay in the winter camp. Rollo volunteers, and when the majority of the warriors sail away, Rollo makes a deal with the Emperor to marry his daughter, Princess Gisla (Morgane Polanski). He agrees to fight against his own people, and in exchange, he is given wealth, title, and a new comfortable life. Rollo betrays Ragnar in the worst way with this bold step. It changes everything for Ragnar going forward. So I mean Paris, he stays there in the winter camp, but it wasnt Ragnars. He betrayed him, but I mean he just took Paris first, Standen continued. It was his first time where he was able to do something before Ragnar could get there first. Rollos life is never the same again, and neither is Ragnars. On Ragnars second attempt to raid Paris, Rollo helps stop the Vikings from their attack. The brothers even go head to head against one another. However, neither of them is the victor in that fight. The Vikings are kept out of Paris, and Ragnar eventually leaves in disgrace. He soon abandons his people and disappears for a number of years. Rollo has no idea how his ultimate choice to betray his brother changes Ragnars life forever in the process. Rollo felt justified in his actions, and he ruined his relationship with his brother forever. Kylie Jenner looked incredible, as she graced the cover of Vogue Hong Kong's Action Issue in a plunging maroon gown. As the 22-year-old cosmetics mogul modeled a revealing Yves Saint Laurent latex frock, she shot her best smoldering gaze at the camera and flaunted her signature plump pout. While posing on a grey chair, the raven-haired beauty drew attention to her racy thigh-high slit by resting both hands on her lap. Cover girl: Kylie Jenner looked incredible, as she graced the cover of Vogue Hong Kong 's Action Issue in a plunging maroon gown Jenner's eye-catching number also featured a perilously low neckline, which allowed her to showcase plenty of cleavage and decolletage. 'Vogue babyyy,' the reality star gushed in her Instagram caption on Saturday evening. 'Thank you @voguehongkong for this cover.' In a second picture, which she posted on Sunday, the Kylie Cosmetics founder places one hand on her trim waist and flashes her perfectly polished white nails. Stunner: In a second picture, which she posted on Sunday, the Kylie Cosmetics founder places one hand on her trim waist and flashes her perfectly polished white nails While maintaining a coy expression, her right eye is hidden behind her wavy hair, as the shot gives a closer look to Jenner's flawlessly applied makeup and the chunky gold chain around her neck. Her natural-looking complexion was highlighted with a heavy swipe of blush and an all-out glowy makeup look. In footage from the shoot, Jenner also slipped into a black and navy halter gown with side cut-outs, which she accessorized with a pair of elbow-length leather gloves. Leggy display: In footage from the shoot, Jenner also slipped into a black and navy gown, which she accessorized with a pair of elbow-length leather gloves Gorgeous: For her second look, Jenner's hair was pulled back and she donned a pair of gold hoops As she flashes her toned legs in the sizzling high-low number, Jenner could be seen leaning forward in her chair and subtly changing poses. For her second look, Jenner's hair was pulled back and she donned a pair of large gold hoops. Additionally, the magazine also posted the cover photo of Jenner to their own social media accounts, praising the mother-of-one for her successful makeup company and charitable acts. Makeup mogul: Her natural-looking complexion was highlighted with a heavy swipe of blush and an all-out glowy makeup look Posing: As she flashes her toned legs in the sizzling high-low number, Jenner could be seen leaning forward in her chair and subtly changing poses 'At the age of just 22, her beauty brand #KylieCosmetics has achieved far-reaching success, and she is also active in charitable causes including funding surgeries for children with cleft lips and palate through Smile Train,' the official Vogue Hong Kong wrote on Instagram. The account continued: 'Styled in #YSL's 2020 AW collection, Kylie embodies strength and determination.' 'Check out our exclusive interview and photoshoot with #KylieJenner in the August issue, available at convenience stores, bookazine and newsstands on August 3,' the publication concluded. Her older sister, Kim Kardashian, gushed in the comment section that her cover was 'just stunning!' Despite garnering more than five million likes on her post, she was met by criticism by a large number of followers, who inquired what the star had actually done to philanthropically contribute to the majority of the world. The criticism comes as Hong Kong delayed its highly-anticipated legislative elections by a year, due to the worsening coronavirus outbreak. 'At the age of just 22, her beauty brand #KylieCosmetics has achieved far-reaching success, and she is also active in charitable causes including funding surgeries for children with cleft lips and palate through Smile Train,' the official Vogue Honk Kong wrote on Instagram (seen in February) This marks her second international Vogue cover within three months, following Jenner and her two-year-old daughter's appearance on Vogue Czechoslovakia's 24th edition in June. Jenner and Stormi, who she shares with ex Travis Scott, posed for the fashion bible, while quarantined at her $36.5 million home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. Vogue CS revealed the duo posed for the magazine via a Zoom call with the Morelli Brothers snapping the images. Cover stars: Kylie Jenner and daughter Stormi grace the cover of Vogue Czechoslovakia this month. They were photographed via a Zoom call by the Morelli Brothers In the iconic images, Kylie can be seen sporting a fresh makeup look with rosy red lips and the blonde streaks running through her hair. Additionally, she gently cradles Stormi's head as the tot rests her forehead against the reality star's cheek. Kylie revealed on Instagram that the image was shot on her iphone: 'new cover with my baby for @vogueczechoslovakia shot at home on my iphone @morellibrothers #VogueCS.' First time: On Instagram, the Life Of Kylie star wrote, 'VOGUE was once just a wild dream! Thank you @vogueaustralia for this cover!' Co-parenting pros: Kylie, 22, shares Stormi with on-off boyfriend Travis Scott Vogue CS shared the cover on their Instagram account with more details of the shoot: '#OnceUponATime, Princess #KylieJenner was born into the most-watched family in the world. Their joint Vogue cover was not Stormi's first magazine cover, as she previously appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar Arabia in July/August 2019. Jenner landed her first Vogue cover at 21 on the September issue of Vogue Australia. Open book: The beauty, who was interviewed by her supermodel sister Kendall Jenner, noted, 'I used to live each day as it came, and now I look at the future more In the interview, she gushed about her mini-me and called the honor a 'wild dream.' The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star also spoke about motherhood, saying: 'I dont think my life has changed since becoming a mom: I think the way I look at life has changed since becoming a mum. I think more of the future.' Kylie, who was interviewed by her supermodel sister Kendall Jenner, noted, 'I used to live each day as it came, and now I look at the future more. Effortlessly glam: Happy: 'I actually feel like I love myself more after I had Stormi. And Im trying to be ... I mean, Im already a positive person, but just having fun, being positive,' she gushed to Vogue Australia (seen in 2020) 'I actually feel like I love myself more after I had Stormi. And Im trying to be ... I mean, Im already a positive person, but just having fun, being positive.' Then Kendall said, 'Yeah, I can feel that. I feel youre a lot nicer to me, now that you have a kid.' Kylie agreed. Now she has a happier outlook on life. 'I feel like having a daughter, and thinking about beauty in the future, has definitely changed me, and I feel like it has made me love myself more and accept everything about me,' said the siren. Some weeks ago, I asked for your feedback on the thorny question of how to approach racial descriptors like white and black. The Associated Press, which pretty much sets the standard for style books in the media, decided this summer to capitalize Black when describing African Americans. But at the same time, they offered no guidance as to whether to capitalize White when describing, well, white people. Your responses showed that our readers are just as conflicted on this question as we are in the newsroom. If you are using the words black and white as nouns, it seems to me that you should capitalize them; if as adjectives, then dont capitalize them, one reader wrote. I agree that capitalizing White seems off, even jarring, another wrote, pointing to a column by venerable California politician Willie Brown calling for an end to African American and the use of Black instead. In this context Black would certainly be capitalized. If black is capitalized for any other reason it seems trivial, even biased. As to your concern that capitalization validates the notion of Whites being a distinct group, they are, another reader wrote. They just arent a minority and our society is built upon White privilege (ok, thats an adjective but it refers to the group.) I have been noticing lately the capitalization of the word black as you described. I did not know that the Associated Press had recommended it. I viewed it as a welcome sign of respect, one wrote. I vote for a lower case white. I vote for the traditional non-capitalized spelling for those terms, said another. But if there must be Black, then I suppose there must also be White - innuendoes in either case notwithstanding. Some objected to the very question. Whether capitalized or non-capitalized it seems to me very divisive to even use skin color as an adjective, wrote one reader. For example, no journalist today would ever think of using the term yellow or red to describe other ethnic groups by their skin color even though those adjectives were used in the distant past. And so I came out just about where I had started totally conflicted. Now the AP has finally made a ruling on the question. They will continue to capitalize Black and will not capitalize white. The AP said white people in general have much less shared history and culture, and dont have the experience of being discriminated against because of skin color, the wire service said in explaining the decision. Meanwhile, the National Association of Black Journalists and respected thinkers such as Kwame Anthony Appiah, have recommended capitalizing White. No longer should white people be allowed the comfort of this racial invisibility; they should have to see themselves as raced. Being racialized makes white people squirm, so lets racialize them with that capital W, wrote Nell Irvin Painter, author of The History of White People, in a recent column for The Washington Post. In the end, I have decided not to worry too much about it anymore. On the news pages, well follow the Associated Press guidance on capitalizing Black and not white, but I am going to tell our copy editor not to spend too much time correcting it if someone does it a different way. And on the Opinion page, well let authors do it whatever way they prefer. I figure that 2020 is already a chaotic mess, so why not go with the flow and let chaos reign in the style book. Watch Now: What happens to California cities when jobs go remote? You can reach Sean Scully at 256-2246 or sscully@napanews.com. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHAMBISHI, Zambia, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese firm, Chambishi Copper Smelter (CCS), has embarked on the construction of a drainage to improve the movement of wastewater in Zambia's Kalulushi district to help restrict on the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Xu Laixiang, the CCS deputy general manager, said the 350,000 Kwacha (about 20,000 U.S. dollars) project which was being funded through the firm's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) was aimed at improving the diversion and movement of the wastewater in the area. Xu said for a long time, the lack of a drainage system in the area has led to the terrain succumbing to the adverse effects of heavy rains as well as increasing risks on the outbreak of water-borne diseases. "Soil erosion has been the result of extreme weather conditions, as much of the soil in the makeshift drainage has been washed away, creating a deep trench during the rainy season and posing a danger of possible death by drowning and diseases," he said. Xu said people in the area have been raising concerns over the poor drainage system as its proximity to residential households does not only pose a threat to the children in the area but patrons of the nearby night clubs as well. He said CCS management is very passionate about its CSR program and this particular project is a reaffirmation of that passion and commitment. He said added that the company has spent millions of dollars on CSR projects since 2006 and will continue to support the Zambian government and the local people through improved service delivery. The Chati ward councillor John Shalubala said the project once completed will positively change the face of the area as well as preserve lives through improved wastewater movement. Shalubala said the project is timely as it has come before the onset of the rainy season and that people in the area were very grateful to the Chinese enterprise. "On behalf of Kalulushi residents, I want to thank CCS for always being available for the district, every time people have challenges, this Chinese company always comes in to help improve the living standards of the people in the mining district," he said. New Delhi: The Congress on Sunday stepped in to check a war of words between seniors who served as ministers in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and young leaders considered close to former party chief Rahul Gandhi, cautioning both sides against playing Twitter-Twitter. Both sides were told to air their views only on organisational platforms and not on social media. The partys media department head Randeep Singh Surjewala was asked by the top leadership to rush to Delhi from a trip to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan and address a news conference to ask the warring leaders to refrain from escalating the matter, a Congress leader said on condition of anonymity. Rahul Gandhi has been upset by media reports suggesting a deep divide within the party between the seniors and young leaders and unwarranted criticism of the UPA government, the leader said. Rahul Gandhi does not appreciate people making an issue out of a non-issue. He wanted an immediate end to this so-called old versus young divide debate and the Twitter war over UPAs performance and subsequently Surjewala rushed to Delhi, the leader added. Surjewala and party colleague Ajay Maken had been camping in Rajasthan for the past three weeks to deal with a crisis faced by the Ashok Gehlot government following a rebellion by former deputy chief minister and state Congress president Sachin Pilot and 18 other legislators. I will advise friends who are playing Twitter-Twitter to stop making comments on social media. We have internal democracy and you should present your views at the appropriate party platforms, Surjewala said, addressing a news conference at the party headquarters in Delhi. The advisory to stop open mud-slinging in the social media came a day after four former ministers Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor and Milind Deora -- came out to defend the ten-year tenure of Manmohan Singh as PM and the UPA government following critical remarks against the former ruling coalition by young Congress leader Rajeev Satav, considered close to Rahul Gandhi. At Sonia Gandhis meeting with partys Rajya Sabha members on Thursday, Satav suggested introspection over the UPA II tenure that, he said, was responsible for the party dropping to an all-time low of 44 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Satav was responding to senior leader Kapil Sibals call for introspection within the party for not being able to corner Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his government and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) despite their failures to tackle Covid-19 pandemic and counter Chinese transgressions and the setback on the economic front. Surjewala conveyed the leaderships message in no uncertain terms to both the sides - that no one can question former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and there were no differences between him and Rahul Gandhi who owns up {to} and stands by each and every decision of UPA I and II. Apart from communicating that Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were on the same page as far as the UPAs decisions, policies and programmes are concerned, Surjewala also sought to assuage the feelings of the seniors by recognising their contribution to the party. Senior leaders have much more responsibility. They have done excellent work in the government and the party organisation. In the time of economic crisis, Covid-19 pandemic and Chinese intrusions, they should stand together with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh and show the mirror to the government. It is also their responsibility to guide the young leaders, promote and also make way for them, Surjewala said. On Sunday, except former Madhya Pradesh Digvijaya Singh and Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore, who later deleted his tweets, no other leader commented on social media about the ongoing tussle in the party. I agree. He (Rahul Gandhi) is different and wants to do politics differently. We should allow him to do so but then we also would like him to be more active in Parliament and more accessible to people. As advised by {Nationalist Congress Party chief} Sharad Pawar he should go around India.Yatras are important to connect, Singh said in response to a tweet by a Congress member. At the press conference, Surjewala listed the achievements of the UPA government in its 10-year rule and referred to the rural job guarantee scheme, the Right to Information Act, the Food Security Act and the Right to Education Act. The UPA government did remarkable work but couldnt take on the conspiracy hatched against it, he said and criticised the people behind the anti-corruption campaign led by social activist Anna Hazare that damaged the image of the coalition. Without taking names of Puducherry lieutenant governor Kiran Bedi, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai and Yoga guru Ramdev, he alleged that they worked under the guidance of the BJP and Modi with Hazare, who was the face of the campaign and has since been dumped in a village in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, a day after Gehlot said he would embrace rebel Congress legislators if they apologised to the party high command, the Congress on Sunday asked Pilot to spell out his position unequivocally and hold a conversation. Sachin Pilot must come and hold a conversation first. Pilot must come out and state his position clearly and unequivocally first and only then can any talk of his return happen, Surjewala said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Staring at his phone, he looked like any other tech-obsessed youngster. But just a few years on, Mason Sheppard has achieved notoriety on both sides of the Atlantic. The 19-year-old from Bognor Regis in West Sussex was one of three accused by the US Department of Justice on Friday for last months hack which targeted 130 accounts. The scam saw celebrity and VIPs including former president Barack Obama, Amazons Jeff Bezos, Teslas Elon Musk and Kim Kardashian West appear to send tweets urging followers to send them the online currency Bitcoin. Mason Sheppard, 19, of Bognor Regis, West Sussex, was charged with hacking Twitter and stealing thousands of dollars worth of Bitcoin In return, the tweets falsely promised that the senders would get double the value back in return. The hackers managed to raise 76,000 in more than 400 transactions before Twitter took action, according to US officials. Sheppard, who was around 13 when the picture on the right was taken, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and the intentional access of a protected computer. He may be extradited if this is requested by US prosecutors. His charges carry a maximum penalty of 45 years. Pictured : The family's address (centre, white door) in Bognor Regis. The British teenager charged in relation to the Twitter hack was yesterday described as 'a nice lad' whose father passed away around five years ago Nima Fazeli, 22, from Florida, was charged with aiding and abetting the intentional access of a protected computer. Graham Ivan Clark, 17, was arrested on 30 charges and is said to be the mastermind of the attack. Professor Alan Woodward, a cyber security expert at Surrey University, told the Sunday Telegraph that if he were Sheppard he would be slightly worried. He said: They did not just break in but they tried to use it for a criminal scam. Friends of Sheppard yesterday said he had been left troubled after his father died from brain cancer six years ago. Graham Ivan Clark, 17, of Tampa, Florida, is believed to be the mastermind of the July 15 Twitter hack A family friend said: The dad died when Mason was a young and impressionable lad. They are terrified that Mason will be extradited. He attended St Philip Howard School where peers described him as polite and funny. Sheppard, nicknamed Chaewon, is the latest Briton at risk of extradition over hacking. In 2002, Gary McKinnon, who has Aspergers syndrome, was accused of hacking in to the Pentagon. Then home secretary Theresa May halted the extradition after a ten-year battle. LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh BJP unit president Swatantra Dev Singh tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday (August 2) and has quarantined himself at his home as per doctors' advice. Singh made public this information on Sunday in a tweet in Hindi. "I had been experiencing initial symptoms of COVID-19 and underwent a test for it. I was found positive for COVID-19," said Singh in his tweet. The leader also requested his acquaintances who came in his contact recently to get themselves tested for the infection. "I request every person who came in my contact to get themselves tested for infection and quarantine themselves as per the guidelines," he added in his tweet. "On the advice of doctors, I have quarantined myself at my home. I request all the residents of UP to exercise caution and strictly adhere to the guidelines of the government," he said in another tweet. Leaders of as many as 120 khaps under the banner of Sarv Khap panchayat on Sunday demanded the withdrawal of all cases registered against youths of all communities during the Jat agitation in 2016. The Sarv Khap had called a meeting of khap bodies at Chhichhrana village in Sonepats Baroda constituency. Convener of the meeting, Kuldeep Singh Malik, said they had discussed nine agendas in the meeting. We have opposed marriages in the same sub-caste, neighbouring villages and three agriculture-related ordinances passed by the central government. The other demands are reduction in diesel prices, reinstation of sacked employees, purchase of farmers crops at the minimum support price, he added. He added that the Khap has welcomed the governments move to give 50 percent women reservation in panchayat level elections. If the government would not withdraw the cases filed during the Jat agitation, we will launch a stir from September 13, Malik said. PITCH KHAP CANDIDATE IN BYPOLL: MEHAM MLA Independent legislator from Meham, Balraj Kundu also reached at the panchayat and extended his support to them. Kundu said the khaps will have to join active politics otherwise farmers rights will be buried under a hatchet. Without joining politics, the system cannot be changed. I urge you to pitch a farmer in the Baroda byelection and ensure his win from the constituency. CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Congresss Bhupinder Singh Hooda failed to understand the plight of farmers and used them as a voting tool, he added. Biology student Ma Jingjing wandered the hall of a job fair in central China among other young Chinese hoping to find work in an economy crushed by the coronavirus pandemic. Ma, 26, is one of almost nine million people graduating and entering the job market this year at a time of great uncertainty, an issue that has the ruling Communist Party worried to the point that President Xi Jinping has made it a priority. The world's second-largest economy may have rebounded sharply from a historic virus-induced contraction, but its young graduate jobless rate in June was more than three times that for urban unemployment. Ma was among hundreds of young faces streaming in and out of the job fair on a recent weekend in Zhengzhou, where employers in industries ranging from real estate to manufacturing were recruiting. Like many others, the aspiring teacher is "at a loss" and wondering if she should settle for any job or hold off work for further education. "I have applied to seven or eight private schools, but only one has called me back for an interview," she told AFP at the fair. "I've studied for so many years and don't want my family to pay for further training," she said. "I'm especially worried about my finances." Aware of the risk that mass unemployment can spark political unrest -- jeopardising the party's pledge of prosperity in return for unquestioned political power -- the government has been making efforts to boost graduate employment via state-owned enterprises (SOEs). But poorer opportunities this year are pushing some into further studies, less ideal jobs or other options. - 'Extremely anxious' - Although China's economy appeared to make a strong comeback in the second quarter -- growing 3.2 percent on-year -- analysts caution the rebound may be overestimated, with a gap re-emerging between national figures and higher-frequency data. Louis Kuijs of Oxford Economics told AFP there is no doubt China is recovering, but the magnitude would determine if growth is "strong enough to re-absorb some of the labour market problems" that emerged earlier this year, such as layoffs. A gap in growth of a few percentage points could lead to a difference of millions of jobs created, he added. Although China's urban unemployment rate slipped to 5.7 percent in June, 19.3 percent of new graduates remained jobless, UOB economists said in a report, adding the labour market "continued to face challenges". Top-level economic data has not necessarily meant better hiring on the ground. A 27-year-old surnamed Kang, who graduated in 2017, is back in the market after his contract in the communications industry in Beijing ended. He decided to return to Zhengzhou, but has only received around five callbacks after sending more than 30 resumes to firms -- and is still looking for a job. "The virus outbreak has limited travel and a lot of job fairs have been postponed or cancelled," he said. "I'm extremely anxious." Lu Yifan, 25, said the pandemic had caused many overseas Chinese students like him to return home sooner than planned -- adding to the flood of jobseekers. And Guangdong graduate Zhao Jingying, 22, told AFP: "For us (this year), getting a single job offer is a feat." Another, Beijing-based Huo Ruixi, 23, left university in July but is planning a second round of further education after an unsuccessful five-month job search. - 'Pressures are larger' - The crisis is also causing problems for employers. Yang Changwei, manager at Deyou Real Estate, told AFP at the Zhengzhou fair it was getting harder to hire sales staff based on commission. "It feels like jobseekers' mindsets have shifted," he said. "In sales, you may or may not make deals but with other jobs there can be more stability in income. Because of the epidemic, financial pressures are larger as well." Officials are ramping up efforts to boost graduate employment, and Premier Li Keqiang announced over nine million new roles will be created this year. A State Council guideline in March said smaller firms that recruit graduates with contracts longer than a year will be given a subsidy, while SOEs will "continuously expand" the scale of graduate-hiring this year and next. Henan authorities, for one, said at least half the recruitment positions at SOEs within the province should be reserved for this year's graduates, while Nanjing city in Jiangsu province set aside one billion yuan ($143 million) to provide 100,000 internships for struggling graduates, Xinhua news agency reported. A jobseeker takes a break at a recruitment fair in Zhengzhou, China. Young graduates face a tough employment market Hundreds of young Chinese stream in and out of a job fair on a recent weekend in Zhengzhou Officials in China are ramping up efforts to boost graduate employment The coronavirus crisis is causing recruitment problems for employers in China Poorer job opportunities this year are pushing some Chinese graduates into further studies, less ideal jobs or other options US Lawmakers Condemn Beijing's Crackdowns in Hong Kong By VOA News August 01, 2020 Two prominent members of the U.S. Congress issued a stern warning to China on Friday in response to arrest warrants issued for six pro-democracy activists, including a U.S citizen, under Hong Kong's new national security law. Chinese state television said Friday Hong Kong authorities had issued warrants for Nathan Law, Wayne Chan Ka-kui, Honcques Laus, Simon Cheng, Ray Wong Toi-yeung and Samuel Chu, a U.S. citizen. The six have fled the territory and are wanted on suspicion of violating the national security legislation that entered into force a month ago. Congressman Eliot Engel, Chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senator Robert Menendez, the senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement, "If Beijing thinks that this effort will silence those who stand for freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law, it is gravely mistaken: Today we are all Hong Kongers." Engel and Menendez said they were deeply concerned by the decision of pro-Beijing authorities of the semi-autonomous territory, which included "an extraterritorial warrant for the arrest of an individual who has been a United States citizen for over two decades." "This action only further undermines the credibility of China as a responsible rule-abiding member of the international community," they said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A state of disaster was declared in the Australian state of Victoria on Sunday, with local government implementing a night curfew to help combat coronavirus. The state's premier introduced its harshest movement measures to date to contain Covid-19 and said an evening restriction will be implemented across Melbourne from 8pm to 5am. Announcing the state of disaster proclamation, Daniel Andrews said the rules gave police greater powers following a six-week increase of cases in the region. It comes as seven people have died and 671 have contracted the strain since Saturday. If we dont make these changes, were not going to get through this, Mr Andrews said. We need to do more. That is what these decisions are about. A group of police and soldiers patrol Melbourne after the announcement of new restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 / AFP via Getty Images He explained there would be more announcements about workplaces on Monday, including the closure of certain industries. Daniel Andrews announced the measures at a press conference / AFP via Getty Images I want to ensure all Victorians supermarkets, the butcher, the baker, food, beverage, groceries, those types of settings there will be no impact there, he added. Melbourne residents will only be allowed to shop and exercise within three miles of their homes. All students across the state will return to home-based learning and child care centres will be closed. The deaths in Victoria took the national toll to 208. New South Wales also confirmed its first coronavirus-related death in more than a month on Sunday as authorities sought to suppress a number of growing clusters at a hotel and several restaurants in Sydney. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the Maharashtra Police force stands at 9,566, informed the police on Sunday. Out of the total cases, 7,534 have recovered and 1,929 are active. The death toll stands at 103. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Police said that as many as 2,19,975 cases were registered under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), since March 22, for the violation of guidelines and norms. India's COVID-19 tally crossed the 17 lakh-mark with 54,736 positive cases and 853 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. "The total COVID-19 cases stand at 17,50,724 including 5,67,730 active cases, 11,45,630 cured/discharged/migrated and 37,364 deaths," said the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Sunday. (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.) Another key member of the massive Infraud cybercrime ring is likely heading to prison. Software writer Valerian Chiochiu has pleaded guilty to RICO conspiracy for helping Infraud Organization develop and use FastPOS malware that helped the group steal massive amounts of data. Infraud is now believed to have stolen enough identities, payment cards and other sensitive data to produce $568 million in losses. Chiochiu will be sentenced on December 11th. A co-founder and administrator of Infraud, Sergey Medvedev, pleaded guilty on June 26th. The group was created in 2010 and became a hub for thieves hoping to buy goods with fake and stolen payment cards. It was reportedly sophisticated, with members offering automated vending sites, a screening process and even an escrow service to help complete transactions. The Justice Department counted 10,901 registered members by March 2017. This isnt a decisive victory for law enforcement. Only a handful of Infraud members are facing punishment, some of them in the US. Others, including co-founder Svyatoslav Bondarenko, are fugitives. The guilty plea wont necessarily deter other crooks. Its still an important win, though, and shows how US prosecutors will tackle other large cybercrime outfits its pushing for confessions that help take down as many targets as possible. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday demanded a CBI inquiry into Punjabs worst hooch tragedy that has claimed 104 lives so far. Kejriwal, who is also the national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), said the state government needs to take necessary steps to curb such mafias. Saddened by the loss of lives in Punjab due to illicit liquor. State government needs to immediately take necessary steps to curb such mafias. The case should be handed over to the CBI immediately as none of the illicit liquor cases in the last few months have been solved by local police, the Delhi CM posted on Twitter. Kejriwals tweet came on a day the AAP, the principal opposition party in Punjab, held a statewide protest. Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh has ordered a magisterial probe by divisional commissioner, Jalandhar. AAPs Kotkapura MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan also asked the state government to look into the allegations of political patronage provided by those involved in the illicit liquor trade. The government cannot turn a blind eye. This will not be tolerated, he said. Leader of opposition Harpal Singh Cheema also hit out at the Congress government for not making ambulances available to the victims families who had to transport the bodies in autorickshaws in Tarn Taran. Where are your ambulances? Dead bodies brought in autorickshaws. Miserable condition of health services in the state. Go visit Tarn Taran Saheb civil hospital mortuary, see how the dead bodies are being handled. Shameful is the only word for your governance (sic), he posted on Twitter, tagging health minister Balbir Singh Sidhu. LOMAHASHA - Immigration officers at Lomahasha Border Gate rounded up 34 people travelling in three trucks, 25 of whom were hiding under cargo. It is said the group of Malawian nationals managed to get into the country from South Africa through Lavumisa Bo MBABANE Immigration officers at Lomahasha Border Gate rounded up 34 people, 25 of whom had been buried under cargo and were being smuggled into Mozambique. The 34 are inclusive of three drivers who were driving the cargo vehicles from South Africa to Mozambique. According to an impeccable source, there were three trucks that were ferrying goods from South Africa to Mozambique, two of which were carrying the people being smuggled. Of the 25 smuggled people, 10 came out of one truck and the 15 were found in the second one. The remaining nine individuals, including the drivers, had lawful documents to cross through. It is said the group managed to get into the country through Lavumisa Border Gate without being noticed. Narrating how they got hold of the people, the source said the three vehicles arrived at the border after 9pm towards closure time on Friday. Questioned It was stated that one of the drivers was questioned about a gate pass indicating that he entered with three people, but he was alone at the Immigration point. The source said the driver was not clear in his explanation and a resolution was that all three should park their vehicles until the following day which was on Saturday. The source said while the trucks were parked, a security guard manning the border realised that there was a person who was suffocating in one of the trucks, which was when he went to call the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) personnel working at the border. The police responded and searched the vehicles where they retrieved all the 25 people from two of the trucks who were stuffed under some cargo, narrated the source. The source said the people were taken in by the police. It was established that the drivers initial plan was to get to the border when it was about to close so that they would not be searched and allowed to pass through easily. It was gathered that all the people were Malawian language speakers and an interpreter had to be called in as police were recording statements. According to information sourced from an officer who is working on the case, the Malawians were employed in SA where they worked as vendors for different people. With the ongoing lockdown in that country due to COVID-19, they stopped working and were actually making their way home. The incident was confirmed by Chief Immigration Officer Makhosi Simelane. He said they got to the ground and recorded statements before officially handing them over to the police. When asked about the way forward, Simelane said the police would deal with the criminal aspect of it, but they were also going to call the Malawian Embassy in Mozambique. They have to confirm their identities to them as that is the standard agreement, he said. Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati also confirmed the incident. She said the people were taken in and they would appear in court today. They are currently in police custody pending their court appearance, she said. In a joint written statement, the three university leaders acknowledged the ongoing concern among students, faculty, staff, and alumni over the relationship with Liberty but defended the institutions long-running ties with the school. The statement cites financial gifts from Liberty including a 2018 donation for the construction of Westover Hall worth $1 million and offers to allow University of Lynchburg students to use Liberty facilities as evidence the school has benefited from the close relationship. In an effort to ensure our students have the best educational experiences, we partner with all of the colleges and universities in the city, the region, and the commonwealth, they said in a statement provided to The News & Advance last month. The Universitys relationship with Liberty is one that benefits and enhances our students experience. That cherished Hornet experience is first and foremost in all that we do. Peter Lynch, a member of the universitys alumni board who created the online petition, said he believes Falwell Sr.s actions stand in contrast to the principles taught at the liberal arts college. He rejected the suggestion that the two schools had to be closely affiliated since they are located in the same city. PARIS, July 31 (Reuters) - Alstom's chairman and CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge on Friday expressed optimism over the outcome of talks with European Union regulators, expected later in the day, over its acquisition of Bombardier's rail business. "We await with confidence the decision of the European Commission, which should arrive during the day," he told France Inter radio. Sources told Reuters this week that Alstom was set to gain EU antitrust approval to buy the business, a deal which would make the French rail maker the world's second largest behind Chinese leader CRRC Corp. Poupart-Lafarge also said Alstom, which makes French TGV high-speed trains, had received expressions of interest from possible buyers of its Reichshoffen site in France. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; editing by John Stonestreet) Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong has called for all-out efforts in flood control and post-disaster recovery to ensure the safety of people's lives and property. Wang, also head of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, made the remarks during an inspection to east China's Anhui Province for flood control and disaster relief works in the region. Noting that risks and hidden dangers are rising as high water levels in rivers, lakes and reservoirs are threatening flood control infrastructure across the country, Wang stressed efforts to closely monitor the flood condition, strictly guard against safety risks and prepare for typhoons and heavy rainfalls, so as to prevent major disasters and casualties. He also asked local authorities to enhance support for the flood victims in terms of epidemic control, life assistance, production, hygiene and compensation to restore production and life orders as quickly as possible. Authorities should make sure that those who have shaken off poverty will not fall back to poverty due to the disasters, to secure a victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and winning the battle against poverty, said Wang. WASHINGTON - A senior Department of Homeland Security official whose office compiled "intelligence reports" about journalists and protesters in Portland, Ore., has been removed from his job, according to people familiar with the matter. Brian Murphy, the acting undersecretary for intelligence and analysis, was reassigned to a new position in the department's management directorate, an administrative support office, the people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss a personnel matter. Acting homeland security secretary Chad Wolf made the decision on Friday. Murphy's removal follows revelations in The Washington Post that the Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I & A) at DHS compiled Open Source Intelligence Reports about the work of two journalists who had published leaked department documents. In a separate intelligence report, the office also analyzed the communications of protesters in Portland. DHS has been under mounting scrutiny from lawmakers and civil liberties groups over its use of federal law enforcement officers to quell protests in Portland and in light of President Trump's threat to deploy federal personnel to other cities that he asserts are being overrun by violent criminals. Members of Congress this week cited I & A's collection of information about journalists and protesters as an alarming encroachment of government authority into activities protected by the First Amendment. Wolf ordered I & A to stop collecting information on journalists and ordered an investigation after The Post reported the practice on Thursday. Murphy will work as an "adviser" in the management office while that investigation proceeds, a senior department official said. Wolf has also asked the Homeland Security inspector general to investigate efforts by I & A to collect information about journalists or protesters, according to a person familiar with the matter. Members of the department's advisory council, which includes numerous retired high-ranking government officials and former lawmakers, were "furious" to learn that the department was compiling information about journalists in reports normally used to share information about suspected terrorists and violent extremists, according to two people with knowledge of the advisers' reactions. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said on Saturday that he was concerned Murphy "may have provided incomplete and potentially misleading information to Committee staff" during a recent briefing about the office's activities in Portland. Following news reports, including in The Post, that DHS had expanded some of its authorities to monitor protesters, the committee had demanded a broad range of documents and information. "We will be expanding our oversight even further in the coming days," Schiff said in a statement. Murphy had previously told staff on the House and Senate intelligence committees that his office did not collect, analyze or exploit information on the electronic devices or accounts of protesters. On Friday, Democratic senators sent Murphy a letter asking him to confirm that was true. Murphy spoke with staff of the House and Senate intelligence committees on July 23 and was asked about I & A's activities in Portland as well as what legal authorities the office was using to justify a new mission: collecting and disseminating information on protesters who threatened to damage or destroy public memorials and statues, including those not on federal property, according to officials familiar with the briefing. In a follow-up call, DHS lawyers pointed to existing guidelines issued for the department by the attorney general, as well as an Obama-era order that they now claimed allowed DHS to protect and undertake specific intelligence collection and analysis regarding not only iconic monuments such as the Statue of Liberty, but also smaller statues and memorials. On the call, congressional staff expressed skepticism that the lawyers had offered a plausible interpretation of their authorities, according to officials. At the conclusion of the call, congressional officials told DHS that the call had raised their concerns more than assuaged them, and expressed serious reservations that DHS was "stretching its legal authorities too far," according to officials familiar with the call. Murphy is a former FBI agent who worked on the bureau's efforts to combat radicalization. Current and former colleagues have described him as hard-charging and driven and said he has a history of defying managers and bosses to pursue the course of action he deems appropriate. In 2007, he was the subject of a magazine profile that extolled his investigative skills and compared his relentlessness to the T-1000 "killer robot" from the movie "Terminator 2." Some current officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly, said Murphy has earned a reputation at DHS for aggressively trying to expand the operations of the intelligence office. Although it is technically an element of the broader intelligence community, I & A publishes reports largely based on unclassified or public sources and is not designed to engage in clandestine investigations or operations like the FBI or the CIA. Murphy tried to fashion the office into more of an operational player, akin to those larger agencies, and drew scrutiny and criticism internally over his efforts, some officials said. One noted that I & A's collection of information involving journalists was effectively the last straw and led to his ouster. Officials have also worried that Murphy was misapplying the authorities of I & A. For example, the intelligence reports about the journalists' work appeared to justify collecting the information under a standing requirement for intelligence about cybersecurity threats. It was unclear how tweets by journalists constituted a threat to cybersecurity, which the department usually interprets as hackers trying to disable critical infrastructure or break into classified computers. Recently, Murphy tried to broaden the definition of violent protesters in Portland, in a way that some officials felt was intended to curry favor with the White House. According to an internal memo, Murphy announced that the label "violent opportunists," which his office had used to describe people who were attacking law enforcement personnel and property, would be changed to "violent antifa anarchists." Murphy argued that the violent protesters were not merely taking advantage of a moment but had "overwhelmingly" been linked to radical ideologies "driving individuals toward violence." That conclusion was undercut by an earlier DHS analysis that found there was not enough information about the Portland protesters for the department to know how they might be connected to anti-fascist or anarchist groups and what precisely was motivating them. Many of the protests in Portland have been peaceful and in response to police violence around the country. New Delhi: Sushant Singh Rajput's sister Shweta Singh Kirti has once again tweeted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to intervene in the actor's death case. On Saturday, Shweta requested the Prime Minister to ensure that no evidence is tampered in his death case and expressed her concern in a tweet saying "we expect justice at any cost". Today, Shweta quoted PM Modi's tweet on Lokmanya Tilak's 100th death anniversary and said, "My dear sir, it is time for us to practice Lokmanya Tilak's 'the sense of justice' that inspires you. Please, my humble request is to look into the matter ASAP." Read what Shweta wrote: My Dear Sir, It is time for us to practice Lokmanya Tilaks the sense of justice that inspires you. Please, my humble request is to look into the matter ASAP. @narendramodi @PMOIndia https://t.co/8kIgyUZpjP shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 2, 2020 Earlier, she said, "I am sister of Sushant Singh Rajput and I request an urgent scan of the whole case. We believe in Indias judicial system and expect justice at any cost." "Somehow my heart says that you stand with and for truth. We are from very simple family. My brother had no godfather when he was in Bollywood nor do we have anyone right now. My request to you is to look into this case and make sure that everything is handled," Shweta added. I am sister of Sushant Singh Rajput and I request an urgent scan of the whole case. We believe in Indias judicial system & expect justice at any cost. @narendramodi @PMOIndia #JusticeForSushant #SatyamevaJayate pic.twitter.com/dcDP6JQV8N shweta singh kirti (@shwetasinghkirt) August 1, 2020 Sushant Singh Rajput died by suicide at the age of 34. He was said to be under stress and depression. The Mumbai Police has been investigating the case since then and questioned over 35 people so far. Meanwhile, earlier this week, Sushant's father Krishna Kumar Singh filed an abetment to suicide case against actor's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and six others, including her family members with the Bihar Police. He has accused Rhea of having befriended his son in May 2019 with the intention of furthering her own career. The Patna case was registered under various IPC sections including 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 306 (abetment of suicide). At Atco Dragway, a dozen or so spectators sat in stands that can easily hold hundreds, watching everything from BMWs to Harley Davidson motorcycles tear down the track on a Tuesday evening in July. The quarter-mile drag strip could be closing after 60 years, with the possibility that it will be redeveloped as an auto auction facility. Read more WATERFORD TWP., N.J. The air hung heavy with high-octane fuel and burned rubber, just the way they like it, but the racers tuning up big block engines and motorcycles in the pits wondered whether this beloved drag strip in the Pinelands would soon go silent. Atco Dragway was the first official drag strip in New Jersey, originally opening in sleepy Waterford Township in 1960 as Atco Raceway. For decades, it drew professional racers and amateur motorheads alike, with some events bringing thousands of spectators to the Atco section of this mostly wooded Camden County community of 10,707. When you say Atco, you think racetrack, said Rickey Gadson, a Southwest Philly native and champion motorcycle drag racer who called Atco his home track. Atco may soon be home to cars that dont race. Insurance Auto Auctions, an Illinois company, submitted a development application to the New Jersey Pinelands Commission to redevelop the 180-acre site. The company has already purchased the former Raceway Park in Englishtown, 60 miles north. According to the application, existing paved areas at the drag strip would be used for an automobile auction facility. At the moment, its unclear if the racetrack is under contract to be sold. Waterford Township officials, including Mayor Richard Yeatman, did not respond to several requests for comment. Insurance Auto Auctions could not be reached. The application was co-signed by Leonard Capone Jr., Atco Dragways current owner. Capone declined to comment when reached by The Inquirer, and on Tuesdays Test n Tune night at Atco, where anyone with a helmet can hit the quarter-mile drag strip, racers said neither Capone nor track employees would talk about the matter. With Englishtown going down and now this potentially, Ive already seen a lot of people selling their cars, said Greg Ditbrenner, a Delaware County resident working on his 1972 Oldsmobile at Atco on Tuesday. A lot of people are giving up. From what it sounds like, this is going to happen. READ MORE: Graduates get their diplomas and the checkered flag at Pocono Raceway News of the tracks potential sale was first reported by the website Drag Zine on June 30. Andrew Wolf, the websites executive editor, said Atco is known to racers nationwide and its potential closure would have an impact on Philadelphia, 30 miles to the west, as well as South Jersey. Atco usually hosts races on Tuesday and Friday nights, with bigger events on the weekends. If it were to close, Philadelphia would lose its nearest dragway, he said. New Jerseys only remaining drag strip would be Island Dragway, 90 miles north of Atco in Warren County. In Pennsylvania, Berks Countys Maple Grove Raceway is 50 miles west of Philadelphia. As news spread through the racing community, a Save Atco Dragway Facebook group was formed. It currently has more than 2,000 members, and most of them would like to see Capone change his mind. I cant blame him for wanting to sell, said Scott Oliver, a Bordentown City resident who often races his Kia Stinger at the track. Im disappointed he wouldnt try to sell to someone who would keep it as a raceway. Kyle Rosner, who grew up nearby in Marlton, said his grandfather, Edwin Rosner, was one of the founders of the track in 1960. Rosner, who works in filmmaking, said he has talked to business partners about potentially buying the track and creating additional uses for it, including drive-in movies and concerts. He said Capone, who bought Atco in 2012, wont return his calls. With the right owner and the right team, it could work, Rosner said. READ MORE: Pocono Raceway hosting first Cup Series weekend doubleheader in modern NASCAR history New Jersey Assemblyman Ryan Peters (R., Hainesport) and Assemblywoman Jean Stanfield (R., Westampton), having spoken to Rosner, issued a statement earlier this month in support of saving the track. Were on the verge of losing something great, they said in the letter. There is too much history in the Atco Dragway to see it end like this. A spokesperson for Peters said the assemblyman wasnt trying to interfere with the sale of the property. Some reports have said drag racing was hurt by the 2008 recession and never recovered. The COVID-19 pandemic hasnt helped either. On Tuesday, a dozen or so spectators sat in stands that can easily hold hundreds at Atco, watching everything from BMWs to Harley-Davidson motorcycles tear down the track. There were a few delays for rain, car parts coming undone, even a snapping turtle on the track, but as the sun set, the racing continued, for now. Rameswaram: Three persons from Tamil Nadu were on Monday arrested by Sri Lankan Navy on the charge of attempting to smuggle 60 kgs of ganja in a boat, police said. The three men from Nambuthulai, about 60 km from Rameswaram, in Ramanathapuram District were arrested after Sri Lankan Naval personnel intercepted their boat and found the narcotic, police said quoting information received by them. The ganja, worth lakhs of rupees, was grown in Kerala and allegedly being smuggled to Sri Lanka from here, they added. In September last, six people, including an Indian, had been arrested by Sri Lankan Navy with over two kgs of heroin in their possession. Following this, the Lankan Navy had stepped up vigil in its northern seas to prevent smuggling of drug mainly from Tamil Nadu. Sri Lankan Navys northern Commander Rear Admiral Piyal de Silva had then said 612 kg of Kerala ganja coming to Lanka from India had been detected during the last 18 months. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. (CNN) Lamenting his plunging popularity this week, a self-pitying President Donald Trump wondered how it all went wrong. "Nobody likes me," he said, confounded at how his administration's health experts could be receiving accolades while he is accused of ignoring and denying the raging public health crisis. "It can only be my personality," Trump said, "that's all." That's one answer. In a week that saw a devastating global pandemic worsen, a record economic meltdown confirmed and an all-out bid to stoke racial tensions for political gain deepen, Trump is finding himself more and more the odd man out: absent and detached from the leadership of either party, locked in antique cultural battles and increasingly unpopular among voters. By Friday, the President's blunt assessment of his own popularity seemed to have manifested in a litany of other ways: Even his staunchest Republican allies flatly rejected his suggestion that November's voting be delayed, some actually laughing at what, by most accounts, was a serious (if toothless) proposal from the President to undermine the election. The nation's civic leadership, including three of Trump's four living predecessors, gathered without him in Atlanta to honor the late Rep. John Lewis, making the sitting president's absence conspicuous if unsurprising. Stimulus talks on Capitol Hill have proceeded almost entirely without his participation, and have been notable mainly for the disarray they have exposed among Republicans, many of whom were unpleasantly surprised to learn the President's demand for a new FBI building was included in the final proposal. In a closed door hearing on Friday, intelligence officials working in Trump's own administration discounted the possibility of foreign countries mass-producing fake ballots to interfere in the November elections -- a claim Trump seemed to be making simultaneously from the Cabinet Room. And the concerted push by Trump to delegitimize mail-in ballots is raising alarm bells among Republican operatives, who are worried the President's demand for in-person voting will mainly serve to dampen turnout among his own supporters. Trump's attempts to regain standing have only exacerbated the divorce and led to worries he is weighing down his party's ability to move forward. Long dismissive of the Washington establishment, Trump has shown little concern at how his moves are forcing allies into awkward positions or alienating himself from longstanding norms. Far from a mere difference of "personality," the examples of "nobody liking" Trump this week suggested a President actively isolating himself in his own bubble of conspiracy theories and questionable science, with fewer and fewer people willing to step inside to join him. In an attempt to boost his mood, Trump's advisers scrambled to assemble a scaled-down political event on a baking Florida tarmac on Friday, where Trump addressed a mostly mask-less crowd standing inches from one another. Other events in the state that Trump had scheduled for Saturday were canceled as a storm approached. The event illustrated what White House officials describe as an ad-hoc effort to schedule appearances for Trump that allow him to bask in at least some adulation as his campaign rallies remain on hold and after an in-person convention acceptance speech was scuttled. White House officials are still weighing their options for how Trump will formally accept the nomination, one person familiar with the planning said, including assessing sites around the country where he might deliver a prime-time address. Yet the task has proven difficult as Trump insists upon something dramatic while aides work to temper some of his expectations about the scale of the potential venues. Aides say Trump has grown to recognize the extreme political peril he's created for himself less than 100 days until the election. When he speaks with friends, his grievances are long and his complaints are ample but his willingness or ability to alter course seems minimal, according to people who have spoken to him. Trump has voiced versions of "nobody likes me" for the past several months, those people said, describing an in-the-dumps president brought low by a pandemic he feels he has little ability to control. Speaking Thursday, Trump appeared resigned to the fact that coronavirus case counts will continue spiking, and said it's probably not anyone's fault, least of all his. "That's just the way it is," he said. Top Republicans, many of whom have given up hope that Trump will offer anything resembling a coherent national plan to contain the virus, have long decided to promote mask-wearing and social distancing without taking a lead from Trump. One of those who didn't, Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican, found out he had coronavirus from a test administrated at the White House. Instead of avoiding the question or denying knowledge about Trump's tweet on Thursday suggesting an election delay -- a tactic they've fallen back on before when the President dispatches something inconvenient or embarrassing -- nearly every Republican this week rejected the idea out of hand. "I don't think that's a particularly good idea," said Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, an informal adviser to the President. "I read it. I laughed. I thought my gosh this is going to consume a lot of people," said GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer. "I long ago stopped being surprised by the things he does that other presidents wouldn't have done, but I also understand why he does it and why his base enjoys it so much." On Capitol Hill, the ill-fated election day float went over about as well as the administration's proposal to include $1.75 billion for a new FBI building in a coronavirus relief package -- a longstanding fixation for the President that his opponents decry as ethically questionable. Republicans simply decried it as non-sensical in a bill meant to extend unemployment to the millions of newly unemployed Americans whose lives have been crushed by an out-of-control pandemic. "There's a number of unrelated things in there," said Republican Sen. John Cornyn of the provision, which he said caught him by surprise. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who also appeared to be caught off guard by the item, understatedly called it "non-germane." Absent any support, the White House eventually said the new money wouldn't be a dealbreaker. Yet by Wednesday, Trump's isolation from the leaders of his own party -- who are hoping to salvage what is shaping up to be a tough November -- seemed cemented. Aboard Air Force One, Trump indicated to associates that he would not intervene in the Kansas Republican primary, even after hearing appeals from both his political team and senior Republicans that the seat -- and control of the Senate -- was at risk if conservative firebrand Kris Kobach wins. The move appeared to some another break from a President whose interests in politics generally don't extend beyond his own self-interest. While his absence from the Lewis funeral on Thursday was not a surprise given the animosity between the two men, it also reflected Trump's general impatience for the rituals of politics that do not revolve around him. Aides never expected Trump to join his three most recent predecessors -- Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton -- at the funeral. But even some White House officials were surprised when Trump, on Monday, flatly rejected the prospect of traveling to the US Capitol where Lewis lay in state. Some had quietly been considering a quick trip to pay respects. As it stood, all three former presidents offered remarks that could be read as oblique rebukes of how Trump has approached the job they all held. "In the America John Lewis fought for, and the America I believe in, differences of opinion are inevitable elements and evidence of democracy in action," said Bush, the most recent Republican president. Denied traditional routes of affirmation, Trump has begun looking elsewhere. Frustrated that his once-favorite television channel Fox News is willing to interview Democrats, Trump has adopted the hard-right OAN as his preferred venue and spoke to the outlet's CEO this week about hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial that he insists works to prevent coronavirus. Even amid attempts by his aides to shift his focus back to the pandemic, Trump continues to hear from a wide range of associates who are undermining the administration's health experts and questioning their approach to the pandemic, people familiar with the conversations say. A group of doctors who have promoted hydroxychloroquine and cast doubt on the decision to enforce lockdowns to contain the virus were invited to the White House for a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday, even though a video of a press conference they delivered was removed from social media for violating rules against misinformation. This story was first published on CNN.com ''Nobody likes me,' Trump complains, as even his allies fade" Fostering creativity out of chaos, Melbourne Digital Concert Hall has become a vital part of the citys musical landscape in the last four months, not least because it has earned musicians over $500,000 during the pandemic. It has also provided a means to reach otherwise neglected audiences, after the cancellation of regional touring by groups like the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra. As part of its winter residency at MDCH, this polished program by six MCO members played to the groups classical-era strengths. Mozarts Divertimento in D, K. 136 bustled with an elegant energy and lightness of touch that highlighted all the precocious touches of its 16-year-old composer. Adapting this string quartet prototype to slightly larger forces did not diminish its youthful charm. Leader William Hennessy invested the central Andante with a sweet, appealing tone, while the outer movements benefitted from a collectively focused agility. Creatively addressing current limitations, Beethovens Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58 came in an arrangement for piano and strings. Any limitations in this reduced orchestration were compensated by colourful playing. Soloist Stefan Cassomenos was highly attentive to the works pointed contrasts, offering a passionate and well-shaped reading that emphasised poetry over mere brilliance. Climaxes were crowned with appropriate grandeur, but the sense of human struggle at the centre of the slow movement was also keenly communicated. The ebullient finale provided a welcome sense of optimism. Even though delivered by masked musicians, this concert could not hide the benefits of countering chaos with creativity. Amit Shah, Yediyurappa, Shivraj Chouhan, Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit are COVID-19 positive Union home minister Amit Shah enters Medanta Hospital in Gurugram to be admitted after testing postive for COVID-19 on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. (PTI) COVID-19 took India's politicians into its grip on Sunday with union home minister Amit Shah, Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa, Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit testing positive, and Uttar Pradesh minister Kamal Rani Verma succumbing to it Further, the BJP's Uttar Pradesh chief, Swatantra Dev Singh, and UP minister Mahendra Singh have also tested positive for COVID-19. Amit Shah, 55, Tweeted that he had undergone a coronavirus test after showing initial symptoms. "My health is fine but I am getting admitted to a hospital on the advice of doctors," he tweeted in Hindi and requested those who have had contact with him in the past few days to get tested for coronavirus and isolate themselves. Political leaders including BJP president J P Nadda, Rahul Gandhi of the Congress, DMK chief M K Stalin, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee wished Shah a speedy recovery. In Uttar Pradesh, Kamal Rani Varun, the only woman minister in UP cabinet, died of COVID-19 at a hospital in Lucknow on Sunday. She was 62. The technical education minister, who tested positive for COVID-19 on July 18, breathed her last at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPIMS). She had co-morbidities, including diabetes, hypertension and hyperthyroidism, a senior doctor at the hospital said. President Ram Nath Kovind, prime minister Narendra Modi, chief minister Yogi Adityanath and other leaders expressed grief over her demise. Uttar Pradesh BJP unit chief Swatantra Dev Singh said on Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and has quarantined himself at home following doctors' advice. Officials said that UP water minister Mahendra Singh too tested positive for COVID-19 a few days ago and has been hospitalised. Several other UP ministers have tested positive for the coronavirus: Jai Pratap Singh, Rajendra Pratap Singh alias Moti Singh, Chetan Chauhan, Dharam Singh Saini and Upendra Tiwari. On Sunday night, Karnataka chief minister Yediyurappa tweeted that he has tested positive for coronavirus and is being hospitalised. "Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on the recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with me recently to be observant and exercise self quarantine," he said. According to a bulletin issued by the Kauvery Hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu governor Banwarilal Purohit tested positive for COVID-19, and has been advised home isolation since his infection was mild. Purohit, 80, was in self-isolation since July 29 after three people in the Raj Bhavan tested positive for the coronavirus. The bulletin said the governor underwent further tests on Sunday. He has been advised home isolation. A medical team would monitor him. Earlier as many as 84 security and fire services personnel deployed in the Raj Bhavan tested positive for the virus on July 23, but the governor's office had then said none of them came into contact with Purohit or senior officials. Several MLAs in Tamil Nadu have tested positive for COVID-19, while DMK legislator J Anbazhagan died of it in June. Last week, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan tested positive. Some state ministers and BJP leaders who met him quarantined themselves at their homes. Chouhan, 61, was admitted to a COVID-19 designated private hospital in Bhopal. In West Bengal, Trinamool MLA Tamonash Ghosh, 60, passed away in June due to the coronavirus. As per Sunday night figures, coronavirus cases in the country topped the 1.8 million mark, while the death toll has climbed to 38,158. Recoveries have increased to 11,45,629, while there are 5,67,730 active cases in the country. The recovery rate among COVID-19 patients has risen to 65.44 per cent while the fatality rate has further dropped to 2.13 per cent. Homer Plessy, a Black man, died with a conviction still on his record for refusing to leave a whites-only train car in New Orleans in 1892. The theft of light bulbs and batteries does not bring to mind an FBI investigation, but one Massachusetts man is accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of those items and has now found himself facing a federal charge. Justin Farinato, 39, of Groveland, is facing a charge of transportation of stolen goods in a Massachusetts federal court after authorities say he made nearly $400,000 from stealing smart light bulbs, Nest thermostats and batteries from The Home Depot. He appeared in federal court Friday. Farinato, according to an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Andrea Sciolino, has stolen the special light bulbs, thermostats and other items from various Home Depot locations in New England since 2014. It appears he stole items from Lowes locations as well. Despite being served twice with no-trespass orders, once in 2016 and a second time in 2018, Farinato continued to go to Home Depot stores, authorities said. In August 2018, investigators from The Home Depot gave information to the FBI about a series of thefts from stores across New England involving Farinato, authorities said. According to the federal affidavit, Home Depot investigators saw Farinato steal smart light bulbs from the Londonderry, New Hampshire location on July 25, 2018. The Massachusetts man took boxes of smart light bulbs off a shelf, opened the boxes and placed the bulbs into his cargo pants, authorities said. Authorities claim he stole several smart light bulbs valued at roughly $50 each and seven wireless lighting starter kits valued at $199 each. The total theft was roughly $2,150, the FBI agent said. Home Depot investigators followed Farinato to a business in Salem, Massachusetts, which was not named in the affidavit. The Salem business sold items on eBay and paid Farinato, according to federal records. Farinato is accused of stealing $300 worth of similar light bulbs from a Home Depot in Plaistow, New Hampshire on July 26, 2018. In December 2018, Farinato was arrested by Natick police after authorities said he was again stealing light bulbs from a Home Depot. Investigators from Home Depot told the FBI they had about 25 incidents where they say Farinato had stolen items or tried to steal items from Home Depot stores in New England in 2018. The Salem company owner who bought the items from Farinato said Farinato claimed to have acquired the items from Lowes and Home Depot after the items were returned, according to the federal affidavit. The company owner asked Farinato why the items were not in boxes, a question Farinato never answered, the FBI agent wrote. Farinato was paid by check for the items, which were then placed on eBay for auction by the Salem company. From December 2014 through August 2019, nearly $400,000 was paid to Farinato from the company. In 2018 alone, the company paid him $130,900, records show. The Salem company sold roughly 5,790 light bulbs on eBay from March 2015 through August 2019, according to the FBIs investigation. Several of the light bulbs were shipped to people outside of Massachusetts. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The opposition has expressed its dissent after the LDF government decided to postpone the assembly session under the guise of Covid -19 spread. Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that the government is scared of the oppositions no-confidence motion which prompted the ruling front to run away from it. KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran and senior Congress leaders K C Joseph and V D Satheesan too have expressed their displeasure in postponing the session which was planned to pass finance bills. Chennithala recalled that the decision to convene the session was taken by the government after it announced triple lockdown in 100 wards in the capital city. Amid lockdown, the gold smuggling case had snowballed into a major controversy where the chief minister, his office, the speaker and higher education minister had come under a cloud. This led the opposition to bring a no-confidence motion against thegovernment and also a resolution against the speaker. Chennithala alleged that despite giving notice for the motion and resolution, the Legislature Secretariat is yet to come out with a bulletin on the imminent session.I strongly believe that the decision to postpone the session is politically motivated, said Chennithala. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Wearing what appeared to be stab vests with paramilitary-style black uniforms, demonstrators marched through London yesterday demanding Britain make amends for generations of African slavery. The peaceful protest saw a number of small action groups come together to bring Brixton to a standstill, but it was the little known Forever Family group that made the most striking impact. The organisation - whose social media accounts are mostly set to private - aims to centralise community groups in a bid to support like-minded organisations. A promotional video shared by the group - whose members resembled the Black Panther revolutionary activists of 1960s America in yesterday's protest - states that said they are 'united in the battle against racism, inequality and injustice'. At least one marcher wore a balaclava, while others carried black flags and walkie-talkies. It is unclear how the group are funded, but they have been described as a 'Black-owned business' that accepts donations from the public. Their 'company values' are listed as 'integrity, transparency and accountability' - suggesting they have a business or military approach to their work. Wearing what appeared to be stab vests with paramilitary-style black uniforms, demonstrators marched through London yesterday demanding Britain make amends for generations of African slavery One of the protesters was wearing a balaclava. He was marching with a group of people wearing FF Force vests Grass-roots organisation Forever Family aims to centralise community groups in a bid to support like-minded organisations, according to its promotional material Family Forever members resembled the Black Panther revolutionary activists of 1960s America A promotional video made by the group (pictured at the march) said they are 'united in the battle against racism, inequality and injustice' Videos showed the group assembled in rows and following orders in military-style drill The march (participants pictured) marked Afrikan Emancipation Day - the 186th anniversary of the day the Abolition of Slavery Act came into force Multiple videos show the group assembled in rows and following orders in a military-style drill. The demonstrators can be seen raising their fists in the air - an action synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement. Another clip shows rows of male group members shouting 'lionesses' before saluting. In that video, the men part ways, making way for female protesters who line up at the front as onlookers cheer. A group of Forever Family demonstrators are also seen marching down the street behind a band of drummers. They walk along in unified rows marching in time with each other while chanting 'we're Forever Family' and 'we will set the people free' A woman with a megaphone yells 'I don't know what you've been told' and 'Family is taking back our turf' - which the crowd repeats after her. Other clips showed demonstrators wearing their vests branded with 'Forever Family Force' and chanting 'we are Forever Family'. The march marked Afrikan Emancipation Day - the 186th anniversary of the day the Abolition of Slavery Act came into force. In a video shared to social media, the group said their purpose was to 'mobilise, organise and centralise community initiatives to empower and support organisations with similar objectives'. Another social media announcement said Forever Family are 'united in building a self sufficient and stable community' and will create 'a hub and avenues for funding, business start-ups, grants and investing'. In a video shared to social media (pictured), the group said their purpose was to 'mobilise, organise and centralise community initiatives to empower and support organisations with similar objectives' Their 'company values' are listed as 'integrity, transparency and accountability' - suggesting they have a business or military approach to their work A video shared to their Facebook page (pictured) states: 'We are Forever Family united in building a self-sufficient and stable community' This video adds further company values, stating: 'We value the safety of our senior and junior generation. Their voices will be the motivation in what we stand for' They said: 'We believe in putting back in using all our experience and resources to deliver results. We value the safety of our senior and junior generation. Their voices will be the motivation in what we stand for. A video shared to their Facebook page states: 'We are Forever Family united in building a self-sufficient and stable community.' It states its purpose is: 'Creating a hub and avenues for funding, business startups, grants and investing. 'We believe in putting back in using all our experience and resources to deliver results.' This video adds further company values, stating: 'We value the safety of our senior and junior generation. Their voices will be the motivation in what we stand for.' People were on hand to issue masks and hand gel to those in attendance. Pictured: Family Forever members So Solid Crew, an early UK garage collective, regularly post about Forever Family. Ahead of Black Pound Day - an initiative designed to encourage Britons to buy from black-owned businesses - the group wrote: 'Black Pound Day (BPD) is a solution to supporting the long-term economic growth of UK Black-owned Business. 'Forever Family are proud to connect with Black business owners and support them over the long-term.' The group's own Instagram page reads: 'The spending power of the UK Black community has been valued at 300 Billion. 'Its time to reinvest the wealth and circulate this within the community, by supporting Black owned business.' Black Pound Day currently happens one day per month, the post says, and aims to support 'the long-term economic growth of UK Black Owned Business'. 'Forever Family support this initiative,' it adds. As the march made its way through London, So Solid Crew's Instagram account shared videos of participants winding their way along the road. Former MEP Nigel Farage blasted the march as 'divisive'. He said: 'Terrifying scenes in Brixton today. A paramilitary-style force marching in the streets. 'This is what the BLM movement wanted from the start and it will divide our society like never before.' However, co-leader of the Green Party Jonathan Bartley responded to Mr Farage's intervention. He tweeted: 'You are just trying to create division. But these people in Brixton today know that love and justice will conquer the fear and hate that you peddle. Hope is what people need right now and they are showing the pathway toward it.' The Metropolitan Police said three people were arrested during this afternoon's demonstration. Former MEP Nigel Farage described photographs of today's demonstration in Brixton as 'terrifying' claiming a 'paramilitary-style force marching in the streets' Scotland Yard said one man was arrested on suspicion of affray, another on suspicion of assault on an emergency worker and a woman was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor in charge of the policing operation yesterday said: 'The gatherings today have been largely peaceful and we thank our communities for working with us to ensure the voices of the community could be heard safely and done so responsibly to ensure the safety of all.' According to Scotland Yard: 'Officers have been present throughout the day working with the community organisers and speaking to those attending to allow for a successful day without anti-social behaviour or violence, resulting in just three arrests made. 'Conditions had been imposed on the demonstrations. These included for attendees to congregate in three specific areas within Brixton and for the demonstrations to conclude at 20:00hrs. 'These conditions were authorised following intelligence that some attendees had intended to block the A23 the primary road running through Brixton. This would have caused significant disruption to those local residents and surrounding areas.' All three remain in police custody. The demonstrators joined hundreds of others marking Afrikan Emancipation Day in Windrush Square, Brixton this afternoon A large police presence surrounded the protesters who marched through the centre of Brixton this afternoon One female protester wearing combat fatigues and a beret was seen on video confronting several police officers. She warned one officer against pushing her. Several police in the area were dealing with members of the public while a couple of officers appeared to be making an arrest. The woman approached the police van and was blocked by several officers who were protecting the back of the vehicle. Anyone approaching the police was pushed back. Several of the protesters were filming the incident. One of the protesters tried to start a chant no justice, no peace and then launched an expletive-laden rant accusing the police of being racist. Other groups involved included the Forever Family Force and the Rhodes Must Fall Oxford campaigners. A number of demonstrators temporarily blocked Brixton Road at the junction with Acre Lane, forcing cars and buses to stop and turn around. Protesters, including some from Extinction Rebellion, occupied the middle of the junction until they were told to get back on to the curb by police officers. Three people - holding signs saying 'mask up' and wearing visors - handed out face masks and hand sanitiser to those attending. The main group, Stop The Maangamizi: We Charge Genocide/Ecocide, want the government to create an All-Party Parliamentary Commission for Truth and Reparatory Justice. Crowds of people listened to music in Windrush Square - where the event began - watched speeches and observed a three-minute silence to mark the event, which is in its seventh year. A coalition of groups were involved in the event on Saturday, including Stop The Maangamizi: We Charge Genocide/Ecocide, the Afrikan Emancipation Day reparations march committee and the Rhodes Must Fall Oxford campaigners. The Rhodes Must Fall campaigners want the statute of colonialist Cecil Rhodes removed from Oriel College in Oxford. While Rhodes was not involved in the slave trade he exploited black Africans working in his diamond mines and believed in the supremacy of the English. Protesters, floats with speakers and people on motorbikes spilled out onto Brixton Road shortly before 4pm and began to march to nearby Max Roach Park. Groups of protesters carried home made signs calling for action on ongoing racial violence Among the groups protesting in Brixton were these motorcyclists riding varying styles of high-powered machines Protesters supporting the Stop the Maangamizi Campaign and the Afrikan Emancipation Day Reparations March Committee Protestors blocked the main road running through Brixton, saying they took drastic action 'to make themselves heard' The Metropolitan Police began dispersing crowds from the Brixton demonstration at 8pm Afrikan Emancipation Day Reparations March The annual Afrikan Emancipation Day Reparations March is part of a campaign calling for the UK to make amends for the enslavement endured by generations of African people. The march this afternoon marks its seventh year as a means of drawing attention to their cause. The event marks the passing of the 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act, which came into force on 1 August 1834. Campaigners argue that the millions of pounds in compensation paid to former slaveholders as a result of the Act, without similar recompense for freed slaveholders, cemented and increased racial injustices that are still felt today. Advertisement Protesters then began marching down Brixton Road towards Max Roach Park, blocking the road and stopping traffic. Campaigners argue that the millions of pounds in compensation paid to former slaveholders as a result of the Act, without similar recompense for freed slaveholders, cemented and increased racial injustices that are still felt today. Antoinette Harrison, who lives in nearby Clapham, attended the event to march with her cousin and her cousin's children. On why she joined the event, the 38-year-old said: 'We are tired. 'And I was just saying, our parents have gone through, we're going through this, and I don't want our next generation to. It's got to come to an end.' She added: 'What's lovely about it is there's such unity. 'It's not just the one race, like it was back in the day, now it's whites, blacks, Hispanics - everyone.' Asked if she had any concerns about coronavirus while attending, Ms Harrison, who has been protesting since earlier in the summer, said: 'This is a pandemic - racism and not having justice.' The protesters aimed to lock down Brixton because 'WE/they are not being HEARD' in their demand for the UK Government to establish the All-Party Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry for Truth & Reparatory Justice. The event aimed to promote the necessity of stopping the genocide and ecocide of African people and their environments, Extinction Rebellion activists said. A curfew and other restrictions had been imposed on the planned demonstrations to stop people blocking main roads or planning illegal music events, Scotland Yard has said. The Metropolitan Police on Friday said that blocking the road will cause 'serious disruption' to Brixton and the surrounding area because it is used by hundreds of bus routes and thousands of motorists. It said that it is imposing a number of conditions on the demonstrations within areas such as Windrush Square, Max Roach Park and outside Brixton Police Station. They must not spill into nearby roads and they must finish by 8pm. The force said that the time limit was set so that officers could separate those attending the demonstrations from people attending other gatherings or unlicensed music events. A man takes part in the seventh annual Afrikan Emancipation Day Reparations March in Brixton this afternoon Stop the Maangamizi is one of the organisations dedicated to bringing about reparations on the day slavery was abolished Police were on scene as demonstrators marched through Brixton this afternoon to mark Afrikan Emancipation Day Protestors brought Brixton to a halt on Afrikan Emancipation Day despite police restrictions imposed ahead of the event Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, speaking ahead of the event yesterday, said: 'The decision to impose conditions on an assembly is never taken lightly and is made following a vigorous assessment of the information available to us. 'We have no intention of infringing upon a responsibly-organised community event. 'We only require that this is done in a way that makes use of Brixton's open spaces and leaves the main road through Brixton open to other Londoners. 'In recent weeks we have policed a number of UMEs (unlicensed music events) in which loud music is played at night, disrupting local residents and posing a real threat both to property and the officers who attend to disperse them. 'We received information that there are those intending to come to Brixton on Saturday to purposely cause disruption, and to confront police officers. 'This is in stark contrast to the feel of the events that will take place earlier in the day and is in opposition to the wishes of the local community.' The Yard added that gatherings of more than 30 people will be in breach of the Health Protection (Coronavirus) Restrictions and its decision to impose conditions did not mean the assembly in breach of these regulations was authorised by police. The march was carried out a coalition of organisations who joined to raise awareness of the cause for reparations The Metropolitan Police said they worked with the local community to allow them to express their right to protest Motorcyclists supporting the Stop the Maangamizi Campaign and the Afrikan Emancipation Day Reparations March Committee take part in a march from Windrush Square to Max Roach Park in Brixton, London, this afternoon An Extinction Rebellion protester supporting the Stop the Maangamizi Campaign and the Afrikan Emancipation Day Reparations March Committee takes part in a march from Windrush Square to Max Roach Park in Brixton, London Demonstrators praised the unity of the march as different groups came together to march for Afrikan Emancipation Day Demonstrators gathered in Windrush Square, in Brixton, before marching through the streets with signs and banners Police had imposed restrictions and a curfew ahead of the event over fears the demonstration would cause severe disruption Several speeches were delivered to the crowd in support of the campaign and promoting Afrikan Emancipation Day The Metropolitan Police confirmed that yesterday's event passed off peacefully with three people arrested Who are Stop the Maangamizi: We charge genocide/ecocide The group are campaigning for the government to establish an All-Party Parliamentary Commission for Truth & Reparatory Justice on Britain's history of slavery. The term Maangamizi, is a Swahili word for Holocaust, according to Professor Maulana Karenga. As well as raising awareness of Britain's colonial past, the group claim that black people in the UK still suffer significant discrimination and face economic deprivation and a lack of opportunity. The group believes that Britain became a wealthy society having exploited African people and claim that their ancestors should receive restitution. Protesters claim descendants of slaves in Britain should receive reparations for their ancestors' suffering Advertisement Lady Colin Campbell has compared the Duchess of Sussex with Shakespearean villain Lady Macbeth due to the influence she has over her husband Prince Harry. Lady Colin, who knew Prince Harry's mother, Princess Diana, warned the Duke of Sussex about the way his wife has acted and how he is now more distant from his family. Meghan and Harry's relationship has been chronicled in the controversial book Finding Freedom, which outlined the couple's fractious departure from the Royal Family. Lady Colin Campbell, pictured, has warned Prince Harry about his wife, accusing her of being like 'Lady Macbeth' Lady Colin claimed Meghan, pictured, right, has used Harry's weaknesses, which she shares Speaking to The Sun, Lady Colin said: 'Meghan's influence is very reminiscent of Lady Macbeth. 'To gain a toehold over Harry she appears to have played to his weaknesses, just as Katherine has played to William's strengths. 'Meghan shares a lot of Harry's weaknesses. He is hyper-emotional, over-the-top, rushes where wise people don't and is extremely self-important.' The controversial book was written by journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand. It highlighted several difficulties Meghan had trying to settle into the Royal Family. The book claimed the couple were unhappy with their supporting role in the family and felt constrained by the rules imposed by the palace. According to the authors, Clarence House had problems as soon as Prince Harry confirmed the relationship with Meghan, as Prince Charles and Camilla had just completed a diplomatic tour of the Gulf. The statement was issued by the then Prince Harry's Communications Secretary on November 8 2016, as Charles arrived in Bahrain which his team had hoped would be 'covered significantly'. The book said: 'A statement from Kensington Palace condemning the Press and, in the same breath, confirming Harry's new girlfriend would all but eliminate coverage of Prince Charles's tour of the Gulf. 'The Palace decided to go ahead with the statement nonetheless, much of which was drafted by Harry himself. 'Charles learnt of it just 20 minutes before it went out. Sure enough, as soon as Harry put out his declaration, the statement dominated the news cycle. 'The team at Clarence House, which had spent months putting together Prince Charles's tour in the hopes that it would be covered significantly, was crushed.' Extracts from the book, due to be published by HQ on August 11, have also covered claims the Duke of Sussex was angered by what he perceived as his brother's 'snobbish' attitude to his bride, and suggestions the Sussexes felt their complaints were not taken seriously and believed other royal households were leaking stories about them to the press. Harry confirmed he was dating US actress Meghan Markle in the November 2016 statement and lashed out at the 'wave of abuse and harassment' she has faced from the media. In a lengthy and strongly-worded statement, Harry's Communications Secretary Jason Knauf outlined the difficulties Miss Markle had experienced since news of their relationship broke. Mr Knauf said 'The past week has seen a line crossed. His girlfriend, Meghan Markle, has been subject to a wave of abuse and harassment.' He added: 'Prince Harry is worried about Ms Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her.' It was the first official confirmation from Kensington Palace that the pair were dating. News of the royal romance emerged around a week before the statement was issued, with The Sunday Express reporting the pair met in May while Harry was in Canada promoting Invictus Games 2017, the paralympics-style competition for injured servicemen and women and veterans he founded. Not since humans invented shoes or underwear has a single item of clothing become so common in such a short amount of time. From Melbourne to Mexico City, Beijing to Bordeaux, many people can be seen wearing this piece of clothing: the face mask. But rarely, maybe never, has anything else worn by humans created such widespread debate. Jeremy Howard is the co-founder of #Masks4All, a group supporting face mask use for everyone. Speaking recently about masks, Howard said there has probably never been such a quick and dramatic change in worldwide human behavior. Yet not everyone is accepting of this safety measure, which health officials say is aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus. Plenty of people do not like being told what to do. Many also do not trust scientific evidence suggesting that masks can be an effective way to reduce new infections. At demonstrations in the United States, Canada and Britain, people have criticized face masks. At one recent protest in London, a person argued against mask-wearing requirements in stores, saying: People die every year. This is nothing new. Mohammed al-Burji, a 42-year-old government worker in Lebanon, shared his thoughts on wearing masks with The Associated Press. He said he walks to work without a mask and does not worry. There is no coronavirus, brother. Theyre just deceiving people. As of July 24, Lebanon had reported over 3,400 coronavirus infections and 46 deaths. Officials have made public appeals for people to keep wearing masks and to practice social distancing. In Mexico City, Estima Mendoza says she feels shock and fear when seeing people not wearing masks. I feel defenseless. On one hand I judge them, and on the other I ask myself Why? Mendoza said. As human beings, we always judge. In France, masks resulted in an unexpected benefit for Maria Dabo. She no longer feels so different in a country that has made laws to prevent Muslim women from wearing face coverings. I feel like we are a bit better understood, Dabo said. Everyone is obliged to do the same as us, which makes me believe that God is busy teaching people a lesson, that covering up isnt religious or anything else. Its about not being a fool and protecting oneself. Masks can even divide families. Yu Jungyul, a child-health worker in Seoul, South Korea, says she has to ask her husband to wear one often. She says she tells him: We have to wear masks for other people now, rather than only for ourselves. Shopping with her young children, French museum worker Celine Brunet-Moret said she misses not being able to see emotions on peoples faces. You dont see people smiling or if they are OK or not, Brunet-Moret said. Its not the same life and its not the normal life, she added. So Im thinking that well never get used to it... But across the street from the shop where Brunet-Moret was buying cheese, Laure Estiez said that going out without one of her home-made masks now feels almost unnatural. She says every morning she goes through a process of picking colors to match her mood and clothing. She says this daily activity has become a pleasure. We have a very strong capacity for adaptation, she said. You get used to everything. I'm John Russell. John Leicester wrote this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story mask n. a covering used to protect your face or cover your mouth dramatic adj. sudden and extreme deceive v. to make (someone) believe something that is not true benefit n. a good or helpful result or effect oblige v. to force or require (someone or something) to do something because of a law or rule or because it is necessary mood n. the way someone feels : a person's emotional state capacity n. the ability to do something : a mental, emotional, or physical ability adaptation n. a change in a plant or animal that makes it better able to live in a particular place or situation; the process of changing to fit some purpose or situation : the process of adapting We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence arrive to participate in a roundtable with stakeholders positively impacted by law enforcement, in the East Room of the White House: AFP via Getty Images The White House coronavirus task force has warned that deaths will continue to spike within the next several weeks as the nation responds to a "new phase" of the pandemic that has gripped both rural and urban areas despite scrutiny from health experts that the administration failed to respond to the crisis at its onset. Donald Trump has meanwhile issued a rare direct rebuke of the nation's leading infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci, whom the president said is "wrong" to blame the surging public health crisis on the nation's failure to shut down its economy. Assistant health secretary Brett Giroir pushed back against claims promoted by president and his allies suggesting that hydroxychloroquine can treat Covid-19 patients. The president has recently defended a controversial doctor who called it a "cure" despite no evidence supporting that. "I think most physicians and prescribers are evidence-based and they're not influenced by Twitter," Admiral Giroir told NBC on Sunday. "The evidence does not show that hydroxychloroquine is effective right now ... We need to move on from that and talk about what is effective." Democrats also raised alarms following the president's threats to the general election, with House Majority Whip James Clyburn declaring the president the "Mussolini" to Russian president Vladimir Putin's Hitler". "I don't think he plans to leave the White House," he told CNN on Sunday. "He doesn't plan to have fair and unfettered elections. I believe that he plans to instal himself in some kind of emergency way to continue to hold onto office." Stacey Abrams, a contender for Joe Biden's running mate, said the president's threats are "trying to distract us from his oversight and leadership, or failed leadership" amid the pandemic. A vote to secure the president's nomination for his re-election could be held privately without members of the press later this month, for the first time in modern history, though GOP officials have disputed reports that would leave journalists out of the process. A spokesperson for the Republican National Convention (RNC) said the decision was due to health restrictions and limitations in place within the state of North Carolina, where 336 delegates were scheduled to gather in Charlotte on 24 August to formally vote to make Mr Trump the partys standard-bearer once again. GOP officials said on Sunday that organisers are still determining logistics to accommodate the press. Such nominating conventions are traditionally designed to be in the medias spotlight so political parties can draw attention to the events and amplify their platforms. The news comes as Tropical Storm Isaias, which was downgraded from a hurricane, is set to brush the east coast of Florida as it heads northwest with top sustained winds of 70 miles per hour. The National Hurricane Centre has said the storm will move near or along the states east coast on Sunday. Floridas central and northern east coast could be hit by a storm surge of as much as four feet (1.22m) as the storm pushes tidal levels above normal. Follow live coverage as it happened Please allow a moment for the liveblog to load Read more Donald Trump is the Mussolini to Putins Hitler, top Democrat says Trump to 'take action' in TikTok ban, Secretary of State warns Pelosi blasts Deborah Birx for 'disinformation' about coronavirus Wrong: Trump attacks Fauci on Twitter over coronavirus response Deborah Birx Nancy Pelosi ONE of Newcastle Wests most popular shopping streets could be in line for pedestrianisation on some weekends. Mayor Michael Collins has held talks with council bosses on a proposal to close Maiden Street to vehicle traffic on a trial basis. If all goes well, it could be put in place by next month. Its a lovely little street, its very conducive to shops, arts and crafts, cafes, that kind of thing. Maybe in time, we could roof it, so it could become a nice all-weather space. Ive been saying this to management and the traders in Newcastle West, and they are very open to it, he told the Limerick Leader. He acknowledged any pedestrianisation might create challenges around the movement of traffic in the town. But that can be overcome too. We really need to open up our city centre to make it more accessible to the general public, the mayor added. One of the traders in Maiden Street, publican Gearoid Whelan, Whelans Bar, said hed be delighted to see it happen. It would be great for trade and great for the businesses on the street. Itd be good for the town to have a pedestrianised area. Weve a lot of Shop Street-type stores beauty parlours, pubs, barbers and clothes shops, he said. Any place which is pedestrianised brings a bit of atmosphere to it, from Grafton Street to Shop Street to Cruises Street in the city centre. They work, he added. The reaction comes in contrast to that in the city, which has seen widespread trader opposition to proposals to pedestrianise a small parcel of Catherine Street on a temporary basis. Elsewhere, Mayor Collins says he wants to see The Square become a public space where people can congregate, eat and drink, and enjoy music festivals. Its a natural amphitheatre, he added, There is a European feel to the town. The public realm plan we are doing for Newcastle West is going to be exciting for both me as a public representative, but also for the town, for the people in the town, and the people who come into town. August 02, 2020 / 11:00 PM IST Coronavirus News Live Updates: Today is the 132nd day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown, to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded 17,50,723 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 37,364 deaths. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Gujarat have reported the highest number of cases. However, infections are rising rapidly in states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Yet, Indias recovery rate continues to rise and now stands at 65.44 percent. 'Unlock 3.0' has begun.Globally, there have been over 1.77 crore confirmed cases of COVID-19. More than 6.82 lakh people have died so far. Catch the LIVE updates here: Barely days into the infection, Michael Ward was isolated in a hospital bed with debilitating aches and pain, waking nightmares and hallucinations. He tested positive for COVID-19 around March 31 and was hospitalized shortly thereafter. There were no visitors, except for nurses, and the nurses would have to don their protective equipment latex gloves, face masks, a face shield, a smock and shoe coverings to check on him. It was about a 6-minute process. Victoria Ward, his wife, could not even come inside the building, a far cry from when she and other family members could visit his room after open-heart surgery years ago. But this time, no one came in or out except for on-duty professionals because the virus is that infectious. If I had to say, the worst part about this actually wasnt this physical rehab, and the dizziness, and the off-balance, and the fatigue that hits everyone once and a while and knocks me down the worst part is trying to get everything back right in my head to get a good nights sleep, Michael Ward said. Five days after her husband went to the hospital, Victoria Ward began developing symptoms of COVID-19. She tested positive about April 5. By comparison, her illness was mild but still profound. Washington, Aug 2 : White House officials and lawmakers said that they have made progress during talks on a new COVID-19 relief bill, while cautioning that major differences remain, according to US media. "Well, this was the longest meeting we had, and it was more productive than the other meetings," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters on Saturday after the meeting on Capitol Hill. "There are many issues that are still very much outstanding, where we're apart, but we had a serious discussion and we went down piece by piece and saw where each side is at," Xinhua news agency quoted the Senate Democratic leader as saying. Echoing Schumer's remarks, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the discussions are "the most productive we've had to date", while stressing that "there's still a lot of work to do". There will be more staff-level discussions on Sunday, and the leaders are set to meet again face-to-face on Monday, according to a Politico news report. As negotiations for the new relief package stall, the extra $600 unemployment benefits for roughly 30 million people expired on Friday, as did an eviction moratorium. Republican and Democratic lawmakers, facing immense pressure to reach a deal to salvage the economy from COVID-19, have blamed each other for failing to make progress. "Republicans tried several ways to extend unemployment benefits. Democrats blocked them all," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, tweeted on Friday. "The country can't afford this cynicism. Americans need help now," said McConnell. In response, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, blamed Republicans for failure to act in time. "More than 10 weeks ago, we passed the Heroes Act, which had a path to containing this virus with testing, tracing, treatment, mask wearing, sanitation. "The Republicans said they wanted to 'take a pause'. Well, the virus didn't," Pelosi said on Friday at a weekly press conference, referring to the $3 trillion relief package approved by House Democrats in May. Senate Republicans on July 27 unveiled their $1 trillion relief package, which would slash the $600 federal unemployment benefits to $200 through September, giving an unemployed worker about 70 per cent of previous wages when combined with state benefits. But Democrats want to maintain the current level of benefits through January 2021. The Republican proposal also includes another round of $1,200 direct payments to working Americans, billions in loans to small businesses through Paycheck Protection Program, liability protections for businesses, doctors and schools, as well as aid for schools. On aid for schools, Republicans planned to approve $105 billion for reopening schools and colleges, while Democrats proposed $430 billion for schools, including $50 billion for child-care facilities. Another sticking point in the negotiation is direct aid to states and cities, as the Democrats proposed a nearly $1 trillion aid for struggling state and local governments in their $3 trillion relief proposal, while Republicans planned to offer no new money. The Rockies made some significant bullpen moves today, moving closer Wade Davis to the 10-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain. Right-hander Joe Harvey has been recalled to take Davis spot on the active roster. In more troubling news, right-hander Scott Oberg has been moved from the 10-day IL to the 45-day IL due to blood clots in his throwing arm. Oberg was previously on the injured list due to a back strain, though a throwing session on Saturday was ended early after Oberg was had a little discomfort in the hand and had a hard time gripping the ball, as manager Bud Black told MLB.coms Thomas Harding and other reporters. Further tests revealed the blood clots, marking the second time in two seasons and the third overall time in Obergs career that he had dealt with such a problem. The right-hander has had to undergo three separate surgeries in efforts to dissolve the clots, and a fourth procedure could quite possibly be in the cards given the seemingly perpetual nature of the issue. Black hinted today that Oberg might not take the field in 2020, telling Harding and other media its going to be awhile if at all for Scott this season. Despite all the health concerns, the Rockies signed Oberg to a three-year, $13MM extension this past winter, covering his final two arbitration-eligible years, his first free agent year, and potentially the 2023 season as well via an $8MM club option. It was a commitment the Rox were comfortable making given how well Oberg performed in 2018-19, as he posted a 2.35 ERA, 3.29 K/BB rate, 9.0 K/9 over 114 2/3 innings. Davis recorded saves in his first two outings this season but blew up in two-thirds of an inning against the Padres on Friday night, surrendering four earned runs in the form of home runs from Fernando Tatis Jr. and Tommy Pham. A shoulder issue could be the reason for Davis poor showing, though it marked an unwelcome continuation of Davis disastrous form from the 2019 season. He managed only an 8.65 ERA over 42 2/3 innings, though things didnt really go south for Davis until after he returned from an oblique injury last June, so health could potentially have been a factor. 2020 is the last guaranteed year of the three-year, $52MM contract Davis signed with Colorado prior to the 2018 season. The $15MM mutual option in the deal for 2021 can vest into a player option, though it still isnt entirely clear what new number of games finished Davis would have to accumulate in order to gain control over his 2021 salary. That said, it might be a moot point given that Davis injury and his overall struggles will leave the Rockies turning to another option for the ninth inning. Jairo Diaz is the top closer candidate at this point, though Carlos Estevez or comeback kid Daniel Bard may also get consideration for save opportunities. Tara O'Neill / Hearst Connecticut Media FAIRFIELD Three boaters were quickly rescued by firefighters near Penfield Reef on Saturday night, according to the towns fire department. Fire units responded to the area of Penfield Reef around 8:30 p.m. for a call about three boaters in distress. Sunday, August 2, 2020 by Dr. S.D. Shanti (Editorial Note: It is late afternoon on August 1st in the time zone where I am writing, though the time stamp says August 2nd). Dear Readers, I hope that you, your family and friends are doing as well as one can under these present circumstances. The pandemic has arrived full-force in Arizona where I am presently based. My state made international news recently when it became one of the worlds leading COVID-19 hot spots, and the pandemic has affected many people in physical and financial ways. My team and I have been working intensively behind the scenes responding to various public heath needs related to the pandemic. In the next few weeks, you will hear more about forthcoming projects, including a course for the public titled What is Public Health and Why Does it Matter? This course will be available at no cost and will be published by an audio publisher in the United States. Also in the pipeline for the upcoming months are two books on mental health promotion: Your Mental Health Tool-Kit and How to Stay Sane in an Insane World. As a result of the time demands associated with the above and other projects, I have had to temporarily reduce the frequency of blog posts. August 1st in Switzerland Today, August 1st, is the Swiss National Day, which marks the beginning of the country in 1291. Thus it feels timely, along with updates, to share with you the Swiss origins of Prescriptions for Hope and its current ties to Switzerland. When people ask me where I am from, I reply that I am from three countries: India, the United States and Switzerland. I moved to Switzerland in my mid-thirties. Over time, I became a Swiss citizen and the country has become my home. Swiss Origins and Current Ties It was in Basel, Switzerland, in the Fall of 1997 that I learned about newly released data on mental health in The Global Burden of Disease, a report issued by the World Health Organization and the Harvard School of Public Health. The report stated that by the year 2020 depression would be one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. That moment in 1997 was the start of a public health journey that initially began with the goal of advancing depression prevention worldwide, and soon expanded to include violence prevention as well. In the ensuing years, it was also in Basel, where the groundwork for my innovations was laid. There I discovered the power of combining psychology, public health and writing, and how this could help people. My earliest steps were carried out with support from the Gebert-Ruf Foundation in Basel, and the University of Fribourg. Then, following incubation and development at Stanford University and other places in the United States, it is anchored again in Switzerland as we prepare for global scaling of the prevention work. Prescriptions for Hope operates under the auspices of the Arco Foundation in Winterthur. The Arco Foundation, founded and led by Mr. Heinz Waech, is a roof foundation, or Dachstiftung as it is called in German. This structure offers smaller foundations, such as ours, the ability to operate with lower overhead costs in comparison to a conventional foundation, and still gives us full access to professional oversight and financial management. Innovation in Public Health When most people think of Switzerland, they typically envision mountains, cheese and chocolate. Banks, Swiss Army knives, yodelling and alphorns also come to mind. However, for many of us working in public service, Switzerland is synonymous with humanitarian assistance, international cooperation and neutrality. It is also a country with one of the highest per capita rates of innovations. The country that gave the world the International Red Cross and the Geneva Conventions has also given us VELCRO, the World Wide Web and the hang drum, among other things. Violence and Depression: Parts of a Social Syndrome Through my early stage research when searching for cost-effective ways of preventing depression and violence on a large scale, I arrived at a cluster of five elements that are inter-connected: poverty, illiteracy, violence, depression, and inequality. Together they form a social syndrome, whereby one or more of these elements co-occur. As a result, these elements drag people into a vicious circle of despair and hopelessness. The global data on violence and depression spurred me to develop new approaches to stopping this downward spiral, and replacing it instead, with a virtuous circle by creating healthier conditions in which people can grow and flourish. The core of my innovations are contained in a document called A Blueprint for Hope. This document offers practical, cost-effective and research-based ways to create a world free of suicide and inter-personal violence (which affects one in every three women and one in every four children globally). Growth in a Unique Environment When I was nineteen years old, while living in the United States, somehow I just knew that my lifes work would involve serving people in poverty. By twenty-two, that knowledge had translated itself into a goal: that one day I would work in public health in Switzerland. I envisioned a scenario that is not uncommon among people from other countries who end up as senior specialists in Geneva. After my time at Stanford, that goal did come true, in connection with the dental public health side of my life. In Geneva, I had the opportunity to lead the public side of a multi-country public-private partnership and collaborate with colleagues at the World Health Organization. I even had the chance to speak at the UN during a World Health Assembly, in the setting seen on television news shows, where delegates from around the world sit with their country names in front of them. But the calling I first heard in Basel in 1997, to advance depression and then violence prevention, never left me. I continued refining and improving the Blueprint for Hope and in the process also created Prescriptions for Hope. Like a slow-cooked dish with various spices that requires time to be ready, my body of work in violence prevention and depression prevention is now fully ready for implementation around the world. The need for violence and depression prevention has always been great, but it has increased in magnitude due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, as a behavioral scientist and public health practitioner, I am grateful for the opportunities Switzerland has given me to develop innovations in public health. I am also grateful for the opportunity to grow my work there, in a unique environment that supports global collaboration, consensus building, and humanitarian assistance. Happy Birthday Switzerland! And Thank You! P.S. In case you are interested, below is an excerpt from a Swiss magazine published in 2005, where I was featured among a group they called Swiss Who Innovate. Its in French and deals with one of my innovations. Due to time constraints I am unable to do the English translation now, but will do so as soon as possible if you are interested. New Delhi, Aug 2 : Raksha Bandhan is the most precious day of the year, it fills everyone's heart with excitement and brothers' eagerly wait for their sisters to come and tie Rakhis on their wrists. To make this day even more memorable, IANSlife, brings a trendy and attractive selection of Rakhis and thalis to compliment them. Precious Rakhis 1) Tribe Amrapali - Silver, gold plated floral painted Ganesha rakhi cum pendant. Price: Rs 2,900, available in stores and website www.tribeamrapali.com 2) Anmol celebrates the precious bond that siblings share with their latest Raksha Bandhan edition. Every Rakhi from the edition dons an intricately designed centrepiece that is curated in 18K and 22K gold. Some pieces are crafted with fine diamonds making them Precious Rakhis in true sense. Price: On request, available at ANMOL's boutique in Bandra(W), Mumbai. 3) A rakhi, crafted in sterling silver and studded with semi-precious stones and colourful enamelling by Izaara. Price: On Request, Availability - www.izaara.in Biodegradable and Designer Rakhis 1) The women of Garhwal, at the Him Vikas Self-Reliant Co-op (HVSRC) have designed and handcrafted Rakhis out of Pine wood bark, mauli, local lentil seeds and rice, a staple in Jharipani, Kanatal. This eco-friendly Seed Rakhi will nurture the Earth when buried. Price: Starts Rs 275, availability at https://pages.razorpay.com/organicrakhis 2) Moral Fibre, the khadi brand has come out with biodegradable rakhis and has roped in a self-help group (SHO) of women artisans that are trying to make a steady livelihood to combat this pandemic. Price: On request, available at https://moralfibre fabrics.com/product/biodegradable-rakhi-3/ 3) Agate Stone Rakhi - This stunning Agate Stone Rakhi with gold plated edges is the perfect choice for sisters looking for attractively designed rakhis. The uneven surface and the raw edges give each piece a unique look making the bond even more special. These are available in shades of blue, green, and pink. Price: On request, available at Ferns N Petals store 4) If your brother frowns upon rakhis with big centrepieces, then here's the 'thread' of bond. Aisshpra Gems & Jewels's 2020, rakhi line-up boasts eclectic threads like blue, orange, green and blackish tones alongside traditional reds. Price: On request, available across all the Aisshpra Gems and Jewels Stores Thalis 1) Gold Gift Ideas Silver-Plated Sarovar Pooja Thali Set: This silver-plated Pooja thali is designed with intrinsic details that gives a perfect modern traditional look. Price: Rs 999, available on Amazon.in 2) Combination of two menacer Rakhis with puja thali and kaju katli, complimentary roli & chawal Price: Rs 1,299, Available at www.fnp.com 3) Delicious Rakhi Thali of Affection: Show your love and affection to your brother on this Raksha Bandhan through this beautiful and lovely Rakhi combo which is embellished with a beautiful Rakhi and delicious Sweets: decorated on a beautiful and designer thali. Price: Rs 1,199, Available at www.rakhibazaar.com 4) Antiques nirmala decorative Meenakari pooja thali in steel with attached small ganesha face giving it an auspicious look. Price: Rs 286, www.flipkart.com (N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in) Over 1,000 people have staged a protest against quarantine in the Dutch city of The Hague. One protester was detained for insulting a police officer, and the other for identification purposes, NOS reported. Overall, the anti-quarantine rally in Malieveld Park was reportedly peaceful. However, some of those present violated the social distancing of 1.5 meters, ZIK reported. As noted, the peaceful protest was dedicated to madness, which, in their opinion, is going on around the disease and restrictions on the rights and freedoms of citizens. From time to time, the police asked the organizers to remind the participants of the mandatory security measures. A federal grand jury on Thursday charged ex-Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and four other Capitol Square figures with federal bribery and racketeering crimes that could earn them long prison sentences and require forfeiture of their personal assets. Yet these charges are just the leading edge of a depressingly long list of the ways Ohio lawmakers have allowed the peoples house to become the house that lobbyists and dark money own. That must change. Also on Thursday. Householder, a Republican from Perry Countys Glenford, was removed from the speakership by a unanimous House vote, and Rep. Robert R. Cupp, a Lima Republican and former Ohio Supreme Court justice, elected to succeed him. MEXICO CITYMexican authorities on Sunday arrested the leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, a gang known for stealing millions of dollars of fuel from government pipelines and for turning once-peaceful Guanajuato state into one of the most dangerous regions in the country. Videos show the pre-dawn capture by federal and state authorities of Jose Antonio Yepez Ortiz, who is known by the alias El Marro, which means the Sledgehammer. He was detained along with five others in a raid that authorities said also freed a kidnapped businesswoman. The capture of Yepez Ortiz, one of the most high-profile arrests by the Mexican government in years, highlights the contradictory nature of the security policies pushed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has vowed to fight crime by eradicating poverty and break with the militarized strategies of his predecessors but who in practice has not always done so. It also casts a focus on the changing nature of Mexicos criminal organizations, which have branched out far beyond transnational drug trafficking and are now engaged in cargo robbery, domestic drug sales and control of industries as diverse as gold mining and the avocado trade. Yepez Ortiz, 40, first made headlines for allegedly stealing more than a million dollars worth of fuel a day from the many pipelines radiating from a government-owned oil refinery in the city of Salamanca. His cartel became the most powerful of the countrys many fuel-theft gangs, known as huachicoleros, and later branched out into other illegal enterprises, including extortion and local drug sales. In 2017, his group ran afoul of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Mexico, led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho. Mexican media have reported that the Jalisco cartel, which is a leading smuggler of methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States, originally tried to make a deal with Yepez Ortiz: Keep the lucrative fuel-theft business but allow Jaliscos drug mules to ferry their product through the state. Yepez Ortiz not only rejected the offer, but also allegedly ordered the killing of the nephew of the Jalisco groups leader, setting off a cartel war that has convulsed the state in violence. There were 3,540 killings in Guanajuato last year, a more than threefold increase since 2016. With 2,293 more killings in the first half of this year, Guanajuato is on pace to set a new record. Among the many brutal acts recorded in the state in recent months was the massacre of 27 people at a drug rehabilitation centre in the city of Irapuato, which authorities believe was carried out by the Santa Rosa gang. Last year, Yepez Ortiz escaped a raid by authorities on his compound, possibly through an underground complex of tunnels. Authorities did not say where Yepez Ortiz was arrested Sunday. A video that appeared to be leaked from somebody present at the raid showed him, in a grey sweatshirt and tan work boots, being taken toward a helicopter by heavily armed security forces. Mexican Security Secretary Alfonso Durazo said Yepez Ortiz would be charged with organized crime and fuel theft. Mexican and U.S. authorities praised the arrest of Yepez Ortiz, with U.S. Ambassador Christopher Landau tweeting in Spanish: Criminals think they are so smart, but in the end us good guys will always win. But others questioned whether it might actually fuel more violence. The Jalisco cartel last month posted a video apparently filmed near the border of Jalisco and Guanajuato states that showed dozens of its members outfitted with assault riffles and machine guns as well as an anti-aircraft missile. Experience leads us to be cautious, tweeted former congressman Fernando Belaunzaran. Dozens of leaders have been captured in Mexico and it has not caused a reduction in violence.. He was referring to the targeting of cartel capos, known as the kingpin strategy, which has been a key element of Mexican security efforts since 2006, when the country, aided by the United States, first deployed soldiers, marines and federal police officers in the countrys war on the gangs. While some security analysts argue that such strategies helped stop Mexico from becoming a narco state, they also unwittingly unleashed a wave of violence as would-be kingpins fought for control of cartels. For example, Mexico has recorded several of its bloodiest years ever since the arrest and extradition of Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin (El Chapo) Guzman in 2017. Lopez Obrador, who was elected in a landslide victory in 2018 in part on his pledge to bring peace to this violence-weary nation, has repeatedly renounced the militarized approach of his predecessors, for whom capturing cartel leaders was a priority. He has vowed to tackle organized crime by fighting poverty instead, a strategy he has dubbed hugs, not bullets. Yet those promises have not translated to concrete changes on the ground. Since he took office a year and a half ago, armed federal forces have continued to pursue leaders of criminal groups, including a botched operation to capture Guzmans son last fall. Federal troops briefly detained the young drug boss, but later decided to release him after the Sinaloa cartel took large parts of the northern city of Culiacan hostage. Lopez Obrador said the decision to release the younger Guzman was made to save innocent lives. We will no longer fight violence with violence, he said at the time. There is no longer a war against drug traffickers. The arrest of Yepez Ortiz led some to question whether that was really the case. Hadnt they said they werent after the bosses anymore? asked Sergio Sarmiento, a columnist for Reforma newspaper, on Twitter. Read more about: Amid the ongoing political crisis in Rajasthan, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot seems to be adopting a soft approach against the rebels from the Sachin Pilot camp, as he openly announced on Saturday that he will forgive and embrace them if they apologise to the party high command. Speaking to the media in Jaisalmer, the Rajasthan Chief Minister said that if those who were engaged in the conspiracy to destabilise the government in Rajasthan confess to the party high command and are forgiven, he would also embrace them. Gehlot also attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying he always contemplates ways and means of toppling elected governments. He said, "I take Amit Shah's name repeatedly because he always remains on the front. No matter whether it is Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Manipur or Arunachal Pradesh -- he leads from the front for BJP every time." "Out of compulsion, we have to say that what has happened to you Amit Shah? How can you think of toppling the government all the time? What will happen to the country if there is no democracy," Gehlot asked. The Rajasthan CM further said, "If elected governments start getting toppled, how can democracy survive in India? We are running a campaign to save democracy in the whole country." Gehlot also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should intervene and stop the horse trading show being run in the state. He also made a scathing attack on Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and said that he should resign on moral grounds as his name has appeared in the Sanjeevani Cooperative Society embezzlement case. English television commercials were awful, so we used to do a lot of experimenting in the basement of the agency, he told the Times in 1982. The art director did the lighting, somebody else ran the tape machine, somebody else ran the camera. I was the only one who couldnt do anything. So I had to say, Action! which any idiot can do. Then I realized I could also say, Cut! And one day I shouted at an actor, No, no, thats not whats wanted! and everybody looked at me, and suddenly I was a director. It was Day 23 on August 2 of ongoing demonstrations in support of dismissed Khabarovsk regional Governor Sergei Furgal. The protesters gathered outside the regional administration building in the Russian Far East city, chanting Furgal's surname and the slogan, "We will come tomorrow." Furgal was arrested on July 9 and transferred to Moscow, pending trial on charges of attempted murder and ordering the killing of two local businessmen in 2004-05. Two years ago, Furgal unexpectedly won local elections against a Moscow-backed candidate, and his supporters believe the charges are a political setup. Author Darren Bonaparte Compiles the Work of 19th Century Historian Franklin B. Hough Akwesasne Mohawk Territory: A new book has been released about the history of Akwesasne, the Mohawk community on the US/Canada border near Cornwall, Ontario. An Early History of Akwesasne: The Works of Franklin B. Hough 1822-1885 examines the work of a noted nineteenth century historian who first visited Akwesasne in 1852 while researching his book, A History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, New York. Hough returned several times later to gather data about the community for the New York State Census of 1855, 1865, and 1875. "Franklin B. Hough wrote the first, definitive history of Akwesasne that set a high standard for all future researchers," said author Darren Bonaparte. "He walked to the village on foot, described what he saw, and interviewed the chiefs, community members, and the local Catholic priest. He recorded oral traditions about the founding of the community and made copies of whatever documents he could find." One of the people Hough encountered was Reverend Eleazer Williams, an Episcopalian missionary from Kahnawake who promoted himself as the 'Lost Dauphin,' the son of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who were both executed in the French Revolution. Although he did not buy into Williams' royal claims, Hough asked the reverend about key individuals he knew personally: Colonel Louis Cook, a veteran warrior of the Seven Years War, the American Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812; his own father, Thomas Williams, a Kahnawake chief; and William Gray, an American soldier who served as interpreter for the chiefs and married into the community. Williams responded by writing their biographies, and Hough used these documents as the basis of his own account of their lives, supplementing them with archival materials found elsewhere. "While many people then and now view Eleazer Williams as a con man, Hough saw value in his personal recollections, particularly of Colonel Louis Cook, who held a commission as a lieutenant-colonel in the Continental Army, and was a personal acquaintance of General George Washington and other senior officers," said Bonaparte. "The material Hough gathered about the community's first century has been cited by historians since it was published in 1853," Bonaparte said. "He returned to the community many times later, and wrote about the changes he observed from his first visit to his last. His writings, which I have gathered in this book, document the resilience and adaptability of the people of Akwesasne. They carved out a place for themselves in a rapidly changing landscape." An Early History of Akwesasne - The Works of Franklin B. Hough by Darren Bonaparte. With a global pandemic taking place as he researched his book, Bonaparte took note of a curious parallel: "Hough was a medical doctor by training, and he documented Akwesasne's experiences with epidemic disease in the first half of the nineteenth century. Smallpox hit the community in 1829, killing an unknown number, and in 1832, cholera and typhus killed 132. Three years before Hough arrived, cholera killed 29, and smallpox infected over 500 people, killing 30. I can't imagine what it must have been like to experience such devastation." Bonaparte noted that some contemporary native writers disparage the work of outside scholars today, but the true student of history should confront their works and learn from them. "It would be a shame to ignore the work of Dr. Hough, because he did everything that we would ask of scholars today. He went to the source, spoke to those who knew the stories, and earned their trust. He gathered information about a crucial time in our collective past," he said. An Early History of Akwesasne: The Works of Franklin B. Hough 1822-1885 is available online at Amazon's American and Canadian websites. It can also be purchased at Wild Bill's One Stop on Route 37 in Akwesasne. The most common symptom of Covid-19 is that you feel just fine. A huge number of those now being absurdly listed as infected with this bogeyman disease are perfectly healthy. If the trained hunters of the Governments National Panic Service had not tracked them down, most of them would never have known they were supposed to be ill. Why do we take this seriously? It is a fact, not a conspiracy theory, that the power of the state is now being used to keep us in a condition of perpetual alarm. We are ceaselessly threatened with a second wave for which there is, in fact, no evidence. No escape: A holiday rep warns British tourists arriving in Majorca last week about the new quarantine rules. According to the Coronavirus Worldometer, the daily Covid deaths in Spain for the past few weeks have rarely risen above five a day, and have often been fewer than that As I began to write this, I received a ridiculous text message from my GP squawking urgently: We have been made aware that the number of coronavirus cases in Oxfordshire is starting to rise. No doubt Oxford will be one of the next cities to undergo some sort of renewed shutdown, to keep us in our place. This fatuous propaganda is just preparing the way. The more scared we are, the more we obey. It ended by intoning: We must each do our bit to protect ourselves and others. The use of the phrase do our bit, of course, invokes the phoney Blitz spirit that is used against anyone who looks at the actual researched facts and says, as I do: Dont be silly. For daring to stay calm, I am then accused of being a collaborator with the wicked Nazi virus. The played-out, once-independent magazine Private Eye, now a boring mouthpiece of wokeness, actually did this to me last week. People are pictured shopping at Leicester market. It is a fact, not a conspiracy theory, that the power of the state is now being used to keep us in a condition of perpetual alarm The truth is that the number of deaths from Covid, even the fiddled and inflated version which the Government clings to, is falling closer and closer to zero. So, even more significantly, are hospital admissions, which would be rising steeply if these infection figures actually represented large numbers of seriously ill people. These things are true both of Britain and of Spain, whose supposed spike in Covid was used to destroy the holiday plans of more than a million people last week in an arbitrary decision of astonishing uselessness. At the peak of the epidemic in April, Spain at one point suffered 961 deaths in one day. According to the Coronavirus Worldometer, the daily Covid deaths in Spain for the past few weeks have rarely risen above five a day, and have often been fewer than that. And for this we destroy the happy innocent pleasures of hundreds of thousands, and deal another smashing blow to a travel industry already devastated by Government folly? Why do we put up with it? I have no idea. Welby is such a pathetic prelate The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is, in my view, prissy, pathetic and political. He has utterly failed to stand up for his church against its first compulsory shutdown since the days of Bad King John eight centuries back. Not long ago Welby supported the disgraceful smearing of a man whose mitre he would not have been fit to carry, the courageous and selfless Bishop George Bell of Chichester (please, please do not confuse Bell with the revolting criminal Bishop Peter Ball, with whom he is not remotely connected). The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is, in my view, prissy, pathetic and political Bell, long after his death, was wrongly labelled as a child abuser by a secret kangaroo court of the Church of England, which did not even bother to look for living witnesses for the defence. When this outrage was met with a wave of fury from the many who had known and loved Bell, an independent inquiry tore the case against him to shreds. But even after Bell was cleared to the satisfaction of all open-minded people, Welby (like many weak men reluctant to admit an error) continued to insist that a significant cloud still hung over Bell. Am I now entitled to see a spot of divine retribution in the revelation last week that the C of E is investigating how Welby dealt with complaints of serial abuse of young men at Christian holiday camps? Well, I do. One of those affected has now written to the Church with a formal complaint against the Archbishop, once a dormitory officer at the camps, saying Welby did not do enough when he learned of the abuse. The man claims Welby failed to refer the abuse directly to social services and the police, in breach of church guidelines. Welby has always said he knew nothing of the allegations until 2013, when the Church referred them to the police. Well, no doubt Welby will be cleared of all this. But will he then proclaim that a significant cloud still hangs over himself? Or will he learn that if you desire justice for yourself, you have to desire it for others? In France, a brief flash of good sense. The new Prime Minister, Jean Castex, is introducing on-the-spot fines for marijuana possession, partly because of the obvious link between this allegedly soft drug and criminal violence. He announced the plan during a visit to Nice, which has recently suffered weeks of drugs-related violence. I only hope his security chiefs have finally spotted the fact that almost all the terrorist killers in France in the past few years (including Mohamed Bouhlel, the atheist petty criminal who was the culprit of the lorry massacre in Nice itself in July 2016) have been marijuana users. Ill happily give blood, but not in a muzzle Last Monday I tried to give a pint of blood, something I do reasonably regularly though not as often as I should. I was prevented from even entering the Donor Centre by a senior functionary of the English Blood Service, because I declined to wear a muzzle. Oh, how selfish and pompous of me, to deprive someone in need of my blood, because I wouldnt don a strip of cloth for a few minutes! Well, I dont agree. And if you do you can easily nip along to your nearest blood bank and replace the pint I didnt give with one of your own. But will you really? Last Monday I tried to give a pint of blood, something I do reasonably regularly though not as often as I should [File photo] Its precisely because Im the sort of person who gives blood (fewer than a million in England do so) that Im also the sort of person who objects to being forced to wear futile garments by bossy bureaucrats. Theres no good evidence that these muzzles stop transmission of Covid. And I view them as a badge of submission to a series of stupid and damaging Government policies which I oppose and despise. To don one of these things would be compelled speech, like being forced to wear a badge saying I LOVE BORIS, when I dont. But its worse than that. The enforced wearing of face-nappies by donors which even the Government does not require may actually be making the process less safe in England. The blood services of all three of the other nations in the UK ask donors to remove masks during donation. This is because, as Welsh Blood puts it: Wearing a face covering will hide the signs that indicate to staff that a donor is about to faint and possibly injure themselves. It is essential that our staff can see donors faces so they can intervene at the earliest opportunity if a donor is about to faint. The services in Scotland and Northern Ireland confirmed to me that they take the same view. But the English service, the NHSBT, refuses to discuss it, taking a Dalek-like view that you will jolly well obey. I think they have forgotten that donors are volunteers. Hit hard by the pandemic, owners of around 3,000 and guest houses in the national capital had to let go more than 75 per cent of their staff and are now staring at bankruptcy with unpaid bills running into lakhs, umbrella groups representing them have claimed. So severe is the situation that the president of Delhi Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association, Sandeep Khandelwal, claims he himself was being unable to pay his house rent. Even though the Centre had allowed hotels across the country to open their doors to customers from June 8, the did not do so considering a large number of cases in that month. With Delhi witnessing a significant improvement in the situation in July end, the government last Thursday allowed hotels to resume "normal functioning". But that was not to be as Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal the next day vetoed the decision, saying the situation continues to be "fragile" and the threat is still "far from over". Khandelwal said over four lakh people depend on hotels, guest houses and restaurants for their livelihood directly or indirectly. "The establishments have remained closed since March 15. Most of the employees have returned to their villages. A few remain to look after the premises. They, too, are not being paid their full salaries," he said. Khandelwal, who runs Hotel Grand Imperial in Karol Bagh on a lease, claimed that he has not been able to pay its rent for the last four months. "I pay Rs 7 lakh as rent for the property. Of the 20 employees working at the hotel before lockdown, only three remain. Around 50 families depend on the hotel directly or indirectly," he said. The association's president said he hasn't been able to earn enough to pay his house rent and car loan EMI. "I represent the and look at the situation I am in. Others are in a much worse condition." Khandelwal claimed that hotel and guest house owners are being "forced" to pay hefty water and power bills, even though there has been "zero business" in the last four months. According to him, many hotel owners have taken loans from their friends and family members to stay afloat. "We demand that the government give us some rebate on bills. Many establishments are on the verge of bankruptcy. If they cannot provide any relief, at least renew our fire and police licences and allow us to operate," he demanded. Khandelwal said he has been receiving a lot of calls from his employees, asking when they can return to work. "What do I tell them? Tomorrow, I might have to find a job for myself. The fight for survival is turning worse each passing day." The association has requested Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal and Chief Minister to give them "just one appointment" to discuss their problems. Jagpreet Arora, the president of the Karol Bagh Guest House Welfare Association, said most of the establishments have reduced their staff by more than 75 per cent. "It is becoming increasingly difficult to feed our families. How do we pay the staff? Bills are piling up and there is no relief from the government. We have reached the stage where the employers might die of hunger... one cannot even imagine what the employees are going through," he said. Arora, who runs Emperor Palms in Karol Bagh, has reduced his staff strength from 30 to just five in the last four months. "If the situation continues, I won't be able to pay the salaries of these five persons too." "We appeal to the L-G to please acknowledge the ground realities and allow us to operate. A lot of families are fighting for their survival," he said. "If Maharashtra can allow hotels to operate despite having the maximum number of cases, why cannot Delhi which has made a rapid recovery?" Arora posed. Delhi is a transit hub. A lot of people come here for business. Hotels in the city can recover to some extent in three months. A lot of employment can be regenerated, he said. "We will follow all standard operating procedures. We are prepared," Arora said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 06:12:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Video: A new public art installation "The Flag Project," featuring 192 newly designed flags showcasing love for New York City, starts its half-month display at Rockefeller Center, New York, the United States, on Aug. 1. (Xinhua) More than 1,000 designs from all over the world were submitted, created by people ranging from primary school students to retired workers. NEW YORK, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- A new public art installation "The Flag Project," featuring 192 newly designed flags showcasing love for New York City, is displayed as a temporary exhibition at Rockefeller Center from Aug. 1 to Aug. 16. Introductions of flag designs of "the Flag Project" are seen in the rink of the Rockefeller Center in New York, the United States, August 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Rockefeller Center has invited the public to design the flags that show their love for New York City and submit their own artworks celebrating the city's diverse culture, vibrant energy and strength. More than 1,000 designs from all over the world were submitted, created by people ranging from primary school students to retired workers. Newly-designed flags are seen around the rink of the Rockefeller Center in New York, the United States, August 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) The winning submissions from the public will be accompanied by works created by a number of renowned artists including Jeff Koons, Christian Siriano and Laurie Anderson. Each selected design was produced into an 8-foot by 5-foot flag, raising alongside the artists' flags on the 192 flagpoles surrounding the Plaza. Newly-designed flags are seen around the rink of the Rockefeller Center in New York, the United States, August 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Kristin Doney, an illustrator from Pennsylvania, said her design is a dog sitting in a New York City taxi. "A lot of people adopted shelter dogs during COVID-19 shutdown. And so all these little dogs are now living it up in the city with their new home," she said. "So my design is celebrating rescue dogs and all the animal rescue organizations that help shelter dogs and cats." Newly-designed flags are seen around the rink of the Rockefeller Center in New York, the United States, August 1, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) "The Flag Project" is a free outdoor exhibition and can be viewed by the public at any time. For most of the year, the flags surrounding the Plaza at Rockefeller Center represent the nations recognized by the United Nations. For some special occasions, all of the flags are uniform, such as the U.S. national flags on the Fourth of July. Sushant Singh Rajputs brother-in-law Vishal Kirti has written a lengthy blog post after the late actors therapist claimed in an interview that he had bipolar disorder and Rhea Chakraborty was his strongest support. Vishal begins with a disclaimer that his comments are an independent opinion and a response to the interview of Susan Walker, who said that Sushant and Rhea were consulting her since November-December 2019. Vishal said that though he last saw Sushant in July 2017, during his trip to India, they shared a healthy relationship over the years. I have known him since 1997 (my 8th grade) since his sister Shweta (my wife now), he and I went to the same school. Shweta and I were in the same grade and he was a grade junior, Vishal wrote, adding that even after he moved to the US in 2006, he was in touch with Sushant till early 2019. Also Watch | Rhea Chakraborty under our watch, say Bihar cops on Sushant death case Calling himself a feminist, Vishal said that it would be wrong to term the FIR against Rhea misogynistic. My first point is that caring about womens issues is not incompatible with filing criminal charges against a female suspect. Calling criminal charges against Rhea misogynistic is an incorrect assessment of the situation. While on average, more men tend to engage in criminal behavior, criminality is not outside the purview of women, he wrote. Vishal said that he personally believed that mental health issues should not carry a special stigma. The reason I said special is that its nearly impossible to completely eliminate stigma from health issues. For eg., if there is a person suffering from diabetes, there will be some amount of stigma about his/her lifestyle even if this person was genetically predisposed. Similarly, whether we like it or not, there is no country in the world where stigma around mental health is zero, he said. However, since there is an enormous amount of stigma today, mental health information is protected by the law of the land. Disclosing mental health information by a psychotherapist/psychologist is not only unethical but also illegal (except for certain circumstances which dont apply here). I leave it to my father-in-law to press charges on this matter, he added. Vishal questioned Susans diagnosis of Sushant as bipolar, asking how she could have made that assessment in less than two months. Diagnosing mental disorders is an arduous task and diagnosing someone Bipolar (I or II) is even more so. Not only do you have to observe the person very closely, but you also have to observe them over long periods of time (it takes six years on average to diagnose after the onset of symptoms). Susan very conveniently diagnoses Sushant in less than two months (perhaps over a couple of appointments), with a life-changing diagnosis, he said. Vishal added that Susan not only had the audacity to disclose this information in the public domain but also made it clear in her statement that the treatment was sought by Rhea and not Sushant himself. Prior to October/November 2019 (and certainly prior to meeting Rhea), as far as I know, no one who has lived with Sushant has ever complained about his mental health, nor has Sushant himself, he said. Vishal then went on to question Rheas role, using information available in the public domain. He said, The FIR claims that Sushant was perhaps given psychotropic drugs by Rhea (maybe even without his knowledge). Covert/Surreptitious medication is also perhaps illegal in the 21st century. There could be many explanations of this sudden onset of mental health issues in October/November of 2019. This could be a result of covert medication and withdrawal of psychotropic drugs (perhaps the covert medication stopped during their Europe trip in October 2019 [perhaps because of eating out mostly so no opportunity to covertly medicate him with food? or perhaps intentionally not medicating?], which led to withdrawal symptoms). And then, he was perhaps taken to the psychotherapist under the pretext of care. According to Vishal, the fact that Rhea set up Sushants appointments with the therapist and was present at their sessions could be a sign of keeping a tab on Sushants conversations with the psychotherapist. He also alleged that she may have been doing it to keep evidence of mental health issues so that it can be used later for blackmail or to justify the firm control on his resources. Rheas presence at the therapists office would mean that Sushant had no real privacy to discuss if what was bothering him was Rheas gaslighting and blackmail, according to Vishal. He said that the more pertinent mental health issue that needed to be discussed was that of Narcissistic Personality Discorder and/or sociopathy/psychopathy for Rhea. Also read | Ankita Lokhande on why she didnt go to Sushant Singh Rajputs funeral: I knew if I see him like that, I will never be able to forget Sushant seemed to have suffered gaslighting at the hands of Rhea, based on the information in the public domain. Antisocial Personality Disorder is the more technical term for sociopathy/psychopathy and could be potentially diagnosed for Rhea (I am not diagnosing, only suggesting). Based on what happened, gaslighting seems to fit the bill, in addition to other methods of confinement and control. Again, I have every right to question based on the information in the public domain and unlike Barkha Dutt, I am NOT privy to the statements from Rheas psychotherapist and I am not disclosing private mental health information, he said. Based on the evidence in the public domain so far and the claims in the FIR, Rhea is the prime suspect in this case. It will indeed be a shocking surprise to the entire nation if it is found in the court of law that she was a loving partner and not an opportunist who eliminated most of Sushants ties with his family and friends, he added. Vishal said that he was very disappointed with journalist Barkha Dutts coverage. Unless proven in the court of law that Sushant took his own life because of a mental illness that happened without any foul play (gaslighting, blackmail, covert medication, or overt overmedication), this is NOT the example to use to create awareness around mental illness. Even if proven in the court of law, the only thing that can be even remotely used is the awareness aspect of it with the intention to help and never the intimate details of the diagnosis or disclosure of diagnosis from the mental health professional, he said. Barkha Dutt could have chosen to emphasize the financial angle. Most crimes have a financial angle and when there are so many pointers (from regular cash withdrawals and large expenses to shell companies), she chose to NOT focus on them and that does reek of agenda, he added. On Saturday night, Susan told Barkha in a statement that she felt it was her duty to speak up, to counter the misinformation and conspiracy theories currently raging on social media. In my capacity as a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist, I met Sushant and Rhea on several occasions in November and December 2019 and communicated again with Rhea in June of this year, she said. Susan claimed that Sushant was suffering from bipolar disorder. Sushant was suffering terribly during his bouts of depression and hypomania. Rhea was his strongest support. From the first time I met them as a couple, I was impressed by the degree of concern, love and support she showed. It was very evident how close they were. Rhea took care of his appointments and gave him enough courage to attend, despite his being so fearful that someone would find out, she said. When he was severely ill, he depended on her as somewhat of a mother figure and she completely filled that role with love, encouragement and patience, she added. According to Susan, it was incredibly hard on Rhea, not only having to watch Sushant suffer but also need to keep it a secret and bear things in silence. The treatment that Rhea has received on social media is deeply shocking to me as I have only ever experienced her as a deeply caring and sensitive person, she added. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 . Follow @htshowbiz for more Several queer Black Buddhist authors have showed me how spiritual practice can be a liberating force in the face of challenges as huge as racism, sexism and queerphobia. The Queer Bookshelf is your fortnightly date with books about queer lives and loves from India and elsewhere *** I am completely baffled by the groundswell of social media support in India for the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. It is difficult to imagine that people, who are obsessed with fair skin and ready to grovel at the feet of white supremacy, have suddenly become conscientious. Perhaps the more logical explanation is that they are always looking for a new cause to raise hell about, so they have now latched on to this one without realising the full import of their own collusion in anti-Blackness. What is important to remember is that this decentralised movement against institutional racism, police brutality and racial violence is not a random occurrence. It is a response to the long history of slavery that the United States has been built upon. When Indians chase the shiny American dream, or consume Netflix shows that centre whiteness, we often end up getting dazzled by a vision of affluence that excludes Black Americans. They face hate crimes on a daily basis in the same country that many Indians idealise as a land of opportunity. I have been thinking of the Black people in my life over the last couple of months, ever since the news of George Floyds murder catalysed protests all over the United States. These are queer Black Buddhist teachers who have made a difference to my life by speaking of their journeys, and showing me how spiritual practice can be a liberating force in the face of challenges as huge as racism, sexism and queerphobia. Their teachings are no less important to me than the teachings of Gautama Buddha, also known as Siddhartha or Shakyamuni. This column is dedicated to them. I want to highlight the quiet, powerful and life-changing work they have been doing, especially for readers who are hearing about them for the first time. If you are wondering why I would want to learn about Buddhist practice from people who were not born in Buddhist communities, heres my answer: I am prepared to learn from anyone who offers teachings that are beneficial to me. The queer Black Buddhists I write about remind me that spiritual practice is not about severing ties from the world; its about engaging more authentically with our own embodiment. Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love and Liberation (2016) is a book that has grown very dear to me. Written by Rev angel Kyodo williams, Lama Rod Owens, and Jasmine Syedullah, it unveils how white supremacy and racial injustice shape Buddhist communities in the United States. They declare, If you have ever wondered how you would have shown up in the face of the challenge put before White America when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, upending the accepted social order, now is the time you will find out. For Western-convert Buddhist America, this is the time when we will actually embody our practice and teachings, or not. Jasmine Syedullah shares how she was disheartened when she walked into several Zen and Vipassana centres where she saw nobody who looked like herself. It did not matter how nice people were to her. What stayed with her was the feeling that she could not relate to anyone. She wanted to be in an environment where her fury and her grief were welcome, where she did not have to be charming to belong, where people would not see her presence as an imposition. Finding Rev angel Kyodo williams was a big moment for her. She writes, Her dharma was not all Namaste Namaste. Her practice was fiery, full-on gangster compassion, unapologetically Black. It queered the calm of the sitting sensibility I had seen elsewhere, and it was not a practice afraid of sound, of sorrow or song, of people catching the spirit and making joyful noises even in the stillness of the zendo. Rev. angels practice evolved a lot over the years I sat with her but the feeling of belonging in a deep sense was always therewelcoming my Blackness. I find this excerpt particularly moving because it cares about what the seeker needs rather than preserving some abstract notion of purity. The same idea comes up when Lama Rod Owens talks about the place of writer-activist James Baldwin in his own life because that man helped him realise that there was more to being gay than sexual desire or having great sex; it was about the intimate connection to other men. Lama Rod Owens is not dismissive of sexual pleasure. He is merely truthful about his changing needs, and this is partly reflective of a shift from identifying as gay to identifying as queer. Lama Rama Owens says, It is important for me to honour the teachers that I had before the Buddha and before the Dharma came along. James Baldwin was my teacher; Audre Lorde was my teacher. Essex Hemphill was my teacher. These are the writers that first helped me to eventually find the Dharma through leaning into myself as a sexual being, and these are the teachers that helped me love my sexuality and my sexual expression. I like the idea of being able to celebrate bothour queer ancestors and our spiritual teachers. We dont have to give up either. This personal relationship with practice can be joyous if one is willing to craft ones own path, and take responsibility for ones learning. It can also be scary because others may not understand this path. One does find others to journey with but sometimes the wait can be so long that it might seem never-ending. I have benefited greatly from meditation retreats and chanting groups, and I have also seen signs of cultish behaviour. I tend to quit groups when they insist that their practice is superior to other practices. Not my jam. Is this a wise thing to do? Should I not stay on? Why do I run away from discomfort? Rev angel Kyodo williams says, Meditation is not the primary practice for most Buddhists in the world. The thick number of people who practise meditation would be here in the States and in the UK. I think its not an accident that white convert sanghas are putting such a strong emphasis on non-relational ways of developing their sanghas. We can pick any form of practice. The purpose remains the same: to learn humility, to recognise interconnectedness, to alleviate suffering. This is my current understanding. I believe that it is difficult to learn about impermanence without examining interconnectedness. If we do not recognise that the self exists only in relation to the other and not as an independent entity, we end up believing that we do not need others. That attitude is a breeding ground for arrogance and violence. Cultivating the awareness that we are impermanent helps us loosen our grip on the labels we identify with. I have been asking myself these questions: Why do I say that my preferred pronouns are he and they? Does this indicate a shift from male-identified to non-binary in some way that I need others to understand? What if someone wants to address me as she? Can I accept all pronouns if I see the chosen pronoun as merely an indicator of someones perception of me? Why do I need to obsess about how they perceive me? A book that has become a dependable friend of mine and has helped me think through these questions is Zenju Earthlyn Manuels The Way of Tenderness: Awakening Through Race, Sexuality and Gender (2015). The author is a lesbian Black woman ordained as a Zen Buddhist priest. She says, Hatred remains potent whether directed at a construct, an illusion, or at the reality of others. Therefore, identity should not be dismissed in our efforts towards spiritual awakening. On the contrary, identity is to be explored on the path of awakening. She discourages spiritual bypassing, and urges us to acknowledge that we are embodied creatures. How will the teachings be relevant to us in the here and now if we do not engage honestly with our own lived experience? We are not being asked to fetishise our pain, and wallow in victimhood. She says, We can allow that which we have suffered to be a moment of our lives but not our whole lives...Our experiences of rage and well-being exist alongside each other. On the path of awakening we attend to both. This insight comes from having worked with her own fear of whiteness and from telling herself: I was not willing to act as a barometer for oppression while others walked away with the teachings. Both these books acknowledge their debt to a Black feminist author whose work I absolutely love. Her given name is Gloria Watkins but she prefers to be addressed as bell hooks (spelled in lowercase). Reading her book Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom (1994) made me realise that spiritual practice and social justice work could nourish each other. We do not need to abandon one in order to pursue the other. She introduced me to Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanhs philosophy of Engaged Buddhism, which applies dharma teachings to issues of social, environmental and political injustice. I admire the fact that bell hooks, unlike many other academics, is unafraid to talk about spirituality and love. I recently finished reading her classic All About Love: New Visions (2000). In this book, she investigates how the imperialist white supremacist capitalist patriarchy stands in the way of love, by using examples from her own childhood and adult relationships with men. She clarifies that, for her, affection is only one ingredient of love. The others are care, commitment, knowledge, responsibility, respect and trust. She lists these to emphasise the point that love and abuse cannot coexist. For most folks it is just too threatening to embrace a definition of love that would no longer enable us to see love as present in our families. Too many of us need to cling to a notion of love that either makes abuse acceptable or at least makes it seem that whatever happened was not that bad, she writes. This observation comes from her own family of origin, where aggressive shaming and verbal humiliation coexisted with lots of affection and care. Confused by this seeming dichotomy, hooks struggled to accept that her family was dysfunctionala term that would have meant she was disparaging of her parents, and not proud of anything she shared with her siblings. Therapy helped her work through these contradictions that seemed challenging to reconcile, and she was able to view the term dysfunctional as simply a useful description and not as an absolute negative judgement. This is such a mature approach, especially at a time when it has become fashionable to call others toxic at the drop of a hat. It was in her mid-20s that hooks first learnt to understand love as the will to extend ones self for the purpose of nurturing ones own or anothers spiritual growtha definition she picked from M Scott Pecks book The Road Less Travelled (1978) when she began to see value in appreciating love as an act of will determined by intention, choice and action. She did not want to "stay stuck in simply describing, telling ones story over and over again, which can be a way of holding on to grief about the past or holding on to a narrative that places blame on others". That is when self-love became a priority. Loving herself does not mean hating men, White people, her family or her childhood church. She speaks of the trauma they have caused her but there is no thirst for revenge in her words. We cannot know love if we remain unable to surrender our attachment to power, if any feeling of vulnerability strikes terror in our hearts. bell hooks maintains a daily practice of prayer, has multiple images of the Buddha in her house, and devours books by Buddhist teachers such as Pema Chodron, Sharon Salzberg, and Jack Kornfield. This helps her heal. I hope we get to hang out sometime, share a meal, chant, meditate together. TRENTON, N.S. Police in Nova Scotia are still searching for a 33-year-old man from Pictou County they say evaded arrest late Friday. New Glasgow police said in a statement Saturday that Christopher McKay fled from a home in Trenton, N.S., as officers tried to execute a Canada-wide warrant for his arrest on an alleged parole violation. Const. Ken MacDonald said officers increased their patrols in the Trenton area as the search for McKay continued throughout the day. He could still be in our county, MacDonald said in an interview Saturday afternoon. He said police do not believe there is a threat to public safety, but he asked local residents to remain vigilant. Police arrested another man earlier Saturday who had been accompanying McKay and was also wanted for an alleged parole violation, MacDonald said. Authorities had issued an emergency alert early Saturday morning but later lifted the warning to residents to remain in their homes. McKay is described as five-feet seven-inches tall, weighing 200 pounds, with face and neck tattoos. Police have asked anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact them immediately. Read more about: Deborah Birx, coronavirus response coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, speaks after a White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the Department of Health and Human Services on June 26, 2020 in Washington, DC. Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, said on Sunday that the U.S. is "in a new phase" of battling against the coronavirus pandemic and urged Americans to wear masks and follow social distancing guidelines. "What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread ... it's more widespread and it's both rural and urban," Birx said during an interview on CNN. "To everybody who lives in a rural area, you are not immune or protected from this virus," Birx said. "And that is why we keep saying, no matter where you live in America, you need to wear a mask and socially distance, do the personal hygiene pieces." The U.S. has more than 4.6 million coronavirus cases and at least 154,449 deaths, the most of any country, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University. Asked about former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb's warning that the country could experience 300,000 deaths by the end of 2020, Birx responded, "Anything is possible" but declined to provide details on current projections. Birx said the U.S. virus death toll will depend on how southern and western states with the worst outbreaks respond to the virus over the coming weeks. The virus is rapidly spreading across much of the Midwest, as well in states like Florida and California that have experienced a significant surge in infections. The Northeast, once the epicenter of the virus, has seen a decline in cases since hitting a peak in April. "It's not super spreading individuals, it's super spreading events and we need to stop those," Birx said. "We definitely need to take more precautions." Asked if schools should stay closed and have remote learning in areas where there is a 5% positivity rate, Birx deferred to the CDC's guidelines on school reopenings. "If you have high case load and active community spread, just like we are asking people not to go to bars, not to have household parties, not to create large spreading events, we are asking people to distance learn at this moment so we can get this epidemic under control," Birx said. A group of Australia's leading infectious disease experts is pushing for the Victorian government to be more transparent with its coronavirus data, arguing a stark lack of detail is hindering their ability to properly analyse the state's unfolding crisis. "The first question is what data do the government actually have? Because they havent really told us," said epidemiologist Professor John Mathews from the University of Melbourne. "If the government wants to have the confidence of the population, then it should be prepared to be transparent on what data it has and what it hopes to do with that data to improve things." A coronavirus test is conducted at a Royal Melbourne Hospital clinic. Credit:Getty Images Rather than just raw numbers and postcodes, Professor Mathews wants the government to provide a list of data items collected during testing and contact tracing, such as: whether a person was symptomatic; what symptoms they presented with; whether they were close contacts of a positive case; and a breakdown of turnaround times for test results. Afghanistan's intelligence service announced late on August 1 that Afghan special forces had killed a senior intelligence leader for the militant group Islamic State (IS). The Afghan National Directorate of Security said Assadullah Orakzai -- who was suspected of involvement in numerous deadly attacks against Afghan military and civilian targets -- was killed in an operation near the eastern city of Jalalabad. It did not give a date. The UN warned in a recent report that IS remains capable of high-profile attacks and hopes to recruit more fighters from among opponents of a 5-month-old deal between Taliban militants, who have long battled against Kabul's authority, and the United States. News of Orakzai's killing came against a general decline in attacks by the radical IS group, which has a considerably smaller presence in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, a 2-day-old cease-fire between the government and Taliban militants to coincide with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha reportedly was holding across much of the country on August 1, fueling hopes that highly anticipated peace talks might soon begin. The two sides have been unable to make progress since an agreement between the United States and the Taliban in February that was seen as a first step toward an intra-Afghan deal, in part over prisoner releases. That U.S.-Taliban agreement included a Taliban pledge to prevent Al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups from using Afghanistan to stage attacks against the United States or its partners. The United Nations said recently that more than 100,000 people had fled conflict inside Afghanistans borders so far this year. The UN also said IS attacks that resulted in civilian deaths in the first half of 2020 were down by around 80 percent on the same period a year ago. The same report said that, overall, the number of civilian casualties in militant attacks fell by a more modest 13 percent. ISIS-K, an offshoot of IS in Iraq and Syria, remains a threat to Afghanistan, the U.S., NATO allies, and our partners despite being flushed out of Afghanistan's Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, the U.S. military command in Afghanistan said in late July. The IS claimed responsibility for one of this year's deadliest militant attacks in the capital when a lone gunman killed 25 people and wounded eight more in a rifle-and-grenade attack on a Sikh religious venue in March. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said on July 28 that more than 10,000 government troops had been killed or wounded since the U.S.-Taliban deal was signed. The current Afghan-Taliban cease-fire is slated to last for the duration of the Eid festival, which marks the end of Islam's annual hajj pilgrimage. Under the U.S.-Taliban deal, Kabul was to release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners in exchange for the militants freeing 1,000 government and military personnel. The Afghan National Security Council said via Twitter on August 2 that authorities had released 317 Taliban prisoners since the beginning of Eid al-Adha on July 31, bringing the total number to 4,917. The 317 were among an additional 500 Taliban prisoners that Ghani had ordered freed as a goodwill gesture. With reporting by AP, AFP, dpa, and Stars And Stripes The rings, outfits and flowers were ready, but COVID-19 has again dashed the wedding plans of Templestowe couple Zoe Mior and Anthony Stagliano. Zoe Mior and Anthony Stagliano with their eldest daughter Isla in 2018. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday banned weddings in metropolitan Melbourne, effective from Thursday. Ms Mior, 29, and Mr Stagliano 36, have been left sad and disappointed, and dont know when their nuptials will take place. Having been together for 10 years, the couple wanted to take their vows in front of family and friends, including grandparents and great-grandparents. The European Union's statistics agency reports the most significant economic falls within the 27-nation bloc since it began recording the figures 25 years ago. By Stefan J. Bos The official Eurostat agency reveals a grim outlook for several European nations amid fears of a second wave of coronavirus infections. Spain has plunged into its deepest recession in modern times by the coronavirus pandemic and related government-imposed measures. The official figures show its economy shrank by 18.5 percent in the April-to-June period. It already fell 5.2 percent in the first three months of the year. The country was the worst performer in the eurozone, the countries that use the euro as their primary currency. It saw its overall Gross Domestic Product declined by a record 12.1 percent. France's economy has also been badly hit, with GDP there falling by 13.8 percent in the second quarter. The French statistics agency said the low point had come in April, with a gradual recovery in May and June as lockdown restrictions eased. But economic activity was still well below average. Italy, which was among the first European countries to be hit by the pandemic, has reported a similar drop, with the economy contracting by 12.4 percent. However, the fall was less steep than expected. Across the EU, the economic contraction was nearly 12 percent. The Eurostat agency said the falls were the largest since it began recording the figures in 1995. Second wave Britain, which left the EU, also struggles with the coronavirus pandemic. And its prime minister Boris Johnson, who himself survived Covid-19, warns of a second wave of infections. "Let's be absolutely clear about what is happening in Europe and among some of our European friends. I am afraid that you are going to see the signs of a second wave of the pandemic," he stressed. "And we all remember what happened the last time. It is absolutely vital, therefore, that we make the necessary preparations in the UK as we are doing. It is vital that when people come back from abroad if they are coming back from a place where I am afraid there is another outbreak, they must go into quarantine. Several European countries that had their coronavirus outbreaks under control have begun to see a rise in cases that are feeding fears of a second wave. Governments are urging their citizens to be more vigilant amid the lure of summer gatherings and vacations. Health officials warn that lax public attitudes are putting the continent on a dangerous trajectory. A spike in infections has led Belgium to ramp up restrictions on social contact, while Spain has closed gyms and nightclubs in Barcelona. Critics argue that the spike is also linked to more testing. Worldwide, more than 600,000 people have reportedly died of coronavirus on a population of 7.8 billion people. The victim of a Saturday night shooting in the area of Matthews Street is in serious condition, Chief Deputy Scott Hall of the Halifax County Sheriffs Office said this morning. Hall said as of this report investigators have no suspect descriptions. Hall said it appears some type of handgun was used in the shooting of the 23-year-old victim. It is undetermined whether the shooting was a drive-by. It occurred in what Hall described as an open area of Matthews Street, which is located outside Roanoke Rapids. Motive remains undetermined and investigation continues. In a statement this morning Hall said deputies responded to the area around 7 p.m. and located the male victim who had been shot multiple times. The victim was transported to a trauma unit. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the sheriffs office at 252-583-8201 or anonymously through Crimestoppers at 252-583-4444. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Awutu Senya East Municipal, Michael Yaw Essuman Mensah, has indicated that a lot more was needed to be done in the area of educating Ghanaians on the novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19). This, he said, had become necessary because many of the citizenry were still taking the virus and its ravaging effects for granted. "In fact I have personally been going round to distribute free nose masks and also educating residents within the municipal about COVID-19," he said. He, therefore, pleaded with the market women and traders in the municipal to continously comply with the safety measures of the COVID-19. That, according to Hon Essuman Mensah, will help protect the market women and their customers from contracting the coronavirus disease. "I am appealing to all the market women within the municipal to comply with the COVID-19 safety protocols to ensure that we all keep safe from the disease," he pleaded. The MCE for Awutu Senya East made the call during a disinfection, fumigation and cleaning exercise in the Kasoa Market in the Central Region on Saturday. The exercise marked phase two of the ministry of local government and rural development (MLGRD) nationwide markets and public spaces disinfection and cleaning in the Central Region. It was carried out by Tebel Ghana Limited in partnership with waste management giant, Zoomlion Ghana Limited. Hon Essuman Mensah expressed that he was particularly happy with the second phase markets disinfection programme, stressing that it will help curb the spread of the virus. "...and I am equally happy that the restrictions on churches have been eased which will see many of our churches educate their members on COVID-19," he gladly stated. Places disinfected and fumigated in the Awutu Senya East municipal included the Kasoa Old and New Markets, lorry parks, public toliets and other public spaces. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Syria on Sunday condemned an agreement between Kurdish-led forces in the countrys northeast and a US oil company, describing it as theft and an affront to national sovereignty. The foreign ministry denounced an agreement signed by the SDF militia and a US oil company to steal Syrian oil... supported by the US administration, in a statement quoted by the official SANA news agency. The SDF is the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led paramilitary alliance that backs a semi-autonomous administration in northeastern Syria and controls the countrys biggest oilfields. Senior US officials have confirmed an agreement to modernise the fields, without naming the US company or providing other details. The Syrian foreign ministrys statement decried an agreement between... thieves who steal and thieves who buy. It also decried the hostile US position towards Syria, the theft of the Syrian peoples riches and its hindrance of the states reconstruction efforts. Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime supporter of the Syrian Kurds, told a congressional hearing Thursday that he had spoken about the deal with SDF commander General Mazloum Abdi. Apparently theyve signed a deal with an American oil company to modernise the oil fields in northeastern Syria, Graham said. Asked by Graham if the US was supportive of the deal, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: We are. The deal took a little longer, senator, than we had hoped and were now in implementation. It can be very powerful, Pompeo said. A US-led military coalition strongly backed the SDF against the Islamic State group in Syria, helping the Kurdish-led outfit seize the jihadists final patch of territory there in March last year. Syrias war began in 2011 with the violent suppression of peaceful protests and snowballed into a multi-fronted conflict pulling in multiple external powers. It has resulted in the country losing tens of billions of dollars in oil revenues. The fighting has often destroyed hydrocarbon infrastructure, which has been coveted by the various belligerents. Before the civil war, Syria produced nearly 400,000 barrels of oil per day, but output has collapsed during the conflict. Bihar government has come up with a scheme to grant financial incentives to health department doctors and workers in the state. The government said the encouragement incentive will be equivalent to employees one months basic salary and will likely cost 252.54 crore to the state exchequer, according to news agency ANI. The move to encourage health department staff has been announced at a time when the state is battling the dual challenges presented by the floods and a spurt in Covid 19 cases. The health infrastructure in the state is under pressure as the sharpest rise was seen in Covid 19 cases in the state with over 3,000 cases including the 2,500 reported in the 24 hours period ending Saturday. The death toll shot up by 14 to cross 300 casualties. For Coronavirus Live Updates According to the bulletin issued by the department on Saturday, the death toll had reached 312 while the total number of coronavirus cases stood at 54,508. The number of active cases was 18,723. Patna is the worst affected district with a total of 9,358 positive cases registered so far including 3,664 active cases. Other districts reporting high numbers of cases are Bhagalpur (2,638), Muzaffarpur (2,459), Nalanda (2,266), Gaya (2,208) and Rohtas (2,178). Meanwhile, the state continues to boast of a healthy recovery rate of 65.08 per cent and the total number of people who have been cured of the coronavirus so far is 35,473, including 1,823 who were declared fit in the last 24 hours. Watch: Sushant death: Cops look for flatmate as Bihar dy CM blames Bollywood mafia The flood situation in the state worsened on Sunday as fresh areas were inundated taking the total number of affected people across 14 districts to 53.67 lakh, according to the information released by the disaster management department. The number of people affected by the deluge has gone up by 4.62 lakh since Saturday 13 lives have been lost in flood-related incidents so far in the state. The Jammu and Kashmir administration last week extended Mehbooba's detention under PSA by another three months New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday demanded the release of former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti, saying India's democracy is damaged when the government illegally detains political leaders. The Peoples Democratic Party leader has been in detention under the Public Safety Act (PSA) since Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 was revoked in August last year and the state was bifurcated into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. "India's democracy is damaged when GOI illegally detains political leaders. It's high time Mehbooba Mufti is released," Gandhi said on Twitter. The Jammu and Kashmir administration last week extended Mehbooba's detention under PSA by another three months. Chancellor Rishi Sunaks office confirmed on Sunday that Mahatma Gandhis image on a coin is being considered as part of efforts to celebrate achievements of non-white individuals such as Indian-origin British spy Noor Inayat Khan and Jamaican British nurse Mary Seacole. Sunak has written to the Royal Mint Advisory Committee that recommends themes and designs of coins, supporting a campaign called We Too Built Britain, which seeks representation of non-white icons on British currency. The idea of having Gandhi on a British coin was previously announced by former chancellor Sajid Javid in October 2019. In a letter to Zehra Zahidi, who has led the campaign, Sunak said: Black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities have made a profound contribution to the shared history of the United Kingdom. For generations, ethnic minority groups have fought and died for this country we have built together; taught our children, nursed the sick, cared for the elderly; and through their enterprising spirit have started some of our most exciting and dynamic businesses, creating jobs and driving growth. I am writing today to the Chair of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC), Lord Waldegraveasking the RMAC Sub-Committee on Themes to consider recognising this very great contribution on our nations coinage, he wrote. The chancellors office confirmed that the RMAC is currently considering a coin to commemorate Gandhi, adding that Sunak is keen that British coins commemorate the work of the previous generations who have served the UK and nations that form the Commonwealth. Campaigners previously sought Noor Inayat Khans image on a new 50 note, but the Bank of England announced that the new series to enter circulation in 2021 will have the image of computer pioneer and code-breaker Alan Turing. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Phuket Opinion: A matter of convenience PHUKET: Not much more could be said about the fiasco the Royal Thai Police has found themselves in with the Vorayuth Boss Yoovidhya case that has not already been said, or is plainly obvious. Each new development that has unravelled in public has brought more embarrassment, yet the question remains how much our illustrious police care. Sunday 2 August 2020, 09:00AM Vorayuth Yoovidhya is escorted to the Thong Lor police station in Bangkok for interrogation, hours after the collision that killed a police officer on Sept 3, 2012. Photo: Kosol Nakachol / Bangkok Post They have weathered such storms before, and if they choose to bow to public pressure as they have at times before, they just retire a scapegoat early and nothing of consequence ever changes. Each time they successfully dupe much of the Thai public that the problem has been solved, at least for now. What is not hitting print is the context in which all this is happening. The Royal Thai Police give no recognition whatsoever to the fact that they are a taxpayer-funded service not an extension of an almighty military. This extends to their colleagues at the Immigration Bureau, which operates under the Royal Thai Police and whose officers are generally are unable to distinguish from when they are to act like police officers and arrest criminals or when they are serving customers that is, tourists and other foreigners who are paying fees for a service. Instead, while there are always some good guys locked in a crooked system, the general attitude throughout the ranks reeks of superiority and that the public must bow down to their authority. Even in Phuket the transfer of 10 top-ranking police officers under investigation for allowing illegal gambling dens to operate in their areas remains silenced. So far any attempts by The Phuket News to obtain a simple update on the progress of the investigation is stonewalled by a combination of only one high-ranking officer being permitted to comment on the investigation, and that officer permanently being unavailable for comment. This is what happens when police investigate police, and no wonder that espoused anti-corruption efforts have failed for decades. Back at the national level, one could hope that they might realise that the Boss fallout is echoing around the world in headlines, right when the government is in the middle of a sales pitch announcing how wonderful Thailand would be to visit once international travel returns. But that would be hope only. The truth is that such a debacle as the Boss bungle would normally see the government of the day take a hit in their popularity and the impression among the voting public of exactly how they are running the country. However, while the nation remains under the Emergency Decree, that point just doesnt matter. The powers that be can carry on regardless. There will be no elections in the foreseeable future for any national party to worry about. Even the funds for local elections for town mayors, municipality councilors and tambon administration organisation (OrBorTor) councils has been re-assigned, reportedly, to bolster the B1.9 trillion COVID relief projects which oddly many people, and businesses, have yet to benefit from. At this point lets be clear that Phukets two elected Members of Parliament are both members of the Palang Pracharath Party, that is the military-aligned government currently running the country. Yet all through this crisis these two so-called representatives have been nigh invisible. This brings us to the other end of the power spectrum and the students who recently held their rally for democracy in Phuket. While the rally at Saphan Hin seemed to be nothing more than an extension of other protests held throughout the country, what the students in Phuket seemed to be forgetting to highlight was that while the Emergency Decree remains in effect, even attempts to garner a quorum to file a no-confidence motion against these local MPs to force a by-election would be futile. Right now, there is no way to hold these MPs accountable for their lack of effort to support the very people who elected them. While the Emergency Decree remains in force, all this is moot. Thats pretty convenient. Police have arrested a 60-year-old Pontiac man in the homicide of Susie Zhao, a 33-year-old Waterford Township resident who had worked as a professional poker player, a ClickonDetroit report said. Zhaos badly burnt remains were found on Monday, July 13 at around 8 a.m. in a Department of Natural Resources parking area near the Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area at Maceday Lake and Cross roads, according to White Lake police. An investigation was then opened and White Lake police secured search warrants on Thursday and police began searching for a suspects vehicle cited in one of the search warrants. At about 9 a.m. Friday, detectives were notified by the FBI task force about the location of the suspects vehicle and stopped it around I-275 and Michigan Avenue, where the search warrants were then executed. Zhao was known on the professional poker playing circuit including runs on The World Series of Poker Main Events. She had live earnings of $224,671, according to Herndon Mob, a poker database. Zhaos Facebook page states that she attended Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood School and went on to study psychology at Northwestern University. It also states that she lived in Los Angeles and is originally from Beijing, China. Her last Facebook post was in 2017. Channel 7 reports that Zhao recently moved back to Michigan to live with her parents and to confront challenges in her personal life, according to friends. On her Twitter account, Zhao stated I prance like a unicorn in a sea of horses. I proficiently play high stakes poker for a living. Its kinda weird because Im a girl but had posted no tweets. The Oakland County Medical Examiners Office hasnt released any information on Zhaos cause of death. White Lake Township police urge anyone who saw Zhao on July 11 through July 13 or has information related to the investigation is asked to contact Detective Lt. Christopher Hild at 248-698-4404, ext. 2381. Aileen Wingblad contributed to this report. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has installed signs at a traffic junction in the Dadar area of Mumbai with female figures to promote gender quality in the city. Maharashtras environment and tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray shared photos of the newly-installed signs at the junction in Dadar on Twitter Saturday. If you have passed by Dadar, you will see something that will make you feel proud. @mybmcWardGN is ensuring gender equality with a simple idea the signals now have women too, he tweeted. If youve passed by Dadar, youd see something that will make you feel proud. @mybmcWardGN is ensuring gender equality with a simple idea- the signals now have women too! pic.twitter.com/8X0vJR8hvQ Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) August 1, 2020 According to reports, Mumbais civic body will change road signs and pedestrian signals at 13 junctions on Cadell Road, a 4.5-km arterial stretch in Mumbais Dadar and Mahim. This road has Siddhivinayak Temple, Mahim dargah, Mahim church, BR Ambedkars memorial Chaityabhoomi and the proposed site for the memorial of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. The initiative has made Mumbai the first Indian city to have female symbols on road signages. Many cities in Germany and the Netherlands and Switzerlands Geneva already have female signs on traffic lights. Authorities in Australias Melbourne have been using female figures to promote gender equality since 2017. An employee stands by an image of an iPhone displayed at an Apple store in Ahmedabad, India, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. Three contract manufacturers for Apple iPhones and South Korea's Samsung have applied for large-scale electronics manufacturing rights in India under a $6.5 billion incentive scheme announced by the government, Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Praad said Saturday. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Three contract manufacturers for Apple iPhones and South Korea's Samsung have applied for large-scale electronics manufacturing rights in India under a $6.5 billion incentive scheme announced by the government, a minister said Saturday. The scheme will extend cash incentives of 4-6% for five years on incremental sales of goods manufactured in India with 2019-2020 as the base year, Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters The international cellphone manufacturing companies that have applied under the scheme are Samsung, Rising Star and three Apple contract manufacturersFoxconn Hon Hai, Wistron and Pegatron. Prasad said the scheme is expected to increase Apple's and Samsung's manufacturing base manifold in India. Nearly two dozen Indian and international companies in the cellphone segment have applied for the scheme, which is expected to generate 300,000 direct jobs in the country, Prasad said. A security officer talks on a phone in front of an image of an iPhone displayed at an Apple store in Ahmedabad, India, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. Three contract manufacturers for Apple iPhones and South Korea's Samsung have applied for large-scale electronics manufacturing rights in India under a $6.5 billion incentive scheme announced by the government, Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Praad said Saturday. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) People walk past an image of an iPhone displayed at an Apple store in Ahmedabad, India, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. Three contract manufacturers for Apple iPhones and South Korea's Samsung have applied for large-scale electronics manufacturing rights in India under a $6.5 billion incentive scheme announced by the government, Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Praad said Saturday. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki) Explore further India to probe whether Cambridge Analytica used Indian data 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. New Delhi/Mumbai, Aug 2 : Senior Bihar Police officer Vinay Tiwari, who arrived in Mumbai on Sunday to assist the state police team probing the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, denied any lack of coordination between the two police forces. Asked by the reporters at Mumbai airport if he was deputed due to reports of lack of co-ordination between Mumbai and Bihar Police, he said: "It's (his visit) a part of the process of the investigation". "It can't be said that there is a lack of co-ordination. There is a step called supervision in any process of investigation and for that, a senior officer needs to step in. We are moving in the right direction," Tiwari, an IPS officer of 2015 batch, said. "I have come here so that I can interact with my team and take the investigation ahead," he said. Bihar's DGP Gupteshwar Pandey told IANS on Sunday that Tiwari, currently the SP, City, Patna, has been sent to Mumbai to help the four-member Bihar Police team in Mumbai that complained of lack of co-operation by the Mumbai Police over the investigation. Tiwari also said that his arrival in Mumbai should not be seen as a step by the Bihar Police to arrest Rhea Chakraborty -- Sushant's girlfriend and Bollywood actor, who along with her family members, had been named in a July 25 FIR filed by the late actor's father K.K. Singh. The Bihar Police are also yet to retrieve any medico-legal document in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. On this, Tiwari said: "That is why I have come and we will try our best to get all the documents." On its own part, the Mumbai Police have questioned many people, including filmmakers. Tiwari, on being asked if his team will also quiz the filmmakers, said: "So far, we are questioning those involved in this case... who were close to him (Sushant) in the last few days (before his death). "Our team has done a lot of work in this direction. If there is a need to interrogate the filmmakers to carry forward the investigation, we will do that too," he said. Sushant was found hanging at his Bandra apartment in Mumbai on June 14 following which Mumbai Police began probing the case. K.K. Singh on July 25 had filed an FIR against his son's star girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and her family members for allegedly abetting his suicide. Following this, the Bihar Police also launched its investigation. Bihar's DGP Pandey had told reporters on Saturday that Bihar Police would reveal all facts associated with the matter. Rhea is presently absconding. The Bihar Police team had also visited her flat but could not find her there. After this, Pandey admitted that the Bihar Police have not been able to 'locate' her. With Rhea having released a video in which she claimed her innocence, the DGP said that instead of declaring herself innocent on video, she should record her statement before the police, as this will be in her favour. "Rhea must clear her side. We do not have any enmity with her, but if she continues to run in this way, then it will be difficult for her. I assure you that the Bihar Police are investigating at their own level and the day we get the evidence against the culprits, we will drag them out even from hell. The Bihar Police are fully capable of this task," he asserted. Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Close Trump's top economic adviser appears extremely confused over new unemployment executive orders Donald Trump was whisked out of his daily weekday press briefing by a Secret Service officer following a shooting outside the White House on Monday. The US Secret Service confirmed that law enforcement had shot a person blocks away from the White House, prompting the president to abruptly end a press briefing as he was escorted to the Oval Office. He returned several minutes later announcing that a person had been shot and sent to a nearby hospital The president continued to falsely claim that children are nearly immune from coronavirus, despite a new report that found nearly 100,000 young people were infected within the last two weeks of July alone, as schools prepare to open across the US. Last week, Facebook and Twitter removed videos shared by the president in which he claimed that children are "virtually immune" from Covid-19, though Centres for Disease Control and Prevention reports show that children are as vulnerable to being able to transmit the virus as adults. As lawmakers debate additional emergency relief legislation for millions of Americans during a looming eviction crisis and mass unemployment, the president has faced intense scrutiny from Democrats challenging the constitutionality of a series of executive orders that undermine congressional efforts. Treasury Secretary told reporters that states can access extended unemployment relief "in the next week or two" despite governors signalling that the federal government, not the states, should be responsible for the additional funds. Secretary Mnuchin also said he has not met with Democrats to repair the stalled emergency relief funding talks, despite House Democrats authoring and passing legislation to do so and meeting Republican resistance, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's accusation that Democrats are "obstructing" relief efforts. "If they want to meet and want to negotiate and have a new proposal, we'll be happy to meet," Mr Mnuchin said. Follow live coverage as it happened Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load Lindsey Graham says Microsoft should take over TikTok to 'keep competition alive and data out of the hands of the Chinese government', after the sale of the app was reportedly put on hold when Trump announced he was shutting it down. The senator on Saturday defended the president's decision to take action against the popular video-sharing app, which officials claim poses a national security risk because of the personal data it handles. Graham however, said he was in favor of an American company acquiring TikTok's U.S. operations, rather than banning the app completely. 'To fans and users of#TikTok. I understand your concerns. However President Trump is right to want to make sure that the Chinese Communist Party doesn't own TikTok and most importantly - all of your private data,' the senator tweeted. 'What's the right answer? Have an American company like Microsoft take over TikTok. Win-win. Keeps competition alive and data out of the hands of the Chinese Communist Party.' Lindsey Graham said selling TikTok to an American company is the 'right answer' after Trump vowed to ban the app completely It comes amid reports that Microsoft had been in 'advanced talks' to buy the company on Friday, only for Trump to throw a wrench in the negotiations by announcing he was shutting it down. Trump said he planned to ban TikTok in the U.S. as soon as Saturday and would not approve of an American firm buying the service. The announcement is reported to have come as a shock to both Microsoft and the Chinese-owned company, The Wall Street Journal reported. Sources familiar with the negotiations told the paper both parties were 'caught off guard' by the news since the White House had 'made it clear' that they wanted TikTok to be 'American-owned.' It was also alleged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo were in support of the Microsoft closing the deal. It was later reported on Saturday that ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, agreed to divest the U.S. operations in a bid to save a deal with the White House, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. TikTok's wide popularity among American teens has brought scrutiny from U.S. regulators and lawmakers who fear their personal information could fall into the hands of government officials in Beijing US general manager of TikTok, Vanessa Pappas, addressed the issue in a video on Saturday saying the company does not have plans to 'go anywhere' Senator Graham defended the president's decision to take action against the popular video-sharing app, citing security and privacy concerns ByteDance's concession will test whether Trump's threat to ban TikTok is a negotiating tactic, or whether he is intent on cracking down on a social media app that has up to 80 million daily active users in the United States. ByteDance was previously seeking to keep a minority stake in the U.S. business of TikTok, which the White House had rejected. Under the new proposed deal, ByteDance would exit completely and Microsoft Corp would take over TikTok in the United States, the sources said. Some ByteDance investors that are based in the United States may be given the opportunity to take minority stakes in the business, the sources added. About 70 per cent of ByteDance's outside investors come from the United States. TikTok faces regulatory challenges across the globe, and a potential ban by the U.S. government over suspicions Beijing could force its Chinese owner to turn over user data. Chinese leader Xi Jinping is seen above on Friday 'The administration has very serious national security concerns over TikTok. We continue to evaluate future policy,' the White House said in a statement, declining to comment on whether Trump would accept ByteDance's concession. ByteDance in Beijing did not respond to a request for comment. 'We are here for the long run. Continue to share your voice here and let's stand for TikTok,' TikTok U.S. general manager Vanessa Pappas said in a video published on the app on Saturday. Under ByteDance's new proposal, Microsoft, which also owns professional social media network LinkedIn, will be in charge of protecting all of TikTok's U.S. user data, the sources said. The plan allows for a U.S. company other than Microsoft to take over TikTok in the United States, the sources added. Belarusian presidential candidate Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya said she is against forming a union state with Russia but called for maintaining good relations with Moscow. Tsikhanouskaya, an English translator who joined the presidential race after her husband, Syarhey Tsikhanouski, a popular vlogger, was arrested, made the comments in a lengthy interview published by the Russian news agency Lenta.Ru. Personally, I am against deeper integration with Russia because Belarus is a sovereign nation. We want to be independent. We want to find friends and not enemies among other countries, she said. However, when asked if the country should instead seek to join the European Union or move closer to the West, she said it was a false choice. Is it really necessary to choose? she said, adding that Belarus should develop economic and political relations with all countries. Belarus is wedged between Russia and the European Union nations of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. The nation's economy is heavily dependent on cheap Russian oil and gas but has been growing its trade with the EU. Tsikhanouskaya, who speaks in Russian at her rallies, said that the Belarusian language should be promoted as part of the nations cultural heritage but that citizens should not be forced to speak it if they feel more comfortable conversing in Russian. Tsikhanouskaya has attracted tens of thousands of people to her rallies over the last few weeks as more citizens grow tired of Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has ruled Belarus since 1994. Belarus holds a presidential election on August 9. She recently revealed how going through the menopause 'pushed her sanity to the brink'. And Zoe Hardman was seen arriving at Global studios in London on Sunday after her emotional interview. The TV and radio presenter, 37, put on a chic display in a red floral Fresha London dress with frill detailing and flaunted her sun-kissed glow with gold chains as she headed to work. Glowing: Zoe Hardman was seen arriving at Global studios in London on Sunday after her emotional interview Zoe teamed her summer look with flat metallic sandals and dark round sunglasses as she arrived for her Heart radio show. The former Take Me Out: The Gossip host paired her look with an oversized grey tote bag and layered an assortment of bangles on her wrist. A fresh-faced Zoe accentuated her glowing complexion with a slick of nude lipstick for the outing. All smiles: Zoe teamed her Fresha London dress with flat metallic sandals and dark round sunglasses as she headed into work for her Heart radio show The mother-of-two wore her caramel tresses in a stylish updo and framed her pretty features with loose waves. Zoe appeared in good spirits as she walked into work on her Instagram story and welcomed her followers to 'beautiful sunny London' which is set for 'another sparkly magical weekend.' It comes after the doting mum recently told how going through the menopause aged 37 trapped her in a severe depression and caused her sex drive to slump. Summer-ready: The mother-of-two wore her caramel tresses in a stylish updo and accentuated her glowing complexion with a slick of nude lipstick In a candid chat with The Sun, Zoe said: 'Some very dark, uncontrollable thoughts were going through my head and I thought that I wasn't going to make it through this. I felt so low that without any help I didn't know how I'd get past it.' She said she began experiencing menopausal symptoms towards the end of last year after developing the hereditary condition, which her sister, mother and grandmother have also faced. Zoe revealed that the confusing experience left her in constant 'waves of tears', as she credits her husband Paul Doran-Jones, 35, for 'picking her up off the floor', when she was struggling with the condition. Magical: Zoe appeared in good spirits as she headed into work on her Instagram story and welcomed her fans to 'beautiful sunny London' Stunning: The former Take Me Out: The Gossip host paired her look with an assortment of bangles on her wrist Zoe, who is mum to Luna, three, and Kit, two, started her Heart career in June 2015 and has been a firm favourite ever since. She moved from presenting the late night show from 10pm-1am to her regular slot now just on the weekends. Zoe is a regular on THE airwaves presenting her Feel Good Weekend show on Saturday 12pm-4pm and on Sunday morning 9am-12pm. Apart from radio, Zoe previously presented Quiznation, Take Me Out: The Gossip alongside former TOWIE star Mark Wright, 33, and on the This Morning Hub. FILE PHOTO: A sign is pictured in front of the Angeles Pedregal Hospital in Mexico City MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Former Petroleos Mexicanos Chief Executive Emilio Lozoya has left hospital, where he was taken suffering from health problems upon his arrival back in Mexico two weeks ago to face corruption charges, government officials said on Saturday. The 45-year-old Lozoya, who was boss of the state-run oil company commonly known as Pemex from 2012 to 2016, was earlier this week barred from leaving Mexico at initial court hearings into his impending trial for alleged bribery and money laundering. Lozoya, who denies wrongdoing, has been fitted with an electronic bracelet so his whereabouts can be tracked during the trial, which prosecutors have asked for six months to conclude. Lozoya was admitted to hospital in Mexico City on July 17 after doctors said he had developed anemia and esophagus problems following his extradition from Spain. Two officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Lozoya had been released from hospital overnight. It was not clear where he would be staying meantime, one of them said. Lozoya's trial could embarrass leaders of the previous administration of former president Enrique Pena Nieto, and prove a vote-winner for President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office in December 2018 vowing to stamp out corruption. (Reporting by Dave Graham; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Appearance not effect As a doctor, I was terrified to learn of colleagues battling for their lives in the Northern Hospitals ICU. My reaction to my hospitals most recent initiative was somewhat different. From today, entering the hospital requires staff to use their phones to complete a three-part questionnaire. The first question asks about travel overseas within the last 14 days. Words fail me. The end of the questionnaire is even dafter. It allows you to opt-out by ticking All of the above. This process represents the great failing of bureaucracy creating paperwork for appearance rather than effect. Undeniably irritating, this process will cost thousands of person-hours each week. Will it prevent infected staff from attending work? I hardly think so. Will it force staff to violate social-distancing rules with the security guard who checks the declaration? Absolutely. Will it mean our largely female workforce queueing outside at 6.30am? Will it risk contamination of phones? To date, our leaders have been bold and decisive. But they also need to prune initiatives that are futile or even counter-productive. Name and address withheld Unwanted conversation At the height of the pandemic, we should benefit from the European experience and consider the facts: there is no weighty evidence to support hard lockdowns. Professor Michael Levitt in February modelled Chinese data and saw that the R value shifted and changed and the curve came down independent of lockdown. This has been reproduced in countries around the world. The outbreak does not behave in accordance with an exponential growth law but instead slows down exponentially with time from the first days. In other words, the curves go their own way independent of measures. The trend by governments to implement hard lockdowns to crush the curve have done little. The lockdowns in Europe came after the curve had changed. In Melbourne, our government has instituted lockdown early before the curve has changed and then seems bewildered that their measures have not flattened the curve. What is being presented as science is modelling. It is only science if correlated with data. It is time to stop the propaganda, change the narrative and listen to the science. Dr Nicola Doyle, Ascot Vale Society at crossroads COVID-19 has sharpened a sense of our society at a crossroads that has been building for some time. One road is an Australia sharing the benefits of our bounteous continent with all citizens. The other road, which is the one we have accepted for some time, is an Australia that has a significant, controlling and powerful minority reaping huge benefits from our generous environment while the majority are consigned to casualisation, decreased legal and social support and, increasingly, despair. As a health worker in this pandemic, I am alarmed that I continue to earn while so many of my fellow citizens fall off a financial cliff. And there is talk of cutting my tax. I would prefer to see our nation become more, not less, egalitarian, but COVID-19 is exacerbating our system of privilege for some and helplessness for many. I look for politicians to show a way to come out of this pandemic together, not with winners and losers. Michael Langford, Ivanhoe Spotlight on vulnerable One positive of the COVID-19 spread is that it is shining a harsh spotlight on the vulnerable sector aged care, disability care, homeless, casual workforce and many others. Hopefully, more attention will be paid to improving conditions for these people. Though, given societys short attention span and me-first thinking, I wont be holding my breath. Anthony Hitchman, St Andrews Disabled at risk The next systemic disaster waiting to happen will be in disability group homes. Just last Friday, three residents and seven staff were reported to have tested positive to COVID-19 in a group home in Pascoe Vale. These homes were privatised last year, complete with early retirement packages and an increase in casual staff. Another systemic problem brought about by an obsession with bottom lines, debt and deficit, rather than social good. Cheryl Soafkin, Kew East The message is clear The Victorian governments messages have been crystal clear for many weeks: listen to the expert medical advice, follow the instructions, physically distance to minimise the risk of infection, stay home unless the four criteria apply, more recently wear a mask when leaving home. It aint difficult. Im irritated that too many of my fellow citizens are blindingly selfish. It seems its up to us to call out such behaviour, and continually remind those in breach. Bruce Loveland, Ashburton Leadership needed You visited our bushfire areas in January, but youve been strangely absent during Victorias coronavirus battle. Experts say the key to successfully fighting pandemics is bringing people with you. You did that by forming a national cabinet of Labor and Coalition leaders to tackle the first wave. But in Victoria, the heavy lifting is now left to an exhausted Premier and Chief Health Officer. Your state colleagues seem to carp and criticise rather than urge community co-operation. Please come to Victoria, meet with doctors, nurses and ambos, talk with recovered patients and bereaved families, and engage with community leaders from hotspot suburbs. Wear a mask, keep your distance, and explain that the virus can be beaten if each of us patiently keeps the rules. That would be true leadership. Joan Reilly, Surrey Hills Emissions target delay Its understandable that the Victorian government has again delayed its decision on climate emissions targets (Victoria emissions decision delayed, 1/8). However, Environment Minister Lily DAmbrosio is confident that Victoria is on track to meet netzero emissions by 2050. But net zero refers to achieving a balance between emissions produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere. But instead of actually cutting emissions, fossil-fuel companies and governments can use the term net zero emissions to continue polluting. By relying on unproven technologies to capture CO2 they can pump out greenhouse gases for another 30 years. Ray Peck, Hawthorn Stage four a disaster Stage four for all why? The cases are overwhelmingly in nursing homes and other healthcare and quarantine oversights. Transmission sources are not from public transport or cafes or restaurants. Dan Andrews has to put most of the effort into the main problem settings. Stage four for everyone will not only ruin the economy, it will ruin social and personal lives and put those with other health problems at risk of neglect. Being tough for the sake of it is unacceptable. Voters wont forget. Daria Fedewytsch-Dickson, Footscray Human face of tragedy Thanks Tony Wright and Simone Fox Koob for an illuminating and compassionate article on four elderly people who succumbed to the coronavirus and died alone (They came, lived, loved ... and are gone, 2/8). Too often, statistics become the first priority and we forget all too quickly the human face of this awful tragedy. All the people who have died during this pandemic have their own stories to tell, and each story is important, not just for those who loved them, but for all of us who value human life and, indeed, each other. Helen Scheller, Benalla Economic fossils Nick Toscano (Crude reality: Oil giants split on fossil fuels future, 1/8) clearly indicates how oil and gas companies cant get their heads around where they stand in the survival of not only the economy but the human race. As for gas bridging the gap, the gap between what: between now and the takeover by renewable energy? An energy source which happens to be bigger and wider spread across the world than any other energy source. It only needs a government to commit to the long-term future of the nation and the planet for the gap to be just five or seven years. Trevor Pratt, Eaglemont Cheap shots at bosses Wendy Squires dog whistling against CEOs does her argument for more respect and money for front-line workers no favours. My husband is a CEO but, far from being a fat-cat gazillionaire, he is working (and worrying) all hours to keep employees in work and suppliers in business. I am sure the hospital CEOs are working just as hard. It takes all sorts to keep society functioning. Lets not take cheap shots. Loreto Hosking, Emerald Sustain life on Earth What is it about Mars that has our techno giants spending billions to resurrect its irradiated surface and convert its CO2 to oxygen, while our own planet decays and suffocates? Wont those life-sustaining technologies work here on Earth? Humans are here already. Why not do it here? David Marshall, West Brunswick Exempt from empathy Surely, the government has its priorities wrong? Astrid Magenau is jumping through hoops to try to get to Germany for her dads funeral. But Chloe McArdel, whos an Australian endurance swimmer, has been granted an exemption to leave Australia to swim the English Channel because its in Australias national interest. Im sure the majority of Australians would be more interested in the government treating its citizens with compassion and provide a smooth exit for people looking to travel to see sick and dying relatives. The government needs to rethink this policy. We should be allowed the leave the country freely. Ali McLeod, Cremorne AND ANOTHER THING ... Credit: Coronavirus Bunnings has always been expert in dealing with lots of tools. John Nash, Altona The rich get richer and the poor get COVID-19. John Groom, Bentleigh The prime minister was diligent in taking instructions from his buddy Mr Trump in how to shift blame and call it the Victorian wave. The NSW Ruby Princess virus is much more accurate. Robyn Lovell, Epping Seems fairly obvious where the profits from Epping Gardens have been going ... and it isnt into bettering residents lives. Marie Nash, Balwyn Neo-liberal economics at work in our aged care: elderly Australians live and die in sub-standard private aged care homes as multimillionaire entrepeneurs maximise profits. Ben J. Witham, Warrnambool Its time for a new number plate slogan to encourage discipline. Victorian. Slow Learner. Brian Burleigh, Cowwarr Still waiting on Daniel Andrews to impose Stage 7 restrictions in which you cant get out of bed. Jonathan Steel, Strathmore Heights Tragically, tighter restrictions are not going to help when there are selfish, ignorant people who ignore them. Susan Munday, Bentleigh East Use of electronic monitoring (ankle bracelets) could reduce the incidence of wandering miscreants. Ian Powell, Waverley Football Memo to Qld Premier another breach by AFL. For COVIDs sake, suggest cancelling agreement with the serial offending organisation. Damian Meade, Leopold US election Looks like the international election observers will have their work cut out again monitoring the US elections. Stan Balbata, Carnegie These are the schools that have canceled classes for Jan. 18 Some school districts across the county are virtual today. Others will make up the snow day. (CNN) On Wednesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg pushed back against claims that his company is too dominant by name dropping a list of his competitors. Almost all of the ones he cited were other Big Tech companies whose CEOs were appearing virtually beside him at that very moment in a high-profile antitrust hearing. But one company on his list could truly be viewed as a threat to Facebook and it wasn't named Amazon, Apple or Google. "The fastest growing app," Zuckerberg said in his opening remarks at the hearing, "is TikTok." That may not be true for long. Late Friday night, President Donald Trump said he will ban the popular short-form video app from operating in the United States. The Trump administration had previously said it was considering a ban amid heightened tensions between the US and China. (TikTok, for its part, says it's not going anywhere.) Ever since the 2016 US election, there has been a growing consensus on Capitol Hill that Silicon Valley needs to be reined in, with Democrats pointing to concerns about the biggest companies' market power and content moderation flaws and Republicans focusing on a perception of anti-conservative bias on the platforms. Shortly before the antitrust hearing kicked off on Wednesday, Trump tweeted: "If Congress doesn't bring fairness to Big Tech, which they should have done years ago, I will do it myself with Executive Orders." But Trump's decision to ban TikTok outright, which comes more than a month after tens of thousands of TikTok users trolled the Trump campaign by reserving tickets for a Tulsa rally they did not attend, may only make some of these powerful companies at the hearing most notably Facebook and Google even more dominant. For all the controversy over TikTok's connections to China through its parent company, ByteDance, which is based in Beijing, the video app is perhaps the only social media service in recent years that poses a true risk to the bigger platforms that have long dominated the space. In a short period of time, TikTok amassed some 100 million users in the US, many of them part of a younger demographic coveted by advertisers and tech companies alike. It gave birth to a new crop of social media stars, viral memes and has had an impact on popular culture. In a sign of the competitive threat TikTok posed, both Facebook and Google have attempted to clone features from the app. In June, Google-owned YouTube began testing a 15-second video feature, similar to TikTok. And last month, Facebook-owned Instagram announced that its TikTok knockoff is going global. TikTok nodded to some of these threats in remarks before this week's antitrust hearing. "To those who wish to launch competitive products, we say bring it on. Facebook is even launching another copycat product, Reels (tied to Instagram), after their other copycat Lasso failed quickly," Kevin Mayer, TikTok's recently hired American CEO, wrote in a blog post. "But let's focus our energies on fair and open competition in service of our consumers, rather than maligning attacks by our competitor namely Facebook disguised as patriotism and designed to put an end to our very presence in the US." Assuming the Trump administration's ban moves forward, that will mean less competition in a market already criticized for having too little. And the same social media companies Trump has previously criticized and gone after with an executive order, including Facebook and Twitter, may wind up stronger for it. That said, a president banning a hugely popular app would certainly put the increasingly powerful tech industry on notice. Even if the app isn't banned in the US, there's a chance it will be sold and the current suitor being mentioned is Microsoft yet another Big Tech company. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Trump's TikTok ban could make Big Tech even more dominant." With everything going on in the world from the unpredictability of the novel coronavirus to protests over racial disparities, 59-year-old Michael Fitzgerald said what he really wants is life to go back to normal. Before that can happen, the Harrisburg resident said hes compelled to do his civic duty, which is why he suggested a mural of Black Lives Matter be painted somewhere in the city. The mural was completed Saturday. Two weeks ago, the former U.S. Army combat medic pitched the idea on Facebook. He said it didnt take long for him to find a wall or support. The mural adorns the Harrisburg Improv Theatre building at 1633 N. 3rd Street in the midtown neighborhood. The previous mural on that wall had been there for three or four years, he said. Im a black man, Fitzgerald said. Ive lived all over the world, all over Europe and all over the United States. Im very active in social causes. Its where I am, its my life. My hope is that people in the community gain awareness. Im not going to change the world. Im not going to change the attitudes of some people, but my belief is these three words are not terroristic. I think these three words trigger people into some insane hostility. I dont get it. Im a child of the 60s and 70s, Ive been around protests, but Im also a military veteran. I swore an oath to defend the lives of all not just black people and brown people. I will lose my life for everyone. Fitzgerald called himself the catalyst for starting the project. But he credits the volunteers with getting the work done. He said his friend Gary Dutson, who is white, organized everyone as the point person for the project. Its so strange to have to go in these two directions to explain who people are in your life, Fitzgerald said. Were all people. I just want people to be aware that things they find strange or weird to them or they dont understand, just reach out and talk to people who arent like you. Thats how were going to get past this mess we are in. Its not through fighting, whats the worth of that? If one side fails, then the other side is going to fail as well. Once the location of the mural was determined, about five or six volunteers spent hours working on setting up the design. After the wall was painted with primer, three or four days were spent stenciling the wall at night using a projector to lay out the letters. Fitzgerald again asked for help Saturday to paint the letters. There were about 40 people there today, he said. I think this is important, but at the end of the day, I just want to be able to go home to kiss my wife and be with my family. I just want life to resume to normal. A superintendent of police from Bihar will lead the four-member team investigating the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, which is already in Mumbai, news agency ANI reported on Sunday. Vinay Tiwari, Patna (Central) superintendent of police, has left for Mumbai, according to the news agency. The team from Patna Police reached Mumbai on July 27 and began its probe after Rajputs father lodged a complaint under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including those pertaining to abetment of suicide and fraud, against actor Rhea Chakraborty and six others. KK Singh has accused actor Rhea Chakraborty, who was said to have been in a relationship with Rajput, of using his sons position to promote her own career, trying to drive a wedge between him and his family, getting him fed with medicines for mental illness with the help of conniving doctors and blackmailing him with threats of making his medical history public to tarnish his reputation. Also read: Sushant had no Godfather, says his sister in appeal to Modi, wants him to step in He also alleged that at least Rs 15 crore was withdrawn from his sons bank account to which Chakraborty and her family members had gained access. He also said that barely a week before Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence, Chakraborty had visited his house and taken away his laptop, ATM card and other important documents. Gupteshwar Pandey, Bihars director general of police (DGP), said on Saturday that the force was capable enough to investigate the matter as a chorus for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) grew louder and that a senior official will lead the probe into Rajputs death. Why would we ask for a CBI probe? Bihar Police is capable enough of probing the case. If needed, an IPS-rank officer may be sent to Mumbai to lead the investigation, Pandey had said. Also read| Sushant Singh Rajputs therapist: He was suffering from depression and hypomania, Rhea Chakraborty his strongest support Pandey had also said the Patna Police team had recorded the statements of Rajputs former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, friend Mahesh Shetty, sister Meetu Singh, Dr Kersi Chawra in Mumbai as well as his cook and sweeper. Some more people will be examined in connection with the alleged suicide, he had said. The team also visited several banks to gather details about transactions from Rajputs accounts. Pandey said the Bihar Police wants all medico-legal evidence related to the case handed over to it, asserting that it will bring out the truth at the earliest. He said they want the forensic science laboratory reports, inquest report, post-mortem report and relevant CCTV footage in order to facilitate the probe. The Bihar Police also wants details of those who were examined by the Mumbai Police and what they have said in their statements, the police chief said. Also read| From theft to cheating: Sushant Singh Rajputs father charges against Rhea Chakraborty Pandey has also urged Chakraborty to join the investigation into Rajputs death being conducted by Patna Police in Mumbai if she has nothing to hide. She was the one who called for a CBI probe I dont know why she wants the Mumbai Police or the Bihar police to investigate the case. If she is innocent, she should come forward and should say it openly that any agency can probe the case, Pandey told Aaj Tak. She should say I am here and anyone can ask any question and probe whatever they want to. Why play a game of hide and seek? he asked. Harpreet Bajwa By PUNJAB: What do you get by saving crippled or injured animals? It makes no business sense. But ask Vikas Luthra (41), a businessman of a different kind, he would tell you it makes all the difference in your personal, social, and financial life. His both kidneys have failed, yet Luthra has passionately floated Furever Friends Foundation becoming Indias first visually-impaired canine entrepreneur. I am not sure how long I will live I have to go for dialysis twice a week. What I know is my Sherkhan a high fashion with compassion brand selling Indian ethnic dresses, winter jackets, wedding and party wear, collars and other items for pets will stay with me, says Luthra. He has rescued around 20,000 animals dogs, cats, monkeys, birds and reptiles -- and has started foster homes for the strays in the last eight years. He has plans to start an animal ambulance service, around August 15, which will include facilities for surgery and life support systems. Luthra is originally from Panipat (Haryana) and migrated to Chandigarh in 2014. Around eight years back, I started visiting animal shelters in Panipat, Jammu, Mumbai and other places. Soon, I developed empathy for the ailing animals. I told my family that Id leave the family business, he said. His first love was a partially burnt dog Happy for whom he arranged treatment. Happy prompted him to start Furever Friends Foundation. People came to know about us and called us to a place/street wherever they found an injured animal. Each day, wed rescue around eight animals from tri-city (Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula) besides Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab, recalls Luthra. The number of such rescue calls went up to 15 per day. We are now getting about 40 calls daily we offer guidance on the phone, in some cases, saving around 15 animals daily, he says. Luthra doesnt have much faith in shelter homes for animals. We have developed a foster care chain with around 150 members who offer personalized care for dist ressed animals. A few animals also stay at his Zirakpur home. Shelter home care is not good and healthy for animals. Each foster care chain developed by us has not more than two needy animals. As per protocol of the Central government, a cured animal has to be released at the same location from where it was rescued. So far we have released about 15,000 animals. He says the most important aspect of foster care chain is to ensure these stricken animals are adopted. So far 250 animals some have lost an eye, or a leg amputated -- have been re-homed by our foundation. A teacher by profession, Gagan Bains is the Chief Executive of the re-homing program, he says. Leena Rana, a business woman, has adopted a blind dog and a paralyzed cat. Whenever I face any problem or others find an injured animal, the foundation members are our first port of call. They have a humane approach, says Rana. Dr Neetu Gaur, a social scientist, says there are around 500 people from different walks of life associated with the cause as Luthra has motivated them to work for the strays and distressed animals. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh took to social media on Sunday to condemn the growing demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who allegedly died by suicide in his Bandra apartment in Mumbai on June 14. Anil said that Mumbai Police is competent enough to hold the investigation into the case and even though the Patna Police has registered an FIR in the case, it is the onus of Mumbai Police to carry out the investigation as per jurisdictional norms. Anil wrote on social media on Sunday, "@MumbaiPolice already began investigating allegations about @itsSSR's unfortunate alleged suicide. Even if Bihar Police registered an offence in Patna, under Ch. 12 & 13 of the #CrPC it has to be investigated,inquired & tried by police & courts within whose jurisdiction (sic)." He further added, "the offence is committed. I condemn the demand for the @itsSSR case to be handed to #CBI. The case is now being politcised for political gains. #MaharashtraPolice is inquiring into the case professionally & are competent in digging out the truth, leaving no stone unturned (sic)!" @MumbaiPolice already began investigating allegations about @itsSSR's unfortunate alleged suicide. Even if Bihar Police registered an offence in Patna, under Ch. 12 & 13 of the #CrPC it has to be investigated,inquired & tried by police & courts within whose jurisdiction... ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) August 2, 2020 ...the offence is committed. I condemn the demand for the @itsSSR case to be handed to #CBI. The case is now being politcised for political gains. #MaharashtraPolice is inquiring into the case professionally & are competent in digging out the truth, leaving no stone unturned! ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) August 2, 2020 Sushant's father KK Singh on July 25 had filed an FIR against the late Bollywood star's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and her family members for allegedly abetting his son's suicide. Following this, the Bihar Police also launched its investigation and a four-member arrived in Mumbai. Read: Bihar DGP on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Investigation: No Information Shared by Mumbai Police Meanwhile, Rhea has filed an application in the Supreme Court to transfer the entire case in Mumbai instead of Patna. Sushant's father, through his lawyer Vikas Singh, has also filed a counter-petition to keep the case in Patna. The case is to be heard on August 5. (With inputs from IANS) Sushant Singh Rajput's Demise: Bihar Police DGP Claims They Haven't Received Basic Documents On This Case Yet Advertisement A black motorist has been filmed ordering white BLM protesters to stop blocking a highway in Austin so he can get to work and provide for his children. The footage, captured around 11.30pm on Saturday night, shows the man stepping out of his vehicle on the I-35 and confronting the activists who are refusing to let traffic pass. 'I gotta go to work, I'm black! I've gotta go to work!' the unidentified man yells at the group as he waves his hand in the air. 'I've got bills! I've got kids! Get the f**k out of my way!' he continues shouting before he makes his way back to his pick-up truck. His words clearly had affect on the group, who are then seen meekly stepping to the sides of the road in order to let his car through. The video quickly went viral on Twitter after it was shared by reporter Savanah Hernandez, with several remarking on the 'irony' of the situation. 'A father, whose kid's lives matter enough to him to confront the crowd on the way to his job to put food on the table. Respect!' one wrote. A black man has been filmed ordering white BLM protesters to stop blocking a highway in Austin so he can get to work and provide for his children His words clearly had affect on the group, who were seen meekly stepping to the sides of the road in order to let his car through The incident came on the tail end of a tense night in Austin, where heavily armed rival groups faced off against one another a week on from the shooting death of BLM supporter Garrett Foster. Early in the evening, a group of gun-toting men were seen protecting left-wing demonstrators at a makeshift memorial set up for Garrett Foster Local media reported that, across the street, members of the far-right paramilitary group Three Percenters stood watching on, brandishing semiautomatic weapons in an intimidating manner. Members of another far-right group - the Boogaloo Boys - were also spotted cutting an imposing figure at the memorial. Tensions were already high as the memorial had been destroyed earlier in the week by a right-wing activist who claimed Foster was 'terrorist' because he supported BLM, and was therefore 'rightfully and legally euthanized'. Shocking video shared to social media showed dozens of armed people walking around the streets of Austin before sundown. Heavily armed rival groups faced off against each other in Austin on Saturday night - one week on from the shooting death of BLM supporter Garrett Foster. Members of the far-right Boogaloo Boys were seen creating an intimidating presence at his memorial on Saturday evening Armed men in camoflauge - reported to be members of the Boogaloo Boys - stood around Foster's memorial site 3 percenters set up across the street from protest at Garrett Foster memorial. pic.twitter.com/vmVgcQEuu4 Shannon Ryan (@ShannononFOX7) August 2, 2020 On Saturday evening, a group of gun-toting men said they were seen ready to march with and protect BLM protests Black Lives Matter protester Garrett Foster (left) was shot dead last Saturday night as he marched through the city. His wheelchair-bound fiancee Whitney Mitchell (right) was with him at the time The Austin Police Department feared tensions would explode by nightfall, and bolstered their forces accordingly. The Department released a statement saying they called in extra cops and state troopers to help protect both people and property. 'We are bringing in the necessary staff, and have partnered with other local law enforcement agencies as we have done throughout the past few months, to allow for those peacefully and lawfully practicing their first amendment rights while also working to prevent any violence or destruction of property,' a statement from the Department read. Meanwhile, police also issued a warning to locals living in the downtown area to be 'on guard' amid rumors activists could break into high-rise residential buildings and stage rallies from rooftops. There were reports on social media that some protesters may attempt to reach the roofs of buildings to protect BLM supporters by acting as 'snipers'. Two police helicopters were reported to be circling over the city at 8pm. There were also whispers that activist planned to take over the Austin Police Department and create an autonomous zone. Shocking video shared to social media showed dozens of armed people walking around the streets of Austin before sundown Video showing heavily armed protesters from both left and right-wing groups began circulating on social media on Saturday evening The Department released a statement saying they called in extra cops and state troopers to help protect both people and property One journalist shared this snap showing a wall of police officers with shields formed a protective barrier in the city's downtown However, police deployed heavy-handed tactics to keep the situation from spiraling out of control. Video shared to Twitter by Nate Kidwell shows officers on horseback and bicycles trying to clear out crowds shortly as they moved down the street. Some protesters clashed with cops, spooking the horses and causing a commotion. Bike police reportedly began using pepper spray to control the crowds. According to one witness, mounted police also cleared out other parts of the city later in the evening, yelling: 'This is the Austin Police. You are violating state law. You must move out of the street immediately. If you do not you will be subject to arrest for obstructing the roadway. ' Elsewhere, police with riot gear, including shields, were seen forming a protective barrier in the city's downtown. A wall of officers also set up outside the Austin Police Department headquarters to thwart off any attempts by activists to create an autonomous zone. Some dejected protesters took to Twitter saying that they were going home and that police and troopers had complete control of the streets. According to one witness, mounted police also cleared out other parts of the city later in the evening A wall of officers also set up outside the Austin Police Department headquarters to thwart off any attempts by activists to create an autonomous zone Austin has on high-alert following the shocking slaying of Foster at the BLM march last Saturday night. Army Sergeant Daniel Perry, 33, opened fire on Foster after driving into a crowd of demonstrators. Perry claims he came across the protest by accident while working as a ride share driver, and that he only opened fire in 'self defense' after Foster allegedly waved his AK-47 at him. In early May, an extremely well-sealed steel box arrived at the cold room of the Serum Institute of India, the worlds largest vaccine maker. Inside, packed in dry ice, sat a tiny 1-milliliter vial from Oxford, England, containing the cellular material for one of the worlds most promising coronavirus vaccines. Scientists in white lab coats brought the vial to Building 14, carefully poured the contents into a flask, added a medium of vitamins and sugar and began growing billions of cells. Thus began one of the biggest gambles yet in the quest to find the vaccine that ... The writer is a keen observer of the goings-on in the backrooms of power. The big question is whether Modi and his deputy, home minister Amit Shah, will think out of the box and do course correction? An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard by a closed road, as Kashmiris marked Eid during lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus in in Srinagar. AP Photo I-Day buzz What might be the singular big announcement in Prime Minister Narendra Modis Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort in New Delhi? With the Ram Temple inauguration done many speculate that it may have something to do with Jammu and Kashmir, where the resumption of the democratic process has been long overdue. However, there is a catch. Post the abolition of Article 370, the state was bifurcated and reduced to two Union territories. It is not just the Abdullahs but many political players from Jammu region are also less than enthusiastic about Jammu and Kashmirs UT status. The big question doing the rounds is whether Modi and his deputy, home minister Amit Shah, will think out of the box and do course correction? Congress churning There is renewed disquiet in the Congress party over Sonia Gandhi's stepping down as party chief and Rahul Gandhi taking over the mantle of leadership. The absurd replay of son taking over from mother is not bizarre enough. There is an intense tussle between those considered loyal to Sonia and the members of team Rahul. Thus if the edifice of Sonias preeminence is to end, it requires a dismantling. In this context, the Congress internal tussle for supremacy may yet produce some jarring notes. MPhil envy theory What is it about the Masters of Philosophy degree (MPhil) that it has been dropped in the draft New Education Policy? The MPhil was introduced as a programme to train research students for more serious and rigorous postgraduate work. The MPhil was considered important because many decorate (PhD) scholars were found wanting in research skills. A political explanation might be that two young Gandhis Rahul and cousin Varun are MPhil holders, both in developmental economics from Cambridge University and the London School of Economics, respectively. Veteran in a spot Janardan Dwivedi must be ruing the moment he decided to attend a meeting in memory of the late Sheila Dikshit, held by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee. A motley gathering, after paying lavish tribute to the former Delhi chief minister, turned its attention to the Congress crisis in Rajasthan and the leadership issue. The former AICC general secretary was caught in the middle when someone asked Dwivedi to raise a banner of revolt from within the party. With his son already in the BJP, Dwivedi, who once took pride in being Sonia Gandhis Hindi speechwriter, decided to flee instead of getting bogged down by the rebellious deliberations. The other Shah The appointment of Hardik Satishchandra Shah in the Prime Ministers Office has taken many by surprise. Shah was promoted to the IAS in 2010 and is now PM Narendra Modis private secretary. His rise has been spectacular. After doing his M Tech, Shah was drafted into Gujarats environment and forest department sometime in 2004. A fellowship abroad was followed by an appointment as member secretary in the Gujarat environment board. Shah arrived in Delhi soon after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister and was working closely with successive environment ministers. Two men are facing charges after police say they were found with three children in a car containing more than 1,100 bags of suspected heroin and fentanyl. According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Lykens, troopers pulled over Allen S. Blocker, 29, of Philadelphia and Edgar A. Nunez-Chavez, 31, of Allentown, around 1:20 a.m. Saturday on Route 322 west in Middle Paxton Township. Police say Blocker and Nunez-Chavez were in the front seats and three children, ages 4, 5 and 9, were in the back. Investigators say the driver, Blocker, showed signs of drug impairment, and there was marijuana in plain view. Both were taken into custody and the children were placed with a care provider. A search warrant on the vehicle soon uncovered 1,147 wax paper bags containing suspected heroin and fentanyl, according to police, as well as 12 grams of suspected cocaine and 36 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Both are facing charges that include possession with intent to deliver and endangering the welfare of children, according to police. Blocker is also facing charges of driving under the influence of drugs. Both were remanded to Dauphin County Prison and are awaiting preliminary hearings. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Worship leader: US on 'cusp of revival,' time to change narrative of burning cities with worship Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Worship artist Sean Feucht believes that the coronavirus prohibitions on holding church services is a double standard and that the United States is on the brink of a revival. In an interview with Fox & Friends, Feucht noted that he is participating in and helping lead gathering outside the four walls of the church, in the open air. "It's not just beaches," he said. "We're going under bridges, we're meeting in fields, really anywhere we can gather and spread out and worship, we're finding those places. It's summer time in California, it's just such an amazing movement that we've seen so much momentum on." Feucht, who recently ran for Congress in California but lost in the primary, is a worship leader with an extensive missionary background and is the founder of Hold the Line, an activist movement aimed at engaging the church and millennials, urging them to become more politically active. He has been taking the power of worship to the streets where tragedies have happened, including the place where George Floyd was killed while in police custody earlier this year. Asked by host Pete Hegseth about why singing and church services have been deemed "non-essential" and banned but protests that have drawn large crowds have been permitted, Feucht replied, "It is a double standard and I would say at best it's hypocrisy and at worst, it's bigotry. You know there's a target on churches." "I think it's time. We have to rise up. We need bold and courageous pastors that are not only going to stand on our Constitutional rights to worship, but are going to stand up against the insanity of these laws that are targeting the church." Yet he is taking the opportunity to worship outdoors to shift the spiritual atmosphere in troubled places around the nation. One such worship gathering is planned in the streets of Portland, Oregon, for Aug. 8. "The narrative that we've seen has just been burning and destruction. It's been disheartening, but yet the church in Portland, the church of Oregon, they want to gather, they want to rise up. They want to change the narrative and flip the script on their cities. It's going to be peaceful. It's going to be full of love," he said. Thanking his followers on his Instagram account after the Fox News interview, Feucht commented that he believes that "we are on the cusp of a revival that will sweep America!" The worship leader noted in a separate post that he has invited California Gov. Gavin Newsom to pray on the steps of the Capitol building for an event called "Let Us Worship" on Sept. 6. First, the good news: The surge in coronavirus cases that caused Louisiana to become a national hotspot for the second time since the pandemic began appears to have leveled off, at least for now. But with COVID-19, theres always a caveat. Even if the number of cases is no longer accelerating from one day to the next, the latest data suggests the state may be plateauing at a level too high to fully contain the virus. And the second wave of deaths caused by the new cases tallied over the past month may just be getting started. In the last week of July, Louisiana added 12,546 new cases to a total that now stands at 116,280. Thats less than the count for each of the two prior weeks, but still seven times the weekly number at the lowest point of the pandemic, in mid-May, as the effects of the stay-at-home order began to tamp down infection rates. And testing has only increased three-fold, indicating the higher case totals are not solely the result of a more aggressive effort to track the virus spread. The sharpest rise coincides with increased spread of COVID-19 following the second phase of the states reopening, in which Gov. John Bel Edwards loosened restrictions on gatherings and business operations, only to have to reverse course on some of them. Weve wasted it all, all that economic damage was all for nothing at this point, said Susan Hassig, a Tulane University epidemiologist. Were in a serious situation now. Now, the death toll the final link of the virus's chain of impact has started to rise. Louisiana recorded 232 new deaths this week, 14% more than the week before and 2.5 times the number of fatalities at the start of the month. That the death rate began climbing long after cases did is a sadly familiar, and expected, consequence of the virus progression. First come new infections, followed shortly by diagnoses. Then seriously ill patients are hospitalized and then, weeks later, the most critical cases ultimately succumb. We hope that were seeing the beginning of a trend in plateauing cases, Gov. John Bel Edwards said during a press conference on Thursday. It could be some time before this shows up in substantially fewer deaths. Thats the bad news there. +3 Louisiana contact tracing stymied as 73 percent of people who answer dont share contacts When Louisiana began to open back up again after a hard lockdown this spring, Gov. John Bel Edwards touted two key antidotes to ensuring coron The claims of a plateau appear to be born out by the data released daily by the Louisiana Department of Health. The number of cases reported over seven days has barely budged for nearly two weeks and has even slightly declined in recent days. Thats compared to an up to 60% increase week over week during the steepest climb of the second surge. But even that relatively bright spot comes with a caution. Testing in Louisiana, and much of the rest of the country, has been hamstrung by a shortage of supplies needed to process the samples taken from patients. Thats led to long delays, sometimes up to two weeks, before results are reported. And that may mean that we dont know the full extent of the current caseload, Hassig said. A steady spread of the virus at current levels means the infection is spreading far too widely to effectively suppress with methods such as contact tracing. Not rising is good, plateauing is good, declining is good but it needs to decline far enough, Hassig said. To my mind nothing can change in terms of where we are in terms of reopening until we get to where we were at the end of lockdown, and I dont know that we can do that without going back to lockdown. Assuming the data is accurate, however, the recent plateau coincides well with Gov. John Bel Edwards order that mandated masks, potentially increasing their use, and banned bars from having patrons on-site, which reduced the risk to vulnerable workers, Hassig said. But the simultaneous enactment of those two rules, along with myriad other factors, makes it impossible to fully determine whether either is responsible for curbing the states steep climb. Were never going to be able to impute which of those caused it to happen, but if it turns out to be a real plateau or a real decline, I dont care, she said. 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 How a 31-year-old New Orleans coronavirus survivor died from a rarely seen condition weeks later A 31-year-old woman checked in to a New Orleans hospital this spring after five days of fever, cough and stomach pain. Hospital workers stuck There are some encouraging signs from hospital leaders this time around, compared to the first wave in cases and subsequent surge in deaths earlier this spring. For one, doctors have a better understanding of how to treat the virus, and have often gone to great lengths to keep people off mechanical ventilators after discovering it was difficult to get many patients off them. Some treatments, including the use of the drug remdesivir and steroids, have helped doctors save more of their coronavirus patients. As the infection moves from younger people to middle-aged people to potentially older people, those latter categories are going to be at greater risk for infection, Hassig said. Cases could go down, but we could see hospitalizations continue to rise. Dr. Catherine ONeal, an infectious disease expert at Our Lady of the Lake in Baton Rouge, said many of the new therapies have worked well for people on the cusp of going into intensive care, but not as well on sicker patients who are more likely to die from the virus. Nursing homes, which were roiled by the virus early on, leading to a soaring death toll, are no longer sending the same numbers of patients to hospitals, some hospital leaders say. Dr. G.E. Ghali, chancellor of LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport, said older populations may also be taking the virus more seriously, and therefore taking more precautions. Ghali said that means younger patients comprise a larger share of hospitalizations, and those patients are likelier to survive, which would tamp down the death rate as well. Louisiana health department accuses some rural parishes of misusing coronavirus lists, violating HIPAA Early in the pandemic, the Louisiana Department of Health started sending out lists of patients who tested positive for the coronavirus to loc But those statistics appear to be shifting. When cases began to rise in mid-June, more than 50% of the new cases were among people younger than 30 and only 13% were older than 60. Those demographics have been changing as the virus spreads, and this week nearly 23% of the new cases were in the oldest, and most high-risk, age group. Just 31% were among the youngest. A rise in the share of elderly and more vulnerable patients could mean more hospitalizations, more deaths and more stress on hospital systems already near the breaking point in some regions. Our Lady of the Lake is still seeing an alarming numbers of patients in the intensive care unit. On a typical summer day, pre-pandemic, ONeal said the hospital would have 60 to 70 ICU patients. Currently, there are 112 total ICU patients, which is straining the hospitals ability to care for everyone. I expect to see our deaths increase over the next couple of weeks, ONeal said. Deaths follow long admissions. While the rest of the state experienced a flattening of hospitalizations over the past week, Our Lady of the Lake has not seen a decline, ONeal said. And it may not be enough for the hospital to see increases dip slightly. If the hospital admits 15 new patients per night instead of 25 over the next two weeks, it could still reach a point of being overwhelmed. We have to turn the corner, she said. I dont see any indication yet the state has turned the corner. Louisiana revokes permit of defiant BBQ restaurant for refusing to require masks Louisiana has taken its first serious enforcement action on a restaurant for violating Gov. John Bel Edwards' coronavirus rules regarding mask Apart from the upcoming Galaxy smartphones, Google will finally be launching its budget Pixel 4a smartphone. The upcoming week is going to be a busy one in the world of tech. On one hand, Samsung is hosting its Galaxy Unpacked event wherein it will launch Galaxy Note 20 series smartphones along with its second-generation Galaxy Fold smartphone. Apart from the upcoming Galaxy smartphones, Google will finally be launching its budget Pixel 4a smartphone. So, here are the top smartphones that will be launching this week: Google Pixel 4a Google has confirmed that it will be launching its budget Pixel 4a smartphone on August 3. The phone is tipped to get a 5.81-inch HD+ display. It is likely to be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor that is coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage space. It is tipped to get 12.2MP camera at the back and an 8MP camera at the front. It is expected to get a 3,140mAh battery. Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series Samsung will launch Galaxy Note 20 series smartphones consisting of the Galaxy Note 20 and the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra on August 5. It is expected to get a 6.7-inch Infinity-O Super AMOLED screen and a 4,300mAh battery. It is likely to be powered by Exynos 990 SoC that is coupled with 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage. It is expected to get 12MP camera in the front and a triple camera setup consisting of 12MP + 64MP camera at the back. Samsung Galaxy Fold 2 Samsung is expected to launch Galaxy Fold 2 alongside Galaxy Note 20 series smartphones. It is expected to get a 7.7-inch sAMOLED display on the inside and a 6.23-inch sAMOLED display on the outside. It could be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor with dual batteries with a total capacity of 4,365mAh. On the camera front, the phone is expected to feature a 10MP sensor on the inside and outside and a 64MP + 12MP + 12MP camera setup on the outside. Vivo S7 Vivo will be launching its Vivo S7 smartphone on August 7. The phone is tipped to get a 6.4-inch full HD+ AMOLED display. It will run on Qualcomms Snapdragon 765G SoC that is coupled with 8GB of RAM. The Vivo S7 could get a dual-selfie camera setup featuring 44MP and 8PM sensors. At the back, it is tipped to get 64MP + 8MP + 13MP sensors. An NHK survey shows the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa has the nation's highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases per 100,000 people in the preceding seven days. Officials of the southern island prefecture warn the local medical system remains under strain. The survey put the figure for Okinawa at about 18 as of Saturday, followed by Tokyo at 16, Fukuoka and Osaka prefectures at 14, and Aichi Prefecture at 13. Okinawa officials have had people with mild or no coronavirus symptoms admitted to hospitals or hotels. But the officials will advise such people to stay at home. They also plan to secure another hotel on Tuesday, where roughly 100 guestrooms will be available to accommodate virus carriers. Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny reported 64 new infections in the prefecture on Sunday, bringing the cumulative tally to 517. The governor said Okinawa must prevent its medical system from collapsing. He urged residents to do all they can, such as refraining from going out, to help stop the further spread of the virus. GB Foods the producers of Gino and Pomo range of products have donated to the Kumasi Central Mosque in the Ashanti Region. The donation coincided with the celebration by Muslims worldwide of Eid Al-Adha, the holiest festival in the Islamic calendar. Eid Al-Adha or the Festival of Sacrifice is celebrated to commemorate the obedience of Ibrahim in a four-day celebration that began on 31 July and will last until Monday, 2 August. The yearly ritual is considered a time to think of others as well as repenting for sins committed in the past. The Festival of Sacrifice marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage, where Muslims return from pilgrimage in Mecca. Muslims will sacrifice goats, sheep, lambs, and cows to represent Ibrahims commitment to God, where Allah came to Ibrahim in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son Ismail as an act of obedience to God. Participation in the sacrificial festival is mandatory for all obedient Muslims that can afford an animal. It is also mandatory for people with money to give an amount to charity, so less fortunate people can afford to join in on the celebration as well. As part of their corporate social responsibility, GB Foods donated an assortment of their brands as well as a bullock to the Kumasi Central Mosque through astute businessman Herbert Mensah to enhance the celebration of the Eid Al-Adha. King Edward of Hello FM in Kumasi together with Prince Osei of Kessben FM stood on behalf of GB Foods and Herbert Mensah and presented the items to the leadership of the Kumasi central mosque. They donated a big bullock and other products from GB Foods. He remarked that the yearly gesture by GB Foods is in line with their long-held tradition of keeping a bond with the Zongo community that has always supported them in their existence in Ghana. King Edward also added, GB Foods believe in the goodness of helping the poor in our society. Receiving donation on behalf of the Muslim community, regional chief Imam Abdul Mumin praised GB Foods and Herbert Mensah for their dedication and commitment to the Zongo communities and the poor in general throughout the years. Imam Abdul Mumin prayed for blessings of Allah (God) upon GB Foods and Mr. Herbert Mensah as well as all generous givers to the poor in our society. Thousands of Ghanaians including Ghanas vice president Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia have joined millions of other Muslims from all over the world this year to fulfill one of the major pillars of Islam and to celebrate Eid al-Adha in the holy city of Mecca. GB Foods has been in operation for over 40 years spanning several African countries. GB Foods, with Gino, Jumbo, Pomo tomato paste as some of the flagship products, originates from Barcelona, Spain, and has a flourishing production factory that employs hundreds of Ghanaians. ---PeacefmOnline City Editor Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has covered statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids. Saudi Arabia's Hajj pilgrims walked around the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca on Sunday, as part of the last rites of passage for the yearly pilgrimage. Worshippers followed markings on the ground and wore face masks to comply with coronavirus restrictions. The Hajj pilgrimage has been drastically impacted by the pandemic. Last year, some 2.5 million pilgrims took part, but this year as few as 1,000 pilgrims already residing in Saudi Arabia were allowed to perform the Hajj. The last days of Hajj coincide with the four-day Eid al-Adha, or "Feast of Sacrifice," in which Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor. But the pandemic has pushed millions of people around the world closer to the brink of poverty, making it harder for many to fulfill the religious tradition of purchasing livestock. One of the principal objectives of the project was to create an awareness in Europe and beyond on the current struggles faced by migrant labourers displaced after COVID-19 lockdowns in India, who have been walking inhuman distances to get to their villages Pankaj Tiwari, a 29-year-old Amsterdam-based artist, hailing from eastern Uttar Pradesh, reads out his poetry amid windy surroundings. ...The walk is not a desire, Its an urgency, This urgency is not created by us. The walk is a question, Question of inequality, Question of power, Questions of privileges The walk is a gesture, The walk is solidarity, The walk is being and standing together On 3 July, Pankaj along with his joint collaborator 35-year-old artist friend Abhishek Thapar, set out on a 360-km long walk from Dam Square in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Twelve days later, on the evening of 15 July, Pankaj and Abhishek, completed their performative walking art journey around the refugee camps of Calais in France. To mark the occasion, Pankaj cooked a meal for 25 migrants in Calais. Like the rest of us in India, on 8 May, Pankaj also woke up to the shocking news of 16 migrant labourers being run over by a goods train near Aurangabad in Maharashtra. Fourteen of them were killed on the spot. Desperately wanting to escape their fate in COVID-19-lockdown enforced cities, they were walking back to their home towns in Madhya Pradesh, along the railway tracks the previous night. After walking for 40 km, they were exhausted and decided to rest on the tracks, falling asleep and eventually, meeting their end. In India, 400 million people are employed in the informal sectors which forms 90 percent of the workforce. Out of this, around 120 million are estimated to belong to the daily wager category who move from city to city in search of work. With most things being shut, movements restricted, public transport suspended, life had become desperate for many migrant labourers. A majority of them, who work on daily wages in big cities, hail from small villages anywhere from 400 to 2,200 km from their place of work. Lockdown meant that most of them had no work and no source of income. Procuring food was a challenge and so was maintaining social distance in their matchbox housing arrangements. Walking back homewards was the only desperate solution left for many, as public transport remained suspended and there was no money to pay for impromptu transporters charging upwards of Rs 1,000 per person. Pankaj had been following the Indian news cycle on a daily basis while himself living under shelter-in-place restrictions in Amsterdam, where he is studying at the DAS Theatre Academy. Pankaj, who hails from North India, was shocked to see images and videos of people walking back home. I come from Balrampur in Eastern UP which is almost on the border of India and Nepal. Eastern UP is a land of migrants and most people there migrate to bigger cities to find work. I was deeply affected by the news of migrant labourers walking back home, but I didnt know what I could do from here. I couldnt even go to the squares here and protest because of the restrictions. Come to think of it, I wasnt even sure what to protest about?, reminisces Pankaj. The images of rotis strewn around the tracks were heart-breaking and have been etched in the minds of many. It mirrored the absolute unpreparedness of the state and central governments when responding to the COVID-19 lockdowns, especially when it came to transporting migrant labourers back home safely. By mid-May, the story of migrant labourers walking back home had become a daily news item. Only towards the end of May did one start seeing enough Shramik trains to prevent this mass walking migration. The birth of an art project to help families in need Having read about the migrant situation in Europe and now this new development in India after COVID-19 lockdowns, Pankaj realised the only way he could help was through art. He conceptualised a live performance project. Called The Art of Walking, this was a performative art project which Pankaj undertook with Abhishek. The idea was to walk the 360 km distance from Amsterdam to Calais over 12 days, covering between 28 and 36 km every day. The journey, which would involve walking through the interiors of the Netherlands, Belgium and France, was Pankaj and Abhishek's way to experience the fraction of the discomfort that was faced by many Indian migrant labourers back home. The larger objective was to create an awareness in Europe and beyond, on the current struggles faced by migrant labourers displaced after COVID-19 lockdowns in India, who have been walking inhuman distances to get to their villages. On being asked why he chose these two destinations in particular, Pankaj responded that Amsterdam was an obvious choice as thats where he resided and Calais is a symbolic spot where many refugees or migrants are held back in camps, before they cross the channel to go to the UK. By walking from Amsterdam to Calais, Pankaj wanted to connect the migrant crisis in India to the ongoing migrant crisis in Europe. There was a common ground of dispossession, loss and homelessness in both instances. To Pankaj, it was clear from the start that this wasnt any activism but purely an art performance which wanted to question the context of Europes refugee response, Europes way of looking at art and its limits, while simultaneously highlighting the suffering of Indian migrant labourers due to government inaction. As the inspiration for the art performance were the poor migrant families who walked long distances in India, Pankajs major aim with the art performance was to transfer over 80 percent of the proceeds collected during the duration of this project to some of those families. But he didnt want the European audience to perceive this art performance as some charity and refused donations for the same. Before this project, I was once having a chat with a European friend who was impressed with the idea. She asked me to share the account number of an affected family, and she would transfer 2,000 Euros in their account. I refused to do that. This was her falling into the white-saviour mode. I explained to her that I wasnt looking for charity, I was performing this art walk and if she valued the art, which was inspired by the situation in India, then she could help finance it. Pay for the work, not as a charity, Pankaj told his friend. Two stories stood out for Pankaj from the many he was following. One was about the labourers being run over by train and the other was of a pregnant labourer who delivered along the way and then carried on walking for 150 km to reach home. Pankaj was also appalled by the way some police lathi-charged poor migrants who were trying to get home. But bringing these sufferings in the European context for people to care about it was going to be challenging. As Europe had its own run-ins with issues around migration, Pankaj decided to draw parallels between the two humanitarian situations by concluding his walk at a symbolic location Calais. Care they did, money has been raised Thanks to Pankaj and Abhishek's theatre network in Amsterdam, around 10 theatre groups, theatre festivals and production houses in Europe came forward to raise upwards of 20,000 Euros for this art project when the proposal was shared with them. According to Pankaj, this was enough money to be able to take care of around 120 families in India, who had members walking back home. To help out the families, around 10-15 people who are on the ground have been identified, who will each manage 10 families and ensure these funds reach them. No NGO or government help is being sought. The idea is to take care of each family for at least four months. Unlike most art performances which are inside a venue such as a theatre or a gallery, Pankajs outdoor walk which transcends three countries isnt your traditional enclosed space. There isnt a tangible audience to follow along on his journey throughout. Does the lack of a physical audience not bother the artists? Audience, at an abstract level, is a gaze for an actor. As a performer, if I can perceive that gaze even when there is no physical audience, I can perform without an audience, opines Pankaj, telling me about one of his performances to an empty Sabarmati river patch in Ahmedabad. But while Pankaj may not be having a sustained audience physically with him, his reflections online have attracted a following. While Pankaj did not actively tell people he came across on the way about his project, if anyone came forward he did inform them. Every day, thanks to the invested theatre groups and their networks, the artist duo were accompanied by some new artist or the other on the long walks. The conversations that Pankaj and Abhishek collected were shared online daily. While the reflections took the form of write-ups, photographs and videos, the majority of the art was distilled in the form of poetry. As an artist working with poetries, visuals, body and space, Pankaj said that even his prose came out in the form of poetry. Pankaj was also sending photos from his trip to another theatre friend in India, Agat Sharma, who also penned a few poems for this project as it was going on. Pankaj had been penning down his thoughts in Hindi in his diary, which he plans to share online soon. Heres the complete playlist of the poetries shared during the 12-day art walk performance. It touches on themes as varied as home, belonging, power, politics, solidarity, migration and much more. Firstpost had reached out to Pankaj over a WhatsApp call, and we could hear howling wind sounds in the background, which also interfered with our conversation. Technically speaking, its supposed to be summer in Europe. But so far, we have experienced winds at the speed of 45 kph, heavy rainfall and bad weather conditions. Of course, this is not even a fraction of the discomfort the migrant labourers in India must have faced, as they were walking back home, Pankaj had said on the seventh day of the walk. There were a few days when his partner Abhishek had to take medicines to keep away from fever. Pankaj himself abandoned the shoes which were given to him by a friend and chose to walk from the sixth day onwards in his sandals, thus exposing his feet to the cold weather. While they would find some host or the other daily to retire for the night, there was one day when Pankaj and Abhishek had to pitch a tent. As nature would have it, it rained non-stop on that very night making the tent unusable for the next few days. There were discomforts the artists faced, but at no point did Pankaj try to compare them with the situation of the Indian migrant labourers. But at his level, Pankaj still has had to deal with the migrant tag. On an arts scholarship in Europe, but still called a migrant artist Pankaj is studying on a scholarship in DAS, Amsterdam. He has even set up a community space in Abhishek's studio there called Current, where he collaborates with artists from around the world, curates performances and cooks food. Current has received funding from Amsterdam Funds for the Arts as well. But when he recently got invited to an arts festival in the UK, he was slotted under the term migrant artist. It got me thinking, I come from India, which is considered to be a land of migrants. Here I am in Europe, on a scholarship. But I am still a migrant artist. I started wondering about the migrant labourers and even though my situation is much better than the labourers who were walking back home, I am still carrying the migrant tag. I started wondering what does it mean to be a migrant artist and a migrant labourer? And how does Europe deal with all these terms and related issues, Pankaj reminisces. He wasnt able to go to that arts festival as he needed a UK Visa which he had to arrange himself. It brought to the front the hypocrisy that a country wanted to invite a migrant artist but expected the artist to take care of all the formalities (involving a sum of 200 Euros for the Visa) necessary to even enter the country which invited him. Everyone talks of a level playing field. But at the end of the day, in many instances, if you dont check certain boxes, you arent treated at the same equal level as the others, Pankaj said. This is something that also prompted him to select Calais as the end point of his performative project. The refugees held back at Calais also cant move on to the UK, as they dont have certain papers or documents. Pankaj said, just like the refugees, he also cannot go to the UK despite being invited by an arts festival there. But at Calais, I can meet the migrants, and we can both see beyond the water body, where there are possibilities and impossibilities, said Pankaj, a few days before reaching Calais. To put their journey in context, it was a fourth of the distance this woman covered with her child, when travelling from Gujarat to Uttar Pradesh. It is stories like these that Pankaj and Abhishek have also highlighted in their poetries. On reaching Calais on 15 July, the artist duo was worried about how they would be received by the police and if they would be allowed to cook. Pankaj did manage to cook and eat together with around 40 migrants, an experience he describes as more impulsive than organised. Abhishek also learned from one of the migrants that some people were stuck in Calais for as long as four months. One being asked by the migrants if he felt that was a long time, Abhishek had no answer. European version of India is unfamiliar to me and my generation The other major motivator behind the Art of Walking project was to try to present contemporary realities from India to Europeans. Since migration is a topic that has an immediate context in Europe, Pankaj decided to amalgamate the two issues which are, in a way, similar at some level a certain segment of society always having to battle with the concept of home and belonging. Having lived around nine months in Amsterdam, Pankaj realised that Indias issues were not that well known in Europe. The problem is a lot of the Indian issues dont make it to the mainstream media here. For instance, when the anti-CAA protests were happening earlier this year, unless you were actively following Indian news, no one here really knew about it. Another thing is that people who represent India outside, also dont spend time on those issues, says Pankaj. Along with a few Indian artists, Pankaj says he organised and participated in close to 20 CAA-related protests in Amsterdam, one of which took place outside the International Court of Justice at The Hague. But apart from managing to gather around 500 or so participants, these protests didnt really cause much of a dent in the conversations around India in Europe. The India they (Europeans) know is different from the India our generation knows. But as artists, we have to keep at it. Through this Art of Walking performance, a lot of people will have questions and that will create awareness among them. I dont see any point in pandering to curiosities on concepts like spirituality, etc. Now, I have my space and I will use it to highlight issues that affect my generation, says Pankaj, recalling an amusing conversation around cows which he had with one of his hosts recently on the walk. 12-years in India - little recognition; 9 months in Europe - immediate acknowledgement While Pankaj was in a pleasant mood throughout Firstposts phone conversation with him, there were certain issues which brought out some anger. Pankaj was angry at the cultural class and exclusivity thats associated with arts such as theatre in India, which barely lets someone like him acquire meaningful recognition. State funding for arts is definitely an issue in India, feels Pankaj, but more than that its the clique-y nature of the theatre scene that is more alarming. Its the gatekeepers of theatre and arts in India that are the problem. Anyone who doesnt belong institution-wise or class-wise or lobby-wise has no space to grow. Either such artists abandon theatre or compromise on their dreams for survival, said Pankaj. He feels that even alternate festivals end up inviting only a select few theatre artists or groups, most of them from the metros, thereby leaving out the more experimental ones. Just to get a space to practice theatre, Pankaj said he enrolled for around five masters programs out of which he only seriously completed two. Since I am not from a class that can support theatre, I kept hopping between universities in search of rehearsal spaces. Masters was just a means to pass time. The main objective was to use the resources at these institutes, says Pankaj unapologetically. He has also been the founder of several community spaces such as the Sabarmati Cafe & Theatre and Merakis Kitchen & Theatre. Somehow, somebody saw my work and I was informed about DAS Theatre Academy, Amsterdam. I applied and got selected in the second round, summarises Pankaj on how he reached Amsterdam from India. The contrast becomes stark when Pankaj goes on to narrate with a noticeable pride in his voice about his appointment as a curator at one of the top theatre names in Zurich, Switzerland, within nine months of coming to Amsterdam. In Europe, things are moving really fast. I have been invited to be in the program board for Gessnerallee, one of the top theatre groups in Zurich, Switzerland. I will be working with them for the next four years and will be curating one season each year. I am in a much stronger position in the theatre space which I couldnt achieve in India. I can decide which works I want to invite, Pankaj says, adding that he would try his best to highlight voices that dont get much exposure in India because they arent English-speaking or dont have the backing to make it in this mercurial space. The fact that he was able to raise 20,000 Euros within a matter of months for the families makes Pankaj feel confident that his experimental practices have a scope to make an impact in the society. He was impressed with the state support for art in Europe. But at the same time, in the European context, he wants to make performance art more approachable. Art has become so exclusive in Europe. For instance, if we look at the theatres, who do you think comes here? Well-dressed people who wine and dine after the performance can afford this art, not the regular populace. I feel this creates a distance between art and the audience. Art has to come out of the theatres. For me, this art walk is a pure performance which talks about issues and does something about it, says Pankaj reiterating that he does not want to call his Art of Walking project any sort of activism. He says he has done his fair share of activism in India for seven-eight years and its very common for Indian artists to be slotted under activist bucket in Europe, something he wants to steer clear of. I always say that I have shifted from being a revolutionary activist to a practical dreamer, Pankaj says tongue firmly in cheek. To follow the journey Pankaj and Abhishek undertook from 3-15 July head here: Performing Borders On 19 September, Pankaj and Abhishek also plan to host a lecture-performance based on their reflections and documentations during the Art of Walking journey, at the Gessnerallee, Zurich. This is to be followed by future performances at the Spring Festival in Utrecht in The Netherlands and the HAU Theatre in Berlin, Germany, in 2021. Banner image: Pankaj Tiwari (light blue jacket) and Abhishek Thapar somewhere in the Netherlands The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in Bauchi State is planning to recall former speaker Yakubu Dogara from the House of Representatives. Dogara last week dumped the PDP, for the second time and returned to the All Progressives Congress. The move angered the PDP hierarchy both in Bauchi and at the national level. Now a chieftain of the party in Bauchi has revealed the next move against Dogara, who is representing Bogoro/Dass/Tafawa Balewa constituency. Malam Bibi Dogo, disclosed that stakeholders from the party will soon ask the leadership of the House of Representatives to declare Dogaras constituency seat vacant. The PDP chieftain said that the people of Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa federal constituency who elected Dogara on the platform of PDP were no longer comfortable with being totally eclipsed in the House. The constituents do not know any convincing reason why their elected representative in the National Assembly defected to APC as Dogara did not consult them before his defection. I hereby call on the House of Representatives leadership to quickly declare Dogaras seat vacant to enable the constituents elect a capable replacement. He explained that in view of Dogaras inability to consult his constituents before defecting to APC, the constituents would soon commence the process for Dogaras recall, declaring that the people will not condone political indiscipline. Dogo submitted that the reasons stated by Dogara in the resignation letter he sent to his PDP ward chairman are nothing but flimsy excuses. Dogo claimed Dogara has lost his political relevance, and his return to APC will spell doom and help in the final burial of APC not only in Bauchi State but Nigeria in general. Dogo noted that Dogara had made three defections in recent times. Dogara moved from PDP to APC ahead of the 2015 general elections, moved again from APC to PDP ahead of 2019 general election and now moved again from PDP to APC. His jumping from party to party smacks of political indiscipline but you know that a rolling stone gathers no moss. Unfortunately, he lacks the political discipline to be trusted with any public office in Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa. How can you trust a man whose only political antecedent is jumping from one party to another? The PDP will soon take a drastic action to ensure Dogara is recalled, he said. Dogo spoke with Daily Trust. Recalling an elected member is a complicated process. It starts with a petition to INEC signed by more than 50 percent of registered voters in the constituency. INEC will notify the elected person being recalled and then move to verify the signatures on the petition. If verification succeeds, INEC will hold a referendum to determine whether the recall should proceed. There has been no single case of a successful recall since 1999. Related Opposition parties in Punjab on Sunday attacked the state government over the hooch tragedy that has killed 104 people, with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) asking chief minister Amarinder Singh to step down and demanding action against Congress leaders patronising spurious liquor trade. The SAD also rejected the magisterial inquiry ordered by the state government and sought a probe either by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a sitting judge of the high court. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also demanded an investigation by the CBI, with its state chief Bhagwant Mann indicating that political leaders might be involved in it. Also read: Mind your business: Punjab CM to Kejriwal on demand for CBI probe into hooch deaths AAP also held a statewide agitation against the government. Both parties demanded that a murder case be registered against those behind it. There should be a probe by the CBI or a sitting judge of the high court into this incident, SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said, describing the investigation ordered by the state government as farce and mere eyewash. He accused the state government of suppressing the actual number of casualties. He also demanded that former Tarn Taran senior superintendent of police (SSP) Dhruv Dahiya be booked for murder. He claimed that many people in the area had approached the then SSP about bootleggers and their alleged Congress kingpins, but the official had turned a blind eye. AAP MP Bhagwant Mann said, Nothing will happen with the transfer of some officers. The problem is deep rooted and there is a big nexus. People are openly taking names of leaders. There should be a probe by the CBI. VISION PROBLEMS Survivors of the tragedy have complained of low vision and uneasiness after consuming spurious liquor. Fifty-year-old Tilak Raj, a contractual employee of the Batala Municipal Corporation, says he felt uneasy after drinking the liquor, which he had bought for 60 from Triveni Chauhan and Darshana Rani, alias Faujan, outside the Hathi Gate locality in Batala. Both accused have been arrested. After I drank it, I was not able to see properly and felt uneasiness, said Raj. He survived as his family immediately took him to a doctor. Now, I am feeling slightly better but my vision has not improved and I am feeling giddy, said Raj. According to a senior excise official, although the chemical analysis reports of the material seized in police raids were awaited, a superficial check showed that the material was denatured spirit, generally used in paint or hardware industry. Meanwhile, some families of the deceased in Amritsar flayed the police for not taking any action against those culpable. Bamako, Aug 2 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Aug, 2020 ) :At least five soldiers were killed Sunday in clashes with "terrorists" in central Mali, the army said. One clash occurred between the village of Goma-Coura and Diabaly town at the same time as an artillery attack on a camp at Goma-Coura, the army said in a statement posted on its Twitter account, giving a "provisional" death toll of five soldiers. An East Bay family's plans to move to Utah this weekend have been tragically put on hold after the moving van containing all of their personal belongings was stolen early Saturday morning in front of their Castro Valley home. The Alameda County Sheriff's Department is investigating. Luke and Tiffany Purcell and their two children were planning to leave for Utah this weekend. Their moving van was packed, and they had planned to finish up vacating their Cameron Street residence this weekend to head back to Utah, where they once lived. Luke Purcell said the moving van, a 20-foot-long U-Haul truck, was last seen driving west on Grove Way near Trader Joe's in Castro Valley at approximately 2:15 a.m. It was stolen sometime after midnight. The truck has Arizona license plates. The plate number is AH54657. It also has a registration number on the truck - TT1148. Purcell said he and his wife and family have lived in Castro Valley for the last eight years, and this is the first time that they have been victims of a crime. "I just want our personal belongings back," Purcell said. "I don't care about the furniture or anything else." Besides furniture and other property, he said there were personal family heirlooms that were in the truck, belongings that would not be important to anyone else. "Life is already hard enough, especially nowadays," Purcell added. This morning's crime may have been captured on neighbors' surveillance cameras. Purcell said that, in preparation for the move this weekend, he had already taken down surveillance cameras he had put up at the residence. Anyone with information is being asked to contact the Alameda County Sheriff's Department at (510) 667-7721. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. I wrote, three years ago, about ordering delicious flakey keema samosas in Bengaluru from Anisas Kitchen, a catering service run by the eponymous Anisa. I was introduced to Anisa and her delicious food by my friend, Ash Lilani, who has the good fortune to know Rezwan Razack (of the Prestige group), one of Bengalurus great gourmets. Rezwan often used Anisas catering service and he sent me the first batch of keema samosas. After that I ordered them each time I was in Bengaluru and took them everywhere with me. (Mumbai, Delhi, even the beach on an island in the Maldives!) Last week, Ash texted me the sad news. Anisa had passed away. I thought back to the first time I had tried the samosas. When I wrote about them, I had to persuade skeptical North Indians that there were Gujarati samosas. Gujaratis eat samosas? was the most common response. We had no idea. I had to explain to them that not only did Gujaratis make some of the best samosas in India, we also made exceptional biryanis. This led to more eye-rolling and expressions of surprise. But Gujaratis are vegetarians, I was told. The Spanish took the empanada to Central America (Shutterstock) Well yes, most of us are. But some Gujarati Kshatriyas (the old royal families, for instance) do eat meat. And so do many of our minorities. Gujarat contains some of South Asias finest trading communities. Apart from the vanyas, there are also great Muslim trading communities such as the Bohras, the Khojas and the Memons. Anisas samosas were Memon samosas. (So was her biryani, but that is another story.) I doubt if they had a great deal to do with Punjabi samosas. I suspect that the Bohra/Khoja /Memon samosas evolved independently of the North Indian samosa. All they had in common was that they probably originated from the same source: the Middle East. Saying this leads, usually, to more huffing and puffing and such expressions of outrage as: You mean the samosa is not an Indian dish? The answer to that is yes, the samosas we eat (and there is more than one kind) are certainly Indian. But they did not originate in India. There is no shame in admitting that. The calzone of Italy, the coca of Spain (or Catalonia to be more precise) and even the empanada of Central America, all come from the same source. There are even versions of the empanada in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines that have the same origins. Anisa Siraj used to make the flakiest keema samosas The ancestor of all these dishes is a Middle-Eastern dish called the sanbusak. The world sanbusak is derived from the Persian sanbusa meaning anything triangular. The dish first turns up in an Iraqi text in the early 9th century. It turns up again in a 12th century recipe book and by the 13th century, it is already being described as the triangular fried pastry you find in the Middle East today. During the middle ages, the Arabs were the worlds great traders, scholars, warriors and travellers and they took versions of the sanbusak East and West. In Spain (in Valencia, the region to which the Arabs also introduced rice), the sanbusak became the empanada. (The Spanish took the empanada to Central America.) In Majorca and other parts of Spain, it was called a coca. In Italy, it became a calzone. In each region, stuffings took on a local character. In Valencia, empanadas can be stuffed with tuna and tomato. In Bari, in the South of Italy, the stuffing could be mackerel. In Apulia, the calzone was stuffed with ricotta. Over time, the shapes changed too. In large parts of Europe, they abandoned the triangular shape and went for a semi-circle. In Italy, the Naples version of the calzone can look like a folded pizza, which is why some people think it is no more than a kind of pizza. (In fact, the two dishes have distinct origins.) The Western Indian samosa is far more delicate and delicious than the North Indian stodgy samosa So, who brought the sanbusak to India and when did it become our own favourite snack? There is no agreement on this, because too much of our history is North India-based. In our retelling, everything is brought by invaders who arrive in Delhi and set up courts. Their food then travels around the country. This version of history (following a tradition created by British historians) forgets that Indian contacts with the rest of the world occurred at many different parts of the peninsula, and often they had to do with trade, not with armies and royal courts. There is no earthly reason for the Gujarati-Muslims of Indias west coast to make so many delicious samosas of their own (the Bohra samosa is even more famous than the Memon samosa), if the samosa only travelled across India, dispatched from Delhi. Anisas samosas were Memon samosas (Shutterstock) As many of these communities were converted in the medieval era, it is more probable that their food habits were influenced by the Arabs who converted them. I would go so far as to argue that the Gujarati samosa has nothing to do with the Delhi chaat-wallah samosa. Both versions came from the Middle East, but they came separately and developed completely differently thousands of miles apart in different parts of India. All over the Middle East, there are two versions of the sanbusak. One version is deep-fried and another is baked. This is true of calzone as well. As calzone has travelled around the world and turned up on pizzeria menus, it has become a pastry baked in a pizza oven. But in Italy, it is often deep-fried. Did the Arabs bring us the deep fried version? Or did the baked sanbusak transform into a deep-fried samosa that could be made easily at every little dhaba without having to worry about access to an oven? Was it a mixture of both? Frankly, I dont know and I have never read a convincing historical explanation. But what is clear is that even within our deep fried samosas, there are two crucial variations. The first is the shape. Though the Persian origin of the name means triangular, as we have seen, the shape shifted on its travels. Anisas samosa could be rectangular in shape and Bohra samosas, while triangular, are usually much smaller than their burly Punjabi counterparts. The other primary difference and this one is crucial is the dough. The North Indian samosa has a one-dimensional, sturdy covering that holds the filling in place. Gujarati samosas on the other hand, have a thin (often flakey) covering, which gets delicately crisp when you fry them. Most Gujarati Muslim households that I know use store-bought pati (or wrapping) to make the samosas and the results are nearly always outstanding. In Italy, the Naples version of the calzone can look like a folded pizza (Shutterstock) I dont know where Anisa got hers from but what made her Memon samosas so delicious was the flakiness of her pastry. It was not the kind of flakiness you associate with deep frying and it had more in common with baked pastry. The flakiest croissants I have had in Delhi are made by Sahil Mehta and he gets the flakiness, he says, by folding his dough again and again (probably twice as much as anyone else does), so that each layer of buttered pastry rises in the oven giving a flakey crispiness. But does this work when the samosa is deep-fried? I asked Rohit Sangwan of the Taj Lands End, whose encyclopedic knowledge of the science of baking always leaves me in awe. Rohit says that too many cooks start by making the dough with water rather than a fat. Start with fat, he says, and you will get a light flakiness that will survive deep-frying in a kadai. In the bad old days, says Rohit, chefs knew that margarine or lard would give a flakier pastry but now health concerns have led them to abandon that practice. (He is right but I suspect, many French chefs still use animal fat for flakiness.) So, which is the better samosa? Frankly, I think it is a no-contest. The Western Indian samosa is far more delicate and delicious than the North Indian stodgy samosa. Kainaz Contractor of Delhis Rustoms restaurant makes some of the citys most delicious samosas but makes it a point to order the Bohra pati from Mumbai to get the right flakiness and crispness for the outside of her Parsi samosas. But, of course, there is a strong case to be made for the North Indian samosa as a chaat staple and a tea-time snack. Put it next to say, a calzone or an empanada and it is not so different. Both of those dishes can have an equally stodgy crust. In the end, I guess it comes down to what you like. I am a pastry guy. I love flakey patties and buttery croissants, where the flakes settle on your shirt as you eat. If on the other hand, you like your samosas strong and podgy, and served with a chaat chutney, then the Punjabi version is the best. But never forget that whichever version you choose you are eating the descendant of a thousand-year-old dish that has travelled the world. From HT Brunch, August 2, 2020 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Waterloo native Nikole Hannah-Jones of the New York Times won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary for her overview of the 1619 Project that she shepherded about the lasting impact of slavery on the U.S. Its offered as free curriculum for classrooms, with a timeline tracing the history of Blacks in American since the first Africans were brought here in 1619. Chicago, Washington and Buffalo schools will use it. The groundbreaking initiative has its critics. Some historians questioned three contentious points: A primary reason colonists declared independence was to protect the institution of slavery, Abraham Lincoln wasnt committed to equality, and Blacks have for the most part ... fought alone for freedom. Last week, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, made it an issue. Hed prohibit federal funds for schools using the curriculum, calling it factually, historically flawed that America is at root, a systemically racist country to the core and irredeemable. He added, As the Founding Fathers said, (slavery) was the necessary evil upon which the union was built. The union was built in a way, as Lincoln said, to put slavery on the course to its ultimate extinction. History shouldnt sugarcoat a necessary evil. Imagine telling Black children, Hannah-Jones tweeted, that buying and selling of their ancestors, the rape, torture, and forced labor of their ancestors for PROFIT, was just a necessary evil for the creation of the noblest country the world has ever seen. She called history texts highly politicized, downplaying slavery. The South lost the Civil War, but prevailed in textbooks. United Daughters of the Confederacy historian Mildred Lewis Rutherford long ago provided the formula: Reject a book that says the South fought to hold her slaves. Reject a book that speaks of the slaveholder of the South as cruel and unjust. Virginia offered a better life for the Negroes than did Africa. In his new home, the Negro was far away from the spears and war clubs of enemy tribes. In Alabama, A jail sentence or the execution of a slave was considered to be more of a punishment for the master than for the slave, because the slave was such valuable property. In Texas, While there were cruel masters who maimed or even killed their slaves (although killing and maiming were against the law) there were also kind and generous owners. Textbooks whitewash that the Alamo defenders died fighting Mexicos oppressive slavery ban and omit the 1921 Tulsa massacre that killed 300 Blacks, which was news to President Donald Trump. The roles Blacks played building the nation are relegated to an afterthought. The indentured servants (later slaves) brought to Virginia in 1619 had knowledge of raising rice that saved the destitute South, which then cultivated human misery with labor-intensive crops like tobacco, sugar cane and cotton. When Washington, D.C., was designated as the nations capital, European labor couldnt be recruited. Blacks slaves and free men built the White House, Capitol and government buildings. Still, Hannah-Jones contention that fear of Britain freeing slaves helped prompt the Revolution is debatable. Both the Revolution and the abolition movement were percolating in the North before the 1775 Dunsmore Proclamation in Virginia offered freedom to any slave joining the British militia. Historian Gordon Wood wrote, I dont know of any colonist who said that they wanted independence in order to preserve their slaves. No colonist expressed alarm that the mother country was out to abolish slavery in 1776. But compromises at the Constitutional Convention did help the less-populous South politically, making its 700,000 slaves three-fifths of a person when weighing Electoral College representation. Ten of the first 12 presidents were slaveholders. In return, the Constitution prohibited importing slaves by 1808, which proved meaningless. By the Civil War, the South had 4 million slaves. Lincolns commitment to racial equality was fraught with contradictions. He did place slavery in the course of ultimate extinction, leading to the Civil War after the Founding Fathers kicked that can down the road. Yet Lincoln didnt issue the Emancipation Proclamation until 1863, freeing slaves in states not under Union control but in not border states. More than 100,000 Blacks joined the Union to help tip a stalemate. Four months earlier convinced the races couldnt co-exist Lincoln got Congress to finance shipping Blacks to another country. Hannah-Jones contends Blacks for the most part ... fought alone while struggling for freedom. That slights the 360,222 Union soldiers overwhelmingly white who died in the Civil War, abolitionists, and civil rights movement participants. Which isnt to deny that the quest for a seat at the table hasnt been lonely. Part of Hannah-Jones essay concerns her family fleeing violence and lack of opportunity in Mississippi only to encounter segregation and few opportunities in Waterloo. That should be a catalyst for a local conversation. The 1619 Project does make uncomfortable assertions worthy of discussion by students and historians. But its long overdue. Weigh the evidence and let the facts speak for themselves. A woman who worked at a bakery for 44 years has been sacked for allowing elderly customers without cards to pay in cash during the pandemic. Megan Metcalfe, 60, who was the Store Manager at Birds Bakery chain in Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire was sacked for 'gross misconduct' after she accepted cash payments - against company policy. She says she took around 180 of payments in cash and put them through on her own debit card. The bakery chain is only taking contactless and card payments during the pandemic for hygiene reasons. Megan Metcalfe, 60, was sacked from Birds Bakery in Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire for accepting cash from elderly customers who did not have a bank card However, Ms Metcalfe said that many of their elderly customers did not have a bank card. Although she was aware that it was against the bakery chain's Covid-19 policy, she said she was trying to do the right thing and has kept receipts of the transactions. Ms Metcalfe has worked at Birds Bakery for 44 years, including 25 years as a manager. Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, Ms Metcalfe said: 'I realise what I was doing was against company policy but they had picked up the items and already gotten to the till ready to buy them. 'There's no way I could let an elderly man or woman walk away telling them they could not buy it because they didn't have a card. Although it was against the bakery chain's Covid-19 policy, Ms Metcalfe says she took around 180 of payments in cash and put them through on her own debit card as an act of kindness to her elderly customers 'They had also already handled the stock so that would have to be binned or cleaned.' Ms Metcalfe said she was suspended on June 19 and then was sacked for 'gross misconduct' after appearing before a disciplinary hearing. The bakery chain said it was 'with regret' they had to let her go after 44 years of service. 'I was just trying to do the right thing. I am really upset by it of course,' she said. 'I worked at Birds for 44 years and 25 of them as a manager. 'I was told I was endangering staff members' lives by doing what I did. 'At no point did money transfer hands. It was straight into my purse and then I put the payment through on card and showed them the receipt. 'I should not have done it but I don't like to let people down and a lot of these customers depend on us, coming to us every day.' A petition calling on Birds Bakery to reinstate or compensated Ms Metcalfe has already been signed by more than 10,000 people in two days. People commenting on the petition have vented their anger at the company's decision. One man, Dave Howard, signing the petition said: 'As a manager you sometimes need to use common sense. 'Megan will be remembered by the customers for her kindness and help. 'At no point were other members of staff endangered and waste was kept to a minimum by selling the goods instead of throwing them away. 'In my books this makes Megan a good manager.' Birds Bakery said that they dismissed Ms Metcalfe 'with regret' but that they take the safety of staff and customers very seriously and have very tight procedures in place during the pandemic What is legal tender? And can businesses refuse your cash? Legal tender means that if you offer to pay off a debt to someone in tender, they can't sue you for failing to repay. What's classed as legal tender varies throughout the UK. In England and Wales, it's Royal Mint coins and Bank of England notes. In Scotland and Northern Ireland it's only Royal Mint coins and not banknotes. There are also some restrictions when using small coins. For example, 1p and 2p coins only count as legal tender for any amount up to 20p. Many common and safe payment methods such as cheques, debit cards and contactless aren't legal tender. But shop owners can choose what payment they accept - meaning if you want to pay for milk with a 50 note, it's perfectly legal to turn you down. As the Bank of England says: 'If your local corner shop decided to only accept payments in Pokemon cards that would be within their right too. But they'd probably lose customers.' Source: Bank of England Advertisement Another women, Lara Yule, called for a boycott of Birds Bakery saying: 'Absolutely despicable behaviour!! 'Sacked for being kind, thoughtful and going the extra mile for vulnerable, elderly people!' Lesley Bird, chief operating officer at Birds Bakery, said: 'At Birds, we take the safety of our staff and customers very seriously and have very tight procedures in place during this pandemic. 'A lot of our customer base are the elderly many of them vulnerable and it is our responsibility to keep them, and our staff, safe. 'Like many other food outlets, during this pandemic we have asked customers to only use debit cards because notes and coins are not clean and this poses a risk to our staff who are handling that money. 'In the case of Megan Metcalfe she was taking cash from customers and then making payments with her own card. 'This contravenes our current health and safety policy relating to Covid-19 and is also against company regulations. 'It was with regret that we had to ask Megan to leave the business because of those two issues.' This comes just days after a 94-year-old woman was turned away from another Birds Bakery store when she tried to buy bread - because she didn't have a bank card. Edna Dalchin was stunned and embarrassed when staff in Birds Bakery in Bulwell, Nottinghamshire told to put her essential items back because they would not accept paper money. Mrs Dalchin, from Basford, said she has never owned a bank card and prefers to pay with cash. Birds Bakery is a family chain that was founded over 100 years ago in Derby and has over 60 outlets across the Midlands. Update: Beach Bar & Restaurant is now open for take-out on Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. CLARK LAKE, MI - An employee at a bar near the shore in Clarklake tested positive for COVID-19, shutting down in-house dining indefinitely. The employee of Beach Bar & Restaurant, 3505 Ocean Beach Road, worked near the front of the restaurant between noon and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 29, according to a Facebook post from Saturday, Aug. 1. The restaurant is now open for take-out on Wednesdays through Sundays from noon to 9 p.m., according to a Facebook post Monday, Aug. 3. The announcement came after a thorough cleaning, the post stated. Thank you for understanding during these trying times, the post stated. The individual worked inside and was fully masked at all times, the earlier post stated. A message was left with the health department for further details. The Gear Garage, an adjacent ice cream shop, remains open, according to a separate Facebook post by Beach Bar & Restaurant. There have been 664 positive cases of COVID-19 and 32 deaths in Jackson County as of Sunday, Aug. 2, according to the county health department database. There have also been more than 33,000 coronavirus tests conducted in the county, according to the statewide database. 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 from the Jackson Citizen Patriot: Judge defies appellate court in murder resentencing: I hope they appeal it to the U.S. Supreme Court Majority stake in wind farm to produce energy for Facebook, McDonalds bought by Consumers Energy parent company Albion College admin picked to lead Jackson Catholic Schools Albion man dies a month after being shot multiple times, police say YOU MIGHT not know geofencing, but it knows you. Geofencing is defined as a technology that draws a virtual line around a physical area so that a signal can be sent to a mobile electronic device, such as a cellphone, that has passed through that area. If youve ever walked into a store, spoken to no one and then very shortly gotten an email or text from that store, youre familiar with the practice if not the word. Geofencing also is a law-enforcement tool, at least until and unless the courts decide otherwise. Last year, a man robbed a bank in the Richmond suburbs of $195,000. A search warrant led to Google opening its cellphone accounts to focus on everyone near the bank at the time of the robbery. With a little sleuthing, the cops narrowed their search down to one man whose phone was inside the bank when it was being robbed. He was caught with $100,000 in cash, and he confessed. End of the story? No. The mans lawyers claim that the Google search violated the Fourth Amendment, which guarantees citizens protection against unreasonable searches and guards our expectation to privacy. Dame Barbara Windsor is 'comfortable and happy' after being moved into a nursing home amid her ongoing battle with dementia, her close friend Christopher Biggins has revealed. The actor, 71, has been in contact with the 82-year-old EastEnders star's husband Scott Mitchell, who admitted on Friday he was 'heartbroken' by the move which took place following advice from a neurologist. Biggins told The Mirror: 'It is such a difficult situation and Scott has behaved impeccably. For her health: Dame Barbara Windsor is 'comfortable and happy' after being moved into a nursing home amid her ongoing battle with dementia (pictured with husband Scott Mitchell in 2017) 'I don't know how he has done it. He deserves the highest accolade that anybody can give anybody, together with all carers. 'The decision I know wasn't easy but I think he has made the right decision for everybody concerned. It is just tragic. But you have to look to the future and to Barbara's comfort. I hear she is very comfortable and happy.' Biggins also revealed to the publication that he last saw Barbara before lockdown began when he popped round for a cup of tea and that she was still 'fabulous'. He said that although she had problems recognising other people, the screen legend still remembered him, before adding that he will go and visit her soon. Good friends: Christopher Biggins, 71, has been in contact with the 82-year-old EastEnders star's husband Scott Mitchell and says he has heard she is coping well in the care home (pictured in February) Memories: Biggins also revealed that he last saw Barbara before lockdown began when he popped round for a cup of tea and that she was still 'fabulous' (pictured together in 2008) Speaking to The Sun on Friday about his wife's move to the care home, Scott, 57, revealed: 'I feel I'm on an emotional rollercoaster. I walk around, trying to keep busy, then burst in to tears. It feels like a bereavement. 'It's always been my biggest fear, that one day I would have to take her somewhere and she'd be thinking, 'Why would he do this to me?' That fear has become a reality. It's something I never wanted.' Scott fought back tears as he spoke of taking Barbara to the care home, as he confessed the decision left him feeling 'so raw'. In good hands: Scott revealed that two weeks ago Barbara (pictured in January) moved to a full-time residential care home in London on the advice of her neurologist He added that Barbara's neurologist advised him to tell her she would be going away for a few days as her doctors changed her medication. Saying he felt 'awful' when taking her to the care home as she 'didn't know' what was happening, he added: 'Walking out of the house that day was an incredibly tough thing to do because, the reality is, I doubt if Barbara will ever return.' Scott then explained that Barbara was taken by staff at the care home in London and put in a wheelchair as she had recently begun to struggle to walk. The actress remained positive under the circumstances, as her husband said she blew kisses to fellow residents and wanted to hold their hands. Emotional: As he fought back tears, Scott said: 'It's always been my biggest fear, that one day I would have to take her somewhere and she'd be thinking, 'Why would he do this to me?'' (pictured in 2019) However, due to the coronavirus crisis, she had to self-isolate for two weeks, but Scott said he hoped she could now be allowed to mingle with others and get to know them. As he emotionally reflected on how Barbara has been while being taken care of by a 24/7 carer, Scott admitted he felt she realised in her lucid moments that the move was not temporary and believed he had 'let her down'. Saying she sometimes blamed him for the move, Scott claimed he knew it wasn't the Barbara he knows who is doing so and felt it was understandable that she would feel that way because 'who else is she going to blame'. In response, Scott ensures he tells her he loves her and explains that he is doing what is best for her health. Candid: Saying he felt 'awful' when taking her to the care home as she 'didn't know' what was happening, he added: 'I doubt if Barbara will ever return' (pictured in 2018) Scott said he visited the home she is staying in several times, and picked out a spacious room that he filled it with family photos, posters of her work, and other great moments like her receiving her Damehood to make it feel more homely. On the day he took her to the care home, Scott admitted he felt 'sick to the pit of [his] stomach' for leaving her there when they'd spent so much time together during their 27-years together. In the months prior to taking Barbara to the care home Scott had round-the-clock carers staying in their house, as the star would often wake up in the night and fall due to her ailing health. Barbara was also said to struggle walking from one room to the other without getting breathless, and needed help getting into the bath which was difficult to do in their home as they didn't have the facilities to do so. Struggle: Scott said in her more lucid moments the star realised the move wasn't temporary and would sometimes feel he had 'let her down' (pictured in 2017) Saying he feared she would seriously hurt herself in the process of staying in their home, Scott admitted his concerns overrode his feelings of guilt about taking her to a home, as it was not feasible to let her stay. Scott added that he hoped Barbara would soon feel a sense of normality in the care home, and while she sometimes 'gets cross' with him he knew the decision was for the best and would benefit her in the long-run. In June, Scott admitted it taking Barbara to a care home was the thing he's 'always feared' and said he couldn't imagine ever letting her leave their marital home. Scott, who is her primary carer, revealed at the time that he was told the upsetting development by a specialist after her Alzheimer's battle 'worryingly progressed'. At the time, the theatrical agent added that he had encountered some 'fairly dark moments' since the appointment. While appearing on ITV's Living with Dementia with the EastEnders star's former on-screen son Ross Kemp, he admitted sending her to a care home was something he had 'always feared' Scott explained: 'It's the thing I've always feared. He's basically telling me I need to prepare myself that at some point it may not be sustainable to give her the kind of care she needs at the house. 'I've had some fairly dark moments since he said that because there's a part of me that knows that most likely is the truth and that's what needs to happen. There's another part of me which can't imagine letting her go. 'I can't imagine leaving that lady when she talks to me the way she does and putting her somewhere and her thinking, 'Why has he done this to me?' Doting: While he understood her frustrations at being in the care home, Scott said he makes sure to tell her he loves her and explains that it's best for her health that she stays there (pictured in 2016) The Carry On actress was diagnosed with the degenerative condition in 2014 and was being cared for round-the-clock by her husband Scott before being taken to a care home. The actor married EastEnders star Barbara in 2000, and it was previously reported that Scott was struggling with coronavirus lockdown because Barbara couldn't understand why nobody was visiting her. Biggins previously told The Sun: 'She's a little confused as to what's going on because no one can visit her. Heartbreaking: In the months prior to taking Barbara to the care home Scott had round-the-clock carers staying in their house, as the star would often hurt herself in the night (pictured in 2017) 'It's not because she thinks ''they don't like me'' because her husband Scott explains to her but she just forgets the explanation and she asks all the time.' Barbara, who is best known for her role as Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders and for starring in nine Carry On films, first revealed she was suffering from the disease, for which there is currently no cure, in May 2018, after being diagnosed in 2014. Her husband Scott said her condition worsened at the beginning of the year, and that the legendary actress often gets confused as to where she is. Just once in my life, very briefly, I was tempted to commit a heinous crime. I contemplated a Pooh-napping. I was visiting the children's branch of the New York Public Library in downtown Manhattan, and there in a quiet corner was an amazing display five elderly stuffed toys. And these were not just any stuffed toys. There was a depressed-looking donkey, a wide-eyed tiger, a sweetly smiling kangaroo, a small and rather tubby little pig ... and, sitting magisterially on a plinth above them all, a grand teddy bear with wonky ears. These were the most famous toys in all literature, and cinema too: Winnie-the-Pooh and friends. They are part of our national heritage. And I am launching a campaign to bring them back home ... if not permanently, then at least for a holiday. In the children's branch of the New York Public Library are Winnie-the-Pooh and friends (above). They are part of our national heritage. And I am launching a campaign to bring them back home ... if not permanently, then at least for a holiday I hadn't stumbled upon the display by accident. On the contrary, back in the early Nineties, I crossed the Atlantic especially to find Winnie & Co. Button-holing a librarian, I explained I was a friend of Christopher Robin the young boy who is one of Pooh's best friends in the books a claim which was met with no little disbelief. But once I had convinced the custodians that I really did know Christopher Robin Milne whose father A.A. Milne wrote the Pooh Bear books and based his fictional boy on his son the cabinet was unlocked. Gently, and indeed gingerly, I cradled the ursine character Milne described as 'a Bear of Very Little Brain' in my arms. Reader, I gave him a cuddle, because it seemed to me that he had been wanting one for a very long time. And it was at that moment that a guilty urge to run entered my head. I am no Olympic sprinter. But I thought I might be able to out-run a posse of librarians, at least as far as the sidewalk where I could hail a yellow cab. I am an honest fellow, and my thoughts tend to travel across my face, as legible as ticker-tape. The chief librarian must have guessed what I was considering, because she prised Winnie out of my arms and replaced him firmly in his display cabinet. On my return to England empty-handed, I reported sadly to Christopher Robin that the New Yorkers were not likely to hand back his childhood companion. 'I never thought they would,' he said. 'We've got to try,' I told him. I've never forgotten my vow to Christopher. I have long abandoned any wicked ideas of bear-snatching, of course. I now favour a diplomatic approach ... and I believe I have a solution that will benefit the Americans at least as much as it pleases Britain. In fact, apolitical Winnie-the-Pooh is about to be pressed into action as a post-Brexit ambassador for Anglo-U.S. relations, as I shall explain. But first, how was it that the priceless symbols of a much-loved childhood classic ended up in the Big Apple rather than the Big Smoke anyway? It dates back to the Forties when Winnie-the-Pooh started to become a superstar in the States. In 2024, Winnie-the-Pooh will celebrate his centenary, 100 years since the publication of the book of poems, When We Were Very Young. Pictured, an illustration of Pooh Bear by E.H Shepard A.A. Milne permitted his son's toys to go on an American tour from which they never came back. Milne gave them to his agent, who gave them to his publisher, who eventually (in the early Seventies) gave them to the New York Public Library. There they have remained ever since, delighting generations of young American bookworms. Like practically everyone in Britain, I count Winnie as an important part of my childhood. My parents lived in the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, close to the Milne family home, and though I was a generation younger than Christopher Robin, I imagined I might step outside and bump into them all on their way to the Hundred Acre Wood. I had my own bear, named Growler. I loved Rupert Bear (really a boy with a bear's head). In short, I was a junior arctophile the scientific name for a devotee of teddy bears. When I went up to Oxford, I didn't take Growler with me, but only because I was afraid people would think I was copying Lord Sebastian Flyte in Evelyn Waugh's novel Brideshead Revisited (his bear, as every arctophile knows, was called Aloysius). So I was delighted to then discover that adults were allowed to love teddies too. The revelation came from a conversation with an old actor named Peter Bull (he appeared in The African Queen and Dr. Strangelove), who looked rather like a bear himself and who had a marvellous collection of Steiffs the Rolls-Royce of teddy bear makers and other Teds. I was inspired. Soon, Growler had a host of new friends. And when people heard about my obsession, they gave me their own bears for safe-keeping ... including some very distinguished toys. Today my collection totals 1,000 specimens, including Dame Barbara Cartland's beloved teddy The Prince Of Love, and Fozzie Bear, the original Muppet puppet created by Jim Henson. I'd always imagined that I would bequeath my collection to my children. They let me down gently. 'Dearest Papa,' they said, because we are always quite Victorian in our formalities, 'we love your teddies. But 1,000 is too many.' A.A. Milne (pictured with Christopher and the original Pooh Bear) permitted his son's toys to go on an American tour. Milne gave them to his agent, who gave them to his publisher, who eventually gave them to New York Public Library So, being conscious, like Dame Barbara, that stuffed toys tend to outlive their loving owners, I set about finding a home for them. One day I was filming for The One Show at Newby Hall in North Yorkshire, a small stately home designed by Sir Christopher Wren, where the Compton family keep a magnificent collection of dolls' houses. I told them about my plight vis-a-vis the bears, and they immediately offered them a home. They even suggested building an extension so the teddies can be properly showcased. My modesty is legendary, and some persuasion was necessary before I consented for this new wing to be dubbed the Brandreth Bear House. And it is there that I one day hope to exhibit Pooh and his friends to a British audience. This month would be Christopher Robin's 100th birthday. And in 2024, Winnie-the-Pooh will celebrate his own centenary, 100 years since the publication of the book of poems, When We Were Very Young including a verse simply called Teddy Bear which featured the first illustrations by E.H. Shepard. There could never be a better time for Winnie and his friends to take a holiday in Britain. And I have an idea that Fozzie Bear might enjoy a trip to the States too (you can take the bear out of New York, after all, but never New York out of the bear). So I would like to propose a swap. Later this year, I will visit the Big Apple and I hope to meet New York's mayor, Bill de Blasio. 'You can borrow Fozzie,' I shall suggest. 'We would love to play host to Winnie-the-Pooh. I promise we'll give him back at the end of his holiday. But please let him come and play.' F1 legend Gerhard Berger says he would "totally understand" if Sebastian Vettel signs up with Racing Point for 2021. "I would say that he would clearly be on the podium or at least be in a much better situation than he finds himself in at Ferrari," he told sportbuzzer.de. However, Berger - Vettel's first team boss in F1 - actually advises the German to retire rather than sign up with the new Aston Martin project. Vettel says his decision is still a couple of weeks away, and Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer confirmed that July 31 was never the deadline. Toto Wolff, an Aston Martin shareholder, is pushing hard for Vettel to sign up. "I know that discussions are ongoing," the Mercedes boss told Osterreich newspaper. "It is not easy to replace Checo Perez because he is an important part of the team, but from an Aston Martin perspective, Vettel would be a huge coup as Germany is the second most important market for them. "But I don't want to talk the team into making this decision," Wolff added. Many believe that Red Bull or Alpha Tauri are still options for Vettel. "Driver decisions are made by others at Red Bull," said Alpha Tauri boss Franz Tost, according to Sport 1. "Mostly these decisions are made in September or October, so let's wait." (GMM) (Newser) Connie Culp, the first person to receive a face transplant in the USafter being shot by her husbandhas died. She was 57, and the cause of her death Thursday was not released, People reports. "Connie was an incredibly brave, vibrant woman and an inspiration to many," said one doctor who particpated in her surgery at the Cleveland Clinic. "She was a great pioneer. Culp lived longer than any other person to receive a face transplant, he said, calling her decision to have the operation "an enduring gift for all of humanity." She endured a 22-hour operation in 2008, four years after her husband disfigured her with a shotgun blast. The world's fourth transplant came only after 30 corrective surgeries. Doctors replaced 80% of her face, including her nose, upper lip, palate and front teethall from one donor. Later, Culp received a prosthetic right eye. story continues below First, she had to undergo psychological testing, per the New York Times. One of the questions was about how she'd feel about living with a dead person's face. The surgery was an immediate success, and about 40 have been done around the world since then. Without it, a doctor said, Culp would never have been able to smile or talk again. Culp later said she'd forgiven her husband, who turned the gun on himself after shooting her. He survived and was freed from prison in 2011. "I still love my husband," she once said. "I forgave him the day he did it. I have to." After receiving her new face, Culp had a plea for those put off by people who've been disfigured. "Dont judge people who dont look the same as you do, because you never know," she said. "One day it might be all taken away. (Read more Connie Culp stories.) At the end of the normal school day, many Chinese students flock to various tutoring classes and continue their "schooling" well into the evening. Reports always suggest that, despite economic slowdown, China's private education industry could be the last to shrink. And recently some startups emerged to leverage artificial intelligence to innovate and improve learning experiences, which not only interested parents and children, but also attracted dozens of investors. The expanding size of the tutoring market is arguably the best evidence to show how stiff is the competition among students; it also attests the significant role that the private educational sector plays in national economic development. Critics, however, see it as putting more pressure on children and impairing their well-being. They argue that traditional schooling already provides adequate and quality instruction for students. Indeed, these tutoring schools burden almost every family in China, both mentally and financially; however, the private educational sector does act as a "testing ground" to help refine and even reform the current educational system in all aspects. Leveraging artificial intelligence in classes, for example, demonstrate the efforts of Edtech startups devoted to adding creative elements into traditional instruction mode; Extensive Chinese language program (da yuwen) helps reorient language training to be more comprehensive, focusing on liberal arts teaching. What is more, student coding education, a present-day wave led by the private tutoring industry is definitely going to remodel future curriculum design in Chinese schools. Two decades ago, to keep pace with economic growth, the Ministry of Education proposed to highlight IT-related education in all elementary and secondary schools, which later evolved into a compulsory section of national curriculum, yet engaged with basic concepts and skills. Today, programming literacy is becoming one of the most essential skills for the next generation, but it has been limited to the computer science majors in Chinese universities. Many educators thus suggested that coding and programming courses be integrated into the mainstream curriculum for all schools. However, this is far from easy. First, advocates believe mechanical logic and computational thinking is as fundamental as liberal education. Learning to code from a young age can help benefit youngsters' problem-solving abilities when exposed in a creative, playful and collaborative environment. Second, programming experiences could provide an alternative way to explore the world understanding how technological devices actually work in virtual world, and in doing so, children's potential could be maximized. More importantly, they argue that given the global high-tech competition, China should step up efforts in nurturing abundant qualified talents. As early as 2014, the British government introduced computer programming into every classroom and later announced a new 500,000 fund to train teachers and professionals. Surveys show more than 16 EU countries officially include coding education in their school curricula. In 2016, Google launched a research program Project Bloks intending to build a platform for developers and designers to provide tangible programming experiences for kids. This implies that coding education could form a crucial part of digital competency across the globe. However, there are many who disagree, pointing out that it takes time and incredible efforts to revise a national curriculum, especially considering the regional education disparities in China. True, the shortage of quality teachers is the main obstacle especially for public schools in China, let alone those in remote areas where internet is unavailable. And, opponents think how to write a coding textbook that suits students' learning pace is troublesome. Furthermore, they argue that even if computer programming becomes part of the Gaokao (national college entrance exam) in future, the benefits, such as analytical skills, which coding education helps cultivate will be largely eclipsed by growing admissions strains. As the debate unfolds, coding education is no longer unfamiliar to most Chinese parents and children in spite of constant doubts. There has been an increasing concern since private educational companies took the initiative and filled the market demand. As is known, unlike school education, private tutoring classes can provide flexible schedules, customize teaching methods so that students won't find it a burden to learn a new "language." To help them understand coding concepts easily, some companies provide image-based coding systems and develop "coding games" for kids at a very young age. It is reported that more than 160 companies in China have started to provide coding and programming courses, and, as of 2019, the market size of coding industry was about 3 to 4 billion yuan with a customer base of 15.5 million, which signals great room for further development. Admittedly, it is true that children from well-off families are the majority, and, for most parents, these coding courses could give their offspring an edge over peers in a highly competitive environment. The emerging shift, however, represents a big move in China's educational revolution. China has the largest education system in the world: 260 million students and complicated administrative divisions make the system not only immense but diverse. It is therefore of great difficulty and uncertainty to steer education reform. Taking coding education as an example, given the lack of faculty and severe inequality, including coding literacy into national curriculum in one attempt is unattainable. Yet, fortunately the private sector has stepped up to the plate and is working as a "testing ground" before the whole community can accept the new mode. Although the coding education reform will bring huge challenges, it also means great opportunities for students, private companies and the country. Mathew Wong is an assistant professor in the Department of Social Sciences at the Education University of Hong Kong. Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. A health worker carries out a COVID-19 test on a resident in a testing vehicle in Shenyang in China's northeastern Liaoning Province on July 29, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) No One Left Alone: Northern Chinese City on Edge as Virus Outbreak Spreads A woman was dragged off the street in the northeastern Chinese port city of Dalian while shopping, and streets were bleached white as authorities disinfected the city ahead of a high-profile official visit. At a local elementary school where mass testing was being offered, fights broke out as people attempted to cut in line among those who had begun lining up before dawn. Over the past week, these scenes unfolded in Dalian, as a third wave outbreak of COVID-19 has since spread to nine cities across five Chinese provinces, including Beijing. The climbing virus cases prompted a visit from Vice Premier Sun Chunlan, whose last inspection tour was to Wuhan, the worlds first CCP virus hotspot. Dalian officials have again set up drastic lockdown measures that have given rise to residents complaints about virus testing mismanagement and food shortages. Workers in protective suits collect swabs for nucleic acid testing at a makeshift testing site, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Dalian, China, on July 26, 2020. (China Daily via Reuters) The city entered into wartime mode on July 23, a day after officials identified a seafood company as ground zero of the new outbreak. Three days later, officials mandated that all 6.9 million residents in the city be tested for COVID-19. Authorities didnt trust the veracity of the first round of nucleic acid testing and said on July 30 that a second round of testing on residents in high-risk regions would begin. No one is left alone in the entire Dalian, said Wang Ping (an alias), a neighborhood committee officer in Dalian Bay. The area is considered one of the worst-hit in the city and has come under full lockdown since July 26. No one can enter or exit the neighborhood at the moment, he said. When a case emerges, authorities seal off the entire building where the patient lives. Wang, who sometimes has to work until 3 a.m. to test local residents, said he has never done such stressful work in my life, noting that sweat had soaked through his shirt. Testing Mayhem On July 30, health authorities temporarily cordoned off a major shopping mall for disinfecting, and a customer was taken away by ambulance on suspicion that she may have contracted the virus. The customer had received a call from officials moments earlier asking for her whereabouts, an onlooker told The Epoch Times. They asked the customer to stay put, after she replied that she had gone shopping. Everyone in the mall was tested, according to the passerby. Residents wait for groceries delivered to an entrance of a sealed residential compound, after new cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were confirmed in Dalian, Liaoning province, China, on July 23, 2020. (China Daily via REUTERS) City officials gave a slightly different account during a July 31 press conference, saying they closed the mall after identifying a worker at the mall surnamed Wang as a key suspected virus case. Meanwhile, locals who visited public testing sites expressed anger over what they saw as haphazard management and chaos. Ms. Liu from the Xinchang residential compound woke up at 6 a.m., thinking she could arrive early at the testing site in Xinzhaizi Primary School. When she arrived, hundreds had already lined up at the gate. Some, she learned, got in line as early as 3 a.m. No one had any idea where to line up or to register for testing, she said in an interview. After the gate opened at about 8 a.m. and security guards disappeared, the crowd fell into disarray, Liu said. With no one maintaining order, many squeezed their way forward and fought with each other or argued with medical staff. Growing frustrated, Liu left for a local hospital to have her family tested. Residents are crowded together at a COVID-19 nucleic acid test site in Dalian, China, on July 27, 2020. (Provided to The Epoch Times) Property management officers offered outsiders first dibs on testing kits, but turned away some residents who had waited for more than 10 hours, said Mr. Li, a resident of the Jumei Dongwan neighborhood compound. Angered, people hurled water bottles at the officers and got into fistfights. Food Shortage Food supplies also became a concern after the outbreak led to local markets and neighborhoods shutting down. Ms. Yan, who lives in Beijing but has family in Dalian Bay, told The Epoch Times that her parents only had potatoes leftwhich had been stocked when prices were still cheap, she said. Zhang Yu (an alias), under lockdown in his apartment in Dalian Bay, said that he and neighbors were allowed to get some fresh air in the evenings, but going out on the streets would risk violating authorities mandatory quarantine. Every day, the sound of disinfecting, ambulances, and the loudspeaker of the security workersall of that goes into your ears, he said in an interview. When is this going to come to an end? Iraqi premier calls early elections in June 2021, one year earlier than scheduled Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 August 2020 12:22 AM Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi says he will hold early parliamentary elections next June, a year earlier than scheduled, doubling down on a promise he made when he came to power to meet a key demand of anti-government protesters. "June 6, 2021, has been fixed as the date for the next legislative elections," the premier said during a televised speech on Friday, stressing that everything would be done in a bid to "protect and ensure the success of these polls." In a statement shortly released following the speech, the United Nations mission in Iraq hailed Kadhimi's announcement, saying the move would promote "greater stability and democracy." Mass protests swept over the capital Baghdad and the south of the country in October 2019, with young crowds demanding jobs, services, and urgent action against alleged rampant corruption. Former Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi stepped down under the pressure of the rallies, which were sometimes marred by deadly violence. The incumbent premier was nominated in April, months after the resignation of Abdul Mahdi, and took office following a political consensus in May, promising to deliver on key protesters' demands. Furthermore, Kadhimi has promised dialogue with protesters and has requested comprehensive lists of all those who have been killed and wounded throughout the months-long protests in a bid to put those accountable on trial and bring about compensation. The next legislative elections had originally been due for May 2022. After the date was drawn a year closer by the prime minister, it is now the parliament's turn to officially vote on the new date. Early parliamentary elections have been a key demand of anti-government protesters, but it is not yet clear under what electoral law the early elections will be held. Late last year, a new electoral law was passed, aiming at giving political independents a better chance of securing seats in parliament and weakening the hold of the ruling elites, but political differences prevail over the implementation of the legislation. If the new law is implemented, it would change each of Iraq's 18 provinces into a number of electoral districts, with one lawmaker elected per 100,000 people, meaning that it would practically bar parties from running on unified lists, which in the past has helped them win all the seats in a certain province. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address [When to watch SpaceXs next NASA launch of astronauts.] The first astronaut trip to orbit by a private company parachuted to a safe conclusion in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. It was the first water landing by NASA astronauts since 1975, when the agencys crews were still flying to and from orbit in the Apollo modules used for the historic American moon missions. Riding in a capsule built and operated by SpaceX, the rocket company founded by Elon Musk, two NASA astronauts Robert L. Behnken and Douglas G. Hurley splashed down near Pensacola, Fla., on Sunday afternoon. The Crew Dragon capsule, suspended under four giant billowing orange-and-white parachutes, settled upright into the water at a gentle pace of 15 miles per hour at 2:48 p.m. Eastern time. She got engaged on her milestone 21st birthday last year. And Bindi Irwin couldn't resist reflecting on the exciting moment as she shared a loved-up snap with husband Chandler Powell on Instagram on Sunday. The conservationist gushed over her 'incredible' other half as she told him that she 'loved him with all her heart'. 'My sunshine': Bindi Irwin couldn't resist reflecting on her exciting engagement one year ago as she shared a loved-up snap with Chandler Powell on Instagram on Sunday. Both pictured Wearing a pretty navy and white printed dress, Bindi looked like she was on cloud nine as she cuddled up to the former professional wakeboarder in the snap. 'Just over a year ago @chandlerpowell proposed,' the 22-year-old began in the caption. Highlighting how far they had come in a year, Bondi continued: 'Now I get to call this incredible man my husband. Heres to a lifetime of adventure together. 'My sunshine, I love you with all my heart.' Adorable: The conservationist gushed over her 'incredible' other half as she told him that she 'loved him with all her heart' Last week, Chandler marked the moment himself on Bindi's actual birthday. Taking to Instagram, he shared several photos from their wedding day on March 25, and wrote in the caption: 'For the first time ever as a married couple, happy birthday to my beautiful wife.' The Florida native added: 'This year has been nothing short of epic and you have handled everything thrown our way with courage and grace. 'My best friend, I love you: Last week, Chandler marked the moment himself on Bindi's actual birthday 'You inspire me to be a better person every day with how much love you have to give. 'Thank you for making the world a better and brighter place. My best friend, my wife, my everything. I love you.' Bindi was quick to respond to her husband's message, commenting below the post: 'My sunshine, my world. I love you today, tomorrow and forever.' Amid the spiritual warfare of his day, Pauls passion never wavered. With love as his chief weapon, he fought the good fight against hatred, lies, immorality and violence the very same evil forces that confront us in the streets and marketplaces of America today. Evil that will overcome us unless we can come against it with passion like Paul had. What are you passionate about? What do you have a passion to do with your life before your day is done? If it is true, as I believe it is, that there is no greater purpose for living than to be a servant of Christ, then surely it is also true that one cannot do so without passion. Such passion can grow out of gratitude for Gods mercy. And when that passion consumes us, we soon realize our utter helplessness to serve well unless Christ strengthens us. Mercy produces passion. God rewards that passion by allowing the strength of Christ to flow into every fiber of our being. Only then can we say with Paul, in utter amazement, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Gods mercy caused Paul to have passion to serve Christ. Pauls example led Timothy to have that same passion. Gods mercy can generate such passion in you and me. Do you have it? Patna: Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey said on Saturday that a team of Bihar Police, which went to Mumbai in connection with the probe into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, has not yet been able to "locate" Rhea Chakraborty, who has been named in the FIR by the actor's father KK Singh. He said that Bihar Police is working on the basis of evidence and if needed, senior officers will also be sent from here to Mumbai. The Bihar DGP was speaking to reporters here on Saturday. He said that the team of Bihar Police probing in Mumbai has so far met friends, colleagues and relatives of the late actor and collected many important information from them. He said, "The four-member Bihar police team that went to Mumbai has recorded statements of Sushant's sister, former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, his cook, his friends and colleagues. The team also went to the bank to collect information about transactions made from Sushant's bank accounts. Rhea Chakraborty, however, is yet to be located." On the question of the demand to get the matter investigated by the CBI, the DGP said, "Bihar Police is fully capable of investigating this case. If the family of Sushant would like the case to be investigated by the CBI, then it would be considered, but the Bihar Police would go to any extent to provide justice to Sushant. And I assure you that Bihar Police is fully capable of providing justice to his family for the peace of Sushant's soul." When asked about the allegation of going outside the jurisdiction to register a case in this matter, the DGP categorically stated that Sushant's father has himself registered the case in Patna, thereafter an investigation was launched. An accused in this case has also gone to the Supreme Court, he said adding "whatever the Supreme Court says will be followed. If the Bihar Police gets a chance to investigate the matter, the truth will be brought out." With regard to sending other officers to Mumbai, the DGP said if needed, a senior IPS level officer will also be sent to Mumbai so that he can meet his counterparts in Mumbai for better coordination. At present, the Bihar Police team in Mumbai is working hard and has met with some success. Sushant Singh Rajput, a resident of Patna and a well-known Bollywood actor, allegedly died by suicide at his Mumbai residence on June 14. Mumbai Police was investigating the matter. On July 25, Sushant's father K.K. Singh registered a case against Rhea Chakraborty and six others, including her family members, at Rajiv Nagar police station in Patna for abetting his son to commit suicide. After the case was registered, Bihar Police reached Mumbai and started investigating the case. Rhea Chakraborty has, however, approached the Supreme Court to shift the case to Mumbai. A decision in this regard is to be made on August 5 in the top court. Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg during a press conference in the Mural Hall at Parliament House on June 11, 2020 in Canberra, Australia (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Aussie Tax Office to Audit Early Access to Superannuation as Withdrawals Expected to Hit $42 Billion The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has confirmed that it has commenced a pilot program to audit the applicant eligibility for the governments COVID-19 superannuation early release scheme, with a broader compliance program under consideration. The move came amidst the Treasurys latest estimation that the paid-out total could hit $41.9 billion as the government has extended the scheme until December 31. Speaking to a Senate Select Committee into the governments COVID-19 response on July 30, ATO second commissioner Jeremy Hirschhorn said the agency had started a new inquiry into some cases involving ineligible applicants for the early release scheme. We have information from other sources, for example, single touch payroll data, which suggests that people did not meet the criteria, he said. Were starting now to do some sort of a pilot in terms of contacting people where it looks like they did not meet the criteria, asking about their circumstances, he added. Hirschhorn also said that this would help work out the level of ineligibility generally and shape a broader compliance program. Hirschhorn conceded that ATO did not check eligibility on receiving the application, explaining that this is about getting emergency money to people and the agency works on the assumption Australians are honest. However, people confirmed to be ineligible will face significant consequences, including paying income tax on the withdrawn amount, and being fined up to $12,600 (US$9,104). Yet penalties are unlikely if it was an honest error and they voluntarily disclose the mistake. The latest data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) shows that as of July 19, $28 billion has already been withdrawn from the scheme, with 3.9 million applications (including 1 million repeat applications) lodged. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced on July 23 the extension of the scheme by three months to help those who may still be financially impacted by the pandemic. While superannuation helps people save for retirement, the government recognises that for those significantly financially affected by the coronavirus, accessing some of their superannuation today may outweigh the benefits of maintaining those savings until retirement, said the statement. In response to the concerns that the early withdrawal may lead to hardship down the track, Prime Minister Scott Morrison dismissed them, saying people should be allowed to do whatever they think best with their money. Its not the governments money. Its their money, he told reporters at a press conference on July 30. The intent for which it is used is decided by the person whose money it is. Morrison said that we are not a government that tells people how they should spend their own money, adding that there are legitimate and appropriate rules to enable people in this time of hardship to access their own money to do with it what they believe is best for them. I will back them as to how they spend their money every day of the week, Morrison said. Iran requires negative COVID-19 tests for arriving foreigners Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 August 2020 12:28 PM Non-Iranian passengers arriving at Iran's main international airport should provide negative COVID-19 tests or they will be deported, says a senior aviation official amid fresh restrictions imposed in Iran to curb the spread of the new coronaviris pandemic. "Passengers with non-Iranian nationality will not be allowed into the country and will be deported if they do not produce a negative corona (virus) test," said Mohammad Reza Karimian, deputy director of Imam Khomeini airport (IKA), on Saturday. Karimian said that deportation would only apply to non-Iranian citizens and others failing to provide a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test will have to incur the costs of a test and a forced 48-hour quarantine that follows it. The PCR tests should have been carried out less than four days before arrival in Iran by qualified authorities in the country of embarkation and results should be English, said the official. He said new restrictions will come into force on July 15, adding that even passengers with a negative test could be subject to quarantine measures if they are deemed suspicious on arrival at IKA, an airport located to the southwest of Tehran. Iran, the hardest hit country in the Middle East by COVID-19, is struggling to reduce the risk of imported disease cases amid increased international travel to the region. A spokesman of the Iranian health ministry said on Saturday that the number of infections in the country had risen by 2,548 to reach a total of 306,752. Sima Sadat Lari said some 16,982 people had died, including 216 patients over the past 24 hours, while there have been a total 265,830 recoveries from the virus since it was first reported in Iran in late February. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Two western Massachusetts communities have received funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agencys Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. Wilbraham and West Springfield each received funding to purchase equipment that otherwise would come from city or town funds. Wilbraham is slated to receive $128,571 for the purchase of three power stretchers and one manual stretcher for the towns ambulances. The power stretchers are designed to allow operators the ability to lift and manipulate patients more easily and with less long-term injury to the operator. FEMA has allocated $40,909 for the West Springfield Fire Department to purchase five Thermal Imaging Cameras. The cameras dont take family pictures but allow firefighters to see the heat generated by a fire in a building or a person outside. The cameras allow pin-point location of heat sources. The Assistance to Firefighters Grants are issued each year by FEMA to help municipalities, fire districts, and training academies acquire the critically ne4ded equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources. OTTAWA - Canada will provide a military transport plane to support United Nations peacekeeping missions for another year despite losing its bid for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/8/2020 (534 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Canada will provide a military transport plane to support United Nations peacekeeping missions for another year despite losing its bid for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council. The first of 17 new CC-130J Hercules aircraft is seen through the cockpit of an older model of the Hercules after landing at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton on Friday, June 4, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrien Veczan OTTAWA - Canada will provide a military transport plane to support United Nations peacekeeping missions for another year despite losing its bid for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan's office confirmed the continued deployment of a CC-130 Hercules in support of UN missions in Africa on Sunday, ending months of speculation about the fate of the mission. "The Canadian Armed Forces are playing an important role in transporting critical supplies and personnel to support the UN in the region," Sajjan said in a statement to The Canadian Press. "We understand the importance of Canada working with our international allies and partners like the United Nations, which is why we have renewed Canadian Armed Forces support for an additional year." The Hercules, which has been based out of Uganda five days per month since August 2019, was one of three signature promises that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made to the UN when Canada hosted a major peacekeeping summit in November 2017. Trudeau also promised the UN that Canada would provide a helicopter detachment, which operated in Mali from June 2018 to September 2019. He also pledged a quick reaction force comprised of up to 200 troops, which has yet to be fulfilled. Many saw the promises as an attempt by the Liberal government to bolster its bid for a two-year seat on the UN Security Council, and there had been questions about the CC-130 after Canada lost to Norway and Ireland on the first ballot in June. Sajjan also said that the Hercules recently resumed flights to and from Uganda after a four-month suspension due to COVID-19. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Following a temporary operational pause due to COVID-19, the tactical detachment in Uganda has recently completed a 10-day mission out of Entebbe," he said. The plane moved about 42 tonnes worth of cargo and 400 passengers, he added. Canadian Forces College professor Walter Dorn, one of Canada's foremost experts on peacekeeping, welcomed the extension, which he described as "pioneering" since the plane isn't assigned to one specific UN mission but helps many in Africa. "It's a pioneering service," he said. "The first national contribution for multi-operation air service in UN history, with operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan already serviced and other missions to be added." Dorn nonetheless lamented that the Hercules is only available for five days a month even as he noted that Canada's overall contribution to peacekeeping remains at an all-time low with 34 police officers and military personnel around the world. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 3, 2020. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version misattributed information to a spokesperson. File Image Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said he has tested positive for COVID-19. I have tested positive for coronavirus. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on the recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with me recently to be observant and exercise self quarantine. B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) August 2, 2020 "I have tested positive for coronavirus. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on the recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with me recently to be observant and exercise self quarantine," the veteran BJP leader wrote on Twitter. "I have tested positive for coronavirus. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on the recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with me recently to be observant and exercise self quarantine," the veteran BJP leader wrote on Twitter. Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah took to Twitter to announce that he has tested positive for COVID-19. The peace deal co-signed by the Taliban that supports the Al Qaeda terrorists is not part of the agreement with the United States. Said peace-deal was considered unexpected considering the nature of the Taliban organization in Afghanistan, and having the Taliban support the outlawed Al Qaeda that has been responsible for many suicide attacks on many occasions. Also, these are terrorists who have no qualms attacking military or civilian targets, reported Fox News More officials are worried about this development, like Tolo, the governor of Helmand, Yasin Khan who is concerned about the increased activity of the terrorists in the Durand Line with Pakistan. Another is that more insurgents are active along the border of Afghanistan and Iran. The province of Helmand is where clashes between U.S. and Afghan troops were frequent. Recently, the Taliban has made it their stronghold. According to the governor, the Taliban is not willing to lessen the number of troops that are added by Al Qaeda and foreign fighters. He also said that several officials are aware that the Al Qaeda is operating in the Doho district in Helmand and until Herat. There are fears that the terrorist is now active in a larger area than thought. Khan punctuated that already the terrorists are foisting their ominous presence in the Bahramcha region of Disho district. Their activities are extending to the Herat province where they are giving training and support to the Taliban, which includes materials. Reports by the Afghan military say that the Taliban has switched strategies and is getting supplies from abroad to make mines and other weaponry to terrorize the Kabul government and civilians. Also read: U.S. Retaliates 'Defensive Strike' Against Talibans After Attack on Afghan Checkpoint Despite this, the American government is keen on staying with the agreement with the Taliban, signed in February. They agreed with the reduction of the American Troops, as Afghanistan is having escalated violence. The country is the site of many deaths caused by terrorism, and it does not help with intent by other terrorists to kick out the American troops. In 2019, about 8,500 terrorist attacks were recorded worldwide, with the deaths of 20,300 in these attacks. There are 5,460 known terrorists with 14,840 as victims that came from the Maryland University and Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). The data point out that in 2018, an escalation of 2% from 2018 to 2019 is the number of attacks by terrorists. But it should be noted that the Taliban has increased the number of civilians and non-combatants registered at 9%. All the increased deaths caused by the bloodthirsty Taliban have ignored the civilians caught in the crossfire. Ironically as the Taliban is negotiating with the American government, the country has terrorist activities that were 21% in-country during 2019. All the terrorist activities occurring were nothing compared to the civilian and the attackers, Taliban and their terrorist partners at caused mayhem at 41%. Even if the Taliban sent emissaries to foster peace, they have been consistent at attacking the current Afghan leadership. But the action of the Taliban that supports Al Qaeda terrorists is not the act of seeking reconciliation. As a tripartite agreement between the U.S., the Kabul government and Taliban continue with more people killed. Related article: Taliban Takes Advantage of Pentagon Peace Deal by Attacking Afghan Allies, Killing Civilians @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In March and May, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) went for out-of-turn policy rate cuts following off-cycle meetings of its rate-setting body, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). This week, the Indian central bank will take a call on its policy rate after a three-day meeting of the MPC. Following the last rate cut, the RBI policy repo rate, or the rate at which it infuses liquidity in the banking system, is four per cent; and the reverse repo rate, the rate at which commercial banks park extra liquidity with the RBI, is 3.35 per cent. Both are now at their historic lows. Since ... UK Wants US to Take Up Part of Spending Burden for Trident Missile's New Warhead, Report Says Sputnik News Ilya Tsukanov. Sputnik International 19:04 GMT 01.08.2020(updated 19:36 GMT 01.08.2020) The Pentagon leaked the UK's plans to purchase a new generation of W93 nuclear warheads for its submarine-based Trident weapons system earlier this year, with the upgrade expected to cost in excess of 11 billion ($14 billion) for the warheads alone, and 31 billion ($40 billion US) total. Britain is hoping for generous financial assistance from the United States for its plans to upgrade the warheads for its Trident missiles, The Guardian has reported, citing a letter reportedly sent by British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to US lawmakers in April. "These are challenging times, but it is crucial that we demonstrate transatlantic unity and solidarity in this difficult period," Wallace was quoted as saying, with the letter addressed to members of the US House and Senate Armed Services Committees. "Congressional funding in [2021] for the W93 program will ensure that we continue to deepen the unique nuclear relationship between our two countries, enabling the United Kingdom to provide safe and assured continuous-at-sea deterrence for decades to come," the secretary added, presumably referring to the 2021 National Defence Authorization Act, which was passed by both houses of Congress last month. Wallace emphasized that US support for the W93 program in the current budget would be "critical" for allowing the UK to upgrade its Trident warheads, ensuring "the long-term viability of the UK's nuclear deterrent and therefore, the future of NATO as a nuclear alliance." Britain's submarine-based Trident missile system, carried aboard four nuclear subs armed with eight missiles apiece and operating out of the Clyde Naval Base in Scotland, was approved for acquisition in 1980, with patrols of the subs beginning in the mid-1990s. After the decommissioning of Britain's tactical WE.177 free-fall bombs in the late 1990s, the system became the keystone of the UK's nuclear deterrent. In February, the Pentagon accidentally leaked details on a British plan to buy a new generation of nuclear warheads for the system. US lawmakers had been wrangling with the spending proposal in recent months, with its opponents pointing out that the Pentagon already has two other viable warheads, the upgraded W76 and W88, for its own submarine-launched Trident missiles. US officials were reportedly surprised by Foreign Secretary Wallace's unusually blunt intervention in the spending debate, with a committee aid telling The Guardian that "we've never had a letter of this sort before." The W93 warhead, believed to be based on a late Cold War-era design that was developed but never fielded, is expected to replace a British modification of the W76, with the UK currently possessing a stockpile of about 215 W76s, 120 of them deployed aboard subs at any given time inside the Tridents as multiple independently targetable reentry vehicles, or MIRVs. The UK's W76s have varying blast yields, ranging from 0.3 kilotons to 100 kilotons. The US version of the warhead has been upgraded, and is expected to be viable until at least 2045, while the UK's is expected to need upgrade or replacement by the late 2030s. The United States is in the middle of a 30-year, $1.5 trillion program to upgrade its nuclear arsenal, with the program begun in 2010, and the Trump administration adding several new expenditures for the creation of new tactical and sea-launched weapons. The Pentagon estimates that Russia, the world's other nuclear superpower, has spent the equivalent of $28 billion upgrading its nuclear triad in recent years (i.e. over 50 times less than the US, and even less than the UK expects to spend upgrading Trident). In March, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that Russia's nuclear arsenal would be 87 percent modernized by the end of 2020. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hanoi has traced over 72,000 people returning from Danang since July 8, four times the initial estimate of 18,000. Nearly 50,000 Hanoians having returned from Danang since July 8 have undergone rapid testing for Covid-19, of them 11 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the first instance. After confirmatory PCR tests, ten obtained negative test result while one is pending. Chairman of the Hanoi's People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung addresses the meeting of the Hanois Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control. Photo: Kinh te & Do thi At a meeting of the Hanoi Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control on August 1, Director of the municipal Health Department Nguyen Khac Hien informed all 127 people who had interactions with the two infected cases in Hanoi - Patient No.447 and Patient No.459 have tested negative for the novel coronavirus. The 127 suspected cases who made contacts with the patients, though their test results were negative, will be tested again. Meanwhile, they will be placed under close medical observation. According to Truong Quang Viet, deputy director of the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC Hanoi), some health stations in Hanoi have been crowded and test kits are running out due to the increasing number of people registering for rapid testing. The CDC Hanoi has sent 78,000 test kits out of the 80,000 available to health stations, thus there are only 2,000 kits left in stock. The municipal Department of Health is requesting the Ministry of Health to provide another 20,000 testing kits. Mass testing is expected to end on August 2. Hanoi will encourage people who have returned from pandemic-hit areas to declare their health conditions. Those having signs of cough, fever, shortness of breath must immediately contact medical facilities, Hanois mayor Nguyen Duc Chung said. The city's authorities said that some people after visiting the beach city continued their tours to many provinces in the central region and it is necessary to get their medical declarations together with those who returned from Danang by road and rail. Danang, a favorite resort city was where the first locally-transmitted cases were found a week ago after more than three months Vietnam had kept the virus sheets clean. According to statistics, the number of residents in Hanoi returning from Danang since July 8 has topped 72,000, four times the initial estimate of 18,000. Hanoitimes Nhat Minh/Cong Tho/Thuy Tien Madhya Pradesh Congress chief will host a recital of 'Hanuman Chalisa' at his residence here on Tuesday, a day before the ground-breaking ceremony for Ram temple construction in All Covid-19 protocols will be strictly followed during the event, Congress spokesman Bhupendra Gupta said on Sunday. "'Hanuman Chalisa' recital has been organised at Nathjis residence on Tuesday. He is an ardent devotee of Hanumanji. He has asked the party cadre and leaders to recite 'Hanuman Chalisa' at their homes on Tuesday, Gupta said. On Saturday, said a Ram temple is being constructed in with the consent of every Indian. Asked about the reason behind the event being organised by the former state chief minister, Gupta said Tuesday is an auspicious day. "Nothing should be read into it. It is purely a spiritual event," he said. On 'Hanuman Jayanti' in April, Nath could not hold a grand annual religious event in his constituency Chhindwara in the wake of the fall of his government, he said. Some years ago, Nath, who was then a member of Parliament, got a 101-feet-tall statue of Lord Hanuman installed in Chhindwara district, he added. In March this year, 22 rebel Congress MLAs, loyalists of former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, resigned from the party, leading to the fall of the 15-month-old government in the state. Following the rebellion, Kamal Nath resigned as chief minister on March 20, paving the way for the BJP to return to power in the state. Since March, 25 MLAs have so far resigned from the Congress as well as the state Assembly. The Republican National Convention is set to be closed to the press and held in private later this month due to coronavirus risks, a spokesperson for the event has said. If the decision stands, the vote to renominate President Donald Trump will be the first nominating convention in modern history without a media presence. The events traditionally attract a great deal of coverage, as parties use the fanfare to spread their message as widely as possible. Mr Trump had already cancelled the public parts of the convention in Jacksonville, Florida last month as coronavirus cases surged in the state. A fraction of the total number of delegates 336 of 2,500 are due to meet in Charlotte, North Carolina on 24 August to formally vote in Mr Trump as the party's representative. This subset will be casting proxy votes for those unable to attend. While the press will be barred from attending, proceedings will be livestreamed, according to CNN. Given the health restrictions and limitations in place within the state of North Carolina, we are planning for the Charlotte activities to be closed press Friday 21 August to Monday 24 August, a convention spokesperson said. We are happy to let you know if this changes, but we are working within the parameters set before us by state and local guidelines regarding the number of people who can attend events. Zeke Miller, the president of the White House Correspondents' Association, criticised the decision on Twitter, calling on the party to reconsider. "This is an ill-advised decision that the GOP and GOP convention should reconsider. The nomination of a major presidential candidate is very much the business of the American people," Mr Miller wrote. The Taiwanese vendor QNAP urges its users to update the Malware Remover app following the alert on the QSnatch malware. The Taiwanese company QNAP is urging its users to update the Malware Remover app to prevent NAS devices from being infected by the QSnatch malware. This week, the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the United Kingdoms National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) issued a joint advisory about a massive ongoing campaign spreading the QSnatch data-stealing malware. CISA and NCSC have identified two campaigns of activity for QSnatch malware. The first campaign likely began in early 2014 and continued until mid-2017, while the second started in late 2018 and was still active in late 2019. The two campaigns are distinguished by the initial payload used as well as some differences in capabilities. This alert focuses on the second campaign as it is the most recent threat. reads the alert. Analysis shows a significant number of infected devices. In mid-June 2020, there were approximately 62,000 infected devices worldwide; of these, approximately 7,600 were in the United States and 3,900 were in the United Kingdom. The malicious code specifically targets QNAP NAS devices manufactured by Taiwanese company QNAP, it already infected over 62,000 QNAP NAS devices. The QSnatch malware implements multiple functionalities, such as: CGI password logger This installs a fake version of the device admin login page, logging successful authentications and passing them to the legitimate login page. Credential scraper SSH backdoor This allows the cyber actor to execute arbitrary code on a device. Exfiltration When run, QSnatch steals a predetermined list of files, which includes system configurations and log files. These are encrypted with the actors public key and sent to their infrastructure over HTTPS. Webshell functionality for remote access QSnatch (aks Derek) is a data-stealing malware that was first details by the experts at the National Cyber Security Centre of Finland (NCSC-FI) in October 2019. The experts were alerted about the malware in October and immediately launched an investigation. At the time, the German Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-Bund) reported that over 7,000 devices have been infected in Germany alone. QNAP attempted to downplay the effects of the campaign aimed at infecting its NAS devices. QNAP reaffirms that at this moment no malware variants are detected, and the number of affected devices shows no sign of another incident. reads a post published by the company. Certain media reports claiming that the affected device count has increased from 7,000 to 62,000 since October 2019 are inaccurate due to a misinterpretation of reports from different authorities, The vendor recommends installing the latest version of the Malware Remover app that is available through the QTS App Center or on its website. Users are urged to install the latest version of the Malware Remover app from the QTS App Center or by manual downloading from the QNAP website. QNAP also recommends a series of actions for enhancing QNAP NAS security. Theyre also detailed in the security advisory. continues the advisory. Below some of the actions recommended by the vendor: Update QTS and Malware Remover. Install and update Security Counselor. Change the admin password and use a strong one. Enable IP and account access protection to prevent brute force attacks. Disable SSH and Telnet connections if they are not necessary. Avoid using default ports (i.e. 443 and 8080). Even though the attach chain is not clear, the joint alert reveals that some QSnatch samples will intentionally patch the infected QNAP for Samba remote code execution vulnerability CVE-2017-7494. According to the experts, currently, the attack infrastructure behind the previous QSnatch campaign is not more active, but users have to update their NAS devices as soon as possible to prevent future attacks. Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs hacking, QSnatch) Kochi, Aug 2 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) which is probing the now controversial Kerala gold smuggling case, on Sunday arrested two more people who were allegedly involved in gold smuggling. The NIA arrested Mohammed Ali Ibrahim and Mohammed Ali. Both of them were produced before the NIA court here, which remanded them to judicial custody. Incidentally of the two, Ibrahim was the 24th accused in the chopping of the right hand of T.J. Joseph by activists of the Popular Front of India (PFI) on July 4, 2010, when he was returning along with his family members from the Sunday mass near his home in Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district. With the arrest of Ibrahim the NIA which probed the hand chopping case, the 'terror angle' in the gold smuggling case gets more credence. In the remand report of the two filed by the NIA, it said K.T. Ramees, a known gold smuggler in the state who was taken into custody by the Customs last month, testified that he had passed on the smuggled consignment of gold to the two at a parking lot of a hotel in the state capital on June 28 this year. The gold smuggling case which has large scale ramifications across sectors first surfaced when P.S. Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate, here was arrested by the Customs on July 5 when he was facilitating smuggling of 30 kg gold in diplomatic baggage to Thiruvananthapuram from Dubai. It turned murkier when the name of Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, and employed with the government's IT Department, surfaced and it turned full circle when their links with M. Sivasankar, a senior IAS officer who held the dual post of secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and was also the state IT secretary, were unearthed. Following the case, Sivasankar was first removed from both the posts and later suspended from service. The Customs and the NIA have now come to know that those arrested last month were engaged in smuggling gold for almost a year now and the arrest effected on Sunday by the NIA, proved that this was true. China may have saddled itself with as much as $42 billion in unpaid renewable energy subsidies, but it pales in comparison to the enormous amount of money Europe is pumping into ambitious renewable transition plans even as the continent is ravaged by a global pandemic. Germany recently unveiled a $145-billion (130 billion euro) recovery plan for Europes largest and strongest economy. Of this, Bloomberg has calculated that some $48.7 billion (41 billion euro) was allocated for renewable energy and EVs. The government was especially generous with EVs: it increased subsidies for these to the extent that it made some models cheaper to buy than comparable models with internal combustion engines. Some EVs, Automotive News reported earlier this month, are even free thanks to the higher subsidies. Other European countries are also generous with the EV subsidies, although not excessively generous, as per this overview by Argus Media. Germany is by far the most generous, offering EV buyers up to $10,000 (9,000 euro) for cheaper EVs. Across France, Spain, and Italy, subsidies are between $4,750 and $8,300 (4,000-7,000 euro). Most of this support, however, is focused on lower-end EVsnot Teslasalthough some incentives, such as tax exemptions, are in force for all electric vehicles. But thats just electric vehicles. As crucial as EVs are for the decarbonization of economies, they are not the only tool at governments disposal. China has been by far the most active investor in solar and wind power, topping world charts for years. Last year, China said it would cut renewable energy subsidies to $807 million this year. That unpaid subsidy bill may well have had something to do with it, along with the fact that falling solar and wind power costs have motivated a reconsideration of these industries need for government support. Related: But then this year something interesting happened. Chinas Ministry of Finance reversed the 2019 decision, announcing solar and wind subsidies this year will be $13.2 billion (92.39 billion yuan), 7.5 percent higher than last years. This, according to CMB International Securities analyst Robin Xiao, would cost the government some $28.6 billion this year (200 billion yuan), he told Bloomberg. The big beneficiary of this subsidy increase would be solar power, despite those fast-falling costs of building and operating solar farms and a requirement from Beijing that all renewable power projects applying for subsidies need to prove they are as cheap as the equivalent coal-powered plant. Germany is also spending actively on solar. In fact, the Merkel government last year removed a cap on solar power subsidies to boost capacity faster. Earlier plans had envisaged a suspension of subsidies for solar projects once Germanys installed capacity reached 52 GW. Yet later, the government decided to remove this stipulation when it was faced with climate protests and the realities of having to satisfy the countrys energy demand even after it shuts down its coal-powered plants. In wind, some pretty good news came earlier this month from the UK. A study by Imperial College London suggested that before long, offshore wind farms could generate electricity so cheaply that they wont need subsidies. This is because the technology is improving, and production is becoming a lot more efficient. Therefore, by 2050, offshore wind farms may begin to pay dividends, which would make electricity cheaper across the board. Related: Gold Prices See Best Month In 8 Years Thats certainly good news. It is common but grudgingly admitted knowledge that renewable power tends to swell utility bills for the average taxpayer, despite all the government incentives available to make the difference more palatable. The fact that costs for solar and wind are falling thanks to the evolution of the technology should be appreciated. Europe is also betting big on hydrogen. Clean hydrogen, to be precise. The EU plans to build some 6 GW in clean electrolysis capacity in just four years, which means an output of 1 million tons of hydrogen. This should grow to 40 GW by 2040, capable of generating 10 million tons of hydrogen. Since clean hydrogen production involves the use of electricity produced by renewable sources, the EU will have to be strict about its renewable power capacity goals. Right now, everything points to governments sticking to subsidies for renewable energy and electric cars for the observable future. Add to that hydrogen cars, which are not cheap, either. How much this would cost taxpayers is a complex question whose answer depends on government policies. One thing is for sure, though: It will not be minimal, especially if Germany and France are willing to make EVs free for consumers to stimulate demand. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Facebook announced it has obeyed a Brazilian judge's order for a worldwide block on the accounts of 12 of President Jair Bolsonaro's supporters who are under investigation for allegedly running a fake news network. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said Friday night that the company had failed to fully comply with a previous ruling ordering the accounts to be shut down, saying they were still online and publishing by changing their registration to locations outside Brazil. Facebook issued a statement saying it complied due to the threat of criminal liability for an employee in Brazil. But it called the new order extreme, saying it poses a threat to freedom of expression outside of Brazil's jurisdiction and conflicting with laws and jurisdictions worldwide. The company said it would appeal to the full court. Facebook also argued it had complied with the previous order by restricting the ability for the target Pages and Profiles to be seen from IP locations in Brazil. People from IP locations in Brazil were not capable of seeing these Pages and Profiles even if the targets had changed their IP location, the company said. Moraes said that Facebook ought to pay $ 367,000 in penalties for not complying with his previous decision during the last eight days. He also had ruled Twitter should block the accounts. While Twitter said then the decision was disproportionated under Brazil's freedom of speech rules and that it would appeal, the targeted profiles were disabled. Moraes is overseeing a controversial investigation to determine whether some of Bolsonaro's most ardent allies are running a social media network aimed at spreading threats and fake news against Supreme Court justices. The probe is one of the main points of confrontation between Bolsonaro and the Supreme Court. The president himself filed a lawsuit last week demanding the accounts to be unblocked. WASHINGTON - Two protesters outside a Planned Parenthood facility were arrested and charged with defacing public or private property early Saturday, according to D.C. police and video footage. Erica Caporaletti, a 22-year-old student at Towson University, and Warner DePriest, a 29-year-old D.C. resident, were writing "Black Pre-Born Lives Matter" with chalk on the sidewalk when police arrested them. The arrests occurred just before 6 a.m., soon after a group of about two dozen people, led by the antiabortion advocacy group Students for Life of America, showed up to paint in the street of the 1200 block of Fourth Street NE as part of what they called a campaign to highlight the impact of abortion on Black communities. Students for Life of America executive vice president Tina Whittington said police first warned that they would detain the group if they painted the street and then told them they could not write on the sidewalk with chalk. Caporaletti and DePriest began to write faster when police moved to arrest them for defacing public property, rushing through the world "Pre-Born" when officers approached them, according to a video taken by the protesters. They were arrested and held for about an hour before returning to the scene to condemn the city for its response to their protest. "This is government censorship," Caporaletti said through a bullhorn, with a Planned Parenthood sign behind her and a "Black Pre-Born Lives Matter" poster between her and a small crowd. Representatives of Students for Life said they plan to sue D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, D, on the grounds that the police action violated their First Amendment rights. The mayor's office did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment. The arrest provides a window into ongoing controversy surrounding the painting of slogans on streets. Ever since Bowser commissioned the painting of "Black Lives Matter" on 16th Street NW near the White House in June, activists across the country have demanded the right to paint their own messages on asphalt. City officials have conceded in some cases, allowing protesters in the District, for example, to paint "Defund the police" next to Bowser's original declaration. But in other cities, including Tulsa, officials have ordered street paintings erased after opposing parties fought to make their mark on pavement. It is illegal for people to write or mark on any public or private property without a permit. The District's Department of Transportation, which issues permits,did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment. Representatives of the group led by the Students for Life of America and the Frederick Douglass Foundation said they received a D.C. police permit to hold an event and were told by an officer that he would not prevent them from writing on the asphalt. The officer allegedly asked the activists to use tempera paint, Whittington said. D.C. police declined to comment on the allegations but said they "did not issue a permit to put a message on the street," as those permits are issued through the D.C. Department of Transportation. The group said it also sent a letter to Bowser requesting permission to paint on the street, writing, "Having opened the streets of your city for public expression, Students for Life of America requests the opportunity to add our voices to those concerned about how people of color are treated in America." The mayor did not respond to the letter, according to Kristi Hamrick, a spokeswoman for the group. On Saturday, calls to "abolish abortion" and "defund Planned Parenthood" continued long after the early-morning arrests. The group gathered at Frederick Douglass Court to pray for Black mothers and their "pre-born children" before marching along Fourth Street NE to the Planned Parenthood building, where they held letter posters that together spelled out "Black Pre-Born Lives Matter." Cherilyn Holloway, the founder of Pro-Black Pro-Life, gripped a bullhorn and urged listeners before her and on Facebook Live to consider how racism extends beyond pregnancy. "I would talk to my other Black friends who stand for racial justice, and I would talk about the abortion rate in the Black community . . . and they would look back at me and they would say, 'Well, what about when they are out of the womb?' " she said. "And I knew I could not be the only one who cared about both." Holloway said that she cares most about support systems for low-income people and outlawing abortion, but that the nation's racial reckoning has made her feel more isolated in her beliefs. "The Black Lives Matter movement has reinforced that for me, pro-life messaging has been really polarizing," she said. Michele Hendrickson, the eastern regional director of Students for Life of America, said the antiabortion movement has been fighting racism for decades. "It's just we are finally being heard," she said. For Kendra Evans, a 39-year-old from Capitol Heights, Md., the event Saturday touched on two issues that had shaped her life: Blackness and abortion in America. As she marched up the paved hill and neared the gray building, where she believes generations of Black children have been killed, she recalled her own two abortions. "There is more pressure as a Black person to survive," Evans said, explaining that the unique hardships that come with being Black made her feel that she had little choice but to have abortions. Fighting for racial justice and staunchly opposing abortion, she said, should go hand in hand. As she rounded a corner, beginning her first march this year for Black lives, the Rev. Dean Nelson, the president and chief executive of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, clapped at her and shouted, "Frederick Douglass would be proud of you." As Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ordered the release of 317 Taliban prisoners, a ceasefire between the two parties appears to be holding for the third and final day. According to international media reports, the Afghanistan government has released nearly 317 militant prisoners since July 31, which also happened to be the beginning of Eid al-Adha. The officials have not reported any major clashes between the two sides since the truce began to mark the Muslim festival. As calm prevailed across much of Afghanistan, Ghani and Taliban have both reportedly indicated that long-delayed negotiations could begin post Eid. The release of the prisoners was ordered back in July under a deal signed by the Taliban and the United States. However, because of political infighting in Kabul and a prisoner swap issue, the intra-Afghan talks were delayed. READ: Afghanistan: Car Bomb Kills 17 A Day Before Eid Ceasefire Begins According to the deal signed earlier, Kabul was asked to free around 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel who were held captive by the militant group. Now that Afghanistan newly released nearly 317 militant prisoners, the countrys National Security Council is reported to have said that the total of Taliban prisoners freed from Afghan custody has reached 4,917 prisoners. On the other hand, the Taliban says that it has freed all 1,000 Afghan prisoners it had pledged, fulfilling their side of the exchange. READ: UN Chief Welcomes Ceasefire In Afghanistan Ahead Of Eid Afghan govt hesitant to release 400 inmates Meanwhile, it is believed that the order of 317 prisoners being released by the Afghan government is not the part of the original list of 5,000 prisoners demanded by the militant group and were freed as a goodwill gesture. As per reports, the Afghan government has already released 4,600 of those prisoners, however, the officials hesitate to release the remaining 400. As per reports, the Afghan President on Friday said that he had no authority under the countrys constitution to release the reaming inmates because of their involvement in serious crime. He also added that he would soon call a consultative Loya Jirga, which is a traditional grand assembly of Afghan elders, to decide their fate. (Image Credits: AP) READ: US Secretary Of State Pompeo Says Threats To US In Afghanistan Raised With Russia READ: Afghanistan: 10,708 Soldiers Killed, Wounded Since US-Taliban Peace Deal, Says Ghani Medical workers take Covid-19 test samples from residents living near the neighborhood of a 57-year-old man in Da Nang City infected with the novel coronavirus, August 1, 2020. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Health. Da Nang is boosting personal sample collection speed to 10,000 a day as the central city grapples with a rising number of Covid-19 infections. The municipal Department of Health has enlisted around 600 medical students and 100 technicians to help with collecting Covid-19 samples in the city as it bids to stop community transmission of the novel coronavirus, said Ngo Thi Kim Yen, director of the Da Nang health department at a meeting Saturday. The city of 1.1 million people could collect 8,000-10,000 samples on average per day starting Saturday, Yen said. Also Saturday, the Lien Chieu District Center for Preventative Medicine collected around 1,000 Covid-19 samples from residents near the neighborhood of "Patient 416," a 57-year-old man in Da Nang recorded last weekend as Vietnam's first Covid-19 community transmission cases in 100 days. Nguyen Van Duc, a local in Khanh An Ward, said his house was only about 50 m from that of "Patient 416." The Covid-19 tests have helped to reassure him and many other citizens, he said. Tran Nhu Duong, head of the epidemic monitoring team under the health ministry, said people with symptoms like fever, coughing, sneezing or breathing difficulty were being tested first. From July 25 to August 1, Da Nang has identified over 7,000 F1 cases - people who have been in contact with confirmed Covid-19 cases, over 2,300 F2 ones - people who have been in contact with F1 - and quarantined over 11,000 people either in medical facilities, quarantine zones or their own homes. Among the 8,300 samples tested during the period, 87 proved positive, municipal health authorities said. Da Nang, now Vietnam's largest Covid-19 hotspot, has recorded 104 Covid-19 cases since the novel coronavirus resurfaced in the community. The city entered a 15-day period of social distancing starting Tuesday, in which "non-essential" businesses like karaoke parlors and bars are closed and large gatherings prohibited. Vietnam has recorded 590 Covid-19 cases in total, with 373 recoveries, 212 active cases, and five deaths. MILFORD A local manufacturer plans to consolidate two facilities one in Orange and the other in Milford in a new building at 132 Shelland St., pending Planning and Zoning Board approval. The board held open the public hearing until its next meeting Aug. 4, due to its July 20 meeting running late. The board ended the meeting after 11 p.m. with about 10 people indicating they wanted to comment on the project. Valley Tool and Manufacturing currently operates in two leased properties: a 60,000-square-foot building at 501 Bic Drive, Building 2, and a 40,000-square-foot building at 22 Prindle Hill Road in Orange. The new 101,000-square-foot building would be located on vacant land at the corner of Shelland Street and Plains Road in the Housatonic Design District and Limited Industrial zones. In a letter to the board, Howard D. Turner, president of Valley Tool described his companys current situation. Both facilities are rented and unfortunately neither has the capacity for an efficient combination under one roof, he wrote. Turner indicated there are plans for further expansion in the near future. Turner wrote that the company serves different markets, including rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, the nuclear industry, the submarine industry and the medical field. He noted that there are 80 people working in Orange and 60 people in Milford. He expects the new combined facility would have an additional 30 to 50 new positions, which also would see operations expand from one shift to two. The facility would be located on 5.80 acres land currently owned by DAmato Brothers Builders LLC and 1.53 acres of land owned by Jordan Realty LLC. The parcel borders two homes along Tranquility Way, and the plans call for additional landscaping along that border to supplement existing trees. Landscape Architect Jeffrey Gordon presented the plans for a special permit and site plan review for a proposed manufacturing facility on behalf of DAmato Brothers Builders LLC and Jordan Realty LLC. Phase I of the plans calls for the construction of a 61,114-square-foot building, plus a 2,973-square-foot mezzanine with access from Shelland Street. There will be 80 parking spaces and a rainwater detention basin by Shelland Street that will also filter solids from rainwater. Phase II involves construction of a 40,000-square-foot building with two parking lots, one with 61 spaces and the other with 21 spaces. Attorney Thomas Lynch said when he presented the application for Tribus Brewing on Raton Drive several years ago, some neighbors on Cornfield and Haystack roads were concerned about traffic from that project. Lynch said he wanted to reassure neighbors that Shelland Street would be used for all truck deliveries and employee parking in the Shelland Street parking lot. He said there would be signs in that parking lot directing people to turn left onto Shelland Street toward Bic Drive. Gordon said plans call for measures to reduce the effect on neighbors. Gordon said the Shelland Street property is lower than Tranquility Way by 50 feet, and the design calls for cutting a shelf on the property to lower most of the building to keep it well screened from the residential area. This also includes adding additional landscaping to the trees that are already there. The contract purchaser being aware of the concerns on Plains Road went to the effort to acquire the Shelland Street property to have the frontage to be able to bring the bulk of the traffic down onto Shelland Street, said Gordon. Stephen R. Ulman, senior project engineer for Alfred Benesch & Co. of Glastonbury, presented a traffic study for the project. Ulman noted that the primary driveway would be from Shelland Street, while the secondary driveway from Plains Road would be controlled by an electric access gate to the 61-space employee parking lot. All truck traffic will be directed to access the site via Bic Drive to Shelland Street, Ulman wrote in a letter to City Planner David B. Sulkis. Ulman commented that since the project would exceed 100,000 square feet, it would require submitting an application for administrative decision from the Office of State Traffic Administration once the P&Z approves the site plan. The development will be reviewed by the OSTA to ensure that the additional traffic will not significantly impact the roadways affecting the state highway system, Ulman wrote. Ulman noted that normally such a project would require a full traffic impact study, but he did not complete one due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting drop in traffic volume. He indicated a three-year review of crash data show that there are no crash patterns that would indicate geometric improvements should be made. Based on the size of the facility and its use for manufacturing, Ulman said he expects there would be 489 daily trips, with 65 in the morning peak traffic period of 7 to 9 a.m. and 70 trips during the peak afternoon hours of 4 to 6 p.m. [We] believe that the roadway network can accommodate the small number of trips that will be generated by the manufacturing facility, wrote Ulman. Sulkis said the two proposed parking lots would be connected by a proposed 12-foot wide driveway, but he recommended the driveway be widened to 24 feet to allow two-way traffic. Sulkis said the wider driveway would not affect the landscaping buffer adjacent to Tranquility Way. Sulkis said the applicant had indicated that time was of the essence to complete the project, and had presented the plans to the P&Z before all other reviews within the city were completed, not allowing for adequate time for certain commissions to review and respond. He said the board could make review and approval by other city boards a condition of approval. In response, Lynch said that since Sulkis prepared his review in early July, project engineer Robert Whewey is firming up things with Sewer Commission. Lynch said he also had an email from Sgt. Jay Kranyak of the Milford Police Department, who had reviewed the project and sent a favorable report to the Police Commission, which will not meet until September. Lynch said Kranyak told him he would put together a temporary approval until the Police Commission meeting. In his July 1 review of the plans, City Engineer Gregory H. Pidluski wrote, This review is being performed as a courtesy as the plans submitted explicitly and implicitly state that they are not valid. I reserve the right to modify the observations, comments and recommendations contained herein upon receipt of valid plans and reports. Pidluski had numerous recommendations, including stating that the curbs and sidewalks are required along both Plains Road and Shelland Street. He suggested that the access driveway between the two parking lots be constructed in such as a way as to discourage vehicles from traveling through the property between the two roads. He wrote that areas of steep slopes need to be stabilized as soon as practicable after disturbance. He said the project needs to include useful snow shelves. He also had suggestions about the sanitary and storm sewer plans. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Flights from Moscow to Geneva will resume from Aug. 15 for passengers with residence permits in Switzerland, the TASS news agency reported on Saturday, citing the Swiss embassy in Moscow. It said travellers from Russia will have to observe a 10-day quarantine on arrival, according to the news agency. Earlier on Saturday, a Russian government coronavirus response centre said flights between Moscow and Geneva would initially be weekly, without a disclaimer about restrictions. Russia, which operated repatriation flights during the coronavirus lockdown, resumed some scheduled international flights on Saturday, to Britain, Turkey and Tanzania. International flights were grounded on March 30 after the lockdown was imposed to curb the spread of coronavirus, which has infected more than 845,000 people in Russia so far, with over 14,000 deaths. Russia announced a partial reopening of its borders in June allowing people to travel abroad for work, study, medical treatment or to look after relatives. (Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov; Writing by Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Mike Harrison) Massachusetts public health officials on Sunday reported 353 new cases of COVID-19 and said 11 more people have died from illness related to the virus. Throughout the pandemic, the state has seen 110,430 cases of coronavirus and 8,417 deaths, according to the state Department of Public Health. The updated figures are based on 13,312 new molecular tests as of Sunday. A total of 1,206,512 molecular tests have been administered in the commonwealth. As of Sunday, 406 people are hospitalized in Massachusetts with the virus, DPH reported. The states positive test rate rose to 2.2% based on a seven-day weighted average. In mid-July, the average was at 1.7%. State officials said last week that a slight increase may be the result of several small clusters of cases linked to recent gatherings. Officials reported 65 new probable cases and one new death among probable cases. As of Sunday, more than 4.6 million Americans have been infected and nearly 155,000 have died, according to The New York Times. More than 1,000 deaths and more than 58,000 new cases were reported across the country on Saturday. Sundays new cases come a day after new travel restrictions went into effect for Massachusetts, requiring anyone visiting from outside New England, New York, New Jersey or Hawaii to quarantine or provide proof of a negative test result. Massachusetts residents who travel beyond those states face the same requirements. Violators face a $500 fine. Travelers must fill out a Massachusetts Travel Form as well, attesting to their compliance. Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday said roughly 8,000 people have filled out the travel forms. State officials also plan to review the states guidance on public gathering sizes following the increased case counts from recent gatherings, Baker said recently. Free testing offered through the Stop the Spread campaign is ongoing in Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough, New Bedford, Agawam, Brockton, Methuen, Randolph, Revere, Springfield, Taunton and Worcester. Officials in Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois are bringing back strict restrictions as the virus spreads through the Midwest, the New York Times reported. Coronavirus in Mass.: See cases, maps, charts and resources As of Saturday, here are the number of coronavirus cases in each county: Barnstable County: 1,757 Berkshire County: 657 Bristol County: 9,124 Dukes County: 65 Essex County: 17,386 Franklin County: 405 Hampden County: 7,467 Hampshire County: 1,136 Middlesex County: 25,894 Nantucket County: 33 Norfolk County: 10,343 Plymouth County: 9,115 Suffolk County: 21,355 Worcester County: 13,415 Unknown location: 306 Related Content: By Trend Uzbekistan, along with Kazakhstan, is a key partner of Poland in the region of Central Asia, Press Office Director of Polands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrzej Fafara told Trend in an interview. "Significant demographic potential as well as political, economic and social reforms, initiated in 2016 by a change in the office of president, are factors that induce Warsaw to deepen contacts with Tashkent. Mutual interest in expanding cooperation were evidenced by two visits of Poland's Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs to Uzbekistan (2018, 2019), visit of the Secretary of the National Security Council of Uzbekistan Viktor Makhmudov to Warsaw and raising the status of head of the Uzbekistan diplomatic mission in Warsaw to the rank of Ambassador in 2019," noted Fafara. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Jacek Czaputowicz maintains his willingness to pay a visit to Uzbekistan as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic situation makes it possible, he said. "Poland assesses positively the changes in Uzbekistan's internal policy that have taken place in the last four years. They were manifested, among others, by the adoption of the Development Strategy of Uzbekistan for the period from 2017 through 2021, providing for a comprehensive modernization of the country's economy and achieving sustainable economic growth. The program of reforms was recognized by 'The Economist', which declared Uzbekistan "the country of the year 2019" the country which was the most outstanding in the world in terms of the importance of introduced changes," Poland's MFA said. Fafara said Poland is convinced that the new approach of the Uzbekistans authorities to socio-economic issues will contribute to improving the standard of living of citizens, as well as a more complete fulfilling of the demographic, economic and political potential of the country. "We are interested in deepening contacts with Uzbekistan in all spheres in the field of political as well as economic, social and cultural cooperation and Uzbekistan is interested in deepening cooperation with Poland in many fields too, including trade, healthcare, social policy or education. Further priorities include good governance, agriculture, scientific collaboration as well as historical and cultural heritage," he said. "Moreover, Poland has recently engaged in Uzbekistan in establishment of institutional mechanisms for achieving gender equality and preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, initiating joint projects and allocating funds from Polish Aid to development assistance and humanitarian aid on an annual basis," said Fafara. Also, he noted the importance of the fruitful cooperation with the Uzbekistans authorities regarding the issues concerning cemeteries of the Polish soldiers from the General Wladyslaw Anders Army and promoting shared historical ties. Furthermore, Fafara noted that Poland consider the field of education as its main priority. "Poland, together with Latvia, served as the state-coordinator of the EU-Central Asia Education Platform (CAEP) in the period from 2015 through 2019. We are interested in continuing our commitment concerning education in the Central Asia region and look forward to the European Commission's proposals in this regard. Polish experts are also involved in the reform of the pre-school education system in Uzbekistan, particularly implementing Polish teaching methods and experience of alternative forms of early education," he pointed out. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Bihar Police have said late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, who had changed several SIM cards in the last few months, had none of them registered in his own name. They have also said that they will investigate the death of his ex-manager Disha Salian who died on June 8, just six days before Sushant was found dead at his Mumbai home. The Bihar Police told ANI on Sunday, None of the SIM cards that were being used by Sushant were registered in his name. One of them was registered in the name of his friend Siddharth Pithani. We are now tracking the call detail records (CDRs). We will also interrogate the family of #SushantSinghRajput's former manager Disha Salian (who died few days before Sushant's death). Even after constant attempts to connect with them on phone, we have failed to establish any contact: Bihar Police. https://t.co/jGThLyflYc ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2020 Talking about investigating Sushants ex-manager Disha Salians death on June 8, the Bihar Police further said, We will also interrogate the family of Sushant Singh Rajputs former manager Disha Salian (who died few days before Sushants death). Even after constant attempts to connect with them on phone, we have failed to establish any contact. On Saturday, an official of Bihar Police said that Sushants girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty, against whom an abetment to suicide case has been registered in connection with his death, was under their watch. The Bihar Police also recorded the statement of film director Rumi Jaffrey in the case. The four-member Bihar Police team arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday to probe the abetment to suicide case registered against Rhea and others in Patna. On Saturday, the team visited the Bandra police station in connection with the investigation. When asked whether Rhea would be interrogated, an official of the Bihar Police said, It is not required as of now. But she is under our watch. Another member of the visiting team said they have sent a notice to Rhea under relevant sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), asking her to cooperate with the police in the probe. He also said that the Mumbai Police was cooperating with them in the investigation. Also read: Simi Garewal says probe into Sushant Singh Rajputs ex-manager Disha Salians death will reveal truth of conspiracy Jaffrey, who was reportedly going to cast Sushant and Rhea together, was quizzed for around four hours, said an official. The police would be recording the statements of four-five more persons from the film industry, he said. Till now, the police team from Bihar has met the late actors friends, colleagues and relatives. They have recorded the statements of six persons - Rajputs sister, who stays in Versova, former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, a cook, his friends and colleagues, the official said. Krishna Kumar Singh, Sushants father, lodged a complaint against Rhea and six others including her family members in Patna on Tuesday. The case was registered under various IPC sections including 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 306 (abetment of suicide). KK Singh accused Rhea, a budding TV and film actor, of having befriended his son in May 2019 with the intention of furthering her own career and exploiting him. (With PTI inputs) Follow @htshowbiz for more The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), along with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, is in discussion with the Indian government for part-financing a USD 8-billion scheme for improving health infrastructure at the district level to make the country better prepared for the future healthcare challenges. The Beijing-based multilateral funding agency had earlier approved a financial assistance of USD 1.2 billion for India to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Government of India has discussed about its ambitious scheme of strengthening the health infrastructure. It entails building health infrastructure in every district including upgrading of testing facilities with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)," AIIB Vice President D J Pandian told in an interview. It is a USD 8-billion project, he said, adding that the World Bank and Asian Development Bank are also involved in the discussion with the Health Department of the Government of India. The Finance Ministry is trying to put up a financing plan for this ambitious scheme and the minute details are being worked out, he said. If things work out, the financing by the AIIB can be cleared this year itself on a fast-track basis, he added. With regard to COVID-19 assistance, Pandian said the AIIB has approved two loans of USD 500 million and USD 750 million, respectively. The first loan of USD 500 million sanctioned in May was towards building a resilient health system that can effectively treat COVID-19 patients and prevent its spread, he said A USD 750 million loan was approved in June to help the government strengthen its battle against the adverse impact of COVID-19 on poor and vulnerable households. For AIIB, India is the largest borrower, which accounts for 25 per cent of the total lending by it so far. As of July 16, 2020, AIIB has approved up to USD 19.6 billion for 87 projects in 24 economies. Since its inception in 2016, AIIB has approved loans to the tune of USD 4.3 billion across 17 projects in India. India is a founding member of the multilateral funding agency with the second highest voting share. Currently, India has 7.65 per cent vote share in the AIIB while China holds a whopping 26.63 per cent stake in the organisation that was set up in 2016. Also Read: Coronavirus update: Over 54,000 COVID-19 cases in India in single day, tally breaches 17 lakh-mark Also Read: Indian, Chinese commanders to hold Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo today Health issues In 2015, Ellsworth was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an incurable muscle disease that affects only 20 in 100,000 Americans. He said a Balmer Road classmate, Bradley Rose, died from a similar neurological disorder. "I lose the control of my voluntary muscles at random, in addition to my eyes," Ellsworth said. "I only get an hour and a half or two hours a day of good physical activity, but then my diaphragm will stop if Im not careful. So I have to be careful I dont stop breathing. Hershock had breast cancer twice, in 2004 and 2007. Her oncologist told her it was likely caused by environmental factors. "I did take that gene test. It was negative," Hershock said. "But when they did the biopsy, they were not the same kind of cancers. (The oncologist) said, Beth, it was like you got struck by lightning twice.' " Marlene Buttery Lewis, a 1968-69 Balmer Road student, has had hydrocephalus, also known as water on the brain, since 1999. She had breast cancer in 2012 and now has two pituitary gland tumors. "I'm really scared," she said. "I've had this cough for two years straight." UPDATE: Pennsylvania State Police announced Monday an arrest had been made in this investigation. Arrest Made Arrest made in the Fatal Hit and Run Crash in Luzerne County. Thank you for all the retreats! https://t.co/3lNCFdggnp pic.twitter.com/MGuuLCzx9g Trooper Petroski (@PSPTroopNPIO) August 4, 2020 ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A construction worker was struck and killed early Saturday by a vehicle driving in a lane closed to traffic on a Pennsylvania highway, according to police. Kevin C. Dendulk, 30, of Royersford, was pronounced dead at 2:05 a.m. at the scene on Interstate 81 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania State Police at Hazleton said in a news release. The crash occurred about 1:15 a.m. at mile-marker 142.3 of I-81 North in Hazle Township, as a gray Hyundai Accent was being driven in the right lane that was closed for overnight construction work, police said. Dendulk was working in the right lane when he was struck by the car, which continued north, police said. The Hyundai, manufactured between 2000 and 2009, will have damage to its passenger side and front end, including a missing passenger side mirror and missing passenger side window glass, and possibly headlight, hood and windshield damage, according to the release. Investigators ask anyone with information on the vehicle to call state police at 570-459-3890. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Our Divisions Copyright 2021-22 DB Corp ltd., All Rights Reserved This website follows the DNPA Code of Ethics. M ore than 160 revellers descended on a north London street for an illegal "Airbnb party". Families were kept awake until 3am as crowds of young people attended thhe unlicensed event in Tavistock Terrace, Archway on Friday night, police said. Footage of the party shows dozens of people in the garden of the terraced house not wearing masks or socially distancing. Met Police eventually broke up the event after receiving complaints from neighbours. A closure notice was issued / @roysmithpolice In the footage posted on YouTube, a large number of officers can be seen entering the property, before eventually moving people away from the area. The event, described as an illegal rave by one neighbour, led to police issuing a closure order against the property, which prevented people from going back inside. The people who came had no respect for the neighbours around them nor any respect quarantine or social distancing rules, the neighbour who filmed the party wrote underneath his video on YouTube. He said the property had been let out on Airbnb and guests took advantage by holding a gigantic party that quickly got out of hand. More than 50 officers helped break up the event, which was attended by over 160 people, he claimed. A Met Police spokeswoman said officers were called to Tavistock Terrace shortly after 11.50pm on July 31 to reports of a large gathering of people playing loud music. Officers attended and spoke with the organisers, asking them to close the event, the spokeswoman said. A closure notice was enacted. Officers stayed on the scene while those attending began to disperse. The Met said no arrests were made. Chief Superintendent Roy Smith tweeted: Officers out this evening closing down illegal and antisocial parties playing loud music into the early hours, packed groups of 150+ people risking the spread of Covid-19 and keeping poor families with young children awake at 3am. Incredibly patient & tolerant police officers. Chairing a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Hanoi on July 31, Deputy PM Dam, who is also head of the committee, lauded the Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Defence and Ministry of Health for sending more experts and staff to join in the fight against the pandemic in Da Nang. As new infection cases are mostly related to three hospitals in the city, he asked localities, especially major cities, to strengthen countermeasures. Amid the rapid and complicated developments of the pandemic worldwide, members of the committee agreed to suggest the PM issue a document ordering preparedness in the new normal period in case of outbreaks like in Da Nang. The Ministry of Education and Training was also required to prepare plans for the upcoming high school graduation examination in line with the Prime Ministers Directive 16/CT-TTg. At the event, Director of the Health Ministrys Department of Preventive Medicine Dang Quang Tan said as of 7pm on July 31, Vietnam recorded 546 infection cases, including one death, a 70-year-old man residing in Hoi An city in the central province of Quang Nam. Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said the pandemic in Da Nang is relatively complicated because infection source remains unknown. As many patients there also suffer other severe diseases, the Health Ministry has deployed the best equipment and staff to the locality, he said, adding that testing capacity has also been raised to 10,000 samples per day. According to him, the ministry established a special permanent unit in charge of COVID-19 combat in the city, continued tracing down those travelling to and from Da Nang and its hospitals, as well as collecting samples for testing. Over 451,400 Realtime RT-PCR tests have been carried out nationwide so far. Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc said the 2020 high school graduation examination is still on schedule for August 8-10. He added that the Ministry of Education and Training will continue working closely with the Health Ministry and localities to ensure the exam amid the pandemic. About the repatriation of Vietnamese citizens from abroad, Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung said the Foreign Ministry coordinated with representative Vietnamese agencies abroad and domestic authorities to arrange flights for prioritised citizens, including 219 from Equatorial Guinea on July 29 who were immediately sent to the second branch of the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanois outlying district of Dong Anh for testing and treatment. Other flights also carried home 212 citizens from Indonesia on July 29, 170 others from Brunei on July 29, about 290 from the US on July 3, and 240 from Myanmar on July 30. NEW DELHI: The Special Investigation Team (STF) team of Delhi Police said on Sunday (August 2) that Tahir Hussain has admitted to his role in the northeast Delhi riots that took place in the month of February against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Police said that during the interrogation the now suspended AAP councillor revealed that he wanted to teach Hindus a lesson using his political power and money. He told police that he was the mastermind of the northeast Delhi riots. As per the police officials, Tahir used support from Khalid Saifi, former JNU student Umar Khalid, Ishrat Jahan and Popular Front of India (PFI) member Danish. Tahir reportedly told the police that he was aggrieved after the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, Supreme Court ruling in the favour of Ram Temple in Ayodhya and Centre passing Citizenship Amendment Act; and hence decided to take an extreme step. He revealed that that on January 8, 2020, Khalid Saifi facilitated his meeting with former JNU student Umar Khalid at PFI office in Delhi's Shaheen Bagh. During the meeting, Khalid reportedly told him that he is ready to sacrifice his life for his community. It was at the same time, when Khalid Saifi told Tahir that PFI member Danish will provide all financial assistance needed in the 'war against Hindus'. The trio then conspired to do something major in the national capital in order to force the Central government to roll back its decision of CAA. As per Tahir, Khalid Saifi took the responsibility to provoke people to a level that they come out on the streets and unleashed violence against the Hindu community. Saifi, along with his friend Ishrat Jahan, staged anti-CAA demonstration along the lines of Shaheen Bagh at Khureji, which gradually spread to different parts of Delhi. Tahir revealed that on February 4, he met Saifi again at Abu Fazal Enclave to discuss planning for riots. He said that Saifi informed that the riot plan should be carried out during the visit of United States President Donald Trump to India to put pressure on the Centre. Tahir revealed that he started collecting empty bottles of liquor and cold drinks from the trash, stones from the construction sites, and fuel, and gathered it on the roof of his house at Chand Bagh. He said he refuelled all four cars, the fuel of which was used in filling empty bottles, that were used as petrol bombs during the riots. He said that on the advice of Umar Khalid, he stocked large quantities of acid, bricks, stones, petrol, diesel etc on the roof of his house. He informed that he had also collected his licensed pistol, which was deposited with police, to use during the riots. Tahir said that he ensured that people of his community were not harmed during the violence; and hence a day before the incident, he shifted his wife, children and elders of his family to another safe place. He also ensured that all CCTV cameras were pulled out so that the police did not get any evidence. On the day of the riots, he deliberately kept calling the Delhi Police so as to avoid any kind of suspicion about his role. On August 1, Delhi Police questioned Umar Khalid about his speeches that he delivered before the northeast Delhi riots, and also about his meetings with Tahir and Saifi at Shaheen Bagh ahead of the communal violence. T he Prime Minister of Finland announced she has married her long-time partner, eight months after becoming head of the government. Taking to Instagram, Sanna Marin, 34, posted a picture of herself in her wedding dress alongside groom Markus Raikkonen. The couple, who have been dating for 16-years and are parents to a two-year-old, wed at the prime ministers official residence in Kesaranta in front of family and close friends. She thanked her husband for being "by my side" and said they had supported each other through the good times and the bad. Alongside the post she wrote in Finnish: "I am happy and grateful that I get to share my life with the man I love. "We have seen and experienced a lot together, shared joys and sorrows, and supported each other at the bottom and in the storm. "We have lived together in our youth, grown up and grown older to our beloved daughter. Of all the people, you're right for me. Thank you for being by my side." Ms Marin, a Social Democrat who has been a prolific user of social media and a keen advocate for environmental issues, became Finlands prime minister in December. At the time, she was the worlds youngest serving head of government a distinction she lost a few weeks later with the return to power of Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who turns 34 later this month. clinton epstein Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images, Stephanie Keith/Getty Images A spokesperson for Bill Clinton rejected an allegation that the former president visited Jeffrey Epstein's private island with "two young girls." Spokesperson Angel Urena issued a statement to Newsweek denying allegations from Virginia Giuffre, who has said Epstein and his longtime confidante Ghislaine Maxwell sex-trafficked her starting in 2000. A recently unsealed interview with Giuffre alleged that she saw Clinton on the private island and that Epstein said he was there because Clinton "owes me a favor." Urena wrote on Twitter, "The story keeps changing, the facts don't," pointing to the several previous times Clinton's camp has denied the former president visited the island. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. A spokesperson for Bill Clinton denied on Friday that the former president had ever been to late accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein's private island. Spokesperson Angel Urena issued a statement to Newsweek denying allegations from Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre, who said she saw Clinton on the private island with "two young girls." The allegation came from a recently unsealed interview with Giuffre, who has said Epstein and his longtime confidante Ghislaine Maxwell sex-trafficked her starting in 2000. "I remember asking Jeffrey what's Bill Clinton doing here kind of thing, and he laughed it off and said 'well he owes me a favor," Giuffre told lawyer Jack Scarola in 2011. "He never told me what favors they were," Giuffre explained. "I never knew. I didn't know if he was serious. It was just a joke. He told me a long time ago that everyone owes him favors. They're all in each other's pockets." Giuffre said in the interview "orgies were a constant thing that took place" on Epstein's Little St. James Island, but did not say if Clinton was involved. Story continues "He'd not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade," Clinton spokesperson Urena told Newsweek. "Well before his terrible crimes came to light." Urena also posted the story to Twitter, writing alongside the article, "The story keeps changing, the facts don't. President Clinton has never been to the island." Epstein has been tied to a slew of high-profile celebrities, business figures, and politicians, including supermodel Naomi Campbell, actor Kevin Spacey, former Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, and President Donald Trump. Clinton's camp previously denied his ties to Epstein after it was identified last year the former president was present on Epstein's plane in 2002 and 2003 and at least one visit to his New York apartment. After Epstein was arrested and charged with one count of sex trafficking conspiracy and one count of sex trafficking in early July last year, Urena said Clinton had not spoken to Epstein in "well over a decade" and "knows nothing about the terrible crimes" In the statement, he said his involvement with Epstein was limited to four trips on Epstein's plane in 2002 and 2003, which included stops in Europe, Asia, and Africa "in connection" with the work of the Clinton Foundation. He also stated he attended one meeting with Epstein in Harlem, New York, and a visit to his Manhattan apartment, Insider's Lauren Frias previously reported. Read more: Newly unveiled emails between Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell shows how the 2 worked together to discredit his accusers Alan Dershowitz calls Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre a 'serial liar' while once again denying he ever had sex with her Read Virginia Giuffre's unsealed deposition where she accuses Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell of sex-trafficking her Read the original article on Insider The victims of the crash Two aircraft collided in mid-air on Friday near the Soldotna Airport on Kenai Peninsula in Alaska, United States. The collision led to the killing of seven people, including Gary Knopp, Alaska House of Representative, Anchorage Daily News reports. Knopp was the only occupant in one of the planes, while the other aircraft involved in the crash was a single-engine de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver that carried six people. All were confirmed deceased on the scene except for one person that succumbed to injuries during transport to the local hospital. It added that positive identity had been made on all occupants of both aircraft, and next of kin notifications have been made. Knopp, who was a certified flight instructor and registered pilot, was elected to the Alaska Legislature in 2016 after serving on the Kenai Borough Assembly. He was a candidate in the 2020 Republican primary for House District 30. Reacting to the development, Alaska Governor, Mike Dunleavy, described Knopp as a skilled pilot, and a dedicated public servant. He said: Throughout his 42 years on the Kenai Peninsula, Gary became well known as an avid outdoorsman, a skilled pilot, and a dedicated public servant. His presence will no doubt be missed by those he faithfully served. Apollo 13, A Beautiful Mind, and Solo: A Star Wars Story have one thing in common director Ron Howard brought the stories to life on the big screen. Now, the prolific filmmaker is busy promoting his latest project, Rebuilding Paradise. While on the talk-show circuit for his new film, he opened up about life during the COVID-19 pandemic and how being under quarantine affected his anniversary plans with his wife, Cheryl Howard. Cheryl Howard and Ron Howard | Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Disney Ron and Cheryl Howard celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary after being quarantined from each other Howard appeared on Live with Kelly and Ryan to dish details about his new documentary, Rebuilding Paradise. But first, he told the hosts, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest, about an important personal milestone that occurred during the pandemic. Howard described a low-key 45th-anniversary celebration he shared with his wife. We managed to make it very romantic, said Howard, Maybe thats the key to our long marriage, is it doesnt take much. It wasnt fine dining. We werent out on the town. It was us; it was a nice walk. Just before their anniversary, the Howards had been isolated from each other. With that in mind, the director expressed appreciation for the time they spent with one another. We were just grateful because just leading up to that, we were both quarantined from each other. Because I was coming back from location, Howard explained, And we would go on these walks, and I would say theyre sort of like Victorian courtship strolls, you know, where we have to stay 10 feet apart, and theres no touching. So, we were just kind of glad we were through that in time to be able to celebrate the anniversary. Howard suspects his wife may have had COVID-19 Cheryl Howard and Ron Howard | Anthony Harvey/Getty Images RELATED: The 5 Greatest Lone Wolf Movies to Help Get You Through Quarantine Howard confessed that life during quarantine brought some bumps along the way when both his wife and daughter fell ill. We never got her tested, said Howard about his spouse, But to be honest, when I talked to Tom Hanks and Rita [Wilson], and you know all of their symptoms all aligned to what Cheryl had gone through. We have a daughter, Paige, who was living in New York, continued Howard, She and her fiance both had it, but they havent been tested yet. But I mean, its just the sort of all the obvious symptoms without a critical care need Thank God. Rebuilding Paradise drops this summer RELATED: Ron Howard Revealed How 1 Family Member Is Linked to His Latest Film, Rebuilding Paradise Before signing off of Live with Kelly and Ryan, Howard teased what to expect in National Geographic Documentary Films Rebuilding Paradise. The director and his crew traveled to Paradise, California to document the aftermath and rebuilding after a 2018 fire. They give us a lot of lessons in how to navigate the world when the rug is pulled out from under you, said Howard about the townsfolk. Fans can catch the documentary through virtual screenings in select theaters and on digital platforms on July 31. THERE has been huge criticism of what appears to have been a party held outdoors in Kilkee last night. A truly shocking video has shared on social media which shows dozens of teenagers gathered under the bandstand on the seafront in close proximity to one another. This comes despite Ireland being on red alert for a second wave of Covid-19, and health officials expressing concern at the spread of the condition among youths. As a result of this, Clare County Council will block off the bandstand from 6pm this evening, according to local councillor Cillian Murphy. Gardai last night made a number of arrests for public order incidents. Cllr Murphy said in his 30 years in the area, he has not witnessed anything like this. Does the rules apply to some and not others? Absolutely disgraceful to see the scenes in #kilkee beach tonight and this isnt the first of it. Its no wonder cases are on the rise again with this nonsense going on and it isnt just at night either . pic.twitter.com/TUKgy960Jr laura fennell (@laurafennell2) August 2, 2020 He was up early this morning helping Kilkees ground crews to pick up litter, smashed glass and the vandalised shelter. By 8am they had the worst of it sorted but it really had to be seen to be believed. I have seen a number of videos from last night posted publicly on other social media feeds and the behaviour on display is truly shocking, Cllr Murphy said in a statement. He has urged Clare gardai to ask for a significant allocation of extra resources for the area. I can only ask that parents know where their teenage children are at all times this evening, the councillor added. Laura Fennell, one of those who shared the video on Twitter added: Do the rules apply to some and not others? Absolutely disgraceful to see the scenes in Kilkee beach tonight and this isnt the first of it. Its no wonder cases are on the rise again with this nonsense going on and it isnt just at night either. Niue is a gorgeous island country located in the South Pacific Ocean. It is 1,500 miles away from New Zealand, and its land area spreads across 101 square miles. The population living on the island is mostly Polynesian and is estimated to be around 1,600 people. Many people refer to Niue as The Rock which is based on its traditional name Rock of Polynesia. Satellite image of Niue in the Pacific Ocean. Niue is a popular place to visit, known for its extreme beauty. It is one of the largest coral islands in the world, and it looks unique since it is made up of two levels. The higher level of the island is basically just a limestone cliff that runs all along the entire coast, while the lower level is a terrace that also spreads throughout the entirety of the coast. This island is truly a unique place, and in this article, we will take a look at some of the more interesting facts about it. The Secluded Paradise Prime Minister of New Zealand Richard Seddon and the King of Niue, circa 1900 Although Niue is a self-governing state, it is in close association with New Zealand, the country that is closest to it. This is why New Zealand conducts the majority of the diplomatic relations of Niue on its behalf. The people living in Niue are all considered citizens of New Zealand as well, and many of them actually live in New Zealand. Most of the people of Niue speak only the Niuean language, but there is about 30 percent of the population that also speak English. So if you ever decide to visit you may be in luck. There are 14 villages that makeup Niue, and each one of the villages is governed by a council that elects its chairperson. Niue is a democratic nation that holds elections every three years. This would make it a far more developed country in the political sense, than many other larger countries that hold more economic power. Starting in 2003, the country has become a part of a plan that has the goal of integrating Niue into the larger society. It also tries to develop the country in various areas, including financial sustainability. Meeting New Friends Avatele Beach in Niue Island. Image credit: Wikimedia.org Many people that visit Niue decide to stay there for several months, and they try to learn the language as well. This might seem strange, but it is hard to resist the relaxed island life once youve tried it out. Most will agree that learning the language is not that simple, because some of our easiest phrases are incredibly difficult in Niuean, so you might just skip trying to learn it all together. Also, if you ever visit Niue you need to realize that you will be living mostly in isolation. There will be no stores, no coffee shops, no cinemas, which means you will need to learn to take care of yourself in other ways. Being limited in what you can do actually might make you more creative. If nothing else, you might finally learn how to crack a coconut. People in Niue refer to white people as palagi and dont worry, it is not an offensive term. If anything, the people of Niue are extremely friendly and you can expect them to accept you extremely fast. Not only are they known to be extremely friendly, but the people of Niue also put a high emphasis on food preparation, which means that they will feed you until your stomach bursts, so be prepared. It is rare to find such a small island that seems like heaven on Earth nowadays, but Niue has somehow managed to remain untouched by the corruption of humans, for now. Westerly, RI (02891) Today A few passing clouds. Low 17F. WNW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 17F. WNW winds at 10 to 20 mph, decreasing to less than 5 mph. London: Chancellor of the exchequer Rishi Sunaks office confirmed on Sunday that Mahatma Gandhis image on a coin is being considered as part of efforts to celebrate achievements of non-white individuals such as Indian-origin British spy Noor Inayat Khan and Jamaican British nurse Mary Seacole. Sunak has written to the Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC) that recommends themes and designs of coins, supporting a campaign called We Too Built Britain, which seeks representation of non-white icons on British currency. The proposal to put Gandhis image on a British coin was made by former chancellor Sajid Javid in October 2019. If the proposal now becomes reality, it would make the Indian independence hero the first non-White person to feature on a British coin. In a letter to Zehra Zahidi, who has led the campaign, Sunak said: Black, Asian and other ethnic minority communities have made a profound contribution to the shared history of the United Kingdom. For generations, ethnic minority groups have fought and died for this country we have built together; taught our children, nursed the sick, cared for the elderly; and through their enterprising spirit have started some of our most exciting and dynamic businesses, creating jobs and driving growth. I am writing today to the Chair of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee (RMAC), Lord Waldegraveasking the RMAC Sub-Committee on Themes to consider recognising this very great contribution on our nations coinage, he wrote. The chancellors office confirmed that the RMAC is currently considering a coin to commemorate Gandhi, adding that Sunak is keen that British coins commemorate the work of the previous generations who have served the UK and nations that form the Commonwealth. Campaigners previously sought Noor Inayat Khans image on a new 50 note, but the Bank of England announced that the new series to enter circulation in 2021 will have the image of computer pioneer and code-breaker Alan Turing. - SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON More youth are dying of suicide, overdose than COVID-19 during pandemic: CDC director COVID-19 has put country in 'state of chronic stress,' suicide prevention advocate says Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Suicide and drug overdoses are killing more young people than COVID-19 as the two pre-existing epidemics have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield warns. In an interview with the Buck Institute for Research on Aging earlier this month, Redfield laid out that suicide and drug overdose have claimed more young lives during the pandemic than COVID-19, a disease that has been attributed to thousands of deaths nationwide this year. "We're seeing, sadly, far greater suicides now than we are deaths from COVID, Redfield explained. We're seeing far greater deaths from drug overdose that are above the excess that we had as background than we are seeing the deaths from COVID. A June survey from The Addiction Policy Forum reported a 20% increase in substance abuse with 34% of respondents experiencing a change in their treatment and recovery due to the pandemic. The American Medical Association also voiced concern in a July 20 report stating that over 35 states have reported increases in opioid-related mortality as well as ongoing concerns for those with a mental illness or substance use disorder. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among people ages 10 to 34 in the United States, second only to unintentional injury, according to the CDC. Suicide took the lives of nearly 15,000 people within that age bracket in 2018, CDC data suggests. Last year, the public health institute reported that the suicide rate for kids 10 to 14 has nearly tripled in the last decade while the suicide rate among older teenagers has increased by 76%. In his July 14 interview, Redfield emphasized the absence of schools for the increase in suicides, overdoses and general mental health difficulties faced by young people during the pandemic. He also said resources to combat these problems have been overworked by COVID-19 or are too dangerous to access. You know, a lot of kids get their mental health services, over 7 million, in school, Redfield explained. A lot of people get food and nutrition in schools. Schools are really important in terms of mandatory reporting of sexual and child abuse. Obviously, socialization is important. Redfield said that the "cost to our nation in continuing to keep these schools closed is substantial." Susan Tellone, the clinical director at The Society for Prevention of Teen Suicide in New Jersey, told The Christian Post that there is an increased concern surrounding suicide and overdose, most of which has come from virus-induced chronic stress. All people experience acute stress, which is a short-term feeling that is not always negative, she said. Chronic stress, though, is ongoing stress that lasts months to years and can lead to an increase in mental health issues like depression. The increase in the U.S. is caused in part by widespread chronic stress, Tellone said. COVID has put all the country, not just youth, in a state of chronic stress, she explained. Thats been across the board. Ive been saying were all in the same storm, but in different boats. According to Tellone, people are experiencing stress in different ways. While some are heavily impacted by physical isolation, others feel the stress from financial burdens or loss of work. For young people, the pandemic has provided a variety of losses. High school seniors have lost the opportunity to partake in graduation ceremonies and milestones. Social interactions have changed form during the virus, which has become a difficult transition for some. Some are stuck in toxic environments where theyre around domestic, substance or sexual abuse, Tellone stated. Its the uncertainty that creates this stress. You cant make plans or know the future. Theres not an end in sight and it is getting to feel exhausting for some people. This is not true for all young people, though. Some young people have enjoyed doing school work from home and have felt less pressure since COVID-19 began, which Tellone defined as a mixed bag of reactions toward COVID-19 closures. Despite the increased demand for mental health resources to combat the increased suicides and overdoses, Tellone said the virus presents an opportunity to end the stigma of talking about mental health. She believes this could lead to further advancements in study and treatment. Because we know mental health is going to be an issue, we could all understand that if you dont have financial means there is still help, she said. Its an opportunity to recognize that mental health is as important as physical health. Haiti - USA : $15M to fight against food insecurity in Haiti Since April 30, 2020, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has allocated $15 million to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) to help Haitian households facing high levels of food insecurity. In anticipation of the hurricane season in Haiti, food aid reserves are available to provide food assistance for one month to approximately 300,000 people in the event of a natural disaster. From March to June 2020, in the departments of Grand'Anse, Nippes, West and Artibonite, WFP completed the distribution of food to approximately 121,610 people. Each household received 50 kg of rice, 12.5 kg of peas and 9.2 pounds of cooking oil for a total of about 2,730 tonnes. US Ambassador to Haiti Michele Sison said, "The commitment of USAID and the US government to food security in Haiti continues to help the most vulnerable. USAID, in collaboration with the UN and other partners, not only improves the food security of women and children in Haiti, but also helps women entrepreneurs achieve long-term, sustainable success [...]" "During COVID-19 we continue to not only improve nutritious food consumption to over 60,000 Haitian households but also strengthen incomes for families like Mrs. Flaure," says USAID Haiti Mission Director, Christopher Cushing. HL/ HaitiLibre remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy holds a news conference regarding the COVID-19 cases at the War Memorial in Trenton, N.J. on April 11, 2020. (Chris Pedota/The Record via AP, Pool) New Jersey Lawmakers Pass Bill Allowing Illegal Immigrants to Obtain Professional Licenses A legislation that would allow immigrants without legal status to obtain professional and occupational licenses has been passed in New Jerseys state legislature and forwarded to Gov. Phil Murphys desk. The bill, which passed New Jersey Assembly after gaining bipartisan support in the Senate, is going to remove lawful presence as a prerequisite for anyone applying for professional and occupational licenses in the state. If passed, illegal immigrants residing in new Jersey would be able to obtain licenses as long as they meet all other requirements. Democrat Assemblyman Gary Schaer, one of the bills sponsors, said removing barriers of legal immigration status would help address shortages of health care and essential workers amid the pandemic. Our immigrant community has been indispensable throughout this crisis, he said, reported NorthJersey.com. By lifting this obstacle we can utilize the abilities of every single resident. Opponents of the bill argued that such a measure would encourage illegal immigrants to compete for jobs against legal residents and lead to even more illegal immigration. We have rules and laws in this country and, if you come into the country illegally and you are in violation of the law, I dont think we should be granting you licenses, said Republican Assemblyman Harold Wirths, who voted no on the bill. Allowing those in the country illegally to get occupational or professional licenses takes jobs away from American citizens and legal immigrants, The Federation for Immigration Reform, a non-profit organization that supports immigration restrictions, said in a statement. Already there are more than 1.3 million unemployed individuals in New Jersey who are suffering as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and lockdowns. Providing occupational or professional licenses to those in the country illegally incentivizes more illegal immigration. According to the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs, dozens of professions and occupations in the state are licensed, including accountants, architects, beauticians, court reporters, cosmetologists, doctors, dentists, engineers, home inspectors, nurses, optometrists, pharmacists, plumbers, psychologists, real estate appraisers, social workers, and veterinarians. While federal law prohibits employers from hiring illegal immigrants, there is no law prohibiting someone who lives in the country illegally from starting a business or becoming an independent contractor. Such a person can run a fully legal business with an Employer Identification Number, which can be obtained after getting an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, which requires no document other than a birth certificate or an official foreign ID. STORMONT ministers plan to take holidays despite the ongoing Covid-19 crisis - but hope Executive meetings can continue. And most are in favour of the break being taken by Assembly members, revealed in Sunday Life last week, which began on Saturday. Now it has emerged Alliance proposed there should be no recess this year because of the virus and the looming barrage of Brexit legislation but other parties did not agree. Party leader Naomi Long told us: "Whilst our preference would have been to work through July and August, given the context with the recovery from Covid-19 and Brexit coming ever closer, at least the flexibility is there to re-engage the Assembly as and when required." Read More The justice minister, who took a few days in Donegal over the Twelfth and is to 'staycation' locally at the end of this month, added: "We proposed not taking a recess this year at the Business Committee, which decides what the Assembly debates, but that was not agreed. "However, in the end parties agreed to take a recess in August to facilitate Assembly staff taking annual leave. The Assembly can be recalled for urgent business. "The Executive will continue to meet in August and there is an ad hoc committee which can be requested to meet by any minister wishing to make a statement to the Assembly." Agriculture and Environment Minister Edwin Poots believes MLAs deserve a break because of the amount of Brexit-linked work they will be facing. The DUP man, who is not taking a holiday this year, said: "They should take a recess in August as there will be a very intense period for the legislature with a mass of bills associated with Brexit. "These will likely lead to extra and longer sittings aside from the constituency workload." Sinn Fein Finance Minister Conor Murphy will also be taking a 'staycation' in Ireland during August but remains in touch with his office. "He will be available at all times for urgent Executive business, including Executive meetings," a spokesperson said. SDLP Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon backs the continuation of Executive meetings during the recess but plans two weeks holiday herself. "Minister Mallon is taking two weeks leave to be with her husband and three young children - spending one week at home and the other week in a holiday letting in the South," a spokesperson confirmed. "She recognises that public service is not just a job and believes that especially at this time, the public needs leadership, consistent and constant communication and guidance. "Covid-19 does not stop for summer holidays and nor should the Executive. She supports the continuation of Executive meetings during the recess period." A number of others, including Economy Minister Diane Dodds, did not respond to inquiries about their personal and family plans. But the man most regard as the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Jim Allister, did confirm he plans to take a holiday "in the United Kingdom". "Jim has no plans to travel outside the country this year," a spokesperson said. Days after announcing their plans to open for the 2020 season, the owners of the Sterling Renaissance Festival have decided against it due to The COVID-19 pandemic has remarkably disrupted the functioning of higher education. This is especially a crucial time for the education sector - entrance tests of various universities, competitive examinations, board examinations, nursery school admissions among others are halted in the advent of the novel coronavirus. Hence, we resort to online learning. Sixteen-year-old Beck from the Philippines answers the question if is prepared for the upcoming school year. She stated that the online setup is not taking into account the situation of students, particularly those in public schools. The prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected 87.6% of the total enrolled learners globally. Drop-out rates worldwide will possibly increase as an aftermath of the massive disruption to accessible education. According to recent survey results, if the world were not ravaged by a pandemic, the decision to study through the internet, in person, or in between would be practically the same among men and women, reported Inside Higher Ed. To factor in COVID-19 paints a different picture as women are less possible than men to opt to study in person and are more likely to pick an overall online education. According to the Public Viewpoint: COVID-19 Work and Education survey, Americans' perspective of the features and merit of in-person, online, or hybrid education differ broadly. Also Read: Man's Best Friend: 6 Effective Tips to Help Your Dog Live Longer The majority of participants, which was 35 percent, believe online learning proffer the best usefulness money could afford. If last year, you had to buy school materials including books and backpacks, you would have to buy expensive gadgets in 2020. You will also need a conducive space suitable for your online studying, indicated Inquirer. Students would often become demotivated and eventually give up tackling a course, reported eLearning Industry. Research has indicated that less than 5% of people who enroll in an online course finish studying it. If you find online learning monotonous, you could form a study group. As we are currently facing the novel coronavirus pandemic, you could gather friends to form the study group remotely and video chat in place of in-person meetings. Almost 150 college-bound high school seniors shared their two cents regarding their call to action as online-only or possibly hybrid students. Simply put, survey participants indicated that a fall online learning set-up should become better than spring's set-up. Some students think that adaptation to internet-based learning was successful and even enjoyable. According to one student, "I never really learned that much from lectures and being able to go at my own pace has fit so well with my learning style." A writer from Inside Higher Ed believes that the extensive majority of United States universities and colleges are on the path towards a mostly or entirely online-based fall. He noted that carrying out an efficient internet-based or virtual instruction by the fall will require a large amount of mapping out an application which should start immediately. Some students still have reservations regarding distance learning. This is because people have different styles of learning. Challenges to be expected are a bad internet connection, mental health in isolation, and the inability to comprehend online learning lectures. Related Article: Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine Triggered Immune Response in Monkeys @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Birthday revellers at a CBD venue and people at a religious gathering in a Dandenong factory are the latest to be fined for breaking Victorias COVID-19 rules. Police Minister Lisa Neville called out "appalling" behaviour as she announced 170 fines were issues in the 24 hours up to 10am on Sunday, totalling more than $250,000. Under a state of disaster beginning on Sunday night, police will have additional powers to enforce lockdown rules. Protective services officers who would ordinarily be patrolling public transport at night will be freed up to enforce restrictions. "This really puts beyond doubt their powers. It ensures they have the right tools they need to enforce all the directives and ensure compliance with those directives," Ms Neville said. My life changed five years ago to the day, but Phish playing my hometown for the first time in a quarter century only had little to do with it. Still, the show rocked. This past Friday marked what was supposed to be Phishs return to Alabama in 2020, a would-be July 31 show at Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham. Theyve since rescheduled for the same venue July 30, 2021. Until another year passes, I can at least think back to the last time I saw them, just my sixth show overall (yes, Im definitely a newb, by live show experience standards). Hot and beautiful weather provided a perfect backdrop for one of the bands best shows of their 2015 summer tour, ours being the ninth stop following a two-night run in Atlanta. It marked just the fourth time Phish played Tuscaloosa, the last occurring Nov. 8, 1991 at the Ivory Tusk, previously located on the Strip. Before that, they played Solomons in 1990 and the College Station Theater in 1991. About 30 minutes into the show, Phish keyboardist Page McConnell took a moment to thank the crowd and note their return to Tuscaloosa was long overdue. The house agreed. (McConnell also said it was their first time back in Tuscaloosa since 1993, but as noted above, their last show occurred two years prior. That is, unless they played some secret private show their fervent statisticians somehow missed.) That Sunday felt special particularly for Druid City natives whod never seen the band in their hometown. Most of us joined the bandwagon many years after their last show in town, and we certainly put up zero fuss driving an hour to Birmingham or thousands of miles cross-country to catch them when we could. My brother and I drove to George, Wash., during their summer 2003 tour, shortly after Id graduated high school, for my first two Phish shows at the Gorge Amphitheater, a near-5,000-mile round trip. The two-minute drive back to my childhood home moments after they closed this show with The Beatles A Day in the Life made for an altogether different and awesome experience Ill cherish forever. That said, proximity to ones home only has a fleeting effect on you during the actual show where most fans feel more at home than ever. The Vermont quartet did their part and more to re-bottle that magic once again with a wonderful set steeped in classics and a few rarities seeing each member in terrific form. SET 1: Sample in a Jar, Chalk Dust Torture, Train Song, Devotion To a Dream, Meat, Maze, The Line, Roggae, My Friend, My Friend, 46 Days > Cavern SET 2: Down with Disease > Camel Walk > Seven Below > Fuego > Also Sprach Zarathustra > Harry Hood > Possum ENCORE: A Day in the Life Hearing blistering renditions of personal favorites like Train Song (a nod to the trestle above the venue, perhaps), Maze, Roggae, Camel Walk, 2001, Fuego and Harry Hood was merely a cherry on top that evening. I was already walking on air after telling my family my wife and I were expecting a baby the following February, in a teary reveal using a Phish onesie (merely for the occasion; were not that hardcore). The set list didnt matter. I was already playing with house money, with friends and family in town for the show and the unexpected news that a new generation was on the horizon, just a few short months away. But Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Mike Gordon Page McConnell and their amazing road crew (special shout-out to lighting technician Chris Kuroda) sealed it all with a brilliant show anyway. So when I got an Instagram notification reminding me wed hit the 5-year mark soon, those fond memories only reaffirm a great day in Tuscaloosa and certainly conjure some longing feelings for shared experiences like live music when thousands of people can come together to celebrate a common bond. Perhaps sooner than later (or just, much later), it wont matter whos on stage. Well be there, having worked through something that took much more from us than concerts. And hey, if its Phish, then all the better. See photos from Phishs Aug. 2, 2015 show at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater below. Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Phish fans from all over enjoy the tailgate lot scene prior to the show at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Guitarist Trey Anastasio. Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Trey Anastasio, right, and Page McConnell when Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Keyboardist Page McConnell. Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Bass player Mike Gordon. Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Guitarist Trey Anastasio. Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Keyboardist Page McConnell. Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Guitarist Trey Anastasio looks out at the Tuscaloosa crowd. Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) Phish performed in a packed Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015. (Ben Flanagan/AL.com) The citys sale of Peterborough Distribution to Hydro One has now legally closed, Hydro One announced Saturday. The sale completion means that 37,000 Peterborough Distribution electricity customers in Peterborough city, Lakefield and Norwood will now get a 1 per cent rate reduction to the base distribution portion of their bills starting with their August electricity use. The base distribution portion of the bill will also be frozen at this rate for the next five years, a pledge Hydro One made in securing Ontario Energy Board approval for the sale. Hydro One now plans to build a new regional operations centre and fleet maintenance facility to merge the existing Peterborough Distribution operations centre on Ashburnham Drive and Hydro Ones Peterborough operations centre on Crawford Drive. We are thrilled to become part of Peterborough, Lakefield and Norwood and to continue energizing life in these communities for years to come, stated Mark Poweska, president and CEO of Hydro One. At Hydro One, we believe we have a deep responsibility to support families, businesses and the local economy in the communities where we work and live, and we look forward to finding more ways to give back. A celebration of the legal closing of the deal is planned for Tuesday morning at the Peterborough Distribution centre on Ashburnham Drive. A divided city council approved the deal late in 2016. Its for the poles and wires operation of Peterborough Utilities. The hydro generation operations of Peterborough Utilities remain under the citys ownership, along with the water utility that also operates Riverview Park and Zoo. The sale price for PDI is $105 million, but the city expects to net somewhere between $50 million and $55 million after fees and debts are paid. City council is continuing to study whether to invest the proceeds to provide an income stream for city operations and reserves or use the money to fund new Peterborough Utilities power generation projects, increasing the dividends the city receives from the company. Citizens have also proposed other uses for the proceeds. Terms of the deal were finalized in August 2018 and final approval came from the OEB in April. Area politicians praised the deal in a press release issued Saturday by Hydro One. As this transaction comes to a close, I want to thank Hydro One for its recent (pickup truck) donation to the YES Shelter for Youth and Families, stated Peterborough Mayor Diane Therrien. I want to also thank Peterborough Distribution workers, who are valuable contributors to our community. I know they will continue to work hard for our community as Hydro One invests in its workforce and infrastructure in the Peterborough Region. We welcome Hydro One to the community of Lakefield in Selwyn Township, stated Selwyn Township Mayor Andy Mitchell. We look forward to seeing the benefits of their customer-focus and commitment to making this transition for our residents and businesses as seamless as possible. Today is a great day for Peterborough-Kawartha. I want to take this opportunity to officially welcome Hydro One to our community, stated Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith. We are so honoured to have such an active community partner in Hydro One, and I am looking forward to continuing to see how this acquisition will benefit my constituents moving forward. This is great news for our communities and ratepayers in Otonabee-South Monaghan and Norwood, stated Northumberland-Peterborough South MPP David Piccini. Hydro One is working collaboratively with the Government to help keep jobs local and also continues to support organizations that give back to the community. I am happy to see predictability given to customers and congratulate Hydro One on this new agreement and cant wait to see the benefits unfold. Maharashtra on Sunday recorded 9,509 fresh Covid-19 cases and 260 deaths, taking the tally to 441,228 and toll to 15,576, as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) inched closer to the 10,000 mark for fatalities. MMR has reported 9,887 Covid-19 deaths. The tally of active cases in the state stood at 148,537 as 9,926 patients were discharged on Sunday, taking the number of recoveries to 276,809. Mumbai recorded 1,105 new cases, taking the city tally to 116,436, while 49 fatalities on Sunday took the death toll to 6,447. The state, on Sunday, tested 60,758 samples and had a positivity rate of 15.65%. MMR and the Pune division, which comprises Pune city, Pune district, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Solapur, Solapur district, have contributed to 73% of the fatalities recorded on Sunday. MMR and Pune division has reported 190 of the 260 fatalities. The Pune division is expected to breach the 3,000 mark in a couple of days. So far, Pune division has reported 2,899 deaths. MMR, excluding Mumbai, which saw a surge in fresh cases in July, also saw a chunk of its fatalities in the previous month. From July 1 to August 2, MMR alone has reported 2,274 deaths and 81,976 cases. MMR, excluding Mumbai, has nearly reported 3,500 fatalities since the outbreak. Of the total deaths, 66.10% of the fatalities were reported in the last 33 days. The state health department is concerned over the case fatality rate (CFR) in the state and particularly in MMR, which is densely populated. Municipal bodies, including Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation, have reported a high mortality rate. As per the data of the state health department, Bhiwandi-Nizampur had the highest CFR in MMR of 6.05%, followed by Mumbai at 5.53%. Thane city had a CFR of 3.49%. Pankaj Ashiya, municipal commissioner of Bhiwandi-Nizampur, said that the CFR in the city is on a downward trend now and fatalities that were recorded were in June due to unavailability of a dedicated COVID facility. The doubling rate here is now 86 days, only the mortality rate is high, but we have it under control now. Earlier, we did not have a dedicated Covid facility. Patients chose to go to Thane and Mumbai, but then the situation in these cities was also bad. Now, the daily cases and deaths have reduced, he said. The Thane district is a huge region and barring Thane city and parts of Navi Mumbai, the health infrastructure is weak. A central command centre in Thane is in the works to manage the availability of beds. With a central command centre, the cases that need beds urgently will get assistance and thereby helping in reducing deaths. The local civic bodies in the areas have been working aggressively to track suspected cased, people with co-morbidities are being identified to start treatment, like it was done in Mumbai, said a senior health department official, who did not wish to be named. The death toll in Pune city has touched 1,507 with 25 new fatalities, while the death toll in Pimpri-Chinchwad has touched 401 with 15 deaths on Sunday. Solapur city, in Pune division, has the highest CFR in the state at 7.47%. Solapur city has 387 deaths so far. On Sunday, Pune reported 1,762 new cases, while Pimpri-Chinchwad reported 734 new cases. In other parts of Maharashtra, Nanded city and district reported 129 new cases each. Nanded district now has 1,077 cases. Nagpur city reported 144 new cases, taking citys tally to 3674. Nagpur district reported 101 new cases. Amravati reported 72 cases, while Yavatmal and Buldhana reported 63 and 41 new cases respectively on Sunday. Beed and Osmandabad in Marathwada region reported 85 and 88 cases respectively. Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts in Konkan region saw 94 and 25 cases respectively. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a telephone conversation, Trend reports citing Kazinform. The two Presidents exchanged congratulations on the occasion of the holy for all Muslims Eid al-Adha holiday, and wished goodness, happiness and prosperity to the fraternal peoples of Kazakhstan and Turkey. During the conversation, the Presidents discussed the current epidemiological situation in both countries. Highly commending Ankaras effective actions to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev thanked Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the humanitarian assistance provided by the Turkish side. The parties agreed to continue coordinating efforts to overcome the consequences of coronavirus and post-crisis recovery. The two sides touched upon the state and prospects of development of Kazakh-Turkish strategic relations. The importance of maintaining the positive dynamics of bilateral trade and implementing joint investment projects, especially in healthcare, the new economy, and agriculture was emphasized. At the end of the talks, President Tokayev reaffirmed the invitation to his Turkish counterpart to pay an official visit to Kazakhstan. Syracuse, N.Y. Mayor Ben Walsh will hold a virtual meeting later this month to brainstorm how to best match local residents with the hundreds of jobs expected from the Interstate 81 project. The meeting, which he calls the Interstate 81 Jobs Big Table, will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Aug. 13. It will be an online meeting. Anyone interested in attending is asked to register. The participants will include federal, state and local officials. Business and union leaders are also invited, as are community stakeholders, according to a news release from the city. The discussion will include best practices in local hiring, workforce preparation, and contracting. The state has proposed a $2 billion project that would rework the highway system in and around Syracuse. The proposal includes tearing down a portion of I-81 that runs between downtown and the University Hill. Instead, highway traffic would be rerouted onto Interstate 481. The project also includes rebuilding a portion of Interstate 690 around its intersection with I-481. Panelists at the meeting include: Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli I-81 Project Director Mark Frechette Urban Jobs Task Force President Deka Dancil Central and Northern New York Building and Construction Trades Council President Greg Lancette North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters representative Mitchell Latimer Syracuse Common Council President Helen Hudson Deputy Mayor Sharon Owens A staffer from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrands office will also attend. Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274. BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The decision to postpone the Legislative Council (LegCo) election due to the severe COVID-19 epidemic situation has shown the strong commitment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government towards the residents' safety and health, said Chinese mainland experts. He Junzhi, deputy head of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, noted that containing the epidemic is Hong Kong's top priority right now. If the epidemic cannot be brought under control, it will have a negative impact on public health, social stability and economic development, he said. "Election campaigns and voting will bring about large-scale gatherings, greatly increasing the risk of COVID-19 infection," he said. "There are also hundreds of thousands of elderly voters whose lives can be at risk at the polls." Chen Xinxin, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the decision to postpone the LegCo election is a necessary move which is totally reasonable and legitimate. The current provisions of the Basic Law of the HKSAR and Hong Kong's local laws cannot answer questions posed by the vacancy of the region's legislative body, he said. It is under such circumstances that the Central People's Government will ask the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress to make a decision in accordance with the law, Chen said. "The country stands firm behind Hong Kong in its efforts to fight the epidemic," said Zhang Jian, a research fellow at Shanghai Institutes for International Studies, adding that upon every major crisis, the central government has helped Hong Kong overcome the risks. Not even COVID-19 was going to stop die-hard rib fans from taking part in the 16th annual Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise Ribfest. Vehicles lined up Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the parking lot of the former Canadian Tire on Montrose Road for the Rotary Ribs to Go Drive-Thru event. Motorists entered the parking lot and Rotary members directed them to the ribber of their choice: Camp 31 BBQ or Billy Bones BBQ Canada. Volunteers took orders from the vehicles, with menus available online and at the event. Motorists paid for their order using cash, credit or debit card, and the food was delivered to their vehicle. Its quite a bit different. We had to choose this type of venue because of whats going on with COVID, but it has worked out really well, said Ribfest co-chair Scott Wright. The ribbers are actually the ones that suggested this (drive-thru) fundraiser to us theyve done one in Burlington on Canada Day that was very successful and theyve done one in Ajax and one in Pickering. Theyve had a history this summer of doing this type of event, and its worked out well. In past years, Wright said the Niagara Falls event would feature five or six ribbers, but due to the circumstances, Saturdays event featured just two. Ribfest is our clubs No. 1 fundraiser, he said, adding everyone made the best of the situation. We were hoping to raise at least between $3,000 to $5,000. I think well meet that goal. I was really happy with the turnout we had. A lot of people were donating in line as well. We had great support from the community. Niagara Falls resident Karyn Stockton, who attended the event with her husband, Malcolm, a past president of the Rotary club, said they enjoy Ribfest every year. We come out to support Rotary and we like ribs, she said, adding Saturdays event was very well organized and I feel safe. Bernie Gerl, of Camp 31 BBQ, said the southern-style business located in Paris, Ont., partnered with Niagara-based Billy Bones BBQ to purchase infrastructure and test out the drive-thru model, which worked from a health-and-safety perspective. Our industry is starving, said Gerl. The rib atmosphere, like anything on wheels, is a starving business, as well as the brick and mortar (businesses) our industry is really hurting, so we were trying to find an avenue because we feel that this may not be like this for the next five months, it might be like this for the next two years. He said the drive-thru program has potential to move this industry forward in the current climate. Its evolving. Were four into it and weve learned a ton already. Donations from Saturdays event will benefit local charities and organizations Rotary Club of Niagara Falls Sunrise has been supporting through Ribfest for the past 15 years, including Pathstone Mental Health, Niagara Nutrition Partners and Greater Niagara General Hospital Foundation. Another person has died with COVID-19-related complications, Vietnam's third death due to the disease in a day. The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control confirmed the death on Sunday evening. In total, six fatalities have been recorded since Friday. The 53-year-old woman, known as 'Patient 429', is from central a Nang City. She had a number of underlying conditions including chronic renal failure, diabetes and heart issues. She was treated for chronic renal failure at a Nang Hospital from July 19-30. She tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on July 27. She had breathing difficulties and suffered an acute respiratory failure on August 1 and had to undergo endotracheal intubation. The patient had to undergo continuous dialysis and was put on a ventilator on Sunday. She stopped breathing and was pronounced dead at 4.30pm. The cause of death has been announced as acute heart failure, heart attack, chronic renal failure and diabetes with COVID-19 infection. Another 30 COVID-19 cases confirmed on August 2 evening Vietnam recorded 30 new COVID-19 cases on August 2, raising the national tally to 620 as of August 2, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Among the new cases, 16 were reported in the central city of Da Nang, nine in central Quang Nam province, two in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, one in the southern province of Dong Nai, one in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa and one in the northern province of Ha Nam. Most of the cases are linked to the outbreak in Da Nang city, except for Patient No. 603 who returned from the US and was quarantined upon arrival. He is now under treatment at Khanh Hoa Hospital for Tropical Diseases. The number of cases relating to the outbreak in Da Nang has reached 173 since July 25. As many as 307 out of the total cases were quarantined right upon entry. The committees treatment sub-committee reported that 373 cases have recovered so far. Among the 247 active patients, six have tested negative for the coronavirus once and eight at least twice. There have been five deaths. More than 94,200 who had close contact with patients or came from pandemic-hit areas are now under quarantine nationwide. Singaporean-based company helps Da Nang fight COVID-19 A joint venture between the Singaporean-based Sakae Holdings and SSF Investment limited company has submitted a document offering help in the form of medical equipment and necessities to the central city of Da Nang in its COVID-19 combat. Accordingly, the firms assistance package includes seven remote body temperature monitoring devices, five Nihon Kohden patient monitoring devices, 20 Terufusion syringe pumps, and 10 tonnes of rice for Da Nang people in quarantine sites. The proposal was sent with a document on Singapores experience on fighting COVID-19 compiled by Douglas Foo, president of Khoo Teck Puat hospital, the biggest public hospital in Singapore. Foo said the experience is quite similar to current measures applied in Vietnam. He stated Vietnam is doing well in its COVID-19 prevention and control, particularly in quarantine work and tracing people visiting high-risk locations. Health Ministry urges speeding up tracing people returning from Da Nang The Ministry of Health have sent a dispatch to authorities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the central province of Quang Nam, asking them to accelerate the tracing of locals who returned from Da Nang during the period from July 1 to 28 and other locations with a high risk of infection. The dispatch noted that the three localities have recorded new community infected cases which involved people visiting areas with high risk of infections in the central city from July 1. Therefore, the Peoples Committees of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Quang Nam are urged to continue to drastically and promptly carry out prevention and control measures in line with directions given by the Prime Minister and the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. The localities should boost their testing capacity by mobilizing the engagement of all capable health establishments, including private ones, and getting relevant facilities and equipment ready for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The dispatch also requires the localities to instruct grassroots administrations to closely monitoring preventive measures in community and families, and timely detect any suspect infection case, thus preventing the epidemic from spreading in community. Deputy PM orders strictly handling violations of COVID-19 control regulations Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, on August 2 stressed that those who fail to make health declarations and follow quarantine regulations must be handled strictly. Speaking at a meeting of the committee on August 2, Dam called on each resident and all-level authorities to take responsibility for the pandemic combat, and stay vigilant. He ordered tightening COVID-19 prevention and control measures in medical, army and police sectors, and reviewing medical check-ups and treatment in hospitals, with attention paid to departments with patients in critical conditions. Apart from the main hospitals in Da Nang where the outbreak began, response efforts will be expanded in communities in the city as well as nearby province of Quang Nam, Dam requested. He urged all people to use Bluezone, a Bluetooth-based app that helps determine if a person has come into contact with a COVID-19 patient, and the nCOVI app for health declaration and monitoring. As for provinces with the high risk of transmission, Dam asked the Ministry of Education and Training to coordinate with the Ministry of Health in reviewing regulations, prioritising the organisation of the high school graduation exams. The health ministry reported that as 9am on August 2, Vietnam had recorded 590 COVID-19 patients, including 323 imported cases, and five deaths. Of the total cases, 373 have recovered. Since July 25, the country has reported 144 cases in seven cities and provinces, including 105 in Da Nang, 25 in Quang Nam, one in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, eight in Ho Chi Minh City, two in central Quang Ngai province, two in Hanoi and one in Thai Binh. Apart from imported cases, all of the new cases are linked to the outbreak in hospitals in Da Nang. Speaking at the meeting, Acting Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said it is expected to take longer time to cope with this outbreak as compared with the previous ones, as it is taking place more rapidly and complicatedly. Statistics from the health ministry also unveiled that from July 1-29, about 1.4 million people returned from Da Nang or visited medical facilities nationwide. Meanwhile, 800,000 people have been to the three hospitals involved in the outbreak in Da Nang, including 46,000 coming for health check-up and treatment. More cases are likely to be detected in Da Nang and other localities across the country in the time ahead, Long warned. Participants at the meeting agreed to propose the classification of localities based on three levels of risks, in order to impose suitable measures, with Da Nang and Quang Nam in the group of high risks. Five banks give Da Nang 1.07m USD for COVID-19 fight Five banks have donated a total of 25 billion VND (1.07 million USD) for the fight against the new COVID-19 outbreak that is hitting Da Nang city hard, according to the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV). The Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank), Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank), Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank), and Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB-Bank) each gave 5 billion VND (215,627 USD). The SBV had called on them to donate to help Da Nang buy COVID-19 test kits. With many new cases being diagnosed now, especially in Da Nang, the need to test locals and visitors there is very high, according to the SBV. The banking industry has donated hundreds of billions of VND since the pandemic began in the country early this year./. Two more COVID-19 patients die in Vietnam Two more COVID-19 patients in Vietnam died on August 2 due to related complications, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said. The latest deaths are an 86-year-old woman from Quang Nam province and an 83-year-old woman from Da Nang. Both had underlying health conditions. The 86-year-old was suffering from chronic kidney failure and heart problems. The cause of death has been announced as acute respiratory failure, multi-organ failure with COVID-19 infection. Meanwhile, the 83-year-old died from acute coronary syndrome, cholecystitis, polyarthritis, hypertension and COVID-19 infection. In total, five fatalities have been reported since July 31. All the deaths have occurred to patients with serious health conditions. Hundreds more Vietnamese citizens flown home from abroad Nearly 280 Vietnamese citizens from 24 European and African countries were brought home on August 2, with their flight landing at Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh. The flight was arranged by Vietnamese and French authorities, and the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines. Passengers included children under 18, the elderly, pregnant women, people with illness, students without accommodation, stranded tourists, and labourers with expired contracts and visas. Right after landing at the airport, all the passengers were given health check-ups and then sent to quarantine areas in accordance with current regulations. Also on August 2, more than 230 Vietnamese citizens in Thailand were brought home on a flight organised by Vietnamese and Thai authorities and budget carrier Vietjet Air. More flights are expected to be launched in the time ahead to repatriate overseas Vietnamese citizens in accordance with their wish, the pandemic situation and quarantine capacity at home. Vietnam confirms four new COVID-19 cases, bringing tally to 590 Four new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on August 2 morning, including two linked to the outbreak in Da Nang, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. Returnees from the outbreak in central Da Nang city test for COVID-19. (Photo: VNA) One of the two cases related to Da Nang city is a 42-year-old man living in HCM City who had been to Da Nang for vacation. He is now under treatment at the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. The other is a 40-year-old man from central Quang Ngai province. He had close contact with patient No. 517 at Da Nang General Hospital. He tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on August 1 and is being treated at a local medical centre. The remaining two patients flew from Russia to Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh on July 17 onboard Vietnam Airlines flight VN5062. They were quarantined right upon entry in the northern province of Hoa Binh, and are being treated at the provincial general hospital. Twenty-one others on the same flight had previously been confirmed infected as well. The new cases bring the total number of COVID-19 patients in Vietnam to 590, including 306 imported cases who were quarantined right upon arrival. Of the total cases, 373 have recovered so far. There have been three deaths related to the virus. As of August 2 morning, the total number of coronavirus cases linked to the outbreak in Da Nang increased to 144 since July 25. Among the active patients, six have tested negative for the virus once, and eight at least twice. A total 94,216 who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or came from pandemic-hit areas are under quarantine nationwide. Quang Nam takes measures to curb epidemic browser not support iframe. Located in the area adjacent to Da Nang City with a large number of people travelling through, Quang Nam province is taking the most drastic measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Not only geographically adjacent to Da Nang city, Dien Ban town of Quang Nam province is also the southern gateway to Da Nang city with more than 1,500 workers from Da Nang working in industrial zones travelling through. As of July 30, the town had four positive SARS-CoV-2 cases. Right on 30/7, Hoi An city blockaded An Hoi street after the first cases of Covid-19 had been detected. This move has received local peoples consent. With new developments of Covid-19, Quang Nam province has directed localities in the areas bordering Da Nang to take stronger measures to prevent the spread of the disease in the community. Da Nangs Hoa Vang field hospital ready to treat COVID-19 patients The field hospital at Hoa Vang districts medical centre is ready to serve COVID-19 infected patients from August 1 morning to share difficulties with the Da Nang Hospital which is being overloaded in the disease check-ups and treatment. The establishment of this field hospital followed the July 31 decision of Da Nang citys Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. During the preparation process, the field hospital has received great support from the Hoa Vang medical centres staff as well as local agencies, organisations and individual donors. The 200-bed hospital is used for quarantining and treating COVID-19 patients, especially those with severe symptoms and complicated underlying diseases. Previously, the municipal Peoples Committee decided to establish a 1,000-bed field hospital in Tien Son Sport Centre. On August 1 morning, Vietnam reported 12 more cases positive for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, raising the total amount of COVID-19 cases nationwide to 558. Of the total, 116 are related to the outbreak in central Da Nang city since July 25. Da Nang works around the clock to stamp out COVID-19 outbreak Joint forces are racing against time to build a field hospital in the central city which has reported more than 100 locally transmitted coronavirus infections for just a week. The hospital, which is to take shape inside the Tien Son sport palace covering 2,400 square metres, is projected to receive and treat thousands of patients, according to local authorities. Work began on the project on July 31 and it is scheduled for completion over four days. With dozens of cases announced on July 31 alone, the Da nang Municipal Department of Health asked medical facilities to receive, quarantine and treat the patients. The citys three leading hospitals where the SARS-CoV-2 virus was detected have been overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, and they are in dire need of support from other medical hospitals, said Ngo Thi Kim Yen, director of the Municipal Department of Health. Easing the overload at the three hospitals will make it easier for relevant agencies to control the outbreak, minimizing cross-transmission risks, she added. Yen disclosed a number of COVID-19 patients will be transferred by specialized vehicles to private hospitals such as Family Hospital, Vinmec International Hospital, and North Quang Nam General Hospital in the coming days. Da Nang has been stepping up contact tracing and extensive testing for local residents showing virus symptoms and those living around the three blockaded hospitals, namely Da Nang Hospital, C Hospital, Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Hospital. Nearly 3,000 people living in these affected areas will be tested for the virus, Yen said. Admitting that medical workers are at a high risk of virus infection, Yen said more than 3,000 workers at the three hospitals have been tested, and 5,000 others at other medical facilities will undergo tests in the coming days. The Ministry of Health has established a task force comprised of experienced epidemiologists and doctors in Da Nang to deal with the outbreak. Medical school universities have been mobilized from nearby provinces to assist with contact tracing and testing. With medical supplies from the Ministry of Health and leading hospitals, the local healthcare sector is now capable of conducting between 8,000 and 10,000 specimens a day, Yen revealed. Da Nang has quarantined 5,600 cases, including medical workers, patients, their relatives, guards and canteen staff of the three affected hospitals. It has also identified nearly 10,000 other cases closely linked to COVID-10 patients. Da Nang is the locality where the first locally transmitted infection was confirmed 99 days after the disease has been put under control in the country. The notorious cartel leader 'El Marro' was captured by Mexican state and federal security forces, authorities said Sunday. El Marro's real name is Jose Antonio Yepez Notorious cartel leader 'El Marro' has been captured by Mexican state and federal security forces, authorities said Sunday. El Marro, whose real name is Jose Antonio Yepez, was head of the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, which spread violence through north-central Mexico. Yepez, believed to be 40, and the cartel had been blamed for a surge in crime in the central state of Guanajuato, a major flashpoint of gang violence. The Santa Rosa organization has been gripped in a bloody, years-long turf war with rival Jalisco New Generation cartel. El Marro's capture was announced by the state's attorney general's office Sunday morning. Yepez had been the subject of massive manhunts for years, and was caught along with five other suspects allegedly holding a kidnapped businesswoman, authorities said. An 'arsenal' of weapons was also secured during the raid. The nickname El Marro, translated from Spanish means Sledgehammer. Yepez is pictured in an image after he was apprehended in an unknown location An image of Yepez's profile that was taken after he was taken into custody Yepez was pictured later with his hood up as he was escorted by armed authorities The armed escort is pictured twisting Yepez by the arm as he is led away El Marro's capture was announced by the state's attorney general's office Sunday morning Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said Yepez would be taken to the Altiplano penitentiary, a maximum-security prison where drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman was housed before he escaped through a tunnel in 2015. Guzman was recaptured in 2016. Yepez's Santa Rosa de Lima cartel emerged from a farming hamlet of the same name in north-central Guanajuato state by stealing fuel from government pipelines and refineries and robbing freight from trains. A hub of the carmaking industry, Guanajuato was once one of the safer regions of Mexico, but the violence of the past few years has pushed national homicide tallies to record levels. The rival Jalisco New Generation is a far more powerful organization, and considered one of Mexico's deadliest cartels. It is under the control of 54-year-old drugs kingpin Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, nicknamed 'El Mencho', who is Mexico's most-wanted man. Cervantes, whose nickname is a diminutive, was convicted of heroin smuggling in California and has served time in federal prison. US Drug Enforcement Administration officials blame him and his operatives for brutal violence which has helped establish the cartel's presence in 24 out of Mexico's 32 states, the Los Angeles Times reported. US authorities are offering a $10 million reward for information leading to his arrest. Yepez was put on display alongside armed authorities after the cartel leader was apprehended. The nickname El Marro, translated from Spanish means Sledgehammer Besides the bloody turf war with Jalisco, Yepez and his organization tried to build a support network among local residents by allowing them to take a minor share in the spoils of the robberies. But when the trains and pipelines became better-guarded, the gang allegedly turned to widespread extortion and kidnapping. Yepez, unusual among gang leaders, has also posted videos with emotional calls to his followers, including one in June showing him appearing to cry after several of his supporters and relatives were arrested. Yepez shared a video message in June showing him fighting back tears and vowing revenge after his mother was among the relatives captured. Maria Ortiz was arrested during a major security operation in the city of Celeya, located in Guanajuato. Yepez's sister Juana Yepez and his cousin Rosalba were also arrested. In the video, the cartel leader can be seen lashing out against the government after the raid, in which authorities found about 1 kilogram of a substance resembling methamphetamine and 2 million pesos ($88,000). In the clip Yepez, wearing jeans with a rifle slung over his shoulder, says: 'I'm going to be a stone in your shoe. I'm going to blow up, you will see. The women, who were suspected of aiding his operations, were later released when judges picked apart the case against them. Yepez's mother Maria Ortiz (pictured) was arrested during a major security operation in the city of Celeya, located in Guanajuato A picture of a car set fire by gangs in Celeya following a major security operation that yielded several arrests, including Yepez's mother In a separate video on June 21, he accused Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of aiding Jalisco. 'They come with the only interest of backing those sons of b******.' The following day, Lopez Obrador countered by advising residents not to align themselves with El Marro and the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel. 'Don't get involved in that,' Lopez Obrador said. 'There is a way to have income with supports that are being channelled. Don't get into protecting criminals.' The capture of Yepez should deliver a boost to Lopez Obrador, who pledged to bring down record levels of violence plaguing the country when he took office in December 2018. Instead, homicides have further increased during his presidency. The EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) is expected to bring more opportunities to Vietnams enterprises to export products to the EU. However, it will be not easy for handicraft producers to obtain bigger market share there. Three containers of handicrafts from Hien Luong, one of the biggest handicraft export companies in Hanoi, will be shipped to Europe later this month. Nguyen Thi Luong, director of Hien Luong, said this is Hien Luongs first consignment to the EU after a period of interruption because of Covid-19, but it will be the last to enter the EU market under the old trade principles. Everything will change once the EVFTA, between Vietnam and 28 EU member countries, takes effect in August. By that time, Vietnams handicrafts will not be able to enter the EU if enterprises cannot prove the product traceability. We face big difficulties when following procedures on product traceability to obtain certificate of origins because we cannot collect enough bills and vouchers, Luong explained. She said Hien Luong works with many small material suppliers and households, who do not issue invoices when providing products. Vietnam also has few chemical and material suppliers who have conformity certificates. The EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) is expected to bring more opportunities to Vietnams enterprises to export products to the EU. However, it will be not easy for handicraft producers to obtain bigger market share there. Meanwhile, there are too many commodity codes, diverse manufacturing processes and many records, thus making it difficult to set up and supervise traceability system. Covid-19 has changed consumer trends, and put pressure on goods buyers, setting stricter requirements on manufacturers. While Walmart requires examining SVHC (substances of very high concern), Tesco wants to trace products back to input materials. However, Filip Graovac, Asia Foundation's deputy country representative in Vietnam, said he can see great opportunities opened by CPTPP and EVFTA, especially when Vietnam has emerged as a safe destination following the governments success in containing COVID. Vietnam has great potential to export handicrafts and farm produce. It can make good products and has responsible producers. However, he commented that Vietnamese are still not good at product traceability, though they are keen on doing business. The demand for handicrafts is very high, over $100 billion. Meanwhile, Vietnams products just account for 2 percent, according to Le Ba Ngoc, deputy chair of the Vietnam Handicraft Exporter Association (Vietcraft). Besides India, Vietnam has emerged as production source which makes sustainable products with high added value, while China and Thailand have decreased their presence. India is also facing problems in traceability, but experts warn that with strong support from the government, the problems will be fixed soon which will help Indian producers surpass Vietnamese. Traceability is challenging the growth of the handicraft sector which employs 1.5 million laborers and brings export turnover of $1.7 billion a year. Mai Lan Many businesses indifferent to EVFTA EVFTA is expected to pave the way for Vietnams enterprises to exploit the EU market and its 500 million consumers and GDP of $18 trillion. Dhaka, Aug 3 : The World Bank has approved $202 million in additional financing for Bangladesh's Modern Food Storage Facilities Project to increase the capacity of its national strategic grain reserves by 535,500 tons for 4.5 million households. Bangladesh has an impressive track record for growth and development, aspiring to be a middle-income country by its 50th birthday, said the World Bank, which has supported Bangladesh since 1972. The credit from the the bank's International Development Association (IDA), which provides concessional financing, has a 30 year term, including a 5 year grace period. Bangladesh currently has the largest ongoing IDA programme totalling over $13.5 billion. The World Bank was among the first development partners to support Bangladesh and has committed more than $31 billion in grants, interest-free and concessional credits to the country since its Independence. The Modern Food Storage Facilities Project is helping Bangladesh address food insecurity in challenging times, such as frequent climate-induced disasters or crisis situations like the current Covid-19 pandemic, by supporting the construction of eight public modern steel silo complexes for rice and wheat storage in eight different districts. "Currently public food distribution and grain reserves have a total effective capacity of about 2 million tons," said Christian Berger, World Bank Team Leader for the project. "Most of these reserves or 'godowns' are in poor condition, leading to grain losses in quantity and nutritional value. This project helps improve the efficiency of grain storage management," he added. On top of the current construction work taking place in Ashuganj, Madhupur, and Mymensingh, the additional financing will support the construction of rice silos in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Barishal, and wheat silos will be built in Chattogram and Maheshwarpasha. The additional financing will increase the grain reserve available to households to meet the post-disaster needs and improve the efficiency of grain storage management through an online Food Stock and Market Monitoring System (FSMMS), the World Bank said. The project will also create new job opportunities, especially for women, in the operation and management of silos. "Nearly 80 per cent of Bangladesh's population lives in rural areas with climate shocks threatening their livelihoods, welfare, and food security," said Mohammad Anis, Acting World Bank Country Director for Bangladesh and Bhutan. "This modern food storage system, combined with an effective distribution system, will help ensure food security after a natural disaster or during a crisis such as the current Covid-19 pandemic," he added. He noted that the project has already helped to manufacture and distribute 500,000 household air- and water-tight food containers ("household silos") to poor farmers and women-headed vulnerable households in disaster-prone coastal areas. This success has led the government to commit to further distribute silos to an additional 300,000 households. The project will reduce grain storage and handing losses in public storage facilities by at least 50 per cent and extend the nutritional value of grain for up to two years, instead of the current six months. The right hand of a 27-year-old man has been chopped off and other persons seriously injured following violent clashes at Akateng in the Upper Manya Krobo District in the Eastern Region between two factions of herdsmen. Omaro Belos hand was cut at the wrist as he attempted to separate two of the fighters as the physical exchanges reached serious dimensions. Belo belonged to the faction from Akateng which took on the rival party from Nkawkaw. Four of Belos colleagues also suffered serious injuries. Aliu Belo, 25, sustained a deep cut on his forehead; Moro Mahamadu, 28, had a cut near his throat; whereas Omaro Ali and Omaro Abubakar, both 27 years old, also sustained serious injuries. Belo is currently on admission at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua, along with Mohammed and Abubakar, while the other injured persons are still receiving treatment at the Asesewa Government Hospital where they have been since the Wednesday, July 22, 2020 clashes. The herdsmen had come to the Akateng Market to trade in cattle when an altercation ensued, leading to the clashes. Police investigates The Deputy Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Francis Gomado, told the Daily Graphic that investigations had started into the matter. He said according to Belos statement, one Alhaji Hilli of the Nkawkaw faction allegedly instructed his herdsmen to attack one Jiji in the market because Hilli felt disrespected by the Jiji who was said to have asked Hilli to return a rope Jiji had lent to him weeks earlier. Sgt Gomado said in an attempt to save Jiji, who had already suffered a deep cut on his head, Belos wrist was chopped off by one of the men allegedly acting on the instructions of Hilli. Hilli is being sought by the police, Sgt Gomado said. Charges Sgt Gomado said the violence involved illegal possession of offensive weapons, and stressed that the perpetrators would be charged accordingly along with other charges that would arise when investigations were concluded. He said the police had proposed strict measures to tighten security in the area to avert such incidents in the future. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Bahraini trucks and their drivers will be allowed to resume their trips to Saudi Arabia via the King Fahd Causeway from today(August 2), a Bahrain News Agency report said. The reopening of the causeway was coordinated with the Saudi Customs Authorities, said Exits Customs director at the Customs Affairs, Mohammed Hassan Al-Isa. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley plummeted into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola Sunday afternoon. Their once white spacecraft, now a toasty brown from the heat of re-entry, marked the countrys first water landing since 1975. It was a milestone in NASAs years-long effort to have commercial companies, rather than the government, ferry astronauts to and from the International Space Station. Hawthorne, Calif.-based SpaceX, founded by billionaire Elon Musk, is the first private company to own and operate a vehicle trusted to launch and now land NASA astronauts. This was an extraordinary mission and extraordinary day, Gwynne Shotwell, president of SpaceX, said during a news conference, for NASA, for SpaceX, frankly for Americans and anyone interested in spaceflight. The SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, launched atop a Falcon 9 rocket on May 30, began its return journey Saturday after separating from the International Space Station at 6:35 p.m. CDT. On HoustonChronicle.com: NASA, SpaceX pull off first astronaut liftoff from U.S. soil since 2011 It was traveling 17,500 miles per hour before re-entering Earths atmosphere. Heat, up to 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit, and drag slowed the spacecraft to about 350 mph. Two drogue parachutes deployed at about 18,000 feet, slowing it to 119 mph at about 6,000 feet when the four main parachutes deployed. It hit the water going roughly 15 mph at 1:48 p.m. CDT. Its not a soft landing, especially after two months in microgravity. Commentators for the splashdown described it as a fender bender. Astronaut Jack Lousma described it as a train wreck. His capsule got turned upside down when it returned from the Skylab space station in 1973. After two months in space and being weightless, we were now hanging from the ceiling looking downward in the water, Lousma said in an oral history with NASAs Johnson Space Center. The Apollo-era capsules had balloon-like devices to flip them over. The Crew Dragon has a water ballast that pumps water into bags to turn the capsule upright (it was not needed Sunday). The capsule carrying Joseph Kerwin, who also visited Skylab in 1973, stayed upright upon landing. But it gently bobbed in the ocean for a while making Kerwin, who decided a strawberry drink would help with hydration, seasick. If you want to see a sick puppy, I mean, somebody who's not feeling good, there's a photograph of Joe Kerwin, his crewmate Paul Weitz recalled in his oral history. To help with the water landing, Hurley said the astronauts will do our fluid loading drink a salt-and-water concoction prior to re-entry to help offset some effects caused by microgravity. Astronauts are sometimes light-headed or faint upon re-entry, and some are unable to remain upright when standing. Such effects are caused by changes to the human body while in microgravity, including a drop in blood volume (the total amount of fluid in arteries, veins, chambers of the heart, etc.). The astronauts are healthy in space, as this is the bodys appropriate response up there, but upon returning to Earth they are, in essence, dehydrated and anemic. The salt-and-water drink helps restore fluids and jumpstart their blood volume level for the initial shock of being back in gravity, though some astronauts still get light-headed or faint. Shortly after landing, Behnken and Hurley said they were feeling good. Still, they had hardware onboard if they started to feel queasy. Just like on an airliner, there are bags if you need them and well have those handy, Hurley said during a news conference prior to departing the space station. Well probably have some towels handy as well. If that needs to happen, it certainly wouldnt be the first time thats happened in a space vehicle. It would be the first time in this particular vehicle. At a press conference a few hours after landing, the two astronauts were seated. Were not going to stand right now, Hurley said. For those of you who have done this before, you know its not pleasant standing for a few hours after you get back. Five hours ago we were bobbing around in the Gulf of Mexico, so I feel like its pretty good that we got this far in five hours. Another news conference with the astronauts is scheduled Tuesday, and Hurley has promised to keep the public apprised about the journey back. NASAs history in water landings partly stems from where it launches along the coast. If a Mercury, Gemini or Apollo capsule needed to be separated from its rocket during launch, the capsules abort path would be over the water, said Phil Smith, a space industry analyst at Bryce Space and Technology. The Russian Soyuz spacecraft, on the other hand, is landlocked and needed an abort capability to land on solid ground. Thats a reason why the Soyuz lands in Kazakhstan, Smith said. On HoustonChronicle.com: 'The beginning of a new era:' NASA astronauts prepare to fly in a capsule once again There were concerns that Behnken and Hurleys return would be derailed by Tropical Storm Isaias, previously a hurricane, but the storm stayed along Floridas east coast and left the west coast open for landing. SpaceX had potential landing sites on both coasts. Behnken and Hurleys spacecraft was on the deck of the GO Navigator recovery ship 30 minutes after splashdown. And while the area was clear for their landing, curious boaters had encroached on the spacecraft and posed a potential for interfering with operations before Crew Dragon was hoisted out of the water. It was just a beautiful day, lots of people out maybe boating or fishing and then saw the capsule and kind of came in, said Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew Program. We have some work to do with SpaceX. We will work together to do a better job for the next splashdown. The hatch opened at 2:59 p.m. CDT, and the astronauts were assisted out of the capsule and checked out by medical professionals. A helicopter brought them to the shore, and then a plane carried them home to Houston. Their spacecraft stays in Florida, where its data and performance will be scrutinized. This is expected to take about six weeks and culminate with SpaceX receiving certification to begin more routine flights to the International Space Station. This is really just the beginning, Shotwell said. We are starting the journey of bringing people regularly to and from low-Earth orbit. And on to the moon. And then ultimately on to Mars. So today is a great day. We should celebrate what we all accomplished here today bringing Bob and Doug back, but we should also think about this as a springboard to doing even harder things. andrea.leinfelder@chron.com twitter.com/a_leinfelder Some may assume that children only look forward to seeing their teachers when they return to school in the fall (whether in-person or online in this day and age). However, many students may be most excited to see their schools librarian again. One local librarian who was held in such high regard by children and adults alike was Clara Louise Kessler, the longtime childrens librarian at Withers Public Library (predecessor of today's Bloomington Public Library). Louise (as she was known to most) Kessler had a lifelong interest in books, songs and children. She was born in Warren, Illinois, in 1893. Her father moved the family to Normal in 1898 after a business trip to the area, which must have left an impression on him. Kessler recalled later in life that her parents thought that by moving the family to Normal, they would obtain better educational facilities for their children (Normal was the home to both Illinois State Normal University and the Model Training School). After graduating from ISNU with her teaching degree in 1915, Kessler began working with children as a kindergarten teacher that fall at the Day Nursery and Settlement Association. Founded in 1908, this private day care and kindergarten provided a safe place for working mothers to leave their children during the day. In 1919, after four years of teaching, Kessler embarked on a 33-year career as the head childrens librarian at Withers. Her mission was not only to present the very best childrens literature and encourage its enjoyment, but also to create an environment that would stimulate childrens imaginations, inspire children to freely express themselves, and help children grow into adults who would help build a better Bloomington. During the first 18 months of Kessler leading the childrens department, it began to earn a reputation as a mecca for little folk that offered a wide variety of programs for children of all ages. Throughout her career, she wrote and directed plays for children, offered lectures for boys on Saturday evenings, held birdhouse contests in the spring, hosted a club in the winter for junior high girls, and offered instructive games. Special exhibits for children were frequently created and displayed throughout the library, which stood at the corner of Washington and East streets in downtown Bloomington. Game and story hours were held during the summer months. Picture shows (using an opaque projector) accompanied by the reading of a story were also presented for children in first through fourth grades. The diversity of the activities she created for children was a credit to the originality that she brought to her work as childrens librarian. Kessler is pictured with some of her young library patrons, Ruth and Robert McNabb, during the annual Spring Book Festival. Held in May, the Spring Book Festival annually attracted hundreds of children to Withers between 1940 and 1952. In 1944, Kessler anticipated a long line of children eager to check out the 100 new books that were to be released on the first day of the festival. Titles included "Timothy has Ideas," "Three Gay Tales from Grimm," "Giants and Witches and a Dragon or Two," and "Uncle Sams Army and How It Fights." Kessler was always happy to help her young readers select titles to help nurture their minds and imaginations. When Kessler came to Withers in 1919, 34,367 books were checked out by students in the community. By 1940, that number had increased exponentially to 126,859 books. Kessler credits some of this growth to the work of publishers re-editing the classics in beautifully illustrated volumes and giving more attention to the publication of worthwhile new books. She also stated that when children were given the freedom to choose their own books from the shelves, they seemed to instinctively find the volumes that best appeal to them and that made them want to read more. According to The Pantagraph, a concerted effort had been made during those 20 years to bring children and good literature together, and with the results shown, staff members now say that this 20-year dream has come true. By 1944, nearly 3,000 children had library cards and of those children, Kessler stated that the majority of them were in the fifth and sixth grades. To her credit and despite her modesty, Kessler had much to do with this milestone achievement. The McLean County Museum of History collects and preserves countless photos. Thanks to a second $250,000 grant received from the Institute of Museum and Library Science (IMLS) last fall, the museum is in the process of digitizing another 50,000 negatives from the Pantagraph Negative Collection, which consists of well over 1 million negatives. The latest batch of digitized images are primarily from the 1940s. This grant has allowed the museum to continue the labor-intensive project of digitizing, organizing and researching this treasure trove of local history. If not for this project, we may have never discovered images of Clara Louise Kessler doing what she did best fostering a love of reading in the hearts and minds of the children in her community. Pieces of our Past is a weekly column by the McLean County Museum of History. Love 5 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 0 Many New Mexicans are worried this weekend, really worried. Theyre worried about how theyre going to pay next months rent. Theyre worried about how theyre going to make vehicle and mortgage payments and continue to put food on the table for their children or grandchildren or parents or other extended family and friends who have hunkered down with them during the pandemic shutdown and economic squeeze. Tens of thousands of out-of-work New Mexicans will see greatly reduced unemployment benefits after Congress and President Donald Trump let them down last week and allowed a $600 federal unemployment boost to expire. More than 140,000 New Mexicans rendered unemployed by the pandemic have counted on that federal boost that expired Friday, along with a federal moratorium on evictions from rental units that expired July 24. And they have counterparts in every state. While unemployment benefits arent intended to be permanent, they have been a lifeline for New Mexicans who have lost jobs due to public health orders aimed at curbing the COVID-19 spread. Some, like restaurant employees, have gone through this twice. After being furloughed for months, many returned to work in early June after indoor dining was green-lighted at 50% capacity. Then, in mid-July, amid rising positive coronavirus tests, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham reinstated the ban on indoor dining and many found themselves again relying on unemployment benefits. From those up on the fourth floor in the Governors Office down to the cadre of dishwashers who just want to do an honest days work for an honest days pay, the pandemic has been a rollercoaster nobody wanted to ride. All New Mexicans have lived in great uncertainty over the past four and a half months, and perhaps the only thing thats crystal clear is fighting COVID-19 is going to be a long slog. While vaccine developments are promising, its unclear when one will be available or how effective it will be, and for what demographics. The July/August AARP Bulletin explores how standard antibody-producing vaccines are less effective in folks over 65. And several vaccine experts in The Atlantic on July 25 say the virus is already too widespread and at best a vaccine could make COVID-19 easier to live with by mitigating the severity of cases. So we have to be judicious in our relief packages, and not throw bottomless amounts of cash at assistance, thinking this will be over quickly. People will need help, and they likely will need it for months to come. At the same time, quick action is imperative. Yet Congress and the president remain deadlocked over a new coronavirus relief package, and it is up to the federal government to provide the immediate relief needed in these health and economic crises. To wit: The economic crisis in New Mexico is so bad the state is having to request $285 million from the U.S. Department of Labor to make sure its state unemployment trust fund doesnt dry up over the next three months. New Mexicos fund balance dropped from $465 million in mid-March to $112.7 million in late July as more than 10% of the states labor force filed initial unemployment claims in the first month of the pandemic. And the $265 million bailout would just be a loan the federal assistance would have to be paid back and will likely hit already-struggling businesses with stiffer payments into the fund next year. Including the $600 weekly federal benefits, the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions has distributed a whopping $1.5 billion of unemployment benefits since the pandemic began. It is essential Congress and the president come together this week and reach a coronavirus aid package that can be implemented quickly, yet structured for the long term. The $600-a-week federal boost hastily approved in March as part of a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill created a disincentive to return to work because many Americans made more money while unemployed than when working. The reluctance of some to go back to work further strains state unemployment trust funds. Theres a smarter compromise to be had that keeps workers above water without sinking the American work ethic perhaps a version of the Republicans initial March proposal to enhance state unemployment benefits with federal funds until the total reaches 70% or 80% of what one earned while employed. Sure, logistically its much more difficult than topping off weekly checks with an extra $600, but its more sustainable and makes more sense. A stopgap could be to continue the $600-a-week amount temporarily and then transition into the other proposal when feasible. We need as many people as possible to return to work when it is deemed safe to do so, so employer payroll taxes replenish states unemployment trust funds. Enough of the brinkmanship, Mr. President and Congress. Thats not helpful for Americans worried about their health, their next meal and keeping a roof over their heads. Also included in the aid package should be language giving businesses limited liability protection. Of course those that ignore CDC and state COVID-safe health practices and put their employees and customers at risk should be held accountable, but why, for example, should an eatery or grocery that has followed all the rules be held responsible when an employee or customer goes to a party at the local lake or park and then tests positive? Without such protections for victims of truly bad actors as well as businesses that follow the rules there will be a tsunami of lawsuits related to the coronavirus destined to sink court dockets and responsible businesses alike. And more federal money for testing is essential. The lag in turnaround times for test results of up to two weeks has made contact tracing all but impossible and test results worthless, as they are only a snapshot in time. Congress and the president need to put an unemployment benefits bridge, as well as protections for responsible businesses and ramped-up testing, on the front burner. They need to focus and keep the extras at a minimum. Helping our nation through this pandemic is something every politician should want to put on their campaign literature. Lets have a little bipartisanship, even in a presidential election year, and get this done. New Mexicans who have been living on the edge and are about to fall off the cliff without extended benefits are counting on it. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. By PTI GUWAHATI: Four more persons succumbed to COVID-19 in Assam on Sunday taking the death toll to 105, while 1,178 new positive cases pushed the states tally to 42,904, Health and Family Welfare Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. Two women from Karimganj and Tinsukia and a couple of men from Jorhat and Kamrup Metropolitan districts died due to COVID-19. "Four more #COVID19 patients have succumbed to their infections today. Condolences to their families. Prayers", the minister tweeted. The state reported 1,178 new cases out of 19,943 tests, with Kamrup Metropolitan district recording the highest of 268 infections. "We have been able to maintain a low positivity rate consistently (today- 5.91 per cent)", Sarma said in the tweet. Meanwhile, 942 patients were discharged from different hospitals of the state and many of them would be able to celebrate Raksha Bandhan on Monday, he said. Of the total 42,904 cases, 105 people have died, 10,412 are active cases, 33,384 have recovered from the disease and three migrated out of the state. The health minister said that Assam has the lowest mortality rate of 0.24 per cent in the country. In the case of recovery, it is in the fourth position with a rate of 75 per cent, while the state is ranked fifth in the number of tests per million with a figure of 27,544. "We work for a larger goal of humanity and not for a Model. Our commitment to fighting the pandemic is robust", Sarma tweeted. ALSO READ | Decline in Covid-19 positivity rate makes Assam to open up A total of 9,64,449 samples have been so far tested across the state. In Assam police, 1,701 personnel have tested positive for the virus so far and four have them have died, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) G P Singh said. Sarma formally inaugurated the second plasma bank in the state at Tezpur Medical College Hospital on Sunday. The facility had become functional on Friday with one person donating his plasma. Meanwhile, Congress' Rakibul Hussain on Sunday became the seventh legislator in Assam to contract coronavirus infection. Hussain, the MLA from Samaguri in Central Assam and a former state minister, said in a Facebook post that he tested positive for the virus along with his wife Nazreen Hussain. His son, however, tested negative. "I have tested COVID-19 positive. Request everyone who came in contact with me in the last four days to get themselves tested," he said in the post. The former minister is the first Congress legislator to have been diagnosed with COVID-19. Another prominent politician of the party, All India Mahila Congress president and former Silchar MP Sushmita Dev, had earlier tested positive for the virus. All the other MLAs of the state, who had tested positive for COVID-19, were from the BJP. They are Assembly Deputy Speaker Aminul Haque Laskar, Atul Bora, Krishnendu Paul, Naryan Deka, Bolin Chetia and Nabanita Handique Photograph of Post Office at N. 63rd Street at Media in Philadelphia as seen on Thursday, July 30, 2020. Read more Neither snow nor rain prevent the U.S. Postal Service from carrying mail to your door, but significant changes in its structure and staffing are causing mail delays across Philadelphia. If youre looking for your mail, youre not alone. And this week, we chatted with Inquirer photographer Monica Herndon about her day-to-day on the job and how thats changed along with current events. Lauren Aguirre (@laurencaguirre, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) The week ahead This weeks most popular stories Behind the story with Monica Herndon Each week we go behind the scenes with one of our reporters or editors to discuss their work and the challenges they face along the way. This week we chat with photojournalist Monica Herndon about how her job has changed during the pandemic. Why did you become a photojournalist? What makes your job different from a reporters? When I was a kid, I was incredibly shy, like dont-want-to-call-in-the-pizza-order shy. In high school I had a vague interest in photography and my father was a longtime photojournalist, so my mom suggested I give it a try. I remember in my first photojournalism class I was so nervous to approach people, Id have to talk myself into it. When people gave me their names and answered my questions, Id feel this thrill, like I had gotten past something that scared me. I quickly learned that thats the best part of the job. Meeting people, learning about their lives, peeking into worlds that I dont normally inhabit. My job is different from a reporters because when I first arrive at a scene my instinct is to look around, watch, wait, and see what develops. My job relies on what I can see and witness. I cannot recreate a scene by asking questions like a reporter can. I have to be there when the moment happens. Sometimes that requires a lot of planning, other times you just happen onto it. How do you prepare to go out to cover an event or do an assignment differently now than you did before the pandemic? Working now, during the pandemic, means I have to make sure I have enough cleaning supplies and the right mask for the job. Throughout these last few months, Ive been trying different kinds of masks, I know which ones will hurt my face after hours of wear, I know which ones are incredibly hard to breathe in, I know which ones feel like they arent protecting much at all. I also started preparing my own lunch every day. When restaurants were shut down it was harder to find food and I didnt want to go in and out of my home multiple times during the day. It also became harder to find bathrooms. I avoid going inside peoples homes and offices as much as possible, which means relying on public restrooms. Target and grocery stores are pretty much always open, so thats usually my first stop. Whats something youve come across during the pandemic that you were surprised by? Whats a challenge you werent expecting that you had to overcome? I've been surprised by the ways people have supported their communities. When grocery stores were shut down or working limited hours due to the unrest, Spot Burgers converted their seating area to a grocery store for a couple days. In a confusing, painful time, it was refreshing to see. At the beginning of the pandemic, lots of assignments were being canceled because of the closures. I found myself with more time, some of that was used to clean equipment and my car regularly, and some was spent finding stories and standalone images on my own. I saw balloon garlands popping up near my neighborhood, and sought out the maker, which led to this short video piece. Even in this time of uncertainty, Ive been finding and pitching more of my own pieces. How did you feel when the protests began? What has it been like to cover them in the Philly area? I had been following the protests in Minneapolis as things escalated. I interned there a few years ago, so I was familiar with a lot of the photographers on the street. I did not expect the protests to take off like they did across the country. On the first day of protests here I was off from work, but glued to my phone and Slack all day. I felt anxious, like I needed to be out there documenting, but also scared because Id never covered any protests of this magnitude before. Since June, the photo staff has participated in Hostile Environment Training and webinars with other photographers who are experienced in covering civil unrest. I also feel like Ive learned a lot about safety just being out there and being observant. Luckily the protests that Ive covered have remained calm so I havent had to face tear gas or other projectiles. What is something new you learned during this time? Ive gained an even greater appreciation for the connections I get to make through this work. While many people were stuck at home alone, I was able to safely interact with people from afar and still have some human connection. What is something you wish more people better understood about your job? Work from home doesnt exist for news photographers. Our jobs require us to be out in the world every day, even though the reporters can make calls from home. Those first few weeks in March were very scary. We didnt have enough masks or cleaning supplies, and masks werent widely mandated. There were a few rough days when I found myself wishing I could stay in the safety of my own home. As we developed protocols for working safely during this time, I started to feel better and more comfortable. Email Monica Herndon at mherndon@inquirer.com, and follow her on Twitter at @monica_herndon and on Instagram at @monicaherndon. Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly This is definitely a serene view of the water from the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Thanks for sharing, @heygervais. Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and well pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout-out! How to make your trip safer on SEPTA, rideshares, and other transportation There are numerous factors that go into how you decide to travel during a pandemic: crowds, cleaning practices, airflow, travel time, cost, and convenience. Overall, no matter which forms of transportation you choose, the advice is the same. You should always wear a mask, maintain distance, and wash your hands before and after to prevent the spread of the virus. While all travel during a pandemic is situational, weve listed the possible transportation options from the lowest relative risk to the highest so you can decide what is best for you. What were Eating: Crab gravy. Restaurant critic Craig LaBan has the best spots to get it in the Philly area. Exploring: Philly museums. Many more museums are opening or preparing to open. Weve got a list. (Please remember to wear a mask when you visit.) Watching: Beyonce. She released a new visual album, Black is King, a feature-film-length celebration of Black heritage. Its streaming now on Disney+. Comment of the week So great to read about people like this guy, someone with a positive attitude and a can-do spirit. People like him are the ones who built this country and keep it running. andronicus maximus, on Ya Fav Trashman gives an inside look at Philly trash pickup on Instagram, and the city is listening. Your Daily Dose of | A door-to-door troubadour Vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Dot Levine is bringing human connection right to peoples doorsteps with a serenade service. Levine had a busy schedule of live gigs and teaching in person until the pandemic hit in March, and everything dried up, but now they are able to bring music directly to people who need it most. People are really in need of community, of human touch, Levine said. Congress leader on Sunday demanded the release of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader who has been detained under Public Safety Act (PSA) in "India's democracy is damaged when GOI illegally detains political leaders. It's high time is released," the Congress leader tweeted. Earlier on Saturday, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said that the extension of the detention of former Chief Minister under the PSA is an abuse of law and an assault on the Constitutional rights guaranteed to every citizen. Mufti's detention under PSA was extended by three months on Friday. Earlier, the former Chief Minister's detention was extended on May 5 for three months. Mufti and many other political leaders of Kashmir, including Farooq Abdullah, were put in detention last year following the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that accorded special status to the erstwhile state. (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.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 00:12:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Egypt expressed on Sunday solidarity with the neighboring Sudan after a recent Sudanese dam collapse destroyed hundreds of homes, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Egypt stands side by side with the brothers in Sudan to face the repercussions of the incident," said the Egyptian statement. On Friday, heavy rain caused a sudden collapse of a dam in in Sudan's Blue Nile State, ruining over 600 houses in the neighborhoods of Bout town and leading to a big wave of displacement in the area. The dam was used to store about 5 million cubic meters of water for agriculture. Egypt and Sudan are the two downstream states among a dozen of countries sharing the Nile River, the longest in the world. Enditem Although wearing a mask indoors has been the law for a few days in Niagara, some people who anticipated such a rule being in place are having fun with how they cover their faces. Theyre picking masks that suit their fashion sense, said Tony Lee, owner of Yellow Stitch at Seaway Mall. He has a line of different designs that have dragons and wolves on them, and has taken orders from customers looking for masks with illustrations of things like bananas. Why dont you wear something you like? he said, showing off one of a few racks in his store that were holding unique face coverings. Still, the COVID-19 pandemic needs to be taken seriously, and people are preparing for it being here for a long time. It could be another two years, he said. Asked about the compliance hes seen since the regionwide bylaw took effect Friday, he hasnt witnessed any issues. All my customers, theyve been so good, said Lee. The bylaw is in place until Oct. 1, unless extended by the regional government. Walking through the Welland mall Sunday, Marissa Tremblett said wearing a mask doesnt bother her and that its not about protecting herself. Other people and their families should be on the top of everyones minds, said the Wellander who recently moved from Toronto. Everyone has loved ones that can be compromised, she said. Wearing a mask is anything but complicated. It takes five seconds to put one on, she said. Shoppers Jamie and Tammy Lamontagne both said theyre getting used to the new rules. It is what it is, said Jamie. Were going to do what we have to do and, hopefully, this will get better, said Tammy. Welland resident Kyle Samuel said the regional rule is a little late out of the gate, but he doesnt mind wearing a mask. It shouldve been mandatory a long time ago, he said, standing with St. Catharines resident Kayla Cooper, who said she hasnt seen anything concerning in public since it became an obligation to cover your face inside. Most people I see, they have a mask on, she said. Paula Opdam owns two shops in downtown Port Colborne Grants Gifts and The Picket Fence. She also believes making masks a must could have been enacted months ago. I wish they wouldve done it in March, she said, adding she hasnt had to inform anyone about the mandatory measure since Friday. Weve had an excellent weekend. She has dealt with seniors and people who are hearing impaired, which led her to keep a pen and pad of paper at her cash register in case people with communication challenges are having difficulty getting their point across without having to remove their masks. We just kind of have to adapt, she said. John Butterworth is from Burlington, where a mandatory face covering bylaw has been in place since mid-July. Were already accustomed to it, he said while making purchases to satisfy his sweet tooth at Candy Safari in downtown Port Colborne. Its not that bad, and its not for your own safety. Its for everyone around you, he said. A contravention of Niagaras bylaw could result in a fine of up to $1,000. A provincial offences officer from a lower-tier municipality or someone representing the authority of the Region, a public health inspector, and Niagara Regional Police will be responsible for enforcement. Children under the age of five are exempt, as are people with a medical condition, but no person shall be required to provide proof of any of the exemptions, states the bylaw. Over 60 villages in the Bahraich district here have been inundated following the release of water by from its three barrages into rivers, a district administration official said on Sunday. The release of water has affected over 1.50 lakh people and damaged 171 houses, he said, adding Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in the area to rescue people. "Following the release of lakhs of cusec of water by Nepal, at least 61 villages in the district have been inundated. The administration is providing relief to the affected people," Additional District Magistrate Jai Chandra Pandey said. He added that 61 villages located in Kaisarganj, Mahsi and Mihipurva tehsils with a population of over 1.50 lakh have been affected. "The condition is very bad in seven villages. As many as 131 kutcha houses have been damaged. Twenty-three flood posts have been made. Apart from this, one motorboat, 179 boats, one platoon of flood PAC and have also been pressed into service," Pandey said. He also said 48 medical teams along with veterinary teams have also been deployed for relief work. Medical facilities, vaccination of animals, tarpaulin sheets and food packets are being distributed, he added. "About 3.15 lakh cusec water was released into rivers from Sharda, Girijapuri and Saryu barrages. The levels of rivers at these places were below the danger mark, but Ghagara was flowing 108 centimetres above the danger mark at Elgin bridge. Along with the barrages, the embankments are also being constantly monitored," said Executive Engineer (Flood) Shobit Kushwaha. (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.) Chandni Chowks urban eyesores uneven pavements, hanging electric and telephone wires, pavements encroached by hawkers and traffic chaos may be a thing of the past once redevelopment of the main market road is complete. Residents and traders of the heritage market now want a similar makeover for 11 internal roads leading to the 1.5-km stretch between Red Fort and Fatehpuri Mosque being redeveloped by the Delhi government, in sync with the main project. The Red Fort-Fatehpuri stretch is likely to be thrown open to the public by November this year, officials said. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had recently inspected the project. According to residents and traders, traffic on internal roads increased manifold due to closure of vehicular movement on the Chandni Chowk road after the project started in 2018,. They say the internal roads leading to residential areas, katras and other markets, are not in a good condition, missing basic infrastructure and urgently need upgrade. Katras are defined as residential-cum-market complexes with small rooms around a courtyard with a single narrow entrance, which was inhabited usually by people from the same trade. They have existed ever since Shahjahanabad came into existence during the Mughal era. The traders association said the government should integrate the revamp of 11 stretches leading to Chandni Chowk, in the main redevelopment plan, saying upgrade of infrastructure along with a proper traffic circulation plan will be crucial for decongesting the area. This list of roads includes Nai Sarak, Esplanade Road (which connects Chandni Chowk with Jama Masjid), Dariba Kalan, Shanti Desai Marg (near Town Hall), Ballimaran, Katra Neel and Paranthe Wali Gali,. The markets trader body association has written to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. The infrastructure of these 11 roads needs to be improved. It is important that the entries to these roads and lanes from Chandni Chowk market are in sync with the redevelopment work. We have requested the CM to integrate these roads in the project as these have historic, cultural and religious significance, said Sanjay Bhargava, president of Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal. A Delhi government spokesperson did not respond to HTs request for a comment. A senior traffic official privy to the developments of the pedestrianisation project, however, said they are working on an overall traffic management plan for Chandni Chowk, which will also ease the jams on the internal roads. The pedestrianisation of the main road, residents say, has led to massive congestion in the lanes and bylanes as these have now become the main routes. The internal roads are in a pathetic condition and the increase in vehicular movement made the situation worse. It is impossible to even walk on the choked internal roads, said Ashok Mathur, a resident of Nai Sarak. Sanitation work, broken roads, waterlogging, dangling wires are also on the long list of problems faced by people. Abu Sufiyan, who heads Purani Dilli Walon Ki Baatein, an organisation conducting heritage walks and cultural events in the Walled City, said roads, lanes and bylanes of historical importance should be maintained well. Most tourist spots are located in the lanes and bylanes. Sanitation and road infrastructure are major concerns. These should be fixed on a priority basis, Sufiyan said. Urban designer AGK Menon agrees. This is a work in progress and redevelopment of important internal roads should be the next step. The roads can be selected based on popular tourist destinations located on them. A decade back, INTACHs Delhi chapter prepared detailed plans for some roads, Menon said. The ongoing project has changed the perception of people and has shown it is possible to carry out redevelopment of this area. But the focus has to be on holistic development for which internal roads should be revamped, Menon said. The facade of the market and some buildings located on roads leading to the main market need to be restored, experts say. Swapna Liddle, historian and convener of INTACH-Delhi chapter, said that facade restoration should be done based on each buildings heritage aspect. It cant be done uniformly. It should be done individually depending on its heritage aspect. Historians can provide better inputs for the restoration of the facade and upgrade of old areas. They should be involved in the process right from the beginning, Liddle said. As for internal lanes, Liddle said, We have to look beyond cosmetic change and address real problems related to sanitation, roads and other infrastructure along with disaster preparedness. These aspects are critical for the holistic development of the area before any traffic or development plan is prepared. Manish Verma, general secretary of Dariba Kalan market, says the government should prepare a plan to address the traffic situation in internal roads. Pedestrianisation of the main road will be of no use if internal roads get choked. There should be a detailed plan for traffic movement, Verma said. The redevelopment project is being executed by the Shahjahanbad Redevelopment Corporation (SRDC). A senior SRDC official, requesting anonymity, said important internal roads such as Esplanade Road and katras will be taken up for redevelopment in subsequent phases. The initial plan was to redevelop the entire Chandni Chowk, but it couldnt be done due to paucity of funds. Currently, we are focusing on the main Chandni Chowk stretch. Internal roads and katras will be redeveloped in subsequent phases. For instance, Esplanade Road, which connects Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk, will be redeveloped along with the Jama Masjid Precinct redevelopment project, the official said. The facade of buildings on the Chandni Chowk road will also be redeveloped in the next phase . We have prepared the request for proposal for it. It will be done in the next phase, the official said. Amitabh Bachchan arrives at his residence Jalsa, after testing negative for Covid-19 A health worker in PPE kit works with a sample taken for coronavirus testing. India on Sunday reported 54,735 cases, taking the country's Covid-19 tally to over 1.75 million and the death toll to 37,364. The countrys recovery rate stands at 65.44% as per the health ministry's dashboard. The ministry pointed out that Indias fatality rate which is at 2.13% at present, has been the lowest since the first lockdown which was imposed on March 24. Maharashtra, Delhi and Tamil Nadu which were once seeing an upward trend in the infection tally have now seen a reduction in the number of cases registered per day. States such as Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bengal, Andhra Pradesh are emerging as the new coronavirus hotspots in India. Click here for complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic According to the Johns Hopkins University tracker, United States continues to remain the worst hit from the pandemic followed by Brazil. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation (WHO) at an emergency meet said that Covid-19 is a once-in-a-century health crisis, the effects of which will be felt for decades to come. Follow live updates here: NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Mayor Bill de Blasio may have put himself in a First Amendment predicament when he decided to paint Black Lives Matter on streets across the five boroughs. Last month, de Blasio announced the city would paint Black Lives Matter street murals in every borough and rename streets to match the message on the heels of nationwide racial injustice protests following the death of George Floyd. When it comes to the travel industry, it feels like everything's a gamble from booking a holiday in what might be the next quarantine hotspot to investing in an airline that may or may not go bankrupt at any moment. If you're willing to take a chance on booking a two-week break in Alicante, though, you might also have the risk appetite for a travel stock or two. Warren Buffett famously said that we should be 'fearful when others are greedy, and greedy only when others are fearful' and, after all, many have rarely felt so fearful about a summer break. Risky business: But if you're willing to take a chance on booking a two-week break in Alicante, you might also have the risk appetite for a travel stock or two HOW SHARE PRICES WERE SUNK BY COVID For the travel industry, the coronavirus pandemic has been a tale of one disaster after another, with little to mitigate the pain. First came reports of coronavirus on cruise ships, ensuring that this particular form of vacation came to be viewed as little more than a floating petri dish. Then came total lockdown, meaning that no one could go anywhere on holiday at all. Now, just as green shoots start to appear and families begin to wonder about a summer break, comes the abrupt quarantine requirement slapped on those taking a trip to Spain amid fears of a second Covid wave, raising concern that the same could happen again to anyone who books a holiday anywhere at all. Jason Hollands, managing director of fund broker and adviser Tilney Bestinvest, says: 'The travel sector has been right at the sharp end of the Covid-19 crisis and continues to face considerable headwinds.' Richard Hunter, the head of markets at Interactive Investor, agrees, pointing out that two big players were ejected from the FTSE 100 in June as their share prices collapsed when all about them recovered. Carnival and easyJet were the two to lose their FTSE 100 crown. The cruise operator lost 3.5billion between March and May this year, after it suspended sailings following severe outbreaks on some of its ships. It is now planning to sell six of its vessels, although it hopes to resume in a very small way in late summer, starting with its German brand, Aida Cruises. The shares down from more than 32 six months ago to close at 8.26 last week reflect the company's problems. Has the pain in Spain killed off summer holidays this year? After a great deal of fuss about air bridges and people being able to go on summer holiday, things suddenly changed. A swift about turn saw a 14 day quarantine period imposed for those arriving in the UK from Spain at just hours notice, hitting tens of thousands of holidaymakers who are there already, those with trips booked and leaving Britons hoping for some Spanish sunshine stuck in travel limbo again. Are holidays to Spain off the cards for some time, and can you go to France, Italy, Greece or anywhere else safe in the knowledge you can come home and not have to take an extra fortnight off work? On this podcast Georgie Frost in Spain and facing a 14 day quarantine if she can get back is joined by Simon Lambert and Grace Gausden to talk holidays, travel insurance, refunds, air bridges and whether even a staycation is safe. Press play above or listen (and please subscribe if you like the podcast) at Apple Podcasts, Acast, Spotify and Audioboom or visit our This is Money Podcast page. Budget airline easyJet has faced more of a rollercoaster, with periods of hope about the travel industry opening up being followed by despair. The shares were over 15 at the beginning of the year, but closed at 4.94 last week, having nearly reached 9 in early June when it looked like Spanish summer holidays might be back on. Other travel companies listed on the UK stock market have suffered similar ignominious fates. They include holiday operator Tui, which has been doing its best to get customers on holiday this summer, but has been forced to cancel Spanish bookings due to the Government's recent pronouncement. Shares that were close to 10 at the beginning of the year are now nearer 3, having fallen from a hopeful 5.30 in June. Share price falls means easyJet was one of the firms to lose its FTSE 100 crown The cruise operator lost 3.5billion between March and May this year Then there's IAG (International Consolidated Airlines Group), which owns British Airways and Spanish airline Iberia, with shares down from 6.40 in February to under 1.70 this week; and Ryanair, with shares down from over 15 to around 11 since the beginning of 2020. Finally, Dart, which owns airline Jet2, has seen shares tumble from nearly 20 to 6.75 since the beginning of the year. Hunter, at Interactive Investor, says that recent isolated outbreaks of the virus have put further pressure on the travel industry, dashing any hope of immediate economic recovery. 'Market hopes of an eventual turnaround have buoyed sentiment for IAG, and to some extent easyJet, but for Carnival there seem few investors willing to nail their colours to the mast,' he warns. WINNERS IN THE RACE TO SURVIVE For those willing to take a gamble on these bombed-out travel stocks, there are two big questions to ask. The first is, 'When will people travel again?'; and the second is, 'Which companies can survive until then?' Brave investors need to be looking to the long term, as well as scrutinising the balance sheets of travel stocks very carefully and even then there are no guarantees. On the first question, even the Sage of Omaha, Warren Buffett, fears it will take too long to get back to normal travel patterns he cleared out his portfolio of airlines back at the beginning of the year. Hollands, at Bestinvest, says unless there is a viable vaccine, a recovery in prospects looks 'a long way off'. 'Ultimately, these businesses face enormous uncertainty which could be very painful for shareholders,' he says. A vaccine could speed things up considerably, but Hollands points out that, even if that comes along, consumer spending will be impacted by rising unemployment, meaning that expensive travel plans could take a long time to recover. Not everyone is as pessimistic as this, however. Warren Buffett cleared out his portfolio of airlines back at the beginning of the year Kartik Kumar, co-manager of the Artemis Alpha Trust, which has 9.5 per cent of its net asset value in easyJet and Ryanair, says: 'Aviation will go on. The fittest will survive and perhaps even thrive.' His strategy is to look at the competitive advantages of various airlines, as well as their balance sheets, before investing. 'Our view is that short-haul will trump long-haul. That's because, for example, video conferencing poses a greater substitute for business travel than staycations do for leisure travel,' Kumar adds. 'We express these views through investments in Ryanair and easyJet. Both are able to achieve high returns on capital and grow their share of the market due to company-specific competitive advantages.' Ryanair has more than 3.9billion of cash, he points out, while easyJet also has a strong balance sheet. Kumar also highlights easyJet's dominant positions in Gatwick, Geneva and Berlin airports, where capacity is limited, and Ryanair's low cost base as advantages that will help the two to survive. Darius McDermott, managing director of Chelsea Financial, a broker, also believes that scrutinising accounts is the key. 'Those companies with stronger balance sheets are going to be the ones most likely to survive. This is because even if they did need to raise capital, they will be able to because they have less debt.' British Airways owner IAG revealed a 4billion loss on Friday as well as a much anticipated rights issue supported by main shareholder Qatar Airways. British Airways owner IAG revealed a 4billion loss last week Chief executive Willie Walsh said he does not anticipate recovery until 2023. The rights issue will shore up its balance sheet, but dilute the value of the current shares but should give the company the firepower to outlast the crisis. Analysts also have a cautious 'buy' rating on easyJet. Cruise ship business Carnival is proving particularly hard to call for experts. However, Russ Mould, at investment platform AJ Bell, says that the cruise industry has some characteristics that will aid its recovery. 'The industry is dominated by three major players Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean,' he says. 'It's not quite an oligopoly but this trio is powerful and they had the brands, state-of-the-art fleets and routes that gave them some degree of pricing power. If the cruise industry can hang in there for long enough, the good times could roll again, but it may take a long time.' THE FUNDS FOR TRAVEL OPTIMISTS You could take a punt on travel stocks by buying them direct, but many people prefer to spread their risk by buying a fund or investment trust. Artemis Alpha, mentioned previously, is one possibility. Other holdings include online trading group Plus500 and JustEat and it yields 2 per cent. It has risen 5.2 per cent in three months and is down 6.4 per cent over three years. Artemis UK Select is also an airlines fan. It has 2.47 per cent of its investors' money in IAG and 1.48 per cent in Ryanair. It has fallen 3.1 per cent over three months and fallen 18.4 per cent over three years. Man GLG fund owns Ryanair, easyJet and IAG, while the R&M Recovery fund also owns Ryanair. Those wanting a position in holiday operator Tui will find it harder to find an actively managed fund, though Hollands, at Best-Invest, notes that it is in many trackers. Contrarian fund Temple Bar Investment Trust, which pursues a strategy of buying unloved companies, has 1.99 per cent of its clients' investments in Carnival. The fund has had a rough year, however, down 41 per cent, so it's only one for the brave. Baillie Gifford Strategic Bond fund owns online travel agency booking.com, which has some diversity in that it benefits from staycation travel as well. PREPARE FOR A BUMPY RIDE They say it's always darkest just before the dawn, and for the travel industry things look very dark right now. 'The longer the crisis grinds on, the more existential the threat becomes,' says Hollands. But just as the advent of Covid-19 changed things almost overnight, vaccines and effective treatments could build confidence again very quickly. With millions of us miserable about the restrictions of a Covid summer, there could be a huge boom in bookings when confidence is restored. At present, travel stocks are only for those who travel very hopefully indeed, but these optimists may just be the ones sitting pretty when we arrive. Przepraszamy! Ogoszenie na stanowisku: Lead Production Support Engineer (L2) wygaso z dniem 2020-08-21 Ta propozycja bya zozona przez Luxoft Mozliwe przyczyny wygasniecia ogoszenia to: propozycja zozona przez pracodawce zostaa wycofana z naszych zasobow ogoszeniodawca zakonczy proces rekrutacji uzyskujac odpowiednia ilosc zgoszen rekruter zmodyfikowa tresc zlecenia i jest ono dostepne pod innym adresem url dostawca tresci usuna ogoszenie z bazy danych zy adres url ogoszenia Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w branzy Informatyka / Telekomunikacja, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Informatyka / Telekomunikacja Jezeli poszukujesz pracy na stanowisku Lead Production Support Engineer (L2), zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Lead Production Support Engineer (L2) Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w miescie: Warsaw, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Warsaw Pamietaj, ze mozesz takze rozpoczac poszukiwanie pracy od strony gownej, kliknij tutaj. Inne propozycje, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan: NEW YORK (AP) Microsoft confirmed Sunday it is in talks with Chinese company ByteDance to acquire the U.S. arm of its popular video app TikTok and has discussed with President Donald Trump his concerns about security and censorship surrounding such an acquisition. In a statement, Microsoft said Microsoft and ByteDance have provided notice of their intent to explore a deal resulting in Microsoft owning and operating the TikTok service in the U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The company said it expects those talks to conclude by Sept. 15. Trump said on Friday that he would soon ban TikTok in the United States. Trump and CEO Satya Nadella have spoken, the company said, and Microsoft was prepared to continue exploring the purchase of TikTok's U.S. operations after their conversation. Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the Presidents concerns. It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury, the Microsoft statement said. The White House did not immediately comment on the Microsoft statement. Previously, there were reports that Microsoft was in advanced talks to buy the U.S. operations of TikTok, which has been a source of national security and censorship concerns for the Trump administration. Earlier Sunday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo again raised the administration's warnings about social media platform. These Chinese software companies doing business in the United States, whether its TikTok or WeChat there are countless more ... are feeding data directly to the Chinese Communist Party, their national security apparatus, Pompeo said on Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures. Could be their facial recognition patterns. It could be information about their residence, their phone numbers, their friends, who theyre connected to. Those those are the issues that President Trump has made clear were going to take care of," Pompeo said. Story continues In its statement, Microsoft said it may invite other American investors to participate on a minority basis in the purchase of TikTok. Financial terms were undisclosed. TikToks U.S. user data is stored in the U.S., with strict controls on employee access, and its biggest investors come from the U.S., the company said earlier Sunday. We are committed to protecting our users privacy and safety as we continue working to bring joy to families and meaningful careers to those who create on our platform, a TikTok spokesperson said. A federal committee has been reviewing whether Trump could ban TikTok in the U.S. Its members agree that TikTok cannot remain in the U.S. in its current form because it "risks sending back information on 100 million Americans, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said. We all agree there has to be a change ... everybody agrees it cant exist as it does," Mnuchin said Sunday on ABC's This Week. As speculation grew over a ban or sale of the social media platform's U.S. business, TikTok posted a video on Saturday saying, Were not planning on going anywhere. TikTok's catchy videos and ease of use has made it popular, and it says it has tens of millions of users in the U.S. and hundreds of millions globally. Its parent company, Bytedance Ltd., launched TikTok in 2017. It bought Musical.ly, a video service popular with teens in the U.S. and Europe, and combined the two. It has a similar service, Douyin, for users in China. But TikTok's Chinese ownership has raised concern about the potential for sharing user data with Chinese officials as well as censorship of videos critical of the Chinese government. TikTok says it does not censor videos and it would not give the Chinese government access to U.S. user data. The President, when he makes his decision, will make sure that everything we have done drives us as close to zero risk for the American people, Pompeo said. Thats the mission set that he laid out for all of us when we get we began to evaluate this now several months back. Were closing in on a solution. And I think you will see the presidents announcement shortly. The debate over TikTok parallels a broader U.S. security crackdown on Chinese companies, including telecom providers Huawei and ZTE. The Trump administration has ordered that the U.S. stop buying equipment from those providers to be used in U.S. networks. Trump has also tried to steer allies away from Huawei over concerns that the Chinese government has access to its data, which Huawei denies. ___ Follow Cathy Bussewitz on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cbussewitz ___ AP Business Writers Anne D'Innocenzio and Tali Arbel contributed to this report. NEW YORK (AP) What sort of staying power does it take for a protest movement to be judged a success? This year, without a centralized team of senior leaders, perhaps the largest protest movement in U.S. history has been unfolding nationwide since the May 25 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. By some calculations, more than 15 million Americans have taken part decrying racial injustice, reinforcing the message of Black Lives Matter. Theres no way to know now what the movements legacy will be whether it will wither or compel major breakthroughs in curbing racism and inequality. But at this moment, other major protest movements of the past can offer clues about what endures or what, at least, leaves a tangible legacy. Its important to see the changes over time and not be discouraged, says Beth Robinson, a history professor at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. By some measures, it took the U.S. womens suffrage movement more than 70 years before it won voting rights for women. In the late 1980s, HIV/AIDS activists motivated by anger and fear made huge advances in just a few years thanks to confrontational protests. The U.S. civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s achieved monumental changes over 15 years, including landmark federal laws. Yet racism and discrimination remain pervasive problems today. After Martin Luther King was assassinated, the movement kind of fractured and lost momentum, says Tyler Parry, a professor of African American history at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. The civil rights movement had some fundamental assets that helped sustain it, according to James Ralph, a Middlebury College historian. It had multiple prominent leaders in addition to King, and multiple national organizations that generally agreed on key goals even as they sometimes differed on tactics. That approach produced such tangible successes as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Story continues This years protest movement has mobilized more people and is more diverse. But its too early to gauge what results it will achieve. Parry advises the new wave of activists to maintain the multiracial nature of the movement and work doggedly at every level to address inequities. What the modern movement needs to do is not be complacent if one or two things change, Parry says. Protest movements have been at the core of U.S. history since before independence. The American Revolution itself commenced after years of protests against British-imposed taxes. The war had barely ended when, in 1791, the Whiskey Rebellion flared a multistate protest against a liquor tax imposed by the new federal government. Anti-slavery protests hastened the Civil War's outbreak. The Seneca Falls convention in 1848 is widely considered the launch of the womens suffrage movement, yet women didnt gain voting rights until 1920. Compared to that long struggle, the protests of HIV/AIDS activists achieved tangible goals within a few years of organizing in the 1980s. Activists staged die-in demonstrations, provoked mass arrests, and in 1988 converged by the hundreds outside the Food and Drug Administrations headquarters for day-long civil disobedience. In response, the FDA agreed to speed testing and approval of new therapies a key step in curbing the high death toll from AIDS. Activist Larry Kramer, who died in May, said the protesters sense of rage made a difference. Until you have anger and fear, you dont have any kind of an activist movement, he told Metro Weekly, a Washington-based LGBT publication, in 2011. The largest single-day protest in U.S history the Womens March came on Jan. 21, 2017, the day after Donald Trumps inauguration. An estimated half million people marched in Washington, supporting womens rights and assailing Trumps misogynistic remarks. Millions more marched in other U.S. cities. Assessing the marchs impact is difficult. With Trump in office and Republicans controlling the Senate, theres been no breakthrough legislation on reproductive rights, immigration or other issues. Yet the mobilization lent strength to the MeToo movement, which began nine months later. Some protest movements are short-lived but leave enduring legacies. Consider the Occupy Wall Street movement in New York City in 2011. It was criticized for lacking racial diversity and a specific agenda yet helped change the discourse about economic inequality with its We are the 99% slogan and denunciations of the wealthy 1%. Nelini Stamp, a director of strategy and partnerships for the Working Families Party, cites Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders as politicians whose economic platforms reflect the spirit of the New York protest. In 2006, millions turned out to protest legislation in Congress seeking to classify undocumented immigrants as felons. The bill passed the U.S. House but died in the Senate. Chris Zepeda-Millan, a professor of Chicana/o studies and public policy at UCLA, credits the protests for stopping the bill and encouraging Latino voter registration. But he said the protests also intensified congressional polarization, dimming prospects for any immigration overhaul and citizenship for undocumented immigrants. Congress also failed to pass tough new gun-control measures in the aftermath of the massive March for Our Lives protests organized in 2018 by students from the Parkland, Florida, high school where a gunman killed 17 people. Nonetheless, gun-control activists have taken credit for numerous election victories, notably helping Democrats take control of Virginias legislature in 2019. One advantage for U.S. protest movements: Government security forces generally permit them to mobilize. The recent deployment of federal tactical teams in Portland, Oregon, outraged protesters and Oregon officials but has been the exception, not the norm a contrast to nations where protest movements have violently repressed. Texas A&Ms Robinson emphasizes that protest movements produced many of the freedoms and protections Americans treasure, including several Depression-era initiatives undertaken during the New Deal. Yet, she says, those reforms didnt fully benefit women or people of color, setting the stage for the new wave of dissent from the 1950s through the 1970s. With protest movements, its three steps forward, two steps back, Robinson says. "Its always going to be a long march to justice. ___ Associated Press reporter Deepti Hajela in New York contributed to this report. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / August 2, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org (http://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 offers car insurance info about different coverage types and money-saving tips. When it comes to car insurance, drivers have to choose between liability only or full coverage. In some cases, their decision does not depend solely on them. Full coverage is optional only if the policyholder owns the car. 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Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices A decision to remove the pews inside a 700-year-old church in case obese couples struggle to walk down the narrow aisle has been met with outrage among parishioners. The 32 Victorian pews have been put up for sale for 200 each as part of alterations to the inside of Grade II listed St Andrew's Church in the Dorset village of Okeford Fitzpaine. The wooden seats, which are fastened to the floor, will be replaced with modern chairs that can be easily moved to create space when necessary. Parishioners, including Dolly the dog, gathered to protest in the grounds at St Andrew's Church in the village of Okeford Fitzpaine, Dorset The pews in the 700-year-old church were removed to avoid embarrassing obese couples who may not be able to fit down the aisle on their wedding day The wooden pews will be replaced with modern chairs that can be easily moved to create space The church authorities state this will make it easier for disabled people and wheelchair users to access the nave as well as allow the congregation to socially distance. But they also say that getting rid of the 16 rows of pews would remove a potential 'embarrassment' involving overweight brides and grooms squeezing down the aisle. A report by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) states: 'We have also had occasions at weddings where the couple have been too large to be able to walk side by side down the aisle. With chairs we would be able to widen the aisle.' It adds that the pews are also ill-suited to the 'human form of today' And doing away with the historic pews would also remove the health and safety risk of people tripping over them. The pews have been listed for sale in the parish magazine and on Facebook and will be collected by the buyers next week ahead of the work starting. In the meantime an ugly row in the picturesque village has ensued, leading to claims and counter claims between the rector, Reverend Lydia Cook, and her parishioners. They claim she has locked them out of the church as a result of their protests which have included a demonstration with banners reading 'Save the pews from the devil within.' A row between Reverend Lydia Cook and her parishioner started after they found out the pews were on sale on Facebook The pews are for sale in the parish magazine and on Facebook and will be collected by the buyers next week Rev Cook has reported a perceived threat of criminal damage to the building to the police. Helen Sherwood Clinkard, a spokeswoman for the Save St Andrew's Pews group said: 'There are about 1,000 people in Okeford Fitzpaine and I would have said three quarters of them are against what is happening. 'We were totally unaware about the gutting of the church and the removal of the pews until they were recently listed for sale. 'The pews are part of the history and heritage of the church. If you strip out the pews then the soul of the church is gone. 'I have seen a picture of the chairs that will replace them. They are horrible. They look cheap and cheerful. 'I wrote to the vicar and she sent me this statement of needs from the PCC. 'I was gobsmacked when I read some of the reasons for wanting rid of the pews. 'There have been weddings in that church for generations and to my knowledge there has never been an issue before about large people not being able to fit down the aisle. 'How is it that the human body is now so different to that of our great-great grandparents? The parishioners claim the reverend locked them out of the church as a result of their protests Rev Cook reported a perceived threat of criminal damage to the building in the quiet village to the police Helen Sherwood Clinkard, a spokeswoman for the Save St Andrew's Pews group, said around three quarters of the 1,000 people who live in Okeford Fitzpaine are against what is happening 'I am 68 and I have been to that church most of my life. I have never seen or heard of anyone trip over one of the pews before. 'It all seems like a poor excuse to rip out the pews.' In creating an open and versatile space the church will be able to host more community events, such as messy church and jumble sales. But objectors point out that the village hall, which is unconnected to the church, currently holds those types of events and the two buildings would be in competition with each other. The decision to strip out the pews was made after a four year legal process and consultation with villagers that was undertaken by the PCC. Leaflets were delivered to every household in the village and a public meeting was held. The changes were for underfloor heating to be installed and a toilet added but the objectors claim they were not aware the re-ordering meant getting rid of the pews until they read an article in the parish magazine about the 'replacement of the Victorian pews with new chairs' last autumn. Since then the pews have been listed for sale in the same magazine. A spokesman for the Diocese of Salisbury confirmed St Andrew's church is closed until mid-September but only because of COVID-19 restrictions. He said Rev Cook had received an email that lead her to inform the police of a possible threat of vandalism to the church. The PCC cited an example from another church of a newly-wed couple who were left distressed and embarrassed that they could not fit down the aisle and they wanted to avoid a similar situation at St Andrews's which has a particularly narrow aisle. In a statement the Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend Nicholas Holtam, said he fully supported the changes to St Andrew's Church. He said: 'Churches are community buildings which have to adapt to the needs of the community as those needs change. 'The changes have come after a very wide consultation and ample opportunity over a long period to comment on the proposals. 'Although I am unable to control what the PCC does with the church building, I am able to say that I am fully supportive of their plans which are designed to enable the church building to continue to be a valuable asset to the community into the future. 'Some pews are being removed and have been offered for sale on Facebook. Such a public sale is hardly consistent with a suggestion that has been made that the works are being conducted secretively. 'The removal of the pews will make it easier to achieve social distancing at public worship.' In late June, the St. Regis Hotel, owned by the Qatari Diar Company, opened its doors on the Nile Corniche in Cairo to guests, 12 years after the Qatari company had acquired the land of the project. According to the Egyptian Al-Borsa newspaper, Qatari Diar, a company affiliated with the state-owned Qatar Investment Authority, had obtained an operating license for the hotel at the beginning of this year. According to the website of the global Marriott Group, which manages the hotel, the new hotel consists of 36 floors, 312 rooms, 50 suites and 23 meeting rooms. The project, located in the heart of the Egyptian capital on the banks of the Nile River, cost $1.3 billion and stretches over an area of 9,360 square meters (2.3 acres). In addition to the hotel, the project includes two residential towers that the Qatari company hopes to start operating once the safety and civil protection requirements imposed by the Cairo governorate are met. The failure to meet these requirements was one of the reasons behind the delay in the execution of the project for years, Mohamed Tariq, executive vice president of the global Consolidated Contractors Company, which is the main contractor of the project, told the Egyptian Al-Shorouk newspaper in May. The hotel opening, which the Qatari company had planned for March 2018, was postponed for administrative reasons. But press reports claim that the reason was the stumbling of Qatari investment projects in Egypt against the backdrop of tensions between the two countries since the Egyptian armys overthrow in 2013 of late President Mohammed Morsi, who was affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt later classified as a terrorist organization. Although Qatar denied having any ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Doha hosts Egyptian members of the Brotherhood wanted in Cairo on terrorism charges. Tensions further peaked between the two countries after Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain announced their boycott of Qatar in June 2017, and accused the country of maintaining relations with Iran and supporting extremists and terrorist groups. Qatar denied such accusations. The four countries tried to economically pressure Qatar into changing its stances, which they think pose a threat to their national security. In the wake of the boycott, several reports indicated that the Egyptian authorities froze Qatari investments, especially in the real estate sector. Yet still, the Egyptian authorities had pledged to protect and provide a safe environment for Qatari investments in Egypt in accordance with the law and the constitution. Egyptian economist Rashad Abdo ruled out that Egypt had tightened the noose on Qatari investments in light of the diplomatic crisis between the two countries. He told Al-Monitor that Egypt is an open country that welcomes all investments regardless of their origin. Abdo gave an example of the Egyptian administrations capability to separate political tensions from economic matters, by saying, Despite our differences with Turkey, Turkish investments are still operating in the Egyptian market amid an ongoing trade exchange between the two countries and the same applies to Qatari investments as long as they do not deviate from their economic goals. Qatar ranks ninth among the countries investing in Egypt out of 229 companies with investments valued at 2.2 billion Egyptian pounds (about $138 million), according to the latest statistics released by the state-owned Egyptian General Authority for Investment and Free Zones in May 2019, but it is unclear whether there have been companies that left the Egyptian market since that time. The Qatari investments in Egypt mainly focus on the services, industry and agriculture sectors. Robert Mogielnicki, a resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington, told Al-Monitor by email that political and diplomatic disputes between Middle Eastern and North African countries do not always negatively affect economic relations. Trade, investment and the influx of people between countries with political tensions can move in surprising and different directions, he wrote. But Mogielnicki believes that tensions between Qatar and Egypt are deep, making it extremely difficult to foster an environment of economic cooperation. Saudi Arabia and the UAE are currently portraying themselves as more visible economic partners for Egypt than the Gulf region, he continued. He did not expect Qatar to shut down its investment in Egypt, and said if Qatari-owned companies did not leave Egypt in the wake of the 2017 crisis, then there is no reason for them to leave the country now. The Qatari Diar Company has huge investments in Egypt. The company is working on a tourist resort project in Sharm el-Sheikh stretching over an area of 300,000 square meters (74 acres), and it hopes to complete the project by the end of 2021, which is the deadline set by the Egyptian government given the delay in the completion of the project. However, the future of the Hurghada Tourist City project, the companys largest investment in Egypt covering an area of 30 million square meters (7,400 acres), is still shrouded in mystery. This comes at a time when the company is burdened with fines estimated at 13 billion Egyptian pounds (about $813 million) due to the delay in the execution of its projects as well as some other administrative violations. Also, the Qatari Diar Company entered into a yearslong legal dispute with the Urban Communities Authority affiliated with the Ministry of Housing regarding the City Gate project in New Cairo. The dispute prompted the Qatari Diar Company to consider a deal worth more than $600 million, whereby Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris would acquire the largest shares in the project, providing him with the ruling quota. However, the deal is yet to be finalized. Meanwhile, the Qatari company is seeking to resume work on the City Gate project after the State Councils Administrative Court issued July 20 a ruling to revoke the request of the Urban Communities Authority to impose a 1.3 billion Egyptian pound fine ($81.3 million) over what it called the companys plan to change its ownerships structure. The future of Qatari projects in the Egyptian market also casts a shadow over its investments in the energy sector. In January 2019, the Egyptian Qalaa Holdings announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with state-owned Qatar Petroleum, according to which it would buy an additional share of the Egyptian Refining Company from the Qatari company. Qatar Petroleum owns 38.1% in the Arab Refining Company, which, in turn, owns 66.6% in the Egyptian Refining Company. The Qatar Petroleum contribution amounts to more than $362 million, which is 27.9% of the total volume of the Egyptian Refining Companys investments, estimated at $4.3 billion. Yet still, Qatars energy investments in Egypt are working out. In November 2019, Qatar Petroleum announced the success of the refinery project of the Egyptian Refining Company in Musturad in the north of Cairo, which is its largest energy investment in an Arab country and in Africa. Qatar Petroleum took part in this project in 2012, and it was executed at a cost of about $4.4 billion to process and refine about 4.7 million tons of heavy oil deposits per year. Mogielnicki said that Egypt does not currently seem to be the main investment focus of Qatar as Qatars foreign direct investments seem to be channeled toward other major countries in the region such as Turkey. For Qatari companies and investors, Egypt will remain a tough site for investments and operations in the foreseeable future, he concluded. There are legal aspects aside from political ones, Kuleba noted. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba explained why it is impossible to break off diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation. In an interview with the Glavcom, he opined that Ukraine did the right thing when it stopped short of severing diplomatic relations with Russia in the heat of Russian aggression. "Of course, it was the right thing. Also, we're doing the right thing by not deploying our ambassador back to the Russian Federation. But this is only the tip of the iceberg. There is a whole layer of things related to someone not being allowed somewhere. All this isn't surprising, since there is an ongoing war between us," Kuleba said. He was also asked if Ukraine could follow the path of Georgia, which severed diplomatic ties and chose the option of European mediation in dealing with the aggressor state. Read alsoFM Kuleba elaborates on compromises Ukraine ready to make to regain control over Donbas "Okay, let's assume we could severe diplomatic relations with Russia in 2014. Which country would have taken over the representation of our interests? Which country would you like to see as a representative of our interests?" Kuleba asked. Not every country has a diplomatic mission in a number of Russian cities where Ukraine does. "Let's take Poland. We have hundreds of political prisoners, court hearings that need to be attended. We have a consulate general in Rostov-on-Don, while there's no Polish consulate in the city. Therefore, we need a practical approach to all of this," the minister said. "Politically, severing relations in 2014 would've been the right gesture, and I've never denied it. Legally though, from the perspective of protecting the interests of our citizens, whom Russia has essentially been hunting down in the occupied Crimea and across its territories, it would've been a mistake. We need a limited diplomatic presence there to protect the interests of Ukrainian citizens in the Russian Federation," Kuleba said, noting that he considers the current configuration "the most balanced and effective one." As UNIAN reported earlier, earlier Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba spoke about the compromises Ukraine was ready to go for in negotiations with Russia in order to regain control of the occupied Donbas. An embankment of Tirhut canal in Bihar's district breached in the early hours of Sunday, inundating at least six villages, an official release said. The breach took place around 3.30 am near Pilkhi village of Muraul block, the release said. "There is a 50-60 feet breach in the embankment," the release said. Two teams of the Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed at the site, under Mohammadpur Kothi panchayat, and relief work is being carried out as per Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), the release said. Attributing the reason behind the breach to the pressure of flood water in the canal which is connected to Budhi Gandak river, the release said, the affected people of the nearby villages had been already been shifted to safer places. (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.) New Delhi: India is preparing to bring back around 700 more Sikhs who are have been tortured in Afghanistan. These Sikhs will be brought back in several batches. After the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) was passed, first batch of 11 Sikhs reached India on July 26. The first batch of returnees received a warm welcome by the BJP leaders at the airport. The first batch of the Sikh families are living in a gurdwara in Delhi. The Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee is looking into the living arrangements for them. BJP National Secretary Sardar RP Singh told IANS on Saturday, "After the first batch, around 700 more Sikhs are willing to come from Afghanistan. The Indian embassy in Afghanistan is in touch with them. We are working out on bringing them back to India. Relatives of most of them live in Tilak Nagar, so there will be no problem in making living arrangements for them." Singh said it was only due to the bold decision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Sikh brothers suffering from torture in Afghanistan are been brought back to India. If the CAA was not made, the victims of religious persecution in the neighboring countries would have not got citizenship in India. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 10:52:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHANGCHUN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's leading automaker First Automotive Works (FAW) Group Co., Ltd. saw a 108-percent year-on-year growth in the sales of its Hongqi brand cars in the first seven months, said a corporate source. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, the company sold more than 87,500 Hongqi cars during the period, which was attributed to the company's expansion of sales channels both online and offline. In July alone, it sold more than 17,500 Hongqi sedans, up 99 percent year on year. The company fulfilled its sales target of 100,000 Hongqi cars in 2019, and has doubled the target for 2020. The company has planned to expand the brand family to 21 models, mostly electric or fuel-electric hybrids, in the next five years. In Chinese Hongqi means "red flag." It is a luxury car marque launched in 1958. Hongqi car has been used as the vehicle for parades at national celebrations. Enditem The Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) has called for online applications from qualified and interested individuals, who are MBBS qualified and domiciled in the UT of J&K, for filling 900 vacancies to the post of Medical Officer in the Health and Family Welfare Department through direct recruitment on a fulltime basis to be posted in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir in India. The registration-cum-application process towards the same starts from August 5, 2020 onwards, and closes on September 4, 2020. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Medical Officer Organisation Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) Educational Qualification MBBS Degree or Possession of recognized Graduate Medical qualification Experience Desirable Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location Jammu and Kashmir Salary Scale Rs. 52,700 to Rs. 1,66,700 per month Industry Civil Service Application Start Date August 5, 2020 Application End Date September 4, 2020 JKPSC Recruitment 2020: Age Criteria And Fees Candidates interested in applying for Medical Officer posts through JKPSC Recruitment 2020 must have attained 18 years of age and not be more than 40 years as on January 1, 2020 as on January 1, 2020 with relaxation (upper age limit) up to 42 years (PWD), 43 years (Candidates belonging to RBA/SC/ST/ALC/SLC/PSP/EWS categories), and 48 years (Ex-serviceman) respectively as detailed in the advertisement. Candidates must pay a prescribed amount of Rs. 400 (Gen/UR) and Rs. 200 (Reserved Categories) respectively as examination fee through online (net-banking/credit/debit, etc. payment gateways) mode only. JKSSB Recruitment 2020 Notification For 8,575 Class IV Cadre Jobs, Apply Online Before August 25 JKPSC Recruitment 2020: Educational Criteria Candidates applying for Medical Officer posts through JKPSC Recruitment 2020 must possess an MBBS Degree or Possession of recognized Graduate Medical qualification from a MCI recognised University/Institution as detailed in the notification. Candidates must be registered with the Medical Council of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir/Medical Council of India. JKPSC Recruitment 2020: Selection And Pay Scale The selection of candidates to Medical Officer posts through JKPSC Recruitment 2020 will be done through a Written Examination and Interview. Candidates selected to Medical Officer posts through JKPSC Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument in the scale of Rs. 52,700 to Rs. 1,66,700 per month. Delhi Police Recruitment For 5,846 Constable (Executive) Male and Female, Apply Online From Today JKPSC Recruitment 2020: How To Apply Candidates applying for Medical Officer posts through JKPSC Recruitment 2020 must register online on the official JKPSC website at http://jkpsc.nic.in/home.html from August 5, 2020 onwards, and submit their applications on or before September 4, 2020 at http://jkpsc.nic.in/ Read the detailed advertisement about JKPSC Recruitment 2020 for Medical Officer posts here Its too soon to call Gov. Kate Browns deal with the federal government a victory. While a welcome development, it remains to be seen whether using Oregon State Police to protect the federal courthouse in place of federal officers will end the destruction and violence that has often followed peaceful demonstrations. And victory hardly seems the right word considering the injuries, damage and loss of faith in leaders, institutions and even fellow Portlanders that the standoffs of the last several weeks have wrought. Still, the agreement provides an opportunity to close this chapter in the movement sparked by George Floyds killing and start a new one focused on making systemic changes. Already, a group led by Black community organizations has unveiled a host of proposals aimed at transforming the landscape of opportunity for Black Oregonians. The Reimagine Oregon plan offers multiple roadmaps for those who want to turn the chant of Black Lives Matter into concrete policy and lasting change. But that will require elected leaders, protesters and the community as a whole to leave the turmoil of the past several weeks behind and move forward. For elected officials, moving forward should start with seeking redemption. Mayor Ted Wheelers shifting stances reflected someone reacting more to political backlash than leading with a consistent focus on accommodating peaceful protest while halting destructive behavior. Its not an easy balance to achieve, particularly when police are both the focus of protesters ire and the agency responsible for crowd control. But that task becomes impossible when youre more focused on currying favor with constituencies than leading with conviction. Other elected officials across the city, county and state government, should also take this moment to figure out where their voices went. Many chose to either sit on the sidelines or lob rhetorical grenades that only heightened emotions and divisiveness. Few spoke up in defense of businesses whose losses and theft have apparently been deemed acceptable collateral damage. Even City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who has provided by far the steadiest leadership among government leaders, faltered in accusing Portland Police officers of infiltrating protest crowds and setting fires in order to justify a police response. Although she later apologized, the incendiary accusation was one more disappointment for Oregonians who have longed for someone to show a commitment to both fostering peaceful protest and isolating those intent on destruction. Brown, too, hung back far too long, especially considering Wheelers indecisive and ineffective strategy. She further complicated the matter by offering and then pulling back state assistance depending on which way the political winds were blowing. But ultimately, she set aside politics to parlay her working relationship with Vice President Mike Pence into an agreement that gets federal officers dispatched by the Trump Administration out of Oregon. It was a pragmatic and necessary act that put the safety of Portlanders and preservation of the city above political posturing. Oregon needs more of this from elected leaders, businesses, community groups and its people. For protesters, moving forward means stepping up their self-policing to stop those intent on provoking a police response. And in fact, protesters did exactly that on Thursday, the first night of the state police presence, putting out fires with their water bottles and confronting those who argued that destructive acts somehow help the movement. Protesters efforts as well as the restraint by police were the most hopeful sign in weeks to a city tired of the drama and national attention. But protesters can take other action as well, such as moving from nightly protests to volunteering for other initiatives, such as childcare or educational support to low-income and underserved children a need that will only grow more dire with schools planning distance-learning instead of in-person classes this fall. And for businesses and community groups, moving forward means examining practices and biases that have sidelined people of color from full participation in our economy and civic life. That means looking at hiring policies, community engagement outreach and other practices that help solidify the status quo as opposed to welcoming changes that broaden opportunity. We dont have time to waste as Oregon faces unprecedented threats on multiple fronts. The number of coronavirus cases in Oregon is rising sharply, with people of color accounting for a disproportionate share of cases. The increase has already prompted several school districts, including Portland Public Schools, to announce that classes will be held online instead of in-person for at least the first two months of the academic year. The potential damage of those school closures to students of color and disadvantaged students who may lack the technology, internet access, supervision, food security, adult support or other resources typically provided by schools cannot be overstated. The economic crisis triggered by the pandemic is forcing business closures and throwing people out of work, with those in lower-paid jobs hit disproportionately hard. Meanwhile, the need to root out the racist practices underlying our institutional systems demands urgency and attention now to ensure a recovery that addresses, rather than exacerbates, longstanding inequities. These are urgent needs that require undistracted leadership and unity among Oregonians. Browns deal to get federal officers out of Oregon has given us the opportunity to take a pause and recalibrate. Oregonians shouldnt pass it up. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board Subscribe to our free weekly Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: Syracuse, N.Y. About 400 Syracuse University students began checking into dorms today, the first of thousands of undergraduate and graduate students expected to move here during the coronavirus pandemic for the fall semester. Todays arrivals were mainly first-year students who must follow a state-mandated quarantine for two weeks because they are coming from places with rising caseloads. The cars lined up in the drive-thru check-in at Manley Field House shortly after 9 a.m. had license plates from Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas. (See the current list of the 34 states on the quarantine list.) The unusually early check-in is meant to put these students into various bubbles on campus. The students must keep to these small, assigned groups, called pods, according to Carrie Abbott, who runs SUs office overseeing new students. Classes start Aug. 24. Overall, SU is expecting about 3,000 students from the more than 30 states on the quarantine list. First-year and transfer students could spend $1,000 for room and board to spend that two-week quarantine in dorms. Others must quarantine on their own, either at a spot in New York or another state with low virus caseloads not on the quarantine list. Before moving into the dorms today, each student was required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test. Arriving students got another test today before heading to the dorms, Abbott said. Those results are expected in 72 hours, she said. Theyll get another test in two weeks, Abbott said. Syracuse University Kent Syverud and his wife, Ruth Chen, arrive on Aug. 2 at the school's early, drive-thru dorm check in.Teri Weaver | tweaver@syracuse.com Freshman Erica Daley, from Georgia, got a test last week; it came back negative. Her mother, Maria Savoldi, came with her today. Savoldi, sitting beside her daughter in an SUV, said she hasnt been tested yet. Abbott said SU is not requiring tests of any adults who help students move in. We did go through that discussion and felt like because they are not really in the residence halls very often that that was the way to go, Abbott said. Daley said her roommate was moving in today also. She expected to spend the next few days getting to know the students in her family pod, she said. Its a lot smoother than I expected and its still just as exciting, the incoming freshman said. It didnt take away anything, just because Im in a car with a mask. Daley said she wasnt entirely sure what she would and wouldnt be allowed to do on campus. She said officials are scheduling time for groups to workout in the gym, for example. Abbott said the students will be put on schedules that determine when they can do laundry and get outside for exercise. The school is also setting up some orientation events, such as trivia and movie nights. Some academic programs are also doing introductory sessions. Savoldi said she was pleased with SUs preparations. Theyve done a good job with communication, Savoldi said of SUs plans. I feel really good about it. MORE ON SYRACUSE UNIVERSITYS CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE Cuomo: Syracuse University, other colleges will make determination on reopening Syracuse football should be able to stick with schedule with good testing, Cuomo says SU to incoming students: Dont get intentionally sick Syracuse hasnt had classes on campus since mid-March Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274. A white couple are facing hate crime charges after they were filmed attacking a car with a shovel, screaming 'only white lives matter' and doing a Nazi salute in front of a Mexican woman and her black boyfriend. Gregory and Rachel Howell, both 29, were arrested and charged with vandalism and hate crimes on Friday, a week after they were involved in an apparent road rage incident in Torrance, California, on July 22. Itzel Lopez recorded shocking video of the Howells confronting her and her boyfriend after they noticed that the white couple was tailing them. Lopez said the Howells followed them for several miles before overtaking them and stopping at a traffic light, where they got out of their truck and started hurling racist remarks. Gregory and Rachel Howell, both 29, were arrested and charged with vandalism and hate crimes on Friday, a week after they were filmed attacking another couple's car in Torrance, California, on July 22 Shocking video showed a woman identified as Rachel Howell (left) walking up to a car and screaming: 'Only white lives matter' as she flipped off the people inside. Meanwhile, a man identified as Gregory Howell (right) was seen throwing up his arm in a Nazi salute She started filming as the woman identified as Rachel Howell approached her car and yelled: 'White lives matter b***h' while flipping her off. As Rachel walked away she screamed: 'Only white lives matter b***h.' Meanwhile, Gregory Howell approached from the other side and waved before throwing his arm into a Nazi salute. Lopez's boyfriend could be heard in the background saying: 'That's white power' before Lopez added: 'Crazy the sh*t we have to go through in 2020'. Itzel Lopez says she and her boyfriend (pictured) were driving home from a restaurant after her birthday dinner in Torrance, just outside Los Angeles, on July 22 when they were targeted Rachel approached Lopez's car and yelled: 'White lives matter b***h' while flipping her off. As she walked away Rachel screamed: 'Only white lives matter b***h' Gregory approached the car and waved before throwing his arm into a Nazi salute Gregory is seen getting out of the truck and grabbing a shovel before he repeatedly struck the other couple's car as they drove off The Howells were then seen getting back in their truck briefly before reemerging just moments later. Rachel came back with her cellphone and tried to film Lopez and her boyfriend - while Gregory retrieved a shovel and began striking their car repeatedly as they drove off. Lopez and her boyfriend's car was left with a dent and scratch following the ordeal. The couple said they had no idea why the pair followed or targeted them. 'We were just in shock. We didn't know what was going. Why were they doing it? They don't know us. They were being really mean and racist,' Lopez told KTLA. 'I was afraid. I didn't know what they had in their car. I just wanted to get home. 'We want to get justice because it's not right. I don't want them to just go freely and continue to do this to someone else.' The Torrance Police Department put out arrest warrants for the Howells two days after the incident, and a week later they were finally arrested. Kansas City Protesters Vow To 'Continue Resisting' As Demonstrations Over Police Brutality Continue More than 100 demonstrators marched across State Line Road Saturday evening as they continued their push for the resignation of Kansas City Police Chief Rick Smith and the end of Operation Legend, a federal deployment of agents to address violent crime. Protesters march along State Line Road to combat racial injustice KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Activists on both sides of the state line came together Saturday to fight racial injustice. Protesters gathered at Weltner Park in Prairie Village for a Black Lives Matter protest and marched along State Line Road. Different groups united around common goals. Donald Trump Is Writing A Terrifying New Chapter In The History Of Political Repression In his quest for reelection, President Donald Trump has gone hunting for demons. Federal law enforcement officers entered cities including Portland, Oregon; Chicago; Kansas City, Missouri; and Albuquerque at Trump's direction, clearly meant to gin up clashes and disorder between federal officers and the groups disfavored by his core supporters in pursuit of " viral online content ." Protesters burn Bible, American flag as tensions rise in Portland Protesters burned an American flag and a Bible in Portland, Oregon, sparking outrage just as weeks of violent demonstrations seemed to be coming to a close. There hasn't been much progress to achieve protester demands for "systemic change" targeting local law enforcement. COUNCIL DUDE "ALLY" ERIC BUNCH IS SELLING OUT BLACK LIVES MATTER THIS WEEK WITH HIS RESOLUTION TO THWART A VOTE FOR LOCAL CONTROL BECAUSE HE CLAIMS IT'S TOO EXPENSIVE!!! Summer social justice protests continue in full force . . .and here's a peek at write-ups after the fact along with a big picture perspective from both sides of the debate . . .What these missives fail to note and what many of the protesters might not understand is this . . .Protesters demanded the resignation of the KCPD top cop . . . Chief Rick Smith boldly proclaimed that he's staying and not even considering resignation. Moreover, he's got the votes to back him up for now.Also, protesters have been asking for "local control" of Kansas City police.However . . .this week to see his more practical legislative gambit.And so, the goals of protesters to "engage" the community might block traffic for a moment but how have been stripped of most of their real power and seem to be encountering more resistance.Developing . . . DETROIT>> Detroit police officers must intervene if they see a fellow officer engaging in misconduct or they will risk losing their jobs, the citys police chief said. Police Chief James Craig announced the policy change Thursday in an executive order that didnt need the approval of a civilian oversight board, The Detroit News reported. The mandate is effective for a year and could lead to termination if not followed. It also requires Detroit police to intervene if they witness officers from other agencies involved in misconduct. The police department previously required officers to simply report misconduct. This takes it one step further and requires them to actually stop the behavior, Craig said. Protests erupted in Detroit and other cities following the May 25 death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Floyd, who was Black and handcuffed, died after a white police officer pressed his knee into Floyds neck for nearly 8 minutes even as Floyd begged for air and eventually stopped moving. Four Minneapolis officers were fired. The former officer who pinned Floyds neck, Derek Chauvin, was charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and manslaughter. The three others were charged with aiding and abetting both second-degree murder and manslaughter. The days where officers are afraid to speak out against wrongdoing by fellow cops has to stop, said the Rev. W.J. Rideout III, a Detroit pastor who has led protests against police brutality involving Blacks. Craigs directive is part of other proposed changes to how Detroit police use force. They include having officers who fire shots at moving vehicles prove it was necessary to save lives and requiring officers to carefully consider whether they need to use force against children and people with mental or physical disabilities. Those proposed changes must go before the Detroit Board of Police Commissioners for review and approval. Owen Cypher named U.S. Marshal Some educators of color resist push for police-free schools Royal Oak crime: Womans stolen $7K Rolex watch returned; man arrested on sex charge warrant Man shoots car in Ferndale road rage incident Editor's note: Australia is leading the regional pushback against China's territorial and diplomatic expansion and interference in the Asia-Pacific, said Sascha-Dominik Bachmann, professor in law at Canberra Law School - University of Canberra. Australias position on the East Vietnam Sea was the center of global attention amid the 30th Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) 2020. As per the joint statement on July 28, Canberra reaffirmed U.S. alliance but opted to avoid full commitment over freedom of navigation operations (FONOPS) in the East Vietnam Sea. To be more exact, Australian governments have so far sailed through the international waters in accordance with international law, but never within 12 nautical miles of land features claimed by China. Canberra, in other words, chose a cautious approach as Foreign Minister Marise Payne stated, "Let me reiterate that we make our own decisions. In an exclusive op-ed for Tuoi Tre News, Prof. Bachmann shared his thoughts on what is behind Australias stance on the East Vietnam Sea, the relationship with the United States, and the United States China relations. It is not surprising that both the U.S. and Australia issued a very similar condemnation of Beijing's continuing illegal activities in the disputed maritime region on the evening of the AUSMIN talks. This is a logical consequence of China's ever increasing bellicose posturing in the Asia-Pacific region. Labelled by some commentators as 'weaponization of COVID-19,' China seems to have taken advantage of the outbreak and its impact on the states to accelerate its ever more bellicose territorial ambitions from the [East Vietnam Sea] and East China Seas to the Chinese-Indian border dispute, Hong Kong, and Taiwan issues. Beijing's increased aggressive behavior had to be countered at one point and this is what is happening now: a naval exercise by Japanese, the United States and Australian naval vessels in the Philippine Sea, ongoing United States FONOPS in the [East Vietnam Sea], in addition to individual states like Indonesia conducting military drills in the East Vietnam Sea region to signal to Beijing that its illegal claims over the waterway are being rejected and will not stand. In an Australian context, we can see that the current government of Scott Morrisson is leading the pushback against Chinas increasing regional influence and any unrestricted warfare of the People's Liberation Army targeting the region in general, and Australia and New Zealand in particular. China's influence eroding the sovereignty of these two countries has been known for years and the Morrison government has been at the forefront of countering Beijing's such grey zone or hybrid activities. Australia has been on the receiving end of such operations in a variety of grey zone domains, from cyberattacks, influence operations, trade boycotts, and diplomatic threats to espionage. Its a whole spectrum of DIMEFIL operations targeting our way of life and sovereignty by exploiting expertly our vulnerabilities of an open and democratic society. And the Morrisson government has been pushing back against such hostile actions by a supposedly partner of Australia since 2018: from banning Huawei from 5G, calling for an independent inquiry into whether COVID-19 originates in China, demanding an international investigation into Beijing's systematic abuse of Muslim Uighurs to a call for the adoption of new tougher laws on foreign direct investment detrimental to Canberras national interests. Australias growing concern in regard to China and its awareness of hostile activities by Beijing has seen the adoption of these governmental actions and culminated in the announcement of the adoption of a record high defense budget and increased spending on cyber as well as investment into grey zone capabilities. Such defence spending is augmented by an increased diplomatic, international law and relations-centered, strategic alliances approach. It is heartening to see that Australia as a leading middle power is once more playing an important role in upholding the global rules-based order in the region and the examples discussed highlight how Australias awareness of Beijing as a source and originator of current threats to regional (and global) rule of law, security, and stability. Chinas influence has to be countered by adopting a comprehensive multitasked holder and domain counter approach. We are seeing that the Morrison administration seems to be determined to continue this as long as it is needed and Beijing returns to be a trusted partner in peaceful trade and development in the region. And to meet this goal, Australia and its allies need to increase our resilience in the face of economic coercion, aggression, and political interference by China, with whom our future relations must come from a position of unity and strength. The Emergency Committee on COVID-19, convened by the WHO Director-General under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR), held its fourth meeting on 31 July. In its statement following the meeting, published today, it expressed "appreciation for WHO and partners' COVID-19 pandemic response efforts, and highlighted the anticipated lengthy duration of this COVID-19 pandemic, noting the importance of sustained community, national, regional, and global response efforts." After a full discussion and review of the evidence, the Committee unanimously agreed that the outbreak still constitutes a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) and offered this advice to Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. Dr Tedros accepted the advice of the Committee and confirmed that the outbreak of COVID-19 continues to constitute a PHEIC. The Director-General declared a PHEIC-;WHO's highest level of alarm under IHR-;on 30 January at a time when there were fewer than 100 cases and no deaths outside China. He issued the Committee's advice to States Parties as Temporary Recommendations under the IHR. The pandemic is a once-in-a-century health crisis, the effects of which will be felt for decades to come. Many countries that believed they were past the worst are now grappling with new outbreaks. Some that were less affected in the earliest weeks are now seeing escalating numbers of cases and deaths. And some that had large outbreaks have brought them under control." Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros told the Committee in his opening remarks on Friday. The Committee made a range of recommendations to both WHO and State Parties. It advised WHO to continue to mobilize global and regional multilateral organizations and partners for COVID-19 preparedness and response, to support the Member States in maintaining health services, while accelerating the research and eventual access to diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. It advised countries to support these research efforts, including through funding, and to join in efforts to allow equitable allocation of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines by engaging in the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator among other initiatives. The committee also advised countries to strengthen public health surveillance for case identification and contact tracing, including in low-resource, vulnerable, or high-risk settings and to maintain essential health services with sufficient funding, supplies, and human resources. Countries were advised to implement proportionate measures and advice on travel, based on risk assessments, and to review these measures regularly. The Committee's statement, with further details of the meeting and their recommendations, is available here A list of the Committee members is available here The Emergency Committee will be reconvened again within three months or earlier, at the discretion of the Director-General. S torm Isaias was downgraded from a hurricane to a powerful tropical storm as it churned towards Florida on Sunday. Strong winds are still set to brush the states east coast and there is the potential of coastal flooding. By 2 am (6am GMT), Isaias was about 90 miles (140 km) southeast of West Palm Beach, heading northwest with top sustained winds of 70 miles per hour (110 kph), the National Hurricane Center said. On its current path, it will move near or along Floridas east coast during Sunday, possibly strengthening, the Miami-based NHC said. It is then predicted to move towards southern mid-Atlantic states on Monday and Tuesday. A satellite image of the storm approaching / AP Floridas central and northern east coast could still be hit by a storm surge - when a storm pushes normal tidal levels above normal - of as much as 4 feet (1.22 m), the NHC said. However, Isaias was not expected to affect the return home on Sunday of two NASA astronauts who rode to the International Space Station aboard SpaceXs new Crew Dragon. Read more SpaceX Crew Dragon astronauts on their way back to Earth They were heading for a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, off Floridas northwest coast, capping a two-month voyage in space that marked NASAs first crewed mission from home soil in nine years. Florida is used to being hit by hurricanes, but its well-honed storm responses have been partly upended by its grappling with one of the countrys worst coronavirus outbreaks. The state has recorded more than 480,000 cases, with tens of thousands recorded in the last week alone, according to a Reuters tally. The emergency operations centre in Miami was mostly empty on Saturday with plastic dividers set up between work stations and fans with ultraviolet lights hung around the room. Many emergency officials are instead working remotely. People in Florida prepare for the storm / REUTERS Governor Ron DeSantis said on Saturday the state emergency management division was supplying shelters with enough personal protective equipment for 10,000 people. He declared a state of emergency for a dozen counties on the Atlantic coast, which makes it easier to mobilise resources. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper followed suit. The storm has caused at least two deaths in the Dominican Republic and torn down trees, flooded streets and knocked out power for thousands of homes and businesses in Puerto Rico, according to media reports. Israel's ambassador to New Delhi, Ron Malka wished India a happy friendship day and thanked it for being a 'great friend'. Malka, while sharing a post by the Israeli embassy's official Twitter handle wrote, "Happy #FriendshipDay2020 India! Thank you for being such a great friend. The #GrowingPartnership between #India and #Israel is stronger than ever in times of a global pandemic". Meanwhile, the Israeli embassy shared a short clip showing cooperation between the two nations amid coronavirus pandemic and also captioned it with a famous Bollywood song 'Tere Jaisa yaar Kahan' from the film Yaarana starring Amitabh Bachchan. Happy #FriendshipDay2020 India! Thank you for being such a great friend. The #GrowingPartnership between #India and #Israel is stronger than ever in times of a global pandemic. https://t.co/6IfRfiuQL4 Ron Malka (@DrRonMalka) August 2, 2020 Read: Israel Mourns 'true Friend' Sushant Singh's Demise; Shares 'Makhna' Song From 'Drive' India-Israel partnership An Israeli team of scientists recently arrived in India to work with their counterparts in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) where they are developing a rapid testing kit for coronavirus. Tel Aviv and New Delhi are conducting trials on large scale for four different kinds of technologies, including a 30-second COVID-19 test to detect the virus. The rapid testing kit is being jointly developed by India's Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Israel's Defense Research and Development Directorate (DRDD)Ambassador Ron Malka visited the testing sites in New Delhi where trials are currently ongoing. Concluded a successful visit to RML Hospital today with Prof. K. VijayRaghavan @PrinSciAdvGoI. Together we witnessed the first trials of the rapid testing for #COVID19. This joint research is progressing according to the plan and we hope for its successful completion soon. pic.twitter.com/2u7WwXBppr Ron Malka (@DrRonMalka) July 31, 2020 Read: Supply Of Medical Equipment To India Reciprocation Of Earlier Help: Israel An Israeli delegation led by Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D) in Israeli Ministry of Defense, as well as Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Health, landed in Delhi on July 27. According to the official press release, the team comprises of approximately 20 experts in various industries associated with the development of the diagnostic solutions. The delegation is led by Israel's Ambassador to India, Dr. Ron Malka. Read: Israel, India Transformed Pandemic Into Opportunity To Enhance Relations, Says Envoy Read: Israeli Research Delegation Leaves For India, Will Work On COVID-19 Testing Technologies Nigerian video jockey and television presenter, Laura Monyeazo Abebe, known professionally as Moet Abebe, clocked 31 on July 29 2020 and she held a get together with family and friends. Co worker VJ Adams and Dadaboy Ehiz was in attendance alongside actors Osas Ighodaro, Nancy Isime, Beverly Osu and a host of others. Abebe became prominent after moving back to Nigeria in pursuit of a career as a TV Presenter. Check her caption for the photo session she had during the party More photos from my birthday dinner. Thanks to everyone who wished me well and prayed for me ??? Will post more photos. Thanks to those who made my birthday dinner a success and to everyone that attended??..: I felt so loved ??? An amazing evening with the most appropriate crowd my friends/colleagues in the radio, tv and film making industry.. All Kings and Queens in their various fields. Thank you guys for coming and making The goddess a very happy dinner host & birthday girl? My event planner @ruthahaiwe of @elvina_r_signature you got exactly everything I wanted and how I wanted it. Im so grateful ?????? she wrote: Related New Delhi/Patna, Aug 2 : With almost 50 days passing since Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai flat, and the Mumbai Police yet to make any major breakthrough, the Bihar Police on Sunday deputed one of its senior officers -- Vinay Tiwari, to assist its team probing the actor's death. A four-member team of the Bihar Police in Mumbai has claimed that Mumbai Police were not co-operating with it in its investigation into the "Chhichhore" actor's death. Bihar's DGP Gupteshwar Pandey told IANS on Sunday that Tiwari, the SP, City, Patna would be joined by other senior police officers from Bihar, if the need arises. The fresh development comes against the backdrop of a reported standoff between Mumbai and Bihar police forces over the investigation. Tiwari, a resident of Lalitpur in Uttar Pradesh and an IPS officer of the 2015 batch, is seen a versatile individual. In 2019, he was appointed the new Superintendent of Police, City, of Patna. Earlier, he was posted as Sadar SDPO in Gopalganj where he was popularly known as "Singham". Tiwari had come into the limelight recently, but, for a different reason, after he wrote a poem on coronavirus pandemic on his Twitter handle. Sharing the poem through a video, the IPS officer wrote in Hindi: "We are all distressed by the horrific epidemic. The tragedy of the same pandemic and its conquest is imagined through this poem. May all of you get some strength to fight this epidemic and I get your blessings and love..." Besides, Tiwari is also a mathematician and is also writing a book titled "Mathematics and Principle of Life". On the death of senior Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan, Tiwari paid him a tribute through a short poem composed in Hindi. Tiwari, who hails from a poor background, qualified for government service to fulfil his father's dream. After his graduation in engineering from IIT-BHU (Varanasi), he began preparing for the UPSC examinations in Delhi despite getting job offers. Tiwari, who cleared the UPSC exams in his second attempt, still offers tips to the candidates preparing for civil services through his blog - "dreamstrugglebepositive". Sushant was found dead at his Bandra apartment in Mumbai on June 14 following which Mumbai Police began probing the case. The late actor's father, K.K. Singh on July 25 filed an FIR against his son's girlfriend and Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty, and her family members for allegedly abetting his son's suicide. A team of Bihar Police then went to Mumbai to look into Singh's allegations. Meanwhile, Rhea has filed an application in the Supreme Court to transfer the entire case in Mumbai instead of Patna. Sushant's father, through his lawyer Vikas Singh, has also filed a counter-petition to keep the case in Patna. The case is to be heard on August 5. Currently, Rhea is absconding. The Bihar Police team had also visited her flat but could not find her there. After this, Pandey admitted that the Bihar Police have not been able to 'locate' her. With Rhea having released a video in which she claimed her innocence, the DGP said that instead of declaring herself innocent on video, she should record her statement before the police. "Rhea must clear her side. We do not have any enmity with her, but if she continues to run in this way, then it will be difficult for her. I assure you that the Bihar Police are investigating at their own level and the day we get the evidence against the culprits, we will drag them out even from hell. The Bihar Police are fully capable of this task," he asserted. (Jayant K. Singh can be contacted at jayant.k@ians.in) Latest updates on Sushant Singh Rajput Death Mystery For the second time in a row, the weekly figure of coronavirus infections has reduced, PREMIUM TIMESs review of official data shows. In the past month, the figures have been fluctuating, which suggest that Nigeria is not close to flattening the curve of the pandemic. In the previous week, the cases reduced. This followed a week of increase and two weeks of significant reduction. Last week marked the 31st week of the pandemic in Nigeria. However, while a total of 3870 new infections were recorded in the previous week, Nigeria recorded 3560 new cases in the past week (July 26-August 1). This represents an 8 per cent reduction in the number of newly confirmed infections when compared with the previous weeks record. The reduction in new cases is not unconnected to the drastic drop in the number of tests carried out last week. Before last week, Nigerias testing capacity had greatly improved. There was a consistent increase in the number of weekly tests conducted in the country until last week. The country has so far collected 283, 916 samples since the beginning of the outbreak in Nigeria in February. Data from the public health agency showed that 24,400 people were tested last week, a 51 per cent reduction from the 50,070 tested the previous week. More recoveries and fewer deaths PREMIUM TIMESs review further shows that, for the third time in a row, the number of people who recovered from the virus and were discharged increased last week. A total of 3139 patients recovered and were discharged last week, an 8 per cent increase from 2010 who were discharged in the previous week. However, the death rate has not been stable for the past month. 27 new deaths were reported between last Sunday and Saturday, which amounts to a 65 per cent reduction when compared with the 78 who died from the virus in the previous week. Threat With the decision of Lagos state government to reopen schools, recreation and worship centres, experts have predicted a spike in the number of infections. The state, which is the epicentre of the pandemic in Nigeria, has recorded over 15,000 infections in 31 weeks. Public health officers, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES said social distancing may not be practicable in schools in those states while other protocols may be breached in clubs and religious places. When you go to clubs, you will see people dancing with each other. How will the state authorities curb excesses beyond monitoring the use of face masks? It is beyond checking them at the entrance, Otun Olwadamilola, a nurse said. This paper reported the incessant breach of social distancing, use of face masks and other protocols after the nationwide lockdown was eased. Nigeria so far As of the time of reporting, 43, 537 cases have been confirmed, 20,087 cases have been discharged and 883 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Infograph showing the cases of Coronavirus across Nigeria as at 1st Aug,2020 pandemic A breakdown of the 43,537 confirmed cases shows that Lagos State has so far reported 15186 cases, followed by FCT 3933, Oyo 2, 768, Edo 2, 300, Delta 1, 510, Rivers 1,806, Kano 1,597, Ogun 1,397, Kaduna 1,457, Ondo 1,192, Katsina 745, Borno 613, Gombe 607, Bauchi 560, Plateau 1, 211 Ebonyi 796, Enugu 821, Abia 551, Imo 469, Jigawa 322, Kwara 753, Bayelsa 339, Nasarawa 329, Osun 553, Sokoto 154, Niger 223, Akwa Ibom 221, Benue 346, Adamawa 164, Anambra 135, Kebbi 90, Zamfara 77, Yobe 67, Ekiti 141, Taraba- 54, Kogi 5, and Cross River 45. Lagos State remains the epicentre for the disease with the highest number of confirmed cases and deaths in the country. The other five states with the highest number of confirmed cases are FCT, Oyo, Edo and Rivers State. Advertisements Last week, all the thirty-six states, except Kogi Jigawa and Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, Taraba recorded at least a new case of the virus. Timeline last week On Sunday, 555 new cases of COVID19 were reported in the country. As of 11:55 p.m. on July 26, a total of 40,532 cases have been reported, out of which 17,374 have recovered and 858 deaths were recorded. On Monday, 648 new cases of the pandemic were reported in the country. This brought the tally of confirmed cases to 41180 of 11:55 p.m. on July 27. However, while 18,203 have so far recovered and have been discharged, the infection has killed 860 persons. On Tuesday, 624 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded. As of 11:55 p.m. on July 28, the country had reported a total of 41,804 cases, out of which 18,764 had been discharged and 868 had died. On Wednesday, 404 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in the country. As of 11:55 p.m. July 29, a total of 42,208 cases have been recorded while 19,004 had been discharged with 873 deaths. On Thursday, 481 new cases were reported in Nigeria, hence bringing the tally of confirmed cases to 42,698 as of 11:55 p.m. on July 30. While 19,270 have been discharged, the infection has killed 878 persons. On Friday, 462 new cases of the pandemic were recorded. Therefore, a total of 43,151 cases had been reported, out of which 19,565 had recovered and 879 had died. On Saturday, 386 new cases were reported in Nigeria, hence bringing the tally of confirmed cases to 43,537 as of 11:55 p.m. on August 1. While 20,087 have been discharged, the infection has killed 883 persons. SwipeSense uses sensors in badges to track the coronavirus SwipeSense Around 50 hospitals today use a technology from a company called SwipeSense to monitor whether medical staff are washing their hands when they enter and exit patient rooms. Others use it to track expensive assets, like wheelchairs or IV pumps, which have a tendency to go missing. The system leverages sensors embedded into equipment and location beacons in hospital rooms, which connect to an online dashboard. Administrators can access the dashboard to check in, or receive reports. Because of privacy concerns, SwipeSense has steered clear of monitoring people's movements. That is, until Covid-19. When hospitals started reporting that their staff had contracted the virus, SwipeSense's chief executive Mert Iseri figured he could help. The situation was particularly problematic when hospitals lacked sufficient personal protective equipment. Reports have found that at least 879 doctors, nurses and other medical personnel have now died of the virus. So Iseri had the idea of adding sensors to staff badges, which they routinely wear on shifts. From there, the company could create a virtual floor map of sorts to track their movements, including to document potential exposure to Covid-19 inside the hospital. The idea was if a patient, doctor, nurse or any other hospital employee was diagnosed with the virus, SwipeSense could pull up a map with little dots, representing people, and administrators could go back in time to determine who might have been in close proximity. From there, the hospital could take steps to isolate and test them for the virus. Iseri emailed some of the company's existing customers in March to explain the concept and see if anyone was willing to give it a shot. "We got huge interest," he recalled. About 10 of the hospitals got the message and 3 immediately said yes. Health care sales cycles and implementation of new software can take months, but these customers were willing to move forward in weeks. 'We could flag when a patient tested positive' One of the first customers to get on board was Edward-Elmhurst Health in Illinois. The hospital had treated its first Covid-19 patient in early March, and anticipated a surge. About 3,600 hospital workers at Edward-Elmhurst agreed to sport a SwipeSense badge, including doctors, nurses and workers assigned to clean patient rooms. By the end of March, the hospital had a functioning dashboard that administrators could use to monitor exposures. "We could flag when a patient tested positive, and see whether a staff-member went in and how many times they went in," said Raj Iyer, the chief data analytics officer. Some of the hospital's employees were concerned that their managers would use the data to track their productivity and penalize them if they took long breaks. Iyer reassured them that the sole purpose of the system would be to catch Covid-19 outbreaks, and not to monitor their movements. And so far, it seems to be working. In one recent case, Iyer said that a patient unexpectedly got a positive result from a Covid-19 test. Iyer's team used SwipeSense to figure out how many people had been in that patient's room. They determined that 75 employees were at risk, and asked them to get tested and isolate themselves for 72 hours. One of them tested positive, but was isolated and prevented from spreading the virus further. As a result of this work and other efforts, including frequent hand washing and masks, the percentage of staff testing positive for COVID-19 at the facility went from 17% at the peak in March to less than 1% by June. 'Doing everything we can' RALEIGH Former Gov. Bev Perdue and state education leaders are calling upon the federal government and internet service providers to help narrow the digital divide in the 2020-21 school year. With Gov. Roy Cooper ordering schools to take on at least some form of remote learning to start the school year, students across the state must have access to the internet to go to school. While many districts have found ways to address the divide on their own since schools shut down in March, some families still will not have internet connectivity, and districts will struggle to provide access to 100 percent of their students. The White House and Senate are currently looking at passing a second stimulus bill that could help address these issues, but with what Perdue, who is now the managing director at Perdue Strategy and founder of digiLEARN Institute, is hearing, the assistance may not go far enough. NEW YORK and HONG KONG, Aug. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Key Announcements Co-Founder Carson Wen , his wife and another again found jointly and severally liable to American senior banker and co-founder, Chad Holm , for breach of a contract for 22% of the Bank of Asia Project , his wife and another again found jointly and severally liable to American senior banker and co-founder, , for breach of a contract for 22% of the Bank of Asia Project Mr Wen recently issued a press release confirming these court findings, while attempting to distract from the evidence through inaccurate and misinformed assertions FHI and Mr Holm compelled to publicly correct Mr Wen's release and its material omissions Carson Wen , with the assistance of others, separately found by the courts to have judgment proofed and dissipated substantial assets available for satisfaction of various judgments in Mr Holm's favour , with the assistance of others, separately found by the courts to have judgment proofed and dissipated substantial assets available for satisfaction of various judgments in Mr Holm's favour Financial Holdings, of which Mr Wen is the sole director, remains further liable to Mr Holm for over US$10 million in wage-related claims in wage-related claims Mr Holm extends invitation for Carson Wen to privately engage and prove his desire for a "constructive dialogue" is genuine FHI Statement FHI on behalf of its Chairman, Mr Holm, issued the following statement today: "In a press release issued by Carson Wen on 13 July 2020, Mr Wen made astounding false and misleading assertions, attempting to downplay his liability and paint himself as both a victim and a saviour. He is neither. As a result, we are unfortunately required to issue a response and provide the irrefutable evidence conveniently omitted from Mr Wen's release. The motivations behind his ill-advised statements cannot be clearer." FHI Full Response (1 Aug 2020) Judgments in Summary The conclusions by the two esteemed courts are indisputable. As the lower court found, "[q]uite frankly, I had very little difficulty in finding Mr Wen and Ms Fung liable for breach of the BVI Contract." The Court of Appeal thereafter dismissed the appeal by Mr Wen and others, finding, "the conclusion of the learned judge that an oral contract had been made and was breached by the Appellants is unimpeachable." JUDGMENT (LOWER COURT): https://www.eccourts.org/chad-holm-et-al-v-sancus-financial-holdings-limited-et-al/ JUDGMENT (COURT OF APPEAL): https://www.eccourts.org/sancus-financial-holdings-limited-et-al-v-chad-holm-et-al/ Further Public Disclosure In the event that Mr Wen unwisely chooses to perpetuate a very public debate, FHI and Mr Holm will be left no choice but to further defend themselves. It is FHI's and Mr Holm's hope they are not required to do that again. Further Inquiries Inquiries can be directed to [email protected]. SOURCE FH Investment Limited Stone tools found in a Mexican cave suggest people were living in North America as early as 26,500 years ago, much earlier than past research has shown. Scientists recently reported they had found 1,930 limestone tools in a mountain cave in Mexicos north-central Zacatecas state. The discovery included small flakes and fine blades that may have been used for cutting meat. Small points were also found that could have been used as spear tips for hunting. Ciprian Ardelean is an archeologist at the Autonomous University of Zacatecas. He is the lead writer of a study on the findings that appeared in the publication Nature. Ardelean told the Reuters news agency the tools were between 31,000 and 12,500 years old. Traveling groups of hunter-gatherers lived in the area off and on for thousands of years. Ardelean said it is possible some of the objects were even older than 30,000 years. But so far, the evidence is not strong enough to support that claim. Also, his team was unable to recover any human genetic material from the cave. The peopling of America was a complex and diverse process, he told Reuters about the findings. Tom Dillehay is a professor of anthropology at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He was not involved in the study. He told The Associated Press that currently, the most widely accepted dates for the earliest known humans in North American are between 15,000 and 17,000 years ago. Dillehay said the proposed date for the objects may be correct if further studies can confirm the results. However, he said he thinks they are probably not more than 20,000 years old, and most likely are between 15,000 and 18,000 years old. Dillehay does not question that some of the objects are probably man-made. But he said he would like to see further evidence of human use of the cave, such as cut bones and burned, plant-based food remains. Ruth Gruhn is a professor of anthropology at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Canada. In a Nature commentary, she said the results should bring new consideration to six Brazilian sites proposed to be older than 20,000 years. Those age estimates are now commonly disputed or simply ignored by most archaeologists as being much too old to be real, Gruhn wrote. Another study is also providing new evidence that modern humans may have arrived in North America much sooner. That study centered on evidence of human presence at 42 sites around North America, as well as the position of a land bridge that connected Siberia to Alaska. The research, also reported in Nature, suggests humans may date back to at least a time known as the Last Glacial Maximum. During that period - from about 26,000 to 19,000 years ago and immediately thereafter - thick ice covered much of the continent. The second study also pointed to humans as the cause of extinctions of many large Ice Age animals such as mammoths and camels. Im Pete Musto. Pete Musto adapted this story for VOA Learning English using materials from the Reuters news agency and Associate Press. Bryan Lynn was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story flake(s) n. a small, thin piece of something blade(s) n. the flat sharp part of a weapon or tool that is used for cutting spear n. a weapon that has a long straight handle and a sharp point archeologist n. a person who studies past human life and activities by studying the bones and tools of ancient people diverse adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other anthropology n. the study of human races, origins, societies, and cultures extinction(s) n. the state or situation that results when something, such as a plant or animal species, has died out completely We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. Mohamoud Mohamed, 17, was fatally stabbed following a row in Moss Side Manchester A 17-year-old has been charged with murder after a teenager was stabbed to death in Manchester, police have said. Mohamoud Mohamed, also aged 17, was pronounced dead after a row in Rusholme, Manchester, on Sunday. Greater Manchester Police said the suspect is set to appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Monday. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, remains in custody, police added. Last week, Detective Inspector Benjamin Cottam thanked people in the Moss Side area, who he said 'rallied around each other over the past few days and have shown great resolve' following the incident. Police were called to Henbury Street, Moss Side, at around 7.15pm on July 26 after reports of a disturbance. Mohamoud, from Moss Side, was pronounced dead at the scene. It's alleged Mohamoud, who is known as Momo to his friends, was chased, cornered and then attacked in an alleyway. Police said a group of males armed with weapons chased Mohamoud and a group of his friends toward the alleyway. Police and paramedics were called to a disturbance on Henbury Street, in Moss Side on the evening of July 26. Mohamoud, from Moss Side, died at the scene He became separated from his friends and was cornered at the mouth of the alleyway before being stabbed in the chest. Mohamoud staggered into the alleyway but was attacked a second time, leaving him unconscious on the ground. His attackers fled and the teenager died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics who tried to revive him. Greater Manchester Police said: 'Detectives investigating the murder of a 17-year-old boy in South Manchester have charged a teenage boy. 'A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with murder. 'He has been remanded in custody and will appear at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court on Monday, August 3. 'At around 7.15pm on Sunday 26 July 2020, police were called to reports of a disturbance on Henbury Street, Manchester. 'Emergency services attended and a 17-year-old boy was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. He has since been formally identified as Mohamoud Mohamed.' Greater Manchester Police have launched a Major Incident Public Portal so that anyone with information in relation to this murder can also submit their information online Earlier this week, a police spokesman said four boys, two teenagers aged 15 and two 17-year-olds, were arrested in connection with the incident but were later released with no further action. Three of the boys who were initially arrested suffered minor injuries in the incident and a 16-year-old boy was found close to the scene with potentially life-changing injuries. Detective Inspector Benjamin Cottam, of GMPs Major Incident Team, said last week: 'I would still appeal directly to anyone who was in the area at the time of the incident and has any information that could assist us. 'We have now launched a Major Incident Public Portal so that anyone with information in relation to this murder can also submit their information online, anonymously if they wish. A 16-year-old teen has been arrested on suspicion of murder after Mohamoud Mohamed was fatally stabbed during a fight in the Moss Side area of Manchester on Sunday 'A family have lost their son and it's vitally important that people do the right thing and come forward. 'Lastly, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the people of Moss Side, who have rallied around each other over the past few days and have shown great resolve.' Anyone with information can contact police on 0161 856 9283, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111. Information can also be passed via the Major Incident Public Portal at mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP20A38-PO1. NEW HAVEN The head of a private college preparatory school said it has banned from campus a parent who repeatedly heckled commencement speakers as they discussed racial injustice during the schools drive-in graduation ceremony last week. Kai Bynum, head of Hopkins School, wrote in a letter to the school community that the parent who harassed our commencement speakers during Thursdays graduation has been banned from the campus. The announcement came after the Instagram account blackathopkins posted a story claiming a parent rolled down his window and yelled Get off the stage! while a faculty member was giving a speech during the commencement. The faculty member had said black people came here against their will and built much of this country against their will, as part of his commencement address before the parent made the remark, according to the Instagram post. The story claims the parent, who has not been identified, yelled the same phrase again after a student began to mention the civil unrest and need for racial equity in this country during his speech. That exchange was captured in a video and shared as part of the Instagram story. A voice can be heard interjecting during the student speakers remarks, but it is not clear from the audio what is shouted. The incident comes as the school is grappling with its own connections to slavery. The schools namesake, Edward Hopkins, whose estate became the private school, owned slaves. Amid nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd while being restrained by a white police officer in Minneapolis, former Hopkins students started a petition to spur change at the school. Bynum, the first Black person to lead Hopkins, wrote a letter to the school community on Friday to announce the investigation. Unfortunately, I must address the abhorrent behavior of one of the parent attendees last night, Bynum said. I received word this morning that a parent repeatedly heckled commencement speakers. Bynum said he and his colleagues strongly condemn the behavior, and said it is indicative of how much work we have left to do in bringing meaningful change to our institution and culture. Correction: This story has been updated to reflect former Hopkins students started a petition to spur change at the school. New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday (August 1) once again pitched for release of of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mehbooba Mufti who has been under home detention in Jammu and Kashmir since almost a year now under the Public Safety Act (PSA). The former party president also accused the central government of undermining democracy by extending the detention of the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister. "India's democracy is damaged when GOI illegally detains political leaders. It's high time Mehbooba Mufti is released," the Congress leader tweeted. Earlier on Saturday, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said that the extension of the detention of Mufti under the PSA is an abuse of law and an assault on the Constitutional rights guaranteed to every citizen. This is the second time Mufti's detention has been extended. On July 31, the Jammu and Kashmir authorities extended Mehbooba Mufti's detention under the PSA by three months even as it released People's Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone in Srinagar. Prior to this, on May 5, her detention was extended was three months. Under the PSA, a person can be kept under detention for almost 2 years. Mufti along with 20 other leaders of Jammu and Kashmir continue to remain under detention since August 4, a day before the Centre abrogated Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the state into two union territories. A former Tory minister arrested on allegations of rape will not be suspended from party while police investigate. "These are serious allegations and it is right that they are investigated fully, a spokesperson for the Conservative whips' office said. The whip has not been suspended. This decision will be reviewed once the police investigation has been concluded." It comes after Labours safeguarding spokeswoman Jess Phillips said it was shocking that the MP had not been suspended following his arrest. She said the decision sent a terrible message that senior figures were still able to secure protection from their Westminster status. But what I would say in this matter, is in any organisation especially one like Members of Parliament who every day work with vulnerable people, young activists, members of staff in any other organisation, were this police investigation to be going on, somebody would be suspended while the investigation was taking place, she told Times Radio. While pending a police investigation for a sexual crime, I think it is only right that the whip is withdrawn. Jess Phillips: shocking that the MP has not been suspended following his arrest The unnamed MP, in his fifties, is alleged to have assaulted a woman and forced her to have sex. The abuse allegedly took place during a relationship at addresses in London, including Westminster. He was arrested on Saturday after the Metropolitan Police received allegations from a former parliamentary worker of four separate incidents between July last year and January. It comes days after Charlie Elphicke, the former Conservative MP for Dover, was convicted of two counts of sexual assault, including one against a parliamentary worker. Elphicke was suspended from the party after the allegation first emerged in November 2017, but later reinstated ahead of a crunch vote of no confidence in Theresa May's leadership. Following the latest allegations, housing minister Robert Jenrick said that Parliament needs to be a "safe space" for young women to work. Robert Jenrick says Parliament 'needs to be' a safe space for young women He told Times Radio: We need to make sure, like any other workplace, it is one thats fit for everybody where everybody feels safe and comfortable working, and when allegations are raised they are treated with the seriousness they deserve. A spokesman for the Met said: "On Friday, 31 July, the Metropolitan Police Service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault. "These offences are alleged to have occurred at addresses in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney between July 2019 and January 2020. "The Met has launched an investigation into the allegations. Adm. Brett Giroir, director of the U.S. coronavirus diagnostic testing, testifies during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., June 30, 2020. Brett Giroir, the assistant secretary for health who coordinates the administration's coronavirus testing, said Sunday that there is no evidence that hydroxychloroquine is an "effective" treatment for COVID-19, despite President Donald Trump's repeated boosting of the drug over objections from experts. In an interview on "Meet the Press," Giroir did not specifically mention the president, but he made clear that the scientific consensus is that the drug does not help treat the disease. More from NBC News: "Most physicians and prescribers are evidence-based and they're not influenced by whatever is on Twitter or anything else. And the evidence just does not show hydroxychloroquine is effective right now," he said. "We need to move on from that and talk about what is effective," he added, pointing to public hygiene measures like hand-washing and mask-wearing, as well as treatments like the drug remdesivir and steroids. "At this point in time, there has been five randomized controlled, placebo controlled trials that do not show any benefit to hydroxychloroquine. So, at this point in time, we don't recommend that as a treatment." Since the early days of the pandemic, Trump has promoted his belief that hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, could help treat the disease. In May, he said he took the unproven treatment for two weeks prophylactically. While the Food and Drug Administration briefly issued the drug an emergency use authorization that allowed it to be used as treatment for COVID-19, the FDA withdrew that authorization in June. In removing the authorization, it pointed to "a large, randomized clinical trial in hospitalized patients that found these medicines showed no benefit for decreasing the likelihood of death or speeding recovery." Despite similar statements from public health officials, as well as an FDA warning against using the drug outside of a hospital setting because of a risk of serious heart problems, Trump has remained steadfast in boosting of the drug. Last week, Trump retweeted a video of a Houston-area doctor arguing in favor of using the drug and calling it a cure for coronavirus. Twitter removed the video calling it "in violation of our COVID-19 misinformation policy" and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, said the video was "spouting something that isn't true." But Trump defended his decision to share the video during a White House press briefing, saying, "I happen to believe in it." He was later pressed to answer for the doctor's past statements, which include blaming certain medical problems on demonic possession. "She was on air along with many other doctors," Trump said. "They were being fans of hydroxychloroquine, and I thought she was very impressive in the sense that from where she came, I don't know which country she comes from but she said that she's had tremendous success with hundreds of different patients, and I thought her voice was an important voice. But I know nothing about her." A week ago, when Alameda became the first county in the Bay Area to surge past 10,000 cases of the coronavirus, a swarm of political and public health leaders staged a news conference at the edge of Lake Merritt and pleaded with residents to stop gathering there. Its too risky, they said. Oakland is experiencing a surge in cases propelled at least in part by parties and other get-togethers that arent safe when so much virus is circulating. And thats certainly been well documented, across the Bay Area and California. But full disclosure: No cases have been specifically tied to Lake Merritt. That doesnt mean picnics and barbecues around the lake, or any other park or outdoor space, are safe, or that people should freely gather there. Rather, the lack of identified cases underscores a consistently frustrating short-coming in the response to this pandemic: poor data collection. Ill be honest, I wish the data was better, said Nicholas Moss, the Alameda County health officer. We know where people live. We know their gender. We know their age. But were missing huge amounts of data for some of our cases. As California struggles to squash a swelling outbreak thats now resulted in more than half a million confirmed cases and 9,000 deaths, infectious disease and public health experts are growing increasingly concerned about how little they know about this pandemic. How sick are those who get infected? How likely are they to die? Where, exactly, are they being exposed to the virus? July was the worst month yet for California in its battle with the coronavirus, with record-breaking cases and deaths, even after the governor shut down large parts of the economy once again. But even the number of cases reported is an unreliable data point. The reports vastly undercount the actual number of infections public health officials believe the number is probably 10 times that. The missing data result from decades of underfunding public health as well as inadequate preparation for a pandemic that infectious disease experts had long warned was coming. State and county public health departments are scrambling, not only to respond to local outbreaks and make sure hospitals and other health systems are safe, but to collect, analyze and disseminate data that would make their responses more impactful. We are building data information systems while the plane is flying because we didnt already have them, said Steven Goodman, a Stanford epidemiologist. This is what underinvestment in public health looks like. The answers arent simple. Improving both data collection and analysis involves financial investment during an economic crisis. All the while, public health agencies already are eating up tens of millions in additional funding. It requires public and private partnerships that should have been forged long ago. And it potentially means loosening long-held privacy restrictions that are a cornerstone of public health. Kate Munsch / Special to The Chronicle Accessing the data: This is the first big test weve had in 100 years, and we see the huge gaps in our public health infrastructure, said Jeffrey Klausner, an epidemiologist at UCLA. Klausner joined a group of academic investigators in June asking the state to release more data on people who have tested positive, so that epidemiologists can draw conclusions about whos most at risk and how the disease is spreading. In letters to the state Health and Human Services Agency and Department of Public Health, they said the lack of data analysis several months into the pandemic was striking. Studying case reports which include sex, age and place of residence, among other details on every confirmed infection could answer many important public health questions, they wrote, and help guide policy toward reopening businesses and schools. The state refused to hand over the data, saying that federal and state privacy laws prevent them from sharing reports, even after stripping out information that could identify patients. In an email response, the director of Health and Human Services said that preparing the data so that individuals couldnt be identified would require too much time and staff. The government isnt putting out the data and doing the analysis I would expect in a pandemic of this magnitude, said Rajiv Bhatia, a doctor and epidemiologist at Stanford who co-signed the request with Klausner. The initial stay-home orders in March may have been necessary to prevent a disastrous outbreak across the state, but four months later, a more refined approach to living with the virus is possible, many infectious disease experts say. Bhatia and others argue that striking that balance requires detailed data and careful analysis. This is a serious disease, and we need to do serious things to stop it, Bhatia said. But weve shut down society, and you need to give people a method to verify your claims about whats going on. Either the state analyzes the data and presents that to people, or you give the data to the people to analyze. Early data problems: Data collection and dissemination has been a challenge since the start of the pandemic, when testing shortages on the federal level meant local public health authorities couldnt get a clear sense of how widespread the disease was in their communities. John Blanchard For the first month or two, even reporting simple case counts from counties and the state was a chore California didnt start publicly tracking cases by county until late March. The first demographic data werent released until mid-April. It was based on only a third of all cases reported in the state, and that incomplete data didnt find any notable disparities by race or ethnicity though its now known that Latinx and Black Californians experience much greater rates of infection than white residents. Demographic data are widely available now, but other basic information is still missing. The state and most counties dont report how many cases are asymptomatic, for example, or provide breakdowns in cases by occupation or housing status. Some of that information is collected but not released to the public. And some of it isnt gathered at all because of shortages in public health resources. To really get at where transmission occurs, you have to get to a level of epidemiology that particularly in a pandemic response just isnt possible. We dont have the capacity, said Moss, the Alameda County health officer. Were trying to make the best possible interpretations of the information available. Counties have dramatically expanded their pubic health resources, but many health officers say they still lack adequate staff to do detailed case investigations which would provide them with data on how people are being infected and to aggregate and analyze the data they do have. Moss said he would value the input of outside epidemiologists, such as academic researchers, but even building those relationships takes time and resources. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. San Francisco is a step ahead in that regard because the county Public Health Department already has a strong bond with UCSF. Indeed, UCSF researchers led a study of infection rates in the Mission District that showed one driver of the local outbreak was Latinx residents who have to work in essential jobs. That gave county public health officials a huge advantage in understanding where to put testing and contact tracing resources. That kind of work should be happening in every county and at the state level, infectious disease and public health experts said. If authorities better understood what was driving the current surges in cases, they could target those outbreaks and potentially loosen restrictions on parts of the economy that arent actually at risk. California is slowly failing at this. And figuring out why is absolutely imperative, said Warner Greene, an infectious disease expert and senior investigator with the Gladstone Institutes, a San Francisco research facility associated with UCSF. Probably the reasons differ in Imperial County and in L.A. County and San Francisco. You have to tailor your response to the conditions that exist in that county. That said, he added, If we could just convince everybody in California to wear a mask we could knock this thing flat. What the data say: Health Officer Bela Matyas said 95% of all cases reported in Solano County over the past three weeks were tied to social gatherings. That should inform local public health policy, he said, but instead his county is subject to state restrictions that dont necessarily make sense in his community. Why should nail salons and indoor restaurants remain closed, he said, when people are getting infected at birthday parties, weddings and funerals? These clusters are not occurring in the business sector. Its not like they had a party at the clothing store, or even a bar or restaurant. Its at their home. Sometimes its at a park, but usually its at the home, Matyas said. In a business setting, at least, he has some control over mandating that people wear masks and enforcing that policy. Thats not the case in peoples homes, Matyas said. The public health response, therefore, should focus less on large-scale shutdowns and more on education telling people to avoid social gatherings, yes, but also how to do so safely if they must. Many public health experts echoed that sentiment, but they also said that now is not the right time to be talking about reopening the economy. Most counties are so overwhelmed by the current rising case counts that they dont have time to study where exactly people are being infected and develop targeted policies. Instead they issue blanket pleas to wear face coverings, stay home as much as possible, and stop socializing. That guidance is based on evidence like whats been collected in Sonoma and Solano counties. But it also comes from anecdotal reports and educated guesses authorities may not have specific cases tied to Lake Merritt or Dolores Park, but they can see people gathered there, unmasked, and make assumptions. Susan Phillip, deputy health officer for San Francisco, said she has ideas for more data shed like to collect and analyze in collaboration with UCSF. She wants to know where exactly people arent wearing face coverings, and whats stopping them, for example. She would like to learn whether the essential workers who are testing positive are being infected on the job or somewhere else on the bus or BART or in carpools, or at weekend gatherings with family. But in the meantime, cases are going up, she said. And we think we know enough to start sending messages and allocating resources. We know it continues to be people who have to work outside the home. We know that Latinx communities continue to be way disproportionately impacted by COVID. Were starting with those data that we know. Understanding how this new virus spreads and who is most at risk is familiar work to many public health officials in San Francisco who have spent decades on similar research with HIV/AIDS, Phillip added. This is what happens whenever there is an infectious disease epidemic, she said. This is the same as HIV/AIDS, except its a very compressed and accelerated and high-stakes effort to do all of that quite quickly. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday (Newser) Mexico has a grisly new claim to fame: The country of 126 million has now lost 47,472 of its people to coronavirus, making it the country with the pandemic's third highest death toll. Britain previously held that spot, though it has just over half Mexico's population, but now has recorded 46, 278 deaths as of Sunday. The BBC notes that critics in Mexico are blaming President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador for being late to lock down the country on March 23 and early to attempt to reopen it. Hundreds of thousands of factory workers in Mexico City went back to work in mid-June; that city is the heart of the nation's outbreak. Ten of the nation's governors on Friday blasted the federal government's handling of the pandemic and called for the resignation of coronavirus czar Hugo Lopez-Gatell. Mexico now only lags the US and Brazil in number of deaths, with 154,449 and 93,563, respectively. (Read more coronavirus stories.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 21:18:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHIJIAZHUANG, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- North China's Hebei Province has expanded a rural house reconstruction project for improving the quakeproof and energy-saving properties of buildings in quake-prone areas. The provincial bureau of finance said a total of 485 million yuan (about 70 million U.S. dollars) in central government and provincial-level funding has been appropriated so far this year for the home renovation for 36,600 rural households. The bureau said the province has expanded financial support for the seismic renovation of rural houses to nine cities including Tangshan, Langfang and Handan. A 5.1-magnitude earthquake jolted Tangshan on July 12. Strong tremors were felt in the nearby regions including Beijing. No casualties were reported, though some old houses saw cracks appear. The province launched a level-III emergency response, the second-lowest in China's four-tier emergency response system. The Hebei provincial bureau of finance said the provincial government has stuck to an open and just principle in allocating funding for the renovation. After residents submit their applications for funding, county-level housing and urban-rural development departments organize technical personnel to provide appraisals of the houses. The departments provide reconstruction plans and supervise the renovation. Renovation subsidies can reach up to 15,000 yuan per household, depending on the earthquake risk of the locality. Enditem Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka on Sunday demanded the release of Jammu and Kashmirs former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti, two days after the government extended her detention under public safety act (PSA) by another three months. Indias democracy is damaged when GoI illegally detains political leaders. Its high time Mehbooba Mufti is released, Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet. As if on cue, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi also accused the central government of shying away from dialogue and of being undemocratic by keeping the leaders under detention. The BJP government is making the detention of leaders its weapon to shy away from dialogue, the strongest style of democracy. Keeping under house arrest is undemocratic and unconstitutional. She should be released, she said. On Friday, the Jammu and Kashmir administration extended Muftis detention even as it released Peoples Conference chief Sajad Gani Lone in Srinagar, a week ahead of the one-year anniversary of the revocation of the troubled regions special status and its bifurcation. Mufti, who has been held under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA), is among 20-odd political leaders in the Valley who continue to remain under detention following parliaments revocation of J&Ks special status on August 5 last year. Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar, the two former chief ministers, were released on March 13 and March 24, respectively. Earlier, another congress leader P Chidambaram had asked for a collective campaign for the immediate release of Mufti, questioning how she was a threat to public safety. The extension of the detention of Ms Mehbooba Mufti under PSA is an abuse of law and an assault on the Constitutional rights guaranteed to every citizen, he said in a series of tweets. Why should she undertake not to speak against the abrogation of Art 370? Is it not part of the right to free speech? I am one of the counsels appearing in a case in the SC challenging the abrogation of Art 370. If I speak against Art 370 as I must is that a threat to public safety? he said. Muftis party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ran a coalition government in the undivided state with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) until the alliance collapsed in June 2018 that prompted the imposition of Governors Rule. Under the PSA, a person can be kept under detention for up to two years without any trial in the court. The former CM was arrested on August 5 from her official residence and lodged at Chesmashahi huts. She was moved to a government building close to the MLA hostel, where other detainees were held, in November. In April, Mufti was shifted to her official residence at Fairview on Gupkar Road. The PDP condemned the extension of Muftis detention. Its high time the BJP realises that we as Kashmiris refuse to be trivialised, the party said. Nearly all of Kashmirs mainstream political leaders were detained hours before the central government nullified Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded special status to the region, and bifurcated the state into two union territories Jammu and Kashmir with a legislature and Ladakh without one. KANSAS CITY, Mo. ( ChurchMilitant.com) - New lawsuits are accusing the diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph in Missouri covered up and enabled clergy sex abuse. The lawsuits, one filed Tuesday in Jackson County Circuit Court and the other on July 20, were announced Tuesday afternoon at a news conference in Kansas City. Iran said Saturday it has arrested the head of a US-based "terrorist group" accused of being behind a deadly 2008 bombing in the southern city of Shiraz and of other, abortive attacks. The group's "Jamshid Sharmahd, who was leading armed and sabotage operations inside Iran, is now in the powerful hands" of Iran's security forces, state television said in a report citing a statement from the intelligence ministry. The statement did not elaborate on where or when the leader of the opposition royalist group known as the Kingdom Assembly of Iran, or Tondar (Farsi for Thunder), was arrested. According to the statement, he had orchestrated the April 12, 2008 bombing in a packed mosque in Shiraz that killed 14 people and wounded 215. Iran hanged three men convicted of the bombing in 2009, saying they had ties to the monarchist group. It said they had been taking orders from an Iranian US-backed "CIA agent" to try to assassinate a high-ranking official in Iran. They were 21-year old Mohsen Eslamian and Ali Asghar Pashtar, 20 -- both university students -- as well as Rouzbeh Yahyazadeh, 32. The three were found guilty of being "mohareb" (enemies of God) and "corruption on the earth" by a revolutionary court in Tehran. Iran hanged two other convicted members of the group in 2010, who had "confessed to obtaining explosives and planning to assassinate officials". The statement issued on Saturday said that Tondar had plotted several other "big operations" which failed. It said that Tondar had planned to blow up a dam in Shiraz, use "cyanide bombs" at a Tehran book fair, and plant an explosive device at the mausoleum of the Islamic republic's founder, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. It was not clear how Iran arrested the US-based Sharmahd. Iran's intelligence ministry announced the arrest of a former opposition figure in similarly mysterious circumstances in October last year. Ruhollah Zam, described as a "counter-revolutionary" by Iranian authorities, was sentenced to death last month over "corruption on earth". Zam, who reportedly lived in exile in Paris, ran a channel on the Telegram messaging application called Amadnews and was accused of sparking unrest during anti-government protests last year. A three-year-old boy died after he accidentally swallowed a coin at his home near Aluva, with relatives alleging that government hospitals where he was taken to had refused to admit him as he came from a Covid-19 containment zone. Kerala health minister K K Shailaja termed the incident as very unfortunate and directed the principal secretary (Health) to submit a report after a thorough enquiry. Stringent action would be taken if any lapses were found, she said in a statement. The boys relatives alleged that he was denied treatment as their residence fell in a Covid-19 containment zone at Kadungallur near Aluva. They said the incident occurred on Saturday morning following which the parents took the child to the Aluva government hospital, where an X-ray was done and revealed the presence of the object. However, the hospital authorities allegedly did not admit the child A senior doctor there claimed that the boy was not admitted as there was no paediatric surgeon and so he was referred to the Ernakulam General Hospital. Doctors there examined the child and referred him to the Government Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha,for better medical care, where, too, he was allegedly not admitted. The doctors reportedly advised the parents to give their child fruits, which, they said, would result in the coin passing through his motion. The parents, who belong to a poor family, took the child back to their home in Kadungallur. However his condition worsened by evening and they rushed him to Aluva government hospital, but he died en route, police said. The body would be handed over to the parents after post- mortem, health authorities said. His swab has been collected for Covid-19 test, they said. palace of westminster - NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP A former minister was arrested at his home on Saturday after a woman accused him of rape and sexual assault. The senior Conservative MP, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was taken into custody in the morning shortly before the Metropolitan Police announced it had launched an investigation. The man, in his 50s, remained in custody at a police station in East London on Saturday night. A Metropolitan Police Service statement said officers received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault. The complaints were lodged with the constabulary on Friday. While Scotland Yard did not name the man they said the alleged offences took place in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney in London between July 2019 and January 2020. A Scotland Yard statement said: On Friday, 31 July, the Metropolitan Police Service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault. These offences are alleged to have occurred at addresses in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney between July 2019 and January 2020. The Met has launched an investigation into the allegations. A man in his 50s was arrested on Saturday, 1 August on suspicion of rape and is currently in custody in an east London police station. A spokesman for the Met confirmed that the MP has been released on bail to a date in mid-August. The arrest came just days after Charlie Elphicke, a former Conservative whip, was convicted of sexual assault. The married father of two was found guilty of three charges of sexual assault, one of which involved him forcing himself on a woman at his home in Belgravia, London, during which he shouted: Im a naughty Tory. The Conservative Party has not suspended the unnamed MP at the centre of the latest allegations. However, it remains to be seen whether Number 10 will intervene to try to avoid any further fallout following Elphickes conviction last week. Story continues It was reported on Saturday night that a fellow Conservative MP raised the womans allegations with senior members of the party. In a statement, the Conservative Party said: We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously. As this matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to comment further. There was no answer at the politicians home this evening. 'One of the biggest sawmills in Munster has in recent days abandoned plans to charter a ship to bring in semi-processed wood from Europe' (stock photo) The owners of the country's major sawmills have begun warning trade union officials of imminent extensive job losses because of chronic licensing and planning hold-ups which are bringing tree-felling to a standstill. Thousands of jobs could be wiped out in the industry by Christmas because of a shortage of wood for the sawmills to process, according to Mark McAuley, director of Ibec body Forest Industries Ireland. Talks last week between the forestry industry and new Agriculture Minister Dara Calleary and Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hackett failed to produce a resolution. "The new ministers are just in the door and I think they are very genuine in their concern to fix this but the question remains, how are we going to keep the sawmills supplied with timber this year?" said Mr McAuley. "Some of the mills will be able to maybe muddle through to the end of the year, reduce output, maybe put their people on short time. But some of the mills will be in real trouble and could be flat out of timber by autumn. They will have to close their doors by October or November." One of the biggest sawmills in Munster has in recent days abandoned plans to charter a ship to bring in semi-processed wood from Europe because it had failed to source a suitable supply on the continent owing to a shortage of sawmill capacity there, he said. "Some of the mills were hoping that this would at least allow them to keep customers here even if they might not make any money on it. But they have not been able to get the material," he said. The Sunday Independent reported in April that at least 2,000 forestry jobs were under direct threat - with many workers at that point already on short time or furloughed - because of a licensing and appeals logjam which threatened to bring the entire sector to a halt. Planning appeals are also tying up even routine forestry work in red tape and McAuley said the situation has since worsened further with no resolution in sight. In 2019, the Department of Agriculture issued 4,180 felling licences but a new more stringent licensing system introduced to authorise essential work such as planting, felling and thinning has led to major delays and current approval rates suggest total felling licences issued for 2020 will be as low as 1,500. Afforestation rates, also impacted by the new regulatory system and a new appeals process, have dropped from 6,500 hectares per annum (ha) in 2016 to 3,550ha in 2019. McAuley said that afforestation rates in 2020 will potentially be as low as 2,500ha. "The Government's own climate change plan seeks to raise this number to 8,000ha. We've a real problem here and we don't know whether we're going to have any logs to saw by the end of the year. As well as the jobs, there could be shortages of pallets for food exporters and of timber for housebuilding and hardware supply," he said. Microsoft is usually seen as the grown-up tech company. It's been around awhile, and despite being one of the three largest companies on earth has managed to fly largely under the radar lately. It isn't flashy, but that's exactly by design. Even as its tech-giant siblings were summoned to Capitol Hill this week for a congressional grilling, Microsoft stayed out of the fray. On Friday, however, news broke that Microsoft was in talks to acquire TikTok after it seemed likely that President Trump might force a sale by the app's parent company, ByteDance. That company, you may remember, is based in China, leading to concerns that the app could pose national security risks. TikTok has tried hard to walk a very fine line to avoid the wrath of the U.S. government. It hired a top executive from Disney to run the company, and it has offices here in the U.S. It has even given assurances that it wouldn't share user data with the Chinese government under any circumstances. Those promises haven't been enough. News reports on Friday said that the president could be ready to impose a ban on TikTok as early as the next day. Enter Microsoft, which is now engaged in advanced talks to buy TikTok. Three Reasons It's a Risky Move First, TikTok makes very little money. According to data from SensorTower, TikTok generated just under $6 million in the U.S. in the month of July. With annual revenue of over $143 billion, Microsoft made more than that every single hour of the month of July. You have to ask yourself whether it's really worth the effort for a company like Microsoft that makes most of its money selling high-margin software to businesses. Second, Microsoft has a history of messing up similar consumer-focused products. Think Mixer, the live video-streaming service that the company bought and then shut down in June. Or, Skype, which is still a thing, sort of. Yes, the company makes Xbox, and yes, there's Minecraft, but Microsoft's brand is not teens making 15-second dance videos set to music. Finally, Microsoft buying TikTok isn't going to resolve the fact that President Trump simply isn't a fan of the app. The president said as much to reporters on Air Force One returning from Florida on Friday evening. According to NBC News, Trump isn't in favor of any U.S. company buying TikTok. That's likely because Trump continues to be angry about the impact TikTok users had on his embarrassing rally in Tulsa in June. Why It Could Be Brilliant On the other hand, TikTok may not be on the scale of Facebook, Snap, or Twitter, or, for that matter, even LinkedIn (which Microsoft owns), but it's growing fast. SensorTower says the app was downloaded more than 300 million times in the second quarter of this year, trailing only Zoom. That means there's an enormous upside, especially if Microsoft is willing to support TikTok while leaving it to mostly do its thing. Which is exactly what it has done with LinkedIn, which mostly runs as a separate company within Microsoft. The company has mostly, at least on the surface, left it alone. Finally, buying TikTok is likely just smart business. The New York Times reported that ByteDance values the app at around $30 billion. Except, now that the app has been banned in India, the U.S. is its biggest market. While it's not entirely clear the Trump administration can force the company to sell, it can certainly make life difficult if it moves to ban it here. That means the company has a strong motivation to sell, or it won't be worth much of anything. Why Microsoft? Because it can. The most likely candidate, Facebook, can't possibly buy TikTok. It's not that it can't afford it, at least from a cost perspective. It's just that there's no scenario, especially after its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, appeared before Congress, in which a deal could get the approval from the federal agencies that would need to weigh in. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Sun, August 2, 2020 17:18 534 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066b022a3 2 World US,Donald-Trump,Republican-convention,COVID-19 Free Media will be barred from the Republican National Convention in North Carolina later this month, US news outlets reported, when President Donald Trump will formally receive his party's nomination. Soaring coronavirus cases have already forced Trump to cancel the part of the convention planned for Florida's Jacksonville in July. "We are planning for all of the Charlotte activities to be closed press: Friday, August 21-Monday, 24th given the health restrictions and limitations in place in the state," the convention spokesperson had told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. "We are working within the parameters set before us by state and local guidelines regarding the number of people who can attend events." The vote to formally nominate Trump will, however, be livestreamed, according to CNN, which cited a Republican official. "This is an ill-advised decision that the @GOP @GOPconvention should reconsider," Zeke Miller, president of the White House Correspondents' Association, said Saturday. "The nomination of a major party presidential candidate is very much the business of the American people." Miller later tweeted: "An RNC official now says that the decision is not final and that they are still working through press coverage options." Trump has been forced to scrap his signature rallies because of the coronavirus epidemic, which is killing more than 1,000 Americans a day. (Newser) Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk's SpaceX company, the AP reports. It was the first splashdown by US astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit. The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year. Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken rode the SpaceX Dragon capsule back to Earth less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida. The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters off the coast of Pensacola. story continues below "Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX," the company's Mission Control said. The astronauts' ride home in the capsule dubbed Endeavour was fast, bumpy and hot, at least on the outside. The spacecraft went from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph to 350 mph during atmospheric reentry, and finally to 15 mph at splashdown. Peak heating during descent was 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit. The anticipated top G forces felt by the crew: four to five times the force of Earths gravity. A SpaceX recovery ship with more than 40 staff, including doctors and nurses, moved in following splashdown, with two smaller, faster boats leading the way. It was the first NASA water landing since 1975, per the New York Times. (Read more NASA stories.) An 18-year-old girl who was missing for eight days has miraculously been found safe in the woods outside Seattle. Giovanna 'Gia' Fuda disappeared on July 24 after visiting a coffee shop in Index, Washington, and her car was found out of gas on a highway that winds through the Cascade Mountains the following day. Rescue crews spent more than a week searching the area and were beginning to lose hope when they finally discovered the teen near a ravine deep in the woods on Saturday afternoon. 'We are absolutely thrilled to know that search and rescue located her alive,' King County Sheriff's Sgt Ryan Abbott said. 'She's in stable condition. She is with her parents and being transported to a local hospital. 'This is very rare, it is definitely a miracle.' Giovanna 'Gia' Fuda, 18, (pictured) was found safe in a heavily wooded area of the Cascade Mountains on Saturday, eight days after she disappeared on July 24 Rescue crews spent more than a week searching the mountains and were beginning to lose hope when they finally discovered the teen near a ravine deep in the woods on Saturday The map above shows where Fuda was last seen on July 24, where her car was found the following day and where she was located safe on Saturday Authorities began looking for Fuda on July 24 after she left her home in Maple Valley without telling her parents where she was going and never returned. She was last seen on surveillance video from a coffee shop in Index, and the next day her car was found abandoned on Highway 2 between Skykomish and Steven's Pass. Police were unable to track Fuda's phone because it was either turned off or didn't have signal in the area Abbott described as a 'dead zone'. The King County Sheriff's Office labeled Fuda's disappearance as 'suspicious' on July 27, but officials now believe that she likely got lost after leaving her car to look for gas. Abbott said he wasn't sure why or how Fuda ended up in the woods and that investigators are giving her time to recuperate before asking for her side of the story. Authorities began looking for Fuda on July 24 after she left her home in Maple Valley without telling her parents where she was going and never returned Fuda was last seen on surveillance video (pictured) from a coffee shop in Index, Washington Police released several photos from the coffee shop where Fuda was last seen After days of searching turned up few signs of the teen, search and rescue crews on Saturday came across a notebook that belonged to her near a stream deep in the woods off the roadway. They continued to follow the stream and located several items of clothing before finally finding her about two miles up a steep embankment. Abbott praised the relentless efforts of the search teams, saying: 'They are absolutely amazing. They are volunteers. They do this on their own time and, again, to find enough people to come out here, hundreds of volunteers day in and day out, to try and find Gia was amazing.' King County Sheriff's Sgt Ryan Abbott (pictured) called Fuda's rescue a 'miracle' 'It shows that miracles do happen and don't ever quit, and that's what we were doing,' he added. 'They just continued to search and thank god they found her.' Investigators said Fuda didn't have any food or water, but it's believed she survived by drinking from the ravine and eating berries in the woods. When she was first found Abbott said Fuda was not able to coherently explain what had happened over the eight days she was missing, merely telling rescuers: 'I don't know where I am.' However officials are hopeful that with time she will be able to recount the ordeal in detail. She is now recovering surrounded by family members who searched alongside officers from King County and other parts of the state. 'We are thrilled for the family,' Abbott said. 'They have been out with us here. They have been trying to help us search; they've been a great support. And from my understanding, of course, the parents were thrilled when they found out Gia was alive.' Authorities believe Fuda survived by eating berries and drinking from a ravine Just hours before Fuda was found, her mother expressed fear that there would be a tragic outcome. 'I feel hopeful, but I don't feel very good,' Kristin Fuda told news station KOMO on Friday. 'You just don't know what to think, it's totally unknown.' Jeff White, a family friend who helped look for Fuda, said there were concerns that she wouldn't be found at all because law enforcement was prepared to suspend the search on Saturday. 'We knew that this was the last day of the search and we were concerned that we weren't going to find her and we were going to leave these mountains without her,' White told King5. 'The father and the mother and all the friends that have been here and putting up signs thousands of signs, thousands of miles were covered with the people that were up here. And people stayed up all night long. It was horrific.' Weve had to adopt and learn new ways of doing many things amid a health crisis; the education system is no exception. With the start of the school year drawing quickly near, it is time to finalize several difficult decisions, Sparlin said. While more than anything, I wish our students were in their classes, learning from teachers, surrounded by classmates, I cant overlook the significant health concerns of in-person learning at this time. Outside the Las Vegas Convention Center, Kayleigh McEnany raised a microphone to a mega-fan and asked what it felt like to be acknowledged by President Donald Trump at his February rally in Sin City. At the time a spokeswoman for Trump's re-election campaign, McEnany nodded as the supporter said the shout-out was most meaningful because of the words on the shirt he was wearing, which he read aloud: "Where we go one, we go all," the motto of QAnon conspiracy theorists who believe Trump is battling a cabal of deep-state saboteurs who worship Satan and traffic children for sex. McEnany, who has since become the White House press secretary, continued, asking the supporter, "If you could say one thing to the president, what would you say?" "Who is Q?" he replied, inquiring about the mysterious online figure behind the baseless theory. McEnany smiled and said, "OK, well, I will pass all of this along." The little-noticed exchange - captured in a video posted to YouTube - illustrates how Trump and his campaign have courted and legitimized QAnon adherents. The viral online movement, which took root on internet message boards in the fall of 2017 with posts from a self-proclaimed government insider identified as "Q," has triggered violent acts and occasional criminal cases. Its effects were catalogued last year in an FBI intelligence bulletin listing QAnon among the "anti-government, identity based, and fringe political conspiracy theories" that "very likely motivate some domestic extremists to commit criminal, sometimes violent activity." As the worldview took shape online, its followers flocked to Trump rallies with QAnon apparel and placards. Recently,as the election has drawn closer, actions by the president and his associates have brought them more directly into the fold. The Trump campaign's director of press communications, for example, went on a QAnon program and urged listeners to "sign up and attend a Trump Victory Leadership Initiative training." QAnon iconography has appeared in official campaign advertisements targeting battleground states. And the White House's director of social media and deputy chief of staff for communications, Dan Scavino, has gone from endorsing praise from QAnon accounts to posting their memes himself. The president has repeatedly elevated its digital foot soldiers, sharing their tweets more than a dozen times on Fourth of July alone. His middle son, Eric, who is 36 and a campaign surrogate, recently posted, and then deleted, an image drumming up support for his father's Tulsa rally that included a giant "Q" and the text, "Where we go one, we go all." The apparent convergence of Trump's inner circle with an ever-widening cohort of QAnon believers is alarming to scholars of extremism and digital communications, some of whom characterize the theory's adherents as a cult. What most troubles analysts, however, is not that McEnany and others responsible for carrying out Trump's agenda are amplifying QAnon, which has permeated right-wing politics and inspired a cadre of congressional candidates who could soon bring the philosophy to Capitol Hill. Even more worrisome, these observers say, is that the president's messaging is increasingly indistinguishable from some key elements of the conspiracy theory. The erroneous ideas defining QAnon - that Trump is a messianic figure fighting the so-called deep state, that he alone can be trusted, that his opponents include both Democrats and Republicans complicit in years of wrongdoing and that his rivals are not just misguided but criminal and illegitimate - represent core tenets of the president's re-election campaign, especially as his poll numbers slump. Meanwhile, the salvation envisioned by QAnon believers, including military takeover and mass arrests of Democrats, rhymes with the president's vow to use the armed forces to "dominate." They back his endorsement of hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug that has not been proved to prevent coronavirus infection, and cast skeptics, including Anthony Fauci, the nation's leading expert on infectious diseases, as a deep-state plant. "We're seeing the Trump campaign tack closely to an almost explicitly QAnon narrative," said Ethan Zuckerman, director of the Center for Civic Media at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "I don't expect to hear the president talking about pedophilia or Satanism, but I expect to hear almost everything else." McEnany did not respond to a request for comment, but White House spokeswoman Sarah Matthews sent a written statement saying: "The premise of your article is ridiculous. While the Trump administration is working tirelessly for the American people, the Washington Post peddles in conspiracy theories." The Trump campaign also did not respond to emailed questions. The oft-mutating QAnon philosophy has captured the imagination of a new corps of pro-Trump congressional candidates, about a dozen of whom have already secured spots on the ballot in November, according to a tally by Media Matters for America, the liberal research organization. Among them is Angela Stanton-King, a Republican House candidate in Georgia who served two years in prison for her role in a car-theft ring but whose sentence was commuted by Trump in February. A month later, she posted a popular QAnon video on Instagram, writing of the president, "This would explain why they tried so hard to make us hate him." She has since posted repeatedly about the scourge of pedophilia, a fixation of the QAnon movement. In an interview, she said, "People have a right to look into information and do their own research." Her research has led her to misguided beliefs about the coronavirus, including that the pandemic represents a "political game, to make it seem like the economy has crashed." Similar language is employed by QAnon believers, who scrawl their accusations across social media. They rally around the hashtag #WWG1WGA - shorthand for "Where we go one, we go all" - and swarm perceived enemies. "These people are not only sick but evil too!" one combatant in the Q "army" on Facebook wrote in March, referring to the Democratic mayor of Minneapolis, whom Trump has attacked as a "very weak radical left mayor." Individuals who had posted in support of QAnon or otherwise expressed their devotion to it, according to police, have been arrested in at least 10 incidents, including two murders, a kidnapping, vandalism of a church and a heavily armed standoff near the Hoover Dam. Twitter recently took action against the conspiracy theory, including by eliminating more than 7,000 accounts. Facebook is also weighing new action, a spokesperson confirmed, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss ongoing deliberations. The largest Facebook groups devoted to the theory boast hundreds of thousands of members, but the size of its following is difficult to measure, experts say. Only about a quarter of American adults say they have heard of QAnon, according to polling by the Pew Research Center. Americans may be oblivious to QAnon but still shaped by its doctrine, Zuckerman said, arguing, "It's actually more dangerous if people don't know what Q is but hold these beliefs." Because of the overlap between QAnon communities and far-right circles, he said, aspects of the conspiracy theory are filtering up to conservative websites, as well as to the pro-Trump One America News and Fox News. The coronavirus pandemic, by bringing into sharp focus anti-scientific beliefs among a broad segment of the president's supporters, offers a preview of the clashing worldviews that QAnon could portend, Zuckerman added. The November election, if Trump were to refuse to accept the legitimacy of the results because of widespread mail-in voting, would represent the clash's climax, testing the "parallel universe that he and some of his supporters live in," he said. Such an outcome would mark the culmination of Trump's "use of conspiracy theories for the past five years," said Joseph Uscinski, a political scientist at the University of Miami and co-author of "American Conspiracy Theories." QAnon, however, is a new frontier for Republicans, and for the party's most prominent purveyor of conspiracy theories. Recent ads from Trump's re-election campaign have included shots of supporters with QAnon paraphernalia, including a spot in Nevada that briefly showed a woman in a crowd with a "Q" shirt. A spot in Arizona showed a still of a man in a similar shirt carrying a World War II veteran into an arena. The man posed for a photo with Donald Trump Jr. at a recent event, according to material later uploaded to Facebook. A spokesperson for Trump Jr.did not respond to a request for comment. The inclusion of QAnon symbols in official campaign media, previously unreported, sent shock waves through the QAnon community, whose primary aim is to be noticed by Trump. The ads racked up thousands of comments on YouTube, where users with QAnon references in their accounts seized on the fleeting visuals to declare victory. "Well done," one wrote. Sometimes, the signaling from the campaign is less subtle. Last fall, Erin Perrine, director of press communications for Trump's re-election campaign, went on Patriots' Soapbox, a show on YouTube and other platforms devoted to QAnon coverage. Before she called in, one of the hosts - whose Twitter account features QAnon references and a photo with Brad Parscale, Trump's recently deposed campaign manager - gushed about speaking to her for an hour before a recent Trump rally. He said the segment with Perrine, which was unearthed by Media Matters, could be the "tip of the iceberg" for connections with the Trump campaign. During the interview, Perrine was asked to "send a direct message" to the "group of very, very smart activists here," keen to be Trump's "soldiers on the ground." She encouraged them to sign up for a campaign training event and to "talk to their local GOP party, their state party, come online and ask us." Neither Perrine nor her hosts mentioned QAnon directly during the interview, but their discussion was studded with references to the conspiracy theory, including mention of the "insurgency from within" and remarks about Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser, who is central to the QAnon worldview. Emails and a call to Perrine went unanswered, as did an email to the show. Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his communications with a Russian diplomat in late 2016, recently recorded a video of himself repeating an oath originating on 8kun, a message board where Q, who claims high-level security clearance, posts esoteric references and half-baked ideas that followers call "bread crumbs." "Where we go one, we go all," intoned Flynn, his right hand raised, at the end of the oath, which otherwise follows a generic script administered to new members of Congress. Flynn did not respond to a text message seeking comment. His attorney, Sidney Powell, another luminary for QAnon conspiracy theorists who has also appeared on Patriots' Soapbox, also did not respond to a request for comment. The program's other guests have included Chanel Rion, chief White House correspondent for One America News, who said the conspiracy theory's central figure is "anonymous for a reason, for a very good reason, and I think that people need to respect that." Rion did not respond to a request for comment. Praise for the anonymous figure, whose posts have been linked to multiple violent episodes, has also flowed on Fox News. During a conversation this month with Eric Trump, one of the channel's hosts, Jesse Watters, credited Q with having "uncovered a lot of great stuff," saying later in a statement he does not "support or believe in" the conspiracy theory. In a pitch to potential guests, shared with The Washington Post by someone who received it, Fox characterized the segment this way: "Inside Twitter's crackdown on QAnon - How the social media giant is engaging in election interference and shutting down free speech." A Fox spokesperson declined to comment beyond Watters' statement. The congressional candidates who put stock in the theory say its proximity to Trump makes it appealing. Flynn's apparent endorsement - his move to swear his allegiance to QAnon - was decisive for some who had once only flirted with the theory. Theresa Raborn, a Republican House candidate in Illinois, said she had been on the fence, unable to "definitively debunk or definitively confirm." "But when General Flynn posted that video, he's a highly respected general and has been for decades, and he is very close to President Trump," she said. "So I don't think he would do that for a conspiracy theory, or at least logically that's where I'm at. I don't know if he has information about whether it's a conspiracy theory or whether it's real, but it seemed to give a lot of validity to people who support me who also happen to follow Q." Raborn, who ran unopposed in her March primary and so will appear on the ballot in November, faces near-certain defeat in the heavily Democratic district in the suburbs of Chicago. Flynn's role is just as important to the supporter interviewed by McEnany in February. He described himself as "one of the digital soldiers General Flynn talks about." "That's why I don't sleep," he told the soon-to-be White House press secretary. "That's why all I do is share information." MEXICO CITY, Aug 1 (Reuters) - Mexico likely continued to enjoy robust growth in remittances in June and July in spite of the economic slump sparked by the coronavirus crisis, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Saturday. Drawing on the latest economic data, Lopez Obrador in a video address on YouTube estimated that remittances reached some $3.4 billion in June and $3.48 billion in July, up about 6.8% each from a year earlier. Remittances stood at $3.38 billion in May, the second-highest for any month on record. The vast bulk of Mexico's remittances are sent by millions of Mexicans living in the United States, and the president said he expected 2020 to be a record-breaking year for them. Remittances have been a major support for the Mexican economy, which contracted more than 17% in the April-June period compared to the previous quarter. Lopez Obrador reiterated that Mexico was bouncing back from the downturn even though the country is still posting record numbers of new daily coronavirus infections. After major layoffs in the April-June period, the president said the economy had only shed 3,430 formal jobs in July. On top of that come millions of job losses in the informal economy. (Reporting by Noe Torres and Dave Graham; Editing by William Mallard) The political parties in Bihar have requested the postpone the assembly election in the state due to Covid-19 and floods, reported Hindustan Times sister publication Hindustan. While the state recorded its biggest spike in Covid-19 cases on Saturday, it has seen close to 5 million affected by the floods. According to Hindustan, the Election Commission had asked for suggestions from political parties in Bihar about holding elections in the state in the wake of the current situation. All the major parties, except Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Janata Dal (United) or JD(U), have asked for postponing the state polls, it reported. These political parties (seven national and 43 regional) have replied to the poll panel till its scheduled deadline of July 31. The BJPs ally Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) too has told the Election Commission that elections should not be held in the state in the current challenging situation. The Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) have already sought the postponement of polls. The BJP and JD(U) have, meanwhile, said that they are prepared and have left it on the Election Commission to decide. Bihar is expected to witness the elections in October-November, according to Hindustan. Most of the political parties have not even started election-related work, except BJP and JD(U). Meanwhile, Bihar reported the biggest spike in Covid-19 cases with 3,521 new infections and 14 deaths on Saturday. The spike in cases coincided with the highest number of testing of samples - 28,624 - reported by the state health department on Saturday. Of the 3,521 cases reported Saturday, 2,502 samples were tested on July 31 and 1,019 on July 30, taking the states overall case tally to 54,508, with 18,722 active cases, said Bihars health secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh during the media briefing. The state is also battling floods, which claimed two more lives in Bihar on Saturday taking the death toll to 13. The number of people affected by the floods, across 14 districts, stood at 49.05 lakhs, up from 45.39 lakhs on Friday. According to the department, the state has received a total average rainfall of 768.5 mm since the onset of monsoon, which was 46 per cent above normal. If you want to know what it feels like to be listened to, if, in our moment of detachment and division, youve forgotten the basic pleasure of revealing something delicate about yourself to another person, and of having that person respond by taking a sincere and sustained interest, allow Anna Sale to remind you. I experienced it earlier this summer, when I made Sale pretend that I was a guest on her acclaimed interview podcast, Death, Sex & Money. With little more knowledge of her subject than could be gleaned from an email signature and a few minutes of small talk, she felt her way toward a line of questioning that left a lump in my throat and a storm of memories flashing before my eyes. What was the career arc that led you to The New York Times at this moment? When did you feel like Im uncertain if I can get paid writing about the things that I love and think are important? Have there been moments when it didnt feel like that was going to be possible? How did you figure that out? Were there people in your life who were there to support you? Listeners to Sales show are familiar with questions like these, questions that lock on to moments of unease, irresolution or tenderness that we dont always put into words. Since she created Death, Sex & Money for WNYC in 2014, Sale has asked them weekly of both famous people (Bill Withers, Jane Fonda) and nonfamous people, many of whom send in letters and voice memos inspired by the shows tagline: The things we think about a lot and need to talk about more. For a faint moment, energy traders had an inkling that demand for jet fuel, the worst-hit product in fuel markets due to the coronavirus pandemic, might stage a bit of a rebound. The number of flights increased in the United States in early July, making some traders optimistic. That spurred a bevy of shipments of jet fuel to the U.S. West Coast from locales in Asia. But with a resurgence in coronavirus cases, passenger air traffic has pulled back. Commercial aviation was easily the hardest-hit of the major transport sectors when coronavirus hit, given the close proximity of passengers in an air-conditioned space where viruses can spread. International flights remain down more than 80% from year-ago levels, Rystad Energy said. In Europe, traders were hopeful that the summer vacation season would increase demand for jet fuel. But stocks recently hit a record high despite subdued imports to the region and high exports as more countries impose border restrictions to control the new wave of the pandemic. Stocks had set new records in July at 984,000 tonnes in a fifth weekly consecutive rise, according to data from Dutch consultancy Insights Global. They slightly fell last week to 937,000 tonnes. Exports westward have come largely from countries such as South Korea, Japan and India. That has decreased jet fuel and kerosene floating storage in Asia to 1.1 million barrels from four million barrels in early May, according to Vortexa. The rising stocks in Europe and the low demand in summer encouraged many traders to look into export options. The United States was one of the main destinations in June and July, according to Kpler. But air travel in the United States also has not recovered. Activity rebounded around the July 4 U.S. holiday, but has since stalled, Standard Chartered said Wednesday. The week-over-week rolling seven-day average for passenger number growth in the United States fell below zero in mid-July for the first time since April 20, the company said. Jet fuel imports to the United States in July increased to 190,000 barrels per day, still 45,000 bpd under year-ago levels, but up 33,000 barrels per day versus June, according to data intelligence firm Kpler. Much of that went to the U.S. West Coast, which at times relies on imports, given its lack of connectedness to other markets in the country, Kplers Reid lAnson said. Airlines might have been marginally more active in the region than initial expectations, prompting the need for some international jet volumes." Meanwhile, while the imports of most products from East of Suez to Europe fell in July according to Kpler data, imports of jet fuel remained stable versus June. However, shippers have grown so pessimistic about near-term demand that some vessels are now taking longer routes to arrive in Europe at the end of summer. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor Shani remanded; more arrests likely View(s): As investigations continue into the ex-Criminal Investigation Department Director Shani Abeysekaras alleged fabrication of evidence, police said more arrests were likely soon. Senior Superintendent Abeysekara was remanded till August 7 by the Gampaha Magistrate on Friday night after he was taken into custody by the Colombo Crime Division (CCD) earlier in the day for allegedly fabricating evidence in the case against former Deputy Inspector General Vass Gunawardena. Former DIG Vass Gunawardena, his son and four other suspects were found guilty of the abduction and killing of businessman Mohamed Shiyam and sentenced to death by a trial-at-bar at the Colombo High Court in 2015. Earlier this year, SSP Abeysekera was interdicted on charges of engaging in telephone conversations that brought disrepute to the Police Service. Police spokesman Jaliya Senaratne said SSP Abeysekara was taken into custody following statements given by two police officers and two other individuals claiming that the cache of weapons found hidden in a house in Gampaha did not belong to DIG Gunawardena but had been brought and placed there by SSP Abeysekara himself. SSP Senaratne added that the police were moving to arrest two other retired CID officers in connection with the ongoing investigation into fabricating evidence. By Trend Reports that allegedly as a result of mortar, rocket and artillery strikes of the Azerbaijani army, damage to the civilian infrastructure of Armenia in the amount of $ 300,000 was inflicted is a lie, Trend reports with reference to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. These reports are nothing more than an attempt by the government of this country to blame Azerbaijan on its inability to repair the outdated and damaged private residential buildings, kindergartens, water and gas pipelines, factories, enterprises located in border settlements, i. e., abandoned facilities that were already in terrible condition, the Defense Ministry said. A kind of contradiction is created. During the July battles in the Tovuz direction of the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border, the Armenian Ministry of Defense has repeatedly stated that during the hostilities the Armenian side, "worthily" defending itself, did not suffer significant losses and prevented possible destruction that could have been inflicted on the settlements and infrastructure of Armenia. However, less than two weeks have passed before the chairman of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Hayk Grigoryan, began sounding the alarm about the large-scale damage inflicted on the Tavush region. As you can see, the statement of one Armenian official completely contradicts the statement of another official. This indicates that even the official information disseminated by the Armenian side is based on lies and slander. Unlike Armenia, the units of the Azerbaijan Army never target and fire at the civilian population, settlements, houses, civilian objects. Azerbaijani soldiers never fight the civilian population. All claims and accusations of the Armenian side are unfounded. All this is yet another unsuccessful attempt to arouse compassion and attract the attention of the world community and international organizations, the ministrys statement said. As for the unfounded accusations of the Investigative Committee of Armenia in connection with the alleged use of heavy flamethrower systems TOS-1 and multiple Grad launch rocket systems by the Azerbaijani side during the hostilities on the Azerbaijani- Armenian border, we unambiguously state that during these battles the Azerbaijani army did not use these weapons. The Azerbaijani army intends to use these weapons and other more modern weapons solely for the destruction of selected military facilities, military infrastructure, and manpower over large areas deep in the enemy's defense with precise fire. However, it is known that such objects have not yet been targeted by us and have not been destroyed. If, as the Armenian side claims, the Azerbaijani army would use these weapons, then the scale of destruction and damage would be many times greater. On the contrary, in the course of these battles, as a result of Armenias intensive artillery shelling of our units positions, as well as settlements and civilian objects, on July 14, a 76-year-old civilian from the village of Aghdam, Tovuz region, Aziz Azizov, died. At the same time, damage was inflicted on civilians, public and private property, and infrastructure, and the extent of the damage is being assessed, the ministry said. Units of the Azerbaijan army only took adequate retaliatory measures solely in accordance with the power and destructive force of the combat means used by Armenia. If the Armenian side has any evidence regarding the use of TOS-1 heavy flamethrower systems and Grad multiple launch rocket systems, let the evidence be known. We categorically reject this information and declare that this is another lie. Armenia, as always, and this time also, is spreading misinformation, is trying to deceive the international community," the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said. Coronavirus foothold continued its crushing spread through several key communities in eastern Oregon, according to an analysis of state data by The Oregonian/OregonLive. Oregon added 2,241 confirmed or presumed infections for the week ending July 26. ZIP codes covering Hermiston, Pendleton, Ontario, Umatilla and Boardman were among a dozen statewide jurisdictions to see the most new cases. KEARNEY Rakid Hill has been part of many memorable moments inside Ron and Carol Cope Stadium on the University of Nebraska at Kearney campus. On Friday, the former Loper linebacker stepped onto the Foster Field turf one more time to celebrate his biggest victory yet. Hill and more than 350 other UNK students gathered near midfield where their chairs were meticulously spaced 6 feet apart to take part in a historic commencement ceremony, one that featured both spring and summer graduates. The event, hosted outdoors for the first time in 30 years, meant a lot to the Missouri native and his family. My mom and dad wanted to see me walk, Hill said. Im their first kid to graduate from a university, so that was big for them. And it was important to me because this is such a special place. Hills parents and younger brother made the nine-hour trip from St. Louis to watch him receive his diploma. They were on the fence about coming, but ultimately it was just bigger than whats going on. This is a time to celebrate and not be so stressed, said Hill, who earned a bachelors degree in general studies. After a gap of more than four months, the Maharashtra government has finally given a go-ahead to malls to restart operations from August 5. Allowing malls to open up has been one of the biggest demands from the retail industry. Maharashtra has more than 75 malls, with almost 50 percent spread across Mumbai MMR, Thane, Kalyan, Navi Mumbai Dombivli, etc. Similarly, Pune has more than 20 percent malls while the rest are spread across Amravati, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Nasik, Nagpur, Aurangabad, etc. Malls are allowed to open, but the government has laid certain restrictions. The malls will only be allowed to open from 9 am to 7 pm, curtailing the operational hours. Restaurants, food-court and theatres within mall premises will not be allowed to reopen for the time being. 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 Unlock 3.0, malls are allowed to open but lockdown in Maharashtra has been extended until Aug 31. Maharashtra is threatened with the spread of COVID-19. It is expedient to extend the lockdown in the entire state till August 31, said Maharashtras Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar in a statement of new guidelines issued by the state government. He added that easing of restrictions and opening up of activities which had remained prohibited across the state would be done in a phase wise manner with SOPs. August 2 is the 132nd day since India implemented a nationwide lockdown to help curb the novel coronavirus pandemic. So far, India has recorded 17,50,723 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 37,364 deaths. This reopening comes as a ray of hope for all the retailers and mall developers, but what remains the cause of concern is the customer psyche. In many parts of the country where malls are allowed to open in June and July such as Bengaluru, Delhi, Chennai people still remain vigilant to visit crowded places like shopping centres despite all the precautionary measures, said mall owners and retailers. Retailers also said that, despite malls opening up, it would take 15-20 days for customers to warm up. Whenever the market opens, it takes 10-15 days for the market to warm up. So, for 15 days, nothing much will happen. After August 20 or 25, we believe customers will start entering malls, J.Suresh, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Arvind Fashions Ltd, told Moneycontrol. Retailers are skeptical on the large number of footfalls in the malls as food courts and theatres are not yet allowed to open. Customers who just come to watch a movie or eat at the food court will not come at all, said the CEO of a retailer that runs a prominent apparel brand, adding that the restriction in mall timings may also limit footfalls. What are mall owners saying Mall-owners believe that re-opening shopping malls will bring economic relief to the lakhs of blue-collared workers and the many businesses dependent on them for their livelihoods. Furthermore, as malls open and payments initiate, banking institutions could see relief to their stressed balance sheets. Mall owners said the decision to reopen malls would give a much-needed boost to the retail industry in Maharashtra. It is a positive step towards ensuring that Indias consumption story is rekindled, said Rashmi Sen, Chief Operating Officer Malls - The Phoenix Mills Ltd. Additionally, to stave off the ill effects of the pandemic and reassure consumers, retailers and shopping center developers are going an extra mile to re-align their strategies to meet the new normal and gain customer confidence. The whole experience of going to a mall is all set to change with strict guidelines to ensure social distancing norms. Safety measures Most malls in Maharashtra including Phoenix Mills which has three flagship malls have incorporated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure the safety of customers, retail partners and employees. The Shopping Centres Association of India (SCAI) has laid out SOPs, malls, on their own, are also taking additional precautions. Sanitising tunnels, unidirectional movement of customers and appointment-based visits are some of them. Customer safety is paramount to us and we have focussed SoPs around that. We believe that there will be good results, if customers find malls optimally hygienic, safe, and adhering to social-distancing norms, said Amitabh Taneja, Chairman, SCAI. Sanitisation tunnels and unidirectional movement We have installed sanitising tunnels at various entrances for the customers and the staff, respectively, said Manoj K. Agarwal, Chief Executive Officer, Viviana Mall located in Thane, Mumbai. These tunnels would spray an US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved chemical as a fine mist below the shoulder level. The mall is also planning a unidirectional movement of customers with the help of floor markers and signage -- in common areas, and contactless billing in retail stores. Usage of alternate urinals and washbasins, and sensor-based taps and soap dispensers are the other measures. Only a certain number of customers, based on the size of individual retail stores, will be allowed in. Besides, children up to 10 years of age and senior citizens above 60 years will initially be asked to not visit the mall. Many other precautionary methods like touchless sanitiser dispensers, queueing up with social distancing at all stores, and UV-enabled baggage scanners are already in place. Korum Mall in Thane has a system of appointment-based visits. It requires pre-registering with the mall, which helps them track footfall and maintain optimum number of customers at any given point of time. A contactless interface is in place for food and beverage partners like restaurants and food courts, where a customer can scan a QR code to avail offers and discounts, besides making payments. Pre-ordering food from food courts while shopping or watching a movie is also possible. We plan to have dedicated shopping hours for pregnant women and senior citizens, a Korum spokesperson said. SCAI Chairman Taneja sums it up, All social media platforms and media channels are being utilised to spread awareness around hygiene measures. Medical staff will also be deputed to ensure safety to customers. Currently, malls are operational in major Metros and Tier-I cities. Cities which have opened malls include Delhi, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jaipur, Ahmedabad and small but populous cities such as Agartala, Bhopal, Siliguri, Raiganj, Indore, and, more recently, Cuttack, to name a few. In recent weeks, I have noticed possible racism in articles by the Bristol Herald Courier, the Herald Courier writers and the Associated Press. This happens when the article cites the race of a person or group. When the person is black, black is capitalized. When the person is white, white is small letters. This gives the appearance of racial superiority, a dictionary definition of racism. This is treating different people differently. There is a simple solution: Either capitalize both, or capitalize neither. But to suggest one race is superior to another, or one race is more important than another or one race is favored over another is not equal treatment. Treating people equally does not diminish anyone importance as a person. Every obituary of former U.S. Rep. John Lewis, who passed away July 24 at the age of 80, talked about how as a young man he led the Civil Rights marchers across Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, at the other end of which he was beaten by state troopers so hard that they fractured his skull. Lewis gave his life that they. Five months later and 34 miles away in Haynesville, Alabama, Jonathan Daniels really gave his life. Daniels was a white seminary student from New Hampshire who had joined the Civil Rights Movement in the Deep South. One day Daniels and three other Civil Rights activists one white and two black went to get a cold drink at a convenience store. An armed man blocked the door. When the man aimed the gun at one of the black teenagers, Daniels pushed her out of the way and took the blast intended for her. He died on the spot. These two examples were in the paper July 21, 2020, but it occurs pretty much on a daily basis; are whites second-class? --- Editors Note: The Associated Press continues to lowercase the term white in racial, ethnic and cultural senses. This decision follows APs move in June to capitalize Black and Indigenous. The AP consulted with a wide group of people internally and externally around the globe and considered a variety of commentary in making these decisions. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here IT is always a joy for a priest in charge of a church in the city centre of Limerick to celebrate a beautiful liturgy and see people attend. But what happens when, with short notice, the doors have to be closed? He has to explain to his faithful that from now on he will offer his daily Mass in private, but all are nevertheless very welcome to follow along online. This is what happened when the lockdown was enacted. The whole world changed within a few weeks and an unexpected silence covered the whole city. Silence can sometimes be caused by darkness or fear. This silence reminded me of the Sacred Heart Church after its sale by the Jesuits. When the church was sold in 2006, the silence was rather sad and ominous, as no one knew if this building would reopen as a Catholic church. The only noises one could hear were the numerous beeps emitted by the dying batteries of the smoke alarms, which were starving for replacements. This year during the lockdown, my mobile phone was also constantly ringing in my pocket to notify me of the reception of new messages. These hundreds of messages were requests for prayers, confessions, advice and comfortsouls were starving! Modern technology definitely has a role to play in our vocation, as priestly life nowadays is a connected one. Last year when we installed a new sound system, I had the idea of adding some cameras to broadcast the ceremonies. The whole project was a bit expensiveI remember someone who was surprised by this unnecessary expense. When the project was completed however, he was happy with the result. During the lockdown, he became grateful for this modern technology and is now a proud promoter of our YouTube channel. The silence imposed on churches this year did not lead clerics into anger or despair, even if, unfortunately, some felt abandoned by their priests during the lockdown. There was a lot of misunderstanding due to the exaggerated restrictions. The first few times I preached in the empty church, facing only a camera, I of course had a strange impression. Natural human feelings left me telling myself that only the spiders were listening to my sermon. I could easily imagine the faithful sitting in their pews, as people always like to sit in the same place in church. During these last few months, people have certainly asked themselves: What does a priest do when he is on his own in a closed church? He must have plenty of time to relax! Actually, our community schedule was adapted to include additional prayers, necessary in times of an epidemic, which we recited daily before the Blessed Sacrament. The sacristy kept us busy, as well as the usual community duties and commitments, such as the laundry, bookkeeping, cooking, cleaning of the house and church, our publications, and much more. The first day we had to close the church doors to public ceremonies, two images came to my mind. The first was a brief moment from a movie on the life of Saint Bernadette. When she joined the convent she passed through its iron gates, on the top of which were written just these two words: God only. When a violent storm hits shore, all the ships crews are frightened and navigate their vessels from out of harms way, often in an uncontrolled manner, but a sturdy rock on the beach remains firm and immobile. The church is like the rock. Waves will crash against it, but it does not move, and then calm is restored. When the whole world enters into challenging times, God nevertheless does not change, and neither does the Priesthood! When the lockdown went into effect, I thought to myself: Now that our doors will remain closed, we must enter into a more intense life of prayer. We extended the time of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in the afternoon, taking turns between the community members. We also added the Rosary and special prayers in times of plagues and epidemics every evening after the 7 pm Mass. The notifications I was receiving began to take on a different naturemore and more people were subscribing to our channel. We started to receive messages and prayer intentions from all over the world, but also from neighbours who discovered our faces for the first time on their screens! A great community spirit was born among local residents, helping each other to provide necessary things. People from around the world also discovered us through the internet Here is a message we received: I was looking for a Latin mass near me and got excited to see this unfortunately, I am in Limerick, Pennsylvania and (obviously) its not the Sacred Heart one mile from my house. The second thought I had was a verse of the Gospel: you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you (Gospel of St. John, 16:22). This is the mystery of prayer, the mystery of the Communion of Saints, which is expressed in the verse we pronounce seven times during the Holy Mass, Dominus vobiscum (the Lord be with ye), even if no one replies. We know that God always permits temporary struggles for a greater good, which must be for our conversion. One of our joys was to see every day additional flowers being brought to the shrine of Our Lady. She had never received as many flowers during the previous years! When the doors reopened after three months, I had the same impression as in 2012 when we opened the church for the first time. People were lining up to be first to come and pray in their church again. Several people discovered the Sacred Heart Church through the live-streamed ceremonies, and then came to see the reality and meet our community members in person. We now have to learn how to get back to normal step by step, in Gods time, following the current restrictions. People were starving for the sacraments, but thanks be to God spiritual food is once again available. Virtual followers keep praying with us remotely in real time, additional souls from just around the corner have found a jewel in the heart of their own city and within walking distance of their homes, andthe spiders are gone! Canon Lebocq, Prior of Sacred Heart Church Ram temple in Ayodhya to be ready by 2025, open for 'darshan' to devotees by 2023 end Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan: Ram Lalla to don different coloured attires from Monday India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 02: The idol of Ram Lalla is likely to don different coloured attires from Monday onwards till August 5, the day for 'bhoomi pujan' for the grand temple's construction in Ayodhya, depending on the day's significance. "From tomorrow onwards till August 5, we will dress Ram Lalla as per the day's significance. For tomorrow, i.e. Monday, it would be white clothes, for Tuesday it would be red clothes and for Wednesday it would be green clothes," said Acharya Satyendra Das, chief priest of the makeshift temple on Sunday. "We have also kept an option of yellow and saffron clothes," he added. #WATCH Ayodhya: Pandit Kalki Ram, President of Ramdal Seva Trust, today handed over to Mahant Satyendra Das - the chief priest of the makeshift Ram Lalla temple, the clothes that have been prepared for Ram Lalla, ahead of foundation stone laying ceremony of #RamMandir. pic.twitter.com/WL1zwuWOnO ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 2, 2020 The idol of Ram Lalla is placed on a 9.5-kg silver throne in the new structure where the idol would remain till the construction of the Ram temple is completed on the site, allotted for it by the Supreme Court in a landmark verdict in November. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News Vedic rituals continue as decked up Ayodhya awaits Ram Mandir event The proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya is set to be one of the largest Hindu temples in the world with the height of 161-feet which is an increase by 20-feet from the previous design prepared in 1988, according to Nikhil Sompura, architect and the son of C Sompura, chief architect of the temple. As per the modification suggested in the design of the temple, the width is likely to be increased from 140 feet to 270- 280 feet. The length is likely to increase from 268 to 280-300 feet. In addition, the height will go up to 161 feet from the 128 feet. At 12.30 pm on August 5, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the grand Ram Temple at Ayodhya. Web Toolbar by Wibiya HOUSTON, July 31, 2020 /CNW/ -- National Salmonella Lawyer Jory Lange is investigating the Red Onions Salmonella Outbreak. 326 people in the United States and Canada have contracted Salmonella Newport. 47 people have been hospitalized with Salmonella infections. Salmonella Lawsuits are likely to follow, says The Lange Law Firm, PLLC. "The scary thing about this outbreak is, as a consumer, there's nothing you can do to tell whether the red onions that you are buying is safe. You can't taste, smell, or see Salmonella. Red onions that are contaminated with Salmonella may look, smell, and taste just like any other onions.This is why it's critical that companies who make and sell our food, especially ready-to-eat foods like red onions, ensure the food is safe before they sell it," said national Salmonella food poisoning lawyer Jory Lange. Sysco Recalls Red Onions In Canada, food industry giant Sysco is recalling Red Onions imported from the United States. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's findings in its investigation of this Salmonella outbreak triggered Sysco's Red Onions Recall. Sysco's Imperial Fresh brand jumbo onions are among the products affected in the recall. More products may also be included in this outbreak. The investigation is ongoing. Compensation for Salmonella Those who contracted Salmonella infections after eating food tainted with Salmonella may be entitled to compensation. To learn more about making a claim for Salmonella compensation, please visit the Lange Law Firm's website, www.MakeFoodSafe.com or call 833.330.3663. How Many Are Ill? In the US, here's the case count by state: Arizona (13 cases), California (10 cases), Florida (1), Idaho (5), Illinois (9), Iowa (10), Maine (2), Michigan (15), Minnesota (3), Missouri (3), Montana (11), Nebraska (5), North Carolina (3), North Dakota (3), Ohio (5), Oregon (51), South Dakota (6), Tennessee (2), Utah (40), Virginia (3), Washington (1), Wisconsin (2), and Wyoming (9). In Canada, here's the case count by province: British Columbia (43), Alberta (55), Manitoba (13), Ontario (2), and Prince Edward Island (1). About the legal team: Jory Lange with The Lange Law Firm, PLLC is one of the United States' leading Salmonella lawyers. Mr. Lange has helped families from Arizona, California, Illinois, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, Utah, and in states across the nation. Contacts The Lange Law Firm, PLLC Jory D. Lange Jr. www.MakeFoodSafe.com Candess Zona-Mendola 833.330.3663 candess@jorylange.com Representative Image The source of a variant of the novel coronavirus that has become the most prominent in India has been attributed mostly to Europe, said the countrys first report on the genome of SARS-CoV-2. Amid the surging COVID-19 cases, the revelation has been seen as a hope that it may be easier to deal with a more homogenous entity than those with different lineages, according to The Indian Express' report. The Department of Biotechnology presented the report before Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on August 1. The report stated that the A2a haplotype has rooted out any other haplotypes that existed before. A haplotype is a group of genes, which is inherited together by an organism from a single parent, said the report. Follow our LIVE blog for the latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic As per the initial results, multiple lineages of SARS-CoV-2 are circulating in India that are probably introduced by travel from Europe, the USA and East Asia, the report stated. The findings show that the predominant haplotype strain in India has come from the cluster in Europe, and the entry of this lineage happened through travellers from Europe and Saudi Arabia the study revealed. It further said that in the earlier months from January, there were cases of 19A and 19B, the original Wuhan strain, which indicated that these were through travel from China. But these cases were less and the A2a haplotype strain took over entirely, said Dr Arindam Mitra, one of the studys lead scientists from the National Institute of Biomedical Genomics (NIBMG) in Kalyani, West Bengal Now, it exists in all areas of the country and is the most prominent strain, Mitra was quoted as saying. The study further suggested that haplotype diversions peaked between March and May, before the A2a haplotype emerged as predominant by June. This means the lockdown imposed by the government between March and May has worked, said Mitra. Also, the findings said that the D164G gene variant, a global characteristic of the SARS-Cov-2 virus, is on the decline in Delhi, which may have possibly resulted in a decline in transmission in the capital, said the report. Follow our full coverage on COVID-19 here Here is what your Aadhaar will be mandatory for SIM card to be deactivated if not linked with Aadhaar SIM swap fraud? All you need to know about this online banking scam None of the sim cards that were being used by Sushant Singh was registered in his name: Bihar Police India oi-Madhuri Adnal Patna, Aug 02: A four-member team of the Patna Police who is in Mumbai to probe Sushant Singh Rajput's death said that none of the sim cards that were being used by him was registered in his name. ''None of the sim cards that were being used by Sushant was registered in his name. One of them was registered in the name of his friend Siddharth Pithani. We are now tracking the call detail records (CDRs),''Bihar Police said. Shiv Sena terms it a conspiracy to link Aaditya Thackeray to Sushant case ''We will also interrogate the family of Sushant Singh Rajput's former manager Disha Salian (who died few days before Sushant's death). Even after constant attempts to connect with them on phone, we have failed to establish any contact,'' the police said. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News The four-member Bihar police team arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday to probe the abetment to suicide case registered against Chakraborty and others in Patna. On Saturday the team visited the Bandra police station in connection with the investigation. When asked whether Chakraborty would be interrogated, an official of the Bihar police said, "It is not required as of now. But she is under our watch." Another member of the visiting team said they have sent a notice to Chakraborty under relevant sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), asking her to cooperate with the police in the probe. He also said that the Mumbai police was cooperating with them in the investigation of the case. The team also recorded the statement of film director Rumi Jaffrey. Jaffrey, who was reportedly going to cast Sushant Singh Rajput and Rhea Chakraborty together, was quizzed for around four hours, said an official. CBI registers FIR in Sushant Singh Rajputs case; ED summons Rhea Chakraborty They would be recording the statements of four-five more persons from the film industry, he said. Krishna Kumar Singh (74), Rajput's father, lodged a complaint against Chakraborty and six others including her family members in Patna on Tuesday. The case was registered under various IPC sections including 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 306 (abetment of suicide). Singh accused Chakraborty, a budding TV and film actor, of having befriended his son in May 2019 with the intention of furthering her own career and exploiting him. Rajput was found hanging in his suburban Bandra apartment on June 14. A Mumbai police official said earlier in the day that the visiting team had recorded the statements of six persons as part of the probe. "Till now, the police team from Bihar has met the late actor's friends, colleagues and relatives. They have recorded the statements of six persons- Rajput's sister, who stays in Versova, former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, a cook, his friends and colleagues," the official said. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal It has been a budget-making process like no other for the city of Santa Fe. And its still not finished. After months of planning by city officials and several intensive hearings held by the City Councils Finance Committee, councilors unanimously approved a $319 million budget Wednesday for the next fiscal year, an 18% cut compared to last years budget. Compared to two months ago when Mayor Alan Webber announced a projected collapse in city revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic city administrators and councilors appeared much more certain about the state of the citys finances, at least for the time being. In particular, Webber highlighted the lack of future furloughs or layoffs past Sept. 4, with councilors touting the maintaining of jobs as a major achievement. However, not all parties were pleased with the citys rollout of the budget. Representatives from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local 3999; members of the public; and even some councilors all voiced concerns about the transparency of the process and portions of the budget reflecting parts of the city that dont yet exist. Jumping the gun When Webber announced Santa Fes new and improved budget on May 13, he and City Manager Jarel LaPan Hill also unveiled a reorganization plan for the city government, which Webber has referred to as reimagining city government. Under this plan, set to go before the council on Aug. 26, 12 different departments and divisions would consolidate into three brand new departments with a community-based theme: Community Development, Community Engagement, and Community Health and Services. Webber has said the reorganization will make the citys government more efficient and provide better services to residents, and that the citys financial crisis provided the opportunity for substantial change. But the timing of the reorganization announcement has left some concerned. Therese Martinez, a city librarian and recording secretary of AFSCME Local 3999, told the council Wednesday that it seems aspects of the budget already reflect a reorganization that has not been approved. We feel this is pushing, forcing if you will, a reorganization under the guise of a budget approval, she said. During multiple days of budget hearings that led up to the final budget vote, features of the reorganization were frequent. The Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Book includes titles for departments still not approved by the council. Up until the vote, the agenda included councilors voting on a new organizational chart featuring new departments. Some councilors echoed the unions concern that city officials jumped the gun on reorganizing City Hall. During a Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday, Councilor Renee Villarreal said she was struggling with the fact that the reorganization had already begun shaping the budget. We hadnt gotten full details for what the proposed reorg would look like and what the benefits would be to combine certain departments, Villarreal wrote in a text message, calling some of the budget presumptuous. Councilor JoAnne Vigil Coppler also expressed concern about the state of the budget, saying she felt a pandemic was the wrong time to reorganize. Im very conflicted about this budget, she said. The budget was presented as if reorganization had already happened. Webber did not deny that the reorganization shaped the budget and said he did not view it as an issue. You have to build the budget on a set of assumptions, he said in a phone interview. If the City Council wants to change it, then change the budget. Its really not that complicated. In the end, the budget received a unanimous vote just a couple of days before the state-mandated deadline. While most of the public speakers at the meeting discussed defunding the Santa Fe Police Department, some did focus on the reorganization. I actually think youre making the navigation of City Hall a lot more opaque by having all these community this and community that named departments, Stefanie Beninato said. A rush to the finish Concerns about transparency, or lack thereof, at City Hall are nothing new. Since the pandemic started, AFSCME and its representatives have frequently admonished city officials for what they say is a lack of communication on how COVID-19 has impacted the city and its employees. Prior to the first round of furloughs, required discussions between the city and AFSCME broke down, after which the union filed an unfair labor practices complaint that alleged the city committed a violation by failing to provide information about the furloughs. Martinez said there was a similar lack of communication in the second round of furloughs and the raising of employees health care premiums. This is the pattern weve been seeing, she said. AFSCME did email councilors a set of questions about the budget and reorganization. The union said communication with the city has been scant. Nobodys in a hurry to answer any of them for us, nobody is asking us to meet with them, said AFSCME Vice President Gil Martinez. On April 29, Vigil Coppler said the council had been backed into a corner with the furlough plan. Four councilors voted against the measure, with some saying they did not have enough time to review it properly. In the most recent budget process, concerns about transparency and the ability to include others in the process remained. Former city councilor Karen Heldmeyer, a watchdog of city government, said she felt most people outside the mayors office have had little say-so since March when the pandemic started. In terms of getting both public input and the input of councilors, I think it is not going well, she said. After Webber first announced the proposed budget, it took the council 2 weeks to approve it. Heldmeyer said the process seemed rushed. Theres always a trade-off between doing something quickly and doing something with other peoples knowledge, whether other people are the public or the council, she said. The Finance Committee did hold a series of lengthy budget hearings prior to approval. How much councilors impacted the shape of the budget before it was announced is, however, unclear. Councilor Roman Abeyta told the Journal that councilors had provided some feedback to city officials about how the budget should look. During the City Council meeting, some councilors said the budget still needed some work, but that it could be adjusted at a later date. And while councilors and Webber said they received emails and phone calls from the public about the budget, many public speakers said the community had not been consulted enough. Were moving very quickly with the budget without understanding the conditions that have led to these important decisions being made, one speaker said. There hasnt been enough community engagement, particularly with marginalized communities. Webber told the Journal a survey of citizen priorities was conducted, but said a public forum can be held next time before the budget is crafted to include more voices. Whenever it comes to citizen engagement, you can always do more and you can always do better, he said. Not the first time Claims of opaque government have occurred outside the budgetary realm, as well. The citys selection of a developer for the Midtown Campus has also been accused of lacking transparency. At the time, some councilors said the public had not been given enough time to comment before a decision was made. Webber said releasing that information ahead of time would have violated the procurement code. The Santa Fe Reporter has filed a lawsuit against the city for failing to provide the disciplinary records of Santa Fe police officers, with a judge ruling in May that the city broke the law by withholding the records. Webber maintained the city was following the law as written. What the budget will look like in the future remains unclear, as the city will hold quarterly sessions to review and possibly make adjustments to the numbers. Webber told the Journal the budget-making process is very complicated and that many city workers worked long hours to get it completed in time. I dont know that anyone who isnt integrally involved can ever know what that entails, he said. Jen Hatmaker asks for prayers as family navigates 'unexpected crisis': We are deeply hurting Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment High-profile Christian author Jen Hatmaker posted a cryptic message on Facebook Friday where she revealed that her family is working through an unexpected crisis and asked for prayers. The writer, who made headlines in 2016 for affirming same-sex marriage, revealed that something happened, but she wouldn't provide any details except to say that she and her family are going to be OK. Ive been quiet, Hatmaker wrote after nearly three weeks of social media silence. In short, we are deeply hurting in our little life, Hatmaker revealed. As Ive written, there is a difference between secrecy marked by shame, and privacy marked by discretion, and we are in the second category. The Kansas native said her family is navigating an unexpected crisis and its the reason for her absence on social media. Hatmaker maintained that her break was to help steer toward healing and wholeness. Please know that everyone is safe, and all our kids are okay, she continued. Also know that our community and family has radically cared for us, and we are surrounded by love and support. Jesus loves us. We are not alone. The popular speaker asked her supporters not to worry for her, but instead to pray for us if you pray. A request: dont pry or ask or push, even out of sincere concern. Please dont blow up our phones and inboxes and DMs (or our friends). Just hold us close to your heart in great love, Hatmaker added. The author concluded her post by saying: As I reengage our online community here, Ill be whatever I am that day, so thanks for the space to be a human person. Ive always known you were a soft place to land. Thank you for loving us in all things, at all times, through all moments. Hi. Its been quiet here. Ive been quiet. In short, we are deeply hurting in our little life. As Ive written, there is... Posted by Jen Hatmaker on Friday, July 31, 2020 Last month, Hatmaker released a podcast titled A Moment of Pride, where she publicly said she's "glad" her daughter is lesbian. Hatmaker introduced the podcast by saying it wasn't a coming out announcement for her daughter, Sydney, because their family has known about her sexuality for quite some time. In the discussion, Hatmakers daughter disclosed that she had grappled with reconciling her sexuality and her spirituality for many years. She said the nail in the coffin happened after she googled various theological perspectives on homosexuality and saw an article that referenced her mothers comments about loving the LGBT community, but not affirming the lifestyle. In the interview, Hatmaker said her greatest regret was speaking against homosexuality. I wouldnt change one ounce of who she is. Not a molecule. Not a moment. The only thing I would change in our story, is I wish I could go back and shake myself to life sooner well, well, well, before, Hatmaker said. The truth is, every single church is just filled with gay kids and gay moms and dads and you know, it's just so irresponsible to break their hearts, Hatmaker said, asserting that pastors should be preaching to people of all sexual orientations. The majority of Christian denominations worldwide adhere to the Bible's stance on homosexuality and teach that while it's a sin, believers are commanded to love the sinner. Hatmaker and Sydney argue that love without affirmation is not enough. Hatmaker also recently released a new book, Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Glorious You. In the book, she writes that she traded evangelical theology for the wild terrain of the wilderness. Dr. Mark L. Walker assumed the role of president at Lee University in Cleveland on Saturday. It was a decision by the institutions board of directors, made in January of this year, which set the course in motion, but on this quiet Saturday, all the planning and preparation became an official reality. The board promoted Dr. Walker from within the administrative leadership of the university where he had been serving as a member of the presidents cabinet of eight vice presidents since 2017. During that time, in addition to his cabinet role, Dr. Walker had also been serving in the academic affairs division as chair of the Department of Christian Ministries and Professor of Pastoral Studies. Before joining Lees administration full-time, he served for seven years as a member of Lees board of directors and was also a frequent speaker in the universitys chapel services and other campus events. Dr. Walker said of the new role, I feel humbled, excited, honored and scared all at the same time. I am humbled to have been offered the position by the Board of Directors. I am excited about the endless opportunities and possibilities Lee has to bring positive change. I am honored to be a part of the incredible Lee family. And I am scared right down to my socks. It is not lost on me the legacy of responsibility I carry serving as the 17th president of a 102-year old institution. At times, it feels quite daunting. But there are three sets of people that help me maintain a proper perspective, Dr. Walker said. First, my wife, Udella, and our family keep me centered. Second, at Lee we have an amazing team of committed and talented people carrying the load with me. I need not walk alone. Third, and most important, the same Unseen Guest is with me that empowered Nora Chambers to overcome her fear as she taught Lees first class on Jan. 1, 1918. God has been Lees foundation for 102 years, and I intend to keep Him our foundation. On Him I place my trust. Dr. Walker received a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Counseling from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va. He has completed the Executive Leadership Institute program hosted by the Tennessee Independent Colleges and Universities Association and is a participant in the Harvard Seminar for New Presidents, a one-year seminar drawing several dozen college and university presidents from around the world, held by Harvard Universitys Graduate School of Education. Dr. Walker enters the role at a critical moment for Lee University and for higher education in general. The crisis of a global pandemic has created challenges for the normal operation of any large business, and the higher education community has its own special considerations, but he has had time to develop plans to launch fully into his work at Lees helm. My immediate plan is to work hard at keeping our focus on our mission while continuing to navigate the pandemic crisis, he said. We have to be careful that the crisis does not become our mission. Chancellor Conn has done an excellent job leading us in this manner, and we must maintain that course. My plan is to also hit the ground listening and learning hearing the hearts of our students, faculty and staff; listening to the voices of our alumni and surrounding community; all to help me better learn who we are and where we need to go next. When asked what he hopes will be the assessment looking back at this first year, he said, That we not only managed the crisis effectively, but we advanced our institution in the process. I would like to look back and see that through all the many adjustments we made in dealing with COVID-19, we moved our mission forward and discovered new systems, ideas, opportunities, and strategies to make us a better university for the future. Out of the gate, Dr. Walker is making his agenda clear, with a focus on crisis management and missional priorities. Crisis management will continue to be essential, he said. Ensuring the safety of our students and employees is top priority, which will require staying informed on all new developments and communicating them, consistently, to the entire Lee constituency. Also, making wise budget decisions in light of any monetary impact from the crisis will be critical. The cabinet team and I will need to work together to establish Lees most important priorities that will best serve the university and advance our mission. Important to this work will be teaming with Provost Debbie Murray to better understand our most pressing academic needs and consulting with Chancellor Conn to gain his insight as to our best next steps as an institution. Such teamwork will enable us to use our valuable resources on our most strategic missional needs and goals. Dr. Walker further revealed how he views Lees process for dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. That process to me is one of grief, faith and opportunity, he said. We need to allow ourselves time to grieve the losses we have suffered in this pandemic. We cannot ignore the reality that so many in and close to the Lee family have experienced tremendous loss. Lee is far more than lifeless brick and mortar; we are a living community of colleagues that rejoice and mourn together. I believe we must find ways to intentionally recognize our losses as a family. However, our grieving is not without faith. As a Christ-centered institution, we are a people of faith. At the risk of sounding preachy, we seldom, if ever, understand the sovereignty of God. Yet, we can trust it. The why of this pandemic remains a great mystery, which is why faith is paramount. I think trusting God in times of great mystery is the character of faith. Some call it looking through the glass darkly. The pandemic is not the first tragedy to touch Lees campus, unfortunately. The Ellis Hall fire comes to mind. Yet, in that case and in all cases, God proved Himself faithful. God did not fail us then, and He will not fail us now. But as we grieve by faith, we must work hard at seizing the opportunities that open to us in this crisis. What emerged from the Ellis Hall fire was an opportunity for a brand new and better dormitory, Atkins-Ellis, which was the first structure we built on the other side of Parker Street. The opportunity to move across Parker Street had opened to us through a terrible incident. Look what is there now. In our present crisis, we must strive together to find the other side of Parker Street opportunities that will expand and advance our mission. They will be there. God will open those doors. We cannot be afraid to have the grit to walk through them. With his experience, Dr. Walker brings a perspective to the presidency that gives testimony to his strengths: leading with a team mentality, strategic planning, and developing leaders. I am a team leader, he said. I believe in team. I believe in getting the right people on the bus and in the right seats on the bus and working together with them to drive the bus where it needs to go. Strategic planning is also an important leadership practice to me. If you are familiar with the movie, The A-Team, one of its main characters is Hannibal Smith, the leader of the team. His favorite line when they successfully complete a mission is, I love it when a plan comes together. Thats me. I also have a real burden for leadership development. I would love to see Lee become even more intentional, perhaps even a hub, for developing leaders at all levels. As the world is becoming more and more complex, the need for effective, servant, and Christ-centered leaders is greater than ever before. Why cant Lee be more center stage in developing next generational leaders that lead world change? The Walkers have developed a long and close relationship with the universitys denominational affiliate, the Church of God, both by serving for 20 years as senior pastor of Mount Paran North, one of the global denominations most prominent congregations, in the Greater Atlanta area, and by serving on several national and international leadership bodies for the denomination and some of its ministries. Of that aspect of his career, Dr. Walker said, In many respects, a pastor carries out the functions of an organizational leader like casting vision, cultivating culture, creating systems, raising and managing a budget, and working with governing boards. I believe these will serve me well as president. Perhaps most of all, I feel confident that my ministerial experience will aid me in caring for and developing people. Pastors serve to help people discover and live out their faith. It is all about leading people in faith integration, which is the heart of the Lee mission preparing our students to live responsible Christian lives in a complex world. Dr. Walker is beginning his new role with optimism and a team spirit that finds a welcome fit with the school under his leadership. In a charge to employees of Lee he talks about the synergy that exists on the Lee campus. Members of a rowing team share an experience together that they call the moment of swing, he said. Swing is described as an ideal state of harmony when all the oars are in the water working in near perfect synchronization. It generates the fastest amount of speed and creates the best possibility of success. Swing is the result of tremendous teamwork. While we at Lee University are proud to be a liberal arts teaching institution, we believe we have an even greater call to serve as a Christ-centered transforming community. We do more than deliver the knowledge of our individual disciplines; we work together to engage our students in the transformational journey of integrating faith, values and vocation. I am excited to team with you as we passionately join together to serve our students that they might go out and change the world. It is our mission! It is the Lee Experience! It is our moment of swing! Dr. Walker is eager to continue to engage with Lee students and for them to get to know him in his new role. In a message to them in the fall 2020 student handbook, he quotes an axiom of unknown origin: If you are unwilling to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you. He goes on to challenge students, We firmly believe that the ability to learn is a gift from God. But we also believe that exercising that gift is a personal choice. I, along with the entire Lee community of students, faculty and staff, stand ready to help you make that choice and walk with you in your journey. It is our honor. The choice is yours! Dr. Walker is married to his wife Udella since 1984 and together they have two children, Justin and Ashten, a daughter-in-law, Amanda, a son-in-law, Caleb, and three grandchildren, Kennedy, Judah and Levi. A fight broke out on a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Ibiza after two passengers refused to wear face masks. KLM requires passengers to wear a face mask from the first boarding call until passengers have gone through the arrival gate at their destination. Footage appears to show two English-speaking passengers brawling after the flight took off from Amsterdam on Friday. Stoppen nu, er zijn kinderen hiero!Knokpartij op @klm vlucht naar Ibiza. Dronken passagier weigert mondkapje te dragen Panic and violent brawl! Unruly passenger on board KLM flight,he refused to wear face mask #incident #klm #avgeek #aviation #planespotting @KLM_press pic.twitter.com/RPM0g1Kqh9 The Mic High Club Luchtvaart Podcast (@MicHighClub) August 2, 2020 Footage appears to show two English passengers brawling after the flight took off from Amsterdam on Friday Passengers can be heard shouting at the men to stop and saying 'there are kids here'. At the end of the clip, the passenger can be seen lying on the floor in the aisle of the plane, with his hands handcuffed behind his back. Several other passengers in the clip can be seen not wearing face coverings. Both men were restrained with the help of other passengers and were later arrested by Spanish police on arrival in Ibiza after the pilot informed local authorities, The Independent reported. Passengers can be heard shouting at the men to stop and saying 'there are kids here' in the background A spokesperson for the airline said: 'Two unruly passengers refused to wear their face masks and they were bothering their fellow passengers physically and verbally. 'The pilot informed the local authorities and upon arrival, both passengers were arrested. The flight safety was not compromised during the flight.' Instagram user Michighclub posted the video this morning and claimed that the passenger had been drinking vodka and refused to wear face masks. The pilot notified local authorities and two men were arrested when the flight arrived in Ibiza KLM said that passengers are required to wear a face mask until at least 31 August 2020 unless they are under 10 years old or can't wear them due to medical reasons. On its website, it said: 'Without face covering, we cannot allow you to board. We strongly advise you wear a mask at the rest of the airport as well.' Face masks are required in the airport at some destinations, including Amsterdam Airport Schiphol where passengers aged 13 and up are required to wear a mask at check-in, during security checks, at the gate, and in areas where it's not possible to stay 1.5 metres away from other passengers. On the flight, passengers can remove the mask if they are eating or drinking but are advised to keep this period as brief as possible. Demonstrators want the long-serving Israeli PM to resign over handling of coronavirus crisis and corruption charges. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has railed at swelling protests against his rule, saying they are being egged on by a biased media. Netanyahu has faced a wave of protests in recent weeks, with demonstrators calling for the long-serving leader to resign, panning his handling of the coronavirus crisis, and saying he should not remain in office while on trial for corruption charges. In a nearly six-minute rant at a meeting of his cabinet, Netanyahu slammed the media for inflaming the protests devoting disproportionate air time to them and for distorting incidents of violence against the protesters. In the name of democracy, I see an attempt to trample on democracy, Netanyahu said. Netanyahus statements came after thousands of demonstrators gathered outside his official residence in central Jerusalem, while smaller anti-government gatherings were also held in Tel Aviv, near his beach house in central Israel and at dozens of busy intersections nationwide. An Israeli court on Sunday also ordered Netanyahus son to delete a tweet in which he published the personal details of anti-government protest leaders and ordered him to stop harassing petitioners. Yair Netanyahu, 29, wrote on Twitter on Thursday: I invite everyone to come to protest, day and night (the Supreme Court says its allowed), at the homes of these people that are organising for us all the anarchy in the country in recent weeks. Police try to clear off protesters who blocked a main road during a protest against Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside his residence in Jerusalem on August 2 [Oded Balilty/AP] He attached a court document with the names, adresses and telephone numbers of five activists, who complained to Jerusalems Magistrate Court that followers of Yairs Twitter account had made threatening phone calls to them and trespassed onto the yard of one of them. Judge Dorit Feinstein said the wording of the tweet, combined with his publication of the court document, constituted incitement to harassment. I order the respondent to remove the tweet, she wrote in her ruling, seen by dpa news agency. Yair Netanyahu should refrain from harassing the petitioners in any shape or manner, including by means of a third person, for the duration of six months, she said. The demonstrations on Saturday were among the largest turnouts in weeks of protests. Though Netanyahu has tried to play down the protests, the twice-a-week gatherings show no signs of slowing. Israeli media estimated that at least 10,000 people demonstrated near the official residence in central Jerusalem. Late on Saturday, thousands marched through the streets in a noisy but orderly rally. Demonstrators waved Israeli flags and blew horns as they marched. Many held posters that said Crime Minister and Bibi Go Home or accused Netanyahu of being out of touch with the public. Hundreds of people remained in the area well after midnight, ignoring calls by police to leave. Anti-riot forces moved into the area and began clearing out people. As of early Sunday morning, most of the remaining protesters appeared to be leaving peacefully, but police were seen dragging some activists away. Clashes with police The rallies against Netanyahu are the largest Israel has seen since 2011 protests against the countrys high cost of living. Netanyahu has dismissed the demonstrators as leftists and anarchists. Late on Saturday, his Likud party issued a statement that accused Israels two private TV stations of giving free and endless publicity to the protesters and exaggerating the importance of the gatherings. While the demonstrations have largely been peaceful, there have been signs of violence in recent days. Some protesters have clashed with police, accusing them of using excessive force, while small gangs of Netanyahu supporters affiliated with a far-right group have assaulted demonstrators. Netanyahu has claimed demonstrators are inciting violence against him. Israeli police have arrested some 20 far-right activists in recent days, and police said they were on high alert for violence at the demonstrations. Several arrests of Netanyahu supporters were reported on Saturday, including a man who got out of his car in the northern city of Haifa and threw a stone towards a crowd of protesters. Police said a 63-year-old woman was slightly hurt. The demonstrations are organised by a loose-knit network of activist groups. Some object to Netanyahu remaining in office while he is on trial. He has been charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals. Many carry black flags, which have given their name to the grassroots movement. Many of the demonstrators, including many young unemployed Israelis, accuse Netanyahu of mishandling the coronavirus crisis and the economic damage it has caused. After moving quickly to contain the virus earlier in the year, many believe Israel reopened its economy too quickly, leading to a surge in cases. The country is now coping with record levels of coronavirus, while unemployment has surged to more than 20 percent. As of Sunday, there were more than 72,000 coronavirus cases reported in Israel with more than 530 confirmed deaths. Joint Forces did not return fire, the report notes. Ukraine's Joint Forces in Donbas report three incidents where the Russian-controlled armed groups opened indirect fire. On Saturday night, the adversary fired small arms, provoking Ukrainian troops at their defense positions outside the village of Pisky. Joint Forces did not return fire, the report notes. No losses were reported, the JFO HQ press service says, adding that two servicemen were wounded. Read alsoOSCE reports 60 civilian casualties in Donbas since year-start One of the soldiers sustained shrapnel injuries by stepping on an explosive device, while another and the second defender injured his hand at one of the strongholds. Both troops were promptly evac'd to the nearest hospitals. Since day-start on Sunday, no enemy shellings have been recorded in the Joint Forces Operation zone. As UNIAN reported earlier, on July 31 Russian-controlled armed groups violated the earlier-proclaimed ceasefire four times. The prisoner had escaped from Kokrajhar's RNB Civil Hospital on Tuesday night, Superintendent of Police Rakesh Roshan said Sukla Murmu, hailing from neighbouring Chirang district, was charged with rape and lodged in Kokrajhar Jail since May 5. (Representative Image) Kokrajhar: A rape-accused coronavirus positive prisoner, who had managed to escape from a hospital in Assam's Kokrajhar district, was arrested on Sunday from Lungshun area along the Indo-Bhutan border, police said. The prisoner had escaped from Kokrajhar's RNB Civil Hospital on Tuesday night, Superintendent of Police Rakesh Roshan said. Sukla Murmu, hailing from neighbouring Chirang district, was charged with rape and lodged in Kokrajhar Jail since May 5. He was admitted to hospital after testing positive for COVID-19 on July 25, the SP said. Murmu had escaped from the hospital by breaking a window of the ward, he said. The prisoner is being brought to Kokrajhar, where he will be tested again for COVID-19 before a decision is taken on where to lodge him. File photo The PUNCH reports that the Lagos State Police Command has arrested a commercial driver, Habeeb Quadri, for allegedly assaulting a passenger, Emmanuel James, in the Surulere area of the state, resulting in his death. Quadri was arrested by the Bode Thomas Police Division on Thursday with eyewitnesses claiming that the driver hit James in the chest over an issue bordering on money during which the deceased slumped. The scuffle occurred at the Bode Thomas Junction. The PUNCH correspondent was told that the incident caused confusion at the junction as other passengers and passersby tried to revive James to no avail. They reportedly thereafter prevented Quadri from escaping from the scene. A police source narrated that the deceaseds son reported the matter at the station, after James was rushed to the hospital but confirmed dead by a doctor. The source said, It is a murder case and we are investigating it. On July 20, about 9am, the passengers son, who identified himself as Emmanuel Kayode, came to the station. He and his father lived on Olatunde Onimole Street, Aguda in the Surulere area. He reported that his father was assaulted by a commercial driver named Habeeb Quadri at the Bode Thomas Junction. The man was thereafter rushed to the hospital after he collapsed immediately. The son stated further that the hospital rejected him and based on the mans critical condition, he was taken back home for treatment. Along the line, he gave up the ghost. We have taken the statement of the complainant. The scene of the incident was also visited. The suspect has been arrested. The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bala Elkana, confirmed Quadris arrest, adding that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, for further investigation. He said, The case is presently with the SCIID. Investigation is ongoing and the suspect will soon be charged. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has intervened to warn TDs and senators they will be expelled if they do not support Government legislation. Varadkar also told the Sunday Independent the three governing parties will have to "do things differently" when they return after the summer. "The last few weeks were chaotic," the Fine Gael leader admitted yesterday. "I think all three parties are going to have to do things differently in September and communicate better with each other and our own." Varadkar's comments follow the Green Party's sanctioning of two TDs after they did not vote with the Government on legislation extending an eviction ban and rent freeze for those impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. "Eamon Ryan has been very clear: TDs and Senators can't be in government and not vote with the Government," the Tanaiste said. Varadkar's comments are in marked contrast to Taoiseach Micheal Martin, who on Friday said it was up to the Green Party leader to decide how to discipline his TDs. Read More Minister of State Joe O'Brien and his Green Party colleague Neasa Hourigan were banned from speaking in the Dail for two months for not voting with the Government. However, most of the ban will be served during the six-week Dail recess when the Oireachtas is not sitting. Ryan said that his parliamentary party agreed "you cannot vote against the Government if you're in government". He added: "You cannot abstain if you're in Government. It weakens our strength. It weakens government. It doesn't work." Interviewed on RTE on Friday, Hourigan said she would not "make a habit" of voting against the Government but insisted she did not believe the legislation brought before the Dail by Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien offered strong enough protections for renters. There is concern in Fianna Fail and Fine Gael over securing the votes of Green Party TDs when the Budget is put before the Dail in October. A senior Fianna Fail source also warned the economic impacts of Covid-19 will "hit really hard" in the autumn and said the Government will have to be "very vigilant". "The stimulus package will help shield the country from the worst of it and we are focused on a steady, cautious return of the new normal," the source added. Separately, Leo Varadkar has insisted the Government enacted significant legislation during its first month in office. The Tanaiste highlighted the 5bn July Jobs Stimulus Package, the extension of the pandemic unemployment payment and the temporary wage subsidy scheme. He also noted the extension of protections for renters impacted by the Covid pandemic and the 2bn loan scheme for business, which the Department of Enterprise drafted. "It's a pity all that got obscured by the missteps and avoidable errors," he added. Over the summer break, the three parties are expected to develop new structures and processes to ensure there is better communication between the Coalition partners. The Government's first month in office has been marred by a series of controversies that overshadowed their work on reopening the country after months of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, three ministers of state returned a 16,000 pay increase, following a public outcry, but split two identical pay increases to ensure they each got around 11,000 each. Taoiseach Micheal Martin also announced he was taking 10pc pay cut, but it has emerged he will still be earning more than his predecessor, Leo Varadkar. TDs drown their sorrows as Coalition founders, pages 4-5 Chinese tech giant ByteDance is reportedly considering to list its domestic business including TikTok, in Hong Kong or Shanghai, people familiar with the matter have told an international news agency. This comes in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump announcing the plan of banning ByteDance-owned app, TikTok and exploring other similar options. Of the two venues being considered by ByteDance, the company reportedly is inclined towards Hong Kong. Reuters cited one of the persons familiar to the matter saying that ByteDance, at the same time, is also studying the option to list its smaller, non-China businesses in Europe or in the United States, this includes TikTok that is not available in the Asian superpower. The 8-year-old Beijing-based tech giant and media company had originally wanted to list as a combined entity, including the video-sharing social networking service and other operations in New York or Hong Kong in a hit deal. However, ByteDance has been in communication with bourse operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) over the business listing in China. According to reports, the two people have also said that the company is also in discussion with Chinese securities regulators. The report of separate plans for the China business comes amid the growing scrutiny by the US government over security concerns. Read - Why Does Donald Trump Want To Ban TikTok? Concerns Around The Short-video App Explained Read - TikTok Says Its 'not Going Anywhere' As Trump Indicates Towards Banning Chinese App TikTok says its 'not going anywhere' After US President Donald Trump indicated towards his plans of banning Chinese video-sharing social networking service TikTok, the company responded by assuring that it here for the long run. In a recorded message by TikTok US General Manager Vanessa Pappas shared on August 1, she thanked millions of Americans who use the application every day and spread creativity and joy into the lives of people. While Trump said in a press briefing earlier, that the US government is currently looking at options with respect to the China-based company, Pappas assured that were not going anywhere and called TikTok a home for creators. TikTok US General manager told the TikTok community, I want to thank millions of Americans who use TikTok every day bringing their creativity and joy into our daily lives. We have heard your outpouring of support and we want to say thank you. Were not planning on going anywhere. TikTok is a home for creators and artists to express themselves, their ideas and connect with people across different backgrounds and we are so proud of all the various communities that call TikTok their home," she added. Read - What Happened To Dixie And Griffin? Find Out If The TikTok Couple Has Broken Up Read - TikTok In Advanced Stages To Be Acquired By Microsoft After Trump Considers Banning App (With inputs from agency) (Image credit: Pixabay) James Baldwin in 1985. (Associated Press) James Baldwin was born Aug. 2, 1924, in Harlem, to parents who were children of former slaves. For migrants fleeing an economically depressed and racist South, Harlem was not much better, and his parents struggled to provide anything close to the American dream for their children. By the time you are 7, he recalled near the end of his life, you know why you are in a ghetto. Baldwin knew by then that the Pledge of Allegiances promise of liberty and justice for all would not apply to him or his siblings, but his father insisted he recite the words each day at school, terrified of what would happen if he did not. In August 1987, when I was 7 years old, my family came to the United States as refugees, joining a drove of asylum seekers from across the world. My father fled Iran, aided by smugglers who helped him cross the Iran-Pakistan border. After several weeks, my mother, sister and I flew from Tehran to Paris to meet him. And by December 1987, the year Baldwin died, we had settled in Queens, a subway ride away from his Harlem. Of course, I didnt know that at the time. I wouldnt encounter Baldwins searing and impassioned prophecies for another decade no one in my family had read him, no one in my primary schools had taught his work. But when I finally encountered him after starting college, his words changed my life. In the pages of his novels, essays and plays, I came to understand both my fathers terror and my adopted country. Baldwin provided me with a blueprint for what it meant to be an American. In 1948, when Baldwin fled America for France, he was neither a migrant nor a refugee, but he was, as he later wrote, at the end of a certain rope, living an impossible nightmare in the country of his birth. He was either going to be killed or kill somebody if he stayed. He was also trying to escape his fathers fate of becoming embittered, angry and beaten down by his native country. As Baldwin fled America, refugees and migrants were fleeing to America, seeking to escape the authoritarian regimes that had curtailed their livelihoods and find a place of safety and prosperity. The irony was not lost on Baldwin. As he stated in his 1965 debate with William Buckley, the American dream comes at the expense of the American Negro. Story continues By 7, I had absorbed the grammar of American life. I realized even before I became fluent in English that I did not want to assimilate; I wanted to disappear into whiteness. This terrified my father. One morning as he walked me to school, I told him I wanted to change my name to Julie and have blond hair. Like Baldwin, my father understood that my desired erasure meant a profound rupture with our history, our language, even our connection. He would often remind me, Americans do not know who they are. I later learned that wanting to become American, for the immigrant, often really meant wanting to become a white American. White, Baldwin reflected in 1978, is really a metaphor for safety and for power and that is why people are white. Immigrant children know this truth even before they can articulate it. And our parents, fearing for our safety, knew like the Irish, Italian and other immigrants before them, that they, as Baldwin said, would not like to be Black here. The problem, as my father anticipated, even if he didnt express it this way, was that his children had been socialized to accept the invitation to become white. And with that invitation came the danger so many recent immigrants face of forgetting why we came to this country, the danger we would embrace its baser aspects. The tragedy of this country now, Baldwin wrote in 1963, is that most of the people who say they care about it do not care. What they care about is their safety and their profits. What they care about is not rocking the boat. What they care about is the continuation of white supremacy. In his vast body of work, Baldwin showed us how to bear witness to the past with both pride and despair, so that we could break from the tragedy of the present. Baldwin told the stories of Black Americans who came "from a long line of runaway slaves who managed to survive without passports. And in these histories, he reminded us of what it might mean to be an American. Leah Mirakhor is a writer and critic based in New Haven, Conn. She teaches at Yale University. New Delhi, Aug 2 : In a new twist to the Kerala gold smuggling case where the state Chief Minister's office is in the dock, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has found links of Popular Front of India (PFI) in the case. The PFI's role in the case emerged following two fresh arrests by the anti-terror agency on Saturday. Muhammad Ali Ebrahim and Muhammad Ali were held by the NIA on Saturday after they were found to be part of the conspiracy in the case that rocked Kerala and has caused a huge dent to the image of Chief Minister Pinarai Vijayan, who continues to maintain that this was a private affair concerning M. Sivasankar, a senior IAS officer who held the dual post of secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and was also the state IT secretary, and his office has nothing to do with it. Besides aiding and assisting arrested accused Jalal A.M. in collecting the smuggled gold from Ramees K.T. at Thiruvananthapuram and distributing the contraband amongst other conspirators, the NIA said the two accused were involved in other activities also. NIA investigators later found that Muhammad Ali is a member of the PFI and was earlier charge-sheeted by Kerala Police in 'Professor's Palm Chopping Case' but got acquitted after trial in 2015. Following the arrests, the NIA on Sunday conducted searches at six places at the residences of arrested accused Jalal A M. and Rabins Hameed in Ernakulam district, and at the residences of Ramees K.T., Mohammed Shafi, Said Alavi and Abdu P.T. in Malappuram district. During searches, two hard disks, one tablet PC, eight mobile phones, six SIM cards, one digital video recorder and five DVDs were seized besides various documents including bank passbooks, credit and debit cards, travel documents and identity documents of the accused. The NIA has so far arrested six persons in the case this week, tatalling 10 so far. On July 30, the NIA arrested Jalal A.M. and Said Alavi E. for conspiring with already arrested accused Ramees K.T. and for smuggling gold through diplomatic baggage addressed to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consulate at Thiruvananthapuram. The NIA arrested two more accused on July 31, identified as Mohammed Shafi P. and Abdu P.T. -- for playing similar roles in the crime. Involvement of PFI members in the gold smuggling case has given a new twist to the case and NIA investigators suspect major conspiracy as the PFI now claims to have its units in 22 states. The gold smuggling case first surfaced when P.S. Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, was arrested by the Customs on July 5 when he allegedly was facilitating the smuggling of 30 kg gold in a diplomatic baggage from Dubai to Thiruvananthapuram. The case became murkier when the name of Swapna Suresh, a former employee of the UAE Consulate and later employed with the Kerala government's IT Department, came to light. Her links with senior IAS officer M. Sivasankar came up later during the investigation. Sivasankar was Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister and Information Technology Secretary before he was removed from the post after the racket was busted. Another accused, Sandip Nair of Kochi, was arrested on charge of direct involvement in the smuggling. Swapna and Sandip were arrested by the NIA from Bengaluru. (Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in) SEOUL (Reuters) - The economy of isolated North Korea grew for the first time in three years in 2019 as better weather conditions boosted crop yields, but sanctions imposed to stop its nuclear ambitions kept factory output weak, South Korea's central bank said. Gross domestic product (GDP) in North Korea last year rose 0.4% in real terms from the previous year when the economy suffered the biggest contraction in 21 years, shrinking 4.1% due to a drought and sanctions, the Bank of Korea (BOK) said on Friday. North Korea has been under U.N. sanctions since 2006 over its ballistic missile and nuclear programmes and the U.N. Security Council has been toughening measures in recent years. "The sanctions have not become any tougher since 2017-end and weather conditions have been more favourable which helped output from the agriculture sector to improve," a BOK official said. "Even so, its too early to say (North Korea's) economy is in a recovery" as its trade volume in recent years is half the levels seen before the international sanctions kicked in.North Korea's economy grew 3.9% in 2016, the fastest pace in 17 years, but sharply contracted in the following two years. Current leader Kim Jong Un vowed to switch the focus from the development of nuclear arsenal to economic development in 2018 before he held an unprecedented summit with U.S. President Donald Trump. The two leaders have met three times, but failed to find a compromise over the North's nuclear weapons programme. Estimates for North Korean economic data by the BOK are considered the most authoritative as the isolated nation does not disclose any statistics on its economy. Since 1991, the BOK has used figures from intelligence agencies and the unification ministry data on everything from size of rice paddy crops, water flows at dams to traffic near the border to make estimates. The BOK said output from agriculture, forestry and fisheries which accounts for about a fifth of North Korea's economy increased 1.4% last year, while industrial production fell 0.9%, following a 12.3% drop in 2018. Story continues However, North Korea's trade volume jumped 14.1% in 2019, as exports of non-sanctioned items such as shoes, hats and wigs increased 43%, the bank said. The BOK official said North Korea's trade was expected to worsen significantly this year as the coronavirus outbreak would have curbed shipments to China, its biggest trading partner that accounts for more than 90% of North Korea's total trade. North Korea's gross national income per capita stood at 1.408 million won ($1,184.79) in 2019, about 3.8% of that of South Korea. In the 1950s North Korea's command-driven economy posted a healthy an annual growth rate of 13.7%. But a focus on post Korean War military spending, the fall of the Soviet Union, and a famine in the mid-1990s that killed an estimated two million people, crippled the economy. ($1 = 1,188.4000 won) (Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Michael Perry) The $600 weekly unemployment benefit from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act officially expired Friday without Congress passing an extension. And Republican and Democratic lawmakers still seemed far apart on one heading into the weekend, with members of the New Mexico delegation critical of Republican coronavirus aid proposals rolled out last week. The proposals included cutting the benefit to $200 a week, or 70% of a persons past wages. That brought rebukes from U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, all Democrats. The $600 dollar enhanced unemployment benefit has been a lifeline for millions of Americans who have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic, Lujan said in a news release. It has allowed families to keep a roof over their heads, feed their children, and pay their bills. Udall said the Republicans released a plan that is both baffling and dangerously out of touch. Hundreds of people are calling my office in fear about how they will keep a roof over their heads and feed their families when the current $600 expires, the senator said earlier in the week. The governor said as many as 175,000 state residents were helped by the benefit. It represents an unconscionable step backward in our fight to both provide help to affected workers and to help sustain our economy, Lujan Grisham said. Republicans have countered that many people made more on unemployment than they did at their jobs with the benefit at $600, creating an incentive not to seek work. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., told the Journal in an earlier interview that he understood those concerns. He favored tying the amount of the benefit to the unemployment rate. As it dropped, he felt, payments should drop. He opposed having payments cut off at an arbitrary date. Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utan and Susan Collins of Maine unveiled an alternative Thursday that would provide extra payments of $500 a week in August, $400 a week in September and $300 a week in October or total benefits that replace 80% of wages. And Lujan still pushed for the Senate to pass the $3 trillion Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act that would extend the $600 benefit. The House passed the bill in May. We have to get to a compromise quickly, U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M., told the Journal. Folks who lost their jobs are in danger of or have lost their unemployment insurance. Its crucial that we have their backs. She has proposed back-to-work pay of $3,600 to provide for workers basic needs until they receive their first paycheck. And Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, is proposing a back-to-work bonus of $450 a week. While she didnt vote for the HEROES Act, Torres Small said she favored the financial support the legislation would have provided for state and local governments in municipalities with populations under 500,000, which could not apply for direct funding through the CARES Act. There is support in both chambers to provide additional funding for services provided by local governments such as our fire departments, she said. Unfortunately, thats not included in the Republican Senate package. There are provisions in the Republicans $1 trillion Health, Economic Assistance, liability Protection and Schools Act that have bipartisan support. That includes a second round of stimulus payments of $1,200 for people making less than $75,000 a year. Scott Turner: sturner@abqjournal.com Photo: GT By Martin Jacques Why has the US attitude toward China changed so profoundly? The origins lie in the 2008 financial crisis. The relatively stable and benign period of US-China relations between 1972 and 2016 was underpinned by two American assumptions. First, China would never pose a threat to the US' global economic dominance; and second, China's rise would become unsustainable unless it adopted a Western-style political system. Neither of these things happened. On the contrary, the financial crisis took place in the US, not in China, and China's political system has proved highly successful and sustainable. The 2008 crisis led to the undermining of support in the American governing elite for its previous policy toward China. A growing mood of hegemonic angst concerning China took hold in the US. China was increasingly seen as a threat to the US' global dominance, a process that culminated in US President Donald Trump's election in 2016 and China coming to be seen as the enemy. It is abundantly clear that the US cannot accept any threat to its global hegemony. The US as number one is regarded as fundamental to its DNA. But this is unsustainable. The US is in relatively rapid decline. It can no longer enjoy a monopoly of primacy in the world. It is determined, however, to resist any diminution in its authority. We have entered a dangerous, volatile and unpredictable period as the US seeks at all costs to resist the inevitable. As a result, we can no longer take world peace for granted. World peace is at risk for the first time since the Cold War. The COVID-19 crisis, furthermore, will surely result in an even bigger shift in power from the US to China than happened after 2008. That could result in an even more desperate American response. Until the US comes to terms with the new reality - that it must share primacy with China - the global situation will be very unstable. Declining imperial powers find it extraordinarily difficult to come to terms with their diminished position, as Britain since 1945 exemplifies. The same is true with the US but in a much more dramatic and dangerous way. We are already in a new cold war - in trade and technology, and, as the closure of China's Houston consulate demonstrates, in diplomacy. Recent statements from the likes of US State Secretary Mike Pompeo amount to the declaration of a new cold war against China. The US has opened up many fronts against China. What is deeply worrying is the unpredictability, volatility and desperation of Trump. Driven by his fear of losing the presidential election in November, Trump sees nothing is off the table as far as he is concerned. Anything is possible. This cold war will not be a rerun of the previous one between the US and the Soviet Union. In the old Cold War, the two countries lived in almost entirely separate worlds, in hermetically sealed compartments, that economically, for example, they had very little connection with each other. Much as the hawks in the Trump administration would like to reinvent such a world by means of a complete economic decoupling, that is beyond them. Furthermore, it is clear that in the integrated global economy of today, China is a bigger economic player than the US. Whereas in the old Cold War, the Soviet Union was always far weaker economically than the US, the situation is completely different today, with China already enjoying the upper hand in key respects and, more importantly, very much on the rise in contrast to a US in decline. There is another important difference between the two cold wars. Wrongly, the Soviet Union sought to compete militarily with the United States, a disastrous strategy given that it was far weaker economically than the latter. China has not - and will not - make that mistake. Whatever the US spends, China will spend much less - concentrating its resources on the defense of its own borders and territory. And in the long run, economic power invariably trumps military force. The article is an excerpt of Martin Jacques's webinar lecture on July 25 titled "A new cold war against China is against the interests of humanity." Jacques is former senior fellow at the Department of Politics and International Studies at Cambridge University. President Muhammadu Buhari has distanced himself from the views canvassed by his nephew and close confidant Mamman Daura about zoning of the post of presidency in the country. The Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu, said in a statement on Saturday that the views Mr Daura expressed during the interview with the BBC Hausa Service were personal to him. Shehu said that Dauras position does not in any way reflect the views of President Muhammadu Buhari. We have received numerous requests for comments on the interview granted by Malam Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari's nephew to the BBC Hausa Service, the spokesman said.. It is important that we state from the onset that as mentioned by the interviewee, the views expressed were personal to him and did not, in any way, reflect that of either the President or his administration. In the interview, which aired during the week, Mr Daura had in the interview said that it was Nigeria discarded rotational leadership, saying that it had failed the country. He did not however say how. In his view, the country needs to look for the most competent and not for someone who comes from somewhere. His view was swiftly condemned by various socio-cultural groups, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere, in the country who saw it as kite flying preparatory to perceived Northern agenda to retain the presidency in the North after Buharis second term. According Garuba in the statement, At age 80, and having served as editor and managing director of one of this country's most influential newspapers, the New Nigerian, certainly, Malam Mamman qualifies as an elder statesman with a national duty to hold perspectives and disseminate them as guaranteed under our constitution and laws of the land. He does not need the permission or clearance of anyone to exercise this right, the Presidency's statement continued. In an attempt to circulate the content of the interview to a wider audience, the English translation clearly did no justice to the interview, which was granted in Hausa, and as a result, the context was mixed up and new meanings were introduced and/or not properly articulated. The issues discussed during the interview, centered around themes on how the country could birth an appropriate process of political dialogue, leading to an evaluation, assessment, and a democratic outcome that would serve the best interest of the average Nigerian irrespective of where they come from. These issues remain at the heart of our evolving and young democracy, and as a veteran journalist, scholar and statesman, Malam Mamman has seen enough to add his voice to those of many other participants. In Nigeria, the post of Presidency has rotated between North and South since the return of democracy in the country in 1999 and has helped in sustaining stability in the political system. Advertisement A wildfire that has destroyed at least 12,000 acres northwest of Palm Springs flared up Saturday, with evacuation orders for nearly 8,000 people in more than 2,500 households as firefighters fought the blaze in triple-degree heat. An unspecified number of homes were in the path of the flames but were not in imminent danger, CalFire captain Fernando Herrera told the Riverside Press-Enterprise. The blaze, which began as two adjacent fires, was reported shortly before 5pm on Friday in Cherry Valley, an unincorporated area near the city of Beaumont in Riverside County. A firefighter battles a brush fire at the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley, California, on Saturday. A wildfire northwest of Palm Springs flared up Saturday afternoon, prompting authorities to issue new evacuation orders as crews fought the blaze in triple-degree heat. Diane Brickley comes back home to take care of her goats after she was evacuated as the Apple Fire burns nearby in Cherry Valley on Saturday A mouse runs as flames flare at the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley. Authorities issued new evacuation orders as firefighters fought the blaze in triple-degree heat Flames leapt along brushy ridge tops and came close to homes while some 375 firefighters attacked it from the ground and air, authorities said. The blaze, dubbed the Apple Fire, doubled in size overnight and is over 18 square miles. About 7,800 people have been told to evacuate over 2,500 homes, according to fire officials. Hundreds of people in foothill neighborhoods north of Beaumont fell under mandatory evacuation orders. Flames flare behind firefighters and fire trucks at the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley, California, on Saturday The blaze began as two separate fires Friday evening in Cherry Valley, an unincorporated area near the city of Beaumont in Riverside County As of early Sunday morning, the fire has destroyed 12,000 acres in Cherry Valley and the surrounding areas of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties More than 370 firefighters responded to the fire, which began on Friday. Clouds of smoke were seen for miles A firefighter stands next to a fire truck as flames flare at the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley, California on Saturday California authorities said on Saturday that roughly 7,800 residents in over 2,500 households had been ordered to evacuate Fire officials said that open land with thick vegetation has provided 'quite a bit of fuel for that fire to continue to burn [and] have a lot of intensity' An air tanker drops fire retardant at the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley, California, on Saturday Fire officials said they were having difficulty assessing the damage because the scorching temperatures were making the ground too hot for rescue workers to walk on Flames and smoke could be seen shooting hundreds of feet into the air in Cherry Valley, California, on Saturday The fire had grown from 700 acres on Friday evening to 4,125 acres by Saturday evening and was 0% contained, according to the County fire department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection The image above shows another angle in which an air tanker drops fire retardant at the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley The image above shows a coyote running away from the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley, California, on Saturday A mouse is seen above running away from the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley, a community about 75 miles east of Los Angeles An air tanker drops fire retardant to help firefighters on the ground battle the blaze in Cherry Valley on Saturday A structure is seen above engulfed in flames by the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley, California, on Saturday One home has been destroyed. Herrera said firefighters were having difficulty assessing the damage because the charred ground was too hot to walk on. The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning as Southern California found itself in the midst of a heat wave. The mercury hit 105 degrees in Palm Springs by Saturday afternoon. The weather service said 'dangerously hot conditions' were expected to continue into evening because of high pressure over the region. On this day, August 2, 1990, the Iraqi forces invaded the oil-rich Kuwait causing a stir among the Kuwaiti armed forces as the government officials, emir of Kuwait and many other key personalities fled to Saudi Arabia after Kuwait City was captured. Further, the Iraqi military forces annexed Kuwait and established a provincial government that exercised 20 percent control on the Kuwaiti oil reserves in Persian gulf, reports dated from then confirmed. Having gained independence from Britain in 1961, Kuwait was reportedly an incubator of the Arab nationalism and had delved into many Arabic initiatives such as the Palestinian cause. A leading Palestinian movement Fatah led by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), was organized in Kuwait by Yasser Arafat. While Kuwait was at the forefront of Arabic causes, on this day in 1990 all the hopes were shattered. Iraqis invaded Kuwait and took control of major oil-rich emirates. Although, later, they were driven out in Operation Desert Storm. Further, on this day, the United Nations Security Council unanimously denounced the invasion of Kuwait by the Saddam Hussain government. UN also appealed for Iraqs immediate withdrawal from Kuwait, however, upon refusal of the armed forces to withdraw the troops, UN Security Council imposed global sanctions and trade embargo with Iraq. On anniversary of the #Iraq invasion of #Kuwait its worth noting that the then US foreign diplomat April Glaspie told Saddam Hussein US will not interfer in these affairs. They waited till he invaded & as Iraqi army agreed to retreat US bombed 000s of soldiers in cold blood! ali hadi (@alihadi68) July 31, 2020 Read: Army Band Performs Special Tunes For Covid Warriors Read: Ministry Of Defence Writes To CBFC, Orders Producers To Get A NOC To Portray Army Themes Events of this day led to Operation Desert Storm With a stronghold in the Kuwait region that deployed some 700,000 allied troops, Hussein was reluctant to pull out of Kuwait and had rather established the city as a province of Iraq, as per reports. The events of this day led to the Operation Desert Storm in the year 1991, January 16, when the US launched an offensive against Kuwait after the first fighter aircraft took off from a base in Saudi Arabia that led to an international coalition under the supreme command of US General Norman Schwarzkopf. The US-Iraq offensive involved forces from at least 32 nations, including Britain, Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. Read: 'China To Modernise National Defense, Armed Forces': Xi Jinping On PLA Army Day Read: Why Did Newcastle Takeover Collapse? Toon Army Break Silence On Failed 300m Saudi Deal (Image Credit: Pixabay/Representative Image) The beginnings of two makeshift patios are taking form outside one of beer lovers' favorite bars, Toronado, as the establishment readies to welcome back customers. Two lattice-framed, wooden patios are being built outside of both Toronado and neighboring Berliner Berliner this weekend, and Toronado manager Chad Calvert confirmed that paperwork for the parklets have been filed with the city in hopes of getting approval this week. "The plan is to start slow with with a maximum of 24 seated patrons," Calvert wrote in an email to SFGATE. "It is the top priority for the Toronado family that we are able to reopen safely for both customers and staff. "Mask wearing will be strictly enforced, all guests will be required to keep their masks on unless seated and eating or drinking," he continued. During shelter-in-place, Toronado went dark much like a lot of other bars in the city and elsewhere asking longtime customers and fans to help raise money for staffers via GoFundMe. That fundraiser successfully reached its $10,000 goal and is currently just over $14,000 as of Sunday morning. The bar also held two public beer sales in April and May, once offering customers a chance to sign up for 5-minute appointments to fill up their growlers (cash only, of course) and another time selling 100 boxes with 12 bottles of beer inside each which, according to the comments, sold out "insanely quick." Berliner Berliner will be serving food alongside Toronado's beers, and the new hours for the bar (for now) are set for Tuesday through Sunday, from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. once they get approval to reopen for outdoor seating. Customers can see what's on the board for the week via Toronado's website, and the bar will be serving a "limited number of drafts" alongside fresh bottles and cans. A huge list of rare bottles to-go will also be available. Calvert thanked Toronado's patrons for their support and patience and, if all things go to plan, he said the hope is Toronado will be open in time for its 33rd anniversary on August 13. Toronado is located at 547 Haight Street in San Francisco. Dianne de Guzman is the Food + Drink Editor at SFGATE. Email: dianne.deguzman@sfgate.com The scene inside United Memorial Medical Center in Houston has become all too familiar: Overwhelmed medical staff fighting to curb the wave of COVID-19 patients that come through the hospitals doors every day. Meanwhile, in earlier pandemic hot spots like New York, the medical emergency has subsided, Texas is among the many U.S. states battling a resurgence of the virus that is straining its health care systems. PHOTO: Dr. Joseph Varon, the chief medical officer at United Memorial Medical Center goes over the files of patients infected with COVID-19 at a daily meeting with his team of healthcare workers at UMMC, in Houston, Texas, July 17, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) Dr. Joseph Varon, the chief medical officer of United Memorial Medical Center said he is afraid he will soon face a dilemma many doctors elsewhere said they confronted earlier in the pandemic -- deciding who to save. "I'm afraid that at some point in time I'm going to have to make some very serious decisions," he told Reuters in an interview. "I'm starting to get the idea that I cannot save everybody." PHOTO: A death note written by Dr. Joseph Varon, the chief medical officer at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), about a COVID-19 patient who died while being intubated in Houston, Texas, July 17, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) Varon, 58, is overseeing the hospital's unit dedicated to COVID-19 patients, where he said he tends to an average of 40 people a day. He said he signed more death certificates in the last week than at any point in his career. PHOTO: Dr. Joseph Varon, the chief medical officer at United Memorial Medical Center wears personal protective equipment as he stretches his legs before treating COVID-19 patients at UMMC in Houston, Texas, July 25, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) Earlier this month, Reuters followed the lung and critical care specialist on a shift as he hurried through the hallways -- a small cohort of nurses and medical students in tow -- pausing to inspect X-rays or medical charts and check on patients, offering them words of comfort or reaching out to hold their hand. Many of those in Varon's COVID-19 unit needed nasal tubes to help them breathe, some required intubation. PHOTO: Fernando Olvera wears a picture around his neck for patients to know what he looks like while wearing personal protective equipment as he visits the room of a COVID-19 patient at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston, Texas, July 25, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) In the afternoon, the physician and his team rushed to resuscitate a patient, performing CPR on a man who was later pronounced dead. Medical personnel covered his body in white sheets and wrapped it in a biohazard bag. As the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the nation for months showed little signs of abating, health care workers on the front lines often fall prey to the virus that has killed around 150,000 people in the United States. PHOTO: Efrain Guevara, 63, who has been hospitalised after being diagnosed with COVID-19, lies on a hospital bed at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Houston, Texas, July 17, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) Varon's team is no exception. Christina Mathers, a 43-year-old nurse at UMMC, (pictured in the first photograph) was told she tested positive for COVID-19 last week after she reported feeling ill during her shift. Story continues "That's the hardest thing to ever hear ... It messes with you," said Mathers, who has been working every other day since April 29. "But I wouldn't go anywhere else but here." PHOTO: Fernando Olvera, 26, a medical school student, helps Efrain Guevara, 63, who has been hospitalised with COVID-19, get up from his hospital bed, at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) in Houston, Texas, July 17, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) Varon, who was a hospital intern when a huge quake struck Mexico City in 1985, said dealing with the virus has been incredibly challenging for medical professionals. "Throughout my life, I have been in major disasters," he said. "Nothing has been as difficult to deal with (as) COVID." PHOTO: Hector Ortiz-Garcia, 63, who has been hospitalised with COVID-19, texts members of his family from his hospital bed at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Houston, Texas, July 25, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) Riley Harrison, 67, said he started feeling out of breath at work and that he struggled to get enough air in his lungs to call his wife, who also contracted the virus. Now, they are both hospitalized at UMMC. "I couldn't breathe," Riley said in a whisper as oxygen flowed through tubes in his nose. "If you got a death wish, play with COVID." PHOTO: Larissa Raudales, 18, who has been hospitalised with COVID-19, sits on a hospital bed as she is checked on by a medical student at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) in Houston, Texas, July 25, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) Medical experts and officials have been sounding the alarm on the growing number of young people who are falling ill with COVID-19, warning they should not discount it as a virus dangerous for elderly people alone. Eighteen-year-old Larissa Raudales had trouble breathing and said her lungs hurt when she was taken to UMMC. With medication, she was starting to feel better. "I was terrified ... I thought I couldn't breathe anymore," she said. "I just thought I was going to practically die right there." PHOTO: The body of a patient, who died during an intubation procedure, is prepared to be transported to a morgue, at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) in Houston, Texas, July 17, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) Texas, along with California and Florida, has emerged as one of the new national hot spots. So far in July, the state has more than doubled its cases to over 400,000 total. Deaths rose by 32%, or over 1,000 lives lost, in the last week alone. But lately, the number of new cases has slowed and hospitalized COVID-19 patients are down from record highs. PHOTO: Dr. Joseph Varon, 58, the chief medical officer at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC), checks his phone after getting home from work, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Houston, Texas, July 20, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) Dr. David Persse, the health authority for the Houston Health Department, said hospitals in the area were "struggling" as they dealt with a shortage of personnel to tackle a crisis that has been dragging out for months. PHOTO: Live camera footage of a patient hospitalised with COVID-19 is shown from a computer monitor during a daily meeting lead by Dr. Joseph Varon at United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) in Houston, Texas, July 10, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) "The people who work in hospitals are exhausted ... It takes a physical and an emotional toll on you," he said. "It's not always been pretty, but it's been functional, and this is why we call it a disaster." PHOTO: Dr. Joseph Varon hugs Christina Mathers, 43, a nurse from his team who became infected with COVID-19, at United Memorial Medical Center, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Houston, Texas, July 25, 2020. (Callaghan O'hare/Reuters) Reporting by Maria Caspani for Reuters COVID crisis in Texas: An 'overwhelming' battle to save lives originally appeared on abcnews.go.com US to have permanent military presence in Poland as defense pact agreed Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 August 2020 7:00 AM The United States and Poland have agreed for the US to deploy at least 1,000 additional American troops and have a permanent military presence in the European country. The agreement, which was announced by Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak on Friday, would probably arouse Russia's indignation against the backdrop of NATO-related tensions between Moscow and Washington. The deal would have Washington station a permanent garrison of troops in Poland to oversee forces on NATO's eastern flank, Blaszczak said. "At least 1,000 new soldiers will be deployed in our country. We will have an American command in Poland. This command will manage the troops deployed along NATO's eastern flank," Blaszczak said in a press release. "It will be the most important center for ground forces in our region," he added, stressing that Warsaw and Washington had sealed the deal on military cooperation and would soon sign the final pact on the enduring presence of US troops in Poland. The bilateral agreement also entails training of Polish forces in the areas of reconnaissance and command, with the possibility of more US forces coming to Poland in case of an increased potential threat in the region, according to the press release. Blaszczak made the remarks a day after US Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the Pentagon had plans to send home about 6,400 of the 11,900 military personnel from Germany, and move nearly 5,600 to other NATO countries, including Italy and Belgium. Esper underlined that the move was part of Washington's broader plan to redeploy American forces across the world to better address what he called the key threats from Russia and China. Since last June, Washington and Warsaw have been negotiating the military cooperation deal but the talks came to a halt over where the troops would be stationed and how much Poland would have to pay. US President Donald Trump has long criticized NATO members for spending too little on defense and complained that the US is paying much of the alliance's costs. He told a NATO summit in Brussels in 2018 that Washington would "go its own way" if the allies failed to meet his requirements. Poland has constantly demanded a boost in US military assistance particularly after the Ukraine crisis and the rejoining of Crimean peninsula to Russia following a referendum in 2014. The United States, which currently has 4,500 rotational troops in Poland, has always sought to expand its military presence by deploying missiles in Eastern Europe and Russia's doorstep despite repeated warnings from Moscow. Russia has formerly warned that any increased military presence in Poland could provoke Moscow's retaliation and prompt it to step up its military presence in neighboring Belarus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In view of the upcoming Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day celebrations, in Delhi have advised people not to fly kites near installations, saying metal-coated 'manja' thread may cause electrocution and tripping of the supply network. A discom spokesperson urged people to enjoy kite flying responsibly. "We advise residents not to fly kites near installations, including overhead cables, and certainly avoid using metal-coated manja," he said. A Tata Power Delhi Distribution Limited (TPDDL) spokesperson also warned that metal-coated 'manjha' (string) being a good conductor of can lead to tripping and even electrocution. According to estimates, tripping of just one 33/66 KV overhead line can disrupt power supply to over 10,000 residents of an area and tripping of a single 11 KV line to over 2,500 residents, discom spokespersons said. "Each year, there are several instances of kite-flying related trippings. Last year, there were 14 instances of kite-flying related trappings in area," said the spokesperson. Keeping this in mind, in the run-up to the festivals, opperations and maintenance teams have been on high alert to take care of any kite-flying related contingencies, he said. Kite flying picks up in Delhi on the occassion of festivals like Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day. "Flying kites is customary during festivals like Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day. We urge people not to use dangerous metal-coated manja and to avoid flying kites near power lines as this leads to fatal accidents and tripping," said the TPDDL spokesperson. The discom has launched a social media campaign for mass sensitisation on the subject driven by its corporate mascot Roshni, he said. The BSES discom have also launched a short video to promote safe kite flying. (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.) Sushant Singh Rajput's ex-manager Disha Salian's death investigation has reportedly hit a new roadblock. As per the latest reports, the Bihar police team that investigates Sushant Singh Rajput's death had reached the Malwani police station seeking details of the actor's ex-manager Disha Salian's death. However, the investigation team was informed that the folder with the case details got deleted accidentally. According to the reports published by India Today, an investigation officer of the Mumbai police team was initially ready to share the details of the Disha Salian suicide case with the Bihar police team. However, the officer changed his stand after receiving a phone call. Later, he claimed that the folder which contained the details of the Disha Salian suicide case got deleted permanently, and cannot be retrieved. Even though the Bihar police team, which is headed by Patna City SP Vinay Tiwari IPS offered to help in retrieving the deleted folder, they were not allowed to access the laptop. As per the reports, the Bihar police team had also visited Disha Salian's residence to record the statements of her family members. However, the team couldn't record the statements as there was nobody in the house. The reports suggest that the team is planning to record the statements of Disha's family members by the next Sunday. Meanwhile, the Bihar police team might also interrogate the key maker who opened the door of Sushant's bedroom, on the day of his death. To the unversed, Disha Salian, who was a celebrity manager, died on June 8, 2020, by falling off the 14th floor of a building in Malad, Mumbai. Sushant Singh Rajput, on the other hand, died by suicide on July 14, 2020 morning at his residence in Bandra, Mumbai. Also Read: Sushant Singh Rajput Case: The Lawyer Of The Late Actor's Family Slams Uddhav Thackeray Bihar Police: Will Hand Over Case To CBI Only If Sushant Singh Rajput's Family Requests For It Worried about your mental well-being or of someone you know? Help is just a call away. Reach out to the nearest mental health specialist at COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- 0832-2252525, Parivarthan- +91 7676 602 602, Connecting Trust- +91 992 200 1122/+91-992 200 4305 or Sahai- 080-25497777/ SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) Justin Thomas wants to make his second stint as No. 1 in the world last longer than the first time around. I hope so, Thomas said Sunday after winning the FedEx St. Jude Invitational to take the No. 1 spot for the first time since June 2018. I feel like Im a better player, and I feel like Im more complete of a golfer now than I was then. Thomas dueled defending champion Brooks Koepka down the final holes, sealing the World Golf Championship victory on the par-5 16th. Thomas took the lead for good with his second straight birdie, while Koepka bogeyed the hole. Koepka pulled within a stroke with a 39-footer for birdie on No. 17. But Koepka put his tee shot into the water along the 18th fairway on his way to double bogey, allowing Thomas to finish up an easy par putt for what wound up a three-stroke victory. Thomas closed with a 5-under 66 to finish at 13-under 267 and take the $1.8 million winner's check from the $10.5 million purse for his 13th PGA Tour title. At 27, he became the third-youngest player since 1960 to reach 13 PGA Tour wins, trailing only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. Ive been fortunate to have a good career so far, but I plan on playing out here for a long time and have a lot of things that I still want to accomplish, Thomas said. And every milestone and steppingstone is hopefully something that I can learn from and something that will help me even more in the long run. One sign of Thomas' growth was this was the fifth time he rallied to win, and he matched his biggest comeback after starting the day four strokes back of third-round leader Brendon Todd. Thomas has three wins this season, two since the start of the year. The last time Thomas was No. 1, he spent four weeks at the top of the ranking. He will supplant Jon Rahm, who became No. 1 after winning at Memorial two weeks ago and tied for 52nd this week. Koepka will go to TPC Harding Park in San Francisco looking to defend his PGA championship title, and he said he's feeling good about how he's playing. He finished with a 69 and tied for second with Phil Mickelson (67), Daniel Berger (65) and Tom Lewis (66). Story continues I thought I hit a good chip on 16, Koepka said. I dont know what it did. Then another minute I thought it was in for another second. So to make bogey there was disappointing. Obviously drained a big one on 17, and then youre down one. Youve got to take an aggressive line on 18, so it is what it is. Thomas had Jim Bones Mackay on his bag, playing in the same group with Mickelson for the first time since Mickelson split with his longtime caddie. Mackay was a late fill-in for Thomas' usual caddie, Jimmy Johnson. I feel like he knows enough about my game to where he can contribute and be a help, and he was, Thomas said about Mackay. Thomas made up the deficit with four birdies on the front nine and just missed another birdie chance on No. 8. His 20-footer on No. 9 tied Todd at 12 under. Todd, whose putting had carried him through the first three rounds, three-putted for bogey from 23 feet on the par-3 eighth, leaving Thomas alone atop the leaderboard. Thomas put his second on the par-4 12th into a greenside bunker near the back edge and chopped it out to the rough. He chipped out from an awkward stance to salvage bogey. That created a five-way tie at 11 under with Koepka, Berger, Lewis and Todd. Koepka took the lead to himself on the par-4 13th. He hit his approach from 133 yards to 10 feet of the pin, and Koepka sunk the putt for his third birdie of the round to go to 12 under. After hitting his tee shot 321 yards to the rough 51 yards short of the hole on No. 15, Thomas hit to 6 feet for a birdie, tying Koepka at 12 under with three to play. Thomas found the rough far right of the cart path on the par-5 16th, then hit his third from the left rough 65 yards to 3 feet for his second straight birdie. Koepka, in the group behind Thomas, tried to answer 42 yards from the hole. His shot landed close to the hole only to keep rolling to the back of the green. Koepka wound up two-putting from 8 feet for bogey. Finishing on No. 18, Thomas made sure to avoid any danger before Koepka's final birdie. I saw that I had a two-shot lead, hence the reason I hit it right of the universe, Thomas said of a tee shot that went right of the cart path. It was not going left, I promise you that. DIVOTS: Berger qualified for the U.S. Open with his fifth top 10 finish to go along with his victory at Colonial in June. ___ In a story Aug. 2, 2020, about Justin Thomas victory in the FedEx St. Jude Invitational World Golf Championship event, The Associated Press erroneously reported the winners share. He earned $1.8 million from the $10.5 million purse. ___ More AP golf: https://apnews.com/apf-Golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday hit back at his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal for demanding a CBI probe into the states hooch tragedy, saying the AAP leader should mind his own business. Amarinder Singh further asked the Delhi chief minister not to exploit the tragic affair for reviving his defunct Aam Aadmi Partys stake in the state. Kejriwal in his tweet on Sunday demanded a CBI probe into the Punjab hooch tragedy, which has claimed 98 lives so far. Slamming Kejriwal, the CM in a statement said, So many people have died and all you are interested in is making political meat from the incident. Dont you have any shame. Asking the AAP leader to mind his own business, the Punjab CM said his Delhi counterpart should concentrate on maintaining law and order in his own state, which was notorious for the brazen manner in which criminals and gangs were roaming the streets without fear. Trashing Kejriwals claim that none of the illicit liquor cases from the last few months have been solved by the local police, the Punjab CM asked the AAP leader to verify his facts before shooting through his mouth. Citing that an illicit liquor factory was busted in Khanna on April 22, the CM said eight accused were arrested and a manhunt was launched for seven others. In another case, two kingpins behind an illicit liquor distillery operating in Patiala district were arrested on May 22 and June 13 this year, and on July 10, a challan was filed in the court, the Punjab chief minister said. Expressing full faith in the Punjab police, the CM said Kejriwals demand for a CBI probe was nothing but a political gimmick, aimed at regaining lost foothold for his party, which had completely lost ground in Punjab despite being the principal opposition party. The CM said despite the cases of targeted killings in Punjab being handed over the CBI, it was eventually the Punjab Police that had solved the same. Even in the sacrilege cases, the CBI failed to deliver and it is the Punjab Police which is unravelling the case, he claimed. Rather than delaying the investigation and allow the trail to go cold even in the present spurious liquor case by handing over the probe to CBI, he was more interested in ensuring swift action against all those whose greed had cost the state around 100 lives, the CM said in the statement. The CM asked Kejriwal to check out his facts before making unsubstantiated and wild allegations against his government, whose track record in curbing crime of all kinds was exemplary. Why dont you ask your Punjab unit for data and figures first and then comment on our working, he told the Delhi CM. Singh also advised his Delhi counterpart to concentrate on his states horrendous Covid situation. Rather than worrying about Punjabs affairs, why dont you take care of the health and lives of Delhiites, the CM said. Saying that strict action is being taken against all those found guilty in cases of illicit brewing and smuggling, Amarinder Singh said in the hooch tragedy, too, 30 people have already been arrested in three districts. Moreover, 13 officials from the police and excise and taxation departments had been suspended for negligence while investigations are on to ascertain their complicity in the case, he said. A magisterial inquiry had ordered with the mandate to submit its report within a month, he further said, asking what was the need for CBI to take over the case when the local police was handling it so effectively. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) The first step to strengthening the countrys response to the pandemic is to admit there are flaws in the current strategies, Vice President Leni Robredo said. In her weekly radio show Biserbisyong Leni, the Vice President on Sunday called on other government officials to acknowledge that there are shortcomings in the national response to the health crisis, noting that the continued rise in coronavirus cases proves that point. To date, health officials have confirmed over 103,000 cases of the disease in the country, with around 5,000 new infections logged in the Department of Healths latest case report. Pag sinabi nating ginagawa na natin lahat, wala tayong pagkukulang, ang laki-laki ng problema natin. [Translation: If we say were doing everything, we dont have shortcomings, then we have a very big problem.] Robredo said the government has been slow in rolling out and strengthening efforts to contain the virus, adding that until now, the lack of quarantine centers remains to be an issue, and contact tracing in several local government units has yet to be improved. May mga policies tayo na hindi nagwo-work. Kung ako tatanungin, tingin ko yung pinaka problema talaga natin ay sobrang bagal natin gumawa, mag-respond, she said. Yung mga dapat inasikaso natin March pa, parang ngayon palang tayo...parang tama 'yung sinabi ng doktor kahapon, walang sense of urgency," Robredo continued. [Translation: We have policies that are not working. If you were to ask me, I think our biggest problem is that we are so slow to respond. It seems like were only addressing now the issues we shouldve taken care of in March. I think the doctor in the press conference yesterday is right in saying we dont have a sense of urgency.] Medical professionals on Saturday held a press briefing to appeal to the government for a two-week enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and its nearby regions, as a form of timeout for a healthcare system already strained by the rise in cases. Robredo said it is important to pay attention to the frontliners call, but added that an ECQ would only be effective if the lockdown period is used to recalibrate and refine strategies. Sliabh Liag Distillers, a gin and whiskey company based in Carrick, Co Donegal, is looking to raise 1.5m for its new distillery in nearby Ardara. The company, founded by James and Moira Doherty, is preparing to launch the crowdfunding round toward the end of August. The distillery counts John Davidson and Dominic De Lorenzo, both formerly of drinks giant SAB Miller, among its investors. The late Oliver Hughes, who founded the Porterhouse chain of pubs, was also a founder of the company. His wife, Helen Stacey, remains a shareholder. Sliabh Liag Distillers secured planning permission to build the Ardara distillery and visitor centre in August last year, as it sought to bring whiskey production back to the county for the first time since the closure of Burt Distillery in 1841. It has been reported that the new distillery could create as many as 40 new jobs in the area. It is not the first time the distillery has pushed to raise funds. Last November, it was reported Sliabh Liag Distillers would look to raise 3.5m, with the new distillery project set to cost 10m. Sliabh Liag Distillers, which has brands including An Dulaman Maritime Gin and Silkie blended Irish whiskey, is made from liquid distilled at the Great Northern Distillery, Co Louth. It is also celebrating recently filling its first cask of whiskey. "It's a mixture of relief and excitement," said Mr Doherty. "It's got that smokey sweetness straight off the still that we wanted, it has the makings of an amazing whiskey. It's in the style of what my granddad, who used to distil whiskey illegally in Donegal, would have made. It's come full circle coming back to Donegal. "We are really positive about the funding round. We have really good momentum in the business. If you look at the backers we have already from the drinks industry, we are in a great place, notwithstanding the turmoil the world is in right now." He told the Sunday Independent Sliabh Liag is active in 20 markets across the world, with Silkie landing in the US last week. He added that he hopes to make Donegal to Ireland's whiskey sector what Islay is to the Scottish whisky market. Heavy weather warning extended for Phuket, Andaman coast PHUKET: The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has extended its heavy weather warning for Phuket and other provinces along the Andaman Coast, and issued a nationwide alert for fallout from tropical storm Sinlaku making landfall in Vietnam. Sunday 2 August 2020, 04:54PM Visitors to bang Tao Beach were warned of large debris being dumped on shore by the strong waves. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub Visitors to bang Tao Beach were warned of large debris being dumped on shore by the strong waves. Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub At 10am local standard time today (Aug 2), the Category 3 tropical storm SINLAKU made landfall over Vietnam, centered at Thanh Hoa, with maximum sustained winds of about 65km/h, said the warning issued earlier today by TMD Director-General Somsak Khaosuwan. The storm was moving west-northwest at speed 15 km/h and was forecast to be downgraded to tropical depression over Laos before being downgraded further to a low-pressure cell, he added. The strong monsoon though lies across the North and the upper Northeast into tropical storm SINLAKU. Meanwhile, the strong southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea, Thailand, and the Gulf. Heavy to very heavy rain are likely in many areas of the North, the Northeast, the Central, the Eastern and southern regions. People in the risk areas should beware of severe conditions and stay tuned for the weather updates, said the warning. Provinces in South Thailand forecast to be affected today and tomorrow (Aug 2-3) were identified as: Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Phetchaburi, Prachua Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Sri Thammarat. Provinces expected to still be affected until Tuesday (Aug 4) were identified as:Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Phetchaburi, Prachua Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Surat Thani. Strong wind waves are expected in the Andaman Sea and the upper Gulf. Wave heights in the Andaman Sea will rise to 2-4 metres, 2-3 meters in the Gulf of Thailand and above 4 meters high in thundershower areas, the warning added. All ships should proceed with caution and should keep ashore, and keep away from thundershowers until Aug 4, the warning said. The warning also noted that Category 3 tropical storm HAGUPIT is forecast to make landfall over Taiwan and China tomorrow and Tuesday (Aug 3-4). The storm is expected to have no effect on Thailand, the warning added. Lifeguards in Phuket today issued warnings that strong waves were present at nearly all beaches on the west coast due to the south west monsoon. They strongly reminded visitors to the beaches where some areas are open to swimmers, to swim only in areas marked by red-yellow flags where lifeguards are on patrol. At Bang Tao, lifeguards warned beach visitors they could be seriously injured by large pieces of lumber, tree trunks and other debris that the strong waves were bringing ashore. Last night, a ferry transiting from Koh Samui back to the mainland sank amid the heavy weather. Nine people were rescued while a search was launched for seven people still missing. WASHINGTON - D.C.-area lawmakers are pushing a measure that would create a centralized system to track complaints about helicopter noise in the region similar to ones used to collect information about airplane noise. The effort, contained in an amendment to the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act and introduced by Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., and co-sponsored by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., would be modeled on one used by officials at Washington Dulles International and Reagan National airports, which tracks complaints from residents about airplane noise. The measure also would create a working group that would use that information, as well as input from community members, to recommend strategies for dealing with the noise. The region's airports have long had systems in place for tracking noise from airplanes, but collecting similar information for helicopters has been problematic because multiple entities, both civilian and military, operate the aircraft. Residents often don't know where they should turn with concerns. Even if agencies do track complaints, they don't necessarily share that information with each other. Under this measure, the U.S. Defense Department would create a central system for receiving, tracking and analyzing complaints. The agency would also serve as leader of the community working group, with input from the Federal Aviation Administration, for acting on the information they collect. Noah Simon, Beyer's district director, said the congressman recognizes that aircraft noise can't be eliminated, but does believe that it can be managed. "It's unrealistic that airports will close or helicopters will stop flying, so mitigation is really where we are coming from on this," he said. Input from residents will help policymakers make better decisions, Norton said. "This also will help create a record of where the problems are," she added. D.C.-area lawmakers have spent years trying to find solutions to the vexing problem of aircraft noise. Last year, at the behest of lawmakers in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia, the U.S. Government Accountability Office launched a study to examine helicopter noise. As part of the study, the agency will collect information on the types of aircraft operating in the region and their noise levels; the frequency of flights; flight paths and the degree of coordination between agencies that operate the helicopters and whether pilot training could be modified to lessen the impact on residents - particularly at night. Chuck Young, a GAO spokesman, said the agency expects to complete work on this study later this year or in early 2021. In 2018, at the direction of lawmakers including Beyer, the Defense Department completed a study of military helicopter noise in the Washington area. The report found that airspace in the National Capital Region is "is one of the busiest and most restrictive in the United States" and noted that at least 21 entities, including the U.S. Park Police, MedStar hospital and private charter services, fly helicopters in and around D.C. In addition to three major airports, the region is home to three military airfields: Joint Base Andrews, Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling's heliport and Fort Belvoir's Davison Army Airfield. According to the report, Joint Base Andrews averages 190 mainly helicopter operations a day while Davison averages 115 mainly helicopter operations a day. The report said the FAA and the Pentagon have initiatives in place to try to reduce the impact on residents. The FAA's Noise Complaint Initiative includes a cross-agency team that is responsible for analyzing noise complaints and determining ways to address them. At the Defense Department, a "Fly Friendly" initiative focuses on strategies such as having military aircraft fly at the highest allowable altitudes unless otherwise directed and limiting hours of training done at night. While some lawmakers felt the report did little to address the scope of the problem, it did offer recommendations similar to those outlined in the congressional measure. Beyer and Norton said more can be done for residents. When Beyer, whose district includes neighborhoods near the Pentagon, held a town hall on the issue in 2018, more than 200 people attended. While the pandemic and issues of racial justice have taken center stage over the past few months, noise from helicopters and other aircraft still remains a top concern among constituents, lawmakers said. Norton thinks the data gathered through the GAO study and the reporting system will be critical to any effort going forward. The amendment said the working group would be responsible for proposing "procedural changes" that would address concerns about helicopter noise but such measures must be "consistent with aviation safety and airspace efficiency" and must enable entities to maintain "aircrew readiness, training, and mission support." A similar group has been working on airplane noise issues at Dulles and National airports. "Unless somebody is in charge and we have much more information than we have now, the issue of helicopter and airplane noise will not be resolved." By Trend The fact that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan purged the officials in the Office of the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs, fired 13 people, including high-ranking officials, clearly testifies that there are big problems in the activity of the Armenian diaspora. The wave of activity of the organizations of the Azerbaijani diaspora, which followed a new outbreak of conflict in mid-July as a result of another Armenias provocation, aroused unrestrained anger of the Armenian diaspora abroad and became a real disaster for Yerevan and the Armenian lobby. For the first time in history, the Armenian lobby found itself helpless amid the pressure of the Azerbaijani diaspora. Azerbaijanis, demanding justice and protection of human rights, were subjected to the wild extremist attacks by Armenians in the center of Europe and in the US. However, it is also important that Armenians, traditionally proclaimed as "peaceful keepers of Christian values in a hostile environment," this time showed rowdy aggression in many Western cities before the eyes of the international community and the world media, finally debunking the myth of their allegedly innocent "long-suffering" essence. Of course, this was a consequence of the consolidation of the Azerbaijani diaspora around Azerbaijan and the national idea, which resulted in the organized rallies in many countries. According to the Armenian media, the reason for Pashinyan's sharp reaction was the ineffectiveness of the diaspora committee. The head of the department for the Armenian communities in Europe, the head of the department for relations with the Armenian communities in Western Europe and 11 more high level officials of this structure were fired, the Armenian media reported. In particular, Pashinyan was extremely outraged by the defeat of the Armenian diaspora in those countries where it traditionally has the majority. The prime minister was also outraged that High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs Zareh Sinanyan, was hiding these days, reportedly, in native California. According to the newspaper, Pashinyan sharply rebuked Sinanyan, saying that his diaspora policy completely failed. Pashinyan realizes that besides the defeat of the Armenian armed forces in the battles in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district, the weakness, incompetence and inappropriate aggressiveness of the Armenian diaspora amid the law-abiding activity of the Azerbaijani diaspora, which successfully conveyed the fact of Armenias provocative and occupational policy to the world community, dealt a severe blow to Armenias image and Pashinyans personal authority. The Armenian community has been shocked by the unprecedented unity, solidarity and courage shown by the Azerbaijani diaspora. The huge Armenian diaspora, having become skilled in emigrant political games, provocations and lobbying during two centuries, turned out to be powerless against the just indignation, high ideology and combat spirit of the relatively few Azerbaijani activists abroad, who for the first time in history acted purposefully and in such an organized manner. Thus, the activity of the Azerbaijani diaspora has put Armenia and the Armenian lobby in the worst position. Such a deafening failure forced the Armenian prime minister to purge the officials in the diaspora committee. However, it is obvious that no purge and populist statements in which Pashinyan is so "strong" will not outweigh the total frustration reigning in the Armenian society as a result of the demonstrative defeat both in the clashes on the border and on the fronts of an ideological war. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 20:26:59|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close YAOUNDE, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 civilians were killed in an incursion attributed to the Boko Haram group on the night of Saturday to Sunday in Cameroon's Far North region, according to local sources. The attack took place at a place called Nguetchewe, located in the sub-division of Mayo-Moskota near the border with Nigeria, stronghold of Boko Haram. Eleven villagers were also seriously injured, according to the same sources who asked not to be named. This attack comes about two weeks after the assassination of a soldier by Boko Haram in Touski in the Far North region, followed by the death of a sexagenarian in Kordo in another jihadist incursion, still in this part of Cameroon which plunged into insecurity since 2014. Enditem Cambodian Union Leader Arrested for 'Incitement' By VOA News August 01, 2020 Cambodian authorities have arrested a prominent union leader for allegedly inciting social unrest over border demarcation issues with the neighboring Vietnam, the latest crackdown against opposition voices in the kingdom. Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions and a longtime government critic, was apprehended Friday night at his home. He was taken to court Saturday to hear the charge against him. If found guilty, Chhun face six months to two years imprisonment and a fine up to about $1,000. In July he accused the government of "irregularities" at Cambodia's eastern border, which, according to him, caused locals to lose farmland. Chhun also gave an interview last week to U.S. government-funded Radio Free Asia, in which he discussed the concerns of Cambodian farmers about land infringement by neighboring Vietnam. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen's government maintains close relations with Vietnam, a country that help him rise to power after Hanoi invaded Cambodia to oust the Khmer Rouge regime. Hun Sen's opponents accuse him of failing to protect Cambodian land. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A San Francisco restaurant in the North Beach neighborhood has sparked controversy with a series of signs featuring provocative messages and rants in a mix of English and Italian. The messages posted in the windows of Trattoria Pinocchio call San Francisco a cesspool, suggest a race war is inevitable and question the gender of former first lady Michelle Obama. "Is Michel (sic) Obama a women or a man???" it reads. Another sign attacks the media and refers to many outlets, including CNN, MSNBC and CBS, as fake. The Italian restaurant that opened at 401 Columbus in 2001 is closing its doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to KRON 4. The restaurant's phone number and website are both no longer working. SFGATE was unable to reach the owner and confirm that he created the signs, but he told KRON the messages are an expression of freedom of speech. The owner of a neighboring business called the signs a "disgrace" and "repulsive." "A lot of it is hate speech," said Vince, who asked that his last name not be used. "I had nothing to do with him." Dan Macchiarini, president of the North Beach Business Association called the owner of Trattoria Pinnochi an "extreme individualist." "He's anti-social and anti-community in everything he has done," Macchiarini said. "He hasn't been a part of the community in any way." Macchiarini called the signs "racist" and "bigoted" and said they do not represent the neighborhood "in any way." A San Francisco resident commented on the signs in a posting on Yelp. "This is just a review of the owner and all of his racist propaganda that is spewed incoherently all over the building, it is truly disheartening," wrote Brye L. "There is no way that we will ever step foot in this building while this owner occupies this space. Move along." District 3 Supervisor Aaron Peskin told KRON the owner of the establishment is known by local residents "to be unhinged." Nobody in the neighborhood is sad to see him go, Peskin said. According to the Trattoria Pinocchio Facebook page, the restaurant "is owned and run by Giovanni Zocca and his wife Maria." Zocca immigrated from Sicily to New York when he was 17 years old before moving to Monterey, where he was a fisherman and worked in restaurants. Amy Graff is the news editor at SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. The second location of Reem's California opened in the Mission just days before COVID-19 ground the city to a halt. In less than a week, the Arab bakery went from having a line out the door to none at all. Across the bay, the original Reem's location in Fruitvale was locked down, too. Chef-owner Reem Assil had three choices: open for take out and try to survive during the pandemic; reopen as a relief kitchen to feed the city's most vulnerable; or shut down altogether and leave 22 Oakland employees to fend for themselves in the imploding job market. In the end, there was no choice at all. "I almost can't see a future without those workers, they're really just so indispensable," she explains. "I'd rather take this time to do something a little bit more radical. It's going to be harder and more messy [but that's] what change entails." By April, she had teamed up with two organizations, World Central Kitchen and SF New Deal, to make nutritious, healthful meals for the homeless and others impacted by the economic crisis triggered by COVID-19. Reem's also started the Fruitvale Workers COVID-19 Hardship Fund to provide additional assistance to local restaurant workers, many of whom didn't qualify for stimulus or unemployment funding. In some ways, the transition at Reem's in Fruitvale was a long time coming. Social justice and community buildingproviding opportunities and living wages to individuals from marginalized communities, and resources to those working to empower themhad been at the core of the business since its inception in 2015. The pandemic allowed Assil to take a step back from the capitalist values driving the restaurant industry and consider what it should look like going forward. "These broader systems have to change. We have to approach this with a lens of equity," says Assil. "All of us [have] to chip in on the true cost of food." The commissary kitchen strategy was relatively straightforward. Those with resourcesindividuals, corporations, and government entitiesdonate, provide grants, or buy regularly priced menu items from local restaurants. With those funds, the restaurants purchase ingredients, keep the lights on, and pay their staff a living wage to put together hundreds of meals each week. Those meals then get distributed through existing community social service networks to food-insecure people. "Everybody wins," says Assil. At the end of the day, restaurants stay open, jobs are retained, people are fed, and resources are redistributed within the community. The equity it engenders has a ripple effect through the community, impacting the bigger picture of housing, health care and other issues, she explains. Reem's in Oakland will continue as a relief kitchen for the foreseeable future. After that, the only certainty is that social justice will remain a fundamental component of the business. "Whether we create our own nonprofit side of the business to feed people or we continue to partner with folks like World Central Kitchen and SF New Deal...I don't foresee that work disappearing any time soon. In fact, I hope that it becomes a part of our history," she says. Reem's in the Mission remains open to the public for online ordering and takeout. The restaurant's popular meal kits can be picked up from either the East Bay or San Francisco location. The 7x7 Spice-In With Chef Reem Assil In episode two of The 7x7 Spice-In, chef Reem Assil made seven-spiced kafta meatballs and tomato sauce. (Angelina Hong) In this summer's three-part cooking class series, a collaboration between 7x7 and The Spice Hunter, chef Reem Assil has taught us to prepare baba ganoush two ways and kafta bil bandora (meatballs and sauce). In her third and final episode, launching on IGTV and YouTube on August 20th, Assil will be preparing mahalabiya, a sweet and creamy summer dessert. "I just sort of became obsessed with mahalabiya when I first opened my bakery," explains Assil. "It's a milk custard [similar] to the Italian panna cotta, and we infuse it with aromatic cardamom and dried rose or rose water." Though any seasonal fruit compote goes well with mahalabiya, Assil will top this version with fresh, seasonal strawberries. "It's a really fragrant, cold, refreshing dish perfect for summer," she says. Ingredients for Reem Assil's Mahalabiya (Angelina Hong) Chef Reem Assil serves her mahalabiya in stemless wine glasses for a fancy effect but says the creation of the dish actually quite simple. Aromatic cardamom, a hint of rose water, and seasonal berries liven up a custard that Assil compares to panna cotta. Ingredients 2 cups whole milk 1 cup sugar 1 tsp ground cardamom (The Spice Hunter) 1 cup cold heavy cream 1/4 cup cornstarch 2 tsp rose water Garnish 2 tbsp sugar 1/4 cup crushed pistachios 1 cup strawberry compote* *Strawberry Compote 1 lb strawberries, hulled tsp ground cardamom (The Spice Hunter) 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons rose water 1 tablespoon lemon juice, about half a lemon Prep your ingredients for mahalabiya using the promo code 7X7SPICEIN to receive 20 percent off purchases through September 1st at spicehunter.com. Tune in to episode three on IGTV and YouTube August 20th. About The Spice Hunter The Spice Hunter was founded by a woman on a quest for the best spices from around the world. For the past 20 years, the California company has made it their mission to continue seeking innovative and global flavors that will bring inspiration and creativity to the home chef. Their spices and herbs are sourced from the finest growing regions in the world, and are both organic and non-GMO certified. Use the code 7x7SpiceIn to receive 20 percent off your purchase through September 1, 2020; spicehunter.com. Week 31 was as turbulent as the one before it with new announcements causing big movements in our trending chart. One of the newly unveiled phones - the Samsung Galaxy M31s was above all, shooting straight to the top, knocking the OnePlus Nord down to second. Another newly unveiled phone completes the podium with the Black Shark 3S getting the bronze medal. The upcoming Redmi K30 Ultra featured in a couple of major leaks, which got enough attention to get the fourth place as the Redmi Note 9 Pro slid down to fifth. In sixth we have the Oppo Reno4, which surprisingly replaced the Reno4 Pro in the chart now that they are both official. The Redmi Note 9 is now seventh, ahead of the Samsung Galaxy A51 as the Redmi 9 retains ninth. Yet another Samsung - the Galaxy A71 makes a return to complete the chart. This leaves half of last week's top 10 off the chart this time. Realme C15 joins the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra, the Oppo Reno4 Pro and the two Asus ROG 3 versions on their way down. In terms of the talk show world, few have had a longer track record than Maury Povich. His wife of 36 years, news anchor and reporter, Connie Chung, might concur. Both have had successful careers in their respective categories but who has the highest net worth? Connie Chung has a background in news Connie Chung and Maury Povich | Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank RELATED: Larsa Pippens Net Worth Just Increased Because of Her Feud With the Kardashians Veteran journalist, Connie Chung, has worn the news anchor crown for years. She got her first big break as the first female co-anchor of CBS Evening News in 1993. Shes anchored for networks NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN, and MSNBC. Born to a Chinese diplomat, Chung attended the University of Maryland where she studied journalism. Chung worked her way up at Washingtons WTTG-TV, eventually becoming a reporter for the station. After interviewing President Richard Nixon during the rise of the Watergate scandal, Chung went on to win an Emmy and Peabody award. She married talk show host, Maury Povich, is 1984. By 1995, Chung was demoted by CBS following a contentious interview with an Oklahoma City bombing fireman and a string of other questionable interviews. She asked to be let out of her contract, then returned to TV in 1997 as an anchor for 20/20. Chung filled her time with periods of work followed by long periods away from the business. In 2006, Chung co-hosted Weekends With Maury and Connie but the show only lasted six months before it was canceled. On the one hand, I think that women have made incredible advances in news, not only in print but in television, Chung told The Hollywood Reporter amind the #MeToo movement. But its still dominated by an all-male management, dinosaur mentality. And the old boys network is alive and well. Thats still disturbing to me. She continued: I dont think theres full disclosure everywhere, where theres been egregious behavior. There still seems to be some information thats being hidden. I think there needs to be a better cleansing of all the news organizations. The attitudes still have to change to some level of parity between men and women. In 2018, Chung appeared in an episode of Fresh Off the Boat but has otherwise kept her resume fairly open as of late. She and Povich have one adopted son together, as well as two from Povichs previous marriage. Maury Povich is a daytime talk mainstay RELATED: Who Is John Saxon and What Was His Net Worth at the Time of His Death? Many know Washington D.C. native, Povich, from his long-running talk show, The Maury Povich Show (which has become Maury). For nearly two decades, Povich has been the face of paternity testing for TV. Originally, Povich worked in radio after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania. From there, Povich held jobs as a reporter, news anchor, and sportscaster before landing the talk show, Panorama. A few years before Povich first appeared in his own tabloid-style talk show, he worked as a host on A Current Affair for four years. Hes been the star of both iterations of The Maury Povich Show since 1991. Like Chung, Povich has also guest-starred in shows like How I Met Your Mother and Tyler Perrys Madeas Big Happy Family as himself. That aside, Chung and Povich created Flathead Beacon a weekly print newspaper for their area. We felt that the community where we lived in the Flathead Valley deserved more in a daily newspaper than what they were getting, Povich told Parade. It has been honored as the best weekly newspaper and website in the state. We are very proud of the paper, especially in the climate in which print journalism is trying to stay alive and finding new ways to exist. Who has a higher net worth? RELATED: Diary of a Mad Black Woman 15 Years Later: What Is the Cast Worth Today? Both Povich and Chung have had long, successful careers. Their marriage is still going strong, too. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Chung is worth an estimated $15 million and Povich, who rakes in an annual salary of $14 million, is worth approximately $60 million. https://www.aish.com/tp/i/sacks/The-Covenant-and-the-Love.html An interesting phrase appears at the end of last weeks parsha and at the beginning of this weeks, and they are the only places where it appears in the Torah. The phrase is ha-brit veha-chessed (Deuteronomy 7:9) or in this weeks parsha, et ha-brit ve-et ha-chessed (Deut. 7:12). Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping the brit and the chessed to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments. (Deut. 7:9) If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep the brit and the chessed with you, as He swore to your ancestors. (Deut. 7:12) The phrase is strange. The relationship between God and Israel is defined by brit, covenant. That, essentially, is the content of the Torah. What then is added by the word chessed? The translators have a problem with it. The Jewish Publication Societys translation of the opening verse of our parsha is: And if you do obey these rules and observe them carefully, the Lord your God will maintain faithfully for you the covenant that He made on oath with your fathers. This translates chessed as faithfully and takes it as a qualification of the verb maintain or keep. This is a very stretched translation. A non-Jewish translation, the New International Version, translates ha-brit veha-chessed as covenant of love. This is a very Christian translation. The covenant entered into between the Is raelites and God was a covenant of law, not just of love. Aryeh Kaplan, in The Living Torah, got it right when he translated it as God your Lord will keep the covenant and love with which He made an oath to your fathers. Not covenant of love but covenant and love. But still: what is the covenant, and what is the love that is distinct from the covenant? This might seem a minor matter were it not for the fact that this phrase, which is rare in Tanach, makes an appearance at key moments of Jewish history. For example, it figures in King Solomons great prayer at the consecration of the Temple in Jerusalem: Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in Heaven above or on Earth below You who keep the covenant and love with Your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. (1 Kings 8:23) When, after the Babylonian exile, the nation gathered around Ezra and Nehemiah in Jerusalem and renewed the covenant, they said: Now therefore, our God, the great God, mighty and awesome, who keeps His covenant and love, do not let all this hardship seem trifling in Your eyes the hardship that has come on us, on our kings and leaders, on our Priests and Prophets, on our ancestors and all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. (Neh. 9:32) At these critical moments, when Moses renewed the covenant on the banks of the Jordan, when Solomon dedicated the Temple, and the people in Ezra and Nehemiahs time rededicated themselves, they took care to define the relationship between God and the people as one of brit and chessed, covenant and love. It seems that both are necessary, or they would not have used this language on these three defining occasions many centuries apart. What then is the meaning of chessed? Significantly, Maimonides dedicates the penultimate chapter of The Guide for the Perplexed to the analysis of three words: chessed, tzedakah and mishpat. On chessed he says: In our Commentary on Pirkei Avot (5:7) we have explained the expression chessed as denoting excess. It is especially used of extraordinary kindness. Loving-kindness is practised in two ways: first, we show kindness to those who have no claim whatever upon us; secondly, we are kind to those to whom it is due, in a greater measure than is due to them The very act of creation is an act of God's loving-kindness: I have said, The universe is built in loving-kindness (Ps. 89:3)1 The difference between the three terms is that I am legally entitled to mishpat. I am morally entitled to tzedakah. But to chessed, I am not entitled at all. When someone acts toward me in chessed, that is an act of pure grace. I have done nothing to deserve it. Maimonides notes, citing the phrase from Psalms that The universe is built in lovingkindness, that creation was an act of pure chessed. No one ever creates something because it deserves to be created. Creations do not exist before they are created. We can define this in human terms more precisely. The book of Ruth is known as the work, par excellence, of chessed: Rabbi Zeira said, This book does not have anything in it concerned with impurity or purity, forbidden or permitted. Why then was it written? To teach us the greatness of the reward for acts of chessed.2 There are two key scenes in the book. The first occurs when Naomi, bereaved of her husband and two sons, decides to return to Israel. She says to her two daughters-in-law, Go back, each of you, to your mothers home. May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me She was telling them that they had no further obligations toward her. They had been married to her sons, but now they are widows. Naomi has no other sons. Being Moabite women, they will be strangers in Israel: they have no reason to go there. You owe me nothing, she is saying. You have been kind, you have been good daughters-in-law, but now we must go our separate ways. The second speech occurs when Ruth has gone to gather grain in the field of Boaz, who treats her with great care and consideration. She asks him: Why have I found such recognition in your eyes that you notice me a foreigner? The two key words here are recognition and foreigner. Recognition means that you have behaved toward me as if you had obligations to me. But I am a foreigner. The word used here is not stranger, i.e. a resident alien to whom certain duties are owed. It means, a complete outsider. Ruth is saying to Boaz, you do not owe me anything. That is what makes Ruth the supreme book of chessed, that is, of good done to another who has no claim whatsoever upon you. What Ruth does for Naomi, and what Boaz does for Ruth, are not mishpat or tzedakah. They are pure chessed. Now let us return to the question with which we began. Why did Moses, and Solomon, and Nehemiah define the relationship between the Jewish people and God not in terms of a single concept, covenant, but added to it a second idea, namely chessed, meaning an act of love. Covenant is essentially reciprocal. Two people or entities pledge themselves to one another, each committing to a responsibility. This is how it was defined by God at Mount Sinai: Now if you obey me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession, for all the earth is Mine (Exodus 19:5). If you are My people, I will be your God. If you serve me, I will bless you. Every covenant has an if-then quality to it. Therefore, every covenant is inherently vulnerable. That is what Moses emphasised throughout Devarim. Dont take the land or its blessings for granted. If you do well, things will go well, but if you do badly, great dangers lie in store. That is covenant. Chessed, in contrast, has no if-then quality. It is given out of the goodness of the giver, regardless of the worth of the recipient. When Moses, Solomon and Nehemiah referred to chessed in addition to the covenant, they were making an implicit request of God of the most fundamental significance. Even if we fail to honour the covenant, please God be gracious to us, for You are good even when we are not, and You do good even when we do not deserve it, when we have no claim on You whatsoever ki le-olam chasdo, for His chessed is eternal. The verses in our parsha sound conditional: If you pay attention to these laws then the Lord your God will keep the brit and the chessed This suggests that we will be shown chessed if we deserve it, but if not, not. But it isnt so. At the end of the curses in Bechukotai, God says: Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them: I am the Lord their God. God will never break the covenant, even if we do, because of His chessed. Tanach describes the relationship between God and Israel in two primary ways: like a husband and wife, and like a parent and a child. Between husband and wife there can be a divorce. Between parent and child there cannot be. They may be estranged, but the parent is still their parent and the child is still their child. Marriage is a covenant; parenthood is not. Do not forsake us, we say to God, because whatever we have done, You are our parent and we are Your children. Chessed is the kind of love a parent has for a child, whether they deserve it or not. Chessed is unconditional grace. I believe that chessed is the highest achievement of the moral life. It is what Ruth did for Naomi, and Boaz for Ruth, and from that kindness came David, Israels greatest king. Reciprocal altruism I do this for you, and you do this for me is universal among social animals. Chessed is not. In chessed God created the universe. In chessed we create moments of moral beauty that bring joy and hope where there was darkness and despair. Shabbat Shalom NOTES The Guide for the Perplexed, III:53. Ruth Rabbah 2:14. CONNECT WITH THE CHIEF RABBI Download the Chief Rabbis new iPhone and iPad app via www.chiefrabbi.org for mobile access to his video study sessions as well as his articles and speeches. Alternatively, search for Chief Rabbi in the App Store on your iPhone. SUBSCRIBE TO COVENANT & CONVERSATION To receive Covenant & Conversation and other news from the Office of the Chief Rabbi direct to your inbox each week, please subscribe at www.chiefrabbi.org. If youre a space enthusiast who enjoys gazing up at celestial bodies, then here are some pictures of an astronomical phenomenon that may be absolutely up your alley. On Saturday, August 1, Jupiter and Saturn appeared very close to the moon, reports NASA. This movement meant that a few avid sky watchers were able to observe the three astronomical objects quite clearly, post-sunset. Some of those who witnessed the phenomenon also took mesmerising pictures and shared them on Twitter. Here are some beautiful shots of the night sky when Jupiter, Saturn, and the moon were distinctly visible in some parts of the globe. This particular tweeple used a camera with a very long lens to take these photos: Got the camera and very long lens out Jupiter and Saturn are both looking nice and clear! pic.twitter.com/yFRvaEwKrz Tyler Cooper (@BetterCallTyler) August 1, 2020 Saturn, Jupiter, and the moon in one frame: Saturn, Jupiter and Moon pic.twitter.com/Etfp8I2dy0 Razi Canikligil (@canikligil) August 2, 2020 The clouds only seem to add value to these already stunning snapshots: Saturday's moon with Jupiter and Saturn, and a little bit of cloud. pic.twitter.com/DoBkhxZ4zy Jamie Reynolds (@jaythegrumpy) August 1, 2020 That is one bright-looking moon: Two pictures of the #Moon and #Jupiter taken last night. Left is by me from #Oxfordshire (51N), right is by @Lornibaby from #Santiago de Chile (33S). This is what an 84 difference in latitude on a sphere does to the nightsky. Earth is a sphere! #Science pic.twitter.com/CAB2exBorV Remco Timmermans (@timmermansr) August 2, 2020 NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory divisions official Twitter profile also shared an almost three-minute-long video on August 2 explaining the wondrous things one can see in the sky this month. From the peak of the #Perseid meteor shower to the Moon posing with Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus. Heres some of the great stuff you can see in the sky this August, read the caption of the tweet which currently has over 1,500 likes. Check out the recording below to understand what is happening up above us these next 30 days: From the peak of the #Perseid meteor shower to the Moon posing with Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus heres some of the great stuff you can see in the sky this August: https://t.co/6rIhgCD2DM pic.twitter.com/1CqvwOWH5U NASA JPL (@NASAJPL) August 1, 2020 What are your thoughts on these images? Did you enjoy the video? Have you marked your calendars in hopes of witnessing other marvellous astronomical phenomena which may be happening soon? Also Read | Astronaut shares picture of Earth from space, calls it beautiful blue marble. Its mesmerising SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Uttarakhand on Sunday reported 146 new Covid-19 positive cases, taking the state tally to 7,593. The state also recorded three deaths due to the disease. Maximum 51 infections were reported from Dehradun district, according to the bulletin released by the state health department. The rest of the cases were reported from Nainital (33), Haridwar (28), Uttarkashi (12), US Nagar (10), Chamoli (5), Pauri (2), Rudraprayag (2), Tehri (2), and Almora (1). Many among Sundays cases were those who had travel history from Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Saudi Arab, Karnataka and Bihar, while 86 were contacts of earlier positive cases which included three army personnel from Chamoli district. Of the three deaths, one was a 77-year-old female Covid-19 positive patient who died at Sushila Tiwari Hospital in Haldwani on July 31 due to type 1 respiratory failure, ARDS, bilateral pneumonitis and shock. A 68-year-old man died at Government Doon Medical College on August 1 due to Covid-19 pneumonia, ARDS, Type 2 diabetes mellitus while a 44-year-old positive man died at the same hospital on Sunday due to Covid-19 pneumonitis, ARDS and type 1 respiratory failure, said the release. In all, 86 Covid-19 positive patients have died in Uttarakhand till now with 15 patients dying due to coronavirus, according to the health officials. The rest of the positive patients died due to comorbidities and other causes, added health officials. Also, 107 Covid-19 patients were discharged from different hospitals in the state on Sunday with a maximum of 53 from Haridwar district. The rate of doubling of cases based on the last seven days now stands at 26.58 days, while the infection rate is 4.61%. The state has so far tested over 1.75 lakh samples of which results of over 8,000 are awaited. Meanwhile, days after plasma therapy treatment was started in Haldwanis Sushila Tiwari Hospital, the process was stopped on Sunday due to issues related to approval. Dr. Saloni Upadhyay, in-charge of the blood bank at the hospital, informed that the plasma therapy treatment process has been stopped at present as the hospital awaits approval from the Food and Drug Administration. In another development, chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Sunday evening announced that Rs 1000 will be given to all aaganwadi and ASHA workers in the state, the frontline warriors in the states fight against Covid-19 epidemic, on the occasion of Rakshabandhan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Governing is not easy. Even in the best of times, running modern states is a vast and complex endeavour. The range of things governments do in developed countries such as Ireland continues to expand, despite fact-free claims by some of a 'neoliberal' plot to downsize the state. The state, which is by far the biggest economic actor in an economy, is undergoing a step change as a result of the Covid-19 emergency. Massive new interventions are being undertaken to cushion the blow that the pandemic has dealt humanity. Even before the virus changed everything, the direction internationally was towards a more active state. Covid, as it is almost now cliched to say, has been an accelerator of many trends; it has super-charged the trend towards bigger and more active government. There are many positive things states can do, but there are also downsides to concentrating even greater power in the hands of government. Bureaucracies are usually driven as much to serve the interests of those who run them as they are to benefit those they exist to serve. They are also generally less efficient than private businesses, which face the disciplines of the market. Given these natural weaknesses, it is all the more important to do as much as possible to address public sector inefficiencies and the inertia which all too often takes hold when pressure to improve is absent. One way of doing that is ensuring that ministers are as effective as possible. And one way, in turn, to ensure this is to allow them to have a team of effective operators around them whose interests are aligned to their own. The benefits of ministerial advisers are not discussed much in Irish political discourse. Indeed, the opposite is the case. As has been the case over the past week, advisers are a source of constant controversy. Underpinning criticism of the numbers of advisers the Green Party leader is appointing, and a government decision to share advisers among junior ministers, rather than allowing each minister have their own, is a view that advisers are a waste of taxpayers' money or, even worse, a make-work scheme for party hacks. These views are badly misplaced. Ireland needs a better system of ministerial advisers, more of them, and a vetting system to ensure appropriate people are appointed, and are seen to be appointed. A non-national political structure of which Ireland is a part - the European Union - provides a good example of the constructive role advisers can have. Each Commissioner in Brussels gets to pick a team of seven advisers. They include a chief of staff and a deputy chief of staff role. These 'cabinets' (from the French) do not come cheap. With 27 commissioners, there are around 200 well-paid advisers in the Brussels bureaucracy at any given time. This system has existed since the Commission was established. It is not subject to criticism for the simple reason that it works well. Another reason nobody advocates changing it is because in most countries it is recognised that politicians can only be effective if they have a good team to advise them and direct their bureaucratic machines. The Brussels cabinet system helps commissioners work with their de facto ministry (known in Brussels jargon as a 'Directorate General'). It ensures that they have the capacity to drive their agenda and not to become mere passengers in a juggernaut driven by permanent civil servants. These structures are one, and only one, reason why the Brussels machine is among the most efficient bureaucracies anywhere in the world. Anyone who has worked in or around the Commission may have issues of various kinds with it, but few deny that, person for person, there are few governmental structures anywhere in the world that are more effective. In Ireland, the widespread use of advisers dates back only to the early 1990s and even most civil servants - who can have difficult relations with advisers - agree that good ones make departments work better. They reduce the number of mistakes by seeing dangers around corners that civil servants might not see. They can act as Rottweilers to drive change or become mediators with the permanent government, playing good cop to the minister's bad cop. The need for advisers is even more necessary in Ireland than in most other countries because of the unusual tradition that all ministers be sitting TDs. Many democracies either prohibit ministers simultaneously double-jobbing as parliamentarians or have a mix of sitting MPs and non-MPs running ministries. Given that constituency work takes up more time in Ireland than in most other democracies, thanks to the nature of the electoral system, the notion that TDs could arrive in departments with their ministerial seals and get much done without assistants is fanciful. And that is even more the case if ministers don't see eye-to-eye with the senior civil servants in their department, either for reasons of policy or personality. Despite the real need for ministers to have advisers who are loyal only to them, scepticism about the need for hired help exists among the public and in many parts of the media. While there have been some dubious appointments over the years, most advisers either deliver for their ministers or move on; few politicians want an adviser who makes life harder rather than easier. But perceptions matter in politics. Because scepticism, and even cynicism, is so deeply engrained about advisers, change is needed in the way they are appointed so that those who get the roles are qualified for them and, even more importantly, are seen to be qualified for them. This would not be difficult to achieve. A small independent body of, say, three people could be created to vet proposed appointees. Ministers could be obliged to write to the body setting out the skills, abilities, and backgrounds of those they wish to hire. The body could interview some or all proposed appointees to ensure that its members are satisfied that the individuals would bring something to the efficient functioning of government for the benefit of citizens. Such a system could change the very negative perception of ministerial advisers and allow the public to see that when government functions better, everyone benefits. Seven Chinese health officials were due to arrive in Hong Kong on Sunday, the first members of a 60-person team that will carry out widespread testing for COVID-19 in the territory as the global financial hub races to halt a third wave of illness. Chinas National Health Commission on Saturday announced their scheduled arrival. Members of the team are from public hospitals in Guangdong province while a specialist team of six from Wuhan, where the novel coronavirus first appeared, will help prepare part of the AsiaWorld Expo convention centre as a facility for COVID-19 patients. The initiative is the first time mainland health officials have assisted Hong Kong in its battle to control the coronavirus. Some local residents fear China may use this as an excuse to collect DNA samples for surveillance purposes. Leader Carrie Lam said on Saturday the former British colony asked for help from the central government due to the resurgence in cases. She said the government was studying whether everyone in Hong Kong could be tested, local broadcaster RTHK reported on Saturday. The Chinese territory saw a surge in locally transmitted coronavirus cases in July and introduced a raft of tightening measures including restricting gatherings to two people and mandating face masks in all outdoor public spaces. Hong Kong has reported around 3,400 coronavirus cases and 33 deaths since January, far lower than other major cities around the world. But the daily number of new infections has been in the triple-digits for the past 11 days. Beijing recently imposed a security law that critics say undermines Hong Kongs autonomy, which was guaranteed under a one country, two systems" formula when the city returned to Chinese control from Britain in 1997. Im sure I am not the only person who is tired of reading how our teachers do not want to go back to school while the coronavirus is spreading; about how virtual learning is the way the state needs to go; about how unions are mobilizing to get teachers to protest; and about how three state lawmakers want to shut down all in-person schooling at least through Oct. 31 (N.J. schools would stay closed, start the year all-remote under proposed bill, article, July 30). Well, enough is enough. Children need to be in a classroom to learn. Unions need to stop mobilizing protests and start mobilizing their financial resources to get their dues-paying members the proper personal protective equipment and materials they need to ensure their members are safe. Stop putting all the burden on our school districts to provide this. Put your money where your mouth is and make it happen. We dont hear health care workers or store cashiers complaining about going to work. We dont hear mail personnel and online shipment and delivery workers complaining. Airline pilots and flight attendants are working. While we may choose individually not to fly, other people are. So why should teachers be given any special treatment for not doing their job the right way? Parents need to work and kids need to go to school. I understand the concerns of our teachers and I appreciate all they do for our children, but 100% virtual school is not the answer. Hybrid schedules arent the best, either, but at least our children would have some in-person instruction. A working arrangement is possible if the unions and the school districts work together for the health and safety of all. Maureen Nassan, Midland Park Stigmatizing a suspect by where he lives In reading about a fatal stabbing near Newark Penn Station, I am disappointed that the article featured the suspects living circumstances so prominently. Im not sure what the alleged assailants homelessness has to do with the stabbing incident. Had the assailant not been homeless, would his housing situation have been mentioned at all, much less in the lede paragraph and the (July 29 print edition) headline? Many people stigmatize people who are homeless unfairly, and your priorities in reporting reinforce the stigma. The connection between homeless and Penn Station often causes trouble for the people who shelter there for lack of a better place to be. The vast majority are simply trying to survive and pose no threat to anyone. That the attack did not occur at Penn Station itself makes the reference all the more troubling. Whether it is was the reporter or the editors who were responsible, I urge you to balance your reporting with fairness and sensitivity. If it serves a purpose to mention that an alleged assailant is homeless, that fact does not need to lead, does it? If so, perhaps the living situation of other alleged criminals deserves to lead as well. Randy VanDoornik, Maplewood Presidents troubles not the good kind I just listened to the eulogy for U.S. Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., given by former President Barack Obama on July 29. It proved to be not only a lesson in history, but an example of how a president of this great country should conduct himself. No, the intent of this letter is not to attack President Donald Trump, his tweets, his conduct and his attacks on the very rights for which John Lewis stood. But these actions paint an accurate profile of our current president. Regardless of Trumps relationship with Lewis, his decision not to attend this service says volumes about his character and lack of integrity. One cannot help but wonder: If Lewis had been white, would Trump have attended his memorial service? Richard D. Slayton, Succasunna Like Dr. Kings, Lewis spirit lives on Like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., U.S. Rep. John Lewis left a legacy of hopes and dreams. Lewis' spirit will live forever in the hearts of American men and women, those who love as well as those who hate, in an America we all desire to be what we perceive as great. Hadren W. Simmons, Newark Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. (Natural News) The Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon Task Force (UAPTF), a Department of Defense (DOD) program tasked with hunting unidentified flying objects (UFOs) was purportedly shut down back in 2012. However, reports are now surfacing that this department has actually continued existing in secret for the past eight years. While many of the results of the UAPTFs investigations are still classified, they have relented to pressure from the United States Senate and have agreed to make their findings available to the public within the next six months. The UAPTF spent the past eight years hidden away inside the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI), the countrys oldest active government intelligence service. In the years since its supposed disbandment, it has continued to collect information on the countrys encounters with all manners of unidentified aerial objects. The UAPTFs existence was first brought into the public view in June of this year, when the senates Select Committee on Intelligence addressed some of the task forces activities under the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. This bill seeks to regulate how the task force tracks, organizes and makes their information relating to UFOs accessible to the wider public. Among the bills stipulations is that the task force needs to submit a public report on their activities in unclassified form within 180 days after the bill is signed into law. The committee understands that the relevant intelligence may be sensitive; nevertheless, the committee finds that the information sharing and coordination across the intelligence community has been inconsistent, wrote the members of the Intelligence Committee in their bill. Back in March, a former consultant for the UAPTF made a briefing to representatives from the Pentagon concerning certain aspects about the program. The former employee mentioned the retrieval of off-world vehicles not made on this Earth. (Related: Enemy drones or extraterrestrial aircraft? U.S. Navy releases reports of several Navy aircraft encounters with UFOs during the 2010s.) Despite this, the former consultant has not yet produced any evidence of the alleged encounters with extraterrestrial technology. Pentagons history with tracking UFOs dates back over a decade In 2017, the Pentagon acknowledged that they had been funding a secret multimillion-dollar program dedicated to investigating credible UFO sightings. The program was supposedly named the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP). They admitted to continuing to fund it despite defense chiefs previously claiming that the UFO hunting department was shut down in 2012. It was determined that there were other, higher priority issues that merited funding and it was in the best interest of the DOD to make a change, said a spokeswoman for the Pentagon at the time. While the defense chiefs claimed that the AATIP specifically had been shut down in 2012, they were less clear about whether or not a similar UFO investigation program was still lurking around somewhere inside the Pentagon. Several people who worked with the top secret UFO hunting program up to and after 2017 have confirmed to the New York Times that the task force has continued to exist, but it was shuffled around to a different office and was given a different name. According to them, the first program specifically created to investigate credible sightings of UFOs was created in the Pentagon back in 2017 under the purview of the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). For reasons that are still unclear, the program was then transferred to the ONI. The task forces name was unknown to the public until the Senate Intelligence Committees hearings concerning the offices UFO hunting programs in June. It no longer has to hide in the shadows, said Luiz Elizondo, a former military intelligence official and the task forces previous director, of the UAPTF eventually making their findings available to the public. Senate more concerned about unidentified enemy aircraft than extraterrestrials While the claim that the UAPTF was able to find evidence of extraterrestrial objects is very concerning, the Senates focus on the programs activities is more focused on the threat posed by unidentified aerial objects sent by the countrys adversaries, such as Russia or China. Particularly, the U.S. is worried about communist Chinas ability to spy on the country using secretly developed aerial devices such as drones. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who is the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has expressed his fears concerning observation aircraft entering the country and spying on U.S. military bases. Rubios main fear is that China, Russia or some other adversary of the United States, like Iran, may have made some kind of technological leap that has given these nations the ability to conduct highly sophisticated observation activities. While the Pentagons UFO hunting programs have a clear goal of collecting data and reporting on unidentified aerial phenomena, as well as any links these aircraft have to adversarial foreign governments, senators have alleged that the information sharing has been inconsistent, which is what led to the Senate Intelligence Committee demanding a full report on the UAPTFs activities. The bottom line is that if there are things flying over your military bases and you dont know what they are because theyre not yours, and they exhibit potentially technologies that you dont have at your own disposal, that to me is a national security risk and one that we should be looking into, said the Florida senator. Learn more about UFOs and the ongoing search for them at UFOs.news. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk LiveScience.com WUSA9.com Kazakh armed forces soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, March 18, 2020. (Photo by Kalizhan Ospanov/Xinhua) NUR-SULTAN -- Cooperation between the armed forces of China and Kazakhstan is developing steadily in a healthy and reliable manner, which corresponds to the comprehensiveness and strategic importance of bilateral relations, Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Zhang Xiao told Kazakh media on Saturday. On the occasion of the 93rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, the ambassador said the two sides have conducted military exchanges, competitions and training, and closely cooperated on the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism, as well as "color revolutions" in the region. Their cooperation has protected the key interests of the two countries and contributed to the security, stability and prosperity of the region, said Zhang. Zhang said China is ready to work with Kazakhstan to fully implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and strengthen cooperation in the military sphere. Zhang added that on the global fronts, the PLA has participated in international peacekeeping and humanitarian rescue operations, and it has been promoting non-proliferation efforts and responding to global security challenges. As the COVID-19 pandemic rages, the PLA has exchanged epidemic prevention and control experience with and provided aid to the armed forces of over 20 countries, Zhang added. Monday is a big day for students and teachers. On that day, Midland ISD will reveal during a school board meeting its model under which students and teachers will re-enter school on Aug. 19. The virtual meeting is set for noon and will be streamed on the districts website. There are three models Midland ISD officials will use an on-campus instruction model, a blended instruction model and at-home instruction model. Each model features an option for families to enroll in the Midland ISD Online Academy a 100 percent online option. The determining factor will be the level of coronavirus community spread, the district said. A low level or no level of community spread will allow for on-campus learning. Should there be a moderate level, MISD would employ blended-learning instruction. A high level of community spread would trigger at-home instruction for all students, them district said. Midland ISD will consult with local health authorities including the Midland Health Department and Midland Memorial Hospital about COVID-19 spread. The Midland Health Department has reported the two highest weekly coronavirus case totals over the last two weeks. There have been 790 confirmed coronavirus cases, an average of 395 a week or 56.4 a day. There also is a Texas Education Agency option for re-entry that allows for the school year to begin with up to four weeks of virtual (at-home) instruction. What is right for Midland is what these groups that I mentioned (MMH, the health department, the CDC, the community through surveys and the information they provide) making that determination, MISD Chief of Staff Katie Atkins said. What teachers and families told MISD A survey recently sent out to teachers and families provided MISD officials information about support for online learning heading into the school year and teacher apprehension about going back into the classroom. The survey showed that more than 60 percent of the 2,082 MISD staff responding are either extremely concerned (39.4 percent) or moderately concerned (27.1 percent) with the impact of COVID-19 in relation to the on-campus learning/working environment. More Information For more information on Midland ISD re-entry for 2020-21, visit www.midlandisd.net/fall2020. See More Collapse It also showed 65.2 percent of 2,086 responding staff would support a fully virtual launch to the school year. Of the 13,690 responses from families, more than 50.6 percent are interested in a full-time virtual learning option. The district also will start the school year with the Midland ISD Online Academy for those interested in a long-term virtual learning environment for their child. A family has the option to exit the online academy and return to on-campus instruction every six weeks -- the end of each grading period. Atkins said last week that the difference in online learning last spring and this school year will be structure. Atkins told the Reporter-Telegram that along with the flexibility of a virtual learning environment, people also want structure and students need feedback. She said those are key to having successful learning outcomes. So that thats been a big lesson learned, is how do we ensure its true engagement and make sure that learning is occurring, Atkins said, not just clickety clicking through an assignment, getting it done, turning it in and getting a grade or a progress measure engagement, but what does engagement truly look like? The district states that attendance will be counted through daily engagement. Achievement in COVID-19 environment Atkins talked about the challenges for a district working to improve academically during the pandemic. She said it will be important for teachers and school officials to gauge students emotional and social needs, because quality academic learning cannot take place until officials realize where students are on those fronts. Along with identifying a students readiness, there will be a need to see the skills that students have relative to where they should be academically. Where do we need them to be and how do we get them there? are questions Atkins said will be asked. There are worries about a summer slide on top of a COVID slide from last spring. I think we have to approach this with a positive and realistic expectation of support, Atkins said. What is taking place in the classroom will be intentionally aligned with what those essential standards are, Atkins said. Midland ISD has struggled when it comes to academic performance. While there werent Texas Education Agency ratings for the 2019-20 school year, MISD trailed when it came to the districts own Lone Star Governance goals. We have to be really focused on building capacity and having students delve deeper into those what we call essential standards to really accelerate that learning, Atkins said. What happens Monday Midland ISD staff and families will learn Monday what re-entry will look like. That includes the type of instruction, where it will happen, how often some students will come to class and other necessary information in a coronavirus setting. Midland ISD officials have stated that students in pre-K through second grade will be on campus Monday through Friday whether the district is in on-campus instruction or blended-learning instruction. The same can be said for self-contained Life Skills classes and self-contained autism classes. District officials said that if extracurricular activities take place, students can participate whether they are on campus or part of the online academy. Weve been able to capture what are some of these frequently asked questions, and then build some responses, Atkins said of the re-entry document on the districts website. So those are there as well. And really, there (are) so many questions that people have about a range of topics. So, were continuing to evolve that document. The agenda for Mondays special school board meeting includes an item that calls for the approval of a waiver that allows for 40 percent campus hybrid instruction for students in grades nine through 12. Agenda documents state the blended model of instruction includes students attending in-person either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday in student cohorts, while participating at-home on alternating days in the asynchronous model of instruction. Learning for all students on Friday will be online. Challenges with technology on asynchronous days will be mitigated by issuing devices and hotspots in a similar model to those provided during spring 2020 instruction, according to the district. Campuses will work with families with students in multiple grade levels to ensure all students in the same family attend on the same day. Midland ISD survey Staff --Please indicate your level of concern with impact of COVID-19 in relation to the on-campus learning/working environment. Extremely concerned: 39.4 percent Moderately concerned 27.1 percent Somewhat concerned: 14 percent Slightly concerned 12 percent Not concerned at all 7.4 percent Note: 2,082 responses --If the current level of COVID-19 in Texas remains at similar levels in August, to what extent would you support a fully virtual launch to the school year (with no delay in start date, and transition to in-person learning later on)? Support: 65.2 percent Oppose: 16 percent Neither support or oppose: 12.1 percent Not sure: 6.7 percent Note: 2,086 responses Parents --Students access to devices My student has sole access to a learning device: 53.3 percent My student has access to a learning device: 31.4 percent My student does not have access to a learning device: 15.4 percent Note: 13,647 responses --Students access to WiFi/internet My student has access to WiFi/internet on a Chromebook, tablet, laptop or computer: 82.4 percent My student has access to WiFi/internet, but only via a mobile device 12. 4 percent My student does not have access to WiFi/internet: 5.2 percent Note: 13,634 responses --Are you interested in a full-time virtual learning option for your student for the 20-21 school year? Interested: 50.6 percent Uninterested: 49.4 percent Note: 13,690 responses Re-entry scenarios --On campus instruction Would occur under a low or no level of COVID-19 community spread All families would have the option to enroll in Midland ISD Online Academy --Blended instruction Would occur under a moderate level of COVID-19 community spread This model uses both in-person instruction and virtual instruction All families would have the option to enroll in Midland ISD Online Academy --At-home instruction Would occur under a high level of COVID-19 community spread All families would have the option to enroll in Midland ISD Online Academy, regardless of the amount of time the district implements this model --About on-campus instruction Instruction: Face to face to the extent possible, students maintain social distancing in classrooms PPE: Students encouraged to use face mask/covering, temperature checks taken at entrances Cleaning/sanitizing: Routinely use hand sanitizer and wash hands Meal: Brown bag lunches taken to classrooms Transportation: Temperature checks before entering bus; buses maximize fresh air exchange; touch surfaces regularly wiped down; cleaning and sanitizing daily --About blended instruction A Group (A-L): In-person Monday and Wednesday, virtual Tuesday and Thursday B Group (M-Z): In-person Tuesday and Thursday, virtual Monday and Wednesday Friday: All students participate in at-home instruction Note: Students attending each day Monday through Friday (pre-K through second grade, self-contained Life Skills classes, self-contained autism) Note 2: Dyslexia instruction (only for duration of dyslexia intervention session), speech therapy (only for duration of speech therapy session). --About at-home instruction Instruction: Classes delivered via Google classroom Technical support: WiFi hotspots and Chromebooks at home Feedback: Beyond-class, on-going support Meals: Grab and go --Extracurricular activities Students in Midland ISD Online Academy may also participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities offered their campus Students who participate in these activities must arrange to attend practices in-person Online: midlandisd.net/fall2020 By PTI NEW DELHI: The Special Protection Group (SPG) has ordered a mega repatriation of over 200 personnel to their respective security forces in view of its charter being recently amended to protect only the Prime Minister, official sources said. Top officials in the security establishment told PTI that the elite organisation with an estimated strength of about 4,000 commando-trained personnel has decided to gradually shift its personnel to their parent organisations and better utilise their services in various internal security duties. The SPG, in the coming days, will gradually send back more personnel and will only operate with about 50-60 per cent of its sanctioned strength to secure Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they said. This is the first time that the organisation has repatriated these many personnel and officers in one go, they said. The SPG was raised in 1985 and its complete strength is brought on deputation from various paramilitary or Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and some from the state police units and central intelligence gathering agencies. As per orders issued by the Cabinet Secretariat on Saturday, over 200 personnel working in various operational units of the SPG have been repatriated to their parent units "on completion of their extended tenure" in the agency. The list includes at least 86 officers and personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force, 45 from the Border Security Force, 23 from the Central Industrial Security Force, 24 from the Sashastra Seema Bal, 17 from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and some others from the Railway Protection Force, Rajasthan Police and the Intelligence Bureau. Officials said fresh intake of personnel in the SPG will also see a drastic cut as the force now only has one protectee to guard. "It was desired by the government that post the amendment in the SPG Act and withdrawal of the cover from former PM Manmohan Singh and Congress party's first family Sonia Gandhi and her children Rahul and Priyanka, the personnel who are relieved from the force should be better utilised for their original mandated tasks," a senior officer said. These personnel, who have received specialised training during their SPG stint, will enhance the capability of their respective forces, the officer said. He said the CAPFs have also been directed to utilise the services of these personnel in specialist tasks of undertaking and planning counter-terrorist operations, anti-Naxal offensives and intelligence gathering. After the central government amended the SPG Act in December last year, its charter has been revised allowing it to only protect the prime minister and members of his immediate family residing with him at his official residence. The PM's official residence is 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in the national capital. The SPG also secures the Prime Minister's office and does an advance security liaison (ASL) whenever the VVIP is scheduled to visit a venue in the country or abroad. The amendment also stipulated that the SPG will also provide security to former prime ministers and their immediate family members staying with them at the residence allotted for a period of five years from the date on which they cease to hold the office. Former PM Manmohan Singh and the Congress party President and her children are now guarded by the VIP security wing of the CRPF under the top category 'Z+' cover. SPG protectees, as per the protocol, are provided with specially-trained commandos armed with sophisticated weapons, armoured smart vehicles, jammers and ambulance in their carcade. The SPG Act, enacted by Parliament in 1988, was initially supposed to provide security to only the prime minister and former prime ministers of the country. The Act was amended after the assassination of Congress leader and former PM Rajiv Gandhi to include the immediate family members of former prime ministers, paving the way for Sonia Gandhi as well her children to get the SPG cover. The need for a separate force for guarding the prime minister of the country was felt after Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her own security guards on October 31, 1984. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 22:26:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian president on Sunday expressed hope that dialogue among Afghan political groups will result in durable peace in Afghanistan, official IRNA news agency reported. In a phone conversation with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, Hassan Rouhani welcomed the cease-fire in the neighboring country and expressed hope that a temporary truce will lead to standing tranquility and drop of violence in Afghanistan. He announced Iran's consistent support for the peace process led by the Afghan government. Rouhani also highlighted the boost of ties between Tehran and Kabul on different fronts and called for tapping into the existing economic, trade and transit potentials. For his part, Ghani expressed satisfaction with the interaction of the private sectors of the two countries and the economic ties between Iran and Afghanistan. He also thanked Iran for backing peace efforts in Afghanistan. Enditem The Nigerian Army under Operation SAHEL SANITY has announced the successful neuterilization of 80 bandits and arrest of 33 suspects by its troops, during their operation against clearing banditry in the Northwest Region. This disclosure was made by the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brigadier General Benard Onyeuko during a recent conference at the Special Army Super Camp 4, in Kastina State. According to him, the operational goal by the unit was to provide assistance in supporting Operation Hadarin Daji in putting to a halt the heinous and barbarous acts of bandits, kidnappers, cattle rustlers and all other crimes committed in the Northwest Region. Continuing, he stated that 14 bandits informants and their associates were arrested in the troops operation carried out in Sokoto, Katsina, and Zamfara States. 17 kidnapped victims were rescued by the troops during the operation, and the bandits highly notorious camp, Dangote Triangle camp and their logistics base camps were all obliterated by the troops, he noted. Recovered also from them was 943 cows, 633 sheep/rams. Weapons recovered includes, seven AK-47 rifles, 16 Dane guns, and General Purpose Machine Gun. This outstanding achievement by the Military, has eased the fears of people living in the State, which can be witnessed in the resumption of farming and economic activities in the State, adding that the troops will continue with the ravaging pace of clearing banditry in the Northwest, he explained. He Further revealed that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. -Gen. Tukur Buratai lauded the troops for their bravery and expertise in carrying out the operations. He urged them further to continue with the pace and never relent with their work. The United States is pulling almost 12,000 troops from Germany, following through on President Donald Trumps call to reduce the U.S. military footprint overseas. Critics see the move as punishment for a country Trump has criticized as delinquent in NATO defense spending. After facing humiliating defeat in the 2019 parliamentary and assembly polls, OP Chautalas Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) started a fresh membership drive across the state with a target of having 10 lakh active members by August 15. The INLD, which was the main opposition party in Haryana in the 2014 assembly elections, has been reduced to only one seat secured by its general secretary Abhay Chautala in Ellenabad constituency. Talking to HT in Rohtak, Ellenabad legislator and senior INLD leader Abhay Chautala said they had started the membership drive last week from Panchkula and aimed to enrol 10 lakh new members in the state by August 15. We have started a membership drive in 20 districts, which will also commence in Faridabad and Palwal districts tomorrow. I have taken charge of these drives in 10 districts while party president Nafe Singh Rathi and senior leader Parkash Bharti are looking after the initiative in six districts each, he added. He further said that his party was focusing on bringing back old workers into the fold, who had shifted to other parties after the emergence of the JJP. JJP dissolved national, state units after many of its office bearers joins INLD INLD general secretary Abhay Chautala said that the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) had dissolved its units after many of its leaders switched over to the INLD. I am waiting when the JJP will revamp its units and then many of its office bearers will join our party. Dont be surprised if any member of my brother Ajay Chautalas family joins the INLD in coming days. Many people enjoyed the moment when our party was divided into two parts and they thought that INLDs game was over in Haryana. But, they failed to realise the attachment of Chautala sahabs supporters, he added. In this article OCG cdwheatley | E+ | Getty Images Millions of Americans have altered their travel plans amid the pandemic, with some switching to road trips this summer and others postponing long-haul air and sea travel till next year or beyond. But one demographic the affluent vacationer appears to be more optimistic, making plans and holding onto reservations made pre-coronavirus. Industry experts see this resilience among luxury travelers as an encouraging sign a rebound might be just around the corner. How the wealthy are traveling, however, is evolving, too. "Affluent travelers tend to be a little more comfortable with the wait-and-see scenario," said Misty Belles, managing director at Virtuoso, a global network of 1,100 travel agencies and more than 22,000 travel advisors specializing in luxury and experiential travel. "Because they're well-versed at travel and it's such an ingrained part of their lifestyle, our clients are really more in that sit-and-wait camp especially if there's no financial penalty for them to do so." More from Personal Finance: The top 10 places well off travelers want to go Trafalgar pivots to new pandemic normal to spur bookings What checking into a hotel is like during Covid-19 Jon Grutzner, president of Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold two high-end guided vacation brands owned by Cypress, California-based The Travel Corporation said he's heard Virtuoso CEO Matthew Upchurch refer to luxury travel advisors as "the canary in the coal mine" regarding travel recovery. "We're seeing that that really is the case," he said. "Their clients are the first guests who are coming back and feeling more comfortable with travel." Belles said Virtuoso has polled affluent travelers and found that 39% were ready to travel within three months, and 66% were ready to immediately board an airplane. For his part, Grutzner says Insight and Luxury Gold currently enjoy an 80% "save rate" on customer bookings. Jon Grutzner, president of guided vacation companies Insight Vacations and Luxury Gold, in Pisa, Italy. The Travel Corporation That means 8 out of every 10 customers are either keeping their reservations as is, rebooking for a later date or taking a future travel credit rather than canceling outright for a refund. (The two brands have dropped tour departures through November but do plan to run Christmas market trips to Europe, said Grutzner.) "That's a good sign for us and for travel, that travelers are feeling comfortable in continuing to keep those reservations," he said. While 2020 "was pretty much a wash" for Insight and Luxury Gold, bookings for 2021 are strong. "It definitely far outpaces what we've done in previous years," Grutzner said. "People are coming back and we are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel." Pent-up demand among luxury customers is leading them to book heavily for the first through third quarters of next year, and even into 2022, he added despite a rise of about 12% in prices of late. Meanwhile, certified travel counselor Anne Scully, president of McCabe World Travel in McLean, Virginia, said her agency booked a respectively healthy $1.6 million in trips in June. The agency normally does $60 million per year. Where are they headed? Those well-off vacationers staying in the U.S. are booking places with flat or dropping infection rates, said Belles. "Places that have low [Covid-19] numbers, lots of wide open space and and good testing facilities seem to be where people are gravitating," she observed. "A couple of our hotels in Maine are almost completely 100% committed through the rest of the summer." Scully has been booking mountain resorts like the St. Regis in Aspen, Colorado, and Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, for well-heeled families. "Ski resorts are extraordinary summer destinations," she said. "You've got that beautiful fresh air out there, and you can social distance very easily at properties like that." Luxury RV self-drives, some with butler service, are also selling, she added. While affluent travelers did shift to more domestic bookings early in the pandemic, they're now starting to reserve trips abroad even though border restrictions between the U.S. and many popular destinations, including Canada, most of the European Union and even the Bahamas, are still in effect. Nonetheless, Grutzner said he saw a shift from domestic to abroad in bookings starting in early July. We're seeing an uptick in exclusive use. People are even taking over small boutique hotels. Misty Belles managing director at Virtuoso Scully just rebooked a client who'd canceled a summer private charter to Europe on a Venice Simplon-Orient-Express rail journey across the Continent this October, book-ended with stays at the Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice and Claridge's in London. "Now, fingers crossed that things will open up," she said. "We did negotiate with our partners saying, 'look, if they're not allowed in as Americans, what kind of penalties will there be?' "You've got to protect your clients," she added. "Relationships matter in creating trips right now." Sea and river cruises are also selling at McCabe World Travel, despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extending its No Sail Order for ships carrying at least 250 passengers in U.S. waters through Sept. 30. Scully thinks cruise lines might come out even stronger post-pandemic. "Remember, they were dealing with the Norwalk virus for years, and lived through it," she said. "They literally have doctors and health facilities on board." Virtuoso agencies are reporting jumps of 30% in river cruises and 4% in general cruises for January, said Belles, adding that "cruisers are just incredibly loyal." Travelers feel comfortable taking such planning risks because cruise lines, hotels, guided vacation companies and other travel providers have in fact loosened restrictions and cancellation policies, according to Belles at Virtuoso. "And as long as those cancellation policies stay lax, and I think they will continue throughout 2020 to be that way, there's no need cancel right now," she said. For example, Insight and Luxury Gold, along with other The Travel Corporation companies, are reducing trip deposits to $99, allowing changes of dates and destinations across brands, and instituting a Peace of Mind promise to calm traveler nerves. They're also fine-tuning product to meet pandemic-era needs, introducing wellness directors charged with ensuring hygiene on escorted trips and a Small Private Group Option version of standard tour departures. "With groups of as small as 12, we can take our current departure dates and for a surcharge make them a small, private group option for them," said Grutzner. "We're seeing guests wanting the comfort of traveling with, first of all, like-minded people and then, second, having more of these intimate experiences that you get with a guided vacation versus doing it on your own. "We are listening to our travel partners, specifically the travel advisors, whom we recommend our guests book through," he added. "And they say the demand is is being able to travel with your friends and extended family." Who are they traveling with? Indeed, in its polling, Virtuoso found 76% of affluent travelers would consider a so-called vacation pod to enable and/or ease travel faster. A "pod" can be a group of healthy relatives or friends traveling together and sharing quarters to limit exposure to pathogens. "There is a strong desire to be with others," said Belles. "So traveling with another family, whether it's relatives or a similar family who have been social distancing in the same way, allows for a more social vacation experience." Pods or no pods, affluent travelers are also snapping up charters on yachts and private jets, she added. "We're seeing an uptick in exclusive use," Belles said. "People are even taking over small boutique hotels." Affluent travelers are turning to exclusive use of hotels, boats and private jets amid pandemic-era health concerns. EXTREME-PHOTOGRAPHER | E+ | Getty Images Israel will resume international flights on August 16, Xinhua reported citing the states Minister of Transport. According to the transport minister, Miri Regev, the Israel Airports Authority is already preparing to resume flights, including the setup of a rapid 20-to-30-minute coronavirus testing array. As per the report, she noted that passengers arriving in Israel from countries with low morbidity would not have to enter quarantine. According to latest data from Johns Hopkins University, Israel so far has reported 70,970 cases of coronavirus while its death toll stands at 526. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON When Liz Herring arrived at George Washington University as a freshman in 1966, she entered a capital city in the throes of the civil rights movement. Just three years after a quarter-million people had crowded the National Mall to hear the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Congress was debating civil rights legislation as violent protests continued across the country. Yet, little of that political unrest reached Kappa Alpha Theta, the all-white sorority the future senator from Massachusetts would soon pledge. Yearbook photos show Ms. Herring in a group of smiling young women, corsages pinned to their white dresses, hair perfectly flipped up at the ends. The young Ms. Herring, who fought her mother to attend college away from her conservative hometown, went to rush parties and meetings, charity events and the annual goat show, a sketch comedy performance for all of the Greek organizations, where a master of ceremonies defended sororities as a unifying force for the school. No Black woman had ever been offered acceptance into any of the sororities on campus. More than half a century later, the young college coed, who now goes by Senator Elizabeth Warren, led the charge in Congress to require the Pentagon to rename bases that honor Confederate military leaders. She spent much of her time on the campaign trail during the Democratic primary campaign talking about the racial wealth gap and systemic discrimination, and proposing plans on housing, maternal mortality, child care and other issues, which had an explicit focus on racial justice. Russian Health Minister Says COVID-19 Vaccine Trials Have Been Completed Sputnik News 08:18 GMT 01.08.2020 NIZHNY NOVGOROD (Sputnik) - Clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, have been completed, Russian Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko said. "The vaccine against coronavirus infection, developed by the Gamaleya Institute, has completed clinical trials," Murashko told reporters, answering a question about whether the clinical trials of the vaccine are officially completed. Murashko also said that the health ministry expects at least two requests to begin clinical trials in the coming two months. "We expect at least two more applications in the next one and a half to two months for permission to conduct clinical trials," Murashko said. He noted that the packet of documents for vaccine registration is being prepared. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan on Sunday started a day-long hunger strike to demand the resignation of Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the gold smuggling case in the southern state. Muraleedharan, who belongs to Kerala, is holding the days fast at his official residence in New Delhi. This is not only a gold smuggling case but it is related to Indias security. It is also related to the financing network of terrorist organisations. A thorough probe should be conducted. Kerala CM must resign. This is our demand, Muralidhar Rao, the BJPs national general secretary, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. The opposition has stepped up pressure on the Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government over the gold smuggling case and asked him to step down taking moral responsibility for the scam. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began a one-day fast on Saturday and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has also announced a series of protests from Wednesday. The CM is planning to get his way by sacrificing some officials. Everything happened under his nose. Some reports even suggest the proceeds of smuggling were used to fund anti-national activities. He has to own up moral responsibility and resign, Muraleedharan had said on Saturday. During one of the recent protests (anti-Citizenship [Amendment] Act, 2019) against the Union government, the CM had sat on a dharna blocking the road in Thiruvananthapuram, he had said. The gold smuggling case surfaced on July 5 when PS Sarith, a former employee of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consulate in the state capital of Thiruvananthapuram, was arrested. Sarith was arrested when he had come to receive a consignment that had arrived from Dubai in the name of a consulate official. Later, 30 kilograms of gold was retrieved from the consignment and the case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Swapna Suresh, a senior information technology (I-T) consultant and her friend Sandip Nair, were arrested from their hideout in Bengaluru on June 10. Vijayans powerful principal secretary Sivasankar, a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, has been suspended over his alleged liaison with Suresh. The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), which is a key constituent of the LDF government, has slammed the Congress and the BJP for joining hands to topple a democratically-elected dispensation. The CM had recommended a central agency (NIA) probe soon after the case surfaced. Let them go to the NIA and submit all proofs if they have. We are not worried about the ongoing investigation, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the partys state secretary, said. Sometimes, the Court gets it right. The Supreme Court made exactly the right call in telling the Sierra Club to go pound sand in its bid to halt President Trump's border wall. At issue was the re-direction of $2.5 billion in military funds for border wall construction, based on President Trump's declaration of an emergency at the border, which the Sierra Club really had a problem with. According to Vox: The Supreme Court ruled Friday evening, in a 5-4 decision along partisan lines, that President Donald Trump may move forward with his plans to build a multi-billion dollar wall along the US-Mexico border. The Courts order marks the second time Trump v. Sierra Club has come before the justices, and the Friday decision says as much about the unusual deference this Court gives to Trump as it does about the wall itself. The case first reached the Court in late July 2019, after a lower federal court blocked the Trump administrations attempt to transfer $2.5 billion that Congress appropriated for military pay, training, and similar personnel-related matters to wall construction. The administration claims it was allowed to do under a statute permitting the Secretary of Defense to transfer military funds for higher priority items, based on unforeseen military requirements. Chief leftist Justice Stephen Breyer sighed in frustration. According to The Hill: Justice Stephen Breyer, in dissent, said he feared the majoritys ruling may operate, in effect, as a final judgment. The whole thing was an amazingly frustrating waste of time and money and it's natural to be satisfied that the Sierra Club will have to eat those costs. But the ruling itself was extremely sound. What better use of defense, repeat, defense, funds than to defend the U.S.? That's what defense funds are for. That's what Trump's decision to halt the chaos at the border was about. A recent surge of angry noises from the deep-staters embedded at the Pentagon and assorted defense establishments, stating that they don't want to be border guards or do border functions, calls into question what their purpose actually is. They seem so attached to the useless, futile wars of the Middle East they have lost sight of their original mission, which is to defend the U.S. Leave that to the low-class border guards, the pampered princes of the Pentagon telegraph. Yet defense is to defend the country, and with a lawless border surge, led by drug cartels that profit from human misery and human misery's smuggling fees, a criminal group was essentially taking over the border. There's no such thing as an unguarded border in the real world. If the U.S. won't guard its border, rest assured the cartels will be happy to take that job. The result of that is untold killer drugs coming across the border, terrorist passage, millions of unvetted, uneducated illegal immigrants entering the country, the rise of cross-border sex trafficking and kidnappings, the strengthening of criminal networks in the states (just ask Chicago where that violence is coming from) and complete chaos. Those factors are bona fide defense issues, the very mission of the armed forces, and a perfect instance of assymetrical, unconventional warfare their smart set is always talking about. The voters understand this, even if they don't. Voters elected Trump based on their concerns for this smouldering problem. Trump took action. That's called representative democracy. Already we are beginning to see results as the wall goes up and Border Patrol agents don't have to play constant whack-a-mole with smugglers across thousands of miles of unguarded territory, instead focusing on just particular problem areas for security. Using defense funds for this purpose is highly appropriate. Bottom line, the wall is defense. Breyer's complaint that this might just become the status quo is preposterous. It's not the status quo, it's the original mission. Image credit: Pixabay public domain Substances thought to be cocaine, with a street value of 171,000 and suspected cannabis herb, worth 270,000 were seized. TWO men have been arrested after a 441,000 drugs seizure in Clonsilla, Dublin. Gardai raided a house in a residential estate at around 7.30pm on Saturday. Substances thought to be cocaine, with a street value of 171,000 and suspected cannabis herb, worth 270,000 were seized. Chief Superintendent Finbarr Murphy said: "This is an excellent detection by the newly-formed Divisional Drugs Unit and has disrupted the supply of cocaine and cannabis herb in the Blanchardstown area. "We will continue to aggressively tackle those involved in the sale and supply of drugs in order to make our community safer for everybody in the area. The drugs will now be sent for analysis. Officers raided the house as part of Operation Tara. 19,140 in cash was also seized along with two Rolex watches and drug paraphernalia. Two men, in their 30s and 40s, were arrested at the scene and taken to Blanchardstown Garda Station, where they were detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. We are not past this, Murphy said during his briefing Friday. Everyone who walks around refusing to wear a mask, or who hosts an indoor house party, or who overstuffs a boat is directly contributing to these increases. On Friday, the governor said the reported transmission rate was higher than it was in April when coronavirus-related hospitalizations were peaking. We still may be among the leaders in having the lower case numbers, but we are standing in a very dangerous place, the governor said. The alarms are going off. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} New hot spots Atlantic, Burlington, Camden and Mercer counties were identified last week in a federal report as emerging hot spots of COVID-19. Atlantic County was last on the list of hot spots in mid-May. Of the new positive cases reported in Atlantic County Sunday, five were males and 11 were females. There were five cases in Galloway, two each in Atlantic City, Buena Vista Township, Hammonton and Ventnor, and one each in Absecon, Egg Harbor Township and Pleasantville. A Latino man survived World War II, graduated in college as a Top Honor in his class at the age of 96, and now the global pandemic. He is now Italy's oldest university graduate. There is still much to celebrate despite the global pandemic. There are stories of success that will inspire millions of people around the world. One of them is the story of a 96-year-old Latino man from Italy who is the country's oldest university graduate. Recently, a 96-year-old Latino man received his diploma and the traditional laurel wreath awarded to Italian students when they graduate. His family, teachers, and fellow students applauded him for being an inspiration to other students. Giuseppe Paterno has faced different challenges in his life. His life is full of sad memories because of poverty, war, and now the global pandemic. However, being 96 amid the present situation did not stop him from achieving his goal in life; to have a college degree. Paterno said, "I am a normal person, like many others. In terms of age, I have surpassed all the others, but I didn't do it for this." Paterno shared that he grew up loving books, but he never had the chance to study because of poverty. According to a published article in ABC News, he was already in his 90s when he entered the University of Palermo to get a degree in History and Philosophy. In another interview with him from separate news outlets, he explained that he decided to enroll in 2017 because "It's now or never." During the interview, he also admitted that it is too late for him to enroll and get a three-year degree, but he said to himself that he would try it if he could do it. Finally, after years of perseverance and determination despite his age, he graduated first in his class with top honors on Wednesday. Giuseppe Paterno grew up from a low-income family in Sicily before the Great Depression. As a child, he only received primary schooling. During World War II, he joined the Navy before he decided to work in the railways. He got married and raised his two children. His desire to study has always been part of his plan. Paterno went into high school after World War II even though work and family were priorities. He graduated at the age of 31 in high school in the goal to further his knowledge. He said, "Knowledge is like a suitcase that I carry with me, it is a treasure," He also shared that when he went to college to pursue his dream, he used an old typewriter that his mother gave to him in 1984. He also chooses to read printed boos rather than doing research using Google. Francesca Rizzuto, his sociology professor, told him that he is an example for younger students after he passed his final oral examination in June. Meanwhile, Paterno also shared that he felt uneasy when online or video classes replaced classroom teaching. However, he said that the global pandemic and the transition from traditional classroom classes to video call classes did not stop him from pursuing his dream in life. This is not the first inspiring story we've heard amid the global pandemic. It can be remembered that a Texas couple was able to beat cancer and COVID-19, according to a published article by Latin Post. Stories like these are essential to uplift people around us who seem to lose hope in the middle of depression and anxiety brought by COVID-19. Check this out! The Sony Ericsson K800 was a phone with many faces. From one angle it looked like a Cyber-shot digital camera, from another like a phone, look at the left side and youll see a button for the music player, inside was a capable graphics chip for 3D gaming. It was released in mid-2006 and became the first Sony Ericsson phone to officially sport the Cyber-shot logo. It deserved it too, as the 3.2 MP camera on its back was among the best mobile shooters of the time. It was covered up with a sliding lens cover that automatically launched the camera when opened. The phone really did look and feel like a Sony digital camera. It had a two-stage shutter key, the volume rocker controlled zoom. The handset was fairly chunky, but that also meant that there was enough room for a xenon flash. The BestPic feature was impressive for the time. It took 9 full resolution photos that included shots from before you pressed the shutter and shots after that. You could save one or several of these photos. Two stage shutter key and volume/zoom rocker on the right What to do with your best photos? Well, you could copy them to your computer using a USB cable, over Bluetooth or infrared. You could send them in an MMS too, of course, but that way they could only reach your friends. If you hit the Blog This option in the menus, the photo would be uploaded to Blogger.com where they would be available for all the world to see. Facebook was still new and exclusive to college students, Instagram wasnt a thing how else would you share photos of your food or your cat? Joking aside, this was a feature ahead of its time. The Sony Ericsson K800 was quite capable, once youve read through the user manual. For example, there are two buttons above the screen that supplement the soft keys below it. In the camera, they could switch between shooting modes (e.g. BestPic, Panorama) or Scenes. These buttons also helped you navigate the image gallery. On the left of the phone was a Play/Pause button and long-pressing the volume rocker on the right could skip songs. This wasnt a Walkman phone, but it was a fully capable music player. The proprietary port that it used to attach headphones wasnt great though. But you know what was? The A2DP support, which enabled playing music over Bluetooth in stereo. Of course, Bluetooth headphones werent as common in 2006 as they are today, but its still impressive. The K800 came with only 64MB of internal memory. You could maybe fit 100 photos in there but no more than a handful of songs. This is where the Memory Stick Micro came in, you could insert cards up to 16 GB (the slot wasnt compatible with microSD cards, however). The play/pause button for the music player and the M2 slot were on the left On the front, just under the left soft key, was the Internet key. The K800 was one of Sony Ericssons earliest 3G phones and it had a web browser (Access NetFront) as well as a built-in RSS reader, in addition to an email client. There was also the K790 variant, which supported only 2G connectivity (up to EDGE), but youd lose the MMS functionality and the front-facing video camera. That couldnt be used for taking selfies, though, 2006 really was a simpler time. Anyway, opposite that was the Activity menu key. This menu was a mix between an app switcher and a notification area. You could swap between running apps from here, check for missed calls and new messages, but also access shortcuts to apps and web bookmarks. Yes, the K800 was a feature phone, but it could multitask. And it could run mobile incarnations of some classic PC games Age of Empires and Counter-Strike, for example. Sony Ericsson K800 The phone also appeared in the first of the Daniel Craig James Bond films, Casino Royale (which also starred the M600). Sony Ericssons (and later Sonys) were a staple of Sony Pictures Entertainment era of Bond, though to a lesser extent than Aston Martin. Of course, every now and then youd get a BMW Z3 or a Nokia 8.3 instead. The Sony Ericsson K800 could do everything that mobile phones from 2006 could do. And more importantly, it could do some of those things better than most. This was when the company was at its peak before the market started moving towards smart phones, a transition that proved challenging for the Japanese-Swedish company. Too bad people aren't going to see Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck together on the red-carpet movie premiere of "No Time to Die." De Armas will be gracing the big screen as Paloma in the "James Bond" film, which has a scheduled release date for November 20. Despite being part of the movie, it has been reported that the Cuban-born actress has been ordered by the "No Time to Die" bosses to attend the premiere without her beau. A source told The Sun that the movie executives want to keep their eyes on the main star, Daniel Craig, and not on Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck's PDA overload. "The film premiere has been a long time coming, and franchise bosses want the spotlight to be on the stars of the film," the source revealed. "It would be a disaster if it was all about Ben's mushy PDAs with Ana overshadowing the event." The 007 film will have its world premiere in the UK in November, with another high-profile launch in the US after a week. "A circus sideshow is strictly off the menu, and the head honchos want to keep it all on-brand." "No Time to Die" is said to be the most expensive 007 movie ever created because of its additional marketing costs in connection to the original release dates moving. The film was supposed to have a November 2019 release, and then February 2020, and then April 2020, and they are hoping that it will surely be a go on November 2020. Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas have been getting a lot of attention for their numerous, weird and over-the-top public displays of affection in recent months. This includes kissing while wearing masks over their faces, play-fighting in the street, laughing hysterically at nothing, and many more. They have been spotted hundreds of times during the coronavirus lockdown, and now that some lockdown restrictions have been lifted, many are expecting to see more of them. The 47-year-old "Dare Devil" star and the 32-year-old "Knives Out" actress first met on the set of their movie "Deep Water" in 2019. A few months later, they were both photographed in Cuba, and ever since then, pictures of the couple have flooded the world wide web without context or explanation. Most of the headlines say they are out walking their dog or going to Dunkin' Donuts for coffee, but that's pretty much about it. Thanks to Women's Health, they talked to a body language expert to take a look at de Armas and Affleck's moves and explained what it means. Karen Donaldson explains the picture were Ana de Armas laughed her butt off where her eyes are closed, and her head is tilted back. "This tells us that she is completely and genuinely amused with whatever took place, whether it was what been said or did." Even though the paparazzi were there and know it, Donaldson said de Armas has her guard down with Affleck as seen on her body language. "Her stance is a display of fearlessness, and tells us she's carefree and unconcerned about anyone else." In one photo where de Armas seemed disconnected but still has her arm around Affleck as if pulling him firmly, Donaldson explained how the actress always trusts her boyfriend. "Her pulling him closer tells us she leans on him for support." And with the "Batman" star Ben Affleck's hand in his pocket, the body language expert revealed that the dad-of-three kids is assured and feels confident as de Armas' support system. READ MORE: Sorry Kanye West! Kim Kardashian Thinks Her Husband Is A HUGE Burden to Her Life SpaceCast Weekly is a NASA Television broadcast from the Johnson Space Center in Houston featuring stories about NASA's work in human spaceflight, including the International Space Station and its crews and scientific research activities, and the development of Orion and the Space Launch System, the next generation American spacecraft being built to take humans farther into space than they've ever gone before. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. He has reportedly gone his separate ways from villa love interest Sophie Piper. And Connor Durman looked in good spirits as the newly-single star enjoyed a night out with Love Island co-stars Callum Jones and Jamie Clayton in Manchester on Saturday. The coffee bean salesman, 25, grinned as he larked about with Callum, 24, and Jamie, 28, after starring on the first ever winter series of Love Island. Banter: Connor Durman looked in good spirits as the newly-single star enjoyed a night out with Love Island co-stars Callum Jones and Jamie Clayton in Manchester on Saturday All over: The sighting comes weeks after it was claimed Connor and Sophie had split just six months after leaving the villa (pictured in February) Connor looked dapper in an orange Louis Vuitton shirt and black joggers, paired with monochrome trainers as he strolled. Callum Jones, who is a romance with Molly Smith donned a pinstripe shirt and jeans while Jamie wore a white tee, black joggers and a khaki green jacket. The star looked happier than ever as they enjoyed their night out in the city before heading home. The sighting comes after Sophie and Connor's split was reported last month. Fun: The coffee bean salesman, 25, grinned as he larked about with Callum, 24, and Jamie, 28, after starring on the first ever winter series of Love Island Banter: Connor looked dapper in an orange Louis Vuitton shirt and black joggers, paired with monochrome trainers as he strolled The admin assistant, 21, and hunky Connor met and fell for each over during the winter version of the ITV2 series in January this year, with the duo said to have taken things slowly once they got home. However, amid the coronavirus pandemic, it's reported that the pair haven't seen each other since lockdown began and that they never even made their romance 'official'. A source told The Sun: 'Things just fizzled out. They never even went official.' Yay: Connor and Callum looked delighted as they larked about in the street Fun: The stars looked over the moon as they enjoyed their night on the town Lads: The stars looked dapper as they chatted with friends in the street They continued: 'It just didnt have a chance to get started because of lockdown and they both agreed it was better to just stay friends.' When Connor was dumped from the South African villa, the pair vowed to continue their relationship once they got both got back to the UK. However, things were not meant to be as they never got around to officially becoming boyfriend and girlfriend. Split: The admin assistant, 21, and the coffee bean salesman met and fell for each over during the winter version of the ITV2 series in January this year, with the duo said to have taken things slowly once they got home MailOnline have contacted Sophie's representatives for comment. In February, Sophie insisted that she was not in a relationship with her reality co-star beau during a radio interview on Will Njobvus radio show on Capital XTRA alongside fellow evictee Leanne Amaning. 'No we are not together at all!' she declared. 'We are just seeing each other! It's a situation-ship. I will get to know him, go on dates with him.' Sophie, whose sister is Rochelle Humes, added: 'He's met both of my sisters at Aftersun the other day. I've met his sister. They think he's lovely. They approve.' Never got started: amid the coronavirus pandemic, it's reported that the pair haven't seen each other since lockdown began and that they never even made their romance 'official' Meanwhile, Connor was said to have denied the pair were on the rocks back in March, hinting that they were set to move in together. Elsewhere, 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 bosses at the channel recently announced that the next series of the ITV2 dating show won't be for another year. 'Love Island UK will return bigger and better than ever with an extended run in summer 2021,' ITV announced in a statement to MailOnline. Still friends? A source told The Sun : 'Things just fizzled out. They never even went official' (pictured in February) 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. Xavier University of Louisiana gets $20M donation A historically Black university in Louisiana has received a $20 million donation from Mackenzie Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The gift is the largest private contribution in the schools history and part of hundreds of millions of dollars Scott announced that she had given away. Xavier University of Louisiana announced the gift on Tuesday, saying the donation will allow the school to expand scholarships and make needed investments to sustain their mission as the countrys only Catholic and historically Black university. This is a remarkable demonstration of support and encouragement for Xavier and its mission, and a reminder that what we do is important-not only at the University, but also within our global community, Reynold Verret, the universitys president, said in a news release. ADVERTISEMENT The school produces more Black medical school graduates than any other university in the U.S., the school said. A little over 3,000 students attend the university. The announcement said the donation was anonymous but Patrice A. Bell, the schools Vice President of Administration and Chief of Staff later confirmed that it came from MacKenzie Scott. Scott on Tuesday announced that she had given away $1.67 billion to various organizations who address issues such as racial or gender equity. She listed Xavier as one of the organizations. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 23:50:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- A six months old infant was among 690 Kenyans who tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, as the national tally hit 22,053. Mutahi Kagwe, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Health, said in a statement issued in Nairobi that among the positive cases were 681 Kenyans and 9 foreigners. "The youngest case is 6 months old infant, while the oldest is 83 years," said Kagwe, adding that the new positive cases comprised 492 males and 198 females. He said that five patients had succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, bringing the national tally of fatalities to 369. Kagwe said that 58 patients had recovered from COVID-19, raising the total number of recoveries to 8,477. He said that Nairobi and neighboring counties of Kiambu and Kajiado reported the bulk of infections, which have been on an upward trend since the lifting of lockdowns in July. Enditem Everyday Australian heroes affected by the catastrophic bushfires are the new faces of iconic fashion label Country Road's spring collection. The brand was welcomed by the community of Glen Alice in New South Wales to shine a light on the 'regeneration' of the land following the devastating aftermath of the raging infernos. Last summer, the blaze tore through the rural community at the base of the Blue Mountains in the Capertee Valley, three hours west of Sydney, leaving properties and wildlife scorched. However, seven months later green shoots are starting to reappear from blackened tree trunks and fauna is starting to return to the area. And now the fashion label has honoured the real heroes, including a firefighter who risked his life to save homes, a traditional lander owner and a mother-of-four who cooked meals to feed the frontline workers. Farmer Terrie Wallace and her husband, along with their four children were among thousands of families who were forced to evacuate their homes amid Australia's horror bushfire season. Mother-of-four Terrie Wallace and her children were among thousands of families who were forced to evacuate their homes amid Australia's horror bushfire season. Here she's pictured with her daughter Matilda, 14, (far left), Henry, 10, (centre) and Campbell, 12, (far right) As exhausted firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, Ms Wallace (pictured with her daughter Matilda) led a group of volunteers to make 60 meals a day for the RFS firefighters As exhausted firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the blaze, Ms Wallace led a group of volunteers to make 60 meals a day for the RFS firefighters. The family own two properties, about 120km apart, so her husband - who's a member of the Rural Fire Service - was travelling between the valley and Mudgee to feed their livestock during the day while he battled the blazes at night. 'He was going on the fire trucks at night working the fires,' Ms Wallace told Daily Mail Australia. She and the volunteers started making food for the firefighters after she was told there were no meals being offered at night. 'The local butcher donated some steaks and bread and I got a phone call one night asking if I could make steak sandwiches to take out to the crew. So I did,' she said. 'We then had more steaks and all of these food being donated and we have a commercial kitchen in our local hall so we started making food every day.' Country Road has honoured the real heroes, including a firefighter who risked his life to save homes, a traditional lander owner and a mother who cooked meals for the frontline workers Country Road managing director, Elle Roseby said the brand was proud to be able to use their voice to shine a light on fire-affected areas Ms Wallace said the bushfires, which started in November last year, was a 'highly stressful' time for the community. 'There were a lot of people incredibly stressed while the fires were going on. We had RFS members out working day after day and they were really tired and really worn out,' she explained. 'The best day was when it started to rain and we stopped seeing smoke pop up everywhere. There's a really great saying a friend of mine said: When the fires first started, we were told, "don't call unless you see smoke". So we called when we saw smoke. And then we were told, "don't call unless you see flames". 'So we called when we saw flames. But we were told, "don't call until you can see flames near the containment line". So over time we were really desensitised, and we became used to the fires being in and around. 'We were so desensitised to it, we just needed to get through the next day and we just needed the fire to be out at some stage.' Firefighter Steve Dalli (pictured), captain of the Capertee Fire Brigade, said he lost around 11 kilos after spending 73 days with little sleep battling the ferocious blaze Traditional land owner and renowned artist Peter Swain (pictured) also features in the campaign and talks of the importance of regeneration Rylstone local Corey Armstrong Lane is one of the many faces of the new spring collection Ms Wallace said the community has been quietly suffering since the bushfires. 'I think there's still a lot of strain. There are a lot of people in the valley who fought the fires - and because of COVID-19, we haven't been able to publicly recognise their efforts,' she said. 'I'm hoping that publicly thanking them like this will help them realise what an amazing job they have done because there's still a lot of stress. 'From lifelong friendships that have fallen apart during the fires that are hopefully healing to marriages that broke up during the fires and those people are coming to the other end of it and they have to deal with not only how they felt around the fires, also the loss of relationships.' She said she feels proud of the campaign for shining a light back on those who are still doing it tough. 'I was blown away with how Country Road has developed our story - and how they've used real people and their clothes to showcase how fabulous our community is,' she said. 'As a teenager, my first pay check bought me a Country Road jumper - I never thought I'd be asked to participate in anything quite like this.' Lillyandra Laurie and Corey are gracing the new Country Road spring campaign of 2020 Steve Dalli, captain of the Capertee Fire Brigade, said he lost around 11 kilos after spending 73 days with little sleep battling the ferocious blaze. 'Being captain of the RFS, you're making a commitment to the community. When the fires were on, I was under enormous pressure,' Mr Dalli said. 'After two and a half years of drought and the bushfires, to now see the trees and local bushland slowly coming back to life is absolutely fantastic.' Mr Dalli swapped his firefighting overalls for sweats and shirts for the fashion shoot. 'Seeing our community's story at the forefront of the Country Road campaign for the world to see is quite an honour,' he said. Traditional land owner and renowned artist Peter Swain also features in the campaign and talks of the importance of regeneration. 'The land itself is healing after the fires. Regeneration is about us as people engaging with the land and the animals in a way again that we are equals and that we are growing together. We must put magic back into the land,' Mr Swain. Ironically, Mr Swain's partner, Jo, was a Country Road model back in the early 1980s. Although he said she didn't give him any tips ahead of the shoot, he said he was looking forward to travelling to the city to see the campaign in store. The brand was welcomed by the community of Glen Alice in New South Wales to capture the 'regeneration' of the land following the devastating aftermath of the raging infernos Country Road managing director, Elle Roseby said the brand was proud to be able to use their voice to shine a light on fire-affected areas. 'When we heard Steve talking about the importance of regeneration, it really hit home for us - and, that was honoured in this year's campaign name,' Ms Roseby said. 'It provides a sense of moving forward, of growth - and that's exactly what you see from the people of Glen Alice, and no doubt, other fire-affected, communities. 'The incredible stories that are told in this year's campaign - quite simply couldn't have been told without the people at the heart of them.' The Country Road Spring range is on sale now. On Monday, July 27, The Magnet, Main Street, Carrick-on-Shannon celebrated 65 years in business. This unassuming drapery outlet, has been a reliable go-to over the years supplying families throughout Leitrim and beyond. And now, as they celebrate 65 years and move into new era of trading, The Magnet has launched their on-line school uniform store - www.schooluniformstore.ie! The Magnet is a family business, started all those years ago in 1956 by the parents of the current proprietor - County Councillor and Leitrims current Leas-Cathaoirleach Finola Armstrong-McGuire. Before Paul & Lena Armstrong opened The Magnet, the shops basement was home to a bakery. Now, this space is home to The Magnets thriving School Uniform department. In celebration of 65 years and in response to a changing retail landscape, The Magnet has launched a new website to sell school uniforms locally, regionally and nationwide - www.schooluniformstore.ie. The Site offers a comprehensive supply and choice of uniforms and school accessories. Its a bright, simple to use site and is managed by an attentive team with customer service the primary focus - as has always been the way at The Magnet. The Magnets School Uniform Store is the exclusive provider of crested uniforms for a number of primary and post-primary schools in Leitrim and Roscommon. It also sells a wide range of un-crested uniforms for students elsewhere. Where possible, Finola sources all uniform supplies from Irish manufacturers and clothing distributors as supporting Irish business has always been a priority of hers. Also, product quality is critical and something that Finola is very mindful of. She is proud to supply quality knitwear products with the Guaranteed Irish logo on their label. Times are changing and the role of retail is changing. More and more, consumers are shopping from the comfort of their own home. Convenience - ease of shopping and anything to save some precious time have become priorities for many consumers. This has been the trend long before Covid-19 made itself known. And now, we can add the need to be cautious to our list of reasons for shopping on-line. For these reasons and others, offering an on-line service has become essential for many businesses as they fight to survive in these changing and challenging times. The Local Enterprise Offices (LEO) up and down the country, have long been offering support for businesses as they take their service on-line in the form of an e-commerce site. This support has been offered in the form of a Trading On-Line Voucher with the backing of Mentoring Support if required. In response to Covid-19, Minster for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys, under the Governments National Digital Strategy, further expanded the Trading Online Voucher Scheme. It was through this scheme that Finola and her team took the necessary steps to bring their store on-line at www.SchoolUniformStore.ie. The new online store allows customers to order on-line and have their orders delivered directly to their homes or to collect their order in store - whichever they prefer. Customers will receive the same personal service that they have grown to expect from The Magnet, nothing there has changed. Finola is grateful for the support from Leitrims LEO and for the opportunity to realise this extension of her business and the service she offers. As retail struggles nationwide, she now has the means of reaching a wider audience and growing her business in a new way. Year 65 has begun and its a new era for The Magnet and www.SchoolUniformStore.ie Spotlight: U.S. COVID-19 cases surpass 4.5 mln as school reopening debate persists Global Times Source: Xinhua Published: 2020/8/1 7:45:47 The number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 4.5 million with over 152,000 deaths in the United States on Friday as a national debate over school reopening persists. The country's infections reached 4,536,240 and the national death toll from the disease rose to 152,878 as of 2:58 p.m. local time (1858 GMT), according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The hardest-hit state, California, recorded 493,396 cases. Florida reported 470,371 cases, Texas 428,500 cases and New York 415,014 cases, the tally showed. "The coronavirus pandemic took a dramatic turn for the worse in the United States during July," said a report by The Washington Post. "States across the South and West were hit hardest over the past month," the report said. "And the number of deaths rose most in those states, too." "The figures paint a bleak picture of the pandemic when the country's virus response remains fractured and halting," it said. Incomplete shutdown is among factors contributing to the surging COVID-19 cases in the country, said U.S. top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci at a House subcommittee hearing on Friday. "We really functionally shut down only about 50 percent in the sense of the totality of the country," said Fauci when asked why Europe has been able to largely contain the virus while the United States has seen a rise in new cases. "If you look at what happened in Europe, when they shut down or locked down or went to shelter in place ... they really did it to the tune of about 95 percent plus of the country," Fauci said. At the same hearing, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Robert Redfield reiterated his stance that schools should reopen this fall in "public health best interest." "I think it's important to realize that it's in the public health best interest of K-through-12 students to get back in face-to-face learning," Redfield said. "It's really important to realize it's not public health versus the economy about school opening, it's public health versus public health of the K-through-12 to get the schools open. We've got to do it safely and we have to be able to accommodate," he added. Fauci said a "default position despite the fact that we have to have flexibility" would be to try "as best as we possibly can in the context of the safety of the children and the teachers" to reopen the schools. However, the national debate over if and how to reopen schools this fall is far from over. "While experts are all on the same page regarding the importance of opening schools, some note it might not be possible if there is too much transmission in the surrounding community, and if schools do not have the necessary resources to invest in safety measures," said a report by The Hill on Friday. U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration are pressuring schools to reopen in fall, threatening to withhold federal funding from schools that do not comply. Reopening schools is seen as a crucial step to restarting the country's economy for his reelection campaign. Few Americans want to see their local schools reopen for in-person instruction as usual or even with minor adjustments, said a new poll released last week. Eight percent of Americans say their local K-12 schools should open for in-person instruction as usual and 14 percent think schools can reopen with minor adjustments, showed the survey conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Four persons suspected to be part of an armed robbery syndicate operating between Yendi and Tatale in the Northern Region allegedly attacked a Benz bus with registration number GT 1194H travelling from Tamale to Tatale. Detective Inspector Gariba Kwesi of the Yendi Divisional Criminal Investigation Department (CID) office in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Yendi said the bus, which was driven by 23-year-old Nicodemus Laapoa, was attacked between Zagban and Kpalikagbini, about 13 Kilometres from Yendi. He said when the driver got there, somebody flashed a touch light, which the driver thought was a motor rider, and suddenly the man stopped them and the driver parked and two other suspected armed robbers appeared from the bush with each of them holding A K 47 guns with two others wielding cutlasses. He said they shot the driver on his leg and ordered them to bring all their money and mobile phones, which they complied. Mr Gariba said a motorbike rider who had gone to close lotto on reaching the spot was also ordered by the suspected armed robbers to bring all the money he was carrying, which he complied. He said the suspects later fled into the bush, until another motorbike rider appeared there and went back to report to the Yendi police who went to carry the driver of the vehicle to the Yendi Municipal Hospital, where he was referred to the Tamale Teaching Hospital for treatment. He said apart from the driver who was shot, there were no other casualties, and no arrests had been made. He gave the assurance that they would continue to hunt for the suspects. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A suicide car bomb and multiple gunmen attacked a prison in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, Afghan officials said, killing at least three people and injuring 24 others. The gunbattle between Afghan security forces and insurgents in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, was still ongoing Sunday evening, and casualties were likely to rise, according to Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor. Tariq Arian, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said at least three people were killed, while Zahir Adil, the spokesman for the provincial Health Ministry, provided the figure of 24 wounded. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but both the Taliban and the local affiliate of the Islamic State group are active in eastern Afghanistan. The IS affiliate is headquartered in Nangarhar province. Sundays attack comes a day after the Afghan intelligence agency said a senior IS commander was killed by Afghan special forces near Jalalabad. The Talibans political spokesman Suhail Shaheen told The Associated Press, We have a cease-fire and are not involved in any of these attacks anywhere in the country, but said he was not aware of the details of the Jalalabad attack. The Taliban declared a three-day cease-fire starting Friday for the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The Taliban had also denied involvement in a suicide bombing in the eastern Logar province late Thursday, which killed at least nine people and wounded at least 40, authorities said. Afghanistan has seen a recent spike in violence, with most attacks claimed by the local IS affiliate. Anthony J. Tata withdrew his name from consideration for undersecretary of defense for policy, after the Senate Armed Services Committee canceled his confirmation hearing on Thursday amid signs that he did not have enough votes to be confirmed. He instead has been tapped as the official performing the duties of the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, a temporary position that does not require Senate confirmation. John Lewis mourned as founding father of better America John Lewis was celebrated as an American hero during his funeral Thursday as former President Barack Obama and others called on people to follow Lewis example and fight injustice. Three former presidents joined in the eulogies at Atlantas Ebenezer Baptist Church after nearly a week of mourning that took the civil rights icon from his birthplace in Alabama to the nations capital of Washington to his final resting place in his home of Atlanta. Lewis was a man of pure joy and unbreakable perseverance, Obama said during a fiery speech in which he hearkened back to Lewis legacy and connected it to the ongoing fight against those who are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting. He as much as anyone in our history brought this country a little bit closer to our highest ideals, Obama said. And some day when we do finish that long journey towards freedom, when we do form a more perfect union, whether its years from now or decades or even if it takes another two centuries, John Lewis will be a founding father of that fuller, fairer, better America. Former President George W. Bush said Lewis preached the Gospel and lived its ideals, insisting that hate and fear had to be answered with love and hope. Lewis died July 17 at the age of 80. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi recalled how Lewis body was lying in state at the U.S. Capitol earlier this week, and a double rainbow appeared. ADVERTISEMENT There was this double rainbow over the casket, she said. He was telling us, `Im home in heaven, Im home in heaven. We always knew he worked on the side of angels, and now he is with them. The arc of Lewis legacy of activism was once again tied to Ebenezers former pastor Martin Luther King Jr., whose sermons Lewis discovered while scanning the radio dial as a 15-year-old boy growing up in then-segregated Alabama. King continued to inspire Lewis civil rights work for the next 65 years as he fought segregation during sometimes bloody marches, Greyhound bus Freedom Rides across the South and later during his long tenure in the U.S. Congress. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America, Lewis said of his run-ins with the law. The phrase was repeated several times during the funeral. We will continue to get into good trouble as long as you grant us the breath to do so, one of Kings daughters, the Rev. Bernice King, said as she led the congregation in prayer. Here lies a true American patriot who risked his life for the hope and promise of democracy, Ebenezers senior pastor, the Rev. Raphael Warnock, told the congregation. Outside Ebenezer, hundreds gathered to watch the service on a large screen outside the church. Some sang the gospel song We Shall Overcome. When Lewis was 15, he heard Kings sermons on WRMA, a radio station in Montgomery, Alabama, he recalled in an interview for the Southern Oral History Program. ADVERTISEMENT Later I saw him on many occasions in Nashville while I was in school between 1958 and 61, Lewis said. In a sense, he was my leader. King was the person who, more than any other, continued to influence my life, who made me who I was, Lewis wrote in his 1998 autobiography, Walking with the Wind. By the summer of 1963, Lewis was addressing thousands of people during the March on Washington, where King gave his I Have a Dream speech. He spoke then about Black people beaten by police and jailed _ themes that resonate vividly in todays times. My friends, let us not forget that we are involved in a serious social revolution, Lewis told the huge crowd on the Washington Mall. To those who have said, `Be patient and wait, we have long said that we cannot be patient, he added. We do not want our freedom gradually, but we want to be free now! We are tired. We are tired of being beaten by policemen. We are tired of seeing our people locked up in jail over and over again. In 1965, Lewis was beaten by Alabama state troopers in the city of Selma in what became known as Bloody Sunday. Last Sunday, his casket was carried across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma. The wagon rolled over a carpet of rose petals on the bridge that spans the Alabama River. On the south side of the bridge, where Lewis was attacked by the law officers, family members placed red roses that the carriage rolled over, marking the spot where Lewis spilled his blood and suffered a head injury. Lewis was later awarded the Medal of Freedom by the nations first Black president in 2011. He spent more than three decades in Congress, and his district included most of Atlanta. Shortly before he died, Lewis wrote an essay for The New York Times and asked that it be published on the day of his funeral. In the piece published Thursday, Lewis recalled the teachings of King: He said we are all complicit when we tolerate injustice, Lewis wrote. He said it is not enough to say it will get better by and by. He said each of us has a moral obligation to stand up, speak up and speak out. Though I may not be here with you, I urge you to answer the highest calling of your heart and stand up for what you truly believe, Lewis added. In my life I have done all I can to demonstrate that the way of peace, the way of love and nonviolence is the more excellent way. Now it is your turn to let freedom ring. Former President Bill Clinton referenced the essay during his remarks Thursday: It is so fitting on the day of his service, he leaves us his marching orders: Keep moving. ___ Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 16:33:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close The United States on Wednesday unveiled its plan to withdraw almost 12,000 troops out of Germany. Berlin was angry that Washington made the decision without consulting its ally and used it as a punishment for Germany's incompliance on the NATO defense budget goal. Observers, however, cannot help but notice a widening rift between the two allies across the Atlantic Ocean, who have been experiencing unprecedented discords for the past few years, making some believe that a kind of structural change is taking place in their partnership. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi on Saturday attacked Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, saying that his government is under pressure from the Bollywood 'mafia' patronised by the Congress, hence Thackeray is hell-bent on saving all those responsible in the case related to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Taking to Twitter, Modi said: "Complaints of ill-treatment of people from Bihar also used to be received earlier but the current Uddhav government, surviving on the crutches of Congress and NCP, has crossed all limits. During lockdown, attempts were made to stall the return of labourers from Bihar." "Uddhav Thackeray is under pressure from the Bollywood mafia patronised by the Congress. Therefore he is hell-bent on saving all those responsible in Sushant's (death) case. How will Congress show its face to the people of Bihar," he said in another tweet. The Bihar Deputy CM added that the death of Sushant has shook the entire nation and parties across all political lines want the investigation to be handed over to the CBI. Sushil Modi also said that the Bihar government government will go to any extent to provide justice to Sushant._ _SHOW_MID_AD__ Hundreds of people gathered at Midland Mall over the weekend for an appliance sale hosted by United Way of Midland County and Whirlpool Corp. Our heart is to help. This is one small part of the recovery effort, said Holly Miller, president and CEO of United Way of Midland County. We are providing hope in the form of appliances, thanks to the generosity of the Whirlpool Corporation, said Jenee Velasquez, executive director of The Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, who was present as a volunteer. Miller explained that within two weeks of the flood, Whirlpool Corp. reached out to United Way, offering to help with recovery efforts. Since the company has hosted similar sales in the past in other communities, it seemed like the perfect fit. The appliance sale in Midland offered a selection of over 400 large and small items including washers and dryers, refrigerators, stoves, blenders and mixers at significantly discounted prices, with all proceeds going to United Way of Midland County. The organizers, understanding that the double impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the flooding in May affected many around the region, made the sale open to the public. Within two hours of the events opening on Saturday, 270 people had attended the sale. Families waited for hours as the line wrapped around the outside of the former Younkers store. Its really indicative of the need in our community. Its been amazing to be able to connect with folks in line and hear their recovery stories from the flood, Miller said. Denice Truelobe of Sanford lost her home to the flooding. After hearing about the sale on Facebook, she stood in line for two hours before gaining entry, looking for any appliances she could. I can save all this money so I can invest it into drywall and insulation and wiring, Truelobe said. Its very nice of these folks to give us a deal on appliances. Both Miller and Velasquez are thankful for the contributions of individuals and organizations from around the country in recovery efforts. Miller praised the over 40 volunteers at the sale who set up, managed the hand sanitizing station and helped maintain social distancing in the building, rang up purchases and loaded appliances into waiting vehicles. The outpouring from around the state of Michigan and around the country has been phenomenal, Velasquez said. It really is an honor and a privilege to walk alongside the recovery efforts with so many other stakeholders. I celebrate the way our community has come together and people have been helping people. Its just another illustration of the care we have for our neighbors, Miller said. This is a tough chapter, but were tough. Well get through this together. Singapore central business district. (PHOTO: Getty Commercial) By Alexandre Rajbhandari (Bloomberg) -- Societe Generale SA is closing its trade commodity finance unit in Singapore after the collapse of Hin Leong Trading (Pte) Ltd. prompted the bank to halt fresh funding to such firms in the region. The bank is dismissing all front office staff dealing with transactions, while still keeping some administrative workers, people with knowledge of the matter said, asking not to be named because the matter is private. Large Asian commodities trading clients with operations in Singapore will now be handled by Hong Kong, the people said. SocGen is cutting ties with Singapore-based small and medium commodities trading firms. Earlier this year, SocGen was among more than 20 Singaporean and international banks owed US$3.8 billion by oil trader Hin Leong, which filed for creditor protection after crude prices crashed. The French bank, which was owed US$240 million by the firm, later decided to freeze the allocation of new funds to oil traders in Asia Pacific. Natural resources financing is one of Societe Generales core expertise, the bank said in an emailed statement on Friday. The bank is and will remain committed to the Trade Commodity Finance sector, including in Asia. Societe Generale continuously adapts its set up to better serve its global and local clients and leverages its presence and strengths in Asia to bring proximity and appropriate solutions to its clients. SocGen posted a surprise first quarter loss as the banks investment banking unit set aside 342 million euros (US$372 million) for risky assets in the period, in part related to two fraud-related charges. SocGen didnt identify the cases but said it may have to provision more over the remainder of the year. Recent Fraud Cases in Oil Trading: Year Company Amount (US$) Banks Including 2020 Hontop Energy $473 million CIMB 2020 Agritrade $670 million ING 2020 Hin Leong Trading $3.5 billion HSBC +22 banks 2020 Zenrock Commodities $166 million HSBC 2019 Coastal Oil $354 million OCBC, DBS, UOB 2019 Inter-Pacific Petroleum $168.5 million SocGen Plummeting oil prices and rising bankruptcies are forcing French lenders to review their trade commodities financing activities. Earlier this month, Natixis SA said it was merging its infrastructure and commodities operations, in a move planned before the coronavirus crisis, but which was accelerated in recent months. Story continues Banks were already pulling back from commodities in Asia before the chaos triggered by coronavirus. Over the past few years the industry has been rocked by a number of high-profile collapses and scandals, including multi-million dollar losses by some major Chinese and Japanese traders, and the spectacular downfall of Noble Group, one of the biggest names in the industry. Trade finance is the lifeblood for the global commodity trading industry, which needs access to hundreds of billions of dollars to fund the buying, blending, storing and transporting of raw materials. Without access to short-term credit, traders businesses would all but collapse. HSBC Holdings Plc, the biggest bank creditor to Hin Leong, said it booked substantial loan loss provisions from an exposure to oil traders that amounted to US$2 billion in the first quarter. Dutch lender ABN Amro is the second largest creditor after HSBC, according to a draft copy of Hin Leongs presentation for bank creditors earlier this year seen by Bloomberg News. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Female surfing legends have spoken of the sexism they encountered as they gained a foothold on the sport over decades on Sydney's beaches. Women on the crest of global surfing success were subjected to demeaning behaviour from the male surfers they left in their wake, according to a new book. Pam Burridge, aged 14, surfing at North Avalon, 1979. Credit:Bill McCausland Pam Burridge recalls after she became national champion in 1979 how she had to scrap to get a wave to herself on Manly Beach. "It wasn't a place for any kind of weakness especially if you were female," she says in Golden Daze. The book says women surfers regarded the Australian Surfriders Association, which ran the sport, as a boys' club. "The blokes got the best waves. The women got what was left. The women got shitty surf and no billing," the book says. Workers load sacks of sugar from a warehouse onto a truck for distribution to the traders in Sidoarjo of Indonesia's East Java province By Nigel Hunt LONDON (Reuters) - Raw sugar futures look set to end this year near current levels but post an annual loss as the COVID-19 pandemic buoys supply and dents demand, a Reuters poll of 11 traders and analysts showed on Friday. Prices were seen ending 2020 at 12 cents per lb, down 1% from Thursday's close and 11% below levels at the end of 2019, according to the median forecast. The poll consensus was for a global surplus of 3.5 million tonnes for the 2020/21 season. The outlook has been transformed since the last Reuters poll, issued on Jan. 31, when prices had been expected to climb to 15 cents a lb by the end of the year, boosted by a then forecast deficit of 1.15 million tonnes for the 2020/21 season. The shift has been driven by the global COVID-19 pandemic which has curbed demand while also increasing production in Centre-South Brazil. "The impact of COVID-19 is not fully understood but the negative impact (on sugar consumption) seen in India and China is very unlikely not to have been replicated across the globe," said analyst John Stansfield of Group Sopex. "Going forward the potential global recession will hit sugar demand," he added. In Centre-South Brazil the cane crop can be used to make either sugar or biofuel ethanol. Weak demand for motor fuels during the pandemic has prompted mills to shift towards using more cane to produce sugar. The poll forecast that 47% of the cane would be used to produce sugar in the 2020/21 season, up from a forecast 36.5% in the previous poll. Sugar production in Centre-South Brazil was seen at 36.8 million tonnes, up from 29.4 million expected in January. The median forecast for 2020/21 production in India, the world's top consumer, was 31.8 million tonnes, up slightly from the 31.1 million expected in January. Prices for white sugar were seen ending 2020 at $340 per tonne, down 8% from Thursday's close and 5% below levels at the end of 2019. (Reporting by Nigel Hunt; editing by Jason Neely) It is not known whether that body will function as LegCo usually does, or if it will meet only in emergency situations. Even if LegCos current session is simply extended, its composition is now unclear: Will the sitting legislators who were disqualified from contesting the next election be allowed to continue to serve? I am one of the 24 members of LegCo from the pro-democracy camp, out of a total of 70 legislators. Throughout the years, our camp which comprises different parties with different views, though all committed to democratic rights and freedoms has received a majority of the popular vote for the seats decided by direct suffrage. But the Legislatures design, which reserves 35 seats for special interest groups many by now dominated or co-opted by pro-Beijing parties has ensured that nonetheless we are a minority. During LegCos current term, the government had already disqualified a total of six elected pro-democracy legislators, essentially arguing that their allegiance to the idea that Hong Kong is an integral part of China was in doubt. If four more pro-democracy members of LegCo are ousted from the provisional Legislature, we will be reduced to less than one-third of the seats the threshold for vetoing major bills, such as changes in the election system or decisions to impeach legislators. So what should pro-democracy legislators do? Do we boycott the interim Legislature in protest or in anticipation that if we participate, we will be run roughshod over and adding our unwilling imprimatur to laws we oppose? Or do we participate in a sham and do our best to stand our ground, knowing that if we dont, grievous laws will be passed for sure? In the lead-up to Hong Kongs handover from Britain to China in 1997, a provisional Legislature was established to transition away from colonial-era institutions. Many saw it as undemocratic its members were selected by a Beijing-appointed committee and the pro-democracy camp at the time refused to take part. If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit Antonio Cisneros, a Los Angeles cinematographer, signed up for two COVID-19 vaccine trial registries. He is among the first wave of volunteers. If I am asked to participate, I will, says Cisneros. It seems part of our duty. (Photo by Steven Shea) Read more When U.S. scientists launch the first large-scale clinical trials for COVID-19 vaccines this summer, Antonio Cisneros wants to make sure people like him are included. Cisneros, who is 34 and Hispanic, is part of the first wave of an expected 1.5 million volunteers willing to get the shots to help determine whether leading vaccine candidates can thwart the virus that sparked a deadly pandemic. If I am asked to participate, I will, said Cisneros, a Los Angeles cinematographer who has signed up for two large vaccine trial registries. It seems part of our duty. It will take more than duty, however, to ensure that clinical trials to establish vaccine safety and effectiveness actually include representative numbers of African Americans, Latinos and other racial minorities, as well as older people and those with underlying medical conditions, such as kidney disease. Black and Latino people have been three times as likely as white people to become infected with COVID-19 and twice as likely to die, according to federal data obtained through a lawsuit by the New York Times. Asian Americans appear to account for fewer cases but have higher rates of death. Eight out of 10 COVID-19 deaths reported in the United States have been of people ages 65 and older. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that chronic kidney disease is among the top risk factors for serious infection. Historically, however, those groups have been less likely to be included in clinical trials for disease treatment, despite federal rules requiring minority and elder participation and the ongoing efforts of patient advocates to diversify these crucial medical studies. In a summer dominated by COVID-19 and protests against racial injustice, there are growing demands that drugmakers and investigators ensure that vaccine trials reflect the entire community. If Black people have been the victims of COVID-19, were going to be the key to unlocking the mystery of COVID-19, said the Rev. Anthony Evans, president of the National Black Church Initiative, a coalition of 150,000 African American churches. READ MORE: Black, Hispanic women infected with coronavirus 5 times as often as whites in Philly, Penn study suggests Evans and his team met in mid-July with officials from Moderna, the Massachusetts biotech firm that launched the first COVID vaccine trial in the U.S., to discuss a collaboration in which NBCI would supply African American participants. But that was less than two weeks before the start of a phase 3 trial expected to enroll 30,000 people, and Evans said the meeting was his idea. Its not that the industry came to me, he said. I went to the industry. Blacks make up about 13% of the U.S. population but on average 5% of clinical trial participants, research shows. For Hispanics, trial participation is about 1% on average, though they account for about 18% of the population. When it comes to trials for drug treatments and vaccines, diversity matters. For reasons not always fully understood, people of different races and ethnicities can respond differently to drugs or therapies, research shows. Immune response wanes with age, so theres a high-dose flu shot for people 65 and older. FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered. Still, the pressure to produce an effective vaccine quickly during a pandemic could sideline efforts to ensure diversity, said Kathryn Stephenson, director of the clinical trials unit in the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. One of the questions that has come up is, What do you do if youre a site investigator and you have 250 people banging on your door and theyre all white? she said. Do you enroll those people, reasoning that the faster the trial progresses, the faster a vaccine will be available for everyone? Or do you turn away people and slow down the study? Youre accelerating development of a vaccine, and if you hit a milestone, what is the meaning of that milestone if you dont know if its very safe or effective in [a given] population? Is that really hitting the milestone for everyone? she said. READ MORE: Portrait of a Pandemic: We cant be selective on what Black lives matter and what Black lives dont,' says Philly race and gender activist Including people who are elderly or have underlying medical conditions is vital to the science of vaccines and other treatments, even if its more difficult to recruit patients otherwise healthy enough to participate, advocates said. We have to admit that older adults are the ones who are likely to develop side effects to treatments and vaccines, said Sharon Inouye, director of the Aging Brain Center and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. On the other hand, that is the population that will be using it. People with kidney disease, which affects one in seven U.S. adults, have been left out of clinical research for decades, said Richard Knight, a transplant recipient and president of the American Association of Kidney Patients. Nearly 70% of more than 400 kidney disease patients the organization surveyed in July said theyd never been asked to join a clinical trial. Excluding from the vaccine trial such a large population vulnerable to COVID doesnt make sense, Knight contended. If youre trying to manage this from a public health standpoint, you want to make sure youre inoculating your highest-risk populations, he said. New guidance from the federal Food and Drug Administration, which regulates vaccines, strongly encourages the inclusion of diverse populations in clinical vaccine development. That includes racial and ethnic minorities, elderly people, and those with underlying medical problems, as well as pregnant women. But the FDA does not require drugmakers and researchers to meet those goals, and will not refuse trial data that doesnt comply. And while the federal government is rushing billions of dollars to fast-track more than a half-dozen leading candidates for COVID vaccines, the pharmaceutical firms producing them are not required to publicly disclose their demographic goals. This is business as usual, said Marjorie Speers, executive director of Clinical Research Pathways, a nonprofit group in Atlanta that works to increase diversity in research. Its very likely these [COVID] trials will not include minorities because theres not a strong statement to do that. The vaccine trials are being coordinated through the COVID-19 Prevention Network, or CoVPN, based at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. It draws on four long-standing federally funded clinical trial networks, including three that target HIV and AIDS. Those trial networks were chosen in large part because they have rich relationships in Black, Latino and other minority communities, said Stephaun Wallace, director of external relations for CoVPN. The hope is to leverage existing connections based on trust and collaboration. Our clinical trial sites are prepped and ready to engage diverse people, Wallace said. Wallace acknowledged, however, that attracting a diverse population requires investigators to be flexible and innovative. There can be practical problems. Clinic hours may be limited or transportation may be an issue. Older people may have problems with sight or hearing and require extra help to follow protocols. Distrust of the medical establishment also can be a barrier. African Americans, for instance, have a well-founded wariness of medical experiments after the infamous Tuskegee Study and the exploitation of Henrietta Lacks. That extends to suspicion about recommended vaccines, said Wallace. Part of the consideration for many groups is not wanting to feel like a guinea pig or feel like theyre being experimented on, he said. READ MORE: Public health leaders should address African Americans coronavirus vaccine concerns now | Opinion Moderna, which launched its phase 3 trial Monday, said the company is working to ensure participants are representative of the communities at highest risk for COVID-19 and of our diverse society. However, results of the companys phase 1 trial, released in mid-July, showed that of 45 people included in that safety test, six were Hispanic, two were Black, one was Asian, and one was Native American. Forty were white. Phase 1 and phase 2 clinical trials aim to test the best dose and safety of vaccines in small groups of people. Phase 3 trials assess the efficacy of the drug in tens of thousands of people. Investigators at nearly 90 sites across the U.S. are preparing now to recruit participants for Modernas phase 3 trial. Carlos del Rio, executive associate dean at the Emory University School of Medicine, will seek 750 volunteers at three Atlanta-area sites. Half will receive the vaccine; half, placebo injections. Del Rio has had marked success recruiting minorities for HIV trials and expects similar results with the vaccine trial. Were trying to do our best to get out to the communities that are most at risk, he said. READ MORE: Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium wins city funding for testing after a reversal Meanwhile, vaccine volunteers such as Cisneros just want the advanced trials to start. He signed up for the CoVPN trials. But earlier, he also signed up for 1 Day Sooner, an effort to launch human challenge trials, which aim to speed up vaccine development by deliberately infecting participants with the virus. Such trials can be completed in weeks rather than months but risk exposing volunteers to severe illness or death, and federal officials remain leery. Cisneros is willing to take that risk to help halt COVID-19, which has killed more than 150,000 Americans. He said its a way to take action at a time when the U.S. government has failed to protect minorities, the elderly, and other vulnerable people. Government is supposed to help those who cant protect themselves, he said. It appears to me the only thing they want to protect is people with money, people with guns and not brown people like me. Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Hyderabad, Aug 2 : Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has received a Unicef-funded mass fever screening system to further enhance the efficacy of screening of passengers in view of Covid-19 pandemic, the airport operator announced on Sunday. The Central government's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in coordination with Asian Development Bank, has provided state-of-the-art thermal scanner funded by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef). The system will be used by the officials of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare at the airport. The new thermal scanner is a ceiling mounted mass fever screening system capable of scanning, detecting and tracking febrile persons with elevated skin temperature. The system automatically adjusts and adapts to the surrounding ambient temperature without any human intervention. With its Intuitive User Interface and Dual-Displays (day camera + infra-red) it provides easy identification of passengers with elevated temperature, while simplifying operations and minimizing handling. The new thermal scanner imparts more control to the Hyderabad Airport Health Organization, along with the existing thermal scanners at the international arrivals, said GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL). RGIA continues to handle the international relief flights under the government of India's largest offshore evacuation programme of Vande Bharat Mission (VBM). All international arrival passengers and airline crew undergo mandatory health screening by the airport health officers to identify symptomatic passengers to contain the spread of Covid-19 and provide necessary medical assistance to such passengers. "We are thankful to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in having this modern equipment installed at the Hyderabad International Airport. We are grateful to the sponsors ADB and Unicef for this humane gesture. With this facility, it makes the task of the health officials who serve at the airport round the clock, a little more easy," said Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GHIAL. "The new top-end mass fever scanner at Hyderabad International Airport enhances our efficiency multi-fold. With the help of the intuitive technology we are able to screen passengers effectively. The system alerts us if any passenger is found with high temperature, without disturbing passenger movement and throughput," said Dr. Anuradha Medoju, Senior Regional Director, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Health and Family Welfare of the Central government. The airport has handled about 40,000 international arrivals passengers during the Covid-19 pandemic from May till date. To facilitate the arriving international passengers, the airport has kept the international arrivals and the entire stretch right from the aerobridge to the arrivals ramp fully sanitized and fumigated. This includes -- sanitization of every nook and corner of building and public areas including aerobridges, washrooms, chairs, counters, trolleys, railings, doors, lifts, escalators, baggage belts etc. The airport also enforced the social distancing among passengers right from the aerobridge to across the terminal. Bengaluru, Aug 2 : With 5,532 new Covid cases, Karnataka's tally has touched 1,34,819, while 84 more people have succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, an health official said on Sunday. "Of the total positive cases (1,34,819) reported from across the southern state, 74,590 are active after 57,725 were discharged till date," said the official here. The state's death toll has increased to 2,496 since March 9. Of the new cases (5,532), Bengaluru accounted for 2,105, taking its Covid tally to 59,501, including 37,513 active after 20,910 were discharged so far, with 2,331 cases during the last 24 hours, while 1,077 succumbed, with 21 since Saturday. "With 2,331 discharged in a day, recoveries were more than 2,105 new cases in Bengaluru after a long time," asserted the official. The number of Covid patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) across the state has increased to 638, including 339 in Bengaluru from 602 on Saturday. Among other districts in the state, new cases were reported from Ballari 377, Kalaburagi and Mysyru 238, Raichur 212, Udupi 182, Dharwad 181, Davangere178, Belagavi 172 and Dakshina Kannada 163. Similarly, of the recoveries from districts across the state, Ballari accounted 77, Kalaburagi 106, Mysuru 161, Raichur 27, Udupi 35, Dharwad 147, Davangere 55, Belagavi 75 and Dakshina Kannada 158. In the movie It's a Wonderful Life, an angel, Clarence, is sent to help George Bailey, a man who's sacrificed his dreams for family and community but is now falsely accused of stealing $8,000 and facing jail. When George wishes he'd never been born, Clarence grants that wish. Suddenly, George finds himself in a world where his beloved hometown, Bedford Falls, has been turned into anarchy and slums. The town's named Pottersville after a greedy, power-hungry oligarch, Henry Potter, who now owns everything. In this new world, George sees people he'd helped to succeed now destitute, living in run-down projects, with no hope for anything but survival. Here his once-quiet, peaceful town is a cacophony of flashing lights, sirens, drunken brawls, and strip clubs. Those who haven't turned to drink or chaos are locked behind closed doors, trapped in fear, depression, and hopelessness. Like George Bailey, America's been given a glimpse of what our country would look like if Hillary Clinton had been elected president or what it will look like if Joe Biden wins in November. In this new world, our beloved country is now the People's Republic of America. In the People's Republic, people stand helplessly by as their jobs disappear, as shortages of water, meat, toilet paper, and other essentials drive hoarding, panic. They're confined to quarters, denied freedom of movement even on beaches and in parks. Here there's no competition, no pesky ads and commercials for restaurants, high-end sneakers, or luxury cars, because government allows only state stores, Walmart, Target, big-box stores. Gone are the small businesses that offer designer clothes and shoes, the mom-and-pop ice cream shops, bookstores, jewelry stores, hair salons the list goes on of businesses deemed nonessential. In the People's Republic, it doesn't matter what people want; they'll get only what they need to survive. "The moment the idea is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the law of God, and that there is not a force of law and public justice to protect it, anarchy and tyranny commence." John Adams In this new world, paltry government handouts (stimulus checks) are supposed to heal the wounds of people forced out of business, of private schools that couldn't survive shutdowns, of people who couldn't pay rent or feed their families once their paycheck stopped coming. Here the streets are filled with violence, racist mobs who attack people for the color of their skin (white). Looting, burning, even killing is condoned, even encouraged by leaders. These supposed leaders refuse federal help to put down riots because they don't want the violence to end. It's their violence, their cause, their country. In the People's Republic, the Constitution is dead, the Declaration of Independence but a memory. Americans have surrendered their right to free movement, religious freedom, property rights to a single despot, a governor. One man or woman brought down an entire state with pen and phone. Obama must be so proud. But most devastating is Americans' loss of their God-given right to pursue happiness. From morning to night, America's airwaves carry nothing but soul-sucking, spirit-killing hatred. Leftists preach either directly or through their mouthpieces abject hatred for white people, Christians, conservatives, pro-life advocates, the president of the United States and any who support him. They preach seething hatred for America. "The hearts of your soldiers beat high with the spirit of freedom - they are animated with the justice of their cause, and while they grasp their swords, can look up to heaven for assistance. Your adversaries are composed of wretches who laugh at the rights of humanity, who turn religion into derision, and would, for higher wages, direct their swords against their leaders or their country." Samuel Adams, American Independence speech, 1776 Media savage the American people with a daily dose of fear, panic over an epidemic that doesn't threaten our country's survival but promises to destroy our country's economy, our spirit, our liberty. Thus, in the People's Republic, cheerful waves and smiles of neighbors or strangers are replaced by suspicious stares, accusatory shouts that people are standing too close or missing their masks. Here people can't be all chummy with neighbors and friends because any one of them could be the silent carrier of the death virus. Better to do without friends, not to see family, not to trust or welcome anyone if a lonely, destitute existence will "keep them safe." Gone is the rush of joy when proud parents watch their kids or grandkids "walk," because in this world, there are no graduations, no celebrations, no joys. Gone is the pride and sense of accomplishment when Americans land a great job, buy their first homes, or start their own businesses. In the People's Republic, these aren't accomplishments merely proof of white supremacy, proof of capitalist greed. In It's a Wonderful Life, George no longer recognizes his hometown. He confronts his guardian angel, demands an explanation for all the strange things he's seeing. Clarence tells him there is no George Bailey, no driver's license, no 4-F card, no insurance policy because George Bailey was never born. "You've been given a great gift, George: a chance to see what the world would be like without you." And you've been given a great gift, America: a chance to see what this country would be like if Donald Trump had never been elected president, a preview of if Joe Biden wins in November. But will we make it to November? Governors drunk on power aren't releasing their grip on the people; they're doubling down, rolling back plans to reopen their states. Many order everyone to wear a mask, proving they can control the people right down to the air they breathe. Some are defunding police, paving the way for unopposed violent insurrection. For those who think government seizure of private business is justified because a pandemic calls for drastic measures or who see house arrest as citizens just doing their part, or excuse rampant anarchy and violent mobs because we're all racists and need to be punished, you've found your home: the People's Republic of America. But if you want the unbridled joy of true freedom, the miracle of America, then speak now or forever hold your peace. Americans are settling into subjugation, tyranny is becoming "normalized." Today, most Americans don't plan resistance; they quietly await their overlords' next edict, another shutdown, mail-in voting, mandatory chips. "The time is now near at hand which must probably determine whether Americans are to be freemen or slaves; whether they are to have any property they can call their own; whether their houses and farms are to be pillaged and destroyed, and themselves consigned to a state of wretchedness from which no human efforts will deliver them. The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army. Our cruel and unrelenting enemy leaves us only the choice of brave resistance, or the most abject submission." George Washington Governors will never cede their newfound power back to the people, will only tighten their grip, expand their orders. They'll use their unchallenged authority to steal the 2020 election. And then it will be as if Donald J. Trump had never been elected president. To paraphrase Clarence's final appeal from It's a Wonderful Life: "You see[, America], you've really had a wonderful life. Don't you see what a mistake it would be to throw it all away?" Don't you see, America? For 20 years, Adam Smith, owner of San Francisco newsstand Fog City News, told employees and customers one thing before they left his store at Market and First streets. Youre going on a highway that is Market Street. Be careful or youll be trampled by people, he would say. No longer. The coronavirus pandemic has turned downtown San Francisco, once bursting with workers and tourists, into a ghost town. A nearly decade-long boom that fueled record low unemployment and the highest average real estate prices in the country has come to an abrupt end. More than 150,000 San Francisco residents have filed unemployment claims this year. Apartment rents have dropped over 10% from last year, according to real estate data firm Zumper. Under the citys health order, nonessential office workers must stay away, with no timetable for restrictions lifting. Restaurants can provide takeout service, but many remain closed. With coronavirus cases on the rise, large employers like Salesforce, Facebook and Microsoft are allowing U.S. workers to stay home until at least the end of the year. Last week, Google extended working from home until July 2021. The absence of tens of thousands of office workers raises questions about the future of San Franciscos downtown. Tech growth shifted substantially from Silicon Valley to the city, but now tech darlings like Uber, Airbnb and Yelp have laid off many of their employees because of the pandemic. BART ridership was down nearly 90% systemwide in July from where it was in February, while the number of Muni bus riders has fallen by about two-thirds over a similar period. A lot of the end of cities rhetoric is overblown, said Aaron Renn, an urban policy consultant in Indianapolis. Places like San Francisco are taking a hit, but its such an attractive place to work and live, its going to bounce back, Renn said. But the extent of the economic damage remains unknown. At Fog City News, revenue has declined 70% without regular foot traffic, Smith said. He has cut his staff in half and offers only curbside pickup, even though San Francisco permits stores to allow shoppers inside. Bonnie Stuppin, co-owner of Alexander Book Co. on Second Street, doesnt know if her bookstore will survive to see its 30th anniversary in November. The last few months have been terrible. Theres no way you can watch your sales drop 80% and keep going. Its not a sustainable model for retail, she said. Online sales and curbside pickup have helped, she said, but bring in nowhere near the revenue that in-person sales did. Its eerily quiet now, something Ive never seen before, she said. Were all in the same boat. Well give it a few more months and see what happens. Downtown revivals across the country began in the 1980s, as residents flocked to cities instead of the suburbs. The population in downtown San Francisco grew 67% over almost four decades, from 53,000 in 1980 to approximately 89,000 in 2018, according to a recent Brookings Institution report. In the past decade, numerous office and residential towers have been built in the Transbay district, extending downtowns reach. But now, the engine of urban economic prosperity, density, is suddenly one of the greatest risks for coronavirus infection, and running a business is a struggle for survival. Michael Buich, owner of the famed Tadich Grill, the 171-year-old seafood restaurant on California Street, sought to keep his staff of 35 employed. But delivery revenue was a trickle compared with that of dine-in service, and the restaurant closed Friday until indoor dining returns. We had to do a complete 180 and change our operating model to solely focus on delivery, when we hadnt optimized our business for that in the past, he said by email. For a white tablecloth restaurant, its a very different model to roll-out in such a tight time frame, and frankly, it didnt make a big enough impact for us to continue. Tadich Grill received aid from the federal Paycheck Protection Program, but the money ran out, and the Buich family had to cover expenses such as supplier costs, property taxes and insurance out of pocket. Zaid Ayoub, co-owner of SAJJ Mediterranean, a restaurant chain based in Belmont, closed his downtown San Francisco location when shelter-in-place orders were announced in March. Delivery and catering had been a steady business pre-pandemic, but no longer. Theres nobody there, Ayoub said. A Menlo Park location is also closed, but 11 locations in the Bay Area are open, largely thanks to residential customers and online business, he said. Still, theres a risk that some locations could close permanently. Theres great uncertainty on when office workers return, and leasing activity froze between April and June, as San Francisco recorded the fewest new deals on record, according to brokerage Cushman & Wakefield. But major landlords remain bullish on the future of the physical office. Boston Properties, San Franciscos largest landlord, said tenants across the country want to get back to the office and are seeing flaws with working from home. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle Many of our tenants ... believe it is not a long-term sustainable substitute for in-person work. As time wears on, it is increasingly clear to business leaders there are widening gaps for their companies in activities such as collaboration, creativity, training, mentoring and the building of company culture, when all employee communication and connection is virtual, said Owen Thomas, CEO of Boston Properties, in an earnings call last week. Twitter and Square, whose San Francisco offices in the Mid-Market area arent far from downtown, are letting employees work from home permanently. Real estate listings company Zillow Group, which has about 500 San Francisco workers, became the latest tech company to adopt a permanent work-from-home option last week. But in a hopeful sign for downtown businesses, Zillow will keep its 535 Mission St. office in the Transbay district. Some employees want to return when they are allowed, at least part-time. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Prior to the pandemic, I always had a strong desire to be fully remote, that seemed ideal. But having done this since March, its really helped me realize how much I love being in an office and being present with coworkers, said Iren Lyon, a Zillow senior program manager of learning and development. Zillows policy to allow remote work but keep an office downtown is an ideal balance, she said, allowing her to one day patronize downtown restaurant favorites like Archive Bar & Kitchen, Spice Kit and La Mar. San Francisco officials are grappling with how to mitigate the damage to retailers and restaurants, both downtown and citywide. Mayor London Breed has introduced a November ballot measure that would require city staff to process retail permit applications within 30 days, compared with the current months-long process, and allow nonprofits to open offices in ground-floor spaces in neighborhood retail districts a tacit acknowledgment that not enough stores may return. Jonathon Kass, a fellow at San Francisco think tank SPUR, said adopting more flexible zoning is a good step. The need for nimbleness and flexibility, I think, rises to the top, he said. But David Prowler, a real estate consultant and former city planning commissioner, would like to see the city go further, such as allowing offices to operate in ground floor spaces in downtown. I think were way too prohibitive, he said. The world has changed so much, and we were never able to keep up. The city has limited tools for business aid, he said, as it faces a $1.7 billion deficit over the next two fiscal years. Meaningful financial aid will have to come from the state and federal governments, he said. The restaurant industry is pushing for a $120 billion national fund for independent restaurants. There is a silver lining to the current crisis, he said. Rents may continue to drop, allowing new residents to come to San Francisco. Those who were here primarily for a high-paying job without being civically engaged can move somewhere that they prefer, he said. Prowler notes that New Orleans recovered after Hurricane Katrina and Hiroshima recovered after the 1945 atom bomb, testaments to the resilience of cities. But the current recession is global and a vaccine remains, optimistically, months away. I think were in for a rough couple years on all levels, he said. Downtown will have to evolve. Roland Li and Shwanika Narayan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com, shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf, @Shwanika ARLENE Foster's special advisor has become the second DUP member to criticise MP Sammy Wilson for his stance on wearing masks in shops. Emma Little-Pengelly, ex-DUP MP for South Belfast, called out the member for East Antrim after he posted a picture of him visiting The Rinkha in Islandmagee, which is in his constituency. He said on Friday: "Support local business. You can't eat ice cream when you're muzzled." This prompted Mrs Little-Pengelly to tweet yesterday: "True! I don't advise eating in a mask (obviously)...apart from that then use a mask. Do you know what's worse than wearing a mask? It is being in intensive care on a ventilator or not being able to breath. "If not for you, importantly keep our more vulnerable loved ones safe!" Mr Wilson has not responded to her tweet, which was retweeted more than 120 times and attracted scores of positive comments. DUP MLA Pam Cameron, deputy chair of the Stormont health committee, also took him to task for his stance on masks in shops. She replied to one of his tweets last week on the possible enforcement of masks in shops, stating: "Just your opinion Sammy. I for one will be wearing a face covering and doing the little bit I can to protect those whose shielding is paused today." Mr Wilson, a party veteran, is against the mandatory wearing of masks in shops and tweeted earlier last week: "Given that there were five deaths related to, not caused by, Covid-19 in July and new infections remain low, it would be mad for the health minister to enforce the wearing of face masks in NI. Retail has been open for business throughout July with no Covid spike. Time to rethink." Expand Close Emma Little-Pengelly reply to Sammy Wilson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Emma Little-Pengelly reply to Sammy Wilson Face masks are mandatory in shops here as of yesterday but it will not be enforced until August 20, if necessary, to allow the public to get used to the new policy. Announcing the development, Health Minister Robin Swann said: "We are now starting that period of engagement and education with the general public to try and get as many people as possible wearing face coverings between now and that date." New Delhi, Aug 2 : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has once again praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the much-awaited construction of the Ram temple is to start in Ayodhya from August 5. The recent statement by RSS General Secretary, Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi shows that the Sangh Parivar is very happy to have one more item on its agenda fulfilled. Be it Article 370, the CAA, or the lockdown to ward off coronavirus, and now the 'Bhoomi Poojan' for the Ram temple, the RSS has been heaping praises on the leadership of Modi for one achievement after another. This is the fourth time in a year that RSS has heaped praises on Modi. Joshi, while speaking on the Ram temple issue at the Ashok Singhal Foundation's event on Saturday, said: "We are all fortunate that today the country has got such a political leadership, who gives us confidence that India will once again become the world leader and will be a source of inspiration for the entire world." A senior official of RSS affiliate told IANS, "For the first time in the country, under the leadership of Narendra Modi, there is a government that is not only favourable to the RSS but is also a strong government. As the government is in majority, several demands pending for years have been met. All the problems are now coming to an end. It was due to the bold decision by Prime Minister Modi that Article 370 could be removed from Jammu and Kashmir. That historic day is August 5, 2019. The demand to abrogate Article 370 was made during the time of the Jan Sangh. Now another age old aspiration is going to be fulfilled -- the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Naturally, the Sangh Parivar is very happy." When the Modi government removed Articles 370 and 35A which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, exactly a year ago on August 5, 2019, the Sangh leaders showered praises on the government. The credit for this goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the RSS leaders said. At the same time, on December 12, 2019, Joshi issued a statement and greeted Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah after the Citizenship Amendment Act was passed in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. He had said, "We heartily congratulate the Central Government and especially the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for this bold step, thanking them." The third time the RSS praised the Modi government was when the coronavirus started spreading in the country. Then RSS' Dattatreya Hosabale said in a video message in May that Prime Minister Modi took tough decision like timely lockdown which slowed the pace of the epidemic. Now the RSS has praised Prime Minister Modi again in the same gestures by pointing out that the country is fortunate to have such a political leadership which paved the way for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Joshi and a host of other RSS leaders are expected to attend the 'Bhoomi Poojan' (ground breaking ceremony) in Ayodhya on August 5. Latest updates on Ayodhya Ram Temple Bhumi Pujan Instagram celebrity, Mompha has paid Adeherself a visit after she was released from Efcc custody. The social media influencer, Adeherself was released from EFCC custody weeks ago, she hasnt been active on social media since her release, but dropped a statement promising to be back. Mompha who had also been arrested by the EFCC on allegation of fraud visited the young lady also accused of fraud and shared a video of the visit. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates The National Investigation Agency on Sunday searched the Noida residence of Delhi University associate professor Hany Babu Musaliyarveettil Tharayil, arrested in connection with the Bhima Koregaon Elgar Parishad case, an official said. IMAGE: Hany Babu of Delhi University being produced in NIA court. Photograph: PTI Photo The case pertains to the organisation of Elgar Parishad in Pune on December 31, 2017 which promoted enmity between various caste groups and led to violence, resulting in the loss of life and property and statewide agitation in Maharashtra, an NIA spokesperson said. The investigation revealed that the Elgar Parishad, along with Maoist leaders, used the incident to spread the ideology of Maoism/Naxalism and encourage unlawful activities on the instructions of the leaders of Communist Party of India-Maoist, a banned organisation, the official of the premier investigation agency said. Hany Babu was found to be a co-conspirator along with other accused propagating Naxal activities and Maoist ideology, and was placed under arrest on July 28, the official said. Hany Babu, along with other accused -- Rona Wilson, Anand Teltumbde, P Varavara Rao and Surendra Gadling, formed a committee for the release of former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his links with the CPI (Maoist), he said. During the search at Hany Babu's house, the NIA seized one account ledger, one receipt book of the committee for the defence and release of Saibaba, several documents as well as electronic items such as hard disk, USB pen drive among others, the official added. He was in contact with Paikhomba Meitei, Secretary Information and Publicity, Military Affairs, Kangleipak Communist Party (MC), an organisation banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the NIA official said. An interview of Ganapathy, general secretary of CPI-Maoist, was shared by Meitei with Hany Babu, the NIA official said, adding that the communications of Hany Babu with other Maoists of Manipur have also been retrieved. The investigation also revealed that after the release of CPI-Maoist leader Pallath Govindankutty, Hany Babu along with co-accused Rona Wilson took the initiative to help him financially by raising funds, the spokesperson said. Further investigation in the case was underway. Hand sanitizer production pauses after 200K gallons After manufacturing and donating more than 200,000 gallons of hand sanitizer at Nebraska Innovation Campus, production and distribution ceased on July 31. That was the final date for external entities to place or pick up any orders at NIC. All college or department orders will remain available through UNL Marketplace, as there is inventory reserved for use at Nebraska. The university set up the temporary production just over four months ago to assist the states medical, educational and business communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The project was first conceived by Hunter Flodman, associate professor of practice of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Jan tenBensel of the Nebraska Ethanol Board. The Food Processing Center was chosen as the production site, which required registration with the FDA as an over-the-counter drug production facility. Flodman went to work around the clock to get the temporary plant set up. Circuit used data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to rank the metropolitan areas with the most delivery drivers. This was deter An investigation is being launched after police and paramedics were called to a stabbing in London street. Two men self-presented at a south London hospital with stab wounds in the early hours of August 2. The men are believed to have sustained their injuries during a fight on Red Lion Street in High Holborn. Two men self-presented at a south London hospital with stab wounds in the early hours of August 2 after a fight on Red Lion Street in High Holborn Police were alerted by London Ambulance Service at around 3:15am that the men had self-presented to hospital. A 34-year-old man is in hospital in a life-threatening condition. The other man, 27, is not believed to have sustained life-threatening injuries. At around 3:30am the same day, officers stopped on Clerkenwell Road after seeing a car parked with its hazard lights on. There were two 25-year-old-men in the car with stab injuries. Officers provided first aid until paramedics arrived and took the men to hospital. One man has since been discharged from hospital and has been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and is currently in custody. The other man remains in hospital in a life-threatening condition. On the same day officers stopped on Clerkenwell Road after seeing a car parked with its hazard lights on where two men were inside with stab injuries Police are treating these incidents as linked and originating from the fight on High Holborn. An investigation is underway and the crime scene remains in place. This comes after a weekend of carnage in London where at least three shootings took place. The EIC Accelerator programme wants to see more applications from female-led startups Research and innovation is the bedrock of success for the most ambitious companies that scale internationally, diversify their export base and create jobs at home. A higher education sector and research ecosystem that is outward looking and internationally engaged, and collaborating with Irish companies, is of critical importance to Ireland's place in the world and to our global competitiveness. As citizens we rely on our innovators and researchers as engines of economic growth and to help us overcome some our greatest societal challenges. With the emergence of Covid-19 and the challenges posed by climate change, the truth of this has never been clearer. A key pillar of Enterprise Ireland's client engagement strategy is therefore to support companies and researchers to individually and collaboratively achieve their global ambition. The European Union's Horizon 2020 programme is designed to support innovators and researchers, by funding research excellence, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges. To date, Irish companies and researchers have been awarded and contracted in excess of 987m in funding under Horizon 2020 - with more in the pipeline. Horizon 2020 will be succeeded by Horizon Europe. However, many opportunities remain over the next six months. Following a call in May for applications focusing on the EU Green Deal, the European Commission's European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator recently announced that 64 European startups and SMEs are to be awarded some 307m. The EIC Accelerator pilot supports high-risk, high-potential SMEs and innovators to help them develop and bring onto the market new innovative products, services and business models that could drive economic growth. Applicants are able to apply for up to 2.5m in grant support, and for up to 15m in equity investment. Two Galway-based companies were among the successful applicants. NVP Energy Limited is to receive funding for its Ambi-Robic technology for treating municipal sewage wastewater, and GlasPort Bio Limited is to receive funding for its GasAbate N+ technology for removing greenhouse gas emissions from animal manure. Stored manures account for 16pc of all greenhouse gas emissions from EU agriculture. The success of these companies followed the announcement in June by the EIC that eight Irish companies secured more than 10pc of the funding allocated under this call and have been awarded grant and equity funding totalling more than 31m. The budget for this call was increased by the EIC to ensure that many Covid-19 relevant innovations were supported in addition to other thematic areas. Among the successful applicants were seven Enterprise Ireland clients. They included Kite Medical, OneProjects Design Innovation, Provizio, Remedy Biologics, Kastus Technologies, SiriusXT and Aquila Biosciences. These results are a testament to the vibrancy of the Irish commercialisation and startup eco-system and should be celebrated. The final EIC Accelerator call for applications closes on October 7 - and it has no thematic focus. Importantly, it has a focus on female entrepreneurship where, should the first-round evaluation show that a minimum of 25pc of companies selected for the final-stage interviews are not led by women, additional interviews will then be planned. The EIC accelerator is a real opportunity for entrepreneurs to raise funding, innovate and scale their businesses. The only real challenge that these companies can have is if they are not being sufficiently ambitious. In the autumn, a Horizon 2020 call for applications totalling close to 1bn will be launched to respond to the urgency of climate change and to the ambition of the European Green Deal objectives. This will be a cross-cutting work programme covering a vast array of European Green Deal-related topics. And there will be opportunities for innovators and researchers across Europe to collaborate and compete for funding. Under the umbrella of the European Enterprise Network (EEN), Enterprise Ireland and our colleagues in Invest NI will be running a virtual brokerage event on the European Green Deal call on October 13. This event will be an opportunity to get further information and to meet potential consortia partners from across the island of Ireland and the wider Horizon 2020 family. See here to register: h2020-green-deal-call-dublin.b2match.io/. For more information about the extensive supports available to innovators and researchers under Horizon 2020 and the Horizon 2020 National Contact Point Network please refer to horizon.ie. Garrett Murray is the national director for Horizon 2020 at Enterprise Ireland We are not only seeking the liberation of the homeland, but we are also moving towards a special direction, and that is to be Iranian, Sharmahd said at one point in the video. Because we have heard that once upon a time some people were living in the region who were able to build an empire. THE TRADITIONAL time for marrying in rural Ireland was Shrovetide. In the nineteenth century and on to the twentieth it was taken for granted that those who wished to marry did so at that time and at no other. There was scarcely a parish church in the country which did not have at least one wedding on Shrove Tuesday the most favoured day of all. When this custom began records do not show but it seems to be connected with the canonical prohibition of the solemn celebration of the sacrament of matrimony during the penitential season of Lent-a regulation often misunderstood to prohibit any marriage whatever during that period. It is probable that the popular reasoning ran thus: we cannot marry during Lent; thus, we must marry before Lent, therefore just before Lent is the proper time to marry. This was held firmly as far back as folk memory goes and has probably been part of the accepted pattern of belief for several centuries. The ecclesiastical prohibition of the solemn celebration of marriage during Lent was set forth in a decree of the Council of Trent; the Decree of Matrimony dated November 11, 1563. From Little Christmas (Epiphany) onwards the matchmakers had been busy and many unions were planned and eagerly awaited not only by the parties principally concerned but also by the whole district which would share in the merrymaking, feasting and drinking. On the morning of the wedding according to historian Kevin Danaher the bridal party in the south-west of Ireland left the house of the brides parents in horse-traps or side cars. The bride and her parents travelled in the first vehicle, followed by relatives and guests of the bride and groom. The groom joined in along the way taking up position at the end of the cavalcade. On the return journey bride and groom travelled together in the first vehicle, with the bridesmaid and groomsman. Many of these processions were to be seen along the roads of Ireland on Shrove Tuesday morning. Many different customs prevailed elsewhere in Ireland many of them less formal, with the various parties coming separately to the church. In parts of Donegal the wedding party walked in a group to the church headed by a violinist playing merry tunes which always included Haste to the Wedding on the way there. He played Ta do mhargadh deanta (your bargain is made) on the way back after the wedding ceremony. In some places it was customary that when the newly married couple came out of the church the groom was handed a dish or tray containing a handful of copper and small silver coins. He threw them into the air to scatter among the crowd where children and others scrambled for them. In former times a number of beggars and tramps assembled for this occasion and sometimes quarrels, and brawls occurred between them. The whole wedding party returned to the house of the brides parents where feasting music singing, and dancing continued until late at night. During the return journey the wedding party was sometimes halted by boys holding a rope across the road. The bridegroom had to buy the rite of passage by giving a small gift of money. This custom still continues following a wedding in Carrigkerry Church where the local children lay a rope across the road and receive some small coins in return. On arrival at the house her mother broke a small cake over the brides head to give her luck and prosperity. During the festivities the house might be visited by a party of young men from the locality masked and disguised in hats and cloaks made of straw. They were called straw-boys for this reason and soppers in the west Munster area. They were usually made welcome and having danced with the bride and her attendants and friends, were entertained to food and drink before they left the house. Of course, these marriage customs might be seen at other times of the year, but they were most in evidence at this time when most country weddings took place and are remembered in tradition as part of Shrove. It was far removed from the planning and presentation of present-day ceremonies. I often wondered why little silver horseshoes are put on a wedding cake, and why they're supposed to be lucky? Many years ago, the story goes, that St Dustan, who was a blacksmith, was visited in his forge by the Devil, who asked for shoes to be fitted to his feet. The blacksmith recognised his visitor, and while fixing horseshoes to the Devil's feet, he nailed the shoes to the wall to trap him. Although the Devil tried to free himself, his efforts were in vain. Before agreeing to release him, Dunstan made the Devil promise he would never enter a place where there was a horseshoe on the wall. Later, this was applied to wedding cakes, and the tradition continues to this day. I've heard some folk refer to the love of their life as a ball-and-chain, in jocular fashion, of course. This reminds me of the craze that was in fashion some years ago, with couples pledging their love for each other. This was done by attaching a padlock to some well-known public monument such as a bridge across a river or railings in a park or public place. That celebrated bridge, the Pont des Arts, spanning the River Seine in Paris, has become famous for the thousands of padlocks that have been affixed to it by star crossed lovers. The padlock became a symbol of an unbreakable, undying love. Not alone is it Parisians, but visitors to the "city of light" that engage in the heart-warming symbol of a pledge between lovers. The newly acquired padlock from the nearest locksmith's shop is usually inscribed with their names, plus some poetic term of endearment. The padlock is snapped shut and attached to the railing with all the others, and the key is tossed into the Seine. We will continue our wedding traditions next week. For more of Tom's articles see www.limerickleader.ie If you've ever described your dream skin as supple, soft, or hydrated, then you're going to love the latest beauty trend to come out of Japan. We all know what mochi is, right? It's a popular Japanese snack that's known for its delicious taste and unique, squishy texture. Well, that bouncy texture is inspiring a new wave of skin-care goals. "Mochi skin is firm, supple, and hydrated that has an inner glow and brightness to it," Shinji Yamasaki, founder of Re:Erth, told POPSUGAR. "We strongly believe that the key to achieving Mochi skin is to first have healthy skin." The J-beauty trend embodies an all-around healthy, well-nourished, clear complexion. Think: plump, but still firm, and resembling the consistency of the chewy snack. (Who else can totally picture it?) To achieve mochi skin, look for skin-care products and ingredients that promote cellular turnover as well as brighten and deeply hydrate. "The combination of Japanese White Turmeric and Japanese Spring Turmeric in our products are fantastic in helping achieve Mochi skin due to the White Turmeric's ability to not only prevent the breakdown of hyaluronic acid, but also stimulate skin cell activity, and the Spring Turmerics ability to suppress the overproduction of melanin," Yamasaki said. "The result is healthy, Mochi skin which of course, is naturally brighter, firmer, and hydrated." Re:Erth even has a product that has been coined "Mochi skin in a bottle." It's the Re:Erth Multi-Targeted Elixir ($85), which brightens and rejuvenates skin for smaller-looking pores, even skin tone, and a firmer feel. Sign us up. By Akbar Mammadov The volume of Azerbaijan's exports amounted to $7,7 billion in the first six months of 2020, the Center for Economic Reforms Analysis and Communication of Azerbaijan presented in its July 2020 issue of the "Export Review". Exports in non-oil sector were $911,9 million. Thus, in January-June 2020, non-oil products worth $370,3 million were exported to Russia, $177,2 million to Turkey, $96,1 million to Switzerland, $76,7 million to Georgia and $28,3 million to China. Compared to the same period in 2019, non-oil exports to Russia increased by 4,3 per cent, Switzerland by 30,7 per cent and China by 65,5 per cent in the first six months of 2020. Exports in the non-oil sector decreased by $67,6 million or 6,9 percent compared to the same period last year. In the list of non-oil exports in January-June 2020, tomatoes ($162,3 million) ranked first, gold (not used in coinage, in other unprocessed forms - $85,7 million) second, and cotton flour ($58.6 million) was third. Overall, in the first six months of 2020, exports of fruits and vegetables amounted to $328 million, cotton fibre $59,4 million, aluminium and aluminium products $40,9 million, chemical products $40,6 million, ferrous metals and their products $22,3 million, cotton yarn $9,9 million, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages $6,5 million, sugar $7,7 million, vegetable and animal fats and oils $11,4 million, tea $4,8 million. Thus, In June 2020, exports in the non-oil sector amounted to $190,4 million. In particular, in June 2020, food exports increased by $9,1 million or 10 per cent compared to the same period last year. In addition, the share of non-oil exports in total exports increased by 12,9 per cent compared to the same period last year and amounted to 26,7 per cent. In June of this year, most non-oil and gas products were exported to Russia ($99,3 million), Turkey ($32,9 million), Switzerland ($24,6 million), Georgia ($6,2 million) and Ukraine ($5,1 million). In June 2020, in the non-oil sector, exports of tomatoes (tomatoes - $39,2 million) ranked first, fresh cherries and cherries ($32,2 million) second, gold (not used in coinage, in other unprocessed forms - $21 million) third. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Afghan security officials said the attack could have been carried out by a Taliban splinter group to upset the push for direct peace talks. The concern touches on questions surrounding unity within the Taliban movement and the ability of Taliban political leadership in Qatar to control the groups fighters on the ground. Both issues are becoming increasingly important in the lead-up to peace talks. Haiti - Security : The PNH releases 4 kidnapped people Early Friday evening, thanks to information provided by the population, police officers assigned to the Gressier police station were able to intercept in Lambi in the locality "Kay Harang" a Toyota Land Cruiser, registration SE-06849 in which were the kidnappers and their 4 hostages kidnapped a few hours earlier in Miragoane. During the operation there was an exchange of fire between the police and the kidnappers who abandoned their vehicle and their victims before fleeing. No injuries are reported and the 4 people kidnapped are safe and sound, informed the officials of the Gressier police station. The vehicle bearing a State Service plate was seized and under the control of the judicial authorities for the purposes of the investigation. HL/ HaitiLibre Crime suspects can no longer be forced to reveal their nationality in a blow to the Governments attempts to speed up the removal of foreign offenders. Watered-down rules mean that anyone arrested by police or brought to court no longer has to say which country they are from. Only criminals convicted at the end of a trial and likely to be jailed then deported will have to provide their background details. The new regime has been forced on Ministers by top judges, prosecutors and police chiefs who decided that collecting the nationalities of every suspect breached privacy laws. Only criminals convicted at the end of a trial and likely to be jailed then deported will have to provide their background details. Pictured: Stock photo of a prisoner in handcuffs It comes after The Mail on Sunday revealed a string of embarrassing failures to deport serious offenders, including a Nigerian fraudster who is being flown back to the UK after his removal was ruled unlawful. Last night, Tory backbencher Philip Davies told The Mail on Sunday: As usual, it seems that the criminal justice system thinks the rights of criminals are more important than the rights of law-abiding citizens and victims of crime. Thats what the public and I find so infuriating. He called on Home Secretary Priti Patel to challenge the decision. Under a 2017 criminal justice law aimed at making sure dangerous foreign criminals were caught and then removed from the UK, any suspect arrested for any offence had to state his or her nationality while defendants later charged were required to give his or her name, date of birth and nationality when they first appeared in court. But it is now thought these requirements breach the privacy law that came into force in the UK in 2018 based on the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that led to an avalanche of junk email from firms asking shoppers if they wanted to remain on mailing lists. The blanket requirement for all suspects to give their nationality is thought not to comply with the Data Protection Act requirement that personal information can only be collected if it is necessary and relevant, and cannot be held for an unnecessarily long time. Only a tiny proportion of foreign suspects forced to give their nationality are ever charged, convicted, jailed and then deported. Latest figures show that just 4,743 foreign national offenders were returned home in the 12 months to March, down 11 per cent in a year. A briefing note seen by this paper by a top Ministry of Justice official states that it is not lawful under the recent legislation to collect nationality information from people who have not been convicted or sentenced and so are not about to be deported. As a result, last month members of the powerful Criminal Procedure Rule Committee agreed to amend the rules so only convicted offenders will have to reveal their nationality, and only when they are about to be taken into custody. A Government spokesman said: A defendants nationality will continue to be taken when a prison sentence is imposed. By ANI NEW DELHI: The demise of employees due to COVID-19 will be treated as accidental death and the kins of the employee will get the same financial benefits as they get in the case of accidental death during duty, said Union Minister of Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi on Thursday. While interacting with media in Ranchi during his one day visit to Jharkhand, Joshi said that Coal India's around four lakh on roll and workers on contract will get benefited from this decision. The kins of employees deceased from COVID-19 so far will also get protected, according to an official statement by the Coal Ministry "Putting their lives in danger Coal Indians have performed a tremendous job during the coronavirus pandemic. They are relentlessly doing a good job. That's why I proudly call them Coal Warriors. I have announced this benefit just to recognise their invaluable service to the nation," said Joshi. The Minister further said that commercial coal mining is going to fuel development in Jharkhand in coming years. Under the commercial auction of 9 coal mines in Jharkhand, the State is expected to earn more than Rs. 3,200 crores in one-year as revenue and almost 50,000 additional employment will be generated for the people of the State. In a meeting with Chief Minister of Jharkhand Hemant Soren, Joshi discussed various mining related issues with him. He reviewed the performance of coal companies Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) and Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) and appreciated the hard work being put by the Coal Warriors in fulfilling the power demand of the nation during the ongoing pandemic. "India still meets a fifth of its annual coal requirement through imports. Once commercial mining picks up, imports by independent thermal power plants and captive power plants are likely to be substituted, saving in potential import bill of around Rs 30,000 crores per every year," he added, while stressing upon the need of commencement of commercial coal mining. He further said that the commencement of commercial coal mining will help in providing direct and indirect employment to more than three lakh people. "Response of commercial mining auction is very good. Especially in Jharkhand, we are getting 5 to 10 bidders for almost all of the mines put on auction. The state will get benefited from it and it will chart a new chapter of growth in the state," he added. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/02/2020 ADVERTISEMENT [ Spoiler Warning: This report features spoilers that reveal if Kalani and Asuelu are still together or whether the : Happily Ever After? couple has broken up.] ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT So did Kalani and Asuelu eventually split up or is the couple still together? ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. couple Asuelu Pulaa and Kalani Faagata continue to have their ups and downs on Season 5 of : Happily Ever After?, so did the couple work things out and stick together or have Kalani and Asuelu broken up?Kalani, a 31-year-old from Orange County, CA, and Asuelu, a 24-year-old from Samoa, found fame when they starred on Season 6 of in 2019.The pair met in July 2016 when Kalani was visiting a resort where Asuelu worked as the activities director, and they continued dating once Kalani returned to America.After dating long distance for a while, Kalani flew back Samoa to see if she and Asuelu had the potential for a long-term relationship. And things got hot and heavy quickly because Kalani decided to lose her virginity to Asuelu.Kalani discovered afterwards she was pregnant with her first child, and the news totally shocked and rocked her Mormon family, especially since her Samoan father Low didn't want to see Kalani be with or marry a Samoan man.Despite her family's disapproval, Kalani applied for a K-1 visa so Asuelu could move to the United States and become her husband and a hands-on father. At the time, their son Oliver had turned five months old.Although Kalani and Asuelu had their fair share of struggles -- such as Asuelu adapting to American culture and being a new dad -- the pair got married in September 2018.'s sixth season ended with Kalani and Asuelu's wedding as well as Kalani learning she was pregnant with Baby No. 2.Kalani and Asuelu found out they were expecting another child together less than a year after she had given birth to Oliver, which was another big surprise!Kalani reacted to the pregnancy news poorly at first as shown on an episode of 's sixth season and was the target of criticism as a result."I had antepartum depression while pregnant with Oliver, to the point that I wanted to kill myself," Kalani explained in her defense in December 2018."Once the baby came, I had postpartum depression: I wasn't bonding with him, I cried all the time and wanted to die again. Please know that I was concerned about the well-being of my son because of my mental state when I'm pregnant, not that I was ungrateful to be pregnant."Kalani and Asuelu are now parents of two sons: Kennedy, who was born in May 2019, and Oliver, whom the couple welcomed in January 2018.In September 2019, Kalani took to her Instagram Stories and posted a poll about gender roles and married life, suggesting she wasn't happy with Asuelu.While she did not name Asuelu directly in her post, she made it clear she was venting about her husband's alleged laziness and his unrealistic expectations of her as a wife and mother of two."Do all husbands expect their wives to pay bills, clean the whole house, do all the laundry, feed/watch the kids 24/7 (unless said husband is in public or wants a selfie)?" Kalani asked in the poll."Asking for my gottdamn self. Is this normal?" she added.Apparently 70 percent of Kalani's followers who participated in the poll answered "No."However, the couple appeared to be a very happy family at Christmas time in December 2019.On : Happily Ever After?'s fifth season, Asuelu was shown at work passing out free samples. The couple had been married for one year and three months at the time of filming.Kalani suggested her marriage was suffering and she was exhausted all the time, so her parents moved in with the couple to help them out with Oliver and Kennedy, which made Asuelu feel a bit uncomfortable since he could no longer be the man of the house.Kalani said she wanted Asuelu to help out more with the babies and also help out more around the house, but Asuelu grew up believing those are the wife's responsibilities.Kalani argued Asuelu would rather play volleyball or video games after work than assist her and spend time with his family. She also complained they hadn't been on a romantic date in four months."I just wish that Asuelu and I could get back to the point where we were in the beginning of our relationship, where we loved to be around each other. I just miss that, and if Asuelu refuses to change, I don't know if I can keep doing this anymore," Kalani said in a confessional.Kalani's dad Low also wanted Asuelu to "step up" and stop "f-cking around." Low said Asuelu would get his "ass whooped or sent back to Samoa" if things didn't change for the better.Asuelu therefore brought Kalani out on a fun date, but their happiness didn't last long because Asuelu asked his wife to travel to Samoa with him so their children could see where he grew up.Not only would the trip cost thousands of dollars in plane fare alone, but Asuelu's sister also told him there had been a Measles outbreak recently and children were dying from it.Asuelu and Kalani's son Kennedy wasn't vaccinated and wasn't supposed to get that MMR vaccine until 12-24 months old, according to his doctor.Given Kennedy was only seven months old at the time, Kalani was worried and decided to postpone the trip until a later date, which left Asuelu feeling angry, resentful and unsupported.Instead of going to Samoa, Kalani drove her family to California in order to celebrate Oliver's second birthday, but Asuelu was noticeably in a bad mood.Kalani said if Asuelu is mad at her or things don't go his way, he'll criticize her and try to make her feel bad about everything she does.During the car ride to California, Asuelu called Kalani's job as a mother "easy" and then admitted he thinks American women's jobs in general are easy. Asuelu rattled off a list of chores such as cleaning, loading the dishwasher and laundry. He said the kids can watch TV while the mother cooks and cleans."Then why don't you do it, if it's so easy?" Kalani asked."Because [there's] other stuff I do," Asuelu replied, later adding that women in Samoa don't complain about the tasks they must do. "I think Kalani can't do what mother in Samoa do."In the car, Kalani told Asuelu that she was the one up all night with both of their sick kids when she was sick too, and Asuelu called her out for being a "lying b-tch.""I'm the one that planned Oliver's birthday. I do everything for them. It's nowhere near fair," Kalani said.But Asuelu insisted "that's a woman job," before telling Kalani that her voice sounded "so f-cking annoying."Kalani's mother was driving the car and scolded Asuelu for talking to her daughter that way, which only made Asuelu more frustrated."I don't know how your husband talk to you when you guys been together. But it's my wife; I can talk whatever," Asuelu said. "Your daughter asks stupid questions."Kalani's mother called Asuelu "disrespectful," and Kalani felt Asuelu was trying to sabotage the weekend and ruin it for everyone as a way to get back at her for canceling their trip to Samoa."It just shows me that he doesn't really care about me and the boys and he's just No. 1 to himself," Kalani complained in a confessional, later adding that she'd never be "subservient" to a man.During a heated confrontation in the backyard, Kalani called Asuelu "a manipulator" because of his attempts to change the subject every time he wanted to back himself out of an uncomfortable conversation.Kalani told Asuelu that she wanted him to change from a boy into "a man" and was tired of making excuses for him. She desired "an equal partnership" and felt she was "doing everything."Since the pair couldn't reach a resolution and Asuelu felt Kalani didn't respect what he contributed, Asuelu took off with his suitcase and left the house. Oliver followed Asuelu out the door, but he just kept walking.After walking all the way down the road, Asuelu hopped on a random bus that was apparently heading to Utah, and he said he was going to find a place to stay. Kalani called Asuelu "ridiculous."That night, Asuelu apparently sent Kalani three false locations to drive to in order to pick him up, and once she was ready to give up, he gave his actual location.Kalani said Asuelu didn't want to talk to her once he got home, and Kalani's sister Kolini said Asuelu "sucked the life" out of her sister and it was hard to see.Kalani agreed with her family that Asuelu was "in the wrong" and had behaved rudely, and so she hoped Asuelu would come around and apologize. But instead, it appeared Asuelu just wanted to play video games alone in their bedroom.Once Oliver's party commenced, Asuelu refused to leave their room, and so Kalani didn't even know if her husband was going to attend. Kalani noted it was "typical Asuelu" to make their son's birthday party all about him.Kalani later talked to Asuelu in the bedroom behind closed doors and essentially begged him to come outside and join the party, but he wouldn't listen and didn't want to budge."It's frustrating. It's like talking to a four year old," Kalani vented to her sister.Kalani's family felt Asuelu was "acting like a little child," and so her father Low decided to pull Asuelu aside for a chat. Low told Asuelu that he needed to put his problems aside because it was his son's birthday and he needed to spend time with his wife and child.Asuelu nodded his head and agreed to put on a good face, and so he went outside and told his wife that the decorations looked good. Kolini said Asuelu was just "putting on a show for everyone, which is what he does.""Asuelu is a fine actor. I know his bullsh-t -- but whatever makes him feel better," Kolini told the cameras.Asuelu felt good about making the babies happy but he didn't apologize to his wife. Kalani said they had a history of sweeping problems under the rug, and so she didn't really know what was happening between them.A few days after Kalani and Asuelu returned home from California, Asuelu said things between Kalani's family and himself were very "tense" and nobody wanted to talk to him -- probably because he didn't want to talk to any of them either.Low acknowledged men in Samoa want to control their wives and that's the culture, but he said he didn't raise his daughters to put up with that behavior and be submissive.Low told Asuelu it wasn't good for his sons to watch him fight Kalani, and Asuelu agreed. Asuelu added that sometimes what he wants to say doesn't translate into English well and so he ends up swearing at Kalani out of frustration.Low told Asuelu that swearing at Lisa and Kalani was "unacceptable," and Asuelu confessed to "doing really bad things."Low was apparently fed up with giving Asuelu second, third and fourth chances. Low was trying his best "not to get violent," but he demanded, "You need to learn how to treat your wife, because I'm not having that."Asuelu insisted he was really sorry and intended to be more careful with his words and actions.Asuelu later apologized to Kalani, saying that boarding a bus in California with his suitcase was "not a smart idea" and he was "so wrong in saying that a woman in Samoa is better" than Kalani.Kalani said Asuelu's apology meant a lot to her but he needed to change his actions. And in order to make Asuelu happier in their marriage, she agreed to visit his mother and two half-sisters in Washington State.But when Asuelu videchatted with his mother to give her the good news he'd be visiting, she asked for $1,000, and Asuelu said he didn't have that much money -- and then blamed it on Kalani.Kalani got upset because she said she hated being the bad guy, and she couldn't believe Asuelu had thrown her under the bus like that.Asuelu is still working at the same nutrition store in Utah -- which is near the home he shares with Kalani -- where he was shown passing out free samples on an episode of : Happily Ever After?.Also, the pair definitely appear to still be married based on their social-media activity.In late July, Asuelu captioned a series of photos of his family in Pine Valley, UT. They appeared to do some hiking by a lake."Family Adventure #blessed #love #utahcheck," Asuelu captioned the slideshow.Asuelu also posted a TikTok video of himself dancing in the couple's kitchen about a week earlier, and Kalani can be seen in the background preparing food for her family.Asuelu captioned the video, "Morning routine after riding the bus."In early July, Asuelu wished Kalani a happy birthday on his Instagram account by posting a video of his wife and son. He wrote over the video "love of my life."And in the caption, Asuelu gushed, "My wife's birthday. Cheers for 32nd years my love @kalanifaagata and many more to come."Not only has Kalani also posted recent photos with Asuelu on Instagram, but the couple has additionally shared two YouTube videos on their channel in the last month after not uploading anything on their channel for almost a year.As recently as June 30, Kalani posted a sweet photo of Asuelu cuddling with their boys on Instagram Stories.One week earlier, Kalani posted a smiling selfie with Asuelu, a video of Asuelu laughing in a massage chair, and brief throwback clips of the couple's axe-throwing date.Kalani uploaded the photos and videos shortly after the June 21 episode of : Happily Ever After? aired on TLC, and she captioned the slideshow, "BTS of tonight's episode. What'd y'all think?"On May 24, Kalani posted a video clip on Instagram of Asuelu and herself talking about how they had once walked through a jungle in Samoa and explored a cave together.The couple was promoting a video they had posted on YouTube."In honor of #samoanlanguageweek, we posted a YouTube video where I butcher basic Samoan, and we talk about our dating life in Samoa (pictures included)," Kalani wrote on Instagram.A couple of weeks earlier on May 8, Kalani and Asuelu posted a YouTube video of how they celebrated Kennedy's first birthday.Kalani and Asuelu enjoyed many laughs as Kennedy was spoiled with a fun pool day, gifts, cake, bubbles and a pinata.On April 27, Kalani posted a slideshow of photos with Asuelu and captioned the post, "Pretending we're in Samoa."And going back to March 1, Kalani uploaded a photo of the married pair, revealing they had met Robyn and Kody from TLC's Sister Wives.The two couples met each other while enjoying brunch at a restaurant and Kalani mentioned they should double-date soon.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Mahlon Reyes, who worked as a deckhand on Deadliest Catch, has died, E! News has learned. The reality TV personality was only 38 years old. Discovery Channel confirmed Reyes' death to us and said it was "very sad news." Their statement read, "Our thoughts and prayers go to his family." Moreover, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office told E! News Reyes passed away in his hometown of Whitefish, Montana. At this time, the star's official cause of death is pending as they await the autopsy and toxicology reports. According to TMZ, who first broke the news, Reyes passed away after suffering from a heart attack on Saturday, July 25. Reye's wife, Heather Sullivan, told the publication that her husband was hospitalized soon after. While Reyes survived the heart attack, Sullivan explained that he never regained consciousness and was taken off life support the following day. The star's wife also stated that he didn't have any known pre-existing health conditions. Celebrity Deaths: 2020's Fallen Stars "Hello everyone this is Heather, we have a memory page for Mahlon, Forever Chim," a message read on the star's Facebook page on Wednesday, July 29. "Send me a friend request and I can get added Heather B. Sullivan. He touched so many lives and he is up there smiling and watching over my protector from the sky." According to Reye's wife, the reality TV star has been cremated and his ashes will be spread by some of his co-stars in the Bering Sea. In light of the news, Nick McGlashan, took to social media to share his heartache over Reyes' passing. "Love you Mahlonn m v you're missed. RIP," he wrote on Twitter. Reyes became a Deadliest Catch favorite after appearing on the series since 2012. He is survived by his wife and four children. New Delhi: The terror attack at Nagrota in Jammu and Kashmir is a "message" sent by Pakistan's newly appointed army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa to India, former home secretary RK Singh said on Tuesday. "We need to take note of the fact that this is the (Pakistan) new army chief sending a message. His policy will be same as followed by the predecessor...We (also) need to send across a message to him," he said. "India will hit back harder every time it is targeted," he said. The BJP MP's remarks came after militants in police uniform attacked an army artillery unit in Nagrota, killing three army personnel, including an officer, and leaving several others injured. Singh said Pakistan continued to "bleed" India through such terrorist attacks, adding that the recently conducted PoK surgical strike by the Indian Army was not a "one-off" event. "It was a statement of policy...Our policy is that we will hit you back every time you hit us. We will hit you back harder. So, I think a couple of more time we hit them back, it will certainly settle in their mind," he said. The BJP leader added that India needed to "follow up on its policy of imposing cost" and that the "Army should revisit the security procedure in general, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir." Read | Nagrota attack: Security beefed up around Vaishno Devi following death of two armymen during a militant infiltration bid For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. After more than 100 years on the corner of Fifth and Main, the historic Patterson Place building will return to the way it looked decades ago. The Schuett Companies of Minnesota is renovating the residential units, basement and exterior of the downtown Bismarck housing complex it bought last year. Schuett Companies received a historic tax credit through the National Park Service to restore the exterior of Patterson Place. The company will receive an income tax credit worth 20% of the rehabilitation project's cost. The company did not immediately provide a cost estimate. Were trying to restore as much historic character as we can, company President Tom Schuett said. Schuett also is reclaiming the basement space, which used to be a barber shop and a billiards hall, and using it for an expansion of the Peacock Alley restaurant. All 117 residential units in Patterson Place will be updated as needed. The renovations include flooring, countertops, cabinets and windows. However, if a unit was recently upgraded in some way -- for example, if it received new floors in the past year or so -- the unit will not receive that upgrade again. Schuett said that residents still live in their units during the four-to-five day renovation. They leave in the morning and spend the day elsewhere on the property before returning in the evening to their unit, which is still fully functional, even during renovations. The exterior restoration will take longer than a few days to complete. The research process is extensive, according to Molly Dalsin, head of the restoration project with Minneapolis-based AWH Architects. She uses city, state and national archives as well as a lot of searching online to piece together what Patterson Place looked like throughout history. In the search, she came across pieces of the original architectural drawings from 1910. The old sidewalks had purple glass inlaid to light up the storefronts that lined the street. There are rumors that a tunnel below the hotel was connected to the train station and used for bootlegging during Prohibition. But Dalsin said there is no evidence of the tunnel in the architectural plans, and a previous owner of the building said city crews that tore up the streets about 20 years ago where it would have been found nothing. The hotel lobby used to contain a hanging mezzanine with brass rails and globe lights. Musicians would play there when guests gathered for dinner. Dalsin said she wanted to try to restore the mezzanine but couldn't because a bathroom was installed below it in the 1980s. The process of restoring the building is complicated, according to Dalson. She must work with the National Park Service and the State Historic Preservation Office to be sure all of the decisions are historically accurate because the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. For example, when deciding what mortar to use to fill in the spaces between bricks, the mixture must meet todays building standards while also resembling what Dalsin calls a historic recipe. "We don't want to misconstrue history," she said. To restore a building under the State Historic Preservation Office's guidelines, renovators have to pick an era to which to restore the building. The reference for Patterson Place is the 1910 to 1940 period, because that's when the original construction took place. The research process also involves talking to locals who know the history and the area better than the internet. One of the locals Dalsin spoke with is Jim Christianson, who owned the property from 1982 until 2019. Christianson led the purchase of the building from the previous owners. Along with the building came an archive of photographs, letters, telegrams and other documents with information about Edward G. Patterson and the history of his hotel. Patterson came to Bismarck in 1882 from Ohio. He was a barber by trade, but by the early 1900s he owned several hotels. In 1910, construction began on the McKenzie Hotel, Pattersons newest venture on the corner of Fifth Street and Main Avenue. The hotel was meant to be five stories high but was expanded to seven floors after the foundation was poured. The foundation was the first example of steel-reinforced concrete used in North Dakota construction, according to its National Register nomination form, and the building was the tallest in the state until the new Capitol was built in 1933. The McKenzie Hotel opened on New Years Day 1911. It was named after Alexander McKenzie, a North Dakota politician and friend of Patterson. The initial structure was built by Patterson in less than a year. The building was considered to be fireproof and earthquake-proof, the latter being a concern after the San Francisco earthquake in 1906. The 150-room hotel eventually expanded to 10 stories in 1930 and 1931. The lobby included large plate glass windows and marble wainscoting, according to the Tribune. It also included a passenger elevator. The building was renamed The Patterson Hotel in 1928, according to a Tribune article from 1932. The Patterson was under construction for years because under previous state law property owners didn't have to pay property taxes if work was being done. The Patterson was a hub for politics and society in Bismarck for years. "It was the place for politicians to stay and play," Christianson said. After a fire destroyed the Capitol in 1930, several legislative committees and state office workers held meetings at the hotel during the 1931 legislative session. The Senate Appropriations Committee rented out Suite 200 during the 1940s and 1950s. The hotel hosted four U.S. presidents: Theodore Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Patterson died in 1945, and his wife, Rose, lived in and managed the hotel until her death in 1975. The Patterson Hotel was condemned in the late 1970s. The structure was meant to support only seven stories -- not the 10 that Patterson had expanded it to -- and it was overloaded with weight from the extra levels. Christianson said the concrete pillars in the basement that hold up the structure were spalling, which happens when chunks of concrete break off from the columns. Metal jackets were added to the outside of the columns to reinforce them. The interior of the seventh floor had also been gutted to create new hotel rooms. The previous owners used slabs of concrete that were 3-4 inches thick to section off rooms and hallways, which created dead weight. Electrical conduits were left hanging from the ceiling. Christianson said his company removed 150 tons of waste per floor when renovating the structure in 1982. Part of the reason the building was saved after its condemnation was a bipartisan effort to turn it into a low-income housing complex, now known as Patterson Place. Christianson said that after he bought the Patterson, he decided the building wouldn't work as a hotel. Downtown Bismarck was in a slump, and there wasn't enough parking to support a hotel. Instead, Christianson worked with Govs. Arthur Link and Allen Olson and U.S. Sens. Quentin Burdick and Mark Andrews to get Patterson Place approved for the Section 8 housing choice voucher program. The program helps low-income families, the elderly and people with disabilities afford housing. The building has operated as housing for elderly and low-income tenants since. Schuett, the current owner, said the renovations are on track to be completed by the end of the year. One of the finishing touches is a new light-up sign that will say Patterson Place on the side of the building facing Main Avenue. It's inspired by the signs that used to sit on the roof saying "Hotel Patterson." Reach Sam Nelson at 701-250-8264 or sam.nelson@bismarcktribune.com. Love 13 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. President Donald Trump said on July 31, 2020 that he planned to bar the fast-growing Chinese-owned social media app TikTok from operating in the United States TikTok must either be sold or blocked in the US due to national security concerns, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday in the latest ominous US warning to the Chinese-owned app. TikTok, he said, simply "cannot exist as it does." Mnuchin did not comment directly on President Donald Trump's threat Friday to bar the wildly popular video-sharing app. The secretary recalled that the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United Stateswhich he chairsis reviewing TikTok, which is especially popular with young audiences who create and watch its short-form videos and has an estimated one billion users worldwide. But in one of many fronts in US-Chinese relations that have turned practically poisonous these days, US officials have said it could be a tool for Chinese intelligence. TikTok denies any such suggestion. "I will say publicly that the entire committee agrees that TikTok cannot stay in the current format because it risks sending back information on 100 million Americans," Mnuchin said Sunday on ABC. Mnuchin said he has spoken to leaders of Congress including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the top Democrat in the Senate, Chuck Schumer about what to do with TikTok's operations in the US. "We agree there needs to be a change. Force a sale or block the app. Everybody agrees it can't exist as it does," Mnuchin said. The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that negotiations for Microsoft to buy the US operations of TikTok, owned by Chinese internet giant ByteDance, are on hold after Trump threatened to bar the app. TikTok defended itself on Saturday, with its general manager for the US, Vanessa Pappas, telling users that the company was working to give them "the safest app," amid US concerns over data security. "We're not planning on going anywhere," Pappas said in a message released on the app. Explore further TikTok faces US national security review 2020 AFP Millions of dollars flowed into the 12 initiative campaigns on the November ballot in the quarter ending June 30, but the latest financial reports released by the California secretary of state show campaign cash isnt spread equally. Some campaigns, including Proposition 17, which would restore felons right to vote as soon as their prison terms end, and Proposition 18, which allows 17-year-olds to vote in some primary elections, havent raised enough money, either in support or opposition, to require a financial report. Others, such as measures on rent control, property tax changes, Uber and Lyft drivers, and kidney dialysis, already have collected millions with plenty more cash likely to come before the Nov. 3 election. The quarters biggest contribution was dropped on Proposition 21, which would make it easier for local governments to enact rent control. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation of Los Angeles, which backs the initiative, put in $10.4 million, bringing its total contribution to $11.9 million. The apartment industry gave $9.5 million to oppose the measure, with $1.8 million from San Mateos Essex Property Trust raising its stake to $2.3 million. With $10 million available on the yes side and $14.2 million for opponents, the rent control battle will be played out over the airwaves this fall. Developers and business interests are pouring money into the effort to defeat Proposition 15, which would revise the 1978 Proposition 13 tax rules to allow commercial and industrial property to be reassessed more often, prospectively raising their property taxes. Opponents raised $1.5 million in the quarter, with $250,000 each from Vornado Realty Trust of New York and Long Point Development of Rancho Palos Verdes (Los Angeles County). The no side has just under $900,000 cash on hand. Supporters took in $726,000, giving them $4.6 million available for the fall campaign. The California Teachers Association has spent more than $6 million on the effort, with the Service Employees International Union adding $4 million and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerbergs Chan Zuckerberg Advocacy donating $1.6 million. Backers of Proposition 22, which would circumvent the states AB5 and allow app-based drivers to work as contractors and not employees, didnt raise a cent in the second quarter because they didnt need it. Thanks to $110 million in contributions last October from companies like Uber, Lyft and Doordash, they have $92 million in the bank for what promises to be a high-spending campaign. Opponents, led by $450,000 from the Transport Workers Union and money from other labor groups, raised $575,000 and have almost $192,000 cash on hand. Proposition 23, a rerun of an unsuccessful 2018 initiative effort over rules for kidney dialysis clinics, is another measure that didnt need to book many contributions. Supporters raised only $200,000 in the quarter, but that brings the United Healthcare Workers contribution to $6 million, with $7,433 in the bank. Opponents listed no contributions for the quarter, but two of the countrys largest dialysis companies, DaVita and Fresenius Medical Care, each kicked in $1 million earlier this year. The two companies spent a combined $100 million to defeat Proposition 8, a similar measure, two years ago. Proposition 20 would virtually overturn a 2016 initiative designed to reduce the prison population. It limits parole and reclassifies a number of crimes as felonies. Supporters raised only $475 for the quarter, but the measure has $1.6 million cash on hand, thanks to a $2 million contribution in 2018 by the California prison guards union. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Opponents collected $1.6 million in the quarter, giving them $2 million in the bank. Patty Quillin, wife of Netflix founder Reed Hastings, and Stacy Schusterman, a Tulsa, Okla., philanthropist, each gave $500,000. Supporters also are lining up in a pair of Democrats-only Bay Area state Senate races. In San Francisco, state Sen. Scott Wiener has $830,000 cash on hand, with contributions that include $4,700 from the California Building Industry Association and $9,300 from the laborers union. Jackie Fielder, the progressive activist challenging Wiener, raised $214,000 and now has $128,000 in the bank. In the race to replace termed-out state Sen. Jim Beall of San Jose, Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, with support from unions and the construction industry, has $570,000 available for the fall campaign, compared to $238,000 for Ann Ravel, former Santa Clara County counsel, who has strong support from the legal community. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@jfwildermuth Returnees from the outbreak in central Da Nang city test for COVID-19. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi - Four new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed on August 2 morning, including two linked to the outbreak in central city of Da Nang, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. One of the two cases related tocity is a 42-year-old man living in HCM City who had been to Da Nang for vacation. He is now under treatment at the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases.The other is a 40-year-old man from centralprovince. He had close contact with patient No. 517 at Da Nang General Hospital. He tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus on August 1 and is being treated at a local medical centre.The remaining two patients flew from Russia to Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh on July 17 onboard Vietnam Airlines flight VN5062. They were quarantined right upon entry in the northern province of Hoa Binh, and are being treated at the provincial general hospital.Twenty-one others on the same flight had previously been confirmed infected as well.The new cases bring the total number of COVID-19 patients in Vietnam to 590, including 306 imported cases who were quarantined right upon arrival.Of the total cases, 373 have recovered so far. There have been three deaths related to the virus.As of August 2 morning, the total number of coronavirus cases linked to the outbreak in Da Nang increased to 144 since July 25.Among the active patients, six have tested negative for the virus once, and eight at least twice.A total 94,216 who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or came from pandemic-hit areas are under quarantine nationwide. From the third week of May 1960, Brendan Behan, aged 37 and at the height of his celebrity, spent over two months with his wife Beatrice in Glenties, Co Donegal. It was a much needed break. In London in March, for the opening of his brother Dominic's play Posterity be Damned, he had careered off the rails, drinking not simply heavily but constantly, almost catastrophically. Rae Jeffs, his publisher's publicity agent, had tried to take him in hand. Eager to have him presentable when his parents arrived from Dublin, she took him to a fashionable men's outfitters; and there, as she was chatting with the tailor, Behan stripped naked in the middle of the shop. Then, at a rehearsal of his brother's play, he fell asleep - and press photographers snapped him - and he proceeded to cause further controversy when he awoke, by shouting: "Rubbish! There were no murderers in the IRA!" Dominic's take on militant republicanism was not to his liking. Brendan never made it to the opening night and, ultimately, on March 30, he was admitted to Middlesex Hospital, where he had to be kept "under observation" for 10 days. He was asking for whiskey as they sedated him. A diabetic, he already had advanced cirrhosis. Interviewed from his hospital bed, he said he was moving to the South of France when he was discharged and he was full of praise for the National Health Service: "I think it is wonderful - high time we had it in Ireland." Glenties, then, was a chance to get things back on an even keel. Brendan and Beatrice booked into the Highlands Hotel, which boasted a grocery shop, a petrol pump and a beer-bottling business. Johnny Boyle, the popular proprietor, shared the Behans' left-wing republicanism and, not unlike the playwright, enjoyed a tall tale well told. A room was set aside where Behan could write, but it is unclear how much writing got done. He was then working on a play which he was considering calling Richard's Cork Leg or The Catacombs that he never finished. Certainly, he and Beatrice did do a good deal of touring around, with their arrival in towns and villages making the local notes in the regional papers. A trip to Dungloe in late May, where he called on Paddy the Cope, author of a well-received memoir, got a mention in the Derry People; likewise, visits to Killybegs and Mountcharles made the Donegal Democrat. And then there was Behan's first trip to Derry on July 25. Asked by a man from the Belfast Telegraph what he thought of the city, he replied: "It is quite nice coming into it." And asked what he made of "the Six Counties in general", he dressed his anti-partitionism up as metropolitan condescension: "Oh, it is very nice. I like all country places." He had wanted, he said, to find "a good Orange pub", and failing to find one, he "nipped in for a 'quick one' anyway" - but he took only soda water: "I am strictly on the wagon these days." Behan was generous with his time in Glenties. Shortly after his arrival there, the Democrat had reported that "Mr and Mrs Brendan Behan, the noted playwright, from Dublin", had been the "guest artistes" at the monthly meeting of the Ardara and Glenties branch of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann. And on Wednesday, June 8, he attended the Irish Countrywomen's Association Dance in the local hall; at the interval, he drew the winning ticket in a draw - the prize was a holiday in Glenties - and he sang songs, in Irish and English. In the last week of June, he went back to Dublin to attend the 21st birthday dinner for the founder of Claddagh Records, Garech de Brun - it was hosted by de Brun's father Lord Oranmore and Browne in Jammet's, Dublin's finest restaurant - but he soon returned to Glenties. Behan had not drunk at de Brun's party, and, consistent with his remarks in Derry in late July about being "on the wagon", it is possible that, whatever of subsequent visits to the north-west, he may have avoided alcohol in Donegal in May-July 1960. Certainly, he looks a lot healthier in photographs taken in those months than in London in March of that year. Still, the man was drawn to bars like a moth to flame. There is a photograph of him with a glass of tomato juice in Gildea's, now the Beehive, in Ardara in 1960; it was a wonderful tumbledown place, then popular with fellows who had been in the IRA in the late 1910s and early 1920s (the Gildeas had been prominent republicans) and, latterly, visitors who imagined it "bohemian". A local paper noted that Behan had been in the Rainbow Bar in Letterkenny in early June, "where he regaled those fortunate enough to be present with some typically outspoken comments on affairs of the present". And many years later, Francis Harvey, a bank official in Glenties building a reputation as a playwright and poet, remembered that the Dubliner would keep the lounge of the Highlands "entranced for hours, with excruciatingly funny stories, accompanied by much dramatic posturing and miming, about his various escapades in Ireland and abroad". Behan had befriended Harvey and another bank official cum writer, Patrick Boyle, who a few years later won international acclaim for his short stories and a novel. Indeed, on Sunday, July 24, Behan gave a seven-course dinner in the Highlands in honour of Harvey, for having had a play broadcast "in a number of languages". Unfortunately for the diners, Garda Sergeant Dudley Solan raided the party at 12.30am on Monday morning, that is, three and a half hours after closing time (then 9pm on Sundays in the summer, 8pm in winter), and he found nine people at a table in an upstairs room. Eight of them were bona fide, that is, either residents or living more than five miles from the premises. Harvey, however, lived closer to the hotel. Noticing a glass of wine in front of him, Solan asked if he was drinking it; Harvey replied that he was. And so ended Brendan Behan's Donegal dinner party. The case went to court in September, with the hotelier charged with a breach of the licensing laws and Harvey with "aiding and abetting". They were defended by Louis Walsh - himself the son of a playwright, Louis Joseph Walsh, caricatured by James Joyce, a contemporary in UCD, as Hughes in Stephen Hero. The dinner, it emerged, had been served in a private room, where Behan, who was "residing" in the hotel, "did some of his literary work". Johnny Boyle testified that he had sold no drink after 9pm and that he had no authority to make people stop drinking what he had sold "as it did not then belong to him". There had been two bottles of champagne served, he said, and two bottles of wine, one red and one white. Justice Bob O hUadhaigh indulged them and dismissed the case. Behan was named only as "an eminent literary figure and playwright". For the hotelier, it was a lucky escape. Less than three weeks before the dinner, the Intoxicating Liquor Act (1960), had liberalised the licensing laws: henceforth, alcohol could be served on Sundays from 12.30pm to 2pm and from 5pm to 9pm from June through to September - previously bars had to close at 8pm. Conviction would have been akin to falling at the first fence. The host of the ill-fated dinner came back to south-west Donegal the following summer, when he stayed in Narin; here, he and Beatrice swam a lot. His celebrity undimmed, he again popped up in the local notes of the regional papers: for instance, the Gweedore notes of the Democrat have him visiting Bunbeg, "where he brightened a group of locals with his wit". Now, knowing how it ended, the wit does not brighten as much - the drunken drollery loses some of its humour, that is, some, but not all of it. The Derry People reported that on Tuesday, August 22, 1961, Behan "strolled" to the La Scala cinema in Letterkenny to see himself being interviewed by Eamonn Andrews in a newsreel, Meet the Quare Fella - it had been released the previous summer, but it had only then reached Letterkenny. He chose a balcony seat, it went on, "and when the Behan of the film piped up with a song, 'music' burst from Behan in the cinema, claiming as he says, 'the first duet sung by one person in Letterkenny'." He had about two and a half years left to live - he died on March 20, 1964, aged 41. US cannot disarm Lebanon's Hezbollah through sanctions: Russian ambassador to Beirut Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 August 2020 5:48 AM The Russian ambassador to Beirut says US officials are under the illusion that they can disarm the Lebanese Hezbollah resistance movement through sanctions. "Disarming Hezbollah is the primary purpose of US sanctions I do not think that such a goal would be achieved through this method. The United States will not manage to force Hezbollah into laying down its weapons. This is an illusion," Zasypkin said in an exclusive interview with Beirut-based Arabic-language al-Mayadeen television news network on Friday. In late October 2018, US President Donald Trump's administration imposed a new round of sanctions on Hezbollah, targeting individuals and international organizations that do business with the group. "Over the past year, we have levied the highest sanctions ever imposed on Hezbollah, in a single year, by far. Just a few moments ago, I signed legislation imposing even more hard-hitting sanctions on Hezbollah to further starve them of their funds. And they are starving for them," Trump said during an event in Washington, DC, that marked the 35th anniversary of an attack on US marine barracks in the Lebanese capital of Beirut. Zasypkin added, "We (Russia) have made efforts in Syria. This is not only beneficial to Syria, but also to Lebanon as it protects the country against the potential threat of terrorism. If terrorism prevails in Syria, it will be easy for thousands of terrorists to cross into Lebanon, and this would lead to the partitioning of the country." He noted that Iran plays a positive role in the Middle East region, condemning the recent harassment of an Iranian passenger plane flying from Tehran to Beirut by two US fighter jets over Syria. "Americans are creating problems and violating international law. The goal is to create tensions and reestablish their presence, role and influence," the Russian diplomat said. He went on to say that the balance of power in Syria is changing. "Over the past four years, the balance of power had been in the interest of terrorists. The ensuing terrorism allowed outsiders, including the US-led coalition, to come into play." "I think Americans have numerous problems there (in Syria), but al-Tanf region is still under their control. They are clinging to the area in order to have influence. Their main goal is to sever ties between Iran and Syria," Zasypkin pointed out. He noted that Moscow honors the principle of non-interference in Syria's domestic affairs, lauding "close relations" between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad as well as military forces of the two countries. Zasypkin said Russian and Syrian institutions are closely cooperating with each other in various fields, including combat against terrorism, maintenance, reconstruction and humanitarian activities. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Russian ambassador pointed to the recent rafts of economic sanctions against Syria under the so-called Caesar Act. "The United States has used the leverage of sanctions for decades against Russia, Venezuela, Cuba and Iran. The essence of the idea has been to starve people in those countries in a way that they would ultimately turn against their own ruling systems. The scheme is now being applied to all countries," Zasypkin highlighted. He added, "Caesar Act is broad and comprehensive, and affects other parties since Syria has been under sanctions for a long time. Foreign companies are now targeted by the ruling. It is a preemptive battle against the possibility of restoration of ties between Syria and Western or Arab parties." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Amid the ongoing political drama in Rajasthan, former Congress MP Badri Ram Jakhar on Sunday (July 2) all Congress MLAs who were shifted to a hotel in Jaisalmer are happy and are staying at the hotel as per their own will. Jakhar added that those MLAs who wanted to earn easy money have left the Congress while those who are interested in working for the welfare of public are standing together with Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot. Launching a direct attack on the BJP, the former Congress MP from Pali said that the BJP is making efforts to topple the Gehlot-led government in the state but the saffron party will fail to achieve its objective. Jakhar expressed confidence Gehlot will lead Rajasthan as chief minister for full five years with the support of majority of MLAs. On July 31, the MLAs of CM Ashok Gehlot camp, who have been staying at the Fairmont Hotel on the Jaipur-Delhi Highway since the political crisis hit Rajasthan, were shifted to Jaisalmer. As per reports, the MLAs will stay there until state Assembly convenes on August 14. The MLAs have been staying in the hotel since July 13 after Sachin Pilot and 18 other Congress MLAs rebelled against the government, triggering the political crisis. CM Gehlot upped the ante on July 30 after he dropped hint that he will seek a confidence vote when the assembly convenes on August 14 and claimed that the money offered to the MLAs to switch sides had increased sharply ahead of the session. "The floor test will happen; we are going to the assembly. The BAC decides this," he told reporters, referring to the assembly's business advisory committee. He said the House will also discuss the coronavirus pandemic and the state's economy after the lockdown. He also asked the rebels MLAs to return to the party, saying "those who did not accept money should return to Congress fold." Social media platform Twitter notified Kelli Ward, chairwoman of Arizonas Republican Party, that her account had been suspended for seven days because she shared a COVID-19-related video about the benefits of hydroxychloroquine as a prevention measure that's been widely panned as misinformation. The suspension Tuesday means the party head is muted in the week leading up to the Aug. 4 primary. Big tech giants have proven time and time again that they care little about our First Amendment rights, and instead value monolithic, manufactured consensus above all else, she said in a statement. While Democrat politicians and dishonest news journalists wasted three years pushing the debunked Russia collusion narrative, legitimate election interference can be seen right here in America, due to the arbitrary and draconian policies enforced by Silicon Valley. And, with one week to go until Arizonas primary election, suspending the chairwomans account thereby limiting our ability to reach her more than 80,000 Twitter followers hinders our ability to communicate with voters, encourage Arizonans to get out vote, and silences an important conservative voice in our state. Her offense appears to be sharing the same video that resulted in the temporary suspension of other prominent Republicans, including Donald Trump Jr. She also posted the video to Facebook, which was removed, but party officials say her account there was not suspended. Congressman Paul Gosar, R-Peoria, responded to the temporary suspension. The danger is not in minority science or medical opinions, he said Tuesday. The danger is shutting down opposing views. Todays medical heresy is tomorrows mainstream standard of care. It has worked that way under the scientific method for generations. Indo-China military level talks today India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 02: The military commander level talks between India and China will take place at Moldo opposite Chushul today. The talks will take place at 11 am. During the talks, both sides will discuss the disengagement process at the stand off points. Meanwhile, troops have been witnessed at the Lipulekh Pass over the past few weeks outside the Ladakh sector, where India and China have been engaged in a standoff since May. However there has been a build up of forces across the Line of Actual Control at Lipukekh Pass, top officials told OneIndia. There has been also been an increase of troops along the LAC in parts of North Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. China now moves PLA battalion near Lipulekh Pass Lipulekh Pass has been in the news after Nepal objected to an 80 kilometre road which was built by India to the Himalayan Pass. It may be recalled that Nepal had escalated tensions with India and even redrawn its political map to add the Kalapani area and Lipulekh Pass. It has claimed that these areas which lie close to the tri-junction of India, China and Nepal as its own. India has however matched the strength of the Chinese and is also keeping a very close watch on Nepal in this connection. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News Meanwhile, there has been some thinning of troops at the standoff points. However the disengagement has not taken place. While China had last week claimed that disengagement had taken place, India had contested the claim. The official cited above said that we continue to remain on guard. We do not trust the Chinese especially after the June 15 Galwan Valley aggression. There is also a fear that the Chinese PLQA may come back again to North of Pangong Tso once the winter is over, the official also noted. Dhaka: Police in Bangladesh have arrested the alleged mastermind of attacks on Hindu temples and houses earlier this month. Police said the accused arrested last night could have hacked the Facebook account of a Hindu youth and posted images of Hindu gods over those of Muslim holy shrines to instigate violence. We arrested him last night from the (Brahmanbaria) town. He was on the run and we believe he is one of the main culprits, police official Mizanur Rahman told PTI on phone. He said 30-year-old Jahangir Alam, a cyber cafe owner, was arrested as police investigations confirmed his crucial role in the mobilising Islamists to carry out the attacks while we are now trying to be certain if he himself had hacked the Hindu youths Facebook account. But we can tell you, he is the man who prepared handbills copying the controversial image (to be distributed among ordinary people) and hired trucks to carry the attackers to the scene at Nasirnagar (in Brahmanbaria), Rahman said. The district police chiefs comments came as a court ordered Alam to be interrogated in custody for four days as he was brought before a magistrate. Officials said Alam was the last among the detained suspects while police earlier arrested over 100 people for their alleged involvement in Nasirnagar attacks when the Islamists carried out two subsequent attacks ravaging nearly a dozen temples and over 20 houses. Police had announced a bounty for information leading to the capture of the perpetrators of the attacks amid mounting protests demanding action against the culprits. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The United States has condemned the Hong Kong governments decision to postpone the legislative assembly and urged them to reconsider their decision. On July 31, Hong Kong Chef Carrie Executive Carrie Lam postponed the parliamentary elections for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic. As per the earlier schedule, the vote was to be held on September 6. However, Lam invoked her emergency powers to reschedule them. Pompeo condemns the decision On August 1, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, remarked that the elections should be held as close to the scheduled date adding that there was no valid reason for the delay. In a later released statement, he said that if they are rescheduled, then Hong Kong would move a step closer to become just another communist-run city in China. Read: Chinese Authorities Condemn Germany For Suspending Extradition Treaty With Hong Kong Read: Hong Kong: Carrie Lam Says Only China Can Resolve Legislative Limbo As Polls Get Pushed The United States condemns the Hong Kong governments decision to postpone by one year upcoming Legislative Council elections originally scheduled for September 6. There is no valid reason for such a lengthy delay. It is likely, therefore, that Hong Kong will never again be able to vote - for anything or anyone. We urge Hong Kong authorities to reconsider their decision. The elections should be held as close to September 6 date as possible and in a manner that reflects the will and aspirations of the Hong Kong people. If they arent, then regrettably Hong Kong will continue its march toward becoming just another Communist-run city in China, Pompeo said in the statement published on the State Department website. In his statement, Pompeo also targetted China and said that America is gravely concerned by the situation in Hong Kong. Pompeo not only noted the recent arrests of students in the former British colony but also mentioned Chinas illegal fishing in Ecuador. The relations between both superpowers remain at an all-time low over an array of issues from responding to coronavirus outbreak to Chinas territorial developments. According to Pompeo, China has consistently broken its promise of Hong Kongs freedom by its actions including the barring of anti-government candidates from upcoming legislative elections. Read: Mike Pompeo Slams China Over Its Developments In Hong Kong And Ecuador Read: TikTok Considering Listing Its Domestic Business In Hong Kong Or Shanghai: Report By Express News Service BHOPAL: Four days after having lost their son, Joginder Chaudhary, a junior resident doctor, to the coronavirus in Delhi, his family in Madhya Pradesh has sought urgent help from the government to save itself from a financial crisis. My nephew worked day and night for Covid patients as a junior resident doctor at Baba Sahab Ambedkar Hospital in Delhi, during which he contracted the deadly viral infection. He died at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital battling the virus on July 26. He was our prime hope owing to which my elder brother (Joginders father) sold his house to fund his MBBS education in China, said the deceased corona warriors uncle Yovan Prasad Chaudhary. READ HERE | After battling COVID-19 for over a month, 28-year-old junior doctor loses life Our family pinned hopes that after completing post-graduation studies, Joginder would come back to native Jhantla village in Neemuch district of MP and start a hospital for poor with the help of his sister-in-law, who is pursuing a paramedical course, said Chaudhary. But with Joginders death, all our hopes have faded away and his family is in deep financial crisis. Since Dr Joginder Chaudhary, 27, succumbed to the virus on July 26 | EXPRESS the familys entire money was invested in Joginders education, his younger brother couldnt get the necessary education and couldnt pursue graduation. Now Joginders sister in law is our last hope, we request the central, Delhi and MP governments to render a suitable job to her to save the family from plunging into a deep financial crisis, Chaudhary appealed. The deceased doctors father Rajendra Chaudhary, who now lives in a small house with family in the village in Neemuch district said: Every doctor who has lost life while working for saving lives of Covid patients is also a martyr and their kin need to be supported by the governments, to ensure that all medical and paramedical staff continue to battle to save lives without caring for their own lives in the future also. Joginder had tested positive for Covid on June 27. He was first hospitalised at the same hospital, where he worked, but later shifted to Lok Nayak Hospital and subsequently to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where he died on July 26. In the last decade, Navy has transformed it from ground water navy to blue water adding logistics, tankers which are further strengthened by regional cooperation to sustain deployment far away from the shores round the year. The Long-Range Naval Surveillance Aircraft US-made P8i maintain almost round the clock watch over the Northern Ladakh whereas warships maintain vigil of the whitewater shipping movement to and from China. Deployment of warships have been increased by 25 per cent since the border-tensions started. "Almost all warships are out," a second senior official who didn't want to be named citing rules for speaking to media said. In addition, the Indian Navy is operating from the Ladakh in the North to Mauritius, 7,000 kilometres to the South; and from the Red Sea in the West to the Malacca Strait in the East, a distance of nearly 8,000 kilometres. The Indian Navy deploys ships on Mission Based Deployments at key locations in the Indian Ocean Region so as to build a comprehensive maritime picture and respond to developing situations. At any time, there are warships patrolling the Bay of Bengal, Malacca Strait, Andaman Sea, Southern Indian Ocean Region, Central Indian Ocean Region, Gulf of Aden and Persian Gulf. Additionally, following maritime security incidents, a combat-ready warship has also been deployed on Operation Sankalp since June 2019 for protection of Indian merchantmen passing through the Persian Gulf. Being a network-enabled force, the Navy maintains total awareness of the Indian Ocean Region by using the IFC-IOR (Information Fusion Centre - Indian Ocean Region), ships on Mission Based Deployments, P-8I and Dornier surveillance aircraft and other high-end surveillance tools. Near-coast surveillance is also coordinated by the Indian Navy by coordinating the resources of nearly 20 government agencies to draw an electronic fence over our coastline, to deter any 26/11 type incident. "A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is instead the surest guarantor of peace," said a senior Indian Navy Officer. This famous axiom regarding Navies aptly describes the current conundrum of a two-front conflict facing India, even as the nation battles the Coronavirus pandemic. Coordinated approach As the irredentist actions of the Chinese Communist Party's Army increased in the months of May and June, culminating in the martyrdom of 20 gallant soldiers on June 15, reports indicate that the service chiefs of the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force were meeting on a daily basis to coordinate the joint response. P8I Poseidon aircraft deployment While the Indian Army mobilised on a war-footing in Ladakh and other areas along the LAC, the Air Force forward-deployed its top-of-the-line aircraft. The Indian Navy deployed the P8I Poseidon aircraft to Ladakh to provide valuable intelligence on Chinese Communist Party's Army mobilisation across the Line of Actual Control. Aptly named after the Greek God of the Sea, the P8I is an all-weather aircraft with latest sensors and weapons, and is a maritime domination platform. The cutting-edge performance of the aircraft has now prompted the Indian Navy to place orders for another 10 of these aircraft, which will soon increase its inventory to 18. MiG-29K induction The Indian Navy is now set to induct the carrier-borne strike aircraft MiG-29K to fly combat air patrols along with Indian Air Force jets in Ladakh - a credit to the joint pilot training programme of the Indian Armed Forces. Strategic engagements The Indian Navy was at the forefront of strategic signalling to the Chinese Communist Party during the past months. Signing of the Mutual Logistics Support Agreement in June with Australia gave Indian Navy access to the strategically located Cocos Keeling Islands in the Southern Indian Ocean, which will enable ships and aircraft to keep watch on Chinese Communist Party Navy ships and submarines entering the Indian Ocean Region. Similarly, the Agreement provides Australian ships and aircraft access to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, to extend their reach into the South China Sea. Joint exercises The Indian Navy conducted four joint exercises with foreign Navies during the Galwan crisis to signal intent to the Chinese Communist Party Navy. The India-Indonesia coordinated patrol was conducted along the maritime boundary line on June 15 by ships and aircraft of both nations, while Japanese and Indian Navy ships also jointly exercised in the Indian Ocean Region on June 27. Passage Exercises were also conducted with French Naval ships in June and between the Indian Navy's Eastern Fleet and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in July. These joint exercises were an affirmation of the resolve of the global comity against Chinese Communist Party's recent aggressions. The combination of joint-resolve on the LAC coupled with strategic signalling at sea seems to have had the desired effect, for now. With the disengagement at Ladakh slowing down, the Indian Armed Forces are aware that this could be long drawn-out affair. Adequate operational-tempo tempered with maintenance of readiness of men and materiel is the order of the day. Maritime dimensions of strategic jousting by the CCP may also bring the CCP Navy head-to-head with the Indian Navy, a fact that strategists and planners in South Block are well aware of. (Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in) --IANS sk/in Progressives are trying to take down another Democratic House incumbent in a primary this week Missouri Rep. Lacy Clay but the effort by the left has set off another clash with the Congressional Black Caucus. Some of the biggest names on the left are rallying around Cori Bush, a registered nurse and Black Lives Matter activist who is making her second run against Clay, a 10-term incumbent whose family has represented the St. Louis-based House seat since the late 60s. The attempt to oust Clay has infuriated his allies in Congress especially in the CBC, which his father, then-Rep. Bill Clay, co-founded. After watching a handful of their urban white colleagues defeated in recent years, senior Black Democrats have aggressively fought back against progressives who they say unfairly challenge members of their caucus. Tuesday's contest is one of the last chances for the left to grow their ranks before the end of the 2020 primary season. Slow ballot-counting initially obscured the size of their wins in New Yorks June primaries, but the weeks followed brought three huge gains for progressives. Their preferred candidates ousted veteran Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) from his Bronx district and captured open seats in New York City and its suburbs wins that sent a surge of energy to Missouri. It was kind of like, OK they won. So, OK, maybe we can get another one, Bush said in an interview. People just automatically started paying attention to us. We had an uptick in fundraising, an uptick in volunteers and more media. That was a great boost to our campaign in these last final weeks. Clay and his allies feel confident of victory, particularly because he dispatched Bush by a 20-point margin last cycle. But Bushs operation is now better funded, more organized and has a formidable coalition of supporters. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is intimately involved in the race, helping Bush, a 2020 surrogate for his presidential campaign, with fundraising and joining her for livestream events. Meanwhile, Justice Democrats, the organization which helped propel now-Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to victory, and Fight Corporate Monopolies, a new outside group formed by Sanders allies, are airing TV ads on her behalf. Story continues Bush had raised nearly $570,000, compared to Clays $744,000 by mid-July. The incumbent went into the final few weeks with three times more cash-on-hand but Bush and her allies have outspent Clay on the airwaves by at least $250,000, according to data from the ad-tracking firm Advertising Analytics. The race represents one of the final battles this cycle between progressives and the CBC, which rallied forcefully behind Reps. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio) and Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.). Both won handily, but the caucus is eager to run the table in St. Louis and ward off challenges in future cycles. Some CBC members were quite unhappy over Sanders political trespassing by endorsing [Clays] opponent, said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, the only other Democrat in Missouri's delegation and a former CBC chair. Adding to their consternation is the fact that the congressman has signed on to co-sponsor bills on two top liberal issues: Medicare for All and the Green New Deal. Lacy Clay is no moderate Democrat, Cleaver said. Rep. Lacy Clay speaks as the House of Representatives debates the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Dec. 18, 2019. But Bush and her allies say Clay is an absent politician. Progressives have leveled a litany of accusations against the congressman: that he sided against then-President Barack Obamas attempt to shield retirement savings from greedy Wall Street financiers, that he is beholden to corporate PACs, and that he hasnt been a forceful enough advocate for working families. Bush, her endorsers say, is uniquely suited for the moment. Cori has lived through the reality of being a Black woman in this country, said Jamaal Bowman, the middle-school principal who beat Engel, the House Foreign Affairs chair, in June. Justice Democrats is also in Bushs corner for round two. With the Black Lives Matter movement sweeping the entire nation, it would be fitting for one of the main leaders of the Ferguson movement to be elected to Congress, Justice Democrats executive director Alex Rojas said in a statement. Theres a new generation of leaders shaped by this movement who want to bring the urgency on the streets into elected office. Despite the liberal groups involvement, Ocasio-Cortez herself has not backed Bush this time. Last cycle, Ocasio-Cortez campaigned alongside Bush in St. Louis in the weeks after she ousted then-Rep. Joe Crowley. This time, she's noticeably absent, a likely sign of the uncomfortable politics around challenging an incumbent. (Ocasio-Cortez and Clay serve on a committee together.) Meanwhile, Clay is taking the challenge seriously. Hes dropped negative mailers and one heated attack ad that said Bush profits off politics like President Donald Trump and that she claims to be "the pastor of a church that doesnt exist. Clays campaign declined to make him available for an interview. But in a statement to POLITICO, he cast the election as a simple choice between his opponents empty rhetoric and his real results. She claims to be a Democratic Socialist, he wrote in the statement. But when it comes to pocketing campaign contributions, shes a crony capitalist to the max. A real progressive wouldnt take campaign money and put it in her own pocket. Clay touted his endorsements from Democratic groups, including Planned Parenthood, the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the CBC. And he knocked Bush for paying herself more than $22,000 from her campaign accounts in the second quarter. (Bush has said she needed to draw a salary to support her and her family after pausing her nursing job to become a full-time candidate). To win, Bush will need high support among young people and white voters. She also needs to peel off some of Clays support in the Black community, particularly in St. Louis County, outside the city limits. She attributes her loss two years ago in part to a car accident that sidelined her in a key stretch of the election. This time she comes armed with higher name ID from both her 2018 run and her appearance in the popular Netflix documentary Bringing Down the House, which also featured Ocasio-Cortez. When Im knocking, people are saying, Oh, hey, I saw you on Netflix! Youre in that documentary, she said. But the element of surprise that helped Ocasio-Cortez in 2018 is not something Bush can use to her advantage this year. The CBC readied its defenses immediately following the midterms. Theyve framed progressive challengers as outsiders coming into a district to target longstanding members that have spent years ingrained in the community. Clay also has the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which rolled out a new policy at the beginning of the cycle to inhibit primary challenges against incumbents. His constituents are not looking for an unknown, inexperienced person who touts left-leaning talking points as their representative. I think they want someone who can bring some stability, said Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.), a CBC member. I think a lot of people are anticipating a Biden administration, where relationships matter. The CBCs loyalty to incumbents extends beyond their own members. The caucus backed Engel over Bowman, though Bowman is Black. Bowman said in an interview that he wished he would have been considered for an endorsement, but that he did not take it personally. Bowman one of three minority candidates to knock off a white Democratic incumbent in a city district over the past two years described the growing primary challenges within the party as an ideological one rather than a generational battle in Congress. I always considered it more of a healthy tension within the factions of the Democratic Party and within the factions of the Congressional Black Caucus, Bowman said. We need space for disagreement, debate and dialogue to create an America that works for everyone. Bush views CBCs support for incumbents differently, challenging the caucus to research the candidates before blindly endorsing. Black Caucus leaders need to more closely scrutinize their incumbents records to see what this person has actually done for their district, Bush said. I dont care that somebodys name was on a membership of something, she said. That does not entitle them to hold the seat. MEDIA COURTHOUSE >> Delaware County will likely not see any criminal or civil trials until at least November under a new order issued this week by Common Pleas Court President Judge Kevin F. Kelly. The July 24 order extends to Oct. 31 most of the previous directives sanctioned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that grant lower courts the ability to set their own timelines in returning to some sense of normalcy under the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, though it does increase the number of sitting judges in any given week beginning next month. There are currently only three criminal section judges sitting each week in courtrooms 1, 2 and 3. Effective Sept. 14, two judges each from three cohorts will sit each week in rooms 1 through 6. Each of the judges will also be allotted six daily prisoner transportation slots from the county prison in Concord for an aggregate of no more than 36 daily transported prisoners, also beginning Sept. 14. Most magisterial district courts remain shuttered, though the Springfield Magisterial District Court facility will open Aug. 10 for limited in-person hearings, according to a separate order. Chester, Darby and Lansdowne district courts had previously opened on rotating schedules of judges. Each of the magisterial district court cases is to be listed in 15-minute intervals. Virtual preliminary hearings will continue using available advanced communication technology (ACT), with scheduling priority being given to those imprisoned. The ACT hearings continue to be set twice weekly, with approximately 40 cases listed each day. There will still be no in-person hearings at the county courthouse involving inmates from any other county, state or federal prison for the time being, however, and judges are directed to continue using ACT in those cases. Start times for judges continue to be staggered with a limit of 12 in-person per hour listings and a daily cap of 72 such defendants, the order says. Judges also continue to have one day each week comprised only of ACT hearings under the temporary calendar. Additional requests for ACT hearings on days other than a judges scheduled hearing list should be reserved for contested evidentiary hearings, time sensitive matters such as bail filings and time-sensitive issues that might result in a prisoner being released from custody, such as time-served guilty pleas, the order says. Additional measures to attempt to limit exposure among those coming into the courthouse remain in place, such as temperature screenings and limiting the number of people inside at any given time. Only the parties to hearings, their attorneys and witnesses are permitted entrance, and must leave immediately at the conclusion. Victim-complainants and those attending juvenile delinquency matters or protection from abuse actions are permitted to be accompanied by one additional person, however, such as a family member, friend or victim advocate. All arriving witnesses must remain in their vehicles until contacted by attorneys to enter and must also leave immediately upon presenting their testimony. Credentialed members of the media may also continue to attend any and all proceedings under the order. Anyone not complying with social distancing or other coronavirus-related mandates is subject to removal from the courthouse. In Democrat-run war zones like Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis and the like, the mobs were left free to take over areas, and police were ordered to stand down and let it happen, even giving the mobs a police precinct. Those Democrats ostensibly in control of these places failed to exercise the most important function of government: to protect the citizens. There may be a remedy. In the process of the madness, many good people had their life's work and dreams crushed. Their businesses were looted, robbed, and sometimes burned, as the cities did nothing. Other businesses were destroyed simply because no one dared to patronize them due to the danger of going out of their homes or entering areas where police protection ceased to exist. Workers at these businesses lost their jobs. Many or most will never recover, either financially or emotionally. In many states, businesses were ordered to close due to COVID. When allowed to open, they were required to essentially halve their patrons and spend funds on infrastructure to assure social distancing, sometimes only to be told to close again. Consequently, employment was also devastated. Many or most of these, too, will never recover. Who pays for this carnage? Our Constitution, and many state constitutions, provide for equal protection under the law. Hopefully, it is just a matter of time before someone, either individually or as a class, files suit against these cities and states for denial of equal protection. In the cities and states in the physical war zones, the basis is obvious. There was a failure to protect the rights of the economic victims while completely surrendering to the mobs. Those in charge will say they have to protect the peaceful right to protest, but the video evidence is overwhelming that it wasn't peaceful protests that caused the damage; it was riots. What about an honest businessman's right to operate his business without not only fear of criminal mayhem, but actual criminal mayhem? Then we have the lockdown victims in the economic war zones. Without getting to the question of valid authority or not to order lockdowns, one thing is clear. The "rules" or laws were not applied equally and still aren't in too many places. The very same places that have prevented or restricted business activity in the name of COVID and social distancing have done just the opposite with the protesters and rioters. With the latter, the so-called Democrat leaders are just fine with allowing protesters to run amok with impunity as regards social distancing "rules." Why is this unruly and destructive group afforded unequal treatment, better than the business-owners who actually pay taxes, provide employment, and support the cities? That will be an excellent question for a jury when considering the awarding of damages against those who blatantly and intentionally failed to provide equal protection under the laws to these businesses. Substantial punitive damages would appear to be in order to deter such behavior in the future. To avoid local politics, bring the cases in the federal courts as a federal question. And then there are the citizens who were told they couldn't attend weddings or funerals or even have groups of people over for a cookout. They, too, were treated unequally compared to the protestors who were allowed to do what they wanted where they wanted. Their actual damages may be more difficult to quantify, but they are there nonetheless. As Mitt Romney misfires on the campaign trail; scholar argues that the events in Benghazi are atypical of the new Libya. The advertiser boycott of Facebook took a toll on the social media giant, but it may have caused more damage to the companys reputation than to its bottom line. The boycott, called #StopHateForProfit by the civil rights groups that organized it, urged companies to stop paying for ads on Facebook in July to protest the platforms handling of hate speech and misinformation. More than 1,000 advertisers publicly joined, out of a total pool of more than 9 million, while others quietly scaled back their spending. The 100 advertisers that spent the most on Facebook in the first half of the year spent $221.4 million from July 1 through July 29, 12 percent less than the $251.4 million spent by the top 100 advertisers a year earlier, according to estimates from the advertising analytics platform Pathmatics. Of those 100, nine companies formally announced a pullback in paid advertising, cutting their spending to $507,500 from $26.2 million. Many of the companies that stayed away from Facebook said they planned to return, and many are mom-and-pop enterprises and individuals that depend on the platform for promotion. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, has emphasized the importance of small business, saying during an earnings call on Thursday that some seem to wrongly assume that our business is dependent on a few large advertisers. Facebook said that the top 100 spenders contributed 16 percent of its $18.7 billion in revenue in the second quarter, which ended on June 30. During the first three weeks of July, Facebook said, overall ad revenue grew 10 percent over last year, a rate the company expects to continue for the full quarter. The boycott complicated planning for advertisers. The Kansas-based digital agency DEG had a whirlwind of a month as its small to midsize clients grappled with whether they could reach enough customers without Facebook, said Quinn Sheek, its director of media and search. Facebook and its subsidiary Instagram make up more than a third of digital spending for DEG clients. Of the 60 percent of DEG clients that joined the July boycott, four out of five are planning to return to Facebook in August, with many having decided its too much for them during a difficult economic time to remain off, Ms. Sheek said. Still, the boycott helped amplify discussion of toxic content on Facebook. The issue was raised in a congressional hearing this past week and in repeated meetings between ad industry representatives and Facebook leaders. In the face of the pressure, Facebook released the results of a civil rights audit last month and agreed to hire a civil rights executive. What could really hurt Facebook is the long-term effect of its perceived reputation and the association with being viewed as a publisher of hate speech and other inappropriate content, Stephen Hahn-Griffiths, the executive vice president of the public opinion analysis company RepTrak, wrote in a post last month. In addition to the prevalence of hate speech on the platform, its critics have also focused on the companys treatment of user privacy and foreign election interference. You could argue that Facebook has a bloodied nose and two reputational black eyes, Mr. Hahn-Griffiths wrote. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebooks chief operating officer, said during the companys earnings call that, like the boycotts organizers, we dont want hate on our platforms, and we stand firmly against it. The ad industry was already in upheaval when the boycott began, as businesses closed, layoffs swept through the economy and homebound consumers slowed their shopping. Before they reduced spending on Facebook in July, advertisers like Microsoft, Starbucks, Unilever and Target took a temporary break from the platform in June, as many companies were reacting to pandemic-related marketing budget cuts and widespread protests over racism and police brutality. Disneys spending on Facebook has mostly trended downward since late March, according to Pathmatics. Last month, large advertisers like Procter & Gamble, Samsung, Walmart and Geico sharply curtailed paid advertising on Facebook without joining the official boycott, according to Pathmatics. Others, like Hershey and Hulu, beefed up their spending on alternate platforms like Twitter and YouTube. Companies like Beam Suntory and Coca-Cola have vowed to continue pressuring Facebook, especially as the presidential race heats up. On Thursday, the ice cream company Ben & Jerrys said it planned to keep withholding spending on product promotions through the end of the year to send a message. The advertiser boycott was a warning shot, an opening salvo, said Jonathan Greenblatt, the chief executive of the civil rights group the Anti-Defamation League, which helped set up the ad boycott. Organizers and other groups now plan to expand the boycott into Europe, to include Facebook users, and to address other concerns, like the presence of child sexual abuse on the platform. When IDEA Public Schools officials announced their partnership with Midland ISD and plans to bring as many as 10 schools to Midland-Odessa, they said they were not going to take from an already-thin pool of teachers. And less than three weeks before the first day of school at their first campus, IDEA Travis Academy, officials can say mission accomplished. IDEA officials told the Reporter-Telegram that of the 80 staff members at the southeast Midland campus, nearly 3 out of 4 are from outside the region and only seven staff members previously worked for Midland ISD. Staff members are coming to Midland from San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth, the Rio Grande Valley, Lubbock, Houston, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Chicago, Georgia, Alabama, Washington and Delaware. One staff member will come from Belize, according to information provided to the Reporter-Telegram. Bethany Solis, executive director of IDEA Public Schools in the Permian Basin, said IDEA is aggressive in its recruiting. For IDEAs Midland campus, the organization is offering staff members a housing stipend of $500 a month and one-time relocation payment. However, these primarily new teachers are committed to IDEAs mission of closing inequities in education and are excited about being part of a turnaround project like Travis, which will come into the 2020-21 school year with one of the longest failing streaks in the state (five straight years). It was the challenge that played a role in bringing executive principal Hailey McCarthy to Midland. She was, as Solis said, the highest performer within a high-performing organization. The Texas Education Agency rated her former campus IDEA South Flores in south San Antonio as an A campus in 2019 and provided the school with marks of 93 and 94 the last two years. Haley is a phenomenal leader, Solis said. When you talk with her, you want to work for her. Generating interest The IDEA partnership with Midland ISD has started with more fanfare than the districts relationships with other charter schools. It might be because of the $55 million in local philanthropy that is expected to help launch a greater IDEA presence in Midland-Odessa. It could be IDEAs record. Six IDEA schools in the Rio Grande Valley -- Brownsville, Mission, San Juan and Edinburg, where are three -- are among the top 33 high schools in the state, according to U.S. News and World Report. Whatever the reason, Solis said IDEA Travis Academy received at least 1,400 applicants. The number of students registered for the first year of IDEA Travis, as of one week ago, was 791, according to Solis. Whats also exciting is that almost 500 of those students attended Travis last year, Solis said. Students are choosing to stay at Travis, which is really meaningful to us because that's why we wanted to partner (with MISD). This is a really important neighborhood school with rich history in the community. And our first priority is making sure that students that have been in a failing school for most of the past many years are now in a very different school with very different outcomes. Solis, a former teacher and principal in the IDEA network, went one step further and said IDEA Travis will be a proof point for what any child can do. She talked about the academic achievement thats possible, not the scaled scores of 50 (overall), 46 (in student achievement), 58 (in school progress) or 30 (in closing the gaps) Travis had in 2019. Their background, their former academic achievement does not matter, Solis said. We've done it at lots of other IDEA schools across the state, and we will do it again. But it will be impossible to argue that it's the fault of the children or the neighborhood or the families. No, it's on us -- the adults in the system to get it right. And these are children that deserve to have a school that gets it right. Starting early IDEA Travis is still scheduled to begin Aug. 11, more than one week before Midland ISDs other schools. Travis families can choose to have in-person or virtual instruction, Solis said. In each option, we are thinking about academic excellence, she said. So, whether you're in person or online, you are working toward really highly rigorous academic goals, achieving those and being rewarded for them just like we've always done. Those attending in-person will have plexiglass around their desk that provides a cubicle feel. It also will be expected that students and teachers wear masks in the common areas. Students will have recess and be able to run and play but in ways that limits exposure to coronavirus. It's important for children to be able to recognize each other and make friends, and that's a big reason that many families are choosing to send their children back in person -- they want them to be with their friends and, you know, pediatricians are saying the same thing, Solis said. Ultimately, it puts the choice in the hands of families, and then it's on us to provide access, she said. What they say about IDEA Travis (Quotes provided by IDEA public schools) I chose IDEA after a while of working at a regular ISD. I wanted to be part of something bigger than myself. I read about IDEA's mission and I was so excited about a system who sincerely cares about all students not only going to college but being successful throughout the entire journey. I chose to move to Midland after speaking to (Principal) Hailey McCarthy ... I was so inspired by Ms. McCarthy; her determination, flexibility and creativity captivated me, and I knew I had to be part of her team. The kids at Travis deserve to have staff who love them and who will do anything to help them meet their goals. I want to be a part of that staff. --Janette Torres, who is moving from El Paso to teach science at IDEA Travis I chose to work at IDEA because here I am surrounded by leaders that share my vision for equity, my belief that every single student has a right to a quality education, and the capacity to help students achieve the greatness within them. Thanks to the families and community at IDEA Travis, we have an opportunity to build something great. I have not been here long, but this community has been beautiful and welcoming in my time here. I believe I speak for the whole staff when I say I feel privileged to work in the Travis community. Lets get to work. Solomon Jordan, who is moving to Midland from Atlanta to teach English language arts at IDEA Travis Washington/Hong Kong, Aug 2 : US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday urged Hong Kong to reverse a decision to suspend its legislative elections amid a resurgence of the coronavirus, saying the delay would be another blow to its autonomy from Beijing, the media reported. In a statement published on Sunday morning, Pompeo condemned the decision by Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam to invoke her emergency powers to postpone the Legislative Council elections, scheduled for September 6, until September 5, 2021, reports the South China Morning Post (SCMP). "We urge Hong Kong authorities to reconsider their decision," he said. The elections should be held as close to the September 6 date as possible and in a manner that reflects the will and aspirations of the Hong Kong people. "If they aren't, then regrettably Hong Kong will continue its march toward becoming just another Communist-run city in China. "There is no valid reason for such a lengthy delay... It is likely, therefore, that Hong Kong will never again be able to vote - for anything or anyone," the SCMP newspaper quoted Pompeo as saying in the statement. As relations between Washington and Beijing remain tense, the US has moved to end preferential treatment for Hong Kong over what it sees as an erosion of its autonomy and freedoms. Besides Pompeo, Hong Kong's opposition lawmakers have also decried the election delay as a political move, with pro-democracy candidates expected to secure an unprecedented majority in the 70-seat legislature after dominating in the district council elections last November. A day before the postponement was announced, election officials barred 12 opposition candidates from running, in some cases on the grounds of them previously supporting US sanctions on Hong Kong - which can now be considered an offence under the national security law imposed by China on the city. You'd never guess from her slim figure and confident catwalk persona, but Alexa Chung started out her career as a pudding waitress with crippling shyness. In the early 2000s, she was in charge of the cakes and treats at a country pub in East Hampshire where she grew up. I worked at a pub at weekends as the pudding trolley girl because I was chronically shy, admits the 36-year-old model, now known for her edgy sense of fashion. Alexa Chung, 36, pictured left, in a photo posted to Instagram and right, at the Costume Institute Benefit celebrating the opening of Camp: Notes on Fashion in New York, USA I couldnt take orders or do anything that meant interacting too much with the customers because I was really embarrassed and awkward, so they put me on the pudding trolley duty. I just had to roll out the array of cakes and serve them up. Now, of course, shes not one to be trifled with... Demi's luck of the drawl Hollywood star Demi Moore cant fathom why her trademark sultry voice gets pulses racing. Demi Moore pictured attending the 2020 Vanity Far Oscar party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in February in Beverly Hills, California Its so nails on a chalkboard to hear your own voice. Im grateful that other people see something, because when Im hearing it Im like, Oh God, do I sound the most boring? Its definitely painful, she admits. The Ghost star, right, who stars in erotic podcast Dirty Diana, adds: People had already been commenting on my voice way back, when I was 14 or 15. Probably those Marlboro Reds that I was smoking as a teenager didnt hurt. Thats one voice-improver you definitely should not try at home RALEIGH If youve lived in North Carolina for even a few years, youve probably formed an opinion about whether statues and monuments honoring Confederate leaders and soldiers ought to remain in or near courthouses, town halls, state buildings and other public property throughout the state. Whatever your opinion on the issue, you can be sure a significant share of North Carolinians agree with you. Thats how divided we are. According to the polls Ive seen, around a third say Confederate statues and monuments should be removed. About a quarter say they should be left precisely as they are, where they are. The rest think the items in question shouldnt be removed entirely from public property but are open to such alternatives as relocating them to other public spaces or contextualizing them with plaques and other historical material. Ive waded into this controversy a number of times, emphasizing the critical importance of reaching such decisions through deliberation and legislation instead of attacking the rule of law. Today, Ill make a different point altogether: rather than expend so much time debating what to do with existing public monuments, we ought to focus more attention on erecting new ones. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nina Loasana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, August 3 2020 Authorities are investigating allegations that a student at Airlangga University (Unair) in Surabaya, East Java, sexually assaulted multiple people after several first-person accounts of the allegations went viral on Twitter. The accused student, Gilang, allegedly tricked his victims into performing an act known as bondage mummification under the pretense of academic research. The case garnered public attention after a Twitter user with the handle @m_fikris gave an account of his encounter with Gilang, who allegedly claimed to be looking for a research subject for his thesis about wrappings. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Twice as a columnist, in 2011 and 2015, I endorsed the candidature of General Muhammadu Buhari for the presidency, strongly believing he offered us a chance to reinvent ourselves. Following his victory, and still believing that Buhari was serious about leading Nigeria, when he was scheduled to visit the United States in early 2016, I requested a one-on-one interview. I hoped to help set the tone for robust public engagement. My request was granted, but eventually the interview could not hold in the United States. Upon further arrangements, I arrived in Abuja on May 21. To be fair to the presidency, they welcomed me warmly back home, and I was certain I would be able to have my interview. There was only one problem: President Buhari was preparing to celebrate his first anniversary in office just days away. I was informed there would be not one interview, but two interviews for a total of 90 minutes. And no, those interviews were not for me, but for six media houses. There would be joint interviews of three houses each for 45 minutes. For the record, the presidency officials who interacted with me were very courteous and professional. But I had not travelled from New York to Abuja at tremendous personal expense to do a group interview, let alone for 45 minutes. As a result, I declined to participate in the exercise, and eventually withdrew my interview application altogether. Of greater concern, I was devastated that Buhari was clearly treating the Nigerian mass media as an afterthought, choosing to hold batch interviews as a way of avoiding the responsibility altogether. The success of an interview depends on follow-up questions; how many can three journalists from three different organisations explore in 45 minutes? Remember: that was in May 2016. Buhari has now had five Mays in office as Nigeria leader: five years in which he has demonstrated the same characteristic disrespect for the local media that was responsible for his Decree 4 as Head of State in 1983. Coming into the 2015 election, Buhari had dressed himself in the robes of a converted or born-again democrat, just as he professed to be a corruption-general and a believer in the rights of all Nigerians. He asked Nigerians to vote him in so he could prove to them that they could be proud of Nigeria. These were the thoughts that occupied my mind when it was announced that the Nigerian Press Organisation, which comprises the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the Nigerian Guild of Editors and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) had decided, within four days of the death of Isa Funtua, to rename the Nigeria Institute of Journalism building in Lagos in his honour. The NPO cited Funtua's untiring contributions to the development of journalism and freedom of press in Nigeria and around the world, and named positions in the media in which he had served. Not only were most of them irrelevant, there was absolutely nothing outstanding in the claims. It ought to take something extraordinary to name an entire industry's prime real estate after an individual within four days of his death. That something extraordinary would be character, which relates to an aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of someone. On the question of character, here is a story about Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank, the continent's premiere multilateral bank. I have never met him, but the records show a man of exemplary accomplishment and character. He joined the ADB in 2015 after serving as Nigeria's Minister of Agriculture. This month, Adesina faces re-election for a second five-year term. In January, anonymous whistleblowers delivered an explosive battery of allegations against him that would not only have torpedoed his chances but blown apart his excellent track record. His chances looked far worse after the United States, the bank's largest shareholder after Nigeria, seemed to convict Dr. Adesina of the allegations even after ADB's Ethics Committee reported it had found no evidence against him. Early in June, the Bureau of the Board of Governors of the bank authorised an Independent Review of the Report of the Ethics Committee. The Panel was led by Mary Robinson, the first woman President of Ireland, Chair of The Elders and a former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, whom the Board called a neutral, high-caliber individual with unquestionable experience, high international reputation and integrity. Others were Justice Hassan B Jallow, former Attorney-General of the Gambia and experienced Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and of the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals; and Leonard F. McCarthy, a former Director of Public Prosecutions in South Africa who later headed the Integrity Vice-Presidency at the World Bank. They were supported by the retired Irish Supreme Court Judge, Nial Fennelly. The Panel reviewed all aspects of the work of the Ethics Committee, including its decisions on each of the 16 complaints, which included: unethical conduct, impediment to efficiency, political activity, private gain, impediment to efficiency, and preferential treatment adversely affecting confidence in the integrity of the bank. It also reviewed Dr. Adesina's response, which had included 250 pages of documents, including 18 annexes. Reporting their findings last week, the panel vindicated the President, absolving him on every single one of the allegations. It agreed with the Ethics Committee in its findings and affirmed that it had properly considered and dismissed all the allegations. And while the committee had not been required to consider Adesina's responses, the panel, citing the interests of fairness and of due process, did so. On that point also, it found the President's submissions to be consistent with his innocence. By that report, Adesina brought great honour and pride to himself and his family. Because character is a treasure. The question is whether it means anything to Nigeria. Because if you want to know why Nigeria does not work, consider the actions of those who chose to dishonour him by making him an impostor. Like a thief in the night, the NPO disingenuously took what did not belong to them, on behalf of people who did not know they were being violated and used it to crown a king. Certainly, Funtua had a chance to enjoy such recognition. But he was not an advocate for Nigeria. Insteadin a faltering, governmenthe pronounced himself a member of a reviled power block. The man credited with untiring contributions to the development of journalism could have advocated a robust press in the nation's democratic process, but he was neither on record as objecting to a revised Decree 4 nor as advising Buhari that engaging journalists is a duty and not an option. These are issues of character, not of politics, questions that the NPO, were it being honest or professional, ought to have asked before it ventured into the embarrassing renaming business. Funtua may have wielded enormous influence in this government, but in a presidency defined by nepotism, how many Akinwumi Adesinas have been allowed to serve Nigeria in the last five years? Character and contribution. These are the words you are looking for, NPO. Punch said it operated its maiden long-haul charter flight from Amsterdam to Bengaluru and Hyderabad on Sunday carrying 269 Indians. The low-cost carrier said in a press release it had chartered a wide-body A330neo aircraft from Portugese airline Hi Fly for this flight from Amsterdam in the Netherlands. While the Amsterdam-Bengaluru leg of the flight had the Hi Fly's call sign 5K471, the Bengaluru-Hyderabad leg had the SpiceJet's call sign SG471. "The flight arrived in Bengaluru at 8.58 am IST and the same aircraft then proceeded to Hyderabad with the remaining passengers," said. The twin-aisle A330neo aircraft used by has a configuration of 353 economy and 18 business class seats. Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 amid the pandemic. However, special international charter flights, permitted by the Indian aviation regulator DGCA, have been operating as usual. The aviation sector has been significantly impacted due to the travel restrictions imposed in India and other countries in view of the pandemic. All airlines in India have taken cost-cutting measures such as pay cuts, leave-without-pay and firings of employees in order to conserve cash. (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.) Tampons and pads are no longer contraband at the upcoming bar exam for aspiring lawyers in Texas. Pausing a practice that critics called retrograde and discriminatory, the states board of law examiners said in late July that test takers will be allowed to bring feminine hygiene products in clear plastic bags with them to the grueling, multi-day exam thats needed to obtain a law license. Its unclear if the policy will remain in place for a later exam, in February; the boards executive director, Susan Henricks, said the board doesnt know the conditions under which the test will take place due to the pandemic. Test takers previously could not carry menstrual products into the exam. But Henricks said the items were provided and that the only intent was to operate the examination fairly and securely, not to discriminate unfairly against any person or group. Sarah Riffel, an attorney from Pearland, saw the restrictions firsthand when she took the bar exam last summer. She didnt feel well the morning of the test but thought it might be anxiety after all, the three-day exam was the culmination of three years of law school and then several months of studying eight hours a day. Just as the exam was going to start, though, Riffel realized it wasnt just nerves upsetting her stomach and hurting her head. Shed started her period unexpectedly. A dash to the bathroom revealed one kind of menstrual product had been supplied a box of super-absorbent tampons with cardboard applicators that some find uncomfortable. Over the next two days, she ran to her car at lunch and smuggled in menstrual products that she used in the building before returning to the test room. I felt like an outlaw at the bar exam because I needed menstrual products, she said. Several states have allowed test takers to carry in the items, but the Texas Board of Law Examiners, an agency of the states Supreme Court that administers the bar exam, was not previously among them. Henricks said the board found that test takers were generally satisfied with the products supplied in womens restrooms until this month, and that the board had made an effort to provide an assortment of sizes, brands and products. While the restriction on permitted items may sound extreme, test administrators have discovered smartphones and study materials secreted by applicants, she said, and limiting what can be brought in expedites the check-in process. Each session of testing lasts about four hours or less, she said. The administrators of this examination are primarily females, including me obviously, and we understand the need for access to feminine hygiene products, Henricks said in a statement. They know that the overwhelming majority of applicants have no design or intention to compromise the integrity of the examination and that these policies may be burdensome and inconvenient. The restriction on menstrual products has come under withering criticism across the country, spawning the hashtag #bloodybarpocalypse earlier this summer and prompting some states to alter or clarify their stance on carrying the items into the exam. Valerie Hickman, spokesperson for the National Conference of Bar Examiners, said the organization strongly discourages the prohibitions and recently contacted each jurisdiction to let them know. The conference does have restrictions on what test takers can bring to the exam primarily for security reasons, she said. Ear plugs and cellphones are among the prohibited items; menstrual products are not. Hundreds of lawyers, law professors and students recently signed a letter to the National Conference of Bar Examiners that said test takers unable to access the size and kind of menstrual product they want would be taking the test in conditions more onerous and stressful than for others. A tampon that is too large for a particular user may cause pain or discomfort and, in fact, may be unusable. Even worse, it may make the applicant susceptible to toxic shock, said the letter, sent in July. A product that is too small may lead to leakages and a distracting and time-consuming mess for the applicant to deal with in the middle of the exam. Menstrual products might not be provided in mens rooms, making them inaccessible to transgender or nonbinary people, the letter said. Elizabeth Sepper, a law professor at the University of Texas at Austin who signed the letter, said the policy is one small signal that women dont belong in the legal profession. Theres been signals like that around bathrooms for decades, she said, including at Harvard University in the 1970s, when entrance exams were given in a building without womens restrooms. If you cant access a restroom or you cant access basic hygiene products, it tells you that you dont belong in that space, she said. Marcy Karin, one of three law professors who organized the letter, said the only possible justification for the policy, exam security, is bogus because its near impossible to write a meaningful amount of information on a tampon or pad. Karin, with the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, said organizers are still pushing other states to make clear that menstrual products can be admitted some written policies dont specify whether they are allowed and dont require pre-approval. Two Texas Supreme Court justices advocated for the change. Justice Brett Busby, the state Supreme Courts liaison with the board, said test takers should have access to menstrual products that meet their individual needs. I believe it is important that the Boards policies ensure security without imposing unnecessary and unequal burdens on examinees, he said. Justice Eva Guzman said that securing the bar examinations integrity is vital, but encumbering access to personal menstrual products is not a necessary means to that end. In revisiting its test-taking policies, the Board of Law Examiners has rectified a long-standing inequity that placed an undue hardship on examinees. Before the policy was updated online, Guzman posted on Twitter that she had spoken to the boards chair and that they were working to resolve this issue. State Rep. Ina Minjarez, who took the bar exam 20 years ago, saw horror stories from menstruating test takers on Twitter and also reached out to the Board of Law Examiners. We should be able to use the products we want to use that make us comfortable. How do they think were going to cheat? Its a hygiene product. Its ridiculous, said Minjarez, a San Antonio Democrat. She thanked the board for its quick response. Law school graduates preparing for the upcoming bar exams in Texas have already had an atypical experience. A July exam that was slated to bring 1,000-plus people into testing centers across the state was moved online and postponed to October. An in-person exam scheduled for September will be held in hotel rooms with doors open and proctors in the hallways. If menstrual products are allowed into a large exam room for the February test, they would need to be removed from the paper or plastic packaging and placed in clear plastic bags for inspection, Henricks said. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has warned against large gatherings and house parties over the bank holiday weekend as 45 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed. No further coronavirus-related deaths were recorded, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) said. There is now a total of 26,109 confirmed cases and a total of 1,763 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. Of the cases notified on Saturday, 23 are men and 22 are women. More than three-quarters of the cases (77%) are under 45 years of age, while 50% are aged 25-44 years. Eighteen are associated with outbreaks or close contacts of a confirmed case, while 12 cases have been identified as community transmission. The HSE said it is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Dr Glynn said over the last five days we have seen an average of 44 cases a day. This trend is clearly concerning and now is the time to ensure you and your families are making every effort to keep each other safe, he added. Important advice from @CillianDeGascun Thanks to you, medical scientists, public health doctors & others for all your vital work on the testing & contact tracing front @ACSLM1 https://t.co/M3WBNq88mP Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) August 1, 2020 He urged people to avoid large gatherings over the bank holiday weekend. He said: Ensure gatherings are kept to a minimum and invite no more than 10 others into your home. Do not organise or attend house parties. Restaurants must enforce a limit of 50 people (including staff) on their premises at any one time. All workplaces should again review their procedures and protocols. Avoid congregated settings or environments where safety precautions are not in place. Wash your hands regularly, carry hand sanitiser and wear a face-covering where appropriate. Ensure you isolate immediately if you experience any flu-like symptoms. It is our individual action that will stop the spread. A three-year-old child was killed on Saturday in eastern France after being hit by a reversing car driven by her uncle. The incident took place in Piennes, in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department near Luxembourg, on Saturday. According to French media, the girl suffered a cardiac arrest after being hit by the car, and first responders were unable to revive her. Police are investigating the incident, but it appears to have been an accident, as the uncle failed to spot the child as he reversed. The man was not under the influence of alcohol, said France Bleu, and was not arrested as he did not present a risk of fleeing. Ribeiroia ondatrae is a parasite that causes amphibian limb malformations. Credit: Pieter Johnson/University of Colorado Boulder Parasites have a public relations problem. Unlike the many charismatic mammals, fishes and birds that receive our attention (and our conservation dollars), parasites are thought of as something to eradicateand certainly not something to protect. But only 4% of known parasites can infect humans, and the majority actually serve critical ecological roles, like regulating wildlife that might otherwise balloon in population size and become pests. Still, only about 10% of parasites have been identified and, as a result, they are mostly left out of conservation activities and research. An international group of scientists wants to change that. About a dozen leading parasite ecologists, including University of Washington's Chelsea Wood, published a paper Aug. 1 in the journal Biological Conservation, which lays out an ambitious global conservation plan for parasites. "Parasites are an incredibly diverse group of species, but as a society, we do not recognize this biological diversity as valuable," said Wood, an assistant professor in the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. "The point of this paper is to emphasize that we are losing parasites and the functions they serve without even recognizing it." The authors propose 12 goals for the next decade that could advance parasite biodiversity conservation through a mix of research, advocacy and management. Chelsea Wood, right, and the team prepare to collect trail cameras, which were deployed to quantify bird biodiversity at each pond. Credit: Emily Wood "Even though we know little to nothing about most parasite species, we can still take action now to conserve parasite biodiversity," said Skylar Hopkins, paper and project co-lead and an assistant professor at North Carolina State University. Perhaps the most ambitious goal is to describe half of the world's parasites within the next 10 years. Providing taxonomic descriptions allow species to be named, which is an important part of the conservation process, the researchers said. "If species don't have a name, we can't save them," said Colin Carlson, the other project co-lead and an assistant professor at Georgetown University. "We've accepted that for decades about most animals and plants, but scientists have only discovered a fraction of a percentage of all the parasites on the planet. Those are the last frontiers: the deep sea, deep space, and the world that's living inside every species on Earth." Importantly, the researchers stress that none of the parasites that infect humans or domesticated animals are included in their conservation plan. They say these parasites should be controlled to safeguard human and animal health. The paper is part of an entire special edition devoted to parasite conservation. Wood is the lead author on one study in the collection that finds the responses of parasites to environmental change are likely to be complex, and that a changing world probably will see both outbreaks of some parasites and a total loss of other parasite species. "We need to recognize that there will be a diversity of responses among parasite taxa and not take for granted that every parasite is dwindling toward extinction or about to cause a major outbreak," Wood said. Parasites often need two or more host species to complete their lifecycle. For example, some parasites first infect fish or amphibians, but ultimately must get transmitted to birds to reproduce and multiply. They ensure that this happens through ingenious ways, Wood explained, often by manipulating the behavior or even the anatomy of their first host to make these fish or amphibians more susceptible to being eaten by birds. In this way, the parasite then gets transmitted to a birdits ultimate destination. Given this dynamic, Wood and colleagues wanted to see what would happen to the abundance of parasites if the ecosystems in which they live changed. They designed an experiment across 16 ponds in central California's East Bay region. In half of the ponds, they installed structures such as bird houses, floating perches and mallard decoys intended to attract more birds, thus temporarily altering the natural ecosystem and boosting biodiversity in these ponds. After a couple of years, the researchers analyzed parasite biodiversity in each of the 16 ponds. What they found was a mixed bag: Some parasite species responded to elevated bird biodiversity by declining in abundance. But other parasites actually increased in number when bird biodiversity increased. The authors concluded that as biodiversity changesdue to climate change, development pressure or other reasonswe can expect to see divergent responses by parasites, even those living within the same ecosystem. Traditionally, the field of disease ecology assumes one of two paths: That we are either heading toward a future of more disease and massive outbreaks or toward a future of parasite extinction. This paper shows that both trajectories are happening simultaneously, Wood explained. "This particular experiment suggests that we need to anticipate both trajectories going forward. It starts to resolve the conflict in the literature by showing that everyone is rightit's all happening," Wood said. "The trick now is to figure out what traits will predict which parasites will decline and which will increase in response to biodiversity loss." Wood's lab is working on that question now by reconstructing the history of parasites over time, documenting which parasites increased in abundance and which declined. However, there's almost no historical record of parasites and without this information, it's difficult to know how to conserve them. By dissecting museum specimens of fish, the researchers are identifying and counting various parasites found in the specimens at different places and times. "These pickled animals are like parasite time capsules," Wood explained. "We can open them up and identify the parasites that infected a fish at its death. In this way, we can reconstruct and resurrect information that previously we didn't think was possible to get." Explore further More flowers and pollinator diversity could help protect bees from parasites More information: Chelsea L. Wood et al. How host diversity and abundance affect parasite infections: Results from a whole-ecosystem manipulation of bird activity, Biological Conservation (2020). Journal information: Biological Conservation Chelsea L. Wood et al. How host diversity and abundance affect parasite infections: Results from a whole-ecosystem manipulation of bird activity,(2020). DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108683 A Lincoln bowling alley and restaurant was ordered to close for 24 hours by the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department for violations of the citys mask mandate. Madsens Bowling & Billiards, near 48th and Holdrege Streets, and the attached EJs Lounge & Grill were asked to close from 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday for violations of the directed health measure that requires Lincoln residents to wear masks. But that wont happen, the Lincoln Journal Star reported. As a business owner, I am not responsible for adults and their own health, General Manager Ben Madsen told the Journal Star. Madsen said he does not plan to close. Inspectors from the Health Department found significant violations of the citys mandate Friday, including employees without masks, signs that indicated wearing masks was optional and a lack of social distancing, according to a press release. Health Department staff met with Madsens management Wednesday after receiving complaints. A 24-year-old lady named Nkechi but popularly known as Omalicha has been arrested by the police in Lagos for allegedly stabbing her boyfriend, Auwal Suleiman, 26, to death over alleged cheating. The unfortunate incident happened yesterday, August 1st, 2020, at their residence in Sagbokoji Island, Apapa, Lagos State. According to a source, the couple, who started dating in 2018, and began living together in 2019, got into a heated argument over an alleged cheating and in the process, the suspect took a knife and stabbed the victim to death. British Columbias Wildfire Service says 15 fires sprung up as a result of a storm in the Okanagan region on Friday night. Karley Desrosiers, a fire information officer, says there has been a large increase in the number of fires in the province over the past few days. As of Saturday afternoon, there are more than 35 fires burning across the province. She says there is a particular concern of more fires starting in the Kamloops Wildfire Centre, which covers the Okanagan, with dry weather conditions and more lightning in the forecast. The largest fire currently burning is 13 hectares large at Solco Creek, 27 kilometres northeast of Oliver, B.C. The latest fires bring B.C.s total to 285 fires across the province so far this season. MANOJVI SWANATHAN By Express News Service KOCHI: Waging a tough battle for six months against a virus that has brought the world to its knees, Kerala is set to face another gruelling task. An analysis by Tamil Nadu weatherman has triggered speculation that the state is bracing for yet another devastating flood. The repeated warning issued by the government on the possibility of torrential rain in August has created panic. Though meteorologists rebuff the theory, people living on the banks of rivers, who have learnt a hard lesson, are not ready to take chances. Many families living on the banks of Chalakudy river and Periyar in Aluva have taken houses on rent in safer places or booked hotel rooms in advance expecting a deluge. The memories of the 2018 flood devastation refuse to fade. Even two-storey houses were submerged and we lost all our belongings. We have learnt a hard lesson. Earlier there was only a couple of country boats in this area but now you can see more than a hundred fibre boats on both sides of Chalakudy river. I have shifted my belongings to the first floor of the house, said Shaju Varghese, whose house is located close to the river in Chalakudy. Adding to the flood fear is the Covid anxiety. People are taking houses on rent foreseeing a scenario where they will be shifted to relief camps. It is risky to live in a relief camp as the spread of Covid has put people under tremendous stress. People here are preferring rented houses due to Covid fear, said Shaju. ILLUS | TAPAS RANJAN But is it worth the panic? Even the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority does not see chances of torrential rain in August. The IMD forecast only says there will be above normal rain from July 31 to August 13. Torrential rains cannot be predicted more than five days ahead. But we are not taking chances and have taken all precautionary steps as per the orange book (Standard operating procedure for emergency situation released by KSDMA). Review meetings have been held and the incident response system has been put in place. Selected personnel have been given training by the National Disaster Management Authority, said KSDMA member secretary Sekhar Lukose Kuriakose. Can we expect a repeat of 2018 and 2019 floods? The situation is entirely different, says IMD former director S Sudevan. There is no scientific base for a forecast made two months in advance. The extended range forecast issued by the IMD says that the state may receive above-normal rain from July 31 to August 20. This means only 10 mm to 15 mm increase in rainfall. Torrential rain can be forecast only three days in advance, he said. It is the depression in the Bay of Bengal and typhoons in the West Pacific Ocean near the Philippines that bring good rain to the Western Ghats. A low-pressure area is likely to form over North Bay of Bengal around August 4. This is the cause of the present active monsoon in Kerala. There are also indications of the formation of a low-pressure area over northwest Bay of Bengal towards August 13 also without much intensification probability. These two systems may bring more rain. But there is no possibility of an extreme climatic event like 2018 flood, said Sudevan. There will be around five active phases during the southwest monsoon and this is the first time monsoon has become active this year, said Cusat Department of Atmospheric Sciences assistant professor S Abhilash. In 2018, there was a depression in the Bay of Bengal and around three typhoons in the West Pacific Ocean caused torrential rain. In 2019 also, there were typhoons and the Indian Ocean Dipole was in a positive phase. But this time there are no typhoons in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean Dipole is neutral. There are chances of 4 to 10 cm rainfall above normal due to the impact of the low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal, he said. Abhilash said even the cloud structure was entirely different in 2019. The cloud was cumulonimbus in nature with dense, towering vertical cloud formation. The situation now is entirely different from 2018 and 2019. It is an active phase of monsoon and we can expect good rain, minor incidents of mudslide and waterlogging, he said. Though we dont expect torrential rain, we have to stay prepared to face an emergency situation considering the fact that flood relief during Covid outbreak is challenging, said earth scientist Subhash Chandra Bose. The government has identified around 3,000 shelters to rehabilitate people living on the banks of rivers in view of the forecast. But maintaining Covid protocol is a tough challenge. We have experience in managing flood situation but rehabilitating the elderly and children in relief camps and ensuring food and beds will be an arduous task. We are getting dry spells in between and these intervals should be used for cleaning work. There are large clusters in flood-prone areas and coastal areas and old age homes in such areas pose a tough challenge, he said. Are the dams safe? The fear of flood brings attention to the dams as the release of water from them had aggravated the situation in 2018. Almost all the 54 major dams in the state were opened between August 8 and 16 which led to the flooding of the coastal plains. Adding to the woes, the perigean spring tide in the sea stopped the floodwater from draining out. Though there was a red alert in Idukki on July 30, we received only 20-25 mm rainfall. The water level in Idukki dam stands at 2,335 ft which is 45 ft below the crest level. Only Banasurasagar has got some good inflow. There is no need for panic as there will not be any need to open the flood gates even if we receive heavy rain for a week, said KSEB chairman N S Pillai. We have opened the sand bund at Thottappally on Friday to drain out the floodwater. The width of the channel at the river mouth has been increased from 160 to 391m. The water storage in major dams stands at less than 70% and we have completed the mainte nance work of dam shutters. Satellite phones have been provided to dam chief engineers and they are filing three reports a day on the ground situation, said Irrigation department chief engineer D Biju. 2018 flood 5th 2020 biggest flood in the world after 2015 Economic loss: E31,000 cr People in relief camps: 1.5 million ochi airport closed from August 15 to August 29 1/6th of total population directly affected Flood gates of all major dams opened 331 landslides and 104 lives lost 1,11,356 houses in urban areas affected 6,92,848 houses in rural areas affected 96% Rainfall in Kerala in August 2018 was 96% above the long-term average Idukki figures Normal rain in August: 527.3 mm August 2018: 1,478.9 mm Rainfall in Kerala from August 1-19, 2018: 758.6 mm Normal rainfall during the period: 287.6 mm Peak spell August 8-17, 2018 Kerala received 414 mm rainfall from August 15-17 Nilambur received 398 mm rainfall on August 9, 2018 Runoff in rivers: 12 billion cubic metre 2019 FLOOD Houses completely damaged: 1,967 Houses partially damaged: 19,297 Relief camps: 1,318 People in relief camps:2 lakh 123% excess rainfall Peak rainfall August 6-14 Rainfall during the perio 602.2 mm Normal rainfall during the period 122 mm Departure 394% 2018 August 1-30 Normal rainfall: 419.3 mm | August 2018: 821 mm | Departure: +96% 2019 August 8-31: Deaths: 58 in Malappuram, 17 in Kozhikode, 12 in Wayanad | 42 injured Ed Gribbin, who runs an apparel consultancy firm and is president of the Americas Apparel Producers Network, sits for a portrait while holding washable face masks at his home in Merion Station, on July 22. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Gribbin is now focused on coordinating the manufacturing of isolation gowns and face masks. Read more Open back, tie at the neck, tie at the waist, perforated (for easy tear off), slit cuff, thumb loop cuff, elastic cuff, disposable, reusable: Ed Gribbin can tell you that there is nothing simple about a medical gown. His Merion Station office has three dozen medical gowns of every style, each serving a different purpose and each requiring a different performance textile, thread, expertise and equipment to make. Gribbin runs his own supply chain strategy consultancy in a field that skyrocketed to prominence with the coronavirus pandemic as hospitals and governments have competed for gowns, masks, gloves and other personal protective equipment (PPE) vital to safe testing and treatment. And as the pandemic wears on, his industry is seeing demand not only for more products, but also for goods made in North, Central and South America. Talking to hospitals, chief medical officers and purchasing chiefs at government agencies, there is a huge distrust of importing product from China, Gribbin said.Add that to the current trade tensions we have with China and the fact that at any given moment the administration could pull the plug and say the border is shut and we arent bringing anything in, everyone is a little skittish. We dont want to be as reliant on China for production as we have in the past. The fact of the matter is we want to build a permanent supply chain here. In January, when few Americans had even heard of the coronavirus, Gribbin became president of the Americas Apparel Producers Network, with members across the globe encompassing the 30 links of the apparel supply chain from the dirt to the shirt, as he puts it. At the start of the pandemic, the group set up a site where suppliers could post their capacity to make critical PPE. Within 15 minutes of going live, it was flooded with posts from 1,000 companies offering capabilities, advice and tools, said Mike Todaro, managing director of AAPN. The postings were surprising. Fifty percent who had cut-and-sew capabilities were not in apparel. One was a parachute maker, and awning, tent and umbrella makers. They were people with ingenuity, reinventing their businesses to keep their lights on and help make PPE, Gribbin said. He had the Herculean task of categorizing those posts and building spreadsheets playing matchmaker to connect fabric mills with cut-and-sew operations to coordinate the production of critical medical supplies for hospital systems and FEMA. When Emory University asked Todaro for 90,000 gowns by June, he and Gribbin coordinated the effort. More than two dozen network members pitched in, among them Philadelphias Boathouse Sports. Before March, more than 90 percent of gowns were made in and around China, which went into lockdown because of the virus. Supply chains were shut down, and hospitals had nowhere near the inventory that they needed. The demand for gowns in medical and nonmedical applications on a month-to-month basis is running 10 times what it was a year ago in July because so many people are using them that never used them before, Gribbin said. READ MORE: Medical PPE is still so scarce after months of COVID-19, volunteers keep hunting for lifesaving supplies Doctors offices, dental and ophthalmologist practices, police departments and rescue workers all need gowns, often for the first time. And hospitals need many more gowns than ever. We just learned that FEMA wants 263 million gowns in the next six months when their original estimate had been 110 million, Gribbin said. Gribbin thinks he can work with three facilities in California, Cambodia and Colombia to start on that order with 20 million gowns. But even as supply chains from China reopen, he said, its clear that demand for products made in North and South America is high. Made in the Americas is preferred. There is a huge distrust of importing product from China, Gribbin said. Add that to the current trade tensions we have with China and the fact that at any given moment the administration could pull the plug and say the border is shut. Everyone is a little skittish. We dont want to be as reliant on China for production as we have in the past, he said. We want to build a permanent supply chain here. READ MORE: A PPE fee at the dentist? New requirements could raise prices for patients. Last month, the Trump administration made a change that could boost that effort. It moved gown purchasing from FEMA to the Defense Logistics Agency, which is part of the Department of Defense and gives preference to certain domestic products under what is known as the Berry Amendment. There is a lot of talk in Congress now, with bipartisan support, for extending the Berry Amendment to include critical medical supplies so they would have to be sourced in the U.S., Gribbin said. It will not affect hospital systems, but it would affect the federal government and the way they buy and possibly state governments in buying PPE. As it is, the Department of Defense realized the United States does not have the capacity to produce 263 million gowns domestically, Gribbin said. Because of that, it broke the procurement into three tranches: anyone who could submit an American solution will get considered first, anyone from a country where the U.S. has a trade agreement is next, and then comes anywhere else such as China. But theres much more to Gribbins task even than sourcing an enormous number of gowns. He must also get the right kind of gowns, ranging from those that are simply resistant to liquid, all the way to gowns with a laminate polyethylene coating impervious to even viral matter. The highest-grade gowns have to be FDA approved. Then there are disposable vs. reusable gowns. When Gribbin worked in the uniform industry in the 1980s and 90s, the majority of gowns were reusable, and hospitals had laundry services. Then disposable gowns became popular for their convenience and cost about $1 to make. But they get used once and go to a landfill along with medical waste. Hospitals are now starting to ask for washable gowns, which will last longer and are better for the environment, he said. READ MORE: The factory that makes the Phillies uniforms reopened to make free masks and gowns to fight coronavirus Demand for gowns shows no sign of slacking off, given enhanced safety protocols and uncertainty over the virus. We think there will be long-term work with state agencies, health-care systems who will all want domestic product. I believe 20% to 30% of medical product will be made in the USA or in this hemisphere. Just last week, the Air Force was on one group call requesting white papers from any interested party on what a government investment might look like in expanding domestic capacity to make more critical health-care supplies with the government as a financial partner with industry to make that happen. Some AAPN members are getting back to what they made before they switched to PPE and others are surfing the discussion board, still looking for opportunities in this tumultuous time. Gribbin takes pride in the networks response. The level of generosity, the sharing of information and resources, even with competitors, just made me feel really good about being in the industry. The United States is set to pick its nations leader for the next four years in less than 100 days. But most Americans say theyve lost faith in our electoral process - whether thats due to concerns over foreign interference, voter suppression, absentee ballots or other issues. Matthew Weil is the Director of the Elections Project of the Bipartisan Policy Center and he tells Soledad OBrien, calling this years election will be very different. Representative Image Shanti vividly remembers April 2015. She was working with a prominent IT outsourcing company in the US. A tech worker with more than 10 years of experience, she was excited and looking forward to a flourishing career. One day the project she was working on was given to a new team, which was packed with Indians. Soon after, Shanti and two other team members were side-lined on the grounds that the project did not require extra members. She was then laid off with the two colleagues. A former colleague told her later that the team recruited replacements immediately after their departure. Shanti said her exit had nothing to do with her qualification or skills. It was because the Indians in the team preferred to work with members of their own caste, according to her. Shanti belongs to a community in Tamil Nadu that is considered backward by the state government. I could have sued, but it would have taken a lot more toll on my mental health, she said. She also did not have proof that it was a case of discrimination and she was not sure how her experience would be perceived by the industry. Instead, she found a new job. Long-running problem Caste discrimination in the tech world? Really? At any other time, the experience of Shanti would probably have been met with disbelief. But not so much after a lawsuit was filed on June 30 by Californias Department of Fair Employment and Housing against US tech major Cisco on behalf of a Dalit employee for work discrimination based on caste. Also Read: Cisco sued by California state for job discrimination based on Indian employee's caste The lawsuit accused two upper-caste Brahmins, Sundara Iyer and Raman Kompella, of harassing the Dalit worker, referred to as John Doe to protect his identity, in their capacity as managers. Cisco was sued for allegedly denying the worker, who immigrated to the US from India, raises and professional opportunities as well as making him endure a hostile work environment. The Cisco lawsuit has now put the spotlight on caste discrimination that has long pervaded the Indian community in Silicon Valley and the tech industry in particular. Well, what else do you expect when Indians who grew up prejudiced and follow the caste hierarchy in India go the US, asked Kancha Ilaiah, a Dalit activist and scholar. They would obviously follow the same practice there. Moneycontrol spoke to Shanti and a scrum of IT engineers to understand the prevalence of harassment based on caste in the tech industry. Armaan, a senior executive with a top IT firm in the US, and from a minority community in India, said he has not faced outright discrimination thanks to his senior position. But if you ask me if it exists, of course it does, he said. Armaan said it has been five years since he was last promoted despite handling million-dollar client accounts. Most of his peers who joined the company in the same role with him have gone on to head verticals. I can assure you that there was no difference in terms of performance because till date I am one of the go-to persons for handling a crisis and challenging clients. Armaan said. Why then was he not promoted? My superior who is from a dominant caste promoted people who he related to, be it same community or caste and I was just not. When it comes to climbing the corporate hierarchy, the bias exists, Armaan said. This bias, tech workers who spoke to Moneycontrol pointed out, is subtle in most cases. There is not much empirical data to show the extent of discrimination, said Karthikeyan Shanmugam, executive member, Ambedkar Kings Study Circle (AKSC), an organisation that is involved in educating people about caste discrimination. The organisation is currently collecting testimonies from Dalits in the US about the discrimination they faced. Indians in the US Indians began moving to the US in the 1990s riding the wave of an IT services outsourcing boom. Most of these happened to be engineers from the upper caste community in India. Today, the number of Indians living in the US has grown exponentially; by 2017, there were about 4 million Indians living in the US, according to a 2019 report by the Strengthening South Asian Communities in America. Indians are the third largest immigration group in the US after the Mexicans and Chinese. The Indian population is more striking in Silicon Valley, the tech capital of the US. According to the 2019 report, there were about 5 lakh Indians in California, accounting for 1.3 percent of the states total population and home to 20 percent of the total Indian immigrant population. There is no clear data on how many of these Indians are Dalits. But according to the lawsuit against Cisco, only 1.5 percent of the Indian immigrants were from the Dalit community as of 2003. This number could very well have increased now. As Ilaiah emphasised, these engineers landed in new shores carrying some horrid habits from home. It (caste bias) is something all of us grew up with and continue to live with, said Shanmugam of AKSC. Journalist Yashica Dutt underscored how caste bias has taken root in the Indian tech community in the US in a powerful article in The New York Times. Caste prejudice and discrimination is rife within the Indian communities in the United States and other countries. Its chains are even turning the work culture within multibillion-dollar American tech companies, and beyond, she wrote. A 2018 Caste in the Unites States report by Equality Labs revealed that 67 percent of Dalits surveyed in the diaspora reported being treated unfairly at their workplace because of their caste. Up to 12 percent of Shudras had the same experience. The report also revealed that though Indians are by far the largest community to command a large payscale, there is a catch here. Close to 30 percent of Dalits and 25 percent of other lower caste people in the diaspora are still making less than $24,999 a year. But only 10 percent of Brahmins make less than $24,999 a year. Discrimination is as vast as the Indian population in the US, said Ilaiah. Indeed, divisions in the Indian community in the US run deep. Indians from one caste are a tightly-knit unit in the US, according to Shanmugam. So as one moves around in the same circle even in the US, they tend to gravitate towards the same community in workplaces as well, he said. Also Read: Cisco caste-bias case: Increasing voices now call for an anti-caste framework in Silicon Valley companies Even IIT and IIM graduates who are handpicked by the top US giants and IT firms to work in the US carry with them the bias, Shanmugam said. These divisions manifest at lunch breaks or informal team meetings, where there are large number of Indians. That is what happened to T Kathiravan, a senior executive living in California. In his testimony to ASKC, which Moneycontrol reviewed, he shared how his direct manager from a dominant caste used a slur for Indian affirmative action policies and claimed that it would have destroyed any chances of education for his son back in India. Tensions rise in the tech workplaces in the US as it happens in India when people from a community do not conform to caste norms. This too translates to discrimination, however subtle, both in workplaces and social life. Take for instance learning music, especially Indian classical music, which has been dominated by the upper-caste community in India. AG Ramya, a Dalit living in California, said in her testimony to AKSC that she and her husband were enquired about their caste by the music teacher in the US when she wanted to enroll their daughter. The teacher told the family that only certain sects of people have the ability of master music, according to Ramya. Devi, another tech worker, never fit in the US. For two years after she moved to the US in 2013, Devi, who has 15 years of experience, tried to take a stab at socialising with other Indians. She hosted parties, participated in community get-togethers and jumped from one group of Silicon Valley mothers to another. I just was not accepted, reminisced Devi, who is from a community that the Tamil Nadu government has designated as backward class. Any group I go to, there are a standard set of questions I would be asked, Devi explained. It was never what her caste was though, never that direct, she added. I would be asked if I have a Green Card, what kind of house I was living, if it was owned and if it had a lawn, she said. If answer to any of these questions is a no, I would be ignored totally. What is the solution? Shanmugam said it has to start with sensitising the Americans, majority of whom are unaware of Indian caste system and think of Indians as a big monolithic group. To understand more about workplace discrimination based on caste, we need to have empirical data on how people are being discriminated, he added. Though discrimination may not always be obvious in workplaces, there is a tendency for upper caste leaning given that majority of the Indian supervisors are from this community, he added. The first step is to accept that such practices exist. What we are trying to do is that urging these companies to recognise caste as operating similarly to race and gender as a source of discrimination and harassment and incorporate caste practices as unfair and punishable practice in their human resources policies, Shanmugam said. Once that happens, we want to have caste-centric policy that will not only help Indian American citizens but also to global offices where caste has transported with South Asian employees," he said. The names of tech workers quoted in the article have been changed to protect their identity. Scotland is Not So Flexible, Learns the BGC Published August 2, 2020 by Lee R What is really going on in Scotland, and which post-Covid policy will win? The Scotland government was lauded by the Betting Gaming Council for adaptability in reversing recent anti-Covid measures that appeared far too rigid for the UK, but an apparent about face is stirring the pot again. The Initial Controversy The controversy stems from the Scottish Government's concession to lift post-Covid restrictions they had initially placed on the jurisdiction's betting shops since reopening on 29 June. Restrictions The restrictions that BGC sent so far as to call Draconian included the removal of chairs from betting shops along with bans on showing live racing on TV and the use of gaming machines. The Pacifying Reversal Reversed To the BGC's delight, the Scottish government agreed to lift the restrictions on July 22. Now in what BGC calls an apparent U-turn, the Scottish Government has ordered betting shops to shut down their gaming machines once again. The Bottom Line Whatever the optics, it adds to up to a 95% drop for some betting shops. The Formal Explanation The BGC explained the decision in a letter to a chagrined BGC CEO Michael Dugher as a desire to have a consistent approach regarding the use of gaming machines while always keeping people safe. BGC Chairman Reacts BGC chairman Brigid Simmonds expressed her organisation's extreme disappointment in the decision, which directly contradicts what they told us previously. Calling For Another Reversal In a perfect rinse repeat cycle, Simmonds urged ministers in Scotland to once again reconsider this baffling decision and revert to the position they had less than a week ago. Interpretation There are certainly some added forces at work inside Scotland's decision-making process. A see-saw battle on restrictions would not be a first occurrence in this Covid-centric world, where some countries see opening policies and permits changed daily as a result of Covid. Outlook However, this rebellion against the greater trade body representing the British jurisdiction reminds of the new element of coronapoliticshat goes into legislation of most things today, and in this case has crept up into the gambling arena as well. How this plays out looks like something to watch, with more unpredictable and telling developments. I drove over to Trenton on Thursday to watch the worthies pass a bunch of very important bills. I got to the Assembly chambers just in time to see the legislators vote on a bill that would impose a new 2.5 percent tax on health-insurance premiums. In normal times, the halls and the gallery might be full of citizens who object to such a tax. But these are not normal times. Because of the threat from the coronavirus, the Statehouse is limited to members of government, government employees/contractors, credentialed members of the press, and invited participants with business in the Complex, according to the state website. In other words, mere taxpayers need not apply. And its not even that great for members of the press. The floor of the Assembly is now off-limits to us inkstained wretches, so I figured Id go up to the gallery, which is usually open to anyone. But now the gallery is being used as an overflow space for legislators maintaining social distancing. Just as I began writing, an Assembly staffer showed up to tell me the gallery was also members-only. So where is a working journalist supposed to go to watch the fun? Youll have to go to Room 109, he said, referring to small meeting room across the hall. But you cant hear anything in there. Thats okay, I responded. I cant hear anything in here either. Thats another problem these days. There are so few people present in the Statehouse that the halls have become massive echo chambers. Throw in the effect of masks and the speaker might as well be gargling mouthwash into the microphone. All of this shuts the public out of the making of public policy, says one activist who used to haunt the halls in the good old days. It makes the process unfriendly to the public and really undermines democracy, said Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club. I think its sort of deliberate. So do I. And I have it on the best authority, that of the governor himself. When Phil Murphy was asked in June about the reports in the Star-Ledger of his administrations botched handling of the coronavirus in long-term-care facilities, he memorably replied, People leaking things and giving the outside world some sense of how the sausage is made, as it were, you know, Ive got no time for that and thats got to stop. The cliche in question comes from 19th-century German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck, who famously stated that Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made. But the entire point of democracy is for the citizenry to see that sausage being stuffed into its casing. (Murphy just signed yet another executive order continuing that state of emergency that permits him to exercise dictatorial power.) When hearings were held in person, whether on the legislative or the local level, the public had its say. Often a large number of people would show up to make it plain to the elected officials that their actions would be remembered on Election Day. But when the same hearing is held on an internet platform like Zoom, the moderator can simply tune out dissident voices. Tittel recalled a recent hearing on the construction of a costly new police station in the small town of Lambertville, where he lives. After he made his point, he said, a councilwoman said I was wrong and I wasnt able to point out how she was wrong. Then there was the hearing Tuesday hearing before the Senate Budget Committee on that new health-insurance tax. Normally the hall would be packed for such a bill. But the chamber was almost empty. State Sen. Declan OScanlon, a Monmouth Republican who serves on the committee, said there was a reason for that. The deadline to register for comment was 5 o clock the night before. But they added it to the agenda at 5:30, OScanlon said. Then there was the vote earlier in the month on the biggest borrowing bill in state history, a measure to permit the Murphy administration to bond for $9.9 billion. It went through with barely a peep from the people who will be stuck with the tab. OScanlon said the Republicans plan to campaign on such bills next year, when the governorship and all 120 legislative seats are up for grabs. If the Democrats think theyre gonna get away with these risky, costly and foolish policies, they need to rethink about the intelligence of the people of New Jersey, he said. Theyre smarter than that. Im sure they are. And I would advise Murphy and his fellow Democrats to enjoy this while it lasts. Sooner or later the voters will get a chance to look at that sausage. And it better not be made out of pork. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has informed a department related standing committee of Parliament that it needs three more months to frame the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed by Parliament in December last, officials familiar with the development said. According to the Manual on Parliamentary Work, rules for legislation should be framed within six months of the date of the Presidents assent or the standing committee on subordinate legislation should be approached for extension of time. The amended Act aims to grant Indian citizenship to six minorities - Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhist, Christians and Parsis from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who have faced or fled fearing religious persecution. The law, which excludes Muslims, will be applicable to those who entered India before December 2014. A senior officer cited above said that the additional time has been sought to frame the rules as the ministry was busy in other work for the past several months. The rules will be framed soon. The manual on Parliamentary Work states that in case the ministries/departments are not able to frame the rules within the prescribed period of six months, they should seek extension of time from the Committee on Subordinate Legislation stating reasons for such extension which cannot be more than for a period of three months at a time. The government has claimed that while the rules are being framed, the non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will have to provide proofs of their religious beliefs while applying for citizenship. The applicants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi faiths will also have to furnish documents to prove that they entered India on or before December 31, 2014, according to officials. After the CAA was passed by Parliament, widespread protests were witnessed in the country. Those opposing the CAA contend that it discriminates on the basis of religion and violates the Constitution. They also allege that the CAA, along with the National Register of Citizens, is intended to target the Muslim community in India. However, home minister Amit Shah had dismissed the allegations and described the protests against the CAA as mostly political. He had asserted that no Indian will lose citizenship due to the Act. Lok Sabha had passed the CAA legislation on December 9, 2019 and Rajya Sabha on December 11, 2019. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold a video conference with chief ministers to discuss the management of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since the last meeting with the chief ministers on June 17, the indicators of Covid-19 and the economic scenario of states have changed a lot due to the long-term lockdown, Gehlot said in a letter to Modi. The chief minister said the country's battle with the pandemic has reached a decisive phase. All states have tried to stop the spread of Covid-19 with their full strength and resources. At the same time, he said, financial support has also been provided to those who have lost their means of livelihood in the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic. Apprising the prime minister of the Rajasthan government's efforts to tackle Covid-19, Gehlot said 15.26 lakh samples had been collected in the state till August 1. The recovery rate of infected people is 77.29 per cent, the death rate is 1.62 per cent and the testing capacity is 45,000 per day, he said. Rajasthan's Covid-19 case count rose to 43,804 on Sunday as 561 fresh infections were recorded. The disease has so far claimed 703 lives in the state, a health department official said. A woman has miraculously survived a 60ft cliff fall at a beauty spot. The 65-year-old, who is thought to be from South Gloucs, was out walking with her husband when she slipped off the cliff edge at Old Harry Rocks in Swanage, Dorset. She landed on rocks at the base of the cliffs after plummeting over the 'almost sheer' drop. A woman has miraculously survived a 60ft fall in Dorset. Rescuers used a winch to reach the woman and get her to safety before she was taken to hospital by helicopter for treatment. The incident prompted a large-scale emergency response on Friday with police, fire and ambulance services in attendance as well as multiple coastguard teams and the RNLI Shocked onlookers called 999, prompting a major multi-agency response with pictures showing areas cordoned off and police, lifeboat, coastguard, fire and ambulance crews and two rescue helicopters in response. Coastguard teams from Swanage backed up by the St Albans Coastguard team, Both Swanage RNLI lifeboats, South Western Ambulance and Dorset Police. The Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue, Rescue helicopter 175, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, HEMS car also attended to assist in the rescue. A spokesman for the Swanage Coastguard said: 'The female had suffered some serious injuries. 'She was air-lifted from the base of the cliff to be treated by medics on the cliff top before being flown for specialist treatment at Southampton hospital. 'A large area was temporarily cleared and closed to allow the emergency services to work including landing two helicopters. 'It is understood the female was close to the edge when she slipped whilst out walking.' Old Harry Rocks in Dorset is a popular spot for walkers and photographers (file photo) Her present condition is unknown. In 2017, a woman in her 30s fell in a similar spot at the top of Old Harry Rocks, falling 100ft into the sea as the tide was in. Passersby heard her cries for help and called 999, eventually guiding the coastguard to her position at which point they were able to pull her from the water. She suffered only minor cuts and bruises. Transcript: Barack Obamas address at John Lewis funeral A transcript of former President Barack Obamas address to those present at the funeral service for John Lewis at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Thursday. ___ James wrote to the believers, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. It is a great honor to be back in Ebenezer Baptist Church, in the pulpit of its greatest pastor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to pay my respects to perhaps his finest disciple an American whose faith was tested again and again to produce a man of pure joy and unbreakable perseverance John Robert Lewis. ADVERTISEMENT To those who have spoken to Presidents Bush and Clinton, Madam Speaker, Reverend Warnock, Reverend King, Johns family, friends, his beloved staff, Mayor Bottoms Ive come here today because I, like so many Americans, owe a great debt to John Lewis and his forceful vision of freedom. Now, this country is a constant work in progress. We were born with instructions: to form a more perfect union. Explicit in those words is the idea that we are imperfect; that what gives each new generation purpose is to take up the unfinished work of the last and carry it further than anyone might have thought possible. John Lewis the first of the Freedom Riders, head of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, youngest speaker at the March on Washington, leader of the march from Selma to Montgomery, Member of Congress representing the people of this state and this district for 33 years, mentor to young people, including me at the time, until his final day on this Earth he not only embraced that responsibility, but he made it his lifes work. Which isnt bad for a boy from Troy. John was born into modest means that means he was poor in the heart of the Jim Crow South to parents who picked somebody elses cotton. Apparently, he didnt take to farm work on days when he was supposed to help his brothers and sisters with their labor, hed hide under the porch and make a break for the school bus when it showed up. His mother, Willie Mae Lewis, nurtured that curiosity in this shy, serious child. Once you learn something, she told her son, once you get something inside your head, no one can take it away from you. As a boy, John listened through the door after bedtime as his fathers friends complained about the Klan. One Sunday as a teenager, he heard Dr. King preach on the radio. As a college student in Tennessee, he signed up for Jim Lawsons workshops on the tactic of nonviolent civil disobedience. John Lewis was getting something inside his head, an idea he couldnt shake that took hold of him that nonviolent resistance and civil disobedience were the means to change laws, but also change hearts, and change minds, and change nations, and change the world. So he helped organize the Nashville campaign in 1960. He and other young men and women sat at a segregated lunch counter, well-dressed, straight-backed, refusing to let a milkshake poured on their heads, or a cigarette extinguished on their backs, or a foot aimed at their ribs, refused to let that dent their dignity and their sense of purpose. And after a few months, the Nashville campaign achieved the first successful desegregation of public facilities in any major city in the South. John got a taste of jail for the first, second, third . well, several times. But he also got a taste of victory. And it consumed him with righteous purpose. And he took the battle deeper into the South. ADVERTISEMENT That same year, just weeks after the Supreme Court ruled that segregation of interstate bus facilities was unconstitutional, John and Bernard Lafayette bought two tickets, climbed aboard a Greyhound, sat up front, and refused to move. This was months before the first official Freedom Rides. He was doing a test. The trip was unsanctioned. Few knew what they were up to. And at every stop, through the night, apparently the angry driver stormed out of the bus and into the bus station. And John and Bernard had no idea what he might come back with or who he might come back with. Nobody was there to protect them. There were no camera crews to record events. You know, sometimes, we read about this and kind of take it for granted. Or at least we act as if it was inevitable. Imagine the courage of two people Malias age, younger than my oldest daughter, on their own, to challenge an entire infrastructure of oppression. John was only twenty years old. But he pushed all twenty of those years to the center of the table, betting everything, all of it, that his example could challenge centuries of convention, and generations of brutal violence, and countless daily indignities suffered by African Americans. Like John the Baptist preparing the way, like those Old Testament prophets speaking truth to kings, John Lewis did not hesitate he kept on getting on board buses and sitting at lunch counters, got his mugshot taken again and again, marched again and again on a mission to change America. Spoke to a quarter million people at the March on Washington when he was just 23. Helped organize the Freedom Summer in Mississippi when he was just 24. At the ripe old age of 25, John was asked to lead the march from Selma to Montgomery. He was warned that Governor Wallace had ordered troopers to use violence. But he and Hosea Williams and others led them across that bridge anyway. And weve all seen the film and the footage and the photographs, and President Clinton mentioned the trench coat, the knapsack, the book to read, the apple to eat, the toothbrush apparently jails werent big on such creature comforts. And you look at those pictures and John looks so young and hes small in stature. Looking every bit that shy, serious child that his mother had raised and yet, he is full of purpose. Gods put perseverance in him. And we know what happened to the marchers that day. Their bones were cracked by billy clubs, their eyes and lungs choked with tear gas. As they knelt to pray, which made their heads even easier targets, and John was struck in the skull. And he thought he was going to die, surrounded by the sight of young Americans gagging, and bleeding, and trampled, victims in their own country of state-sponsored violence. And the thing is, I imagine initially that day, the troopers thought that they had won the battle. You can imagine the conversations they had afterwards. You can imagine them saying, yeah, we showed them. They figured theyd turned the protesters back over the bridge; that theyd kept, that theyd preserved a system that denied the basic humanity of their fellow citizens. Except this time, there were some cameras there. This time, the world saw what happened, bore witness to Black Americans who were asking for nothing more than to be treated like other Americans. Who were not asking for special treatment, just the equal treatment promised to them a century before, and almost another century before that. When John woke up, and checked himself out of the hospital, he would make sure the world saw a movement that was, in the words of Scripture, hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. They returned to Brown Chapel, a battered prophet, bandages around his head, and he said more marchers will come now. And the people came. And the troopers parted. And the marchers reached Montgomery. And their words reached the White House and Lyndon Johnson, son of the South, said We shall overcome, and the Voting Rights Act was signed into law. The life of John Lewis was, in so many ways, exceptional. It vindicated the faith in our founding, redeemed that faith; that most American of ideas; that idea that any of us ordinary people without rank or wealth or title or fame can somehow point out the imperfections of this nation, and come together, and challenge the status quo, and decide that it is in our power to remake this country that we love until it more closely aligns with our highest ideals. What a radical ideal. What a revolutionary notion. This idea that any of us, ordinary people, a young kid from Troy can stand up to the powers and principalities and say no this isnt right, this isnt true, this isnt just. We can do better. On the battlefield of justice, Americans like John, Americans like the Reverends Lowery and C.T. Vivian, two other patriots that we lost this year, liberated all of us that many Americans came to take for granted. America was built by people like them. America was built by John Lewises. He as much as anyone in our history brought this country a little bit closer to our highest ideals. And someday, when we do finish that long journey toward freedom; when we do form a more perfect union whether its years from now, or decades, or even if it takes another two centuries John Lewis will be a founding father of that fuller, fairer, better America. And yet, as exceptional as John was, heres the thing: John never believed that what he did was more than any citizen of this country can do. I mentioned in the statement the day John passed, the thing about John was just how gentle and humble he was. And despite this storied, remarkable career, he treated everyone with kindness and respect because it was innate to him this idea that any of us can do what he did if we are willing to persevere. He believed that in all of us, there exists the capacity for great courage, that in all of us there is a longing to do whats right, that in all of us there is a willingness to love all people, and to extend to them their God-given rights to dignity and respect. So many of us lose that sense. Its taught out of us. We start feeling as if, in fact, that we cant afford to extend kindness or decency to other people. That were better off if we are above other people and looking down on them, and so often thats encouraged in our culture. But John always saw the best in us. And he never gave up, and never stopped speaking out because he saw the best in us. He believed in us even when we didnt believe in ourselves. As a Congressman, he didnt rest; he kept getting himself arrested. As an old man, he didnt sit out any fight; he sat in, all night long, on the floor of the United States Capitol. I know his staff was stressed. But the testing of his faith produced perseverance. He knew that the march is not yet over, that the race is not yet won, that we have not yet reached that blessed destination where we are judged by the content of our character. He knew from his own life that progress is fragile; that we have to be vigilant against the darker currents of this countrys history, of our own history, with their whirlpools of violence and hatred and despair that can always rise again. Bull Connor may be gone. But today we witness with our own eyes police officers kneeling on the necks of Black Americans. George Wallace may be gone. But we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators. We may no longer have to guess the number of jellybeans in a jar in order to cast a ballot. But even as we sit here, there are those in power are doing their darnedest to discourage people from voting by closing polling locations, and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws, and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision, even undermining the postal service in the runup to an election that is going to be dependent on mailed-in ballots so people dont get sick. Now, I know this is a celebration of Johns life. There are some who might say we shouldnt dwell on such things. But thats why Im talking about it. John Lewis devoted his time on this Earth fighting the very attacks on democracy and whats best in America that we are seeing circulate right now. He knew that every single one of us has a God-given power. And that the fate of this democracy depends on how we use it; that democracy isnt automatic, it has to be nurtured, it has to be tended to, we have to work at it, its hard. And so he knew it depends on whether we summon a measure, just a measure, of Johns moral courage to question whats right and whats wrong and call things as they are. He said that as long as he had breath in his body, he would do everything he could to preserve this democracy. That as long as we have breath in our bodies, we have to continue his cause. If we want our children to grow up in a democracy not just with elections, but a true democracy, a representative democracy, a big-hearted, tolerant, vibrant, inclusive America of perpetual self-creation then we are going to have to be more like John. We dont have to do all the things he had to do because he did them for us. But we have got to do something. As the Lord instructed Paul, Do not be afraid, go on speaking; do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people. Just everybodys just got to come out and vote. Weve got all those people in the city but we cant do nothing. Like John, we have got to keep getting into that good trouble. He knew that nonviolent protest is patriotic; a way to raise public awareness, put a spotlight on injustice, and make the powers that be uncomfortable. Like John, we dont have to choose between protest and politics, it is not an either-or situation, it is a both-and situation. We have to engage in protests where that is effective but we also have to translate our passion and our causes into laws and institutional practices. Thats why John ran for Congress thirty-four years ago. Like John, we have got to fight even harder for the most powerful tool we have, which is the right to vote. The Voting Rights Act is one of the crowning achievements of our democracy. Its why John crossed that bridge. Its why he spilled his blood. And by the way, it was the result of Democratic and Republican efforts. President Bush, who spoke here earlier, and his father, both signed its renewal when they were in office. President Clinton didnt have to because it was the law when he arrived so instead he made a law that made it easier for people to register to vote. But once the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, some state legislatures unleashed a flood of laws designed specifically to make voting harder, especially, by the way, state legislatures where there is a lot of minority turnout and population growth. Thats not necessarily a mystery or an accident. It was an attack on what John fought for. It was an attack on our democratic freedoms. And we should treat it as such. If politicians want to honor John, and Im so grateful for the legacy of work of all the Congressional leaders who are here, but theres a better way than a statement calling him a hero. You want to honor John? Lets honor him by revitalizing the law that he was willing to die for. And by the way, naming it the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, that is a fine tribute. But John wouldnt want us to stop there, trying to get back to where we already were. Once we pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, we should keep marching to make it even better. By making sure every American is automatically registered to vote, including former inmates whove earned their second chance. By adding polling places, and expanding early voting, and making Election Day a national holiday, so if you are someone who is working in a factory, or you are a single mom who has got to go to her job and doesnt get time off, you can still cast your ballot. By guaranteeing that every American citizen has equal representation in our government, including the American citizens who live in Washington, D.C. and in Puerto Rico. They are Americans. By ending some of the partisan gerrymandering- so that all voters have the power to choose their politicians, not the other way around. And if all this takes eliminating the filibuster another Jim Crow relic in order to secure the God-given rights of every American, then thats what we should do. And yet, even if we do all this even if every bogus voter suppression law was struck off the books today we have got to be honest with ourselves that too many of us choose not to exercise the franchise; that too many of our citizens believe their vote wont make a difference, or they buy into the cynicism that, by the way, is the central strategy of voter suppression, to make you discouraged, to stop believing in your own power. So we are also going to have to remember what John said: If you dont do everything you can to change things, then they will remain the same. You only pass this way once. You have to give it all you have. As long as young people are protesting in the streets, hoping real change takes hold, Im hopeful but we cannot casually abandon them at the ballot box. Not when few elections have been as urgent, on so many levels, as this one. We cannot treat voting as an errand to run if we have some time. We have to treat it as the most important action we can take on behalf of democracy. Like John, we have to give it all we have. I was proud that John Lewis was a friend of mine. I met him when I was in law school. He came to speak and I went up and I said, Mr. Lewis, you are one of my heroes. What inspired me more than anything as a young man was to see what you and Reverend Lawson and Bob Moses and Diane Nash and others did. And he got that kind of aw shucks, thank you very much. The next time I saw him, I had been elected to the United States Senate. And I told him, John, I am here because of you. On Inauguration Day in 2008, 2009, he was one of the first people that I greeted and hugged on that stand. I told him, This is your day too. He was a good and kind and gentle man. And he believed in us even when we dont believe in ourselves. Its fitting that the last time John and I shared a public forum was on Zoom. I am pretty sure that neither he nor I set up the Zoom call because we didnt know how to work it. It was a virtual town hall with a gathering of young activists who had been helping to lead this summers demonstrations in the wake of George Floyds death. And afterwards, I spoke to John privately, and he could not have been prouder to see this new generation of activists standing up for freedom and equality; a new generation that was intent on voting and protecting the right to vote; in some cases, a new generation running for political office I told him, all those young people, John of every race and every religion, from every background and gender and sexual orientation John, those are your children. They learned from your example, even if they didnt always know it. They had understood, through him, what American citizenship requires, even if they had only heard about his courage through the history books. By the thousands, faceless, anonymous, relentless young people, black and white.have taken our whole nation back to those great wells of democracy which were dug deep by the founding fathers in the formulation of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. Dr. King said that in the 1960s. And it came true again this summer. We see it outside our windows, in big cities and rural towns, in men and women, young and old, straight Americans and LGBTQ Americans, Blacks who long for equal treatment and whites who can no longer accept freedom for themselves while witnessing the subjugation of their fellow Americans. We see it in everybody doing the hard work of overcoming complacency, of overcoming our own fears and our own prejudices, our own hatreds. You see it in people trying to be better, truer versions of ourselves. And thats what John Lewis teaches us. Thats where real courage comes from. Not from turning on each other, but by turning towards one another. Not by sowing hatred and division, but by spreading love and truth. Not by avoiding our responsibilities to create a better America and a better world, but by embracing those responsibilities with with joy and perseverance and discovering that in our beloved community, we do not walk alone. What a gift John Lewis was. We are all so lucky to have had him walk with us for a while, and show us the way. God bless you all. God bless America. God bless this gentle soul who pulled it closer to its promise. Congress Rajya Sabha MP, Rajiv Satav, has issued clarifications on his remarks critical of UPA II regime led by former PM Manmohan Singh after a heavy exchange of wors with other senior party leaders on Twitter, concedes on ground of keeping matters internal to the party, now calls the UPA era 'transformational'. After two days of sparring on social media between seniors and younger leaders of the Congress party, Rajya Sabha MP and AICC in-charge for Gujarat, Rajiv Satav took to Twitter to clarify his remarks at Thursdays meeting of the partys Upper House MPs where he suggested that introspection in the party should begin from the time of the United Progressive Alliance -II government. Satav, through a series of tweets on Saturday, said he was not comfortable discussing what goes on inside party meetings in forums outside. The meeting of RS MPs with Congress President was extremely fruitful. This was one of the many platforms that INC has given us time and again, to voice our views freely. These, though, are internal to the party and I have never been comfortable discussing what goes on inside, outside, Satav posted on Twitter. The meeting of RS MPs with Congress President was extremely fruitful.This was one of the many platforms that INC has given us time & again,to voice our views freely. These,though, are internal to the party &I have never been comfortable discussing what goes on inside, outside.1/n Rajeev Satav (@SATAVRAJEEV) August 1, 2020 This comment comes in the wake of senior Congress leaders, including former ministers batting off criticism on social media for the Manmohan-Singh led UPA government. Also read: Yogi Adityanath to review bhoomi-pujan preparations in Ayodhya today Also read: Amar Singh, Former Samajwadi Party leader passes away Unfortunately, some motivated media reports have twisted facts. Today, a few of my esteemed colleagues and seniors have reacted on social media. This has compelled me, much against my principle of not discussing party matters on public platforms, to come out and clear the air, Satav posted on Twitter. Unfortunately, some motivated media reports have twisted facts. Today, few of my esteemed colleagues and seniors have reacted on social media. This has compelled me, much against my principle of not discussing party matters on public platforms, to come out and clear the air. 2/n Rajeev Satav (@SATAVRAJEEV) August 1, 2020 Although nobody mentioned him by name but Satav has been the facing indirect attacks for his remarks at the virtual meeting of Rajya Sabha MPs, which was presided over by Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi. Former Union Minister Manish Tewari had tweeted on Saturday that Satavs remarks were ill-informed. BJP was out of Power for 10 yrs 2004-14. Not once did they ever blame Vajpayee or his Govt for their then predicaments In @INCIndia unfortunatly some ill -informed s would rather take swipes at Dr. Manmohan Singh led UPA govt than fight NDA/BJP. When unity reqd they divide. Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) August 1, 2020 Anand Sharma, Shashi Tharoor, Milind Deora and Mukul Wasnnik have all voiced their opinion about party leaders speaking out against the UPA-II. Sharma tweeted: The UPA government led the country with a sense of purpose and a commitment to the common man and that Congressmen must be proud of the UPAs legacy. No party disowns or discredits its legacy. Nobody expects the BJP to be charitable and give us credit but our own should respect and not forget. UPA Government led the country with a sense of purpose and a commitment to the common man. India witnessed unprecedented Social and Economic transformation and empowerment of the poor and vulnerable Indians. (1/11) Anand Sharma (@AnandSharmaINC) August 1, 2020 Sharma further said: Honest introspection and analysis are always helpful and give strength to move forward. History will honestly record the commendable contribution of former PM Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The two leaders led India to a decade of compassionate and inclusive growth which all of us are proud of. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor mentioned in his tweet that UPAs transformative ten years were distorted and traduced by a motivated and malicious narrative. Theres plenty to learn from our defeats and much to be done to revive Congress but not by playing into the hands of our ideological enemies. I agree with @ManishTewari & @milinddeora. UPA's transformative ten years were distorted & traduced by a motivated & malicious narrative. There's plenty to learn from our defeats & much to be done to revive @INCIndia. But not by playing into the hands of our ideological enemies. https://t.co/Ui6WUlBl3F Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 1, 2020 Satav in his series of tweets said he found reprehensible the malicious attempt to draw Dr Manmohan Singh into this exchange. To say my observations cast a shadow over Dr Singhs leadership of UPA II is a lie, a total misrepresentation of facts. I hold Dr Singh in high esteem. He is above reproach. Dr Singh has made commendable contributions to building modern India. He will always be held in high regard. I will discuss my comments, or those made by any other esteemed colleagues, on internal party forums only, Satav tweeted. UPAII was a good government, peoples government. The success of UPA II is reinforced when we compare it to the sharp slide under Modi. Elections are on the anvil in Bihar& Assam. BJPs misdeeds have piled up. We need to jointly stand together under the leadership of Sonia ji, Dr Singh Ji, Rahul Ji, he added. UPAII was a good govt, peoples govt.The success of UPA II is reinforced when we compare it to the sharp slide under Modi.Elections are on the anvil in Bihar& Assam. BJPs misdeeds have piled up.We need to jointly stand together under the leadership of Soniaji,Dr Singhji,Rahul Ji Rajeev Satav (@SATAVRAJEEV) August 1, 2020 Satav, who is considered to be a close member of team Rahul Gandhi in Congress has interestingly found support from other members of Team Rahul. All India Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev has said that taking up issues related to the party within the party forum is the right thing to do. Another young guard and MP Manickam Tagore endorsed Satavs remarks and tweeted that there is merit in keeping party discussions within the Party. This war of words on Twitter has clearly thrown the light on the cracks within the party where young and old guards are taking potshots at each other and airing their differences of opinion publicly. Another important point to be noted is that leaders are involved in an argument on social media when the partys Interim President Sonia Gandhi is not well and is in hospital. Also read: One arrested after cow vigilantes attack meat supplier barbarically in Gurugram American financier Jeffrey Epstein (L) and then-real-estate developer Donald Trump (R) pose together at the Mar-a-Lago estate, Palm Beach, Florida, 1997. Davidoff Studios/Getty Images Epstein, a financier and registered sex offender, was known for jet-setting with the likes of Bill Gates, President Bill Clinton, and Prince Andrew, the third child of the UK's Queen Elizabeth. Wall Street billionaire Leon Black paid Epstein at least $50 million in consulting and other fees between 2012 and 2017 despite previously saying their relationship was "limited," The New York Times reported. Prosecutors in a January lawsuit against Epstein's estate allege that the former wealth manager ran a "trafficking pyramid scheme" from his private island in the US Virgin Islands until 2018. Epstein was found dead of an apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail on August 10 as he awaited trial on charges of sex trafficking minors. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Former L Brands CEO Les Wexner may have been Jeffrey Epstein's only confirmed client, but he was not from the only billionaire paying the convicted sex offender. Epstein, who pleaded guilty to charges of solicitation of prostitution and procurement of minors for prostitution in Florida in 2007, ran a years-long "trafficking pyramid scheme" from the US Virgin Islands, prosecutors alleged in a lawsuit against the former wealth manager's estate in January. Meanwhile, the convicted sex offender maintained a vast social and professional network both on and off the Islands, which even included the wife of the US Virgin Islands' former governor. Now, Wall Street billionaire Leon Black has acknowledged to The New York Times through a spokesperson that he hired Epstein as an advisor and paid Epstein at least $50 million in consulting and other fees between 2012 and 2017. Epstein, a former hedge-fund manager, kept his client list under wraps, but he often bragged of his elite social circle that included presidents and Hollywood stars. "I invest in people be it politics or science," Epstein was known to say, according to New York Magazine. "It's what I do." Story continues Epstein, 66, died by apparent suicide in a Manhattan jail on August 10 last year, as he awaited trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors. He had been in police custody since his arrest on July 6, shortly after exiting his private jet in New Jersey's Teterboro Airport. He pleaded not guilty on July 8 and was being held without bail in New York City, where he was already on suicide watch after an earlier reported suicide attempt that had led to his hospitalization, at the time of his death. Here's what we know about the famous people who crossed paths with Epstein. Outgoing L Brands CEO Les Wexner is Epstein's only confirmed client. AP Photo/Matt Sullivan Epstein became a trusted confidant of Wexner's while Epstein managed the CEO's fortune, according to Vanity Fair. Wexner has a net worth of $7.15 billion, Bloomberg reported. The magazine reported that Wexner allowed Epstein to take an active role in L Brands, which owns Bath & Body Works, Express, and Victoria's Secret. In 1989, Wexner used a trust to buy an Upper East Side townhouse that is believed to be the largest private residence in Manhattan for $13.2 million, Vanity Fair reported. Epstein moved in after Wexner and his wife, Abigail Koppel, moved to Ohio in 1996. Wexner's trust transferred ownership of the house to Epstein in 2011 for $0, Bloomberg reported. Wexner later fired Epstein as his money manager. "Mr. Wexner severed ties with Mr. Epstein more than a decade ago," an L Brands spokesperson told Forbes in July 2019. In February, L Brands announced that Wexner would step down after nearly six decades as the company's CEO. L Brands also announced that it would sell the majority stake in Victoria's Secret to private equity firm Sycamore Partners and spin-off Bath & Body Works into a separate company. The company has been marred in controversy following reports of the mistreatment of models and plummeting sales. More information about Wexner's relationship with Epstein may soon be revealed after US District Judge Loretta Preska ordered that Wexner's correspondence with Epstein's former lawyer Alan Dershowitz be unsealed as a part of Dershowitz and Guiffre's defamation suits against each other, Business Insider reported on August 11. Socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein's ex-girlfriend and alleged madam, was arrested on July 2 on charges of sex trafficking and perjury, The New York Times reported. Epstein with Maxwell. Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images Maxwell is a British socialite and the daughter of media tycoon Robert Maxwell. She started dating Epstein shortly after moving to New York in 1991, Business Insider previously reported. After they broke up, court documents allege that Maxwell started recruiting underage girls for him to have sex with. The FBI was investigating Maxwell's relationship with Epstein, Reuters reported in December, as the British heiress was reportedly hiding out with armed guards in the United States or the United Kingdom. Maxwell was ultimately found in New Hampshire, where she was arrested on charges of sex trafficking and perjury in New Hampshire on July 2, The New York Times reported. The former socialite worked with Epstein to "recruit, groom and ultimately abuse" children, her indictment states. President Donald Trump once considered Epstein a friend. From left, Donald Trump and his girlfriend (and future wife), former model Melania Knauss, financier (and future convicted sex offender) Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell pose together at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, February 12, 2000. Davidoff Studios/Getty Images The future president claimed in 2002 that he had a long friendship with Epstein. "I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy," Trump said, according to New York Magazine. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it Jeffrey enjoys his social life." According to Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, Trump now believes the crimes Epstein was charged with are "completely unconscionable and obviously criminal." She also labeled them "disgusting," according to a July report from the Associated Press. "The president told me this morning he hasn't talked to Epstein, he doesn't think he's talked to him or seen him in 10 or 15 years," Conway added. Prince Andrew and Epstein were close friends, the Guardian reported in 2015. WPA Pool / Getty Images Maxwell introduced Epstein and the Duke of York in the 1990s, the Guardian reported, and the two became close friends. The Duke is the son of the UK's Queen Elizabeth. He has also been criticized for frequently taking flights on the taxpayer's dime while serving as the country's special representative for international trade. This earned him the nickname "Airmiles Andy," according to the Washington Post. Court documents reviewed by the Guardian allege that Epstein instructed Virginia Roberts Giuffre, a 15-year-old employee at Trump's Mar-a-Largo resort, to have sex with Prince Andrew on three separate occasions. Buckingham Palace said in 2015 that the allegations against Prince Andrew were "false and without any foundation," according to the Guardian. According to a July 22 article from NY Magazine's Intelligencer, a number of royals and royal connections were among Epstein's contacts. That includes Prince Andrew's then-wife, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York; and Charles Althorp, Princess Diana's brother. According to Intelligencer, all three were named in Epstein's black book; Ferguson and Prince Andrew were also named in his private jet log. In a interview with the BBC in November, Prince Andrew said his relationship with Epstein brought him "opportunities," and that his slowness in ditching Epstein as a friend was because of his tendency to be "too honorable." The interview was widely criticized over Prince Andrew's lack of sympathy with Epstein's victims and his defense of his friendship with the convicted sex offender, Business Insider reported. Prince Andrew resigned from public royal duties in November, Business Insider reported. Former President Bill Clinton traveled with Epstein in 2002 and 2003, a Clinton representative confirmed. Andrew Chin/Getty Images, Rick Friedman Photography/Corbis via Getty Images A statement released in July 2019 by Clinton spokesperson Angel Urena said the former president traveled to Europe, Asia, and twice to Africa on Epstein's private jet. Clinton's staff and Secret Service agents also went on these trips, which were to further the work of the Clinton Foundation, according to the statement. Court documents unsealed on July 31 show Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre testified that Clinton also visited Epstein's island something the former president has denied. Last year, Clinton told New York Magazine through a spokesperson that Epstein was "both a highly successful financier and a committed philanthropist with a keen sense of global markets and an in-depth knowledge of twenty-first-century science." Urena also said that Clinton and Epstein hadn't spoken in "well over a decade" and that Clinton "knows nothing about the terrible crimes" Epstein was charged with. Actor Kevin Spacey and comedian Chris Tucker also took trips with Epstein. Kevin Spacey attends the 2017 Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 11, 2017 in New York City. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Tony Awards Productions Epstein, Clinton, Spacey, and Tucker spent a week in 2002 touring AIDS project sites in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, and Mozambique for the Clinton Foundation, according to a New York Magazine report. Spacey was also charged with sexual assault, but in December, The New York Times reported that the case had been dropped by the plaintiff's estate. The plaintiff, a 62-year-old massage therapist, had died in September. Former Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta worked with Epstein's legal team to arrange a plea deal after Epstein was charged with solicitation of prostitution and procurement of minors for prostitution in Florida in 2007. Alexander Acosta. Joe Raedle/Getty Images An investigation by the Miami Herald revealed that Acosta, then a US attorney, had enough evidence against Epstein to request a life sentence. Instead, he reportedly met with one of Epstein's lawyers, who happened to be a former colleague of Acosta's. In the resulting plea deal, Epstein served 13 months in a private wing of a county prison, which he was allowed to leave six days a week to work in his office. Business Insider previously reported that Acosta said he was "pleased that NY prosecutors are moving forward with a case based on new evidence," on Twitter. Acosta resigned on July 12, 2019. Film publicist Peggy Siegal planned a star-studded dinner party for Epstein and Prince Andrew at Epstein's New York mansion in 2010. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP Images Siegal, known for hosting events to promote films including "The Big Short," "Argo," and "The Revenant" to Oscar voters, invited Epstein to screenings after he was released from prison in 2010, according to The New York Times. "I was a kind of plugged-in girl around town who knew a lot of people," Siegal told The New York Times. "And I think that's what he wanted from me, a kind of social goings-on about New York." Siegal also planned a dinner party for Epstein and Prince Andrew at his Upper East Side home. The event was attended by Katie Couric, George Stephanopoulos, and Chelsea Handler. "The invitation was positioned as, 'Do you want to have dinner with Prince Andrew?'" Siegal said. Many of the guests didn't know who the host was or about his criminal history, The New York Times reported. A spokesperson for Siegal told Business Insider that Siegal's relationship with Epstein was social, not professional. Siegal told The New York Times that she ended her relationship with Epstein at the height of the #MeToo era in 2017. Netflix, FX and Annapurna Pictures severed their ties with Siegal in July 2019 after her connection to Epstein became public, Variety reported. Epstein also told the Times that he spoke often with Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi Arabia Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman attends the G20 opening ceremony at the Hangzhou International Expo Center on September 4, 2016 in Hangzhou, China. World leaders are gathering for the 11th G20 Summit from September 4-5. Nicolas Asfouri - Pool/Getty Images Epstein said that MBS had visited Epstein's Manhattan mansion many times and had a framed photo of the crown prince hanging on the wall, according to New York Times reporter James B. Stewart. Representatives of MBS did not respond to Business Insider's request for comment. According to the New York Times, Epstein claimed to have advised Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Tesla CEO Elon Musk was photographed at a 2014 Oscars after-party next to Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite accused of being Epstein's madam in media reports and legal documents. Kevin Mazur/VF14/Contributor/Getty Images In an interview published in the New York Times on August 12, Epstein claimed that Elon Musk had sought him out to help manage the trouble he had gotten into with the SEC a year earlier, in August 2018. Epstein told reporter James B. Stewart that he had promised to keep his work for Tesla private because of his prior conviction. Epstein also warned that both Musk and Tesla would deny their connection to Epstein if it ever became public, the Times reported. In a statement to Business Insider, a spokesperson for Musk denied Epstein's claims of having served as an adviser to the CEO. Musk and Maxwell were photographed at an Oscars after-party hosted by former Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter on March 2, 2014, in West Hollywood. The same Musk spokesperson told Business Insider that "Ghislaine simply inserted herself behind him in a photo he was posing for without his knowledge." Musk has confirmed crossing paths with Epstein at least once, Business Insider reported. Musk, Epstein, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg were all guests at a dinner hosted by LinkedIn CEO Reid Hoffman sometime after he was released from jail in 2008. MIT Media Lab director Joi Ito quietly worked with Epstein to secure anonymous donations, Vanity Fair reported. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images Ito worked with other directors and staff at the MIT Media Lab to quietly receive large anonymous donations from Epstein after he was convicted of soliciting underage girls for prostitution, a New Yorker expose published on September 6 reports. The article contains emails sent between Ito and Epstein. The emails show Epstein also worked as an in-between for other wealthy donors, including Bill Gates and Leon Black, and that Epstein had a role in determining what his donations would be used for at MIT, contradicting previous statements from Ito and the university. Ito resigned from his posts at MIT, The New York Times Company, and the MacArthur Foundation on September 7, Business Insider reported. Epstein worked as a go-between for the MIT Media Lab and Bill Gates to arrange donations, Vanity Fair reported. Bill Gates speaks ahead of former U.S. President Barack Obama at the Gates Foundation Inaugural Goalkeepers event on September 20, 2017 in New York City. Yana Paskova/Getty Images Emails obtained and published by The New Yorker show former MIT Media Lab Director Joi Ito wrote that Gates was "directed by" Epstein to donate $2 million to the research lab in October 2014. Gates also met with Epstein at least once in New York in 2013, and flew on one of his private planes to Palm Beach, Business Insider previously reported. "Bill attended a meeting in New York with others focused on philanthropy. While Epstein was present, he never provided services of any type to Bill," a Gates spokesperson told Business Insider. A spokesperson for Gates told Business Insider that "Epstein was introduced to Bill Gates as someone who was interested in helping grow philanthropy. Although Epstein pursued Bill Gates aggressively, any account of a business partnership or personal relationship between the two is simply not true. And any claim that Epstein directed any programmatic or personal grantmaking for Bill Gates is completely false." A New York Times investigation published in October found that Gates met with Epstein multiple times after Epstein's conviction in 2011, including at least three meetings at Epstein's Manhattan townhouse. Following the publication of that story, a spokesperson for Gates said Gates regretted the association, but Gates himself hadn't publicly addressed it until November, Business Insider's Aaron Holmes reported. Gates said at The New York Times' Dealbook Conference in November that he believed "billions of dollars" would come from his meetings with Jeffrey Epstein. "I made a mistake in judgment in thinking those discussions would go to global health," Gates said. "That money never appeared." "I gave him the benefit of my association," Gates said. Reid Hoffman defended Ito after news of Epstein's connections to the MIT Media Lab broke. REUTERS/Brian Snyder A "few years ago," Epstein attended a dinner Hoffman hosted to honor an MIT neuroscientist, Vanity Fair reported in July. Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk were also in attendance. Both denied having had ongoing relationships with Epstein to Vanity Fair through spokespeople. Hoffman also implicated himself in the cover up of Epstein's donations to the MIT Media Lab. As pressure mounted on Media Lab director Joi Ito to resign, Hoffman defended Ito to author and fellow MIT Media Lab Disobedience Award jury member Anand Giridharadas in a private email, Giridharadas tweeted in September. "Hoffman basically hid behind bureaucracy and the old 'ongoing investigation' excuse," Giridharadas said in the now-unavailable tweet. "He said it would be complicated to release the correspondence publicly because other names might get dragged in. Someone should tell him about redaction." According to Giridharadas, Hoffman wrote in a second email that Giridharadas was making the situation "all about you" by threatening to resign. In the end, Giridharadas resigned from the Disobedience Award jury. Hoffman not only sits on the Disobedience Award's jury, but funds it personally, according to the Media Lab's website. In 2017, MIT awarded Epstein and other donors "orbs" to thank them for their support, according to The Boston Globe. The orb looks similar to the trophy given to winners of the Disobedience Award. A lawsuit has also shined light on Epstein's connection to former U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. John P. de Jongh while he was in office. U.S. Virgin Islands Gov. John P. de Jongh participates in a meeting dealing with healthcare at the Southern Governors' Association convention in Little Rock, Ark., Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014. AP Photo/Danny Johnston Gov. John P. de Jongh's wife Cecile de Jongh served on the board of Epstein's Financial Trust Co. for most of her husband's time in office, Business Insider's Becky Peterson and John Cook reported. Cecile de Jongh held the titles of secretary and vice president in her decade-long tenure with the company, even staying on board after Epstein was first charged with sexual assault in 2007. Prosecutors in the US Virgin Islands alleged that Epstein was trafficking women and children through the US territory during that same time, as stated in a January lawsuit. The lawsuit describes one 15-year-old victim who was "forced into sexual acts with Epstein and others and then attempted to escape by swimming off the Little St. James island." In a statement, a lawyer representing Epstein's estate told Business Insider that some of the allegations in the lawsuit were inaccurate particularly allegations that the estate to this day engages in "a course of conduct aimed at concealing the criminal activities of the Epstein Enterprise." "The Estate is being administered in accordance with the laws of the US Virgin Islands and under the supervision of the Superior Court of the US Virgin Islands," the statement said. Barclays CEO Jes Staley is under investigation by British authorities because of his friendship with Epstein. Jes Staley, CEO Barclays, arrives at Downing Street for a meeting in London on January 11, 2018. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May mets with business leaders from the financial services sector at Downing Street. / AFP PHOTO / Tolga Akmen (Photo credit should read TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images) TOLGA AKMEN/AFP/Getty Images Staley had a "professional relationship" with Epstein that dated back to "early in his career," Barclays said in a statement. "In the summer of 2019, in light of the renewed media interest in the relationship, Mr. Staley volunteered and gave to certain executives, and the Chairman, an explanation of his relationship with Mr. Epstein," Barclays stated. "Mr. Staley also confirmed to the Board that he has had no contact whatsoever with Mr. Epstein at any time since taking up his role as Barclays Group CEO in December 2015." The relationship is the subject of an investigation by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, according to the bank. Apollo Global Management CEO Leon Black hired Epstein as an advisor. Leon Black. LUCY NICHOLSON/Reuters In August 2019, Black said that he had only consulted Epstein on financial matters "from time to time" and that his relationship with the convicted sex offender was "limited," Business Insider previously reported. However, Black had engaged Epstein as an advisor and paid him at least $50 million, The New York Times reported on October 12. Two of the Times' sources said the total may actually be closer to $75 million. The two financiers also regularly dined together at Epstein's New York mansion, per the Times report. A spokesperson for Black confirmed that between 2012 and 2017, Black had received "personal trusts and estates planning advice as well as family office philanthropy and investment services from several financial and legal advisors" including Epstein. A spokesperson for Black also told the Times that the relationship ended after a "fee dispute" in 2018. Black "continues to be appalled by the conduct that led to the criminal charges" against Epstein, the spokesperson said, adding that Black "deeply regrets having any involvement" with Epstein. If you are a survivor of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or visit their website to receive confidential support. Read the original article on Business Insider Pablo Barrero and Marisa Fernandez from Argentina and living in Dublin Pablo Barrero and Marisa Fernandez from Argentina and living in Dublin after getting married at the Dublin registry office. JOe Timmons check the temperature of Marisa Fernandez and Pablo Barrero beforegetting married at the Dublin registry office. Ben Prenter and Sandra Williams after getting married at the Dublin registry office. Ciara Burke and Stuart Geelon with their wedding party, Katie O'Neill, Laura O'Brien and Emma Geelon CELEBRATION: Pablo Barrero and Marisa Fernandez from Argentina, living in Dublin at the Dublin registry office, as Joe Timmons conducts temperature checks at the door Happy day: Bride and groom Ciara Burke and Stuart Geelon with members of their wedding party, including Katie ONeill, Laura OBrien and Emma Geelon, last Tuesday The Covid-19 pandemic has affected every facet of Irish life over the past four months - and the wedding industry did not escape unscathed. However, since the lockdown restrictions have eased, there has been a mini-boom in the marriage business. These days Dublin's Registry Office is packed with up to a dozen loving couples looking to say "I do" on a daily basis. Some 240 couples have celebrated civil weddings in the building in Lower Grand Canal Street since July 6, when the HSE Civil Registration Service declared full steam ahead for the love train. Things are so busy that ceremonies are scheduled for every half-hour each day. The Sunday Independent met some couples and staff last Tuesday and saw the safeguards and restrictions to stop the virus gatecrashing their weddings. Ciara Burke and Stuart Geelon arrived with bridesmaids Katie O'Neill and Laura O'Brien and with Stuart's sister Emma, who agreed to take the role usually filled by a best man. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next In Pictures: A day in the life of the registry office - the happy couples getting hitched in the time of Covid-19 Close Ciara Burke who got married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren, 28.7.2020 Ciara Burke with her bridesmaids Katie O'Neill and Laura O'Brien getting ready to marry at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren, 28.7.2020 Stuart Geelon and Ciara Burke after getting married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren, 28.7.2020 Celebartions at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren, 28.7.2020 Neil Crimmins and Gertrude Montgomery signing at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren, 28.7.2020 Isabelle Montgomery and Colm Waters with their daughter Sienna (1) from Dublin celebrate with their cousins Neil Crimmins and Gertrude Montgomery after getting married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren Ben Prenter and Sandra Williams after getting married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren, 28.7.2020 Ben Prenter and Sandra Williams after getting married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren, 28.7.2020 Pablo Barrero and Marisa Fernandez from Argentina and living in Dublin celebrate after getting married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren, 28.7.2020 Pablo Barrero and Marisa Fernandez from Argentina and living in Dublin celebrate after getting married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren Joe Timmons check the temperature of Marisa Fernandez and Pablo Barrero before getting married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren Pablo Barrero and Marisa Fernandez from Argentina and living in Dublin after getting married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren Natalia Tonietto and Arthur Kroth after getting married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren, 28.7.2020 Natalia Tonietto and Arthur Kroth after getting married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren, 28.7.2020 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ciara Burke who got married at the Dublin registry office. Pic:Mark Condren, 28.7.2020 All five brought face masks that matched their outfits and their temperatures were recorded by staff member Joe Timmons. They were offered hand sanitiser and filled in Covid-19 forms before going into the large, theatre-style room for the ceremony. Most of the seating was blocked off for social distancing. In former times, 60 people could attend a civil marriage ceremony, but the total number of people allowed in the room was 13, which included the couple and the registrar. There was a Perspex screen between the registrar and the couple. Ciara and Stuart did not have to wear the masks when exchanging vows, but they donned them later. Read More Ciara (32) is from Navan and Stuart (36) from Bray and they first met at the Hunters Moon Festival in Carrick-on-Shannon in Co Leitrim in 2013, where Stuart was appearing as "an experimental noise performer". "I heard him before I saw him," said Ciara. Both are busy in the arts world in their spare time. Ciara works as a technical writer for Amazon and Stuart is a project worker for a homeless charity. "We had planned to get married in Copenhagen in June. Hopefully we'll be able to go there for our first anniversary," she said. Argentinian couple Pablo Barrero and Marisa Fernandez were married earlier that day. Pablo is an Irish citizen who has lived in Ireland for 15 years. He is a travel agent and lives in Dublin. Expand Close CELEBRATION: Pablo Barrero and Marisa Fernandez from Argentina, living in Dublin at the Dublin registry office, as Joe Timmons conducts temperature checks at the door / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp CELEBRATION: Pablo Barrero and Marisa Fernandez from Argentina, living in Dublin at the Dublin registry office, as Joe Timmons conducts temperature checks at the door Pablo (46) and Marisa (47) said they love the friendliness of the Irish people, the music, culture, "awesome landscapes" and the Leinster rugby team. They have postponed their honeymoon plans. A witness at their wedding, Merschon Hutson (47), said: "Their families were not able to travel to the wedding. That is the sad part." Their other witness, Maria Panza, said she travelled to 'The Big Smoke' for the wedding from her home in Kilcock, Co Kildare, and it was her first time to leave the county since the March lockdown. "For me, the ceremony was super emotional because in these times you appreciate all the little things and it's a big deal when two people come together. It's all about the love. At this time of fear and uncertainty, we celebrate love more," said Maria. Ben Prenter (48) and Sandra Williams (47) from Sallynoggin got married in the afternoon. Sandra is bar manager at Blackrock rugby club and Ben is a storeman for Dun Laoghaire Rathdown housing department. Expand Close Ben Prenter and Sandra Williams after getting married at the Dublin registry office. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ben Prenter and Sandra Williams after getting married at the Dublin registry office. They said they were friends as teenagers before becoming a couple in their late twenties. Present at the ceremony were adult daughters Suranne and Ebony Joy and Sandra's father Tweedy Williams (74). Ben said: "With so many weddings cancelled, I feel privileged and honoured to be married. And I feel very lucky." Sandra added: "I liked the ceremony. There was no fuss and the registrar Hannah Conway was lovely." Louise Dodrill (34) is executive registrar and marriages manager and she loves her job. Despite the upheaval caused by Covid, she believes "love is alive and well and if you can make it extra-special, why not". She said either a Perspex screen can be used during the ceremony or the registrar can wear a mask or a visor. Couples do not wear masks during the exchange of vows, but sanitising measures take place after each ceremony. There have been drawbacks because of the coronavirus and a lot of loved ones are prevented from flying back to Ireland to attend weddings. "But you can't hold back an Irish wedding. It will happen eventually. A lot of people getting married now just want to have the legal side done," she said. She had the tough job of telephoning couples whose weddings could not proceed because of the health measures. "It's natural that people are not happy when you are postponing their wedding. "Most people were exceptionally understanding. A lot of people had decided they weren't going ahead at that point. They were just happy to get a phone call to provide them with an alternative option," she said. The civil registration service also covers Wicklow and Kildare. Dublin is fully booked to the end of the year, while there are some dates available in Wicklow and Kildare in November and December. The number of civil weddings that can take place in Bray has been increased in response to the demand. A growing number of people are choosing civil marriage ceremonies 'off-site' in hotels and in beautiful buildings such as City Hall, the Maritime Museum in Dun Laoghaire, and the Museum of Literature. Expand Close Pablo Barrero and Marisa Fernandez from Argentina and living in Dublin after getting married at the Dublin registry office. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pablo Barrero and Marisa Fernandez from Argentina and living in Dublin after getting married at the Dublin registry office. Ms Dodrill can empathise with all the couples whose plans were thrown into disarray as she was due to get married in a civil ceremony at City Hall in Dublin this month but it had to be postponed. "I haven't been able to find a new date for my own wedding yet because I was too busy rescheduling everyone else," she said. She met her French fiance Said one New Year's Eve in an Irish bar in Paris. She was with a group of female friends in the French capital when they ended up in an Irish bar celebrating the New Year one hour later to correspond with the clock back home. She struck up a friendship with Said and later he moved to Dublin to be with her. They are thinking of getting married in France next year. "I haven't put enough attention into my own wedding, to be honest. We're thinking of maybe a chateau in the Loire Valley," she said. Iran arrests ringleader of US-based terrorist group: Intelligence ministry Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 August 2020 1:06 PM The Iranian Intelligence Ministry says it has arrested the ringleader of an anti-Iran terrorist group based in the United States. Iranian security forces have managed to arrest the head of the terrorist group, Jamshid Sharmahd, who directed "armed operations and acts of sabotage" in Iran from the US, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday. Following a complicated operation, the ringleader of the group, named Tondar (Thunder), was arrested and he is "now in the powerful hands" of Iranian security forces, it added. The ministry said it has dealt a heavy blow to the Tondar group that planned and carried out a deadly terrorist attack on Seyyed al-Shohada mosque in the southern city of Shiraz, Fars Province, in 2008, which killed 14 people and wounded 215 others. It noted that the terrorist group had also planned to carry out other large-scale operations, like blowing up several places, including Sivand Dam in Shiraz, Mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic Imam Khomeini in southern Tehran, and Tehran International Book Fair, which were all foiled. The ministry emphasized that further details of the "complicated and successful" operation leading to Sharmahd's arrest would be announced later. US regime must be held liable for supporting terrorists: Foreign ministry Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Saturday that the US regime must be held accountable for "supporting this terrorist grouplet (Tondar) and other [terrorist] outfits as well as criminals that lead sabotage, armed and terrorist operations from within the United States against the Iranian people" and shed the blood of Iranians. Mousavi hailed the "decisive move" by Iranian security forces to arrest the ringleader of the Tonadr terrorist group and questioned the US claim of standing by the Iranian people while supporting terrorists targeting the nation through different ways. "The US regime considers itself to be standing by the Iranian people while it harbors and supports in different ways the known terrorists and those have claimed responsibility for several terrorist operations inside Iran and who have the blood of innocent Iranian people and citizens on their hands," he added. Security forces' intelligence surveillance dealt final blow to Tondar: Minister Meanwhile, Iran's Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said security forces' intelligence surveillance dealt the final blow to the terrorist group at the proper time. He added that the US and the Zionist regime were wrong to think that the ringleader of the Tondar group could be the source of action against Iran. He noted that the operation that led to the arrest of the Tondar group ringleader was was not the ministry's first complicated operation in dealing with opponents of the Islamic establishment, adding that the ministry has already carried out several similar measures in the past. "People like Sharmahd make a mistake to rely on the US and the Zionist regime as these two support them as long as they serve their interests," the Iranian intelligence minister said. He noted that Iran has previously informed Interpol of Sharmahd's criminal acts in Shiraz but he was not arrested. "Although Interpol was tasked with arresting him, no action was taken against him, which shows the West's empty slogan of fighting terrorism," he pointed out. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address When I try to write about how, it raises many possibilities, which seem interrelated and interwoven. They all involve identifying an injustice, raising the issue, and taking an honest, conscious, and watchful step towards its eradication. In this way, one can take strides towards realizing an equitable society. It is as simple as that, or is it? Identifying injustice Small steps are essential to raising a particular consciousness in individuals. When Mahatma Gandhi organized the Dandi March and made salt, it was just not to oppose the salt tax, it was to demonstrate defiance against every injustice imposed by colonial rule. It successfully created a ripple effect, which made people aware of the injustices and how they could be addressed. When people realized that they are being oppressed and stifled, they volunteered and mobilized to fight against their oppressor and the root causes of the injustice being done to them. Similarly, small steps like saying no to plastic bags can be instrumental in raising the environmental consciousness of individuals. Plastic is a perfect example of unabated capitalism gone wrong. You create a product which no one needs in the first place. Then you deny and ignore the malicious aftermath it can lead to. When the problem becomes difficult to deal with, you seek concessions from the government, asking for taxpayers money to deal with a mess you yourself are responsible for; money which could have been invested in public transport, green technology or healthcare instead. There is nothing more liberating than identifying an injustice and making it ones life purpose to resolve it. Plastic, with its detrimental impact on land, air, water, and marine life can give individuals that purpose to help raise environmental consciousness. Our voices must be raised against unplanned development and inessential products. Reducing plastic usage to the extent possible is one way of doing so. Welcome stride I have not even mentioned the amount of carbon spewed in the atmosphere during the production and then disposal of plastics (among other things), leading to climate change and global warming, to cyclones like Sandy and Nisarga, rise in sea levels, unprecedented droughts and floods and the loss of crops, life and property. This process is exposing the prevailing inequalities in society, where an economically and socially persecuted fraction bears the brunt for someone elses mistake. Many environmentally-conscious bodies, people, research, and advocacy groups, and nations have realised this injustice and have been striving to create an equitable society. This became the foundation stone for the formation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992. For the first time, developed nations were made aware of the environmental impact they have been instrumental in creating since the industrial revolution. The recently launched Towards a Better World campaign by Medha Patkar, conceived by Eco-Socialism Front and in the online presence of half a dozen activists from different countries representing Fridays for Future campaign of Greta Thunberg advocates taking small steps to achieve a more equitable society. It talks about contributing to economic, political and societal change through a personal commitment, but it has not been clearly articulated how this is to be done. I am taking this liberty of trying to touch on the aspect of how one ought to go about fulfilling this objective.When I try to write about how, it raises many possibilities, which seem interrelated and interwoven. They all involve identifying an injustice, raising the issue, and taking an honest, conscious, and watchful step towards its eradication. In this way, one can take strides towards realizing an equitable society. It is as simple as that, or is it?Small steps are essential to raising a particular consciousness in individuals. When Mahatma Gandhi organized the Dandi March and made salt, it was just not to oppose the salt tax, it was to demonstrate defiance against every injustice imposed by colonial rule.It successfully created a ripple effect, which made people aware of the injustices and how they could be addressed. When people realized that they are being oppressed and stifled, they volunteered and mobilized to fight against their oppressor and the root causes of the injustice being done to them.Similarly, small steps like saying no to plastic bags can be instrumental in raising the environmental consciousness of individuals. Plastic is a perfect example of unabated capitalism gone wrong. You create a product which no one needs in the first place. Then you deny and ignore the malicious aftermath it can lead to.When the problem becomes difficult to deal with, you seek concessions from the government, asking for taxpayers money to deal with a mess you yourself are responsible for; money which could have been invested in public transport, green technology or healthcare instead.There is nothing more liberating than identifying an injustice and making it ones life purpose to resolve it. Plastic, with its detrimental impact on land, air, water, and marine life can give individuals that purpose to help raise environmental consciousness. Our voices must be raised against unplanned development and inessential products. Reducing plastic usage to the extent possible is one way of doing so.I have not even mentioned the amount of carbon spewed in the atmosphere during the production and then disposal of plastics (among other things), leading to climate change and global warming, to cyclones like Sandy and Nisarga, rise in sea levels, unprecedented droughts and floods and the loss of crops, life and property.This process is exposing the prevailing inequalities in society, where an economically and socially persecuted fraction bears the brunt for someone elses mistake. Many environmentally-conscious bodies, people, research, and advocacy groups, and nations have realised this injustice and have been striving to create an equitable society.This became the foundation stone for the formation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1992. For the first time, developed nations were made aware of the environmental impact they have been instrumental in creating since the industrial revolution. They were urged to cut back on emissions to limit the increase in global temperature. If they were not able to, they would have to pay for the excess emissions (the cap and trade agreements of the Kyoto Protocol 1997). But nothing concrete followed thereafter. In hindsight, one can see that the carbon markets are highly sensitive to global recession (which occurred in 2008 and 2020) and as a result, the little progress made got lost in the winds of austerity. It was only in the year 2009 in CoP15 (Copenhagen) that the developed nations pledged to mobilize 100 billion dollars a year by 2020 to help developing nations like India adapt to climate change. This was a first welcome stride towards the reparation that rich nations owe developing nations, for their historical emissions. The pledge was reaffirmed in the 2015 Paris agreement. But the withdrawal of the US and Australia from the Paris Agreement has seriously curtailed our progress towards more concrete climate action, towards the redistribution of wealth through reparation, towards an equitable society. As developing nation, India needs funds for transition into a green economy, and onus must fall on developed nations, not taxpayers As a developing nation, India needs funds for its transition into a green and sustainable economy and the onus of this should fall on the culprits (developed nations, their oil and gas, mining sector and power sectors) and not on the taxpayers of poor and developing nations. Therefore, our voices have to be raised to demand reparations. Small steps like using a bicycle, or taking public transport can help limit carbon emissions. They can also help people recognise the urgency of the problem of climate change and personally experience being part of its solution in a small way. This could motivate them to learn more about the issue and participate in and advocate for solutions like reparation at the systemic level as well. In the name of development Farmers and indigenous groups are dependent on nature for their livelihood and sustenance. They rely on forest produce, fisheries and agriculture. Encroachment or degradation of land and rivers in the name of development through the construction of dams, wildlife conservation sites, mining etc. cause them to lose their native land and their occupation. It displaces them and puts them at the mercy of corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. The present draft of the Forest Amendment Act (2019) is designed to facilitate such outcomes. Medha Patkar, Greta Thunberg To conclude, no matter how small a step is, it can lead to a big change -- a revolution, provided small strides are taken in a well-defined objective -- an equitable society. To demonstrate that all this is not merely conjecture but is actually relevant and prevalent, I present a case study about how a nations economic and political situation has been gravely affected by unabated environmental degradation, and how the consumers right to refusal has put pressure on the government to fall back on to the right course - the course of sustainable development. Brazil a case study The tropical Amazon forest sprawls over many nations of South America, but the majority of it is contained within Brazil (almost 60%) and is home to around 400 indigenous tribes. Deforestation has been prevalent for a long time, but it has generally been controlled and somewhat essential for the peoples subsistence. Simultaneously forest conservation activities have been undertaken and the indigenous communities have been left mostly undisturbed. But things went downhill after January 1, 2019, when Jair Messias Bolsonaro won Brazils presidential election. Like a true right-wing conservative leader, he followed in the footsteps of his contemporaries -- the abusive Trump and the short-sighted Modi (with his proposed EIA draft and Forest Amendment Act 2019 draft). What followed next was a blatant disregard for climate change. Bolsonaros government called it a hoax and a communist agenda. Funding of the government bodies responsible for protecting forests was either reduced or frozen owing to his anti-environmental, anti-indigenous and anti-NGO stance. There was gruesome ecocide -- forests were razed to pave way for farms, extractive industries, ranches, dams and hydroelectric projects. The illegal loggers and farmers saw an opportunity in this misery and began encroaching razed land. This brought them in direct conflict with the native and vulnerable indigenous groups. Apart from the recurring seasonal fires, there are mysterious fires that are still blazing in the Amazon forest as I am writing this article, the frequency and impact of which have increased significantly since Bolsonaro took office. According to an environmental tabloid Therefore, to ensure that the interest of vulnerable communities is protected their needs must be vociferously put before the government. A movement for planting saplings can raise the environmental consciousness of many people with regard to preserving natures precious ecosystems. This could lead to broader support for an existing movement for the protection of a forest or a river ecology, which can help prevent the displacement of indigenous people from their lands and protect their livelihoods.To conclude, no matter how small a step is, it can lead to a big change -- a revolution, provided small strides are taken in a well-defined objective -- an equitable society.To demonstrate that all this is not merely conjecture but is actually relevant and prevalent, I present a case study about how a nations economic and political situation has been gravely affected by unabated environmental degradation, and how the consumers right to refusal has put pressure on the government to fall back on to the right course - the course of sustainable development.The tropical Amazon forest sprawls over many nations of South America, but the majority of it is contained within Brazil (almost 60%) and is home to around 400 indigenous tribes. Deforestation has been prevalent for a long time, but it has generally been controlled and somewhat essential for the peoples subsistence.Simultaneously forest conservation activities have been undertaken and the indigenous communities have been left mostly undisturbed. But things went downhill after January 1, 2019, when Jair Messias Bolsonaro won Brazils presidential election.Like a true right-wing conservative leader, he followed in the footsteps of his contemporaries -- the abusive Trump and the short-sighted Modi (with his proposed EIA draft and Forest Amendment Act 2019 draft).What followed next was a blatant disregard for climate change. Bolsonaros government called it a hoax and a communist agenda. Funding of the government bodies responsible for protecting forests was either reduced or frozen owing to his anti-environmental, anti-indigenous and anti-NGO stance.There was gruesome ecocide -- forests were razed to pave way for farms, extractive industries, ranches, dams and hydroelectric projects. The illegal loggers and farmers saw an opportunity in this misery and began encroaching razed land. This brought them in direct conflict with the native and vulnerable indigenous groups. Apart from the recurring seasonal fires, there are mysterious fires that are still blazing in the Amazon forest as I am writing this article, the frequency and impact of which have increased significantly since Bolsonaro took office.According to an environmental tabloid Mongabay The 12-month deforestation rate in the Brazilian Amazon has risen 96% since President Jair Bolsonaro took office, and the extent of deforestation over the past year is the highest recorded since INPE, Brazils National Institute of Space Research, started releasing monthly statistics in 2007. The director of INPE Ricardo Galvao, when he made his government aware of the data, was sacked the same evening. In short, everything seemed doomed for the Amazon and its natives. The government has clearly taken an anti-indigenous stance and left the indigenous people and the forest at the mercy of encroachers. But what happened next was completely unprecedented. Personally, it was quite enlightening and reinstated my faith in mass action movements. When the news of this sordid situation reached the environmentally-conscious European consumers, they immediately turned away from products imported from Brazil. Their outcry was: If the cattle are fattened on illegally deforested land, then we dont want its beef. If the timber is procured via illegal chopping of the trees, then we dont want its timber. It was vociferous enough to reach the ears of concerned corporations. The European organizations then threatened the Brazil government of divestment, if the deforestation and land grabbing situation were not ameliorated. According to A group of 29 companies, the vast majority of which are European, sent a joint letter to Brazilian ambassadors in their respective countries in which they threaten to divest from beef producers, grains traders, and government bonds if the Brazilian government does not adequately commit to tackling deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. The director of INPE Ricardo Galvao, when he made his government aware of the data, was sacked the same evening. In short, everything seemed doomed for the Amazon and its natives. The government has clearly taken an anti-indigenous stance and left the indigenous people and the forest at the mercy of encroachers.But what happened next was completely unprecedented. Personally, it was quite enlightening and reinstated my faith in mass action movements.When the news of this sordid situation reached the environmentally-conscious European consumers, they immediately turned away from products imported from Brazil. Their outcry was: If the cattle are fattened on illegally deforested land, then we dont want its beef. If the timber is procured via illegal chopping of the trees, then we dont want its timber. It was vociferous enough to reach the ears of concerned corporations.The European organizations then threatened the Brazil government of divestment, if the deforestation and land grabbing situation were not ameliorated. According to Statecraft "The companies, which include Legal & General Investment Management Ltd, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Asset Management, and NN Investment Partners, hold a combined total of over $3.75 trillion in assets. The letter has been sent to the Brazilian embassies in Norway, Sweden, France, Denmark, Netherlands, the United States (US), and the United Kingdom (UK). The soaring deforestation rate is becoming the basis for the rejection of the ratification of a $19 trillion European-Mercusor deal. French President Emmanuel Macron has also suspended negotiations with the EU-Mercosur bloc citing that they are not willing to make any trade agreement with countries that do not respect the Paris Agreement. The situation has put pressure on the Brazilian administration to take adequate steps to curtail the deforestation menace. Whether it will lead to fruition is still to be seen. But one thing I can reaffirm with complete honesty that no matter how small an action is (like boycotting a product) it has potential to create a ripple effect (like divestment) that brings about emancipation from injustice (environmental degradation). --- *Co-convenor of Eco-Socialism Front Wyomings Bird Lady offers a haven for injured birds High Country News Tech titans had their day before Congress. Now what? CNN Landmark Fed business rescue struggles amid economys woes Politico The Extremely Boring Idea That Could Save the Economy Slate (Re Silc: Automatic stabilizers: learn them, live them, love them). #COVID19 We Need to Talk About Ventilation The Atlantic (cf. NC, May 25, 2020). Excellent round-up, well worth a read. A key paragraph: Strikingly, in one database of more than 1,200 super-spreader events, just one incident is classified as outdoor transmission, where a single person was infected outdoors by their jogging partner, and only 39 are classified as outdoor/indoor events, which doesnt mean that being outdoors played a role, but it couldnt be ruled out. The rest were all indoor events, and many involved dozens or hundreds of people at once. Other research points to the same result: Super-spreader events occur overwhelmingly in indoor environments where there are a lot of people. COVID-19 Data Dives: Why Arguments Against SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol Transmission Dont Hold Water MedScape. A take-down of this article from JAMA. Also well worth a read, alone or in conjunction with the previous link. As it turns out, the terms aerosol and airborne are quite charged and contested. This thread from the author explains why: 1/ Should we call it Airborne or Aerosol transmission? Term airborne appears to be quite divisive. Ive reached out to scientists on both sides of debate, asked for reasons why they think we should do one or the other. Many thoughtful responses, this thread summarizes it Jose-Luis Jimenez (@jljcolorado) August 2, 2020 Aboard the Diamond Princess, a Case Study in Aerosol Transmission NYT. Since aerosols are now coming up on the charts in the mainstream, let me point out that this key study, which sampled hospital air and cultured competent virus from it, also found the virus on hospital windowsills. Even it it floats around, like invisible tobacco smoke, the virus still has to land somewhere! So, even if fomites are not the main method of transmission, keep washing your hands and cleaning surfaces. * * * How does SARS-CoV-2 cause COVID-19? Science. As a respiratory virus, SARS-CoV-2 must initially enter cells lining the respiratory tract. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression to be highest [are] ciliated nasal epithelial cells, with lesser amounts in ciliated bronchial epithelial cells and type II alveolar epithelial cells (6). This translates to greater permissivity of upper versus lower respiratory tract epithelial cells for SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro and fits disease pathology. The nose knows! Harvard professor develops a $50 nasal spray to thwart the spread of COVID-19 Fast Company (study). Hilariously, a subscription model. If a mask infringes on your freedom Youd Rather Get a Coronavirus Vaccine Through Your Nose NYT * * * Trump planning for U.S. rollout of coronavirus vaccine falling short, officials warn Reuters Rush To Produce, Sell Vaccine Put Kids In Philippines At Risk NPR. From 2019, still germane. There are 4,000 political appointees in the Federal government. They should all volunteer to be vaccinated as a public service and a condition of further employment. Federal electeds, as our representatives, should also volunteer to be vaccinated. Im pro-vaccination generally (e.g., measles) as a proven public health measure, but the speed of Operation Warp Speed is concerning (as are the incentives for profit in our health care system). * * * Vermont to hand out 200,000 free masks WCAX The Worlds Most Luxurious Face Masks from Sculptor Gabriel Dishaw Luxuo (Re Silc). * * * How scientists revived an old-school treatment for a 21st century pandemic Los Angeles Times A School Reopens, and the Coronavirus Creeps In NYT. On the first day of class. Coronavirus: Russia plans mass vaccination campaign in October BBC Great News About Births During Covid-19 Bloomberg U.S. Created a Data Disaster With Its Uneven Covid Response Bloomberg. The gap is due to decades of neglect of technological infrastructure, exacerbated by the countrys sprawling size and a state-by-state approach to collecting public health data. It has left not only government officials hunting for reliable data, but kept the public in the dark as well. Not to mention health care-for-profit. The only data we really want to track is billing codes, and theres an entire industry devoted to it (see NC here, here, and here). Authorities say a man being sought after shots were fired outside an eastern Pennsylvania cigar store following a dispute over wearing a mask in the establishment was later shot and wounded in an exchange of gunfire. Read more SLATINGTON, Pa. (AP) The lawyer for a man accused of firing shots outside a Northampton County cigar store following a dispute over wearing a mask and later exchanging gunfire with police says his client had lost his job and a custody battle and was just not handling the pandemic well. Adam Zaborowski, 35, faces attempted-homicide charges in both Fridays incident outside Cigars International in Bethlehem Township and Saturdays confrontation with police near his Slatington home in Lehigh County. LehighValleyLive.com reports that defense lawyer John Waldron on Sunday cited a conversation with his clients father for insight into the motivation for both shootings. Waldron said hes out of the area and hasnt been able to speak with his client, who is hospitalized with gunshot wounds to his leg and buttocks. Waldron said he learned that Zaborowski lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recently lost custody of his child, things that don't justify his behavior but give some insight into his motives. He just wasnt dealing well with the loss of his job, the loss of his child, just not handling the pandemic well, Waldron said. I think he was getting stretched too tight. Saying he had represented Zaborowski in the past, he added from what he knew of the allegations, this is not his typical behavior pattern. County District Attorney Jim Martin earlier said police were trying to serve a warrant on Zaborowski on Saturday morning in Slatington, but he fled in a pickup truck and later opened fire on officers. Martin said officers returned fire, and Zaborowski was hit along with a Slatington officer, whose injury was relatively minor. Martin said Sunday that at least seven officers were put in harm's way by the defendant's AK-47 and handgun. Earlier, Bethlehem Township police said Zaborowski entered the cigar store shortly before 11:30 a.m. Friday, without a mask, and when he was told he needed one he became irate, grabbed two cigars from a shelf and exited the store without paying. A staff member followed him outside, and police allege that Zaborowski fired into the air and then fired twice at the staff member. A patron was sitting behind the staff member, but no one was injured. In the Lehigh County shootout with police, Zaborowski is charged with seven counts of attempted homicide and attempted first-degree murder of a police officer as well as aggravated assault and gun possession by a felon. In the Northampton County cigar store shooting, Zaborowski is charged with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, recklesss endangerment and two gun offenses. By PTI CHANDIGARH: The death toll in the Punjab hooch tragedy rose to 98 on Sunday with 12 more people reported dead in Tarn Taran district after drinking spurious liquor. In Tarn Taran, the death toll is now 75, Deputy Commissioner Kulwant Singh said over the phone. He, however, said the administration put the figure at 75 on the basis of the information received from the field as the victims' last rites have already been performed by their families in the past a couple of days. Some of them even didn't come forward for autopsy, he said. Apart from Tarn Taran, 12 deaths have been reported from Amritsar and 11 from Gurdaspur's Batala, in a tragedy unfolding since Wednesday evening. ALSO READ: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal demands CBI probe in Punjab hooch tragedy Officials said some of the families were not even coming forward to report the death of their kin after drinking spurious liquor. A senior police official said they have been persuading them to report the death of their family members. Meanwhile, the Opposition AAP held protests at several places, including Patiala, Barnala, Pathankot and Moga, against the Punjab government. The protesters accused the government of negligence, leading to death of people, mostly belonging to poor families. Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann also went to Tarn Taran and met families of the deceased. Mann sought a probe by a sitting judge into the matter. The Punjab government has ordered a magisterial probe into the case. Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday had announced the suspension of seven excise and six police officials. He had described the police and excise department failure to check the manufacturing and sale of spurious liquor as shameful". The state government has announced Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for each of the families of the deceased. Researchers behind one of two Russian candidate vaccines against the coronavirus undergoing the approval process in that country say they plan to launch production in November, raising further questions about official Russian pledges to have a vaccination campaign well under way before then. The director-general of the Vektor State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology, Rinat Maksyutov, predicted on August 2 that his institution would start manufacturing a vaccine in November. "We expect to start production already in November this year," Maksyutov told Rossiya-1 TV's Vesti program, according to TASS. "So closer to the end of this year and the start of next year we can talk about switching to vaccination at least for [people] from risk groups with a further switch to massive vaccination." Russian officials have consistently touted an aggressive schedule for a vaccine against the pathogen that has infected at least 849,000 and killed more than 14,000 people in Russia, the fourth- and 11th-worst figures in the world, respectively. Many outside experts have expressed skepticism at some of the Russian claims, and few specifics have emerged amid widespread accusations that Moscow has lied about many aspects of the outbreak and officials' handling of it. President Vladimir Putin and many other officials have appeared especially keen to portray any progress as a testament to Russia's place as a major global player in the fields of science and medicine. Health Minister Mikhail Murashko further surprised many when he vowed on August 1 that Russia would implement extensive vaccination in October. Speaking to journalists in Nizhny Novgorod, Murashko added that teachers and medical workers would be given priority for the vaccination program. Murashko did not provide any other details about the vaccine or the vaccination program. Earlier in the week, Reuters reported that an unnamed source had said Russias first COVID-19 vaccine candidate should secure government approval in August. Russia reportedly has two candidate vaccines being considered for approval: Vektor's and another developed by the Moscow-based Gamaleya Institute in cooperation with the Defense Ministry. Few confirmable details have been released on either effort. Well over 100 major candidate vaccine efforts are continuing around the world in an unprecedented dedication of scientific and medical resources to finding safe and effective vaccines and treatments against the deadly coronavirus that emerged in central China late last year to kill at least 685,000 people, throw billions of people into lockdowns to prevent its spread, and ravage economies around the world. Many of the most optimistic researchers around the world have suggested the development of a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the heart of the six-month pandemic that has infected at least 17.8 million people around the world will take until the end of the year at least -- still a remarkable pace compared to the years or decades that most vaccines take. The head of Russia's sovereign wealth fund that is financing vaccine research, Kiril Dmitriyev, has called it "a Sputnik moment," in reference to the successful launch by the Soviet Union in 1957 of the world's first satellite. "Americans were surprised when they heard Sputnik's beeping," Dmitriyev told CNN. "It's the same with this vaccine. Russia will have got there first." In testimony before the U.S. Congress on July 31, Anthony Fauci, the United States' top infectious-diseases official, expressed concern about reported COVID-19 vaccines being developed in Russia and China. I do hope that the Chinese and the Russians are actually testing the vaccine before they are administering the vaccine to anyone, Fauci said. With reporting by TASS, Reuters, and AFP A charter flight of Ural Airlines OJSC on the Yekaterinburg-Osh with 239 Kyrgyz citizens on board arrived in Kyrgyzstan on July 31, the press service of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said, Trend reports citing Kabar. This flight was performed as part of implementation of agreements, reached by the Kyrgyz, Russian Foreign Ministries in accordance with the instruction of President and the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic as part of the ongoing work on the return of Kyrgyz citizens, located in foreign countries because of temporary closure of borders and the suspension of international passenger air traffic due to the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the world. Kyrgyz students studying in Russia and citizens in urgent need of return to the Kyrgyz Republic from Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Tyumen, Surgut, Magnitogorsk, Salekhard, Khanty-Mansiysk, Novy Urengoy, Kurgan and Perm (with various diseases, elderly, pregnant women and mothers with small children, as well as citizens who found themselves in a difficult life situation) have been returned to Osh city of Kyrgyzstan. Work on the return of citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, located in Ural Federal District and wish to return to their homeland, will continue. Web Toolbar by Wibiya GATINEAU, QC, July 31, 2020 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is committed to providing members of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) with the aircraft they need to do their jobs, while ensuring the best possible value for Canadians. Today marked a significant milestone in the process to replace Canada's fighter aircraft fleet. In response to the formal Request for Proposals released last summer, the following eligible suppliers have submitted proposals: Swedish GovernmentSAAB AB (publ)Aeronautics with Diehl Defence GmbH & Co. KG, MBDA UK Ltd., and RAFAEL Advanced Defence Systems Ltd. United States GovernmentLockheed Martin Corporation (Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company) with Pratt & Whitney United States GovernmentThe Boeing Company with Peraton Canada Corp., CAE Inc., L3 Technologies MAS Inc., GE Canada and Raytheon Canada Limited Services and Support Division The proposals will be rigorously evaluated on elements of capability (60%), cost (20%) and economic benefits (20%). During the evaluation, a phased bid compliance process will be used to ensure that bidders have an opportunity to address non-compliance related to mandatory criteria in their proposals. The initial evaluation of proposals is anticipated to be completed by spring 2021, at which point Canada may choose to enter into dialogue with two or more compliant bidders and request revised proposals. Canada will finalize terms with the preferred bidder prior to the contract award, which is anticipated in 2022. Delivery of the first aircraft is expected as early as 2025. Quotes "I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication in reaching this important milestone in the fighter fleet procurement process. I am confident that we will deliver on the government's commitment to provide the Royal Canadian Air Force with the right fighter jet, at the right price, with the right social and economic benefits for Canadians." The Honourable Anita Anand Minister of Public Services and Procurement "Through our fully costed and funded defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, our government committed to purchasing a full fleet of 88 aircraft to be able to meet our NORAD and NATO obligations simultaneously. Efficient and modern fighter jets are an integral part of any air force and we continue to work diligently to make sure that we provide the members of the Royal Canadian Air Force the tools they need to protect Canada, both at home and abroad." The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan Minister of National Defence "This project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to support the competitiveness and growth of Canada's aerospace and defence industries. Our government will evaluate each of these proposals based on their plans to invest in Canada's economy and to support high-value Canadian jobs." The Honourable Navdeep Bains Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Quick facts In her weekly media briefing July 23, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized United States support for educational programs, media and NGOs in Africa. In addition, Zakharova said "the allocation of grants fits into the White House's efforts to promote the idea that there is no alternative to Western concepts regarding state governance and the imposition of alien values on sovereign states, and this represents another manifestation of neo-colonialism and an element of covertly formalizing inequality in the overall system of international ties." Russia's position as contained in her briefing is available on the official website, and part of which is quoted here: "We have no choice but to comment and explain why we perceive this as Washington's striving to eliminate the favorable regional socio-political background with regard to Russia that became particularly obvious following the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in October 2019. It appears that the United States is deliberately encouraging anti-Russia publications in some African media outlets and is trying to portray Russia as a destabilizing force. We are confident that such methods of unfair competition and misinformation show that there is no hard evidence confirming the so-called Russian policy of propaganda and misinformation, and this is also the consequence of weak US approaches in the field of public diplomacy." That well-said of the United States, it is equally important to note that since the Soviet collapse in 1991, the question of media representation both ways, in Russia and in Africa, has attracted unprecedented concern and discussions. Over the years, nearly 30 years after the Soviet era, Russia has not encouraged African media, especially those from south of Sahara, to operate in the Russian Federation. On the other hand, Russian media resources are largely far from eminent in Africa, and these include the media conglomerate popularly referred to as Rossiya Sevogdnya (RIA Novosti, Voice of Russia and Russia Today), TASS News Agency and Interfax Information Service. These are powerful and reputable Russian brands, compared to most well-known Western and European media organizations operate in and cooperate with Africa. Even not quite long, that was in November 2018, the State Duma, the lower house of parliamentarians, called for an increased Russian media presence in African countries, while Russia has closed its doors in offering opportunities for Africa media representation in the Russian Federation. During the meeting that was scheduled to brainstorm for fresh views and ideas on the current Russia-African relations, State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin told Ambassadors from African countries: "it is necessary to take certain steps together for the Russian media to work on the African continent." "You know that the Russian media provide broadcasting in various languages, they work in many countries, although it is certainly impossible to compare this presence with the presence of the media of the United States, United Kingdom and Germany," Volodin said, and promised that the State Duma would create the necessary legal basis for this long-term media cooperation. Experts say that neither Russia has an African media face nor Africa has a Russian media face. Thus, in the absence of suitable alternative sources, African political leaders and corporate business directors depend on western media reports about developments in Russia and from the developed world. Interestingly, the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department has accredited media from Latin America, the United States, Europe and Asian countries, and only two African media came from the Maghreb region (Morocco and Egypt) in North Africa. The official information presented during the first Russia-Africa Summit, held in October 2019, explicitly showed the degree of priority given to African media. Some 300 media bureaus from 60 countries are currently operating in Russia, including 800 foreign correspondents while there are only two African news bureaus from Egypt and Morocco, according to Artem Kozhin, who represented the Russian Foreign Ministry's Information and Press Department, at the panel discussion on media. According to his interpretation, this extremely low representation of African media hardly meets the level of current dynamically developing relations between Russia and Africa. "We invite all interested parties to open news bureaus and expand media cooperation with Russia," Kozhin said at the gathering, inviting Africa media to Moscow. Nearly all the panelists noted precisely that western media dominates in Africa. "Often times, unique news offerings created by the Russian media simply do not make to the users and viewers in many regions, including Africa. Evidently, this vacuum gets filled with one-sided information from other players in the media market. This information can be biased, or outright hostile towards Russia and residents of other countries," said Mikhail Bogdanov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Special Presidential Representative for the Middle East and Africa. During the Russia-Africa Summit, Professor Alexey Vasiliev, the first appointed Special Representative of Russian President for Relations with Africa (2006-2011) and currently the Head of the Center for African and Arab Studies at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (2013-2020), told the audience there in Sochi: "Africa is largely unaware of Russia, since African media mainly consumes information the Western media sources and then replicates them. And all the fake news, the Rusophobia and anti-Russian propaganda, spread by the western media, are repeated in the African media." "Measures are needed to enable us to better understand each other," suggested Professor Vasiliev, who regularly advises the Presidential Administration, the Government of the Russian Federation, both chambers of the Federal Assembly, and the Russian Foreign Ministry. Some experts have consistently argued that Russia has discriminated against the media from sub-Saharan Africa. That trend remains unchanged even after the first Russia-Africa Summit , held in Sochi with the primary aim of helping identify new areas and forms of cooperation, put forward promising initiatives that would bring collaboration between Russia and Africa to a qualitatively new level and contribute to strengthening multifaceted cooperation between the two regions. Let that be the acceptable case, but both Russia and Africa have basic questions that still need quick answers. The questions raised at the panel discussion on media in Russia-Africa gathering: What issues are currently encountered in the formation of the modern media landscape? What role does the media play in Russian-African relations? What are the prospects for collaboration in the information sphere? What needs to be done to develop a Russian media agenda in Africa? What is the role and place of Russia in the information space of Africa today? What role can African media play in promoting further Russia's image in Africa? In practical terms, the highly successful spade-work was the first Russia-Africa Summit. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has to layout some new mechanisms and adopt a more favorable approach that could readily attract African media to operate in the Russian Federation. Russia and Africa need to examine every sphere based on shared partnership interests and redefine practical approach to realizing whatever plans on media cooperation. Media and NGOs, as instruments for improving adequately public knowledge, especially on developments and emerging opportunities, have not been persuaded to match the desired future objectives and policy goals. The stark reality is that Russia needs Africa media and Africa needs Russian media, in order for them to enlighten ties in the economic spheres, to promote a better understanding among African elites and the middle class through media reports. The middle class is twice Russia's population and almost the size the population of United States. Professor Vladimir Shubin, the former Deputy Director of the Institute for African Studies, explained in an interview with me that political relations between Russia and Africa as well as the economic cooperation would continue to attract more and more academic discussions. Such scholarly contributions, in essence, would help deepen understanding of the problems that impede building solid relationship or partnership with Russia. In order to maintain this relationship, both Russia and Africa have to pay high attention to and take significant steps in promoting their achievements and highlighting the most development needs in a comprehensive way for mutual benefits using appropriately the media, according to Professor Shubin. "African leaders do their best in developing bilateral relations," he added. "Truly and passionately, they come to Russia more often than ten years ago, but a lot still has to be done; both Russian and African media, in this case, have a huge role to play." Perhaps, one of the reasons why some African leaders appear to have "written off" Russia has been lack of adequate information about Russia, or rather plenty of distorted information they have received from the Western media coverage of Russia, Professor Shubin concluded. "Russian media write very little about Africa, what is going on there, what are the social and political dynamics in different parts of the continent. Media and NGOs should make big efforts to increase the level of mutual knowledge, which can stimulate interest for each other and lead to increased economic interaction as well," said Fyodor Lukyanov, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal 'Russia in Global Affairs ' and also the Chairman of the State Council on Foreign and Defense Policy. "To a certain extent," Lukyanov said, "the intensification of non-political contacts may contribute to increased interest. But in Russia's case, the main drivers of any cooperation are more traditional rather than political interests of the state and economic interests of big companies. Soft power has never been a strong side of Russian policy in the post-Soviet era." Similarly, Bunn Nagara, a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Strategic and International Studies, member of the Valdai Discussion Club, has observed that "Russian businesses face a number of challenges. First, there is little information available internationally about the opportunities and possibilities for partnerships between Russian and foreign businesses." "Russia is a large country spanning both Europe and Asia. So, it can do much to bring Asian and European business linkages together and build on them. Better public relations and improved information dissemination are very important. To do this, it needs to do more in spreading more and better information about its achievements, the progress so far, its future plans, and the opportunities available," Bunn Nagara said. Early October 2019, the Valdai Discussion Club released an ebook titled "Russia's Return to Africa: Strategy and Prospects" jointly or collectively authored by Vadim Balytnikov, Oleg Barabanov, Andrei Yemelyanov, Dmitry Poletaev, Igor Sid and Natalia Zaiser. The Valdai Discussion Club was established in 2004, with a goal is to promote dialogue between Russian and international intellectual elite, and to make an independent, unbiased scientific analysis of political, economic and social events in Russia and the rest of the world. The authors explicitly suggested the need to take steps in countering Western anti-Russia cliches that are spreading in Africa and shaping a narrative whereby only dictators and outcast partner with Russians. Therefore, efforts to improve Russia's image must target not only the continents elite, but also a broader public opinion. It would be advisable to create and develop appropriate media tools to this effect. Media and NGOs, working with the civil society, have to support official efforts in pushing for building a positive image and in strengthening diplomacy. Displaying an attentive and caring attitude towards the African diaspora in Russia, the key objective is to overcome racist stereotypes that persist in marginal segments of Russian society. Helping highly qualified educated African migrants to integrate through employment. This will, in addition, showcase and shape public opinion about Africa in the Russian Federation. According to the authors, building a more and consistent positive public opinion within Russia and Africa should be considered extremely important at this stage of relations between Russia and Africa. Should Russia assist other countries for political purposes only? Will the recipient countries be willing to lend Russia their political support, and can they be trusted? Should Russia build its partnerships exclusively based on the principle of economic expediency? The authors wrote: "Russia will have to answer these questions as it moves towards implementing its African strategy. Its experience in working with public opinion and governments across Eurasia to shape public perceptions will come in handy in Africa." In the context of these existing challenges, leaders on both sides have to draw a roadmap. Inside Africa, Africans have had enough of all these public debates. The time has come to make progressive changes to the current approach, create a new outlook or simply call it "media facelift" instead of maintaining the old status quo. It therefore means taking concrete practical steps toward an effective media cooperation, this will substantially not only broaden but deepen two-way understanding of current developments in Russia and in Africa. The irreversible fact is that there is the need to have an informed African society, and this has to be done largely, systematically and necessarily through the media. Africa has the largest number of young people, who look at the world with open eyes and are ready for cooperation with partner countries. This is a good opportunity to inform the young generation, bring them together through knowledge from Russia, Eurasia, and Africa. According to UN forecasts, the Africa's middle class, constitutes a very huge vibrant information-consuming market, will exceed 350 million by 2025. Kester Kenn Klomegah writes frequently about Russia, Africa and the BRICS. Most of his well-resourced articles are reprinted elsewhere in a number of reputable foreign media. A rush of investors seeking a safe haven from stock market turmoil is pushing the gold price close to a mythical $2,000 (1,538) an ounce. Fears of a second coronavirus wave causing another lockdown have seen demand for gold bars and coins among first-time gold buyers rise by more than 1,100 per cent over the past fortnight compared to the same time last year, according to bullion trader Pure Gold Company. Yet many investors are understandably wary that the soaring price of this precious metal might eventually come tumbling down. So is it too late to join in the gold rush? Most experts think it has become risky to buy at the current price even though it could yet go higher. Risk: Gold is seen as insurance amid the stock market turmoil Crucially, the booming market is being driven by people hedging against a future economic crisis not trying to get rich quick. Josh Saul, chief executive of Pure Gold Company, says: 'Clients fear they may have missed out on the gold price gains from December last year to now, when gold has risen in value by more than 30 per cent. 'But they are not buying purely for growth but as an insurance policy. The higher the risk, the more expensive the insurance and with the price of gold having risen, this provides an indication of how the market perceives the world during these times of great economic uncertainty.' Earlier this week gold hit $1,981 (1,523) an ounce before falling back down to about $1,975. This record price is above the previous high of $1,921 an ounce reached in September 2011 during the European debt crisis before it then fell. With economic uncertainty remaining on the horizon the possibility of breaking through this $2,000 barrier is real though not necessarily a reason to invest. Confidence over the economy has been further dented by a resurgence of Covid-19 cases in Europe, reinforced by last week's decision to reimpose quarantine rules for those travelling to Spain. On top are concerns that the printing of more money by the US Federal Reserve, Bank of England and European Central Bank might not be enough to fend off growing worries of a recession. This so-called quantitative easing tactic to boost economies also runs the risk of devaluing currencies making base metals such as gold seem relatively more attractive. Adrian Lowcock, head of personal investing at broker Willis Owen, says: 'We think gold could easily break through the $2,000 mark this year. But it is fair to ask after a rally of this magnitude if gold has any value left for investors.' If you think the gold price is going up or will stay high as other assets fall back one of the simplest ways to invest is through a fund that tracks the price. Jason Hollands, managing director of adviser Tilney Bestinvest, says: 'Thankfully, these days investment in gold no longer requires physical possession of the metal or even investing indirectly through volatile gold mining shares. 'A far simpler way to get involved is through an exchange traded fund an investment vehicle listed on the stock market that tracks the price of a physical asset. These can also be included in your Isa or pension.' Gold tracker funds include Invesco Physical Gold ETC, listed on the London Stock Exchange. It replicates the performance of the London Bullion Market Association Gold Price charging just 0.19 per cent a year. Another is ETFS Physical Gold. Last week gold hit $1,981 (1,523) an ounce before falling back down to about $1,975 A number of actively managed investment funds also put money into firms involved with gold usually through mining stocks. Gold funds include BlackRock Gold & General and JPM Natural Resources. Hollands says: 'Funds which invest in the shares of mining companies rather than bullion are not for the faint-hearted. 'The cost of extraction is high so profits are sensitive to changes in the underlying price of base metal. You can have periods of stellar returns followed by steep losses.' Hollands points out that year to date global gold mining equities are up more than 48 per cent compared to the 30 per cent rise for bullion prices. Investors that want the real thing can also buy shares in a 400-ounce, 24-carat gold bar for just a few pounds directly from a bullion trader, such as BullionVault or the Pure Gold Company. You can also invest in gold coins. Sovereign and Britannia coins are deemed legal tender, so escape capital gains tax if they rise in value. A Sovereign is currently worth about 380. Gloria Estefan, 62, rose to fame with the Miami Sound Machine in the 1980s before pursuing a successful solo career. She lives in Florida with her husband of 42 years, Emilio Estefan. They have two adult children, Nayib, 39, and Emily, 25. At the height of my career, 30 years ago now, I broke my back in a tour bus accident and was paralysed. My fans came to my rescue: I could feel peoples prayers like a physical energy millions were sending me good thoughts and connecting in a way I felt as a physical presence, like electricity. I thought I would channel this into my spine. The feeling I had, the amazing power in this collective energy, combined with all the hard work I put in, led to my walking again. Doctors thought it was nothing short of miraculous. Gloria Estefan, 62, (pictured) who lives in Florida, explains how she learned to focus on what she wants to happen, rather than what she fears will happen When I came home from the hospital, I couldnt even turn over in bed Emilio had to help me. I started trying to rebuild my muscles by attempting to lift my legs an inch off the ground. Then, for three months, I exercised in the pool while wearing a floating vest. I spent six to seven hours a day in therapy working on short-term goals, such as being able to walk to the door. Six months later, when it became clear my body was slowly coming back, it became a mission for me to get back out on that stage. I wanted people to see that surviving hardships in life has a lot to do with how you deal with them and your attitude towards them. That was a huge lesson for me. Were incredibly powerful beings capable of changing the reality of our lives. Now I use this for everything. Fear is a natural part of being a parent, for example. Before, Id have given energy to that fear, but what I have learned to do is focus on what I want to happen rather than what I fear will happen. So when my daughter was at university in Boston, thousands of miles away from me, rather than worrying, Id say: Shes going to get home safe and sound. Sometimes we choose to believe a life script because its been handed to us by our circumstances but we dont have to believe it. Were in control, and if theres something in your life you dont like, change it. Sometimes its difficult, but its never too late. Gloria Estefans new album, Brazil305, is released on August 13 by Sony Music. Reverend Father Ernest Dugah, the Parish Priest of St. Kizito Catholic Church, Nima, said the Church was maintaining the one hour duration mass, to prepare for the new directives on the easing of restrictions for Church activities. Rev. Fr. Dugah said the Catholic Archdiocese of Accra had directed the Church to maintain the one hour duration for some time to get the confidence of other members and as well as encourage them to start coming to Church. President Akufo-Addo on July 26, in his 14th address to the nation on the phase two of the easing of restrictions of Church activities, commended the leadership for adhering to 25 per cent occupancy or up to 100 congregants over a time duration of up to one hour per service over the past seven weeks. In consultation with our Church leaders, the President has from August 1, 2020, review the restrictions on the number of congregants worshipping at a time in Church, with the length of worship extended from one to two hours per service. In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, the Clergyman said Church leaders, who were desirous of implementing this enhanced easing directive, must ensure that congregants wore face masks at all times, and ensure that the one metre social distancing rule was scrupulously applied. He said the Church was not in a rush to implement the new directives, but would wait and observed that proactive measures were put in place before the implementation. Rev. Fr. Dugah said the Church would need to meet with the leadership of the various groups and if given the nod from the Archdiocese, with adequate measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic put in place, then the extended period will be utilized. He said the Church started mass in the second week of the easing of restrictions to Churches and the appropriate measures to observe the COVID-19 health protocols have been put in place. The Parish Priest said the Church in collaboration with the COVID-19 health team had ensured that the precautionary measures as prescribed by the World Health Organisation and the Ghana Health Service were adhered to for the safety of members. He said the Church organised six masses with the one hour duration, adding that the number had progressively been increasing with each masses. "The Church has not recorded any case of COVID-19.The temperatures of our members are all normal and we hope it will continue till the end of the pandemic," he said. He encouraged members who were yet to come to Church to do so saying, "We should not be afraid to come and worship. We need to have faith in God and believe that with consistent prayers, God will wipe out the pandemic from the face of the earth". A statement signed by Rev. Fr. John Kobina Louis, the Vicar General, Catholic Archdiocese of Accra, outlined new instructions for worship and urged congregants to be guided by the principle of a healthy mind lives in a healthy environment. The Archdiocese commended all whose efforts and advice had contributed to the achievement of the COVID-19 protocol observance since it involved life and faith. The statement urged all to observe the health protocols and noted that funeral masses or services must be restricted to a maximum of 100 people. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Nepal: Pastor imprisoned for saying prayer can heal COVID-19 released Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A pastor imprisoned for over three months in Nepal for saying prayers can heal the novel coronavirus was released after paying a hefty bail this month. Pastor Keshab Raj Acharya was first arrested on March 23 on charges of spreading false information for saying prayers can heal COVID-19. The pastor was taken into custody from his home in Pokhara, Gandaki Pradesh Province, after a video appeared on social media of him rebuking the coronavirus as he preached at his church. Though he was released on April 8, he was rearrested moments later on charges of outraging religious feelings and proselytizing. After more than three months in prison, he was released on July 3 after paying bail equal to about $2,500, Morning Star News reports. It was very difficult for me, Pastor Acharya said. I would think of my little children and my wife, and I would cry out to the Lord in prayer. I would look up at Him in hope that if it is in His will that I should be put through this, He would get me out of this. Acharya told the outlet he believes government officials and police worked together against him. They were laying a thorough plan to make sure I would stay in the jail for a longer period. The Nepal police website states that Kaski police officers arrested Acharya for misleading the public by posting false information on social media about the novel coronavirus. Police cited a YouTube video showing him calling the coronavirus an evil spirit and rebuking it in the name of Christ. According to the Himalayan Times, the pastor allegedly said in the video that COVID-19 could do nothing to followers of Jesus Christ and told them the virus could not even touch the followers of Jesus. The Himalayan Times said the pastor preached in a highly-populated squatters area, but the police report only cites his comments on social media, according to Morning Star News. Christian leaders in the predominantly Hindu Himalayan country told the outlet that the charges against the father of two young children violate a freedom of religion agreement to which Nepal is a signatory. Nepal has been a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council since 2018 and is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Senior Counsel Govinda Bandi, who is defending the pastor, told CSW that his repeated arrest was a very worrying sign of the trajectory of religious freedom in this country. The police are clearly acting outside the scope of the constitution and without any regard to the rules of criminal procedure, Bandi said. There seems to be a concerted effort to use the draconian provisions in the Penal Code to target him that will also threaten the wider minority community with penal sanctions for practicing their religion or belief. Furthermore, the whole allegation against him, is forged on unfounded and prejudiced allegations. This is without a doubt a targeted persecution and a travesty of our justice system. Persecution watchdog Open Doors USA ranks Nepal 32nd on its World Watch List of 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. Persecution against Christians worsened in 2017 when the Nepalese parliament passed legislation banning religious conversions and the hurting of religious feelings. Last year, four Christians were arrested Nepal, including a United States citizen, months after the law criminalizing religious conversion went into effect. A Christian society leader, an Indian national, a citizen of Colorado and a Nepali interpreter were arrested at their hotel for their alleged involvement in religious conversion by "allurement. In 2016, seven Christians were arrested in the Dolakha district for handing out Bibles. Chief Minister K Palaniswami on Sunday warned private hospitals of due action if they overcharge COVID-19 patients. He said all private hospitals should clearly display the government-fixed rates for the treatment of the virus. The Chief Minister's warning, in a tweet, comes a day after the government temporarily revoked permission for treatment granted to a private hospital here for allegedly charging a patient Rs 12 lakh for 19 days of treatment. "Due action will be taken if complaints against private hospitals overcharging patients are received," Palaniswami said. According to a government order, Grade-1 and 2 hospitals can charge a maximum of Rs 7,500 in general ward per day while grade-3 and 4 hospitals can charge Rs 5,000 for the same. (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.) New Delhi (AFP) - Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan said Sunday he had been discharged from hospital, three weeks after being admitted with "mild" coronavirus symptoms after testing positive for the disease. The news came as powerful Indian Home Minister Amit Shah revealed he had tested positive for coronavirus, which is infecting tens of thousands of people a day -- and killing hundreds -- in the world's second most-populous country. More than 1.7 million people have now been infected in India, giving it the world's highest toll behind the United States and Brazil, and more than 37,000 have died. Bachchan's actor-son Abishek, who was admitted at the same time, will remain in hospital, while his daughter-in-law, actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, and granddaughter Aaradhya, were discharged last week. They were the highest-profile family in India to contract the virus in a country that worships movie stars. "I am back home. I will have to be in solitary quarantine in my room," Bachchan wrote on Instagram, saying he had tested negative. He thanked his family, fans and "the excellent care and nursing" at the hospital, saying they "made it possible for me to see this day". At the time he said he had "mild" symptoms. Bachchan's discharge came as Home Minister Amit Shah -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's right-hand man -- said he had tested positive for the virus. "On getting initial symptoms of coronavirus, I got myself tested and my report is positive," Shah tweeted. "My health is fine, but on the advice of doctors I'm getting myself admitted to a hospital." The 55-year-old -- the first national government cabinet minister to test positive -- called on everyone in contact with him over the past two days to get tested and isolate. It was not clear if Shah had met Modi or other senior cabinet ministers in recent days. He was admitted to a hospital in Gurgaon, just outside the capital New Delhi, local media reported. Story continues B.S. Yediyurappa, chief minister of the southwestern state of Karnataka which has a population of more than 60 million people, late Sunday also tweeted that he had tested positive. Screen legend Bachchan, 77, idolised in India and affectionately known as "Big B", has worked for more than half a century in the film industry. His release from hospital was cheered by his legion of fervent fans. Hundreds of them gathered at the Amitabh Bachchan Temple -- built by his fans in the city in 2001 and which has a life-size statue of the revered celebrity -- in Kolkata on Sunday. "Amitabh is our 'guru'. He is more than god to us," Amitabh Bachchan Fan Association secretary Sanjoy Patodiya told AFP on Sunday ahead of the actor's announcement. "His fans are spending sleepless nights praying that their god gets well soon." India will reopen gyms and yoga teaching facilities, as well as end a nighttime curfew -- subject to state and territory requirements -- from August 5, as part of its latest easing of virus restrictions. The government added Sunday that arriving international passengers -- mostly stranded Indians returning home on special charter flights -- could skip seven days of institutional quarantine if they submitted negative coronavirus test results. They would still be required to undergo 14 days of home quarantine. Metro train services are still suspended while cinemas, swimming pools, entertainment parks, theatres, bars, auditoriums and assembly halls remain closed. Our principal function at the United States Marshals Service is protecting the federal judiciary. Weve been doing this since 1789, and weve been here in New Mexico since 1851, when our states first territorial marshal was sworn in. As a native New Mexican and as our states U.S. marshal, I have been honored to work in partnership with amazing people from law enforcement agencies throughout New Mexico for the past 13 years and in Chicago and the nation for 11 years before that. And yes, we are the nations oldest federal law enforcement agency, but more than that, we are part of this community. We live here. We are raising our families here. The federal courthouses throughout our state, including the Domenici Courthouse here in Albuquerque, are the symbol of federal justice in our community. We are here as the protectors of these courthouses and those who serve in them. That protection includes the citizens who enter these courthouses and expect justice. Our USMS Director Donald Washington said last week, The institution of justice is represented by our courthouse. We at the USMS are here to ensure peaceful protesters are protected and to enforce federal law. We all take an oath to uphold the Constitution, and we are bound to honor everyones constitutional rights, regardless of any differences or any personal allegiances. It is our intention at the United States Marshals Service to maintain and promote peace right here in New Mexico. As we work to do this every day, we ask you, our community, to be with us in this promise. We have an opportunity here to show the rest of the country that we are a peaceful Albuquerque, a peaceful New Mexico. Lets show the country what were made of. We are not ordinary. We come from generations of families who have blended together and, by very nature of our unique culture and heritage, have embraced individuality. Our DOJ counterparts, the FBI, DEA, ATF, CBP and the United States Attorneys Office, work with us in partnership with practically every local, county and state law enforcement agency throughout New Mexico. We are part of something that provides a unique mechanism to collaborate in a way that reinforces federal efforts in the areas of our communities that need it most. We get this direction from our local law enforcement partners right here in New Mexico. They dont report to us, they work with us and we work with them. We do this, every day, working side by side. Millions of dollars in federal funding have been designated for New Mexico over the years through federal task forces. It is a formula for cooperation and it works. And from it stems enhanced resources for our communities. But the best thing that comes from all of this is relationships. Our brother and sister agencies are not strangers to us. They are our friends, and we are successful because of them. We at the Marshals Service are forever optimistic. We are firm believers in the Constitution and the value of upholding it. We also bask in the honor of protecting it. In my experience as a law enforcement officer, first as an FBI Special Agent for 22 years and now as the U.S. marshal, I have been humbled by the cooperative spirit of law enforcement. We stand together every day and we, like you, want peace and justice for everyone. We are the Justice League, the New Mexico Justice League. The ones who get our sack of Hatch green chile although some of us prefer the Lemitar just like you. We are the ones, who like you, brave the 4 a.m. crowds every October to ensure our kids get the best view at the Balloon Fiesta. We are Lobos and Aggies. We sit next to you at the Isotopes games and in all places of worship. Our kids go to the same schools and our parents and grandparents are enjoying the same beautiful New Mexico sunsets. We believe in our community. We believe in Albuquerque. We believe in you, New Mexico. So yes, we are the feds, and we are proud to carry that badge of honor and equally proud to bear the honorable burden and responsibility that come with it. We know you are strong and ready to show the rest of the country that we all love our city and our state and want to express ourselves in a way that honors it and preserves its character and amazing reputation. A makeshift hospital at the AsiaWorld-Expo, a venue near the Hong Kong International Airport, began receiving COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms since Saturday afternoon, Hong Kong's Hospital Authority (HA) said. The authority estimated that about 20 to 30 patients would be admitted on the first day. Henry Fan Hung-ling, chairman of HA, said earlier that 500 beds are available in the first phase, and another 1,500 will be available if needed. The makeshift hospital mainly receives COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms or those still waiting to be admitted to hospital. A patient will go through a physical examination in the makeshift hospital, and those with low blood oxygen, breathlessness or abnormal X-ray results will be sent to hospital immediately. Experts said the makeshift hospital can help release more hospital beds so that patients with more severe symptoms can get necessary and timely treatment. At the entrance of the makeshift hospital, three flat-TV screens broadcast each and every bed and each patient's conditions in a tabular form, and another four screens played the live coverage of the surveillance cameras. Dozens of computers have been lined up for registration outside the entrance. Medics have to put on their isolation gown and other protective gear in specific cubicles before entering. Eight wheelchairs, three sliding hospital beds and 20 chairs facing a TV are available in the waiting area near the wards. Inside each semi-isolated ward of about three meters long and three meters wide are a bed, a bedside table, a desk and a chair. Wi-Fi connections and common areas with TVs and sofas are also installed. An on-site medical staffer told Xinhua that there are 31 toilets that circle around the wards. Besides, several clinical waste areas, hand washing basins and an X-ray room are ready for use. To reduce the contact between medical staff and patients, apart from ultraviolet disinfection rooms and changing rooms, there are also self-service facilities for patients to disinfect themselves and measure their blood pressure and oxygen content. Wong Shuk-ching, senior nursing officer of Queen Mary Hospital, said besides 100 newly-purchased beds, the rest 400 beds were sent by hospitals across Hong Kong. Set meals will be served three times a day for the patients, she said. Cheng Chi-chung, a doctor with Queen Mary Hospital, said a patient can be discharged after he or she shows negative results in two nucleic acid tests or shows positive in an antibody test. Hong Kong is getting stressed out in the face of a resurgence of coronavirus infections since the beginning of July. The total tally spiked from 1,268 on July 5 to 3,396 on Saturday, with most of the new patients getting infected locally. New cases have remained above 100 for 11 consecutive days. The rapid increase has put Hong Kong's hospital system under great strain as isolation wards and beds are being squeezed to the limit, with many new patients unable to be admitted to hospital for isolation treatment in time. "We are on the verge of a large-scale community outbreak, which may lead to a collapse of our hospital system and cost lives, especially of the elderly," Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam said earlier this week, noting that Hong Kong is facing the most severe epidemic situation since January. Given the grave challenge, the central government has pledged all necessary support for Hong Kong. "Hong Kong has the strong backing of the great motherland to overcome the epidemic and all sorts of risks," the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said Friday in a statement. At the request of the HKSAR government, the central government has decided to send testing personnel to Hong Kong to help with large-scale nucleic acid tests and assist Hong Kong in building temporary quarantine and treatment centers, the office said. The National Health Commission said Saturday that seven members of a newly-established 60-strong nucleic acid testing team from the mainland will arrive in Hong Kong on Sunday, marking the first batch of mainland professionals to join the anti-epidemic fight here, with more medical personnel and materials available if needed. Besides, the commission has also set up a panel of six experts from Wuhan to provide technical support for Hong Kong's construction of makeshift hospitals. While Hong Kong's medical system is approaching its limit, the assistance from the mainland at this critical point will inject a shot of "cardiotonic" into Hong Kong's anti-epidemic fight, Ng Chau-pei, president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said earlier this week. Echoing Ng, Chan Yung, vice-chairperson of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said the mainland has gained a lot of valuable experience in the battle against COVID-19 and the firm support of the central government will be a strong guarantee for Hong Kong to win the fight. The HKSAR government has introduced several rounds of stringent measures over the past weeks, such as compulsory mask-wearing in all public places, the group gathering limit of two people, and tightened testing and quarantine arrangement for exempted persons such as sea and air crew members. Meanwhile, due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, the chief executive on Friday announced the postponement of the 2020 Legislative Council General Election of the HKSAR by one year. Residents of the Third Precinct area of Minneapolis have been told by their beleaguered police department: Be prepared to give up your cell phone and purse/wallet, the police said in their email, a copy of which was obtained by Alpha News. The email said citizens should listen to criminals and do as they say. The message warned that some victims have been maced, dragged, assaulted, and some threatened with a gun. In essence, residents are being told to close ones eyes and think of Black Lives Matter, it seems. The City of Minneapolis has now lost its most basic responsibility, the preservation of civil order. The fundamental compact between government and citizens is that in return for paying taxes, government protects us from marauders. There really is no point having a government if it takes the position that it cannot protect its constituents. The fateful moment in this shameful surrender was when Mayor Jacob Frey ordered his police to vacate the Third Precinct building and let the mob loot it and burn it. That triggered the riots that destroyed a large swath of the commercial district along Lake Street, the major east-west artery in South Minneapolis. Frey now ranks as a historic villain in American history, a man whose name should connote cowardice in the same fashion as Benedict Arnold connotes treason. It didnt have to unfold this way. Detroits police chief James Craig is far wiser and more courageous than the contemptible Frey. He explained to Tucker Carlson why that city has had no riots and looting despite levels of black poverty far worse than in Minneapolis: We dont retreat here in Detroit, Craig said. Were just not going to do it. We werent giving up ground to the radicals. We just didnt do it. Detroiters arent tolerating violence in their city either, and the community at large is in support of the departments efforts, he said. I was born and raised in Minneapolis, and am saddened to my core that my hometown has surrendered to the worst among us. But that sadness is combined with fury at the irresponsibility of Frey and the rest of the Democrats that run the city and the state of Minnesota. Progressivism is toxic when it controls the elective offices in any polity. Image credit: Facebook shareable picture If you are a retiree and have opened a broking account with any of the large brand-name stockbrokers, the following events could happen to you. You will get a call from the relationship manager of your broking firm making verbal promises of helping you earn a steady return every month by selling call and put options on the Nifty. He will explain to you that the trading positions are hedged and hence, there is nil or negligible risk. You hand over your investment portfolio of Rs 1.25 crore spread across 57 scrips, many of them being blue-chips like Hindustan Unilever, Asian ... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, August 3 2020 The National Police will investigate allegations that a flow of illicit funds allowed graft fugitive Djoko Soegiarto Tjandra to evade law enforcement for more than a decade. Police arrested Djoko in Malaysia on Thursday in what authorities called a planned operation. He had spent 11 years on the run. After being questioned at the headquarters of the National Polices Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim), Djoko was detained at a police facility in Salemba, Central Jakarta. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Amitabh Bachchan has mourned the death of Amar Singh on his blog. The late politician was undergoing treatment for kidney-related ailments in Singapore. Amar Singh passed away on August 1. He was undergoing treatment in Singapore for kidney-related ailments. While his demise evoked reactions from political circles, his close friend Amitabh Bachchan was also deeply impacted. The 77-year-old actor, who is currently undergoing treatment for Covid-19 at Mumbais Nanavati Hospital, shared a picture of him with his head bowed down. On his blog, the actor shared, , , , , , ! (Translated: With my head slumped in despair, only prayers remain. A person so close to him, a soul so close to him, is now no more). In the headlines for their strong bond in the 90s, Amitabh Bachchan and Amar Singh were regarded inseparable. Amar Singh helped the actor when he had hit a financial slump. He later introduced Jaya Bachchan to politics. However, their friendship turned sour after Amar Singh was expelled from SP party. While he expected Jaya Bachchan to follow the suit, the latter decided otherwise and it deeply hurt him. Post the political betrayal, Amar Singh went on to make some controversial statements about the Bachchan family, which put the final nail in the coffin. However, Amar Singh reached out to Big B in February this year and apologised on Twitter for his over reaction against the Bachchan family. Also Read: Janhvi Kapoor shares BTS photos from Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl sets Also Read: Sushants therapist opens up about his mental health, receives massive backlash Along with Big B, Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor also mourned the politicians demise. He wrote on Twitter that Amar Singh was a doston ka dost as he was always there for somebody needed him. He passionately loved films and its music. The actor also extended condolences to his bereaved family. Amar Singh ji was a doston ka dost, always there when you needed him and passionately loved films and its musiche will be truly missedmay he rest in peace. My heartfelt prayers & condolences to the family. Anil Kapoor (@AnilKapoor) August 1, 2020 Also Read: Chelsea FC wishes Abhishek Bachchan speedy recovery from Covid LONDON One Direction star Niall Horan, singer Lily Allen and pop band The 1975 were among hundreds of household names from the U.K.'s music scene to unite against all forms of racism after a rapper's anti-Semitic tirade. Rita Ora, Lewis Capaldi and Little Mix were joined by major U.K. labels like Universal Music, Warner Music and Sony Music and a number of other big-name industry figures to endorse an open letter titled #NoSilenceInMusic on Saturday. "All forms of racism have the same roots ignorance, lack of education and scapegoating, the letter said. Whether it be systemic racism and racial inequality highlighted by continued police brutality in America or anti-Jewish racism promulgated through online attacks, the result is the same: suspicion, hatred and division, it added. The letter was published after prominent British grime rapper Wiley was banned from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram after he posted a series of anti-Semitic and racist diatribes last week. Wiley, whose real name Richard Cowie, compared Jews to the Ku Klux Klan and asserted that Jews systematically exploited Black artists in the music industry. Wireless Festival 2018 (Tabatha Fireman / Getty Images) The posts prompted celebrities, politicians and other high-profile Brits to to join a 48-hour "walkout" from Twitter to protest what they said was an inadequate response to anti-Semitic tweets from a rapper. They also reignited debate in the country about racism, which was brought into sharp focus following a series of protests after death of George Floyd under the knee of a Minnesota police officer. One, in June, saw the toppling of a slave trader statue. The posts also prompted questions on social media platforms ability to combat hate speech. After initially removing some of his posts, Wiley, 41, was permanently banned from Twitter five days after he uploaded his comments, last Wednesday, a day after he was removed by Facebook and Instagram. Twitter later apologized for the time it took to respond, but only after it had been criticized by a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who said: Social media companies need to go much further and faster in removing hateful content such as this. Story continues The U.K.'s Home Secretary Priti Patel also questioned why the rapper's posts had stayed up for so long. The antisemitic posts from Wiley are abhorrent. They should not have been able to remain on Twitter and Instagram for so long and I have asked them for a full explanation. Social media companies must act much faster to remove such appalling hatred from their platforms. Priti Patel (@pritipatel) July 26, 2020 Wiley, dubbed "the godfather of grime," later insisted that he was "not racist" in an interview with British broadcaster Sky News. He said his disagreement was with his Jewish manager and that he would hand back the U.K. government honor given to him for his contribution to music in 2018. My comments should not have been directed to all Jews or Jewish people. I want to apologize for generalizing, and I want to apologize for comments that were looked at as anti-Semitic," he said. However, he subsequently appeared to backtrack, telling the interviewer: "It's systemic racism from their side" and "the system and... a community of Jewish lawyers" have made him feel angry. Wiley was also dropped by his management company and faces a police investigation over the tweets. His former manager John Woolf confirmed in a statement that his company had cut all ties with the artist, adding, There is no place in society for antisemitism. Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva became the latest lawmaker to test positive for the coronavirus, he confirmed Saturday. Grijalva, a Democrat whose district includes parts of the Phoenix and Tucson areas, had been in self-isolation since Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday. The two had been at a hearing together on Tuesday. I currently have no symptoms, feel fine, and hope to make a quick and speedy recovery, Grijalva said. I have tested positive for COVID-19. As a result, I will be self-isolating in quarantine. I currently have no symptoms, feel fine, and hope to make a quick & speedy recovery. COVID-19 is not a joke & we should all take this seriously. My full statement: pic.twitter.com/nnBskdSyTF Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) August 1, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement Saturday, Grijalva harshly criticized colleagues who refuse to take precautions against the coronavirus. While I cannot blame anyone directly for this, this week has shown that there are some Members of Congress who fail to take this crisis seriously, he said. Numerous Republican members routinely strut around the Capitol without a mask to selfishly make a political statement at the expense of their colleagues, staff, and their families. Grijalva, 73, went on to praise House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for requiring lawmakers and their staff to wear masks. Stopping the spread of a deadly virus should not be a partisan issue, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Grijalva will continue isolating in Washington, D.C. Hes feeling fine and is just getting some rest, his communications director, Geoff Nolan, said on Saturday. Nolan said several staff members in Grijalvas office will be tested as well but emphasized that the lawmaker always wears a mask when he is at the Capitol. Grijalva is the 10th House lawmaker who is known or presumed to have contracted COVID-19, according to the Wall Street Journal. On the Senate side,one DemocratSen. Tim Kaineand one RepublicanSen. Rand Paulhave been infected by the virus.* Advertisement Advertisement The 10th Member of Congress to test positive, this time a Democrat. Coronavirus doesn't care about politics. Madam Speaker, where is your plan for testing? https://t.co/gfhcRrZ2A0 Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) August 1, 2020 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following Grijalvas diagnosis, Minority Leader Kevin McCarrthy, a Republican from California, asked Pelosi on Twitter: Where is your plan for testing? Gohmerts diagnosis this past week once again brought a debate around testing in Congress to the forefront. In early May, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined an offer from the White House for rapid-result coronavirus tests, arguing medical facilities needed them more urgently. But now McCarthy and several senior Senate Republicans have been calling for increased testing on Capitol Hill. Theres more than 50 million tests that have already happened in America, but the one place its not happening is in Congress. I cant understand why the speaker continues to refuse, Mr. McCarthy told reporters Thursday. Is it just because the offer has come from the administration? Pelosi has said that any testing program on the Capitol needs to consider the thousands of people who work there and not just lawmakers and their aides. Its not up to Sen. McConnell and me. As far as Im concerned, its up to the Capitol physician, Pelosi told reporters on Friday. There are about 20,000 people who make the Capitol run. And the Capitol physician has not said yet that he thinks we should be tested. But its not just us, its others as well. Correction on Aug. 2, 2020: This piece initially said Sen. Tim Kaine had tested positive for the coronavirus. Kaine and his wife tested positive for antibodies to the virus. For more of Slates news coverage, subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts or listen below. ComebackTown is published by David Sher for a more prosperous greater Birmingham & Alabama Click here to sign up for newsletter. (Opt out at any time) Todays guest columnist is J. Mason Davis. If youd like to be a guest columnist, please click here. There is one incident in my life that I have always remembered and told and retold to audiences that had an interest. It occurred during summer break between my second and third years of Law School. 1958. I had either turned 23 or it was nearly my birthday. And my wife, June and I, along with our first child, Karen Madeline, were living at the Harris Homestead, on Enon Ridge, here in Birmingham. My mother, Madeline Harris Davis, and her sister, my aunt, and uncle who also lived there, were all registered voters. That was highly unusual for Negros in Birmingham, Alabama in 1958. I dont know the exact number of Negros registered to vote in Birmingham in 1958 but four years later, in 1963 at the time of the change in the form of government of Birmingham, I believe the total Negro voting population was 4,000. My mother casually asked if I was a voter. The question hit me squarely between the eyes since I was a graduate of Talladega College and a student at the State University of New York in Buffalo School of Law. I knew of the struggle of Negroes, as we were then called, to become registered voters in the South. Or for that matter, all over the United States in the period before the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Negroes made up a substantial part of the population of the state of Alabama and a large Negro vote would have a decisive effect on the outcome of an election between an arch conservative and a more moderate candidate. The Republican Party was of minuscule size in Alabama because of its identification with the Negro vote during the Reconstruction Period that had ended only eighty-two years in the past. This identification was distasteful to whites and caused them to shy away from Republicanism, as it is today with their distaste for the Democratic Party. The rise in Republican numbers did not begin in Alabama until 1964 with the Goldwater candidacy for President against Lyndon Baines Johnson. That election caused large numbers of arch conservative white voters to switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. The increase in whites becoming members of the Republican Party was headed by a Birmingham lawyer, John Grenier, who led the effort to increase the Republican Party by vast numbers. Negros who had voted Republican since obtaining the legal right to vote, after the end of slavery, switched to the Democratic Party with the election in 1932, of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Back to the story. Mommas question was asked during breakfast, and I then dressed in a shirt, tie, and a suit and went down to the Jefferson County Courthouse to become a voter. During that time, it was common for a Negro to dress well for it was thought that whites treated Negros better who were well dressed. That may have been true in some instances, but generally not. I found the location of the office of the Board of Registrars and went in. I asked to become a registered voter. The Board was then composed of three whites in every county in the State of Alabama, one of whom was generally a female. Upon asking the lady at the counter to give me a Voter Registration Application, she complied, and did so, and she instructed me to go have a seat and fill out the questionnaire. I quickly completed the application and turned it in to the lady. The process, at that point, was to comply with the statutory requirements of showing literacy. This was done generally only to Negros. This was the way that the Board of Registrars could show that, in their estimation, blacks were not literate enough to be good citizens, and therefore, not voters. If I was able to write down the answers to the questions, that must have been read, that action would have shown, in and of itself, literacy. Being able to read and write. Its literal meaning. I could see from the ladys facial expression that she was surprised at my quick ability to show competence. She then told me she would ask me questions that she wanted me to answer. The lady then asked me to explain the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. I had just taken the course in Constitutional Law that immediate past semester. The Dean of the Law School, Jack Hyman, was a very thorough professor and he taught the course. He knew that I planned to return to Birmingham to practice law and told me that I had to know Constitutional Law almost verbatim in order to practice in Alabama because he knew that this was the beginning of the Civil Rights era. I then recited all I knew about the Fourteenth Amendment, all of which was head and shoulders above the knowledge of the lady questioner. Her facial expression was that of utter surprise that I had such legal knowledge. Being flabbergasted at the end of my recitation, she asked me how I knew so much. To which I replied, that if she had read my application, she would have seen that I was a rising third year student at the Law School of the State of New York. She then put her hands in the air and looked at me sideways and said, If you know so much, tell me if there is a woman elected to the Senate of the United States. I knew the answer immediately because during that time, at our home, there were LIFE Magazines and LOOK Magazines that were subscribed to. These magazines were full of stories about women who were progressing in politics. To answer her question, I said yes, yes maam, her name is Mrs. Margaret Chase Smith, a Republican from Maine. At that time, the lady raised her hands in disgust, and slammed them on the counter and uttered, Oh Hell, just let the Nig vote. I left the Board of Registrars with my Certificate of Registration in hand. All of the foregoing calls for other stories of Racial, Jim Crowe, segregation, that were caused by my leaving the state of Alabama to go to an out-of-state Law School at the expense of the state of Alabama. If so, requested by the editor, I will write about them at a subsequent time. (Editors note: (This year marks the 150th anniversary of the ratification of the 15th Amendment on February 3, 1870. The 15th Amendment asserted that neither the federal government nor state governments could deny voting rights to any male citizen.) J. Mason Davis has been practicing law for 60 years, 36 of which he has been a senior partner at Sirote. He celebrates his 85th birthday this week. He has a long, distinguished career representing clients in business, antitrust, securities, and product liability litigation, as well as life, health, and surety company defense. His appellate practice includes matters before the Supreme Court of Alabama and the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Courts of Appeals. RTHK: SpaceX splashes down in Gulf of Mexico US astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, who flew to the International Space Station in SpaceX's new Crew Dragon, splashed down in the capsule in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday after a two-month voyage that was NASA's first crewed mission from home soil in nine years. Behnken and Hurley left the station on Saturday and returned home to land in the waves off Florida's Pensacola coast on schedule at 2:48 p.m. ET following a 21-hour overnight journey aboard Crew Dragon "Endeavor." The successful splashdown was a final key test of whether Elon Musk's spacecraft can transport astronauts to and from orbit a feat no private company has ever accomplished before. For the return sequence, on-board thrusters and two sets of parachutes worked autonomously to slow the acorn-shaped capsule, bringing Behnken and Hurley's speed of 17,500 miles per hour in orbit down to 350 mph upon atmospheric reentry, and eventually 15 mph at splashdown. The crew will spend up to an hour floating inside the capsule before joint recovery teams from SpaceX and NASA retrieve them for a helicopter trip ashore. There the duo will undergo medical checks ahead of a flight to NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2020-08-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service has arrested the general managers of Accra-based free-to-air (FTA) television stations, AB TV and Amen TV, for promoting the activities of swindlers on their channels. They were arrested in a special operation aimed at clamping down on persons behind advertisements on television stations who claim they have the ability to double money for their clients. According to the Cyber Crime Unit of the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the suspects would be charged and arraigned for promoting charlatanic advertisements "because these are adverts they knew at time of promoting that what the adverts purported to do was not true." Context The police said the action came after the increasing use of FTA television stations by persons who claim to be traditional priests or work through international money transmission services and were able to multiply money. However, the suspected fraudsters end up duping unsuspecting people who either send money to the fraudsters through mobile money transfers or meet them personally at agreed locations to present the cash. A number of the suspected fraudsters also use social media platforms such as Facebook as a means of reaching their victims. Arrest Briefing Graphic Online in Accra Friday after the initial operation, the Director of the Cyber Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Dr Gustav Herbert Yankson, said the Cyber Crime Unit had observed that there were many television stations promoting the services of such fraudsters, while the police had received numerous complaints against the fraud and extortions of the 'money doublers'. "A number of fraudsters have succeeded in duping their victims under the guise of doubling monies for them, he stated. He added that for the first phase of the operation, we have started with the television stations which advertise or have programmes that promote the activities of these fraudsters who claim they can double money but end up duping people. Dr Yankson said the issue of people claiming to double money to make people rich overnight on television was becoming a growing concern and the operation was to stop it. He explained that some of the advertisements persuaded people to send money to an advertised number after which they got 10 times the amount sent within five minutes through mobile money transfers. "They claim they are able to hack into systems of some international money transfer services and multiply the money they receive from people. For example, they claim within five minutes, anyone who sends a minimum amount of GH100 will get CH1,000 in return and if they send GH200 they will get GH2,000 and it goes on and on," Dr Yankson said. He said the perpetrators also claimed they worked through international remittance service companies to send the money to the victims but "the victims end up waiting in vain only to realise they have been swindled and then they rush to the police." To convince viewers, he said, the advertisers included false testimonies of people who claim they had benefited from the money doubling prowess. "Those testimonies are fake. It is just to deceive the public and unfortunately too many people fall victim," he said. Next phase The next phase of the operation, Dr Yankson explained, would target the persons who submit those advertisements to the television stations. He said the two general managers would be put before court while the operation continued. The Director of the Cyber Crime Unit appealed to the public who might have fallen victim to the activities of such fraudsters to assist the police in their investigations by providing information that would lead to the arrest of the persons behind the criminal act. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The seven Marines and one sailor who've been missing since their amphibious assault vehicle sank in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday are believed to be dead, ending an extensive 40-hour search-and-rescue mission. Officials with the 15th Marine Corps Expeditionary Unit announced early Sunday that leadership determined little likelihood the service members survived the accident. Sixteen troops with that unit were in the AAV during amphibious training near San Clemente Island when their vehicle began filling with water off San Diego's coast. Eight of the 16 escaped, and one of those Marines later died. Two others remain hospitalized in critical condition. "It is with a heavy heart, that I decided to conclude the search and rescue effort," Col. Christopher Bronzi, the 15th MEU's commanding officer, said in a statement. "The steadfast dedication of the Marines, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen to the persistent rescue effort was tremendous." Read Next: Marines Suspend All AAV Water Ops as Search for 8 Missing Troops Continues The Marine Corps hasn't released any of the fallen service members' identities, pending family notification. The accident prompted the Marine Corps' top general to halt all water operations for the service's fleet of decades-old AAVs. Commandant Gen. David Berger tweeted on Sunday that the difficult decision to suspend the search-and-rescue operation was made only after "all resources were exhausted." "I know all of us in the USMC family are extremely saddened following the announcement of the end of SAR operations," he said. "... Our prayers continue to be with the family and friends of the 8 Marines and one Sailor we lost." Several Navy and Coast Guard ships, as well as Marine boats, were involved in the search for the sailor and Marines. Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard aircraft also participated in the search-and-rescue efforts, which spanned more than 1,000 nautical miles. "Our thoughts and prayers have been, and will continue to be with our Marines' and Sailor's families during this difficult time," Bronzi said. "As we turn to recovery operations we will continue our exhaustive search for our missing Marines and Sailor." Three AAVs and a rescue boat were heading back to a Navy ship Thursday night after training on San Clemente Island when one of the vehicles began filling with water. The crew flagged nearby personnel, but not everyone was found as the 26-ton vehicle sank. The accident happened between 1,000 and 2,000 yards from one of the island's beaches. The vehicle sank in an area that's several hundred feet deep, and rescue divers can't reach it, Lt. Gen. Joseph Osterman, head of I Marine Expeditionary Force, said on Friday. Berger said AAVs will only be permitted to be used on land until all the Corps' vehicles are inspected, and a root cause into Thursday's accident determined. "After the investigation is done, we'll see -- as always -- if there are any trends," Berger said. In January 2011, one Marine died after an AAV sank off California's coast during training. A September 2017 fire on another AAV in California left 15 injured. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: 1 Marine Dead, 8 More Missing After AAV Accident Off California Coast Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), addresses a press conference about the update on COVID-19 at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. (AP) Johannesburg: The UN health agency warned that the coronavirus pandemic would be lengthy and could lead to "response fatigue", as the case count in South Africa topped half a million. Six months after the World Health Organization declared a global emergency, the novel coronavirus has killed more than 680,000 people and infected more than 17.5 million, according to an AFP tally. South Africa is by far the hardest hit country in Africa, accounting for more than half of diagnosed infections, although President Cyril Ramaphosa said the fatality rate is lower than the global average. Health authorities had been expecting a surge in cases after the gradual loosening of a strict lockdown that was imposed at the end of March. Nigeria on Saturday also announced it would ease a lockdown in the commercial capital Lagos, allowing churches and mosques to reopen next week. An emergency WHO committee reviewing the pandemic "highlighted the anticipated lengthy duration of this COVID-19 outbreak, noting the importance of sustained community, national, regional, and global response efforts". "WHO continues to assess the global risk level of COVID-19 to be very high," it said in its latest statement. The agency also said the effects of the pandemic "will be felt for decades to come". Mexico overtook Britain to become the third hardest hit country in virus deaths -- after Brazil and the United States -- with more than 46,600 fatal cases. Although many Latin American countries have begun relaxing stay-at-home measures, the virus is still spreading quickly across much of the region, which has now recorded more than four million cases and almost 200,000 deaths. Half of them are in Brazil, where President Jair Bolsonaro said he believes "nearly everyone" will catch the virus eventually, after himself recovering from it. The US, the hardest-hit country in the world, has now tallied more than 4.6 million cases and 154,319 deaths. Vaccine race The outlook was bleak in Asia as well, where India and the Philippines reported record increases in new daily infections. "We are waging a losing battle against COVID-19, and we need to draw up a consolidated, definitive plan of action," said an open letter signed by 80 Filipino medical associations. Japan's Okinawa declared a state of emergency after a record jump in cases on the islands -- many linked to US military forces stationed there. The pandemic has spurred a race for a vaccine with several Chinese companies at the forefront, while Russia has set a target date of September to roll out its own medicine. However, US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said it was unlikely his country would use any vaccine developed in either nation. "I do hope that the Chinese and the Russians are actually testing the vaccine before they are administering the vaccine to anyone," he said. As part of its "Operation Warp Speed", the US government will pay pharmaceutical giants Sanofi and GSK up to $2.1 billion for the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, the companies said. 'Day of freedom' France, Spain, Portugal and Italy all reported huge contractions in their economies for the April-June quarter, while Europe as a whole saw gross domestic product fall by 12.1 percent. Daily case numbers in Switzerland have crept up again in recent weeks, while Norway recorded its first virus death in two weeks. At least 36 crew members confined to a Norwegian cruise ship have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the operator Hurtigruten said on Saturday. Despite the resurgence in cases, there have been demonstrations in Europe against the curbs. Thousands protested in Berlin on Saturday urging "a day of freedom" from the restrictions, with some demonstrators dubbing the pandemic "the biggest conspiracy theory". In South Korea, the elderly leader of a secretive sect at the centre of the country's early coronavirus outbreak was arrested for allegedly hindering the government's effort to contain the epidemic. People linked to Lee Man-hee's Shincheonji Church of Jesus accounted for more than half of the South's coronavirus cases in February and March, but the country has since appeared to have brought the virus under control. The pandemic has also continued to cause mayhem in the travel and tourism sectors, with more airlines announcing mass job cuts. Latin America's biggest airline, the Brazilian-Chilean group LATAM, said it would lay off least 2,700 crew, and British Airways pilots overwhelmingly voted to accept a deal cutting wages by 20 percent, with 270 jobs lost. The COVID-19 pandemic has strained Houston-area animal shelters, limiting operations during the busiest time of the year and requiring a massive increase in fosters and adoptions to meet demand. City and county officials say they have been able to withstand the coronavirus-imposed challenges thanks to a near-herculean response from residents and rescue groups around the Houston area, with the key being a sharp uptick in fosters. Sustained success, however, rests on a number of uncertainties. As the citys Bureau of Animal Regulation and Control, or BARC, and the county shelter, Harris County Pets, continue to operate under a diminished capacity, Houstonians will have to continue fostering and adopting at higher-than-usual rates, shelter officials say. And if people rush to return foster animals to shelters when they return to work, or if they get evicted when rent protections expire, the surge could overwhelm capacity, officials said. Most of the rescue groups here are as sustainable as the community is willing to support, said Kerry McKeel, senior Houston program manager for Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare organization. Were constantly looking for fosters to support our programs so were able to pull more animals from Harris County, BARC and the other municipal shelters in the area. As long as we have more fosters that are coming into our programs, then I think it will be sustainable. At the beginning of the pandemic back in March, Houston animal shelter officials confronted serious doubts about their ability to meet demand. Among the challenges: To meet social distancing recommendations, BARC and Harris County Pets divided their staffs into alternating shifts. That limited contact between employees, but also diminished their capacity to take in and house animals. Many local private and public shelters also restricted in-person visits or scrapped them altogether, creating uncertainty about whether they could get cats and dogs in and out the door fast enough. On top of that, breeding season for cats and dogs had begun, a period that strained shelters even before coronavirus. When the pandemic first started, we were quite worried, said Michael White, Harris Countys director of veterinary public health. We thought we were going to get inundated with animals, and we had some issues with trying to keep staff socially distanced, so we had to split our staff into two teams so that we didnt have everybody here at the same time. Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer It has not been an entirely smooth ride since, but officials said they have yet to experience a rush of foster returns and, for now, have continued to accept new animals at their facilities while staying within their reduced capacities. The boost in fosters and adoptions has aided BARC and Harris County Pets, the two largest local public shelters, along with private facilities such as the Houston SPCA, many of which also have reduced day-to-day staffing and operations. We had hundreds and hundreds of applications come in to foster animals, as well as rescue groups stepping up, said Adriane Fadely, the division manager of marketing and community outreach for BARC. It was pretty impactful the way people really stepped up to help. I dont know if they realized they were going to be at home for a little bit and had that opportunity, but we saw a really positive outcome. Foster, adoption campaign In mid-March, on the same day County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Mayor Sylvester Turner announced restrictions on Houston and Harris County bars and restaurants, Best Friends Animal Society launched a campaign seeking support for the foster and adoption programs at local public shelters. The campaign ran across social media and for nearly a month on KPRC-TV, during which 1,458 Houston-area animals were adopted or placed in foster homes and participating shelters reduced their animal populations by an average of 90 percent, according to McKeel. I think a lot of people ended up just wanting to have a quarantine companion, McKeel said. And then what ended up happening is that a lot of people ended up getting bonded to the animal and ended up adopting. Under normal conditions, BARC can hold up to about 550 animals, while the county shelter typically holds 250 to 300, White said. Both shelters are required by law to accept every animal that comes through their doors, though with employees working on rotations, the county cut its capacity roughly in half. Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer BARC also has reduced its intake of cats and dogs, Fadely said, though the total has fluctuated wildly during the pandemic. The shelter also has made a plea to the public to avoid picking up stray animals unless citizens are prepared to care for them at home, an effort to reduce their intake of strays. Its like a game of chess, really, she said. Weve found that every day here is different. We know that, and we have to be very quick on our feet here, whether it be a hurricane or a pandemic. We have to come together and really work through exactly how we want to make everything work. So, it can get kind of chaotic, but we really thrive in that. White said the county shelter experienced a spike in animal dropoffs near the beginning of the pandemic, which he said may have stemmed partly from people being exposed to a high number of strays as they spent more time outside than usual. Post-COVID takeaways To limit traffic inside the facility, BARC is almost exclusively doing curbside foster and adoption pickups while allowing people to virtually meet prospective pets through Zoom calls and restricting animal drop-offs to appointments only. Private facilities, such as the Houston SPCA, have pivoted to similar systems. Harris County is requiring all visits fosters, adoptions and drop-offs to be scheduled by appointment, which White says has limited their intake but also allowed for a more organized system than usual. Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer I have to admit, I like the appointment system. It makes things much more manageable, he said. I do foresee, when all this stuff is over and its not necessary to do all this, were going to go back more toward our normal operation. We may still keep appointments, but there would be an increased number of appointments that we could do per day. Another COVID adaptation that may stick, McKeel said, is the shelters increased reliance on foster homes, as animal welfare advocates push for brick-and-mortar facilities to devote more resources to fosters and transporting animals to other states where there is higher demand for adoptions. I think eventually, the shelter of the future will be sustained with community support and fosters, she said. Because we can build bigger shelters, but were just going to fill them up. jasper.scherer@chron.com New York City has had more shootings so far this year than in the whole of 2019, after another violent Saturday night tipped the scales, and seven shootings followed in the early hours of Sunday. There were 776 recorded shootings in the whole of 2019, according to NYPD data. And on Saturday night a 24-year-old man walked bleeding into Lincoln Hospital in The Bronx, taking the number of reported shootings this year to 777. 'It only gets worse from here,' said Joseph Giacalone, a retired NYPD sergeant and an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. 'As the shootings continue, so will retaliation. It's a vicious cycle that the NYPD worked hard to mitigate, but that they are no longer able and in some cases willing to do', he told the New York Post. The victim of the 777th shooting told police he heard gunfire at the Mitchel Houses project in Mott Haven, and only realized he had been injured when he felt the pain, the Post reported. There were a further 10 victims reported on Sunday including two people hit during a party in East New York. The news capped a week that averaged a murder a day, according to police sources. There were 32 shootings, leaving 36 separate victims, in the past seven days far more than the 19 attacks for the same week last year. NYPD investigates scene of a triple-shooting in Inwood, Manhattan, July 5, as violence surges Scene of a shooting in the Bronx, July 7. Every borough in NYC is affected by rising gun crime The body of at the scene of an afternoon shooting in Brooklyn on July 7 The shooting at an East New York party happened at a house where neighbors said there had been trouble before. A 40-year-old man was shot in the stomach and leg while a 42-year-old woman was hit in the right calf in the attack at 4:30am, the NYPD said. 'They were standing there when an unknown male approached and started shooting,' an NYPD spokesman said. Both were taken to Brookdale Hospital where their condition was not released. A neighbor complained that the party a gathering around a refrigerator in an alleyway between two houses started at 8pm and 'went on and on,' only finishing when the shots rang out in the early hours. 'The police need to shut these parties down,' the female neighbor said, adding that there was a shooting there earlier this summer. For years, officials have embraced the title of the 'safest big city in the country.' Crime in New York has fallen drastically since 1990, when there were 2,245 killings in the city. Last year, there were 300 murders in the city - up eight per cent compared with 2018, police statistics showed. That was the highest number in three years, alarming some residents. In the year to June 30 there were 181 murders - a 23 per cent increase on the first six months of 2019. From January through June 2019, New York City had a record low of 135 homicides. And gun crime is rocketing as well. Five years ago, there were 1,138 shootings recorded. The number fell since then, to a low of 754 in 2018. Since then, the number has crept up, and 2020 is on track to be a depressingly dangerous year. In the last five years the number of shootings fell to a low of 754 in 2018, but is now rising Every borough in New York City has been affected by the surge in gun crime in 2020, with 952 people injured or killed, and children among the dead. Between June 1 and June 30, there was a 130 per cent increase in the number of shooting incidents across the city, according to the latest data, released on July 6. The Upper West Side has seen the largest increase, with a 600 per cent rise in shootings recorded by the 24th Precinct, two blocks from Central Park - there was only one by this time last year, and there have been seven so far. Davell Gardner Jr was shot on July 12 The largest total number of shootings have taken place in two neighboring and notoriously troubled Brooklyn precincts - the pair of them accounting for 109 of the 777 shootings, or 14 per cent of the city's tally. East New York's 75th Precinct recorded 58 shootings so far this year - the most of any in the city, and about 14 per cent more than last year's tally at this time. The nearby 73rd Precinct in Brownsville has recorded 51 shootings so far, a 50 per cent surge from the 34 counted last year. Among the victims was one-year-old Davell Gardner Jr, who was shot in the stomach and killed on July 12, while sitting in his stroller at a cookout in a Brooklyn playground. Three men were also wounded in the shooting, which happened near the Raymond Bush Playground in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. Reverend Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy at the little boy's funeral, on July 27, and called the boy's death 'a disgrace'. 'If nothing shakes this community, to see this young baby in a casket that doesn't even need pallbearers,' Sharpton said. 'His father could've walked him down by himself. This is a disgrace. 'I don't care who you are, what title you got, how much money you got. If you can look at a baby and not stop this gun violence, you are not worth anything to anybody. The problem we got is too many people with titles, no functions.' Al Sharpton comforts Davell Gardner Sr, father of the one-year-old boy shot and killed July 12 Bill de Blasio, the mayor of New York, and the senior NYPD leaders have given a variety of reasons for the bloodshed. They have blamed coronavirus and the corresponding closure of courts; anti-cop sentiment; and the discredited idea that inmates released under state bail-reform law were to blame. De Blasio has offered only a vague plan to combat the problem that largely amounts to gun-buyback programs and an increase in foot patrols in areas with high shootings. He has refused to address the correlation between the surge in gun violence and the disbanding of the NYPD's 600-officer unit responsible for taking guns off the streets. The plainclothes anti-crime unit had come under criticism for aggressive tactics that Dermot Shea, commissioner of NYPD, said led to distrust in communities of color. The unit was dissolved on June 15, and the officers were reassigned to other jobs. Police investigate a shooting in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn on July 16 Every borough in New York City has been affected, with 942 people injured or killed this year Shea said the move was not done as a response to national protests following the death of George Floyd on May 25, and a surge in demands for an end to police brutality. However, it did come in the midst of the protests, and followed an announcement three days previously that the NYPD budget would be cut by $1 billion. 'We have identified savings that would cut over $1 billion dollars, including reducing uniform headcount through attrition, cutting overtime, shift responsibilities away from the NYPD, finding efficiencies and savings in OTPS spending, and lowering associated fringe expenses,' said City Council Speaker Corey Johnson, Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo and other committee chairs, in a joint statement after the decision. The unit had achieved some success. Gun arrests were up eight per cent compared to last year by the time it was dissolved. Gun arrests have since fallen 60 per cent over the past four weeks, officials said on Monday. The troubling trend of gun violence began in May, when the city saw a 64 per cent jump in shootings during the month compared to 2019. By the end of June, the city tallied 205 shootings a 130 per cent jump from last year. Alarming footage has emerged showing hordes of Melburnians congregating along a beach just hours before the city's tough new curfew kicks in. People are not allowed outside their homes for almost any reason as of 8pm on Sunday as a state of disaster is declared over the coronavirus crisis. But as Victorian authorities announced harsher restrictions to stem soaring COVID-19 cases, dozens of residents flocked along St Kilda Beach. Musician Anthony Callea on Sunday shared a video of the crowd tightly packed as they walked shoulder-to-shoulder along the pavement. Musician Anthony Callea shared footage (pictured) of Melburnians congregating along St Kilda Beach The Australian Idol star blasted the residents, some who appeared to be flouting social distancing measures. 'Really Melbourne? Are you f**king kidding me?' Callea wrote, adding that he did not take the footage. 'Selfish, ignorant and deplorable behaviour! D******ds! Clearly the message and how its delivered is NOT WORKING! So angry. 'Why do so many people think they are above it all? These self entitled people will be the first to blame other people and the government for the current situation - we ALL have a role to play! 'To everyone doing the right thing, as a fellow Victorian.... THANK YOU!' Callea added that it was 'another sad day for Victoria', which saw another 671 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours. Hordes of residents were captured on camera walking shoulder-to-shoulder along the pavement Callea wrote a scathing Facebook post scolding the actions of those in the clip, who he called 'self entitled' Thousands of outraged social media users slammed the actions of those in the video. 'And that right there is exactly WHY the situation isnt improving. Get a clue, people! For goodness sake,' one person said. 'Come on Victoria, pull your heads in and make it happen. No need for blaming just do the right thing. No one is invincible!' another added. 'That is totally disgraceful in our neighbourhood! Thank God the restrictions are about to get a lot tougher, but no thanks to the people doing the wrong thing,' a third comment read. Although it unclear when the video was filmed, Callea's post suggests it was taken on Sunday. Nearly all people seen in the clip were wearing face masks, meaning it was filmed very recently. Premier Daniel Andrews brought in the escalated emergency level as the state's worsening catastrophe shows no signs of ending. Victoria recorded 671 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday (pictured). A Stage 4 lockdown will see nearly all shops close and high school students back to learning from home Only 73 of the 671 new cases are linked to known and contained outbreaks, with 598 under investigation, and seven more people are dead. Mr Andrews confirmed Melbourne will to go into strict Stage 4 lockdown from 8pm on Sunday until at least September 13. Regional Victoria, which has 328 active cases, will go back into Stage 3 lockdown from 11.59pm on Wednesday as the virus spreads beyond hardest-hit Melbourne. Melbourne's curfew will be in effect between 8pm and 5am every day, the only reasons to leave home during these hours will be work, medical care and caregiving. Only one person in a household can go shopping per day and exercise is limited to one hour a day - both must be within 5km from home. All recreational activity is banned and no more than two people can be together outside, even if they are from the same family or household. Australia was the envy of the world when it flattened the coronavirus curve in April. Infections remained low throughout May and June, before a horror second wave hit Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews brought in the escalated emergency level as the state's worsening crisis shows no signs of ending People are seen out hours before a citywide curfew is introduced in Melbourne, Sunday, August 2 'That means it's fresh air. It's a jog. It's a walk. It's in your local neighbourhood. It is staying close to home or in your home,' Mr Andrews said. What Melbourne's Stage 4 lockdown means for you State of disaster: Increased police powers to enforce the lockdown. Cautions will no longer be issues, only $1,652 fines or court summons Curfew: No one allowed outside 8pm to 6am except for work, medical, caregiving - no shopping or exercising Distance limit: Shopping and exercise can only be done 5km from home Exercise: All recreational activity is banned and you can only exercise, with one other person, for one hour a day Partners: You can visit a boyfriend or girlfriend who doesn't live with you, even if they live more than 5km away Shopping: Only one person can go shopping per household per day Cafes and restaurants stay open for takeaway, as do supermarkets, etc Schools: All students learning from home from Wednesday unless they are vulnerable or parents are essential workers. Kindy and childcare close on Thursday (same exceptions apply) Funerals: No change to funeral limits, but only 10 mourners can leave Melbourne to regional Victoria for one Weddings: Completely banned Public transport: Slashed after 8pm and cancelled late at night Advertisement He admitted the one-hour limit wouldn't be enforceable, but that police would be vigilant about the 5km as 'you are or you aren't' close enough. The premier said the extremely tight restrictions was necessary to prevent to the lockdown dragging on until Christmas. 'Six weeks versus a slower strategy. A much, much slower strategy that takes up to six months,' he said. 'I'm not prepared to accept that or accept days and days and days of hundreds of cases and more and more death. 'All of those changes are about limiting the number of people we come into contact with. 'Daily exercise is just that. It's an opportunity to get some exercise. It's not an opportunity to live our lives as if this pandemic was not real and not here.' Partners who don't live together will still be able to visit each other, even if they live more than 5km apart. Weddings are completely banned and though funerals can go ahead, only 10 people can travel from Melbourne to regional Victoria to attend one. 'Weddings will not be occurring in Melbourne unless there is a compassionate reason, and there are often circumstances where someone may not have a very long to live, for instance,' Mr Andrews said. 'We will be as generous as we can be. Those matters need to wait. 'There are so many different things that have to wait because they pose an unreasonable risk.' Melbourne school students - about a million children - will have to learn remotely unless their parents are essential workers, or they are vulnerable children who need to learn face-to-face. They will go to school on Monday, have a pupil free day on Tuesday, and be learning at home from Wednesday. The General Achievement Test for year 12 students will be moved from the end of term three to the start of term four. The VCE exam dates will not change, finishing by December 2 as planned and ATAR results handed out by the end of the year. Kindy and pre-primary students will go home from Thursday, and childcare centres will be closed for children whose parents aren't essential workers. 'We know this will be a significant ask of parents with little ones and big ones too. But I promise, as a parent to three, it's an ask I don't make lightly,' Mr Andrews said. Supermarkets and bottle shops will remain open. The Victorian government released a breakdown of active COVID-19 cases by postcode on Friday afternoon after recording the second highest number of new daily cases since the pandemic began - another 627 cases and eight deaths Military staff monitor a Melbourne aged care facility as it grapples with an outbreak of COVID-19 Victoria extended the lockdown until September 13 (pictured, a clinical waste removal personnel at St Basil's Homes for the Aged in Fawkner, Melbourne) A resident is removed from the St Basil's Homes for the Aged in Fawkner on Friday 'I want to ensure all Victorians supermarkets, the butcher, the baker, food, beverage, groceries, those types of settings, there will be no impact there,' Mr Andrews said. The new restrictions are in some ways even harsher than the lockdown imposed by New Zealand. Mr Andrews hoped cases could drop enough before September 13 that the restrictions wouldn't be extended, and could even end early. 'If everyone plays their part there is some prospect we can achieve our outcome before then,' he said. Mr Andrew warned that police would no longer issue cautions or show leniency, they will just fine people $1,652 or drag them before courts. 'We always reserve the right not just to fine you on the spot but to take you to court and then it's not $1,652, it's actually $10,000,' he said. 'This will be over sooner if everyone does the right thing and plays the part they have to play. 'I've said it many times, I don't want the selfishness of some to detract from the amazing work millions are doing. The looming harsher lockdown prompted thousands to flock to shops across Melbourne in a new round of panic buying Long lines and full trolleys were seen outside supermarkets as early as 7am 'These are the decisions made because anything short of this will not keep us safe. Anything short of this will see it go on for months and months and months. 'That is not acceptable to me having to stand here every day reporting more and more people dying. We need to come down on this hard. This is what this strategy is all about. 'We've avoided the worst-case scenario. Now we have to get to the covid normal and get there as quick as we possibly can.' The looming harsher lockdown prompted thousands to flock to shops across Melbourne in a new round of panic buying. Long lines and full trolleys were seen outside supermarkets as early as 7am - even though they would stay open under stage 4. 'There's a six-week period that we'll need to go through but the things people require for their essential day to day living will absolutely be available,' Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said. Melbourne locals pictured wearing face masks during a walk along Morell Bridge on July 24 Only supermarkets, pharmacies and service stations are expected to operate in a normal capacity (people wearing masks in Melbourne pictured on July 19) However, many other businesses will have to close or operate only remotely, with the details to be announced on Monday. Cafes and restaurants will continue to provide takeaway services, but people will not be allowed to dine in. Police will also step up their checks and increase patrols to stop potential breaches, and licence-plate recognition technology will be used to identify non-essential travellers. There are 6,322 active cases in Victoria, with 385 in hospital, and 38 in ICU. The active cases include 649 health care workers. Six of the seven new deaths were in aged care homes, where more than 1,000 residents are infected. The deaths include three women in their 70s, two women in their 80s, one man in his 90s, and one woman in her 90s. An alleged battery for the upcoming Apple Watch has passed through the Korean certification website last month. The battery carries the model number A2327 and has a capacity of 303.8mAh. The current Apple Watch Series 5 has a battery capacity of 296mAh and has the model number A2181, so it is possible that this new battery could make its way inside Apples upcoming wearable. Apple is going to ditch Force Touch on the Apple Watch Series 6 as it has entirely removed its functions in watchOS 7. Thus, the company could be using the internal space freed by the removal of the Force Touch hardware to include a slightly thicker battery. The battery capacity is unlikely to bring about any noticeable improvement in the battery life of the Apple Watch Series 6. At best, the upcoming wearable should offer the same battery life as the Apple Watch Series 4/5. Apple quotes the battery life of the Apple Watch Series 5 as 18 hours. Theres also a theory that this battery is meant for an upcoming AirPods case as the battery inside it is also of nearly the same capacity. Apple Watch Series 6 is expected to launch alongside the iPhone 12 this year. The wearable is rumored to feature a blood oxygen monitoring sensor, improved ECG, and other mental health tracking features including panic attack and stress level detection, and more. The Apple Watch Series 5 was a very minor upgrade that only introduced Always-On Display. So, for this year, it looks like Apple is preparing for a relatively major Apple Watch update, just like it did with the Apple Watch Series 4 back in 2018. [Via @yabhishekd When recent college graduate Tyrah Green decided to move across the country to Oakland, she knew she would need to make new friends. But the coronavirus pandemic has closed bars, canceled parties and kept people out of the workplace, slamming the door on the usual friend-making opportunities. It was a challenging proposition for Green, but COVID-19 was not going to stop her from leaving Brooklyn. So before Green got on the airplane in June, she decided to use dating apps to get to know people in the area. She changed her location from Brooklyn to San Francisco on Hinge, and she immediately connected with people online, landing a date before she even touched down at SFO. So I do actually have that one person that I know who lives around here who I spend time with, which has been really great, Green said of the person she met through Hinge. Im really trying to rethink what authentic connections and interactions are, and not be ashamed of how lonely I feel at times. As a pandemic playbook has emerged for moving, working and socializing remotely in the Bay Area, new ways to make friends have also grown organically out of the disruption caused by the coronavirus. Recent arrivals including college graduates like me have taken to dating apps for more than romance and hookups, matching with a wider range of people, then asking them for friendship instead of love. And just as Zoom happy hours with far-away family and virtual apartment tours may remain after the pandemic fades into history, making new friends on the internet is here to stay. When I decided to move from Philadelphia to San Francisco to work at The Chronicle, I was just like Green: excited about the move but friendless in my new city. Friends from college, worried about my complete lack of a social life once I arrived here in June, urged me to match with people on dating apps like Hinge and Bumble. Everyones doing it, they assured me. I felt uncomfortable, but after a month of near isolation, I decided to give it a shot. And they were right. Conversations online turned quickly to socially distanced walks, picnics in the park and often, friendship. Everyone was doing it. The Chronicle photo illustration Ross Matican, a recent graduate of Carleton College in Minnesota who moved to San Francisco this summer to work as a journalist, met a new friend on Grindr, a hookup app for the gay, bi, trans and queer community. Now they meet up weekly for masked, socially distanced walks to ice cream shop Salt and Straw. No one is dating right now, he said. So I just want to make new friends. People in the past would have been like, Ew, why are you doing that? he said of becoming friends with people through dating apps. Now, Im getting surprisingly well-received responses. Ive had the same experience. Once I worked up the courage to mention that Im new to San Francisco, and that dating is not in the cards for my West Coast coronavirus summer, my Hinge matches were more than happy to be friends. They grew more comfortable, relaxed and eager to make plans. The pressure eased. Making friends this way is not an entirely new concept. Dating app Bumble launched Bumble BFF intended specifically for platonic relationships in 2016, the year I went to college. Back then, no one I knew used the app, or admitted it if they did. You were judged. But now that the pandemic has forced us to confront the uncomfortable in almost every facet of life, judging someone for making friends on a dating app feels very 2016. Datings apps have been a connection conduit for 20-somethings and older adults, but college freshmen, many anticipating a first semester or full year of remote learning, have found more straightforward ways to meet. Livvy Platerink, a first-year at UC Berkeley, met her classmates on a Facebook group and Instagram page. While incoming undergraduates often introduce themselves online before meeting in person, this year most of their friendships will have to stay on the internet. Scrolling through the introductions on social media, Platerink discovered a friend of a friend from Monterrey, Mexico. They immediately bonded over their mutual acquaintance and have decided to stay in touch, even though they may not meet in person this year. I got to create this connection I never would have even made in person, she said. Many of Platerinks new online friendships blossomed over Instagram messages, Snapchats and video calls, and now she plans to move into an off-campus apartment with a few of the girls she met online. Honestly, it was totally like online dating, she said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Ive always been told, Dont make friends online. I heard terrible, terrible stories, Platerink said. But I think that different social platforms are making it a lot more safe, and its definitely becoming more socially acceptable, especially as Im entering a completely new environment. Its really transformed the way Im able to meet people. It might have taken the suffocating isolation of a global pandemic to force people to embrace it, but making friends via dating apps or on social media allows us to cross into diverse social orbits we would never encounter otherwise. Matican, for example, recently connected online with someone who works in architecture. I dont know how else I would have known him, he said, adding that he probably would have befriended mostly co-workers in journalism if he were working in person. As for me, posting on my own Facebook Class of 2020 page found me a potential new friend. Despite the fact that we both just graduated from Brown University, Tyrah Green and I had never met before we both moved to California. Our paths didnt cross in four years at the same institution in Providence, R.I., but we met up for the first time on Sunday. Green, Matican, Platerink and I all know that this wont be the last time we make friends this way. The pandemic has forced us to see fresh potential in social platforms and realize we can find new and diverse friends online. Even a vaccine with its promise of parties, bars and workplace coffee chats wont make us forget it. Anna Kramer is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: anna.kramer@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @anna_c_kramer Kerala: 3-year-old boy dies after swallowing coin; relatives allege govt hospitals negligence India pti-Madhuri Adnal Kochi, Aug 02:A three-year-old boydied after he accidentally swallowed a coin at his home near Aluva, with relatives alleging that government hospitals where he was taken to had refused to admit him as he came from a COVID-19 containment zone. Health Minister K K Shailaja termed the incident as "very unfortunate" and directed the Principal Secretary (Health) to submit a report after a thorough enquiry. Stringent action would be taken if any lapses were found, she said in a statement. Heavy rains likely in 10 districts of Kerala as IMD issues yellow alert The boy's relatives alleged that he was denied treatment as their residence fell in a COVID-19 containment zone at Kadungallur near Aluva. They said the incident occurred on Saturday morning following which the parents took the child to the Aluva government hospital, where an X-ray was done and revealed the presence of the object. However, the hospital authorities allegedly did not admit the child. A senior doctor there claimed that the boy was not admitted as there was no paediatric surgeon and so he was referred to the Ernakulam General Hospital. Doctors there examined the child and referred him to the Government Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha,for better medical care, where too he was allegedly not admitted. Kerala gold smuggling case: State BJP demands Chief Minister's resignation LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News The doctors reportedly advised the parents to give their child fruits, which, they said, would result in the coin passing through his motion. The parents, who belong to a poor family, took the child back to their home in Kadungallur. However his condition worsened by evening and they rushed him to Aluva government hospital, but he died en route, police said. The body would be handed over to the parents after post- mortem, health authorities said. His swab has been collected for COVID-19 test, they said. Southampton, Aug 2 : Jonny Bairstow hammered 82 off just 41 deliveries as England beat Ireland by four wickets in the second ODI between the two sides to claim victory in the series at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. England chased down a target of 213 with four wickets and nearly 20 overs to spare. The hosts now lead the three-match series 2-0, after their six-wicket win in the first match. Bairstow's efforts ensured that England crossed the 130-run mark within the first 16 overs of the match, although his innings also did not last longer than that. His opening partner Jason Roy went for a third-ball duck. Bairstow went on to share a 71-run stand with James Vince, which came off just 49 balls, most of it courtesy the England wicketkeeper-batsman. He however got a nick off Josh Little that flew straight into the hands of Lorcan Tucker behind the stumps to be dismissed on 82 off 41 balls. Little then dismissed England captain Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali in his next over to give the Irish boys a ray of hope but Sam Billings and David Willey saw them through to the end. Little was Ireland's highest wicket taker with three scalps while Curtis Campher, who led the way with the bat in both matches, took two. Earlier, Campher led another late fightback from Ireland to help them cross the 200-run mark. After being 91/6 in the 28th over, Campher helped the visitors post 212/9 at the end of their 50 overs. Brief Scores: Ireland 212/9 in 50 overs (Campher 68, Tector 28; Rashid 3/34) vs England 216/6 in 32.3 overs (Bairstow 82, Willey 47; Little 3/60) There have been a further 53 cases of coronavirus in Ireland reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) today bringing the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases to 26,162. The HSPC recorded no new deaths from the coronavirus today in Ireland meaning the total number of deaths in Ireland remains at 1,763 since the outbreak began. 80% of the new cases were confirmed among people younger than 45 years of age. 25 of the 53 new cases confirmed were located in Dublin with 4 cases identified with community transmission. A further breakdown of the data provided by the HPSC shows: 27 are men and 26 are women 80% are under 45 years of age 45 are associated with outbreaks or close contacts of a confirmed case 4 cases have been identified as community transmission 25 cases are located in Dublin, 19 in Laois, 6 in Kildare and the remaining 3 are spread across two other counties. Acting Chief Medical Officer from the Department of Health, Dr Ronan Glynn said he is pleased health authorities were able to source the latest Covid-19 infections but appealed again to the public to "stay the course" and observe public health guidelines. Dr Glynn said: "The source of transmission for over 90% of cases reported today has been identified. This is a positive development in light of the number of cases reported over the past few days. However, our five day average for cases reported is now 47. "We all need to continue to adopt a prevention mindset and continue making good choices to protect ourselves and others while trying to live safely with Covid-19. People are still susceptible, this virus has not changed. We know how to break the chains of transmission. "Lets stay the course by physically distancing, washing hands regularly, wearing a face covering where appropriate, avoiding crowds and doing all we can to protect each other. The Acting Chief Medical Officer reminded the public to wear face coverings when required. Picture: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos Dublin Meanwhile, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said there are 80 active cases of Covid-19 in Ireland which are making public health officials "nervous". The country is experiencing an average of 44 cases per day currently and Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said there is community transmission active in five counties. Mr Donnelly said: "There are approximately 500 live cases and 80 of these, approximately 80 of these, are from community transmission. We know where 80% is, but it's this one in five that has public health officials nervous. "There is no question that over the last five days the number of cases has gone up. "It was going up week on week through the end of June and start of July." Covid-19 testing at airports was also announced today by the Health Minister. Mr Donnelly said the growing number of cases worldwide had led to the decision with "the international situation is becoming more volatile." The Wicklow TD said: "We're introducing random testing at the airports and an increased public health presence and we're examining other options as well for further restrictions on non-essential travel." Mr Donelly also refused today to commit to reopening pubs next week. The Minister said he "did not want to make any comment" on the reopening until he had received advice from public health officials and the Government's key focus is reopening schools in September. The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will submit its advice on phase four to the Government tomorrow Cabinet will meet on Tuesday to discuss proposals on the reopening of pubs on August 10. https://www.aish.com/jw/s/An-Open-Letter-to-Seth-Rogen.html Seth, you spent an hour of prime time savaging your fellow Jews, misrepresenting Jewish history, defaming Israel and Israelis, and slandering Judaism. What gives? Dear Seth, I know that youve never claimed to be a historian, a theologian, a philosopher or a scholar. Youre a famous actor and comedian. Until last week, you pretty much stuck to the areas of your expertise. I cant blame you for going on Marc Marons podcast to plug your new movie after all Maron has more downloads than any cable show has viewers. Your new film, An American Pickle, is a pretty far out fantasy with a Jewish hook that might even have an important message. Its the story of a simple Jewish man named Herschel Greenbaum who works in a pickle factory in Brooklyn, falls into a vat of brine and stays there perfectly preserved for 100 years until he comes back to life to be with his great great grandson Ben in contemporary Brooklyn. I have no inkling how you developed the idea but to my mind it certainly would make for an interesting opportunity to focus on the link between generations as well as the mystical and miraculous reality of Jewish survival. Seems that was wishful thinking on my part. Seth, you spent an hour of prime time with many millions of listeners savaging your fellow Jews, misrepresenting Jewish history, defaming Israel and Israelis, slandering Judaism and, in your own words, testifying that religion is silly and for the preservation of the Jewish people it [Israel] makes no sense. I cant help but wonder how your grandparents who taught you about the reality of anti-Semitism would feel about your performance if they could have been pickled and returned to life like the hero of your film. What I can tell you though is the absolute glee of Jew haters in the aftermath of your hour of shame. Mondoweiss, a left-leaning news website co-edited by journalists Philip Weiss and Adam Horowitz - two Jewish founders who describe themselves as progressive and anti-Zionist - reacted to your statements with the bold headline Israel Is Ridiculous, Antiquated and Based on Ethnic Cleansing, Seth Rogen Says, But Hes Afraid To Tell Other Jews. But obviously not afraid enough to prevent him from sharing his views on the most listened-to podcast in the world. You have an obligation to think before you speak and to have some familiarity with facts before you libel people. Seth, I dont mean to swell your ego but in a celebrity-driven culture such as ours, what you say matters, and what you claim as truth can unfortunately influence the thinking of countless people. You have an obligation to think before you speak and to have some familiarity with facts before you libel people. How terrible, you shared with millions, that you were fed a huge amount of lies about Israel my entire life! They never tell you that oh by the way, there were people there. They make it seem like it was just like sitting there, like the (obscenity) doors open they forget to include the fact to every young Jewish person. I understand that youre not a scholar, Seth. It seems that it comes as a shock to you that there were in fact people other than Jews living in Palestine. Let me explain that to you how that happened. We just finished commemorating Tisha BAv, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av. For thousands of years Jews around the world have fasted and observed a day of mourning. We weep for what we once had. Our ancestors settled in the land God promised to Abraham in biblical times. There twelve tribes became a nation. There we had prophets who taught us as well as the rest of the world how to live lives of holiness, of justice and righteousness. And there we built a temple to the Almighty in order to bring His presence down to earth and His values and wisdom to serve as beacon for all mankind. It was on Tisha BAv that the Babylonians destroyed that temple and sent us into our first exile. But we wept by the rivers of Babylon and we would not forget our homeland. We returned and rebuilt. We saw the glory of yet another temple. And once again we learned that those who serve as the conscience of the world will be hated. The second Temple was destroyed by the Romans and in a striking coincidence or as we see it the serendipity of Gods management of the universe - the date of the tragedy was once more the ninth of Av. Again we were forced into exile. History had a remarkable sense of irony. The first Crusade was declared by Pope Urban II on July 20, 1095, leading to the death of 1.2 million Jews. The Hebrew date? Tisha BAv. In 1492, the Golden age of Spain came to a close when Queen Isabella and her husband King Ferdinand ordered that the Jews be banished from the land for the greater glory of the church and the Christian religion. The edict of expulsion gave the Jews exactly four months to the day to put their affairs in order and leave the country. The Hebrew date on which no Jews were allowed any longer to remain in the land where they had enjoyed welcome and prosperity for centuries? Of course, Tisha BAv. And yet Jews never despaired. We never gave up on our silly religion or our claim to our national homeland - a place, Seth, you seem to think we dont need because we can rely on other safe havens in spite of our history of oppression, exile and Holocaust. When Dr. Chaim Weizmann, later to become the first president of the state of Israel, met with Lord Balfour, former prime minister of UK, and explained to him the Zionist idea, Balfour asked him why the Jews were opposed to the Uganda Plan as a substitute for Palestine. Wiseman responded: Lord Balfour, suppose that I would offer to you Paris instead of London, would you accept? But, Balfour said, Dr. Weitzman, London is ours. Thats true, Wiseman answered, but Jerusalem was ours when London was still a swamp. Seth, maybe you really should study a little more about the history of your people. Yes, other people were in Palestine. But even a Jew-hating world somehow miraculously recognized, first by way of the Balfour declaration and then with United Nations recognition, that amidst a sea of newly created Arab countries Jews had a right to at least a tiny sliver of land they could call their own, harking back to thousands of years of linkage, physical, spiritual and emotional. The following story is probably apocryphal but its message is a truth, Seth, that should speak directly to your heart. Napoleon was once walking through the streets of Paris on Tisha BAv. As he passed the synagogue he heard the sounds of crying and mourning. Whats this all about? Napoleon asked. An aide explained that the Jews were mourning for the loss of their temple. When did this happen?, Napoleon asked. The agent replied, About 1700 years ago. Napoleon was incredulous. Certainly a people which has mourned the loss of their temple for so long, he said, will merit to see it rebuilt. This Tisha BAv, I wept for the two temples destroyed and the many other tragedies that were the result of horrors inflicted on us by others. I cried for the insensitivity, the thoughtlessness and I hate to say it the stupidity of our own people. How painful that post-Holocaust Jewry fails to recognize that suicide may be just as destructive as murder. Seth, would you allow me to guide you and to help you find out why you are so gravely mistaken about Israel, about Judaism and about the Herschel Greenbaum you really are in the depths of your soul? I would welcome the opportunity to learn with you. Respectfully yours, Benjamin Blech Last month, he bought her a cellphone, which was to be kept secret and just between the two of them. Soon after, he began asking her to text him inappropriate pictures of herself, while sending her lewd pictures of his body and consistently telling her he loved her, prosecutors said. New Delhi, Aug 2 : The officer in-charge of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, Prakash Kumar Gupta has dismissed reports that flagbearers of the Ram temple movement and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi are not being invited for the Bhoomi Pujan. Gupta said such reports were aimed at creating a controversy, adding that an invitation had been sent to all eminent persons associated with the temple movement. Speaking to IANS, Gupta said, "All prominent persons, including Advaniji, Joshiji, have been invited by mail and informed telephonically, too. Due to corona and health reasons, many distinguished invitees may not be able to come for the Bhoomi Pujan. One may be unable to come or may have difficulty in undertaking a long journey. There is no question of not inviting all imminent personalities, the trust respects the sentiments of all." Gupta opined that sending invitations by post does not guarantee that the invitation reaches in time. However, sending invitations by e-mail or phone is more convenient. An invitation conveyed on the phone adds a personal touch. Advani and Joshi have been invited telephonically, too. On the other hand, when IANS contacted Advani at his 30, Prithviraj Road residence in New Delhi, the person who answered the phone said that no official programme has been decided yet by him to go to Ayodhya for the Bhoomi Pujan. However, the person definitely accepted getting a call from Ayodhya, but said there was not much information regarding the Bhoomi Pujan. Advani's personal secretary Deepak Chopra when contacted did not rsepond. A colleague of senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi told IANS, "No call was received till Saturday. It may have come on Sunday, but I am on leave today. So I am not aware." Sources close to both senior BJP leaders said due to coronavirus and health reasons, they could join the Bhoomi Pujan programme via video from their respective residences. The preparations for the Bhoomi Pujan programme of Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5 are in full swing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reach Ayodhya for the inaugural of the Bhoomi Pujan of the grand Ram temple. Holy earth and water from all major religious sites and sacred rivers of the country will form the ingredients of the Bhoomi Pujan in Ayodhya. Latest updates on Ayodhya Ram Temple Bhumi Pujan The US government has been considering a ban on TikTok citing a potential national security risks due to the Chinese companys control of the app. Microsoft and ByteDance have put acquisition talks for the TikTok US on hold after US President Donald Trump signalled opposition to the deal, reports Wall Street Journal. According to the WSJ report, Microsoft and Bytedance were caught off guard when Trump said he would prefer a ban on the application. The report further said that the two sides are seeking clarity from the White House before the deal talks are resumed. Microsoft was said to be in advanced talks with Bytedance to take over the US operations of the popular video-sharing platform. The deal is said to have helped Microsoft own a social networking platform, a rare missing offering from the software-service giant. It would have also relieved some pressure on the Chinese parent company which has been caught in a political tussle between the US and China. Apart from Microsoft, other companies have also shown interest in acquiring the TikTok US. A message to the TikTok community. pic.twitter.com/UD3TR2HfEf TikTok (@tiktok_us) August 1, 2020 TikTok, in the meanwhile, has been promoting its focus on the local audience. Shortly after Trumps comments, Tiktok's US General Manager Vanessa Pappas posted a video message saying the company is going to be around for long. She also promised to create more jobs in the US over the next three years. ALSO READ: TikTok's Chinese owner offers to forego stake to clinch US deal "When it comes to safety and security, we're building the safest app, because we know it's the right thing to do. We're here for the long run, continue to share your voice here and let's stand for TikTok, she said in the message. The BBC has defended its decision to air a same-sex kiss on CBBC show The Next Step. In July, the popular mockumentary-style show, which follows members of a competitive dance studio, aired a kiss between characters Jude (Molly Sanders) and Cleo (Dani Verago), after they performed a routine together. The moment received widespread praise from fans and critics, who viewed the scene as a landmark moment both for the show and for depictions of LGBTQ+ people on TV. The BBC has now issued a statement to its website, revealing some people complained about the episode. We have received complaints about a storyline involving a same-sex kiss, the statement said. The decision to include this moment, as part of a longer storyline throughout series seven which has been tracking the development of a romantic relationship between two of the characters, Jude and Cleo, was taken very carefully and with much consideration, and came about after CBBC and Boatrocker (the production company who make the show) acknowledged that the series could and should do more to reflect the lives of LGBTQ+ young people. The statement continued: This is an important part of our mission to make sure that every child feels like they belong, that they are safe, and that they can be who they want to be. The BBC said that it believed the storyline was handled sensitively and that it was not inappropriate given the average audience of the show. CBBC regularly portrays heterosexual young people dating, falling in love, and kissing, and it is an important way of showing children what respectful, kind and loving relationships look like, the statement said. It also pointed out that same-sex relationships had already been featured in CBBC shows, including 4 O Clock Club, Jamie Johnson, and Marrying Mum and Dad. In 1994, CBBC series Byker Grove became the first British drama to address the topic of coming out, when character Noddy Fishwick kissed his close friend Gary Hendrix in a cinema. Precious Metals Warn Of Increased Volatility Ahead Our trading team witnessed a big drop in Platinum and Palladium prices early this morning while Gold and Silver continued to push moderately higher. We began to question this move and investigate any historical relevance to previous patterns. Our research team pointed out that both Platinum and Palladium rolled lower just 3 to 4 days before the breakdown in the US stock markets on February 24, 2020, while Gold and Silver were reaching recent price peaks. Could the patterns in precious metals be a warning of another potential volatility spike and price decline in the near future? ARE METALS PATTERNS PREDICTING A BIG DOWNSIDE PRICE EVENT? Our research team created the charts below to help highlight the pattern that we are seeing in Precious Metals right now. First, we highlighted February 24, 2020, with a light blue vertical line to more clearly illustrate where the markets initiated the COVID-19 breakdown event. Next, we drew shaded rectangles around new downside price rotation levels that took place near this peak in the US stock markets. Lastly, we drew a red line that highlights the subsequent price decline that took place in Precious Metals as the markets tanked in late February and early March 2020. The current downside price move in Platinum and Palladium are very interesting because it appears Platinum and Palladium both initiated a downside/contraction price event just 3 to 4 days before Gold and Silver, as well as the rest of the US stock market, began to collapse on February 25, 2020. You can clearly see in the bottom two charts that Platinum and Palladium initiated a downside price correction a few days before both Gold and Silver reached their peak levels and began to move lower. Once this peak rotation took place, all four of the major metals groups moved moderately lower for about 7 days before pausing, then collapsed even further. Our researchers believe the current setup in Platinum and Palladium may be mirroring the February 2020 peak rotation and warning that a massive volatility event and downside price contraction event may be setting up and just days away from initiating. The breakdown in Precious Metals at a time when the US stock market is crashing is usually a result of margin calls where traders experience losses in their trading accounts and much liquidate Precious Metals positions to cover these losses. This time, the downside event in Precious Metals may not be as deep or exaggerated as the February/March collapse. Skilled traders have already positioned their accounts to avoid margin calls. Only the novice traders may be in a position to experience this type of event in the near future. HOW DEEP WILL IT GO? Our researchers believe any future downside event in precious metals will likely stall near the recent support levels on these charts and immediately rotate back into a bullish trend because fear and greed wont allow metals to fall too far before greedy traders try to scoop up these positions at discounted price levels. Our Support levels for the four Precious Metals shown are: Silver: $19 to $21 Gold: $1780 to $1820 Platinum: $750 to $850 Palladium: $1915 to $2090 We believe any attempt to reach these levels in any of these four various Precious Metals would present a very strong buying opportunity for skilled technical traders. If it were to happen while a US stock market volatility event was taking place and/or the US stock market began a new downside price decline, then skilled traders should understand we may be seeing a similar type of price rotation event to the one that took place in February/March 2020 representing a fantastic trading opportunity for those lucky enough to take advantage of the discounted price levels. Before you continue, be sure to opt-in to our free-market trend signals before closing this page so you dont miss our next special report! This next chart highlights what we believe may be the downside price event as it potentially takes place over the next 10 to 20+ days. Pay special attention to the differences in how Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Palladium react to the fear event and where real opportunity exists near the end of this potential event. Platinum and Palladium will likely fall 15% to 25% where Gold may fall only 8% and Silver may fall 15% to 20% before bottoming. As technical traders, we cant pass up an opportunity like this when Precious Metals gift us with a potential 15% to 45%+ rotation in price that should be moderately easy to trade given our expectations. If this event takes place as we have described, skilled technical traders could begin to acquire smaller positions near our target levels, then wait to acquire bigger positions as the bottom sets up. Take a look at how Gold and Silver rallied after the February/March collapse Gold rallied back to new highs within 45 days whereas Silver rallied higher over 4+ months, then broke higher just recently on a huge upside breakout move. Platinum and Palladium rotated more diligently throughout a 90-day span never really reaching new highs after the peak in February 2020. The reality of patterns like this is they are fun and exciting to find at this early stage of the setup. Were not 100% confident this pattern will play out as we expect yet but we believe the probability is high that a volatility event is about to take place and that Precious Metals could react very similarly to the February/March 2020 price reactions again. Quick Video Clip On Silver & Gold Predictions https://youtu.be/n7vCQ0XjrlE As technical traders, we love this type of telegraphed event even if it does not take place exactly as the previous event took place. It means we have an opportunity to take advantage of increased volatility and price rotation in one of our favorite sectors METALS. Get ready for this move if we are correct it may be your last chance to buy Gold and Silver at deep discounts for quite a while. Get our Active ETF Swing Trade Signals or if you have any type of retirement account and are looking for signals when to own equities, bonds, or cash, be sure to become a member of my Passive Long-Term ETF Investing Signals which we are about to issue a new signal for subscribers. Chris Vermeulen www.TheTechnicalTraders.com Chris Vermeulen has been involved in the markets since 1997 and is the founder of Technical Traders Ltd. He is an internationally recognized technical analyst, trader, and is the author of the book: 7 Steps to Win With Logic Through years of research, trading and helping individual traders around the world. He learned that many traders have great trading ideas, but they lack one thing, they struggle to execute trades in a systematic way for consistent results. Chris helps educate traders with a three-hour video course that can change your trading results for the better. His mission is to help his clients boost their trading performance while reducing market exposure and portfolio volatility. He is a regular speaker on HoweStreet.com, and the FinancialSurvivorNetwork radio shows. Chris was also featured on the cover of AmalgaTrader Magazine, and contributes articles to several leading financial hubs like MarketOracle.co.uk Disclaimer: Nothing in this report should be construed as a solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. Technical Traders Ltd., its owners and the author of this report are not registered broker-dealers or financial advisors. Before investing in any securities, you should consult with your financial advisor and a registered broker-dealer. Never make an investment based solely on what you read in an online or printed report, including this report, especially if the investment involves a small, thinly-traded company that isnt well known. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report has been paid by Cardiff Energy Corp. In addition, the author owns shares of Cardiff Energy Corp. and would also benefit from volume and price appreciation of its stock. The information provided here within should not be construed as a financial analysis but rather as an advertisement. The authors views and opinions regarding the companies featured in reports are his own views and are based on information that he has researched independently and has received, which the author assumes to be reliable. Technical Traders Ltd. and the author of this report do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any content of this report, nor its fitness for any particular purpose. Lastly, the author does not guarantee that any of the companies mentioned in the reports will perform as expected, and any comparisons made to other companies may not be valid or come into effect. Chris Vermeulen Archive 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Published on 2020/08/02 | Source The U.S. has removed all restrictions on South Korea using solid fuel to power rockets, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday. Advertisement The decision is expected to speed up South Korea's efforts to develop space rockets and bolster military reconnaissance satellites. Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Hyun-jong told reporters that the limits on the use of solid-fuel rockets have been "completely lifted" in revised missile guidelines agreed by the U.S. In 1979, the U.S banned South Korea from building rockets above a certain range and payload, with restrictions gradually eased in 2001, 2012 and 2017. So far the guidelines limited the thrust of solid-fuel rockets to just 1/10 the level of advanced countries. The government has been complaining that South Korea lags behind the rest of the world in terms of rocket technology even as North Korea is developing its own solid-fuel ballistic missiles. South Korea failed to launch two liquid-fuel space rockets back in 2009 and 2010. Solid-fuel rockets are simpler to design, cost less to produce and can more easily be moved around and launched. That could allow South Korea to launch its own military reconnaissance satellites that will monitor the Korean Peninsula around the clock. It will also be able to develop and produce civilian rockets. The crash took place at about 7.15am on Sunday at the Frankfort Roundabout, near Camolin. The man in his 30s was pronounced dead at the scene. His body has been brought to Waterford University Hospital where a post-mortem will be carried out. The road had been closed for forensic examination but has since been reopened. Gardai are appealing to anyone who witnessed the collision to come forward, particularly road users with dash-cams who were travelling in the area at the time of the incident. Time to turn crisis into opportunities South Korea's industrial output rebounded in June, despite the resurgent COVID-19 pandemic. This is raising hopes for an economic recovery, although it is still too early to talk about when COVID-19 will be brought under control. According to Statistics Korea, overall industrial production increased 4.1 percent in June from a month earlier. This represented a solid recovery from a 1.2 percent contraction in May. It also marked a slight rise of 0.7 percent from June 2019. It is notable that production in manufacturing, mining, gas and electricity industries climbed 7.2 percent month-on-month in June. The strong rebound was the sharpest monthly growth since February 2009 when the 2008 global financial crisis hit the Korean economy. Production of chips and cars grew 3.3 percent and 35.7 percent, respectively, leading the way. More encouraging is that investment and consumption also rebounded. Facility investment expanded 5.4 percent in June, and retail sales rose 2.4 percent. It was the first time since last December that the three major economic indicators have enjoyed positive growth all at the same time. Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom described the June data as a "clear sign of recovery." He predicted the slumping economy would turn around in the third quarter, after shrinking 3.3 percent in the second quarter and 1.9 percent in the first quarter. Every Korean hopes his prediction will become reality sooner than later. The upbeat indicators are seen as a result of rapid normalization of economic and business activities that have been in the doldrums since the first virus infection was confirmed here in late January. Disaster relief funds to each household and injections of massive fiscal support into the market have also begun to help boost the economy. Yet we need to have cautious optimism because exports, the country's growth engine, have yet to rebound. The overall expectation is that the COVID-19 pandemic will not die down quickly. Thus, pessimism still prevails over economic prospects not only for South Korea but also the world. However, the silver lining over the dark economic cloud is that many countries, especially developed ones, are reopening their economies rapidly as part of efforts to go back to normal in the face of the pandemic. In this situation, the pace of decline in South Korea's exports has slowed thanks to the worldwide reopening. Overseas shipments nosedived 23.7 percent in May and 10.9 percent in June. But the fall was narrowed to 7 percent last month. Now, policymakers, businesspeople and consumers should double down on speeding the economic recovery. Most of all, the Moon Jae-in administration should be more active in promoting innovation and deregulation to create a better business environment. The private sector also must expand investment and offer more jobs to turn the pandemic-driven crisis into new opportunities. Sushant Singh Rajput Case: Disha Salian's Mother Says They Want To Be Left Alone, Mumbai Police Claims Ex-Manager's Casefiles Are 'Deleted' Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 19:51:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has supported Victoria's decision to impose stage four lockdown measures in Melbourne. Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews on Sunday declared a state of disaster and a curfew between 8:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. across the metropolitan Melbourne area for at least six weeks from Sunday night. It represents the strictest lockdown imposed in Australia in recent months. "I've had the job of leading this state for almost six years -- more than 2,000 days. And today is by far the hardest day and the hardest decision," said Andrews in the statement on Sunday. According to him, a state of disaster will give the police additional powers to make sure that people are complying with public health directions. "From 6:00 p.m. tonight (Sunday), Melbourne will also move to Stage 4 restrictions with stronger rules to limit the movement of people and limit the spread of this virus across our city," he said. "The only reasons to leave home during these hours will be work, medical care and caregiving." On the same day earlier, Education Minister Dan Tehan said the government "absolutely" supported the decision to tighten restrictions. "We've got our officials with the Victorian government. We're working collaboratively and closely with them," he told Sky News Australia. "We'll continue to offer as much support as we can." As of Sunday afternoon, there had been 17,923 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia, and the number of new cases in the last 24 hours is 687, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health. The national death toll has grown to 208 with seven new deaths since Saturday in Victoria, including six linked to the COVID-19 outbreaks in aged care facilities. Of the new cases, 671 were in Victoria -- the state's second biggest daily increase since the beginning of the pandemic. According to Andrews, health experts said based on the current numbers, cases might begin to drop off not in days or weeks but in months. Enditem Amit Shah, Home Minister, has just tested positive for Covid-19, and been hospitalised. He has asked those who have worked with him to self-isolate. Many in government, have reacted to the news on Twitter, and have wished him well. Home Minister Amit Shah, has just tested positive for Covid-19 he said in a tweet on Sunday. He says that his health is currently fine, but asks for everyone who has come into contact with him to self-isolate. He is being admitted to Medanta Hospital, in Gurugram, according to reports. Sources have said that all of his staff members will be tested for Covid. This comes after UP BJP Chief Swatantra Dev Singh, and Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, have tested positive, and UP Minister Kamal Rani Varun has succumbed to the virus. He tweeted saying, that on getting the first few symptoms of Covid-19, he got tested and the report came back positive. He said that his health is fine, but would be admitting himself to the hospital on the advice of doctors. He further requested all those who had worked with him, to self-isolate, and to get themselves tested. Sources have said that there will be extensive tracing of whoever has come into contact with him the past few days. I am sorry to hear from news media that Amit Shah has to be admitted to hospital because he has tested positive for Coronavirus. I wish him speedy recovery and pray for his early discharge Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) August 2, 2020 I pray for the speedy recovery of Hon'ble Home Minister Shri @AmitShah ji https://t.co/i26dkb6Q1q Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 2, 2020 - Trivendra Singh Rawat (@tsrawatbjp) August 2, 2020 Mamata Banerjee, the Bengal CM, took to Twitter, and offered him a speedy recovery, and said that her prayers were with Shah and his family. Similarly, Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM, wished a speedy recovery for Amit Shah. Congress Leader Rahul Gandhi has also wished Amit Shah the same. Also Read: Punjab Hooch case: Kejriwal asks Punjab Govt to hand over case to CBI Also Read: In a first, Mumbai traffic signals to display women pedestrians Heard about the Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji being tested positive for #COVID-19. Wishing him a speedy recovery. My prayers are with him and his family! Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 2, 2020 Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy, also wished Amit Shah the same, and said that he was sorry to hear from news media that Amit Shah was being admitted to the hospital. He wished Home Minister Shah, a speedy recovery and said he would pray for his early discharge. Trivendra Singh Rawat, the Uttarakhand CM, said that he would pray to Kedar Baba for Amit Shahs health. UP CM Yogi Adityanath called Amit Shah a model of strong will and said he would be praying for his health. Currently, India has reached more than 17 Lakh confirmed Covid-19 cases, along with 37,364 deaths. Also Read: War is coming: Whats our policy? In four years of federal politics, Nicolle Flint has had a fast lesson in just how entitled some Australians feel when it comes to using sexist language about women in public life. She has experienced the worst of it such as highly sexualised slurs daubed on her electoral office window and the everyday, which includes the relentless focus on women's appearance. This week, in a move rarely seen among members of the Liberal Party's conservative faction, she spectacularly called out the latter after having her "tight, black, ankle-freezing trousers and stiletto heels", her earrings and even her smile critiqued in a column by veteran broadcaster Peter Goers, who dubbed her a "fashion plate". Nicolle Flint was amazed at the bi-partisan support she received from female politicians around Australia this week after calling out sexism. Credit:Ben Searcy Furious, she donned a bin bag for a Twitter video in which she asked "so Mr Goers, what should a woman in politics wear? How about a garbage bag to match your rubbish views". She was delighted to see that her tweet attracted loud support from women across the political spectrum, including many with wildly opposing political views. The stakeholders involved in the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) will next year push for the enactment of a Conduct of Public Officers Law and an Illicit Enrichment Law. They would also drive the enactment of the Whistle-blower Amendment Bill, promote surveys on corruption, surveys on Gender and Corruption, and encourage media houses to use the national anti-corruption reporting dashboard to submit reports on corruption. Mr Richard Quayson, Deputy Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administration Justice (CHRAJ) who announced this, said the stakeholders were, however, finalising their full recommendations for the year. The stakeholders include the CHRAJ, the National Commission on Civic Education and the Ghana Police Service. Speaking at the Annual Report Validation workshop, he said, Ghana had since the adoption and implementation of NACAP, made some modest gains. The achievements, he said, had been made over the five-year of implementation of the Plan, with eight activities completed. The workshop, thereby, highlighted the progress of the activities prioritised for the year ending 2019, and analysed the trend of progress over the past five years. Mr Qayson said 119 broad activities were at various stages of implementation, while eight activities were yet to commence. The gains highlighted by the High-Level Implementation Committee, mentioned, among others, the automation of the superior and circuit courts; the electronic case distribution system; introduction of the Integrity Awards and the development of code of conduct for Members of Parliament. Others are the digitisation of key revenue generation institutions; computerised revenue generation systems that simplify tax collection; and the establishment of Public Relations and Complaints Units of the Judicial Service, among others. NACAP, which is Ghanas strategic response to the fight corruption, seeks to advocate and promote high integrity and ethical systems and practices, professional standards, as well as the effective enforcement of anti-corruption laws. This is premised on the three-prong approach of Prevention, Education and Enforcement. Mr Quayson said through NACAP, the awareness on the evils of corruption and the mechanisms for reporting it, including whistle-blowing, had increased. The Deputy Commissioner said Ghana had also performed well in the digitisation of the operations of ports and harbours, improvement in the financing of the Audit Service and accelerated digitisation of banking and financial institutions. There were, however, some challenges in the implementation process, he said. They include low patronage and reporting on NACAP among stakeholders, limited resource allocation, and some implementing partners reporting on activities not pertaining to their institutions. The Accountability, Rule of law and Anti-Corruption Programme (ARAP), a European Union-funded initiative, is supporting reform processes in addressing corruption in the country, in collaboration with CHRAJ. ARAP is also supporting in the validation of the NACAP. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video 171 Shares Share A conversation with friends and family usually starts with, How are you holding up? My answer is not usually about work, but rather a response of Well, its going OK, but I wasnt really meant to be a homeschool teacher. As the pandemic marches on, many areas of the country have discussed the delayed reopening of schools, furthering the burden of at-home education. Articles are being published commenting on the fall in productivity of women academicians, and our collective retort is nothing short of exasperated expletives. Our weeks are spent working clinical shifts, homeschooling and caring for children, and running our personal households in a time when typical resources may be unavailable. There wasnt much time left before coronavirus to devote to academic work, and that extra time has all but disappeared. On top of this, voices all around us tell us that we should be taking care of ourselves and shoring up our mental health to face the daily death and desperation that awaits us at work. Voices that tell us we should be cherishing this extra time at home with our children. To add to the mounting pressure, many physicians are currently experiencing reductions in pay and hours. With the fear surrounding financial instability added to the mix, it is sometimes hard to decide what to worry about most. I wondered if I was the only physician mom feeling this way, so I surveyed over 130 of my colleagues all physician mothers working on the front lines of this pandemic. What I learned is that 90 percent of my colleagues were dealing with a decrease in available childcare or cancellation of school and that the majority of these women were taking on extra childcare or homeschooling responsibilities. On top of that, the majority of women had taken on extra household chores, shopping, and meal preparation. Female physicians contribute significantly to their household finances, but the effects of the pandemic have not spared physicians and other hospital workers. 35 percent of women surveyed felt they had experienced a stressful negative financial impact since the pandemic started. One factor that often plays into compensation for academic physicians is that of promotion along the tenure track at their institution, and promotion is often awarded based on the output of uncompensated time spent on research, teaching, and other forms of academic productivity. 57 percent of women surveyed were concerned about the pandemics impact on their academic careers, and 63 percent cited decreased productivity as a source for this stress. So what is the solution? Its obvious that life as we used to know it will not be returning any time soon. Perhaps we should show ourselves some grace and cut each other a break. But this is difficult in a time when women in academics are still fighting for equity in pay, recognition, and rates of promotion. Women can be left behind in the academic pipeline when they take time off to focus on family or other obligations, and the challenges of coronavirus have only exaggerated the challenges of competing. This is an opportunity to take a closer look at how academic departments support their female faculty. Nicole Battaglioli is an emergency physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 14:54:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Topping-out ceremony for a 50-story, 203-meter-high office tower project was held in Colombo on Friday. The project was constructed by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), which has made great efforts in epidemic prevention and work resumption. At the ceremony, a CHEC official pledged that the company will continue to battle against the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure the project is completed next year. The Sri Lankan side said that CHEC resumed operation after taking adequate anti-virus measures, overcame a number of technical challenges and fulfilled its target as scheduled. The complex tower, with a total construction area of about 141,000 square meters, is expected to be complete in July next year. Lucknow, Aug 2 : The study conducted by the Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute (GBPSSI) in Prayagraj has revealed that caste barriers were demolished to a large extent during the pandemic. The Eminent cultural anthropologist and director of GBPSSI, Prof Badri Narayan, said that migrant workers in distress, openly accepted help and support from anywhere, rising above caste-based mentality to survive. "Hardships and uncertainty caused by Covid-19 pandemic also helped break down caste and community divides that often rule social lives in UP and Bihar. People, however, were surprised by lack of support and camaraderie from fellow caste members who distanced themselves when they returned to their home villages," he explained. Narayan said: "This research was aimed at understanding how caste system functions in Indian society during the times of disaster and emergency. It was centred on migrant labourers of UP and Bihar who returned from various destinations and tried to document changes in the inner content of caste in their everyday life." He said that as per the 2011 Census, there are 453.6 million internal migrants in India. Based on the 2011 Census, it is estimated that UP accounts for nearly 25 per cent (over 56.4 million) and Bihar accounts for 14 per cent (over 20.4 million) interstate migration. The team interviewed 215 migrants comprising Dalits, OBCs and upper castes who returned from Mumbai, Delhi, Surat and Pune to UP and Bihar. "We selected six quarantine centres each in UP and Bihar to document everyday life experience of migrants there. Most respondents completed their quarantine period either at a centre or home quarantine, and then reached their villages and towns," he said. "Our research associates interviewed them, mostly over phone, and some face-to-face to know how caste identities remained with them during the pandemic," he said. He said that this was a 'methodology of emergency' during lockdown when researchers could not go to field. "The researchers came to know about many instances where upper castes took food and water from the hands of fellow Dalits and OBC migrant travellers during their journey. When they entered a quarantine centre, caste consciousness which was diluted during travel did reappear in some cases but the majority from different castes ate and stayed together forgetting untouchability," said Narayan. "A new form of social distance and untouchability emerged during the pandemic. For instance, a Brahmin youth from Mumbai returned to his village in Bundelkhand and was treated as an untouchable and his wife was prevented from drawing water from the well. People even called him 'Corona'," he said. The team led by Manuel Serrano, ICREA researcher and Head of the Cellular Plasticity and Disease Lab at IRB Barcelona, has been awarded the Proof of Concept grant by the European Research Council (ERC). This grant, created to support ideas that could benefit society, will provide the IRB Barcelona team with 150,000 euros to develop the SENFIB project over the next 18 months. The goal of this project is to develop new medication for the treatment of fibrotic diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic kidney disease. To do this, the research project aims to target senescent cells. These are cells which have permanently exited the cell cycle after suffering damage or stress, and cause persistent inflammation which can give rise to ageing-related diseases. In animal models, the selective elimination of senescent cells has proven to have therapeutic effects on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic kidney disease and ageing. Manuel Serrano's laboratory, which also has the backing of the "La Caixa" Foundation, is proposing to launch a programme to discover senolytics, molecules which cause the preferential death of senescent cells whilst leaving the healthy cells intact. Senescent cells are damaged cells which remain in the organism and lead to the functional deterioration of tissue and organs. Senolytics allow us to selectively eliminate these cells when the immune system is unable to do so, thus preventing the appearance of ageing-related diseases". Manuel Serrano, ICREA Researcher and Head of the Cellular Plasticity and Disease Lab at IRB Barcelona In fact, senolytics have become a promising focal point to combat ageing-related diseases, and the MIT recently mentioned them as one of the "Top 10 breakthrough technologies" for 2020 in the MIT Technology Review. The project could have a considerable impact, as it is calculated that a fourth of the global population will be over the age of 65 by 2050 and will therefore be more likely to suffer from degenerative diseases such as fibrosis, which cause up to 45% of deaths in this segment of the population. The new senolytics will be aimed at targets previously discovered by Marta Kovatcheva, a postdoctoral researcher and member of the research team. As Marta explains, "It is a very interesting example of how basic research can open the doors to clinical translation. The ERC's Proof of Concept project allows us to make the leap and engage with the concerns of society." By Trend Another stage of the Azerbaijani-Turkish Live-Fire Joint Large-Scale Tactical Exercises was held in Azerbaijan in accordance with the Agreement on Military Cooperation, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. According to the plan, the efficiency and coordination of tasks, the process of organizing the interoperability, the logistic support during combat operations, as well as the effectiveness of military personnel activity and the use of weapons and military equipment were checked. According to the scenario of exercises, the motorized rifle and armored units, which have been brought into the designated points, completed the assigned tasks. The exercises are underway. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The second issue that confused you is the amount of your benefits. Im not sure how you came up with the $2,385 benefit rate you figured. But for now, lets just assume that was right. You said you added in the 16% bonus. Thats where the problem lies and here is why. You actually get a delayed retirement credit, or a DRC, of two-thirds of 1% for each month you delay benefits after age 66. That comes out to 8% per year, or 16% for the two years that you waited to start your benefits. But here is the catch. You cannot get any DRCs for a year until the year is over. So, the benefit rate you start out getting in September 2020 will include all DRCs you were due through the end of 2019. And you cant get any DRCs for 2020 until next year. That is what the SSA rep was trying to explain to you when he said your benefit will be recalculated in 2021. It will. Thats when you will get all of the delayed retirement credits for 2020 added to your Social Security check. Finally, lets get into that retroactive check business. Any Social Security claim filed after your full retirement age comes with the possibility of claiming up to six months worth of retroactive benefits. Tamil Nadus Governor Banwarilal Purohit was brought to the hospital on Sunday post 12 pm, days after the Raj Bhavan announced his isolation, after several staffers at his residence tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease. However, no official statement has been released on the purpose of his visit to the hospital, or the status of his Covid-19 test result. According to a Raj Bhavan official, his coronavirus test result is expected to come on Sunday. An earlier press release had declared the Governor "fit and healthy" after the Raj Bhavan Medical Officer conducted a check-up on him. Nonetheless, Purohit had been asked to isolate for seven days. Subsequently, the Honourable Governor has kept himself in isolation, the press release dated July 29 had said. Two weeks before he isolated himself, 84 people at the Raj Bhavan had tested positive for Covid-19. The news became public on July 23, a week before his isolation. Extensive cleaning and disinfection drive was conducted at the sprawling grounds of the Governor's residence. In Tamil Nadu, three ministers of the state Cabinet have so far tested positive, who subsequently recovered. The state's capital city Chennai has managed to plateau the coronavirus case count over the last few weeks, but the outbreak continues to spread in other districts. Ballinalee sees the end of an era, as the Stags Head is for sale. Throughout my lifetime, that great building (pictured) on the corner of the crossroads was a landmark in Ballinalee. Owned by the Reynolds family, it was iconic. In 1921 Black & Tans burned the building causing irreparable damage. Rebuilt by local master craftsmen the Daltons in 22/23. In those days it was known as The Hill Bar & Cabin Lounge, and also traded as a shop. Johnny Cahill, from Ballinalee himself, was the resident barman when I was growing up. A loyal, humorous, and faithful gentleman, he was very popular among the locals. My own mother also worked there as a girl before she got married. In the course of its existence the name changed to The Stags Head, and in 1991, Jerome Reynolds formally became the owner. Since then it has been one of the great pubs for the years since. Still is. In recent times, like all public houses, its had to react to the times, and doesnt open nowadays until early evening. The Stags Head, an attractive building, I have dreams of some young couple making a great go of it, because of its potential. Always a well run house, along the lines learned by the owner, in those most important, youthful, early years. Every single night, religiously, the bar was cleaned, glasses polished, floor left spic and span, before contemplating going home. Pubs are more than just a place to buy a drink, they are also social centres. Over the years I can remember the toys on display at Christmas, in Reynolds window. Toys that any child would want. I often looked in envy through the glass gazing at the marvellous images that were almost within reach. Nowadays you might see the likes in Arnotts or Harrods. The changing of the guard, comes to every business. A reminder that some of us are in our autumn years; others are beginning to grow up; many are still infants; the population around Ballinalee - like everywhere else - is changing slowly all the time until one day you wake up and a whole horde of new people are living in the area. Ballinalee nowadays is a different place than when the Stags Head was in its full blown busy times. There was a smaller population back then, yet more locals seemed to be drinking. This is a sort of mirage of course. More alcohol is consumed now than ever before in Ireland. The pub trade is changing just like everywhere else, and it demands energy and creativity to make a premises buzz now. For anyone with these qualities this is a great opportunity. I have no doubt this establishment is ripe for reinvention...... Cost of our politicians is hard to justify Leo Varadkar is no fool. He is a well educated, intelligent man. Therefore it was a bit ominous to hear him briefing against his own government on the evening just before the cabinet meeting to decide on the travel strategy. That was rather sneaky. He waited until just before the main news on RTE to issue a statement. Methinks Leo is electioneering already. Mind you, he didnt come out and flag the proposal to ensure three super juniors - Ministers of State who sit at Cabinet - receive a 16,288 supplement. That was intended to be executed quickly. Fianna Fails Michael McGrath never heard of his partys objection to the raise back in 2016, until he was shown a document recording the fact. Oops. The government could give an extra 38,787 to Junior ministers, and even had to adjust legislation so it was legal. Yet no nurse got a single cent. Senators are now paid over 68k, plus generous expenses, plus whatever committees they are appointed to. TDs now receive 98,189 plus expenses. No money for nurses, saviours of the nation through the pandemic. Yet Ministers get 175,699 + expenses Ministers of State receive 134,976 + expenses. We know now who cares about nurses. Nobody in Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, or the Greens, thats for sure. At a time of unprecedented cost facing this country, the cost of our politicians is hard to justify. No wonder people are very angry. They think of lines such as were all in this together! By comparison, in New Zealand Jacinda Ardern (PM) and ministers voluntarily take pay cut in solidarity with those hit by Covid-19. For now we must all be responsible for ourselves People have become used to Covid-19, which causes a certain nonchalance, leading people to forget now and then. We see for ourselves how many are being declared infected daily. The health service is coming under pressure. One could talk about our third world standards, which are the result of scandalous decisions, but this is not the time for that. For now we must all be responsible for ourselves. We can influence the misguided thinking of youth, and older by reminding them that this virus is alive and well, living amongst us. NYSE The US stock market is at its most overvalued ever on some closely watched measures as Wall Street continues to rise despite the global downturn. The average S&P 500 stock is trading at record high valuations factoring in profits, surpassing levels seen during the dotcom bubble on some measures, according to Bank of America. Investors warned that US stocks cannot defy economic gravity indefinitely after the wave of central bank stimulus triggered a remarkable turnaround on markets. The Wall Street bank found that the S&P 500 is well above average levels on the vast majority of indicators watched by investors. While many measures still put stock prices below the frothy valuations reached during the dotcom bubble in the late 1990s and early 2000s, some have pushed past those levels to record highs. Stocks are trading above average on all but two of the 18 measures we track - most notably, the forward price/earnings to growth is at record highs and the median forward price to earnings is in-line with the prior record, said Savita Subramanian, Bank of America strategist. The S&P 500 has recovered all of its 2020 losses despite US GDP plunging 33pc on an annualised basis in the second quarter. Since the low hit in March as US stocks fell into a bear market at a record pace, the index has gained 44pc. Indices have Europe have struggled to keep pace with the FTSE 100 rebounding 18pc. Andrew McCaffery, global chief investment officer for asset management at Fidelity International, warned markets cannot defy economic gravity indefinitely. As more bleak economic data emerges, we think markets are nearing their limits without further stimulus and a much stronger recovery, he said. Mr McCaffery predicted that stocks could be rocked by renewed volatility in the third quarter after the recent surge. Market watchers have argued the remarkable rally has been driven by the huge support provided to the economy by central banks as they have fired up the printing presses again to buy huge amounts of bonds under their quantitative easing programmes. Story continues Bank of America estimates that global stimulus by central banks and governments amounts to more than $20 trillion, including $8.5 trillion of monetary support. Stock gains have stalled as the US Federal Reserve has slowed its purchases under the quantitative easing programme, noted analysts at Barclays. They added that more QE could be needed for stocks to extend their rebound. Last week the Fed warned that the US recovery was faltering as rising infections force states to reverse reopenings and consumers turn cautious. We have seen some signs in recent weeks that the increase in virus cases and the renewed measures to control it are starting to weigh on economic activity, said Jerome Powell, Fed chair. He promised to do what we can for as long as it takes to provide some relief and stability. The Mexican Army and state security forces captured Jose Antonio Yepez, a notorious drug gang leader blamed for helping fuel a surge in violence that has severely tested the government of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the Mexican president. Widely known as "El Marro" (The Mallet), Yepez was captured early on Sunday morning, according to the federal government and authorities in the central state of Guanajuato, one of the principal flashpoints of gang violence in Mexico. Guanajuato State Attorney's Office show the arrest of Jose Antonio Yepez, 'el Marro', by federal forces in the state from Guanajuato, Mexico - GUANAJUATO STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock "This is a tremendously successful blow for the government," said Raul Benitez, a security expert at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Yepez, boss of the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, a Guanajuato-based gang, has been engaged in a bloody struggle for criminal control of the state with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the country's most powerful and violent groups. Jose Antonio Yepez after his arrest by the Mexican federal forces - GUANAJUATO STATE ATTORNEY'S OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock The capture should deliver a boost to Lopez Obrador, who pledged to bring down record levels of violence plaguing the country when he took office in December 2018. Instead, homicides have further increased during his presidency. The Guanajuato attorney general's office said security forces captured Yepez with five other people and rescued a kidnapped local businesswoman during the operation. An "arsenal" of weapons was also secured during the raid. Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said Yepez would be taken to the Altiplano penitentiary, a maximum-security prison where drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman was housed before he escaped through a tunnel in 2015. Guzman was recaptured in 2016. A hub of the carmaking industry, Guanajuato was once one of the safer regions of Mexico, but the violence of the past few years has pushed national homicide tallies to record levels. Writing on Twitter, Durazo said Yepez had been arrested for suspected organized crime and fuel theft. The FBI were able to track down three hackers who pulled off the largest Twitter breach in history because they were 'extremely sloppy' with how they moved their Bitcoin transactions around. Graham Ivan Clark, 17, of Tampa, Florida; Nima Fazeli, 22, of Orlando, Florida; and Mason Sheppard, 19, of Bognor Regis, U.K. have all be charged in relation to the hack, which took place on July 15. On that date, the men conspired to hijack Twitter accounts belonging to famous figures and companies - including Barack Obama, Kanye West and Uber - before they posted tweets asking for donations to a Bitcoin wallet. 'I am giving back to my community due to Covid-19. All Bitcoin sent to my address below will be sent back double. If you send $1,000, I will send back $2,000,' the bogus tweets read. Authorities say that the hackers netted more than $100,000 in Bitcoin through the illegal scheme. But the youngsters were easily able to be traced when the FBI subsequently launched their investigation. Graham Ivan Clark, 17, of Tampa, Florida, is believed to be the mastermind of the July 15 Twitter hack Former US president Barack Obama, the most followed account on Twitter, was among the high-profile targets used to carry out the Bitcoin scam Authorities were able to obtain data about the Bitcoin addresses involved in the hack by analyzing blockchain - a ledger that records cryptocurrency transactions. They then traced the addresses to Coinbase - a digital currency exchange that stores Bitcoin. Both Fazeli and Sheppard had registered and verified their Coinbase accounts with their real driver's licences, according to ZNET. Fazeli also used his home IP address, meaning investigators were able to easily trace his location. Furthermore, the alleged hackers did not move around the Bitcoin funds they received in a bid to throw detectives off the trail. Such an act is known as 'tumbling', and is the digital equivalent of money laundering. Cybersecurity expert Jake Williams told The Associated Press that their efforts were 'sloppy'. 'This is a great case study showing how technology democratizes the ability to commit serious criminal acts,' Williams stated. 'There wasn't a ton of development that went into this attack.' A British teenager has been charged with hacking the social media site Twitter and stealing thousands of dollars worth of Bitcoin by taking over the accounts of celebrities and business leaders (file photo) Fellow cybersecurity expert Marcus Hutchins concurred. 'I think people underestimate the level of experience needed to pull off these kinds of hacks. They may sound extremely sophisticated, but the techniques can be replicated by teens,' he explained. Court papers suggest Fazeli and Sheppard only got involved in the scheme on a hacking chatroom after Clark dangled the possibility of taking over Twitter handles of short names such as @anxious and @foreign. From there, that scam appears to have evolved into the full-scale hijacking of high-profile accounts. Investigators claim Clark, who only recently finished high school in Florida, was the mastermind of the entire episode. Twitter has officially stated that the hacker - purported to be Clark- gained access to a company dashboard that manages accounts on July 15. He did this by using social engineering and spear-phishing smartphones to obtain credentials from 'a small number' of Twitter employees to break in to the internal systems. From there, the hackers targeted 130 accounts. They managed to tweet their bogus tweet from 45 prolific accounts. They also accessed the direct message inboxes of 36 others, and download the Twitter data from seven separate accoubts. Dutch anti-Islam MP Geert Wilders has said his inbox was among those accessed. All three alleged hackers will be tried separately. Stanley Capital, a London-based private equity firm, has acquired Dublin-headquartered pharmaceuticals company Noden Pharma from US-listed PDL BioPharma in a deal worth up to $48.25m (40m). Noden, which is headed by Alan Markey, is a global speciality pharmaceutical company focused on acquiring prescription medicines across a broad range of therapeutic areas in international markets. "Entering into this transaction for the sale of Noden to Stanley Capital represents another significant step in the execution of our monetization strategy," commented PDL's president and CEO Dominique Monnet. Simon Cottle, a co-founder of Stanley Capital, said: "The acquisition of Noden is the culmination of years of thematic research into the speciality pharmaceuticals sector, which identified the company as a strong buy and build platform. "We look forward to working with Noden's excellent management team and our industry advisers to build the company into a leading pharma platform." According to Private Equity News, Cottle, a former Ardian and Hg executive, launched Stanley Capital in 2019 alongside Patrick Hargutt, a former Centerbridge Partners executive, and James Brooks, who joined from renewable energy developer Lightsource BP. Based in London, Stanley Capital seeks to invest in the technology, healthcare and sustainability sectors, targeting businesses with enterprise values of between $250m and $2.5bn. Iseq-listed companies cut pension deficit by 200m Global benefits consultancy Mercer has found that deficits in defined benefit (DB) pension schemes in Iseq-listed companies reduced in the second quarter by 200m as equity markets recovered. The company has estimated the cumulative DB balance sheet deficits for Iseq companies have reduced from 1.2bn at the end of the first quarter to 1bn in aggregate at the end of the second quarter. According to Mercer, equity markets have rebounded by around 15pc over the second quarter, improving pension scheme funding positions. Despite this, markets are still below where they were at the start of 2020. Peter Gray, corporate consulting leader and principal at Mercer, said Q2 had been positive for pension scheme funding levels, though he warned Covid-19 means markets will remain volatile. Former Bank of Ireland governor and managing director of Irish Distillers Richard Burrows and his wife Sherril plan to knock down their bungalow on Malahides picturesque Coast Road. Under the plan, the 427sqm house, on a one-hectare site, will be replaced by a five-bed house, a three-bed bungalow and seven two-storey detached homes. That, of course, depends on Fingal County Council approving the plans for the scenic spot after they submitted additional information about their landscaping schemes for the project. Advertisement Bondi Beach was packed with hundreds of Sydneysiders and tourists just months after similar scenes sparked its sudden month-long closure. Hundreds flocked to the world-famous beach on Sunday to soak up the winter sunshine as New South Wales battles to avoid a Victoria-style second wave of coronavirus infections. The concerning crowds came on the same day Melbourne was forced into stage four lockdown after 671 new cases and seven deaths were recorded in Victoria on Sunday. The carefree crowds appeared to show little regard for social distancing guidelines as they mingled and sat together in large groups on the grass at the northern end of the beach. Hundreds soaked up the Sydney sunshine with beachside picnics at Bondi Beach on Sunday Bondi Beach was packed with Sydneysiders and tourists, some who showed little regard for 1.5m social distancing guidelines As Melbourne went into a stricter lockdown, Sydneysiders took advantage of their freedom as they flocked to the beach on large social gatherings Those unable to snare a park bench packed the grassy hill to enjoy the view in large congregations, as many more strolled along the promenade as the temperature reached 19C. Some revellers were in party mode as they enjoyed a few drinks with their mates. There appeared to be no police or council rangers ensuring restrictions were being obeyed. The beach is supposed to be restricted to 500 visitors at a time, according to the Waveley Council website. Very few face masks were seen, despite a plea on Sunday from NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian urging everyone to wear one in public settings. Many congregations were close to the capped government limit of 20 for public gatherings. Board riders, surfers and swimmers also flocked to the water in large numbers. Waverley Council's latest update states its beaches and ocean pools, including Bondi are open for all activities. 'Visitor numbers at beaches are still restricted to 500 people,' the website states. The water was swarming with board riders and surfers at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday As NSW battles to control a second wave of infections, hundreds flocked to Bondi Beach Bondi Beach turned into party central with hundreds of picnicking revellers on Sunday afternoon This woman was enjoying the buzzing vibe at Bondi as she and her mates shared a beachside picnic Many beaches in Sydney's eastern suburbs, including Bondi and Coogee were closed indefinitely in March after thousands flocked to the beach and disobeyed social distancing rules. Beaches were reopened for locals to use only for exercise four weeks later. NSW recorded 12 new cases on Sunday, a day after the state recorded its first fatality since late May with the death of a 83-year-old man connected to the Crossroads Hotel cluster in south-west Sydney died on Saturday. Elsewhere in the eastern suburbs, the Watsons Bay Hotel was fined $5000 after inspectors found patrons drinking while standing and poorly-spaced poker machines. The popular waterside venue is the 15th venue to be penalised for coronavirus safety breaches in the last three weeks. There were no face masks in sight on a day the NSW Premiers urged everyone to start wearing one in public The scenes in Bondi are similar to ones earlier in pandemic which saw the beach being shut down for a month It was hard to find a spare spot to sit and enjoy the sunshine on the grassed hill overlooking Bondi Beach The carefree crowd appeared to have little concern about the new wave of infections that has hit Sydney Beachgoers congregated in large public gatherings, which are restricted to a maximum 20 people While face masks are not mandatory in NSW, the state government has revised its recommendations. Masks should be worn by public-facing employees such as hospitality or supermarket workers, worshippers and residents of suburbs near COVID-19 clusters, as well as in situations where social distancing is impossible. 'We have been talking about masks for several weeks but obviously the persistent situation in Victoria gives us cause for alarm in terms of the potential for further seeding in NSW, and it is about risk mitigation strategy,' Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Sunday. 'We're going to the next stage of assessing what else and how else we can decrease the risk and break the current chain coming through NSW.' 'I want to stress it is not compulsory, but it is a strong recommendation from NSW Health, given where we are in the pandemic, given the risk posed from Victoria and given the rate of community transmission in New South Wales,' she said. A group of women took a selfie of surrounded by the massive crowds at the northern end of the beach on Sunday Locals and visitors flocked to Bondi to get their daily dose of exercise and to catch up friends The Appellate Tribunal for Electricity (APTEL) has postponed the trading of renewable energy certificates (REC) scheduled on July 29, by four weeks. In an order issued on July 24, APTEL postponed the RECs trading session scheduled on July 29, 2020 by four weeks in three separate appeals filed by Green Energy Association, IWPA (Indian Wind Power Association) and Techno Electric and Engineering Company Ltd against the CERC order issued on fixing REC floor and forbearance price. "Trading of RECs scheduled on July 29, 2020 shall be postponed by four weeks. It is made clear that if validity for any REC is going to be expired within four weeks, as stated above, the same shall be extended by the concerned authority," the APTEL order said. There was no trading of RECs or green certificates in July. REC trading is done at two power exchanges -- Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange of India Ltd (PXIL) -- on last Wednesday of every month. Under the renewable purchase obligation (RPO), bulk purchasers like discoms, open access consumers and capacitive users are required to buy certain proportion of RECs. They can buy RECs from renewable energy producers to meet RPO norms. One REC is created when one megawatt hour of electricity is generated from an eligible renewable energy source. "The recent CERC order on correction of the floor and forbearance prices of RECs is aligned with the price discovery through the RE (renewable energy) auctions from time to time. We feel this move is in line with times when RE prices have come down," Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, Director - Strategy and Regulatory, Indian Energy Exchange told . He further said, this will encourage buyers to come to REC market to meet RPO. "On petition filed by few RE associations, APTEL has stayed the REC trading for 4 weeks, and we could not facilitate REC trading on July 29. We are of the view that REC trade sessions should not have been halted as it prevents needy Discoms and OA (open access) customers to meet their statutory requirement of RPO," he said. According to a CERC order in June, the floor price of solar and non-solar RECs have been reduced to zero from Rs 1,000 earlier. Similarly the forbearance (ceiling) price of solar and non-solar was reduced to Rs 1,000 for both from Rs 2,400 and Rs 3,000 respectively. The forbearance price and floor price fixed by the CERC are effective from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 or until further orders of the Commission. In June, the Supreme Court had refused to entertain Green Energy Association (GEA) appeal on stopping REC price revision by the CERC. Industry experts think that the higher REC prices put additional burden on consumers in power tariff. Sales of renewable energy certificates declined over 29 per cent to 89.27 lakh units in 2019-20, compared to 1.26 crore units in 2018-19. Also Read: Coronavirus update: Over 54,000 COVID-19 cases in India in single day, tally breaches 17 lakh-mark Also Read: Indian, Chinese commanders to hold Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo today Signs that President Donald Trump's reelection bid is in crisis grew steadily this past week, one of the most tumultuous moments of a presidency increasingly operating with an air of desperation as it tries to avoid political disaster in November. Campaign officials pulled television ads off the air amid a late-stage review of strategy and messaging. At the same time, Trump publicly mused about delaying the November election, airing widely debunked allegations about fraud that were roundly rejected by Republicans and Democrats. And as the campaign aims to mount a more aggressive defense of Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the president has reverted to touting unproven miracle cures, attacking public health officials and undercutting his own government's push to encourage good health practices. Trump briefly lamented his predicament during a taxpayer-funded event Friday in Florida that doubled as a political rally and a showcase of poor public health practices. "We had an easy campaign, and then we got hit by the China virus," Trump said as uniformed sheriff's deputies stood behind him and a crowd of dozens of supporters huddled before him. Few people wore masks or practiced social distancing. With the president unable to hold traditional rallies and his central economic message no longer relevant, campaign officials are scrambling to assemble a fresh case for his candidacy on the fly. After a six-day pause in advertising, new ads targeting Democratic rival Joe Biden are set to begin airing Monday, according to campaign officials who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. It's the latest in a long-running attempt to define the former vice president in the eyes of voters before they cast their ballots. But Trump himself is perhaps the greatest impediment to any successful campaign pivot, as the president has rejected calls from Republican allies and lawmakers to project a steady hand during what is shaping up to be another lost summer of self-inflicted setbacks. The turbulent final week of July capped a month that may rank among the most ominous of Trump's term in office, marked by erratic behavior and flashing warning signs. A slew of public polls showed Trump falling further behind Biden, who now leads by double digits nationally; Trump demoted his campaign manager Brad Parscale and replaced him with longtime GOP operative Bill Stepien; nearly 25,000 Americans died of the novel coronavirus, and a record 2 million were infected; Trump canceled the Republican National Convention celebrations; the economic recovery from a record contraction slipped into reverse; and 30 million Americans lost their $600 weekly federal unemployment assistance after the White House and Congress struggled to negotiate a stimulus package. Struggling on multiple fronts, Trump's campaign launched a major shake-up that included a broader review of strategy, spending and messaging while ads came off the air, officials said. Stepien - who officials say has impressed Trump with his command of data - is attempting to get a better sense of how the campaign has been focusing its energy and targeting its resources. Stepien told others he wanted to understand how ad decisions were made and why certain ads were being run, officials said. Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner approved the pause in ads, an official said. Stepien is also reviewing personnel allocation to determine whether structuring the campaign they way Parscale did makes sense. Campaign officials have denied there is any lingering tension over Parscale's demotion. But Stepien's elevation and swift embrace of new tactics amount to a tacit rebuke of the former campaign manager's tenure. The Stepien-led review of spending and strategy comes as a legal complaint this past week accused the campaign and an affiliated fundraising committee of failing to properly report nearly $170 million in campaign spending through firms run by Parscale. The Trump campaign denied any wrongdoing. Campaign officials said that when the pause in ad spending ends Monday, new television spots will aim to brand Biden as a tool of liberal extremists. The negative ads will initially target swing states that have the earliest mail-in voting dates. Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Wisconsin are among states that begin mailing out absentee ballots to voters more than 45 days before the Nov. 3 election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Michigan, Georgia and Texas are among states where ballots will also begin hitting mailboxes in September. The campaign, which held an all-staff meeting at its Arlington headquarters on Wednesday that one official described as a "call to arms," is operating under a renewed sense of urgency as it becomes clearer that a large portion of the electorate will likely cast their ballots early by mail as a result of the pandemic. That gives Trump even less time to turn things around. But even as Stepien and top campaign aides try to impress on the staff that time is limited, Trump has done little to show he plans to change tactics. Trump's allies say they realize the pandemic will likely be the central issue for voters heading into the election and have urged him to show he is in command of the crisis. The president has instead opted to double down on divisive messaging, reverting to form after briefly appearing to embrace a more serious tone about the pandemic. In recent days, Trump has used his massive social media platform to promote a doctor who falsely claimed Americans did not need to wear masks because the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine is a "cure" for the coronavirus. Trump continued to express support for the doctor, Stella Immanuel, after a reporter informed him Tuesday that she had also claimed that alien DNA is used in medical treatments. When pressed, he abruptly ended the news briefing and walked away. Earlier in the same briefing, Trump complained that health officials, including top infectious-disease expert Anthony S. Fauci, are popular but "nobody likes me." "Why don't I have a high approval rating?" Trump asked before answering himself: "It can only be my personality. That's all." The president set off a fresh round of drama Thursday when he publicly mused about delaying the election, which he claimed without evidence will be marred by historic fraud. "With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history," he wrote on Twitter. "It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???" A chorus of Republicans and Democrats publicly rebuked him, noting that the president does not have the authority to delay an election. On a strictly political level, Republicans are worried that the president's onslaught against mail-in voting could hamper their efforts to turn out the vote. Trump's attempts to draw a distinction between universal mail-in voting and individually requested absentee voting, while welcomed and encouraged by party officials, have not had the intended effect on Republican voters. GOP party officials have struggled to convince voters to request mail-in ballots. "He has denigrated mail-in voting to the point that Democrats are dominating requests for absentee ballots," said David Wasserman, House editor for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. Like Trump's unsubtle attempts to appeal to "Suburban Housewives" and virus-wary senior citizens, his push to discredit mail-in voting underscores the sense of angst in his reelection bid as Biden settles into a comfortable lead. One top Biden campaign official acknowledged that the Democratic campaign strategy is often to stay out of the news when Trump's behavior is particularly inflammatory. Biden's team didn't respond until Thursday evening to the president's early morning missive suggesting that the election should be delayed. "It is absolutely a strategic decision," said a Biden official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal campaign tactics. "We don't let him pull us off of our message and we don't play his game." But some Biden campaign allies believe that the former vice president's operation is being too selective about how it responds to Trump's attacks. Former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell said that he's been begging top campaign officials to punch back at Trump's ads that wrongly suggest that Biden supports defunding the police. The spots had been playing in high rotation in key swing states before the Trump campaign's recent pause. "Obviously the Trump people have very few arrows in their quiver," Rendell said. But the "law and order" message could work with some voters, he said. Trump, as he often does when he feels under pressure, is preparing to go more aggressively into attack mode. Campaign officials expect a ruthlessly negative race in the final months. "We are doing a new ad campaign on Sleepy Joe Biden that will be out on Monday," Trump wrote Friday on Twitter. "He has been brought even further LEFT than Crazy Bernie Sanders ever thought possible." Stepien has told allies he wants attacks going forward to focus on the liberal figures trying to influence Biden. Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont and self-described democratic socialist, has featured heavily in Trump's messaging against Biden. But it's not clear that the strategy is working. Several campaign aides and allies admitted that they have struggled to negatively define the former vice president in the eyes of voters - a long-standing goal for the summer that is quickly slipping out of reach. As Biden has largely remained in his Delaware home due to the pandemic, many of Trump's attacks on his mental acuity, liberal policies and approach to public safety have not broken through. "One thing that we have found in our focus groups is that people just don't know anything about Joe Biden," said Kelly Sadler, the communications director for America First, the official pro-Trump super PAC. America First, which is currently running ads painting Biden as weak on crime, is conducting polling to test which messages might work best against the former vice president in the final stretch of the race. Trump campaign ads set to run in the coming days are also aimed at turning up the pressure on Biden, who the president has tried to brand as "sleepy" before switching to more ominous descriptors such as "corrupt" and "puppet of the militant left." As it goes on the attack in the political realm, Trump's campaign is in a defensive crouch when it comes to the electoral map. Polls show Biden leading across the battleground states and competitive in Republican strongholds such as Texas and Georgia. Trump's campaign, which has already spent $1 billion, is using its hefty war chest to defend Republican territory, including Arizona. America First, the super PAC, has stopped running ads in Michigan, acknowledging that its less likely than other swing states to remain in Trump's column in November, an official said. The group is currently running television spots in North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Stepien has also sought to focus the campaign on securing the most direct path to 270 electoral votes. The campaign, which has also pulled back advertising in Michigan, has gamed out scenarios where Trump loses some of the states he won in 2016 and still ends up victorious. "We only need to win either Wisconsin or Michigan or Pennsylvania to win this thing again," Stepien told reporters on July 24. But news that Trump's campaign had paused to reassess its messaging was welcomed by Biden's team, which viewed the move as a validation of the Democrat's more low-key strategy. T.J. Ducklo, a spokesman for Biden's campaign, said Trump is losing because "he abandoned the American people" and lacked "any coherent strategy" to address a pandemic that has cost 150,000 lives and millions of jobs. "There," he said in a statement. "Message assessment complete." When COVID-19 started to spread across the U.S. in March, Wildcat Corp. saw an opportunity to create the resources that medical personnel was going to need, and need fast. The business decided to jump into the PPE market and about six weeks ago it opened its new headquarters in Conroe as Wildcat PPE. Wildcat Corp. produces mobile data centers and cables for numerous industries, including the oil and gas field. With Wildcat PPE, the company is primarily producing isolation gowns but hopes to add more products soon. They saw the need, that we needed an income stream and I think they had families and friends in the medical area, said Wildcat PPE General Manager Jeff Conter about upper management's decision to pivot to PPE. Were going to need this, and we were able to transition pretty quickly. It was a very quick, overnight, probably within two weeks we came up with the process, and then probably in about two weeks we had templates and products actually being built. The facility in Conroe, on South Trade Center Parkway, has two shifts of 400 people each day, Conter said. Almost everybody that weve had coming here has been laid off from their job, Conter said. Because of limited parking at the Conroe facility, Wildcat purchased several school buses to bus workers in. When Wildcat PPE moved in the facility was wall to wall filled with beer cans. Once cleared out, the company set up its PPE operations on one end, with room to expand. Its still in progress, Conter said. We have just our one production line open right now and then well be working on the other products. We have room to grow. Were only in half the facility right now, so the other half of the facility is going to be growing into those other product lines. Conter estimates that in the next few months Wildcat PPE will be expanding into the new products. Eventually, he said, the company would like to get into surgical grade equipment. While the company is very new, it has registered with the FDA. Wildcat PPE produces about 9,000 pounds of scrap a day from making the gowns but is able to recycle those scraps through the material producer. All the materials used to make the PPE come from Texas. We pride ourselves on that, Conter said. The bigger we grow, were going to try and contain that, but well see. Were going to try and keep it here and keep it in the U.S. Being all-American made, Conter said, is a source of pride for the company and its employees, but also helps Wildcat compete with oversees pricing. By the time that you buy it from there and then you freight it into here, were extremely competitive, he said. Originally the company was going to open its new PPE headquarters in Tomball but eventually settled on the location in Conroe. While the company considered moving closer to Houston, but when the facility they found in Conroe came up for lease it was just what the business needed. The last few weeks in Conroe have been good and the company is happy with the numbers it is producing. Conter said now is the time to refocus on quality, adjusting products to be more efficient, possibly even bringing costs down more. The company distributes nationwide, as well as here in Texas. While it predominantly sells its products to large distribution companies and through government contracts, Wildcat can also sell to smaller, individual clients. Testimonials on the website come from Chicago, Houston, and Spring. jamie.swinnerton@chron.com That loud ticking sound emanating from Tokyo's political clock bodes the imminent explosion of costs resulting from Japan's tepid COVID-19 response. Up until last week, the world's third-biggest economy seemed to be dealing successfully with the coronavirus. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe basked in global headlines pondering what others could learn from Japan's low infection and death rates. Now, Japan is witnessing 1,000-plus new infections daily, with talk of a second state-of-emergency declaration. Yes, Japan's 35,000 cases are fewer than New York's Westchester County. And its 126 million population has 16,000 fewer cases than Singapore, population 5.8 million. Still, outbreaks are relative and Japan is headed the wrong way. Its previous emergency decree, lasting from early April to late May, shoulder-checked an already feeble economy. That prompted Abe to devise a ginormous stimulus jolt amounting to more than $2 trillion, 40% of gross domestic product. The Bank of Japan, meantime, has already supersized its balance sheet to exceed the nation's $5 trillion economy. It hoarded roughly half of outstanding government bonds and cornered the stock market via exchange-traded funds. The economic fallout of recent months, though, suggests that Japan Inc. needs more thrust -- and a better, more targeted stimulus. Both Team Abe and the BOJ must act swiftly to devise fresh steps to stabilize growth. The more coordinated the efforts, the better. Abe must start by dispensing with the denial about Japan's COVID-19 problem. Instead of following U.S. President Donald Trump's playbook, prioritizing stock market stability over underlying growth, Abe should heed Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's support for more sweeping lockdowns and a slower reopening. Abe, right, should heed Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike's support for more sweeping lockdowns and a slower reopening. (Photo by Akira Kodaka) Even if the truth lies somewhere in between, Abe's $13 billion "Go To Travel" scheme to incentivize domestic travel may backfire, and end up causing more infections. Hence polls in the Mainichi newspaper showing that 69% of voters want the plan scrapped. Next, Abe should name a COVID-19 recovery czar. Finance Minister Taro Aso, who turns 80 in September, has been mostly AWOL as Japan's recession deepens. And if you ask the average Japanese on the street, few could name the current economy minister -- Yasutoshi Nishimura, to save a Google search. Strategy needs to be centralized and policymakers empowered to think out of the box. We've already talked so much about Nikola Tesla, master of alternating current, inventor of the twentieth century and owner of earthquake machines and fake death rays; surely there aren't any electrifying tales left? But just like his genius, when you think it's hit the limit, out pops another strange story of the Serbian savant. In this case, it's one that ends with a ballet of burning wings and silent insectoid screams. Thomas Edison should always be remembered as that dick who electrocuted an elephant just to prove a point. But it's not like Tesla let his love of animals (a deeply romantic one in regards to pigeons) get in the way of his experimentation with electricity. This is what the people of Colorado Springs witnessed when, in 1899, the only slightly mad scientist unleashed the largest Tesla Coil ever made into their backyard. Nearly fifty feet in diameter, this coil produced millions of volts of artificial lightning whose discharge electrified the very air. It was an extraordinary phenomenon noticeable when the town's light bulbs started glowing, horses became nervous -- oh, and butterflies burst into flames. After Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said he will embrace rebel Congressmen if they apologise to the "high command", the Congress on Sunday made it clear that Sachin Pilot must first spell out his position unequivocally and hold a conversation. The Congress also claimed that its government in Rajasthan was safe and would prove its majority on the floor of the house when the assembly meets on August 14. "Sachin Pilot must come and hold a conversation first. Pilot must come out and state his position clearly and unequivocally first and only then can any talk of his return happen," Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said at a press conference. Asked about Gehlot's comments that he will embrace the rebels and accept them, after having used some harsh words against Pilot a few days ago, Surjewala said the same were stated out of "hurt feelings and sentiments" due to the conspiracy to topple his government. "Ashok Gehlot ji has acted responsibly and in a mature fashion in what he has stated," he said. "It should also set to rest all criticism of some remarks in a way out of his hurt feelings and sentiments, on account of a clear conspiracy in collusion with the BJP to topple his government in the state," the Congress leader said. Asked how many MLAs supported the Congress in Rajasthan, Surjewala said, "We have over 102 MLAs". He has earlier claimed the support of 109 MLAs in the state, which has a total of 200 MLAs. Gehlot had said on Saturday in Jaisalmer, where the party MLAs have been shifted from Jaipur, ahead of the assembly session, that he has no issues with any of the rebels if they apologised to the party high command and would abide by whatever the leadership decided about them. Nineteen Congress rebels, including former Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, revolted against Gehlot, posing a threat to the Congress government in Rajasthan. Congress has sent many feelers to Pilot, but the rebel leader has not opened his cards yet even though he has said he would not join the BJP. Gehlot has convened a session of the state assembly where he will prove his majority. The Guardian The Steelers quarterback is headed to the Hall of Fame. But he was unloved outside Pittsburgh for understandable reasons Ben Roethlisberger almost certainly played his final game in the NFL on Sunday. Photograph: Ed Zurga/AP Ben Roethlisberger is lucky that football legacies are not decided by finales. If Sunday night was indeed Big Bens last ever NFL game, as he has strongly hinted, it wasnt exactly a mic drop. In the 42-21 beatdown by the Chiefs, Roethlisberger struggled with rollouts, and l Aspirants of undergraduate engineering and medical courses have been in a tight spot over the past few months since the ongoing lockdown has delayed their all-India entrance exams. The recent announcement of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) National Defence Academy (NDA) exam clashing with the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Mains exam on September 6 has led to speculations that the National Testing Authority (NTA) might once again postpone JEE exams, which left students and parents unhappy. On Sunday, parents and students started an online petition to not postpone JEE and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) UG exams any further. At present, JEE Mains is scheduled to take place between September 1 and 6 whereas NEET-UG is scheduled to take place on September 13. By Sunday evening, close to a 1,000 parents and students had signed the online petition. They also took to social media platforms to reach out to the state government, education ministry as well as NTA officials. These students have been studying more than 12 hours a day for over two years, and every time the exams get postponed, students are losing hope and concentration, said a parent. Many have also suggested that exams be conducted during lockdown in order to ensure that only those involved with the examination be allowed to step out of their houses. The government can impose a strict lockdown for a day and spread out all entrance exam candidates across several schools and colleges in the state in order to ensure social distancing. Student could also be asked to present a basic Covid report, suggested another parent. Some parents have also approached Union education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal, suggesting that any further delay in conducting entrance exams will mentally affect aspirants. No official word regarding the entrance exams has been released yet. Teachers oppose final-year exam The Maharashtra Federation of University and College Teachers Organisation on July 29 filed an intervention in the Supreme Court against the University Grants Commissions decision to allow final-year exams. The teachers union highlighted that Covid-19 cases in the country and in Maharashtra are increasing and added that conducting final-year exams for lakhs of students will be impossible for universities and teachers. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Strategists and politicians on the left and right agree: The race to represent Colorados Republican-leaning 3rd Congressional District got a lot more interesting at the end of June, when gun-rights activist and first-time candidate Lauren Boebert toppled five-term incumbent Scott Tipton in the GOP primary. Some South Floridians hurried to supermarkets, gas stations and hardware stores to stock up on canned food, water bottles and plywood. But others, unfazed by the relatively weak and disorganized storm, did not bother. My building in a Miami suburb, which was not in the storms direct path, did not even bring in the patio furniture, and my potted plants remained on the balcony. One neighbor on my street put up window shutters. We usually would be assuming, This is terrible, I think, except were already so busy assuming that Covid is terrible that we dont have any room, said the humor writer Dave Barry, a fellow veteran of the Miami press corps whom I have known since we both worked at The Miami Herald. We go through this every year, where we always overreact to it, and maybe this time we underreact to it. Or maybe this is just 2020 lulling us into: OK, you guys think you had a hurricane. Now you can relax! Then the big hurricane comes. Local officials worried that the usual spike in alcohol sales before the storm would entice people to invite friends and relatives over. Verdenia C. Baker, the Palm Beach County administrator, warned: I know weve been cooped up. Now we have a storm. And some of us normally would have hurricane parties. This is not the time. Floridas relentless coronavirus surge has been driven by a rapid economic reopening that exposed people to infection in bars and house parties. Contact tracers in Miami-Dade County have found that about 30 percent of people who tested positive for the virus were exposed by someone else in their household, the biggest source of infection after dont know. The huge growth in case numbers, which is finally starting to dip, came even though South Florida had locked down earlier and longer than the rest of the state. Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, has not issued a statewide mask order, but Miami-Dade County imposed its first facial covering requirement back in April. Dr. Mary Jo Trepka, chairwoman of the epidemiology department at Florida International University, attributed the contagion in part to Miamis larger-than-average household sizes and higher poverty rates, as well as to uneven mask use. The prevalence of the virus is declining so slowly that it might take until December to get down to a 5 percent positivity rate, she estimated. Wishes and prayers for Union home minister Amit Shah poured in after he tweeted on Sunday that he has tested positive for coronavirus and is getting admitted in a hospital. The minister said that his health was fine but was getting hospitalised on his doctors advice. Shah requested those who have come in contact with him in the past few days to go in to isolation and get tested for Covid-19. On getting the initial symptoms of corona, I got the test done and the report came back positive. My health is fine, but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors, tweeted Shah in Hindi. The defence minister of India Rajnath Singh wished speedy recovery to Amit Shah. Amit ji, your perseverance and willpower has been an example for every challenge. I believe that you will surely overcome coronavirus. I pray for your speedy recovery, Rajnat Singh tweeted Hindi. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi wished Amit Shah a speedy recovery on Twitter. Wishing Mr Amit Shah a speedy recovery. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 2, 2020 My good wishes for your speedy recovery Adarniya Amit Shah ji. With your resolute determination and strong will power you will soon come out of this, Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted. My good wishes for your speedy recovery Adarniya @AmitShah ji. With your resolute determination and strong will power you will soon come out of this. Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 2, 2020 Delhi chief minister Arvind Kerjiwal took to Twitter to wish Amit Shah after the minister tested positive for Covid-19. I pray for the speedy recovery of Hon'ble Home Minister Shri @AmitShah ji https://t.co/i26dkb6Q1q Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 2, 2020 Union minister Babul Supriyo went into isolation soon after Amiti Shah tweeted about testing positive for coronavirus, saying that he had met the home minister. I had met Honble HM Shri AmitShah ji day before in the evening. I am advised by doctors to confine myself, away from my family members, for the next few days with a test to be done soon. Shall abide with all precautionary measures as per Rules & Protocol Covid-19, he tweeted. I had met Honble HM Shri @AmitShah ji day before in the evening I am advised by Doctors to confine myself, away from my family members, for the next few days with a test to be done soon Shall abide with all precautionary measures as per Rules & Protocol #COVID19 #AmitShah Babul Supriyo (@SuPriyoBabul) August 2, 2020 Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has expressed committment to repatraite all indigenes of the state currently trapped in Lebanon back to the country at no cost. Chief Press Secretary Taiwo Adisa who disclosed this on behalf governor on Sunday said the state government would not under any circumstances look the other way while its indigenes suffer such treatment in a foreign country. According to Adisa the governor while receiving brief from his Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters Bolanle Sarumi-Aliyu on the trafficked indigenes pledged to pay for all expenses of repatriation as well as costs of flight and COVID-19 test for all the stranded indigenes. He said, We will pay for the repatriation of all Oyo State indigenes who have been confirmed to have been trafficked to Lebanon. Please put all necessary plans in place to bring them back. I understand that some well-meaning individuals and groups have made some donations to some of the victims, let them use such donations as pocket money. This state will pay for their flights and the fees requested to conduct Covid-19 tests on each of them. In her remarks Sarumi-Aliyu said while 40 of such victims have been screened and ready for the journey back home, more victims were still being discovered. She explained that her office had been working closely with Lebanese authorities to identify Oyo indigenes stranded in Lebanon, also the 40 victims already screened would be returning home this month, she added. We are expecting them back on a special flight on August 12. The government of Engineer Seyi Makinde has shown renewed commitment to the welfare of our people in the diaspora and we are pleased with that, Sarumi-Aliyu said. I read with interest the recent letter from Andy Perez, brother of District 2 school board candidate Marco Perez. I was interested for two reasons: First, well-documented family histories demonstrate the extraordinary mix of people who make up our great nation, and second, because the Perez letter raised some additional questions that should be answered. Regarding his family history, Andy went to great detail about his mother's family history - all the way from the Mayflower, very cool. Oddly absent from that family history were any details about his father, other than the fact his parents met in the UK and went to Costa Rica. But I am sure his paternal history is just as interesting. Regarding Costa Rica, Andy asserted that country is "neo-liberal, meaning that their politics are closer in line with Reagan and Bush." Actually, no. Costa Rica is a socialist democracy under the control of the socialist PLN and PAC political parties - its current president being a member of the latter. But the people of Costa Rica do, for the moment, have more freedom than those under regional dictators like Ortega, Castro and Maduro. Andy was not clear about what the Perez connection is with Costa Rica, but where Marco was born or his ethnic identity is not a question I care about in the least. I do care about the political views every school board member brings to that table, particularly views that subordinate parents and children to the power of special interest groups and the state, and how that will impact the future of education in our community. Regarding the questions the Perez letter raised, here are a few. First, Perez seems puzzled as to why a school board seat has generated so much interest outside that district. Well Andy, as Marco and his backers well know, the interest is because the seat will be a "swing vote" to determine allocations of the $418 million annual school budget which is supposed to be used to better educate the 44,000 students in this huge bureaucracy. Marco's opponent, Tom Decosimo, will challenge the status quo - he will not be a rubber stamper. That is why Marco has significant financial backing from a small group of very wealthy liberals from Lookout Mountain and their friends, who funded the defunct UnifiEd, and would like to resurrect it from the dead. These elitists think they know what is best for your children, and want a puppet to support their agenda. Second, Andy sanctimoniously described some criticism of his brother in very derisive terms like "un-Christian," "un-American" and "unpatriotic." He asserted, twice, that if somebody is lying to you, you should be concerned about "what else are they lying to you about?" Indeed, that should be a concern, particularly in regard to the educational future of our great community's next generation. Fact is, there are some backers of both candidates who make petulant and false statements about the opposing candidate. But a good example of campaign "lies" would be the recent mailer backing Perez sent to District 2 residents asserting Tom Decosimo's views, as if he had answered a survey. He was not asked any of those questions by anybody. That push piece is a deceptive fabrication. And on the subject of deception, it was Marco as District 2 incumbent Kathy Lennons former treasurer, who it appears conspired with Lennon to suppress other potential candidates for the District 2 seat, in violation of Tennessee's 1991 election Skullduggery Act. Sounds nefarious, and it is. That law was enacted to ensure that an incumbent who qualifies for the ballot does not rig the election by withdrawing from the ballot on the last day to withdraw (which is what Lennon did) and then anoint their heir apparent, who is ready and waiting to jump on the ballot (which is what Lennon did). If not for quick action by the Hamilton County Election Commission regarding this Skullduggery, Perez would be running unopposed. Bottom line, what matters most in this hotly contested school board election, are the qualifications and political objectives of the candidates. I don't personally know Marco Perez, but our mutual friends tell me he is a kind person with good qualities. The same can be said of his opponent, Tom Decosimo. But the academic qualifications and professional achievements Perez lists are a curiosity. He notes numerous degrees from Costa Rica, Mexico and American institutions, including three graduate degrees from what may be online diploma schools. He lists CEO, executive or high-level management positions with seven different organizations over the last 10 years, some of those executive positions overlapping. One listing is an identifiable organization, while the rest appear to be operations out of his garage. That's OK, I am all for entrepreneurship and maybe he has been very successful. However, Tom Decosimo (whose paternal lineage, by the way, is from the coal miners of central Pennsylvania), has a clear established record of academic and professional achievement, and decades of community service - in our community. Tom wants to ensure all Hamilton County parents and their children have school options that are at least as good as local private schools. That is going to require a majority of board members who are committed to much more than business as usual, and Tom has the proven record and ability to help move HCDE in that direction. Mark Caldwell Last year, at the behest of lawmakers in Maryland, the District and Virginia, the U.S. Government Accountability Office launched a study to examine helicopter noise. As part of the study, the agency will collect information on the types of aircraft operating in the region and their noise levels; the frequency of flights; flight paths and the degree of coordination between agencies that operate the helicopters and whether pilot training could be modified to lessen the impact on residents particularly at night. Dear Editor: With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic in mind, boards of education are discussing how children can safely return to school. New York has done a good job of lowering the rate of infection. At this moment, the percentage of positive COVID tests is very low. The piece that is missing, and that is essential to safely reopen schools, is ready access to accurate point-of-care testing. At this time, it can take as long as two weeks to get the results of a COVID test. This means that, although it may be possible to reopen schools, it may be impossible to keep them open. Unless school officials can readily distinguish a COVID infection from the flu or a common cold, they will have to choose between two courses of action, both of which would yield unacceptable results: They could immediately quarantine a sick childs classmates, along with teachers and staff members who might have been exposed, resulting in frequent major disruptions of in-classroom education; or they could await test results, thus creating the possibility that a COVID infection could spread broadly, not just within the school but throughout the community. I do not believe that the schools can safely open and remain open with in-classroom teaching until we finally have ready access to accurate point-of-care testing and a robust program of contact tracing. At present, because of failures on the national level, these tools are practically nonexistent in the United States. Dr. Richard Bennek Germantown, N.Y. The writer is a retired emergency room physician. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 20:42:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Qiu Hong (2nd L), deputy head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), and the HKSAR government's Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Tsang Kwok-wai (1st L) and Secretary for Food and Health Chan Siu-chee (1st R) welcome virus testing professionals from the Chinese mainland in Hong Kong, south China, Aug. 2, 2020. Seven virus testing professionals from the Chinese mainland arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon as the first batch of mainland supportive teams to help contain a worsening spread of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. (Xinhua/Li Gang) HONG KONG, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Seven virus testing professionals from the Chinese mainland arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon as the first batch of mainland supportive teams to help contain a worsening spread of COVID-19 in Hong Kong. The medical professionals, who will help with laboratory work here, are members of a 60-strong nucleic acid testing team established recently at the request of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government for assistance in the battle against the pandemic. They came at a time of surging COVID-19 infections in Hong Kong, where medical resources were stretched to the limit and the virus testing capacity was not enough. Members of the team were selected from over 20 public hospitals in southern Guangdong Province. The head of the team used to lead the province's supportive group to Wuhan, the capital of central Hubei Province. Guo Penghao, leader of the seven-member advance team, said they will start working with relevant departments here and familiarizing themselves with testing facilities and procedures in preparation for the following large-scale nucleic acid testing. The virus testing team and Hong Kong residents will win the battle against COVID-19, Guo said. "We are full of confidence." When meeting with the team members, two officials of the HKSAR government, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Tsang Kwok-wai and Secretary for Food and Health Chan Siu-chee, expressed gratitude for the assistance of the central government, and said the HKSAR government hoped the outbreak will be contained as soon as possible. Qiu Hong, deputy head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, said the central government pays high attention to the safety and health of Hong Kong residents and, in addition to the supportive teams, it will also provide Hong Kong with free anti-epidemic equipment. No matter what difficulties Hong Kong encounters, the central government and the people of the motherland will always be Hong Kong's strongest backing, she said. The National Health Commission on Saturday promised continued efforts to mobilize medical resources from the mainland and send more support at any time based on the requirements of the HKSAR to combat COVID-19. The commission has also set up a panel of six experts from Wuhan to provide technical support in transforming Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo into a makeshift hospital. Enditem Bangkok [Thailand], Aug 1 (ANI): The United Nations has commended governments in southeast Asia for acting swiftly to stem the most serious health consequences of Covid-19 pandemic but highlighted the need to curb rising inequalities across the region. The UN Secretary General's Policy Brief: The Impact of Covid-19 on Southeast Asia, however, warns that these early successes must be translated into addressing the serious socio-economic setbacks which threaten to further deepen inequalities. "As in other parts of the world, the health, economic and political impact of Covid-19 has been significant across southeast Asia -- hitting the most vulnerable the hardest," said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres adding that while the region has much work to do, it also has formidable capacities at its disposal. "The pandemic has highlighted deep inequalities, shortfalls in governance and the imperative for a sustainable development pathway. And it has revealed new challenges, including to peace and security," he said. The new UN report examines how Covid-19 has affected 11 countries in southeast Asia and proposes action-oriented recommendations on mitigating immediate impacts and planning pathways out of the crisis. The brief highlights disproportionate impact of pandemic on vulnerable groups, particularly workers in the informal economy. The crisis is threatening to push them back into poverty and unemployment. "Responding to the pandemic and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals are closely interlinked. We need a future that is more equitable, sustainable and resilient," said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). Moving forward, four areas will be critical in the region's plans for recovery: tackling inequality, bridging the digital divide, greening the economy, and upholding human rights and good governance. The report is part of a series of policy briefs issued by the United Nations that examine the sectoral and geographical dimensions of Covid-19 pandemic across the world. (ANI) Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Adha, the annual festival of sacrifice, that has been scaled back this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. As part of the celebrations, animals such as sheep and cattle are slaughtered and distributed to the poor. This year, many devotees have been encouraged to make their meat donations online to limit the spread of Covid-19 at markets. Around the world, the festival had to fit in with the realities of the coronavirus. In Indonesia, the religious ministry asked mosques to shorten ceremonies, while many cancelled the ritual of slaughtering livestock and distributing meat to the community. Instead sheep, goats and cows were being killed in abattoirs to mark the 'Feast of the Sacrifice', celebrated by Muslims to commemorate Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail at God's command. Keep it safe The World Health Organization has called for strict rules around animal slaughter, suggesting that families distribute meat donations through centralised agencies instead of from their homes. Numerous apps and websites have sprung up in countries such as India and Bangladesh, where animals will be sold online to limit exposure to the virus. In Mumbai, Indian actor Shah Rukh Khan, popularly known as SRK, has come up with an ingenious way of keeping the coronavirus at bay: hug yourself. In a post on Instagram, the Bollywood actor and producer advised Muslims to give themselves a "self hug" as traditional hugging will not be allowed. End of Hajj The pandemic also cast a shadow over this year's Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. Last year, 2.5 million people took part in the five-day event. This year, as few as 1,000 pilgrims already residing in Saudi Arabia were allowed to perform the hajj. The pilgrimage wraps up on Monday 3 August when the Eid al-Adha festival ends. Eid al-Adha is the second major Muslim festival after Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. It marks the 12th and last month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Ive been engaged in Democratic Party platform debates for over three decades and am amazed at how the party consistently gets the section on Israel/Palestine wrong. Wrong because the positions expressed are out of touch with political realities on the ground. And wrong because the language they adopt has been out of sync with the opinions of Democratic voters. Unfortunately, the same is true this year. Despite some marginal progress in the 2020 platform language, its still 20 years behind the times and out of touch with the views of Democratic voters. Before I critique this years proposed platform plank on Israel/Palestine, lets review a bit of history. Back in 1988, representing Jesse Jackson, I introduced an amendment to the platform calling for mutual recognition, territorial compromise, and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. The platform drafters not only rejected this mild formula, they also accused us of trying to destroy the Democratic Party. They were wrong. At that time, Palestinians were in the midst of the first intifada and US opinion was shifting in response to the disproportionate force being used by the Israelis to crush the revolt. A poll conducted by the Atlanta Constitution showed that 70% of Democrats supported our position. But the party leadership was adamantly opposed to any changes. Since the platform did call for implementation of the Camp David Accords, we offered compromise language simply spelling out the terms of Camp David. We suggested adding phrases like land for peace and the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. I was told that if the P word were even mentioned in the platform all hell would break loose. Because they wouldnt give, I proceeded to introduce our plank from the convention podium and all hell did break loose, not because we raised it, but because they so disrespectfully tried to shut it down. In 1996 in the early years of the Oslo Process, the party platform draft included a plank calling for an undivided Jerusalem as Israels capital. I found this troubling since at that very moment the Clinton Administration was cautioning both Israelis and Palestinians against taking unilateral actions that might predetermine final status issues (and Jerusalem was one of these). I called Sandy Berger, Clintons National Security Advisor, and expressed my concern that this would undercut the Administrations position. He agreed and while he couldnt intervene in the platform process, he dispatched the State Department spokesperson to read a statement to the platform committee clearly distancing the White House from the partys position. It was an avoidable embarrassment. In 2012, the partys platform did not initially mention this language regarding Jerusalem and we were pleased. But on the day after the platform had already been approved by the convention, the Chairman of the Platform Committee came to the podium to announce a last-minute amendment declaring a united Jerusalem the undivided capital of Israel. Three times, he called for a voice vote to approve the change. And all three times the No votes clearly won. Clearly unsettled, the Chair decided to announce that the Yes votes had won in response, the convention erupted with booing. That day and the next, I was interviewed by countless media outlets about how Democrats had, in fact, rejected the plank, despite the heavy-handedness of Chair. The party had committed another unforced error. In 2016, I was involved in the platform drafting effort and found, once again, the party leadership to be out of touch with reality. When I asked to include opposition to settlements in the platform, I was told that the party didnt want to decide final status issues. When I countered with then we shouldnt mention Jerusalem, my objection was met with embarrassed silence.It was against this background that I approached the 2020 platform. Its a mixed bag. There is language that for the first time creates some degree of recognition for Palestinian rights and attempts to reflect a balanced concern for both Palestinians and Israelis. And the document (for the first time!) recognizes the Palestinians right to a state and promises to undo the damage done by the Trump Administration. It calls for restoring US assistance programs sorely needed by Palestinians, reopening the US Consulate in East Jerusalem that long served Palestinians in the occupied lands, and working to reopen the Palestinian Mission in Washington, DC. But calling for a state two decades too late or promising to return to the status quo antejust isnt good enough. There is one area where significant progress was made relating to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement for Palestinian rights. While this years platform keeps problematic language from 2016 stating opposition to any effort to delegitimize Israel, including at the UN or through the BDS movement, it also notably adds a commitment to protect the Constitutional right of our citizens to free speech. Pro-Israel groups are trying to spin this as a victory, but its akin to a GOP platform reading we are opposed to abortion, but we support the right of citizens to make their own choice on this matter. Even with this advance, there are still significant areas where the platform falls far short of where it should be. I am baffled why the platform committee once again drew a red line on including any mention of the word occupation in the document even though every Democratic leader (including President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and Joe Biden) has spoken about the need to end Israels military occupation over Palestinians. And while it opposes settlement expansion (another belated first in our partys platform), it fails to acknowledge that while successive Democratic Administrations have opposed such expansion, the settler population has continued to grow. By refusing to accept our amendment to place conditions on US aid to Israel should Israel continue to build settlements or annex Palestinian lands, the platform only serves to foster Israels sense of impunity. For decades prior to Trump, successive US administrations have called for an end to occupation and expressed opposition to settlements but have taken little or no action to back up their words. Now, the overwhelming majority of Democratic members of Congress say they oppose annexation. But precisely because these same lawmakers have been reticent to say that there will be consequences if Israel annexes or continues to expand settlements, Israel has continued to ignore what the US says. When there are no consequences to bad behavior, bad behavior continues. There are, however, reasons to be hopeful about where this debate is headed. Its reflected in the courage demonstrated by Bernie Sanders and newer members of Congress, like Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, who are speaking out for Palestinian rights, and in polls showing that a majority of Democrats support conditioning aid to Israel based on its human rights performance. And so this fight isnt over. Not by a long shot. We will continue to push Democrats to recognize reality and oppose Israels occupation. Instead of just expressions of opposition settlement expansion we will continue to press for conditioning US aid to Israel making it absolutely clear that there will be consequences if Israel does annex Palestinian land or continues its settlement enterprise. Polls show that these positions have the support of most Democrats and they reflect political imperatives on the ground. Its high time for our partys platform to catch up with reality. Search Keywords: Short link: During the period, a total 124 tonnes of Vietnamese green mangoes were imported into Australia, an increase of 51 tonnes as against the same period last year. According to a report by ABC Rural, the competition from Vietnamese mangoes has made the price in the Southern Territories drop around 40 percent, from about AUD 80 (US$63) per tray last year to AUD50 (US$35) per tray this year. Most of the exported green mangoes were sold to restaurants, not supermarkets, where they are being used in Southeast Asian cuisine. Since July 20, Vietnamese durian has been jointly promoted in Australia by the Vietnamese Commercial Affairs Office in Australia and the New South Wales-based ASEAN company. The firm has imported seven tonnes of frozen durian from the Southeast Asian country. Frozen durian products which are mainly imported from Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, China, and Vietnam, are increasingly finding favour among Australian consumers. Donald Trump clashed once again with his leading infectious disease expert on Twitter, contradicting Anthony Fauci's explanation as to why coronavirus cases in the US are surging while Europe's numbers fall. Mr Trump retweeted a video in which Dr Fauci outlines the difference between the reactions most European countries shut down the vast majority of their economies, while the US took a less stringent approach calling the immunologist's statement "wrong". In a recent congressional testimony, Dr Fauci explains the drop in European cases as a result of countries shutting up to 95 per cent of their economies, while the US only reached 50 per cent. The president instead claimed the reason US cases continue to spike is to do with testing. "Wrong! We have more cases because we have tested far more than any other country, 60,000,000. If we tested less, there would be less cases. How did Italy, France & Spain do? Now Europe sadly has flare ups. Most of our governors worked hard & smart. We will come back STRONG!" Dr Fauci is correct in asserting the difference between shutdowns, including in observing that while some states followed the Centres for Disease Control guidelines in reopening, others did not, leading to surges in many western and southern states. The spat is the latest in a series of altercation indicating a turbulent relationship between the president and the expert. Despite Mr Trump's claims the two have a "good relationship", the administration and its allies have repeatedly undermined its own top infectious disease expert. The president recently shared a tweet calling Dr Fauci a "fraud". While a recent poll showed the approval ratings of Mr Trump's handling of the pandemic at a record low, Dr Fauci is trusted by Americans. This has led the president to ponder why "nobody likes [him]". This comes as Mr Trump continues to fall in the polls compared to Democrat Joe Biden. With more than 150,000 deaths and a caseload exceeding 4.5 million, the US has the highest figures globally. He recently quit social media for a month to spend more time with his loved ones. And Declan Donnelly appeared every inch the doting dad as he pushed his daughter Isla, 23 months, alongside wife Ali Astall, 42, and their dachshund Rocky on Sunday. The TV presenter appeared relaxed as he carried a takeaway cup through Chiswick, London, after he and Ant McPartlin, both 44, said they were taking the summer off. Relaxed: Declan Donnelly, 44, appeared every inch the doting dad as he pushed his daughter Isla, 23 months, alongside wife Ali Astall, 42, and their dachshund Rocky on Sunday Dec put on a casual display in a pair of khaki shorts and a black polo top teamed with shades as he took a stroll in the sunshine. The star opted for comfortable grey trainers as he held the pushchair down the steep hill during the family's weekend outing. Meanwhile Ali looked effortlessly chic in a black v-neck t-shirt and high-waisted denim shorts to accentuate her tanned pins. Family time: Dec put on a casual display in a pair of khaki shorts and a black polo top with shades as he took a stroll in the sunshine She wore her blonde locks in natural waves and paired her look with floral sliders as she held the lead of their black-and-tan sausage dog. Better know by their household name of Ant and Dec, the duo revealed on Saturday they were quitting social media for 'four weeks'. Posting to their joint Instagram account, the stars shared a snap of themselves kicking back in colourful Hawaiian shirts, captioned 'See you in FOUR WEEKS.' Toodle-oo!: This snap will be the last fans of Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly for a while as the duo announced they are quitting social media on Saturday Bon voyage: In a scene inspired by retro holiday postcards, Ant and Dec put their feet up with some light reading, with Dec sipping a cocktail while Ant chuckled at his magazine In a scene inspired by retro holiday postcards, Ant and Dec put their feet up with some light reading, with Dec sipping a cocktail while Ant chuckled at his magazine. The Newcastle natives finished the post with a friendly message which read: 'We're both taking a break for a few weeks to spend time with family and friends. Wishing everyone a great month and we'll see you at the end of August!' Dec married the duo's manager Ali at St Michael's Roman Catholic Church in 2015 and the couple share Isla Elizabeth Anne. Household names: Known to everyone as simply Ant and Dec, the presenters said they were taking the summer off to spend time with loved ones Doubtless Ant will be taking the opportunity to spend time with his partner of over a year Anne-Marie Corbett, 43, with whom he shares a labrador called Hurley. ITV recently confirmed its flagship show I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Outta Here! would return for a 20th series on Thursday with Ant and Dec at the helm. It was also announced that a special one-off documentary called I'm A Celebrity: A Jungle Story, which will celebrate the very best moments of the show's stellar 19 year history. Back in action: Last week they returned to work together by taking part in a promotional day of filming for their upcoming book Once Upon A Tyne In May it was reported that show bosses were holding crisis talks to save this year's show amid the pandemic. According to The Sun, insiders were unclear whether the show would go ahead later this year after the TV industry was thrown into chaos by COVID-19. A source at the time said: 'I'm A Celebrity is six months away but bosses are holding meetings about how they can ensure it still goes ahead in the current climate. A raft of measures are being looked at. 'One of the most recent plans was to employ a crew that is 95 per cent made up of Australian workers to overcome the issues surrounding flying to different countries and the quarantine restrictions. 'This would mean a lot of the show's UK crew missing out on their annual big gig but ITV are having to seriously consider every option.' The insider added that due to the changing nature of the pandemic, every possible situation was being planned for. Colorado Politics senior political reporter Joey Bunch is the senior correspondent and deputy managing editor of Colorado Politics. His 32-year career includes the last 16 in Colorado. He was part of the Denver Post team that won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 and he is a two-time finalist. Washington Negotiations between top White House officials and congressional Democrats on coronavirus relief legislation showed signs of progress on Saturday, after days of stalemate that caused 30 million Americans to lose emergency unemployment benefits. Emerging from a three-hour meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said they had had the most productive discussion to date, although they had not yet struck a deal. "It was the best discussion we've had so far, and I'd call it progress but a ways to go," Schumer said. He said aides would be meeting Sunday to go over details, and the principals would meet again Monday. Mnuchin and Meadows agreed as they addressed reporters at the Capitol a short time later. "It's time to make a deal," Meadows said. "And if we're going to be able to succeed in this it's taking what started as probably the first day of a good foundation, productive discussions, and building upon those until we reach an agreement hopefully in the next couple of days." Meadows added, "There are still substantial differences but we did make good progress." It was a change of tone from Friday, when Meadows and Pelosi exchanged harsh criticism about who was to blame for the expiration of $600 weekly enhanced unemployment benefits at a time of great economic uncertainty. Those benefits expired Friday. White House officials have been trying to get Democrats to agree to a short-term fix that would extend the uemployment benefits and address a handful of other items such as continuing a moratorium on evictions that also recently expired. Democrats, whose starting point is a $3 trillion bill the House passed in May, have been holding out for a more comprehensive response that would address economic and health care needs besetting the nation. Mnuchin said Saturday that even as the two sides were finding areas of agreement on policy, there was still disagreement on the best way to move forward legislatively. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "They've made clear that there's a desire on their part to do an entire package; we've made clear that we are willing to deal with the short-term issues, pass something quickly, and come back to the larger issues," Mnuchin said. "So we're at an impasse." Nevertheless the positive comments after the meeting suggested that the two sides might be heading toward a deal, after four days of meetings this past week produced nothing but angry rhetoric. Recent polling has shown voters increasingly disgusted with Congress, which has not acted since spring even as the coronavirus his been spiking and the economic recovery has stalled. More than 150,000 Americans have died. Mnuchin said the two sides agreed on the need to extend unemployment insurance and the eviction moratorium and provide money for schools and small businesses. Vast differences remain, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's demand for a liability shield for businesses, health care providers and others, and Democrats' demand for $1 trillion in additional aid to cities and states. McConnell was home in Kentucky on Saturday and did not participate in the negotiations, which he's largely left to administration officials. But Meadows and Mnuchin said they were keeping him and Trump closely apprised of developments. A suicide car bomb and multiple gunmen attacked a prison in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday, Afghan officials said, killing three people and injuring 20 others. The gunbattle between Afghan security forces and insurgents in Jalalabad, the capital of Nangarhar province, was still ongoing Sunday evening, and casualties were likely to rise, according to Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor. Ajmal Omer, a provincial council member, and Tariq Arian, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, also confirmed the attack. No one immediately claimed responsibility, but both the Taliban and the local Islamic State groups affiliate are active in eastern Afghanistan. The IS affiliate is headquartered in Nangarhar province. Sundays attack comes a day after the Afghan intelligence agency said a senior IS commander was killed by Afghan special forces near Jalalabad. The Talibans political spokesman Suhail Shaheen told The Associated Press, We have a cease fire and are not involved in any of these attacks anywhere in the country, but said he was not aware of the details of the Jalalabad attack. The Taliban declared a three-day cease-fire starting Friday for the major Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The Taliban had also denied involvement in a suicide bombing in the eastern Logar province late Thursday, which killed at least nine people and wounded at least 40, authorities said. Afghanistan has seen a recent spike in violence, with most attacks claimed by the local IS affiliate. Efforts to get peace talks between the Taliban and the Kabul government underway have stalled after the Taliban and the U.S. signed a deal in February, seen as a blueprint to ending Afghanistans decades of war. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York state has completed six million diagnostic coronavirus (COVID-19) tests since the start of the pandemic, and has reached its lowest number of hospitalizations since March 17 -- with 556 people hospitalized as of Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said during a conference call with reporters on Sunday. According to the governor, intensive care unit numbers were down to 143, and the number of people intubated decreased slightly to 71. Weve now conducted over 6 million tests, and the numbers are just about where we want them to be, which is all very good news and says that our plan is working, Cuomo said. However, context is important, and there are storm clouds on the horizon in the form of new cases throughout the country and a lack of compliance here in the state, and I urge New Yorkers to stay New York smart and local governments to properly enforce state guidance. There were three coronavirus-related deaths in New York reported Saturday -- bringing the total number statewide to 25,167. No deaths were reported in New York City on Saturday. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** Saturday data is summarized briefly below: Patient Hospitalization - 556 (-25) Patients Newly Admitted - 74 Hospital Counties - 30 Number ICU - 143 (-4) Number ICU with Intubation - 71 (-1) Total Discharges - 73,222 (+88) Deaths - 3 Total Deaths - 25,170 Of the 58,961 tests conducted Saturday, Cuomo said 531 people tested positive -- or 0.9%. More than 6 million diagnostic tests have been conducted in New York since March, he said. In New York City, the percentage of positive coronavirus diagnostic tests was 1% -- or 263 people. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Unearthing a Popular Front of India (PFI) link to the Kerala gold smuggling scandal, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a member of the controversial organization for assisting the suspected kingpin of the racket, the agency said on Sunday. Apart from the PFI member identified as Muhammad Ali, five more suspects have also been arrested from Kerala for conspiring with the gold smugglers; raids have been conducted at six places in Kerala in the past three days, the NIA said. Ernakulam resident Ali, arrested on Saturday, is a PFI member and took part in the smuggling racket besides aiding and assisting a person named Jalal A M in collecting the smuggled gold from suspected kingpin Ramees K T in Thiruvananthapuram and distributing the contraband among other conspirators, deputy inspector general (DIG) Sonia Narang, who is also the NIA spokesperson, said. When contacted, PFIs Kerala state president C P Mohammad Bashir denied that Ali is a PFI member. He is not associated with us. PFIs name is being dragged {into the case}, Bashir said. Ali had been arrested by Kerala police in connection with an attack on July 4, 2010 on professor T K Joseph of Newman College, Thodupuzha; he was acquitted n May 2015 for want of evidence. The NIA has been investigating the case since 2011 and after his arrest now in the gold smuggling case, officials who didnt wish to be named said they will again probe Alis role in the attack. Joseph was attacked for preparing a question paper that carried allegedly blasphemous content against the Prophet. His palm was chopped off during the attack, but was surgically restored. Thirteen people were convicted and 17 let off by the NIA court in Ernakulam in 2015 in connection with the attack. NIA is investigating a larger terror conspiracy in the smuggling of gold in various districts of Kerala. It is suspected that a wider network of terror financing and hawala operations is linked to the smuggling racket. Apart from Ali, those arrested in last three days include Jalal A M and Said Alvi E, residents of Ernakulam and Malappuram respectively. They were arrested on charges of conspiring with Ramees KT, who had been arrested earlier, and for smuggling gold through diplomatic baggage addressed to the United Arab Emirates consulate in Thiruvananthapuram. Two more men, namely Mohammed Shafi and Abdu PT, both residents of Malappuram district, were arrested for allegedly playing similar roles. On Saturday, NIA arrested Muhammad Ali Ebrahim along with Muhammad Ali, both residents of Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam. The four arrested earlier included Swapna Suresh, a former information technology consultant with the Kerala government, and P.Sarith Kumar, who had gone to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on July 3 to pick up a consignment addressed to the UAE consulate. At least 30 kilograms of 24-carat gold the best quality estimated to be worth at least Rs 15 crore, were found hidden inside pipes contained in a carton. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayans powerful secretary M Sivasankar, a senior Indian Administrative Service officer, has been suspended over his alleged links with Suresh. Opposition parties have sought the resignation of the CM, saying he was aware of his secretarys role in the smuggling racket. In Delhi, minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan observed a one-day fast in his residence on Sunday. It is sad the CMs office has turned a hub for anti-national activities. He cant get away by sacrificing some officials, he said. The Rio Rancho Governing Body has decided not to remove driving on a revoked or suspended license from city code, so hundreds of cases will stay in municipal court instead of going to magistrate court. The ordinance against driving on a revoked or suspended license, also called unlawful use of a license or UUL, generated about 590 charges for Rio Rancho Municipal Court in 2019. At the July 23 governing body meeting, city councilors voted unanimously, with Councilor Jennifer Flor absent, to repeal ordinances against assault, battery, petty misdemeanor aggravated battery and assault on a peace officer. It was the second and final vote needed for the repeal. City Councilor Bob Tyler, the sponsor of the repeals, said the repealed ordinances account for about 130 charges in municipal court last year. Repealing the ordinances will require offenses to be sent to Sandoval County Magistrate Court. The charge of driving on a revoked or suspended license had been among those being repealed, but city councilors voted to remove it from that action. Weve looked at this and we think this is the best way to deal with crime, City Attorney Greg Lauer said. Tyler has said magistrate court has stiffer penalties and access to more rehabilitation resources, which will hold offenders more accountable. Also, the city has to pay for public defenders and Sandoval County Detention Center housing for people cited into municipal court. The State of New Mexico pays those costs for suspects cited into magistrate court. Rio Rancho Police officers will have to prosecute the cases being newly sent to magistrate court. In municipal court, they prosecute many cases, but a city-employed prosecutor, Gina Manfredi, handles those involving defense attorneys, complex or high-profile cases, or cases in which an officer asks for help, said Municipal Judge G. Robert Cook. Everyone agrees shes a good attorney, Cook said of Manfredi. Lauer said 90 percent of assault charges, 81 percent of battery charges and 91 percent of aggravated battery cases in municipal court were dismissed in 2019. One case of assault on a peace officer appeared in municipal court last year, resulting in a conviction, but the offense has a high rate of dismissal, too, he said. Cook said many assault and battery charges are dismissed because the victim, the complainant or a witness fails to come to court. He said sometimes police officers may decide to dismiss charges as well. They are not dismissed willy-nilly, Cook said. Laws dictate when cases can or cant be dismissed, he said. Cook said hes worked in the legal realm as a New Mexico State Police officer and then municipal judge for 40 years, and based on that experience, he believes Rio Rancho Municipal Court dismissal rates are comparable with other courts. Rio Rancho Police and Communications Association President Cpl. Richard Martinez has said officers tend to prefer to cite cases into municipal court instead of magistrate court because theyre more likely to get a conviction, and theyre able to get back out on the street faster. Lauer said municipal cases can be appealed to the 13th Judicial District Court for a brand-new trial, and since the defense has already seen the prosecutions case, he or she can exploit it. However, in magistrate court, the defense attorney sees the good work of police officers and encourages a plea that stays, he said. He also said he and Tyler held extensive conversations about the repeals with city attorneys staff, the 13th Judicial District Attorney, police and the municipal judge and court staff. At the governing body meeting, Police Chief Stewart Steele said that being from Florida, he had thought it was odd to charge people at the municipal level for assault, battery, misdemeanor aggravated battery and assault on a peace officer. Deputy Police Chief Jason Bowie said that when he started working for what was then Rio Rancho Department of Public Safety in 1994, most people cited into municipal court were Rio Rancho residents. Now, he said, most of those people are from elsewhere. Bowie doesnt believe assault, battery, etc., should be petty misdemeanor crimes. I think we owe our citizens more than that, he said. He would like municipal court to focus on quality-of-life issues. Bowie appreciates that Cook organizes court proceedings to help officers get back on the street more quickly and said Cook runs a good court. Municipal court has served our department very well, he said. Bowie also said officers prosecute cases in magistrate court now, and hes confident they can handle more, even though there may be a learning curve and some disappointments for them. He also said he believed the change would be positive in respect to overtime. The repeals take effect later this month, 30 days after the passage of the ordinance. Recently repealed city ordinances: Assault, Ordinance 131.01: It is unlawful for any person to commit a battery upon the person of another, nor shall any person, by any unlawful act, threat or menacing conduct, cause another person to believe he is in danger of receiving an immediate battery, nor shall any person, by the use of insulting language toward another, impugn his honor, delicacy or reputation. Battery, Ordinance 131.02: It is unlawful for any person to beat, strike, wound, inflict violence or apply force to the person of another, nor shall a person intentionally touch or apply force to the person of another in a rude, insolent, angry or hostile manner, except in connection with an exhibition duly authorized and licensed under law, or in lawful self-defense, or in the line of duty as a duly authorized police officer as circumstances warrant. Aggravated battery, Ordinance 131.03: It is unlawful for any person to commit aggravated battery upon the person of another, nor shall any person unlawfully touch or apply force to the person of another with intent to injure that person or another, or inflict an injury to the person which is not likely to cause death or great bodily harm, but does cause painful temporary disfigurement or temporary loss or impairment of the functions of any member or organ of the body. Assault upon a peace officer, Ordinance 131.19: (A) It is unlawful for any person to commit assault upon a peace officer. (B) Assault upon a peace officer consists of: (1) An attempt to commit a battery upon the person of a peace officer while he is in the lawful discharge of his duties; or (2) Any unlawful act, threat or menacing conduct which causes a police officer while he is in the lawful discharge of his duties to reasonably believe he is in danger of receiving an immediate battery. (Source: City of Rio Rancho Municipal Code at codepublishing.com/NM/RioRancho) As the world is battling with the deadly pandemic, a new setback has emerged. At least 36 crew members on a Norwegian cruise ship have tested positive for COVID-19, officials reported. According to the cruise line, other passengers who had been on the ship for its July 17 and July 24 departures have been contacted. Reportedly, on July 31, four of the MS Roald Amundsens crew members had tested positive for the virus and have since been hospitalised. Reportedly, the infected crew members were all Filipino apart from three people from France, Norway and Germany. The ship arrived on July 31 at the port of Troms north of Svalbard, where the remaining members were quarantined on board. As per reports, the ship, that can accommodate nearly 530 passengers, has no passengers on the vessel and is currently docked in Troms, Norway. From the 158 crew members on board, 36 are currently infected. This development prompts fears of an upturn of cases in Norway. Earlier, the ships company Hurtigruten had stated a total of 33 positive COVID-19 cases. According to the cruise operator, the rest of the members have tested negative. Hurtigruten stated on July 31 that four crew members "were isolated several days ago because of other disease symptoms, with no symptoms of COVID-19. There was no reason to suspect COVID-19 when the ship docked in Tromso based on the symptoms they were showing. Nearly 180 passengers, who departed on July 25, debarked on July 31, while more than 200 guests were on ship between 17-24 July. These guests will have to self-quarantine in line with Norwegian health authority regulations, the company stated. As of July 31, Norway had a total of 9,208 confirmed cases of COVID-19. One person died due to the virus on the night of July 31, taking the countrys death toll to 256. This was the first death due to coronavirus in the country in two weeks. Read: Norway Ends Virus Tracing App Over Privacy Concerns Read:Scientists Study Coronavirus Outbreaks Among Minks In Europe COVID-19's impact on cruise ship industry The cruise ship industry has been hugely affected by the ongoing pandemic, suffering losses as several liners were converted into quarantine facilities in April and May for suspected and confirmed coronavirus cases. In March, Hurtigruten declared that it had suspended mostly all of its activities because of the ongoing pandemic. Read: German Cruise Ship Sets Sail, Hopes Short Trip Thwarts Virus Read: Coronavirus Horror For Sea-farers Continues; 40,000 Cruise Ship Workers Still Trapped Ships have shown to be petri dishes for illnesses, and coronavirus has spread rapidly on ocean liners. In February, Diamond Princess was found to carry more than 700 people infected with the virus. Apart from Hurtigruten and Diamond Princess, ten crew members on AIDA Cruises' AIDAblu and AIDAmar had tested positive for COVID-19 after boarding in Rostok, Germany, on July 22. (With inputs from agency) (Image credit: AP/Representative image) Clinical trials of coronavirus vaccine developed by Russia's Gamaleya Institute have been completed. Paperwork for its registration with Russia's regulatory body is underway. However, Russian media has not specified which stage of the trials was over. Last month, a news report by Russia's Tass news agency said that the candidate vaccine had entered Phase-2 of its human clinical trials on July 13. Phase-2 trials in which the vaccine is tested for its ability to trigger an immune response in human beings take a few months to complete. The Russian vaccine has raised concerns because of the speed at which it is being pushed through. However, the Russian Defence Ministry clarified that tests of the vaccine against coronavirus were conducted in full compliance with methodological regulations. Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko has said that that a mass vaccination programme would be launched in Russia in October. He added that doctors and teachers would be the first to receive the vaccine. Meanwhile, news agency Reuters, citing anonymous sources, said that Russia's first potential vaccine would be approved by regulators this month. Russia's vaccine might receive approval without a Phase-3 trial. In Phase-3 trials, vaccine doses are given to several thousand volunteers which take months or years to be completed. Meanwhile, Bloomberg stated that the Gamaleya vaccine was likely to get a "conditional registration" in August, meaning it would be approved for use even as Phase-3 trials are carried out. The vaccine's production is expected to begin in September. Scores of possible coronavirus vaccines are being developed around the world, more than 20 of which are currently in clinical trials. Meanwhile, a committee at the Central Drug Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has asked the Drugs Standard Control Organisation (DCGI) to allow the Serum Institute of India (SII) for the second and third phases of human clinical trials of coronavirus vaccine. SII has submitted a revised proposal to DGCI, in which it said that 16,000 people aged above 18 will participate in the trials across 17 cities. SII has signed an agreement to manufacture the potential vaccine developed by the Jenner Institute (Oxford University) in collaboration with British Swedish pharma company AstraZeneca. Also read: Coronavirus vaccine will be ready by early 2021: Dr Anthony Fauci Also read: Biggest COVID-19 vaccine deal yet; Sanofi, GSK sign $2.1 billion deal with US govt Before we set out, I made a telephone call to my trusted long-time mentor, friend and lawyer - David Drury. I told him that we were about to go on a peaceful walking protest in the neighbourhood. I told him we had taken every precaution in the book to ensure we were compliant with the law. We wore face masks. We were walking within the permitted radius. We carried sanitizer. We were going to respect social distancing. There were 7 of us. Our actions were peaceful. We had written placards that read "No Violence," "I am protesting peacefully," Babies' Lives Matter," "Covid Kills, So does corruption," "FreeZimbabwe," "I have a dream," and "EndHunger". When we were making these placards, we joked that each placard represented each person's little prayer or wish for Zimbabwe. It was a gloriously sunny, blue-skied day but the air was thick and ominous. We had been online and seen that the army and riot police had barricaded all entry roads to the central business district. I had been advised earlier by phone that a case that I am acting in had been postponed because the magistrate had failed to get to Rotten Row from out of town. I had been turned back at Churchill Ave while trying to get to work myself. "No problem, Fadzayi. Don't hesitate to call," David Drury said. "I promise we will stay safe," I replied. Moments after we left the house, a vehicle without a number plate was following us and taking pictures. We continued walking. Courage does not mean you're not afraid. It means that you face your fears and choose to act in spite of them. What sort of society criminalizes a placard written "Save the Babies?" Who does not know that just a week earlier, 7 out of 8 newborn babies had died at Harare Hospital because nurses and doctors are striking against their deplorable working conditions. In 2020, those levels of infant mortality cannot be accepted as normal. A day earlier, I had turned 35. I was born at the hospital where the babies died. I had suffered from foetal distress. Had there been no healthcare workers, I would be a statistic like those babies. Those babies lost their lives because of our failed healthcare system. We continued walking. As we walked down the road, people stared at us in shock. As we passed a vendors' flower market, everybody stopped talking. Some looked to the side. One could slice through the thick fog of fear with a knife. Several threats had been made earlier in the week by the state and "ruling party". Anybody who dared to participate in the protest on 31 July would be severely dealt with. As a believer in the Constitution, it remained more important to me that the Constitution is supreme. It guarantees the right to peaceful protest. How could the government run roughshod over that? Why was the State at war with citizens making peaceful demands for a better life? What is freedom if you cannot ask, speak or act? I had haggled over these questions practically and philosophically for weeks as the number of abductions, arbitrary arrests and assaults on journalistic freedom had escalated. Nobody wants to live in a police state. We continued up a main road, peaceful and socially-distanced. We continued chatting. The conversation was rambly and stilted, mostly because we were now conscious that we were being tailed by a car full of people in a strange car but in plain clothes. Sensing danger, we managed to get a lift into a car where we established for certain that we were being followed. For what reason? We had not done anything wrong. We had not committed a crime. Firm in the conviction that we were innocent and had nothing to hide or run away from, we went to a coffee shop at a shopping centre. They followed us there too. We observed from a distance that the persons in plainclothes were now changing into police uniforms. We telephoned David Drury who arrived with Emma Drury. As they arrived, riot police had flooded the shopping centre, armed with AK rifles. This scene was unfamiliar in this part of town. We remained seated until they started pointing at me "uyo, uyo." They charged at us. I asked why and what the charge could possibly be if we were under any sort of arrest. "Inciting public violence!" the officer yelled as another leapt over the barricaded entrance to the coffee shop. "What are you doing? This is ridiculous. Why do you find it necessary to jump over the entrance?" Mr Drury asked the police in an attempt to de-escalate their disproportionate advance towards us. "We want to see the placards in your car." The placard at the top when they inspected the car was the one that read, "No Violence" followed by the one that said "I am protesting peacefully." Of course, they bundled all 7 of us up into the back of a police truck and charged us with inciting public violence anyway. We lay and sat on top of each other as we drove through a menacingly silent CBD to the Harare Central Police Station. When it comes to enforcing repression, all semblance of pretending to care about Covid 19 is thrown out the window. At the police station, the inefficiency, underfunding and undignified state of the justice system was again laid bare. We were asked our ID numbers so many times that I ended up drawing a blank. The interrogation methods are outdated. The Constitution is not paid regard to in the slightest and our police officers did not have a copy of the Criminal Code. We were blessed to be surrounded by a team of competent lawyers who did everything in their power to defend our rights. In my individual police interview, one of the questions struck at my core. "Did you not think that because of the position you hold and party you belong to, people would be incited to join your so called peaceful protest and become violent.?" Looking at Mr Drury, half in shock, half in anger, I said, "I did not know that my constitutional rights are suspended due to my political affiliation. I thought that as a citizen of Zimbabwe, I had the same rights as everyone else." At the police station we met Tsitsi Dangarembwa, Julie Barnes and other protesters had been arrested for protesting peacefully - most had been holding up placards in their neighbourhood with peaceful demands. Tsitsi and Julie also narrated an ordeal of having been tailed and photographed before their arrest. At the holding cells, we also saw Terrence and Loveridge who had been abducted, beaten and tortured. They had bleeding head injuries and were dazed. Their clothes were soiled in dirt. They said they had been blindfolded, told they were at Lake Chivero and threatened. Their abductors kept saying they were going to feed them to the crocodiles. The condition of the State, afraid and at war with citizens making legitimate demands was indeed a Nervous one. As night fell, we were taken upstairs to our cells. There was no water, just an overflowing pit latrine. There were puddles of urine everywhere. There was no sanitizer and no soap. One of the women among us was on her period. Bloody hell. At first we looked at the pile of dirty blankets and figured we could not use them because they were so dirty. By the end of the night, we had used every blanket in sight and huddled up very close to each other as the cold coursed through our veins. After what felt like a millenium, morning came. Further inefficiency, confusion and slowness of the wheels of justice meant that we only got to court after lunchtime. We were granted bail with the strange condition that we had to hand in our passports. My little brother Simon Drury was taken to remand prison because they say his passport has expired and was therefore not competent fulfilment of his bail conditions. On hearing this, I wanted to scream. The ridiculousness, the injustice and the madness know no end. Freedom? For as long as we have to remain silent with no rights and remedies in the face of grave injustice, I assure you, we are not yet free. A free society is my wish for Zimbabwe. Anything less than that is an existence I will not enjoy being a part of. They must Free Hopewell and they must Free Jacob. Tawanda Muchehiwa must be delivered back to his family in one piece. What society is this where people cannot be free? When things like this happen, the best of the Zimbabwean spirit is also placed on full display. Thank you to my beloved parents, Stephen and Winfrida. They want someone to be speaking out but they do not want it to be their daughter. It is normal for us to feel this way. It is sometimes the cost of freedom. Thank you to my siblings for their eternal support. Thank you Tafi for coming to court and praying. Thank you Tawi for the calls. Thank you Mudiwa for being my second brain and being the queen logistician during the crisis. Thank you Lenon for getting me pain and headache meds and showing up. Thank you to Emma Drury for showing up this and every time and taking charge. Thank you for standing up to that police officer who nearly manhandled you to get my phone. Thank you Vikki Drury for being a second mum and breakfast maker. Thank you Dr Gede for attending to us medically and to my beloved friends Cheryl and Zam. Thank you Rebekah for the warm clothes and care pack. Thank you Namatai for the food at the police station. Thank you to my work colleagues David and Fran for showing up. Thank you to our amazing legal team - Chris, Paida, Alec and Andrea. Thank you to MDC Alliance officials including Tendai Biti and Miriam Mushayi for showing up at court for solidarity. Thank you to Ibbo Mandaza for showing up. Thank you to everyone for the support online and offline. I am so grateful. To Nyasha, Tino, Jess, Jossee, Simon and Tinashe - I am so proud to know you and call you my friends. One day, we will look back on this with a deeper understanding of why things worked out the way they did, for better and for worse. Warbird Digest has just received the July, 2020 report from Chuck Cravens concerning the restoration of the Dakota Territory Air Museums P-47D Thunderbolt 42-27609 at AirCorps Aviation in Bemidji, Minnesota. We thought our readers would be very interested to see how the project has progressed since our last article on this important project. So without further ado, here it goes! Update Restoration milestones attained this month were the installation of two different tanks. The water injection system came closer to completion with the installation of the water injection tank. The Christmas tree tank, unique to the 5th Air Force, was also permanently installed. The complex and time consuming wing structure assembly occupied much of the restoration technicians time this month as it has for several months. Water Injection System Tank Installation The water injection system, first introduced on the P-47-5RE, increased engine power to 2250 hp for short periods by allowing higher manifold pressures without detonation. Rear Fuselage Work Systems installation continues in the entire fuselage. The tail wheel doors are installed, but have yet to be connected to their actuating system. (image via AirCorps Aviation) Christmas Tree Tank The main complaint against the P-47 when the 5th Air Force began operating Thunderbolts was that they lacked the necessary range needed to reach the Japanese bases. One of the attempted solutions was adding a tank behind the pilot in the upper turtledeck. The space available dictated the shape of the tank, which ended up being reminiscent of a Christmas tree. The new tank was problematic, causing fire hazard issues, and a rearward center of gravity. Because of these problems, nearly all of the tanks were removed. However, 42-27609 still had the tank installed when it was recovered from Papua New Guinea. The range problem was eventually solved using lean cruising techniques and with large drop tanks. As many as three at a time were carried on long missions. World War II self-sealing tanks were made with multiple layers of rubber and reinforcing fabric. The outer layers were vulcanized rubber, and the inner layers were untreated natural rubber. When punctured, the inner natural rubber layer swelled from contact with the fuel and sealed the bullet holes. The black rubber part is called the scupper. Its function is to catch fuel overflow. Remarkably for a rubber part, this one survived in usable condition and is an original component of 42-27609. The larger opening to the left of center is the hole for the fuel level sending unit, while the one in the upper right corner is for the fill. The smaller hole in between the two is for the vent Wings Alexander Kartveli, the P-47s designer, favored a wing plan shared by the prewar P-35: a straight leading edge with curved tips and semi-elliptical trailing edge. This design gave an elliptical area distribution without the manufacturing difficulties of a curved leading edge [Smithsonian Air & Space webpage, accessed 7/15/29020]. Kartvelis design created a much more complex structure than the straight trailing edge of the P-51 wing. The 39th Fighter Squadron Gets the P-47D-23RA In June of 1944, the 39th Fighter Squadron was based at Nadzab in the Markham River valley. Nadzab was about 20 miles inland from Lae on the northeast coast of New Guinea. At this time, preparations were under way to move closer to the Japanese bases by transferring to Owi Island, 818 miles to the west. Meanwhile the pilots underwent training until the Owi base was ready. On June 25, 1944, seven new P-47D-23s arrived from Finschafen. Seven more were added two days later but no missions were flown until August 3, when glide bombing was introduced against Japanese positions on Noemfoor Island and the Vogelkop Peninsula. For the first time, 500 pound bombs were used on the underwing shackles, doubling the P-47s offensive load. [John Stanaway, Cobra in the Clouds, (Historical Aviation Album, Temple City, CA 1982) 28] Glide bombing is similar to dive bombing,with the essential difference being a lesser angle of the attacking dive. The technique normally used during WWII was to fly past the target to one side, then turn into the dive. A dive angle between 30 and 60 degrees was established, and the throttle was cut to prevent problems with ovespeeding and compressibility. The bombs were dropped by aiming slightly above the target, and released at an altitude of around 1500 feet (or sometimes lower). On August 7th, Major Richard Cella led a flight of 26 P-47s on a 900 mile trip from Nadzab to Noemfoor. This mission established that the long range adaptations for the P-47 had been successful. Over the next 6 weeks, the 39th flew missions guarding against the occasional raids on Middleburg Island airfields by Japanese soldiers. On August 9th, the 39th FS operated from Noemfoor for the first time when two flights of P-47s covered a convoy off Cape Sansapor. A number of similar missions ensued until August 20th, when the 39th flew a 5 hour and 20 minute fighter sweep to the Moluccas. At the time, this was the longest P-47 mission flown, though later in the year, using 3 external tanks and maximum range techniques demonstrated by Charles Lindbergh, the squadron flew missions of as much as 8 hours. On September 5th another glide bombing mission was flown, this time to Halmahera. The 800 mile round trip was carried out with no losses. [John Stanaway, Cobra in the Clouds, (Historical Aviation Album, Temple City, CA 1982) 29] The move to Morotai began on September 12th, and combat operations were diminished until routine patrol missions resumed on October 5th. By that time, 42-27609 had been taken out of service (on September 18, 1944). And thats all for this month. We wish to thank AirCorps Aviation, Chuck Cravens for making this report possible! We look forwards to bringing more restoration reports on progress with this rare machine in the coming months, although it will likely be some time before we can do so given how the present pandemic has suspended almost all non-essential activities around the globe at the moment. Be safe, and be well By PTI CHENNAI: The Centre will not impose any language on any state through the new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Union Minister for Education Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said on Sunday. Nishank's clarification, through a tweet in Tamil, comes in the backdrop of opposition to NEP in Tamil Nadu on the grounds that the policy allegedly imposed Hindi and Sanskrit. In his tweet to former Union Minister from the state Pon Radhakrishnan, Nishank said he was looking forward to the guidance of the ex-central minister in implementing NEP in Tamil Nadu. "I once again like to insist that the Central government will not impose any language on any state," he said. The M K Stalin-led DMK and many opposition parties in Tamil Nadu have opposed NEP and want a review of the sweeping reforms it has proposed. On Saturday, the DMK chief said the policy was an attempt at alleged imposition of Hindi and Sanskrit and vowed to fight against it by joining hands with like-minded political parties and Chief Ministers of other states. The reforms were not a new education policy but "a glossy coat on the old oppressive Manusmriti," he said. Pakistan-origin intelligence head of terror group Islamic State's Khorasan unit (ISIL-K) has been killed by special forces near the eastern town of Jalalabad, according to the Afghan security agency. Zia-ur-Rehman known as Assadullah Orakzai was killed during an operation near Jalalabad, close to border, the National Directorate of Security or NDS said in a statement on Saturday. Orakzai was the head of intelligence for Islamic State's Khorasan branch, which is active in South Asia and Central Asia. "The Special Units of the National Directorate of Security NDS have eliminated Assadullah Orakzai, the native of Akhel Orakzai agency of during a targeted operation," the TOLOnews reported, citing the statement. He was involved in several deadly attacks against both military and civilian targets in Afghanistan, it said. "Afghanistan's regional and partners should remember that is a key player in the fight against terrorist and will crush terrorists' roots anywhere," the NDS said. Last week, the 26th report of the UN's Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIS, al-Qaeda and associated individuals and entities said that many former Tehreek-e-Taliban militants have joined ISIS-Khorasan (ISIL-K). "The total number of Pakistani foreign terrorist fighters in Afghanistan, posing a threat to both countries, is estimated at between 6,000 and 6,500, most of them with TTP," it said. The monitoring team also estimates the current ISIL-K membership in at 2,200. In April and May, the Afghan special forces conducted a series of countrywide operations that led to the arrest of the group's leaders, including Aslam Farooqi (also known as Abdullah Orakzai), the head of ISIL-K, his predecessor Zia ul-Haq (also known as Abu Omar Khorasani) and other senior members. In March, at least 25 Sikh worshippers were killed and eight injured when a heavily armed suicide bomber stormed his way into a prominent gurdwara in the heart of Afghanistan's capital of Kabul, in one of the deadliest attacks on the minority community in the strife-torn country. Eighty people, including women and children, stranded inside the gurdwara were rescued by the security forces. The terrorist group claimed responsibility for the latest attack. In July 2018, terrorists bombed a gathering of Sikhs and Hindus in the eastern city of Jalalabad, killing 19 people and injuring 20. Awtar Singh Khalsa, one of the country's best-known Sikh politicians then, was among those killed in the attack. (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 tragic death of Sushant Singh Rajput seems to have opened a can of worms on Indian legacy and social media. While the case which was initially pegged as suicide too several twists and turns. And in a recent turn of events, police are investigating a possible case of money laundering in connection with actress and Rajput's former girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. Even as the investigation took its course, Chakraborty was subjected to a media trial and endless slut-shaming. And as if that wasn't enough, online trolls in the garb of 'SSR fans' seem to have begun a hate campaign against Bengali women. Recently, a Facebook user called Chandrani Chakraborty shared screenshots of messages she had received from another user. In the messages, the person hurled abuses as Chakraborty who shares her surname with the actress currently under scrutiny. "You Chakraborty Bengali... you people practice black magic. Bengali women are never faithful... you all should be put in jail or many more SSRs will die, " he said. Sharing the messages online, Chakraborty said, "I refrain from calling out people because it literally does nothing, FIR does. But exactly how do non-bengali men keep their women on correct path? Please let me know," The woman has since lodged a complaint against the bully at the West Bengal Cyber Crime Cell and also the West Bengal Commission for Women. This, however, is just the tip of the iceberg. The news of Rhea Chakraborty's alleged involvement in the death of Rajput has spurred a virtual hate campaign against Bengali women with many on social media accusing them of practicing black magic and being good diggers and worse. There have been calls to "cancel" Bengali women with many suggesting mass arrests if inncocent women who have no connection to Rajput's death whatsoever. A self=proclaimed men's rights activist Barkha Trehan took to Twitter to share how Bengali girls are "dominating" and how they are experts at "catching big fish" which means entrapping "good looking highly paid guys". "If you want to be her servant and financer and are okay to leave your family and join her family then go ahead," Trehan further added. STAY SAFE MEN / BOYS .Bengali girls are dominating, they know how to make guys fall for them. They catch big fish, good looking highly paid guys. If you want to be her servant and financer and are okay to leave your family and join her family then go ahead#RheaChakroborty Barkha Trehan / (@barkhatrehan16) July 31, 2020 It may be a stereotyping but @barkhatrehan16 is right on one point.Most bengali wives use husband as ATM for their own family they frequently fight with in-laws family on this. This is a fact. Reality of West Bengal (@RealWBTruth) July 31, 2020 Women on the other hand responded with jibes and jokes. Many reacted to the "big fish" comments with memes. Rare picture of Bengali women doing black magic. () pic.twitter.com/5AJ2jZpMQP PratsD (@pratsd) August 1, 2020 The black magic jabs surfaced hours after reports of Rajput's office boy Ram alleging that Reha Charaborty had done black magic on Rajput. Chakraborty was also shamed for a video statement she uploaded recently after Rajput's family's lawyer Vikas Singh made sexist comments on her clothes. "Rhea coming in the video is not much of what she is saying but how she is looking. I don't think she would have worn that kind of a salwar suit ever in her life. This was to show herself as a simple woman," Singh said. Chakraborty was linked to the case after Rajput's father filed an FIR against six people for abetment to suicide including the Jalebi actress whom he accused of siphoning money from his son's account and blackmailing him. The actress recently shared an emotional video in which she claimed that she had truth in the judiciary and God and that the truth shall prevail. Hard to imagine now, but it was only a fortnight ago that Boris Johnson set today as the date when the nation should scrap the previous exhortation to 'work from home', and, where possible, get back to the office. So this week should have been the crucial point at which our national recovery began, when we slipped the shackles of Covid-19 and started to rebuild the economy. Instead, everything I've heard or read since last week and particularly over the weekend suggests the very opposite. Indeed, the incoherent messaging seems almost eerily designed to foster anew a pervasive sense of panic, fuelling fears that we are heading towards wide-scale partial lockdowns or even back to a total national lockdown. The most sensible single measure the PM could take today would be to ban his Cabinet and Downing Street advisers from using the term 'second wave' Thursday's announcement of new restrictions in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and East Lancashire followed by Friday's U-turn on lifting restrictions on bowling alleys, skating rinks, wedding receptions and some beauty salon procedures, followed loose talk of a 'second wave' of the coronavirus. Together they have created exactly the wrong atmosphere at a time when a sense of national renewal is desperately needed to get people off their sofas and into their workplaces. Most alarming of all, it is reported the Prime Minister and his Cabinet have been 'war-gaming' anti-Covid 'nuclear options' such as a re-imposition of a full quarantine regime for air passengers, draconian restrictions on London travel and even confining millions of the over-50s to their homes. This is despite the fact that the chances of an otherwise healthy 50-year-old suffering serious health consequences from infection are statistically very small. And that if you remove people over 50 from the workplace, either by order or by fear, you are effectively decapitating the workforce and condemning all of us to permanent economic impoverishment. Panic at this stage is not just foolish, but unnecessary. By most measures, things are going well. Hospital admissions for those with Covid-19 complications are flat, and so is the mortality rate. And far from being overwhelmed, the NHS is operating at only about 50 per cent capacity overall. The most sensible single measure the PM could take today would be to ban his Cabinet and Downing Street advisers from using the term 'second wave'. It is a dangerous phrase because it deters people from even thinking about a return to normal working which is the only way the economy can recover. It is also inaccurate: we are not witnessing a second wave or even the beginnings of one. We are seeing geographically separated, localised spikes. We also know why they are happening, and to whom. These postcode blips are overwhelmingly in communities where strong family values mean households are large, and often comprise three, or sometimes four, generations with all the attendant comings and goings. On the margins, there are other factors, including possibly a greater genetic susceptibility to the virus and a higher than average prevalence of conditions such as diabetes (a risk factor for Covid-19) in these communities. These spikes can be flattened by targeted measures, and the model for this is Leicester where rates began to decline rapidly after rigorous action was taken locally with full co-operation by all. We do know how to tackle coronavirus and we should have some confidence in our ability, yet national morale is once again plumbing the depths. Thursday's announcement of new restrictions in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and East Lancashire followed by Friday's U-turn on lifting restrictions on bowling alleys, skating rinks, wedding receptions and some beauty salon procedures, followed loose talk of a 'second wave' of the coronavirus For that I blame parts of the media and particularly the BBC for giving too much prominence to epidemiologists of a rather pessimistic stripe. This science tracks epidemics and models worst-case scenarios. The danger is it leaves out other considerations, such as the long-term economic consequences of mitigation efforts. Only the PM can really take rounded decisions about what level of risk is tolerable for the overall good of society. My area of expertise is cancer and in a normal year 360,000 cases are diagnosed in the UK. Due to the collapse of the NHS diagnostic network during the pandemic, and the fact that many people have been reluctant to visit GPs, we are running at roughly half that rate of diagnoses this summer. As a result, tens of thousands of people who might have survived their cancers with early diagnosis may die. I don't wish to depress or alarm anyone, but we cannot ignore that there are grave consequences to the excessive countermeasures being taken to control a virus which is statistically unlikely to kill anyone except the very old, and those at greater risk because of a pre-existing condition. And it is particularly stupid when a senior Government scientific adviser sees fit as Professor Graham Medley did to suggest that if schools are to reopen next month, then we might have to shut down pubs again in a 'trade off'. The two options are not related, and to attach a false connection is to spread alarm and confusion. It would be disastrous if hard-liners in the teaching unions were given yet more ammunition in their efforts to frustrate a return to school, which is essential not just for education's sake, but our children's mental well-being. Mr Johnson has had a bad seven days in his Covid-19 war. The nation cannot afford any further signs of a lack of grip or nerve. Pushpay chief executive Bruce Gordon will be returning home to the company's New Zealand headquarters this month after an eventful stint at its US offices, which began with his appointment in May last year. I havent seen my family since January, so its probably time to go home and say hello, he says with a laugh. His first 15 months may have been tough but they have been fruitful for the ASX listed company, which has become a $2 billion market phenomenon, with an unusual business pitch compared to the Millennial-focused buy now, pay later (BNPL) crowd. Pushpay offers cloud-based transaction and operations services to the US religious sector, best known in Australia for charismatic pastors like Billy Graham and Jerry Falwell, charging the churches a fee in return for offering them a mobile donation payments system. The fintech is backed by the New Zealand-based high net worth Huljich family, which holds a 15.7 per cent stake in the company. Its a very big market, there is over $US130 billion donated annually to religious organisations in the US, so weve focused specificially on the US as our primary market and are pitching our service to around 340,000 churches, says Gordon. Shivpuri, Aug 3 : A goat thief lodged in a sub jail died under mysterious circumstances in Madhya Pradesh's Shivpuri district on Sunday, police officials said. Police, however, said that the undertrial was injured while trying to escape from the 'Dial 100' vehicle. Chandrabhan Singh Gurjar, a resident of Rajpur, was taken into custody on Sunday along with another accomplice in a goat theft case from the house of Pappu Parihar. Police arrested him and brought him to the police station. Meanwhile, Chandrabhan died under suspicious circumstances. He had a serious injury mark on his head. Amarnath Verma, Sub-Divisional Officer of the Kolaras region, said this incident happened when the police were taking the thief with them from the Dial 100 vehicle to the police station. The Apex Council meeting on river water disputes between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana state is said to have been postponed by the Union ministry of Jal Shakti. (DC Photo) Hyderabad: The Apex Council meeting on river water disputes between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana state, which was scheduled for August 5, is said to have been postponed by the Union ministry of Jal Shakti. Jal Shakti ministry secretary M.P. Singh had on July 29 written to the state government asking for its opinion on convening the Apex Council meeting. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on July 31 held a high-level meeting after which the Chief Secretary was asked to write to the Centre to schedule the meeting after August 20, or after the completion of the Independence Day celebrations as the government had scheduled certain programmes on August 5. The TRS government faced sharp criticism from the Opposition for seeking to postpone the meeting; they said the date proposed by the state government was significant. The AP government has floated tenders for the construction of the Rayalaseema lift irrigation project which was intended to divert 3 tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water a day from the Srisailam reservoir to Rayalaseema. The last date for the submission of tenders is August 17. The Krishna Water Management Board has directed the AP government not to go ahead with the tender process. The Congress, BJP and Left parties alleged that Chandrashekar Rao had sought the postponement to allow the AP government to complete the tender process. Wildlife experts say a healthy seal population along the Northeast coast of the United States will likely lead to more shark attacks on humans. Seals are top targets for large sharks such as the great white. The seals are currently doing well in areas of the Northeast thanks to years of protective efforts. But in recent years, there have been more attacks on humans. Experts say the sharks mistook people for seals. The latest attack happened on July 27, off the coast of Maine, when a woman swimmer was killed by a great white shark. It was the first recorded deadly shark attack in the states history. The attack on 63-year-old Julie Dimperio Holowach happened off Harpswell, Maine, about 9 to 12 meters from land. Swimmers in New England states have learned to be more careful in recent years as more great whites have been seen along coastal areas. A 2018 attack that killed a man in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was also believed to be a great white shark. It was the first deadly shark attack to happen in Massachusetts in more than 80 years. The deadly creatures are not mad or angry or preferring human flesh, said Greg Skomal, a shark specialist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Instead, Skomal told The Associated Press, They just occasionally make a mistake. And its tragic when they do. Incidents of shark bites remain extremely rare, especially in Northeastern waters. The International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida lists only 10 unprovoked shark attacks off New England, records dating back to 1837 show. The majority of documented shark attacks in the U.S. happen off Florida. Internationally, warm weather countries such as South Africa and Australia have higher totals. But shark bites are rare in those places, too. Australia has recorded 652 unprovoked shark attacks going back to 1580, the International Shark Attack File states. Shark bites in colder northern waters do happen, but they are rare. A small number of attacks have been recorded off Russia, Finland and Washington state in the U.S. Researchers are seeing more great whites off New England, said James Sulikowski. He is an expert on Northeastern sharks based at Arizona State University. The greater number of sightings is unequivocally because of the healthier seal population off New England, Sulikowski said. The seal comeback started with the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. Grey seals once hunted to the point of disappearing completely are now common on Cape Cod. The sharks are not looking for people, but they are a reason for swimmers to be cautious, Sulikowski said. However, as sharks continue to hunt seals for food, the likelihood increases that they will instead find humans, he added. In Maine, ocean officers are carrying out searches for sharks following the deadly attack. The state has restricted swimming at some state parks. It also has sent a clear message to beachgoers: if you see seals, stay away. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associate Press reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story prefer v. to like one thing better than something else occasionally adv. sometimes but not often unprovoked adj. happening without a reason or apparent cause unequivocal adj. without doubt, very clearly the case cautious adj. careful about avoiding danger Operating in the shadows of the online marketplace, specialized tech companies you've likely never heard of are tapping vast troves of our personal data to generate secret "surveillance scores" - digital mug shots of millions of Americans - that supposedly predict our future behavior. The firms sell their scoring services to major businesses across the U.S. economy. People with low scores can suffer harsh consequences. CoreLogic and TransUnion say that scores they peddle to landlords can predict whether a potential tenant will pay the rent on time, be able to "absorb rent increases," or break a lease. Large employers use HireVue, a firm that generates an "employability" score about candidates by analyzing "tens of thousands of factors," including a person's facial expressions and voice intonations. Other employers use Cornerstone's score, which considers where a job prospect lives and which web browser they use to judge how successful they will be at a job. Brand-name retailers purchase "risk scores" from Retail Equation to help make judgments about whether consumers commit fraud when they return goods for refunds. Players in the gig economy use outside firms such as Sift to score consumers' "overall trustworthiness." Wireless customers predicted to be less profitable are sometimes forced to endure longer customer service hold times. PHOTO DATA: Harris County, Texas receive 'F' grade in social distancing scoreboard Auto insurers raise premiums based on scores calculated using information from smartphone apps that track driving styles. Large analytics firms monitor whether we are likely to take our medication based on our propensity to refill our prescriptions; pharmaceutical companies, health-care providers and insurance companies can use those scores to, among other things, "match the right patient investment level to the right patients." Surveillance scoring is the product of two trends. First is the rampant (and mostly unregulated) collection of every intimate detail about our lives, amassed by the nanosecond from smartphones to cars, toasters to toys. This fire hose of data - most of which we surrender voluntarily - includes our demographics, income, facial characteristics, the sound of our voice, our precise location, shopping history, medical conditions, genetic information, what we search for on the Internet, the websites we visit, when we read an email, what apps we use and how long we use them, and how often we sleep, exercise and the like. The second trend driving these scores is the arrival of technologies able to instantaneously crunch this data: exponentially more powerful computers and high-speed communications systems such as 5G, which lead to the scoring algorithms that use artificial intelligence to rate all of us in some way. The result: automated decisions, based on each consumer's unique score, that are, as a practical matter, irreversible. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Once the first useful mobile data network, 3G is going away That's because the entire process - the scores themselves, as well as the data upon which they are based - is concealed from us. It is mostly impossible to know when one has become the casualty of a score, let alone whether a score is inaccurate, outdated or the product of biased or discriminatory code programmed by a faceless software engineer. There is no appeal. Surveillance scoring bears a faint resemblance to credit scoring in the 1960s. In that pre-computer era, private investigators working for banks, retailers and insurance companies tailed consumers and scoured newspapers for information about arrests, promotions, sexual orientation, drinking habits and cleanliness to decide a consumer's creditworthiness -- until Congress established rules in the 1970s giving consumers the right to review and question their credit scores. Today's data snoops obtain infinitely more information about their targets, and in real time. And the impact of surveillance scoring is far more pernicious. The tech industry insists that its every advance improves our lives. But that's a myth. Surveillance scoring enables companies to cloak old-school discrimination in an aura of technological infallibility and wonder. Secret surveillance scores create micro-markets in which some consumers are no longer welcome. They divide Americans into "haves" and "have-nots," with the losers relegated to the status of second-class citizens. Consumers need a 21st-century solution to this emergent threat. Congress, awash in tech money, is mired in an outdated legal paradigm: "disclosure" of privacy policies and "consent" via a click. No one pretends that these industrial age contract law concepts will do anything to curb data larceny, let alone regulate or bar secret surveillance scores. We petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and regulate surveillance scoring. The commission's response? A blog post urging the firms that develop and apply scores to regulate themselves. This is only the latest example of Washington's capitulation to the tech industry, whose continuous loop of privacy violations, abject apologies and payment of inconsequential penalties confirms that consumers cannot rely on the federal government for protection. Secret surveillance scoring places us at the precipice of the "singularity," a dystopian turning point after which machines will make judgments about humans that will determine our fate. We either seize control of our future, or risk losing it. - - - Rosenfield and Antonini are consumer advocates. Nico Hulkenberg is struggling physically as he fills in at short notice for Racing Point's Sergio Perez. With Perez testing positive for coronavirus, former Renault driver Hulkenberg went from the first phone call from Otmar Szafnauer to the cockpit of the 'pink Mercedes' in a little over 24 hours. "Nico is not yet 100 percent from a physical point of view," said team technical boss Andy Green. "He will admit that himself." It is very likely that Perez will not be free of the virus in the next few days, meaning that Hulkenberg - who qualified 13th on Saturday - will be back in the car next week. "The neck is feeling it a little," the German admitted, according to Auto Motor und Sport. "The cars are so fast here. It's insane. "It's the fastest car I have ever driven, and without feeling these sorts of G-forces for eight months, it's clear that I can't be quite fit enough, but I still want to perform well." Former F1 driver Nick Heidfeld is expecting Hulkenberg to struggle on Sunday. "He has to do 52 laps on Sunday, which will be even harder on his neck. We could see him struggling to keep his head up towards the end of the race," he said. However, Racing Point is still contemplating signing Hulkenberg up as its full-time reserve driver for 2020. "Could well be," boss Szafnauer said. "We'll have to see what he thinks." (GMM) Ardmore Shipping, a Cork-based shipping company listed on the New York Stock Exchange, has posted net income of $20.1m (17m) for the six months ending June this year, following its strong chartering performance. The company, founded and led by Anthony Gurnee, had posted a loss of $19.1m over the same period last year. Reported net income for its second quarter was $13.6m. On the results, Gurnee, who is also listed as a director of Irish renewable energy firm Simply Blue Energy, said he had been pleased with what had proved to be a successful trading period. "We are pleased to report a very profitable second quarter with 41c in earnings per share, reflecting solid Ardmore chartering performance on the back of strong trading conditions driven by volatility and market disruption," he said. "We have taken advantage of these conditions to build cash and strengthen our balance sheet: our leverage on a net debt basis is down to 48.5pc and cash and undrawn lines as of now is $82m. Therefore our capital allocation policy and priorities are working as intended." Gurnee also confirmed Ardmore had completed its first sustainability-linked finance facility with Dutch bank ABN AMRO. The new $15m receivables facility contains a pricing adjustment feature linked to the company's performance on carbon reduction. The facility's performance targets for carbon emission reduction align with the International Maritime Organisation's objectives for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. Last month, Hafnia, the world's second-largest owner of product tanker tonnage, approached Ardmore with an unsolicited acquisition offer. Hafnia planned to offer 2.4 shares of Hafnia for one share of Ardmore, translating into an implied price of $3.87 per share, according to Ardmore, which rejected the acquisition proposal, claiming it undervalued the company. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he wants to ensure schools can reopen (PA) The Minister for Health has said the Government is to introduce random testing for coronavirus at airports. Stephen Donnelly said the international situation is becoming more volatile, and that the Government is taking a cautious approach to the issue of foreign travel. Were introducing random testing at the airports and an increased public health presence and we are examining other options as well for further restrictions on non-essential travel, he told RTE radio. The international situation is becoming more volatile, were looking at what has been happening in the United States and Latin America and even closer to home Spain, Germany, France and parts of England and Australia. Were taking a cautious approach and were continuing to take a cautious approach, he said. Remember these key messages to help stop transmission of Covid-19. Limit your number of contacts Keep physical distance Wear face coverings as advised If youve cold/flu-like symptoms self-isolate & contact GP Wash hands regularly Meet up outside if possible Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) August 2, 2020 There has been a spike in the number of coronavirus cases in Ireland in the past week with an average of 44 cases being reported daily. On Saturday, 45 new cases of coronavirus were reported but there were no further deaths. Asked about whether the reopening of wet pubs on August 10 will go ahead, Mr Donnelly said the Government will make a decision based on advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). The Cabinet is to meet on Tuesday to decide whether the country can proceed to Phase 4 which will allow pubs that do not serve food to reopen and for gatherings of more than 50 people to be held. Mr Donnelly said he did not want to pre-judge what NPHET advises, and the Government is focused on reopening schools. I dont want to make any comments on that because that is something for NPHET to come to me with a view on on Tuesday, but it is certainly the case that decisions could be made if NPHET deemed necessary in order to keep the opening of schools on track, he said. We have closely followed public health advice, both the previous government and this government, and that has served the country very well. I dont want to prejudge what NPHET may decide. Certainly, the number one focus is getting the schools reopened. Mr Donnelly said he was sympathetic to the plight of publicans and he could not say whether they should order stock with a view to reopening on August 10. Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has tested positive for COVID-19, but advised home isolation since his infection was mild, a Chennai-based private hospital said on Sunday. The 80-year old Purohit was on self-isolation since July 29 after three people in the Raj Bhavan tested positive for the coronavirus. State Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, his deputy O Panneerselvam and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam President M K Stalin among others wished the Governor a speedy recovery. A bulletin issued by the Kauvery Hospital, where the Governor underwent further tests on Sunday, said he has been advised home isolation and a medical team would monitor him. Purohit 'tested positive for COVID-19', hospital Executive Director Dr Aravindan Selvaraj said in the bulletin. "He is asymptomatic and clinically stable," it said, adding the Governor underwent further tests and assessment at the hospital located at Alwarpet area in Chennai. "As the infection is mild, he has been advised home isolation and will be monitored by the medical team of Kauvery Hospital," it added. Purohit had earlier gone on seven-day self-isolation on July 29 based on doctor's advice after three people in the Raj Bhavan tested positive for coronavirus. Earlier, as many as 84 security and fire services personnel deployed in the Raj Bhavan tested positive for the virus on July 23, but the Governor's office had then said none of them came into contact with Purohit or senior officials. Palaniswami said he spoke to the Governor over phone. 'I wished the Hon'ble Governor of Tamil Nadu Shri Banwarilal Purohit ji, a speedy recovery in his fight against #COVID_19 over phone. All our prayers and wishes for him,' he tweeted. Paneerselvam said: 'I pray Lord Almighty for the speedy recovery of Governor Mr Banwarilal Purohit.' Stalin, the leader of Oppostion in Tamil Nadu Assembly, also took to Twitter to wish Purohit a speedy recovery and expressed his desire that the Governor resume his administrative work soon. RTHK: Weekend protests rock Berlin amid Covid-19 Some 45 police officers were injured in a wave of weekend demonstrations in Berlin including protests against coronavirus restrictions, German police said as protesters gathered again in smaller numbers on Sunday. A total of 133 people were arrested during Saturday's protests, which included a huge "day of freedom" demo against coronavirus restrictions, police said in a statement. The arrests were for offences including resisting police officers, breach of the peace and the use of unconstitutional symbols. Three officers required hospital treatment, police said. Around 20,000 people took part in the "day of freedom" demonstration, the majority not wearing masks or respecting Germany's 1.5-metre social distancing requirement. The crowd, a mixture of hard left and right, and conspiracy theorists, shouted "We are the second wave" as they converged on the Brandenburg Gate, demanding "resistance" and dubbing the pandemic "the biggest conspiracy theory". Police began dispersing the crowds in the late afternoon, but hundreds of protesters remained at the Brandenburg Gate late into the evening. Police have launched legal proceedings against organisers for not respecting virus-hygiene rules. In a separate anti-fascist demonstration in the southern Neukoelln district, protesters threw stones at police officers, set off fireworks and damaged two police vehicles and a local party office. Several officers were injured while dispersing the crowd, including three who were treated in hospital after being hit in the face by shards of glass. Arrests were also made at smaller unofficial protests. A few hundred protesters gathered to the west of the Brandenburg gate on Sunday, according to an AFP reporter at the scene, with the majority wearing masks and observing social distancing guidelines. Despite Germany's comparatively low toll, authorities are concerned at a rise in infections over recent weeks and politicians took to social media to criticise Saturday's rally as irresponsible. "Yes, demonstrations should also be possible in times of coronavirus, but not like this," Health Minister Jens Spahn said. "Distance, hygiene rules and masks serve to protect us all, so we treat each other with respect." (AFP) This story has been published on: 2020-08-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A group of frontline healthcare workers has called on federal Health Minister Greg Hunt to reform the national advisory panel on infectious disease, arguing its advice on masks in hospitals is outdated . In an open letter to Mr Hunt, 17 doctors and frontline health professionals said they were "dismayed" that advice from the Infection Control Expert Group had not evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are demanding the panel be expanded to take in advice from healthcare workers and occupational health experts. A group of doctors are calling for national guidelines for health workers personal protective equipment to be upgraded to expand the use of sealing P2 masks. Credit:Nathan Lane/Bloomberg The group called on Mr Hunt to make an "executive decision" and overturn the advice of the control group to match the updated standards issued by the Victorian government last week, which amid rising community transmission has advised all healthcare workers in hospitals to wear sealed P2 respirator masks in high-risk environments such as an emergency department, COVID-19 wards or intensive care units. Two more deaths of COVID-19 patients were documented in Vietnam on Sunday, with virus-related casualties increasing to five, according to Nguyen Truong Son, Deputy Minister of Health. One of them, 86-year-old L.T.D., died in a hospital in central Hue City while the other, 83-year-old D.T.L., was pronounced dead at Da Nang Hospital in the eponymous city. D. had had underlying problems including heart failure and chronic kidney failure. L. had suffered multiple joint osteoarthritisand and had been bed-ridden for six years. Vietnam has confirmed five virus-related fatalities since Friday, all of them old and having pre-existing conditions. The Southeast Asian country has registered 144 local infections since July 25, after over three months of no documented community transmission. All of the locally-transmitted cases can be traced to Da Nang, which has reported 104 such patients. Twenty-six patients have been logged in Quang Nam Province, eight in Ho Chi Minh City, two in Hanoi, two in Quang Ngai Province, one in Thai Binh Province, and one in Dak Lak Province. Vietnam has confirmed a total of 590 cases, with 373 recoveries, since the virus first hit the country in January, according to the Ministry of Health. Earlier this week, the health ministry sent its top medical experts to suppress the outbreak in Da Nang, located on the central coast, where enhanced social distancing has been in place for the past week. Authorities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are conducting extensive contact tracing and testing tens of thousands of people having returned from their business or vacation trips to the coastal city since July. Vietnam has closed its borders to foreigners since March to prevent COVID-19 spread. However, foreign experts and skilled workers have been allowed to make an entry, subject to government approval and mandatory quarantine. The national government has also sent aircraft to bring back citizens stranded in other countries over the health crisis. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A couple of high-profile veteran writers in the mafia genre are set to dive back into the underworld of crime and mobsters. Showtime is developing a new mafia drama series that will be written by Terence Winter, and inspired by Nicholas Pileggi's in-depth knowledge of organized crime in America as seen through the eyes of the mafia's First Family, according to Deadline. Winter and Pileggi will also serve as executive producers for the still untitled show alongside Imagine Television's Brian Grazer and Samie Kim Falvey. Mobster bound: The Sopranos writer and executive producer Terence Winter is diving back into the underworld of crime and mobsters Joining forces: Winter is teaming up with Goodfellas co-writer Nicholas Pileggi for a new mafia-genre drama series that has already been greenlit by Showtime Showtime has already greenlit the project but so far have released very few details about the storyline. But still, it could have the makings of being the next big hit in the mafia genre considering that both Winter and Pileggi have been creative forces behind a number blockbuster mobster films and television series. Winter, 59, was a writer and executive producer for the HBO television series The Sopranos from the show's second to sixth and final season (20002007). During his run on the hugely successful and influential drama he received four Emmy Awards as well as three Writers Guild Of America Awards (WGA). His mob-genre resume also includes being the creator, writer, and executive producer of the HBO series Boardwalk Empire, which ran for five seasons (2010-2014). The still untitled series is being written by Terence Winter and inspired by Nicholas Pileggi's in-depth knowledge of organized crime in America Massive hit: The Sopranos is considered by many pundits as one of the best and influential TV series of all time; it starred from left to right: Michael Imperioli, Steven Schirripa, James Gandolfini, Tony Sirico and Steve Van Zandt Classic: Pileggi received a Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for Goodfellas Pileggi, who first began his career as a journalist, is best known for co-writing the screenplays for the Martin Scorsese-directed classic films Goodfellas (1990) and Casino (1995). For his work on Goodfellas, starring Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta, he would receive an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. Both hit movies were adapted from Pileggi's non-fiction crime novels: Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family and Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas. The 87-year-old also executive produced Scorsese's most recent feature, The Irishman, and executive produced alongside Brian Grazer for the Ridley Scott-directed American Gangster. So far there no word on when the hour-long drama series will premiere on Showtime. As a member of the LGBTQ community, Im heartsick to read Trump transgender rules clash with state law (Front Page, July 25). The Trump administrations proposal to allow single-sex homeless shelters to exclude transgender residents is a shameful and needless election-year ploy to shore up support from the presidents evangelical base. At a time when there are so many jobless and homeless people struggling to survive during the coronavirus pandemic, its disgraceful that Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson is seeking to deny shelter to our already very vulnerable transgender citizens. Trump and Carson, who are privileged straight men issuing decrees from an ivory tower White House, are blatantly discriminating against a population that is already experiencing high rates of depression and homelessness, as well as daily violence directed toward it. Their proposal will only exacerbate these problems. Sasha Englander, San Rafael Incompetent shutdowns Regarding To save lives or livelihoods? (Editorial, July 26): Yes, prosperity versus safety is a false choice. But staying shut down or reopening is also a false choice. The real choice is between competent and incompetent shutdowns and other measures to contain the virus. We should face the fact that we failed, both nationally and in California. In the seven weeks of full shutdown orders in California, infections rose fourfold for the first five weeks and declined less than 15% afterward. At that rate, we would have needed to stay fully shut down until the end of the year to reach the level of containment that Europe has already reached. Even New York turned the corner far more successfully than we have. It has been said that people get the government that they deserve. Perhaps we are getting not only the government but also the epidemic that we deserve. We have all been told to wash our hands, frequently, for at least 20 seconds. I would suggest that we use that time to give ourselves a hard look in the mirror. Neal Mielke, Los Altos Hills A.O.C. is a hero Regarding A daughter and a warrior: A.O.C. gets the last word (John Diaz, Last Word, July 25): The notion that a Republican politician like Rep. Ted Yoho of Florida can use vulgar language toward fellow Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and then employ deflection and offer a non-apology is taken directly from the political playbook of President Trump. But on the scorecard of public opinion, especially after her eloquent House floor speech about our misogynistic culture, its A.O.C.: hero, Yoho: zero. Hortensia Delarosa, San Francisco Wrong priorities According to Next virus aid package in limbo as benefits expire (Nation, July 25), the GOPs next offer for a coronavirus stimulus bill involves cutting an expiring weekly $600 boost for unemployment benefits to $200 because it is becoming a disincentive for millions of jobless Americans to return to work? Clearly, the Republicans are living in another reality, since weekly unemployment claims have been exceeding 1 million for over four months, as the U.S. economy continues to crater during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. My question to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is this: Exactly when and how are these millions of lost jobs going to be recovered? And heres my question for President Trump, who wants to add money to this legislation to build a new FBI headquarters: Is this your idea of a spending priority during a major health pandemic that has now killed almost 150,000 Americans? Fred Van Vliet, Petaluma Communication skills Regarding Power of penmanship (Letters, July 26): I couldnt agree more. I would like to point out another skill that is sadly lacking among the general population: dialing a rotary phone. David Posner, Napa Un-American behavior I am writing in response to the letter writer in todays paper who defended President Trumps sending armed troops into Portland. I admit there are a few bad apples, but those protesting the death of George Floyd and others are largely peaceful. Things were calming down until the troops invaded the city. It is Trumps goal to distract from the fact that he has done nothing to quell the coronavirus pandemic. The armed troops are snatching people off the street, shoving them into vans and carting them off to jail with no explanation. They are tear-gassing pregnant women. This is something one would expect to encounter in a dictatorship, not America. We liberals, as you call us, want to live in a democracy. Trump and his followers are on the wrong side of history. Yet here we are, four months later, defending the states hard border in the High Court against a legal challenge from mining billionaire Clive Palmer who argues they're unconstitutional. And for the reasons Mr Cook foreshadowed. Mr Palmer says the restrictions should be struck down because they contravene section 92 of the Commonwealth Constitution, which provides that trade and movement among the states "shall be absolutely free". On the imposition of uniform duties of customs, trade, commerce, and intercourse among the States, whether by means of internal carriage or ocean navigation, shall be absolutely free. Commonwealth Constitution, section 92 On Friday, Mr McGowan ramped up the rhetoric on Mr Palmer, labelling him an "enemy of the state", and telling a different story on the constitution than his deputy did in March. "I mean, we're in a pandemic. Constitutional niceties I think should go out the window," he said. To be fair, earlier in the week he conceded that if the High Court rules the borders must come down then "that is the law of the land". The Premier urged the federal government to drop its involvement in Mr Palmer's High Court challenge, which it did on the weekend. But the letter from the Prime Minister to the Premier signalling the withdrawal contained a warning that echoed the concerns expressed months ago by Mr Cook. "Under section 92 of our Commonwealth Constitution, it is required that movement be 'absolutely free' among the states including travel across state borders," Mr Morrison wrote. "It is a provision that at its heart has a federating purpose and is one of the central constitutional provisions that establishes Australia as a single indissoluble and federal nation. "Where a state unilaterally places restrictions on interstate travel which are found by the High Court to be disproportionate, this is contrary to the fundamental constitutional guarantee that residents of one state can move to another state." Professor Anne Twomey. Credit:Louise Kennerley Anne Twomey, Sydney University's professor of constitutional law, told this masthead the challenge against the 'hard border' would turn on whether the High Court finds WA's laws reasonably necessary, or whether there was another way to protect the state from the pandemic without impeding freedom of movement. "That's where the danger is for Western Australia because you might say, OK you don't need to shut your borders completely, you can do what the Northern Territory and Queensland are now doing and that is saying well we won't take anyone who's been in the last 14 days within a COVID hot spot," she said. "But there are places where COVID isn't spreading and we'll have people from there. "It's going to be more the question of whether there's something else you could do that is just as effective in protecting public health and less burdensome. "That's what [former High Court justice] Ken Hayne used to call the killing field; that's the place where the decisions get made." Loading None of these "constitutional niceties", as the Premier calls them, make WA's 'hard border' any less popular with voters. Just as they're not too fussed that the hard border isn't all that hard. There were still at least 450 people coming into the state every day until a further clamp down saw fewer Victorians with exemptions. As Attorney General Christian Porter said on Friday, "what is constitutional and what is popular is not the same thing". Chicago police investigate the scene of a mass shooting where more then a dozen people were shot in the Gresham neighborhood, on July 21, 2020. (Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times/AP) 9-Year-Old Boy Among Latest Victims of Chicagos Spike in Shooting Crimes A 9-year-old boy has become one of the latest victims of shooting crimes in Chicago, Illinois, which has seen a spike in murders and shooting incidents from illegal gun use. According to local reports, police said the 9-year-old victim, Janari Andre Ricks, was killed by gunfire Friday night in the Cabrini Green neighborhood of Chicagos Near North Side. The boy was playing in a parking lot nearby his home when the fatal shooting occurred. He was hit multiple times, including gunshots to the chest, according to the Cook County Medical Examiners Office. First responders performed CPR before the boy was transported to Lurie Childrens Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The boy was not targeted in the shooting, police said, although it remains unclear what the motive of the perpetrator was. The shooter has not been identified and community activist Andrew Holmes has offered a $4,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Local media reported that detectives are still investigating the incident. Witnesses with any tips are asked to call in anonymously to Chicago police. When a 9 year olds life is ended by a bullet, we must all be outraged, Mayor Lori Lightfoot wrote on Twitter after news of the death of the child on Saturday. These deaths are not mere statistics. And prayers alone will not sooth a broken heart. We must and will hold those responsible for this shooting accountable. I ask all residents with information on this incident to submit a tip anonymously at https://t.co/JVXGpQxj99. Mayor Lori Lightfoot (@chicagosmayor) August 1, 2020 Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot told CNNs Jake Tapper in the wake of the spike in shootings on July 26 that she had asked President Donald Trump in a letter to implement what she called common sense gun control across the nation instead of sending federal troops to Chicago to assist police in curbing the violence. The fact of the matter is our gun problem is related to the fact that we have too many illegal guns on our street, 60 percent of which come from states outside of Illinois, Lightfoot said. We are being inundated with guns from states that have virtually no gun control, no background checks, no ban on assault weapons. That is hurting cities like Chicago. According to data released by Chicago police (pdf), the month of July saw the citys murder rate increase by 152 percent and shootings increase by 62 percent compared to the same period in 2019. However, overall crime across the city, which includes sexual assault, robbery, and burglaries, was reported to have decreased 7 percent, the data revealed. While shootings increased by 62 percent, police said that more than 5,600 illegal guns had been seized and 3,700 gun arrests made since the start of the yeara 5 percent increase from the same period last year, The Chicago Sun-Times reported. (Photo : Championing high tech and high touch in the digital age) The rapid changes in the digital landscape have spurred countless innovations from different industries, especially in telecommunications. From telephones to the development of the Internet, telecommunications has come a long way from the time it was introduced to us. It has become an important tool for businesses allowing them to connect, communicate, and transact faster and more efficiently. Eastern Communications, one of the Philippines' premier telecommunications company, has built its reputation by becoming a pioneer in connectivity solutions such as Telefax, Fax, ISDN-PRI, Internet and Ethernet Services, Leased Lines, among others that have been widely preferred by various industries such as Business Process Outsourcing, banking and financial institutions, retail, and more. The company now also delivers reliable cloud and cybersecurity solutions, providing businesses more options to leverage on the digital transformation. Eastern Communications' success in the industry can be attributed to its unique two-pronged approach in business, "High Tech and High Touch". In its rebranding initiative entitled "Our Strong Connection," Eastern Communications highlights their strong brand identity that differentiates themselves from other telecommunications companies by providing the most innovative connectivity solutions combined with the excellent customer service that brings back the human connections of the business to its customers. "This is our two-pronged approach to our brand - high tech signifies our business-grade products and services that are at par with other telecommunication companies, while high touch stands for personalized customer service to our clients. While we strive to give our customers products and services that are both timely and innovative, we will never lose sight of the people who actually use the technology," shared Eastern Communications Head of Product and Innovation Edsel Paglinawan. Aside from their wide range of global and domestic connectivity products, Eastern has expanded their offerings with ICT solutions such as managed services, cloud, and cybersecurity products. They have also expanded their network by partnering with global market leaders. Eastern Communications takes pride in their cloud solutions, Eastern Cloud, one of its latest ICT solutions that lets you pay for what you only require and provides speed advantage and scalability, hence advancing overall business performance. Eastern Communications also empowers global businesses with their high-speed connectivity solutions such as International Private Leased Line Circuit (IPLC), Global Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), and more. As pioneers of the telecommunications industry in the Philippines, Eastern Communications' High Touch approach highlights the importance of keeping the human connection in the digital age. This led to the creation of partner recognition programs like the "KaEsayahan," a portmanteau of Filipino words Ka-Eastern (Eastern friends) and Kasiyahan (Enjoyment), an annual social event which aims to celebrate the success of the brand while getting intimate with their partners and customers. Celebrated in different areas across the Philippines, these were evenings full of great food, great conversation, and great music. Eastern Communications also provides a dedicated team per carrier, ensuring its quality of service to their partners. "We recognize the importance of our partners in helping us deliver high-tech and high-touch solutions to our ever-growing number of customers. This is our humble way of strengthening our partnership with them in supporting more businesses to transform and get the best of the digital age," shared Eastern Communications Head of Marketing Jedrek Estanislao. With its strong brand positioning, Eastern Communications has seen breakthrough in their employees' morale and company spirit and ultimately gained huge improvement in their client satisfaction with their exceptional products and tailored services that set them apart from their competitors. To learn more about Eastern Communications and its services, visit www.eastern.com.ph. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The United Nations committee looking into global insolvency practices is gaining hands-on experience of running short of money. Working group five of the UN Commission on International Trade Law has warned delegates to its next meeting that advance copies of key documents will not be available 'due to the UN's liquidity crisis'. The group is examining insolvency regimes around the world to see how they serve or don't serve small, medium-sized or micro businesses that go bust. A key part of the UN's funding problems relates to actual and proposed actions by Donald Trump It was due to meet in New York in May, but because of the coronavirus crisis will meet in Vienna this December. A key part of the UN's funding problems relates to actual and proposed actions by Donald Trump. On June 8, the US think-tank, the Council on Foreign Relations, warned: 'The US remains the largest donor to the UN, contributing $10 billion in 2018, slightly less than a fifth of the UN's collective budget.' Until now, the president's attempts to cut US spending on the UN have been largely frustrated by Congress, but it warns: 'If proposed cuts to foreign aid spending go through, the UN is likely to undergo significant changes.' Photo: (Photo : GoFundMe) On July 12, a California family of eight was traveling home from Texas when they suddenly lost control of the car. They ended up in a car crash, killing two of the six children inside. The New Mexico State Police (NMSP) stated in a press release that the family was in their Chevy Suburban, going home to San Diego when the accident happened. Brad and Crystal Sparks said that they were driving home after staying with friends in San Antonio for two weeks. See also: Parents of daughters with rare and degenerative disease went from super happy to extremely sad Lost car control in a dark highway As stated in the GoFundMe page, the family drove down the pitch-dark highway in the middle of nowhere when they lost control of the car. After veering off the road, the Suburban rolled multiple times and landed upside down in an area where no one could see them. The whole family was trapped inside the almost entirely crushed van. Parents Brad, 42, and Crystal, 37, with their children Cameryn, 13, Sadie, 7, Jackson, 5, and Wilson, 3, survived the incident. Two children, Bailey, 12, and Landon, 10, sadly, did not. Brad used Apple Watch to call 911 with a voice command. The page wrote that he and his pregnant wife were stuck inside the car for more than one hour. Meanwhile, many of their kids were able to release themselves from seatbelts. They crawled out of the car and walked to the side of the road to seek help. See also: Struggling mom anonymously donated money she won from lottery Around 12:30 AM, the police confirmed that they responded after finding the family's Chevy Suburban. They stated that the van rolled over on westbound Interstate 10 at about milepost 72 near Deming. No charges filed NMSP said that Crystal was having "driver fatigue" while driving the car, causing the van to leave the roadway, as stated in an initial investigation. The police added seat belts were properly worn, and no alcohol was involved, so no charges were filed. After suffering fatal injuries, Bailey was pronounced dead at the scene. Landon died in the hospital after suffering fatal injuries. The press release stated that the family got transported to the hospital. The parents and their eldest were treated for "non-life-threatening" injuries. See also: Parents saved their 22-week-old baby by refusing to follow doctor's order six times GoFundMe campaign The GoFundMe page states that Brad had a fractured face and a broken knee, while Cameryn had a broken clavicle and severe cuts all over her body. Crystal suffered from broken ribs and a punctured lung and a broken shoulder, a shattered foot, and extreme wounds on her body. All the other children were not injured, police reported. The GoFundMe account also notes that the baby in the womb maintains a strong heartbeat and appears to be healthy. The GoFundMe campaign has already raised more than $214,000 as of Wednesday. It will serve to assist in the medical bills, funeral costs, counseling, expenses, and necessities of the family. On July 18, everyone, except Crystal, got released from the hospital, and all are recovering. The ten months pregnant mom is still dealing with pain but is improving every day. Brad still could not believe how he survived the incident. He shared that while they are dealing with the loss of their two children, they are in a safe place now. Every Kansas City Lady Deserves Second Chance The Help KC hosts event for recently incarcerated women KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Women who recently came out of the criminal justice system were offered a helping hand on Saturday. The Help KC organized a one-stop shop event that included assistance ranging from basic necessities to resources for jobs and education. Kansas City Resources Emerge For Finding Sense Of Place Maps Added to KCHistory The Kansas City Public Library and Missouri Valley Special Collections are proud to announce the addition of 34 newly scanned maps to KCHistory.org. The maps range in date from the 1880s through the 1960s and reflect a wide variety of interests. There are zoning maps, school district boundary maps, public transit maps, geological maps, and road maps. Neighbors Desperately Seeking Peace In The Dotte Argentine community calls for end to violence KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Members of the Argentine community in Kansas City, Kansas, have called for a stop to violence. They organized a bike and walk against crime on Saturday to raise awareness and bring the community together. Jose Guerra and Michael Aguirre said it doesn't take much to create change through such events. Angels Falling Fast Victoria's Secret parent L Brands to slash 15% of corporate workforce Victoria's Secret owner L Brands said Tuesday it is preparing to cut 15% of its corporate workforce, or about 850 jobs, in a bid to trim costs as its business takes a hit from the coronavirus pandemic. The company said it hopes to save about $400 million annually through its cost-cutting efforts, which include the layoffs. Corona Kills American Freedom Of The Press The Republican National Convention will exclude the press and renominate Trump in private for the first time in modern history The Republican National Convention this month will reportedly be closed to the press, and will feature just a fraction of the delegates due to coronavirus restrictions. An RNC spokesperson told CNN, "We are working within the parameters set before us by state and local guidelines regarding the number of people who can attend events." Awaiting Free Money Lawmakers still "not close" to a coronavirus stimulus deal, a day after $600 federal relief expired Congress adjourned for the week on Friday having failed to pass a new coronavirus stimulus bill, as the weekly $600 coronavirus unemployment payments 32 million people have come to rely on expired. With Democrats and Republicans still far apart on stimulus priorities, party leaders returned for talks on Saturday, in which they reportedly made "progress" - but are still far from passing ongoing relief. Holy Land Hot Mess Thousands demonstrate against Netanyahu as Israel protests gain strength Thousands of demonstrators have gathered outside the official residence of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and thronged the streets of central Jerusalem, as weeks of protests against the Israeli leader appeared to be gaining steam. Veep Pick Probs Susan Rice's 'Benghazi baggage,' F-bombs would make her 'lightning rod' as Biden VP pick, writer claims Former national security adviser Susan Rice would be a "human lightning rod" if selected to be Democrat Joe Biden's running mate, a Washington Post columnist wrote Friday. Rice, who is reported to be among shrinking list of Biden vice presidential contenders, has the advantage of a longstanding close relationship with Biden, unlike any of the other names on the list. American Death Count Cont'd 20,000 more Americans could die from Covid-19 in the next 21 days, CDC ensemble forecast shows The US has reported more deaths linked to coronavirus than anywhere else in the world and updated models show 20,000 more Americans could die in just the next three weeks. Techies Fall In Line Microsoft, Bytedance halt TikTok talks after Trump signals opposition Microsoft Corp. has paused negotiations to buy the U.S. operations of the video-sharing app TikTok after President Trump said late Friday he opposed the deal, according to people familiar with the matter. The president's statements spurred TikTok to make additional concessions, including agreeing to add as many as 10,000 jobs in the U.S. Slumming To Discover Kansas City Smorgasbord West Bottoms is home to a new elite pit that serves up Texas-style barbecue Starting a new business always favors the bold and scrappy, but doubly so during an international pandemic. In the case of Justin Easterwood, who launched his regionally diverse craft barbecue spot, Chef J BBQ, in the West Bottoms one week before coronavirus closures started to pile up like cordwood, it wasn't that much of an adjustment-scrappiness was always part of the plan. Sunday Forecast Revealed Partly sunny Sunday, chance of scattered showers Hide Transcript Show Transcript WESTERN PARTS OF IOWA ALONG A COLD FRONT AND THIS WILL BE OUR NEXT WEATHER MAKER AS WE GO THROUGH TONIGHT AND HEAD INTO OUR DAY TOMORROW. THAT FRONT IS GOING TO GET A LITTLE CLOSER. Angelic tribute to pop culture, community news and info from across the nation and around the world . . .is the Sunday song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . Hong Kong: Mainland support team arrives in HK Seven members of the Mainland nucleic acid test support team arrived in the city today to support the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Governments anti-epidemic work. In a statement tonight, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it made a request for the central governments support on the anti-epidemic work in the face of the severe COVID-19 epidemic. The Hong Kong SAR Government expressed heartfelt gratitude to the central government for its proactive response and speedy formation of the nucleic acid test support team for Hong Kong. The support team was co-ordinated by the central government and formed by the National Health Commission. The seven members will start work tomorrow by assisting with the preparation for a temporary laboratory with a view to raising the virus testing capability considerably to meet the Hong Kong SAR Governments need to extend its community testing coverage. To strengthen collaboration, Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave clear instructions on how to launch large-scale virus testing in the internal anti-epidemic steering committee meeting held yesterday afternoon. Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan and Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Erick Tsang represented the Hong Kong SAR Government to welcome the support teams seven members today. The statement noted that the Hong Kong SARs relevant departments will work closely with the team to formulate a concrete work plan as soon as possible. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong SAR Government noticed that certain individuals are spreading rumours intentionally on the Internet, claiming that the publics DNA data will be transported to the Mainland during virus testing. The Hong Kong SAR Government solemnly clarified that this is absolutely unfounded, emphasising that all of its anti-epidemic work completely complies with the requirements of the law. It pointed out that the central government's support aims at enhancing the virus testing capacity, adding that all testing will only be conducted in Hong Kong and related samples will not be transported to the Mainland for testing. The Hong Kong SAR Government condemned the acts of those deliberately spreading false rumours and attacking its anti-epidemic work. As to whether spreading untrue claims intentionally by certain individuals would constitute a criminal offence, relevant government departments will study the matter carefully and collect evidence for follow-up, it said. In addition to the support team, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it is pleased to learn that the National Health Commission has formed another support team to help it establish a makeshift community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo similar to the "mobile cabin hospital". The Hong Kong SAR Government expressed the hope that with the support of the central government, the whole community will fight the virus together to curb the increasingly severe epidemic as soon as possible. This story has been published on: 2020-08-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The former boss of Sirius Minerals whose dramatic fall from grace left thousands of small shareholders with huge losses pocketed 1.3million in bonuses from the Yorkshire mining company shortly after agreeing to a cut-price takeover. Just two weeks before the acquisition by FTSE 100 giant Anglo American was completed, the Sirius remuneration committee led by Labour peer Lord Hutton decided that former chief executive Chris Fraser should receive his lucrative long-term bonuses in full. Meanwhile, Thomas Staley, the former finance director, pocketed a total of nearly 900,000. Former Sirius Minerals chief executive Chris Fraser received 1.3m in bonuses The revelations are likely to enrage private investors who ploughed millions of pounds of their savings into the company. Sirius had entered the FTSE 250 and had ambitions to join the prestigious ranks of the FTSE 100. However, it failed to secure the final part of the 2billion funding it needed to build a giant fertiliser mine in the North York Moors National Park. It was only saved from administration after the board urged shareholders in January to back a 405million takeover by Anglo American at 5.5p per share. Most of Sirius's 85,000 small shareholders had bought their shares at well above that level, with many from the local area investing large sums. The share price had hit 45p in 2016. Yet even after the disastrous conclusion to the company's stock market run, the remuneration committee chaired by former Business Secretary Lord Hutton decided in March that Fraser's share bonuses should pay out in full. Fraser received payment for his bonus shares, worth nearly 900,000, in April, the company's annual report filed on Companies House reveals. Most of the shares had been awarded to him in 2018 and 2019. He also received a 417,000 performance bonus for 2019 86 per cent of his salary meaning he raked in a total of 1.3million in bonuses since agreeing to the Anglo deal. The company said the payment for performance would have been higher but it decided to withhold the part of the annual bonus which was linked to securing funding. The non-executive directors all resigned after the takeover, but Fraser and Staley along with other senior colleagues are now running Anglo's new 'crop nutrients' division. Sirius Minerals was only saved from administration after the board urged shareholders in January to back a 405million takeover by Anglo American at 5.5p per share Staley received payment for his shares in April. They were worth nearly 600,000 at 5.5p a share. He also received a 279,000 cash bonus for his 2019 performance, meaning he collected a total of nearly 900,000 after Sirius agreed to the purchase. The share bonuses were separate to shares owned outright by the bosses and were given as incentives to boost performance. Robert Goodwill, Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said: 'This news will not go down well with shareholders. Many lost large amounts they invested in the company. 'I'm a little surprised that this decision has been made by the remuneration committee.' The company, now called Anglo American Woodsmith after the name of the Yorkshire mine, reported an operating loss of 43million for last year. It said the loss up from 24million in 2018 was mainly due to legal and advisory fees linked to the failed fundraise attempt. The mine sits on a giant deposit of polyhalite, a form of potash that Sirius and now Anglo American hopes will become a major source of fertiliser. A huge mine shaft is being sunk under the North York Moors and the company is constructing a 23-mile tunnel to Teesside, from where it is planned the polyhalite will be sent by ship to destinations around the globe. Anglo American expects to spend around 235million on the project this year and the same amount in 2021. It will be several years before the mine starts producing polyhalite. The company said: 'The 2019 bonuses related to a number of company performance objectives, one of which was securing the necessary finance to continue development. This element of the 2019 bonus clearly was not achieved and therefore the bonus relating to this objective was zero. 'Decisions on remuneration were taken by the remuneration committee of the board of Sirius, in line with the remuneration policy approved by 80 per cent of Sirius's shareholders at the May 2018 AGM, and prior to the completion of the acquisition by Anglo American.' Anglo added that the bonus plan had been set up to benefit all Sirius staff and more than 90 per cent of the value went to other employees. New Delhi, Aug 2 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started preliminary enquiry into allotment of the Rs 9,000 crore hydro power project in J&K, allegedly done by flouting all central government guidelines governing such allotments, according to top sources. The proposed 1,540 MW Kiru hydro power project is to be completed in two stages, with stage one costing Rs 4,948.26 crore and stage two Rs 4,287.59 crore. The complaint being probed by the CBI alleged that the Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPPL) allotted the project in grave violation of rules and guidelines, and was done under the influence of some top bureaucrats, top sources told IANS. The CVPPL allotted the project for execution to a joint venture company and the allotment violated the central government's guidelines, set out in Goland CVC guidelines, it was alleged in the complaint. The CVPPL board of directors had cancelled the tender process with specific reasons. "A powerful lobby within the J&K administration forced the corporation for re-allotment of the cancelled tender after over-ruling resistance from within the board. A senior bureaucrat who recorded his dissenting note against re-allotment was transferred on January 3, 2020," said the complaint. After cancelling the tender process, the board had no legal authority to re-allot it and that too through a manual process, it has been alleged. "Even when the process of re-allotment of cancelled tender was marred by violations and irregularities, the authorities released a huge amount as mobilisation advance to the beneficiary company," says the complaint. The CBI has been requested in the complaint to seize records with regard to the tender evaluation and re-allotment to prevent those involved from tampering or destroying them. It's believed once the CBI investigation reaches its logical conclusion, many skeletons could tumble out of the cupboard of the Union Territory's administration. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 23:50:44|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DOHA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Qatari Health Ministry on Sunday announced 196 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 111,107, official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported. Meanwhile, 201 more recovered from the virus, bringing the total recoveries to 107,779, while the death toll increased by three to 177, according to a ministry statement quoted by QNA. The ministry attributed the increase in coronavirus infections to gatherings and visits as well as ignoring the preventive measures such as staying at home and social distancing. A total of 500,536 people in Qatar have taken lab tests for COVID-19 so far. China and Qatar have offered mutual help during the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. On Feb. 21, five Qatar Airways cargo freighters flew to China carrying approximately 300 tons of medical supplies donated by the airline. On July 8, Chinese health officials and medical experts held a video conference with Qatari counterparts to share experience and expertise in fighting COVID-19. Enditem Government has released 317 Taliban fighters since beginning of Eid al-Adha, office of National Security Council said. A ceasefire between the Taliban and Afghan government appears to be holding for the third and final day, as hundreds of the armed groups prisoners are released in a bid to bring peace talks closer. The government has released 317 Taliban prisoners since the beginning of the three-day Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha on Friday, the countrys office of National Security Council said on Twitter on Sunday. Calm prevailed across much of Afghanistan, with officials not reporting any major clashes between the two sides since the truce began to mark Eid. President Ashraf Ghani and the Taliban have both indicated that long-delayed negotiations could begin straight after Eid. Under a deal signed by the Taliban and the US in February, the intra-Afghan talks were slated to start in March, but were delayed amid political infighting in Kabul and as a contentious prisoner swap dragged on. The deal stipulated that Kabul would free about 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held captive by the Taliban. Including the newly released prisoners, the total number of Taliban prisoners freed from Afghan custody has reached 4,917 prisoners, the National Security Council said. The 317 were among an additional 500 Taliban prisoners that Ghani ordered freed on Friday as a goodwill gesture. However, he said on Friday he had no authority under the countrys constitution to release the remaining 400 inmates because of their involvement in serious crimes. He added he would soon call a consultative Loya Jirga a traditional grand assembly of Afghan elders to decide their fate. The Taliban says it has freed all 1,000 Afghan prisoners it had pledged to release in a deal with the US, fulfilling their side of the exchange. Deadly violence has rocked Afghanistan since the US-Taliban deal was agreed, with more than 3,500 Afghan troops killed in attacks by armed fighters, according to Ghani. The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has explained that the clause waiving sovereignty in the loan agreement between Nigeria and China is only a contract term, a sovereign guarantee that assures payback according to the terms and conditions of any loan. Mr Amaechi made the clarification at the weekend while answering questions about the loan controversy on a TV programme. He also explained that the Ministry of Transportation is not responsible for taking loans, but to implement the project or contract for which the loans were taken. He said, It is a commercial agreement, its a trade agreement between Nigeria and China. The first issue is that Ministry of Transport does not take loan. Anything about loan, talk to Ministry of Finance. What I signed is what they call commercial contract, that is contract between the federal government and CCECC as a contractor. The contract between Nigeria and China is usually signed by the ministry of finance on behalf of Nigeria, but that will be escaping the issue. Whether it is the Ministry of finance that signed it or the Ministry of Transport, the issues are the issues. There is no contract without an agreement and that agreement must contain some terms and one of the terms that this one contains, is not that youre signing away the sovereignty of the country. No country will sign away its sovereignty. What you do is, you give a sovereign guarantee; and Im ashamed of those who interpret it the wrong way. Now, when you say I give you a sovereign guarantee and I waive that immunity clause, the immunity clause is that, if tomorrow Im not able to pay you and you come to collect the items that weve agreed upon, that these are items I have put down as guarantee, I can use my immunity and say no, you cannot touch our assets, we are a sovereign country. Is China our father that will give us money for free? They (the Chinese) are saying, if you are not able to pay, dont stop us from taking back those items that will help us recover our funds. And its a standard clause, whether its with America you signed it or with Britain or any country, because they want to know they can recover their money. What the clause does is to say to you, I expect you to pay according to those terms and conditions. If you dont pay, dont throw your immunity on me (the lender) when I come to collect back the guarantee you put forward, thats all. The waiving of immunity simply means in trade parlance that Im not giving you this loan free. Just like if you go to take a loan from the bank, the moment you dont pay, they go after the assets you put down. And people are politicising it. The Chinese can never come and take over Aso rock and become President or Minister. In the event of a default, Amaechi stated that the lender can only go after, and take back the same assets built with the loaned funds. And if the assets you put down become depreciated, then you negotiate which assets they can go after. The Chinese will never take over what was not constructed with the loan. Allaying the fear of some Nigerians asking if its possible to repay the loan and not get into the same situation as Zambia, Amaechi stated that the loan was already being repaid. But were paying, he said. In the same National Assembly committee sitting, they were told that out of the 500 million dollars, weve paid 96 million dollars already. Nigeria is already paying So, its not that Nigeria doesnt have the capacity to pay back. Well pay back. At 2.8 percent, what other country would give you that loan? 2.8 per cent for 20 years with 7 years moratorium, why cant you pay back? The repayment plan is not done by us, its done by the ministry of finance, but they are meeting the requirements. At any point in time that we need to pay, we pay. The minister further explained that the loans are not paid to him nor the Ministry, which automatically eliminates any fear of corruption or diversion of funds. They are paid directly to the contractor in China. I told them at that meeting, that these loans are not given to us, they are paid directly to the contractor. Once we sign that the job has been done, they pay the contractor. And this has never been done before. So what is critical is that the projects are being done. Or, are they trying to rubbish the fact that there is a railway from Abuja-Kaduna? These (Chinese) loans are not paid here, so you cant even steal it. What we do is ensure that the work is done. We hired an Italian company that goes with our engineers in the ministry to ensure that the Chinese meet the European standard, so that there are no fake things or poorly done work. When they check and say yes, this has been done and done to the standard of the contract approved, then they pass it on to us, we sign and approve that the work has been done. It is then sent to the ministry of finance who also appends their signature and passes it on to the Chinese Exim bank who then pays to the contractor. The job is development related. If you dont do it, you dont get paid. So the contractor would want to do the job, he wants to satisfy his client, so that the client can sign to say that he has done the job. Mr Amaechi also reiterated his call to the National Assembly to put a hold on the probe as some loans were still being expected for the completion of the Lagos to Ibadan and the construction of the rail from Ibadan to Kano and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri. There is an agreement for Abuja to Kaduna which was signed before we came, we signed the Lagos to Ibadan, we want to sign the Ibadan to Kano. Now weve also applied for them to give us a loan for Port Harcourt to Maiduguri which entails that when the loan is approved, well construct the rail from Port Harcourt to Aba to Owerri to Umuahia to Enugu to Makurdi to Lafia to Jos to Bauchi to Gombe and then to Damaturu. Everybody is shouting that there is no railway in the South East. But there is railway in the South South., he said, noting that the Itakpe to Warri which was abandoned for 34 years was completed without taking a loan. He stressed that both the National Assembly and the country should at least appreciate that the government was making progress in terms of infrastructure development. So what should be primary to them is national interest, because we need to construct Lagos to Ibadan to be able to evacuate cargoes that come from Lagos to the hinterlands. So what they are doing now, may likely stop that. The same way, the government is under pressure to construct Port Harcourt to Maiduguri which passes through the south Eastern States and the North Eastern states. If we go now and the Chinese say we wont give you the money because the arm of government that is supposed to approve this loan, which they have already approved are beginning to question the loan they have approved, we are not sure that we can recover the loan, then we cant finish our projects, Amaechi said. He further explained that all loan applications pass through the National Assembly for approval and wondered why they are investigating same. He added that he would have loved to publish those clauses if not for the issue of confidentiality in government, stating that the National Assembly know about the clauses because it is unconstitutional to take a loan that is not approved by the national assembly. The national assembly is aware of all these loans, so ask why are they investigating. The Chinese is just asking us to show them the evidence that we will pay back which is the immunity clause, if we dont pay, they can take back their assets and dont forget that we cant take loan without the National Assembly approval. There is no loan in Nigeria either internal or external that is not approved by the National Assembly , none. Chinese government will not even give you a loan without approval by the National Assembly because if they give you a loan without the approval from NASS, that is no loan. 22:34 The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested six more people and conducted searches at six places in connection with the Kerala gold smuggling case, an official said on Sunday. The agency has so far arrested 10 people in the case of smuggling of gold through diplomatic baggage addressed to the United Arab Emirates consulate in Kerala capital Thiruvananthapuram. On July 30, two accused -- Jalal A M of Ernakulam and Said Alavi E of Malappuram -- were arrested for conspiring with the arrested accused Ramees K T, an NIA spokesperson said. On July 31, two more accused, Mohammed Shafi P and Abdu P T, both residents of Malappuram, were arrested in the case, he said. On August 1, the NIA arrested two more persons -- Ernakulam-residents Muhammad Ali Ebrahim and Muhammad Ali -- after investigation revealed that they were part of the conspiracy, besides aiding and assisting Jalal A M in collecting the smuggled gold from Ramees K T in Thiruvananthapuram and distributing the contraband among other conspirators, he said. Muhammad Ali is a member of the Popular Front of India and was earlier charge-sheeted by the Kerala Police with chopping the palm of a professor but got acquitted after trial in 2015, the official said. On August 2, the NIA conducted searches at six places -- the residences of Jalal A M and Rabins Hameed in Ernakulam, and of Ramees K T, Mohammed Shafi, Said Alavi and Abdu P T in Malappuram -- the official said. During searches, two hard disks, one tablet computer, eight mobile phones, six SIM cards, one digital video recorder and five DVDs were seized, besides various documents including bank passbooks, credit/debit cards, travel documents and identity documents of the accused, he said. The NIA took over the probe and registered a case on July 10 against four people, including a key woman suspect, for their alleged involvement in smuggling 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crore in a diplomatic baggage in Kerala. Further investigation in the case was underway, the official added. -- PTI By Trend Vice Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Abishev has been detained, Trend reports citing Kazinform. The Committee for Financial Monitoring under the Ministry of Finance confirms the fact of the Vice Minister of Health Olzhas Abishev detention. He is suspected of embezzling budget funds. Investigative actions are currently being carried out. It bears to remind that Olzhas Abishev was appointed Vice Minister of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2018. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Hong Kong Chief Says Only Beijing Able to Resolve Legislative Limbo of Delayed Election Sputnik News 11:39 GMT 01.08.2020(updated 11:48 GMT 01.08.2020) BEIJING (Sputnik) - Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam believes it's reasonable to extend the term of the current Legislative Assembly for a year as the legislative elections were postponed by over a year. Lam added, however, that the ultimate ruling is up to the highest ordinance in China, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, a statement on the Hong Kong government website read. Lam announced that the elections to the Legislative Assembly of the Special Administrative Region were postponed from September 6 of this year to September 5, 2021 due to the worsening epidemiological situation. The term of office of the current parliament expires on September 30 this year. Official Beijing supported this decision. "About the possible 'lacuna', or what you call a 'vacuum' in the Legislative Council as a result of the postponement of the General Election scheduled on September 6, it is true that while we could use the Emergency Regulations Ordinance to postpone the LegCo Election by one year, we could not in the same regulation empower the continued operation of the Sixth Term Legislative Council because there is a Basic Law provision Article 69 which prescribes that every term of the Legislative Council, except the first term, should have a duration of four years," Lam said. According to Lam's statement, the chief executive's office sent an urgent report to the central government for recommendations and guidance. The Chinese State Council will seek the opinion of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) on appropriate recommendations for the Hong Kong administration. The meeting of the NPC Standing Committee is to be held from 8 to 11 August, but it is not yet known whether the issue of elections in Hong Kong is on the agenda of the upcoming meeting. "I'm not in a position to tell you what that particular decision will be because it has not been said in the reply from the State Council given to me. But I'm sure that a solution could be found because the National People's Congress Standing Committee is the highest organ of power in the People's Republic of China and over the years, various decisions and interpretations have been made to address problems faced in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region," Lam said. At the same time, Lam noted that, in her opinion, the logical decision would be to extend the term of the current Legislative Assembly. "But this is my personal view as the Chief Executive. It's not the content of the decision to be made by the National People's Congress Standing Committee," Lam stressed. The Legislature is Hong Kong's unicameral parliament with 70 members, 35 of whom are elected from territorial constituencies and 35 from functional constituencies. The powers of the current parliament are valid from October 1, 2016 to September 30, 2020. The head of the Hong Kong administration assured that the postponement of the elections was not connected with any political motives, the decision was made solely due to the spread of COVID-19 in the highly-dense city. Protestations from opposition figures emerged almost immediately after the announcement on Friday, questioning the lengthy delay of over a year instead of some months. But Lam herself explained that postponing the elections for several months is impossible since the preparation will take a long time. If, for example, the elections were postponed until next March, this, she said, could disrupt the legislative body's annual practice of checking the state budget for the second quarter. However, this did not in any way reassure the opposition candidates, who had hoped to win the majority of seats in the upcoming elections. Even before Carrie Lam's statement, pro-democracy activists said that postponing the elections would be tantamount to undermining the legal foundations of the city, and a request to Beijing to intervene in the situation could mean a complete collapse of the constitutional order of Hong Kong. Earlier in the week, the Hong Kong electoral committee suspended 12 candidates who did not meet the legal requirements from the upcoming elections to the Legislative Assembly. Among the suspended candidates are prominent opposition figures and activists, including Joshua Wong. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Elon Musk has been invited to visit the pyramids by a top Egyptian official after the billionaire shared an old conspiracy theory that they were built by extraterrestrials. The Tesla CEO, who also is founder of SpaceX, gave credit to 'aliens' for building the pyramids in Giza near Cairo in a tweet on Friday. 'Aliens built the pyramids obv,' he wrote. The bizarre message prompted a response from Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation, Rania al-Mashat. Elon Musk was invited by a top Egyptian official to see the Great Pyramids for himself after he resurrected the old conspiracy theory that they were built by extraterrestrials The CEO of electric vehicle maker Tesla, who also is founder of aeronautics firm SpaceX, gave credit to 'aliens' for building the pyramids in Giza (pictured) near Cairo in a tweet on Friday 'Aliens built the pyramids obv,' wrote Musk in the tweet (pictured) 'I follow your work with a lot of admiration' wrote al-Mashat via Twitter. 'I invite you & Space X to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders. Mr. Musk, we are waiting for you,' she added. Musk's tweet was liked more than 500,000 times and retweed 87,000. Musk's claim prompted a response from Egypt's Minister of International Cooperation Rania al-Mashat, pictured during an interview with Bloomberg Television Al-Mashat invited Musk to visit the pyramids himself, via Twitter (pictured0 However, he seemed to take the claim back in a follow up social media post linking to an article describing how the pyramids were more likely built by humans living in an Egyptian settlement. 'This BBC article provides a sensible summary for how it was done,' Musk wrote, linking to a story with the headline, 'The Private Lives of the Pyramid-builders'. But the billionaire entrepreneur, known for making sometimes erratic tweets, couldn't shake off the original comment about aliens. Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass delivered a video response in Arabic debunking the claim aliens were involved. Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass delivered a video response in Arabic debunking Musk's claim aliens were involved, a conspiracy theory giving beings from another world credit for building ancient structures, including the statues on Easter Island 'This is a response from Zahi Hawass to American billionaire Elon Musk,' Hawass said in the footage posted on his Facebook page, Egypt Today reported. 'What you said about the pyramids is completely hallucination, the pyramids are built by Egyptians,' the archaeologist wrote. 'I found the tombs of the pyramids builders that tell everyone that the builders of the pyramids are Egyptians and they were not slaves,' he explained. Egyptians built pyramids thousands of years ago, mostly to serve as tombs for their pharaohs. But some conspiracy theories give aliens credit for building them, as well as other ancient structures, including the statues on Easter Island. An 1838 diagram shows the interior of two of the Great pyramids. Egyptians built pyramids thousands of years ago, mostly to serve as tombs for their pharaohs Archaeologists in 2018 came a step closer to understanding how the Great Pyramid, the largest of the structures commissioned by Fourth Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh Khufu, was built about 4,500 years ago. The remains of a ramp system were unearthed in an ancient quarry in the Eastern Desert, according to Live Science. Its design suggests the ramp was used to drag massive alabaster stones up a slope, using sleds and rope. The remains of a 4,500-year-old ramp system have been unearthed in an ancient quarry in the Eastern Desert. Experts say such a design would have alleviated some of the burden for the workers who had to pull these huge loads The ancient ramp was discovered at the site of Hatnub by researchers from the French Institute for Oriental Archaeology in Cairo and the University of Liverpool in England, Live Science reports. Along its sides are two staircases lined with postholes, to which ropes were likely tied thousands of years ago to drag the huge stone blocks. Such a design would have alleviated some of the burden for the workers who had to pull these huge loads. The conspiracy theory about the pyramids is not the only one which Elon has thrown about. During a controversial appearance on comedian Joe Rogan's popular podcast, 'The Joe Rogan Experience,' in 2018, where he smoked a joint, he explained why he believes we are living in the Matrix. He said that the sheer age of the universe - 13.8 billion years, means alien civilizations have had time to develop the complex systems needed. 'If you assume any rate of improvement at all, then games will be indistinguishable from reality, or civilization will end. One of those two things will occur,' Musk said. 'Therefore, we are most likely in a simulation, because we exist.' 'I think most likely this is just about probability there are many, many simulations,' he added. 'You might as well call them reality, or you could call them multiverse.' STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As Tropical Storm Isaias (pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs) moves up the Florida coast and eyes to make landfall on the Carolinas Sunday, the effects of the system are expected to reach Staten Island on Tuesday bringing flooding and rainfall to the borough. Were expecting two to four inches of rain, and that could cause some widespread flooding issues across the entire area, said Accuweather senior meteorologist Alan Reppert. We are looking at flooding risk as Isaias pulls northward. The scheme aims to provide quality nutritious food for just Rs 8 to to 4.87 crore people every year and the kitches will be monitored through mobile apps and CCTV, officials said Jaipur: Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot directed officials on Sunday to start the Indira Rasoi Yojana in urban areas of Rajasthan from 20 August. Reviewing the preparations for the scheme, named after former prime minister Indira Gandhi, Gehlot said the state government would spend Rs 100 crore per year on it. He said the poor would get quality nutritious food for just Rs 8. The chief minister said the scheme should be implemented with the spirit of public service, transparency and public participation so that it becomes an example in the direction of providing food security to the poor in the country. Gehlot directed that participation of service-oriented institutions and voluntary organisations should be ensured in the operation of the scheme. He has instructed the district collectors to select such institutions as soon as possible. The chief minister also directed to constitute a committee at the state and district levels to ensure the quality of food. Urban Development Minister Shanti Dhariwal, who participated through video conference in the meeting, said the state government would give a grant of Rs 12 per plate. The scheme will be run in all 213 urban local bodies of the state. Giving the presentation of the scheme, Local Self Government Department Secretary Bhawani Singh Detha said 4.87 crore people would be provided food every year. A menu of 100 grams of pulses, 100 grams of vegetables, 250 grams of chapati and pickles has been set in the food, according to Detha. He informed that necessary measures would be undertaken as prevention against the novel coronavirus pandemic. IT-enabled monitoring of the scheme will be done. The beneficiary will get the information through SMS on the mobile as soon as he takes the coupon. Kitchens will be monitored through mobile apps and CCTV. As school districts across South Carolina grapple with how to safely reopen classrooms this fall, some educators are looking to the state's child care centers for guidance. While more than 45 percent of the state's licensed child care operators were forced to close this spring as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, hundreds of centers decided to keep their doors open throughout the summer, even as COVID-19 cases climbed. Many of these programs have been able to contain the spread of the virus without any major outbreaks, giving some families hope for a successful in-person school reopening this fall. Experts credit the success of some essential child care operations this summer to a handful of factors: rigorous sanitation, keeping class sizes down and frequent temperature checks and screening measures. An added benefit: Research has also shown that younger children, especially those who are under 10 years old, are less likely to catch and spread the virus than adults. Some child care facilities said they had no other choice but to stay open. We have a lot of single parents, and they are sole providers. It was just no way for us to just close and quit on them, said Lashondia Wright, the director of Wright Way Child Development Center. The center has continued to operate throughout the spring and summer without closing, and it hasnt seen any confirmed COVID-19 cases in students or staff so far. Wright Way is located in a small town in Orangeburg County, a region of the Midlands that has become one of the state's hot spots. Wright said she feels thankful and blessed that her center, which normally serves about 100 students, hasnt been personally impacted by the virus. But she said it's no accident there haven't been any positive cases. Students' temperatures are taken three times each day, and employees disinfect classroom spaces four or five times daily. Only staff and students are allowed inside the building. Meals are served in the classroom, and children over 2 years old wear masks. "Its a lot of fear surrounding the virus, but education is key," she said. Around 1,000 students enrolled this summer in state-funded 4-K programs at 125 licensed child care facilities across the state, including Wright Way, said S.C. First Steps Director Georgia Mjartan. All of these centers operated throughout the summer without any widespread outbreaks, Mjartan said, thanks to added layers of health and safety protocol, such as mask wearing, rigorous hygiene education and lots of hand washing. Occasionally, a center would need to close a classroom temporarily to prevent the spread of the virus, she said, but overall the centers had wide success. Child care really knows how to do health and safety and socialization, Mjartan said. Sure, we've learned a lot from public ed about education, but this is a time where public ed can learn a lot from the licensed regulated child care world. One of the major steps Mjartan credits with keeping the spread of the virus at a minimum in these centers is establishing cohorts or pods that students remain in throughout the day. Keeping students in the same small groups every day is helpful for limiting exposure and conducting contract tracing if there is a confirmed case, she said. More than 220 child care centers will fully reopen on Aug. 17 to serve more than 3,000 4-K students. She's confident they'll be successful. "I think, frankly, what we've seen is that you can keep going. You can keep operating through this," Mjartan said. "Will there be closures? Yes. Will there be times where families have to quarantine because their child was exposed? Yes. But then you come back, and that's what we've seen happen again and again." Extra precautions Dr. Elizabeth Mack is the director of pediatric critical care at the Medical University of South Carolina. Mack said she and her colleagues refer to younger children during the pandemic as viral dead ends. The chances of them getting sick are lower. Theyre not likely to be spreading it like crazy like teenagers and adults, she said. When it comes to day cares during the summer, Mack advises schools to look at how the YMCA handled their child care facilities across the U.S. They watched around 40,000 children of essential workers between the ages of 1 and 14 over the summer. While there were isolated cases of the coronavirus, the facilities didnt experience any outbreaks. Mack believes that the childrens young ages played a role. But she also said the precautions taken by the YMCA was likely the biggest factor. They got resourceful with the space that they use, she said. They reimagined games to stop children from touching each other. Children were organized into small groups that were overseen by a single adult with a mask and gloves. Children were also given their own individual supplies that were routinely disinfected. In Charleston County, students who attended the school districts Operation Kid Care program, a day care service provided to children of front-line health care workers at Roper St. Francis Healthcare, were taught how to practice social distancing via pool noodles and hula hoops. During the three-month program, the school district saw zero COVID-19 cases among students and four cases among staff members, said Heather Studer, program officer for the department of expanded learning at CCSD. Luckily we followed all the procedures. They were wearing masks, cleaning surfaces frequently and they weren't within 6 feet of each other for longer than 15 minutes, she said. Typically, no more than six children were housed in the same room at one time. As a result, the center never needed to close down any classrooms or ask students to quarantine. I'm optimistic. It gives me hope, she said. Barriers to school implementation Unfortunately, some protocols that have been implemented at child care operations might not be practical or feasible at the school level. For example, having groups of students stay in one classroom all day while teachers rotate through isnt possible in a high school setting, said Sherry East, president of the S.C. Education Association. That just wont work for high schools. Im not even sure how much for middle school it would work, East said. Plus, child care centers typically operate on a much smaller level than the states public schools, some of which house 3,000 or 4,000 students. Reducing class sizes to 10 students or fewer would also be impossible unless schools implement some form of hybrid schedule, she said. Day cares are also able to create more of a controlled environment, East said, especially since students are often dropped off and picked up by their parents each day and dont need to ride a school bus where theyre surrounded by dozens of other students. Its such a big experiment, East said of schools reopening this fall. I would hate to think that people could die or have an everlasting condition because of a careless opening. Additional safety protocols can also be costly and time-consuming, a possible barrier for school districts with already-tight budgets, she said. For example, most schools don't have the capability to take students' temperatures three times a day. With reopening schools, Mack said the decisions have to be based on science and they have to be flexible. What the pandemic looks like at the beginning of the school year will likely look different toward the end. A teacher at a large school getting sick versus a teacher at a daycare getting sick is going to have a different impact. So similar to a professional office, schools and health officials should come up with steps on what to do if coronavirus cases appear in a classroom. Some additional things she said schools should consider is swapping teachers instead of having students change classes. They can also cut off trips to lockers or separate students into cohorts to prevent less bodies moving in the hallways. In general, Mack said there was a strong focus on prevention of the virus spread at child care centers this summer. Thats the one lesson that can be taken from that outcome, she said. Child care availability is vital for a lot of parents in the area, and many would lose their jobs without it. The Charleston area community has the capability to reenter schools, but there needs to be improvements in the local COVID-19 numbers, Mack said. Our adult behavior will determine the trajectory of the pandemic, she said. Jerrel Floyd contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 17:43:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHANGCHUN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's leading automaker First Automotive Works (FAW) Group Co., Ltd. has gifted a truck of its flagship Jiefang brand to a driver who risked his life driving a burning truck away from a populated area to prevent casualties. Zhu Qixin, general manager of FAW Jiefang Truck Co., Ltd., said the new truck was given to Sun Gang Friday to compensate him for his lost vehicle, which was of the same brand. The reward was also given to "promote goodness in society so that more people will stand up and make the right choice in times of crisis." On July 14, Sun sent his truck in for repairs in the city of Xinmin, which is about 60 km from Shenyang, the capital of northeastern province of Liaoning. When repairmen were welding, the flames accidentally ignited the straw curtains previously used as bedding when transporting watermelons in the truck. Sun said he had just refilled the truck's fuel tank, and the fire risked triggering an explosion at any time. The surrounding area was densely populated and there was a gas station nearby. "At that time, the situation was urgent. I had no time to think. I jumped in the truck and took off, with flames all around me. I couldn't let anyone else get involved," Sun said. Onlookers recorded the scene of the burning truck taking off and uploaded the clips online, which quickly went viral. Sun drove the truck to open ground and watched it burn. The truck had cost Sun his life savings. It was purchased with a loan of more than 500,000 yuan (about 71,700 U.S. dollars) in 2018. Not long ago, the loan was paid off. Sun used the vehicle for long-distance cargo transport. "After the incident, everyone in my family was just happy that no one was hurt. But of course, the truck was destroyed, and we were all upset that we'd have to start all over again," he said. Yet good things happen to good people. On July 25, Sun received a phone call from FAW Jiefang, informing him of the reward. "I couldn't believe it. I thought it might be a prank call," Sun said. The new truck will be the third Jiefang truck Sun has owned. The veteran truck driver had traveled across the country transporting cargo to earn money to support his family. "I have decided to take my earnings from the first shipment using my new truck and donate it all to charity," Sun said. Enditem Anushka Sharma is a complete foodie. Yes, its hard to believe when she flaunts that perfect figure. But the actress loves food and in an interview with us she listed down certain places which are her favourite spots. Anushka Sharma named her favourite places from Mumbai, Delhi and London. She even listed an unbelievable experience she had with her eight-course meal in Italy, Wasabi at Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Peshawri, Le Cirque in Delhi, Nobu at The Metropolitan in London. Then I had an unforgettable experience in Sorrento, Italy at this fine-dining restaurant called LAntica Trattoria. It was like an eight-course meal that lasted for three and a half hours. As Indians, we dont understand the concept of having fun with food. Were so used to rushing with our food that Id be looking at the waiter asking him to speed up. So he told me in his Italian accent, Just relaaaaax, you have to enjoy the food! It took me the first three courses to start relaaaaxing and not gobble everything down as soon as it came. But geez it was such good food! Anushka Sharma has been trying her hand at cooking during the lockdown and was recently seen making a yummy cake for her fathers birthday. She loves spending her quality time with her husband Virat Kohli due to this forced break in both their careers. Anushka Sharma has not announced her next yet but tasted success with both her digital outings as a producer Bulbbul and Pataal Lok. A Texas city commissioner was shot dead Thursday night in an exchange of gunfire during a five hour standoff with law enforcement who had responded to a domestic disturbance call at his home. Authorities rushed to the Mission home of Sullivan City Commissioner Gabriel Salinas after a neighbor saw his girlfriend arrive to his home 'bleeding profusely.' The girlfriend, who has not been publicly identified, had a number of lacerations that are believed to have come from a knife or a machete, said Police Chief Robert Dominguez. Sullivan City Commissioner Gabriel Salinas (pictured), who was elected in 2017, was shot dead on Thursday evening during a shootout with law enforcement It's not clear how long Salinas and the victim, both age 39, had been dating before Thursday's incident, The Monitor reports. Authorities said two police officers tried to gain entrance into the home through the car garage after making contact with the victim. When the officers approached the home, the girlfriend's four-year-old son met them and had visible injuries. The wounded child was removed from the home. When officers tried again to approach the home, Salinas allegedly opened fire on authorities and forced them to retreat behind a police vehicle. Authorities obtained a rifle and began to exchange fire with Salinas, who retreated inside the home and barricaded himself in. Salinas, pictured with his mom and another relative, was killed in a police gun battle after his girlfriend was found bleeding profusely Salinas, pictured with his mom (left) and other family members, was an engineer who was elected to the Mission City Commission in 2017, Heavy law enforcement equipment still at the scene this morning. Police originally responded to a domestic disturbance between Salinas, a Sullivan City commissioner, and his girlfriend. Gabriel Salinas has been confirmed dead Mission police Chief Robert Dominguez said. pic.twitter.com/94v1n6FnhZ Delcia Lopez (@MonitorDelcia) July 31, 2020 At one point, police called Salinas' family members to the scene to coax him out of the home to no avail. The Texas Department of Public Safety Special Response Team even used a robot holding a cell phone from Salinas' sister to bridge communication. But when the robot entered the home, it discovered two doors were closed and couldn't be opened because the machine's 'hand' was holding the cell phone. The robot was removed from the home and sent back in after authorities removed the cell phone. Authorities alleged that Salinas (pictured) opened fire at them when they tried to approach his home in Mission, Texas That's when the robot opened one bedroom door and found Salinas lying on the ground in a pool of blood 'As far as I know right now, it was not a self-inflicted gunshot wound. I think he died as a result of being hit [in the exchange of gunfire],' said Police Chief Dominguez. He said two Mission policemen and one Hidalgo County sheriffs deputy, had fired weapons during the standoff. Dominguez also said Salinas, an engineer who was elected to the Mission City Commission in 2017, suffered from hemophilia. 'Obviously, that didnt help,' said Dominguez. The girlfriend underwent surgery for her wounds and remained at the hospital in an ICU unit. She is expected to recover. Her four-year-old son was released after he received treatment for his head and knee, The Monitor reports. An autopsy will determine whether Salinas was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The Texas Rangers have taken over the investigation, which is standard protocol for police-involved shootings. Texas Department of Public of Public Safety Sgt. Maria Montalvo said Saturday that the investigation was ongoing and referred other questions to Mission police. Details surrounding the incident, including other potential suspects and a complete timeline, have not been publicly disclosed. Salinas, who previously served on the La Joya school board, was arrested last year for allegedly assaulting the same girlfriend. In September 2019, authorities responded to a 911 call regarding domestic disturbance at the home. Full story: Sullivan City Commissioner Gabriel Salinas pleads no contest to misdemeanor assault, released from jail https://t.co/BukoDyWxBJ via @ProgressTimes #rgv pic.twitter.com/QTvsYbruKK Dave Hendricks (@dmhj) September 22, 2019 Officers made contact with the victim, who did not end up pursuing charges. Salinas would have faced a class A misdemeanor assault, but Municipal Court Judge Mauro Reyna lowered the charge to class C due to the lack of evidence. Salinas was sentenced to time served and was released later that same day. This latest incident is the second time in July that a domestic dispute call turned fatalistic in Rio Grande Valley. Earlier that month, two McAllen police officers were shot dead while responding to a call. Dominguez speculated that the latest incidents might be connected with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 'People have been in quarantine in their homes trying to avoid the virus and so forth, and tempers flare and sometimes, unfortunately, people dont know how to deal with situations like that,' he said. But the police chief acknowledged that between March and June, there were less reported assaults this year compared to last year. Texas is among several states who've seen an uptick in infections, with the Lone Star state recording more than 488,000 cases and 7,400 deaths. A number of Mission city officials mourned Salinas' death after the news broke. Pictured: Sullivan City officials released a statement after news of Salinas' death spread through the community 'He is a human being, and were with the family at this time. I know its really hard,' said Dominguez. 'To have to tell his mother and his sisters that he died in this profession, unfortunately, its one of the things we have to do.' In an official statement, Sullivan City officials released a statement and cancelled the city commissioners meeting that was scheduled last Friday. 'It is with a heavy heart that we report the loss of City Commissioner Gabriel Salinas,' read the statement. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the Salinas Family as well as with the members of his household that were injured in last nights tragic events. 'We are praying for a full and speedy recovery and ask everyone to do the same. 'Due to an ongoing investigation, and the sensitive nature of these events, we will not be commenting further at this time.' City Secretary and interim City Manager Veronica Gutierrez said Salinas' death was 'shocking,' but upsetting because it was another loss of life. Even though Salinas lived in Mission, he could be a city commissioner in Sullivan City because Texas law allows the use of only a mailing address when filing for office. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal The outrage that led to the vandalism and destruction of Confederate memorials around the nation has also reached into the central New Mexico city of Socorro. The vandalism was reported to Socorro police July 17, and, according to that report, involved damage to the memorials pillars as well as damage to a main section that appeared to be from a firearm. The memorial is located in a section of the Socorro Cemetery also known as the Socorro Presbyterian Cemetery and the Socorro Masonic Cemetery that is unsuitable for burials because of the steepness of the slope and the presence of an arroyo, according to a 2012 story in the El Defensor Chieftain newspaper. The vandalism was also reported in a statement from the Sons of Confederate Veterans, based in Columbia, Tennessee, and the state branch, Sons of Confederate Veterans New Mexico. Calls to the organization were not returned. Two components of the memorial, a pillar commemorating a battle at Valverde, and another commemorating a battle at Glorieta, were completely destroyed, according to the statement. The third, and main portion of the memorial, which is labeled For Southern Independence, was damaged by gunshots, the statement said. The engraving on that main portion reads: This monument honors and perpetuates the memory of the brave Texas citizen volunteers who offered their lives and fortunes for the Confederate States of America during the 1861-1862 New Mexico campaign. In its statement, the Sons of Confederate Veterans said it is dedicated to preserving and presenting the true story of that war as it unfolded in New Mexico Territory in 1862. The organization further said it will never be dissuaded by the ignorant rabble that attempts to erase our history either by lies, propaganda or criminal behavior. The memorial was dedicated in 2012 with opponents questioning if anyone on the Socorro City Council or in the city administration vetted or approved the engraved message, if it was a thinly veiled neo-Confederate message with white supremacist intent, and about the use of War for Southern Independence in place of Civil War, according to an El Defensor Chieftain story written at the time. In that story, Jim Red, division commander of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, denied there was a right-wing, neo-Nazi, neo-Southern agenda, and said the Sons of Confederate Veterans are a historical society that gives the southern viewpoint of the War Between the States. Socorro city officials did not specifically address the recent vandalism when contacted by the Journal. Socorro Mayor Ravi Bhasker, who was also mayor in 2012, told the Journal on Wednesday that the Confederate war memorial is a private monument and sits on private property. The city, he said, had no part in any statements written on the monument. Mandarin missing from National Education Policy 2020's foreign languages list India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Dehi, Aug 02: The National Education Policy (NEP) has not mentioned Mandarin - group of Sinitic Chinese languages - from the list of the examples of foreign languages like Japanese, Thai, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian which will be taught at the secondary level. National Education Policy 2020: What changes for schools? | Oneindia News The government also pointed out that foreign language vocabulary should be updated in the text books and other printing materials. The suggested foreign languages in this regard are Korean, Japanese, Thai, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, German, Hebrew and Japanese. Board exams to be made easy; teaching up to class 5 in mother tongue, regional language According to The Hindu, there is no mention of Mandarin from the NEP's final Policy document. However, Mandarin was present in the draft policy that was released in May 2019. According to The Hindu, the 2019 draft policy version said, "A choice of foreign languages such as French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese would be offered and available to interested students to choose." Meanwhile, the government included the Korean language to the new National Education Policy that can be taught in schools. However, it should be noted that Korean language was not recommended as a foreign language in the first draft by the National Education Policy preparation committee in 2019. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the new National Education Policy (NEP) that is expected to set the roadmap for the sector keeping in mind present employment scenario. This policy comes after almost three decades, and post deliberation of almost six years. Replacing the 10+2 structure of school curricula with a 5+3+3+4 curricular structure corresponding to age groups 3-8, 8-11, 11-14 and 14-18 years respectively, scrapping M.Phil programmes and implementing common norms for private and public higher education institutions are among other salient features of the new policy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said the new education policy announced by the government emphasises on making ''job creators'' instead of ''job seekers'' and is an attempt to transform the intent and the content of the country''s education system. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 2, 2020, 10:20 [IST] Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. China to inspect and test all food markets weekly for coronavirus Global Times Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/1 12:48:21 China's central government has vowed to conduct a sweeping weekly testing for the coronavirus, covering thousands of the country's seafood, meat and other food markets, after several past outbreaks in the country appear to have emerged from the food markets. The notice was issued by the State Council, the country's cabinet, which said the inspection and scrutiny should primarily target seafood and meat booths in large markets scattered in China's cities. The State council directive requires monthly testing for COVID-19 in all of the country's agricultural markets. Tests will be conducted on the markets' equipment, employees, refrigerators containing seafood and meat, the sewer system and the surrounding air. After incessant outbreaks at Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Market, in late December and early January, Beijing's Xinfadi Wholesale Food Market in June, and at a seafood importer in Dalian in July, some Chinese epidemiologists suggest the markets could be havens for the coronavirus. The humid and low-temperature environments at food markets are conducive to the survival and spread of the coronavirus, said Wu Zunyou, chief epidemiologist of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Wherever there is contamination, the highly contagious virus can easily multiple and spread to humans, who contact the virus inadvertently, Wu said. An experiment carried out in Beijing's Xinfadi food market, in which a fluorescent powder was used to simulate the virus, showed that if the environment was contaminated, the virus could infect people through aerosols, Wu said. Workers there would then pollute the environment after becoming infected, forming a mixed transmission cluster, he said. However, Wu said the regional epidemic in Dalian has no specific connection with the outbreak in Beijing, adding that outbreak in Dalian was likely caused by contaminated imported seafood. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Prabhu Chawla By The Congress is dead. Long live the Congress. The ideological and institutional monopoly of the 130-year-old party is gone with the wind of change. Many Congressmen feel that its value system has passed the sell-by date. Till the recent past, the thunderclap of its voices of freedom resounded in the hallways of history as Indias only bulwark against colonialism. Even now, it colonises Indian mind space disproportionately as a minimum party with maximum attention and traction. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has vowed to deliver a Congress-mukt Bharat. He defenestrated the Congress. Still like the Canterville ghost chained to its own destiny, it roams the corridors of familial exile. Its state governments have either collapsed or are in danger of collapse under the weight of its own contradictions. Normally adversity unites. In the Congress, it divides. In spite of the long winter of powerlessness, the Congress has retained its relevance, being recognised as one of the four national parties. Its oxygen comes from its main promoters, the Gandhis. They are in news once again. Now for the first time, three members of the Gandhi Parivar are actively involved in the hierarchy. While Sonia Gandhi is acting president until her own notice, daughter Priyanka has taken charge of Uttar Pradesh as General Secretary. Rahul Gandhi retains his slot in the Congress Working Committee and is the only candidate to replace himself, or his mother. Enslaved by its feudal history, the Congress continues to exploit the freedom struggle as a patented paradigm. The first storm hit the Congress when Jyotiraditya Scindia defected and brought down the Congress government in Bhopal. Now, Cyclone Sachin Pilot has hit Jaipur. Since these two catastrophes, the Congress is in internal turmoil. Many of its leaders are calling for a massive purge and intense introspection. Since Indira Gandhis showdown with the Syndicate in 1969, the GOP has been confronted with many generational boil overs. In the last CWC, the confrontation between static seniors and impatient young netas got pretty nasty. Former Union Ministers sought a serious review of the latters ways and means to deal with current challenges. Congress millennials questioned the UPA-IIs performance under Manmohan Singh, who was also present. Predictably, no consensus emerged. Evidently, the Gandhi mojo was under scrutiny by both detractors and loyalists. As the partys geographical dominance shrinks poll after poll, its desirability as a match winner is waning. However, Gandhis are still the only all-rounders on the election ground. Theyve faced many googlies yet remain on the field in spite of not scoring much or taking wickets. The Congress is the only national party which is identified by DNA over differentiationthe Gandhi genes are its protein code. During the past five decades, theyve faced many revolts and splitsminor and major yet never lost their pan-India appeal and recall. The Congress is a still political brand, which retains its small share of market in almost every district. Its evergreen bio data is biological since it fought the elections and won more seats under Nehrus leadership until 1967. Ever since the first major split in 1969, the party won elections only because a Gandhi led it. As it acquired the Im Me and Mysef affix by seeking recognition as Congress (I), it became synonymous with Indira. It was under her that India cleaved Pakistan into two and won two-thirds majority in Parliament. After losing the majority of the Assembly elections in 1969, the Congress won back over two-thirds of the states under Indira. The Opposition slogan then wasnt Congress Hatao, Democracy Bachao but Indira Hatao, Desh Bachao. Indira was adored by the lower and middle classes but abhorred by the rich and the mighty. It evolved into an umbrella party under which all castes and communities came together. Indira was an ideology. The Congress transformation into a mass based organisation led by a single powerful individual was complete. Since then, it has invariably survived many setbacks, thanks to its Gandhi halo. After Indira was assassinated, her elder son Rajiv became the young hope of a modern India. The Congress almost wiped out the Opposition by winning over 400 seats and scoring massive victories in subsequent state elections. Though Rajiv blundered during his five-year tenure, his outfit still emerged as the largest single party in 1989. But like his mother, Rajiv was also assassinated. Many firmly believe that had he not been eliminated, Rajiv would have taken the party to a massive victory again after the VP Singh government fell. From 1991 to 1996, PV Narsimha Rao was both the Prime Minister and party president. He was replaced by Sitaram Kesari. Neither of them could engineer a Lok Sabha win. Finally, Sonia Gandhi took over as party chief in 1998. She ruled as AIIC president for a record 18 years.After losing the general elections in 1999, the Congress under her leadership stormed Indraprastha in 2004, backed by an alliance forged by her. In 2009, the Congress crossed the 200 tally and formed the government once again. The credit went to the Gandhis and not to the party. It also scored significant victories in many states. In 2014 and 2019, the Gandhi moxie was neutered by Modi Magic. The Congress couldnt even retain the status of a recognised Opposition party in the Lok Sabha. It has been doing electorally better after Rahul became president in 2017. It regained power in MP, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Previously, it won Punjab and did well in Goa and the North East. The contradiction is that most Congress leaders are confined to their own states and dont have the chutzpah to battle the ruling BJP effectively. Only the Gandhis are aggressively challenging Modi and the BJP on digital platforms. They are indispensable because no other Congress leader has nationwide acceptability or connectivity. Its obvious that their vertiginous veracity do not come from sycophantic leaders, but from the BJPs excessive attention. According to Congress insiders, the Gandhi strategy is to get more public attention from BJP supporters, spokespersons and ministers than the Congress itself. It appears that in the BJPs attempt to deliver a Congress Mukt Bharat, its perpetuating a Gandhi Yukt Bharat. The Gandhi troika may not be perceived as serious leaders with an alternative agenda. But the saffron obsession keeps them in the news and on the political field. The BJP has the Sangh Parivar with a leader and an ideology. The Congress has only the Gandhi Parivar sans ideology and distinctive identity. Their family tree is the partys Tree of Life. Its fruit may taste rotten to the BJP, but in the Indian political Eden, the serpent of dynastic dynamic is full of poisonous promise. prabhu chawla prabhuchawla@newindianexpress.com Follow him on Twitter @PrabhuChawla Republican and Democrat lawmakers made progress on Saturday during their deliberation on the next stimulus to combat the negative impact of COVID-19. The next stimulus payment is expected to arrive this August. Today, many Americans, especially those who were laid off or furloughed from their jobs, await if they would receive the same weekly unemployment claim worth $600 to combat the economic impact of the virus. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer released a statement after a meeting with the country's highest officials House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Schumer said that they are not yet done finalizing the details of the next stimulus. However, the bright side was when he said that each party during the meeting knew where they are at. The group spent days discussing who and what would be prioritized in the next stimulus payment. On Friday, the deliberation became more intense when they discussed the $600 weekly unemployment benefit. On that day, the unemployment claim has also expired. However, until now, the Democrat and Republican lawmakers cannot yet offer a solution. Meanwhile, Mnuchin said that it was the most productive discussion they have ever had. He also added, "We went through a long list of policy issues on our side and on their side, as we've suggested in the past. There's a subset of issues where we both agree on very much." The Treasury Secretary shared that the four agreed that schools should be the top priority because there are schools that are expressing an intent to open this fall. This means that they will need the money and Personal Protective Equipment. They also support loans for small business owners to have their employees back to work. However, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows explained that even though there was progress during their meeting, he cautioned that the deal is not clear. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi remained firm on her desire to pass a broader bill that includes the weekly $600 unemployment claim. She still disagrees with the Republican-led proposal HEALS Act which he described as short-term. Moreover, Mnuchin clarified that "We've made clear that we're willing to deal with the short-term issues and pass something quickly and come back to the larger issues, so we're at an impasse on that." He also said there is also a clear desire that the four of them want to have a next round of the stimulus, according to a published article in USA Today. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows will continue their negotiation on Monday to make sure to have all the details of the next stimulus before August 7. Additionally, Meadows and Mnuchin had negotiated with Pelosi and Schumer on Thursday and offered the Democrats four separate deals throughout the day, but all were rejected. Check these out! Actor Sonu Sood appeared on The Kapil Sharma Show on Saturday to what can only be called a rousing welcome. The actor spoke at length about how his team and he got down to helping migrants. In one of the video clips online, Sonu explains how they werent trained for the job and talked about how they arranged for the first lot of buses to take migrants to their homes in Karnataka: We asked them where were they going? They said please pack food for ten days for us, we are walking back to our homes in Kartanaka. I noticed they had really young children with them, some as young as one month old. I asked how do you plan to take these children? and they replied in 8-10 days we will reach our homes, you just arrange for our food. I asked them to give me two days; and I would see how I could arrange for some necessary permissions. His team and he arranged for their stay, looked at whatever documents they had, got their medical examination done, took all the necessary permissions from police. They got further permissions from their respective states, from authorities. They took transport permissions too. Then for the first time, we arranged for 10 buses to take 350 people to Karnataka. Sonu candidly confessed that they did not know to do the job but added that it must have been Gods will that they could pull it off. He continued: Hum ne kabhi seekha nahin tha (We werent trained to do this.) May be, God chose us to do this job. He added how one thing led to the other and they managed to get the job done. Both Kapil Sharma, the host, and Archana Puran Singh, the special guest, had only praise for the actor. Sony TV had earlier shared a video clip of migrants talking about Sonu on camera and how seeing their responses, the actor had tears in their eyes. Also read: Ankita Lokhande on why she didnt go to Sushant Singh Rajputs funeral: I knew if I see him like that, I will never be able to forget The show was designed as a tribute for the exemplary work Sonu had done, but it wasnt without the heavy dose of humour. Host Kapil was with his able team of Kiku Sarda, Krushna Abhishek, Bharti Singh, Sumona Chakravarti among others. In one such a clip, Kapil and his domestic help are having a conversation about whether Kapil asked his help to stand at a distance of 100 metres. The help retorts that government guidelines stipulate a distance of only two meters; to which Kapil rebukes: Government isnt aware of your harkaten (actions). Turning to Archana, he goes on, The other day, he told Sonu Sood to drop him home. Sonu asked him where do you stay? to which the help answered wherever you can send me, I will stay there. In another hilarious clip Krushna impersonates Akshay Kumar while Kiku gives him a story narration. As a run-up to the show, Kapil had shared another hilarious clip where he cracks a joke on Sonu - how two people, not migrants, were on the street and how Sonu packed them off to Azamgarh. Follow @htshowbiz for more Nearly half of U.S. adults say COVID-19 is affecting their mental health. That includes everything from increased anxiety and irritability to feelings of hopelessness. Meanwhile, those with chronic mental health challenges have been unable to access their normal support network - adding on to the stresses of the pandemic. Dr. Vaile Wright is the Senior Director for Health Innovation with the American Psychological Association. Soledad OBrien talks with her about the nations next emerging health crisis. Quarterly Activities Report Perth, July 31, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Wiluna Mining Corporation Limited ( ASX:WMX ) ( FRA:NZ3 ) ( OTCMKTS:BKHRF ) provides the following update on its activities for the quarter ended 30 June 2020, and thereafter:OPERATIONS- FY20 production of 61,885oz at an All-In-Sustaining-Cost (AISC) of A$1,950/oz, and Cash Costs per Ounce of A$1,631/oz, consistent with the Company's Operations Update on 16 June 2020- Pre-stripping activities at Williamson completed in June, with main ore zone accessed in mid-July- Open pit mining costs to be significantly reduced in the coming months due to lower waste movement requirements- Underground equipment fleet renewed- Increasing stockpiles of higher-grade mill feed ore now available- Production guidance for FY21 is approximately 62koz @ an AISC of approximately A$1,950/oz and Cash Costs per Ounce of A$1,650/oz. Costs reduce during the year as open pit waste mining progressively declines.GROWTH- Construction of new tailings storage facility (TSF K) completed- Planning for sulphide underground mine establishment and development activities advanced- EPC contract for the construction of the sulphide concentrate and filtration plant agreed in principle and close to finalisation- Polymetal Stage 1 offtake agreement and strategic alliance confirmed- Planning and preparation for Stage 2 expansion studies commenced during the quarter- Management team for staged development strengthenedDISCOVERY- Exceptional underground sulphide drill results continue to validate the Company's production growth strategy- Drilling continues to support transitional cash flow from the Golden Age underground and surrounding areasCORPORATE & ESG- Cash and bullion as at 30 June 2020 of $11.4m- The 12-month LTIFR for the site was 2.0 with one lost time injury reported for the quarter- The Company continued to implement substantial measures to ensure the safety of all Company personnel, contractors, suppliers, and community in response to COVID-19- Documentation for the First Tranche of the gold prepay swap ($21m) with Mercuria is well progressed with drawdown anticipated shortly- Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) team formalised and ongoing platform and policy to be driven by the Company's latest appointment to the Board of Directors, Ms Sara Kelly- Executive Chair Milan Jerkovic extends contract for a further three years and Ms Sara Kelly appointed a Non-Executive Director- Rebranding as Wiluna Mining and share consolidation successfully completed- The Company remains on track to deliver its 24-month five-point strategy to:1. Strengthen the balance sheet;2. Increase operational cash flow;3. Transition to include gold concentrate production;4. Expand production; and5. Undertake exploration and feasibility studies to fully develop a more than 250kozpa, long life gold operationWiluna Mining Executive Chair Milan Jerkovic commented "As stated in our operations update on 16 June, production numbers were below expectations for the quarter mainly due to the lack of access to the high-grade ore from the Williamson pit. We have now accessed the main ore zone at Williamson, and this will enable us to provide improved results.I reiterate that Wiluna Mining is first and foremost a development and growth Company focused on the Staged development of the Company's large underground sulphide system which we plan to bring online in Stage 1 by September 2021. I emphasise that the current free milling operation through to next September exists purely to provide operating cashflow to assist in funding the staged development of the sulphide operation.With our focus on the goal of becoming a Tier 1 gold producer in a Tier 1 jurisdiction, the quarter was a great success because our sulphide drilling program has delivered and will add meaningful ounces to our Mineral Resource and our Reserves which we will be updating in September and December this year, and to the mine plan for Stage 1".To view the full quarterly report, please visit:About Wiluna Mining Corporation Ltd Wiluna Mining Corporation (ASX:WMC) (OTCMKTS:WMXCF) is a Perth based, ASX listed gold mining company that controls over 1,600 square kilometres of the Yilgarn Craton in the Northern Goldfields of WA. The Yilgarn Craton has a historic and current gold endowment of over 380 million ounces, making it one of most prolific gold regions in the world. The Company owns 100% of the Wiluna Gold Operation which has a defined resource of 8.04M oz at 1.67 g/t au. In May 2019, a new highly skilled management team took control of the Company with a clear plan to leverage the Wiluna Gold Operation's multi-million-ounce potential. Hi AnushkaPatel961,Thank you for providing some additional information. Honestly, you are putting in many study hours, but things just arent coming together for you. Thus, moving forward, you may consider following a more linear and sctured study plan that allows you to learn each GMAT quant and verbal topic individually and then practice each topic until youve gained mastery. Let me expand on this idea further.If you are learning about Number Properties, you should develop as much conceptual knowledge about Number Properties as possible. In other words, your goal will be to completely understand properties of factorials, perfect squares, quadratic patterns, LCM, GCF, units digit patterns, divisibility, and remainders, to name a few concepts. After carefully reviewing the conceptual underpinnings of how to answer Number Properties questions, practice by answering 50 or more questions just from Number Properties. When you do dozens of questions of the same type one after the other, you learn just what it takes to get questions of that type correct consistently. If you aren't getting close to 90 percent of questions of a certain type correct, go back and seek to better understand how that type of question works, and then do more questions of that type until you get to around at least 90 percent accuracy in your training. If you get 100 percent of some sets correct, even better. Number Properties is just one example; follow this process for all quant topics.When you are working on learning to answer questions of a particular type, start off taking your time, and then seek to speed up as you get more comfortable answering questions of that type. As you do such practice, do a thorough analysis of each question that you don't get right. If you got a remainder question wrong, ask yourself why. Did you make a careless mistake? Did you not properly apply the remainder formula? Was there a concept you did not understand in the question? By carefully analyzing your mistakes, you will be able to efficiently fix your weaknesses and in turn improve your GMAT quant skills.Each time you strengthen your understanding of a topic and your skill in answering questions of a particular type, you increase your odds of hitting your score goal. You know that there are types of questions that you are happy to see, types that you would rather not see, and types that you take a long time to answer correctly. Learn to more effectively answer the types of questions that you would rather not see, and make them into your favorite types. Learn to correctly answer in two minutes or less questions that you currently take five minutes to answer. By finding, say, a dozen weaker quant areas and turning them into strong areas, you will make great progress toward hitting your quant score goal. If a dozen areas turn out not to be enough, strengthen some more areas.Follow a similar routine for verbal. For example, lets say you start by learning about Critical Reasoning. Your first goal is to fully master the individual topics: Strengthen the Argument, Weaken The Argument, Resolve the Paradox, etc. As you learn about each question type, do focused practice, so that you can track your skill in answering each type. If, for example, you get a weakening question wrong, ask yourself why. Did you make a careless mistake? Did you not recognize the specific question type? Were you doing too much analysis in your head? Did you skip over a keyword in an answer choice? You must thoroughly analyze your mistakes and seek to turn weaknesses into strengths by focusing on the question types you dread seeing and the questions you take a long time to answer correctly.When practicing Reading Comprehension, you need to develop a reading strategy that is both efficient and thorough. Reading too fast and not understanding what you have read are equally as harmful as reading too slow and using up too much time. When attacking Reading Comprehension passages, you must have one clear goal in mind: to understand the context of what you are reading. However, you must do so efficiently, so you need to avoid getting bogged down in the details of each paragraph and instead focus on understanding the main point of each paragraph. That being said, do not fall into the trap of thinking that you can just read the intro and the conclusion and thereby comprehend the main idea of a paragraph. As you read a paragraph, consider how the context of the paragraph relates to previous paragraphs, so you can continue developing your overall understanding of the passage. Furthermore, as you practice Reading Comprehension, focus on the exact types of questions with which you struggle: Find the Main Idea, Inference, Authors Tone, etc. As with Critical Reasoning, analyze your incorrect Reading Comprehension answers to better determine why you tend to get a particular question type wrong, and then improve upon your weaknesses. Keep in mind that GMAT Reading Comprehension passages are not meant to be easy to read. So, to better prepare yourself to analyze such passages, read magazines with similar content and style, such as the New York Times, Scientific American, and Smithsonian.Sentence Correction is a bit of a different animal compared to Reading Comprehension and Critical Reasoning. There are three aspects to getting correct answers to GMAT Sentence Correction questions: what you know, such as grammar rules, what you see, such as violations of grammar rules and the logic of sentence structure, and what you do, such as carefully considering each answer choice in the context of the non-underlined portion of the sentence. To drive up your Sentence Correction score, you likely will have to work on all three of those aspects.Regarding what you know, first and foremost, you MUST know your grammar rules. Let's be clear, though: GMAT Sentence Correction is not really a test of knowledge of grammar rules. The reason for learning the grammar rules is so that you can determine what sentences convey and whether sentences are well-constructed. In fact, in many cases, incorrect answers to Sentence Correction questions are grammatically flawless. Thus, often your task is to use your knowledge of grammar rules to determine which answer choice creates the most logical sentence meaning and structure.This determination of whether sentences are well-constructed and logical is the second aspect of finding correct answers to Sentence Correction questions, what you see. To develop this skill, you probably have to slow way down. You won't develop this skill by spending less than two minutes per question. For a while, anyway, you have to spend time with each question, maybe even ten or fifteen minutes on one question sometimes, analyzing every answer choice until you see the details that you have to see in order to choose the correct answer. As you go through the answer choices, consider the meaning conveyed by each version of the sentence. Does the meaning make sense? Even if you can tell what the version is SUPPOSED to convey, does the version really convey that meaning? Is there a verb to go with the subject? Do all pronouns clearly refer to nouns? By slowing way down and looking for these details, you learn to see what you have to see in order to clearly understand which answer to a Sentence Correction question is correct.There is only one correct answer to any Sentence Correction question, there are clear reasons why that choice is correct and the others are not, and none of those reasons are that the correct version simply "sounds right." In fact, the correct version often sounds a little off at first. That correct answers may sound a little off is not surprising. If the correct answers were always the ones that sounded right, then most people most of the time would get Sentence Correction questions correct, without really knowing why the wrong answers were wrong and the correct answers were correct. So, you have to go beyond choosing what "sounds right" and learn to clearly see the logical reasons why one choice is better than all of the others.As for the third aspect of getting Sentence Correction questions correct, what you do, the main thing you have to do is be very careful. You have to make sure that you are truly considering the structures of sentences and the meanings conveyed rather than allowing yourself to be tricked into choosing trap answers that sound right but don't convey logical meanings. You also have to make sure that you put some real energy into finding the correct answers. Finding the correct answer to a Sentence Correction question may take bouncing from choice to choice until you start to see the differences that make all choices wrong except for one. Often, when you first look at the choices, only one or two seem obviously incorrect. Getting the right answers takes a certain work ethic. You have to take the time to see the differences between answers and to figure out the precise reasons that one choice is correct.To improve what you do when you answer Sentence Correction questions, seek to become aware of how you are going about answering them. Are you being careful and looking for logic and details, or are you quickly eliminating choices that sound a little off, and then choosing the best of the rest? If you choose an incorrect answer, consider what you did to arrive at that answer and what you could do differently to arrive at correct answers more consistently. Furthermore, see how many questions you can get correct in a row as you practice. If you break your streak by missing one, consider what you could do differently to extend your streak.As with your Critical Reasoning and Reading Comprehension regimens, after learning a particular Sentence Correction topic, engage in focused practice with 30 questions or more that involve that topic. As your skills improve, you will want to practice with questions that test you on skills from multiple Sentence Correction topics.In order to follow the path described above, you may need some new quant and verbal materials, so take a look at the GMAT Club reviews for the best quant and verbal courses . You also may find it helpful to read the following article about The Phases of Preparing for the GMAT Feel free to reach out with any further questions. Good luck!_________________ A wild party near the Perisher ski slopes was shut down and $9,000 in fines handed to people breaching coronavirus restrictions over the weekend. Twenty-seven revellers were found crammed into a room at an East Jindabyne resort, in south-east New South Wales, following a noise complaint at 11pm on Saturday. Only eight of the partygoers were staying at the resort and police handed $1,000 fines to seven men aged between 26 and 31 and a 29-year-old woman. Earlier this week, skiers were warned to keep an eye out for anyone displaying flu-like symptoms after traces of COVID-19 was found in sewage water at Perisher. A wild party near the Perisher ski slopes was shut down and $9,000 in fines handed to people breaching coronavirus restrictions over the weekend (pictured, the ski run at Mount Blue Cow at Perisher) Earlier this week, skiers were warned to keep an eye out for anyone displaying flu-like symptoms after traces of COVID-19 was found in sewage water at Perisher (stock image) Initial samples collected at the Perisher sewage treatment plant on Wednesday July 22 returned a positive result for the presence of COVID-19. A birthday after-party was also disbanded in Sydney while two teenagers were treated for suspected alcohol poisoning from another unauthorised gathering. More than 20 people were turfed out of a Maroubra apartment, in the eastern suburbs, at 1am on Sunday. Police were told it was a party celebration and will later fine the 29-year-old host. A party of up to 40 people are also believed to have gathered at Whiting Beach, on the north shore, before it went sideways. Two 16-year-old girls were found unconscious from suspected alcohol poisoning and were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital. Liquor and Gaming New South Wales has also fined Sydney's Watsons Bay Hotel $5,000 after finding patrons drinking while standing and using poorly-spaced poker machines. It was the 15th NSW venue to be fined in the past three weeks for COVID-related breaches. 'It beggars belief that anybody would turn on the TV news bulletin today and see what's going on in Melbourne and want to breach the law in NSW,' NSW police minister David Elliott said. NSW has also recorded its first coronavirus-related death in more than two months. An 83-year-old man connected to the Crossroads Hotel cluster in southwest Sydney died on Saturday morning, taking the NSW death toll to 52 and the nationwide tally to 201. NSW has also recorded its first coronavirus-related death in more than two months (pictured woman in face mask leaving Sydney Woolworths) The popular Bavarian pub (pictured on Saturday) in Manly was forced to close for deep cleaning after a customer tested positive to the deadly virus It was the first coronavirus-related death in NSW since late May. 'While most cases in the past week have been associated with local clusters and close contacts of known cases, seven in the past week have not been able to be linked to known cases,' Dr McAnulty said in a statement on Saturday. 'These unlinked cases have been in people from southwestern Sydney, western Sydney, southeastern Sydney and Sydney local health districts.' The Thai Rock Wetherill Park cluster is nearing 100 COVID-19 cases, while the cluster in Potts Point has reached 24 and the funeral events cluster sits at 25. A popular venue on Sydney's Northern Beaches, meanwhile, was on Saturday forced to shut after hosting a COVID-positive patron on the afternoon of July 24. The Bavarian in Manly underwent deep cleaning and reopened to the public on Saturday afternoon. Patrons on the afternoon of July 24 should monitor for respiratory symptoms. The Harpoon & Hotel Harry in Surry Hills, Matinee Coffee in Marrickville and Tan Viet in Cabramatta are among other venues required to undertake deep cleaning in recent days. A successful mission would demonstrate that the United States once again has the capacity to send its astronauts to space and bring them back America's first crewed spaceship since the Space Shuttle era was set to splash down in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday. Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley were carrying out final preparations in the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule "Endeavour" which should land off the coast of Pensacola at 2:48 pm (1848 GMT). A successful mission would demonstrate that the United States once again has the capacity to send its astronauts to space and bring them back. The US has had to rely on Russia for this purpose since the last Space Shuttle flew in 2011. NASA footage showed the recovery boat "GO Navigator," making its way to the site of the first water landing for a US spaceship since the 1975 joint Apollo-Soyuz mission. Tropical Storm Isaias, which had scuppered Endeavour's original landing site in the Atlantic, was nearing Florida's east coast Sunday morning, hundreds of miles away. The mission is also a major win for Elon Musk's SpaceX, which was founded in only 2002 but has leap-frogged its way past Boeing, its main competitor in the commercial space race. The US has paid the two companies a total of about $7 billion for their "space taxi" contracts, though aerospace giant Boeing's efforts have badly floundered. - Atmospheric re-entry - Over the coming hours, the Crew Dragon capsule will have to perform several precise procedures in order to return home safely. At 1:51 pm (1751 GMT), the ship will jettison its "trunk" that contains its power, heat and other systems, which will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up. Endeavour will then fire its thrusters to maneuver itself into the proper orbit and trajectory for splashdown. At 2:32 pm (1832 GMT) it will re-enter the atmosphere at a speed of around 17,500 mph (28,000 kph). The ship's heat shield will need to withstand temperatures of 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1900 degrees Celsius), conditions which will in turn cause a communications blackout for several minutes. Endeavour will then deploy two sets of parachutes on its descent, bringing its speed down to a mere 15 mph (24 kph) as it hits the water. The two astronauts will be brought on board a recovery ship for a medical checkup before being taken ashore. - Astro dads - The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft set out off from the International Space Station Saturday evening. Footage showed the capsule drifting slowly away from the ISS in the darkness of space, ending a two month stay for the crewmates. "And they are off!" NASA tweeted, with Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken set to splash down Sunday. During a farewell ceremony on the station, Behnken said that "the hardest part was getting us launched. But the most important part is bringing us home." Addressing his son and Hurley's son, he held up a toy dinosaur that the children chose to send on the mission and said: "Tremor The Apatosaurus is headed home soon and he'll be with your dads." Behnken and Hurley's return marks only the beginning for the Crew Dragon as SpaceX and NASA look ahead to future missions. Endeavor will be brought back to the SpaceX Dragon Lair in Florida where it will undergo a six-weeks-long inspection process, as teams pore over its data and performance in order to certify the vessel as worthy of future low-Earth orbit missions. The next mission -- dubbed "Crew-1" -- will involve a four member team: commander Michael Hopkins, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Shannon Walker of NASA, along with Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency mission specialist Soichi Noguchi. Take-off is set for late September and the crew are due to spend six months on the space station. Search Keywords: Short link: Paula spent much of her teen years behind the counter of her familys Italian bakery P. Tatasciore & Son at 19th & Sigel in South Philly. Every Friday, her mother made pizza, and Joey from the corner came in for half a pie. He always paid in change. For years, this was all Paula knew about him. Then one Friday in the summer of 1967, Joey smiled. His smile did me in, she remembers. From then on, she wanted to know everything. Joe was pretty sure that pretty Paula was flirting with him, but he did not pick up the hints she dropped. Paula was special clever and confident and living a life that seemed much grander than his. Her family had a successful bakery. My father was a carpenter and my mom was a waitress, he said. My friends hung on street corners, while Paulas friends were going to dances and bowling. It was known that Paula would be dating college boys, not the corner-hanger types. Joe was certain he had no chance with Paula, but he sure liked talking to her. A good listener can learn a lot about a boy while selling him his weekly half-pizza. Paula learned that Joe was on the business track at what was Bishop Neumann High School. When school resumed that fall, she fit a bookkeeping class into her academic prep schedule at what was St. Maria Goretti. One Friday, Paula asked him to help with her homework. He was at the front door when she realized she had left her textbook at school, but no matter. She didnt really need the help, and neither she nor Joe said one word about bookkeeping during his visit. Paula did ask a question: Would you like to go to the harvest dance with me? Joe did not see that coming. Back then, girls never asked the guys out, he said. Paula was light-years ahead of her time. He said yes and suggested they go out once before the dance. Turns out, boys from the corner go bowling, too. More dates followed. Joe felt so lucky privileged, even to be with her. And his friends reminded him so on the regular. Even as the relationship grew my friends were like, Youre dating who? How the hell did you do that? By making her laugh, and making her feel so good and understood, said Paula. Anytime something was bothering me, whenever I was with Joe it was better, she said. They graduated at the height of the Vietnam War. Joe was so young when he signed up for the Marines that his mom had to cosign. His bookkeeping skills landed him a series of stateside desk jobs. On leave from his North Carolina base in fall 1969, Joe asked Paula, who worked at a Center City bank, to meet him for lunch at what is now LOVE Park. He handed her a pill bottle and asked if shed mind fishing out an aspirin for him. Out came some tissues and a gold and diamond ring, purchased at his bases post exchange for $162. On Nov. 7, 1970, they wed at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Joe wore his dress uniform. After the ceremony, at the altar, Joe and I turned around to face everybody, and I felt so proud to be his wife, Paula said. They walked beneath an arch of swords held high by his fellow Marines and began building their life together. After his discharge in 1972, Joe took an accounting job. The couple moved from South Philly to Upper Darby to their home in Collegeville. Along the way, Joe and Paula now 70 and 69, respectively had three children: Jennifer, Karen, and Christopher. When Joes firm announced they were moving out of state, he launched the company that is now Bond, Pezzano & Etze so the couple and their household could remain near family. Paula took on almost all of the child care and a part-time job as a wedding planner in the evenings so Joe could put in the long hours his new business required. She told everyone she met about this fabulous new accounting firm and continues to hand out Joes business cards to this day. Joes company was still in its infancy when Paula said she wanted to pursue her long-delayed professional dream of becoming a nurse. We had three young kids, and he was starting this business, but it was never a question. It was, When do you start? Paula said. We have always allowed each other to grow. When Paula had classes or clinicals, Joe adjusted his hours to get the kids off to school. She earned her associates degree at Montgomery County Community College and her bachelors at Eastern College now Eastern University. Paula began her nursing career working on the floor at Phoenixville Hospital. She recently became a nursing supervisor with a home health agency. As busy as their household was, Joe and Paula made time for each other every day even if it was just 15 minutes. Youre a couple before you can be a whole big family, Paula said, and they worked hard to keep their relationship strong. It sometimes wasnt until 10:30 at night, when everyone else was asleep, but we did it, adds Joe. When their oldest daughter left for college, the couple established a new tradition, the Pezzano Family Sunday Dinner, to entice her home every week. The bakery closed long ago. The couples parents have all passed on Paula nursed both of their mothers at their home. But the Pezzano and Tatasciore legacies and delicacies are always present at the Sunday table. Paula makes roast pork, or pasta with gravy the tomato kind her mother taught her or the panfried meatballs with chicken soup that she asked Joes mother to teach her when they were newlyweds. At early dinners, Joe always had a dad joke. As the kids grew up, Sunday dinner was where triumphs were celebrated, sorrows soothed, and, for potentially significant others, gauntlets thrown. If youre new, its the way for everybody to judge you, where we ask all the questions, Paula said with a laugh. Their children married and brought six grandchildren, now ages 17 to 8. Sunday gatherings grew louder, requiring 14 chairs and sometimes, a referee. Then COVID-19 did what nothing had ever done before it stopped Sunday dinner. Paula and Joe, both essential workers, had to accept some risk, but when regional cases were growing fast and little was known about the virus, they could not allow their family to share that risk. Sunday dinner for two was entirely too quiet. So Joe ordered a mountain of take-out containers online, and the following week, Paula cooked and cooked and the couple packed their love to go. For nine Sundays, someone from each of their three childrens households came to the house at their appointed time to pick up a package of hot food and give Paula and Joe a five-minute rundown of the previous week through the storm door. It was not ideal, but it was still very good. The single most important thing in life is that the 14 of us are one unit, and we are all in this together, said Joe. On Memorial Day, when COVID-19 cases were dropping, 14 family members gathered again. It was thrilling, said Paula. The only thing that was missing is that I wanted to hug everybody. On Nov. 7, Joe and Paula will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. They hope to do so with 45 people at the restaurant where, at their 30-year mark, Joe regave Paula her engagement ring, set with a larger diamond. But if a such a gathering doesnt feel safe to the family RN, the usual Sunday gathering with their kids and grandkids will be more than special enough. Virginia Roberts claims she spent two days alone with Prince Andrew at Jeffrey Epstein's New Mexico ranch, where she was directed to 'entertain him endlessly' and give him 'erotic massages', according to unsealed court documents. Roberts, who also goes by married name Giuffre, recalled the alleged encounter in a 139-page manuscript titled, 'The Billionaire's Playboy Club,' in which she documents the period of time she was sex trafficked by the convicted pedophile and Ghislaine Maxwell. The papers were released last week as part of a tranche of documents compiled in a defamation case against Maxwell brought by Roberts in 2015. Roberts has long claimed Maxwell arranged for her to have sex with Prince Andrew on multiple occasions, including once in her London home when she was only 17. The British royal has vehemently denied the allegations. Virginia Roberts claims she was flown out to Jeffrey Epstein's New Mexico ranch sometime in 2001 to spend two days with Prince Andrew, according to unsealed court documents Roberts, also known as Giuffre, 36, has long claimed she was trafficked to Prince Andrew multiple times, and said she was underage during at least one encounter. The Duke of York has vehemently denied the allegations In her manuscript, Roberts claims Maxwell sent her to Epstein's 10,000-acre Zorro ranch some time in 2001 to 'entertain' the Prince for which she was later paid 'close to a thousand dollars'. Roberts said she was not initially told who was going to be at the property as 'it wasn't my place to ask'. She eventually arrived at the sprawling ranch to find the Prince had already been waiting for her, she said. '"Hello," that same old cheesy grin greeted me once again. It was his highness Prince Andrew, and what a sight,' she wrote. 'He wrapped his arms around my waist and greeted me like an old friend. I hugged him back rolling my eyes at the same time, already dreading what lay in store over the next couple of days. 'My job was to entertain him endlessly, whether that meant having to bestow him my body during an erotic massage or simply take him horseback riding.' Roberts claimed the mansion was 'completely empty' with the exception of a couple maids and bodyguards that 'we hardly even saw at all.' Roberts described having to 'entertain' the prince at Epstein's ranch, where she allegedly gave him many massages, in a 139-page manuscript made public this week The papers document the time Roberts claims she was sex trafficked by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell She recalled feeling 'disgusted' and was counting down the hours until she was due to fly back home, saying: 'It wasn't easy meeting the sexual desires of these strange men, the Prince being one of them. 'He loved my feet and even licked in between my toes. Then there was the lack of passion in the intimacy we shared, to him I was just another girl and to me he was just another job,' she wrote. After their two-day retreat, Roberts returned to New York where she reunited with Epstein and Maxwell, who asked: 'So... how was the ranch with the Prince?' 'I think he had a really good time, he seemed relaxed during the trip and when we said goodbye to each other he gave me a kiss,' Roberts replied. 'I took him horseback riding, nowhere too far around the property, um..we went swimming in the pool, and of course I gave him plenty of massages. He had a massage at least a couple times each day, really seeming to enjoy his time there.' Roberts said her response was 'what they wanted to hear', but added that in reality, she felt 'disgusting over the whole thing.' 'Like two proud parents they both looked over me with such content. "Good, you did really well," Jeffrey complimented me,' she wrote. Maxwell, 58, has pleaded not guilty to helping Epstein recruit and eventually abuse three girls from 1994 to 1997, and committing perjury by denying her involvement under oath 'We all ventured up to Jeffrey's office and out came the infamous duffel bag that went wherever he did. I was given close to a thousand dollars for my time in Santa Fe, more than what I thought anybody at my young age could make for a couple days of work.' The allegations in Roberts' manuscript are among various other bombshell claims that emerged this week alleging the Prince had been a frequent guest at Epstein's properties, where the financier hosted orgies with young girls. Roberts separately claims she had sex with Prince Andrew on three occasions at Maxwell's apartment in London, in New York and on Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands. She was infamously pictured alongside Andrew in Maxwell's London townhouse in 2001, hours after she claims she first met Andrew in Tramp nightclub in Mayfair. Andrew, once a close friend of both Epstein and Maxwell, has strenuously denied any wrongdoing. Prince Andrew is also facing pressure to speak to the FBI to aid their investigation into Epstein and his inner circle, including Maxwell. The outbreaks among the minks on farms in the Netherlands and Spain likely started with infected workers, although officials arent certain. But it also is plausible that some workers later caught the virus back from the minks, the Dutch government and a researcher said, and scientists are exploring whether that was the case and how much of a threat such a spread might be. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 3) President Rodrigo Duterte said government has run out of funds to provide aid for people. In a late night address on Sunday, the President said, "Ngayon, magsabi kayo i-lockdown mo na ang Maynila, ang ibang lugar, the entire Philippines para talaga wala nang mahawa. Wala ka nang mahduterteawaan, wala ka nang mahawa. Problem is wala na tayong pera. I cannot give food anymore and money to people." [Translation: Now you say put Manila, other areas, the entire Philippines under lockdown so there will be no more transmissions...the problem is, we have no more money.I cannot give food anymore and money to people.] The President said the government's savings was just good "for a drizzle," adding the country should not be compared as the value of local currency's exchange rate to the US dollar is low. The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act authorized Duterte to provide an emergency subsidy of 5,000 to 8,000 each to 18 million low income families once a month for two months for the first tranche of the social amelioration program. A second tranche included families who were not included in the first round of aid. As of July 29, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said around 6.9 million beneficiaries included in the second tranche have received aid. The target number of beneficiaries for the second aid tranche is 8.5 million families in areas under enhanced community quarantine. Home Minister Amit Shah tests positive for COVID-19, hospitalised India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 02: Home minister Amit Shah has tested positive for coronavirus and has been admitted to a hospital. Shah took to his official twitter handle to inform about his infection. A team of doctors led by AIIMS director Randeep Guleria is likely to visit Medanta hospital to see Shah. Amit Shah tests positive for Coronavirus, admitted to hospital | Oneindia News "On getting the initial symptoms of corona, I got the test done and the report came back positive," Shah tweeted. He is being admitted to the hospital for treatment. Ravi Shankar Prasad goes into self-isolation after Amit Shah tests positive "I am feeling okay, but on the advice of the doctors I am getting myself admitted into a hospital. I request everyone who has come in contact with me over the last few days please isolate and get yourselves tested,' he added. Amit Shah, has been at the forefront of India's fight against the novel coronavirus has come in contact with all his cabinet colleagues in recent meetings, however, it is unclear whether all cabinet ministers will be tested for coronavirus or not. Leaders from across the political line have wished Union home minister's speedy recovery. Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, Harsimrat Kaur, Vijay Rupani and Jitendra Singh were among the first few leaders from the NDA who tweeted praying for Shah's recovery. "Amitji, your perseverance and willpower has been an example for every challenge. You will definitely win over this big challenge of coronavirus, I believe so. You are healthy as soon as possible, this is my prayer to God," tweeted defence minister Rajnath Singh. Union IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "I pray that you will soon be healthy and start serving the country with the same energy again." Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi said, "as a corona recovered myself, he may also have a non symptomatic and hence a mild case." "I pray for the speedy recovery of Hon'ble Home Minister Shri Amit Shah," tweeted Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. "Heard about the Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShahJi being tested positive for #COVID-19. Wishing him a speedy recovery. My prayers are with him and his family!" West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee said. Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik said, "Concerned to know about the hospitalisation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah ji after being tested positive for COVID-19. Wishing him a speedy recovery and praying for a long life." Three more Rafale jets to land in India from France in non-stop flight Rafales will provide India major advantage in Tibet in case of aerial combat: B S Dhanoa India pti-PTI New Delhi, Aug 02: The Rafale aircraft will give India a strategic advantage in case of any aerial combat with China in the mountainous Tibet region as the fleet will be able to use the terrain to its advantage, destroy enemy air defence and incapacitate the surface-to-air missiles, former Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal (retd) B S Dhanoa said on Sunday. Dhanoa, known as the architect of the Balakot strikes, said the Rafale jets along with S-400 missile systems will give the Indian Air Force a major combat edge in the entire region and that India's adversaries will think twice before starting a war with it. How Rafales will provide India an advantage in aerial combat over China In case of Pakistan, he said the purpose of the S-400 and Rafale is to hit Pakistani aircraft inside Pakistani air space and not when they come inside Indian territory, adding the neighbouring country would not have responded on February 27 last year to the Balakot air strikes if India had the French-manufactured jets then. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News In an interview to PTI, Dhanoa said the Rafale, with its fantastic electronic warfare suite and maneuverability, will be able use mountainous terrain in Tibet to its advantage and blind the enemy before India's strike aircraft penetrate hostile airspace to carry out their missions. The former Chief of Air Staff also said that the Rafales being supplied to the IAF are much more advanced than the ones being used by the French Air Force as India had asked for something "more" due to requirement to operate in unique conditions like operations from Leh. Five Rafale jets out of 36 arrived India last week at a time India is in the midst of a bitter border row with China in the high altitude eastern Ladakh region. "Rafale has got a fantastic Electronic Warfare (EW) suite (SPECTRA), fantastic weapons and therefore are capable of protecting themselves electronically besides being able to use the terrain to their advantage," Dhanoa said. With Rafales touching down, IAF looks to raise squadron strength from 31 to 42 "So they (Rafales) can play an important role in doing DEAD (Destruction of Enemy Air Defence) on the Surface-to-Air Missiles that the Chinese have put on Tibet. "Once you take out those surface to air missiles, then other aircraft like Su30, Jaguars, even Mig 21s can go out and drop the bombs on the Chinese forces. The strike aircraft carrying bombs can put tonnes and tonnes of bombs on the enemy troops, freely carrying out their mission. But if you do not do DEAD then you will suffer a lot of casualties," he said. The leading air forces globally carry out Suppression of Enemy Air Defence (SEAD) or DEAD using their top of the line aircraft or weapons before launching any major operation in hostile territories. As the Chief of Air Staff, Dhanoa had strongly defended the Rafale deal when the opposition parties ramped up attack on the government alleging massive irregularities in the procurement. The top IAF brass led by Dhanoa played a key role in implementation of the mega deal. "Against China there are big Himalayan mountains in between us which create serious line of sight issues. You can put a missile with a range of 300-400 kms on the ground in Tibet or in India. But it will only work within the line of sight," he said. He said the Rafales, with terrain following capability, will give India a major capability enhancement. "In air combat, the first thing that is important is information dominance, you get information and deny the enemy the information. The key role the Rafales will play in Tibet is information dominance and in case of Pakistan, it is a major deterrent. Of course there will be other roles too," he said. Asked about the comparison between the Rafales and J-20 fighter jets of China, he said the Chinese aircraft is not stealthy and presently, with its current engines, cannot supercruise unlike the newly-acquired Indian fleet. In a beyond visual range (BVR) combat, he said Indian missiles are far superior than theirs. The French avionics on board the Rafale are "far superior" than the Chinese systems in J-20s, he said. "Hence in a BVR environment the Rafales are superior to the J-20s," he added. "With the induction of the Rafales we will have a tremendous jump in capability. That's why I called both (Rafale and S 400) of them game changers. Both these platforms will give the IAF a tremendous capability jump. The Rafale in the air and S-400 on the ground. In October 2018, India signed a USD 5 billion deal to buy the S-400 air defence missile systems from Russia to bolster the IAF's air defence mechanism. The 'Triumf' interceptor-based missile system can destroy incoming hostile aircraft, missiles and even drones at ranges of up to 400 km. The delivery of the missile systems is scheduled to begin next year. "Both S-400 and Rafales are critical game changers. Rafale is a deterrent. The purpose of deterrence is not to fight a war. Purpose of deterrence is to make the other person think twice before he starts a war or a skirmish with you," he said. He said the Pakistanis would not have responded on February 27 last year to India's Balakot strikes if India had the Rafale jets. In this context, he also mentioned an operation by the IAF to drop bombs on a Pakistani post along the LoC in Kel sector in 2002, and how Pakistani Air Force never dared to respond to it. "On August 2, 2002, we did bombing of a Pakistani post as the Pakistanis had intruded about 600-700 metres inside the LoC in our area and set up a post. We bombed with four Mirage 2000s and after that the Pakistanis never came back," Dhanoa said. "The Pakistanis never ever dreamt of bombing an Indian post in retaliation because we had Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles on Mirage 2000, MiG 29 and the Su-30 Ks and they did not have any BVR missiles on any of their fighters," he recalled. "They just kept quiet about it and just didn't acknowledge that something had happened and later on played it low key when the news did break in the international media! That is what is called deterrence," he added. Asked whether India should consider procuring two more squadrons of Rafales as it makes operational sense, Dhanoa called it a good idea and said that it will be the "cheapest option" of getting a 4.5 generation fighter into the air force. "We already have infrastructure for two squadrons. We do not need additional infrastructure for the next two squadrons. They will come, in my assessment, at 60 to 70 per cent of the cost of the current ones," he said. "The cost of research and development for all India-specific enhancements have already been covered. The next two squadrons of Rafales will be the cheapest option of getting a 4.5 generation fighter into the air force," he added. Dhanoa, who retired as the IAF Chief on September 30 last year, said having two more squadrons of Rafales will give the force a lot of strength. "If you have 72-80 aircraft, it will match whatever F-16s the Pakistanis have got. It will be good for deterrence," he said adding it will make economic sense. Dhanoa also thanked all the people who stood by the Rafale deal, including the defence minister, the civil servants, the then defence secretary, the director general (acquisition) and many others in the government. "You have to give them full marks, because they stood by it despite many apprehensions. Normally everybody gets scared that this deal may be termed later as a scam and they may be hauled up by the investigation agencies after their retirement, or some other roving inquiry that may happen which may implicate them in the future. These people stood by it; we signed and executed the deal," he said. Dhanoa said the political leadership also stood their ground and did not dump the deal. "They were going into an election. You could have always opted for a soft option of setting up a committee. Everybody stood their ground. The national leadership, the bureaucracy. That is why you have the aircraft," he added. Dhanoa also expressed happiness that the first squadron of Rafales will be part of the Number 17 Squadron, also known as 'Golden Arrows', based in Ambala. "I am very happy...I was the last Commodore Commandant of 17 squadron. It got number plated in March 2012. It stopped flying in December 2011. Having celebrated our Diamond Jubilee in October 2011. Last year the Squadron has been resurrected and this year aircraft have finally come to the Squadron," he said. "Golden Arrows have a very rich tradition. The Squadron has fought in all the wars. It participated in the Liberation of Goa, 1965 war, 1971 war, and it fought in Kargil," he added. Dhanoa commanded the squadron during the Kargil war. "In case, there is fighting in Eastern Ladakh, we will not miss it," the Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) said in a lighter vein. Hurricane Isaias weakened on Saturday to a tropical storm as it hit the Bahamas and headed towards Florida. However, the storm might strengthen as it approaches the Sunshine State, as per Fox News. The local authorities warned residents to prepare for a weather event amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On The Associated Press, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said that the government wants people to remain vigilant. The storm has maximum sustained winds of 75 miles per hour on Saturday afternoon. According to the U.S National Hurricane Center, the storm's strength has declined earlier in the day. As Isaias passes over warmer waters, it is expected to regain its momentum. The southeast coast of Florida will have the center of the storm on Sunday morning and remain until Monday before it dissipates. In preparation for the severe weather, the Florida officials closed parks, beaches, and coronavirus testing sites as per the AP report. DeSantis said that 12 counties adapted states of emergency, but no states have issued immediate evacuation orders. According to The AP, DeSantis also said hospitals would not be evacuated. "Don't be fooled by the downgrade," Desantis added that they think Isaias will be upgraded back to a hurricane later in the evening. Due to the country's worst outbreaks, COVID-19, Florida's well-honed hurricane response upended. According to Reuters, the center of the storm was projected to move to the east coast of Florida from Saturday to Sunday night. Isaias will bring a storm surge as high as 4 feet from Jupiter Inlet to Ponte Vedra Beach. Gov. DeSantis declared a state of emergency on the Atlantic coast for a dozen counties. The decision of the Governor makes it easier to mobilize resources as per Reuters. Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade Mayor, told residents on Friday to take all necessary precautions to prepare for the storm's arrival. The CBS 4 reported that Gimenez urged locals to have a contingency plan in any case Isaias unexpectedly became more intense. Also, there are twenty evacuation centers available if needed, and the officials will continue keeping track of Isaias' path, according to Gimenez. "There's still a lot of uncertainty about the track, and we will continue to issue updates," he said. "So to reiterate, we have 20 evacuation centers on standby. They're not open. Should we need to open them, and we will have them set up with COVID-19 safety measures? It's too early to tell yet, so we are closely monitoring the situation." Governor of Virginia, as well as North Carolina's both, declared a state of emergency through Isaias is expected to hit North Carolina on Monday, according to Gov.Roy Cooper, during Friday's news conference. Meanwhile, Virginia Gov.Ralph Northam said that the storm is expected to affect the coastal areas of the state, so to take precautions, he activated the state of emergency response. Isaias' previous effect caused at least two deaths in the Dominican Republic, flooded streets, knocked the power out of thousands of homes and businesses, and tore down trees in Puerto Rico according to media reports. Check these out: Florida Teen, Two Others Arrested for Hacking Massive Twitter Accounts New Study Claims The Taller You Are, The Higher Risk of Getting COVID-19 Florida Newspaper Pleads for Mask Mandate, Says 'We're Dying Here' American reality TV star, Tamar Braxton specially thanked her Nigerian boyfriend David Adefeso for saving her life after she attempted suicide. Earlier in July, Adefeso found Tamar almost lifeless at their residence. He immediately rushed her to a hospital. The 43-year-old star had consumed an undisclosed amount of prescription pills and also took lots of alcohol. Tamar Braxton has since recovered and she has taken to Instagram to publicly show gratitude to her man. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Austin Brice will serve as the opener for the Boston Red Sox vs. the New York Yankees on Sunday. First pitch is at 7:08 p.m. on ESPN. Brice has made four relief appearances in 2020, allowing at least one run in three of the outings. Overall, the right-hander has allowed four runs, all earned, five hits (two home runs) and one walk while striking out five in 4 innings. He also has one hit by pitch. Boston acquired him from the Miami Marlins in January. The Red Sox probably will not follow Brice with a three- or four-inning bulk reliever. Manager Ron Roenicke might use six or seven pitchers. We will see where we are. But the bulk-inning guy, if were scoring runs and its tight, probably wont be as long as what we normally do, Roenicke said. I think that off day the next day (Monday) certainly helps us to bring in some of the guys to keep it tighter instead of going maybe three or four innings with somebody. The Red Sox will enjoy an off day Monday before opening a two-game series vs. the Rays in Tampa Bay on Tuesday. Boston also has another off day Thursday. Red Sox starters have combined for a 6.87 ERA (36 innings, 28 earned runs) in nine games this year. Subtract Nathan Eovaldis two starts, the other Red Sox starters have a 8.77 ERA (25 inning, 25 earned runs). James Paxton will start for the Yankees. Paxton struggled in his first start of the 2020 season. He allowed three runs, all earned, five hits and one walk while striking out one in one inning against the Washington Nationals on July 25. Boston (3-6) will look to avoid a sweep Sunday after losing 5-1 to the Yankees on Friday, then 5-2 on Saturday. Born in Hong Kong Brice was born in Hong Kong. His dad was working there at the time. Hes always been in construction. So at the time they were building a waste management plant. He was just helping with the contracting of it, Brice said during spring training. Related Content Austin Brice, new Boston Red Sox pitcher without options: I go into every camp thinking I dont have a job Darwinzon Hernandez, a starter? Boston Red Sox would like lefty to help in a bit larger role than just short relief MLB will make the season last, Boston Red Soxs Jackie Bradley Jr. says: I dont think theres going to be a shutdown Boston Red Sox to keep monitoring trade market with Eduardo Rodriguez shut down and despite MLB season being in jeopardy Eduardo Rodriguez, Boston Red Sox starter, out for season with heart ailment: His longterm prognosis is excellent, Chaim Bloom says Professional firefighter Pat Jones' resume summons the worst disasters in recent Australian history - Sydney's 1994-95 bushfires, Canberra's in 2001 and 2003, and Victoria's 2009 Black Saturday fires. He also attended the 1997 Thredbo landslide, the 1999 hailstorm in Sydney and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Former ACT firefighter Pat Jones served at every major fire in Australia, including Victoria's 2009 Black Saturday devastating blazes that destroyed the town of Kinglake. Credit:Angela Wylie In his 32 years in the service, Superintendent Jones from Bonython in the ACT responded to 24 fatal incidents, performed CPR countless times and extricated 36 bodies from car crashes and fires. Yet first responders were told they are "just public servants like everyone else", he said. "What we do is not a normal job: we are there to help those Australians who are having the worst or last day of their life and we do it because we care," he wrote. Labour branded the decision not to kick him out of the party shocking but a spokesman for Government chief whip Mark Spencer said he wanted to await the conclusion of the police inquiry. According to reports, a Conservative MP was arrested after a former parliamentary aide accused him of rape, sexual assault and coercive control. The ex-minister, who has not been named, is alleged to have assaulted a woman and forced her to have sex, the Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday said. While pending a police investigation for a sexual crime, I think it is only right that the whip is withdrawn The abuse is alleged to have taken place during a relationship. Shadow safeguarding minister Jess Phillips criticised the Tories for failing to suspend the whip from the MP, which would effectively eject him from the party. The Labour MP told Times Radio it sent a terrible message that senior figures were still able to secure protection with their Westminster status. Advertisement She added: While pending a police investigation for a sexual crime, I think it is only right that the whip is withdrawn. But a spokesman for Mr Spencer said: These are serious allegations and it is right that they are investigated fully. The whip has not been suspended. This decision will be reviewed once the police investigation has been concluded. Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said he did not know the name of the MP involved, but added that he was confident the party was taking the matter seriously. Ive read the accusations in the newspapers this morning but I dont know more than you do in that respect, the Cabinet minister told Times Radio. These are very serious allegations and they should be investigated. Theyre in the hands of the police, so I dont think I can comment any more than that. Asked whether he wanted to see the Tory whip removed from the MP, Mr Jenrick said: We need to take allegations of this nature very seriously and Im confident that the party is, and will do. The Metropolitan Police said they received allegations on Friday of sexual offences and assault relating to four incidents at addresses in London, including in Westminster, between July last year and January this year. Advertisement A spokesman for the force said: The Met has launched an investigation into the allegations. A man was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of rape and taken into custody at an east London police station, the force added. He has been released on bail to a date in mid-August. The papers said the allegations were raised with Mr Spencer, and the complainant also spoke to him, but no action was taken. The PA news agency understands Mr Spencer advised her to make a formal complaint to authorities, who would be able to investigate the claims. A Conservative Party spokeswoman said: We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously. As this matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to comment further. The investigation comes days after former Tory MP Charlie Elphicke was convicted at Southwark Crown Court in a separate case of sexually assaulting two women, one of whom was a parliamentary worker. Elphicke had the whip removed in November 2017 when the allegations first surfaced, but it was controversially restored before a confidence vote in Theresa Mays leadership the following year. However, when Elphicke was formally charged in July 2019, the party suspended him again on the same day. While painting Winnipegs newest mural high above the tree line, artist Charlie Johnston witnessed the citys history unfolding before him. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/8/2020 (534 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. While painting Winnipegs newest mural high above the tree line, artist Charlie Johnston witnessed the citys history unfolding before him. "When Black Lives Matter had that major demonstration in June, I was there working on the mural that (portrayed) human rights and the labour movement," he says of the 30-metre-high mural commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Winnipeg General Strike. "It really felt relevant to sit there in my boom truck and witness another major demonstration passing by." Thats the kind of connection Johnston hopes for everyone passing by Winnipegs newest and most likely tallest mural, called A Century of Solidarity, completed in mid-July. As public art, murals invite people to engage in the stories of the past and draw parallels to contemporary issues, says Johnston, 57, who has been painting on Winnipeg walls for the past three decades. "The goal of the artwork is to find a way to put someone else in your stories so they can see the world as you see it," says the artist. His repertoire includes about 50 Winnipeg murals. With more than 600 murals across the city, there is much history and artwork to absorb along Winnipegs streetscapes. During this stay-at-home summer, consider taking in some of the street level paintings in the downtown, or touring through mural-heavy neighbourhoods such as St. James, Corydon Village, West End or Transcona. Before heading out, check out Frances Koncans story from January where she lists 10 of Winnipegs most fascinating murals representing a variety of styles and themes. Take time to scroll through Bob Buchanans exhaustive listings at www.themuralsofwinnipeg.com, where users can plot a course by street, neighbourhood, or favourite artist. Better yet, book a guided walking tour of some of the many murals in the West End, available on weekdays for $5, and $2 for children 12 and under at www.westendbiz.ca. Participants are required to wear a mask for the two-and-a-half hour tour. Those 80 or so murals, most sponsored or facilitated by West End BIZ, have beautified and brightened the densely populated neighbourhood, says executive director Joe Kornelsen. "Theyre an opportunity to tell a bit of a story, to communicate about people in the neighbourhood who have gone on to do other things and to communicate which cultures have made West End home during the last 150 years." Well get you started by featuring some of the highlights from the West End mural tour with guide Taryn Selch and a private tour with Tom Ethans of Take Pride Winnipeg, which has sponsored or partnered on many of the citys murals over the past two decades. A Century of Solidarity by Charlie Johnston (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files) A Century of Solidarity, 2020 275 Broadway, between Garry and Smith Streets Artist: Charlie Johnston This huge mural on the east side of Union Centre portraying todays workers metaphorically standing on the shoulders of the 1919 strikers has great visibility throughout much of downtown, says artist Charlie Johnston, who completed it in eight weeks. While painting the L-shaped mural, he could see across to bank towers, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, The Forks, and Hotel Fort Garry. "If you were ringing the bell at the (former) St. Boniface Cathedral, you would see the mural," says Johnston of his latest work, which cost upwards of $50,000. "I feel like it has a lot more power and has quite a bit of presence." Designed last fall, the figures in the mural carry extra meaning to Johnston because they are all frontline workers during the 2020 pandemic construction workers in bright safety gear, grocery store staff, and a nurse in scrubs giving an injection (perhaps a vaccination?) at the very top of the mural. "It looks like weve gone through some sort of turning of the wheel of time," he says. "The 1919 strike happened during the last pandemic." Johnston recommends viewing the mural from the surface level parking lot to take in all the details, including the ghost strikers and oversized newspaper headlines. "If the artwork has layers of meaning in it, you can absorb it over time," he says of how to engage with a mural. A Womens Parliament by Mandy Van Leeuwen (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) A Womens Parliament, 2016 Sargent Avenue and Furby Street Artist: Mandy Van Leeuwen More detailed shot of A Womens Parliament by Mandy Van Leeuwen (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) One of the few West End murals with a painted title on it, this one commemorates the 100th anniversary of when some Manitoba women first received the right to vote in 1916. It portrays Nellie McClung and other participants in The Womens Parliament, a mock legislative session reversing gender roles, held during the debates around whether women should vote in elections. McClung is depicted impersonating Manitoba Premier Rodmond Roblin, right down to the snapping of his suspenders, and the history of the fight for voting rights is portrayed in the flurry of papers cascading down the right side of the mural. Woven Together by Annie Beach and Brianna Wentz and neighbourhood youth. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press). Woven Together, 2017 Sargent Avenue and Spence Street Artists: Annie Beach and Brianna Wentz and neighbourhood youth Painted on a large board mounted to the side of Thrive Thrift Shop, this smaller mural depicts the West End through ethnic textiles and cultural symbols of the people living in the neighbourhood. This quilt of many textures is based on a cropped street map of the West End and welcomes people to the neighbourhood with the word home painted in multiple languages. This mural was part of the mural mentorship program of the West End BIZ. O Kanata by Annie Beach and Brianna Wentz and neighbourhood youth. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press). O Kanata, 2017 Ellice Avenue and Spence Street Artists: Annie Beach and Brianna Wentz and neighbourhood youth Located just north of the University of Winnipeg, this mural marking the 150th anniversary of confederation celebrates Canadas Indigenous people and the many landscapes of Canada. The child at the centre of the piece symbolize both the promise of a future and the diversity of Canada, says mural tour guide Taryn Selch of West End Biz. "The focal point is this child. Annie (Beach) and Brianna (Wentz) wanted that child to be able to represent any of us," she says. Painted with the help of neighbourhood youth through the mural mentorship program, this piece invites viewers in for a close look to see the tiny fish and other creatures within the waves. Think Blue, Go Green by Jennifer Johnson Mosienko and Julia Beveridge. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Think Blue, Go Green, 2019 Portage Avenue and Marjorie Street Artists: Jennifer Johnson Mosienko and Julia Beveridge With its 5 metre high orange octopus clutching a water bottle, this recent mural in St. James adds colour and interest to the brick wall of Underworld Scuba, as well as promoting the message that single-use plastics damage the environment. "Thats a beautiful mural, colourful and bright and so it gives a little bit of life to the neighbourhood," says Tom Ethans of Take Pride Winnipeg, which has given new life to Winnipegs mural scene over the last 22 years. It also demonstrates that any brick wall with visibility to pedestrians and motorists can become a destination for art lovers. "A good location is somewhere where people can drive by and see it," says Ethans of what he looks for when scouting for new mural spots. brenda@suderman.com The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to recommend a CBI probe into the kidnapping and murder case of Kanpur-based lab technician Sanjeet Yadav. The decision came after repeated requests of Yadavs family who alleged a foul play and requested a probe in the matter. The family alleged that since the beginning the police was forcing them to arrange Rs 30 lakh ransom money and later the kidnappers fled with the sum in front of the police officers. Seeking justice for Yadav, the family on Saturday staged a protest at Shastri Chowk in Kanpur, demanding a CBI probe, faster recovery of Yadavs body by the police, and a lie-detector and narco test on the accused who were arrested by police. As of now, five accused in the case were arrested by the UP police last week and operation to recover Yadavs body is still ongoing. Taking cognizance, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cracked a whip on the lax officials and ordered the suspension of four police personnel with immediate effect. The suspended cops include Barra Police Station SHO Ranjeet Rai, Police outpost in-charge Rajesh Kumar, ASP Aarna Gupta and the then Circle Officer Manoj Gupta. Meanwhile, an enquiry has been initiated into the matter of Rs 30 lakh that was allegedly given by the deceased's family as a ransom to the kidnappers. According to the latest orders, the new ADG Police Head Quarters BP Jogdand will further probe the case. However, defying claims, the police officials stated that the Yadavs family did not give any money to the kidnappers. Incomplete shutdown among factors contributing to COVID-19 surge in U.S., says Fauci People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:06, August 01, 2020 Fauci is "cautiously optimistic" that the coronavirus vaccine being developed by American biotechnology company Moderna and his agency will be successful. WASHINGTON, July 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said on Friday incomplete shutdown is among factors contributing to the surging COVID-19 cases in the country. The director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases made the remarks at a House subcommittee hearing when asked why Europe has been able to largely contain the virus while the United States has seen a rise in new cases. "If you look at what happened in Europe, when they shut down or locked down or went to shelter in place ... they really did it to the tune of about 95 percent plus of the country," Fauci said. "When you actually look at what we did ... we really functionally shut down only about 50 percent in the sense of the totality of the country," he said. He also noted that some states had better success at following reopening guidelines than others. "Some were followed very carefully and some were not," Fauci said. In some situations, states did not abide strictly by the guidelines that the task force and the White House had put out and others that even did abide by it, the people in the state actually were congregating in crowds and not wearing masks, Fauci said. According to Fauci, the National Institutes of Health's strategic plan is focused on addressing four key points related to COVID-19, which are: the improvement of fundamental knowledge of the virus, the development of diagnostics, the testing of therapeutics, and development and testing of vaccines. Fauci said he is "cautiously optimistic" that the coronavirus vaccine being developed by American biotechnology company Moderna and his agency will be successful. The experimental vaccine, known as mRNA-1273, started a phase 3 clinical trial on Monday to evaluate if it can prevent COVID-19 in adults. The trial, which will be conducted at U.S. clinical research sites, is expected to enroll approximately 30,000 adult volunteers who do not have COVID-19. "We hope that by the time we get into late fall and early winter, we will have in fact a vaccine that we can say that would be safe and effective," said the senior expert. The U.S. COVID-19 cases reached 4.5 million with over 152,000 fatalities as of Friday afternoon, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Separate investigations by the Senate and the House of Representatives into the alleged irregularities and fresh controversies hounding state-run Philippine Health Insurance Corporation will start this week, according to lawmakers. The Senate Committee of the Whole will formally open its probe on Tuesday, August 4, Senator Ping Lacson said in a message to reporters on Thursday. Lacson and Senate President Vicente Tito Sotto III filed last week Senate Resolution 475 which also calls for an inquiry into the allegations of incompetence and inefficiency at the agency that supposedly led to the controversial resignation of some of its officials. The House, on the other hand, will also conduct its own investigation into the fresh issues starting on Wednesday, August 5, Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor said in a statement on Sunday. Defensor said the Committee on Public Accounts will be inviting officials from PhilHealth-- including resigned anti-fraud legal officer Thorsson Montes Keith-- as well as personnel from the Department of Health. Keith, in his resignation letter, claimed widespread corruption and other anomalies in the PhilHealth system, including an unfair job promotion process. Officials and staff of the state health insurer including President and CEO Ricardo Morales denied such allegations. READ: Blessing in disguise? PhilHealth anti-fraud legal officers resignation opens door for Senate probe on alleged corruption, anomalies in the agency michael barbaro From The New York Times, Im Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily. Today: At the start of the Trump presidency, leaders within ICE Immigration and Customs Enforcement jumped at the chance to give two filmmakers, Christina Clusiau and Shaul Schwarz, inside access to document the agencys new hardline agenda. Four years later and with the election approaching, the agents tried to block the release of their film. Its Monday, September 14. Hi, guys. christina clusiau Hi, Michael. michael barbaro Were so grateful for your time. Thank you. shaul schwarz Sure. michael barbaro OK. So were going to start. shaul schwarz Awesome. michael barbaro Christina and Shaul, we know that ICE is a notoriously secretive organization. It is very rare for them to allow journalists or filmmakers access to their operations. But you were able to follow them for nearly three years with a tremendous level of access. So how did you go about getting that access? Whats the story? shaul schwarz Yeah. I originally started working with ICE almost a decade ago, doing stories about the drug war. And as part of that I met a ICE spokesman, who was at the time a local Arizona spokesman. As the years kind of progressed, he had moved up the ranks. And actually, during the Obama time, they were not so interested in somebody really taking a deep dive into the agency. And so archived recording (donald trump) I want to recognize the ICE and border patrol officers in this room today and to honor their service, and not just because they unanimously endorsed me for president. shaul schwarz When Trump got elected archived recording (donald trump) That helps, but thats not the only reason. shaul schwarz Me and Christina thought maybe ICE would be interested now. They seemed to michael barbaro Huh. shaul schwarz be looking at getting a lot of heat, you know? The campaign of Trump was so on the nose on how tough he was going to be on immigration. archived recording (donald trump) For too long, your officers and agents havent been allowed to properly do their jobs. You know that right? Do you know that? Absolutely. But thats all about to change. shaul schwarz So we approached the spokesman, who I had, at this point, a long relationship with and at that time was already in D.C. And we pitched him. We said, listen, we think the agency is going to come under a lot of heat. And we would like to see what the men and women of ICE will be up against during this administration. And thats how it started. michael barbaro So kind of counterintuitively, the organization was not interested in having you document them during a relatively low heat moment the Obama administration. But at its most heated moment, when ICE was under the most scrutiny, they were willing. christina clusiau Yeah. I think that under this administration, they realized very quickly that enforcement policies were changing. archived recording (donald trump) And Im very happy about it. And youre very happy about it. From here on out, Im asking all of you to enforce the laws of the United States of America. They will be enforced and enforced strongly. [APPLAUSE] christina clusiau And that they were going to be looked at under a different light. And I think a lot of the officers, at least when we started filming, were feeling that there was a lot that they were up against. And they felt that they wanted to tell their story from the inside. shaul schwarz Its almost like when youre hated, you have to talk about it, right? So you think of an agency that suddenly, on one hand, the gloves are off. And they have this support. On the other hand archived recording (alexandria ocasio-cortez) We need to occupy every airport, we need to occupy every border, we need to occupy every ICE office until those kids are back with their parents. Period. shaul schwarz Everybody were up in arms with them. archived recording (PROTESTERS SINGING) Together we will abolish ICE. shaul schwarz And then, of course, zero tolerance happened. And then they really were in the hot seat. michael barbaro This is family separation? christina clusiau Yes. archived recording (ilhan omar) We need to abolish ICE [CHEERING] and end all inhumane deportation and detention programs. archived recording (SINGING) This is for the people who are locked inside. Together! shaul schwarz And of course, that kind of gave birth to the abolish-ICE movement and a huge outrage that really sparked the debate. archived recording (SINGING) Together we will abolish ICE. This is for the people! This is for the people who are locked inside. michael barbaro And what were the specific terms of the agreement that you had with ICE? Once they said that you could come in, what did they ask for, if anything, in return for granting you this access? shaul schwarz Yeah. The basics of the agreement was that ICE would see the cuts that we are putting forward and that they would have, say, in three categories: Law enforcement sensitivities, which is really if we are showing kind of how theyre doing their work and kind of giving away police secret tactics and stuff like that. It was privacy issues, meaning everybody in the show had to agree and sign releases that they are willing to participate, both on D.H.S. and the immigrant side. And it was factual incorrectness, if we were just making a mistake. And other than that, the contract stated very clearly that we had the first right amendment to tell our story as we see fit. And really those were what they were going to be allowed to comment on. michael barbaro So based on that, it sounds like you had real confidence that you would be given free rein to document what you saw and ultimately include it in whatever you produced. shaul schwarz Yeah. Overall, we were happily surprised. They said we were going to get a carte blanche look, that theyre going to introduce us. And once we got to the field in these places, that agents were keen on having us ride along, we got to spend endless time and really see them work. And be with them in the field by ourselves and really do the work we were hoping to do. So we were really grateful for the agents for being kind of, doing their thing and letting us do our thing, be flies on the wall and document. [doorbell ringing] anna I didnt call you. agent 1 Yeah. You please open the door. agent 2 Were not going to yell out in the hallway through a closed door, maam. Thats now how we do business. Please open the door so I can talk to you. michael barbaro Well, lets talk about that documentation. What did you see in those first months in terms of exactly how the agency was changing under this new Trump administration? christina clusiau We saw that the scope of ICEs mandate under this period of time had expanded. agent Can we come in and talk to you? We dont all have to come in, just a couple of us. But I want to show you some pictures. Somebody were looking for has been using this address. anna Oh. OK. agent All right? anna You want to come in? agent Yeah. If you dont mind. Whats your name, maam? anna Anna. agent Anna. OK. You mind if I come in? shaul schwarz You know, and I think these days were also when the tactic of installing fear were really at its height. interposing voices Did you guys [INAUDIBLE]. Yeah. One of my partners. christina clusiau You know, under the previous administrations, there were specific priorities, that you could only pick up a felony charge or an egregious criminal. But now, because of this idea of installing fear of, like, pushing people into the shadows they expanded that mandate to say there are no priorities. If youre here illegally, we can come after you. And I think that really put fear into communities. And I think they were successful at it. anna OK. But I mean, can I see any paperwork? agent Yeah. Ill give you a card. anna No. I mean paperwork saying that you guys have permission to come in here or something. agent Oh, no. I have a warrant for him. And I know he lives here. So thats why Im in here. Plus, you opened the door and let me in. michael barbaro One of the more notorious examples of this fear tactic under the Trump administration was an increased focus on collaterals, which is ICE-speak for undocumented people who are not the target of raids, but who agents find by accident along the way. And theres this moment where youre sort of witnessing agents adjusting to this new approach. Can you tell me about that? shaul schwarz You know, I think youre referring to one moment that we were in a car with an agent. And he was kind of telling us how he typically does not do collaterals. agent I dont really I dont do collaterals. I just dont think its right. shaul schwarz He really wants to catch real criminals, his targets. When youre part of fugitive operations, you have targets of people who committed crimes. And thats who youre going after. agent I know its my job. But you know, I got guys that are aggravated felons that Id like to catch. I dont care about the guy thats minding his own business and cooperating with me. shaul schwarz And literally, kind of as he was finishing to tell us that agent Yeah. Whats up, man? supervisor Start taking collaterals, man. I dont care what you do, but bring at least two people in. agent OK. shaul schwarz The supervisor came on the radio. And hes heard clearly saying, I dont care what you do, get me two people. agent He know you guys were with me, right? speaker Yeah. agent Yeah. Because thats a pretty stupid [EXPLETIVE] to say. shaul schwarz Its very clear when you see that scene and what he meant: Just get me two people. Because they wanted to show numbers. michael barbaro So what you were seeing here was an individual ICE agent saying that, left to my own discretion, I would like not to arrest a collateral. But youre kind of seeing this prevailing culture of ICE in that moment, under this administration, kind of winning out. Because here is a boss coming on the radio and making clear that what hes interested in is just detaining people. Get me people. shaul schwarz Collaterals were something we saw on a daily basis for years. Fear will equal dont come here. Fear will equal make it as hard on them, as bad on them, maybe they will leave. archived recording (tom homan) There has been a significant increase in non-criminal arrests. Because we werent allowed to arrest them in the past administration. But you just seeing more of an uptick in non-criminal because were going from 0 to 100 under the new administration. shaul schwarz And Tom Homan, the director of ICE at the time, basically his message was, you should be scared. archived recording (tom homan) As I said earlier, if youre in this country illegally, and you committed a crime by entering this country, you should be uncomfortable. You should look over your shoulder. And you need to be worried. shaul schwarz If youre here illegally, thats the way it should be. That was part of what they were trying to put out there. And I think some did it happily. And I think some did it less happily. And some did it in certain moments. And I think the agents grappled with it. christina clusiau Yeah. I mean, I do think, you know, we did see them grappling with it. Thats for sure. You know, on one side, they are the ones that really know what it means when you take somebody into the system. Because a lot of times, when you pick up a collateral, their entire world begins to crumble. Because they get stuck in the system. Whether or not theyre going to be detained and deported, or they have a court case, or all of these small things now come into the fold. Whereas before, they were just going to work, minding their business. shaul schwarz But that deterrence equation of creating fear, of letting a story be heard, of letting people know that were going to hold you for long times and detentions. That was by design. michael barbaro So as we talked about, this is unfolding during the era of family separations. And here, too, you captured the agents adjusting to this new reality. Theres this scene where youre with these agents in New York discussing the policy. And I wonder if you can talk us through that. shaul schwarz Yeah. We were in the car with Judy, an agent we spent a long time with. judy We constantly look like were the bad guys, when all were doing is enforcing the laws and doing our job. shaul schwarz And she was grappling, I think, with this idea of family separation. And judy Luckily for us, we havent really been involved in any of that family separation thing. shaul schwarz Being part of fugitive operations, she kind of hinted that they dont do that. judy We dont rip children out of families arms and things like that. We dont do that. Its just thats not what we do. shaul schwarz But we proceeded to go to a house with her where she had actually found that target, that person that ICE was looking for. judy [SPEAKING SPANISH] shaul schwarz And she ends up arresting them. But mother [SPEAKING SPANISH] judy [SPEAKING SPANISH] shaul schwarz some of the targets are parents. judy This is not going to be easy. shaul schwarz The mother asked that the child say goodbye to the father. And she let that happen. [baby crying] mother [SPEAKING SPANISH] judy Listen. She wants him to say goodbye to his daughter. So [baby crying] shaul schwarz And I honestly think it hurt her. Shes a parent. Shes the daughter of an immigrant. judy We always take into consideration that the children and the family. And we try to make, you know, this probably unpleasant situation just a little bit easier for everyone. shaul schwarz But in that morning, Judy was doing exactly her mission. And her mission was different than the systemic separation that was happening at the border at the same time. judy Just as a human, you have compassion towards other people. But you know the saying, right? Its a job. And somebody has to do it. So that somebody is you. And you just have to kind of learn how to separate your personal feelings or your personal emotions from doing your work. christina clusiau Yeah. I mean, I think that we have to remember a lot of these ICE agents are career officials. Many of them were ICE agents under the last administration. Theyre ICE agents under this administration. And theyre going to be ICE agents under the next administration. The policies and the mandates do shift within whoevers in the presidential office. And so I think that something to recognize is the fact that they, you know, they had different mandates under Obama. They couldnt do certain things. And they could do other things. And then same under Trump. And I think thats something that they grapple with. They are federal jobs. They are federal employees. They have federal positions. And I think, you know, there is something to be said that maybe there are a few that say, you know what, I just cant do this anymore. You know, I dont agree with the policies. Im going to quit. But theres a lot that dont. Theres a lot that just grapple with it. They just continue doing their job. They do their mission. And and thats it. michael barbaro Well be right back. So when you went to publish this film, as you said, you had to first run it by ICE. And they were going to put it through their various filters. How did that process go? christina clusiau So initially, we handed off the first cut to ICE. And about a week later, we got a phone call from the spokesperson that we had been dealing with throughout the entire process of the show. And he immediately said: We do not like it. This does not portray us in a favorable light. In the 15 years, Ive never been called up to the front office in order to talk about a series such as this. And theres things that we do not like about this. And we need you to relook at some of these issues. shaul schwarz He expressed anger that came from all the way to the top. He expressed that this is not what they expected. He brought up, even in that initial phone call, some stuff that legally just didnt make any sense. It didnt fall under the three things that they were allowed to comment. He brought stuff like the Hatch Act that is a old rule that during Soviet times, during the Cold War, government employees cannot try and overthrow a government. It didnt make any sense. michael barbaro Oh, does he mean that he would be accused of violating the Hatch Act? Or the agents? shaul schwarz No, that agents in the episode. Because they were speaking about Trump. You know, there was examples of them kind of coming back with pushback. We talked a lot about that collateral scene. One thing they do is use a fingerprinting machine. And they said, well, that machine is law enforcement sensitive, something they had a right to comment about. And so you have to take out the whole scene. Which we were like, all right, take out that shot. But why the whole scene? And then Christina proceeded to Google to see if anybody else had covered that. And we saw that not only that it was widely covered, that the same ICE-D.H.S. spokesman had actually put that same machine picture and wrote a story about it and sent it to the press. So michael barbaro Wow. shaul schwarz You know, and once we would bring these issues, of course they would crumble legally and try to find another. So there was a lot of pushback that really started to draw a quick clear line. michael barbaro So they were trying to knock things out of the film? shaul schwarz Yes. christina clusiau Yeah. shaul schwarz But there was something that felt familiar in that mechanism of push. michael barbaro Familiar in the sense that you had seen it in operation on the ground in your time with the ICE agents? shaul schwarz Constantly. It was part of the machine that we saw. christina clusiau We understood from the things we saw exactly what they were trying to do to get us to fold and to comply and to give up. And I think thats something that we understood from the years of spending with them was that these tactics are something that they use. And Im speaking now more about leadership and not about the individual ICE agents on the ground, but how these tactics of weaponizing bureaucracy come into the fold. And its not just for us. But its for everybody. michael barbaro In some ways, it seems surprising to me that ICE would find itself surprised by what you captured and depicted in the film. Right? Because on some level, it seems difficult for me to imagine that ICE wouldnt have imagined that the documentary would capture what it captured. The rules and the policies and these enforcement actions were not a secret. shaul schwarz Yeah. We were surprised, too. You have to remember also we started pretty early in the Trump days. And a lot has changed in D.H.S. And. a lot of people who are now at the leadership have been reshuffled there. And as in many places in this administration, but we can definitely attest to D.H.S., its a little bit the yes men that have stayed. And this is an election time. So I think a lot came into that. And we have a very different relationship with ICE agents that we spend time with than with leadership and spokesmen. And they had a very different reaction to the show they ultimately saw on Netflix. michael barbaro Mhm. What was their reaction? christina clusiau This is mainly the individuals that we were fairly close to throughout the production and that weve kind of stayed close to. michael barbaro Mhm. christina clusiau Those ones, you know, came back. And some of them liked what they saw. Others didnt like what they saw. It was quite a variety. But I think they understood that we did profile what we saw day-to-day and what they do day-to-day. shaul schwarz You know, we had an officer who told us in the show officer You know, its unfortunate situation. Because a lot of these guys are hardworking individuals. shaul schwarz That he understands the people hes arresting. And maybe its hard for him, because he would do exactly the same. Theyre here to work and provide for their family. And they just got caught up in politics, if you look at it. Thats how it is. And when we checked into it with him after the show had been published, we kind of asked, hey, how was the portrayal? What do you think? Hes like, no. Its fine, this was the real world. But that line wasnt so good for me. And I said, why? Youre showing empathy. And hes like, yeah, but empathy in these days could be looked as: Youre not supporting the mission. christina clusiau Yeah. shaul schwarz We didnt see that coming. christina clusiau That one really we didnt see that one coming. This attitude that, in our minds, we were putting this individual in a place where he was having compassion and empathy towards those that he detains. And in his mind, he was not supporting the mission. shaul schwarz But I could see what he meant. And I think that surprised us. Where we were gratified is most agents felt that we portrayed the world as it exists. And certainly, its not easy to always look in the mirror. But it was a very, very, very different reaction than christina clusiau We anticipated. michael barbaro Well, Christina and Shaul, thank you very much. We really appreciate it. shaul schwarz Thank you. christina clusiau Thank you. michael barbaro ICE has disputed Shaul and Christinas account of efforts to block the film, Immigration Nation, from being released until after the election. In a statement to The Times, the agency said, quote, The men and women of ICE perform outstanding work daily that often goes unnoticed or is misrepresented to the point of falsehood. ICE, the statement continued, is firmly committed to carrying out the agencys sworn duty to enforce federal law as passed by Congress professionally, consistently and in full compliance with federal law and agency policies. Well be right back. Heres what else you need to know today. archived recording (jeff merkley) It is apocalyptic. I drove 600 miles up and down the state. I never escaped the smoke. We have thousands of people who have lost their homes. I could never have envisioned this. michael barbaro At least 25 people have died from the wildfires in California, Washington and Oregon, where the fires have now consumed more than one million acres. archived recording (jeff merkley) The east winds came over the top of the mountain, proceeded to turn the fires into blow torches that went down and just incinerated a series of small towns, like Blue River and Phoenix and Talent. You have community after community with fairgrounds full of people, of refugees from the fires. michael barbaro In an interview with ABC News on Sunday, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley blamed the fires on decades worth of climate change. And archived recording (alex villanueva) Seeing somebody just walk up and just start shooting on them, it it pisses me off. It dismays me at the same time. And I theres no pretty way to say it. michael barbaro Authorities in Los Angeles are investigating what they said was the unprovoked shooting over the weekend of two sheriffs deputies sitting in their patrol car in an incident caught on surveillance tape. The officers remain in critical condition. And the shooter remains at large. But Los Angeles Sheriff Alex Villanueva suggested that the ambush was linked to rising antipathy toward police. A market downturn leaves plenty of room for opportunities. With future dips in the market predicted, those who have even a little cash set aside to invest could make huge gains in a short time. The stocks Ill be covering today could triple in just three years and could do even better given time. So lets check out these three top stocks. Goodfood Goodfood Market Corp. (TSX:FOOD) has been a huge winner of 2020. The stock started off the year at around $3, and has since more than doubled as of writing. This growth is due to the company being one of the few top stocks to take advantage of a pandemic. After experiencing some growing pains, Goodfood found its stride. The company added 450 new employees, opened up a distribution centre in Toronto, and has further plans to continue this long-term growth. Its recent earnings report supported this, with 44% increase in subscriptions, positive EBITDA and net income for the first time in company history, and a huge jump in revenue. With its peers in the United States and United Kingdom being worth billions of dollars, Goodfood still has plenty of room to grow at a $403 million market capitalization. As the company continues to grow in popularity, you could see this stock easily triple in three years. Lightspeed Among the top stocks set to soar, Lightspeed POS Inc. (TSX:LSPD) is another top contender. The company provides point-of-sale services to mainly the retail and restaurant industry. While the company might be down right now, those looking for a long-term hold should stick with this stock. Part of the near-term rebound should come as retail and restaurant locations begin reopening during the pandemic. This should see the company continue its record-breaking streak where it left off before the pandemic. Revenue is expected to increase at 50% over the next few years, partially because of a recent deal with Ivanhoe Cambridge, a real estate company that would expanded Lightspeed into a new area. As the company takes on more big clients like Ivanhoe, expect some huge jumps in the next few years. Story continues Cargojet Another company taking advantage of the pandemic is Cargojet Inc. (TSX:CJT). The company already saw some major growth compared to other top stocks thanks to a recent partnership with Amazon. The e-commerce giant bought a 9.9% stake in the company, which could increase to a 14.9% stake in the next few years if Cargojet can provide $600 million worth of business. Given the increase in demand for e-commerce products, that seems likely right now. The company delivered strong results during its first quarter, with total revenue increasing 11.4% from the previous year, gross margin up 51.9%, and adjusted EBITDA up 24.5%. This streak will likely continue even after the pandemic, as this growth in e-commerce was already predicted just not so suddenly. The stock is already up about 55% as of writing, and should continue to soar even higher throughout the remainder of the pandemic and beyond. Bottom line Investing in any of these top stocks would be a great move right now, or during the next market dips. Each company is just starting out on the TSX, so has plenty of room to grow. Each has also proven its worth among its peers and come out on top. If investors are looking for solid buy-and-hold strategies or simply to make a strong increase in a few years, these are definitely ones to consider. The post 3 Top Stocks That Will TRIPLE in 3 Years appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fools board of directors. Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe owns shares of Goodfood Market and Lightspeed POS Inc. David Gardner owns shares of Amazon. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Amazon and CARGOJET INC. The Motley Fool owns shares of Lightspeed POS Inc. The Motley Fool recommends Goodfood Market and recommends the following options: short January 2022 $1940 calls on Amazon and long January 2022 $1920 calls on Amazon. The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020 Washington: James Murdoch has resigned from the board of News Corp over disagreements with its coverage of politics and environmental issues in a move that separates him from his family's global media empire. James, the youngest son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch, said he would step down immediately as a director at the company that owns The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post and The Herald Sun. James Murdoch has resigned from the News Corporation board. Credit:Getty Murdoch's resignation represents a final severing of ties from a business empire he once seemed destined to lead but has become increasingly estranged from over recent years. For those familiar with the internecine, Succession-style power plays of the Murdoch family, James's resignation was not a huge surprise. The frustration over online learning is mounting for some Houston-area parents as fall nears. One group of moms in Klein ISD want their children to return to the classroom this school year. "My big frustration is that I'm a full-time working mom, and I have three elementary children. This really falls upon the working mom," Klein parent Candice Hebert said. The new guidance from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton served as encouragement for the moms. Paxton said local health orders to keep school campuses closed through Labor Day may not actually be legal in a report by the Houston Chronicle. LOVE IT OR HATE IT? Houston parents debate HISD's reopening plan for online learning Although there's still more to sort out with school start, many districts still tentatively plan to start the year in August with online classes, then offer in-person instruction at a later date, depending upon the status of the coronavirus pandemic. Klein ISD plans to start online Aug. 19, opening classrooms to kids whose parents choose in-person learning no later than Sept. 9. Hebert said her group of Klein ISD moms believes that it's safe to send kids back to classrooms. "It's just not fair to working moms. We do so much for our families anyway," Hebert said. 'The brunt of this will be put on our plate. It's not fair but it's the reality." On top of that, Hebert believes that teachers should be present to truly educate the kids. "The reality is that I'm not a better teacher. All of the educational things---this is not in my tool box," Hebert said. "The majority of the teachers I know want to go back. " Hebert is frustrated with heated discussions among Houston-area moms over the choice between online learning and in-person learning. "It's mom-shaming," Hebert said. "But like I said, everybody needs to have their own choice. One of my best friends wants to keep her kids at home. I support her in that. We can all work together." A few other parent groups have recently emerged over this school topic, including a West U neighborhood group called "Red Apple Protest." They protested in favor of getting kids back in class last Monday in front of West University Elementary. The Red Apple Protesters were met by a counter-protester group dressed as the Grim Reaper holding signs that say, "Open Schools NOW!" Hebert said it's important to keep in mind that this is not about mom-shaming, but giving parents the choice when it comes to their kids' education. "If they don't feel safe, then absolutely keep their kids at home," Hebert said. "We just want our choice. We want to let our voices be heard." alison.medley@chron.com BERLIN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Washington has unveiled its plan this week to withdraw 11,900 troops out of Germany, as part of a sweeping troop re-organization that has brought condemnation from both parties in the U.S. Congress, as well as from European allies. Among the U.S. troops that would be withdrawn, about 5,600 will be repositioned to other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries, while the rest will return to the United States with some beginning rotational deployment back to Europe, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told a news briefing. The Pentagon chief claimed that the redeployment, which could begin within weeks, will strengthen NATO, enhance deterrence against Russia and improve U.S. strategic flexibility. Observers, however, cannot help but notice a widening rift between the two allies across the Atlantic Ocean, who have been experiencing unprecedented discords for the past few years, making some believe that a kind of structural change is taking place in their partnership. The Berlin Central Train Station is illuminated with light of EU theme in Berlin, capital of Germany, on May 7, 2019. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) WORSENING TIES Ever since Donald Trump assumed U.S. presidency and made "America First" his administration's motto, Europeans have had to get used to the president's casual willingness to risk decades-old alliances and rip up international agreements. From the Iran nuclear issue, the termination of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and U.S. Middle East policies, to climate change and trade disputes, Washington has gone its own way without consulting its partners in advance and undermined Europe's security and economic interests, let alone the U.S. withdrawal from several international organizations. The key framework for NATO, the traditional transatlantic alliance, has also been put in doubt as Trump called the military alliance "obsolete." Earlier in July, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent fresh warnings of possible sanctions to companies involved in the Russia-Germany pipeline program and the second line of the Turk Stream. But German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas quickly rejected the threats and accused Washington of its extraterritorial sanctions. A bicyclist is seen near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, capital of Germany, March 28, 2020. (Photo by Binh Truong/Xinhua) The COVID-19 pandemic has split the two sides further. The United States seized a mask shipment bound for Europe. It also attempted to secure exclusive American rights to a vaccine under development in Germany, not to mention the two sides' different attitudes towards the World Health Organization. The ties between Europe and the United States now seem to be further worsening after the troops withdrawal plan. "We don't want to be the suckers anymore," Trump told reporters at a White House briefing on Wednesday, reiterating his contention that NATO allies are taking advantage of the U.S. generosity. Photo taken on Feb. 12, 2020 shows the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng) Esper said at a Pentagon briefing that the move would boost U.S. strategic interests, and prepare the military for "a new era of great power competition." On the other side, Germany, serving as a key hub in NATO military presence in Europe's geological heart, considers U.S. troops critical to its security and that of West Europe. Therefore, Berlin is angry that Washington made the decision without consulting its ally and used it as a punishment of Germany's incompliance on the NATO defense budget goal. "Europe's most important partner is the United States. Of course, I am aware that working with America is currently more difficult than we would like," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on May 27 at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung when she was introducing the foreign and security policies during Germany's current half-year EU Council Presidency. People vote at a polling site during the New York 2020 primary elections in Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, June 23, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) STRUCTURAL CHANGES Following Esper's announcement of the armed forces' withdrawal plan, Peter Beyer, the German government's transatlantic coordinator, said the reduction of American troops in Germany is "not in Germany's nor NATO's security interests, and also makes no geopolitical sense for the United States. "Great cold between the United States and Europe," French newspaper Le Monde titled an editorial on June 20, saying that Europe is aware of the deteriorating transatlantic relations, and they have to act. Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, told the Wall Street Journal earlier that Washington's attacks on Europe have materially damaged the transatlantic relationship, adding that Europe should recognize that the situation will not return to the past. "Those in Europe who are now betting everything on a change in the White House should be prepared for the fact that even in that case it will not be as comfortable as it once was," Maas told Rheinische Post on Monday. Photo taken on July 7, 2020 shows the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) "U.S. foreign and security policy has changed, and not just since Trump became president," Maas said, who earlier noted that the transatlantic partnership has "structural changes." Some observers believe that the structural changes may refer to U.S. withdrawal from global affairs and waiver of responsibilities, considering that over the past century the United States has touted its global leadership in many global crises. In some observers' views, the COVID-19 pandemic is probably the first global crisis in more than a century where no one is even looking to the United States for leadership. It, together with other contributing factors such as the troops withdrawal, has brought U.S.-Europe divisions into focus and prompted calls for a rethinking of the transatlantic relationship with regard to the new circumstances. "We grew up in the certain knowledge that the United States wanted to be a world power. Should the U.S. now wish to withdraw from that role of its own free will, we would have to reflect on that very deeply," Merkel told media in late June. Kumar's remarks have come ahead of bhoomi pujan for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya on 5 August, which is likely to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Vishva Hindu Parishad's (VHP) working president Alok Kumar said the construction of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir is representative of the country's fight for its self-respect, culture and ethos, which many conquerors had attempted to destroy. Drawing a parallel between the 'Black Lives Matter' and Ram Janmabhoomi movements, he said both struggles were for justice and equity for a specific culture and its people. The "bhoomi pujan" of the Ram temple in Ayodhya is slated to be held on 5 August. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the event. Senior RSS functionary Dattatreya Hosabale on Friday said the Ram temple will be a symbol of "cultural nationalism" in the country, while asserting that its construction is not merely a religious affair. With the construction of the temple, there will be both Ram and "roti", he said, adding that Ram means cultural, sociological and spiritual development of the country and "roti" means its economic growth. Underlining that the temple in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya is not merely a religious affair, the joint general secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) said, "It is for the cultural awakening of the country. The Ram temple will be a symbol of cultural nationalism in the country, which has been engulfed by an English mindset for long." Asserting that the construction of the temple is a cultural responsibility of the government, he said a few people are trying to project it as an administrative responsibility for their political benefits. On politicians opposing the construction of the temple for the sake of secularism, Hosabale said, "They should understand that nationalism and cultural nationalism cannot be suppressed in the name of secularism." Hoping that its construction will usher in a new era of cultural nationalism in India, he said with the temple in place, the values and principles of the kings of Ayodhya will replace the western mindset in the country. It was the number that changed everything for Victoria - a wave of perplexing infections resulting in almost 800 so-called mystery coronavirus cases. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews cited the 760 mystery cases - of which the origins of infection remain unknown - as the catalyst for the government declaring a state of disaster and announcing harsh, stage four lockdown restrictions on Sunday. Victoria Police members stop motorists leaving metropolitan Melbourne on Sunday. Credit:Paul Rovere The number was a huge jump from the 49 mystery cases confirmed on Saturday, with health authorities attributing the alarming rise in part to the 671 cases detected in the last 24 hours and reclassification of other coronavirus infections. These cases are worrying because the source of the infections have eluded the state's disease detectives, meaning they have been unable to link them to known outbreaks or positive cases and therefore isolate all close contacts to curb spread. New Delhi: The ministry of home affairs (MHA) has sought three more months to frame the rules of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) from a Department Related Standing Committee of Parliament, officials familiar with the development said. The Act was passed by Parliament in December last year. According to the Manual on Parliamentary Work, rules for legislation should be framed within six months of the date of the Presidents assent or the standing committee on subordinate legislation should be approached for extension of time. The Act aims to grant Indian citizenship to religious minorities - Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhist, Christians and Parsis -- from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who have fled their countries fearing religious persecution. The law, which excludes Muslims, will be applicable to those who entered India before December 2014. A senior officer cited above said that the additional time has been sought to frame the rules as the ministry was busy in other work for the past several months. The rules will be framed soon. The manual on Parliamentary Work states that in case the ministries/departments are not able to frame the rules within the prescribed period of six months, they should seek extension of time from the Committee on Subordinate Legislation stating reasons for such extension which cannot be more than for a period of three months at a time. The government has claimed that while the rules are being framed, the non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will have to provide proof of their religious beliefs while applying for citizenship. The applicants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Buddhist, Jain or Parsi faiths will also have to furnish documents to prove that they entered India on or before December 31, 2014, according to officials. After the CAA was passed by Parliament, widespread protests erupted in the country. Those opposing the CAA contend that it discriminates on the basis of religion and violates the Constitution. They also alleged that the CAA, along with the National Register of Citizens, is intended to target the Muslim community in India. However, Union home minister Amit Shah had dismissed the allegations and described the protests against the CAA as mostly political. He had asserted that no Indian will lose citizenship due to the Act. Lok Sabha had passed the CAA legislation on December 9, 2019 and Rajya Sabha on December 11, 2019. The past year has been hard for Melike Aierken, and its just gotten worse. Amid an immigration application to allow her husband to come to Canada from Albania, Aierken was last week admitted to hospital in Montreal. She has thyroid problems and must wait an indeterminate amount of time for the results of a biopsy on her liver. Until her release Thursday, her two children, ages four and nine, were staying with a friend in lieu of any family in the city. Her medical troubles are not over and the stress of another hospital stint with no firm options to care for her children weighs heavily on her, as does the lack of a regular presence of a father in her childrens lives. The kids miss their father, she told the Star through a translator in a video interview in which she frequently fought back tears. Their father misses the kids. Its a difficult story and one thats unfolding in the lingering shadow of Americas military prison, Guantanamo Bay, where years ago Aierkens husband was once held. Originally from Chinas far-western Xinjiang Autonomous Region, Aierken moved to Canada with the help of her father more than a decade ago. Shortly after coming to Canada, she met Ayub Mohammed online, a Uighur living in Albania. The two eventually married and started a family. For the next few years, Aierken lived in both Canada, where she gave birth to her daughter, and Albania, where she gave birth to her son. Both children are Canadian citizens. In 2014, they decided to move to Canada for good and began the immigration process for Mohammed. Aierken came back for good in 2016, though she has made two short visits to see her husband since then. But the family hit a snag that year when Mohammeds application was denied by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, leaving Aierken with the lingering worry her family might never be reunited. The denial was quashed in federal court and is being reassessed by the government department. Mohammeds PR bid was rejected on security concerns labelling him a possible member of the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, a terrorist organization with the stated aim to establish Xinjiang as a sovereign state. He said he was kidnapped in Pakistan while there for a short time waiting to continue on to the U.S. shortly after 9/11 and sold to the U.S. military to collect a bounty and sent to Guantanamo Bay. Mohammed was cleared of any wrongdoing by a Combatant Status Review Tribunal and released in 2006 to Albania, because international legal non-refoulement principles prevented his return to China where he faced persecution. Currently, oppression of the Uighur minority in the country has escalated into internment camps, forced sterilization and forced labour, according to reports from newspapers and research institutions. They let him go because he was innocent, Aierken said of her husband. If he was guilty, they never would have let him go. Aierken nonetheless thinks it was time Mohammed spent in Guantanamo Bay thats keeping her husband out of Canada. Mohammeds case is one of a few in which Uighurs who were held in Guantanamo Bay, and cleared of wrongdoing, are trying to reunite with family in Canada. Mehmet Tohti, executive director of the Uighur Rights Advocacy Project, said in three such cases the men are being victimized a second time by not being granted permanent residency. He believes it is due to the spectre of their Guantanamo Bay detentions. I dont believe there is any security risk or threat for our safety, he said. Basically, Canada is pushing them to prove themselves innocent (of) the sins they have never committed. IRCC said it does not comment on immigration cases due to privacy concerns. How long the process for Mohammeds immigration bid will take is unknown, Aierken said, leaving her in a state of flux and worry. Last weeks admission to hospital has amplified Aierkens stress as she awaits the results of a biopsy and fears another stint in care. Last week, a friend was able to take care of the children but she said she doesnt know whom she will turn to if she needs help again. Its a big responsibility taking care of children, especially during a pandemic, she said. They might be able to look after them for a few days, but long term I dont have anyone else. I dont have a plan. Read more about: A man in California was waiting on a train station platform when he was hit by a car, authorities said. The incident occurred around 7.46am at the Suisun City Train Station on Saturday. When officers from the Suisun City Police Department arrived to the scene, they found the man who had been struck by the vehicle on the train station platform. 'The male ended up on the middle platform, while the car was stuck on the tracks,' police said in a statement. A man in California was waiting on a train station platform when he was hit by a car (pictured), authorities said A Suisun City Fire Department paramedic treated the victim at the scene while other firefighters secured the vehicle. Authorities said the victim was then taken to a designated trauma center for treatment. Police also released photos of the scene that show a white car blocking the train tracks. Another image shows visible damage to the car's windshield and front bumper. Authorities did not release information about the driver of the vehicle nor did they say exactly how the car ended up on the platform. No other details about the victim's injuries were released and the victim has not been identified. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident. Iran said Saturday it had arrested the head of a US-based terrorist group accused of being behind a deadly 2008 bombing in the southern city of Shiraz and planning other attacks. Jamshid Sharmahd, who was leading armed and sabotage operations inside Iran, is now in the powerful hands of Irans security forces, state television said, citing an intelligence ministry statement. It did not elaborate on where or when the alleged leader of the opposition royalist group known as the Kingdom Assembly of Iran, or Tondar (Farsi for Thunder), was detained. Iran slammed its arch enemy the United States for hosting Sharmahd and supporting known terrorists who have claimed responsiblity for several terrorist acts inside the country. This regime must answer for its support of this terrorist group and other groups and criminals who orchestrate armed, sabotage and terrorist operations against the people of Iran from inside America and spill Iranians blood, a foreign ministry statement said. The intelligence ministry said Sharmahd had orchestrated the April 12, 2008 bombing in a packed mosque in Shiraz that killed 14 people and wounded 215. A US State Department spokesperson said the Iranian regime has a long history of detaining Iranians and foreign nationals on spurious charges. We urge Iran to be fully transparent and abide by all international legal standards. Mosque bombing Iran hanged three men convicted of the bombing in 2009, saying they had ties to the monarchist group. The three men said they had been taking orders from an Iranian US-backed CIA agent identified at the time only as Jamshid to try to assassinate a high-ranking official in Iran, Fars news agency reported at the time. They were 21-year-old Mohsen Eslamian and Ali Asghar Pashtar, 20 -- both university students -- as well as Rouzbeh Yahyazadeh, 32. The three were found guilty of being mohareb (enemies of God) and corruption on earth by a revolutionary court in Tehran. Iran in 2010 hanged two other convicted members of the group, who had confessed to obtaining explosives and planning to assassinate officials. The statement issued on Saturday said that Tondar had plotted several other big operations which failed. It said that Tondar had planned to blow up a dam in Shiraz, use cyanide bombs at a Tehran book fair, and plant an explosive device at the mausoleum of the Islamic republics founder, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Irans intelligence ministry published a picture later on Saturday of a grey-haired man in a blindfold it said was Sharmahd. It did not say where or when the photo was taken. Complicated operation It was not clear how Iran arrested Sharmahd, who has generally been based in the US, in what its intelligence ministry called a complicated operation. According to the associations website, Sharmahd was born in Tehran in 1955 and grew up in an Iranian-German family before moving to the United States in 2003, where he started to voice anti-Islam and anti-Islamic republic statements. Tondar rejects the Iranian political system and campaigns to overthrow the Islamic republic and re-establish a monarchy similar to that of Cyrus the Great. Iran announced the arrest of a former opposition figure in similarly mysterious circumstances in October last year. It said Ruhollah Zam was arrested in a sophisticated and professional operation. Zam, described by Irans Revolutionary Guards as a counter-revolutionary who was directed by Frances intelligence service, was sentenced to death in June over corruption on earth. Zam, who reportedly lived in exile in Paris, ran a channel on the Telegram messaging application called Amadnews and was accused of sparking unrest during anti-government protests in 2017-18. The Islamic republic also captured the head of a Sunni Muslim rebel group in a dramatic operation in 2010 and executed him in the same year, boasting of its reach in capturing adversarial figures. Abdolmalek Rigi was arrested while on a flight from Dubai to Kyrgyzstan, when Iranian warplanes forced the plane he was travelling on to land in Iran. The rebel group Jundallah (Soldiers of God) had waged a deadly insurgency in Shiite Irans southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchistan for a decade before it was severely weakened by Rigis execution. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley have returned to Earth on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft over two months after their historic takeoff. According to NASA, SpaceX made the splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida at 2:48 pm ET on Sunday after departing its port in space at 9:20 a.m. Despite Tropical Storm Isaias' surge towards Florida's Atlantic shore, the spacecraft landed safely. In addition, the spacecraft had minor technical difficulties earlier in the morning when a backup generator failed on the recovery ship prior to leaving port. However, SpaceX's splashdown was not affected. Behnken, 50, and Hurley, 53, had been aboard the Crew Dragon spacecraft, named Dragon Endeavour, since Saturday evening when it undocked from the International Space Station. "Thanks for flying @SpaceX." Current Location: Planet Earth A 2:48pm ET, @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug splashed down, marking the first splashdown of an American crew spacecraft in 45 years. #LaunchAmerica pic.twitter.com/zO3KlNwxU3 NASA (@NASA) August 2, 2020 RELATED: American Astronauts Blast Off in Historic NASA-SpaceX Launch: 'A Unique Moment in Time' Story continues Splashdown History Alert 45 years ago, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project was not only the last Apollo flight but the last U.S. spacecraft to have splashed down, rather than a landing. Tune in @ https://t.co/0tGwqaAWLt as we countdown to @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug's return. pic.twitter.com/7BNGrGFHWQ Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) August 2, 2020 The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft initially took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30 after it was originally scheduled for takeoff on May 27 and delayed due to weather. The space vehicle took off from Launch Pad 39A atop a specially instrumented Falcon 9 rocket, with President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence watching from Kennedy Space Center. Compared to the old Space Shuttle launches, attendance was otherwise limited due to the coronavirus pandemic, but many Floridians watched from nearby beaches, and people could also view a public livestream. John Raoux/AP/Shutterstock Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken Chris O'Meara/AP/Shutterstock The day after takeoff, SpaceX arrived at the International Space Station, where Behnken and Hurley were greeted with hugs from the other astronauts in space. "It's obviously been our honor to just be a small part of this," Hurley said upon arrival in space. "We have to give credit to SpaceX, the commercial crew program, and of course NASA. It's great to get the United States back in the crew launch business and we're just really glad to be on board this magnificent complex." This is the first time in human history @NASA_Astronauts have entered the @Space_Station from a commercially-made spacecraft. @AstroBehnken and @Astro_Doug have finally arrived to the orbiting laboratory in @SpaceX's Dragon Endeavour spacecraft. pic.twitter.com/3t9Ogtpik4 NASA (@NASA) May 31, 2020 RELATED: Astronauts Successfully Dock at International Space Station After Historic SpaceX Launch Behnken and Hurley's endeavor has been celebrated as the first flight of American astronauts on American-made rockets from U.S. soil after the last Space Shuttle mission in July 2011. "Yesterday and today, youve inspired the Artemis generation, which is our next generation. And thats what this is about," NASA Deputy Administrator Jim Morhard told the pair after they arrived in space. "It's really bringing the children that we've got and our grandchildren forward so that they're the ones going into deep space." "This is the dawn of a new era," Morhard added. "And we just thank you for being at the beginning of it." Juan Cole is the Richard P. Mitchell Professor of History and the director of the Centre for South Asian Studies at the University of Michigan. His latest book, Engaging the Muslim World, is just out in a revised paperback edition from Palgrave Macmillan. He runs the Informed Comment website. The Trump administration has few well-defined foreign policy issues, but the maximum pressure campaign against Iran is one of them. That campaign requires international cooperation, and some of the few firm allies the administration has found in the Middle East region are the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and Israel. Washingtons attempts to create a de facto alliance between the two, however, is threatened by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank a plan that has provoked outrage and anger throughout the Arab world. It appears to have been put on hold for the moment but could be revived at any time, and if Netanyahu presses ahead, the scheme will put Gulf countries warming up to Israel in a difficult position with regard to domestic public opinion. In May 2018, US President Donald Trump withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, a 2015 treaty between Iran and the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany and the European Union. He thereafter imposed what amounts to a financial and trade blockade on Iran, preventing it from selling its oil. The USs invisible blockade, which deploys threats of sanctions on third parties that do business with Iran, reduced Iranian oil income in the year to March to about $9bn, compared with $119bn in March of 2011. The US strangulation of the Iranian economy has produced powerful tensions, as Iran seemed to covertly strive to demonstrate that the policy would not leave US allies untouched. In May 2019, four commercial tankers were attacked off the coast of the UAE, and in September of the same year a drone or rocket attack on facilities at Abqaiq temporarily knocked out the majority of Saudi Arabias refining capacity. In both cases, Iran was suspected of being complicit. This heightening of tensions with Iran pushed several of the GCC states closer to Israel. The Trump administration also used this opportunity to promote good relations between a number of GCC countries and the Israelis. In late June 2019, Jared Kushner, President Donald Trumps plenipotentiary on Israel-Palestine, brought Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Bahrain for a two-day conference on his deal of the century plan for Palestine, although the Palestinian leadership itself refused to attend. A recent Atlantic Council report also detailed extensive plans for tourism and scientific and technological partnerships between the UAE and Israel. Bahrain has also warmed to Israel. Last fall, a representative of the Israeli foreign ministry was allowed to attend a conference in Manama on maritime and aviation security. The government has also sought cooperation with Israeli medical facilities in combating COVID-19 and squelched a local conference in May that planned to urge a boycott of Israel. As for Oman, last October Netanyahu made a surprise visit to Muscat in a failed bid to enlist the Gulf in restarting negotiations with the Palestinians. In February of this year, Saudi Arabias Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signalled at the Munich Security Conference that if Kushners deal of the century were actually signed by the parties, Riyadh would move quickly towards normalisation, saying, Upgrading relations with Israel will occur only when a peace agreement is signed and is in accordance with Palestinian conditions. Netanyahus announcement, after he secured a further term as prime minister this spring, that he would proceed rapidly to annex some one-third of the Palestinian West Bank, however, threw a spanner into the works. In early June, the Saudi cabinet issued a sharp condemnation of the annexation talk, slamming any unilateral Israeli step that would derail the peace process and injure Palestinian rights. On June 16, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash addressed the American Jewish Committee by video and warned that Israel could not expect to normalise its relations with the Arab world if it proceeds with annexation plans. He clearly made a distinction between a full normalisation of relations on the model of Jordan and continued sectoral cooperation, warning that annexation would make the former impossible. The minister said certain forms of scientific and other cooperation might go forward, including the Emirati-Israeli cooperation on vaccine research for the novel coronavirus. In mid-June, Qatar announced that it would withhold its monthly aid for the Gaza Strip in July, as a result of the move to annexation. Qatar has pioneered a diplomatic agility in the region, with correct relations with both Iran and Israel, even in the aftermath of the blockade by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, which fatally disrupted GCC solidarity against Iran. Doha has been giving millions of dollars a month in charity to Gaza, something that had been welcomed by the Netanyahu government. The Qatari funds allowed the Israeli prime minister to appear to keep a strict blockade on the small territory without risking a humanitarian implosion there. Israeli authorities reportedly see these handouts as a safety valve. However, Qatari officials are keen to avoid any appearance that they are enabling the further usurpation of Palestinian land. For now, the aid will continue, but Doha has made it clear that practical steps towards annexation would place it in jeopardy. The Trump administrations maximum pressure campaign against Iran ran into a further obstacle with the leak from Iran of Chinas plans for the incorporation of Iran into the ambitious One Belt, One Road initiative. Actual implementation of this plan could potentially save Iran from economic ruin, though at the cost of its further integration into the Shanghai Cooperation Organization security bloc that includes China, Russia, and Central Asian states. Even as Iran has built a back door to East Asia, the Trump administrations attempt to erect a further firewall against Iran in West Asia by encouraging an Israel-GCC alliance has faltered. Saudi Arabias powerful ruling family has consolidated power in the hands of King Salman and his ambitious crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, but they would not want to risk domestic turmoil by openly siding with Israel on the annexation of Arab land. The UAE, with its tiny citizen population and vast petroleum wealth, is better placed to defy public opinion, but even the Emirati authorities seem chary of normalisation if Israel is going to pursue an aggressive Greater Israel policy. Qatar, as well, does not wish to appear to be an enabler of annexation. Usually soft-spoken Kuwait condemned annexation as an act of enmity, and along with Oman, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, signed a strong anti-annexation statement. Bahrain waited until late July to condemn annexation talk, though it did not specify any consequences. A divided GCC and an expansionist far-right Netanyahu have proven a thin reed on which to found a united front in the region against Iran. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The First Vice President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, reflects on the Bishops forums 51st-anniversary celebration amid the Covid-19 crisis. By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ The Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) celebrates its fifty-first anniversary on 2 August this year. The continental symposium is a common forum for Bishops in Africa and Madagascar to voice their respective opinions on matters concerning the Church on the African continent. Founded in 1969, SECAM was born of the wish of African Bishops during the Second Vatican Council (1962 1965) to create a structure to bring forth the African vision to the universal Church. Ahead of this years event, SECAM First Vice President, South Africas Bishop Sithembele Sipuka of Umtata, spoke to Vatican News in an interview. He shares his reflections on SECAM Day and the role of the Church in Africa. Bishop Sipuka is also the President of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) SECAM Day Bishop Sipuka said the annual celebration of SECAM Day provides the opportunity to create more awareness about the forum and its activities among the faithful. At the same time, it is an occasion to invite the laity to pray for the continent as a Church in its evangelizing mission. According to SECAMs recently-released message for the occasion, the day is set aside for all members of the Church-Family of God in Africa and the surrounding Islands to thank God for the gift of mother Africa, for the gift of one another and for the gift of the Christian faith. It also provides an opportunity to pray for the well-being of SECAM, for the spirit of unity, communion and solidarity amongst the Bishops, the clergy, the religious and lay faithful. Especially in this time of Covid, Bishop Sipuka said, we need solidarity of prayer, mutual concern and support where it is possible through resources, finances and other means. Normally, SECAM Day is marked on 29 July, the anniversary of the day the forum was founded in 1969. However, because the day is an occasion to further inform people about the existence of the forum, celebrations are usually shifted to the following Sunday when 29 July falls on a weekday. 51 years of engagement Highlighting SECAMs engagements on the continent, Bishop Sipuka explained that the forum is active in a wide range of concerns affecting the Church. As regards evangelization, he said that the SECAM Bishops noted how much the faith has grown in Africa compared to other continents during last years Jubilee celebrations in Uganda. Evangelization has, in turn, resulted in an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Over eighty percent of the Church in Africa is led by African Bishops, Bishop Sipuka remarked. The Church is also very visible in social engagement. In some countries, the Church has more hospitals and schools than the state, he said. Also, the Bishops forum has a Department for Evangelization as well as a Department of Justice and Peace which engages directly with political, social and environmental matters, among others. On the political front, Bishop Sipuka said SECAM has made interventions to bring about peace in unstable countries on the continent. He pointed out that SECAM currently has an observers seat at the African Union (AU). There the Bishops try to influence discussions about Africa. Listen to our interview with Bishop Sipuka Aims of SECAM In all of these, Bishop Sipuka continued, the Bishops forum has prioritized the idea of making identity as communion a central character of its presence and ecclesiology on the continent. We are one Catholic Church and I think that this must find its expression in concrete ways, he said, at the universal, continental, regional, national and diocesan levels. We need to express this unity of the Church even if it is only symbolically, he added. Bishop Sipuka listed a second key element that SECAM represents: the principle of subsidiarity. He explained that in the 1960s when SECAM was formed, Africa was in the process of becoming independent from colonial countries. There was a sense of Africa taking its future in its hands, he said. And this led to a desire to give expression to the local leadership that was emerging as more African Bishops were getting ordained to replace foreign ones. According to the Bishop, SECAM was formed to affirm the subsidiarity element of leadership: that Bishops in Africa are taking responsibility in leading the Church forward in collaboration with the universal Church. A third and no less essential part of SECAMs purposes is to encourage a contextualized understanding of faith, theologically speaking, he said. Covid-19 Responding to a question about the ongoing health emergency in Africa, Bishop Sipuka underscored the importance of the Churchs role as an agent of hope. The Church needs to engage with authorities and governments to find effective ways of mitigating the effects of Covid, he said. Pastorally, the Church is to make people aware that in spite of this situation, God is present, he said, adding that we need to bring a message of hope that God is with us and we will pull through this. The Church also needs to be part of the discussions about economic reformation, he said pointing out that this pandemic has laid bare the economic inequalities in the world. This situation now gives us the providential time to raise questions so that in the future, when such tragedies occur again, not so many people will be so negatively affected. Bishop Sipuka concluded by appealing to the baptismal obligations of the faithful to be brothers and sisters and do what they can in terms of assisting and supporting each other amid these trying times. Close aide to Indian PM Narendra Modi says his health is fine but is being hospitalised on the advice of doctors. Indias Interior Minister Amit Shah, a close aide to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been admitted to hospital after testing positive for coronavirus. I request all of you who came in contact with me in the last few days to isolate yourselves and get tested, the 55-year-old wrote on Twitter on Sunday. Shah said he got himself tested after exhibiting initial symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. My health is fine but I am being hospitalised on the advice of doctors, he added. Shah heads a ministry that has been at the forefront of managing the outbreak of coronavirus in the country. India has the third-highest coronavirus caseload in the world behind the United States and Brazil, with nearly 1.75 million confirmed infections, according to Johns Hopkins University. The number of related deaths stands at more than 37,000, and there have also been almost 1.15 million recoveries. 200801083018658 Shah was appointed BJP president shortly after Modis election win in 2014, a post he held until earlier this year. Modi named him to the powerful home ministry after he was re-elected last year. Shahs tenure as interior minister has been marked with controversy after the revocation of Article 370 of Indias constitution that guaranteed Indian-administered Kashmir a level of self-autonomy, as well the introduction of the National Register of Citizens, or NRC an exercise to identify undocumented people across India. Shah is the most senior Indian politician to have tested positive for coronavirus, and also the latest high-profile public figure in the country to be diagnosed with COVID-19 since actor Amitabh Bachchan and members of his family revealed they had tested positive last month. Bachchan, who was hospitalised on July 11, was discharged after his latest coronavirus test came back negative. my father, thankfully, has tested negative on his latest Covid-19 test and has been discharged from the hospital. He will now be at home and rest. Thank you all for all your prayers and wishes for him. Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) August 2, 2020 His actor son, Abhishek Bachchan, who is still in the Nanavati Super Speciality Hospital with the virus, said his father would rest at home. Bollywood superstar and Abhishek Bachchans wife, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and their eight-year-old daughter, who also contracted the virus, left the hospital last week after recovering. By PTI SHIMLA: Police were called at Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut's Manali home after a sound like that made by a firecracker was heard outside, an official said on Saturday. The police received a call about the incident on Friday night, following which a team rushed to her house and searched the entire area, Kullu Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh told PTI. ALSO READ | Amid Sushant Singh Rajput death probe 'arrest Kangana Ranaut' trends on Twitter, here's why The CCTV camera footage was also checked, but no anti-social activity was noticed, he said. Ranaut was at her home when the incident took place, the SP said. In reply to a question, he said the police did not find any evidence of firing outside her house. Ranaut has been criticising a section of Bollywood over 'nepotism' after the death of her colleague Sushant Singh Rajput. The SP said the Friday night incident was not linked to this. He reiterated that even the private security guard deployed at the actor's house told the police that the sound was like that made by a firecracker. Last week, the Chicago Tribune Guild came together to accuse conservative columnist John Kass of anti-Semitism. His sin? He wrote a column pointing out that the incompetent, vindictive, and biased prosecutor Kim Foxx drew most of her campaign funding from a George Soros organization. The Chicago Tribunes management instantly backed down, relegating Kass from his Page 2 prominence to being one of the hard on the back page. Kass, to his great credit, refused to back down in the face of this cancel culture effort. For the left, the fact that the Chicago Tribune backed down is of more importance than the fact that Kass refused to. So it was that, the New York Times Guild was inspired to present its demands to the Times. The Guilds demands dont target a specific columnist. That makes sense. The woke employees having bullied out columnist Bari Weiss, for being vaguely conservative, and James Bennet, for daring to publish an opinion from a Republican U.S. Senator, there are no human targets left. The Guilds current goal is to revamp the Times from top to bottom. It demands that the Times hire blacks until they constitute 24% of the workforce (even though theyre only 13.4% of the population). By 2025, the Guild insists that the Times workforce must be 50% minority, although whites are 76% of the population. It appears that Guild members are so parochial that New York Citys demographics are a stand-in for all of America. There were several other race-based hiring metrics (all of dubious legality under the Civil Rights Act of 1964) but, honestly, those demands are old hat when it comes to the woke mobsters. What was different this time was that the Guild insists that the Times hire someone to read all of the papers content before its published to ensure that nothing it offends any minority person reading the paper: Get it right from the beginning: sensitivity reads should happen at the beginning of the publication process, with compensation for those who do them. (6/8) NYTimesGuild (@NYTimesGuild) July 31, 2020 The wits were on this immediately, including Tom Cotton, whose column got James Bennet fired: "Sensitivity reads" for op-eds? And extra compensation for censoring? New @nytimes motto: All the news that's fit to print and assessed for sensitivity by well-compensated woke censors. https://t.co/it1mtneSY7 Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR) July 31, 2020 You know what isn't supposed to buckle before other people's sensitivities? The news. I think it's fair to say we've lost our minds. https://t.co/k3USJwYOHU Abigail Shrier (@AbigailShrier) July 31, 2020 Once upon a time, when the Times pretended that it was an actual newspaper, it had editors who reviewed content for factual accuracy, grammar, and readability. Judging by the quality of recent Times articles, those concerns are too old-fashioned and expensive for a 21st century publication. What do you bet, though, that the Times can scrounge up some money to find that sensitivity editor? The theory would be that its a cardinal sin (up there with sloth, greed, and lust) to commit a microaggression that might offend some recent college grad holed up in an apartment somewhere wondering why ze cannot find work with hir Queer and Non-Binary studies degree. What I find a grievous sin, although not strictly a cardinal one, is the mindset of Marxist activists who treat all black people like mentally unstable toddlers. Outside of the college-educated crowd, or those who pretend to have attended college, Ive yet to hear of an actual minority who is so sensitive to any possible underlying microaggression that he or she cannot read a New York Times article that hasnt first been mediated to remove imaginary insults. Image: Pikrepo Nigerias political space was abuzz last week with the renewed debate on zoning of presidential power in the country ahead of the 2023 elections following an interview President Muhammadu Buharis nephew, Mamman Daura, granted BBC Hausa Service. Also, the Niger Delta minister, Godswill Akpabio named some federal lawmakers who allegedly received contracts from NDDC, provoking series of denial by the lawmakers. And the campaign for the governorship seats of Edo and Ondo states intensified during the week under review. Akpabio names federal lawmakers who got NDDC contracts The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, last week named some federal lawmakers who allegedly got contracts from the NDDC. Akpabio at the NDDC scandal hearing [PHOTO: Sahara Reporters] In a statement routed through his spokesperson, Aniete Ekong, Mr Akpabio, in compliance with the request by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, listed the lawmakers to include Peter Nwabaoshi (PDP, Delta North), James Manager (PDP, Delta South), Matthew Urhogide (PDP, Edo South) a former Imo East senator, Samuel Anyanwu and a former House of Representatives member from Delta, Nicholas Mutu. The trio of Nwaoboshi, Manager and Anyanwu have since denied the allegation. Dogara explains return to APC The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Sunday explained the reason why he dumped the opposition PDP for APC. Mr Dogara had earlier on Friday announced his return to APC after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari. In a letter of resignation addressed to the Bogoro C Ward Chairman of the PDP dated July 24, 2020, Mr Dogara mentioned a breakdown of governance in his native state of Bauchi under the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed whom he said he helped install as a governor in 2019. He claimed Mr Mohammed was making the mistakes made by the immediate past administration of Mohammed Abubakar. The former speaker said he could not successfully ask questions about those issues without being accused of disloyalty if he were to remain in the PDP. Mr Mohammed has since replied to Mr Dogara, describing the former speaker as epidemic in politics, who cannot fight him. Buhari, APC governors meet on partys convention, Edo, Ondo governorship polls President Muhammadu Buhari and APC governors on Tuesday met at the State House to discuss party matters, including the forthcoming national convention of the party as well as the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. The virtual meeting, which lasted for about 40 minutes, had also in attendance Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SGF Boss Mustapha and the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari. The Chairman of the APC Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Atiku Bagudu, who was physically present at the Villa, refused to disclose the outcome of the meeting but merely said another one involving members of the APC caretaker committee had been scheduled for a later date. Appeal Court dismisses Dino Melayes suit challenging Smart Adeyemis election The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Tuesday dismissed the appeal filed by a former Kogi senator, Dino Melaye, against the APC flag bearer, Smart Adeyemi, at the November 2019 by-election. A three-member panel of the appellate court led by Ibrahim Saulawa, in a unanimous judgement, resolved all the seven matters considered in the case against Mr Melaye and his party, PDP. Sen. Dino Melaye, Kogi West [Photo: Pulse] The appellate court upheld the June 10 judgment of the Kogi State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, affirming Mr Adeyemis election. Buharis nephew, Mamman Daura, stirs fresh debate on rotational presidency, power shift Mamman Daura, a nephew of President Buhari, on Tuesday, said competence rather than geography should determine who becomes the president of Nigeria in 2023. Mr Daura, 81, reputed to be the head of Mr Buharis kitchen cabinet, spoke in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, saying since Nigeria had tried rotational presidency thrice, it should henceforth go to the most qualified candidate. The interview sparked off fresh debate on the controversial issue of zoning and rotation of presidential power in Nigeria. READ ALSO: Expectedly, there were wide and varied reactions to Mr Dauras view. Among the groups that spoke on the matter were the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Afenifere, Arewa Consultative Forum and the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). The Presidency on Saturday reacted to the raging controversy, describing Mr Dauras comments as personal to him and did not, in any way, reflect that of either the President or his administration, Akeredolu picks running mate Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Wednesday announced Lucky Ayedatiwa as his running mate in the October 10 governorship election. Advertisements Mr Ayedatiwas choice followed the recent defection of state deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi, to PDP and later to ZLP. Mr Ayedatiwa is a former representative of the state on the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and hails from the southern senatorial district of the state as Mr Ajayi. FILE: Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno state distributing food and non-food items to 19,000 displaced households on Tuesday at Gajiram, headquarters of Nganzai Local Government Areas of the state. [PHOTO CREDIT: Official Twitter handle of Mr. Zulum] Boko Haram attacks Borno governors convoy Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, was on Wednesday attacked by suspected Boko Haram gunmen during his trip to Munguno and Baga towns in the state. Mr Zulum was in the towns to distribute food to IDPs. His convoy came under attack while he was returning from Baga, a fishing community in Kaka LGA. No one was announced hurt as security operatives repelled the attack. Ondo deputy governor defects to ZLP Ondo State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, on Thursday, announced plans to defect to the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). Mr Ajayi lost the PDP ticket to Eyitayo Jegede in the primary election a few days earlier. He had earlier left the APC for the PDP after he fell out with his boss, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. Mr Ajayis move to ZLP came after a meeting with the chieftain of the party and former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko. The deputy governor may be adopted as the governorship candidate of the party for the October 10 election. Manufacturing partners of Apple and Samsung in India have announced their participation in Indias Production Linked Incentive (PLI) offer to do away with Indias dependence on China. Speaking to the media on Saturday, August 1, union telecom minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the government has welcomed Apple and Samsung to make the most of Indias local manufacturing benefits, which has extended incentives of up to Rs 41,000 crore subject to meeting local manufacturing targets. The list of local manufacturing applicants in India include global players as well as their subsidiaries, including Samsung, Pegatron, Foxconn, Wistron, Rising Star, Dixon, Padget, Lava, Micromax and more. The mix includes production partners for global smartphone giants Apple and Samsung, of which the latter is a dominant presence in India as well. While Samsung has been a long time player in Indias local manufacturing ecosystem, Apple has also made the move for local manufacturing of smartphones stronger in the recent years. After starting with making its older devices, Apple has started pushing for its latest crop of iPhones to be made in India as well. However, it is interesting to note that despite making initial noise about its support for the Indian governments local manufacturing, Aatmanirbhar Bharat and vocal for local initiatives, the government has noted that no Chinese OEMs have so far applied for the PLI benefits that have been floated by the government so far. The update comes in times of growing unrest against Chinese brands as an aftermath of India-Chinas border clash at Galwan Valley. Apart from Samsung, most major smartphone vendors in India are Chinese companies. Indias leading smartphone seller is Xiaomi, with the highest market share for a single brand. Other major brands in India include Realme, Oppo and Vivo, while in the premium segment, alongside Apple, fellow BBK Electronics brand OnePlus is a significant player too. For each of these brands, India is also a major contributor to their revenues. While local manufacturing in India is still largely going to be limited to assembling of devices in India, setting up of more extensive assembly plants would be the first step towards developing India's manufacturing ecosystem. Alongside promoting local making of devices, India is also looking to not including Chinese OEMs in its upcoming 5G trials in India. Published on 2020/08/02 | Source Tesla accounted for almost half of government subsidies in Korea for electric cars in the first half of this year. Chinese electric bus makers also benefited significantly. Advertisement According to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association on Sunday, EV sales during the January to June period increased 2.7 percent on-year to 16,359 cars. Korean automakers' sales plunged 43.1 percent during that period due to the delayed release of new models, as well as reduced subsidies per car and increased recharging costs. But sales of imported electric cars surged 564.1 percent. Tesla's aggressive marketing of its Model 3 resulted in sales surging from just 417 to 7,080 while its share of Korea's EV market rose to 43.3 percent in the first six months. The U.S. carmaker benefited from W90 billion worth of subsidies or 43 percent of the total (US1=W1,203). Chinese automakers also performed well thanks to their electric buses. Their sales of electric buses here rose 64.5 percent on-year to 181 as provincial government expanded subsidies for green vehicles. That meant Chinese electric bus makers Hifus and J Motors' sales doubled to 70 and saw their share of the Korean market rose to 38.7 percent. They benefited from 35.1 percent of EV subsidies or W5.9 billion. KAMA chairman Chung Man-ki said, "Subsidies come from taxpayers, so we need to revise the system to benefit Korean automakers". According to KAMA, France in May overhauled its EV subsidy system to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to benefit Peugeot Citroen more, and Germany did the same so that Mercedes-Benz and BMW gain more. China offers subsidies only to EVs that use Chinese-made rechargeable batteries. New Delhi, Aug 2 : The Central Association of Private Security Industry (CAPSI) has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking exemption of the sector from the payment of service tax. In its letter, the industry body has sought a meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the issue at length. "It is strongly recommended that in order to create goodwill among the citizens post Covid, the private security services should be declared tax free as the majority of such are being availed by lakhs of RWAs and SMEs. Consumers of the private security services will be hugely benefited as such services will become more affordable," the letter signed by CAPSI Chairman Kunwar Vikram Singh said. Singh contended that the private security industry, which is to a large extent filling up the void existing in the internal security environment due to lack of government forces, is actually saving the government exchequer huge amounts. "This reality needs to be accepted by the government and hence in return, the government should compensate the industry by exempting paying of service tax by the private security agencies," he said in the letter. Such a move will act as a source of encouragement to the private security agencies to be more vigilant and efficient in discharging their duties, Singh added. Lee County Commissioner Johnny Lawrence, 62, died Friday afternoon after fighting COVID-19 for several weeks. He had represented much of Auburn as commissioner since 2002 and was a retired firefighter of 29 years. Its a huge loss for our community, said Auburn Mayor Ron Anders Jr. who described Lawrence as a fixture in the town. A lot of people know him. Hes a very popular person. Hes got a great personality. In his spare time, he was a photographer, so you saw him in many places taking pictures. His departure will leave a hole in our community, theres no question about it. Lawrence was hospitalized July 12 at East Alabama Medical Center with the disease. He spoke to the Opelika-Auburn News around that time, warning others to take precautions. I really want to ask people to please be safe and take care of themselves (face) masks may not be 100%, but they give you a good chance, he said. Lawrences wife, Maggie, spoke with WRBL Friday about her husbands death. We need our community to understand how dangerous and real this disease is. We urge you to please wear your mask, social distance, wash your hands. Finally, we ask you to honor Johnnys life and servants heart by being kind to one another, she said. Lawrence was an Auburn native who attended local schools and obtained a bachelors degree in public administration from Auburn University, according to the Opelika-Auburn News. Since 20 July, Congress has been discussing the fourth and final stimulus relief package amid the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Earlier this week the Senate proposed the HEALS Act which, among other measures, promises a second round of stimulus checks to millions of Americans struggling financially during the pandemic. This new bill would send $1,000 payments to eligible Americans - $200 less than the stimulus payment from the CARES Act, but president Donald Trump said on 29 July that the second impact check may actually be in excess of $1,200. It is expected that the bill will be fully drafted and signed by the end of this week before Congress takes a break before the Presidential elections. Lawmakers in Washington are trying to agree on the terms for this stimulus relief package so the IRS can start sending the money out. We anticipate that we will have a bill, but we are not there yet, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday. The HEALS Act is a Republican bill and Democrats are debating certain aspects of it such as unemployment benefits, the amount of money that will be sent to Americans and who qualifies for this stimulus check. According to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell the set date to make this bill official is 7 August. "There is no point in considering going home at the end of next week unless we have solved this problem," said Sen. Dick Durbin. Congress has to agree on a final stimulus bill before next Friday because they will go on break and return to work until 8 September and by that time their main focus will be the Presidential elections between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. A student has slammed dangerous 'smart' motorways after he was involved in a horror crash which killed his friend sitting next to him and left three others seriously injured. Mohammed Bhaimia, 20, is still recovering from his injuries seven months after a lorry ploughed into their car on the M1 near Dunstable, Bedfordshire, last December. His words come as it was revealed earlier this month that smart motorways have led to a rise in serious accidents - with one stretch going from one crash a year to six after the hard shoulder was removed. Seven months on Mohammed Bhaimia, 20, is still recovering from his accident on the M1 near Dunstable, Bedfordshire, when a lorry ploughed into the back of people carried he was in The roads have had the hard shoulder removed to increase lane capacity and instead feature emergency refuge areas, but these can be up to two-and-a-half miles apart. Mr Bhaimia from Haggerston, east London, suffered serious fractures plus lung and liver damage after the HGV rammed into the back of their broken down Kia Sedona people carrier in which the he was one of five passengers. At the time of the collision the hard shoulder was being used as an active lane with a constant flow of traffic. Mr Bhaimia's friend, Zahir Ahmed, 19, who was also a passenger, was killed in the smash. Three others in the Kia also suffered serious wounds, including brain injuries. Following the collision Mohammed spent three weeks in hospital and needs specialist rehabilitation to overcome his injuries. He has since launched a civil case against the lorry driver's insurers and Wojciech Bukowski, who was driving the HGV, was jailed for four years and eight months on July 15. The 65-year-old Polish national had previously admitted causing death by dangerous driving and four counts of causing serious injury. Mohammed said that coming to terms with the accident has been 'incredibly difficult'. He added: 'The accident and waking up in hospital is all a blur. I don't remember much of what happened in the first few days after the crash because I was sedated. There are currently more than 20 sections of 'smart motorways' on seven different motorways Emergency refuge areas on smart motorways can be spaced up to two-and-a-half miles apart 'The last few months and coming to terms with the physical and psychological impact of what happened has been incredibly difficult.' Mohammed and his friends had been returning from representing Middlesex University in a pool tournament in Birmingham when the crash happened at around 3.10pm on December 1 last year. After the Kia lost power the driver managed to park safely close to the hard shoulder, which was being used as an active lane, Luton Crown Court was told last month. Moments later the vehicle re-joined the main motorway but the vehicle again lost power. It was stationary on what would have been the hard shoulder on a traditional motorway when the collision happened. The court was told that crash investigators found the lorry driver was driving at 56mph and had not applied the brakes until he hit the car, despite having eight to 10 seconds to do so. Other motorists had managed to drive round the stricken Kia on the Dynamic Hard Shoulder Running motorway, the court heard. Accountancy student Mohammed, suffered a broken right femur and two left arm fractures, one from the shoulder to elbow and the other running from his wrist to his elbow. Roadworks on the M1 at Little Linford in Buckinghamshire between Northampton and Milton Keynes as the section is turned into a smart motorway, pictured in July 2019 He also suffered a broken collarbone, fractured rib as well as a bruised lung and liver. Mohammed underwent several operations and had to catch up on his studies but was forced to give up a part-time job he had at an accountancy firm. The 20-year-old said many motorists do not realise how dangerous these new motorway layout are when a vehicle breaks down. He added: 'I was studying hard and had an ideal job at an accountancy firm where I was gaining experience. 'However, because of what happened I had to give up my job and was way behind in my studies. 'I was determined to pass my year as I didn't want to have to defer and lose a year. Somehow, I managed to catch up and pass which I'm really proud of. 'I just hope that by speaking out people realise how dangerous smart motorways can be. I don't think a lot of people understand how they operate so it's vital drivers take care at all times. 'I wouldn't others to go through what me and my friends have.' Claire Mercer, whose husband Jason, 44, along with another man, died in a collision on a stretch of the M1 near Sheffield which is a smart motorway is also part of a legal action to roll back the government's plans to remove more hard shoulders from major roads. Jason Mercer (left) and Alexandru Murgeanu (right) were killed following a minor collision on a section of smart motorway on the M1 near Sheffield in June 2019. Mr Mercer, 44, had pulled over to exchange contact details with Mr Murgeanu, 22, after they had a minor accident The M1 smart motorway in West Yorkshire saw an average of 1.3 serious crashes between junctions 39 and 42 each year before the change, but this rose to five in the year after What are the three types of 'smart' motorways and how do they work? All lane running schemes permanently remove the hard shoulder and convert it into a running lane. On these types of motorway, lane one (formerly the hard shoulder) is only closed to traffic in the event of an incident. In this case a lane closure will be signalled by a red X on the gantry above, meaning you must exit the lane as soon as possible. All running lane motorways also have overhead gantry signs that display the mandatory speed limit. Should drivers break down or be involved in an accident there are emergency refuge areas at the side of the carriageway for them to use. Controlled motorways have three or more lanes with variable speed limits, but retains a hard shoulder. The hard shoulder should only be used in a genuine emergency. These variable speed limits are displayed on overhead gantry signs - if no speed limit is displayed the national speed limit is in place. Speed cameras are used to enforce these. 'Dynamic' hard shoulder running involves open the hard shoulder as a running lane to traffic at busy periods to ease congestion. On these stretches a solid white line differentiates the hard shoulder from the normal carriageway. Overhead signs on gantries indicate whether or not the hard shoulder is open to traffic. The hard shoulder must not be used if the signs over it are blank or display a red X, except in the case of an emergency. A red X on the gantry above means you must exit the lane as soon as possible. Overhead gantries on these types of motorway also display the mandatory speed limit which varies depending on the traffic conditions. Speed cameras are used to enforce these - no speed limit displayed indicates the national speed limit is in place. Source: RAC Advertisement She wants Highways England to scrap smart motorways amid safety fears and is planning on bringing a judicial review into their use. Darshana Patel, specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, representing Mohammed said: 'This is truly a terrible incident which not only claimed the life of a bright and promising man but also significantly impacted the lives of four of his friends. 'The safety of smart motorways has been called into question on a number of occasions in recent years and the number of fatalities on such routes nationally is a major cause for concern. 'While Mohammed has made good progress he still faces many challenges in his recovery. 'We are continuing to support Mohammed access the rehabilitation he needs and join him in urging drivers to ensure they take care on smart motorways.' The rise in severe accidents was revealed earlier this month by New Civil Engineer magazine's analysis of reports by Highways England , which maintains major roads across the country. The M42 near Birmingham saw the first smart motorway brought in 14 years ago, and there are now 200 miles in the UK with another 300 miles on the way by 2030. The M1 in West Yorkshire saw an average of 1.3 serious crashes between junctions 39 and 42 each year before the change was made, but this rose to five in the year after. And the M6 in the West Midlands between junctions 10a and 13 had one serious accident on average each year prior to the change, but six in the following year. Serious collisions were defined as an accident in which 'at least one person is seriously injured'. The number of fatal crashes dropped in six out of eight stretches. Following calls from families across the country who have lost loved ones as a result of crashes on a smart motorways, in March Transport Secretary Grant Schapps announced an 18-point 'action plan' to overhaul the system. Changes included ensuring the hard shoulders would no longer be opened for traffic during busy periods and, on smart motorways where the hard shoulder has been removed, more refuge areas are to be added for vehicles which need to stop in an emergency. Speaking at the time, Mr Shapps said: 'I am clear that there is more we can do to raise the bar on smart motorway safety. 'The extended package of measures I have set out will help rebuild public confidence in our motorway network and ensure safety is firmly at the heart of the programme.' But the grieving Mrs Mercer blasted the Transport Secretary's plans as 'offensive' and angrily dismissed Mr Shapps's 18-point plan as 'nothing but compromises'. She said: 'This is just offensive. Grant Shapps actually rang me last night to run the proposals past me and I think he was hoping I would say OK to them so he could say I rubber-stamped it. 'But I absolutely do not approve of the plans, I'm very angry about them. He thinks he can smooth this over and he is trying to do a PR job, but it won't work.' Ministers have also ordered road chiefs to roll out radar technology that detects stopped vehicles across the entire network within three years. Last year, Highways England boss Jim O'Sullivan admitted that lives had been lost due to delays in setting the system up. Stranded drivers have to wait an average of 17 minutes to be met by recovery teams. The Department for Transport now wants the average brought down to ten minutes. As well as this, officials have promised a significant increase in cameras to catch drivers who stray into red 'X' lanes with drivers automatically fined 100 and given three points. The skyline of Manchester amid the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Oldham, Britain, August 1, 2020. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo A major incident has been declared in Greater Manchester in the UK due to increases in coronavirus infection rates across multiple localities. The decision to up the readiness of emergency and public services to respond to the escalating Covid-19 transmission rate in the region comes after the Government announced new lockdown restrictions for parts of the North West on Thursday. UK Assistant Chief Constable Nick Bailey, chairman of the Local Resilience Forum in Greater Manchester, said the Strategic Coordination Group met this weekend to discuss regulations in response to last weeks announcement. He said: Recognising that there are multiple localities across Greater Manchester seeing rises in infection rates, the group reviewed learning from other recent areas, including Leicester, and its own learning from across the partnership and have taken the decision to declare this a major incident in order to respond as effectively as possible. This will enable us to maximise the capability of agencies across Greater Manchester, including additional resources if required, to instigate a prompt and positive change in direction. It is part of our desire to protect the population of Greater Manchester and provide them with the highest levels of assurance that agencies are doing all they can to reduce infection rates and bring Greater Manchester back to as near a state of normality as current times allow. MUMBAI: It's been more than a month since Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput passed away and looks his untimely and shocking death has left a devastating effect on his fans and friends. Sushant's demise has also triggered speculation and anger on social media if the actor will get justice from the Mumbai Police which is investigating his death. It is also to be noted that Sushant's father KK Singh (74) on July 28 registered an FIR against actor's alleged girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty and six others, including her family members of cheating abetment to suicide. Following the complaint, a four-member team of Bihar Police arrived in Mumbai and began its investigation into the case. Meanwhile, Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam on Sunday (August 2) took to social media and wrote in Hindi, "It is strange that police of two states are separately investigating the death of Sushant Singh Rajput. If the Mumbai Police does not give up the stubbornness, the Bihar Police must write to Centre and demand a CBI inquiry into the matter. At least the investigation will find a direction and public sentiments will be respected. Most importantly, justice will be done to Sushant." A day earlier, the politico had questioned the conduct of Maharashtra and Bihar Police and tweeted, "The way the police of two states are behaving on the streets of Mumbai on the issue of investigation of Sushant Singhs death, it looks awful." "The Patna Police was today pushed into the car by the Mumbai Police. It seems like there was a competition going on between the two states police," he said in the tweet. The Bihar Police has repeatedly accused the Mumbai Police of not cooperating on the matter. The Patna Police team, which is currently in Mumbai, said that Mumbai Police has not yet shared with them important documents including the post-mortem report of Sushant, despite several appeals. London: I must have received half a dozen excited phone calls. "I hear you're on the list?!" they said, hardly able to contain their excitement. The list, as most people now know, is Jeffrey Epstein's "little black book", curated for him by socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and containing the names and addresses of who's who in both London and New York. It first emerged in 2012 (when Epstein's former housekeeper was arrested by the FBI while trying to sell it) and was published on gawker.com a few years later, along with the flight logs for his private jet, nicknamed the "Lolita Express", but it wasn't until a few months ago that everyone seems to have seen the full inventory. The likes of Bill Clinton, Donald Trump and Naomi Campbell rub shoulders with Prince Andrew, Tony Blair and former Conservative Party chairman Andrew Feldman. Not a single digit of a single address is missing. A circle around your entry is even more reason for uncontained excitement. We even have the honour of double entries: one for my husband and me and the other for my father-in-law, who was also friendly with Ghislaine back in the days when that was an acceptable thing to be. Ghislaine was in my husband's circle at Oxford and we knew many people in common. Many of our friends were in her inner set (though none will speak of her now). Ghislaine Maxwell, driven by Prince Andrew, leaves the wedding of a former girlfriend of the prince in September 2000. Credit:PA Ghislaine was like a sniffer dog: sharp, alert and with a nose that could detect any useful information. I was then an assistant producer at news magazine programme 60 Minutes with access to presidents and prime ministers; that caught her attention. I remember her as being quick-witted, attention-seeking and the complete darling of her set. She appeared at every party along with half a dozen of the then "It" girls whose main occupation seemed to be finding a wealthy man with a "house". Ghislaine's close female friends, however, were career-minded and independent as she clearly was. Many worked in the City. We all know what happened next. As the Ghislaine empire crumbled beneath her, she teleported herself to New York City and that's where it gets very interesting. I remember going to dinner parties with her brothers Kevin and Ian in the mid-'90s and thinking how downtrodden they looked (the hostesses were being kind as mostly everyone else had dumped them). While they hid away in shame and what looked like poverty, Ghislaine re-emerged, and how, with some of most connected people in Manhattan. Not only was she mixing with the very rich, but she seemed to be right in the middle of the action. In fact, she seemed to be directing traffic. Socialising was her clearly well-paid job: as the newly unsealed court documents reveal, Epstein urged Ghislaine to "go to parties, deal with it" even after she was sued by Virginia Roberts Giuffre in 2015. Isaias strengthened slightly as it lashed the Bahamas Saturday, bearing down on Florida where its expected to approach the southeastern part of the state Saturday night before traveling up the U.S. East Coast. Isaias weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm Saturday afternoon but was expected to re-strengthen to a hurricane overnight. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Saturday said he declared a state of emergency for a dozen counties on the Atlantic coast. He warned that even if there are slight variations in its path, it was important to stay vigilant as the state grapples with one of the country's worst coronavirus outbreaks. Even if the eye of the storm stays off the coast, there is of course going to be impacts. We're talking about Hurricane or Tropical Storm force winds, so folks need to be prepared for that." North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper also declared a state of emergency as Isais is expected to hit the Carolinas early next week. The storm was carrying top sustained winds of 80 miles per hour as it hit the Bahamas. On Friday, streets were flooded in Turks and Caicos Islands as Hurricane Isaias lashed across the Caribbean. The storm has caused at least two deaths in the Dominican Republic and knocked out power for thousands of homes and businesses in Puerto Rico, according to local media. Australia's commercial television industry has written to the Morrison Government requesting explicit permission for journalists and production staff to travel over state borders during the coronavirus pandemic. Border closures that have been reintroduced because of a second wave of cases have made it difficult for journalists and producers to travel, as permits do not specifically describe media as an essential activity and the rules vary depending on the state or territory. Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced stage four restrictions and a 'state of disaster' on Sunday afternoon. Credit:Justin McManus In early March when coronavirus cases started to grow, the government did not explicitly outline which services were essential. That decision allowed all businesses that had not been determined as 'non-essential' to move between states. But sources said that Free TV, which represents the interest of Nine Entertainment Co (owner of this masthead), Seven West Media and Network Ten, has reiterated its concerns about the lack of clarity and has pushed for 'a national coordinated approach' for both journalism and production. Agra, Aug 2 : Agra reported its 100th Covid-19 death on Saturday, while the total number of cases shot to 1,851 with 37 fresh additions to the tally till Sunday morning. Meanwhile, the district authorities have scaled up testing in hot zones. A total of 87 teams surveyed homes while 23 camps were held in different localities in the last 24 hours. Between March and June, a total of 22,751 samples were tested out of which 428 were found to be positive, while in July the number of samples was 28,008, of which 677 were found positive. Health officials claim that an examination of the available data suggests things were under control and there was no need for alarm. The district health authorities said the medical infrastructure had been streamlined and the response time significantly reduced to address critical cases. The local S.N. Medical College was fully equipped with required doses of medicines and adequate support services. Meanwhile, the IMA secretariat released a detailed tariff plan for home quarantine facilities which would be available for as low as Rs 600 a day. IMA secretary Dr Sanjay Chaturvedi said: "A large number of people with affordability would be provided professional services at their homes if the guidelines were followed. A 10-day package would cost Rs 600. If necessary it could be extended by another week." On Saturday, local BJP legislator Yogendra Upadhyaya was home quarantined in his Lucknow residence after his Covid-19 test report came positive. Earlier his wife and two sons were admitted to a private hospital here after they were tested positive for coronavirus. A fortnight ago, the MLA was appointed as the chief whip of the party by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. A warm welcome was accorded to him by his admirers when he returned with a fleet of vehicles in a procession to Agra. On the other, keeping in view the Raksha Bandhan festival, the Agra District Magistrate late Saturday evening permitted the opening of Halwai shops on Sunday to prepare sweets which would be available for sale from early Monday morning. Shishir Bhagat, vice president of the Vyapar Mandal Association welcomed the decision and expressed confidence that all members would strictly follow the guidelines relating to social distancing, masks and sanitisation. The 55-hour weekend lockdown is in force in the state and will continue till 5 a.m. Monday. Switzerland should tighten restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus, in order to prevent stricter lockdown conditions, countrys new head of COVID-19 task force said. The EU country which has reported over 35412 cases till now recently saw a sharp spike in coronavirus infections. In July, the country saw a surge in its daily average of cases with 200 people testing positive every day. This came as a shock to Swiss authorities who reported an average of 35 in June. Warning the government of a second wave, Martin Ackermann said that the country was on the brink of big rise in infections and had little room to manoeuvre. The Taskforce chief also advised the government to intervene at an earlier stage to prevent exponential growth Of COVID-19. However, he warned that, if not controlled, it could lead to drastic and expensive restrictions, which according to him, should be prevented under all circumstances. Read: Switzerland To Expand List Of Countries With Bad Epidemiological Situation To 42 Read: Switzerland: 2 Trains Collide In Mountain Railway Tunnel 'Make masks compulsory indoors' Switzerland has lifted partial lockdown which it imposed in March. However, Ackerman has demanded to make masks and face-covering compulsory indoors, not just on public transport. Another thing that he has talked about is to reduce the size of public gatherings to 100. Currently, the country allows for events to be held with nearly 1000 people. This comes as Swiss authorities announced that passengers entering the country from any of the nations which it believes to have a bad epidemiological situation will be subjected to a 10-day quarantine. However, it later expanded that list to include 42 countries with the new additions being Bosnia and Herzegovina, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eswatini, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Maldives, Mexico, Montenegro, Palestine, Suriname and the United Arab Emirates. Read: Switzerland: Women Stage A Mass Scream Demanding End To Domestic Violence & Pay Gap Read: COVID-19 Lockdown: Switzerland To Lift Travel Restrictions On EU, UK From June 15 (Natural News) Facebook and Google (YouTube) will not allow any doctor or survivor to speak about their success in treating coronavirus infection, unless their advice coincides with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These are policies of censorship that come directly from the CEOs of both companies. The Big Tech social media giants have developed a manipulative, controlling public health orthodoxy a cult of fear that prohibits any good news about infection recovery, how to help the immune system, and how to successfully treat people with antiviral medications. Its now obvious what is going on: The goal is to coerce as many people as possible to submit to quarterly injections and undergo DNA-altering vaccine experiments that reprogram the immune system at the cellular level. Big Tech is in on the vaccine sell which can only be achieved by keeping the population controlled and in a state of fear. These vaccine experiments are already causing symptoms in 80 percent of those vaccinated in clinical studies. Scientifically, this approach will cause perpetual dependence on one-sided immune system augmentations that rely on antibody measurements (not full-scale adaptive immunity through regular environmental exposure). Big Tech censoring lifesaving information, complicit in crimes against humanity When a group of doctors went live in front of the Supreme Court with coronavirus success stories and a message of hope, Facebook and YouTube banned the information the same day it was posted. The information was popular. Doctors were coming forth with information on treatment. One doctor successfully used hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), zinc, and azithromycin to cure all three hundred fifty of her patients. The HCQ helps deliver the zinc into the cells, stopping the infection from multiplying at the cellular level. Because Facebook, YouTube and other big tech censors continue to banish lifesaving information, they are anti-science, complicit in crimes against humanity, banning life saving information that can lower mortality rates from coronavirus infection and improve survival rates from any infection. Hydroxychloroquine has been around for sixty-five years and can be obtained affordably for treatment programs in hospitals or as a prophylactic to prevent viral attachment and replication. This drug is derived from chloroquine, which was praised by Dr. Anthony Fauci in 2005 for its effectiveness in treating Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a similar coronavirus infection. Instead of promoting a time-tested antiviral and bringing forth scientific studies on nutritions role in preventing infection, Dr. Fauci only believes that untested vaccines will be the safe and effective way to allow the world to go back to normal. Sharing information to help people recover from covid-19 should be top priority to prevent unneeded death and to save hospital beds Joseph A. Ladapo, MD, PhD said its time to think about the implication of the decisions were making in regards to controlling one another during covid-19, and the unanticipated consequences of acting out of fear. What are the economic, social, mental and emotional impacts of forcing people to live in isolation, expecting shutdowns and controls, without purpose and interaction? What are the implications of banning information on antiviral medications? Why wont Facebook and YouTube allow information to be shared on the science of Vitamin C, Vitamin D, zinc and selenium? There are so many answers for viral infections that could save lives. Black cumin seed oil (Nigella sativa) contains an antiviral compound (thymoquinone) similar in structure to quinine, the derivative of chloroquine and HCQ. Sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua) has been studied for its antiviral properties for treating malaria in similar fashion that HCQ has treated malaria for decades. Information like this abounds but it has been systematically censored from social media. Information like this is important for infection prevention and timely recovery and should be shared with the public, not banished in unison by Big Tech. Dr. Ladapo said it well: Covid-19 is a challenging, complex issue that would benefit from having multiple perspectives, so its not good for the American people, when everyone is hearing one perspective on the main stations. Theres just no way thats going to serve us. Please visit Medicine Uncensored for studies that are being withheld from the public. No one should be conditioned to live in isolation and in fear of their own immune response. Sources include: Brighteon.com MedicineUncensored.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com NCBI.NLM.NIH.gov UKnow.uky.edu Top Indian and Chinese military commanders on Sunday met in eastern Ladakh to discuss the next stage of disengagement along the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC), with negotiations entering a critical phase due to serious differences between the two armies in the Finger Area near Pangong Tso and the Chinese Peoples Liberation Armys reluctance to vacate positions held by it in what New Delhi claims to be Indian territory, people familiar with the talks said on the condition of anonymity. The Finger Area a set of eight cliffs jutting out of the Sirijap range overlooking the Pangong Lake has emerged as the hardest part of the disengagement process with little hope of immediate resolution, said one of the officials cited above. Also read: India, China set to hold fifth round of commander-level talks today on LAC disengagement The talks the fifth round of negotiations between corps commander-ranked officers began at around 11.30am at Moldo on the Chinese side of the LAC and were in progress when this report was filed. The latest round of military negotiations came three days after Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong said his countrys traditional boundary line on the northern bank of the Pangong Lake was in accordance with the LAC and there was no case of Beijing expanding its territorial claim. The ambassadors contention was a clear indication of the Chinese hard line on its claims in the Finger Area, said a second official. Before the PLA grabbed positions on Finger Four overlooking Indian deployments, the Indian 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 eight kilometres apart. It is becoming increasingly evident that breaking the Finger Area deadlock may require diplomatic intervention, said the 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 three months. The new constructions by the PLA in the Finger Area and its deployments there show there is an element of permanence in their claims to the area. That coupled with the Chinese ambassadors statement is an indication that the PLA is inclined to hold its positions on the north bank of Pangong Tso, said former Northern Army commander Lieutenant General (retd) DS Hooda. Disengagement has progressed somewhat smoothly at friction points in Galwan Valley and Hot Springs but its pace remains sluggish in the Gogra area, said a third official. De-escalation of the border conflict with China can only begin complete disengagement between the two armies along the LAC. The ground situation remains unchanged in the Ladakh sector where both armies have deployed almost 100,000 soldiers and weaponry in their forward and depth areas and are prepared for a long haul through the winter months. Last month, defence minister Rajnath Singh clearly indicated that resolving the tensions along the LAC between the two nuclear powers was a challenging process. During a visit to Ladakh on July 17, he said progress in negotiations should help resolve the border dispute but added that he couldnt guarantee to what extent the situation will be resolved. In July-end, Northern Army commander Lieutenant General YK Joshi said disengagement between forward deployed Indian and Chinese soldiers from friction areas along the LAC was a complex and intricate process that required diligent execution. Last week, India rejected Chinas contention that disengagement has been completed at most locations along their disputed border, with New Delhi calling on Beijing to work sincerely for complete de-escalation and full restoration of peace along the LAC. External affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava acknowledged there has been some progress towards disengagement and de-escalation along the LAC, though the process is far from complete. The sizeable Chinese troop presence at friction points, particularly Pangong Lake and Depsang, remains a concern, with the Chinese side yet to deliver on understandings regarding disengagement reached during the July 5 phone conversation of the special representatives on the border issue and meetings of corps commanders. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said American companies are becoming aware of human rights abuses in the Chinese province of Xinjiang as he reiterated his call for them to reconsider doing business there. During an interview with Fox News on August 2, he also said that the United States would soon take action against Chinese software companies and warned a Chinese trade deal with Iran would destabilize the Middle East. Pompeo told Fox that Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC), which was sanctioned on July 31 by the Treasury Department, had deep connectivity to Western businesses, including U.S. companies. Pompeo said XPCC was involved in cotton production. I dont think companies -- some brand names here in America -- want to be connected to what is taking place there, he told Fox. The action freezes any U.S. assets of the company and officials, and prohibits Americans from doing business with them. American clothing brands import significant amounts of cotton from China. Pompeo accused the Chinese Communist Party of doing terrible, terrible things to the Uyghurs, the Muslim Turkic ethnic group living in Xinjiang, including carrying out sterilizations and forced abortions. He added that American companies are starting to become more aware of what is happening in Xinjiang and of the challenges this presents to their brand. I think all across the world for an awful long time we didn't recognize the threats posed to freedom, the authoritarian nature of the regime there, and so we let things go on that we shouldn't, he said. The U.S. secretary of state said the latest rounds of sanctions has put Chinese firms operating in Xinjiang on notice that they must change their behavior. Pompeos comments come amid a deterioration of relations between the United States and China over a host of issues -- from human rights abuses, spying, and intellectual property theft to Beijing's response to the coronavirus outbreak. He told Fox News that President Donald Trump will take action in the coming days on Chinese software companies that are feeding data directly to the Beijing government, posing a risk to U.S. national security. He gave no further details. Trump said on July 31 that he would soon issue an order for the popular social-media platform TikTok to be banned in the United States. Turning to Iran, Pompeo denounced reports that Beijing and Tehran are close to signing a $400 billion economic and security deal. He said United States sanctions against Iran would be applied to Chinese state firms, warning that Tehrans access to money and weapons only compounds risks for the region. I think countries in the Middle East should see this for what it is. Chinas entry into Iran will destabilize the Middle East, he said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- The FDNY has formally prohibited the use fire hoses to disperse unruly crowds, following several weeks of civil rights protests and rioting across the city that left several police officers and civilians injured. While the vast majority of these (protests) in NYC have not involved the response of the FDNY, there is the potential for civil unrest, or acts of violence causing immediate danger to our members, reads an order obtained recently by the New York Post. In 2011, firefighters came to the rescue of two police officers outnumbered in Mariners Harbor, in a scene so chaotic that members of the FDNYs nearby Engine Co. 158 employed a truck-mounted deluge gun -- a water cannon -- to fend off the large group of teens. That incident aside: It has been the Departments longstanding practice that hoselines should not be used in any offensive or defensive manner against people, the FDNY memo reportedly reads. If FDNY hoses ever are used during a police-involved incident, it only would be for extinguishing fires caused by acts of sabotage, such as Molotov cocktail, said Commissioner Daniel Nigro. The NYPD has its own water cannons that can be used against violent crowds, mounted on a disorder control unit vehicle. St. Petersburg, Fla Isaias snapped trees and knocked out power as it blew through the Bahamas on Saturday and churned toward the Florida coast, threatening to complicate efforts to contain the coronavirus in places where cases are surging. Isaias weakened from a hurricane to a tropical storm Saturday afternoon, but was expected to regain hurricane strength overnight as it barrels toward Florida. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned during a news conference: "Don't be fooled by the downgrade." Florida authorities closed beaches, parks and virus testing sites, lashing signs to palm trees so they won't blow away. The governor said the state is anticipating power outages and asked residents to have a week's supply of water, food and medicine on hand. Officials wrestled with how to prepare shelters where people can seek refuge from the storm if necessary, while safely social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. Authorities in North Carolina ordered the evacuation of Ocracoke Island. Meanwhile, officials in the Bahamas opened shelters to help those who have been living in temporary structures since Dorian devastated the area, killing at least 70 people. The storm's maximum sustained winds were near 70 miles per hour at 5 p.m., when the U.S. National Hurricane Center downgraded it its status. But the agency said it is expected to pick up strength overnight as it heads over warm water toward Florida. The center of the storm is forecast to approach the southeast coast of Florida early Sunday morning and then travel along the state's east coast throughout the day. It is expected to remain a hurricane through Monday then slowly weaken as it climbs up the Atlantic. Heavy rain, flooding and high winds could batter much of the east coast this week. Isaias pronounced ees-ah-EE-ahs has already been destructive in the Caribbean: On Thursday, before it became a hurricane, it uprooted trees, destroyed crops and homes and caused widespread flooding and small landslides in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. One man died in the Dominican Republic. In Puerto Rico, the National Guard rescued at least 35 people from floodwaters that swept away one woman, whose body was recovered Saturday. Concerns about the coronavirus and the vulnerability of people who are still recovering from Dorian were adding to worries about the storm. Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Minnis relaxed a coronavirus lockdown as a result of the storm, but imposed a 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew. The Bahamas has reported more than 570 confirmed COVID-19 cases and at least 14 deaths. It recently barred travelers from the U.S. following a surge in cases after it reopened to international tourism. As the storm moves now toward the southeast coast of Florida, a hurricane warning is in effect from Boca Raton to the Volusia-Flagler county line, which lies about 150 miles north. A storm surge watch is in effect for Jupiter Inlet to Ponte Vedra Beach. Coronavirus cases have surged in Florida in recent weeks, and the added menace of a storm ratcheted up the anxiety. State-run virus testing sites are closing in areas where the storm might hit because the sites are outdoor tents, which could topple in high winds. A humanitarian cargo has arrived from Beijing in Almaty, Trend reports via Kazinform. The cargo included 300 oxygen concentrators and 26 artificial air lung ventilation devices. The organization of humanitarian aid was carried out by the private charitable foundation of Nurali Aliyev ZHANARTU. The Foundation donates 300 7F-10 oxygen concentrators and 26 artificial lung ventilation devices Positive Airway Pressure Units YH-830 (Bi-level) with Independent Humidifier with LCD screen to medical institutions of Kazakhstan. It is noted that with the support of the famous Chinese businessman and founder of the Alibaba Group Jack Ma, the founder of the ZHANARTU Fund made an agreement with the management of the Chinese YUWELL plant on the supply of ventilators and oxygen equipment at prime cost. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Le Hoai Trung, Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Vietnam - Cambodia Joint Committee on Border Demarcation and Marker Planting, while the Cambodian delegation was headed by Var Kim Hong, Senior Minister in charge of border affairs and Chairman of the Cambodia - Vietnam Joint Committee on Border Demarcation and Marker Planting. The two sides examined and agreed all 500 sets of border topographic maps, including 250 sets in Vietnamese - Khmer languages and 250 others in Khmer - Vietnamese languages with all signatures of the two countries' relevant authorities. Each side keeps 250 sets of original maps. The maps are part of the Vietnam - Cambodia land border demarcation protocol signed on October 5, 2019 along with the supplementary treaty to the 1985 Treaty on the Delimitation of National Boundaries and the 2005 Supplementary Treaty. The event laid an important foundation for both sides to hold a ceremony to exchange the document approving the validity of the supplementary treaty to the 1985 Treaty on the Delimitation of National Boundaries and the 2005 Supplementary Treaty, and the Vietnam - Cambodia land border demarcation protocol. Both sides agreed to inform each other about schedule for the ceremony via diplomatic channels after the two Governments end measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis drags on, and some New York City businesses remain shuttered by government order, the lifeline of unemployment benefits is as critical as ever for out-of-work people facing an uncertain fall. Several recent changes, at both the state and national level, impact unemployment benefits for Staten Islanders. STATE BENEFITS EXTENDED An additional five months of state unemployment payments are now available to New Yorkers who are still without a job due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Extended Benefits, an additional 20 weeks of payments, comes at a welcome time for many residents who were receiving $600 federal unemployment assistance payments before it ended on July 26. According to a report, New Yorkers who were receiving the additional benefits will lose an average of 61% of their income now that the payments have stopped. The $2,400 monthly payment has been instrumental for individuals and families who suddenly found themselves out of work, either temporarily or permanently, because of the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor Bill de Blasio thanked the state for the extended benefits during a press conference on Thursday. While our federal government isnt acting I want to give credit to New York State, de Blasio said. New Yorkers qualify for the Extended Benefits under federal rules due to the states high unemployment rate, which was 15.6% in June. The New York City unemployment rate is currently at 18%. As the unemployment rate changes, Extended Benefits may also change, according to the state Department of Labor (DOL). AM I ELIGIBLE FOR THE EXTENDED BENEFITS? Extended benefits are available to all unemployed New Yorkers after all current unemployment benefits have been exhausted and work is still not available, according to DOL. Traditional Unemployment Insurance (UI) provides benefits for 26 weeks. Following the UI payments, individuals were then eligible for an additional 13 weeks of Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), which was passed under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Securities (CARES) Act at the end of March and available beginning April 5. After UI and PEUC benefits have been exhausted, the additional 20 weeks of Extended Benefits (EB) will be paid. EB payments will be the same weekly rate as traditional Unemployment Insurance benefits. Extended Benefits are not available to individuals receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), however, those individuals are now eligible for 46 weeks of benefits, according to DOL. PUA, which was passed as part pf the CARES Act, is support for individuals who are out of work but did not qualify for traditional Unemployment Insurance (UI). WILL THERE BE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL PAYMENTS? Introduced this week in the Senate, the Health Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act proposal reduces the federal unemployment benefit to 70% of the unemployed persons lost wages after providing $200 through September. Previous payments were $600 per week. Republicans argue that $600 per week was too much, as many were making more money per week with unemployment assistance than they were while working and left no incentive for people to return to work. This is a middle finger to those struggling and falls so far short of the mark its disgusting, wrong, and everything people hate about politics, said Rep. Max Rose who slammed the proposal. Democrats have called for an extension of the $600 per week benefit. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. The woman tried to raise the dead A Nigerian man identified as Mykael Udy has shared an interesting encounter he had with a lady at a Lagos hospital. Udy explained that the lady tackled Jesus Christ for not answering her after she attempted to raise the dead to show that there is power in his name. The man who who shared the story online, said he was at the Isolo General hospital when the lady dressed in red met with him and asked if she could share Gods word with him. He declined her offer and this led to an interesting episode. Read his tweets below: I really dont know whats wrong with religious people but the level of delusion I witnessed today is out of this world. I was walking out of Isolo General Hospital when the lady in red approached me saying she wanted to preach the Gospel. I responded that she should take that gospel to the sick folks in the hospital who needed healing. She failed to raise the dead She insisted that she was directed by the holy spirit to preach to me, and that to prove that it was the holy Spirit who sent her, she would raise a dead body in the hospital so I would believe. This would be interesting I said to myself. As we stood there, a car rolled up into the hospital carrying a dead person. She walked briskly to the car and asked if the person was dead and that people would witness the power of Jesus. I looked on in utter amazement Well, the lady who had died was stretchered out and the lady in red began screaming, and commanding her to wake up in Jesus name. This went on for at least 50 minutes. Nothing happened. She began crying and begging the holy spirit not to forsake her and to prove that he was with her. That went on for another 35 minutes or so. Finally, she stopped and said sorry for your loss to a man who I think is the ladys husband. As she walked out of the hospital, I could hear her saying to herself, Jesus why didnt you answer me? It just goes to show how dangerous religious delusions are. Virginia Roberts Giuffre had some harsh words for her alleged abuser Ghislaine Maxwell on Saturday, after the British socialite desperately tried to block the release of explosive court documents containing details of her alleged crimes. The 36-year-old took a jab at Maxwell on Twitter as she shared a photo of herself relaxing poolside in Australia, where she now lives with her husband and kids. 'Hey Ghislaine Maxwell, just sitting outside, taking some time to de-stress after you & your lawyers shenanigans. Like the view? 'If you didn't abuse 1000's of minors you would not be staring at your toilet as a piece of artwork,' Giuffre said in a scathing tweet. Virginia Roberts Giuffre shared a photo of herself relaxing poolside in Queensland, Australia on Twitter on Saturday The 36-year-old issued a scathing message to Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently sitting in jail as she awaits trial on sex trafficking charges Like the view? 'If you didn't abuse 1000's of minors you would not be staring at your toilet as a piece of artwork,' Giuffre said of Maxwell Maxwell is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn as she awaits trial on charges on conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse girls. Giuffre's comments come after a federal judge ordered more than 80 court documents pertaining to her 2015 civil defamation case against Maxwell be made public this week. Maxwell, 58, who has been charged with multiple counts of criminal sex trafficking, had filed an emergency order to keep the papers sealed claiming it would destroy her ability to get a fair trial. While a first tranche of court papers were unsealed on Thursday, a U.S. appeals court on Friday agreed to temporarily delay the release of a 2016 deposition about Maxwell's sex life. Her lawyer argued it could make it 'difficult if not impossible' to find an impartial jury, out of the public eye. The deposition, which was taken in April 2016, had been scheduled for release on Monday. Virginia Roberts has claimed she was trafficked to Prince Andrew on at least three occasions, according to unsealed court documents. He has vehemently denied the allegations Maxwell, 58, has pleaded not guilty to helping Epstein recruit and eventually abuse three girls from 1994 to 1997, and committing perjury by denying her involvement under oath Giuffre has long claimed she was trafficked by billionaire pedophile Jeffrey Epstein when she was underage with the help of his alleged 'madame' Maxwell. Maxwell is accused of aiding the disgraced financier's sexual abuse of multiple girls by allegedly recruiting and grooming them to have sex with him and other powerful men. Giuffre has also claimed Maxwell had arranged for her to have sex with Prince Andrew three times: once at Epstein's New York apartment, once in the Caribbean, and once at her London home in March 2001. A now infamous photo that shows Giuffre, Prince Andrew and Maxwell in Ghislaine's apartment taken in 2001 has been widely circulated. Earlier this week, Giuffre unveiled her new hairdo to her Twitter followers and revealed she was due to undergo surgery on her neck Prince Andrew has strenuously denied all of Roberts' allegations. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to helping Epstein recruit abuse three girls from 1994 to 1997, and committing perjury by denying her involvement under oath. Earlier this week, Giuffre unveiled her new hairdo to her Twitter followers after going from blond to brunette, and revealed she was due to undergo surgery on her neck. In a follow-up tweet, she added: 'Fingers crossed the surgery is a success and I can continue on my path for justice.' She did not share details about surgery or its purpose. She then posted a photo in a neck brace days later saying she was awaiting to learn if she needed a steel rod down her spine. Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Mueller Water Products, Inc. (NYSE:MWA) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 4 days. You can purchase shares before the 7th of August in order to receive the dividend, which the company will pay on the 20th of August. Mueller Water Products's upcoming dividend is US$0.052 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of US$0.21 per share to shareholders. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, Mueller Water Products has a trailing yield of approximately 2.1% on its current stock price of $10.12. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. So we need to investigate whether Mueller Water Products can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow. View our latest analysis for Mueller Water Products Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. That's why it's good to see Mueller Water Products paying out a modest 30% of its earnings. A useful secondary check can be to evaluate whether Mueller Water Products generated enough free cash flow to afford its dividend. Over the past year it paid out 130% of its free cash flow as dividends, which is uncomfortably high. We're curious about why the company paid out more cash than it generated last year, since this can be one of the early signs that a dividend may be unsustainable. While Mueller Water Products's dividends were covered by the company's reported profits, cash is somewhat more important, so it's not great to see that the company didn't generate enough cash to pay its dividend. Were this to happen repeatedly, this would be a risk to Mueller Water Products's ability to maintain its dividend. Story continues Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Businesses with strong growth prospects usually make the best dividend payers, because it's easier to grow dividends when earnings per share are improving. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. Fortunately for readers, Mueller Water Products's earnings per share have been growing at 14% a year for the past five years. Earnings have been growing at a decent rate, but we're concerned dividend payments consumed most of the company's cash flow over the past year. Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Mueller Water Products has delivered 12% dividend growth per year on average over the past 10 years. It's exciting to see that both earnings and dividends per share have grown rapidly over the past few years. The Bottom Line Should investors buy Mueller Water Products for the upcoming dividend? We're glad to see the company has been improving its earnings per share while also paying out a low percentage of income. However, it's not great to see it paying out what we see as an uncomfortably high percentage of its cash flow. Overall we're not hugely bearish on the stock, but there are likely better dividend investments out there. On that note, you'll want to research what risks Mueller Water Products is facing. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Mueller Water Products you should be aware of. If you're in the market for dividend stocks, we recommend checking our list of top dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 20:22:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WINDHOEK, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- When a devastating fire gutted Twaloloka informal settlement in Namibian coastal town Walvis Bay, Emma Gawises' dwelling was burned to ashes. About 153 shacks burned to the ground when a fire ravaged the settlement on July 26, affecting more than 1,000 dwellers. "I was shattered and disgruntled. Homeless, I wondered what will become of us, from where we will eat," said Gawises, who lived in the informal settlement since 2016. According to her, she didn't just lose a place she called home for years and belongings but hope too. But charitable efforts by government and locals in Namibia are restoring hope for Twaloloka informal settlement dwellers. "Individuals, companies and the government came to our aid. We are getting a lot of help, which gave me hope to a second chance at life," said Gawises, currently accommodated in a tent. The Namibian government joint with the Red Cross Society of Namibia erected 108 tents, serving as temporary shelter for the inferno victims. Other items provided include food, clothing, utilities and necessities, amongst others. Charitable efforts are coordinated on many levels by corporates and individuals across the country. In the Namibian capital, Windhoek, Eenghoshi Bikers Club on Saturday held a charity run and mass ride for Twaloloka residents. The club's administrator, Elina KaSmally Namupolo said that the initiative is driven by the member's conviction to make the world a better place by helping others. According to Namupolo, about 30 members of the club paraded on bikes in different residential areas of Windhoek to raise awareness. "We collected items in Windhoek and surrounding areas intended for the residents affected by the fire that burned down Twaloloka settlement," she said. It is such efforts that provide console to the survivors such as Charlotte Kanuni, who too lost everything in the fire. "It is not only about losing my belongings but much more than that. But knowing that people care is a form of counselling for us. I am no longer in despair, knowing that more companies and charitable people are opening their hearts to help us," said Kanunu. Furthermore, on the side of government, aid towards the victims is coordinated through the National Disaster Risk Management Committee, according to Mbeuta Ua-Ndjarakana, the executive director in the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology. "We received assistance and donations from private and corporate bodies in the national fund towards this course. This demonstrated solidarity and spirit of unity are commendable," said Namibian President Hage Geingob. Meanwhile, the government is looking at undertaking more sustainable and progressive modalities to assist the victims. According to Muronga Haingura, an official from the Walvis Bay municipality, the land has been availed were 215 plots are being serviced to accommodate all affected households by mid-August this year. "Currently, makeshift material used for building shacks are prone to fire. Thus our approach further aims to discourage the congestion and mushrooming of shacks to prevent another inferno," he said. President Geingob said that government has also made resources available to assist dwellers. "Building materials will be purchased by government for affected residents to accelerate the process of relocation," Geingob added. Gawises and other dwellers said that this would be a welcome move. "Decongested community would not only provide conducive shelter, but utilities that would help us sustain hygienic and safe community," she said. Enditem Anaheim Police Chief Jorge Cisneros has rejected recommendations from two police review groups regarding the time frame for officers to give testimony after shooting incidents. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) Anaheim Police Chief Jorge Cisneros is declining to implement recommendations from two police review groups that could affect the accuracy of officers testimonies following shootings. The citys community-driven Police Review Board and the external Office of Investigative Review Group recommended that the police department have officers provide testimony the day a critical incident occurs, rather than within seven days, which is the current policy. The OIR Group also recommended that officers not be shown body-cam footage from incidents theyre involved in before providing their statement. Those recommendations were presented at this week's council meeting as part of both groups' annual reports. In our view, it makes sense to have that statement occur much sooner to reduce the chance that anything will interfere with the accuracy of the officers testimony, said Mayra Gomez, a member of the Police Review Board. But Cisneros, who was named chief in 2018, argued that his policy of giving officers involved in shootings seven days to provide statements is the norm. Being involved in a shooting is a traumatic event for our community and also our police officers, Cisneros said. APD, like most other California police agencies, removes the officer from service for 72 hours, then we require them to pass a psychological evaluation prior to returning to work. The 72 hours is not something Anaheim made; its a norm throughout our profession. Cisneros said experts believe that individuals who experience trauma give more reliable information as they move away from that trauma. Michael Gennaco of the OIR Group disagrees. We believe the officer should be interviewed before the officer goes home that night, he said. The OIR Group has been contracted with the city of Anaheim to provide investigations and reports on the police department since 2007. The group is given access to confidential files and is able to monitor debriefings at the scenes of crimes. Story continues The Police Review Board is the citys civilian oversight board for the police department, with one resident representing each district. Most council members had little to say about the departments stance on the two recommendations. Council members Denise Barnes and Jose Moreno mentioned that it would be desirable to interview officers right away to make sure the memory is fresh. Another recommendation has to do with body cameras we would prefer a situation where an officer gives a statement before being exposed to body cameras, Gennaco said. That is a point of contention between us and the department. We think that the best practice, and memory experts agree with us, is to get the statement from the officer, then allow the officer to see the body-worn camera. If that body-worn camera footage causes his memory to be refreshed, then have the officer enhance his statement. Cisneros said the Orange County district attorneys office conducts criminal investigations when an officer-involved shooting occurs, so it is up to that office to decide how to interview the officer. Again, there is a difference of opinion by experts as to whether or not to view the body cam before or after, Cisneros said. Moreno said it seems to be problematic to allow officers to review video of the incident before their interview. Gennaco said the department has agreed to implement most of the groups recommendations and, like many police departments in California, has removed the use of neck holds from its policy following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Cisneros said the department has implemented more than 90% of the OIR Groups recommendations over the years. Councilman Stephen Faessel said at the meeting that hed like reports from both groups to be presented biannually rather than once a year, expressing concern that some of the cases included in the reports were from two years ago. Its a little discomforting that we are learning about statements and things that have happened approaching two years ago, Faessel said. Im concerned that the timing of these reports are so late for us. Especially police use of force is something we need to be aware of very quickly. Brazil writes for Times Community News. On Saturday, Washington D.C. was exposed as a city of appalling, and entirely un-American, double standards. The first involved the citys quarantine order, which doesnt apply to the privileged few, and the second revealed the citys outrageous double standards for free speech. The privilege issue showed up with the stringent quarantine order D.C. has for people who enter the city: Under current District of Columbia rules, all of those individuals would normally be required to self-quarantine for two weeks upon returning to D.C. City Mayor Muriel Bowsers recent quarantine order dictates that any individual traveling to a high-risk area for non-essential reasons must self-quarantine for 14 days upon entering the District. The entire state of Georgia is among the locations deemed high-risk by the mayors office. Dozens of Democrat party D.C. luminaries appeared at John Lewiss well-attended funeral in Atlanta, Georgia. These included Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Kamala Harris, Steny Hoyer, and many more. If they were normal Americans, instead of a political elite, the price theyd pay for that funeral attendance would be two weeks in their apartments, alone. But things are different if youre a VIP: [A] spokeswoman for Bowser confirmed that attendees of the funeral would not have to follow the mayors quarantine rules. Government activity is essential, and the Capitol of the United States is exempt from the Mayors Order, Bowser Press Secretary Susana Castillo told Just the News on Friday. Asked if Lewiss funeral constituted government activity, Castillo responded: Yes. Asked if attendees at non-government funerals in high-risk areas would have to self-quarantine upon returning to the District, Castillo again responded: Yes. That would be bad enough but, when it comes to D.C. Double Standards, theres more. Since May 26, the day after George Floyd died, America has been awash in graffiti. In one Democrat-run city after another, the government has ignored it, encouraged it, or even participated. Here are just a few examples out of the thousands of images available: Graffiti on the county courthouse in Portland: Until the police & ICE are abolished, we will burn this city down piece by piece. #PortlandRiots #antifa pic.twitter.com/riUQ2cK56m Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) July 26, 2020 DOWN... overnight protestors pulled down the George Washington statue that stood at NE Sandy & 57th for many years. The base destoyed and tagged with youre on native land. Lots of people stopping by to check out the damage this morning #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/koStwHacmJ Mike Warner (@MikeKATU) June 19, 2020 More militant anti-police graffiti going up in Minneapolis pic.twitter.com/tIXeYDcPJv Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) May 28, 2020 PHOTO | Graffiti in solidarity with the Minneapolis uprising seen in San Antonio, Texas pic.twitter.com/mBFC820BoY Antifa_Ultras (@ultras_antifaa) May 30, 2020 In addition to the random graffiti shown above, there are two striking examples of street painting that need to be called out before getting to the meat of this story. First, New Yorks Bill de Blasio personally participated in painting the words Black Lives Matter on a New York City street in front of the Trump building: NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio helps paint the Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower. pic.twitter.com/znFVt7XC8P The Recount (@therecount) July 9, 2020 Although his city is financially broken, a well-informed source claims that de Blasio currently has 27 police officers on duty guarding that mural. Second, heres the graffiti festooning Washington D.C. following the protests and riots there, all of which needed to be scrubbed with great effort and expense: President Trump walks from the White House through Lafayette Park to visit St. John's Church on Monday in Washington, DC. Patrick Semansky / AP pic.twitter.com/cFPBNUuX65 NBC News (@NBCNews) June 2, 2020 Fire flair up in the small building at Lafayette Square earlier this morning. Graffiti abatement crews took their power washing equipment across the street to put out the flames before firefighters arrived. pic.twitter.com/77BUrqTELX Victoria Sanchez (@VictoriaSanchez) June 1, 2020 DC Public Works crews are working to clear graffiti off of St. Johns, statues, signs and posts near Lafayette Square, where tensions came to a head Sunday pic.twitter.com/ABOVBIVi6I Justin Finch (@JustinNBC4) June 1, 2020 With all that firmly fixed in your mind, youre ready for this: Two pro-life students took colored chalk, the kind that vanishes in the rain, and, on the sidewalk in front of a D.C. abortion clinic, they wrote the words Preborn Black Lives Matter. The students wore masks and kept themselves socially distant from each other. Nevertheless, the police showed up, cuffed them, and arrested them for Defacing of Private/Public Property. According to MPD: The individuals arrested were charged with the below offense and were both citation released. Referred me to the following: pic.twitter.com/7bnEy6GfVl Mary Margaret Olohan (@MaryMargOlohan) August 1, 2020 Whether one supports abortion or not, its hard to put into words how very wrong it is that these young people got arrested while violent anarchists across America despoil cities, including D.C., and walk away or while the mayor of New York participates in putting graffiti on his city streets and then spends untold sums of money policing his art work. Some people got it: I am as pro-choice as it gets. This is an absolutely unacceptable violation of free speech. https://t.co/SryTsghhS5 Timothy Sandefur (@TimothySandefur) August 1, 2020 Americans believe in a fair legal system. Now, though, they are witnessing a new legal system in America, one with a lenient set of rules for Democrats and another set of rules for everyone else. Its to be hoped that those lacking the special Democrat privilege understand that the best way to stop these double standards is to vote a straight Republican slate from President to dog catcher. Image: Twitter screengrab At a symposium with entrepreneurs in July, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised the founder of Japanese electronics company Panasonic as a visionary alongside the likes of Thomas Edison. "Konosuke Matsushita was not only an authority on management, but an authority on innovation," the leader said at the event in Beijing. A Panasonic representative was among the seven entrepreneurs allowed to share their opinions on the coronavirus-ravaged economy, signaling the importance the Chinese leadership bestows on the Osaka-based company. Matsushita met China's paramount leader Deng Xiaoping in 1978, and Panasonic launched its first joint venture in China in 1987. The Chinese overtures come as Sino-American tensions expand from trade deficits to the battle over high-tech supremacy and, more dangerously, to control over the South China Sea. Two days later, Xin Guobin, China's vice minister of industry and information technology, recommended to reporters that they visit Toyota Motor whenever they are in Japan. "They continuously innovate," said of the automaker, "and continue to raise the quality of their product." The showering of praise on Japanese companies looks to be part of a campaign. As Beijing's leaders confront tensions with the U.S., their primary focus "is to build a Chinese supply chain that can't be blocked by Washington," an industry ministry source told Nikkei. "In that endeavor, it is crucial to cooperate with Japanese companies, who excel in manufacturing." Japanese companies are a little overwhelmed. "China has quickly rebounded from the coronavirus and is driving sales. We cannot talk about a growth strategy without China," a senior Beijing-based representative of a Japanese company said. "At the same time, we want to avoid being scrutinized by the U.S." Another executive agreed. "We just don't want to stand out, even if the U.S. and China force us to chose sides." A new pupil wears a sanitary mask during an enrolment ceremony in the Lankow elementary school in Schwerin, Germany - FELIPE TRUEBA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock Amid rising infection rates and the threat of a second coronavirus lockdown, German Education Minister Anja Karliczek has called for compulsory masks to be worn in schools when summer holidays end in August. There were 955 new infections in Germany on Saturday, numbers not seen regularly since the start of May. Some of the countrys most prominent politicians have expressed concern that a second lockdown may be imminent if infection rates continue to climb. Currently, schools are required to enforce social distancing measures, however Ms. Karliczek acknowledged that this is likely to be difficult - meaning masks should be worn. The minister said she understood "if states want to forego distance rules in schools because the spatial conditions would otherwise only allow classroom instruction to a limited extent." Nevertheless, classroom instruction will only work if further regulations on hygiene, wearing protective masks and keeping clear in the schoolyard and in the hallways are strictly observed." Anja Karliczek, German minister for Education and Research puts on a face mask during her visit to the Hamburg-Eppendorf university clinic - Pool/Reuters In Germany, the 16 federal states are responsible for putting in place coronavirus measures and penalties for failure to comply. Three German states, Berlin, Bavaria and Baden-Wurttemberg, have announced mask requirements will be put in place when school resumes in mid-August. North Rhine-Westphalia, Germanys most populous state and the one hardest-hit by the pandemic, has said masks are voluntary while in Hesse and Saxony it is at the discretion of schools. While masks have been required in public transport and shops since April in all German states, the country has been reluctant to put in place a similar rule in schools. In France masks have been required in schools for all pupils 11 and older since April and have also been compulsory for several months in China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Israel. A pupil wears a sanitary mask as she leaves the school building during an enrolment ceremony in the Lankow elementary school in Schwerin, Germany, - FELIPE TRUEBA/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock Several prominent politicians spoke out over the weekend to implore the population to comply with social distancing and hygiene requirements. Story continues Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier said he was concerned about rising irresponsibility among the population and said to avoid a second lockdown harsher penalties should be imposed for anyone breaching the mask requirement. "Anyone who deliberately endangers others must expect that this will have serious consequences for them," Mr. Altmaier told the German Press Agency. Bavarian leader Marcus Soder told Bild: "We have to reckon with Corona coming back at us with full force. If we are not careful, we can have a situation like in March." SPD leader Saskia Esken said I simply see the realistic danger of a second wave. Sometimes silence is louder than words, says Shekhawat on Vasundhara Raje India pti-PTI New Delhi, Aug 02: The "silence" of senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje Scindia on the political developments in Rajasthan can be a "strategy", her party colleague and Union Minister Gajendra Shekhawat said on Sunday. In an interview to PTI, Shekhawat, who has been accused by Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of trying to topple his government, also alleged that it was the Congress leader who had orchestrated the political "drama" in the state to target his rivals in the party and outside. Congress MLA alleges Vasundhara Raje link to horse-trading agent "He has been unable to digest that I defeated his son in Lok Sabha elections and is trying everything against me, by hook or by crook to avenge his defeat," said Shekhawat, who represents Jodhpur and had defeated Vaibhav Gehlot in the 2019 Lok Sabha election by more than 2.74 lakh votes. Underlining that the BJP has nothing to do with the political crisis in Rajasthan, Shekhawat maintained that it is the fallout of the infighting in the Congress involving Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News "With this ongoing drama in the state, he (Gehlot) wants to eliminate Sachin (Pilot) and others from the party. He is blaming the BJP for this entire crisis and trying to tarnish the image of its leadership," Shekhawat said. When asked about former chief minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia being largely silent on the issue, Shekhawat said, "Well Vasundharaji's silence can be a strategy and sometimes silence is louder than words." He, however, refused to elaborate. When the Gehlot-Pilot feud spilled into the open, Raje, a two-time chief minister, maintained a conspicuous silence though all other BJP leaders from the state were speaking on the issue and attacking the Congress. A week later, she had posted a couple of tweets saying some people were trying to create confusion on the political developments in the state and insisted that she stands with her party and its ideology. Her remarks came in the backdrop of Nagaur MP and Rashtriya Loktantrik Party convener Hanuman Beniwal accusing her of having an "internal alliance" with Gehlot. Beniwal has been a critic of Raje and had left the BJP in 2018 before assembly elections. Differences between Raje and the party's central leadership over the appointment of BJP's Rajasthan unit chief in 2018 had delayed it for more than two months and eventually a consensus was reached on the name of Madan Lal Saini. After the party lost the last Rajasthan assembly elections, Raje was appointed as vice-president of the BJP. Shekhawat alleged that the chief minister shifting the MLAs to Jaisalmer shows that he does not trust them and the government lacks majority. Asserting that there was a "vertical spilt" in the state government since the Congress came to power in the state in 2018, he said, "When the CM himself had said that he and Sachin were not talking to each other for more than a year and half, then it tells you the entire story." "With MLAs being shifted to Jaisalmer in a fortress, it clearly shows that the chief minister doesn''t trust his own MLAs and rather than tackling the coronavirus crisis, he is battling to keep his house in order. It also shows that the government lacks majority," he said. Unfortunately, innocent people of the state are paying the price for the infighting in the Congress, the BJP leader said. Gajendra Shekhawat, a second-time MP from Jodhpur, is the Union Jal Shakti Minister. He started his career as a student leader from Jodhpur University in 1992 and thereafter was associated with various RSS-backed organisations. He closely worked with former chief minister and late BJP leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat in the 1993 assembly polls in Rajasthan. He came into prominence for his work as general secretary of Seema Jan Kalyan Samiti, a Sangh-backed outfit working in border areas of Rajasthan. China's Mars probe Tianwen-1 successfully carried out its first orbital correction Sunday morning, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). The probe conducted the orbital correction at 7 a.m. (Beijing Time) after its 3000N engine worked for 20 seconds, and continued to head for Mars. All the systems of the probe were in good condition. Before the orbital correction, the Mars probe had traveled more than 230 hours in space, and was about 3 million km away from the Earth. The operation also tested the performance of the 3000N engine. The probe will undergo several orbital corrections in a more than six-month journey to Mars, said the CNSA source. China launched the Mars probe on July 23, designed to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission, taking the first step in its planetary exploration of the solar system. The Mars probe is expected to reach the red planet around February 2021. After entering the orbit, it will spend another two to three months surveying the candidate landing sites before landing. Algeria's president on Sunday ordered an "immediate" investigation into forest fires that have ravaged thousands of hectares across the country in recent days, his office said. The enquiry aims to "determine the causes of fires that have ravaged vast stretches of forest". Local media have reported that the fires also destroyed homes, but the statement from President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's office made no mention of such incidents. The country's forestries agency said it had recorded 1,216 fires between June 1 and August 1, destroying some 8,778 hectares, the official APS news agency reported Sunday. On Thursday, Prime Minister Abdelaziz Djerad set up a monitoring unit to track forest fires and efforts to prevent and control them. The blazes peaked late last month with 66 fires reported on July 27, and civil defence helicopters were called in to extinguish them, the forestry service said. Algeria has repeatedly experienced forest fires in recent years, but the results of a 2019 enquiry that sought to establish causes were never released. A study by the geography journal Mediterranee found that a lack of forests and creeping desertification were making the fires particularly disastrous. Search Keywords: Short link: A Pennsylvania registered sex offender, who resides in Upper Paxton Township in Dauphin County, has been reported missing. Joseph Raymond Hill, Sr., 55, was last seen around 6:30 p.m. on July 28, according to Pennsylvania State Police. State Police at Lykens, the Criminal Investigation Unite, is seeking the publics help to locate him. Hill was driving a white or silver Ford, F-350 van with a Pennsylvania registration KZA1309. He is described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 230 pounds. He has short brown hair, wears glasses, and has tattoos of a cross on his upper left arm and a cross and the initials WWJD on his upper right arm, authorities said. His whereabouts are currently unknown, but state police have reason to believe he is in the Harrisburg area or in Northumberland County. Anyone with information regarding Hills whereabouts is asked to contact their local police department, call 911, or contact the Pa State Police, CIU at 717-362-8700. Text messages can also be sent to the CIU Crime Tip Line at 717-943-5402. READ MORE At least 5 hurt in Cumberland County crash that closed highway Police: Construction worker killed in I81 hit-and-run Man shot in York City remains in critical condition: police Iran Coronavirus Deaths Three Times More Than Official Figures - BBC Documents Maryam Sinaiee August 01, 2020 A source inside the Iranian government has provided documents to BBC Persian that put Iran's real coronavirus death toll from February to July 21 at 42,000 which is nearly three times more than the official figure of 14,634 for the same period. The source who could not be named for his safety has sent the Persian-language service of the BBC separate lists for COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations with the purpose of "revealing the truth" and putting an end to "politicizing" the statistics. BBC Persian has said that they cannot verify the source is really an insider of the Iranian government or the manner of acquiring the information but a team tasked with verifying the contents of the documents through various methods including comparison with other data such as the data available on "excess deaths" has concluded that the information contained in the documents is correct. "BBC can confirm that the lists include the names and details of individuals who have either died of COVID-19 or with similar symptoms or visited health centers or were hospitalized due to confirmed COVID-19 or similar symptoms. In addition to first names, the lists include dates, place and duration of hospitalization, physician's name as well as symptoms observed by healthcare workers. Some data including surnames and social security numbers have been removed from the lists provided to the BBC. The lists contain the names of the victims that died in hospital but not those who died at home or care homes for the elderly outside the healthcare system and hospitals. On March 31, based on figures released by local officials and media reports an exclusive report by Radio Farda put the number of those who had been hospitalized with coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms in Iran at over 70,000 people and the death toll at more than 4,700 when the official figures stood at 44,606 and 2,898 respectively. The Health Ministry only announces the total numbers for the country and refuses to disclose details for individual provinces or the city of Tehran. An advisory report by the research arm of the Iranian Parliament on April 14 estimated that the real number of coronavirus cases in the country could be up to 10 times higher than the cases identified by the Health Ministry and the death toll nearly twice the official figure. Source: https://en.radiofarda.com/a/iran-coronavirus -deaths-three-times-more-than-official- figures---bbc-documents/30761188.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Fifth Avenue is empty of traffic as people remain at home to stop the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic on March 31, 2020 in New York City. High-end handbag maker Valentino is suing to get out of its lease on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, a vacated Barneys New York still sits empty on Madison Avenue just a block over, while bankrupted luxury department store chain Neiman Marcus is shutting its doors for good on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. As the coronavirus pandemic brings tourism to a temporary standstill, leaves consumers holed up at home and puts millions out of work, America's glitziest and most expensive retail districts are losing tenants, and rents are in a free fall. The pressures from the Covid-19 crisis will likely have a lasting impact on shopping streets such as Michigan Avenue better-known as the "Magnificent Mile" in Chicago, the Las Vegas Strip, and Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, to name a few. It is already beginning to play out with the changes taking place throughout the New York City retail scene, serving as a leading indicator of what's to come in other major metros, real estate analysts predict. "In the U.S., certainly you will see that what was once perceived as a luxury block in any major city is no longer exclusively luxury," said Naveen Jaggi, the president of commercial real estate services firm JLL's Retail Advisory team. "We will see an extension of what happened in 2008 and 2009, which left American consumers shifting toward value more aggressively." "More and more retail real estate space is going to be taken up by non-luxury," he said. "Take Fifth Avenue. You see a Vans, a Five Below and a Timberland. Those kinds of brands are the ones taking space. That's all you need to know about the direction of Fifth Avenue." Some of these changes were already shaping up before the Covid-19 crisis. The discount retailer Five Below, for example, opened its store on Fifth Avenue late in 2018, marking a pivotal moment for a retail district that is home to Saks Fifth Avenue's sprawling department store and a multilevel Louis Vuitton right down the block. But now, this changing dynamic is expected to accelerate. During the second quarter ended June 30, average asking rents along 16 major retail corridors in Manhattan declined for the eleventh consecutive quarter, falling to $688 per square foot, according to a report from the commercial real estate services firm CBRE. The drop marked the first time since 2011 that prices dropped below $700, the firm said, representing an 11.3% decline from a year ago. Within that, rents on Prince Street in the SoHo neighborhood saw the biggest declines, according to CBRE, tumbling 37.5% year-over-year to $437 per square foot from $699 per square foot and falling below $500 for the first time since 2014. The Upper Madison Avenue corridor from 57th Street to 72nd Street, which holds a number of luxury retailers including Balenciaga, Celine and Hermes, saw rents drop 15.3% from a year ago to $882 per square foot. The most expensive retail rents in the city are found in the Plaza District along Fifth Avenue, which runs from 49th Street to 59th Street and boasts retail storefronts from Tiffany to Gucci to Cartier. Those rents held steady at $3,000 per square foot during the second quarter, CBRE said, falling 4.8% from a year ago, but remaining unchanged from the prior quarter. All told, the number of ground-floor leases available in Manhattan's 16 retail corridors tracked by CBRE hit a record of 235, surpassing a previous high of 230 set back in 2013, the real estate group said. Before heading back to campus, some Texas students will have to show their COVID-19 test results. Baylor University students must first test negative for the novel coronavirus before they return to campus for the fall semester, school officials stated on Tuesday. This move ultimately translates into 18,000 students being tested over the next 3 weeks. Not a easy feat. Students must all complete the mandatory coronavirus test that will be mailed to their houses beginning next week. NO FUNDING FOR CLASSES: Texas Education Agency will not fund schools closed by local health officials According to Baylor email outlining the policy, students are expected to get results in 48 hours. They are instructed to collect a nasal swab sample and mail it back to a designated lab on the day they receive their test kit. The requirement for the negative results before students' return to campus is a relatively new thing for Texas universities, according to a report by The Texas Tribune. According to the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention, the request for students to self-test before they return to campus is not an effective recommendation. "It is unknown if entry testing...provides any additional reduction in person-to-person transmission of the virus beyond what would be expected with implementation of other infection preventive measures," The CDC website statement reads, "There CDC does not recommend entry testing of all returning students, faculty and staff." The CDC added that there is actually "limited usefulness" to one round of testing, which could miss earlier exposures or stages of infection. The new measure to test Baylor students is sparking a lot of heated debate on social media. Some say it's a smart move, and others say it's ill-conceived. Baylor University is not the only university in Texas to consider widespread COVID-19 testing. Texas A&M University System recently stated it would give out 15,000 free test kits monthly across its 11 campus--a move which will cost university officials approximately $2.25 million a month. alison.medley@chron.com The unidentified assailants threw a grenade inside camp for displaced people in Mozogo district in the countrys north. Fighters from the Boko Haram armed group have killed at least 16 people in an attack on a camp for displaced people in northern Cameroon, an official has said. The toll is currently 16 dead; it is clear that it was Boko Haram that was responsible, local mayor Mahamat Chetima Abba told the AFP news agency on Sunday following the overnight attack on the Nguetchewe camp. At least six have been wounded in the attack, according to reports citing local sources. The assailants in the early hours of Sunday threw a grenade into a group of sleeping people inside the camp, home to 800 people, in the village of Nguetchewe, Medjeweh Boukar, district mayor, told Reuters news agency. The village is located in the Mozogo district, close to the Nigerian border in the Far North region. Another local politician, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the area where the attack took place as one in which people would hide from Boko Haram attacks. The armed group, formed in northeastern Nigeria in 2009, has regularly launched attacks there since 2014, staging small-scale raids aimed at stealing livestock and food. The area is known as the Far North, an impoverished tongue of land that lies between Chad to the east and Nigeria to the west. There had been a relative calm for a few weeks, but they took advantage of their knowledge of the terrain to bypass surveillance points and the positions of the security forces. They surprised us, Abba said. I counted 15 bodies, some of which were dismembered, at the scene and in the morgue at the hospital, where the wounded were evacuated, a witness to the attack, who also asked to remain anonymous told AFP. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. Boko Haram launched an armed campaign in northeastern Nigeria in 2009, and the violence which has cost the lives of tens of thousands of people and displaced millions more has frequently spilled over into neighbouring Cameroon, Niger and Chad. 200723081635932 A security official told Reuters that the wounded were taken to a nearby hospital. The attackers arrived with a woman who carried the grenade into the camp, Boukar said, adding that women and children were among the dead. Over the past month, there have been 20 incursions and attacks, Boukar said. In Chad on Friday Boko Haram killed at least 10 civilians and kidnapped seven others in an attack on a village in the Lake Chad region. A week before Sundays attack the Cameroon army announced they had killed five Boko Haram fighters. In June last year, some 300 suspected Boko Haram fighters swarmed onto an island on Lake Chad in Cameroons Far North and killed 24 people, including 16 Cameroonian soldiers stationed at military outposts. Published on 2020/08/02 | Source The government will charge foreign coronavirus patients for the partial or entire cost of their treatment here. Advertisement "If the number of confirmed cases continues to increase among those coming from overseas, it could put a huge burden on our health system", Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said. "For the sake of diplomatic relations, we will apply a principle of reciprocity", i.e. those from countries that offer free treatment to Korean citizens will benefit from get it free here too. The first step will be charging foreigners who violated self-isolation regulations. However, the government will continue to bear the cost of testing because it is essential for the containment of the epidemic. Until recently the government had insisted that covering the entire cost of treatment of foreigners whose infection was confirmed in Korea was the global standard. But as public opinion worsened after a spike in the number of infected foreigners such as sailors of a Russian ship docked in Busan, the government changed its mind. A total of 78 sailors from Russian trawlers tested positive in the last month. According to the Busan Medical Center, the average cost of treating the 20 of them who have already been released was W8 million (US$1=W1,203). Now it is estimated that W620 million will be spent on all of them. Out of 440 confirmed cases who arrived from abroad over the last two weeks since July 12, 249 or 57 percent were foreign nationals. Over the weekend, Korea saw 171 new cases, a triple-digit rise for the first time in about four months. Some 132 were from overseas, mostly Korean workers airlifted from Iraq, and 46 were foreign nationals. Meanwhile, Korea reported 25 new coronavirus cases as of Monday morning, bringing the total to 14,175. No charges are being laid after a bomb threat was called in to a location in Alderville First Nation from the city of Peterborough. Northumberland OPP identified a suspect believed to have made the bomb threat from Peterborough. Northumberland OPP officers were called to an address at Alderville First Nation, about 55 kilometres southeast of Peterborough, at 11:55 a.m. Wednesday after the threat was made. Their investigation determined that the suspect had made the call from a location in the city of Peterborough. The information was then passed on to Peterborough Police. The OPP investigators determined there was no threat to safety for the community of Alderville, according to Const. Robert Simpson. Peterborough Police determined that a man had called a First Nations child and family services agency worker working in Alderville and made comments about the agencys office in Cobourg followed by comments about the agencys office in Peterborough later in the week, Peterborough Police said Sunday. Cobourg Police were also called in to investigate. Investigators determined that no criminal charges needed to be laid and that there were no public safety concerns, Peterborough Police said. Arrest made in conspiracy incident at Alderville First Nation An Alderville First Nation resident has been charged with conspiracy to commit an indictable offence after an ongoing investigation. Northumberland OPP officers made the arrest at about 8:02 p.m. Friday. No details were released by police on what led to the arrest. The arrested person appeared in weekend court on Saturday and released with an Oct. 7 court appearance in Cobourg. OPP did not name the person arrested to protect the identity of the victim. Residents of Cambodias capital have been captivated by sunrise and sunset photo shoots of bright-eyed yoga teachers posing in front of iconic sites, on riverboats and busy streets as part of a volunteer project to promote the ancient practice in one of Asias most visually dramatic cities. Traffic stops and passersby are startled and intrigued during our photo shoots, explains yoga teacher Vun Em. But once we explain what we are doing they respond with the true generosity of Khmer hospitality, asking how they can watch without interrupting and how they can help. French photographer Stephane Combre agrees, explaining: We shoot just after dawn or at dusk because thats when the light in Phnom Penh has such unique clarity. Its also the time when people are on the way to work or home. Its quite amazing to get such encouragement from people in a rush. The photography project was launched to benefit New York-based AZAHAR Foundation, which promotes peace-building through yoga and the arts. Its Cambodian staff say it is part of their mission to expand yoga beyond their studios. They also offer up to nine Vinyasa flow classes per day via Zoom in both English and Khmer. They plan to select photos from the project for a calendar that will be released later this year and sell prints. All funds raised by the online classes and photo sales are being used to support the foundations programs, which include yoga teacher training, peace camps and free meals for hungry families. Mr. Combre said the project was inspired by New York-based photographer Kevin Richardsons celebrated Dance As Art series of photographs. Mr. Richardson praised the Cambodian initiative. The brilliant juxtaposition of yoga in the streets of Phnom Penh creates a striking contrast that delights the eye and fills you with a true sense of joy and wonder, he explained. Ms. Vun, also a manager of the foundation in Cambodia, believes that yogas focus on wellness and inner peace is invaluable to people facing threats to their health or security due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences. We are living in a time of incredible anxiety. Yoga is a positive way of dealing with this it promotes health and puts people into a flexible space for dealing with unexpected events and stress. Previously, she led advocacy for The Messenger Band, a group of former garment workers who fused social justice lyrics with Cambodian folk music. I havent stopped being an activist, said Ms. Vun who teaches yoga to members of the United Sisterhood Alliance in Phnom Penh. Yoga gives us greater focus and purpose, more inner strength, she explained. Mr. Combre summed up his goals: We want people to see Phnom Penh through a fresh lens and to show yoga being practiced in places where it is least expected. Ms. Vun said: Now is as good a time as ever to move yoga to the streets. View the photos: https://www.yogaasart.com/ Support: https://www.gofundme.com/f/azaharyogathon Contacts: Khmer and English: AZAHAR Foundation Executive Director (Cambodia) Thyda Sek +855 (0) 855 78 30 31 42 thyda.sek@azaharfoundation.org AZAHAR Foundation Manager (Cambodia) Vun Em + 855 (0) 96 933 21 69 em.vun@azaharfoundation.org French and English: Stephane Combre info@yogaasart.com +855 (0) 92 96 35 32 About the AZAHAR Foundation: The foundation began in Cambodia in 2007 with classes for children at an orphanage. It now operates its own centers in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, and has expanded to Rwanda. It co-sponsors yoga teachers from Cambodia, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Colombia, Syria and Lebanon to become certified as internationally recognized Jivamukti Yoga teachers. Website: https://azaharfoundation.org/ As a daughter of the Underground Railroad, the celebration of Emancipation Day has always had a close space in my heart. Over the past few years Ive honoured a personal tradition of making my way to Queens Park and singing Lift Evry Voice every Aug. 1 in commemoration. While James Weldon Johnson originally penned the song as a poem for an Abraham Lincoln birthday celebration, it stands today as an unmistakable anthem of a people whose struggle toward freedom knows no borders. Today, communities across Canada are coming together, using online platforms, and digitally marching at Queens Park to commemorate the freedom fighters who laid the groundwork for our democracy. Over the past few centuries there have been many distinct African diasporic waves, which have each shaped unique paths to Canada (forced and chosen). One of the greatest migration movements in history took place as African freedom fighters in the southern United States looked to the north for opportunity. We may not be able to share a binational march for freedom across the Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit, as has been done in the past, but we must not forget how deeply connected these regional Black communities remain today, even across the now closed border. Today, we contemplate the monuments that should have been, and plan for the monumental systemic changes to come. In the history of Canada and the United States, there have been key moments when our laws have reflected our different values, causing difficulty toward collaboration between our systems. One of those differences was achieved through the Upper Canada Slavery Abolition Act of 1833. Another was made clear just last week as the federal court deemed the Safe Third-Country Agreement unconstitutional. As a grace period for this landmark ruling, the Canadian government has six months to respond. But it shouldnt take six months to nullify the agreement and finally acknowledge that the United States government that signed the initial agreement in 2004 is no longer treating refugee claimants humanely. Todays freedom fighters are the applicants for the court challenge, which include the Canadian Council for Refugees, Amnesty International, the Canadian Council of Churches, and in particular, the Ethiopian woman who was held in solitary confinement after being sent back to the U.S. We cannot share refugee-processing responsibilities with a country separating families and putting children in cages. The Canadian federal government might be tempted to wait until the American election unfolds so as to possibly negotiate with a new administration, but there is no telling what the future of democracy looks like in the US. We may have successfully negotiated a trade agreement with the current administration, but the differences between our governments approaches to refugee claimants are insurmountable. The President of the United States has publicly suggested postponing the election in the fall, and has begun hinting that unfavourable results may not be accepted. Democracy for our neighbours to the south is in danger. And when history is written, I hope Canada is remembered as stepping up to our moral obligations rather than abdicating responsibility to human life. Canada should strive to be more than merely not the United States. We should have clear processes for ensuring human dignity in our systems. As we carry out these responsibilities in 2020, COVID-19 realities complicate every operational step for our approach. Our refugee systems were barely manageable before we were balancing these obligations with a global health crisis. We must minimize the politics and ensure compassion for human life is the foundation of our refugee system, our treatment of migrant workers, and our immigration systems, immediately and moving forward. Emancipation Day should be celebrated as a national holiday across Canada, not just in select Ontario municipalities. Before we go celebrating our commitment to freedom and human rights, we should ensure they remain central to the values built into our current systems. Let history show that in 2020 we stood on the side of human rights and that we continued to fight for justice. As the song goes: Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us Facing the rising sun Of our new day begun Let us march on Til victory is won The Delhi Police have arrested two men who allegedly posed as employees of the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (DSIIDC) and duped several people on the pretext of allotting them industrial land at steep costs. Police said the men have so far duped people of at least Rs8 crore. Luxury cars and a flat they bought with the cheated money have been seized, the police said. The two arrested men are Vikram Saxena, 34, who has also been involved in a case of cheating in Delhi previously, and Saxenas brother-in-law Mudit Kumar, 38. Kumar is a law graduate and was enrolled as a member at the Allahabad bar council. Two years ago, he came to Delhi and started practising law at Patiala house court. He has no previous criminal involvements, police said. DSIIDC is an agency responsible for several major infrastructure projects in the national capital. Deputy commissioner of police (New Delhi) Eish Singhal said that in March and February this year, the law-enforcement agency had received multiple complaints at the Connaught Place police station, all of them alleging they were duped by two men from DSIIDC who took hefty sums from them, promising to allot industrial land in the city. A core team was set up to probe the fraud. An initial probe revealed that the two suspects met all the targets at coffee shops in Connaught Place near the DSIIDC office. By showing them fake allotment papers, the duo took money in demand drafts and cash. People had even paid up to Rs1.8 crore, Singhal said. He added, following months of enquiry and technical surveillance, the teams succeeded in locating Saxena in Dehradun. Our team raided his Dehradun hideout on July 20, and arrested him. Based on information he provided us, we arrested Mudit Kumar from Saharanpur on July 27, he said. The two used to provide receipts against the payments received. The two have confessed to have duped people of at least Rs8 crore, Singhal added. The DSIIDC itself suggested the victims approach the police, and have ourselves lodged a complaint with the Connaught Place police station, a senior DSIIDC official said. . SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi: Senior military commanders of India and China are holding a fresh round of talks on Sunday with an aim to ensure expeditious disengagement of troops from all the friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, military sources said. It is the fifth round of corps commander-level talks in nearly two months with an aim to defuse the border tensions triggered by a violent clash between the two militaries in Pangong Tso area in eastern Ladakh on May 5. The meeting was scheduled to start at 11 AM in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The sources said the Indian side will insist on total withdrawal of Chinese troops from the Finger areas in Pangong Tso at the earliest besides completing the disengagement process on a couple of other friction points. The previous round of corps commander-level talks took place on July 14 and lasted for nearly 15 hours. In the talks, the Indian side had conveyed a "very clear" message to the Chinese army that the status quo ante must be restored in eastern Ladakh and it will have to follow all mutually agreed protocols for border management to bring back peace and tranquillity in the area. The Indian delegation also apprised the China People's Liberation Army (PLA) about the "red lines" and conveyed that the onus was largely on China to improve the overall situation in the region. After the talks, the Army said both sides are committed to "complete disengagement" of troops, adding that the process is "intricate" and requires "constant verification". The Chinese military has pulled back from Galwan Valley and certain other friction points but the withdrawal of troops has not moved forward from the Finger areas in Pangong Tso as demanded by India, sources said. India has been insisting that China must withdraw its forces from areas between Finger Four and Eight. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers. On July 24, India and China held another round of diplomatic talks on the border issue. After the talks, the Ministry of External Affairs said both sides agreed that an early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols was essential for overall development of relations between the two nations. The formal process of disengagement of troops began on July 6, a day after a nearly two-hour telephonic conversation between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on ways to bring down tension in the area. In Sunday's talks, the Indian delegation was set to be led by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, while the Chinese side was to be headed by Major General Liu Lin, Commander of the South Xinjiang military region. The sources said the focus of the talks would be on finalising a framework for a "time-bound and verifiable" disengagement process from all the friction points like Pangong Tso and Depsang and pulling back large numbers of troops and weapons from rear bases along the LAC. The first round of the corps commander 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 clash on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out any details. According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35. Following the Galwan Valley incident, the government has given the armed forces "full freedom" to give a "befitting" response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC. The Army has sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border following the deadly clashes. The IAF has also moved air defence systems as well as a sizable number of its frontline combat jets and attack helicopters to several key air bases. The chainsaw-wielding grandmother who was in court over cutting Coillte trees near her home in west Cork has now entered negotiations with the State commercial forestry agency about how best to manage that same woodland. Sioned Jones, 61, who studied biochemistry before moving to Ireland in 1987, has made it her life mission to plant broadleaf trees to promote biodiversity and tackle climate change. But Ms Jones was taken to court by Coillte after she was caught by gardai, covered in sawdust with a chainsaw in her car after felling hundreds of Sitka spruce trees which she said were destroying the mountain above her home and acidifying her water supply. After a colourful court case in February, a jury at Cork circuit criminal court found her not guilty of criminal damage to 500 Sitka spruce trees but guilty of the lesser charge of stealing logs worth 500. Sentencing was adjourned until October 30. But Ms Jones believes she is an Earth Protector and is ethically obliged to protect the environment for future generations. And the authorities may be coming closer to her way of thinking. Sioned Jones outside Cork Circuit Criminal Court last February after the court case. Picture: Jim Coughlan She said her first meeting with a Coillte representative was positive. Although he did not want her to cut any more trees on safety grounds, the representative did reportedly agree to plant broadleaf trees in a recently felled area and to erect fencing to protect the broadleaf trees Ms Jones had already planted. It feels like today was a really important turning point. A new beginning," Ms Jones said after the meeting. "It feels like the beginning of an era of cooperation and joint management, which was what I was asking for. "He will draw up a plan for the area to be fenced and get back to me in a few weeks so that I can have a look at the plan and we can discuss it. "Great news, it seems like Coillte is accepting change now. I am still just mentally absorbing it all really. A Coillte spokesperson confirmed that its local management team met Ms Jones. Upon inspection it was agreed that Coillte would plant additional broadleaves in the area and erect fencing to protect the young trees from grazing, they said. EU law and UN conventions compel Ireland to plant an increasing percentage of forest with mixed broadleaf trees, abandoning the spruce monoculture over time. The programme for government has committed to afforestation and last Wednesday, July 29, the same day that Ms Jones met with Coillte, the minister of state with responsibility for forestry, senator Pippa Hackett, indicated that the Government was proceeding speedily with a number of its forestry related commitments, including the development of a new scheme for the creation of native woodlands on state and other public lands and the development of a new portal to enhance public participation in forestry decision-making in Ireland. Ms Jones believes public participation is vital in forestry management and she has volunteered to continue to manage the forest for Coillte near her home. This is the way forward and we have to start now," she said. "Regenerating a damaged, degraded environment takes a long time. Im 61, at my age if I want to see the establishment of broadleaf trees on this mountain above my house, I cannot afford to wait." THE WORD church as used in the Bible must be used with care. Scripturally, it does not mean a physical building or a place of worship, religious systems, denominations, ministries or religious organizations as many think. The meaning of the word church goes beyond what the English dictionary gives. In the New Testament, the Greek word which was commonly used for church was ecclesia. This word means those who are called, the elect of God, the assembly of called out ones, governmental assembly of God, congregation of God or community of believers with Jesus Christ as their King. The meaning of ecclesia is different from another Greek word kyriakon, which means the Lord's house. From this word comes the English word church like the Scottish Kirk and the German Kirche. However, both words mean the same in application under the New Testament. You will understand it as you read on without prejudice or bias, but with open-mindedness and clear conscience. We know that under the Old Testament, the Lord's house, the house of God or the house of the Lord, referred to the tabernacle or temple which was built with materials such as woods, stones, gold, silver, bronze and others. It was called the house of the Lord obviously because it housed the Ark of the Covenant in which the presence of God dwelled. Consequently, the Old Testament saints could say they went into the house of the Lord to worship. So, David would sing, I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the house of the Lord! (Psalm 122:1). In other words, it can safely be said that the Old Testament saints went to church (the house of the Lord) a place where God dwelled by the Ark of the Covenant. However, the New Testament saints led by the apostles rarely used the expression going to church go to church or come to church. Instead, they very often used the expression gather together. They understood that the word church (ecclesia) meant royal priesthood, chosen generation, holy nation of Jesus Christ and not a place of worship. Carefully let us consider the following verses of Scripture. Jesus Christ personally said, For where two or three are gathered in my name (Matthew 18:20). Then Paul wrote, When you are assembled in the name of the Lord (1 Corinthians 5:4). Paul wrote again when you come together as a church (1 Corinthians 11:18). Then Luke also wrote, On the first day of the week, we were gathered together to break bread (Acts 20:7). Finally, it is written in Hebrews 10:25, Not neglecting to meet together From these verses of the Bible, you can see that the First Church rarely said they went to church. But in Acts 2:46, Luke wrote, And day by day, attending the temple together The early believers led by the foundational apostles knew about the change of God's habitation or dwelling place. They knew by the indwelling of the Spirit of God in their hearts that their bodies were the temples of God. In other words, the bodies of true Christians are the sanctuary of the Holy Spirit; He lives within them. This means the body of the Christian is the house of God under the New Covenant which must be kept pure, holy and righteous to honour God. Thus Paul reminded the Corinthian believers saying, Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? So glorify God in your body (1 Corinthians 6:19). Again, Paul wrote in his second letter to the believers in Corinth, What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people (2 Corinthians 6:16). You can see that under the New Covenant, the Lord's house, the temple of God (kyriakon) which is the English word church actually points to Christians, followers of Christ who are human beings and not buildings constructed with concrete, woods, nails, iron rods and roofing sheets. Thus it is scripturally incorrect for Christians to say they go to church or they are going to church because they themselves are the church. However, it is apt to say we are meeting or gathering together at the auditorium, temple or hall to worship as the members of the First Church did. Now, the expressions such as When ye come together in the church (1 Corinthians 11:18) used in the King James Version (KJV) should have been written, When you come together as a church The church of Jesus Christ always refers to believers. Let us consider another scriptural passage, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). Here, too, the term household of God or house of God means the family of God. It does not, in any way, refer to a physical place or building as some have erroneously taught it. The household or house of God refers to the family, congregation or the children of the living God called the church. Paul described it as a pillar and buttress (support) of the truth. Yes, the elect of God is the pillar and support of the truth of the suffering of Christ. A physical structure built with concrete, woods, iron, glass and other building materials cannot serve as the pillar and support of the truth. Only sanctified human beings can. To be continued By James Quansah [email protected] A security personnel (L) stops a cyclist on a street in front of the grand mosque, Jamia Masjid, as strict restrictions have been imposed amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, in Srinagar. AFP Photo I-Day buzz What might be the singular big announcement in Prime Minister Narendra Modis Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort in New Delhi? With the Ram Temple inauguration done many speculate that it may have something to do with Jammu and Kashmir, where the resumption of the democratic process has been long overdue. However, there is a catch. Post the abolition of Article 370, the state was bifurcated and reduced to two Union territories. It is not just the Abdullahs but many political players from Jammu region are also less than enthusiastic about Jammu and Kashmirs UT status. The big question doing the rounds is whether Modi and his deputy, home minister Amit Shah, will think out of the box and do course correction? Congress churning There is renewed disquiet in the Congress party over Sonia Gandhi's stepping down as party chief and Rahul Gandhi taking over the mantle of leadership. The absurd replay of son taking over from mother is not bizarre enough. There is an intense tussle between those considered loyal to Sonia and the members of team Rahul. Thus if the edifice of Sonias preeminence is to end, it requires a dismantling. In this context, the Congress internal tussle for supremacy may yet produce some jarring notes. MPhil envy theory What is it about the Masters of Philosophy degree (MPhil) that it has been dropped in the draft New Education Policy? The MPhil was introduced as a programme to train research students for more serious and rigorous postgraduate work. The MPhil was considered important because many decorate (PhD) scholars were found wanting in research skills. A political explanation might be that two young Gandhis Rahul and cousin Varun are MPhil holders, both in developmental economics from Cambridge University and the London School of Economics, respectively. Veteran in a spot Janardan Dwivedi must be ruing the moment he decided to attend a meeting in memory of the late Sheila Dikshit, held by the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee. A motley gathering, after paying lavish tribute to the former Delhi chief minister, turned its attention to the Congress crisis in Rajasthan and the leadership issue. The former AICC general secretary was caught in the middle when someone asked Dwivedi to raise a banner of revolt from within the party. With his son already in the BJP, Dwivedi, who once took pride in being Sonia Gandhis Hindi speechwriter, decided to flee instead of getting bogged down by the rebellious deliberations. The other Shah The appointment of Hardik Satishchandra Shah in the Prime Ministers Office has taken many by surprise. Shah was promoted to the IAS in 2010 and is now PM Narendra Modis private secretary. His rise has been spectacular. After doing his M Tech, Shah was drafted into Gujarats environment and forest department sometime in 2004. A fellowship abroad was followed by an appointment as member secretary in the Gujarat environment board. Shah arrived in Delhi soon after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister and was working closely with successive environment ministers. Former Air Force base in Gettysburg on market for $4.5 M A former air force base near Gettysburg is up for sale. The base is listed as having 50 beds and 15 bathrooms on a 42-acre parcel of land. National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party, Sammi Awuku has urged party members to be resolute and push forward for victory in the upcoming general elections. He stated that retaining power relies on the selflessness and vigilance of the partys polling agents and the youth. Mr. Awuku made this known at Berekum East constituency when he joined some executives of the NPP to monitor the registration exercise as part of his nationwide tour to the registration centers. The areas he visited were Jaman North, Jaman South, Berekum West, Dormaa Central and Dormaa East constituencies. He was accompanied by the Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe Abronye, Deputy National Youth Organizer Perpetual Lomokie Akwada, Kofi Ofosu Boateng Bono Regional Secretary and Samuel Daatus Donkor Organizer UK branch, among other executives. Sammi Awuku also interacted with the electoral officers and commended them for their sense of duty and also encouraged them to continually offer their best services. Source: Josephine Acheampomaa/[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Chinese mainland has set up a batch of supportive teams that will head for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to carry out nucleic acid tests for COVID-19. Given the grave epidemic prevention and control situation in Hong Kong, the National Health Commission (NHC) assembled the teams at the request of the HKSAR government and under the deployment and command of the central government. Around 60 professionals were selected by the health commission of south China's Guangdong Province from over 20 public hospitals, and seven of them will leave for Hong Kong on Sunday to help with laboratory work, according to the NHC on Saturday. They will be the first batch of mainland professionals dispatched by the central government to support Hong Kong's fight against COVID-19. The NHC will continue to assemble mainland medical resources and send more support any time based on the requirements of the HKSAR in terms of battling the epidemic, it said. A supportive team on makeshift hospitals consisting of six experts has also been assembled by the NHC. All from Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, the experts boast experience and will provide technical support in transforming Hong Kong's AsiaWorld-Expo into a makeshift hospital for COVID-19 patients, the NHC said. T J S George By Indias view of, and dealings with, China are becoming curiouser and curiouser. Suddenly, we are told that dozens of Chinese apps have been banned. Reasons cited include security and privacy. How come these became issues only now? For long China, like all other topics, has been a provider of opportunities for our Prime Minister to display his showmanship; remember his donning South Indian veshti and angavastram for a meeting with Xi Jinping? All that is forgotten now. About two months ago, our Government decided to put import restrictions on Chinese goods. More recently, some 200 proposals China had put forward for investment were held up for security clearance. After the Ladakh clash that killed 20 Indian soldiers, these were seen as political-strategic moves. Why were economic realities never a factor in Indias relations with China? Lazy India became dependent on hardworking China for even everyday items. Consider the situation that developed as a result of this approach. Our smartphone market is dominated by China. The Made in India tag on some phones is a patriotic lie; it only means assembled in India. Radial tyres for trucks, power equipment, electronic components for the metros in our big cities, all come from China. Why? Even if this is understandable to some extent, why is it that our Ganesh idols have to be imported from China? Why do our Diwali crackers come from China? This rather humiliating situation should have woken up our leaders long ago. But there are some hard realities behind the slumber. Perhaps the most noteworthy is the cleverness with which China massaged our ego and diverted our attention. Look at its almost unnatural interest in Gujarat. Its investments in Gujarat in the last five years add up to an impressive Rs 43,000 crore. The Chinese association of small and medium enterprises has secured the contract for an industrial plant in Dholera smart city. Its Great Wall Motors Company has drawn up plans to invest Rs 7,000 crore in a mega vehicle manufacturing plant in Gujarat. Other Chinese enterprises have also got involved in various projects in Gujarat. Which leader from Gujarat would fail to notice with appreciation this level of interest by a foreign country? To drive it further home, the shrewd Chinese picked some politically important platforms for special consideration. Through popular smartphone companies like Oppo and Xiaomi, they gave Rs 49 crore to PM-CARES fund which, as of now, is not subject to any auditing systems in the country. They also drew up plans to set up a Chinatown in Gujarat. (Chinatowns are cultural magnets with which the Chinese attract people across the world. The Chinatowns in New York and San Francisco are living bits of Chinas heart with which local people identify in toto.) Chineseness has another characteristic that is unique. While Indians in London try to become as English as the English, the Chinese remain Chinese inside and outside. What is part of their culture they will never shed. Their notions about India with which they have problems of the bristling kind, are deeply entrenched. India has learned that China is a hard bargainer, unused to yielding even an inch as it expects others to yield a yard. Add to this, their latent disdain for Indians. They have disdain for all non-Chinese though they do not show it. With India they dont mind showing a bit of it. A recent Facebook post by a Chinese citizen was typical. Even if Chinese people want to boycott Indian products, they cant really find many Indian goods. Indian friends, you need to have some things that are more important than nationalism. Obviously. he was aware of Indias dependence on China even for toys and drugs. So what do we do? Switching to the US will be a fools errand. Our great nationalist leaders should ask why India is in a situation where it has to depend either on China or on the US to sustain itself. They are ever boastful about Indias capabilities, but they dont seem to know how to promote domestic enterprise so that we dont have to be at the mercy of others for our everyday needs. Perhaps, the mistake is with observers like me that we do not see things in the right perspective. Perhaps, the only fact that matters is that our Prime Minister is strong and his Government is firmly entrenched, that he has got COVID and Galwan under his grip and that the sun is shining bright. A mild Vande Bharat shout will be in order. Brittany Halbsgut, of Northern Liberties, a graduate of Community College of Philadelphia due to graduate from University of Pennsylvania in December, wrote a piece on LinkedIn about how she saved tens of thousands of dollars going to community college for two years. Read more Brittany Halbsgut has a message for incoming college freshmen, and even older students, who are thinking twice about staying enrolled this fall, given that campus life will be upended as a result of the coronavirus and schools are holding many classes online: Consider community college. Hey, it might not be glamorous for the first year, but look how much money youll save, said Halbsgut, 31, of Northern Liberties. She speaks from experience. Halbsgut is on target to graduate with a bachelors degree in organizational studies from the University of Pennsylvania in December, and she said shes doing it debt-free. READ MORE: A journey years in the making: Mom and daughter graduate from Penn together Thats in part because she worked full-time while attending school and took seven years to get her degree, but its also because she spent the first half at Community College of Philadelphia, which costs much less. She touted her experience in a recent LinkedIn post, which actually came about as a result of a class she took this summer at Penn. Halbsgut said she spent $14,000 to take her first 21 classes at CCP, mostly at nights and in the evenings, to get her associates degree in communications. At Penn, she has spent $55,000 for 16 classes, she said. Shes enrolled in Penns College of Liberal and Professional Studies for nontraditional students and takes the classes online. Penns LPS programs for years have offered an alternative path into the Ivy League university, often taking students who transfer from community colleges. If she were a traditional undergraduate, it would have been even more expensive. Penns tuition and fees this year exceed $60,000. She wrote about her experience in the LinkedIn post after doing research for a Penn class on writing for social media. Her topic? The value of community college. I went back and looked at all my expenses for my entire college, she said. When she saw the numbers, she decided she had to share them, especially given all the people who are losing jobs and struggling financially. Many people, she said, are likely hunting for a less costly collegiate experience. READ MORE: Some colleges are starting to cut tuition as coronavirus keeps students off campus CCP said it was too early to say how enrollment will shape up for the fall, but the school has had some students who initially planned on going to a four-year school enroll, said Megan Lello, a spokesperson. CCP was one of the first colleges in the region to announce that it would start its fall courses online because of the virus. Affording college wasnt easy for Halbsgut. She grew up in Perkasie and attended Pennridge High School. Halbsgut didnt have a great high school experience, she said, and wasnt eager to start college. So she moved to Philadelphia and went to cosmetology school. She was a hairdresser for seven years when she decided that she wanted to do more. So she enrolled at CCP in January 2014 and about the same time left her job as a hairdresser and went to work in an office, where she currently has a job in human resources. A lot of what I have right now is because CCP gave me an opportunity, and I really took it and ran with it, she said. READ MORE: At 11, she started college. Now, at 18, shes on the verge of a Penn degree She started her classes at Penn in person in 2017 and in the last year switched to the online program. After getting her degree, she hopes to help more people understand that there are less costly collegiate paths, she said. Ill say it louder for the kids in the back who still think attending a university for all four years is the best thing to do, she said in her post. GO TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE FIRST! Close to 200 motorists turned into the parking lot at the AT&T Center on Saturday morning to join a caravan of cars for justice. Lead organizer Ananda Tomas and a team of volunteers directed the cars to separate rows before they embarked on a 13-mile route from the East Side to the West Side. Organizers said the event represented unity between the Black and Latinx communities in solidarity with the National Day of Action for Black Lives Matter in Washington. It was also a day of action for Army Spc. Vanessa Guillen, the 20-year-old soldier whose remains were found in June near Fort Hood, where she was stationed. Tomas said Guillen wasnt helped by the system in place to protect her. These two movements have a lot of intersectionality, she said. Were talking about racism, discrimination based on sexual orientation and the violence that comes with that. These systems arent protecting us. Theyre actually oppressing us. The event sponsored by the San Antonio Coalition for Police Accountability also included a food drive for the San Antonio Food Bank to help the nonprofits distribution sites across the city. Team leaders directed those with food donations to a station where volunteers collected the items. Tomas crisscrossed Lot 4 at Gate D, attending to last-minute details around vehicles marked with messages and slogans. The event was streamed live by KROV on the TuneIn Radio app. Participants wore protective masks and scarves and observed social distancing as they wrote words with markers that called for justice. Community activist Mario Salas carried a Black Lives Matter flag as he walked across the lot. He said he saluted the protesters who crossed the spectrum of society. They were women and men, young and old, of different races and ethnicities, from the LGBTQ community and veterans. Coast Guard veteran Noble Cooper Jr., 70, came to the protest to honor his late son. He wrote Justice for Norman Cooper with a purple marker on his car window. His son died April 19, 2015, after two police officers shot him with Taser. Cooper said he was heartened that not just people of color were stepping up, but also other cultures. Were here to make a difference, he said. Theres two justice systems: one for them and one for us, and ours has been failing for the last 400 years. Were all at risk if we dont make a change. Nearby, Valid Friedrich, 45, and his daughter, Zoe, 13, taped two signs that read Black Lives Matter on their van. We hope to see a movement of professionalizing the police forces Friedrich said, and turning police officers from soldiers to guardians. Laquita Garcia with the Texas Organizing Project offered protesters markers before the caravan began its journey on behalf of George Floyd and others who have lost their lives to police brutality. Austin Forrest, 44, put the finishing touch on his cars message that read Enforce Equality. True racial equality is long overdue, and it benefits everyone, he said. Were in the midst of a civil rights movement. This is the real thing, and I would encourage people to be on the right side of it. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and District 7 Councilwoman Ana Sandoval attended the event, where the speakers talked about the need to act and bring about change. As the caravan prepared to leave the lot, the mayor said he supported the day of action to help people in need. The truth is, our society is in need of reform against racial and economic injustice, he said. This is a great opportunity that these young people in San Antonio are making sure that we continue that momentum on all of those fronts. The fact that people are coming out to donate to people in need, sign up for the census, all these critical things for the community, I know the future is in good hands. The procession of cars, trucks and SUVs wound its way from the AT&T Center in a single line. Motorists flashed headlights and honked horns as a police escort led them onto Commerce, through the East Side, downtown and to Monterrey Park on the West Side, where the caravan ended. District 2 Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan stood outside the Claude W. Black Community Center with several others on the sidewalk and waved to the cars. As a Black person who grew up in District 2 in the city of San Antonio, we know there is still a separation in how we see each other, she said as motorists honked their horns. So to come out and be supportive of making sure equity is across the board is what were here to do. As the procession rolled past City Hall, several protesters raised their fists and held up signsthat said We Will Not Be Silent and Who Is Justice for if Not for Us? Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Vincent, become a subscriber. vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis Dr. Deborah Birx warned that the US has entered a 'new phase' in the ongoing struggle against the COVID-19 pandemic, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she had 'no confidence' in the health advisor's counsel. Tensions appeared to brew this week between top government officials and public health experts as Pelosi admonished Birx for reportedly aiding Trump in spreading coronavirus disinformation. 'Deborah Birx is the worst. Wow, what horrible hands youre in,' said Pelosi, according to Politico. And Pelosi doubled down on her statement on Sunday, telling ABC's This Week: 'I think the president has been spreading disinformation about the virus and she is his appointee so, I don't have confidence there, no.' But the White House coronavirus task force coordinator continued to offer health advice during an interview on CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. 'What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread. It's into the rural as equal urban areas,' said Birx. Indeed,the coronavirus has reached the farthest corners of the United States as hot spots erupted in states like California, Florida and Kansas. Dr. Deborah Birx (right), a White House coronavirus task force coordinator, appeared on CNN on Sunday and warned that the US has entered a 'new phase' in the COVID-19 pandemic Dr. Deborah Birx says, "we are in a new phase" of the coronavirus pandemic adding, "This epidemic right now is different and it's ... more widespread and it's both rural and urban" #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/w09X9GrhL0 CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 2, 2020 This week, America surpassed another grim milestone to record 4,620,419 confirmed infections and a growing death toll of 154,361. Several states are scrambling to lower infections rates, create a feasible education plan for the upcoming school year and navigate a pandemic that has been criticized for having 'a lack of national leadership.' According to a chart displayed by CNN, Dr. Birx is currently monitoring 20 of the 50 states for their coronavirus infections levels. She is a lead member of the coronavirus task force along with Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Birx did not seem too concerned about House Speaker Pelosi's lack of confidence in her advice. Asked about Pelosi's comment during her CNN interview, Birx said she had great respect for Pelosi and attributed the criticism to a New York Times article on the White House pandemic response that described Birx as having embraced overly optimistic assessments on the virus. JUST IN: I think the president has been spreading disinformation about the virus and she is his appointee so, I dont have confidence there, no, Speaker Pelosi tells @MarthaRaddatz when asked is she has confidence in Dr. Deborah Birx. https://t.co/HNQgCe39RN pic.twitter.com/ZDZYAjr0cJ This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 2, 2020 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (pictured) said on ABC's 'This Week' that she does not have confidence in Dr. Birx's public health advice 'This was not a pollyannish view. I've never been called pollyannish, or non-scientific, or non-data driven,' Birx said. 'I will stake my 40-year career on those fundamental principles of using data to implement better programs and save lives.' Birx then pushed back on a misconception that the virus only inundated urban landscapes, like the former epicenter New York City, and not other rural regions. 'To everybody who lives in a rural area, you are not immune or protected from this virus,' said Birx. 'If you're in multi-generational households, and there's an outbreak in your rural area or in your city, you need to really consider wearing a mask at home, assuming that you're positive, if you have individuals in your households with comorbidities. 'This epidemic right now is different and it's more widespread and it's both rural and urban.' The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recently published an ensemble forecast that estimates more than 173,000 Americans will die of coronavirus by August 22. Dr. Birx reminded Americans living in rural areas that they are not immune from COVID-19 and should follow public heath guidelines And former US Food and Drug Administrator Dr. Scott Gottlieb told viewers on CNBC in June that coronavirus-related deaths could reach 300,000 by the end of the year. Birx did not give a projection for the thousands of potential deaths Americans could face before the year's end, but she did acknowledge that it will depend on Midwestern and Southern states to slow down the spread. 'It's not super spreading individuals, it's super spreading events and we need to stop those. We definitely need to take more precautions,' she told CNN. Birx added that each of the 50 states need 'dramatically tailored' pandemic plans that include 'set of recommendations based on what we are seeing at the community level, what we are seeing relevant to the hospitals.' Part of the Trump administration's largest critiques of his muddled pandemic response was that the federal government left much of the slack to state and local officials. Pictured: a graphic shared by CNN showed the 20 states that were being monitored by the coronavirus task force because of case increases State governors were given power to decide how to manage lockdown orders, oversaw the reopening of businesses and will decided if in-person schooling will be allowed in the next few weeks. Last moth, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti blamed the Trump administration for not taking a more active role in unifying the country's pandemic response. 'I think a lot of things went wrong. We've seen no national leadership,' said Garcetti on CNN's State of the Union in July. 'We've had to stand up testing centers on our own, we've had to do so much that is outside of our lane because of the lack of national leadership - but I also think some people are just exhausted.' During Sunday's interview, Birx was asked if schools in states with a five per cent positivity rate should rely on distance learning. President Trump has launched an aggressive campaign to reopen schools in the fall to help jump start the country's economy, despite cases rising across the nation and parents concerned over a lack of attainable plans. 'If you have high case load and active community spread, just like we are asking people not to go to bars, not to have household parties, not to create large spreading events, we are asking people to distance learn at this moment so we can get this epidemic under control,' said Birx. The Trump administration has gained a consistent stream of scrutiny for its pandemic response over the last six months, with recent conversations about the next coronavirus relief bill among them. Pelosi said during her 'This Week' interview that Trump was to blame for the deadlocked negotiations. 'He's the one who is standing in the way of that,' she said. 'We have been for the $600, they have a $200 proposal, which does not meet the needs of America's working families.' Pelosi acknowledged that Saturday's discussions were 'productive in terms of moving things forward,' but an agreement has not been reached. Pelosi: 'We have been for the $600, they have a $200 proposal, which does not meet the needs of America's working families' 'Well the fact is we will be close to an agreement, when we have an agreement,' Pelosi said. The $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit is at the center of the discussions, with Republicans proposing $200 per week and Democrats fighting to stay at $600. 'The amount of money that is given as an enhancement for unemployment insurance should relate to the rate of unemployment,' said Pelosi. 'So when that goes down, then you can consider something less than the $600, but in this agreement it's $600.' Another controversial point is the President's praise for hydroxychloroquine. Just last week, social media giants Facebook, Twitter and YouTube removed a video shared by Trump that promotes unproven claims that the drug hydroxychloroquine can treat or cure the virus. There is no current medically-proven cure for the virus. The clip, which was originally posted by the right-wing news site Breitbart, featured four people who identified themselves as doctors speaking in front of the Supreme Court building. One was Stella Immanuel, who claims to be a physician in Houston, and said hydroxychloroquine, a malaria drug often touted by Trump, was a cure for COVID-19. Hydroxychloroquine was first introduced to the public as a potential 'game-changer' by Trump in March - just as the virus overtook the country with quickly rising cases and deaths. Nancy Pelosi has alleged that President Trump (pictured) has spread coronavirus disinformation during his pandemic response President Trump has continued to promote hydroxychloroquine as a cure for COVID-19, despite it being unproven to do so Trump reportedly felt so strongly about the unproven drug that he began taking it himself and was set to finish his prescription in May. 'I'm taking it - hydroxychloroquine. Right now yeah. A couple of weeks ago, started taking it,' he told reporters at the White House at the time. In addition touting the drug while it was still unproven, Trump faced backlash over a series of incorrect statements he made in reference to it. Trump on at least one occasion declared the FDA 'feels good about it' and claimed they approved the drug. 'I'm not a doctor. But I have common sense,' said Trump in April. 'The FDA feels good about it. As you know, they've approved it, they gave it a rapid approval, and the reason [is] because it's been out there for a long time, and they know the side effects and they also know the potential.' Although the agency did permit emergency authorization at the beginning of the crisis, they have since rescinded the authorization and have yet to approve of it. Trump has also tried to boost hydroxychloroquine's popularity by saying it was a popular choice among medical staff and responders on the front lines. 'You'd be surprised at how many people are taking it, especially the frontline workers, he said. The next day he claimed the drug 'is used by thousands and thousands of frontline workers.' Dr. Bob Wachter, the chair of the University of California, San Francisco's department of medicine, told Factcheck.org that he didn't know 'any clinician' taking hydroxychloroquine to prevent the coronavirus. Though Hrithik Roshan has not confirmed anything yet we keep hearing rumours that his next project is going to be Krrish 4. The Rakesh Roshan directorial is the only successful homegrown superhero franchise in B-town. Rakesh Roshan has agreed that the scripting has started. Now, we hear that a leading lady might be finalised for the film. The Krrish series had Priyanka Chopra Jonas playing Hrithiks lady love. Getting the global icon in the film this time might reportedly be difficult. According to the sources close to the film, the makers have signed Kriti Sanon. Though no official confirmation is made yet and the makers and the actress have both been mum about it. If this piece of news is true this will be the first time Kriti and Hrithik will come together on the big screen. The Michigan Court of Appeals has ordered the immediate release of a 15-year-old Black girl who was detained in May for not doing her schoolwork. The teen's case, first reported by ProPublica, gained national attention and drew condemnation from education and juvenile justice advocates. "The emergency motion for immediate release is GRANTED, and the juvenile respondent is ordered immediately released from detention to the custody of her mother pending appeal or further order of this Court," Judge Deborah A. Servitto wrote in the Friday order. In April of this year, "Grace" the name given to the teen by ProPublica was facing larceny and assault charges stemming from physical altercations with her mother and a theft at school, the outlet reported. During a hearing on April 21, Oakland County Judge Mary Ellen Brennan allowed Grace to stay out of detention, citing the coronavirus pandemic. But Brennan warned her that she was under "intensive probation" that required her, among other responsibilities, to complete her schoolwork. After remote schooling began, Grace who has ADHD and a mood disorder struggled to keep up with her schoolwork, according to ProPublica. When Grace's case worker reported she was violating her probation, Brennan sent her to detention. On July 20, Brennan denied Grace's petition for early release. "This is not an easy decision to make," Brennan said at the teen's hearing. "How many times does she get to jump her mom before you think that she's a threat of harm to her mom? How many times?" Although Grace told Brennan that "I believe that this challenge has specifically brought my mother and I finally back together," Brennan told the teen, "You're exactly where you're supposed to be." "You're blooming there, but there's more work to be done," she added. Story continues Jason Smith, a director with the Michigan Center for Youth Justice, told "CBS This Morning" after the petition was denied that Grace needed support, not punishment. "It's frustrating that instead of trying to figure out a way that she can get additional support ... the first step that the judge took was to incarcerate her," Smith said. The court defended Brennan's decision, saying in part "these decisions do not reflect one event or one bit of information, but rather an extensive review of a juvenile's case file." Grace's case has drawn national condemnation from advocates who said it's unfair to incarcerate a teen who, like many other students, is struggling with school during unprecedented times. Advocates also cited the risk of incarcerating her during a global pandemic, especially after "the state gave clear directives that children, and all people, unless it was a dire emergency, were to be kept out of detention," Kristen Staley, co-director of the Midwest Juvenile Defender Center, told ProPublica. If Grace had not been released, she would have spent about three more months in detention. Adriana Diaz contributed reporting. Documents detail sex abuse allegations against Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein Students prepare for college after massive gift from businessman Endangered orcas at risk from U.S. Navy, activists warn Senior military commanders from India and China are holding the fifth round of talks today to discuss a more complex phase of de-escalation and disengagement by troops from the Galwan Valley, Gogra-Hot Springs, and Finger area in Ladakh sector along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). As per India Today TV report, China is practically refusing to discuss the standoff in Pangong Tso, dismissing to even acknowledge the Pangong Tso situation as a friction point. China's reluctance to discuss the stand-off in Pangong Tso Finger may hinder the ongoing engagement and dialogue process at military and diplomatic levels to restore peace and tranquillity in the region. Last week, troops of the two countries had implemented discussed disengagement protocols in full at three friction points- Galwan Valley's Patrol Point 14 and Patrol Point 15 and 17A, with soldiers creating a buffer zone of 3-4 km depth. Disengagement at Patrol Point 17A at the restive Gogra Post has slowed, but it is China's Pangong deployment that has been a major concern to India so far. Also Read: China, India troops disengaged on most border locations, claims Beijing As per the report, the Chinese military has pulled back from Galwan Valley and certain other friction points but the withdrawal of troops has not moved forward from Finger 5 to Finger 8 in the Pangong Tso area as demanded by India. Tensions between the two Asian giants, who share a 3,488 kilometre long Line of Actual Control (LAC) border, escalated manifold after violent clashes in Galwan Valley on June 15 in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but is yet to give out details. Also Read: China's Atma Nirbhar plan: Xi Jingping turns to domestic economy amid global hostility After four rounds of talks so far on June 6, 22, 30 and July 14 to de-escalate from the build-up areas, government sources said the Indian side conveyed a "very clear" message to the Chinese army that the status quo ante must be restored in eastern Ladakh and it will have to follow all mutually agreed protocols for border management to bring back peace and tranquillity in the area. The fifth round of Corps Commander-level talks between India and China are going on at Chushul, and while it is seen as positive that the two sides are still engaging at Chushul-Moldo, there is an increasing view that the Lt Gen level talks have achieved the maximum that they can at their level. By Chitranjan Kumar Riding on the global wave of anti-China sentiments, wires, and cables manufacturer Polycab India plans to expand its presence in international markets where dependence on Chinese imports is higher, a senior company official said. The company is targeting markets like the US, Australia, Europe, and Africa, among others, its Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Gandharv Tongia told PTI. "As a strategy, we are specifically targeting the markets where local manufacturing is not so strong or the dependence on Chinese imports is large. These markets are now looking at India and we want to take advantage of this opportunity," he said. The company has already identified some 10 markets or customer sectors where imports from China have been traditionally higher. It has already established subsidiaries in the US and Australia for trading wires and cables. "We are in the process of establishing tie-ups with local partners to create a strong dealership network and other strategic partnerships. We have a leadership position in India, and we want to replicate the same globally as well," he added. With these measures, the company is targeting nearly 10 percent of its topline to be contributed by exports. "Barring the large one-time export order we bagged last year, which contributed to nearly 10-12 percent of the topline, the contribution of exports has been around 3 percent. We are hoping to take it to nearly 10 percent in the next 3-5 years," Tongia added. When asked about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the company's domestic business, he said, "The topline took a hit during the June quarter due to the COVID-19 crisis as there was no business in April, but we maintained a positive P&L." He noted that while the consumer durable business, which contributes nearly 10 percent to the topline, performed well, cable and wire business was impacted as government and private CAPEX in infrastructure, construction, and real estate sectors, among others, came down during the period, thus pulling down the demand. "However, we are seeing things improving now. Also, since ours is a distribution and dealership based business, we can reach out to our customers easily," Tongia added. The company has nearly 3,500 dealers and distributors, 1.4 lakh retailers, and 30 warehouses in India. The company has nearly 3,500 dealers and distributors, 1.4 lakh retailers, and 30 warehouses in India. When asked about the guidance for the fiscal, he said, "We are yet to analyse the COVID-19 situation. Now that the country is entering the unlock phase, once that is done, we will be giving our guidance." The company has 25 manufacturing facilities, including two joint ventures with Techno and Trafigura, located across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, and the union territory of Daman and Diu. Interim logo for the Museum of Us brand transition. "We are extremely excited to have a name that reflects our commitment to being a place thattruth-tells and challenges, but does so from a place of love," says CEO, Micah Parzen. Today the San Diego Museum of Man publicly announces its new name: Museum of Us, formally adopted by the Board of Trustees on June 24, 2020. A change to a more inclusive name was first considered in 1991. In 2017, the Board of Trustees felt a change in name should be considered again; especially as the Museums mission and program strategy had significantly shifted. Once known for its academic exhibits focusing on ancient civilizations and human evolution, the Museums offerings now delve into universal themes that cut across time and cultures. "We are extremely excited to have a name that reflects our commitment to being a place that truth-tells and challenges, but does so from a place of love," says CEO, Micah Parzen. The name change process took place over two-plus years, and was marked by extensive community involvement including stakeholder meetings, surveys, and an interactive name change exhibit temporarily installed in the Museums rotunda. The final selection was driven from a gender based equity perspective. Museum of Us Trustee, Nora Taylor Jaffe, said "Changing our name corrects the exclusion of all who do not identify with the word Man, and welcomes folks to a place thats about All of Us - which also happens to be our new tagline." The Museum of Us will use a transitional multi-part logo system for approximately one year as it completes the requirements for a full name change. This visual identity graphically illustrates the change from old to new name, and is based on the idea of a brand in motion. A combination of modern typography, handwriting, and silhouetted human figures represents the Museums new public commitment to inclusiveness and being a force for positive social change. For more information about the organization and the name change, please visit: http://www.museumofus.org ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF US The Museum of Us is a new identity for a 100-plus-year-old institution located on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Kumeyaay people, in Balboa Park. The Museums mission is to inspire human connections by exploring the human experience. It does so by holding a place for many voices, especially those that have long been silenced or overlooked; and, its goal is for guests to leave with new perspectives on the world, so they can become agents for positive change. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- India is now the epicenter of the global coronavirus pandemic. It ranks just behind the U.S. and Brazil in confirmed cases and is growing faster than either. The total rose 20% in just the last week, despite the fact that India is testing less than most of its peers. Its looking increasingly likely that India will wind up being the country with the most cases in the world. This is not just a function of its massive population; China, too, has over 1 billion people. It is a reflection of the fact that big, diverse countries are at a disadvantage in dealing with pandemics. Smaller nations such as New Zealand or Thailand can manage the flow of cases by shutting down their international borders. But internal borders are as porous in India as they are in the U.S. Imagine, for instance, how impossible it would have been for Europe to flatten its curve if it hadnt suspended the Schengen agreement and freedom of movement for its 450 million people. Generally, officials in large nations are reduced to playing whack-a-mole: Even if they suppress an outbreak in Kerala or New York, chances are it will pop up somewhere else. The pressure to reopen in such countries is also greater. Large nations do well economically because they have big, interdependent and diverse internal markets. Consequently, they can ill afford to have those supply chains broken for long. Unlike the U.S., India was quick to impose a proper nationwide lockdown at great economic and human cost. Yet now the virus is spreading because people have to move across internal borders if the economy reopens even slightly. That puts a premium on effective government. Keeping close track of such movements and of every little outbreak would require a centralized state with no shortage of spare capacity ideally one already primed to spy on its own citizens, such as Chinas. For better or worse, no other big-nation government has similar abilities. Story continues In the U.S., the pandemic has made the consequence of decades of misallocation and paralysis tragically clear. The American edifice of government has been hollowed out and its federal structure made unfit for purpose in a partisan and divided age. This ineffectiveness is reflected in data such as the World Governance Indicators, which has seen the U.S. decline steadily over the past two decades. The worlds largest economy should not have a state that struggles to respond effectively to a crisis, even a once-in-a-century crisis. Indias state, on the other hand, has always been low on capacity. In fact, its a standard joke among policy analysts in India that any conversation about what needs to be done ends with the statement, But we cant do that anyway. The Indian state, at every level, is chronically short of managerial resources, of talent, of resources and of time. Often, if it does one thing well, something else is shorted. Early on in the pandemic, the southern state of Kerala received praise for how well it had limited the spread of the virus through vigorous contact-tracing. But, it turns out, the state devoted so much of its capacity to contact tracing that it failed to ramp up testing. Now state leaders have had to admit that cases are increasing through community spread. One of the long-term consequences of this crisis will certainly be new thinking about federal states and a fresh assessment of what in government constitutes waste and what is vital excess capacity. Even in the short term, though, there are quick lessons to learn. Consider one success story in India the outbreak in the massive Mumbai slum of Dharavi, where Slumdog Millionaire was famously set. Early on, it seemed that Dharavi would almost certainly suffer an exponential rise in cases. Instead, an innovative combination of privately staffed fever clinics, repurposed public infrastructure and manpower from non-governmental organizations managed to flatten the curve there. When the state has insufficient capacity, it needs to strike alliances like this with players in the private sector and non-profits. In fact, thats one mistake Kerala made: The Communist-run local government waited too long to incorporate the private healthcare sector in its plans, undoing much of its earlier success. Large countries with under-performing states need to shift approach swiftly. In Brazil, an uncooperative national leadership has already forced communities to turn to local organizations and transnational non-profits for help. Governments are going to have to treat NGOs and companies respectfully, as partners, if they want to have a chance of getting through this. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Mihir Sharma is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. He was a columnist for the Indian Express and the Business Standard, and he is the author of Restart: The Last Chance for the Indian Economy. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. As Gov. Ned Lamont toured Waterfords Millstone Power Station in April 2019, after resolving an impasse over the nuclear plants electricity rates, Rob Kaye was flipping the switch on a new solar array on the roof of his Nod Hill Brewery in Ridgefield. Cut to this week during the noon hour on a sunny day: Those solar panels soaked up enough sun to cover 60 kilowatt hours of power used by the brewery. Across much of the rest of Connecticut, meanwhile, businesses and households consumed a couple million kilowatt hours of electricity generated by Millstones twin nuclear reactors. That split sheds a bit of light on the gap the region faces in the eventual phase-out of Millstone, which at more than 2,100 megawatts of capacity is New Englands single largest source of electricity. Thats most likely more than a decade away, with its oldest reactor licensed through 2035 and the other one 10 years beyond. But some nuclear plants have closed early as Millstones operator Dominion Energy threatened to do so two years ago and anyway, it will take years to replace that much output. With that in mind, where is the states power mix heading and how fast will it get there? The debate matters now because Connecticut faces choices between allowing new, gas-powered plants and rapidly expanding solar, wind and other renewable sources to fill the future nuclear gap. Michael Dwyer / Associated Press Lamonts administration brokered new power purchase agreements for Dominion to continue supplying Connecticuts two major utilities for the coming decade. The governor cited at the time the alternative scenario of rolling blackouts while replacement plants were rushed into construction. More recently, this past week, he expressed hope that offshore wind power will eventually take up much of the slack. All the while, solar has been making gains, but thats a long, costly road to replace Millstone, whose twin reactors produce power equal to Connecticuts four largest natural gas plants in Bridgeport, Middletown and Oxford, according to information on file with the Energy Information Administration. Adding up gradually Connecticuts collection of rooftop and utility-scale solar arrays today amounts to about 230 megawatts of capacity at summers peak in July with nearly 300 more megawatts more to come by 2030, according to estimates by ISO New England, the Springfield, Mass. entity that oversees the regions power grid. Other sources are being added as well notably natural gas plants, but also one or more wind farms eyed for off the New England coast that could add up to the power output of Millstone, in optimal conditions; and if cleared for construction, new power lines feeding a steady supply of electricity from hydroelectric dams in Canada. Photo: Steve Miller / Associated Press Added together, an 800-megawatt wind farm planned south of Marthas Vineyard coupled with Connecticuts expected solar adds and a 650-megawatt natural gas plant would get the state within range of Millstones output. Yet more wind farms are under consideration as well as the Canadian hydro power lines with the possibility of an extra 1,200 megawatts for the larger New England grid. Unpredictable weather patterns create energy security risks in the words of ISO New England for wind and solar power. That problem will persist until utility-scale batteries can store excess energy for use on calm or cloudy days, cost-effectively. But the risk of an over-reliance on natural gas has been exposed as well the past several years, given the tendency of prices to spike during cold snaps as power plants compete with industry and household suppliers for purchases. And environmental groups cite the effects of fracking, a major source of natural gas. The increased renewables on the grid in New England are going to provide energy to Connecticut to displace the gas thats currently being burned in Connecticut. And in the future...it could also be providing it to replace Millstone, said Paul Peterson, a Vermont-based energy analyst long with Synapse Energy Economics. Its a question of all the resources on the grid. Rays push renewables over top In a momentous milestone between January and April that went largely unnoticed amid the pandemic, for the first time this year the United States generated more electricity from renewable sources than from the nations fleet of nuclear power plants, according to EIA estimates in June. Connecticut generates less than 10 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. Through April this year, the state had seen a 26 percent boost in electricity from solar panels dotting the states properties since the start of 2019, according to EIA data, slightly ahead of a 21 percent gain in the U.S. as a whole. Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media Pushing renewables over the top nationally were the combined wattage of small scale photovoltaic installations like the Nod Hill Brewery system. Founding partner Rob Kaye estimates the brewery is saving close to $10,000 a year on its electricity bill, factoring in all capital and financing costs and offsetting subsidies to install the array. Going solar has had an additional benefit as a promotional draw in marketing the brewery he created three years ago with son Dave Kaye. Nod Hill drafts include a beer called Stellar Rays. Not only a socially conscious thing to do and a good PR thing as well... I thought it could save us money, Rob Kaye said. When you add all those three elements to it, for me I feel its been a home run. For now, installations like Nod Hills are small-ball in the early innings for renewable resources to replace the dominance of natural gas and nuclear. About half of New Englands electric load is generated by natural gas, with Millstone and Seabrook Station in New Hampshire kicking in about 30 percent of the regions power on average from the process of nuclear fission. Orange-based Avangrid has now taken up the challenge of importing hydro power generated by dams on the St. Lawrence River in Canada. Avangrid aims to stretch transmission lines along new towers on a 150-foot-wide corridor running 145 miles where its Central Maine Power subsidiary has existing lines. Eversource Energy abandoned a similar effort last year after opposition from opponents of the route it planned to carve through the White Mountains in New Hampshire. While utility-scale solar projects are subject to similar logjams a major project in New Milford is stalled over a debate on managing water runoff as a result of clear-cutting trees municipal building departments in Connecticut have been for the most part rubber-stamping the large majority of applications for rooftop installations on homes and businesses. ISO New England expects that the states under its jurisdiction will contribute sufficient generation capacity to approximate their own consumption. As of this year, the agency lists 2,100 significant sources of electrical generation capacity in New England. That includes 130 sources in Connecticut, ranging from Millstones twin reactors with combined nameplate capacity exceeding 2,100 megawatts; to a diesel generator in Norwalk that the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Cooperative uses to augment the citys electricity supply. The regions transmission system does allow for geographic diversity of resources a retiring resource in Massachusetts could be replaced by a resource in Maine, for example, ISO New England spokesperson Matt Kakley stated in an email response to a query. This process is designed to ensure supply and demand are balanced in the region, and does not include some of the other factors that the states may weigh, such environmental or economic attributes of particular resources. Wind catches water in 2019 Wind turbines overtook hydro power last year in the United States as measured by electricity produced for consumption, EIA data shows. That was a significant milestone given the nations continued reliance on historic dam systems like the Tennessee Valley Authority; New Yorks Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant, which produces more power than Millstone; or Grand Coulee Dam in Washington that has triple that output as the nations largest hydroelectric installation. Among the projects on the board, the Park City Wind farm would rise off the southern New England coast as a joint venture of Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, with construction to be staged from Bridgeport. And Eversource Energy is working with Denmark-based Orsted on its own offshore wind farm proposals, while proposing on Friday an initial step toward accompanying battery storage for as much as 50 megawatts of power. H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media On a windy day, Park City Wind would have roughly equal the electric output of the CPV Towantic natural gas plant completed two years ago in Oxford, while eclipsing PSEGs Bridgeport Harbor facility that cranked into gear last August powered by natural gas. Avangrid has gone all-in on renewables, creating a separate subsidiary a dozen years ago based today in Portland, Oregon. Avangrid Renewables now operates the third largest fleet of wind farms in the nation. The Park City Wind project would add just over 800 megawatts to the New England grid, with the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management expected to issue a final decision in December on whether to approve the project. Our intent is to deliver the project as quickly as possible ... and we know now that it cannot be earlier than 2023, said Avangrid Renewables CEO Alejandro de Hoz, speaking in April on a conference call. Were going to do our best to do it as quickly as possible in that frame ... Its certainly too early, because of all the moving parts, to say exactly when it will be. Even as it pushes ahead with Vineyard Wind and other wind farms along the Atlantic shelf, Avangrid is now looking to hook up New Englands grid to hydro power generators in Quebec via its New England Clean Energy Connect proposal Such additions continue to be offset partially by power plant retirements, however, whether to phase out plants with higher levels of pollution PSEGs coal-fired plant in Bridgeport is scheduled to go offline next year, with another large plant outside Boston slated for retirement in 2024 or replace others that have older and inefficient turbine designs. Just over a year ago, Entergy retired its Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station in Plymouth, Mass., leaving New England with two remaining nuclear plants in Millstone and Seabrook. Next up in the Northeast is Indian Point Energy Center on the Hudson River about 30 miles west of Danbury, with operator Entergy retiring one reactor in April and the remaining unit scheduled to go offline nine months from now. ISO New York had replacement capacity lined up years ago and anticipates no impact on electricity supplies for the New York City and Hudson River valley regions. A pretty significant cushion As Lamont took office in 2019, Dominion Energy was threatening to initiate the closure of Millstone, as continued decline in natural gas prices gave those plants a competitive pricing edge. Last September, the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approved commitments by Eversource and the United Illuminating utility operated by Avangrid to purchase electricity from Millstone for 10 years. Connecticut ratepayers got a July preview of the increase, with the component of their bills containing the Millstone rate roughly doubling to 3 cents a kilowatt hour, amounting to about a $15-a-month increase for the household using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity in the summer months. Then on Friday, PURA suspended the rate hike. H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media A Dominion spokesperson described the company as certainly interested in reaching a new accord come 2029. There is a process to extend those licenses for another 20 years with the NRC that would have to be completed before they are extended, Dominions Ken Holt said in an email. We are committed to operating Millstone through to the end of the current power purchase agreements which expire in 2029. Natural gas prices have continued to drop precipitously, with the result of pushing some drillers and fracking companies into bankruptcy. Connecticut has a commitment from NTE Energy to build a 650-megawatt plant in Killingly, with a spokesperson indicating that the company is aiming for construction to begin later this year. The price for solar panels and related systems, meanwhile, is down more than 70 percent the past five years according to Taylor Binnington, senior policy analyst in the Hartford office of the Acadia Center, an environmental group. Binnington and Peterson collaborated on an Acadia Center report last month suggesting New England could cut its reliance on natural gas power plants to 10 percent of the regions electricity consumption by 2030, with renewables filling in the gap assuming no shortfall from an early retirement of Millstone. In the cases of Indian Point and Pilgrim, the capacity was there, and Binnington and Peterson see the same trajectories in play for phasing out others with renewables. Thats a piece of the puzzle here not every megawatt has to be replaced by another, equal megawatt, Binnington said. Theres a pretty significant cushion already built in. Includes prior reporting by Katrina Koerting and Luther Turmelle. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman A section of a bridge in Tempe, Arizona, was demolished on Sunday, August 2, following a train derailment and fire that caused the structure to partially collapse, local media reported. The Tempe Town Lake Bridge was heavily damaged on Wednesday when a Union Pacific Railroad train derailed and caught fire, according to reports. Residents living near the derailment site were asked to evacuate by 7 am local time on Sunday in anticipation of the demolition, police said. This video, filmed by local resident Thomas Seager, shows the bridge demolition. Credit: @seagertp via Storyful WASHINGTONThe confluence of a pandemic, a raucous civil-rights movement, an economy on the brink and a stubborn, deeply divided electorate: experts call it a perfect storm of conditions in which to sow the seeds of disinformation and partisan strife in the United States. Too perfect, in fact. Given the hard lessons of the 2016 U.S. election, its safe to assume that bad actors, foreign and domestic alike, are already hard at work trying to take full advantage of the discord, said Jed Willard, a Harvard University expert on information warfare. But much of the work is being done for them partisan battles over masks, economic lockdowns and Black Lives Matter protests, inflamed by joblessness and uncertainty, have ripped more holes in Americas social fabric than any disinformation peddlers could ever hope to do themselves. On masking, it is extremely silly, its extremely dangerous, Willard said of the culture clash that has divided Americans over wearing face coverings to protect against the spread of COVID-19. Its also extremely outlandish and implausible too much so, in fact, for foreign disinformation agents in Russia and China. They have focused more on convincing westerners the virus is a man-made bioweapon, a storyline that never took root despite its familiar, Hollywood-friendly frame. What happened in the United States is that our own domestic misinformation was so much more effective at exploiting the real divisions in our society, that the foreign actors just amplified it, Willard said. They didnt bother pushing their master narratives, which is weird for them. They just went with what we were already doing to ourselves. On cue, straight from the stranger-than-fiction files came Rep. Louie Gohmert, an antimask Republican from Texas who tested positive last week for the Wuhan virus, then promptly blamed his diagnosis on having been forced to wear a face-covering to do his job on Capitol Hill. Ive worn a mask in the last week or two more than I have in the last four months, constantly fiddling with it for comfort, Gohmert said on Twitter. I cant help but wonder if that put some germs in the mask. Gabrielle Lim, a researcher with the Technology and Social Change Project at Harvards Shorenstein Center, spends her time looking for ways disinformation aimed at undermining democracy is being injected into the U.S. public discourse. For her team, the politicization of masks has been just another day at the office. Things are so weird already that this didnt seem bizarre, Lim said. Its sad that its become a weirdly partisan issue when it should never have been a partisan issue. And now, its become a lightning rod for people to state which side of the aisle theyre on. But theres an upside, she added: its harder for foreign actors to actually disrupt anything thats already so disrupted. Evidence of activity is not evidence of impact, Lim said. Its really, really hard to figure out what the actual impact is. That wont stop trolls from trying, U.S. officials warn. The coronavirus pandemic and recent protests ... continue to serve as fodder for foreign influence and disinformation efforts in America, William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, warned last month. Foreign nations continue to use influence measures in social and traditional media in an effort to sway U.S. voters preferences and perspectives, to shift U.S. policies, to increase discord and to undermine confidence in our democratic process. So, too, however, does Trump himself, who suggested for the first time publicly Thursday that the November contest be delayed until people can properly, securely and safely vote. The president, of course, lacks the power to do any such thing. But that hasnt stopped him before indeed, Trump and his followers have proven powerful agents of disinformation since long before he moved into the White House. Back in May, it was largely domestic Trump supporters and pro-gun groups in the U.S. who lured Americans out of their homes and into the streets, where they massed in front of state legislatures to demand the right to resume their lives and open their businesses, COVID-19 be damned. Such plain-sight domestic discord obscures foreign interference happening in real time, particularly when the agents of that interference are so practised at making it blend with authentic public discourse successfully winning credible media coverage, for instance. In her 2018 book Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President, University of Pennsylvania communications professor Kathleen Hall Jamieson documented Russias 2016 efforts, successful ones, she concludes, to sway the election that put Trump in office. And they were busy long before that election year, working to alter discourse in the U.S. on issues fraught with potential for conspiracy theorists genetically modified organisms, vaccination and the next-generation cellphone technology known as 5G, to name a few, she said. Where do I assume they are right now? I assume theyre feeding conspiracy theories about vaccination to discredit a U.S. (COVID-19) vaccine. But do I know that? No, Jamieson said in an interview. Do I assume its likely given their past behaviour? Yes. Do I assume theyre probably feeding conspiracy theories about 5G? Yes. Anyplace they can discredit something that is a U.S.-based technology, they will be trying to do it because its in their countrys self-interest. Its a new Cold War, she said, with Russia, China and Iran as the principal antagonists. Like the virus itself, the threat is extremely insidious and largely invisible, making it difficult to mobilize Americans against it. We cant really see it, so its hard to imagine the effect it can have on us, Jamieson said. Thats part of the problem of explaining why it is that the Russian intervention in 2016 probably did shape enough votes to change the outcome. They didnt push the levers ... They changed minds. Read more about: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Ayodhya on Sunday to take stock of the preparations for the Ram Temple foundation stone laying ceremony. CM Adityanath visited the Ramjanmabhoomi site on July 25 as well, where he met Ayodhya MP, MLAs, members of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust and the local administration. The groundbreaking ceremony of the Ram temple is scheduled to be held on August 5. Meanwhile, preparations for the foundation stone-laying ceremony are in full swing. #WATCH Several parts of Ayodhya illuminated, ahead of foundation stone laying ceremony of Ram Temple. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple on 5th August. pic.twitter.com/G8eHNSj2NX- ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 1, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of the Ram Mandir after which construction of the temple will commence. A report in India Today said PM Modi will reach the temple at 11:15 am on Wednesday. The prime minister will stay in the city for nearly three hours. According to the organisers of the event, the five people who will be present on stage during the ceremony are PM Modi, UP CM Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Ram Mandir trust chief Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, and Governor Anandiben Patel. The channel added that leaders of Ram Janmabhoomi agitation, Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, might attend the Ram Mandir bhoomi pujan via video conferencing. Additionally, CM Adityanath has appealed to the people to witness the event by staying indoors and avoid any gathering in order to prevent the spread of novel coronavirus. Several areas of Ayodhya were illuminated with diyas (Earthen lamps) and colourful lights on Saturday. The state has ordered around 1.25 lakh diyas for the highly anticipated ceremony. Several parts of Ayodhya illuminated, ahead of foundation stone laying ceremony of Ram Temple. PM Modi will lay the foundation stone of Ram Temple on 5th August. pic.twitter.com/3wwkrLRKtx - ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 1, 2020 Moreover, the preparation of 1,11,000 laddoos is underway at Maniram Das Chhawni in Ayodhya ahead of the foundation stone laying ceremony in the city. Priests have dispatched the soil of the Yamunotri Dham, the water of the Yamuna river and the Brahma Kamal flower that grows in the Himalayan region for the ceremony. Last year, on November 9, the Supreme Court had directed the Centre to hand over the site at Ayodhya for the construction of the Ram temple. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Australia's declaration that there is no legal basis for China's claims to most of the South China Sea has been a long time coming. For years, Canberra has carefully urged restraint, called on all states to respect the rules-based international order, insisted that it took no sides in the many competing territorial claims for the sea and urged respect for a 2016 international court ruling on the status of disputed features of the South China Sea. But the decision to say there is no legal basis for China's claim to 90 per cent of the islands and waters which fall within the so-called "nine-dash line" is part of a gradual change in Australia's approach to the dispute, and one that is likely to be quietly welcomed by neighbouring countries in south-east Asia. It is also just the latest development in a sea that has become a byword for geopolitical tension niggling, low-level jockeying that boils over on the water, from time to time, in alarming ways. Why has the South China Sea become the focus of such dispute? Why do just a handful of tiny islands seem so critical in a body of water that is 3.5 million square kilometres big? And why does it matter to Australia? Disputed claims in the South China Sea Advertisement What's so important about the South China Sea? The South China Sea is of globally strategic significance for four key reasons. First, it accounted for about 12 per cent of the global fish catch in 2015, in a part of the world with a growing population, disposable income and appetite for protein. With 1.4 billion people, China has a huge population to feed. Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines are home to another 500 million people. China has the world's largest distant-water fishing fleet, which enjoys significant financial support from the national government but so do the other nations of south-east Asia. (As the name suggests, "distant water" ships are designed to sail to far-flung places, but they are also defined as operating closer to home, just anywhere outside a nations 200-mile exclusive economic zone.) Second, about one-third of global shipping, worth trillions of dollars, passes through the waters each year. Third, according to a 2019 US State Department estimate, there are $US2.5 trillion ($3.6 trillion) in untapped oil and gas reserves in the South China Sea. Fourth, and perhaps most significant, claiming and controlling islands and waterways in the South China Sea delivers strategic military advantages as well as providing a (contested) legal basis to claim resources in the sea. The sea is dotted with islands, shoals, submerged reefs and rock forms. These consist primarily of the Paracel and Spratly Island chains, which are variously claimed by China, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. (Indonesia's Natuna islands are on the edge of the sea, and though not claimed by any other countries, the waters nearby are claimed by China and Indonesia.) Advertisement Disputed claims on rocks, reefs and submerged shoals Since 2013, China has embarked on ambitious building and land reclamation projects to build up some of the islands it has claimed, including Fiery Cross, Mischief and Subi reefs. In all, according to the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, China has 20 outposts in the Paracels, and seven in the Spratlys and the Scarborough Shoal. While other south-east Asian nations have occupied islands in the South China Sea, and built structures, none of them come close to matching the capabilities of China's reclaimed and expanded islands, which variously host radar stations, runways, anti-aircraft guns, cement and desalination plants and more. Think of them as stationary, unsinkable aircraft carriers, in the middle of one of the world's most contested and economically vital waterways. Think of them as stationary, unsinkable aircraft carriers, in the middle of one of the world's most contested and economically vital waterways. Professor Rory Medcalf, the head of the Australian National University's National Security College, sums it up like this: "First, this is a front-line issue in determining if size alone will determine outcomes in international affairs. Second, it's a critical trade and energy pipeline. Third, this is actually an environmental issue too, it's about the destruction of habitat and fish stocks." Advertisement Australian Defence Force ships in the South China Sea during the Regional Presence Deployment 2020. Credit:Royal Australian Navy What are the origins of the dispute? The South China Sea has been used for trade and fishing for centuries by China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia and even, to an extent, countries further afield such as Thailand. After World War II, China and then Vietnam began claiming some of the islands in the sea and in the 1950s, China and Taiwan began to establish a permanent presence on some of those islands. The next decades were marked by alternating lulls and rushes to claim more islands and territory, amid indications of significant oil and gas deposits in the region. In 2002, China and the ASEAN bloc began negotiating a code of conduct for parties to the disputed sea. Twenty years later, that code has still not been finalised and the dispute is becoming more heated. It was in May 2009, when Malaysia and Vietnam submitted note verbale (a formal diplomatic note) submissions about their exclusive economic zone claims to the UN's Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, that things really began to heat up. China responded to this joint submission with its nine-dash-line map and claimed sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea, its adjacent waters and the seabed. Advertisement The nine-dash line is a vague, U-shaped claim that includes the Spratlys and Paracels, and large sections of Vietnams exclusive economic zone, as well as those of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan. Originally 11 dashes, it was introduced in 1947 by the Nationalist Kuomintang government and was later adopted by the People's Republic of China. The dashes are symbolic of the fact that the line is a claimed maritime boundary rather than a land border. A Chinese coast guard ship near the Scarborough Shoal, a reef in the South China Sea claimed by both China and the Philippines. Credit:The New York Times When did this lukewarm dispute heat up? In 2012, China effectively took the Scarborough Shoal from the Philippines after a showdown between Chinese fishermen fishing illegally and the Philippines' Navy. Chinese maritime surveillance vessels entered the waters in support of their fishermen, and then refused to leave even after a deal was brokered by the US and the Chinese have maintained a presence at the shoal ever since. The shoal lies a bit over 100 nautical miles from the Philippines, and about 500 nautical miles from China. It hasn't relinquished control since then, with Chinese vessels blocking access to the feature. Then came China's rapid island buildingand militarisation of its islands, from 2013 onwards. The world watched as satellite photos recorded the development and expansion of these tiny islands, often involving reclaiming land. The US has maintained an active program of freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs for short) in defiance of China's claim, and in support of south-east Asian claimant states it is allied with as well as other nearby nations such as Singapore, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Thailand. Advertisement Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has approved opening of 10 new women colleges in Haryana, an official said on Saturday. Khattar will lay the foundation stone of the 10 colleges through video conferencing on Raksha Bandhan on Monday, the spokesperson said. The colleges are at Morni in Panchkula district, Isharwal in Bhiwani, Goriwala in Sirsa, Firozepur Jhirka in Nuh, Chhatar in Jind, Ladana Chaku in Kaithal, Pratap Nagar in Yamunanagar, Agroha in Hisar and Bhainswal Kalan and Baroda in Sonipat. These colleges will be started from the makeshift building of the government senior secondary schools from the upcoming academic session and admissions will also be done, the official said. Education Minister Kanwar Pal said it was the top priority of the government to encourage higher education in the state. After mapping all the colleges of the state, it was decided that at least one government college will be opened within a radius of 20 km, he said. The number of colleges in the state will increase to 350 with the 10 new women colleges, the minister said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A YOUNG Limerick woman has started a petition to make Revenge Pornography a criminal offence in Ireland. The petition organised by Megan Sims, 23, from Janesboro has over 2,500 signatures since it began in the middle of July. As technology continues to advance and open endless opportunities for internet users, there is a dark side to the cyber world and reality. There are countless ways to use the internet in a positive way, like we have seen during the Covid-19 pandemic. We've experienced life through the lens of our cameras and devices but unfortunately for many, it hasn't been a great experience. Women's Aid's definition of 'revenge porn' outlines the online posting of sexually explicit visual material, without the consent of the person portrayed. The term typically includes photographs and video clips which have been consensually generated-either jointly or by self (sexting), as well as content covertly recorded by a partner or unknown third party. Megan was personally impacted by revenge porn in 2016. A number of her pictures and videos were shared and viewed by thousands of people. I logged into my Facebook and I had like 400 plus messages calling me horrible names and telling me to kill myself, which led to suicide attempts, she said. Megan went off social media for a while but was told that her photos, along with other girls from Limerick were posted on an anonymous porn website. She gave screenshots as evidence to the Gardai but was told that nothing could be done as there isn't any laws against it in Ireland. Many countries across the world have laws against revenge pornography that carry fines and/or prison time. The UK implemented such laws in 2015. As Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, they have legislation in place to criminalise revenge pornography: Part 3, Section 51, Amendment to Justice Act 2016, unlike their counterparts south of the border. The lack of legislation available inspired Megan to start the petition. I've gotten two negative comments but I've also received an overwhelming amount of support. So many girls have reached out saying that they're crying with happiness as what you're doing means so much to me" She said. Megan also highlighted that a lot of girls didn't realise that they were victims of this crime. One girl told Megan: I didn't realise that I was a victim Megan rightly pointed out that they are a victim and they deserve this legislation to be pushed through. Megan reached out to TD's throughout the country to share the petition or to help in any way they could. Brendan Howlin is a TD and a member of the Labour party from Wexford. Howling approached Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. To be fair to him, he went off his own back and met with the Minister of Justice Helen McEntee and explained that there isn't any laws in place and they want to push legislation through by the end of the year. Megan will be reaching out to get some legal advice to make sure that the legislation will protect the women involved, as it is a sexual abuse crime and the legislation must say that as such. I'm doing this to help others and I think it's the best thing that I've ever done. The more signatures we get the more the government have to take it seriously and the adequate laws are pushed through Megan added. Implementing legislation on revenge porn has been on the governments radar for a number of years. This was proposed to the government in 2017 and it's been lapped multiple times because it obviously wasn't a priority for them Megan concluded. If you wish to share and sign the petition please follow Megan's Twitter @meganjrenee and click the link on her pinned tweet. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, August 2, 2020 Papuan community leaders and activists have urged the central government to exercise wisdom and involve Papuans in reviewing the special autonomy (Otsus) status of Papua and West Papua as Jakarta plans to amend the Otsus Law. The law is the legal foundation for the Papua administration to manage its own political, cultural and economic affairs. It was enacted in 2001, before being revised in 2008 to grant West Papua similar special autonomy. It also stipulates the allocation of special autonomy funds from the central government -- set to stop in November 2021 -- to accelerate development in Indonesia's two easternmost provinces. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Alyshia Jones, 25, from Tauranga is one of the nine contestants selected for a new glamour makeup reality television series. Hosted by ZMs Megan Papas, TVNZ OnDemands hotly anticipated new reality series will see nine incredibly creative and talented makeup artists MUAs - battling to win Aotearoas first Glow Up NZ. Inspired by the #glowup social media phenomenon, and based on the BBC format, talented Kiwis will compete in a series of makeup artistry challenges, exploring different genres and the mind-blowing, internet-trending styles of extreme makeup artistry. Alyshia Jones The nine MUAs competing in Glow Up NZ are Alyshia Jones, Emma Jade Allerby, 21 from Auckland, Isadora Blake, 37 from Hamilton, Kyle de Thier, 17 - Gisborne, Lara Tilley, 21 - Timaru, Myrthe Heydenrijk, 27 - Wellington, Nika Steele, 27 - Whanganui, Richard Symons, 29 - Auckland, and Sachin Dutt, 19, from Auckland. Standing between the MUAs and the $5,000 cash prize are two industry leading mentors, who, with the help of a guest judge each week, decide the fate of the contestants. One of the mentors is Tane Tomoana, the renowned creative director at Dry & Tea salons. Tanes claim to fame is chopping the locks of Anika Moa, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Hollie Smith. Joining Tane is Gee Pikinga, a leading MUA and NZ Director at Maybelline New York. Gee is no stranger to TV and was head makeup artist on TVNZ 2s Project Runway New Zealand. Mentor Gee Pikinga, host ZM's Megan Papas and mentor Tane Tomoana From avant-garde to editorial and fashion, these MUAs will need to prove they can do it all to succeed and make it through all seven weeks in the competition. After spending years perfecting their craft in their bedrooms, which MUA will prove they can make it on the mainstage of Glow Up NZs studio? Glow Up NZ premieres midday on TVNZ OnDemand, Wednesday August 19 with new episodes weekly. Glow Up NZ is based on the BBC format and is produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production New Zealand. Part of Joe Biden's appeal to voters, at least based on his campaign video ads, is that he will restore 'civility' and 'normalcy' to White House operations, and end 'divisiveness' that has plagued America. That's his pitch. So now we have him mumbling to himself, hiding in his basement, and under intense pressure by the Obama faction of the Democratic Party to name Susan Rice as his vice presidential candidate. The idea of that buccolic ad scenario, all unity and harmony and 'normalcy' is undermined by this latest revelation about her, noted by Fox News, citing a column by lefty Dana Milbank, arguing that she would be anything but that. She'd be "a lightning rod" for Republicans, who can't stand her, as well as a source of discontent on the inside, given her talent for making "fast enemies," according to Milbank. And above all, her use of the f-bomb. Apparently she can't string together a simple sentence without it: History of rudeness Milbank notes that Rice has been known to be unpleasant in interpersonal situations. "Her F-bombs are legend," he writes, and has rarely refrained from using other rude language or gestures when criticizing political opponents. She once referred to Graham as a "piece of sh--," during a popular podcast, and once raised her middle finger to Richard Holbrooke, a former U.S. diplomat who died in 2010, Milbank recounts. And it turns out, the story checks out. Here's a 2015 Washington Times account by Bill Gertz: White House National Security Adviser Susan E. Rice has developed a reputation among those who work with her for harshly criticizing people by using the F bomb, according to current and former U.S. officials familiar with two exchanges. The first case involved a 2013 White House meeting between Ms. Rice and Gen.Keith Alexander, who was director of the National Security Agency, regarding NSA spying on foreign leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel. According to one senior U.S. official, Ms. Rice opened the conversation with the four-star general, now retired, with: Why the [expletive] are you listening to Angela Merkels phone calls? The angry comment was prompted by disclosures of NSA spying on foreign leaders that were contained in pilfered documents obtained by fugitive NSA contractor Edward Snowden. The normally reserved Gen. Alexander was said to have fired back: Because you told us to. Which sounds like a heckuva difficult person for anyone to be around. And it's a bit surprising. Rice has all kind of fancy schmancy honors - Rhodes scholar, Brookings Institute posting, etc. Yet she's got the vocabulary of a steveador, or rather, typical rabid leftist out in some place like New York's Lower East Side or San Francisco's Mission district, home of America's crazies. Presumably, Biden would pick Rice in a restoration move of the Obama White House, and all their minions would return, Ben Rhodes first up to the trough. But if this is what passes for 'normalcy,' well, it's a pretty weird thing they have been selling as 'normalcy.' The press has dined out for years on claiming that President Trump's White House is always in 'chaos.' Should the 'f-bomb' queen return to the White House instead, normalcy will be all about flung cuss words, toilet language and leftist screaming at each other. Image credit: Official photo, public domain, enhanced with FotoSketcher BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 2 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Export of wood and furniture from Turkey to Azerbaijan increased by 18.24 percent from January through May 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, having exceeded $54.4 million, Turkey's Trade Ministry told Trend. In May 2020, export of wood and furniture from Turkey to Azerbaijan increased by 29.8 percent compared to the month of 2019, surpassing $15.9 million. In the first 5 months of 2020, the export of wood and furniture from Turkey to world markets dropped by 10.8 percent over the year, making up $2 billion. Meanwhile, Turkeys wood and furniture export amounted to 3.3 percent of the countrys total export. Turkey exported over $367.3 million worth of wood and furniture to international markets in May 2020, which is 30.2 percent less compared to May 2019. Turkeys wood and furniture export for May 2020 made up 3.7 percent of the countrys total export. From May 2019 through May 2020, Turkey exported wood and furniture abroad in the amount of over $5.2 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Vienna, N.Y. -- An 18-year-old died Saturday and two other teens were injured in a rollover crash in Oneida County, according to New York State Police. Shane M. Pinard died after being taken to Upstate University Hospital by Mercy Flight, police said. Pinard was driving a 1999 Ford pickup truck southbound on Vienna Road in Vienna when he lost control of the car just south of Kellogg Road, police said. The vehicle went off the west shoulder of the road, rolled several times and pinned Pinard under the truck, according to police. Several bystanders lifted the truck off Pinard, police said. Pinard was flown to Upstate University Hospital but later died, according to police. A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old were passengers in the car and were both also taken to Upstate with non-life threatening injuries, police said. Police are still investigating the crash. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter. More tech news includes reports detailing features of the upcoming Galaxy Watch 3 smartphone and BSNL launching Bharat Air Fibre Services launched in Maharashtra. It was an interesting day in the world of technology today. On one hand, Microsoft put on hold the acquisition talks to acquire TikToks US business. On the other hand, BSNL introduced its Bharat Air Fibre Service, which is the companys broadband service in rural areas, in two villages in Maharashtra. So, heres everything that happened in the world of technology today: Galaxy Watch 3 details revealed Samsung is set to launch the Galaxy Watch 3 on August 5. Ahead of the launch, the user manual of the smartwatch has leaked online, which has revealed almost all the details about the wearable device. Check out all the details here. Microsoft reportedly puts TikTok acquisition talks on hold Microsoft and TikToks parent company ByteDance have put acquisition talks for the TikTok US on hold after the US President Donald Trump signalled opposition to the deal. The two companies are now seeking clarity from the White House on the matter. Amazon offers free in-game content to Prime users Amazon is set to host the Prime Day Sale in India between August 6 and 7. Ahead of the annual event, the company is offering free-in game content on mobile games such as Ludo King, Freefire and BigFarm Mobile Harvest among others to Prime users. BSNL Bharat Air Fibre Services launched in Maharashtra BSNL today launched its Bharat Air Fibre Service in Maharashtras Akola and Washim districts. BSNL has partnered with Telecom Infrastructure Partners (TIPs) for the same. July 2020 remains a notable month for the families of not less than 13 prominent Nigerians who were snatched by the cold hands of death. Within those 31 days of the month, Nigeria lost its first female combatant helicopter pilot, Tolulope Arotile; an associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, Isa Funtua; and two former ministers, Sam Momah and Abdulganiyu AbdulRazaq. Others are state officials, journalists and party chieftains. While some of them died of COVID-19, some died of undisclosed ailments, while the cause of some could not be ascertained. Only Ms Arotile was involved in an accident that claimed her life. PREMIUM TIMES, however, reviews the profile of these prominent people and the circumstances surrounding their demise Chief of Staff to Borno Governor Babagana Wakil, the chief of staff to Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum, died on July 1. The Guardian gathered that the death might not be unconnected with high blood pressure and ulcer, which he had been managing for some time. The last official engagement of the late Wakil was on June 1, 2020, when he represented Zulum at the foundation-laying ceremony of Army Referral Hospital. Ondo Health Commissioner The commissioner for health in Ondo State, Wahab Adegbenro, died on July 2. Multiple sources in the government house told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Adegbenro died at the states infectious disease hospital on Thursday. The late health commissioner was born on June 5, 1955, at Ilara-mokin in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State where he had his primary education. He later attended Oyemekun Grammar School, Akure between 1962 and 1967, before proceeding to the University of Benin, in Edo to bag Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (M.B; B.S). He was a member of the Nigeria Medical Association; member of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria; Associate Member, Royal College of General Practitioners of London; and member of Nigeria Guild of Medical Directors. APC former Chieftain On July 6, a former national vice-chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Inuwa Abdulkadir, died. Late Inuwa Abdulkadir, ex-APC National Vice Chairman. This paper learnt that he died at Usman Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto in the early hours of Monday after a brief illness. The 54-year-old was a member of the National Working Committee of the APC that was recently dissolved by the partys National Executive Council. He was from Sokoto State and was an Attorney-General and Commissioner For Justice in Sokoto State during the administration of Aliyu Wammako. Mr Abdulkadir was also the Chairman and Pro-chancellor of Sokoto State University before his demise. Chief of Staff to Kwara Governor Aminu Adisa Logun, the chief of staff to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara died of COVID-19 on July 7. Mr Logun was a pioneer industrialist in Ilorin and an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, Jos. He hailed from Ilorin, the state capital. He was chairman of the 80-member Kwara State Transition Committee appointed by Governor AbdulRazaq before his inauguration last year. Aminu Adisa Logun [PHOTO CREDIT: Aminu Logun on Facebook] An alumnus of Barewa College, Zaria, Mr Logun attended Kings College, Lagos and earned a bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from Loughborough University of Technology and a Masters of Science (M.Sc.) from Birmingham University, both in the United Kingdom. He worked at various times in Lever Brothers, Port Sunlight, UK; Cerekem Arhus, Denmark; North Brewery Limited Kano; Ajaokuta Steel Company; and Nigeria Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe. He was also a General Manager at the New Nigeria Development Company. Advertisements Lagos Lawmaker On July 10, the lawmaker representing Kosofe Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tunde Braimoh, died after a brief illness. Until his death, Mr Braimoh was an active member of the states parliament and the chairman of its committee on information. Late lawmaker representing Kosofe Constituency 1 at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tunde Braimoh. [PHOTO CREDIT: Official Twitter handle of Braimoh] Mr Braimoh was from the same senatorial district as a late senator, Bayo Osinowo, who represented Lagos East Senatorial District until his death in June. First female combatant helicopter pilot The Nigeria Air Force (NAF), on July 15, announced the death of Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, Nigerias first female combatant helicopter pilot. Ms Arotile died as a result of head injuries sustained from a road accident at its base in Kaduna. According to the report of an investigative panel, the 24 years old was hit by her former classmate. Nigerias first female helicopter pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile (1995-2020). (PHOTO CREDIT: NAF) According to NAF, Ms Arotile was commissioned into the NAF in September 2017 as a member of Nigeria Defense Academy (NDA) RC 64. Late Arotile contributed significantly to the efforts to rid the North Central States of armed bandits and other criminal elements by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger State, NAF said. Buharis associate A close associate of President Muhammadu Buhari and Second Republic minister, Ismaila Isa-Funtua, died on July 20. Mr Isa-Funtua died while keeping a doctors appointment, according to family sources. He is suspected to have died of cardiac arrest as he was not known to be seriously sick. Ismaila Isa-Funtua The Katsina-born newspaper publisher and industrialist was a minister under the civilian administration of Shehu Shagari. A member of the 1994-1995 Constitutional Conference, he was also the founder of Bulet International Nigeria Limited, which built some of the iconic public buildings in Abuja. Max FM presenter On July 24, a popular Max FM Lagos radio presenter, Emmanuella Adepoju, died after a brief illness. According to the management of TVC Communications, owners of TVC, TVC News and Max FM Lagos and Abuja, Iya Jogbo died after a brief illness from bronchitis and an enlarged heart. Iya Jogbo as shes popularly called, ventured into broadcasting in 1995, whilst on an internship at Radio Lagos by reading the news and presenting Radio Lagos Global Focus. She was also an accomplished voice-over artist whose career began at the defunct Clapperboard. She presented the Shoppers Guide in English and Yoruba (Karakata). Former minister and Kwara governors dad Ganiyu Folorunsho AbdulRazaq, the father of the incumbent governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, died on July 25. Mr AbdulRazaq, a former minister in charge of railways in the First Republic, passed on in Abuja at age 93. The Mutawali of Ilorin and Tafida of Zazzau (Zaria), was Chairman of the Nigerian Body of Benchers and believed to be the first lawyer from Northern Nigeria. He is survived by his 90-year-old wife, Raliat AbdulRazaq, children and grandchildren. PDP Chairman The Chairman of the Interim Caretaker Committee of the ruling-Peoples Democratic Party in Abia State, Johnson Onuigbo, died on July 28. A member of the family told journalists on Tuesday that Mr Onuigbo died on Monday evening at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia. Former Minister of Science and Technology Former Minister of Science and Technology, Sam Momah, died on July 29 after suffering from diabetes complications. The ex-official celebrated his 77th birthday on July 6, launching his 13th book which he titled: Restructuring to save Nigeria from post-oil disintegration. The one- time Adjutant General and Commander, Training and Doctrine Command was also the pioneer Director of the National War College. Former Minister, Sam Momah [Photocredit: thetrendNG.com] He played strategic roles in enhancing Nigerias educational system as Director of National War College, member of the Governing Council of the University of Jos, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, and Fellow, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Uwana. Afenifere leader Ayorinde Fasanmi, Afenifere leader, died on July 30 after a brief illness. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Mr Fasanmi, a member of the House of Representatives in the First Republic and senator in the Second Republic, died at the age of 94. He served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Old Western Nigeria Housing Corporation in the old western region. National leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural and political organisation, Afenifere, Ayorinde Fasanmi He was National President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in 1977, and Senator between 1979 and 1983. He was earlier elected to the House of Representatives in 1954. He also served with the National Constitutional Conference Commission in 1994, as a member. During the fourth Republic, Mr Fasanmi served as the National Vice Chairman (South-West) of the Alliance for Democracy. Ogun-based broadcaster On July 30, a broadcaster and founder of Cowrie FM Radio Station, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Willy Thomas, died of a sudden health crisis. His death was confirmed by the former President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lanre Ogundipe. The deceased, who worked at the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation as a DJ/Producer, and later with Radio Germany, was said to have died while being rushed to the hospital, following a sudden health challenge. Mr Thomas returned from Germany some years ago to establish a community radio station, Cowrie FM, in Ogun State. He was said to be in his 70s. MBABANE Revealed! With South African investigators probing 102 suppliers of personal protective equipment (PPE), over damning allegations that politically connected individuals won lucrative COVID-19 tenders amounting to over R1 billion, taxpayers in the Kingdom of Eswatini will have to part ways with at least E112 million in respect of all COVID-19 tenders so far. The National Disaster Management Agency ( NDMA) is reported to have already exhausted its budget and is waiting for the release of another E102 million, which is a loan from the World Bank. The bank is reported to have already approved US$6 million to assist the Kingdom of Eswatini in its efforts to prevent, detect and respond to the threat posed by COVID-19. The loan comes as emergency funding for a project that will help strengthen the countrys health system preparedness to respond to this and potential future emergencies. Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg recently said the ministry of health was busy with drawdowns in preparation of the release of the fund. The Times SUNDAY has gathered that the COVID-19 tenders were awarded by NDMA to either individuals or companies since the partial lockdown was effected by Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini on March 27,2020. This was after His Majesty the King declared the coronavirus a national emergency. Notably, procurements were single sourced, meaning the tenders were not advertised. Ever since His Majesty the King declared the coronavirus a national emergency, government introduced the ongoing partial lockdown, several companies and individuals have submitted orders which were paid by NDMA. Quarter chicken meals amounting to E1 602 supplied by Nandos are part of the monies to be paid by taxpayers. Documents seen by the Times Sunday reflected that the chicken meals were ordered and supplied on May 16. The documents further revealed that taxpayers would also pay E92 260 for packed lunch boxes and breakfast meals that were supplied by Fedics on May 9,2020. Other companies that supplied food for His Majestys Correctional Service (HMCS) officers on the same date included Buy N Save, which was expected to be paid E332 559.98. There is also a catering company identified as Phumliles Outdoor catering, which supplied packed lunch boxes amounting to E4 800. Another tender that has left more questions than answers is that of a supply of braai wors worth E4 830 that was supplied by Swaziland Meat Wholesalers. It is not stated which event required that amount of meat. E182 000 for cops food Another glaring tender is that of the supply of food for the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) officers by Buy n Save supermarket, amounting to E182 003.46. The purchase order marked as RFQ is dated April 24. The Piggs Peak Hotel, which is a state-owned enterprise, has forwarded a purchase order for providing lunch, dinner and accommodation for COVID-19 patients. The hotel is expecting a payment of E513 875.25. Piggs Peak is currently one of the quarantine sites in Eswatini. NamBoard will also get a share of E34 725 for the supply of fruits and vegetables. The repatriation of students from Addis Ababa to KMIII which took place on April 22, will cost taxpayers E1.6 million. This money is for a tender that was awarded to Royal Eswatini National Airways. The university of Eswatini (UNESWA) was also awarded a tender for the supply of surgical aprons amounting to E300 000 on April 15. A tender for the procurement of liquid hand soap amounting to E1 million was awarded to Buy N Save. While Eswatini Meat Industries is expected to receive E141 100 for the supply of stewing beef. According to a report published by Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency (ESPPRA), the total amount of COVID-19 tenders is currently at E112 138 477.17. It has been stated that the tender list is incomplete and the list will be updated. Madoda Mngometulu, Chief Executive Officer at ESPPRA, said they had to start publishing the list of COVID-19 tenders as per the recommendation of the law. As we have stated that we will have to update the list because these are not all the tenders issued, he said. Section 41 of the Disaster Management act of 2006, states that an audit of the national disaster fund shall be conducted within three months of the end of each financial year. Section 41(2) states that the auditor shall complete their audit of accounts of the fund within three months of the end of each financial year and shall include, in the report, assessments relating to the effectiveness and the administration of the fund. law must take its course if... Meanwhile, Mduduzi Gina, Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA), said due diligence should be done to all the companies that have applied for tenders related to the coronavirus. If you give a company a tender, you are supposed to apply due diligence to test the capacity of that company and asses its capabilities to deliver the required product at a reasonable price, he said. Companies are looking for business and the directors would do anything to get business from government once such an opportunity has been presented to them. It is therefore the duty of government, especially the tender board, to scrutinise the companies carefully, he said. Gina argued that if some of the companies that were awarded could be traced or followed, one would find that the directors were politically connected. As TUCOSWA we are saying if any procedure was flouted during the awarding exercise and the companies failed to deliver then the law should take its course. Underperforming and corruption should not be entertained during the coronavirus pandemic, he said. What an Ohioan sees seems to be what he or she usually gets with Lima Republican Robert R. Cupp, the Ohio Houses new speaker: quiet, mannerly, more conservative than he may at first appear Cupp was a highly capable Ohio Supreme Court justice. In 2012, he was unseated by William M. ONeill, a Greater Cleveland Democrat. Earlier, Cupp was a state senator and appellate judge. House Republicans elected Cupp speaker on Thursday after theyd removed Larry Householder, a Republican from Perry Countys Glenford, from that job. Hed won it in 2019. (Householder remains a House member.) Earlier Thursday, a federal grand jury indictment filed in U.S. District Court for Southern Ohio charged Householder and four others (including ex-Republican State Chair Matthew J. Borges and prominent Statehouse lobbyist Neil S. Clark) with an alleged $60 million racketeering conspiracy. Its alleged aim: to elect Householder speaker of the House and pass House Bill 6, to subsidize, with customers money, the Perry and Davis-Besse nuclear power plants once owned by FirstEnergy Corp. The bill, which GOP Gov. Mike DeWine signed, also subsidizes two coal-fueled power plants, one in Indiana, whose owners include FirstEnergy and American Electric Power Co. This [coal] subsidy alone costs residential consumers $1.50 per month and businesses much more. The nuclear plant subsidy will cost residential customers about $0.85 a month through 2027, John Funk reported Wednesday in the Utility Dive newsletter. Funk, a veteran utility reporter, was formerly on The Plain Dealers staff. * Householder wouldnt have won the speakership if Democrats hadnt voted for him. Yet House Democratic leaders called the House GOP majority pathetic for trying to deflect attention from Householder. Ohioans are smarter than that, Democrats said. Yes, they are. Many know that among the 26 Ohio House Democrats who voted to elect Householder speaker were these Northeast Ohio Democrats: House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, of Akron; Reps. Juanita Brent, Stephanie Howse, Bride Rose Sweeney and Terrence Upchurch, all of Cleveland; Janine Boyd, of Cleveland Heights; Jeffrey Crossman, of Parma; Tavia Galonski, of Akron; Michelle Lepore-Hagan, of Youngstown; Michael OBrien, of Warren; Philip Robinson, of Solon; Michael Skindell, of Lakewood; Kent Smith, of Euclid; Casey Weinstein, of Hudson; Thomas West, of Canton; and then-Rep. Glenn Holmes, of suburban Youngstown. House Republicans alone made Householder speaker? Heres hoping the health insurance plan for Ohios legislature covers amnesia. In fairness, Democrats who backed Householder did so because he vowed not to mess with organized labor. Thats a fair trade-off, given the Republican rights quest to weaken Ohios prevailing wage law for construction workers on public projects, or pass an Ohio Right to Work (for Less) bill. * One angle about Cupps speakership is that it may make life easier for Gov. Mike DeWine. For reasons that are unclear, Householder wasnt a big fan of DeWine. That likely would have stoked headaches for DeWine when, as is very likely, he and the General Assembly will have to do surgery on Ohios budget, thanks to the coronavirus. A personality conflict would make budget talks tougher. * Long before the legislature passed, and DeWine signed, HB 6, Ohioans got a clear warning about what relentless lobbying can do at the Statehouse. On Nov. 4, 2008, Ohio voters overwhelming approved a statewide ballot issue to curb the injustices of payday lending. Almost 64 percent of the Ohioans voting on the issue voted yes. Then somehow, some way, payday lenders found loopholes that let them defy the voters. Not until July 24, 2018 that is, 10 years after Ohios voters unmistakably said they wanted payday loans genuinely reformed did the General Assembly finally pass a payday loan bill that closed lenders loopholes. Coincidentally or not, the 2018 bill passed only after then-Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, a Republican from Clinton Countys Clarksville, resigned when it became known he was under federal investigation. (Rosenberger has not been charged with any wrongdoing.) House Bill 6 isnt a fluke. The brazen Statehouse stall over payday lending wasnt a fluke. And the General Assemblys failure to constitutionally fund public schools dates back to 1997. Something is very wrong at the Ohio Statehouse. Anyone who says otherwise is in denial or in trouble. Thomas Suddes, a member of the editorial board, writes from Athens. To reach Thomas Suddes: tsuddes@cleveland.com, 216-408-9474 Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. Columbus: A Somali-born college student ploughed his car into a group of pedestrians at Ohio State University and began stabbing people with a butcher knife before he was shot to death by a police officer. Police said they are investigating whether it was a terrorist attack. Eleven people were hurt, one critically. The attacker was identified as Ohio State student Abdul Razak Ali Artan. He was born in Somalia and was a legal permanent resident of the US, according to a US official who wasnt authorised to discuss the case and spoke on condition of anonymity. The FBI joined the investigation. The details emerged after a morning of confusion and conflicting reports that began with the university issuing a series of tweets warning that there was an active shooter on campus near the engineering building and that students should run, hide, fight. The warning was apparently prompted by what turned out to be police gunfire. Numerous police vehicles and ambulances converged on the 60,000-student campus, and authorities blocked off roads. Students barricaded themselves inside offices and classrooms, piling chairs and desks in front of doors. Ohio State Police Chief Craig Stone said that the assailant deliberately drove over a curb outside a classroom building and then got out and began attacking people with the knife. A campus officer who happened to be nearby because of a gas leak arrived on the scene and shot the driver in less than a minute, Stone said. Angshuman Kapil, a graduate student, was outside the building when the car barreled onto the sidewalk. It just hit everybody who was in front, he said. After that everybody was shouting, Run! Run! Run! Student Martin Schneider said he heard the cars engine revving. I thought it was an accident initially until I saw the guy come out with a knife, Schneider said, adding that the man didnt say anything when he got out. Most of the injured were hurt by the car, and at least two were stabbed, officials said. One had a fractured skull. Asked at a news conference whether authorities were considering the possibility it was a terrorist act, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs said: I think we have to consider that it is. Surveillance photos showed Artan in the car by himself just before the attack, but investigators were looking into whether anyone else was involved, the campus police chief said. In recent months, federal law enforcement officials have raised concerns about online extremist propaganda that encourages knife and car attacks, which are easier to pull off than bombings. The Islamic State group has urged sympathisers online to carry out attacks in their home countries with whatever weapons are available to them. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The Police in Lagos have rescued a 45-year-old man who attempted to commit suicide over a N500,000 debt he owed a microfinance bank. In a statement on Sunday, Bala Elkana, the Lagos police spokesperson, said the man was intercepted by an officer while attempting to jump into the Third Mainland lagoon on Friday. According to the police, the 45-year old, identified as Adeyinka Abiodun, collected a N390,000 loan from a microfinance bank in March, which has exceeded N500,000 with accrued interests and was unable to pay back. While attempting to jump into the lagoon around 1:35 p.m. on Friday, he was intercepted by operatives deployed to Third Mainland Bridge and taken to Bariga Police Station for questioning and debriefing. He stated that, in March 2020 he procured a loan of N390,000 with monthly repayment plan for six months and accrued interest of #142,287:25 from a microfinance bank in Lagos Island. The loan was collected with intent to upgrade his wine retail business, but the business failed and the money lost. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and a Masters Degree in Business Administration. He is married with two children. He is currently attending medical and counselling sessions. The microfinance bank was contacted and they confirmed the loan, the statement read. The loan was repaid by the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was moved with compassion after hearing the story, the police said. Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, enjoined Lagosians to always explore other means of addressing life challenges than resorting to ones own life. Mr Odumosu called on well-meaning individuals to always reach out to the needy and less privileged persons around them. Mr Elkana, a Superintendent of Police, said the suicide attempt was the eighth successfully foiled by the police in Lagos in the last two months. A four-day search-and-rescue mission to find seven Marines and a sailor following a training exercise accident has ended, and the missing troops are presumed dead, military officials announced. On 30 July, an amphibious assault vehicle containing 15 Marines and one sailor sank off the coast of San Clemente Island, California during a routine training exercise. Eight Marines were rescued, one died and two others are in critical condition at a local hospital. A search effort to recover the others spanned more than 1,000 nautical miles, the Marines announced. The 26-ton craft quickly took on water and began to sink too far below the surface for divers to reach. "It is with a heavy heart that I decided to conclude the search and rescue effort," Col Christopher Bronzi said on Sunday. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. The names of the missing service member are being withheld pending notification to their next of kin. All of the Marines onboard the craft were attached to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit at California's Camp Pendleton near San Diego. Their ages ranged from 19 to 30 year old. The incident is among the deadliest at the installation involving the craft also known as amtracs, or amphibious tractors, often used to move troops and supplies from other water crafts to the shore. Troops on two other amphibious assault vehicles had responded to the scene but could not stop the craft from sinking, Lt Gen Joseph Osterman announced on Friday. Marine Corps Gen David Berger announced that the branch has suspended waterborne operations from its 800 amphibious assault vehicles out an "an abundance of caution" until the cause of the incident has been determined. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Efforts are underway to recover the missing service members using remote-operated vehicles on the sea floor. "Our thoughts and prayers have been, and will continue to be with our Marines' and Sailor's families during this difficult time," Col Bronzi said. "As we turn to recovery operations we will continue our exhaustive search for our missing Marines and sailor." Aircraft carrying carrying 500kg of cocaine that crashed - AFP Five men have been arrested after a light aircraft carrying 500kg of cocaine, worth an estimated 45 million crashed in Papua, New Guinea. The Cessna model light aircraft had originally departed from Mareeba Airport, in Queensland on July 26, flying at an altitude of 3,000 feet to avoid detection. Having landed in New Guinea, it attempted to take off again from a remote runway, without success. Police believe that the weight of the cocaine could have been responsible for the plane crashing on take off. A spokesman said: "The Australian Federal Police (AFP) alleges greed played a significant part in the syndicate's activities and cannot rule out that the weight of the cocaine had an impact on the plane's ability to take off. "These flights are dangerous for other aircraft as well as those on board, in addition to being illegal and unauthorised", the spokesman added. Nobody was found near the wreckage. However, the pilot, an Australian, surrendered to his countrys consulate in Papua. He has been charged with an immigration offence. Five other men, all allegedly linked to a Melbourne-based crime syndicate have been arrested and charged with an array of crimes, including drug-related offences. If convicted they could face life imprisonment. Advertisement The family of late socialite Marylou Whitney has put her 36,000-acre Adirondacks estate on the market with an asking price of $180million. According to the Wall Street Journal, Whitney Park, a property located in the heart of the Adirondacks, is being sold by Whitney's husband, John Hendrickson. Whitney, a successful thoroughbred breeder and owner whose family helped keep Saratoga Race Course open in the 1970s, left the estate to her husband before she died on July 19, 2019. She was 93. Whitney Park has belonged to the Whitney family for more than a century and includes a main house located on Deerlands, a timber operation, a trappers cabin from the 1800s, and 22 lakes for fishing. The 36,000-acre estate belonging to Marylou Whitney has hit the market for $180million, a year after her death Whitney Park, a property in the Adirondacks, is being sold by Whitney's husband, John Hendrickson The home features a guesthouse, an office and staff quarters. The residence overlooks Little Forked Lake, where there is a two-story boathouse (pictured) Whitney, a successful thoroughbred breeder and owner whose family helped keep Saratoga Race Course open in the 1970s, left the estate to her husband before she died on July 19, 2019. She was 93 The land is also home to bears (pictured), deer, moose and bald eagles The estate comes with 22 lakes that conservationists have been eyeing with hopes that it would become part of the state's Adirondack Park forest preserve holdings According to the Journal, the Deerlands home dates back to the 1890s and includes 17 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms. The home features a guesthouse, an office and staff quarters. The residence overlooks Little Forked Lake, where there is a two-story boathouse. Adirondack guide boats from the 1800s and 25 canoes are being sold with the property, Hendrickson told the Journal. Conservationists have had their eyes on the land, which is the home to bear, deer, moose and bald eagles, with hopes that it would become part of the state's Adirondack Park forest preserve holdings. Peter Bauer, the executive director of Protect the Adirondacks, told the Daily Gazette: 'It is one of the most remote spots in the Adirondacks, the furthest from any roads, so we fully expected within a certain amount of time after the passing of Marylou Whitney that the property would come up for sale.' However, it's unclear if the state can afford the asking price of $180million for the property. While the estate has been listed for sale, other items such as fine jewelry, a convertible jaguar, furs and gowns that belonged to Whitney were listed for auction. Approximately 1,500 of Whitneys belongings were auctioned off online between July 27-August 1. All proceeds will be donated to Saratoga Hospital to build a medical facility for the backstretch workers at Saratoga Race Course. The backstretch workers currently receive care in a small trailer. 'The welfare of backstretch workers was so close to her heart, and they loved her. Marylou would be thrilled that her belongings are going to a greater good,' according to the Marylou Whitney Collection website. Whitney became the first woman in 80 years to own and breed a Kentucky Oaks winner in 2003 with Bird Town, a filly trained by Hall of Famer Nick Zito. In 2004, Whitney and Zito teamed with Birdstone to win the Belmont Stakes, spoiling Smarty Jones' Triple Crown bid. Birdstone won the Travers, Saratoga's signature race, later that summer. While the estate has been listed for sale, other items such as fine jewelry, a convertible jaguar, furs and clothing (right) that belonged to Whitney (left) have been auctioned Approximately 1,500 of Whitneys belongings were auctioned off online between July 27-August 1 All proceeds will be donated to Saratoga Hospital to build a medical facility for the backstretch workers at Saratoga Race Course A few of Whitney's purses like the one above were also auctioned this week, according to the Larylou Whitney Collection's website Several accessories including the ones pictured above were also a part of the auction that ended on Saturday Her stable had over 190 winners starting in 2000 and into the current year. Before opening her own stable in 1992, Whitney teamed with her husband Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney to race horses. They won the Travers in 1960 with Tompion and again in 1968 with Chompion. C.V. Whitney co-founded the National Museum of Racing and Pan American Airlines in 1958. In the 1970s, the couple helped convince NYRA to keep Saratoga open at a time when wagering and attendance sagged. Their efforts and long-term vision paid off, with Saratoga's summer meet attracting more than one million fans annually. Whitney was nicknamed Queen of Saratoga for her philanthropic initiatives in Saratoga Springs. The Whitneys founded the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, which opened in 1966 and continues to host world-class musical and dance performances. C.V. Whitney died at age 93 in 1992. These furs were listed for auction on the Marylou Whitney Collection site this week This 18-karat white gold and diamond choker necklace was one of the items that was auctioned off this week Pieces of fine jewelry were also auctioned off this week, according to the Whitney Collection website The website also lists this 1992 green Jaguar convertible XJS that has about 36,000 miles In 1997, Whitney married Hendrickson, who was 40 years her junior and an aide to Alaska's then-governor Wally Hickel. The couple continued her philanthropic endeavors, helping establish a program to help Saratoga stable workers. 'Marylou's passion for racing was only matched by her love for the City of Saratoga Springs and her support for the backstretch community,' NYRA CEO and president Dave O'Rouke said at the time of the of her death. 'Her generosity was unparalleled and the list of her contributions is endless. Saratoga would not be the destination it is today without the esteemed leadership, dedication and support of Marylou.' Whitney received an Eclipse Award of Merit in 2010 for her contributions to racing and was elected to The Jockey Club in 2011. Born Marie Louise Schroeder on December 24, 1925, she grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. After graduating Southwest High School, she attended the University of Iowa for a time before working as an actress, appearing in movies and television shows and in radio. Besides Hendrickson, she is survived by her five children, Louise, Frank, Henry, Heather, and Cornelia. US must be accountable for supporting terrorist groups, Iran says IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, August 1, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi on Saturday said that the US must be accountable for supporting terrorist groups that are directing sabotage and terrorist operations against the Iranian people from the United States and shed the blood of Iranian citizens. Expressing gratitude to Iran's Intelligence Ministry for arresting the head of a terrorist and sabotage group, Mousavi said that the US regime introduces itself alongside the Iranian people while this regime has responsibility for several terrorist operations inside Iran in various ways against Iranian people. Complaining over the US government, he said that the US should be responsible for supporting this terrorist group and criminals from inside the United States who lead sabotage, armed and terrorist operations against the Iranian people and shed the blood of Iranian citizens. Iran has arrested Jamshid Sharmahd, the alleged ringleader of the Tondar (Thunder) terrorist group, according to Iran's Intelligence Ministry. Sharmahd, who guided the armed and sabotage acts against Iran from the US, was arrested in complicated operations by the Iranian security forces and is now in the hands of the country's intelligence ministry, a statement by the ministry said. Tondar, or the Kingdom Assembly of Iran, also known as Soldiers of the Kingdom Assembly of Iran, is an armed terrorist royalist group seeking to overthrow the ruling government and restore the monarchy in Iran. Tondar claimed responsibility for the 2008 Shiraz explosion at the Hosseynieh Seyed al-Shohada in which 14 people, including children, were killed and 215 others were injured. Mohammad-Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour, accused of being members of the terrorist group, were arrested and tried for the bombing. In January 2010, they were executed for waging war against God and attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic. Tondar had also plotted for several other terrorist acts in Iran in recent years, including blowing up the Sivand dam in Shiraz, detonating cyanide bombs at the Tehran book exhibition, and the explosion of bombs during general ceremonies at late Imam Khomeini's shrine. All these terrorist plots were foiled by the Iranian security forces. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) Senator Cynthia Villar has once again earned the ire of netizens over another "insensitive" and "out-of-touch" remark against a particular sector amid the coronavirus pandemic. This time, Villar had something to say to medical workers, who have been pleading for a two-week timeout due to the still-rising infections in the metropolis: "Hindi na siguro. Pagbutihin nila trabaho nila." [Translation: Perhaps there's no need. They should just do their jobs better.] Villar's comment in a radio interview on Saturday has gained fresh criticisms online, with more than 60,000 tweets slamming her remark overnight. "You made me believe in cancelled culture, Cynthia Villar. Nakakainsulto kayo (You have insulted us)," said Dr. Gia Sison. "When Cynthia Villar trends, we automatically know she said something completely insensitive and out-of-touch," said @sosyolohija. "Ah, yes, Cynthia Villar the same person who insulted nurses, displaced farmers from their lands, disrespected researchers and scientists, and now she's attacking our frontliners," @wthhl_ tweeted. "If there's one thing she's good at, that's being insensitive and out-of-touch. Very consistent." Vice President Leni Robredo also expressed a similar sentiment, stressing that public officials who make such "insensitive" comments are unaware of the sacrifices of the country's frontliners. "Ang nagko-comment na 'pagbutihin na lang ang trabaho,' number one very insensitive. Number two, hindi nila alam kung ano iyong sakripisyo ng ating health workers," she said in her radio show on Sunday. [Translation: Those who can afford to comment that health workers should just do better at their jobs are number one, very insensitive. Number two, they do not know the sacrifices of our health workers.] The senator defended herself on Sunday, claiming that she was actually referring to the national government, including the Department of Health and PhilHealth. "We have to work harder and better, but I am not referring in particular to the medical workers our frontliners...there is so much room for improvement in the government's response to curb the transmission of the disease," she said. Villar was previously slammed for refusing to raise the budget of the Agriculture Department due to its "crazy" obsession with research, and for opposing cash aid for middle-class families amid the pandemic. Health workers and medical associations on Saturday proposed a two-week enhanced community quarantine status from August 1 to 15 in Mega Manila, citing surging COVID-19 cases and an overwhelmed healthcare system. Dr. Benito Atienza, vice president of the Philippine Medical Association, said the medical community has raised numerous issues to the Inter-Agency Task Force that need urgent consideration amid the pandemic. Among them are: Hospital workforce deficiency, failure in contact tracing and easy detection of COVID-19 cases, transportation safety of health workers and commuters, workplace safety, and public compliance with health protocols. Atienza told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Weekend that the task force has yet to finalize their decision on their request. Meanwhile, Senate President Tito Sotto and Senator Panfilo Lacson said Malacanang should seriously consider the medical community's "valid" request. LIVE UPDATES: Coronavirus pandemic President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Friday that Metro Manila will retain its general community quarantine status for the next two weeks. But on Saturday, the country logged anew the highest number of COVID-19 infections in a day with almost 5,000 new cases, pushing the total cases to 98,232. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, who is facing calls for resignation due to his management of the crisis, said they will revisit game plans and develop a better strategy between government and private sector counterparts within the week. The 'Apple Fire,' a wildfire northwest of Palm Springs flared up Saturday, prompting thousands to evacuate. The fire started small in Cherry Valley at Riverside County, California, last Friday. According to the Associated Press, the Apple Fire grew twice in size overnight and is putting 18 square miles of land area ablaze. There were 12,000 acres of Cherry Valley burned down because of the wildfire. No injuries have been reported, CNN said. Cherry Valley is an area that is not governed by a local municipal corporation with about 2,600 houses. The Apple Fire destroyed three structures and forced thousands of people to leave the field, reported USA Today. The buildings were two outbuildings and a family home. Authorities said there are over 7,000 people who needed to leave their homes as of Saturday afternoon. There were 375 firefighters, five air tankers, four helicopters, and three bulldozers who fought the fire. Start of the Blaze The Apple Fire began a little before 5 in the afternoon Friday, said Cal Fire. There were supposed to be "at least" two fires that burned near each other in the block. The fires met, and, from there, the fire pretty much progressed at an unchecked rate. By Saturday afternoon, Cal Fire Capt. Fernando Herrera said that even though they are gaining ground, the firefighters are still not able to contain the blaze. Temperatures in Cherry Valley hit three digits, and humidity in the area was also low. There were a slight breeze and thick vegetation that fed the flames. The National Weather Service (NWS) said people might expect the higher potential for plume due to these changes in the environment. There were also little fire breaks in the area, with only roads and natural barriers to stop the fire's spread. As of Saturday night, the fire shows no signs of being contained. What caused the blaze remains under investigation. NWS issued an excessive heat warning as Southern California found itself in the middle of a heatwave. On Saturday afternoon, Palm Springs was experiencing 105 degrees (41 Celsius). The weather service said high pressure over the region could cause "dangerously hot conditions" to go into the evening. Evacuation Centers were Set Up Cal Fire spokesperson Rob Roseen told CNN that evacuation centers had been set up for those affected at local hotels and the Beaumont High School. He said that the centers would meet COVID-19 protocols. There will be temperature screenings when people enter, masks have to be worn in the area, and people have to practice social distancing. On top of the blaze, officials are also keeping in mind that evacuees have to be safe from the coronavirus pandemic. So the evacuation centers are being used as a check-in point than an actual shelter. John Medina, the shelter supervisor with the American Red Cross, said Friday that shelters were kept outdoors to avoid the spread of the virus. Evacuees were asked to stay in their own cars as volunteers checked them in and gave them the food and water that they need. After this, they will be sent to a hotel room. Check these out! Red Onions Possibly Cause Salmonella Outbreak in 31 States New Study From CDC Confirms Kids Could Be the Spreader of the Virus Isaias Downgrades to Tropical Storm But Expected to Regain Strength as It Aims for Eastern Florida US space agency NASA has taken off for Mars in a historic launch that aims to explore the red planet further. The $2.4 billion program started its journey from Florida's Cape Canaveral at 5:20 pm IST, as part of NASA's Mars Exploration Program. NASA / Elderfox Documentaries Aboard the Atlas 5 rocket that took off, is a car-sized rover named Perseverance along with a mini helicopter called 'Ingenuity' for flyby missions. The ultimate destination for both is the red planet. But they won't be reaching the planet anytime soon. In fact, the mission to Mars is an elaborate one, that will eventually form a stepping stone for NASA to one day send astronauts to Earth's neighbouring planet. Here is a look at what the mission timeline holds for the visitor from Earth. NASA Perseverance journey to Mars NASA Mars 2020 launch (Screengrab) Having taken off on July 30, the package bound to Mars is expected to touch down on the planet on February 18 next year. The near six and a half month journey is possibly the shortest one that the space agency could aim at. This is because of the favourable relative positions of Earth and Mars, which is seen about every 26 months. The short journey also means an energy-efficient trip to the neighbouring planet. That is also the reason why we have seen a total of three launches to the red planet within this month. While the package cruises to Mars, NASA engineers will have a total of five opportunities (plus one backup maneuver and one contingency maneuver) to adjust the flight path of the spacecraft. This will be done through a controlled firing of eight thrusters for a specific time to simply tweak the flight path. These maneuvers are extremely important as they are the only way to stick to years of planning of landing the package on the Jezero Crater on Mars. The site has been selected for landing as it was once a lake in the northern hemisphere of Mars, making it a promising location for any signs of ancient Martian life if it ever existed. Landing on Mars In the final 45 days of the flight, the spacecraft will enter the "approach phase" wherein the NASA Perseverance spacecraft will be prepared for Entry, Descent and Landing. This is also when the final three trajectory correction manoeuvres may be performed, if need be. The Mars 2020 spacecraft will follow the same entry, descent, landing process similar as used in landing the Mars rover, Curiosity but with new breakthrough technologies. Mars 2020 is supposed to land at Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021. The landing, however, is sure to map a very anxious few minutes for NASA. This is because of a combination of problems that the engineers will not be able to do anything about. Everything will be done by the computers onboard. Entering the atmosphere Artist's render of NASA rover landing on Mars (Image: NASA) - 10 minutes before entering the Martian atmosphere, the cruise stage will be ejected from the spacecraft which will eventually burn up. Upon entering, the package will reach temperatures of up to 3,800 degrees Fahrenheit (2,100 degrees Celsius). To tackle this, NASA has equipped the package with a heat shield. The shield will maintain the temperature inside to about 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius). - The same atmospheric friction that will cause the extreme heat will also slow down the package from 13,200 to 1,000 miles per hour (5.9 to 0.45 kilometers per second). - Once the package reaches an altitude of 7 miles (11 kilometers) from the ground, a specially designed parachute will pop up, slowing it down to 9% of its original speed. From a distance of 8 km, the heat shield will be dropped altogether. - At just over 3 km, a radar on the package will begin to calculate speed and altitude in order to determine when to start powered descent. An early start can eat up the fuel early while a late start will crash the rover to the ground. - Around 80 seconds after heat shield separation, the backshell and parachute will separate and the package will enter a brief free fall. - With a kilometre of distance between the package and the ground, eight retrorockets on the package will fire to slow down the descent to less than 3 kmph. This is where the landing gear will kick into action. - Four of eight retrorockets will shut off, following which, three nylon ropes and an "umbilical cord" will spool out to lower the Perseverance rover on the Martian surface. - Once lowered, the spools will be cut from the rover and the descent stage will fly at least 150 metres away from the rover. NASA Mission Mars: Perseverance Ingenuity goals NASA Perseverance Mars Rover (Image: NASA) Once on Mars, the six-wheeled Perseverance robot will spend at least one Mars year (about 687 Earth days) on the planet. It will be accompanied by an autonomous Ingenuity helicopter that will expand the exploration reach on the Martian surface. Like many other space agencies, NASA is eyeing to send humans to the Martian surface soon. Its Mars 2020 mission is a step up that ladder, as the Perseverance rover will try to gather knowledge and demonstrate technologies that address the challenges of future human expeditions to Mars, says the space agency. Part of this will be completed through the future missions to the planet. For now, Perseverance will collect samples of Martian rocks and store them in cigar-sized capsules. It will then leave them scattered on the red planet, which can then be picked up by a future rover. NASA This will be a first for humans wherein a rover will work towards bringing samples of Martian rocks back to Earth. Returning such samples to Earth will help scientists better study the samples in laboratories. The only alternative to this was to take special room-sized equipment to Mars to conduct experiments, which is itself impossible until further examination of the planet for habitability. In addition, the rover will analyse the surface of the planet for high-priority science goals, including a potential for life. For instance, Perseverance will try to test a method for producing oxygen from the Martian atmosphere for future human visits to the planet. It will also try to identify other resources, like water, on the planet as well as characterize weather, dust, and other potential environmental conditions that could affect future astronauts. Shelley Tucker applies sun protection on her grandson, Zion Booker, 9, at the Nile Swim Club in Yeadon, on the first day of what was to become quite a hot month. Read more Philadelphias third-hottest July since the government began keeping score in 1871 put up some eye-popping numbers, tying a record for 90-plus temperatures and just missing one for warm nights. But perhaps its most surprising and welcome number in the summer of COVID-19 was 0 as in zero heat-related deaths. That appears to be a part of a trend in the developed world, even as the planet continues to warm. Theres been a significant decline in heat-related mortality, said Michael J. Allen, a professor at Old Dominion University, and an expert on hot weathers impacts on health. He said that the incidence of heat-related illness also appears to be declining. It is not at all clear if those trends will continue, he said, and urban areas such as Philadelphia and cities in less-developed nations still have large vulnerable populations. More than a third of Philadelphia residents 60 and over live alone, according to the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. However the trends in Philadelphia have been remarkable, and Allen said Philadelphia in turn has a whole lot to do with the overall trend. READ MORE: Heat deaths are down 'not just in Philly, but everywhere' In the 10-year period starting in 1993, a total of 399 heat deaths were recorded in the city. In the most-recent 10-year period, 83. July 1993 was the deadliest one summer-month record for in Philadelphia, with 118 heat-related fatalities. But July 2020 actually was warmer, with an average temperature of 81.9 degrees, compared with 81.4. The average overnight low, 73, was the second-warmest on record. Twenty-one days had temperatures of 90 or better, tying the record. The average daily low temperature last month, 73, was just shy of the record, 73.1, set in 2013. Whats behind the trend? Its possible that people are getting used to all this heat, said David A. Robinson, the New Jersey state climatologist. Robinson points out that recent summers havent had quite the same extremes as those of the 1990s. The summer of 1993 had three days of 100-plus temperatures. However, increased humidity related to the worldwide warming could be capping daytime temperatures, since it would keep the sun from directing all its energy to heating the ground, and moisture in the air would contribute to overnight warming by trapping in daytime heat. READ MORE: Philly sets a temperature record, and new standards for warm nights. The 1960s were way cooler. Health experts have said that nighttime warming is dangerous because it allows houses without air-conditioning to heat up in a hurry. Robinson said that its possible that early-season heat might be helping people build up tolerance for later heat waves, allowing them to leverage what little nighttime cooling has been available. But Allen and others believe the key to mitigating mortality has been the increased awareness of heats dangers, and that, he said, has everything to do with Philadelphia, with a major and tragic assist from Chicago. Are we doing something right? When the late Dr. Haresh Mirchandani became Philadelphias medical examiner in 1991, no one was quite sure how many residents had died from heat through the years. Hyperthermia a core body temperature of 105 was the standard for a heat death, but Mirchandani reasoned that his investigators could get to only a small percentage of the deceased in time to make that determination. Higher-than-average death rates on excessively hot days supported his hypothesis that heat was a factor. He told his investigators to look for proxy evidence in the homes of the deceased; for example, closed windows and absence of any cooling devices. In 1993, Philadelphias high death counts were viewed skeptically by officials in other cities where it was hot and few fatalities were reported. However, the Centers for Disease Control had Mirchandanis back and affirmed that the city was doing it right and encouraged others to follow Phillys lead. Two summers later, the city launched its aggressive heat-wave response system, linked to the National Weather Service, which the year before had fired up its language with the term excessive heat warning. The program included steps as simple as encouraging block captains and neighbors to look in on the elderly live-alones, and commissioned the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging to extend its helpline hours. READ MORE: Philly was under a heat emergency for part of July That same summer, Chicago drew national attention to the dangers of heat by reporting over 700 heat-related deaths. In September 1995, Chicago created its Office of Emergency Management and Communications, and worked up its response plan. It is safe to say that we have not experienced anything close to 1995, said the offices Mary May. The Chicago plan includes robo-calls to seniors, she said, and a concept borrowed by Philadelphia the use of public-transit buses as makeshift cooling centers, a practice started about 10 years ago. Other cities have established similar protocols. Philadelphia has used several SEPTA buses for cooling this summer, along with closed libraries and schools as the coronavirus has complicated the use of conventional cooling centers. Ironically, said Old Dominions Allen, the coronavirus might have had a positive effect during Julys steamy heat: Fewer people were leaving town so they might have been around to look in on elderly neighbors. The incredible European heat wave of 2003, blamed for killing 50,000, occurred during the peak August vacation season when friends, relatives, and neighbors might not have been around to look after the vulnerable. Fortunately, no new heat emergencies are in sight for Philadelphia, although a heat advisory is up for Sunday with triple-digit heat indexes possible. For the rest of the week, highs are forecast to stay in the 80s. After July, that might feel like a cold wave. The family of a 12-year-old boy have been left devastated after he was tested for coronavirus but turned out to be suffering from cancer. Cody Lockey from Darlington, County Durham, was taken to hospital on Monday, July 27, when his mother Lisa Marie Harry suspected he had contracted Covid-19 after he developed a high temperature and cold-like symptoms. The schoolboy was also complaining of pain in his groin and hips for three days and so his concerned mum took him to be tested for the virus. Although he tested negative for Covid-19, the family were stunned to discover Cody actually had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia - an aggressive cancer which targets white blood cells. The family of Cody Lockey from Darlington, County Durham, have been left devastated after he was tested for coronavirus but turned out to be suffering from cancer. Pictured right: Cody in hospital after being admitted on Monday, July 27 It has symptoms similar to coronavirus including tiredness, bone pain and fever. The diagnosis was officially confirmed last Tuesday, a day after Cody went to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary. Lisa, who has two other children, said: 'Cody had been in pain for three days and when he came out in a fever I thought it could be Covid-19. 'We took him to the hospital and the doctors said they didn't like the look of his skin colour, because he was pale. 'It is just horrible. We got a coronavirus test because I thought it was that at first as he had a temperature and was coughing, but doctors said it was cancer. Cody was taken to hospital when his mother Lisa Marie Harry suspected he had contracted Covid-19 after he developed a high temperature and cold-like symptoms. Pictured: Cody (second from right) with his mother Lisa Harry, 31, brother Ceejay, 10, sister Mia, 13 and stepfather Errol Harry, 37 'They said there were too many white blood cells. Cody's bone marrow is jam packed with cancer cells which are stopping good cells getting through.' Cody's family were then told that he needed chemotherapy urgently, otherwise he could die within weeks. Fortunately, cancer cells were not found in Cody's spinal fluid but he still needed a blood transfusion and had to start chemotherapy on Friday. Leukemia is a cancer of the bodys bone marrow, which is where the blood cells are made. There are around 790 new cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in the UK each year, and 5,930 in the US. Cody has been diagnosed withacute lymphoblastic leukaemia - an aggressive cancer which targets white blood cells. Cody's family were told he needed urgent chemotherapy, which started on Friday Lisa, who says she hasn't had time to process the diagnosis, said: 'I haven't had time to think about it. In a way that is a good thing, I think we have caught it quite quickly. 'I keep thinking back to that day and the nurses keep saying that I should pat myself on the back for responding so quickly - I had a gut feeling. Lisa added: 'I would just say to anyone, go and get checked out. Follow your instinct. Do not hesitate.' Cody's aunt, Nicola Ann Cook, said the little boy was scared he was going to die because her daughter, his cousin, died from cancer at the age of 32 two years ago. She said: 'Cody's chemotherapy started on Friday as without it they have said he would only have weeks left to live. He is very scared but he's being strong. Cody's aunt, Nicola Ann Cook, said the little boy was scared he was going to die because her daughter, his cousin, died from cancer at the age of 32 two years ago 'His cousin, my daughter, died of bowel cancer two years ago aged just 32 so he was frightened he was going to die. 'Cody is only 12 years old. He'll be in the hospital until the chemotherapy starts working. Then no one is allowed in or out of the house for five weeks as he's susceptible to infections. 'Family members are all supporting the family as best we can via messages as we cannot visit because Cody and other children on the ward are extremely ill. Only parents can be there.' His family, including Cody's dad Richard Lockey, who rushed to his bedside from Norfolk, have been left devastated by the shock diagnosis. The 'cheeky but loving' boy's siblings are Ceejay, aged 10, who is not old enough to fully understand Cody's diagnosis, and 13-year-old Mia, who is 'very upset'. The family have all offered to donate bone marrow if they are a match and if it is needed. A GoFundMe page has been set up by Nicola to raise money for a trip for Cody who will be receiving chemotherapy for three years. You can donate to the page by clicking here. Since my return from the war in Korea (1950-53) I have witnessed America sink into a state of insanity unknown in its history: Kids shooting classmates at school, people like zombies gazing at little screens while they walk, stand, sit, shop, talk, drive cars, watch TV telling them what to think, women blaming men for not being treated like men, men having their genitals replaced with vaginas, women leaving dependent children behind to join the military, mothers having their babies killed when they are ready to be born . . . By the 1980s the moral and cultural swamp that America was sinking into made me wave red flags in newsletters I published. The acceleration toward and past the turn of the century has been breathless! Many Americans have wondered what happened to America? Well, to begin with, anti-American activists have pushed hard to fulfill a mission launched by early 20th century Marxists to establish a new world order. It would be a God-free world under a global government run by amoral men smarter than everybody else in the world, past and present. Soon after the start of the 21st century, Barack Obama, latest edition of this breed of visionary, positioned himself to lead the team in Washington to help transform America make it ready, that is, for the new world order. There has never been a place in my mind for anyone in public office who would harm America and the people he or she is elected or appointed to serve, which is the inevitable consequence of pushing for a moral-free, God-free world. Such action, no matter how packaged, serves evil. They who use their talents to harm their fellow human beings theyre known as traitors are placed by Dante in the deepest circle of hell [Inferno]. Now there was someone who wanted to be president who could and would utilize Alinskys Rules for Radicals a book that salutes the devil in its opening pages to take down America, while pretending to make it better than ever! Could Obama in truth and honesty have, as president, served one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all? Could he have been sincere when he took the oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States? I dont think so. My worst fear, that Americans might lose their country if they did not stand up to and shout down the God-haters and Leftists undermining their country what culture warriors have been fighting for decades seemed closer than ever to becoming a reality. Among the warriors with balls who saw what was happening, the firebrand Andrew Breitbart rallied converts and fighters against political traitors scheming to destroy America, a first step in establishing their New World Order. (I called it Global Oz.) By the time Breitbart crashed into media and news reporting, a bloated and flabby federal government had enabled the anti-American Obama to run for president. Breitbart was ruthless in exposing this two-faced candidate for president. Shortly after he pledged to release a video showing college-age Obama alongside notorious Weather Underground terrorists, Breitbart died in Los Angeles. And so a treacherous candidate for president beat a shes-not-fit-to-be-president (Obama.s words) Hillary Clinton to the White House. Well, Hillary became part of the America-transforming" team as Secretary of State and Obama, with solemn face and ready platitude, repeated the lie that he would unify America and transform it into a better place for all. The deeds did not match the words. Regarding unity, Obama stoked the fires of racial division, using his bully pulpit to turn every news event that could be spun into discrimination against blacks into an official denunciation of racism. And the corporate media did their part to help bring about a hatred of cops that heedlessly endangered the lives of men and women who daily put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of a public increasingly divided. Regarding improving the lives of all, the following overview of Obamas transformation of America is based on The 10 Ways Obama has actively sought to destroy America by J. D. Heyes (Natural News, December 25, 2015): ObamaCare was sold on false pretenses by people who knew it wouldnt work as promised. Failed scheme or intentional failure? The bill was so sloppily crafted that Democrats were basically signing blank sheets of paper when they rushed it through Congress. [We have to pass the bill so that you can find out whats in it, said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.] ObamaCares designers precipitated a constitutional crisis with a provision to cut subsidies for states that didnt set up health-care exchanges a provision that would have killed the entire program stone-dead if it had been enforced as written. And whoever was uninsured that did not enroll had to pay an annual penalty fee! Unlimited immigration. Obama issued an unconstitutional executive order an action he repeated routinely to counter Congressional action that instituted mass immigration of poor, uneducated third-world people into the U.S., not to assimilate with our culture but to keep their own and demand that U.S. taxpayers subsidize them. Deportations of illegal immigrants under the new policy were dramatically reduced, even as scores more poured across the southern border as the number of border patrol agents decreased. The Constitution. Obama was a bigger enemy of our founding document than any president in history. Acting dictatorially, Obama unconstitutionally legislated by executive order whenever his will was in conflict with that of Congress or the constitution. [His liberal activist judges would back him up, if needed.] Military madness. Obama pushed social experimentation in the military to a level that could cause lasting damage, such as permitting people to serve who have no idea what sex they are, and allowing women to serve in combat roles despite increases in injuries, mental health issues, effectiveness and morale problems. Packing the federal courts. Obama packed the federal court for the D.C. Circuit with activist, like-minded judges [who place themselves above the Law of the Land they are charged to uphold]. Economic damage. Obama issued more regulations than any president before him, with tens of billions in burdensome new costs such as those incurred by the expensive EPA regulations. His packed D.C. Circuit ruled against states suing to get those rules tossed. Changes to society. Obamas open-border policy and unlimited importation of third-world poor and Middle Eastern refugees [a gateway to anti-American terrorists] could change the face of the country, culturally and economically. Add Obamas approval of sexual disorientation: endorsing legal marriage between two men and between two women, girls in the Boy Scouts, transgender nonsense entering public schools and the mainstream, young children with opposite-sex tendencies changed to the opposite sex with hormones school and public bathrooms open to both sexes . . . To object to any of this insanity is a way to get hit with a legal penalty. The founders of our country and its legion of heroes surely tossed and turned in their graves over the America they had struggled, sacrificed, and died for. If there is a silver lining to the dark clouds hanging over America it is the hope that the young of every description will turn on the mindless haters of America and launch a course correction. A reset for any semblance of progress starts with a return to the Constitution and the forces that inspired it, which include age-independent Judeo-Christian wisdom. Anthony J. DeBlasi is a veteran and lifelong defender of Western culture. Image credit: Abductit, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, the Board Chairman of New Crystal Health Services (NCHS), has underscored the need for private healthcare facilities to seek strategic partnerships that will inject capital into their operations. He said such capital injections would enable them to operate more efficiently to meet the health needs of the people. Prof. Akosa said there was the need to upgrade the private healthcare sector through the adoption of a multi-disciplinary approach in their mode of operations to attract external funding to revamp their operations. Prof Akosa, who is a former Director General of the Ghana Health Services, was speaking on the back of a 5.7 million dollar support from international investors to NCHS to enable it build two new state-of-the-art hospitals and give three of its other facilities a complete facelift. The financial support consists of a loan of 2.5 million dollars from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private sector arm of the World Bank and equity of 3 million euros from impact investment group, Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) with headquarters in France. Prof Akosa described the capital injection into the operations of NCHS as timely and absolutely crucial. He said NCHS has a good business model that enabled it to attract the funds from the reputable international investors. He added that it would enable the healthcare provider to continue to serve the low income group but also extend its quality healthcare to the middle and upper class within its catchment areas. Prof Akosa urged other private healthcare providers to look outwardly for financial support in order to expand and support healthcare in Ghana. Financial Consultant Mr. Sydney Casely-Hayford, who is also a Board Member of NCHS, said they were upbeat about the operations of the company going into the future. He said the expected upgrade in infrastructure would enable it to serve more people as well as expand to other regions of the country. We see New Crystal giving quality healthcare in other towns and cities beside Takoradi, Tema and Ashaiman and actually becoming a centre of choice for patients from neighbouring countries. The Board of NCHS said it would continue to explore such strategic partnerships in order to achieve the companys goal of becoming the preferred healthcare provider in the sub-region. NCHS is expected to add new and essential services such as intensive care, paediatric care and (complex) surgical services as well as care for lifestyle diseases to its current offerings. The healthcare provider currently has seven networked hospitals in Ashaiman, Tema and Takoradi, a modern diagnostic centre and other allied healthcare institutions. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Americas ambivalence about wearing masks has played a part our Covid-19 woes. But theres another factor beginning to receive a closer look as the virus tears through some of the hottest parts of the US: Our zealous and rather unusual insistence on living and working in spaces that are largely sealed off from the outdoors. It wasnt always so. In the nineteenth century, a growing number of people lived and worked in cramped, airless quarters in the nations growing cities. As disease ran rampant, the solution was simple: better ventilation. A growing number of medical professionals prescribed natural disinfectants fresh air and sunshine to counter the threat of disease. In his 1882 book How We Ought to Live, a doctor named Joseph Edwards argued for outsized windows and doors in homes, claiming that the larger you make your openings, the nearer will your house approach a tent. A tent? He explained: I am sure we would all enjoy better health, if houses were unknown, and we lived in tents or in the open air, as animal life in a state of nature is accustomed to do. But Edwards and other like-minded reformers were backed up by another recent discovery. During the Civil War, doctors noticed that wounded soldiers treated in open-air settings had higher rates of survival than those in cramped hospitals. The acceptance of the germ theory of disease helped buttress these prescriptions. In time, medical advice helped drive reforms instituted in the nations cities. In 1901, the New York State Tenement House Act required buildings housing the citys working class to have outward-facing windows and other features that promoted ventilation. There was another reason for the growing obsession with fresh air: the continuing threat of tuberculosis. Though it had declined somewhat by the turn of the century, the respiratory disease remained the third most common cause of death after heart disease and influenza. Soon, a growing number of middle-class Americans embraced the idea that the only way to prevent it and perhaps even cure it was to spend as much time as possible outdoors. As medical historian Katherine Ott has observed, the fundamental point of what became known as the rest cure was, as one proponent put it, to make our rooms indoors, as nearly as possible, parts of all outdoors. And they meant it. In the early twentieth century, patients began sleeping with their bodies cantilevered on beds sticking out of windows. Many of those afflicted with tuberculosis left cities for sanitariums established in the territory of Arizona, land of sunshine and dry desert air. But even the healthy embraced fresh air, spurring changes to domestic architecture. The idea of a sleeping porch typically, a well-ventilated, screened area on the second floor where residents could spend the night became de rigueur. So, too, did verandas and enormous porches designed to catch a breeze. The new bungalow style of architecture embodied many of these ideas. In the 1920s, a group of engineers decided to tame nature and encourage Americans to shut the windows. The careers of these individuals Alfred Wolff, Stuart Cramer and Willis Carrier have been documented by historians of technology like Gail Cooper. It was Cramer, a textile engineer who worked in factories, who coined the phrase air conditioning. Significantly, this did not refer to cool temperatures so much as the idea that interior air could be maintained at constant levels of relative humidity in both winter and summer. Cramer also took the fateful step of merging the mechanical systems that conditioned the air with those that ventilated his factories. This was understandable: It made little sense to regulate the humidity if the windows were wide open. Willis Carrier took these ideas even further, and quickly became the face of air-conditioned spaces. He founded several companies that marketed air conditioning to factories, promising to make every day a good day. No longer would manufacturers need to worry about shifts in relative humidity that could ruin food processing and other operations. Not everyone embraced the new technology. So-called open-air crusaders warned that no matter how sophisticated the machinery, there was simply no substitute for open windows for discouraging the spread of germs. Ventilation engineers sought to allay these concerns by drafting codes that guaranteed an exchange of fresh air. But these inevitably collided with cost concerns: It was cheaper to recirculate indoor air than it was to pull it in from the outside. The result was open conflict between the engineers and the crusaders. Long before sick building syndrome became a commonplace term, critics of climate control argued that mechanically processed air was less healthy and more dangerous during viral outbreaks. The engineers won in the end, with air conditioning enjoying broad acceptance in the U.S. by the end of the World War II via two very different systems.The first was a dramatic expansion of the technology in workplaces not just factories, but white-collar offices in skyscrapers and office parks. The second was the democratization of air conditioning in homes: window units at first, followed by large, central-air conditioning systems. Our love of air conditioning fuelled a dramatic shift of population to the Sun Belt. While the northeast only grew by 41% between 1940 and 1980, the region of the country below the 37th parallel grew by 112% a trend that has only intensified in recent decades. But it was hardly restricted to that region, with the technology becoming commonplace in every state. Today, the US uses more energy for air conditioning than all other nations in the world put together, according to a Yale University study. In fact, between 1993 and 2005 alone, Americans doubled their energy consumption for air conditioning. But climate control may have a downside, as our experience with coronavirus suggests. Professor Edward Nardell of Harvards School of Public Health has argued that at first glance, summertime might deal a serious blow to a pathogen like Covid-19: Viruses dont normally thrive in hot and humid weather. But if everyone sits inside dry, climate-controlled environments sealed off from the outside, were more or less giving Covid what it wants and needs to reproduce. Indeed, a growing number of scientists have argued that airborne transmission within climate-controlled spaces is a serious threat. In the war against Covid, some of the most old-fashioned solutions have turned out to be the most effective. Wear a mask. Self-quarantine if you have symptoms. Push more activities outdoors. Should the simple act of opening windows be added to the list? It certainly wont help beat the heat. But it might help beat the virus. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Many commercial buses in Lagos have returned to carrying full-capacity, as against the directive of the state government that all commercial busies should load a maximum of 60 per cent of their capacity. Several buses observed by PREMIUM TIMES along Ikorodu road loaded full capacity, The only ones who still adhere to the governments COVID-19 protocol are those that load their passengers from the motor parks. In May, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the guidelines for the partial easing of lockdown in the state, part of which was that commercial buses should not load more than 60 per cent of the bus capacity. On Saturday, the governor announced further measures to ease the lockdown including the planned reopening of worship places and extension of business hours; but he was silent on public transportation. Over the past few weeks, PREMIUM TIMES observed how many commercial buses in the state, including the government-partnered buses such as those owned by Primero Services Limited, popularly called BRT, have returned to loading full capacity. Do they expect us to continue loading half of the bus? How are we to make a profit? You should also put yourself in our condition, we pay for fuel, bus maintenance and still pay dues at every bus-stop, including some monies paid to police officers and LASTMA officers, a bus driver said. During a recent trip in a public bus, disgruntled passengers were grumbling about how they are the receiving end of the decisions of the government and commercial bus drivers, without any succour from employers and the government. Several Lagosians who commute to their various workplaces using public transport have been subjected to hardship since the ease of lockdown in Lagos. Following the announcement by the state government that commercial buses should load a maximum of 60 per cent capacity, bus fares in Lagos doubled. READ ALSO: Amidst the increase in the cost of transportation in the state, many income earners lamented on how they have witnessed a pay cut which has drastically impacted their livelihoods. We can no longer cope Danfo Drivers Some bus drivers who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES explained how the commercial transport business is becoming unbearable due to the effect of COVID-19. Highlighting the impacts of COVID-19 on their business, the drivers said their expenses remain largely the same while income is dwindling. Taofeek Ajayi, a driver on Lagos-Ikorodu road, explained how drivers struggle to make a profit because the loading capacity has decreased. What makes the matter worse is that those boys that collect money at parks are collecting higher because they feel we are now making more money. Truth be told, we are suffering losses. Imagine the distance we used to carry N300 before COVID, we are carrying it N500 now but with two passengers, that means we are losing about N800 per trip and those useless boys and even the police will still collect their money, he said. Another bus driver, Ogochukwu Emmanuel, said the government can no longer compel them to carry two passengers on a seat because even government buses load full capacity but do not allow standing. Do you see that government BRT? They load full passengers, now they want to increase their fares and will still be loading full passengers, which is to tell you that they are also experiencing losses. What of us that are driving on hire purchase or will make a delivery every week? We are buying fuel, paying for the maintenance and buying expense foodstuffs like every other normal people are buying, it is difficult to keep up with the loading capacity, Mr Emmanuel said. Officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES at various parks insisted they still comply with the directive of the government. As you can see, buses from this park load two passengers on a seat and one at the front seat. Not in this park will any driver load more than that, Abidoye Yusuff at Ojota Park, said. The problem is that we have bad eggs among us, but in our parks, they obey rule and order. When they get out of the parks, some of them behave like goats, he added. We have no choice Commuters Disgruntled commuters who pay high bus fares and are still made to cluster with other passengers expressed their helplessness in the situation they have found themselves. Mercy Ojo, a commuter, said she gets bitter whenever she has to squeeze herself with other passengers in the bus, but she has no option. Advertisements Bus loading full capacity in Lagos It is so sad that even the government that makes the rules cannot keep them. Whenever you disagree with conductors and passengers not to carry more than the required number of passengers, they tell you to get down from their vehicle. This is Lagos, even if you get down from the bus before you will get another bus to carry you is another one hour and that next bus might even carry full passengers. So, you say to yourself, whats the point. There is no option than to stay put. If you dont have a car of your own, you have no choice in Lagos, she said. Olawale Ahmed, another commuter, said the population of Lagos makes the law impossible to enforce. Before COVID, people were always stranded at bus-stops, not to talk of this COVID era when things have become worse. After waiting at the bus stop for almost an hour before getting a bus, you wont even care whether the bus had excess passengers in it or not, he said. Mr Ahmed said the law enforcement agents are also not helping matters as many of them enter buses without paying, and drivers find ways of making up for the losses. The Police react While reacting to the non-compliance of some commercial buses to COVID-19 regulations, Bala Elkana, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, said the police is working to attain a 100 per cent compliance to the COVID-19 regulations. He said the police is on the lookout for defaulters and will also, arrest passengers of jampacked vehicles. The Commissioner of Police had a meeting with the regulators of quite a number of those companies and parks to re-emphasise the existing laws. Enforcing COVID-19 laws is quite different from enforcing normal laws, it requires a lot of collaboration and support of the people. You also need to make them understand fully why the laws are in place, he said. Mr Elkana said part of the reasons for the meeting is to tell regulators and leaders of commercial buses the observation of the police on how their members, who were complying with COVID-19 laws are now relapsing. How we got it done is working closely with those unions, they also have their task force that works with the police to enforce the guidelines on their members. Mr Elkana said the police are working closely with park managers and the NURTW taskforce to enforce maximum loading capacity. The second part also is sending a strong message to passengers themselves not to enter jampacked vehicles, we will not only arrest the drivers, but we will also arrest the passengers, Mr Elkana said. San Francisco, Aug 2 : Microsoft has reportedly halted its bid to buy the US operations of China-based TikTok after President Donald Trump vowed to ban the short-video making app that has over 80 million monthly users in the country. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, a sale was thought close to agreement "but was put in doubt after the US president's warning". Trump on Friday said that he will ban the popular Chinese-owned video app TikTok from operating in the country through an executive order. The report said Microsoft has now paused talks despite TikTok owner ByteDance making last-ditch efforts. Completion of such a transaction could make Microsoft a big player in the social media space as TikTok is hugely popular among the youth. But the app, owned by Chinese unicorn ByteDance, is facing a lot of scrutiny in the US, especially after getting hit with a ban in India in June. Last week, TikTok unveiled a plan to offer creators $2 billion globally in the next three years. The TikTok move came after the media said Instagram is reportedly offering financial incentives to some popular TikTok creators in a bid to make them use Reels, a video-music remix feature that the Facebook-owned platform plans to unveil this month in the US. Meanwhile, the US general manager of TikTok said on Saturday that the Chinese-owned video-sharing app is "here for the long run". Vanessa Pappas told TikTok users in a video statement that its staff were building "the safest app". TikTok denies any Chinese control. The move to ban TikTok comes at a time of heightened tensions between the Trump administration and the Chinese government over a number of issues, including trade disputes and Beijing's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE:NEP) has been a dynamic dividend stock during its brief history as a public company. The clean energy company has increased its payout every quarter since its IPO in late 2014, growing its annualized rate by more than 200%. The company expects to keep growing its dividend -- which currently yields an above-average 3.8% -- at a fast-pace for the next several years. That should give it the power to continue generating market-beating returns, making it a great dividend growth stock to buy this month. A rock-solid current yield NextEra Energy Partners recently reported strong second-quarter results as cash available for distribution soared 45.6% to $166 million. Powering its excellent results was the contributions of two needle-moving acquisitions it completed last year and improvements in its legacy assets thanks to better wind resource conditions. The company also received some good news on the customer front after California electric utility Pacific Gas & Electric (NYSE:PCG) emerged from bankruptcy. NextEra Energy Partners was able to resume receiving cash distributions from renewable energy projects that sell power to that utility. With two solid quarters in the books, PG&E's bankruptcy in the rearview mirror, and some organic expansion projects nearing completion, NextEra Energy Partners has increasing confidence in its 2020 outlook. That forecast has the company on track to end the year with an annualized cash flow run rate between $560 million and $640 million. This outlook supports the company's goal of increasing its dividend by 12% to 15% this year while keeping its dividend payout ratio around 70%. Plenty of power to keep growing NextEra Energy anticipates that it can maintain that dividend growth pace through at least 2024. It already has enough power to deliver this growth rate until 2022 without completing another acquisition. That's due to the upcoming growth from its current slate of organic expansions, the resumption of cash distributions from projects tied to PG&E, and a higher dividend payout ratio. Meanwhile, it's increasingly confident in its ability to deliver on its longer-term growth expectations because it has three ways to grow cash flow: Acquiring additional assets from its parent, leading clean energy project developer NextEra Energy NYSE:NEE) Buying assets from third-party sellers, such as last year's deal for Meade Pipeline . Organically expanding its existing assets, like additional wind repowering projects . NextEra Energy has an extensive inventory of clean energy assets available for future drop-down transactions. The company's CFO Rebecca Kujawa discussed this opportunity on the second-quarter conference call. She said: "Following another strong quarter of origination, Energy Resources' portfolio of renewable projects now totals more than 27 gigawatts, including the signed backlog of projects that energy resources plans to build in the coming years. When combined with the prospects for future renewables development, NextEra Energy Partners' long-term growth visibility remains as strong as ever." To put that size into perspective, NextEra's growth project backlog alone is bigger than the entire currently operating renewable energy portfolios of all but two companies. Meanwhile, NextEra Energy Partners has access to the funding needed to support this growth. While the company pays out a large portion of its cash flow via the dividend and doesn't have an investment-grade balance sheet, it did end the second quarter with $650 million in liquidity. It also recently received a $65 million cash distribution from assets tied to PG&E. Meanwhile, it has several other options to fund future acquisitions. According to Kujawa, one of them is the "significant demand from various low-cost private infrastructure capital" providers to finance clean energy deals. NextEra has already tapped this source to complete several creative transactions over the past few years to fund acquisitions from its parent and third-parties. As long as the company's access to capital remains open, it should have no problem financing the deals needed to support its dividend growth. High-powered dividend growth ahead NextEra Energy Partners is off to an excellent start in 2020 as new and existing assets delivered strong growth, and PG&E recently emerged from bankruptcy without modifying its power purchase agreements. Now the company has increasing confidence in its long-term dividend growth plan, which it has fully powered through the end of next year. That makes it an excellent stock for dividend investors to buy this month, especially those seeking a fast-rising payout powered by clean energy. Michigan Judge Mary Ellen Brennan sent to 'Grace' the Children's Village detention center in Detroit on May 14, saying the youngster's failure to complete school work had violated the terms of her parole The Michigan Court of Appeals has released a 15-year-old girl from a juvenile facility where she was sent after failing to complete her homework. The teen, who has been referred to as 'Grace' in various media reports, was sent to the Children's Village detention center in Detroit on May 14 after judge Mary Ellen Brennan declared that the youngster's failure to complete the school work had violated the terms of her parole. The decision sparked outrage and a subsequent protest, but Judge Brennan defended her decision during a hearing late last month. 'My role is to make decisions that are in this young lady's best interest, period. I took an oath that I would not be swayed by public clamor or fear of criticism,' she stated inside Oakland County Circuit Court. She claimed Grace was placed in the juvenile facility because she was a threat to her mother and that police had been called out three times for confrontations between the pair. However, on Friday, the Court of Appeals issued an emergency order for Grace's immediate release, whereupon she was reunited with her mom, who goes by the pseudonym of 'Charisse'. A spokesperson for Charisse told The Associated Press Friday that she 'is enjoying having her daughter being home, and will determine her and Grace's interest in speaking publicly next week.' on Friday, the Court of Appeals issued an emergency order for Grace's immediate release from the Children's Village detention center (pictured) The decision to send Grace to juvenile detention sparked outrage and prompted a protest to be held in front of the Oakland County Circuit Court on July 16 The story began last year after Grace was charged with stealing another student's cellphone and assaulting Charisse during a row. In an interview published last month with ProPublica, Charisse explained that Grace suffers from ADHD, and that the pair had begun family therapy after the assault. During sentencing in April, Grace tearfully begged Judge Brennan not to send her to a juvenile detention facility. 'My mom and I do get into a lot of arguments, but with each one I learn something and try to analyze why it happened,' the teen sobbed. 'My mom and I are working each day to better ourselves and our relationship, and I think that the removal from my home would be an intrusion on our progress.' Judge Brennan instead sentenced her to strict probation that included the completion of all schoolwork. However, with schools ordered closed amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Grace's routine was upended, and her caseworker, Rachel Giroux, soon became concerned that classwork was not being done. In an email penned to Giroux, Grace's teacher wrote: 'Let me be clear that this is no one's fault because we did not see this unprecedented global pandemic coming. 'Grave has a strong desire to do well... [and] is trying to get to the other side of a steep learning curve mountain and we have a plan for her to get there'. Grace's mother, known as Charisse, shared this heartbreaking letter penned by Grace with ProPublica However, Grace failed to complete all schoolwork in the subsequent weeks, prompting Grioux to file a violation of probation. 'She clearly doesn't want to abide by the rules in the community,' Giroux wrote. On May 14, Judge Brennan ordered Grace to Children's Village. She claimed the sentence was not intended to be a punishment, but would rather be an opportunity for the teen to get treatment and services. However, Grace was escorted out of the courtroom in handcuffs and ankle shackles. Charisse said watching her daughter being taken away was particularly traumatic given that they are both black. 'For us and our culture, that for me was the knife stuck in my stomach and turning,' Charisse told ProPublica. 'That is our history, being shackled. And she didn't deserve that.' Charisse shared a heartbreaking letter handwritten by Grace inside the detention center. 'I want to change. I want to be a better person. Here I've realized how much you care and love me. I'm sorry I took that for granted. Please continue to send me pictures of me and you or just with anyone. I love you mommy and I miss you,' the letter reads. The ProPublica story sparked outrage and led to a protest outside Oakland County Circuit Court last month, with demonstrators demanding law enforcement re-examine how black children are treated in the criminal justice system. The ProPublica story sparked outrage and led to a protest outside Oakland County Circuit Court last month, with demonstrators demanding law enforcement re-examine how black children are treated in the criminal justice system A protest was also held at Groves High School, where Grace was a student 'People need to learn how to work with our kids,' said one black protester. 'There needs to be equitable treatment of all kids, and we need to realize there isn't.' Vivian Anderson, founder of EveryBlackGirl Inc., also attended the protest and claimed that black children are being criminalized for 'behavior that's accepted in other communities'. A protest was also held at Groves High School, where Grace was a student. Grace's classmates who attended the rally told Reuters that her academic performance was not unique as the country grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. 'A lot of people were behind on their work this semester, no one had motivation to do anything because the teachers were't teaching and we were all online. I know so many people that didn't do their homework,' said Prudence Canter, 18, a graduating senior at the school. 'It didn't seem like the judge or the caseworker knew how grades and due dates and things were structured during the pandemic shutdown in the spring,' Geoff Wickersham, a social studies teacher at Grove, told Reuters at the protest. Published on 2020/08/02 | Source Divorce lawyer Choi Yu-na puts webtoons detailing the painful process of splitting up on her social media. Advertisement Choi has been a divorce lawyer for nine years and handled around 1,000 cases so far, and the webtoons, titled "Marriage Red", reflect the experiences of her clients. She writes the words and an illustrator handles the artwork. "Marriage Red" signifies the warning signs that appear in a relationship. Stories may concern a husband who has secretly gambled for decades, a young married couple whose relationship was shattered by infidelity, and an elderly woman who divorced her husband after a lifetime of violence. Choi compiled these into a book last year titled "Let's Split up Now". "I changed some of the stories of my clients, but more than 90 percent is based on true events". More than 220,000 people follow her on Instagram. She often gets phone calls from divorced people she knows who tell her they were consoled by her webtoons. "More young people divorced than I thought, and many more are considering divorce", Choi said. She started her divorce-themed webtoons after a close family member went through the process. "I had a tough time watching that family member go through divorce", she said. "I've been consulting people on divorce for some time, but that was different. And I started thinking about the many clients who had sought my help and felt they deserved support rather than criticism". "People who divorce should not hide the fact. It must be shared, and I wanted to use webtoons to change people's attitudes toward divorce". Back in the day she decided to become a lawyer when she saw a play featuring one. Her father also told her that giving advice to people would be a suitable profession for her and recommended she apply to law school. Even as a student, Choi often counseled her friends about their boyfriends and other growing pains. Divorce cases often last longer than civil or criminal lawsuits with smaller fees, and lawyers often shun them as a result, but Choi said mediating between married couples and solving their problems suits her personality. The most important message is that people should place the highest importance on their happiness rather than struggle painfully to keep a failed relationship going for fear of any social stigma. "If you are considering divorce, I advise you to ask yourself if your life will be happier afterwards", she said. "Divorce can be a path to becoming happier. The answer lies inside you". Texas City Commissioner Gabriel Salinas was fatally shot in a police encounter. The police and sheriff's deputy responded to the city commissioner's home in response to a domestic disturbance call, authorities said. According to Associated Press, Texas police officers who responded to the call late Thursday came to the city commissioner's home in Mission, Texas. There, they found his 39-year-old girlfriend who had severe wounds caused by a knife or machete and her four-year-old son with a head injury, said police Chief Robert Dominguez. They then came across Salinas, 39, who opened fire, which led to the officers firing back at him, Dominguez said. The chief said that Salinas shielded himself inside the home, and, after hours of failed attempts to come in contact with him, the officers sent a robot that found him dead in a bedroom. Dominguez said that there were attempts to encourage him to come out of the house through police negotiators. The stand-off lasted five hours. Police believe that the fatal gunshot wounds were not self-inflicted. Two Mission officers and a Hidalgo County sheriff's deputy agreed with Dominguez when he said Salinas might have died due to being hit in the transfer of fire. Salinas' girlfriend was sent to McAllen Medical Center for her injuries. She was said to be under intensive care after going through surgery, reported The Monitor. Her wounds were critical, but she was expected to get better. The boy was also sent to a hospital with his head bleeding. The chief said the wound was consistent with bullet grazing. He had since been released from the hospital. An autopsy will determine if Salinas was under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the police shootout. The sheriff's officials did not respond to request for comment from news agencies as of Saturday. But Dominguez said police were facing the struggle of telling the city commissioner's mother and sisters about his death, said CBS Dallas - Fort Worth. He said Salinas was "still a human being" after all, and they had to tell his family. The shooting is still going through investigation by the Texas Rangers. Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Maria Montalvo also said that they are still investigating the case and asking direct questions to the Mission police. A Previous Charge from the Same Woman This was not the first time Salinas was involved in a possible case of domestic assault. According to Dominguez, Salinas was also arrested last September for a misdemeanor assault charge that involves the same address and the same woman as the one injured last Thursday. He faced assault charges, a class A misdemeanor. The case did not have enough evidence, so the municipal court judge Mauro Reyna dropped the charges. Salinas was sentenced to time served and released on the same day. The case did not push through as the woman did not pursue it. Even if Salinas has the Mission home, he can be a city commissioner for Sullivan City because Texas law allows the use of only a mailing address when someone files for office. Want to read more? Check these out! Red Onions Possibly Cause Salmonella Outbreak in 31 States Florida Teen, Two Others Arrested for Hacking Massive Twitter Accounts Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva Tests Positive for COVID-19 U.S. President Donald Trump has no intention of peacefully transferring power if he loses the November election, according to House Majority Whip James Clyburn. Trump, who floated the idea of delaying the vote last week over fraud concerns, neither plans to leave the White House nor hold fair and unfettered elections, the Democratic Representative from South Carolina said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union. I believe that he plans to install himself in some kind of emergency way to continue to hold onto office, Clyburn said. And thats why the American people had better wake up. Trump stirred outrage with a Twitter message on Thursday suggesting it might be best to Delay the Election until people can properly, security and safely vote??? The comment was roundly criticized across the political spectrum. A U.S. president cant alter the election date without the consent of lawmakers, whove already rejected the idea. Clyburns reaction on Sunday was one of the strongest to date. Trump is seeking to put a cloud over the election with strong-arm tactics, he said, comparing him to a dictator. Trump suggested delaying the vote until after the coronavirus and its risks of becoming infected while in public places eases. He argued without evidence that mail-in voting will be subject to widespread fraud. Trump later said he wasnt really suggesting a delay but was warning that it would be days or even years until the nation knew the outcome if mail-in balloting was used. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said on CBS that if we try to transform this and start mailing in ballots all across the country, all 50 states, what we will see is a delay because theyre just not equipped to handle it. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday that each state ought to decide how best to conduct its elections. Custom-crafted election systems in each of the 50 states is consistent with the constitution, McConnell said on Gray TVs Full Court Press. Read more about: Coronavirus stimulus negotiations between Democratic leaders and the Trump administration remain tied up over how much of a weekly boost to provide unemployed Americans, millions of whom will miss out on a $600 enhancement starting this week. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told ABC News This Week on Sunday that the White House recently put a one-week extension of the $600 supplemental benefit on the table, giving lawmakers and the administration more time to hammer out a long-term plan. But Democrats, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, rejected the idea. Treasury Secretary Mnuchin tells @MarthaRaddatz theres no question that $600 unemployment insurance is a disincentive to find a job in some cases. There are cases where people are overpaid, he adds when pressed about study refuting his argument. https://t.co/HNQgCe39RN pic.twitter.com/1zceOdxULW This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 2, 2020 We proposed a one-week extension at $600 so while we negotiate, at least those people wont lose their money, Mnuchin said. Im surprised Democrats dont want to agree with that. Theyre insistent on having this as part of a larger deal. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, said in an interview last week that Democrats were entering talks seeking a comprehensive package, not a piecemeal approach. Mnuchin said he and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows have made three or four different offers on unemployment that Democrats have brushed aside. The Trump administration and Republican lawmakers believe the $600 amount is too high, resulting in a disincentive for workers to go back to their jobs. A recent Yale University study, however, found no evidence that recipients of more generous benefits were less likely to return to work. Mnuchin, who noted that he attended Yale, disputed the study and said that some people were overpaid and some were underpaid. He also emphasized that Republicans and the Trump administration are trying to balance spending with providing aid. He noted that previous stimulus packages received overwhelming bipartisan support and injected more than $3 trillion into the American economy. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed a $1 trillion plan last week; the Democrats approved a $3 trillion aid package two and a half months ago. Theres obviously a need to support workers, to support the economy and people who, through no fault of their own, are shut down because of this terrible disease, Mnuchin said. On the other hand, we have to be careful about not piling on enormous amounts of debt for future generations. Pelosi told ABCs Martha Raddatz on Sunday that the 30 million unemployed Americans concerned about the enhanced unemployment running out should talk with President Donald Trump. Hes the one standing in the way, she said, referencing the GOPs plan to reduce the unemployment bonus to $200, an amount she considered condescension rather than a legitimate proposal. Very disappointed in @SenSchumer for blocking the temporary extension of the $600 unemployment benefits. The Do Nothing Democrats are more interested in playing politics than in helping our deserving people. DRAIN THE SWAMP ON NOVEMBER 3RD! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 31, 2020 Trump on Friday accused Democrats of blocking a temporary extension, claiming they were more interested in playing politics than in helping our deserving people. But Trump has also essentially agreed with Democrats more than Senate Republicans on a few fronts during negotiations. GOP senators have not wanted any extension of the $600 bonus, nor have they wanted to extend a moratorium on evictions that both Democrats and Trump recently called for. Trump also said hes willing to provide larger stimulus checks to Americans, which is more aligned with the House and Senate Democrats position. Pelosi hinted that Democrats would offer some wiggle room on the final amount of enhanced unemployment, but she cited the Yale study and argued the data didnt back up Republican arguments that $600 was too generous. She made the case that the GOP was scrutinizing $600 for unemployed Americans while not leveling the same oversight over millions of dollars provided through the Paycheck Protection Program, a small business loan initiative created in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This is making a difference, she said of the $600. This is keeping people out of poverty. Its essential for Americas working families. To disrespect their motivation is so amazing. JUST IN: Speaker Nancy Pelosi tells @MarthaRaddatz negotiators have still not come to an agreement on how to defeat the coronavirus pandemic and this has been a contentious issue. https://t.co/HNQgCe39RN pic.twitter.com/86e0E61LUW This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 2, 2020 Pelosi added that Democrats are unified on the $600, while the GOP is in disarray. Many of the Republicans dont want any stimulus, she said. McConnell previously told PBS News that as many as 20 GOP senators believe enough stimulus funding has already been provided. Mnuchin said he and Meadows would go back to Capitol Hill every day until we reach an agreement. Related Content: Cradling her impressive bump, Connie Yates is nervous but excited about becoming a parent for a second time with her partner Chris Gard. Tomorrow will be exactly four years since their son Charlie was born only for them to lose him before his first birthday. Charlies tragic fight gripped the world after he was born with a rare condition. He died in July 2017 aged 11 months after his parents lost an extraordinary court battle against the medical system to keep him alive. Already the unborn infant is estimated to weigh a bouncing 9lb, according to a recent scan Tomorrow will be exactly four years since their son Charlie (pictured) was born only for them to lose him before his first birthday Now, his baby brother is expected to arrive any day soon. Already the unborn infant is estimated to weigh a bouncing 9lb, according to a recent scan. Miss Yates, 34, said: Hes certainly ready to come out. Charlie was our first child, so like any new parents, we didnt really know what to expect. This time we are more aware of the things that can go wrong, and so it is hard not to worry. Im definitely more nervous and excited than before. I was determined not to be a worrier, and to enjoy the pregnancy, and I have, but of course it is impossible not to be scared sometimes. Care worker Miss Yates, of Bedfont, south-west London, added: Right now, hes safe, in my tummy. Ill be terrified when he comes out, and takes his first breath, until I know everything is OK. Pictured: The new baby's 20-week scan taken July 24 this year. He was tested inside the womb and, to the enormous relief of his parents, was declared free of the syndrome Postman Mr Gard, 36, said: The day Charlie was born was the best day of my life. I was, and am, so proud of him During Charlies short life, there were interventions by the Pope and US President Donald Trump, but eventually his life support was switched off and he succumbed to mitochondrial depletion syndrome a rare genetic condition which saps energy from the organs. Agonisingly, Baby Gard No 2 so far unnamed stood a one in four chance of being born with the same devastating illness. But he was tested inside the womb and, to the enormous relief of his parents, was declared free of the syndrome. Cradling her impressive bump, Connie Yates is nervous but excited about becoming a parent for a second time with her partner Chris Gard Postman Mr Gard, 36, said: The day Charlie was born was the best day of my life. I was, and am, so proud of him. He added: It may sound silly but I cant help worry about what will happen when his brother comes along will I feel guilty to imagine Charlie looking down on us, being a happy family, so in love with his little sibling? I know how that sounds, but until I meet the new baby, I do struggle with this thought. I know its all in my own head, and Im sure as soon as I see him it will all be fine. Miss Yates said: He talks to the baby bump all the time, telling him the things were looking forward to just the simple things people take for granted, like birthdays and going on a family holiday. Mr Gard added: Sometimes I forget hes only just behind a thin wall of skin, and speak a bit loudly he jumped once. We know we are very lucky. We lost a baby, but we have been given a second chance, and not everybody gets that. Were really excited, but obviously anxious too. Its a scary time. We just know how incredibly loved this baby will be. As the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 is drawing near, security agencies have increased their vigil in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as there are inputs that Pakistan based terror outfits might try to carry out an attack to show their presence. There are specific inputs that the terrorists are planning to carry out a major terror attack in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Given that, all the security agencies have been kept on alert and various measures have been put in place to foil any such attempt, a senior police officer told Republic world. All the border check posts have been put on alert whereas all the police posts across the entire Jammu region have also been alerted. There are also inputs that a fresh group of terrorists might try to infiltrate from the international border in the Jammu region and would try and target a major defense installation. Recently, a security audit of all the defense installations across the Jammu region was held and various measures were also put in place to ensure their security, security on other vital installations across the region have also increased, the officer said. He said that the Union Territory has already received inputs from the Ministry of Home Affairs that a group of around 300 terrorists was waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the Indian side and elaborate measures have been put in place to foil their designs. READ | Farooq Abdullah Demands Probe Into Kashmiri Pandits' Exodus; Blames Then-Guv Jagmohan READ | Jammu And Kashmir Extends Lockdown Till August 5 Amid Spike In COVID-19 Cases Security agencies say that in order to highlight the Kashmir issue, Pakistan based terror outfits would want to do something big on the anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, and hence all the security agencies have been put on heightened alert. August 5 coincides with two major events in India, first the Bhumi Poojan of the Ram Jananbhoomi temple and the first anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, so it would serve a big purpose to the terror outfits to carry out an attack on that day, but we are alert, the officer said. He said that the security agencies are aware of the fact that in the past few days, there has been no major terror incidents in the past few days and hence they have increased their alert. We are aware and alert 24 by seven to ensure that the designs of terror outfits are foiled," he said. READ | Muslims In Kashmir Valley Offer Eid Prayers While Maintaining Social Distancing READ | Almost A Year To Abrogation Of Art 370, A Lookback At Jammu & Kashmir's Security Scenario The ever-present masks worn by grocery store shoppers in Mount Pleasant seem to disappear once people make their way to the banks of the lazy creek that doubles as one of the town's main nightlife centers. Looking at the crowds gathered at Shem Creek on a recent night, there were few signs of the ongoing global pandemic. Revelers huddled in groups, standing shoulder to shoulder for photos as they waited to get inside restaurants. Others talked on the boardwalk, their uncovered faces well within 6 feet of each other. Despite the appearance, the southern half of this town has had more than 1,200 residents get infected by the virus, one of the state's highest totals, nearly neck and neck with a portion of downtown Charleston that has received much more attention. The rate of infection is lower than the peninsula, and in other parts of the region when population density is taken into account, but the high number of cases concerns town officials and residents. From the start, the virus has clustered in a part of the state's fourth largest municipality that is home to bustling commercial centers, apartments, quaint older homes and an attractive scene for young adults. It almost killed a rector of the prominent St. Andrew's Church, and infected other pastors there. At least 25 residents of a town senior care facility have died from the virus. And Mount Pleasant's infection totals recently spiked alongside those across Charleston County. Meanwhile, activity at Shem Creek, a major tourist draw home to shrimp boats, bars and fine dining, is less than normal but still lively. One resident, pleading for the town's mayor to enforce stronger mask requirements, called it a Covid-19 Playground." But what's caused the high number of cases in the town cannot be reduced to a simple explanation. Its population of roughly 90,000 is a factor. And not all of those people going to Shem Creek live in the town's limits. The median age of Mount Pleasant's residents is much older than of those in downtown Charleston. So, it's not just young people the age group tied to much of the state's recent woes with virus spread that are to blame. Whatever the reasons, town leaders recently responded by enforcing a mask ordinance to try and stem a rise in infections. The emergency order, which went into effect July 1, requires shoppers in grocery stores and pharmacies to cover their faces. Efforts to go beyond that were met with resistance, and it is unknown what will happen in a month when the ordinance is set to expire. The resulting compromise left many fuming that Town Council overreached, or did not go far enough, sentiments that have filled the email inboxes of those on the council since the vote. "I know people want to return to normal, but we can't," one person emailed council members. "People voted for your leadership, now lead; bring those numbers down." A divisive issue Mount Pleasant Mayor Will Haynie said he was not sure why the section of the town closest to the coast has had such a high number of cases. But, along with the fact that it is made up of more than half of the town's overall population, a lot of residents who live there commute to work, he said. It's also where much of the town's hotels, bars and restaurants are located. At least 68 residents in the Sandpiper rehab and nursing facility, which is in that area of the town, have tested positive for the virus, according to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. A significant total, but not enough to provide an answer by itself. A representative for the facility did not return a voicemail requesting comment Friday. Michael Sweat, director of the Medical University of South Carolinas Center for Global Health, told The Post and Courier recently that it's hard to decipher why an area in one community has more cases than in another. The virus has infected more than 1,250 residents in Mount Pleasant's 29464 ZIP code. As of Friday, the section of the town was second overall among all ZIP codes in the state. Sweat said that a person who lives there could catch the virus someplace else, such as Charleston or North Charleston, making it difficult to find a definitive explanation. Mount Pleasant's approval of its current ordinance came as the rapid spread of the coronavirus in its town, and the region, alarmed health and political leaders. While divided on what to do, Town Council members weren't as split as residents. Gary Santos and Kathy Landing cast the two dissenting votes against the ordinance. Both wanted to encourage, not require, people to cover their faces. But both also wore masks during the meeting. The current ordinance received just enough votes to pass, with a needed two-thirds support, and came after a lengthy discussion by members of the public and council about why it should be stronger or weaker. "I practice what I preach and I strongly encourage everyone to do the same," Santos commented on the town's Facebook page after the ordinance passed. "However, to approve an ordinance that they know cannot be enforced is like putting a screen door on a submarine." Businesses are not responsible for cracking down on people who don't follow the rule but are supposed to have signs that tell shoppers to comply. In Charleston, the City Council required face coverings in buildings and all public places. Mount Pleasant council member Guang Ming Whitley pushed for face coverings to be required for customers in retail stores and salons, but not enough of her colleagues supported her. In an interview, she said she hopes more will get behind the measure before the current ordinance expires. All this is about is saving lives and preventing the spread of the disease," she said. Haynie, the town's mayor, said he also favors a broader mask ordinance than the one in place. Not just for the protection of customers but also for workers. But, he acknowledged: "At this point, I don't have the votes." Disagreements extend beyond the dais to the inboxes of town leaders, according to emails obtained by The Post and Courier. One resident thanked Santos and Landing for voting against the ordinance and "for not snatching more liberties from me in the engineered hysteria." Another person told council members they were unable to make purchases at a grocery store because they didn't have a mask. The "business made a poor choice because they have lost a customer for life, not just today," the person wrote. "And the Mt. Pleasant council helped it happen." Supporters of the face coverings are also unhappy, the emails show. One person called the ordinance "puny." Another warned council members: "Many people will die as the result of the laissez-faire attitude that continues to prevail." Area of concern In recent weeks, the growth in the number of reported coronavirus infections has slowed across the Charleston region, according to experts at the Medical University of South Carolina. Haynie, the mayor, said it's not clear how much of the decrease in new cases is a direct result of mask ordinances, but one can't get around the fact that the numbers have improved since municipalities in the region put the orders into effect. Whatever you want to attribute that to, its a positive trend," he said. "And thats what we were after. Still, Haynie said, residents continue to call him and send text messages with concerns about a lack of social distancing and masks in the Shem Creek area. On a recent evening, a reporter also observed few people covering their faces there. The town's ordinance does not require them in the outdoor environment, but state and national health experts say the risk of getting infected increases the more that people interact, and don't social distance, without them. The walkways and park area around the creek were busy, as people took in views of the darkened and multi-colored sky caused by the setting sun. Some standing in close groups had masks, but wore them around their chins. Others held them in their hands. Glenn Smith contributed to this report. In Pics: PM Modi to inaugurate new campus of Classical Tamil institute in Chennai today India has everything needed to be hub for medical tourism: PM Modi Tamil Nadu Governor tests positive for COVID-19 India oi-Deepika S Chennai, Aug 02: Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has tested positive for COVID-19 but is asymptomatic. The Governor has been advised home isolation and he will be monitored by a team of professionals from the hospital. "As the infection is mild, he has been advised home isolation and will be monitored by the medical team from Kauvery Hospital," stated a health bulletin from Kauvery Hospital in Chennai said on Sunday evening. Disha Patani's father, 2 officers test COVID-19 positive Banwarilal had been under quarantine at the Raj Bhawan for seven days since July 29 after 84 persons in Raj Bhavan, including fire and security personnel, tested positive for the virus. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News "As a precautionary measure to last week's COVID-19 cases, 38 persons of the Raj Bhavan in Chennai were tested for COVID-19. Out of them, 35 persons are found to be negative and only three persons tested positive. Three members who tested positive have been shifted to hospital by the Health Department and are undergoing treatment," read the release that had been issued on Wednesday. Banwarilal Purohit was appointed as the Governor of Tamil Nadu on September 30, 2017. California has become the first state to pass 500,000 coronavirus cases as the death toll in the US tops 1,000 for the fifth day in a row. The state of California has set multiple milestones amid the pandemic throughout the month of July. On Saturday, California has passed half a million confirmed cases, and on Sunday had passed 508,000. The state's health department also reported an additional 219 deaths Saturday, which set a new record for the number of deaths reported in a single day in California. That record was last broken on Wednesday when the state recorded 176 deaths. The state has a total of 9,224 deaths. California has become the first state to pass 500,000 coronavirus cases. A testing site in Los Angeles is pictured Meanwhile, deaths from the coronavirus in the US have topped 1,000 for the fifth day in a row Wednesday marked the biggest single-day increase in coronavirus-related deaths since May after more than 1,500 fatalities were reported in the US Meanwhile, deaths from the coronavirus in the US have topped 1,000 for the fifth day in a row. According to data from the COVID Tracking Project, 1,172 deaths were reported on Saturday. A total of 1,308 were reported for Thursday, 1,529 for Wednesday, 1,447 for Tuesday and 1,121 for Monday. Wednesday marked the biggest single-day increase in coronavirus-related deaths for the US since May. The grim data comes just days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicted that the coronavirus death toll in the US could rise to 182,000 by late August. That means that over the course of one month roughly 30,000 Americans could die from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, according to the internal document first obtained by Yahoo News. In the report, researchers also forecast a spike in fatalities of between 5,000 and 11,000 during the week of August 15 to August 22. The projection contradicts President Donald Trump's repeated claims that the virus will soon 'disappear' and that the US has a 'fatality rate lower than most'. The CDC projections for coronavirus deaths are based on forecasts made by 32 different modeling groups across the country. The grim data comes just days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicted that the coronavirus death toll in the US could rise to 182,000 by late August Deaths in the US have started to increase within the past week (depicted above) In the last 24 hours, data shows that more than 60,000 The forecast initially projected between 160,000 and 175,000 people would die from COVID-19 by August 15. Last week, that number rose to between 168,000 and 182,000 by August 22, the document reveals. Additionally, five states and one territory are expected to see new deaths per week increase over the next four weeks: Alabama, Kentucky, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, Tennessee and Washington. The CDC also says that the virus is on track to become one of the leading causes of death in the US in 2020. On Friday, Reuters revealed that the US recorded nearly 25,000 coronavirus deaths in July, a 19 per cent increase compared to June. Additionally, 1.8 million new cases were recorded out of the total 4.4 million, an increase of 66 per cent in comparison with last month On July 16, the country also shattered single-day global records when it reported more than 77,000 new cases. Huge studies this summer aim to prove which of several experimental COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective. Moderna Inc and Pfizer Inc began tests last week that eventually will include 30,000 volunteers each; in the next few months, equally large calls for volunteers will go out to test shots made by AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax. And some vaccines made in China are in smaller late-stage studies in other countries. For all the promises of the US stockpiling millions of doses, the hard truth: Even if a vaccine is declared safe and effective by year's end, there won't be enough for everyone who wants it right away - especially as most potential vaccines require two doses. And health authorities said they are hoping that by late next month, they'll have some draft guidance on how to ration initial doses of a vaccine. 'Not everybodys going to like the answer,' Dr Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, recently told one of the advisory groups the government asked to help decide. 'There will be many people who feel that they should have been at the top of the list.' Traditionally, first in line for a scarce vaccine are health workers and the people most vulnerable to the targeted infection. But Collins tossed new ideas into the mix: Consider geography and give priority to people where an outbreak is hitting hardest. And don't forget volunteers in the final stage of vaccine testing who get dummy shots, the comparison group needed to tell if the real shots truly work. 'We owe them ... some special priority,' Collins said. The World Health Organization is grappling with the same who-goes-first question as it tries to ensure vaccines are fairly distributed to poor countries - decisions made even harder as wealthy nations corner the market for the first doses. In the US, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a group established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is supposed to recommend who to vaccinate and when - advice that the government almost always follows. But a COVID-19 vaccine decision is so tricky that this time around, ethicists and vaccine experts from the National Academy of Medicine, chartered by Congress to advise the government, are being asked to weigh in, too. Setting priorities will require 'creative, moral common sense,' said Bill Foege, who devised the vaccination strategy that led to global eradication of smallpox. Foege is co-leading the academy's deliberations, calling it 'both this opportunity and this burden'. With vaccine misinformation abounding and fears that politics might intrude, CDC Director Robert Redfield said the public must see vaccine allocation as 'equitable, fair and transparent'. The CDC has offered an opening suggestion: First vaccinate 12 million of the most critical health, national security and other essential workers. Next would be 110 million people at high risk from the coronavirus - those over 65 who live in long-term care facilities, or those of any age who are in poor health - or who also are deemed essential workers. The general population would come later. With Black, Latino and Native American populations disproportionately hit by the coronavirus, failing to address that diversity means 'whatever comes out of our group will be looked at very suspiciously,' said ACIP chairman Dr Jose Romero, Arkansas's interim health secretary. Consider the urban poor who live in crowded conditions, have less access to health care and cant work from home like more privileged Americans, added Dr Sharon Frey of St Louis University. And it may be worth vaccinating entire families rather than trying to single out just one high-risk person in a household, said Dr Henry Bernstein of Northwell Health. Whoever gets to go first, a mass vaccination campaign while people are supposed to be keeping their distance is a tall order. During the 2009 swine flu pandemic, families waited in long lines in parking lots and at health departments when their turn came up, crowding that authorities know they must avoid this time around. Operation Warp Speed, the Trump administration's effort to speed vaccine manufacturing and distribution, is working out how to rapidly transport the right number of doses to wherever vaccinations are set to occur. Drive-through vaccinations, pop-up clinics and other innovative ideas are all on the table, said CDC's Dr Nancy Messonnier. As soon as a vaccine is declared effective, 'we want to be able the next day, frankly, to start these programs,' Messonnier said. 'It's a long road.' New Delhi, Aug 2 : The Finance Ministry may soon have a decision to make, whether to encourage retail investors participation in the stock market through direct trading or to discourage them as seems to be the case with recent diktats on margins and intra day trading by the regulator, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) which have introduced a sense of unease among the broking community and retail investors. Stock brokers have petitioned the Finance Ministry and SEBI on circulars which if implemented is feared that it will have the effect of reducing trading volumes drastically and wipe out number of brokers. The SEBI circulars coincide with an important new trend in the form of an unplanned and sudden entry of millions of new retail investors in the stock markets during the lockdown and Covid 19 phase. Many of them have either become unemployed or have reduced income and have started home while they were sitting at home during the lockdown and normal economic activity was curtailed. The circulars come at the fag end of the extension given to SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi. He got a six month extension in his tenure which was to end on March 1. It is not known whether he will get a further extension after August. The Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of Himachal Pradesh cadre has served a three-year tenure following which another six months extension was given by the government. There are growing concerns among broking and retail trading community over the SEBI circular to ban intraday leverage. The revised guidelines will severely limit intraday trading which contributes almost 90 percent of the volume in exchange and has existed in India for decades. The move will diminish the liquidity, volumes and financial opportunities to thousands of people to a great extent, brokers said. Financial market is the only sector that has been able to function since the lockdown began in India and provided numerous opportunities to regular people facing job losses survive in these difficult times," said Sahil Balani, Head- Research & Derivatives, Triventure Advisory Pvt Ltd. It is also estimated that the new circular will have a great impact on the derivatives markets as it will suck out the liquidity from the system, volumes will dry up to a great extent and will impact the livelihood of many retail traders. "Instead of enforcing a ban on intraday leverage, it should be left to the brokers discretion with minimum controls at place. Penalty cannot be the way of doing business in a country like India where there is so less participation in capital markets," said Balani. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) released its latest circular on July 20, 2020, aimed at banning the intraday leverage in a phased manner by December 1, 2020. According to the circular, traders and investors will now have to maintain upfront margin in their account to receive leverage from brokers. Brokers say that with the country suffering from pandemic and the fate of making a livelihood is at stake, many people have recently gathered hope from intraday trading and implementation of this circular will make it difficult for the whole trading community to explore any such opportunity. During this pandemic, many individuals including housewives are turning towards intraday trading for their livelihoods. The other contentious circular pertains to the pledge/re-pledge process where SEBI has put in strict controls after the Karvy scam, where it was found that clients' shares were transferred by the broker to its account without the knowledge of the client. To prevent this misuse, SEBI had banned the title transfer collateral system and proposed to replace it with a pledge/re-pledge process which would be transparent so that an investor knows the exact status of his shares. This new mechanism of pledge/re-pledge was to come into effect from August 1. In addition, the stock exchanges following SEBI directions have mandated that the proceeds of the sale of shares cannot be used to purchase stocks till the money is credited in the client's account. All of these are having the effect of drying up liquidity for retail investors and making it difficult for brokers to sustain. The Association of National Exchanges Members of India (ANMI) has written to Finance Ministry and SEBI on the issue of pledge of shares. ANMI has received numerous concerns from members with respect to pledge mechanism for funded stocks. "In view of the concerns of the broking industry and software vendors, ANMI submits to your good offices to consider granting extension of implementation of SEBI Circular for next two months and allow the existing system of crediting the funded stock to earmarked funded stock DP account," ANMI said. ANMI has also warned against a breakdown leading to chaos. "The transition from the old regime to the proposed pledge repledge process in such a hurried manner is fraught with great risks and will completely break down the day to day processes and operations of all market participants leading to unmanageable chaos and total breakdown. How can all the stakeholders in the entire eco system manage to transition to the new processes in such a hurried manner," ANMI said. "Moreover, our earlier submissions on the glitches in the methodology of penalising clients for cash margin with respect to sale of shares, BTST trades, the early pay in timelines, etc; are still open and not yet addressed. We once again reiterate our earlier plea for the simultaneous running of the old and new proposed processes for the next two months to ensure smooth transition which will be to the benefit of all," ANMI said. Citizens Against Radioactive Neighbourhoods held another Picket Against Pellets protest Saturday outside the BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada plant on Monaghan Road in Peterborough. BWXT has applied to start creating nuclear pellets at its Peterborough facility, located at the former GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy site, as part of its application to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission for a 10-year renewal of its operating licence. The commission is awaiting results of testing this summer of beryllium levels in soil in the area of the plant, with a focus on the nearby Prince of Wales Public School, before rendering a decision on the application following public hearings held in March. Food writer Skye McAlpines London home is a feast of ice-cream shades and vintage treasures with the light, bright kitchen at its hear Skye feels most content pottering in her bright, sunny kitchen cooking or listening to a podcast Neapolitan ice cream may not seem an obvious decoration scheme. But it was the starting point for Skye McAlpines South London home, where she lives with her husband Anthony and their two sons Aeneas, seven, and Achille, one. It explains the pink striped curtains on either side of the floor-to-ceiling windows which flood midsummer light into her kitchen, its walls painted in uplifting yellow shades (Dayroom Yellow and Citron by farrow-ball.com) and a mustard Smeg fridge. I want to feel cosy, she beams, and feeling cosy means being reminded of Venice, where she grew up from the age of six. Sunny shades make for a year-round summer vibe in Skyes kitchen, accentuated by vintage copper moulds and handmade pans by Italian brand Ruffoni The Victorian house that Skye moved into days after giving birth to Achille has the same relaxed feel as her previous London flat. For the renovations, Skye turned to her friend, interior architect Ben Pentreath, because they both agree that the best sort of homes are the ones that are lived in. He just got it, as well as my love of colour. I like how laid-back Ben is and that he sees as much joy in a 100 Ebay chest of drawers as he would in something bespoke. In Skyes airy living room the sofa is covered in Rose & Fern fabric from jeanmonro.com. The green velvet ottoman was custom made; the rug is from robertstephenson.co.uk Not surprisingly, Skye had very specific ideas as to how her kitchen should look. On one side of the room is a large dresser found in the Brussels Rue Blaes market, lined with paper by French interior designer Antoinette Poisson. The copper moulds that adorn one of the walls which Skye uses to make jellies and pannacotta were another great Belgian find and chime with the Ruffoni pans hanging over her cherished range oven by renowned French brand Lacanche. Trestle tables extend her dining table to comfortably seat 30. Left: In the study, bookshelves and walls painted in Rectory Red by farrow-ball.com add drama, while Rose & Fern fabric (this time as curtains) adds to the vibrant mix along with a green bentwood chair. For a similar desk, try conranshop.co.uk. Right: The look-through from the study to the living room. We wanted it to be an open-plan space to allow the light to flow, says Skye. For similar ticking curtains, try grahamsandersoninteriors.com Skyes second cookbook, A Table for Friends (published last month by Bloomsbury) was a two-year labour of love which explores the sort of effortless but no less delicious food she loves making when friends come round for dinner. Mostly these are meals that dont involve much cooking but assembling a few ingredients on a pretty plate. Burrata served with a few slivers of preserved lemon and a drizzle of golden olive oil is a favourite during summer months. It looks beautiful, tastes wonderfully indulgent and takes all of five minutes to make, she says. Skye finds that a simple way to decorate the table is with bowls filled bountifully with fresh seasonal fruit (right now, cherries, peaches and apricots) a lot less wasteful than flowers. Otherwise plenty of tapered candles. Left: In the living room, a 16th-century drawing of the Madonna and Child (a wedding gift from Skyes in-laws) hangs over a 1950s Fornasetti fridge, bought from a Christies sale. The lamp is by anglepoise.com. Right: In the master bedroom, the walls are covered in GP & J Baker fabric (now discontinued). For a similar print try Andhara by Sanderson at stylelibrary.com. Skye had the vintage Victorian brass bed made into a four poster Skye feels most content pottering in her bright, sunny kitchen cooking or listening to a podcast. We have a big armchair where Aeneas sits and reads or chats to me while Im cooking on a good day! This, she thinks, is where happiness happens. @skyemcalpine Shop the look Heres how to give your home some of Skyes dolce-vita glamour The US general manager of TikTok has said the Chinese-owned video-sharing app is "here for the long run", after President Donald Trump said he would ban it in the US. Vanessa Pappas told TikTok users in a video statement that its staff were building "the safest app", the BBC reported on Saturday. Trump said he could soon sign an executive order, amid concerns the app could be used to collect Americans' personal data. TikTok denies any Chinese control. The fast-growing app has up to 80 million active monthly users in the US and the ban would be a major blow for the Chinese firm ByteDance which owns it. It was not immediately clear what authority Trump has to ban TikTok, how that ban would be enforced and what legal challenges it would face. According to media reports on Saturday that ByteDance had agreed to completely divest TikTok's US operations. Previously the Chinese company had sought to keep a minority stake, with Microsoft reportedly in talks to buy the app. But sources quoted by international media said ByteDance would exit completely and Microsoft Corp would take over TikTok in the US. The move to ban TikTok comes at a time of heightened tensions between the Trump administration and the Chinese government over a number of issues, including trade disputes and Beijing's handling of the coronavirus outbreak. TikTok's US general manager said the company had heard an "outpouring of support" for the app, and thanked the "millions of Americans" who used it every day. "We're not planning on going anywhere," she said. Addressing concerns about data security, she said TikTok was behaving responsibly. "When it comes to safety and security, we're building the safest app, because we know it's the right thing to do," she said. "We're here for the long run, continue to share your voice here and let's stand for TikTok." Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 20:04:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait on Sunday reported 463 new COVID-19 cases and four more deaths, raising the tally of infections to 67,911 and the death toll to 457, the Health Ministry said in a statement. Currently, 8,241 patients are receiving treatment, including 129 in ICU, the statement added. The ministry also announced the recovery of 688 more patients, raising the total recoveries in the country to 59,213. On July 28, Kuwait started the third-phase plan of restoring normal life. During the third phase, labor capacity will increase to no more than 50 percent and visits to social care homes will be allowed. 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. Enditem Actor Rhea Chakraborty, who has been named in an FIR filed by the family of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput with regards to his death, left her residence in the middle of the night, a TV channel report has claimed. A Republic TV report claimed the supervisor of the building where Rhea stayed has said that Rhea left three days ago, in the middle of the night, along with her parents and brother. They left together in a blue car and had big suitcases with them, the report quoted the supervisor as saying. Sushant hadnt visited Rheas apartment since some time, he added. Sushant was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14 and cops have confirmed he died by suicide. Mumbai Police and Bihar Police are probing his death. Sushants father filed an FIR against Rhea for abetment to suicide, misappropriating the actors funds and cutting him off from his own family, among a few other charges. While Rhea had earlier demanded a CBI probe into Sushants death case, after the FIR, she had filed a petition in Supreme Court to transfer the case to Mumbai. Also Watch | Rhea Chakraborty under our watch, say Bihar cops on Sushant death case Also read: Puri Jagannadh shares old film clip and says Sonu Sood always a hero, actor thanks him with love Rhea recently released a video, in which she said that the truth will prevail. I have immense faith in God and the judiciary. I believe that I will get justice. Even though a lot of horrible things are being said about me on the electronic media, I refrain from commenting on the advice of my lawyers as the matter is sub-judice. Satyameva jayate, the truth shall prevail, she said. If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist. Helplines: Aasra: 022 2754 6669; Sneha India Foundation: +914424640050 and Sanjivini: 011-24311918 Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Preserving Pahaska: The Museums of Buffalo Bill He was born in Iowa, earned his nickname in Kansas and buried three children in upstate New York. But the spirit of William F. Buffalo Bill Cody known to Native Americans as Pahaska, or Long Hair still shines most brightly on the western Plains and in the shadow of the Rockies. This three-part Focus series features the museums and towns that most extensively preserve Codys legacy: Denver, where he died; Cody, Wyoming, which he co-founded; and North Platte, his longtime home base and the birthplace of his world-famous Wild West Show. Today: Buffalo Bill State Historical Park, North Platte For information on the Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave at Lookout Mountain in Golden, Colorado, and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming, please visit nptelegraph.com. For additional photos and video clips, visit nptelegraph.com. Last of three parts. When one looks around lush, peaceful Scouts Rest Ranch in summer, its strange to think William F. Buffalo Bill Cody rarely would have seen his North Platte home base at its best. Of the three major museums holding relics of Codys memorable life, only Scouts Rest can boast that Buffalo Bill slept here. He was dead more than 40 years before North Platte saved his home, barn and outbuildings, restored and dedicated in June 1965 as Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park. The two-story, French Second Empire mansion, built for $6,000 and finished in October 1886, remains a proud icon of the city that claimed Cody longer than any other. Buffalo Bills Wild West and the sport of rodeo can be traced to Codys Old Glory Blowout celebration of July 4, 1882. Its site lies partly within North Plattes largest park, established in 1915 and named for Cody on Aug. 16, 1927. And though Cody earned his famous nickname elsewhere, his career as a U.S. Army scout began near here at Fort McPherson on May 20, 1869. He owned three homes within present-day North Platte, but only the one at Scouts Rest remains. I think the visitors who come in here and learn about him keep his story and (his family) alive and relevant, said Superintendent Adam Jones. Enduring pride North Plattes newspapers have never stopped writing about Buffalo Bill, with the oldest surviving example dating to the Feb. 12, 1870, issue of the Platte Valley Independent: Another successful hunting expedition has returned to Fort McPherson. Over 150 buffalo were killed. Major Brown, Capt. Taylor and Lieutenants Alma and Hall composed the party and were accompanied by Buffalo Bill. Codys 24th birthday was two weeks later. Two days after his death at age 70 on Jan. 10, 1917, Semi-Weekly Tribune editor Ira L. Bare spoke for all who knew Buffalo Bill as a respected though imperfect neighbor and friend: Colonel Codys life in North Platte, his character and his deeds will be remembered as long as North Platte exists. When North Platte staged its Semi-Centennial Celebration marking Nebraskas 50th birthday on June 26-30, 1917, Codys spirit was palpable. It featured a parade, Queens Ball, fireworks, carnival and outdoor pageant in Wild West Show fashion. All prefigured Nebraskaland Days, the states Cody-inspired official celebration, which began in Lincoln in 1965 and moved permanently to North Platte in 1968. Homes and ranches Buffalo Bill and his wife, Louisa, made their first Lincoln County home at Fort McPherson until December 1872. His growing family spent the next five years in Rochester, New York, while he scouted summers on the Plains and toured the nation in stage shows loosely based on his exploits. If You Go Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park Address: 2921 Scouts Rest Ranch Road, North Platte, NE 69101 Website: outdoornebraska.gov/buffalobillranch Phone: 308-535-8035 Directions: From downtown North Platte, north on North Jeffers Street (U.S. Highway 83), west on Rodeo Road (U.S. 30), north on North Buffalo Bill Avenue, then west on Scouts Rest Ranch Road Hours (through Labor Day): Mansion, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday; grounds and outbuildings, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily Cost: Valid Nebraska park permit required (pay in mansion or by envelope at pay boxes outside mansion or in east parking lot); mansion admission, adults, $2; children 3 to 12, $1; children younger than 2, free Other Cody sites in area Cody Park and Wild West Memorial: 1601 N. Jeffers St., North Platte (1882 Old Glory Blowout location approximately in south part of park) Welcome Wigwam home sites, North Platte: Original (1878-91), 1800 block, West Front Street; second (1893-1912), 1207 W. Fourth St. Fort McPherson: National cemetery, 12004 S. Spur 56A, rural Maxwell (2.7 miles south from Exit 190, Interstate 80); historical marker at fort site, 1 mile south and east of cemetery on Fort McPherson Road Grand Duke Alexis 1872 buffalo hunt historical marker: Intersection of Avenue 369A and Avenue 370A, 8.8 miles north and east of Hayes Center But the Codys set down North Platte roots on Feb. 4, 1878, when Buffalo Bill bought 160 acres for $750 south of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and east of todays Buffalo Bill Avenue. He built the first of two homes dubbed Welcome Wigwam on its east edge, approximately in todays 1800 block of West Front Street. It burned down on Nov. 5, 1891, but Cody two years later bought a mansion that stood until 1930 at 1207 W. Fourth St. He put it in the name of Louisa Cody, who sold it in 1912. Its replacement, a brick home still occupied today, includes pieces of the second Welcome Wigwam. Scouts Rest eventually covered more than 4,000 acres, crossing the U.P. tracks and running to the North Platte River. Cody secretly sold the ranch to Wild West partner Gordon Pawnee Bill Lillie in late 1911. The sale wasnt revealed until 1913. The descendants of Henry Kuhlmann, who bought Scouts Rest in 1927, still raise cattle on former Cody land west of the park. The Kuhlmanns sold the 25-acre park site in 1961 after a Lincoln County Historical Society fund drive matched $37,500 provided by the state. They later sold more land for the Wild West Arena and Nebraskaland Days headquarters. They did a great job preserving this place, Jones said. Restoring the jewel But North Platte and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission had a lot of catching up to do. Support Local Journalism Your subscription makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} Efforts in the 1920s to make a museum of Codys second Welcome Wigwam failed while Buffalo Bill museums sprouted at Cody, Wyoming, the town he co-founded in 1896, and his grave atop Lookout Mountain near Denver. But Scouts Rests restoration, aided by additional state funds, was so successful that Buffalo Bill himself could not have told it from the ranch that had been his pride and joy in the 1880s, the late North Platte author Nellie Snyder Yost wrote in her 1979 biography Buffalo Bill: His Family, Friends, Fame, Failures and Fortunes. It was surprising what a wealth of furniture and artifacts came flowing back to Scouts Rest Ranch, she added. The mansion holds some 3,000 artifacts, Jones said, thanks in part to gifts and fundraising over the years from local residents and Cody fans. He said the house drew 24,920 paid admissions in 2019, though many more likely visited the park without paying the mansions separate entry fee. It remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though the grounds and the rest of the buildings can be seen with a valid Game and Parks permit. Jones and his staff, including naturalist Meghan Manary and history specialist Meghan Ward, have used the forced shutdown to begin updating the mansions displays. Second-floor cases in its 1909 addition display such items as Codys Masonic gear, possessions of foster son Johnny Baker and artifacts from the Cowboy Band directed by William Sweeney throughout the Wild Wests 1883-1913 run. The projection room has a case with the Colorado and 48-state U.S. flags flown over Lookout Mountain at Codys burial on June 3, 1917. Future tourists will see displays designed by Manary and Ward on various branches of Codys family and Women of the Wild West, led by Little Sure Shot Annie Oakley. In the rest of the house, period furniture continues to complement such verified Buffalo Bill artifacts as one of his traveling Wild West rolltop desks in the first-floor living room. A sideboard and liquor cabinet dating to the Codys 1866 wedding graces the dining room, where the wallpaper was re-created during the 1960s restoration from remnants still on the walls. Louisas and Buffalo Bills bedrooms are upstairs, with the latter connected to a guest room holding Codys bed from his Irma Hotel suite in his namesake Wyoming town and a wardrobe on loan from its Buffalo Bill Center of the West. The top-floor cupola is typically closed to the public, but Jones said it afforded a clear view to the U.P. tracks in Codys time. Scouts Rests signature barn, finished in October 1887, focuses on the ranchs working aspects but includes Wild West Show artifacts and remnants of original show posters on the walls. A larger T-barn built in 1891 burned down during a March 1904 prairie fire. But visitors will see tall trees Cody planted in 1886, the mansions root cellar, spring house and cob house and a log cabin from a Sandhills ranch near the Dismal River owned by Cody and Army Pawnee Scouts leaders Frank and Luther North. And, of course, theyll see buffalo near the barn. Where the Wild West began Its unlikely, Yost wrote, that Cody rehearsed his first Wild West Show in North Platte before its Omaha premiere on May 17, 1883. But a large and excited crowd came to the U.P. depot as Cody and his entourage left for a May 10 dry run in Columbus, she added. Early resident Isaac Dillon helped assemble the show that took up six boxcars and several passenger cars, as daughter Maude Walker related his memories to Yost. Cody apparently said as he departed: I will not only exhibit my show in every state capital in the United States but also in Washington, D.C., and some capitals in Europe. At that, Walker said, someone in the crowd said, Thats a hell of a lot of wind, even from Bill Cody. But Buffalo Bills Wild West had toured 10 European nations, Canada, the District of Columbia and all then-48 U.S. states when it died in Denver on July 21, 1913. It had performed the day before in Julesburg, Colorado, 84 miles west of Scouts Rest. The Wild West played North Platte three times: Oct. 12, 1896, Sept. 10, 1898, and Aug. 19, 1911. William Frederick Cody truly cannot be limited to any one community. But he was associated with North Platte and Lincoln County for 44 years. If ever he had a hometown, this was it. Looking for more on Buffalo Bill? 1:28 +7 A visit to Buffalo Bill's final resting place: Lookout Mountain Part one of our series "Preserving Pahaska: The Museums of Buffalo Bill" starts in what seems to be an unlikely place for William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody to rest eternally: Atop Lookout Mountain in Golden, Colorado. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Personal visitors have been banned at aged care homes in Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Redlands, Gold Coast and the Scenic Rim as part of COVID-19 precautions. End-of-life visits are still allowed, but residents cannot leave their facilities unless they are receiving health care, attending a funeral or, in an emergency or for compassionate reasons. The restrictions came into effect at midday on Sunday under powers granted to Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young. Anyone entering an aged care facility must wear a single-use surgical face mask and operators must limit staff movements between different facilities. Berlin, Aug 2 : Despite the rising number of coronavirus cases in Germany, about 17,000 people took to the streets of Berlin rallying against social distancing rules imposed to curb the pandemic. On Saturday, protesters marched from the landmark Brandenburg Gate through central Berlin before holding a rally on a wide boulevard, reports Xinhua news agency. Police then broke up the rally, saying the organizers were unable to ensure that safety and health regulations were being observed. It added that a criminal complaint against the organizers for failing to comply with the regulation was filed. Many protesters did not wear masks and disregarded social distancing rules. Some yelled at people who wore masks, telling them to remove it. There were placards reading "Stop corona insanity", while some protesters wore T-shirts with "Corona=fake news" printed on the front. There were demonstrators waving flags of various German states, and some of the right-wing groups even carried the country's black, white and red imperial flag. "We are the second wave," some protesters shouted, referring to the second wave of the coronavirus outbreak as scientists and the government have warned against. The protest, declared as "Day of Freedom", was supported by some neo-Nazi groups and conspiracy theorists, along with Germans who say they are fed up with the government's restrictions to curb the pandemic. Germany enforced a strict lockdown in mid-March and started to ease it from the end of April. However, large public gatherings are still banned, and mask-wearing is compulsory in all shops and on public transport. Taking to Twitter, Health Minister Jens Spahn criticized the people attending the protest for failing to follow health regulations, while underlining their right to protest. "Yes, demonstrations should be allowed even amid the pandemic. But not like this," Spahn tweeted, adding that social distancing, health and safety rules and wearing face masks serve to protect everyone. Saskia Esken, co-leader of the ruling Social Democratic Party, wrote on Twitter that "thousands of #Covidiots are creating a second wave in Berlin, without distancing or masks". A total of 955 new infections have been confirmed in the past 24 hours in Germany, the highest in months, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the German government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention. As of Sunday, the overall number of cases in Germany increased to 211,005, with 9,154 deaths. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) In the hit Broadway show Hamilton, one of the prominent secondary characters is John Laurens of South Carolina. In the musical, we dont learn much about Laurens only that he was a good friend of Alexander Hamilton and a fierce patriot eager to defend the nascent country from the clutches of England. And we know that, at age 27, in August 1782, he was killed in action near the end of the Revolutionary War. Maybe you will recall a few more details from your school days, or gather them by searching John Laurens online. If so, youll know that he died at the battle of Tar Bluff on the Combahee River, an estuary of St. Helena Sound (now part of the ACE Basin). Historians have recorded the details of the skirmish and the events leading up to it, but the precise location of Laurens last military confrontation was not known until now. Thanks to a recent project of the South Carolina Battlefield Preservation Trust the work was led by archaeologist and GIS specialist Mike Yianopoulos we now have new evidence that sheds more light on Laurens, a reputed adventurer ever in search of the glorious moment. The Tar Bluff site is among many Revolutionary War battlefields across the state that the Trust is studying, interpreting and preserving. The effort will result in the South Carolina Liberty Trail, a major initiative that coincides with the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War. Most these sites will be open to the public and offer historical narratives, battle maps, and biographies of key figures. Some of the old battlefields are state or national parks with a pavilion, trails and signage. A few are on private property, including the Tar Bluff site, and therefore off limits to visitors. A website and mobile app is under development, according to executive director Douglas Bostick. Wed like to preserve as many of the Revolutionary War battlefields as we can, he said. Weve identified 72 battlefields across the state that wed like to preserve or interpret. The Trust, a nonprofit membership organization that can secure grants for land acquisition, sometimes buys old battlefields outright, sometimes purchases historic land adjacent to existing parks, and sometimes negotiates a conservation easement to protect the site from development. Since some old battlefields are located on private property, the Trust seeks to work with property owners to facilitate research and documentation. The area where Laurens fell is part of a private quail hunting preserve, so Yianopoulos and his team have been working hard to finish their survey before fall. He said the discoveries have enabled him to pinpoint where the wartime action occurred. Technology was key. Metal detectors helped them locate all kinds of artifacts musket balls dropped and fired, an Irish halfpenny dated 1775, a bayonet and, critically, grapeshot, which proved that the British had indeed captured a howitzer cannon from the Patriots and used it against their harassers. It was all mapped using GPS so patterns could be discerned. Yianopoulos also employed LIDAR (an acronym for Light Detection in Ranging), which removes vegetation and surface material from an image to reveal underlying features. But if it wasnt for a very old-fashioned sort of technology a crude, hand-sketched map of the shoreline and troop positions drawn from memory by an unknown British officer its possible the archaeologist and his volunteers would not have been so successful. Turns out the map includes two tiny creeks, narrow ditches really, between which the battle raged. These creeks also appeared in the LIDAR images, helping the team cross-reference their sources and hone in on the sacrificial ground. Battle of Tar Bluff So what happened exactly on Aug. 26-27, 1782? Laurens already had shown his mettle on several occasions by then. His father was Henry Laurens, who operated Mepkin Plantation up the Cooper River and who co-founded with George Austin a major Charleston-based slave-trading business. The elder Laurens was a veteran of the wars against Native Americans and a signatory to the Articles of Confederation. He had served as president of the Continental Congress, vice president of South Carolina and minister to the Netherlands, where he sought financial aid to support the war effort. Henry Laurens was captured at sea by the British and became the only American ever imprisoned in the Tower of London. In a negotiated prisoner exchange, he and Lord Conwalis, the British army general, both were liberated. John Laurens, upon his return in 1777 to North America from Europe, where he was educated, married, and fathered a child, became an aide-de-camp to Gen. George Washington and good friends with Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette. Laurens fought eagerly in several battles, in the North and South, often taking bold risks. A rabid advocate of American independence, Laurens would several times try and fail to convince his father, and then the South Carolina House of Representatives, to permit him to organize battalions of formerly enslaved people. He figured he could begin with the 40 enslaved people who were part of his family inheritance. Though the Continental Congress agreed to the recruitment scheme, resistance in South Carolina proved too powerful for young Laurens to overcome. I had, in fact, resumed the black project, as you were informed, and urged the matter very strenuously, both to our privy council and legislative body; but I was out-voted, having only reason on my side, and being opposed by a triple-headed monster that shed the baneful influence of Avarice, prejudice, and pusillanimity in all our Assemblies, Laurens wrote in a letter to his good friend Alexander Hamilton in July 1782. It was some consolation to me, however, to find that philosophy and truth had made some little progress since my last effort, as I obtained twice as many suffrages as before. A month after that letter was dispatched, Laurens is sick in bed, probably with malaria, when he catches wind of an effort to intercept British looters near the ferry crossing at the Combahee River. The British are concentrated in Charles Towne and preparing to evacuate. The war is nearing its end. But they are in desperate need of supplies and food and have resorted to killing their horses for sustenance and raiding plantation sites for rice and other goods. Major William Brereton dispatches an expedition south to the rice plantations along the Combahee River. The Continental Armys Maj. Gen. Nathanael Greene learns of the British excursion and sends Gen. Mordecai Gist and a platoon of men to harass the raiders. He doesnt want to make it easy for the British, Yianopoulos said. Gist and his men approach the ferry crossing (where the causeway is located today) from the Charleston side; the British already have their flotilla anchored on the western side. Laurens, determined to make a name for himself in battle, suddenly shows up. All during his military career, he has shown reckless bravery, Yianopoulos said. He loves the idea of fighting for the Patriot cause; he was not going to turn this opportunity down. So he leaves his sickbed to fight with Gist. The general dispatches Laurens, 140 infantrymen, and several artillery soldiers with a howitzer to secure a portion of the river 12 miles south of the ferry crossing. The idea is to give the British a hard time as they attempted to float away with their pillaged bounty. Somehow, the British figure out what's going on. Perhaps they observed Laurens and his column of men leaving the scene. They put two and two together, so the British, in the middle of the night, slip anchor and drift with the tide, Yianopoulos said. They plan to pass the Patriots and turn the tables on them, ambushing the ambush. Laurens stops at William Stocks plantation to socialize before his imminent faceoff. At 3 a.m., he continues on his way to his prescribed destination, Chehaw Point. But his delay gives 140 British soldiers their chance to overpass the Patriot contingent, find high ground along the road and prepare. Meanwhile, back at the ferry landing, Gist awakens early, notices the British are gone and concludes that Laurens is riding into a trap. He leaves immediately with reinforcements. But its too late. As Laurens column approaches, the British spring their attack, Yianopoulos said. Laurens and James Smith are killed outright. The British capture the howitzer and use it. It is a brief skirmish: the Americans, outnumbered, fall back. Soon the British, claiming victory, begin their retreat only to encounter Gist and his men who were but a couple miles away when Laurens fell. After a few more fatalities, the battle is considered a draw and both sides leave the scene. Now we know, not only the details of this late-war engagement, but the exact location, thanks to the work of the South Carolina Battlefield Preservation Trust. The details of Yianopoulos research will be shared with the public soon. Postscript: The Civil War Interestingly, on this same private plantation property, two Civil War battles were fought. The Trust is mapping those as well, Yianopoulos said. One of the engagements was between a known Confederate earthworks battery and the gunboat USS Dai Ching. Late in the war, on Jan. 26, 1865, two union gunboats were advancing up the Combahee River in yet another effort to destroy critical train tracks the Confederate Army used to move supplies and troops. Union soldiers had tried 20 times to sever the railway line and failed each time. As the USS Dai Ching approached the battery, soldiers fired upon it, scaring the helmsman, a freed man who knew the waterway well. The boat ran aground and its crew, after several hours exchanging fire, ran out of ammunition. The Union captain decides to abandon ship, and sets it on fire, Yianopoulos said. The Union soldiers hiked downriver where they were picked up by the other gunboat. The incoming tide refloats whats left of the ship, which drifts downriver till it hits a sandbar, known today as Gunboat Island. So, next time you drive along Savannah Highway and over the causeway that crosses the Combahee River, think about the railroad that supplied Confederate troops, the colonial ferry station that once was located there, and John Laurens who sought to hasten the British retreat, only to lose his life at age 27. And when you watch Act 1 of Hamilton, notice young Laurens and his zealous patriotism. Consider his devotion to the defense of Charleston. Sing along. When United States Defence Secretary Mark Esper floated the idea of a China visit by year-end last week it took many by surprise, coming just hours before a new fight erupted between the two countries over the closing of the Chinese consulate in Houston, China's top diplomats were "neither prepared nor aware" of Esper's unusual overture, according to government sources in Beijing. He made the offer during his otherwise strongly worded speech on Tuesday last week slamming China's "systemic rule-breaking" and "aggressive behaviour", in the South China Sea in particular. The Chinese foreign ministry simply said it "noted" Esper's idea to ramp up "crisis management", highlighting Beijing's caution in the midst of the worst challenge confronting the two countries since they established official relations in 1979. It came as Beijing had been anxiously waiting for positive feedback on Foreign Minister Wang Yi's offer for a reset of bilateral ties by reopening "all the channels of dialogue" earlier this month. But Wang's conciliatory posture, rather rare in recent months, was met with an increasingly impatient, hostile administration under embattled US President Donald Trump, who was eager to get tougher on China to revive his imperilled re-election bid. "Wang was genuinely looking for ways to de-escalate the tension with the US because China is concerned about the deteriorating trend," said Yun Sun, a senior fellow at the Stimson Centre in Washington. But a series of US actions "must have been a slap in the face after the 'olive branch' Beijing extended", she said. In the weeks leading to the consulate closures on both sides, which Beijing lamented as "unprecedented escalation", Washington significantly piled pressure on Beijing, with muscle-flexing in the disputed South China Sea, sanctions on Hong Kong and Xinjiang and its warming ties with Taiwan. Story continues In the face of the perceived American bullying, China's senior diplomats, including Wang himself, have begun to call out the US, ditching the usual ambiguity in Beijing's handing of its most important bilateral ties with Washington. While it is not uncommon for Beijing to take jabs at Washington, Chinese officials have largely refrained from naming the US or specific American leaders over the years, even at the height of Trump's protracted trade war with China. However, since July 13 when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced China's expansive claims in the maritime dispute as "completely unlawful", widely seen as a turning point for Washington's South China Sea policy, Wang has directly lashed out at the US at least five times. During bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the Philippines, Vietnam, Germany, France and Russia, Wang has repeatedly and resoundingly lambasted the "anti-China forces" in the US for the alleged bullying, provocations and McCarthy-style paranoia. Deputy foreign ministers, such as Le Yucheng, Luo Zhaohui and Zheng Zeguang, have also echoed Wang in confronting the US directly and putting the blame squarely on the Trump administration during various bilateral and multilateral meetings with Asean and European Union countries. Wang was particularly critical of Pompeo's attacks on China during a speech last week, when the US top diplomat declared nearly 50 years of economic and political engagement had failed and described the new approach to China as "distrust and verify". And in talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on July 18, Wang asserted that the US had "lost its sense of reason, morality and credibility" in reviving an outdated Cold War mentality. Observers said the messaging was also telling other nations that they probably could not keep themselves out of the US-China confrontation. "The 'Cold War mentality' rhetoric and the aim to divide Europeans from Americans is indeed not new. To my understanding, it has two aims: fending off criticism (arguing that it is groundless and just old-fashioned block thinking) and reaching out to Europeans (and others) as a potential partner," said Tim Ruhlig, a research fellow at the Swedish Institute of International Affairs. Analysts also said that while the Trump administration's overtly hardline stance on China may be counterproductive to its goal of seeking a Cold War-style ideological bloc against Beijing, China's strident, aggressive approach, known as "Wolf Warrior" diplomacy, was also controversial. According to Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute at the University of London, Chinese foreign policy has taken a nationalist turn under President Xi Jinping, with the party's hold on power further enhanced and internal policy debates largely shut down. "With Xi encouraging Chinese diplomats not to hesitate to 'unsheathe the sword', he has created incentives for diplomats not to practise traditional diplomacy but to adopt 'Wolf Warrior diplomacy'. Now foreign policy is whatever Xi says it is," he said. It was unfortunate that "both countries are adopting the Wolf Warrior style of diplomacy now, with senior diplomats and officials using undiplomatic language to blame the other side for all the bilateral problems," said Zhu Zhiqun, a professor of political science and international relations at Bucknell University, Pennsylvania. Although most US allies "share US policies regarding Hong Kong, Xinjiang, the South China Sea and cybersecurity, they do not necessarily support Washington's confrontational approach" towards China, Zhu said. Australia is an illustrative example among US allies. At the end of the just concluded meetings of top diplomatic and defence officials in Washington on Wednesday, Australia shared broad US concerns about China in general, but insisted their relations with China should not be jeopardised. "After all, China is the largest trading partner of many US allies now," he said. Ruhlig said China had largely missed the opportunity to exploit Trump's disdain of diplomacy and alliance-building, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. "The main difficulty is that China has not proven to be a more convenient partner. When the US put pressure on Europe, China normally adopted the very same tactics," he said. "China would need to overcome this black-and-white mentality in real practice. Either you are with us or against us, is what, to many Europeans, is underlying Chinese policy. For now, it seems that the Wolf Warrior diplomats have been the nail in the coffin for Chinese attempts to utilise Trump's presidency in Europe." Yun Sun also said Wang's increasingly hawkish stance and the Chinese narrative that China was innocent while all faults were America's might not get the results Beijing wished for. Blaming Trump's re-election campaign for anti-China policies "completely evades the question of what responsibility, if any, China should carry for the deterioration of bilateral relations", she said. "Asian and European countries have concerns about China not because the US tells them to, but because there are concrete issues with China that they are concerned with. But there is no self-reflection on China's part." Although most experts doubt the US can build an encompassing anti-China coalition any time soon, they nonetheless warn that China's diplomatic assertiveness may be pushing countries further away, with their growing grievances towards Beijing tilting the balance. "If Beijing persists with its approach, the forming of a coalition in response to a perceived Chinese challenge will become much more likely," Tsang said. Sun also said it might be wishful for Beijing to expect to wait out the Trump presidency and pin hopes on the Democratic Party presidential nominee Joe Biden for a reset of China-US relations. "Although Biden's style and approach to China could be very different, the view of China as a threat is a matter of bipartisan consensus. If China thinks that things will automatically go back to 'normal' without China changing anything after November, that would be a serious misjudgment that could lay the groundwork for more disasters," she said. Additional reporting by Keegan Elmer and Jane Cai 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. South Africa surpassed 500,000 confirmed coronavirus cases on Sunday, but President Cyril Ramaphosa remained upbeat, saying he sees "promising signs" that the country's health system is coping. Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize said South Africa's cumulative total stood at 503,290, including 8153 deaths. South Africa has now tallied more than 50 per cent of all reported coronavirus infections across Africa's 54 countries. A resident from the Alexandra township gets tested for COVID-19 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Credit:AP With a population of about 58 million, South Africa has the fifth-highest number of cases in the world, behind the US, Brazil, Russia and India, all countries with significantly higher populations, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. South Africa's hospitals have been stretched to the limit, but the President said in a letter to the nation that the government was working with the "greatest urgency" to deliver adequate supplies of personal protective equipment to areas where shortages have been reported. South African authorities are also working to root out corruption in the purchase and distribution of medical equipment, he said. New Delhi: India reported nearly 55,000 new coronavirus cases on Sunday and Japan recorded more than 1500 for a second day while Florida braced for a hurricane that threatened to hamper anti-disease efforts. The United States, India and South Africa are struggling to rein in their first wave of infections while South Korea and other countries where the disease abated try to avert a second wave as curbs on travel and trade ease. The month of July has accounted for more than 1.1 million of the country's coronavirus cases. Credit:Getty Images India's 54,735 new cases were down from the previous day's record 57,118 but raised the country's total to 1.75 million. The month of July accounted for more than 1.1 million of those cases. The major cities of New Delhi and Mumbai might have passed their peaks, said a government expert, Randeep Guleria. Subways, cinemas and other public facilities are closed until August 31. Following our brief series about Leitrim and Mohill history, this article veers a little off track with a look at the character of William Sydney Clements, 3rd Earl of Leitrim, Lord Leitrim. Part 1 looks at the Earls formative years and family relationships; Part 2, next week, looks at his romantic relationships. The second son William Sydney Clements was born in 1806 and grew up in a family that was unusually intimate and close. His parents spent time with their eight children and encouraged a rounded education and an interest in politics. Sydney was the fifth child, and had three older sisters and an older brother. As a second son, Sydney never expected to inherit the title or the lands. He got on well with most of his siblings, including his older brother Robert. Unlike Robert however, Sydney was neither a dutiful son nor a model student. He had real difficulty with book-learning and spelling, and his school reported him as extremely idle and troublesome. As Sydney emerged from childhood, he struggled to please his father, and became deeply conscious about his position as a less favoured, less intelligent, less handsome, second son. He relied on his mother as a comfort and confidante. She in turn urged the earl to give more attention to their son who, though dull at his books, is warm-hearted and affectionate. A military career Although he failed to pass his school exams, an army commission was purchased and Sydney embarked on a career with the 43rd Light Infantry. His mother was delighted to hear that her 18 year old son was considered one of the regiments best recruits, and Sydney went on to distinguish himself on tours of duty in Gibraltar and Portugal. While his relationship with his father continued to be strained at best, he stayed close to his mother, though became dreadfully bored by her expressions of fervent piety and anxiety about his physical and spiritual health. Unfortunately for him, Sydneys military career was cut short at the age of 24. He badly injured his knee when a horse fell on him, and never fully recovered. He suffered lameness and constant pain for the rest of his life. Respite from family life While Sydney had revelled in military life, he also relied on it as a respite from family life. His forced retirement from active service capped a fraught period in the late 1820s and early 1830s that included the death of his first love, inter-sibling conflict, his mothers failing mental health, and the deaths of his brother George in 1837, and his older brother Robert in 1839. Domestic matters From the 1820s, Sydneys mothers mental health became increasingly fragile and family life became more difficult. Lady Leitrim illness was so severe that, in May 1830, she was placed under medical coercion in Killadoon, Co Kildare. It seemed that a particularly destructive relationship with her daughters Elizabeth and Caroline, played a large part in the decision to remove her from London. The two young women, then in their late twenties and unmarried, continued to live with their father in London. The physical separation of Lord and Lady Leitrim was a sharp and deeply felt contrast to their earlier relationship. On 14 December 1831, the earl wrote to Lady Leitrim, wearily sharing his increasing despondency and dislike of the world and of society. Parliament, he said, was the only place he went to; his single interaction, it appeared, was with his son Sydney, on whom he depended for company and who dined with him every day. Lady Leitrim stayed at Killadoon for two years but she never fully recovered and experienced recurring bouts of illness for the next decade. Sydney alone seemed to be able to deal with his mothers mental health, demonstrating a level of attention and patience that was singularly absent amongst his siblings: Elizabeth and Caroline had been instrumental in her isolation; Maria and Charles were dismissed as making her even more miserable. Robert found the strain of these domestic matters intolerable and kept away as much as possible. The family grew increasingly apart, and Sydney found himself taking a central role in managing inter-family communications, particularly about his mothers illness and confinement, and he alone appeared to offer her some comfort. Maintaining family relations For a number of reasons, but especially because of the countess illness, the familys early closeness dissipated through the 1830s. In a letter to Sydney, his sister Elizabeth lamented the miserable, scattered state of our family. Their mothers death in 1840, coming so soon after those of Robert and George, took away a unifying focal point for the family and reinforced the divided positions within the family. For his part, Sydney, having taken on the role of family intermediary, remained on good terms with all his siblings, cousins and their children, until the mid-1840s or 1850s, and with most of them for the rest of his life. He never had any quarrel with his older brother Robert, despite Robert being their fathers distinct favourite, and he maintained good relations with his sister, Caroline. After Carolines death in 1869, he stayed close to all her family and especially to her daughters, Alicia and Mary. The earls ongoing opprobrium was reserved for this sister, Elizabeth and his next eldest brother, Charles Skeffington. The distance between the siblings derived mostly, as family quarrels do, from petty jealousies, differences in perspective, and divisions over money and inheritance. About the author Fiona Slevin grew up and went to school in Mohill and currently lives in Dublin. She recently published a new, expanded edition of her book, By Hereditary Virtues: a history of Lough Rynn, described by Brendan Kennelly as a well-researched and beautifully written book; a marvellous read, and by Prof. Michael L. O'Rourke, TCD as the classic local history. It is available at www.loughrynn.net for 15. Iran has reported its highest daily number of infections in nearly a month, with cases on Sunday exceeding 2,600, according to the countrys health ministry. The death toll in Latin America from the novel coronavirus has surpassed 200,000, a Reuters tally showed, after Peru reported another 191 deaths from the pandemic. The Philippines has reported 5,032 additional coronavirus infections, its largest single-day increase on record, taking the countrys confirmed cases to 103,185. Indian Interior Minister Amit Shah has announced that he tested positive for the new coronavirus and was hospitalised. More than 17.79 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the new coronavirus. Almost 10.5 million patients have recovered and more than 684,000 have died, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. Here are the latest updates: Sunday, August 2 23:11 GMT Greece reports 75 new coronavirus cases, two deaths Greek health authorities have announced 75 new coronavirus cases four of them from international arrivals and two deaths over the past 24 hours, according to AP news agency. The total number of cases has risen to 4,662, with 208 deaths. Twelve patients are on ventilators, while 128 have exited intensive care units. Sundays data are less alarming than Saturdays 110 new cases the fourth largest daily tally and largest since April but authorities are stepping up inspections, especially at holiday hotspots, where people have started gathering after a very slow start to the tourist season. 20:30 GMT Cyprus introduces coronavirus testing for Greek arrivals Cyprus will introduce compulsory testing for all arrivals from Greece from August. 6, health authorities have announced, after a spike in coronavirus infections in Greece over the past week. The health ministry said any travellers from Greece would be required to show a negative PCR test conducted within 72 hours of travel to Cyprus. Cypriots and permanent residents of Cyprus could opt for a test at airports upon their arrival. The eastern Mediterranean island is thought to be one of the first countries to introduce the tests on arrivals from Greece since the lockdown eased. Greece still displays significantly lower infection rates than other European countries, with 4,477 cases and 206 deaths as of Sunday. 20:05 GMT France to push for rights sanctions in EU recovery plan France will push for financial sanctions under the EUs 750 billion euro ($880 billion) coronavirus recovery fund against states that undermine fundamental human rights, its junior European affairs minister told the Financial Times newspaper. (We cant tell) French, Polish, Hungarian and European citizens that (we) can have financial solidarity in Europe and not care how the basic rules of democracy, free media, and equal rights are respected, Clement Beaune said in an interview published on Sunday. The European Union is struggling to respond to what many in western Europe see as creeping authoritarianism on its eastern flank. The European Commission, EU lawmakers and activists have said freedoms are notably under threat in Poland and Hungary. Beaune told the newspaper that the EU must be tougher on breaches by those countries. 19:20 GMT Major incident declared in British city of Manchester to tackle coronavirus A major incident has been declared in the Manchester area of Britain to help tackle the rising number of coronavirus cases, local media reported an official as saying. Although the council and partner organisations have been working closely to tackle the impacts of the pandemic since early this year, declaring a major incident means we can ramp this up further, the Leader of Manchester City Council Richard Leese said in the Manchester Evening News. It allows the establishment of a central command structure to oversee the response and enables agencies involved to draw on extra resources. 18:50 GMT Is Turkmenistan really coronavirus-free? Turkmenistan is one of a handful of countries that has not reported a single coronavirus case during the global pandemic. Despite neighbouring Central Asian countries including Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan all battling COVID-19, Turkmenistan has so far only acknowledged the presence of pneumonia. Some critics are doubtful of the governments coronavirus-free claim and say its continued denial is risking the health of Turkmen citizens. Human rights advocates outside of Turkmenistan allege that medical workers have been silenced when it comes to the pandemic. The country, which has in the past been criticised for its extreme lack of transparency, has been taking precautions for disease prevention. The government temporarily stopped train services, shut down malls and restaurants, established a COVID-19 information hotline, and is asking the public to wear masks. In mid-July, a health advisory team from the World Health Organization was allowed to visit Turkmenistan. They did not question the governments health data, but instead provided recommendations to enforce public health measures as if COVID-19 was circulating there. Find out more here. 18:40 GMT Is the world facing a second coronavirus wave? Just a few weeks ago, many countries thought they had the coronavirus under control as the number of cases was falling and the curve of infections flattening. Governments started lifting restrictions and reopening their economies. Some were even praised for their successes and many people resumed their daily lives. But that optimism has not lasted. A sudden record number of infections is being reported in many countries. Some call it a resurgence, others a comeback. And scientists are debating how to identify and define what a second wave is. The World Health Organization says the virus is unfolding in one big wave with no evidence it is affected by changes in seasons. It also predicts the pandemic is likely to go on for a long time. Can lockdowns work this time? And what will the fallout be? 17:35 GMT US: CDC reports 58,947 new coronavirus cases The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 58,947 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infections to 4,601,526 cases. It said the number of deaths rose by 1,132 to 154,002. 16:30 GMT Philippines to reimpose stricter coronavirus lockdown measures in and around capital The Philippines has announced that it will reimpose a stricter lockdown in and around its capital for two weeks from midnight of August 4, as the country struggles to contain coronavirus infections that have jumped to more than 100,000 cases. President Rodrigo Duterte has approved placing Metro Manila and nearby provinces such as Laguna, Cavite, Rizal and Bulacan under so-called Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine until August 18, his spokesman Harry Roque told reporters. The move followed a call on Saturday by 80 local groups representing 80,000 doctors and a million nurses for tighter controls saying the Philippines was losing the fight against the coronavirus and warning of a collapse in the healthcare system from soaring infections. 15:35 GMT Iran reports highest daily coronavirus cases in nearly a month Iran has reported its highest single-day novel coronavirus infection count in nearly a month, warning that most of its provinces have been hit by a resurgence of the disease. The Islamic republic has been battling the Middle Easts deadliest outbreak of COVID-19 since late February. After a lull in deaths and infections from April to May, it now appears that the provinces first hit, including the holy city of Qom, are back in the same place as figures have been on the rise. Health ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said that 2,685 more people had tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the countrys highest single-day count since July 8. This raises total cases identified since late February to 309,437, she added. Another 208 people also died during the same period, bringing the overall toll to 17,190. Iran has reported more than 300,000 infections since late February [File: Anadolu] 15:10 GMT White House says not optimistic on near-term deal for coronavirus relief bill White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said he was not optimistic on reaching agreement soon on a deal for the next round of legislation to provide relief to Americans hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. Im not optimistic that there will be a solution in the very near term, Meadows said on CBS Face the Nation as staff members from both sides were meeting to try to iron out differences on the bill 14:45 GMT Dozens of police injured in Berlin protests against virus restrictions Some 45 police officers were injured in a wave of weekend demonstrations in Berlin including protests against coronavirus restrictions, police said as protesters gathered again in smaller numbers on Sunday. The unruly protests, in which many demonstrators failed to wear masks or respect social distancing rules, have sparked a chorus of condemnation including calls for tougher penalties against those who violate restrictions aimed at curbing transmission of the deadly virus. A total of 133 people were arrested during Saturdays protests, which included a huge day of freedom demo against coronavirus restrictions, police said in a statement on Sunday. The arrests were for offences including resisting police officers, breach of the peace and the use of unconstitutional symbols. Three officers required hospital treatment, police said. A total of 133 people were arrested during Saturdays protests [Erbil Basay/Anadolu] 14:15 GMT South Africa coronavirus cases surpass 500,000 South Africas confirmed cases of COVID-19 have crossed half a million, its health ministry has announced, while cases in Africa as a whole approached a million. Africas most industrialised nation recorded 10,107 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus, pushing the total to 503,290, the ministry said. Slightly more than three million people have so far been tested for the virus in South Africa, which confirmed its first case five months ago, and 8,153 deaths have been recorded. Read more here. 14:00 GMT Flights between Turkey, Iraq suspended over coronavirus Flights between Turkey and Iraq have been suspended because of rising coronavirus infections in Turkey, Iraqs Aviation Authority has announced. Iraq reopened Baghdad and southern airports last week for international travel after months of closure caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 13:50 GMT Pelosi says she has no confidence in White House coronavirus adviser Birx US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she does not have confidence in White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, linking her to disinformation about the virus spread by President Donald Trump. I think the president has been spreading disinformation about the virus and she is his appointee so, I dont have confidence there, no, Speaker Pelosi told ABCs This Week when asked is she has confidence in Birx. Hello, this is Ramy Allahoum in Doha taking over from my colleague Umut Uras. 12:50 GMT Amitabh Bachchan leaves hospital after virus treatment Infamous Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan has tested negative for coronavirus and has left the hospital, according to a tweet by his son Abhishek. My father, thankfully, has tested negative on his latest COVID-19 test and has been discharged from the hospital. He will now be at home and rest. Thank you all for all your prayers and wishes for him, Abhishek Bachchan tweeted. Amitabh Bachchan was admitted to Nanavati hospital after he tested positive for coronavirus on July 11. 12:20 GMT Vietnam health ministry: COVID-19 infections rise to 620 Vietnam reported 34 new novel coronavirus infections on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the Southeast Asian country to 620. The countrys COVID-19 death toll rose by two on Sunday to five, the health ministry said in a statement. 11:45 GMT Indias interior minister tests positive for coronavirus, hospitalised Indias Interior Minister Amit Shah said that he had tested positive for coronavirus and had been admitted to hospital. Amit Shah, a close aide to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and one of the countrys most powerful politicians, heads a key ministry that has been at the forefront of managing Indias coronavirus outbreak. I request all of you who came in contact with me in the last few days to isolate yourselves and get tested, Shah said in a tweet. Amit Shah is a close aide to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and one of the countrys most powerful politicians [Reuters] 11:10 GMT Switzerland should tighten coronavirus restrictions: govt adviser Switzerland should tighten restrictions to curb the coronavirus again following a recent spike in cases, in order to prevent the need for much harsher lockdown measures in future, the new head of the countrys coronavirus taskforce said. Switzerland has seen the number of new cases of COVID-19 surge to more than 200 a day recently after an average of 35 per day in June. Martin Ackermann, who heads the body that provides scientific advice to the Swiss government, said the country was on the brink of a big increase in infections and had little room to manoeuvre. We should intervene early to prevent exponential growth, Ackermann told newspaper SonntagsZeitung. Otherwise theres a risk of drastic and expensive restrictions. This must be prevented under all circumstances. 10:30 GMT Brazil reports 45,392 new coronavirus cases Brazil recorded 45,392 additional confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus as well as 1,088 deaths from the disease caused by the virus in the past 24 hours, its health ministry said. Brazil has registered more than 2.7 million cases of the virus since the pandemic began, while the official death toll has risen to 93,563, according to ministry data. Brazil has recorded more than 2.7 million infections since the pandemic began [Reuters] 10:00 GMT Vietnam reports four new COVID-19 cases Vietnams health ministry reported four new coronavirus cases, including two locally transmitted and two imported cases. The Southeast Asian country has registered a total of 590 cases, of which 144 infections are linked to the recent outbreak in the costal city of Danang. Vietnam has recorded three deaths, the health ministry said in a statement. 09:30 GMT China sends team to Hong Kong for widespread testing Seven Chinese health officials were due to arrive in Hong Kong on Sunday, the first members of a 60-person team that will carry out widespread testing for COVID-19 in the territory as the global financial hub races to halt a third wave of illness. Chinas National Health Commission on Saturday announced their scheduled arrival. Members of the team are from public hospitals in Guangdong province while a specialist team of six from Wuhan, where the novel coronavirus first appeared, will help prepare part of the AsiaWorld Expo convention centre as a facility for COVID-19 patients. The initiative is the first time mainland health officials have assisted Hong Kong in its battle to control the coronavirus. 08:45 GMT Philippines confirmed coronavirus cases exceed 100,000 The Philippines reported 5,032 additional coronavirus infections, its largest single-day increase on record, taking the countrys confirmed cases to 103,185. In a bulletin, the Department of Health also said the Southeast Asian countrys coronavirus death toll had jumped by 20 to 2,059. President Rodrigo Duterte was scheduled to meet key cabinet members on Sunday to discuss a call by medical frontliners groups to put the capital, Manila, which accounts for the bulk of infections, back under a stricter lockdown, his spokesman said. 08:15 GMT Russias coronavirus cases surpass 850,000 Russia reported 5,427 new cases of the novel coronavirus, bringing its nationwide tally to 850,870, the fourth-largest caseload in the world. Russias coronavirus taskforce said 70 people had died over the last 24 hours, pushing the official death toll in the country of around 145 million people to 14,128. The official death toll has risen to 14,606 across the country in the last 24 hours [Sefa Karacan/Anadolu] 07:50 GMT Indonesia reports 1,519 new coronavirus infections, 43 deaths Indonesia reported 1,519 new coronavirus infections on Sunday, bringing the total to 111,455, data from the countrys COVID-19 task force showed. The data also showed 43 new COVID-19 related deaths, bringing the toll to 5,236. 07:20 GMT Tokyo confirms 292 new coronavirus cases on Sunday NHK Tokyo confirmed 292 new coronavirus infections, after cases rose by more than 400 in the past two days, public broadcaster NHK said. Governor Koike Yuriko said on Friday Tokyo could declare a state of emergency if the coronavirus situation in the Japanese capital deteriorates further, as debate deepened over how to respond to record increases in new infections. Passengers wearing protective face masks pass through the automated entrance at a station in Tokyo [Reuters] 07:00 GMT Mexico registers record 9,556 new daily cases Mexicos health ministry reported a record 9,556 new confirmed cases of coronavirus and 784 additional fatalities, bringing the total in the country to 434,193 cases and 47,472 deaths. The government has said the real number of infected people is likely significantly higher than the confirmed cases. 06:25 GMT Philippines to update COVID-19 strategy The Philippines health department vowed to update its game plan against COVID-19 within a week and sought to beef up the healthcare workforce in the capital, Manila, where medical frontliners are calling for reviving strict lockdowns. The Southeast Asian country on Saturday reported 4,963 additional coronavirus infections, the largest single-day jump on record, bringing its total confirmed cases to 98,232, while its death toll had climbed to 2,039. It has the second-highest number of coronavirus infections and COVID-19 deaths in the region, behind Indonesia. In the largest call yet from medical experts to contain the virus, 80 groups representing 80,000 doctors and a million nurses, on Saturday said the Philippines was losing the fight against the disease and warned of a collapse of the healthcare system from soaring infections without tighter controls. 06:00 GMT Indias cases cross 1.75 million Indias coronavirus caseload has crossed 1.75 million with another spike of 54,735 in the past 24 hours. The new cases are down from 57,118 on Saturday. The health ministry on Sunday also reported 853 deaths for a total of 37,364. The month of July alone has accounted for more than 1.1 million cases in India. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the case fatality rate was progressively reducing and currently stands at 2.18 percent, one of the lowest globally. A healthcare worker wearing protective gear takes a swab sample from a man in Ahmedabad, India [Reuters] 05:30 GMT Australias Victoria imposes curfew to contain COVID-19 A state of disaster was declared in Australias Victoria, with the local government implementing a night curfew as part of its harshest movement restrictions to date to contain the coronavirus. State Premier Daniel Andrews said that the new restrictions, to be in place for six weeks until mid-September, will allow only one person per household to go shopping once a day. Melbournians will not be able to go further than five kilometres (three miles) from home. Hello, this is Umut Uras in Doha taking over from my colleague Ted Regencia. 04:52 GMT Australias Victoria declares state disaster over coronavirus Australias state of Victoria has declared a state of disaster on Sunday, and announced a lockdown following a surge in the number of coronavirus cases. A curfew has been issued in the city of Melbourne beginning at 8pm on Sunday night. Residents of Melbourne are also ordered not to travel beyond five kilometres (3.1 miles) from their residence. 04:33 GMT Tokyo reports record 472 new cases Tokyo reported a record 472 new cases of the coronavirus, NHK reported on Sunday. The daily tally in the Japanese capital topped 400 for the second day in a row as of the end of Saturday. That puts the total number of infections in Tokyo to more than 13,000. Tokyo officials say the increase may be due to outings during a four-day holiday last month. Nationwide, more than 1,500 new infections were reported as of the end of Saturday. The latest Johns Hopkins University tally on Sunday showed a total of 37,780 cases and just over 1,000 deaths. 04:03 GMT Austrian foreign office staffer tests positive of coronavirus Authorities have announced that an employee at the Austrian chancellery has tested positive for the coronavirus, but did not work directly with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, according to AP news agency. The Austria Press Agency reported the chancellery says people who were in contact with the employee have tested negative and the offices work was not affected by the support workers infection. Kurz is tested regularly for the virus. Austrias handling of the pandemic has generally been viewed as relatively successful. The country recently toughened rules on wearing masks after an increase in new infections. Austria has 718 confirmed deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. 03:47 GMT South Korea reports 22 new imported cases, eight local infections South Korea reported 30 new cases of the coronavirus on Sunday, with 22 of them imported cases and eight local cases, marking the second day in a row that local infections have increased by a single-digit figure, according to Yonhap news agency. The new cases raised South Koreas total cases of COVID-19 to 14,366, while the nations death toll remained at 301, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The number of new cases has been in the 30s since Friday when South Korea reported 36 new virus cases. The number fell to 31 on Saturday. 03:25 GMT France starts testing passengers from 16 countries at airports, ports Travellers entering France from 16 countries where the coronavirus is circulating widely must have virus tests upon arrival at French airports and ports, the AP news agency reported. French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced last month the tests would be required starting on Saturday for the arriving passengers, unless they present proof of a negative test within 72 hours of their departure. Those who test positive in France must quarantine for 14 days. France is not permitting general travel to and from the 16 countries, which include the hotspots of the United States and Brazil. 02:49 GMT Manilas Catholic leader orders shutdown of church activities, mass gatherings The head of Manilas Catholic Church has ordered the suspension of all public activities and other mass gatherings for the next 10 days, as part of the effort to help curb the spread of the coronavirus in the Philippine capital. As a response to the call of our medical people, all the churches and shrines in the Archdiocese of Manila will revert to the period of ECQ protocols, Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the head of the Archdiocese of Manila said, in reference to the previous strict lockdown procedures imposed in Manila. We will not hold public religious activities from August 3 to 14 but we continue our online activities, he added in the statement issued late on Saturday. Pabillo had earlier tested positive for the virus. The Philippines more than 100 million population is predominantly Catholic. The head of the Manila church is seen as the most influential figure in the Catholic hierarchy in the country. The Philippines has reported more than 98,000 cases and at least 2,000 deaths as of Saturday. 02:05 GMT Australias Victoria sees more than 650 new coronavirus cases Australias state of Victoria reported more than 650 infections of the new coronavirus on Sunday, up from 397 cases the previous day, Reuters news was cited on ABC News television. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews is to announce the official number of cases later on Sunday, together with a set of new measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus. 01:40 GMT Mainland China reports 49 new coronavirus cases, including 30 in Xinjiang China has reported 49 cases of the new coronavirus on the mainland as of the end of August 1, up from 45 cases a day earlier, Reuters news agency reported on Sunday, quoting the health commission. Of the new infections, 30 were in the far western region of Xinjiang, three were in the northeastern province of Liaoning, and the remaining 16 were imported cases, according to a statement by the National Health Commission. China reported 20 new asymptomatic cases, down from 23 a day earlier. As of the end of Saturday, mainland China had 84,385 confirmed coronavirus cases, the health authority said. The COVID-19 death toll remained at 4,634. 01:30 GMT Italys daily COVID-19 infections dip under 300 Italys daily coronavirus infections have dipped under 300 cases for the first time in three days, after a recent flurry of clusters throughout the nation raised concern among health experts, according to AP news agency. The health ministry says Italy registered 295 cases in the last 24 hours, raising the total to 247,832. The ministrys weekly report says there were 123 clusters of infection throughout Italy in the previous seven days. Meanwhile, Health Minister Roberto Speranza ordered the railways to resume leaving empty seats so passengers can be at least one metre (3.3 feet) apart during summer travel. With five more deaths, the total confirmed deaths in Italy reached more than 35,000 as of the end of Saturday. 01:04 GMT Mexico reports new daily record of more than 9,500 coronavirus cases With more than 47,000 confirmed deaths, Mexico is already the third country in the world with the most deaths due to the coronavirus pandemic [Jorge Nunez/EPA] Mexico has racked up a record number of new confirmed coronavirus infections, registering more than 9,000 daily cases for the first time and passing the previous peak for the second day running, Reuters news agency reported on Sunday, quoting official data. Mexicos health ministry reported 9,556 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday, surging past the record of 8,458 set on Friday. The ministry also logged 784 additional fatalities, bringing the total tally in the country to 434,193 cases and 47,472 deaths. The new record in cases came a day after Mexico overtook Britain as the country with the third-highest number of deaths caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Mexico has struggled to contain the virus, and has since late May been trying to restart the economy, which in the April-June period contracted by more than 17 percent quarter-on-quarter. 00:47 GMT High-ranking US Congress member tests positive for coronavirus Congressman Raul Grijalva, a high-ranking member of the US Congress from the state of Arizona has announced that he has the coronavirus. The Democrat says he tested positive for the coronavirus days after he sat close to another member, Texas Rep Louie Gohmert, who announced a positive test this week. The 72-year-old Grivalva is at least the 11th member of Congress known to have tested positive for the virus. Gohmert, a Republican, has questioned the use of masks and often walked around the Capitol without one. 00:30 GMT Greece confirms 110 new coronavirus cases Greek authorities say there were 110 new confirmed coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, the fourth-highest daily figure and highest since April, according to AP news agency. Authorities say 23 of the cases concerned employees at a meat processing factory in the northern city of Kavala. Tests on all 140 employees are still ongoing. Another 10 cases involved people who attended a wedding in the northern city of Thessaloniki, Greeces second largest. Only nine of the cases involved incoming travelers. Greece has 4,587 total confirmed cases and 206 deaths, with no deaths reported as of the end of Saturday. 00:05 GMT Vietnam reports four new COVID-19 cases; two are imported Vietnam has registered a total of 590 cases and at least three confirmed deaths [Luong Thai Linh/EPA] Vietnams health ministry has reported four new coronavirus cases, including two locally transmitted and two imported cases, according to Reuters News Agency. The Southeast Asian country has registered a total of 590 cases, of which 144 infections are linked to the recent outbreak in the coastal city of Danang. Vietnam has recorded three deaths, the health ministry said in a statement. 00:01 GMT Thousands demand Netanyahu resignation as Israel PM Thousands of demonstrators have gathered outside the official residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and thronged the streets of central Jerusalem, as weeks of protests against the Israeli leader appeared to be gaining steam. The demonstration in central Jerusalem, along with smaller gatherings in Tel Aviv, near Netanyahus beach house in central Israel and at dozens of busy intersections nationwide, was one of the largest turnouts in weeks of protests. Israeli media estimated at least 10,000 people demonstrated near the official residence in central Jerusalem. Late on Saturday, thousands marched through the streets in a noisy but orderly rally. Demonstrators hoisted Israeli flags and blew loud horns as they marched. Many held posters that said Crime Minister and Bibi Go Home or accused Netanyahu of being out of touch with the public. For months, thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets, calling for Netanyahu to resign, protesting against his handling of the countrys coronavirus crisis and saying he should not remain in office while on trial for corruption charges. Though Netanyahu has tried to play down the protests, the twice-a-week gatherings show no signs of slowing. _________________________________________________________________ Hello and welcome to Al Jazeeras continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Im Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. For all the key coronavirus-related developments from yesterday, August 1st, click here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 22:49:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close URUMQI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- All confirmed, suspected and asymptomatic cases of COVID-19 enjoy free treatment in northwest China's Urumqi as the city is battling a resurgence of the virus, said a municipal healthcare official on Sunday. The move is aimed at ensuring that COVID-19 patients and asymptomatic carriers receive timely treatment without worrying about the fees, said He Xinguo, Party chief of the Urumqi healthcare security bureau. On Saturday, Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, reported 29 new confirmed cases and nine asymptomatic cases of COVID-19. The total number of new confirmed and asymptomatic cases in Urumqi dropped for the third consecutive day on Saturday, indicating the prevention and control measures were taking effect, said Sui Rong, a senior municipal official. By Saturday, Xinjiang had 569 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 112 asymptomatic cases, with most of them in Urumqi. Enditem Illustrative image (Source: AFP/VNA) Tokyo The first protocol to amend the ASEAN-Japan Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership (AJCEP) officially took into effect in Japan and the five ASEAN member states of Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam on August 1. Those countries had completed all necessary legal procedures for the entry into force of the document.Vietnam ratified the first protocol on June 26, while Japan completed its legal procedures on June 16.The protocol is expected to become effective in the five remaining ASEAN countries, namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, once they complete their legal procedures.ASEAN members and Japan began talks on thein 2005. The agreement took effect three years later, focusing on trade, while talks regarding investment and services were underway.It was the first multilateral free trade agreement of Japan.Theto Amend the Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership was signed by Japan on February 27, 2019, and by ASEAN members in March and April, 2019.Article 8 of the Protocol stipulates that it shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date by which the notifications in writing that legal procedures necessary for entry into force of the Protocol have been completed have been made by Japan and at least one ASEAN nation.In relation to an ASEAN member who will make such notification in the coming time, including Vietnam, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date on which the notification is made.According to Japans Ministry of Finance, ASEAN is currently Japans third largest trade partner, following China and the US. In 2019, the country earned 11.58 trillion JPY (110 billion USD) from exports to ASEAN, while purchased goods worth 11.76 trillion JPY. Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said he has tested positive for COVID-19. Taking to Twitter, the 77-year-old BJP leader requested all those who had come in contact with him to exercise self-quarantine. The Chief Minister has been admitted to Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru on the recommendation of doctors. "I have tested positive for coronavirus. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on the recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with me recently to be observant and exercise self quarantine," the veteran BJP leader wrote on Twitter. I have tested positive for coronavirus. Whilst I am fine, I am being hospitalised as a precaution on the recommendation of doctors. I request those who have come in contact with me recently to be observant and exercise self quarantine. - B.S. Yediyurappa (@BSYBJP) August 2, 2020 After Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, BS Yediyurappa is the second chief minister in India who has tested positive for COVID-19. Yediyurappa was under self-isolation for some time a couple of weeks ago after a few staff at his office-cum-residence 'Krishna' were found infected by coronavirus. Earlier today, Home Minister Amit Shah said that he has tested positive for coronavirus and is admitted to the hospital, with mild symptoms, on the advice of doctors. He is undergoing treatment at the Medanta Hospital in Gurugram. Also Read: Coronavirus: UP BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh tests positive for COVID-19 Also Read: Amit Shah tests coronavirus positive, admitted to hospital At a news conference at Akyem Akroso, the Regional First Vice Chairman of the NDC, Mr William Atamudzi, alleged that some members of the NPP had been assaulting, threatening and preventing NDC members from registering. CoronaLife Web Series But in a sharp rebuttal at a press conference at Akroso the following day, the Eastern Regional Youth Organiser of the NPP, Mr Jerry Osei-Poku, refuted the allegation with the explanation that the NDC had anticipated defeat in the general election, hence the flimsy excuses. NDC Mr Atamudzi claimed that anytime the NDCs party agents filled challenge forms against non-indigenes, the NPP thugs would assault the NDC agents. Telefonica He alleged that the NPP had injured three NDC members who were currently on admission at the Akroso Health Centre, while another NDC supporter, Kwame Tawiah was pepper-sprayed at the Akroso Police Station while lodging a complaint in the presence of policemen who did not arrest the perpetrators. Mr Atamudzi alleged that some of the police personnel in the constituency were in bed with the NPP that was why their members carried out the violence with impurity and alleged the the MP for the area, Mr George Kwame Aboagye, had fired a warning shots at a polling station. PHOTO: Mr William Atamudzi (in cap) addressing the media at Akroso. Standing left is Mr Eric Ahinakwa, the NDC parliamentary candidate. NPP CBG wishes All Muslims happy Eid ul Adha Speaking at the NPP news conference, Mr Osei-Poku stressed that the NPP, which had won the parliamentary seat since 1996 with not less than 70 per cent of the total votes cast, would never foment violence in the area or bus people from different constituencies to register in the area. He stressed that on realisation that defeat was staring at them, the NDC executive members at the regional and constituency levels were making unfounded allegations against the NPP to save their faces concerning their imminent defeat. He stated that Mr Atamudzi and his cohorts had been lying, perpetuating violence, intimidation and assaulting NPP members but the NPP constituency executives who were peace-loving people would not reciprocate but had been concentrating on the registration in order to retain the parliamentary seat. Mr Osei-Poku and his constituency Chairman, Mr Frank Anim-Bediako vehemently denied any firing of gunshots at any registration centre by the MP, Mr Aboagye, neither had any NPP member assaulted, harassed or intimidated any NDC member since the registration exercise began as being alleged by the disgruntled NDC executive members. Police When the Daily Graphic contacted the Oda Municipal Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Daniel Amoako on the issue, he said the police were not supporting any of the political parties as alleged by the NDC but they were working professionally. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines national flag carrier, has resumed flights between Manila and key Asian destinations from August 1, following the restart of its once-a-week flights between Manila and Dubai in mid-July. CEB has begun its twice weekly (Wednesday and Saturday) one-way flights from Tokyo (Narita) to Manila on August 1. Twice weekly (Thursday and Saturday) flights between Manila and Singapore are set to begin on August 6; whilst the twice weekly service (Wednesday and Friday) between Manila and Taipei will begin on August 7. One-way flights to Manila from Seoul (Incheon) every Thursday are scheduled to begin on August 6; whilst Osaka (Kansai) to Manila flights every Friday are set to start on August 7. We are taking a conservative and agile approach to rebuilding our international network. Whilst demand remains soft, there is latent demand for travel, particularly from stranded individuals and those who are eager to come home to visit their families, said Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing and Customer Experience of Cebu Pacific. Travel regulations issued by the governments of the Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan will be implemented as necessary and applicable. These may include a requirement to secure a negative RT-PCR test prior to departure, mandatory Covid-19screening or tests, and a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival. We have taken extra precautions and assure travellers that preventive measures are in place so we can further build the trust and confidence in air travel, Iyog added. CEB has intensified preventive measures across its operations, in accordance with global safety standards. Aligned with the rest of the aviation industry, travellers can expect layers of bio-security measures that begin at the point of checking-in for a flight online. Contactless flight procedures are also implemented using scanners and physical distancing, to minimise physical contact of passengers amongst each other and with personnel. All CEB aircraft undergo extensive daily disinfection before, during and after flights, an airline statement said. Jet aircraft are equipped with High Efficiency Particular Arrestor (HEPA) filters similar to those in hospital operating rooms. These trap all contaminants in the air, including the novel coronavirus, with 99.99% efficiency. CEB has also adjusted its policiesallowing for increased flexibility and added peace of mind given the developing situation for air travel. These options include unlimited rebooking and extension of the Travel Fund validity to two years. Meanwhile, for passengers with cancelled flights, or those who want to voluntarily alter travel plans, they may manage their bookings through the Manage Booking portal in the Cebu Pacific website, the statement said. New bookings may be made through www.cebupacificair.comor the mobile app, available both in Google Play and App Store. Those who prefer to pay in cash may pay over the counter at any branch of Al-Ansari Exchange and Al Rais Travels located across the UAE, within 24 hours of making a booking online, according to the statement. TradeArabia News Service Congress should have one priority right now, and that is to ease the burden of Americans slammed hardest by the worst public health crisis and economic meltdown of our lifetime. But right on cue, with enhanced jobless benefits for millions expiring on Friday, Mitch McConnell and his Republican Senate caucus proposed a relief package that can only be described as oblivious. Their package cuts the federal unemployment stipend for laid-off workers from $600 a month to $200, and then allows it to lapse at the end of September. Combined with the expiration of an eviction moratorium, it will sink millions of families deeper into economic despair. Roughly 840,000 idled workers will lose the benefit in New Jersey alone. The Republicans $1 trillion bill also contains no federal aid to state or local governments, no funds for election security, and offers a fraction of what experts say is needed for coronavirus testing and tracing, which are vital to reopening the economy. Heres what it does include: Billions for fighter jets and other weaponry, $1.75 billion for a new FBI building, and a full tax deduction for business lunches. When asked what these items have to do with COVID relief, Senate Appropriations Committee chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) replied, Thats a good question. McConnell had 10 weeks to provide a reasonable counteroffer to the HEROES Act, which was passed by the House on May 15, has triple the money, and is actually designed to help. The $600 unemployment benefit expired yesterday. Its loss will be devastating for many families who are just trying to make ends meet. The House-passed #HeroesAct extended it through the end of the year. Its time for the Senate to act. https://t.co/tJkbqsIUa8 Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) August 1, 2020 Instead, the Majority Leader insisted that the country didnt need another stimulus, and now the economy is at DEFCON 1. Count the ways: The GDP had a historic crash in the last quarter, with the most devastating three-month collapse on record. Jobless claims rose again last week, as the number of unemployed is now over 30 million. A Census Bureau survey found that 30 million Americans no longer get enough to eat. And the first wave of evictions and foreclosures will come this fall, with 22 percent of households reporting that they dont expect to make their next monthly payment. All this, while coronavirus cases spike and states ponder another shutdown. Some surmise that McConnell foresees the inevitable crash and burn of the Trump Era, and is just kicking over the chess board on his way out to historys trash heap. Maybe. But this is still an expensive lesson in the true costs of incompetence and sloth, and his sadistic malpractice will be measured in American lives. The GOP COVID-19 bill includes $2 billion for F-35s $1.75 billion for an FBI building $1 billion for surveillance planes $375 million for armored vehicles $360 million for missile defense $283 million for Apache helicopters $0 for millions facing eviction It's Dead on Arrival Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) July 28, 2020 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. 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. Josh Gad has urged young people sad about Trumps plans to ban TikTok to vote at the forthcoming US election. TikTok is one of the most popular apps, and is estimated to be used by 80m people in America. President Trump said on Friday (31 July): As far as TikTok is concerned, were banning them from the United States. He said he could use emergency economic powers or an executive order to enforce the action, insisting, I have that authority before adding: Its going to be signed tomorrow. Following the news, hordes of users responded with sadness as many of the apps stars posted videos asking their viewers to follow them on Instagram, YouTube and Twitter instead. Gad reacted by asking young people who use the app to turn their anger into a vote against Trump. The Frozen star wrote: Dear Gen Z, Donald Trump just banned TikTok. Now would be a good time to register to REGISTER to VOTE. You want to show him youre angry, let him know youre going to be voting in November. He posted a link to a page enabling people to register to vote. TikTok permits users to create videos between 15 and 60 seconds, many of which rack up millions of views after circulating on Twitter. Trumps comments come amid escalating tensions with China, with his administration insisting widespread use of the Chinese-owned app could put citizens at risk. A representative for TikTok issued a statement,stating: While we do not comment on rumours or speculation, we are confident in the long-term success of TikTok. The news comes months after TikTok users were considered to be partly responsible for the low turnout at the presidents recent rally in Tulsa. Kate Middleton's brother has provided royal fans with a rare glimpse inside their parents' family home. James, the younger sibling of the Duchess of Cambridge, 38, and Pippa Middleton, 36, has been staying at their parents Carole and Michael's home throughout lockdown with his French fiancee Alizee Thevenet. In an Instagram video for pet supplies company Ella & Co posted yesterday, the 33-year-old entrepreneur discusses the health benefits of apples for dogs (and humans) from their rustic kitchen. With his adorable black spaniel Ella perched on what appears to be an island strewn with fresh produce, James reveals why the popular fruit is a great source of fibre for hounds. Kate Middleton's brother has provided royal fans with a rare glimpse inside their parents' family home Eagle-eyed viewers are treated to a peak of the Middleton family kitchen, which features farmhouse-style cream tiles above a range cooker. Either side of the range are rows of shelves and rails, from which a variety of cooking utensils, pots and pans are hung and scattered, suggesting Carole is a keen cook. The stylish green marble-style worktops are home to storage jars and a wicker basket, possibly for housing eggs, while atop the AGA sits an old-fashioned whistle kettle. Above the cooker is a large kitchen clock, visible behind James - who is dressed in an off-white casual cotton shirt - in one shot. In an Instagram video for pet supplies company Ella & Co posted yesterday, the 33-year-old entrepreneur discusses the health benefits of apples for dogs (and humans) from their rustic kitchen Eagle-eyed viewers are treated to a peak of the Middleton family kitchen, which features farmhouse-style cream tiles above a range cooker James encourages dog owners to carry an apple while they're out and about on a walk, as it can be a delicious snack for both you and your dog. He advises feeding them chunks rather than the whole fruit, because the pips can be poisonous. James told how the video is part of a new monthly segment during which he celebrates different foods that are good for humans and their pets. 'I love sharing the apple with Ella,' he said. 'All varieties of apple that you'd find in the supermarket are good for your dog to eat.' He added that they're great for dogs' digestive systems because of their high fibre content, as well as weight management, and recommended leaving the skin on because it 'acts like a toothbrush'. James told how the video is part of a new monthly segment during which he celebrates different foods that are good for humans and their pets. Pictured with a litter of puppies he recently reared James, pictured with his dogs and the pups that were recently homed, met his French fiancee Alizee Thevenet (pictured beside him) for the first time when his spaniel Ella bounded over to her during a walk Last month James had to say goodbye to six adorable puppies after the black and brown spaniels went to their new homes. He still has six other dogs including Luna, who gave birth to the litter. The money from the sale of the pups will go to Pets As Therapy, a charity for which James volunteers that provides therapeutic visits of dogs to hospitals and care homes. He has credited dogs with playing a 'vital role' in helping him to get out of depression and find love. He met Miss Thevenet for the first time when his spaniel Ella bounded over to her during a walk. By Lauren Leazenby, Chicago Tribune The specific set of symptoms COVID-19 patients experience at the onset of the disease may predict how severe their case will become, according to a study by researchers at Kings College London that analyzed self-reported symptoms. The study identifies six symptom clusters, or subtypes, of COVID-19: Subtype 1: flu-like with no fever: headache, loss of smell, muscle pain, cough, sore throat and chest pain. Subtype 2: flu-like with fever: fever and loss of appetite in addition to headache, loss of smell, cough, sore throat and hoarseness. Subtype 3: gastrointestinal: diarrhea and loss of appetite, no cough, headache, loss of smell, sore throat and chest pain. Subtype 4: severe level one, fatigue: fatigue in addition to headache, loss of smell, cough, fever, hoarseness and chest pain. Subtype 5: severe level two, confusion: confusion in addition to headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue and muscle pain. Subtype 6: severe level three, abdominal and respiratory: shortness of breath, diarrhea and abdominal pain in addition to headache, loss of smell, loss of appetite, cough, fever, hoarseness, sore throat, chest pain, fatigue, confusion and muscle pain. We were able to work out these six subtypes that make a bit more sense of this strange disease, said Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at Kings College London. At the moment, were treating it like its all the same flu, but clearly everyone reacts very differently because they are different people or something about the virus is different. Spector is also a co-founder of the ZOE COVID Symptom Study app, which collected the self-reported data for this study. The app asks users to log health information and potential COVID-19 symptoms daily. The study analyzed data from 1,600 app users in the U.S. and U.K. with confirmed COVID-19 cases and who logged their symptoms during March and April. The data collected showed 20% of people with subtype 6 and 10% of people with subtype 5 eventually required breathing support, compared to just 1.5% of people with subtype 1. The 5 and 6 subtypes signal a high risk for needing hospitalization in the future, Spector said. According to the study, almost half of subtype 6 will require hospitalization. The cluster of symptoms can be detected by day five of the disease which is eight days earlier than when most people who need breathing support go to a hospital, Spector said. The study also found that people in clusters 4, 5 and 6 were older, more likely to be overweight and more likely to have preexisting conditions than those in clusters 1, 2 and 3. These subtypes are a predictive tool, but not necessarily groundbreaking, said Egon Ozer, assistant professor in infectious diseases at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. He said higher body mass index and preexisting conditions like lung disease are known risk factors for severe cases of COVID-19 requiring respiratory support. Im not sure if this (study) adds that much, Ozer said. The sicker somebody was, the sicker they will become. However, he said there are some benefits to this data. Because a computer analyzes the symptoms, Ozer said this could be a useful tool for clinicians who dont have as much familiarity with treating COVID-19 patients. Tracking ones COVID-19 symptoms is also helpful in determining whether a case is getting worse and may require hospitalization, he said. Spector said tracking your symptoms before youve tested positive for COVID-19 is also important. Data collected from the app also showed a set of nonspecific symptoms headache, sore throat and muscle pain that appear before the onset of the popular symptoms, like fever, cough and lack of smell. People wait for the classic (signs), Spector said. And by that time, they may have infected workmates, friends and family. The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire recently joined the National Coordinator, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Dr Sani Aliyu, to recieve the 2nd Batch of Medical Supplies from the UN Basket Fund. This disclosure was made in a statement issued by the Director, Information, Media and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Olujimi Oyetomi, in Abuja, on Friday. According to him, Ehanire together with Dr Aliyu both went to the Cargo section of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, to receive Medical supplies from European Union (EU) contributions that is estimated at N26 Billion. Minister Ehanire stressed that the arrival of the 2nd Batch supplies of medical supplies will go long way in settling the nerves of Health workers who before now, have been complaining regularly about the inadequacy of protective equipment against the COVID-19 virus. A consensus was agreed upon by the institutions and international friends involved, such as the EU and UN to have a revampment of the supplies, he stated. Meanwhile the Charge dAffaires a.i. of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Mr Alexander Borges-Gomes, was in charge of monitoring proceedings, throughout handover of the supplies. Borges-Gomes stated that the items were received through the One United Nations COVID-19 Basket Fund made possible by a vital donation from the European Union worth N26 Billion. 500,000 face shields, 200,000 goggles, 100 oropharyngeal airways, 14,000 safety boxes and 10,000 bio hazard bags are all supplies that was received by the Government. Borges-Gomes disclosed further that the distributed equipment will no doubt empower governments effort in the fight against the pandemic, as well as protect the life of health workers. Mumbai/Manali: Police patrolling has been stepped up outside the residence of actress Kangana Ranaut in Manali after her family complained of hearing some gunshots late on Friday night near the house. In a statement Kangana issued on Saturday, she claimed that the incident was meant to intimidate her for speaking up about actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death. Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh told IANS there was no evidence of firing at the spot. No formal complaint from the Ranaut family has been received, and no security has been deployed at her residence. Kangana's father Amardeep Singh Ranaut told IANS that the shots were heard in the nearby apple orchards. "They sounded like gunshots, may be they were crackers just to keep bats away from the orchards that are currently blooming with apples," Amardeep Singh told IANS over phone. Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said: "We received a phone call about loud noise and subsequently patrolling was stepped up in the area as a precaution. No security has been provided to her." Police officials said owners of nearby orchards were questioned and they denied bursting crackers or firing gunshots to keep bats away. Amardeep Singh said they didn't authenticate whether the sound was from the barrel of the gun. "I was at my native place (in Mandi district) with my family. When we came to know about the noise, we all came here (in Manali) to stay with Kangana," he said. He said he the family was satisfied with the police action. As per the police statement, at around 9.45pm on Friday, the police station in Manali received a call from the house of Kangana Ranaut wherein stated that they heard some loud noise in the vicinity. Meanwhile, Kangana issued a statement on Saturday over the incident. The actress, who is currently staying in Manali along with her family, feels somebody did this to threaten her after her recent comments on actor Sushant Singh Rajput's death. Kangana's statement said: "I was in my bedroom. I heard a cracker-like sound at about 11.30 pm. At first, I thought it must be a cracker. And then another shot happened, and I got a little alarmed since that sounded like a gunshot. I called my security in charge immediately... Let's see what this was, and if this is repeated again. I have heard the sound of a bullet and I think it was definitely a bullet, very intently fired twice, two shots with a gap of about eight seconds between them. And it was right opposite my room. So it seems like someone was behind the boundary walls, there's a jungle and a water body there." She continued: "I think some local people may have been hired to come near my place, you know, it is not difficult to pay someone seven-eight thousand rupees here and assign them something like this. To do this to make a statement on the day I called out the chief minister's son -- I don't think it was a coincidence. People are telling me that they will now make your life miserable in Mumbai. Well, I don't have to be in Mumbai, they are doing it here also. Is there open 'goondagardi' in this country? This is how Sushant must have been frightened. But I will continue to ask questions." Kangana's statement claimed that the police will continue probing the incident. The family of Kangana is settled at Bhambla village near Hamirpur town of Himachal Pradesh, some 200 km from state capital Shimla. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was admitted to a private facility in New Delhi on July 30, was discharged on Sunday, hospital authorities said. The Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (SGRH) had earlier said that she was admitted for 'routine tests and investigations'. 'Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was admitted on July 30, 2020, evening at 7 pm, to the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, has been discharged today at 1 pm. 'Her condition at the time of discharge was stable,' Dr D S Rana, Chairman (Board of Management), SGRH, was quoted as saying in a health bulletin. On Friday, the SGRH bulletin said, 'Her investigations are being carried out and she is showing satisfactory improvement.' By AFP A ceasefire between the Taliban and Afghan government appeared to hold for the third and final day on Sunday, with hundreds of militant prisoners released in a bid to bring peace talks closer. Calm prevailed across much of Afghanistan, with officials not reporting any major clashes between the two foes since the truce began on Friday to mark the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. President Ashraf Ghani and the Taliban have both indicated that long-delayed negotiations could begin straight after Eid. The rare respite from violence gave some Afghans the opportunity to safely visit relatives for Eid celebrations after long periods apart. "I managed to visit my village for the first time in two years," said Khalil Ahmad from volatile Uruzgan province, a hotbed for insurgents. "There were many Taliban checkposts on the way, but they did not bother anyone." Shahpoor Shadab, a resident from the eastern city of Jalalabad, told AFP that "Eid feels different, parks are full with people". "You almost forget that there has been a war in this country for 40 years." Kabul resident Fawad Babak, a shopkeeper, was sad that it was the last day of the ceasefire. "I'm a little disheartened... the killing and bloodshed may resume again tomorrow," he said. In restive Zabul province, several residents recited poems calling for the ceasefire -- only the third official halt in fighting in nearly two decades of conflict -- to be made permanent. "Peace is everybody's need and aspiration," said Sardar Wali, who took part in the poetry session. "This is a great opportunity to extend the ceasefire today and start intra-Afghan talks tomorrow." Under a deal signed by the Taliban and the US in February, the "intra-Afghan" talks were slated to start in March, but were delayed amid political infighting in Kabul and as a contentious prisoner swap dragged on. The deal stipulated that Kabul would free around 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 Afghan security personnel held captive by the Taliban. The National Security Council said Sunday that a further 300 Taliban prisoners had been released since Friday, taking the total number of insurgents freed so far to just over 4,900. Authorities however have refused to free hundreds of inmates accused of serious crimes that the insurgents had requested for release. The Taliban said they have already fulfilled their side of the exchange. Deadly violence has rocked Afghanistan since the US-Taliban deal was agreed, with more than 3,500 Afghan troops killed in attacks by the insurgents, according to Ghani. The Uttarakhand forest department will develop six city forests in Kumaon region, including two in the plains and four in hilly districts, said forest officials. The forest department has also started searching for land in municipal areas, said officials. Tejaswini Patil, chief conservator forests (CCF) Kumaon region said six city forests will be developed in Kumaon region. Two will be developed in the plains and four in hilly districts. Each forest will be created in around 10 hectares land. These city forests will be developed in civic areas she said. Patil said the purpose of city forests is to increase the green cover in urban areas and thus help in creating a green and clean environment in such spaces. Also, its purpose is to connect people with greenery and clean environment through the city forests. We hope it will also motivate people to plant trees to compensate for the loss of greenery due to concretization in the city areas, she said The forest department has identified land for city forests in Haldwani (Nanital) and US Nagar. However, forest officials said it is comparatively challenging to identify 10-hectare land in hilly districts (Almora, Bageshwar, Pithoragarh and Champawat). So the forest department has sent a proposal for only one-hectare city forests in hilly districts, said a senior forest official. Ten 10 hectares of land is being acquired in the municipal areas in plain districts. But it is not easy to find 10 hectares of land at one place in hilly districts. So we have sent a proposal to the Central government to make provision for city forests over one hectare of land in the hilly districts of Uttarakhand, said Patil. She said if the Centre approves the proposal, then city forests will be developed over a hectare of land in hilly districts. Uttarakhands first city forest is being developed in Dehradun, she added. According to the last two surveys conducted by the Forest Survey of India over a period of four years from 2015 to 2019, Uttarakhand has not managed to report even an increase of even 1% forest cover in the state. Uttarakhand reported an increase of a mere 8.04 sq km of forests as per the India State of Forest Report 2019, released by the Forest Survey of India in December last year. The India State of Forest Report 2017, released by the Union ministry of environment and forests in February 2018, showed that only a marginal increase of 23 sq km forest cover was reported in Uttarakhand since 2015. The report of 2017 showed a meagre increase of 165 sq km in very dense forest and 636 sq km in other forest categories, while the moderate dense forest diminished with a difference of 778 sq km, leaving the total cover in state to 24,295 sq km. As per the 2019 report the districts of Haridwar, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar reported a negative result of -2.75 sq km, -6.44 sq km and -4.21sq km decrease in forest area with respect to the assessment done by Forest Survey of India in 2017. She recently revealed she's coming to terms with the physical changes to her body after welcoming her daughter Sienna with husband Hugo Taylor in May. And Millie Mackintosh was the picture of confidence as she posed in a swimsuit during her first family trip to Santorini with her three-month-old and the sunglasses entrepreneur, 34, on Sunday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 31, embraced her postpartum figure as she slipped into the black Melissa Odabash one-piece for images shared to her Instagram, which she captioned: 'I don't have a flat stomach and I'm okay with that.' Yummy mummy: Millie Mackintosh was the picture of confidence during her first family trip to Santorini with her baby girl Sienna, three months, and husband Hugo Taylor on Sunday Putting on a busty display, the lifestyle influencer looked sensational in the designer beachwear garment, complete with a perilously plunging neckline. The media personality proved less is more as she went make-up free to showcase her naturally glowing complexion. Millie declared she wasn't let the pressures of being in the public eye affect her social media posts, as she penned: 'Wasn't going to post this because you can see the cellulite on my legs but who cares? 'Also I don't have a flat stomach and I'm ok with that.. love this swimsuit by @melissaodabash.' (sic) 'I don't have a flat stomach and I'm okay with that;: The former Made In Chelsea star, 31, embraced her postpartum figure in the black Melissa Odabash one-piece for Instagram snaps Candid: The lifestyle influencer accessorised with her personalised Sienna necklace by AURUM + GREY uploaded a photo of herself nursing her little one Working it: The media personality teamed her designer garment with a sheer red kaftan, lace-up sandals and a straw trilby hat as she stood by her five-star hotel Andronis Luxury Suites The lifestyle influencer accessorised with her personalised Sienna necklace by AURUM + GREY uploaded a photo of herself nursing her little one. On Tuesday, Millie posted another sweet snap of herself breastfeeding her daughter Sienna during her baby's first flight. Proving safety comes first, she sported a protective face mask as she thanked British Airways staff for their help during their 'smooth' journey. Sharing her delight at her relaxing trip from London Heathrow Airport, the TV star said: 'Our first experience @heathrow_airport with Sienna went really smoothly, everyone had masks on and kept their distance. 'Planning on feeding at take off and landing to help with her ears.' (sic) At peace: On Tuesday, Millie uploaded a sweet snap of herself breastfeeding her daughter Sienna during her baby's first flight On July 4, travel advice in the UK changed, with exemptions for going on holiday to certain countries and territories that no longer pose a high risk for British travellers. Speaking to Glamour earlier this month, Millie insisted the contrast between her pre and post pregnancy appearance is akin to looking at two completely different people. 'I've started walking every day, I've started doing a bit of strength training again and it's nice to feel like I'm just getting stronger,' Millie said of her post-partum exercise routine. 'I just don't like the term, 'getting my body back,' because I think it's a new body, it's different, you've given birth. So, it's not your old body anymore.' Cute! The TV star has been having a whale of a time in the idyllic holiday hot spot with her little one A banner hangs from an upper-floor railing as students demonstrate at Cal State L.A. in 2014 in support of ethnic studies courses. (Los Angeles Times) California State University trustees have approved a new requirement for students to take a course in ethnic studies or social justice in order to graduate. That might not satisfy the state Legislature, however, which is considering a bill that would narrow the requirement solely to ethnic studies. The bill ignores the fact that California high schools may soon be requiring students to take ethnic studies courses too. But more than that, it is an unacceptable step toward trampling on academic freedom, which includes the ability of academia to determine the coursework needed for entrance and for graduation. Ethnic studies courses focus on Black, Latino, Asian and Indigenous communities because of the history of racism against them. Make no mistake, such studies have a vital role to play. Our nation is finally being forced to confront the burdens placed on people of color and the systemic racism they face. The fight over Cal States requirement focuses on its breadth. Advocates for an ethnic-studies-only requirement argue that despite the need for better education on this subject, the Cal State mandate would allow students to graduate without taking a single ethnic studies course. Cal States offerings would include courses on other marginalized groups as well Jews, Muslims, LGBTQ people and women and more general coursework on social justice. There are terrible histories of hatred, violence and intolerance against these groups and more. Legislators arent in a position to decide either the types of college courses students must take or the content of those courses. Social justice courses, for example, could provide an especially insightful view into how low-income communities, which are disproportionately Black, Latino and Indigenous, have been treated. An environmental justice class, for example, might include the ways in which these groups continue to live in park-deprived neighborhoods, in many cases near polluting industries and freeway traffic exhaust fumes. Story continues Another aspect worth considering: After botching its first attempt at a model curriculum for an ethnic studies course for California high schools, the state Education Department is expected to reveal a more focused course on historical and systemic racism against Black, Latino, Asian and Indigenous Americans. That course will almost certainly become a high school graduation requirement, and it would make a lot more sense to coordinate the two courses so that students are expanding their understanding in college rather than repeating what they were taught a few years before. Cal States newly approved requirement is very similar to UCLAs well-conceived mandate for students to take a diversity-related course, which could include studies of issues around homelessness or the rights of disabled people. It makes sense for students to learn the fundamentals of civil rights, especially this nations terrible history of slavery and ongoing racism toward Black people, while they are still in high school. A third of them will never go on to college. But once in college, they should be allowed to expand their intellectual interests to discover the ways in which too many groups struggle against prejudice and intolerance. Even if Cal State were on the wrong track, though, the Legislature should step away from any effort to set curriculum for the states vast four-year college system. The state Constitution forbids legislators interference in the academic workings of the University of California. Unfortunately, the same isnt true for Cal State. There are plenty of voices within Cal State to press their case for course mandates, admission policies and the like. Those include various faculty and student governing groups as well as advocacy organizations. The key to having great institutions of higher learning is guaranteeing them, and the experts within them, the right to determine their paths in teaching, research and writing, free from outside pressure. Even the best of political intentions become potentially dangerous forces when they try to bypass the gatekeepers of academic freedom. Politicians need to keep their hands off college and university curriculum and practice. Whether their goal is a noble one, such as ethnic studies courses, or a shameful one, such as requiring students to memorize the speeches of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, its beyond a slippery slope for legislators to require specific courses or curriculums in higher education. Its a leap off a cliff. Could a French telecoms billionaire be circling BT's Openreach arm? The mutter from the City gutter is that the secretive Patrick Drahi has set his sights on the division that maintains Britain's telephone lines and internet cables. Drahi, a powerful dealmaker, now resides in Switzerland but made his fortune in France building telecoms groups Altice. The rumour claims that one of the Altice companies Drahi controls perhaps Altice USA has secured financial backing from heavyweight bankers at JP Morgan with a view to paying 20billion for the unit. The mutter from the City is that the secretive Patrick Drahi has set his sights on Openreach Both Altice Europe and Altice USA insisted there was no truth in the speculation. But City gossips claim Drahi could even be weighing a hostile approach if BT isn't willing to negotiate. Drahi, though, may have competition for Openreach. In May, reports suggested that Australian investment bank Macquarie was interested in Openreach as was Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund. This may all be music to investors' ears as earlier this year BT was forced to cut its dividend for the first time since 1984. BT last night declined to comment. Hastings Shares in car insurer Hastings revved up last week after it emerged its top shareholder, South Africa's Rand Merchant Holdings, had teamed up with Finnish insurer Sampo to make a takeover approach. The duo are yet to table a formal offer, which has added further importance to Hastings' first-half results on Wednesday. Scribblers at Peel Hunt have pencilled in a 58million pre-tax profit for the period, up by 26 per cent on last year, helped by lower claims as motorists drove less during lockdown. A strong set of results could help Hastings rebuff any potential offer or help it make a case for a decent price. Ibstock Investors in Britain's biggest brickmaker will discover how tough business was during lockdown when it reports results for the first half- year on Thursday. With work having ground to a halt at the height of the coronavirus outbreak, analysts expect a poor set of financial figures for Ibstock as a result. And the lockdown could even push the firm to a first-half loss, they reckon. The key for the share price will be how the company thinks business will fare over the coming months. Early signs of a robust recovery could lay the foundations for the share price to rebound. OKYO Pharma Keep an eye on stock market minnow OKYO Pharma in the coming days. The Mail on Sunday understands a well-respected healthcare executive is close to joining the company, which should help the group in its development of a blockbuster dry eye treatment. The talk is that OKYO Pharma's treatment could compete with the likes of Restasis, which is owned by drugs giant Allergan. Last week, the company raised 3.5million by issuing convertible loan notes. OKYO Pharma's shares closed at 14.75p after another strong week, but some reckon the shares can keep on climbing. The (BSF) conducted on Sunday a physical efficiency test of its officers posted in Delhi as part of a drive to keep the force combat-ready. The ground exercise named 'field physical efficiency test' was conducted at a camp of the force in southwest Delhi's Chhawla area in presence of Director General S S Deswal. The test, as per a force spokesperson, is a combination of physical activities like running, ropework and clearing obstacles. "All troops undergo this testing process twice every year and the results are reflected in the annual performance appraisal report of individuals," he said. The spokesperson said during the event, the DG "emphasised on the importance of physical fitness especially during the COVID-19 pandemic scenario as well as the onerous task needs to perform." "The physical efficiency test is designed in a manner that the personnel and officer test themselves at each step. The endurance needed for pushing oneself further and accomplishing the task provides much-needed satisfaction and self-confidence," he said. This physical test has helped officers take their confidence level to newer heights. It would help them set an impressive precedent to keep all ranks combat-ready and fit at all places of deployment, the spokesperson said. The around 2.5 lakh personnel strong force is primarily tasked with guarding India's frontiers with Pakistan and Bangladesh. These fitness courses are the idea of DG Deswal who has ordered that all obese personnel in the border guarding force should be identified and sent for physical training. Deswal is heading the BSF in additional capacity for over four months now. He is the full-time chief of the He has ordered conducting fitness courses at BSF and Indo-Tibetan Border Police training centres and attended the closing day events of a number of such courses where he himself takes part in a 42-km long walk along with the participants. He has recently directed a 10-km route march for Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and above ranking officers of the BSF at a camp in Bhondsi in Haryana on August 16. The DG also recently ordered an inquiry to find out how a jawan weighing 160 kg was "declared fit" to take a physical fitness course during which he died. Constable Vinod Singh, 45, died on July 17 after he "felt giddiness in the evening hours near his barracks" at the BSF subsidiary training centre in Rajasthan's Jodhpur. The jawan, a water carrier of the 114th battalion, was sent for a similar fitness course. (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.) Particularly, the total value of investment deals in Southeast Asia jumped 91 per cent to $2.7 billion while the number of transactions rose by 59 per cent to 184, which is higher than the 116 transactions in the same period last year. Data from newswire DealStreetAsia also revealed that since the mid-2010s, Southeast Asia's startup funding boom has been led by Singapore's Grab and Indonesia's Gojek the two prominent unicorns focusing on ride-hailing and food-ordering services. In this years first quarter, these two big guns alone successfully raised more than $2 billion, making up around 70 per cent of the regional inflows into startups. E-commerce startups are considered to be the most appealing, attracting $691 million, followed by the sectors of logistics ($360 million) and fintech ($496 million). Indonesian e-commerce unicorn Tokopedia was named as the largest capital raiser of funds in the second quarter in the region with $500 million from Temasek Holdings. Vietnamese e-commerce platform Tiki also secured $130 million from private equity fund Northstar Group. Previously, the local market was looking at two high-calibre developments with the potential mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal between Tiki and Sendo another e-commerce player based in Vietnam. Unfortunately, the two sides have blown the retreat on the deal after allegedly failing to convince shareholders. This decision came just after the two sides in early June submitted a request for authorisation for the deal to the Vietnam e-Commerce and Digital Economy Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as reported by VIR. Tran Ngoc Thai Son, CEO and founder of Tiki, had proposed a few relief measures to support e-commerce and tech companies tide over the COVID-19 crisis, including Vietnamese authorities loosening the IPO rules to help firms like Tiki access more public capital. Investment inflows to Southeast Asian startups increased 91 per cent despite the outbreak. Photo: Tiki in the music video Sang mat chua of Vietnamese artist Truc Nhan Since demand for online shopping has picked up, logistics and delivery companies also received much attention from deep-pocketed investors, as seen in the case of Singapores Ninja Van and Indonesias Kargo Technologies pulling in $279 million and $31 million, respectively. On the other hand, hefty sums also found their way to fintech, as investors still believe in the immense opportunities in this lucrative segment. According to Nikkei Asia Review, Voyager Innovations, the company behind Filipino mobile payment app Paymaya, raised $120 million in April from existing shareholders, including US private equity fund KKR and Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings. The funding round, its first since 2018, gave the company additional financial muscle to compete with domestic rival Mynt, which is backed by Alibaba Group Holding. In May, Singapore-backed Validus, the leading SMEs financing platform, secured more than $14 million in its ongoing Series B+ funding round which was led by Vertex Growth Fund and Kuok Groups Orion Fund. Validus is now expanding its footprint in Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and potentially Thailand in the latter half of this year. In the six months through June, Paymaya reported a 150 per cent on-year increase in transaction volume, helped by mobile payments and remittances. In Myanmar, Digital Money Myanmar, known for its Wave Money brand, announced in May that China's Ant Financial Group, operator of Alipay, will invest $73.5 million in the company. Meanwhile, Thailand-based fintech firm SYNQA, formerly known as Omise Holdings, has gained $80 million in Series C funding led by some high-profile names such as Toyota Financial Services, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and SPARX Group. Just a few days ago, Traveloka Southeast Asias largest online travel app that also operates in Vietnam has bagged $250 million to bolster its operations in these challenging times. Our business in Vietnam has returned to 100 per cent pre-COVID-19 level and in Thailand has surpassed 50 per cent pre-COVID-level, Traveloka co-founder & CEO Ferry Unardi said in a statement. He noted that both Indonesia and Malaysia were also seeing strong week-to-week improvement, cited by Reuters. The government has approved concessionary loan packages for seven state-owned enterprises (SoEs) to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and avoid worker lay-offs. The package follows a drop in their revenues as a result of the pandemic and the subsequent closure of borders. The package is a government guaranteed concessionary credit with a moratorium made available by the Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) to the SoEs. The beneficiary SoEs include the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA), Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Ghana Post and Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMT). The SoEs The Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, who confirmed the package to the Daily Graphic yesterday, said the package was part of the supplementary estimates presented to Parliament last week. He said other SoEs consisting of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) had been cleared of their legacy debts in order for them to settle their indebtedness to other players in the energy sector value chain. While Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) had received part payment for the free water, the Ghana National Gas Company Ltd and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) were in line to receive their financial packages. Negotiations The Minister of Aviation, Mr Joseph Kofi Adda, also in an interview with the Daily Graphic on the sidelines of the handover ceremony of the outgoing Director-General of GCAA in Accra last Thursday, confirmed that the government had approved a bailout package for GCAA and GACL. According to him, the beneficiary SoEs needed to negotiate with the bank to access their funds and added that I can confirm to you that the government has approved the bailout and it is generally dedicated to maintain the staff from being laid off. As a result, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) agreed on a facility from the CBG in which the SoEs will get enough support to maintain their staff. Package Mr Adda said he could not provide details of the package, because it is left for the SOEs to negotiate with them. He explained that the SOEs themselves, including the GACL and GCAA, had been able to extend other privileges such as waiving landing charges for all flights that used airports. The minister added that the move was to help alleviate the plight of airlines and other stakeholders in the aviation sector due to the effect of COVID-19 on their operations. Confirmation The outgoing Director-General of GCAA, Mr Simon Allotey, confirmed the development, saying, We thank President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for being sensitive to the challenging situation of the aviation industry. It is not only the GCAA, but the GACL and other agencies are being supported under these difficult times. Symbolic handover The outgoing Director-General handed over a symbolic key to his deputy, Mr Charles Kraikue, both engineers by profession, to provide access to the authoritys high office. Mr Allotey bows out after serving Ghanas public sector for 38 years, out of which 24 years had been in the aviation sector, 10 years in the mining industry and four years in the oil refinery industry. He wished Mr Kraikue well in his new role as the acting Director-General of the authority. Taking the symbolic key, the acting director general thanked the board of the authority and the government for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to work hard to improve the fortunes of the authority and the aviation sector in general. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A security guard and subcontractor have lifted the lid on Melbourne's hotel quarantine saga that has been blamed for sparking Victoria's COVID-19 second wave. An inquiry was launched into the quarantine system after the hotels used in the operation were identified as a key source of the deadly virus which has spiralled out of control in the Victorian capital. The state government awarded the hotel quarantine contract to three security firms which turned to subcontractors to hire the workforce needed for the job. One subcontractor, who only wanted to be named as Roger, said he hired many guards via Gumtree. The biggest worry for Ricky Singh and Kate Hyslop (pictured) while in hotel quarantine were the security guards outside their room who were supposed to be guarding them 'It's Seek.com and Gumtree.com. There's lot of websites where you can find security guards,' Roger told 60 Minutes. 'There's no proper regulation, no criteria. It's like anyone can do anything.' He admitted many weren't equipped with the skills needed to work in quarantine hotels. 'This is more like a labour job. It's not a specialised job, like an engineer or doctor,' Roger said. 'They have absolutely no knowledge what to do in this situation, because they are not trained for these kinds of situations.' Roger said he was aware of allegations that some guards were sleeping with infected guests. 'Yes. I was told that a guard had sex with the guests,' he said. Security subcontractor 'Roger' (pictured) says he hired guards through websites such as Seek and Gumtree Among the unqualified guards was university student 'John' who claimed neither he or any of his colleagues were given personal protection equipment. 'The subcontractor asked me if I'm willing to work in security, to WhatsApp me your license and your availability,' he told the program. 'Everyone was sitting outside of their rooms without any PPE because they told us not to wear any mask. 'From the very first point, [there was] no proper training. There must be some standards and protocols that say, "You can do this' or "You cannot go there in during your break".' John also claimed some of his colleagues unknowingly spread the virus by going to nearby convenience stores and fast food outlets on their breaks. An inquiry has been launched into Melbourne's hotel quarantine program. Pictured are quarantined guests leaving a Melbourne hotel last month He also said some guards fell asleep on the job because they were working 80-plus hours a week. Returned travellers Ricky Singh and Kate Hyslop claimed they were not tested for the virus during the two weeks they spent in hotel quarantine earlier this year. The pair said their biggest worry was the security guards sleeping outside their rooms. 'They weren't wearing masks and would sleep on the ground outside our door,' Mr Singh said. Ms Hyslop added: 'Quite often they wouldn't even hear us open our door because they'd have their earphones in and be on the phone, or talking with another security guard and having a laugh. It just seemed like the whole idea of hotel quarantine was a joke at that point.' Security industry professional Josh Reeve is glad his company wasn't approached by the Victorian government to be part of the hotel quarantine program Security veteran Josh Reeve said you get what you pay for in his industry and described hotel quarantine as a 'botched program'. 'Unfortunately, it's the result of a cheap and nasty product,' he said. 'The reputation of the security industry at the moment in most people's eyes is that it's ineffective and through some of the things that we have seen alleged is worse than ineffective. 'I think the fact that the industry has that reputation indicates it it's as bad as it could be. It's negligent, it's complacent.' (Newser) Thousands of demonstrators gathered at Berlin's Brandenberg Gate on Saturday to protest Germany's pandemic restrictionsas police pleaded with them to wear masks and socially distance. When the warnings were ignored, police eventually ordered the crowd at the sit-in to leave, the BBC reports. Organizers had billed the event as a "day of freedom" from the coronavirus rules, and few in the crowd of nearly 20,000 wore a mask. "Yes, demonstrations should be allowed even amid the pandemic," the government's health minister posted online. "But not like this." Police used loudspeakers to urge the protesters to follow the rules and said they were "documenting non-compliance for possible later prosecution." One speaker asked demonstrators to spread out so police wouldn't have "a pretext" for dispersing the crowd, per CNN. story continues below The crowd carried signs with messages such as "We are being forced to wear a muzzle" and shouted "We are the second wave." Anti-vaccine and neo-Nazi organizations were represented. "Our demand is to go back to democracy," one woman in the crowd said. "Away with these laws that have been imposed on us, away with the masks that make us slaves." The nation's guidelines require wearing masks when it's not possible for people to stay about 5 feet apart. Germany has avoided the worst of the coronavirus outbreak, recording about 210,000 confirmed cases and more than 9,000 deaths. But it's worried about an increase. For Friday, 955 new cases were reported, the first time the number has been that high since early May. Germany's disease control agency blames the rise on returning travelers and a lack of enforcement of the social distancing and mask rules. (Mexico earned a grim distinction.) EU's Cybersanctions Against Russian Citizens Politically Motivated, Foreign Ministry Says Sputnik News 19:00 GMT 01.08.2020 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The political connotations of the European Union's decision to impose sanctions against Russian, Chinese, and North Korean citizens and entities for alleged cyberattacks are obvious, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. "We are perplexed and upset by the decision of the European Union Council on July 30 to introduce unilateral restrictions on a number of citizens and entities of #Russia, as well as the PRC and the #DPRK. Once again, this is being done without any grounds, under the far-fetched pretext of involvement in cyber incidents in the past. The political connotations of this move are obvious," the ministry said on Facebook, adding that unilateral sanctions are illegal and harmful. The ministry urged the European Union to stop trying to pressure Moscow and offered to work on efficient rules to prevent cyberspace conflicts. On Thursday, the EU introduced first-ever restrictive measures against six individuals and three entities of Russia, China, and North Korea, which, according to the EU, are responsible for or involved in various cyberattacks. These measures include a travel ban and an asset freeze. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Your browser does not support the video tag. New Delhi, Aug 2 : In a bid to further deepen financial inclusion in the country, the NITI Aayog has suggested the creation of a Dak Bank -- postal bank -- by merging the regional rural banks, among other recommendations to the government. In a recent presentation to the Prime Minister's Office and the Finance Ministry, the NITI Aayog has suggested the over 1.5 lakh post offices in the country should be made outlets for the proposed Dak Bank, sources said. Further, the think tank has also suggested easier norms for granting bank licenses. In another major recommendation, it has suggested privatisation of three banks, Punjab & Sind Bank, UCO Bank and the Bank of Maharashtra, said people in the know. The suggestion comes at a time when a new disinvestment policy is in the works and the government is already considering bringing the banking and insurance sector under its ambit. The likelihood of the government going for privatisation of public sector banks has also drawn criticism and protests for bank workers' unions. In the banking space, with the latest merger of public sector banks coming into effect in April, India currently has 12 public sector banks, down from 27 in 2017. During the announcement of the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' economic package in May, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that the Centre will come up with a new Public Sector Enterprise Policy, and open up all the sectors to the private sector. Haiti - News : Zapping... Migration : Beware of false promises On the occasion of the International Day against Trafficking in Persons, the International Organization for Migration (IOM - Haiti) encourages you not to trust false promises of better living conditions abroad. Make sure you travel under the regular conditions with your travel documents. Protect your life and that of your family. For more information on human trafficking, please call us toll free at 840. Barbancourt rum on the podium American Forbes Magazine has listed the 7 best rum produced in the Caribbean and Latin America region. Haiti with its Barbancourt Rum, Special Reserve 8 years old is ranked 3rd after the rum of Venezuelal Santa Theresa 1796 (2nd) and "Ten to One" a Caribbean white rum which ranks first. "Isaias" Storm damage The communes of Camp-Perrin, Aquin, Fond des Negres and Saint Jean du Sud recorded significant losses in the banana plantations. No casualties were reported. Damage was also reported at Pont Bethel (Cabaret) and Pont de Coujole (Arcahaie). See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-31417-haiti-flash-first-assessment-of-the-storm-isaias.html 4 disabled people at the Chancellery The Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomes the completion of the appointment process for the 4 people with reduced mobility who are to join the Central Services of the Chancellery from next week. He also thanked the Prime Minister who granted the benefit of urgency to this file. The Minister therefore wishes success to these new recruits in the service of Haitian Diplomacy. Ontario : a Haitian Vice-President of Studies at Laurentian University A Haitian-Canadian Marie Josee Berger, originally from Les Cayes, has been appointed vice-rector of studies at Laurentian University located in Sudbury, Ontario, a university recognized as the largest provider of bilingual university courses at a distance in Canada. Her mandate is for 5 years from August 1, 2020. New DG at the Ministry for the Status of Women Marie Giselhaine Mompremier, Minister for the Status of Women, this week installed Dr. Sofia Loreu as the new Director General of the Ministry. She replaces Hemanex Gonzague Desir, who was in the interim. HL/ HaitiLibre The shake-up was preceded by an extraordinary White House campaign to vilify Voice of America, an independent news organization that was founded by the federal government during World War II to counter Nazi propaganda and that later served as an information bulwark against oppressive communist regimes. The White House alleged in April that VOA had published propaganda on behalf of China and Iran, though it offered little evidence of it. White House social media director Dan Scavino followed up the statement by sharing a tweet from VOAs official Twitter account that highlighted an Associated Press video of a light show in Wuhan, China, staged to celebrate the citys alleged eradication of the coronavirus. DISGRACE!! he wrote. By Trend Uzbekistan, along with Kazakhstan, is a key partner of Poland in the region of Central Asia, Press Office Director of Polands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andrzej Fafara told Trend in an interview. "Significant demographic potential as well as political, economic and social reforms, initiated in 2016 by a change in the office of president, are factors that induce Warsaw to deepen contacts with Tashkent. Mutual interest in expanding cooperation were evidenced by two visits of Poland's Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs to Uzbekistan (2018, 2019), visit of the Secretary of the National Security Council of Uzbekistan Viktor Makhmudov to Warsaw and raising the status of head of the Uzbekistan diplomatic mission in Warsaw to the rank of Ambassador in 2019," noted Fafara. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Jacek Czaputowicz maintains his willingness to pay a visit to Uzbekistan as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic situation makes it possible, he said. "Poland assesses positively the changes in Uzbekistan's internal policy that have taken place in the last four years. They were manifested, among others, by the adoption of the Development Strategy of Uzbekistan for the period from 2017 through 2021, providing for a comprehensive modernization of the country's economy and achieving sustainable economic growth. The program of reforms was recognized by 'The Economist', which declared Uzbekistan "the country of the year 2019" the country which was the most outstanding in the world in terms of the importance of introduced changes," Poland's MFA said. Fafara said Poland is convinced that the new approach of the Uzbekistans authorities to socio-economic issues will contribute to improving the standard of living of citizens, as well as a more complete fulfilling of the demographic, economic and political potential of the country. "We are interested in deepening contacts with Uzbekistan in all spheres in the field of political as well as economic, social and cultural cooperation and Uzbekistan is interested in deepening cooperation with Poland in many fields too, including trade, healthcare, social policy or education. Further priorities include good governance, agriculture, scientific collaboration as well as historical and cultural heritage," he said. Long-lost sisters reunited after 53-years of being separated from each other, thanks to the coronavirus. The two Nebraska sisters Doris Crippen, 73, and Bev Boro, 53 encountered a wonderful surprise amid COVID-19. COVID-19 is not at all that 100% bad after all. Who would have thought that it would pave the way for long lost sisters to reunite when all else seem hopeless. According to a CNN report, Crippen said was sent to the emergency room as what she thought was a "flu" made her weak at the point of falling and breaking her arm. Crippen was confirmed to have coronavirus and spent almost 30 days in the hospital for her recovery. To get rehab on her arm, Doris Crippen needed to go to Fremont Methodist Health's Dunklau after her released as COVID-19 patient. Little did Crippen know she would encounter a pleasant surprise. Crippen needed to rehab her arm at the same hospital where Bev Boro has been a medication aide there for twenty-two years. Boro came across Crippen's name on a patient board and recognized it. "I couldn't believe it," Boro said in a news conference on July 22. "I thought, 'Oh my God, I think this is my sister,'" she added. Doris Crippen and Bev Boro are sisters to their father and have different mothers. When Boro was a baby, she hadn't seen her sister in 53 years. Boro and four of their 14 siblings were put up for adoption and separated by the state when she was six-months-old while Crippen lived with her mother and step-father, as per Washington report. To surprise Crippen of the incredible discovery, Bev wrote their father's name, Wendall Huffman, on a whiteboard and mimicked rocking a baby. Boro recalled that she pointed at herself for Crippen to know because Crippen has a problem with hearing. "She goes, 'That's my daddy.' And I pointed at myself, knowing she's hard of hearing, going, 'That's mine, too,'" Boro said. "She looked at me like, 'What?' And because of the eyes, I have our daddy's eyes." Crippen became emotional and then realized that she'd finally found her sister after searching for several years. Doris burst into tears and told KETV that she nearly fell out of her chair. "I couldn't sleep that night; I was just so happy," Crippen said. According to MSN, Doris tried to find her siblings several times over the years, but she failed. "It's amazing! Overwhelming, after so many years. I never thought I'd find her again," Crippen said. "It was the Lord's blessing that I got sent here, to the rehab center, because if I hadn't been sent here, I wouldn't have found her," Doris said. On the other hand, Bev Boro tracked most of their siblings, and now she gets to reunite with Doris Crippen with the family members, which Doris thought she had lost. According to PEOPLE, the sisters' joyful reunion on June 27 continued when Boro introduced Crippen to their four other siblings whom Boro connected through Facebook. Crippen and Boro are planning to have a family reunion that includes their kids and grandchildren. Crippen expressed to KETV the wonderful feeling that the journey is over, and they don't have to search for each other anymore. Check these out: Florida Teen, Two Others Arrested for Hacking Massive Twitter Accounts Isaias Downgrades to Tropical Storm But Expected to Regain Strength as It Aims for Eastern Florida Red Onions Possibly Cause Salmonella Outbreak in 31 States A month after being charged under UAPA, the Delhi Police has questioned former Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Umar Khalid in connection with 'conspiracy' behind the riots in the North-East part of the national capital. On Saturday, a senior officer from Delhi Police said that Umar Khalid was questioned by the Special Cell and his mobile phone was seized. In the FIR the police had claimed that the clashes were the result of a "premeditated conspiracy", which was allegedly hatched by Umar Khalid and two others. Reports state that Delhi police have filed at least 111 chargesheets thus far in connection with the riots, naming 650 people. Khalid is also accused of raising anti-national slogans in JNU in February 2016. In February, the Delhi government gave clearance to Delhi Police to file a chargesheet against Khalid, Kanhaiya Kumar and Anirban Bhattacharya in the 2016 sedition case. 'Mobile phone seized by the police' The Delhi Police booked former JNU student leader Umar Khalid and two Jamia Millia Islamia students (Meeran Haider and Safoora Zargar) under the provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in connection with the riots in Northeast Delhi which claimed more than 50 lives including an IB official and a head constable. "Umar Khalid was questioned by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on Friday in connection with an alleged conspiracy behind the riots. His mobile phone was also seized by the police," a senior officer of the force said. Delhi riots: Police probe reveals accused Khalid Saifi met Zakir Naik in Malaysia Delhi riots: Zakir Naik link emerges In a massive revelation in the Delhi riots probe, sources on July 5 reported that riot-accused Khalid Saifi had allegedly met controversial Islamic preacher - Zakir Naik in Malaysia. Sources revealed that the meeting details between Naik and Saifi were found from his passport and travel details. On June 9, Delhi Police Crime Branch arrested Khalid Saifi of 'United Against Hate' in connection with the Delhi riots. As per the police chargesheet, Saifi was also allegedly involved in arranging a meeting between suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain and activist Umar Khalid on January 8 at Shaheen Bagh. In the meeting, Hussain was reportedly asked to prepare for something big at the time of US President Donald Trump's visit to India. The chargesheet accused Saifi of giving him some money for the preparations, naming him as one of the persons responsible for organizing the riots in Delhi's Khureji area. Former Congress councillor Ishrat Jahan too has been arrested in connection to allegedly inciting riots. Delhi Riots: Khalid Saifi, facilitator of Umar Khalid-Tahir Hussain meeting arrested Delhi riots Clashes began between CAA supporters and anti-CAA groups in Northeast Delhi on February 23, as both camps resorted to stone-pelting after Shaheen Bagh-like protests started in Jaffrabad and Chand Bagh. The situation deteriorated even as Delhi Police was present at the spot as houses, shops, and buses were burnt. While the Home Minister reviewed the situation on February 24 and 35 - while US President Donald Trump visited India, the violence increased killing 53 and injuring over 200, as per official figures. Delhi riots: Court dismisses ex-AAP neta Tahir Hussain's plea alleging 'fake' FIR by cops JNU Sedition Case: Umar Khalid says 'have faith in judiciary' after trial gets a date Students across Victoria will return to remote learning on Wednesday, with tighter exemptions for children of essential workers than the government imposed last lockdown. The limits on face-to-face teaching will be enforced across the state following a final day of on-site classes on Monday for year 11 and 12 students and a pupil-free day on Tuesday. Students will return to remote learning on Wednesday under the stage four lockdown. Credit:James Thomson In a change from the first lockdown period, childcare centres in Melbourne will also be closed to most families, with only vulnerable children and the children of "permitted workers" allowed to attend. The new settings will apply for six weeks, covering almost all of schools' term three, which is to end on September 18. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Students, teachers, and parents from four Staten Island schools will reconnect to film a dance parody for YouTube that shares the importance of social distancing and wearing face coverings on Monday. At La Tourette Parks Field of Dreams from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Ballroom Basix USA Inc. -- a large-scale noncompetitive partner dancing program for schoolchildren -- will connect students from PS 10, Brighton Heights; PS 54, Willowbrook; PS 59, New Brighton and PS 65, Tompkinsville to film the dance called the Macoronarena, -- inspired by the famous Macarena song and line dance. Two guards and two prisoners were injured as a result of a riot that broke out in a prison in the US state of Georgia, Newsweek reported. The Georgia Department of Corrections reported that the situation was only brought under control today. Corey Jackson, a spokesperson for the Human and Civil Rights Coalition of Georgia said the prison had been quarantined following the death of a prisoner two weeks ago. An investigation is underway. The prisoner died as a result of a collision with another prisoner. The tension in the prison was also caused by the fact that inmates received almost no medical care amid COVID-19. Millions of overs 50s could be given orders to stay at home as part of Boris Johnson's 'nuclear plans' to avoid another national lockdown. The Prime Minister was forced to announce a slow down of the lockdown easing on Friday, with planned relaxations for the leisure and beauty sectors delayed after a rise in Covid-19 cases. It comes just days after around 4.5million people in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire were hit with fresh lockdown restrictions last week. The PM is thought to have held a 'war game' session with Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday to run through possible options for averting another nationwide lockdown that could put the brakes on a potential economic recovery. Under the proposals, a greater number of people would be asked to take part in the shielding programme, based on their age or particular risk factors that have been identified since March, said the Telegraph. It could even see those aged between 50 and 70 given 'personalised risk ratings', said the Times, in a move that would add to the 2.2 million who were deemed most vulnerable and asked to shield themselves from society during the spring peak. The plans could prove controversial as the factors under which the elderly could be asked to self-isolate might be more heavily influenced by age than clinical vulnerabilities. Also being considered under the proposals is a city-wide lockdown in London which would include restricting travel beyond the M25, as reported by The Sunday Times. Any 'close contact' services, such as going to the hairdresser, would also be stopped if the capital sees a sudden surge in cases. The advice for shielding was only lifted on Saturday for those in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and remains in place until August 16 for those shielding in Wales. In other developments yesterday: Britain suffers 771 more Covid-19 cases and 74 deaths amid warnings the infection rate could be at 'tipping point'; Eden in Cumbria, Sandwell in the Midlands, Northampton, Peterborough, Rotherham and Wakefield were yesterday revealed as six places which are on the government's coronavirus 'watch-list'; Passengers arriving at Heathrow's Terminal 5 were left furious after they were forced to queue for hours with no social distancing; Holland's top scientists said there's no solid evidence coverings work and warn they could even damage the fight against Covid-19; Russia is preparing for a mass coronavirus vaccination campaign in October after finishing clinical trials - with teachers and doctors first in line; Arsenal fans ignored Covid-19 social distancing rules to celebrate outside the Emirates Stadium after the Gunners beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final. A large number of overs 50s could be given orders to stay at home as part of Boris Johnson's 'nuclear plans' to avoid another national lockdown What restrictions could the government put in place to try and avoid a second wave? A much larger number of people would be asked to take part in the shielding programme, based on their age or particular risk factors. Those aged between 50 and 70 given 'personalised risk ratings',in a move that would add to the 2.2 million who were deemed most vulnerable and asked to shield themselves from society during the spring peak. The 'green list' of countries that allow you to visit would be scrapped, meaning people arriving back in the UK would have to quarantine for 14 days. A city-wide lockdown in London banning overnight visits and any close-contact services such as hairdressing. People would also not be able to move into and out of London, with possible restrictions on the M25. Ministers could also ban mixing of households indoors (including overnight stays) Advertisement 'At the moment, shielding is binary, you're either on this list or off it,' a source told the Sunday Times. 'But we know there isn't a simple cut-off at age 70. People would get a personalised risk assessment. The risk rises after 50, quite gently to start with, and then accelerates after age 70.' It is believed Mr Johnson last week compared the prospect of a full national lockdown to a 'nuclear deterrent' to be as a last resort, but aides now say he is wants smaller 'tactical' nuclear weapons with which to fight covid-19. Along with the head of the Covid-19 taskforce, Simon Case, Mr Sunak and other senior figures, the group held an hour-long discussion on three outbreak scenarios; one in northwestern England, one in London and finally a general increase across the country. A significant proposal in the national model was reimposing the shielding programme, based on their age or particular risk factors that have been identified since March. And in a move that would burst the public's figurative 'bubbles', ministers could ban mixing of households indoors (including overnight stays), as has happened in the nine local authorities under a partial lockdown in north west England. The move could have been inspired by test and trace data seen by Health Secretary Matt Hancock just before the meeting which showed that the top two ways the virus was transmitted were by an infected person visiting the subject's house, and by that person visiting an infected friend. Going to work was only third on the list and going out shopping lower still. But Downing Street sources distanced themselves from the detail in the reports, calling them 'speculative'. And this morning Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has cast doubt on reports of fresh draconian new lockdown restrictions for London and said talk of an expanded shielding programme was 'just speculation'. Mr Jenrick, when asked about whether new age-related measures were likely, told Times Radio: 'This is just speculation. In a more 'segmented approach' to dealing with future lockdowns, people aged between 50 and 70 would be given personalised risk ratings - taking into accounts factors like their age and conditions - and asked to shield in the event of an outbreak 'You would expect the Government to be considering all of the range of options that might be available. 'That's not something that is being actively considered.' He also said there was 'no plan, as far as I'm aware' to bring in travel controls and restrictions on where Londoners could stay as part of efforts to avoid any increased transmission rate in the capital from spreading to the rest of the country. CASES ARE ON THE UP... AND THE R RATE MAY BE ABOVE ONE Coronavirus cases in England are now at the highest levels since May and government scientists are 'no longer confident' the crucial R rate is below the dreaded level of one. Government statisticians yesterday admitted there is 'now enough evidence' to prove Covid-19 infections are on the up, calculating that 4,200 people are now catching the virus each day in England alone. The estimate by the Office for National Statistics, which tracks the size of the outbreak by swabbing thousands of people, has doubled since the end of June and is 68 per cent up on the 2,500 figure given a fortnight ago. One in 1,500 people currently have the coronavirus - 0.07 per cent of the population. But experts believe the rate is twice as high in London and still rising. The figure does not include care homes and hospitals. Number 10's scientific advisers also upped the R rate in the UK, saying they now believe it stands between 0.8 and 0.9. It had been as low as 0.7 since May. SAGE also revealed the growth rate - the average number of people each Covid-19 patient infects - may have jumped to above one in the South West, home to the stay-cation hotspots of Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. And they said it was likely to be equally high in the North West. Matt Hancock last night announced tough new lockdown measures in Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Advertisement On top of the alleged lockdown avoidance preparations, experts have speculated that ministers might have to order the closure of pubs, which were permitted to start serving again on July 4, if schools are to reopen fully in September. Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said earlier a 'trade off' could be required if the Prime Minister's pledge is to be met. His comments followed chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty's remarks that the country was 'near the limit' for opening up society following the coronavirus lockdown. The moves in Whitehall are seen as a clear indication that ministers are prepared to dial down social interactions to ensure that schools can open again next month and shops can keep doing business. Boris Johnson previously pledged that all pupils at both primary and secondary schools in England will return in September, following months of closures for most students. But leading scientists and the head of a major teaching union last night amid signs that cases of Covid-19 are increasing again at an alarming rate. Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said the Government will need to provide 'clarification' to schools. He told the Observer: 'In light of recent changes to plans for relaxing lockdown measures, the Government needs to provide greater clarity to school leaders, teachers and parents about what this will mean for the reopening of schools in September.' A warning from chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty that the country is 'near the limit' for opening up society will prompt questions for parents as well as teachers, Mr Roach told the newspaper. 'If schools are to reopen safely, the government will need to give them clarification about what they need to do to take account of the latest scientific evidence and advice, as well as sufficient time to review and, if necessary, adjust their reopening plans,' he added. Meanwhile, Dr Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, told the Observer that although risks to children and teachers are likely to be low, this transmission would increase infection rates. The Prime Minister held a 'war game' session with Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday to run through possible options for averting another nationwide lockdown that could stall any potential economic recovery 'Would reopening schools increase the spread of Covid-19 in the population? Yes. I think it would very probably do that,' he told the newspaper. Meanwhile, former England midfielder Paul Scholes has been accused of holding a party at his Oldham home to celebrate his son's 21st on the same day lockdown measures were reimposed across parts of England's north-west. The Sun cited phone footage as showing revellers ignoring social distancing 'as they drank and danced' at the seven-hour party, with the paper citing Tory MP Andrew Bridgen criticising Mr Scholes for 'reckless behaviour'. Sage member warns England should consider closing pubs to open schools next month Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said England could have to consider closing pubs in order to reopen schools next month. When asked about the chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty's prediction that the country was 'near the limits' of opening up society, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine academic told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think that's quite possible. 'I think we're in a situation whereby most people think that opening schools is a priority for the health and wellbeing of children and that when we do that we are going to reconnect lots of households. 'And so actually, closing some of the other networks, some of the other activities may well be required to enable us to open schools. 'It might come down to a question of which do you trade off against each other and then that's a matter of prioritising, do we think pubs are more important than schools?' However this morning Robert Jenrick, was asked on Times Radio whether the Government would look to close pubs after a rise in coronavirus transmissions and said: 'We don't have any plans to do that.' He added that any fresh restrictions were unlikely to apply wholesale, adding: 'We don't want to do anything that is a blanket approach across the country. 'Our strategy is to manage this in a localised way with targeted action as we've done in Leicester, as we're doing now in the north-west. 'We will follow the data and look at options if we have to but that approach is the way we restrict in certain areas - it is difficult for those who live there but it provides greater freedom for the rest of the country, for businesses to reopen and for people to get on with their daily lives, and that has to be the way forward if we can.' Advertisement Greater Manchester Police have been approached for comment over the alleged incident. It comes after a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said ministers might have to consider closing pubs in England in order for lessons to start again next month. Professor Graham Medley, who chairs the Sage sub-group on pandemic modelling, said this scenario was 'quite possible'. 'I think we're in a situation whereby most people think that opening schools is a priority for the health and wellbeing of children and that when we do that we are going to reconnect lots of households,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'And so actually, closing some of the other networks, some of the other activities may well be required to enable us to open schools. 'It might come down to a question of which do you trade off against each other and then that's a matter of prioritising, do we think pubs are more important than schools?' Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was forced to deny that it had abandoned its pledge to regularly test care home residents through the summer following a leaked memo from Professor Jane Cummings, the Government's adult social care testing director. The Tory administration has come in for criticism for failing to do more to prevent Covid-19 infections from reaching care homes, where some of the country's most vulnerable population reside, during the initial spring peak. According to the Times, Prof Cummings wrote to local authority leaders to inform them that 'previously advised timelines for rolling out regular testing in care homes' were being altered because of 'unexpected delays'. Regular testing of residents and staff was meant to have started on July 6 but will now be pushed back until September 7 for older people and those with dementia, PA news agency understands. A department spokeswoman confirmed there were issues with 'asymptomatic re-testing'. The problems relate to a combination of factors, including a restraint on the ability to build testing kits, already announced issues with Randox swab kits, overall lab capacity, and greater than anticipated return rate of care home test kits. The DHSC spokeswoman said: 'It is completely wrong to suggest care homes were deliberately deprived of testing resources and any care home resident or member of staff with symptoms can immediately access a free test. 'We continue to issue at least 50,000 tests a day to care homes across the country and prioritise tests for higher-risk outbreak areas. 'A combination of factors have meant that a more limited number of testing kits, predominantly used in care homes, are currently available for asymptomatic re-testing and we are working round the clock with providers to restore capacity.' DHSC said it would not comment on leaked documents when asked about Prof Cummings' memo. Ministers promise exasperated parents that schools will reopen full-time in the autumn - despite Whitehall 'murmurings' it will only be part-time by Glen Owen, Political Editor for the Mail on Sunday Downing Street has moved quickly to try to reassure exasperated parents that schools will open full-time again in the autumn despite reports that Ministers were considering introducing a 'part-time rota system' in September. Many working parents were left infuriated by mixed messages from Education Secretary Gavin Williamson over whether full-time schooling would return before the summer holidays, and now they're left wondering whether it really will start again this year. Yesterday, it was claimed that there were 'murmurings' in Whitehall that schooling would still only be part-time when pupils returned from their holidays, as Ministers struggle to plan for what they fear will be a second wave of the virus. But a senior source said: 'The Prime Minister is absolutely committed to the full re-opening of schools. Many working parents were left infuriated by mixed messages from Education Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured) 'Parents are becoming increasingly confident in their children returning to school, which is testament to the work of school staff across the country who are putting in place a range of protective measures to prepare to welcome back all pupils at the start of term. 'These should be proportionate and follow the system of controls, while ensuring that pupils receive an ambitious and broad curriculum in all subjects from the start of the autumn term.' Mr Williamson has been accused by critics within his party of 'rolling over' in the face of opposition from the teachers unions, who claim that returning to full school operation would jeopardise the health of their members. In an attempt to defuse the opposition, Mr Williamson says he will introduce new protective measures, including reducing the size of classes, keeping children in small groups, minimising mixing with others, staggering breaks and lunch times, as well as drop-offs and pick-ups, increasing the frequency of cleaning, reducing the used of shared items and utilising outdoor space. 'The Prime Minister is absolutely committed to the full re-opening of schools,' according to a senior source Pupils will also be expected to wash their hands more often than usual and 'ensure good respiratory hygiene'. No10 advisers realise that a return to something approaching normal working life for parents will be impossible if they are also juggling the demands of childcare, and say schools should be 'the last thing' to be locked down again. However parents will still face challenges because schools are reluctant to offer the after-school clubs, which extend the school day beyond mid-afternoon. A Government spokesman said: 'It is our plan that all pupils, in all year groups, will return to school fulltime from the beginning of the autumn term. 'As we know, school is the best place for children to learn and enjoy being back with their teachers and friends. There are no plans for a part-time rota system. 'Rotas do not provide the consistency of education and care we want to reintroduce.' Experts warn that enforced home schooling during the lockdown has also widened the divide between high and low-income households, with poorer families unable to afford the technology required for home learning. They say it has also exposed the academic gulf between state and private schools, which have been able to make extensive provision for remote teaching. Pub bosses warn ministers that shutting bars again 'will destroy jobs' after government Sage adviser said closing may be a trade-off to get children back to school by Brendan Carlin and Stephen Adams for Mail on Sunday Shutting pubs again to allow schools to reopen risks putting millions out of work, shattering confidence and costing the economy dear, Ministers were warned last night. A top Government adviser yesterday said the move might be necessary as a 'trade-off' to stem a possible rise in coronavirus cases caused by 10 million children returning to the classroom. Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said most people would prioritise 'the health and wellbeing of children' over going to the pub. His comments came amid growing concerns over a possible second wave of coronavirus. But pub bosses hit back, saying a return to closures would be devastating for the industry and households that rely on it for work. Government advisers have warned that stricter lockdown rules may be necessary if the PM wants to reopen schools in September Kate Nicholls, of Hospitality UK, which represents pubs, restaurants and hotels, said shutting down 'large chunks of the economy' was a short-sighted strategy. 'We need to be focusing on collective efforts to drive down and control infections,' she said, adding that the hospitality industry directly employs 3.2 million, with another two million reliant through supply chains. 'It's simply too big to just switch off. 'We would be talking about millions of people unemployed, a major loss of economic activity.' Her comments came after England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty cautioned the country was 'near the limit' on how much social distancing measures could be eased without triggering a dangerous increase in virus levels. Another Sage member, Prof Calum Semple, said there would probably be a second wave in October and 'hard decisions will need to be made about what restrictions need to be reintroduced'. There are genuine fears that the lack of social distancing could lead to a second spike He told the BBC: 'Whether that's potentially the pubs and the hospitality sector taking a hit in preference to education will be a political decision.' But senior Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith said it was a 'false choice' to say pubs should close to allow schools to open. The former Tory leader pleaded for Ministers to ensure both are kept open. He told The Mail on Sunday that impending 'economic Armageddon' was a far greater risk than Covid-19. He said: 'Of course, we must protect the vulnerable. We must protect people with co-morbidities.' But he added: 'The rest of us should be back at work by now and schools should be opening. If we don't get this economy moving, more people will die because the economy collapsed than will ever die of Covid.' Ministers abandon key pledge to test all care home residents for Covid regularly throughout summer - plunging test and trace system into chaos by James Robinson and William Cole for MailOnline Ministers have abandoned a key pledge to test all care home residents for coronavirus regularly throughout the summer, it has been reported. Government officials had promised to regularly test up to two million care home residents and staff in a bid to keep track of the virus. But in a move which could plunge the government's test and trace system into chaos, officials now say they will axe the current timetable for the plans due to 'unexpected delays', according to the Sunday Times. Regular testing for older care home residents and those with dementia was due to take place from July 6. Ministers have abandoned a key pledge to test all care home residents for coronavirus regularly throughout the summer, it has been reported Government officials had promised to regularly test up to two million care home residents and staff in a bid to keep track of the virus But the paper reports that in a leaked memo sent to local authority chief executives on Friday night, the government's adult social care testing director, Professor Jane Cummings, said the ' timelines were being moved to September. In the leaked memo, Professor Cummings also admitted that the system for registering tests was 'unnecessarily burdensome', the Times reports. However a Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson today said it was continuing to issue 'at least 50,000 tests a day' to care homes across the country and said it was 'completely wrong' to suggest care homes were being deliberately deprived of testing kits. As many as 20,000 care home residents may have died of coronavirus in the UK since the pandemic began. A senior public health official told the Times that more lives would 'undoubtedly' be lost as a result. Meanwhile the axing of the current timeline could throw the NHS test and trace scheme into chaos - after the government's own scientific committee, SAGE, called for regular testing to stop the virus spreading between care homes. A large number of overs 50s could be given orders to stay at home as part of Boris Johnson's 'nuclear plans' to avoid another national lockdown Today a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said they would not comment on the leaked memo. However, a in a statement, the spokesperson said: 'It is completely wrong to suggest care homes were deliberately deprived of testing resources and any care home resident or member of staff with symptoms can immediately access a free test. 'We continue to issue at least 50,000 tests a day to care homes across the country and prioritise tests for higher-risk outbreak areas. 'A combination of factors have meant that a more limited number of testing kits, predominantly used in care homes are currently available for asymptomatic retesting and we are working round the clock with providers to restore capacity.' The leaked memo comes after it was revealed that a large number of overs 50s could be given orders to stay at home as part of Boris Johnson's 'nuclear plans' to avoid another national lockdown. In a more 'segmented approach' to dealing with future lockdowns, people aged between 50 and 70 would be given personalised risk ratings - taking into accounts factors like their age and conditions - and asked to shield in the event of an outbreak In a more 'segmented approach' to dealing with future lockdowns, people aged between 50 and 70 would be given personalised risk ratings - taking into accounts factors like their age and conditions - and asked to shield in the event of an outbreak. The plans could prove controversial as the factors under which the elderly could be asked to self-isolate might be more heavily influenced by age than clinical vulnerabilities. The advice for shielding was only lifted on Saturday for those in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and remains in place until August 16 for those shielding in Wales. It comes after Mr Johnson was forced to announce a slow down of the lockdown easing on Friday, with planned relaxations for the leisure and beauty sectors delayed after a rise in Covid-19 cases was recorded, with prevalence in the community thought to be rising for the first time since May. 'At the moment, shielding is binary, you're either on this list or off it,' a source told the Sunday Times. 'But we know there isn't a simple cut-off at age 70. People would get a personalised risk assessment. The risk rises after 50, quite gently to start with, and then accelerates after age 70.' Thousands of items of PPE manufactured and donated by Wrexham company for front-line workers This article is old - Published: Sunday, Aug 2nd, 2020 A local company that has donated and delivered personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline staff during the coronavirus pandemic has been praised by the MP for Clwyd South. Simon Baynes MP, made a socially distanced visit to Brother Industries in Ruabon on Thursday 23 July thank the team for their generosity. Brother Industries, which is based on the Vauxhall Industrial Estate, produces a range of products, including toner cartridges, ink blister, moulding for customers like Sharp, and franking machines for Pitney Bowes. They are a multi-award winning factory which is at the forefront of environmental production, given that many of their products are made from recycled material, and they send zero waste to landfill. Throughout the coronavirus crisis they have used part of their production facilities to manufacture overshoe protectors, face visors and splash shields which they have donated to facilities such as Chirk Hospital, Chirk Pharmacy, Wrexham Maelor A&E and local nursing homes. During the visit, Simon Baynes MP was given a tour of the factory and production lines by the Managing Director, Craig McCubbin, and OEM and Production Manager, Tony Lock. He also met Lindsey Kenney, Visor Assembly Operative, and Sharon Riley, Area Supervisor. Mr Baynes praised the company for taking measures to keep employees safe, such as temperature testing workers every day, while continuing to produce high-quality products and recruiting a further 4 to 5 staff at the site in Ruabon. Mr Baynes was also joined by Chirk Town Councillor, Gareth Baines, who has helped coordinate and deliver PPE to local health facilities in Chirk and the wider area. OEM and Production Manager, Tony Lock, said: It was a pleasure for Brother Industries Ruabon to host Simon Baynes MP and Cllr Gareth Baines visit to the factory. This gave us the opportunity to explain the work we do out at Brother Industries UK, including donations of face visors and splash shields. So far, weve manufactured 4,500 on site for donation to the local and wider community with the full support of all Brother staff during these unprecedented times. Well continue to do this for as long as required and would also like to thank Cllr Gareth Baines for his continued support in distributing the PPE. Cllr Gareth Baines said: Brothers support in donations of PPE has been unwavering, helping contribute to the near 50,000 pieces of PPE Ive distributed to hospitals, schools, care homes, individuals and businesses throughout Wrexham County, Denbighshire and Shropshire. The company and its staff are an asset to the whole community. Simon Baynes MP added: Brother Industries is an excellent example of an environmentally friendly and successful local business doing their very best to support the community in tough times. And I think its right that we thank firms like them for having gone above and beyond in helping our frontline NHS workers stay safe during the pandemic. Ive previously written to workers at the firm, thanking them for their hard work and their generosity. So its great to be able to follow up and say thank you in person while social distancing. I enjoyed meeting everyone and I look forward to seeing the firm continue to grow. UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has cancelled his scheduled Ayodhya trip on Sunday, following the demise of UP minister for technical education Kamla Rani Varun, after a prolonged illness. Kamla Rani Varun, 62, was legislator from Ghatampur Assembly segment, and had been hospitalised in the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS). The Chief Minister was scheduled to visit Ayodhya on Sunday to review the preparations and security arrangements being made for the 'bhumi pujan' of the Ram temple which is going to be held on August 5. He was also supposed to meet senior saints and seers during his visit. The 'bhumi pujan' ceremony will take place around noon on Wednesday and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to participate in the function. Ayodhya will be illuminated for three days from August 3 to 5 to mark the occasion and all residents have been asked to light diyas in their houses during this period. 'Akhand Ramayana Path' will be held in other holy cities including Mathura, Kashi, Prayagraj, Naimisharanya, Gorakhpur and Chitrakoot. Meanwhile, unprecedented security arrangements are being made for the occasion and the borders of Ayodhya have been sealed. By Express News Service MADURAI: Conmen are as virulent as the virus itself during the pandemic this is a lesson a doctor from Vadipatti learnt after falling prey to frauds not once but twice within a couple of months. Scam operators pretending to be representatives of overseas mask manufacturers, cheated the owner of a private hospital of Rs 2.1 crore over two months starting May. The incident came to light when the 44-year-old doctor approached the District Crime Branch with a complaint, sources said. A Hyderbad-based middleman going by the name, Uday Shankar Parupalli, approached the doctor on May 22 and offered him help to purchase N95 mask in bulk from a Kyrgyzstan- based company at reduced price. Lured by the offer, the doctor placed an order for 2 lakh masks with the company online. Later, a man named Surya Narayanan, who claimed to be the commercial director of the company, contacted the doctor and confirmed the order. As instructed, the doctor paid Rs 90 lakh, a part of the total amount, in several transactions until July 3. Madurai doctor loses Rs 2 crore to mask men In June, the doctor placed a second order online for 5 lakh N95 masks with a private company in The Netherlands. Shortly after placing the order, a man named Patrick Van Dick, who claimed to be from the sales section of the company, contacted him to discuss the sale and the transaction. A few days later, another man named Peter Booths, who introduced himself as the manager of the company, contacted him and confirmed the order. The duo asked the doctor to pay 20 per cent of the amount as advance, and he paid $1,60,000 in several transactions between June 9 and June 16. The men sent him an airway bill and demanded a further payment of 30 per cent of the total amount; they said the remaining 50 per cent could be paid after the order reached the Chennai Airport. Something amiss In July, the doctor received a document sent by Uday Shankar and Surya Narayanan. A scrutiny proved that the document was fake. Alarmed, the doctor contacted the duo and demanded his money, but to no avail. Around the same time, the doctor contacted The Netherlands company, to which he had by then paid more than Rs 1 crore, and tried to cancel the order; both Dick and Booths stopped responding to his calls. They neither supplied the masks nor returned the advance amount. Based on the complaint lodged by the doctor, the DCB registered two separate cases against seven persons under Sections 120 (B), 406, 420 and 34 of IPC. Police sources said that since foreign nationals are involved in the crime, the embassies concerned should be contacted for further investigation. It may be noted that two businessmen in Mumbai and a doctor in Hyderabad had lost their money in similar frauds while trying to purchase N95 masks and PPE kits online. Cuomo Signs Landmark Legislation to Keep Fracking Waste Out of New York Dear Food Manufacturers: Stop Polluting Children With Glyphosate Virginia State Delegates Slam Destructive Mountain Valley Pipeline at Unity Banner Signing Trump Administration Proposes Expanding Extinction Plan: Regulations Will Weaken Endangered Species Act and Worsen Biodiversity Crisis EWG News Roundup (7/30): CAFOs Run Amok in North Carolina, Senate Republican COVID-19 Stimulus Lets Down Farm Workers and More To Spur Wisconsins Economy, Ensure All Immigrants Are Included in COVID Relief Proposals The Loan Loophole Trump Created To Fast-Track Factory Farms With Evictions Resuming and Water Justice Measures Still Unimplemented, Mayor Young Has Set Baltimoreans Up to Fail PA Senate Bill Introduced to Fight Climate Change, Support workers and low-Income Pennsylvanians One Sunday afternoon in July, around a dozen parents gathered in a backyard in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, a village about a half-hour north of midtown Manhattan. Another dozen joined them via Zoom. Folding chairs had been placed at prudent distances, and masks were dutifully worn. An Australian Labradoodle belonging to the homes owners strutted among the guests. Despite the breezy suburban tableau, the occasion was fraught. Over the preceding months, the adults in the backyard had grown increasingly concerned about the coming school year, which, it had become clear, might put students in class, at best, only part time. Parents were determined to avoid having their children sit alone for hours each day, withering in the gray light of a Chromebook. A young woman named Cate Han, one of the founders of the Hudson Lab School, in Hastings, along with partners from Portfolio School, in Tribeca, were in the yard to pitch a solution: Learning Pods. We looked at the situation and asked, What makes sense? Han said. A social bubble, consistent schooling, and have it be with a teacher in person. Babur Habib, a Portfolio founder, took a more visionary tone. Yes, we are in a pandemic, he said. But when it comes to education, we also feel some good may even come out of this. One thing was certain. It was going to be very expensive maybe prohibitively so but these parents wanted a solution. Many had chosen to live in Hastings because of its outstanding public schools. Now they were considering withdrawing their children and embracing a novel teaching model that could have implications for public education for years. There might be no more potent symbol of inequality during the pandemic than the pod school: A single semester in a Hudson Lab pod can cost more than $13,000. This fall, a majority of 50 million American children enrolled in public school are almost certainly going to be confined within their homes for part or all of the school day. The numerous harms of being kept out of school academic, social, emotional, psychological, physical are felt by all children, but a disproportionate weight will be borne by those with the least resources. The wealthiest children will be ensconced in private schools and catered to by tutors and nannies. For most, there are few options. But for a slice of enterprising American parents with resources, so-called pod schools have arrived. Cropping up all over, these small educational groups aim to offset the looming wreckage of a national experiment in distance learning. Among the many options are School House, based in New York City, which is offering micro schools around the country, and Whiz Kidz, based in nearby Irvington. The idea of learning pods, both formally organized by outfits like the Hudson Lab, as well as more ad hoc parent-run variations, appears to be speaking to parents who feel that government agencies and school districts have failed to plan for their children. The program presented by Han and her colleagues that afternoon sounded relatively simple. Parents will form groups of three to 10 children, usually in the same grade. The pods will meet each day from around 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in a host parents basement or cordoned-off living room or perhaps somewhere outdoors, to learn from a teacher provided by the Hudson Lab. Each pod for grades K-4 will cost $125,000 for the academic year, or $68,750 for a five-month commitment. With five children in a pod, for example, the cost per student will run $13,750 per semester. The more children in the pod, the lower the cost per student. There is different pricing and reduced hours for preschool pods. (Both HLS and School House are seeking partnerships with foundations so they can offer scholarships.) My children didnt get an education this spring, said Ronit Sukenick, who offered her backyard for the Hudson Lab presentation. She has two boys, Jonah and David, who experienced the last three months of second and sixth grade at their dining table. None of the things that were great about my sons schools translated to remote learning, she said. No science experiments or a teacher at their sides. No interaction with friends. The loss of both the academic and social aspects of school was a refrain from more than a dozen parents I spoke with regarding distance learning. Han appealed to the palpable anxiety among the parents in the yard. We are social beings, she said as a few parents nodded in agreement. Our identities are formed based on our interactions with others. Learning for children is tied to being with peers, she said. Why should a child suffer in isolation, struggling to learn how to read through a computer, when they could thrive with a small group of peers and a real teacher instead? To enroll full time in the Hudson Lab learning pods, parents withdraw their children from public school and register as home-schoolers, a process that requires parents to submit academic plans to their district for approval. Hudson Lab also offers an option that allows students to remain enrolled in school remotely while using a learning pod as a supplement. Pod families also need to draw up agreements on the various facets of distancing behavior each child and family will be obligated to. Is it OK if someone gets a haircut in the city? What about play dates outside the pod? Aside from safety concerns, other issues will surely arise different learning styles, teacher and parent goals. It all needs to be worked out. But as part of its fee, the Hudson Lab School will help with the paperwork, mediate parent interaction with the teacher, and align pod curriculums to state standards. Pod programs offer an inoculation against the possibility that public schools might close. As long as the community isnt in complete lockdown, the learning pods can keep going. Lauren Lazarin is a single mother in Riverdale, in the Bronx, with a limited income, but shes considering signing up for a Hudson Lab pod. If I have to ditch my salaried job as an early childhood educator and work as a private tutor so my 5-year-old daughter can get her education and I can keep my family safe, she said, then I might have to make that choice. For Sukenick, who works as a physical therapist, the choice is stark. She can either quit working while she looks after her sons when theyre home, or she can keep her very fulfilling job and deplete her savings to pay for the pods. This is our emergency fund, she said, noting they were thankful to have it. And this is our emergency. Erica Paris, a stay-at-home mom in Towaco, New Jersey, recently received her daughters fall schedule from the school district. Her 8-year-old, Alexa, will attend elementary school four half-days per week; Emma, 12, will attend middle school just two half-days per week. Paris said she will have to hire someone to help with remote learning during their copious time out of school. I respect educators. I dont know how to take the curriculum and do it myself, she said. I cant be both a teacher and a parent. She has reached out to other parents to see if their girls want to do a small group and share a tutor. For Paris, the sharing of a tutor is less about saving money than for the advantage of her girls being in a group setting. Her daughters schedules are also baffling and frustrating. The reason they have half-days is because the teachers contract guarantees a duty-free lunch, which is understandable, she said. But couldnt we figure out how to hire aides for an hour? Two half-days of school a week is ridiculous. Ive been similarly disheartened over the pending school policies in Hastings. I was in the Sukenicks backyard that afternoon because remote learning this spring for my children, ages 9 and 11, had been an abysmal affair. My younger son would blast through the days assignments, often consisting of watching videos and checking boxes. By 9:30 each morning hed confront me, panicked: Im done. Now what do I do? My daughter was saddled with extensive projects and a detailed course load she often needed help with. Mainly it was a profoundly lonely time for them. The neighborhood kids shut off from one another, hours were spent alone in their rooms, dissolving into electronic screens. And Im aware my children are more fortunate than many others. The many parents Ive spoken with for this article have expressed sadness and unease over the inequities that a remote-learning model engenders. Yet allowing their children to suffer is not the remedy to a systemic problem. As a journalist I began scouring the research on children and COVID-19 when our schools shut down some five months ago. I havent climbed out of the data pit since. The preponderance of evidence suggests that children, by and large, are spared dangerous effects of the virus. Data from Sweden, where lower schools have been open for the entirety of the pandemic, without specific distancing mandates or children in masks, show that teachers were at no greater risk than other professionals. Philosophically, I believe schools should be among the last institutions to close and the very first to open. Many experts have argued similarly, including in The New York Times. But I am aware plenty of people feel differently. What I can say here, though, is what I know to be true for my family. After months of solitude, where screen time essentially became time itself, my kids have finally escaped. Theyve been in camp for the past few weeks, playing and interacting with other children all day. The transformation has been akin to a time-lapse video of the reanimation of a long dormant creature. They finally seem like themselves again. I want my children, and all children, to have the opportunity to be with their peers, every day, in person. That afternoon at the Sukenicks I quickly realized that the Hudson Lab pod program is well beyond my familys financial means. I dont know what exactly were going to do when school starts. In my district, there has been an interesting overlap between the send-them-back-to-schoolers and the keep-them-homers, in that most are seeking any alternative they can think of to their children sitting alone at a computer each day. A movement for outdoor classes seemed to bring many from opposing sides together. Yet despite the enthusiasm of parents, the likelihood of that coming to fruition seems dim. American can-do spirit somehow seems absent from getting kids in school, even or especially if school is outdoors. Several weeks after the backyard presentation, Han told me that Hudson Lab has not finalized any pods yet but has around 60 applications. Many families are waiting to hear what the state and local guidelines will be before making a decision. Sukenick has not yet decided on plans for her boys. Whatever it is, she hopes it will include an in-person experience every day. Lazarin, the single mother in Riverdale, isnt only worried about remote learning. Shes also worried about the in-school environment, with these unnatural experiences of eating lunch in cubicles, recess alone in a square on the pavement. After pausing for a moment, thinking about the pod, she said, If I have to sell my arm to make that happen, then Ill do it. David Zweig c.2020 The New York Times Company Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has explained that the clause waiving sovereignty in the loan agreement between Nigeria and China is only a contract term, a sovereign guarantee that assures payback according to the terms and conditions of any loan. Amaechi made the clarification while answering questions about the loan controversy on a TV programme, weekend He also explained that the Ministry of Transportation is not responsible for taking loans, but to implement the project or contract for which the loans were taken. He said, It is a commercial agreement, its a trade agreement between Nigeria and China. The first issue is that Ministry of Transport does not take loan. Anything about loan, talk to Ministry of Finance. What I signed is what they call commercial contract, that is contract between the federal government and CCECC as a contractor. The contract between Nigeria and China is usually signed by the ministry of finance on behalf of Nigeria, but that will be escaping the issue. Whether it is the Ministry of finance that signed it or the Ministry of Transport, the issues are the issues. There is no contract without an agreement and that agreement must contain some terms and one of the terms that this one contains, is not that youre signing away the sovereignty of the country. No country will sign away its sovereignty. What you do is, you give a sovereign guarantee; and Im ashamed of those who interpret it the wrong way. Now, when you say I give you a sovereign guarantee and I waive that immunity clause, the immunity clause is that, if tomorrow Im not able to pay you and you come to collect the items that weve agreed upon, that these are items I have put down as guarantee, I can use my immunity and say no, you cannot touch our assets, we are a sovereign country. Is China our father that will give us money for free? They (the Chinese) are saying, if you are not able to pay, dont stop us from taking back those items that will help us recover our funds. And its a standard clause, whether its with America you signed it or with Britain or any country, because they want to know they can recover their money. What the clause does is to say to you, I expect you to pay according to those terms and conditions. If you dont pay, dont throw your immunity on me (the lender) when I come to collect back the guarantee you put forward, thats all. The waiving of immunity simply means in trade parlance that Im not giving you this loan free. Just like if you go to take a loan from the bank, the moment you dont pay, they go after the assets you put down. And people are politicising it. The Chinese can never come and take over Aso rock and become President or Minister. In the event of a default, Amaechi stated that the lender can only go after, and take back the same assets built with the loaned funds. And if the assets you put down become depreciated, then you negotiate which assets they can go after. The Chinese will never take over what was not constructed with the loan. Allaying the fear of some Nigerians asking if its possible to repay the loan and not get into the same situation as Zambia, Amaechi stated that the loan was already being repaid. But were paying, he said. In the same National Assembly committee sitting, they were told that out of the 500 million dollars, weve paid 96 million dollars already. Nigeria is already paying... So, its not that Nigeria doesnt have the capacity to pay back. Well pay back. At 2.8 percent, what other country would give you that loan? 2.8 per cent for 20 years with 7 years moratorium, why cant you pay back? The repayment plan is not done by us, its done by the ministry of finance, but they are meeting the requirements. At any point in time that we need to pay, we pay. The Minister further explained that the loans are not paid to him nor the Ministry, which automatically eliminates any fear of corruption or diversion of funds. They are paid directly to the contractor in China. I told them at that meeting, that these loans are not given to us, they are paid directly to the contractor. Once we sign that the job has been done, they pay the contractor. And this has never been done before. So what is critical is that the projects are being done. Or, are they trying to rubbish the fact that there is a railway from Abuja-Kaduna? These loans are not paid here, so you cant even steal it. What we do is ensure that the work is done. We hired an Italian company that goes with our engineers in the ministry to ensure that the Chinese meet the European standard, so that there are no fake things or poorly done work. When they check and say yes, this has been done and done to the standard of the contract approved, then they pass it on to us, we sign and approve that the work has been done. It is then sent to the ministry of finance who also appends their signature and passes it on to the Chinese Exim bank who then pays to the contractor. The job is development related. If you dont do it, you dont get paid. So the contractor would want to do the job, he wants to satisfy his client, so that the client can sign to say that he has done the job. Amaechi also reiterated his call to the National Assembly to put a hold on the probe as some loans are still being expected for the completion of Lagos to Ibadan and the construction of Ibadan to Kano and Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail. There is an agreement for Abuja to Kaduna which was signed before we came, we signed the Lagos to Ibadan, we want to sign the Ibadan to Kano. Now weve also applied for them to give us a loan for Port Harcourt to Maiduguri which entails that when the loan is approved, well construct the rail from Port Harcourt to Aba to Owerri to Umuahia to Enugu to Makurdi to Lafia to Jos to Bauchi to Gombe and then to Damaturu. Everybody is shouting that there is no railway in the South East. But there is railway in the South South., he said, noting that the Itakpe to Warri which was abandoned for 34 years was completed without taking a loan. He stressed that both the National Assembly and the country should at least appreciate that the government was making progress in terms of infrastructure development. So what should be primary to them is national interest, because we need to construct Lagos to Ibadan to be able to evacuate cargoes that come from Lagos to the hinterlands. So what they are doing now, may likely stop that. The same way, the government is under pressure to construct Port Harcourt to Maiduguri which passes through the south Eastern States and the North Eastern states. If we go now and the Chinese say we wont give you the money because the arm of government that is supposed to approve this loan, which they have already approved are beginning to question the loan they have approved, we are not sure that we can recover the loan, then we cant finish our projects, Amaechi said. He further explained that all loan applications pass through the National Assembly for approval and wondered why they are investigating same. He added that he would have loved to publish those clauses if not for the issue of confidentiality in government, stating that the National Assembly know about the clauses because it is unconstitutional to take a loan that is not approved by the national assembly. "The national assembly are aware of all these loans, so ask why are they investigating. The Chinese is just asking us to show them the evidence that we will pay back which is the immunity clause, if we don't pay, they can take back their assets and don't forget that we can't take loan without the National Assembly approval. There is no loan in Nigeria either internal or external that is not approved by the National Assembly , none. Chinese government will not even give you a loan without approval by the National Assembly because if they give you a loan without the approval from NASS, that is no loan." RT HON. CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI MEDIA OFFICE AUGUST 1, 2020 The Health Minister has promised to meet CervicalCheck campaigners in the coming weeks following an impassioned plea for action in this newspaper from the woman who exposed the debacle, Vicky Phelan. On Friday, Stephen Donnelly appointed two judges to a tribunal set up to compensate women affected by the CervicalCheck controversy but delayed by Covid-19 and the departure of two of its members. The steering committee to oversee the recommendations of Dr Gabriel Scally, who investigated the screening and disclosure failures, is to resume with an independent chair, the Department said. More than 200 women have been directly affected by the crisis, which saw the misreading of hundreds of cervical smear tests, leading to some women developing terminal cancer. A report by Dr Scally led to a CervicalCheck steering committee to oversee his recommendations. A tribunal was established as an alternative to the "adversarial" High Court. However, the progress in addressing the screening and disclosure failures has been dogged by dispute and delays, much of it caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Lorraine Walsh, a patient advocate and member of the 221+ Patient Support Group, representing women directly impacted by the failures, resigned from the steering committee in December saying she had been "dismissed, ignored, bullied and threatened" by the Department of Health. Several commentators, including Dr Scally, have expressed reservations about the tribunal set up to hear the cases and award compensation to the affected women. Successive politicians, including Taoiseach Micheal Martin, said that the tribunal would be non-adversarial. However, the former chair of the tribunal, Ms Justice Mary Irvine, who stepped down on her appointment as president of the High Court, said claims that the tribunal would be less adversarial were "not accurate". Read More This is because the act provides that claims before the tribunal are to be heard in the same manner as the High Court hears personal injury cases for negligence, which is an "adversarial process". She said it would also attempt to be as fair, just and expeditious as possible. Dr Scally, president of epidemiology and public health at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, told the Sunday Independent that he did not favour the tribunal model. "Where there are errors that take place, the point is not to turn it into this gladiatorial contest. The point is to learn from the error, for the patient to learn what went wrong and to know about it," he said. "There should then be a mechanism for compensation to be paid but without going through this legal palaver, which is in itself a waste of money." In the absence of a tribunal, more than 200 active claims in relation to CervicalCheck are before the courts, along with eight that have been resolved. However, women whose cancer was diagnosed after 2018 and who believe their slides were misread are not included in the scheme. Two cases before the High Court last week involved women who were diagnosed with cervical cancer last year and do not fall within the scope of the tribunal. In both cases, some of their slides were allegedly misread in 2014 and 2016. Their slides were not audited by CervicalCheck following their diagnosis because the auditing process was suspended in 2018 pending a review. Plans to resume auditing of cancer screening has also been delayed. The audit process was suspended in 2018 and an expert group appointed to review it. The Department of Health said Covid-19 has interrupted its progress. Writing following the recent death of her friend Ruth Morrissey, whose slides were negligently reported, Ms Phelan called on the Government to take action. Ms Phelan, who was also given a terminal diagnosis, called for the enactment of legislation to provide for mandatory open disclosure, implementation of all outstanding recommendations from the Scally Report, a new Steering Committee to oversee CervicalCheck, and a CervicalCheck Tribunal that "does not involve confrontation with the laboratories". The two new judges are Ms Justice Ann Power, who will chair the tribunal, and Mr Justice Tony O'Connor. Mr Justice Brian McGovern is the third member. The Department said this weekend that a tender process and recruitment have begun for a new National Screening Service. The outsourcing of tests for reading was criticised by Dr Scally's report. It said 137 of the 170 actions identified in the report have been completed. TEL AVIV, Israel A 66-year-old soft-spoken, bespectacled grandfather who shies away from the spotlight has emerged as a new face of the opposition to scandal-plagued Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Retired Brig. Gen. Amir Haskel, who has written books on the Holocaust, said that period had shown him that standing aside was not an option as Netanyahu, in his view, chipped away at Israels democratic foundations. I deeply understood that the tendency of most people is to stand on the sideline, he said of his insight into the Holocaust. I also learned how dangerous it is. So in 2016, around the time corruption allegations against Netanyahu surfaced, Haskel took to the streets. His protest did not take off and at its peak, he mustered 80 people to demonstrate at intersections across the country. Almost four years later, he emerged after his public arrest during a demonstration in June as a leader of the protests demanding Netanyahu step down while under indictment on corruption charges. Since June, Haskels grassroots "No Way movement has joined other groups to demonstrate outside the prime minister's official residence in Jerusalem, where protesters have gathered holding placards emblazoned with slogans like crime minister. When I stood alone for all those years, my dream was to turn this protest from an individual one to a mass protest and now this is really happening, he told NBC News by phone. There is no way that a person indicted for criminal charges will head the state of Israel. Netanyahu, 70, was indicted on corruption charges in November and is the first sitting prime minister to be charged with a crime. He denies any wrongdoing. But it is Netanyahus handling of the coronavirus crisis that has really turned the tide of public opinion against him. Last month, Israel was forced to reimpose sweeping restrictions on daily life after cases soared in the weeks after the lockdown measures were lifted. Story continues Download the NBC News app for breaking news and politics Faced with a second wave of illness and skyrocketing unemployment, the public trust in Netanyahus handling of the pandemic crashed, according to a survey by the Israel Democracy Institute. At the outset of the pandemic, the majority of the public trusted Netanyahus management, but by mid-July that proportion had plummeted to less than 30 percent, the survey found. Thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in recent weeks demanding Netanyahu resign for what they see as his bungled response to the crisis and its economic fallout. For many, the economic pain has exacerbated their perception of Netanyahu as an out-of-touch hedonist who pushes policies he deems politically expedient but which are often not the priority of Israelis. Economic repercussions of the coronavirus have also brought younger generations to the streets a demographic Haskel said he had previously found difficult to reach. Image: Amir Haskel (Ariel Schalit / AP) People are hungry for bread, workplaces are shut down and at the same time, our PM is busy on how he gets tax reductions, Alon Linder, 23, said at a recent demonstration in Jerusalem. I want a change of the government. The weekslong protests are the largest the country has seen since rallies in 2011 demanding economic reform. Haskel emerged as a leader after he and other activists were arrested by police June 26 at a demonstration in Jerusalem, sending hundreds of people into the streets calling for his release. My arrest was a turning point and caused many people who stood aside to join the protest, he said. Israelis found the idea of police arresting a former Air Force general as pretty absurd, according to Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute. Yet, despite his dazzling resume, Haskel says hes never sought the spotlight. The day that I reach my goal and that Netanyahu will exit our lives, I will fold the protest signs and leave Jerusalem and go back to the peace and quiet of my home and my family, he said. But he may have a long time to wait. Despite the protests' momentum, it remains unclear whether they will succeed in bringing down Israels longest-serving prime minister. Netanyahu is known as a political magician with a unique ability to cling to power. Resignation is not part of his terminology, Plesner said. Paul Goldman reported from Tel Aviv, Saphora Smith reported from London. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Friendship Day is celebrated in India on the first Sunday of August. However, this year, people are celebrating Happy Friendship Day on August 5. The first World Friendship Day was proposed by World Friendship Crusade in 1958. On April 27, 2011, the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) declared July 30 as official International Friendship Day. However, India celebrates Friendship Day on the first Sunday of August. In Oberlin, Ohio, Friendship Day is celebrated on April 8 each year. In honour of Friendship Day in 1998, Nane Annan, wife of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, named Winnie the Pooh as the world's 'Ambassador of Friendship' at the UN. Here's when Friendship Day is celebrated around the world: Argentina: July 20 Bolivia: July 23 Brazil: July 20 Colombia: Second Saturday of March Ecuador: July 14 Estonia: July 14 Finland: July 30 India: August's first Sunday Malaysia: August's first Sunday Mexico: July 14 Pakistan: July 19 Spain: July 20 Uruguay: July 20 United States: February 15 Venezuela: July 14 Friendship Day 2020 is a time to take a bit more effort and tell your friends what they mean to you. The day is celebrated by exchanging wishes and gifts among friends. Here is a list of beautiful quotes/messages on national friendship day: 1. Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which strengthens with the setting sun of life. 2.A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you. 3.There is nothing better than a friend, unless it is a friend with chocolate. 4.Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything. 5.Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born. 6.Only a true best friend can protect you from your immortal enemies. 7.If you have two friends in your lifetime, you're lucky. If you have one good friend, you're more than lucky. 8.There are no faster or firmer friendships than those formed between people who love the same books. 9.Tis the privilege of friendship to talk nonsense, and to have her nonsense respected. 10.If you have good friends, no matter how much life sucks , they can make you laugh. Happy Friendship Day: Whatsapp and Facebook Status A passenger wearing protective gear and a mask waits in line at an airline counter at Tianhe airport in Wuhan, in central China's Hubei Province, on May 23, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese Court Rejects Lawsuit Seeking Compensation for CCP Virus A Chinese woman surnamed Xu has filed a lawsuit against the municipal government of Wuhan, saying its mishandling of the CCP virus outbreak led to her fathers death. But a city court recently rejected her case without providing an explanation. It was the negligence of the government that directly led to the death of my father, said Xu, a Wuhan resident, in a phone interview with the Chinese-language Epoch Times on July 29. Xu filed a complaint with a local court on July 20. She elaborated that if the municipal government had accurately informed the public about the outbreak at that time, she and other locals would have taken measures to protect themselves. Xu is seeking compensation of 1.8 million yuan (about $258,000) from the municipal government for her financial loss, mental trauma, and her fathers medical expenses. Three days after the interview, on the morning of Aug. 1, Xu sent a text message to The Epoch Times saying that she received a phone call from the Wuhan Intermediate Peoples Court informing her that her lawsuit was rejected, and that the complaint would be sent back to her. Xu is not the first Chinese citizen to file a lawsuit seeking compensation from Chinese authorities, nor is she the first one to have her complaint rejected. Public grievances are viewed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as potential threats to its rule. Back in 2008, for example, Chinese officials harassed and silenced parents who sought compensation for their children who consumed infant formula tainted with melamine, a toxic chemical. Xus Father Xu that her 69-year-old father began showing flu-like symptoms on January 16. At that time, we didnt know that the virus could be transmitted between people. We learned from the local media that there was an infectious disease spreading locally. We did not know exactly what the disease was, Xu said. She added: We did hear that the disease was a form of pneumonia. But a few days later, the city government disputed that it was pneumonia. Because of what the city government said, she and her family did not take her fathers illness seriously, Xu said. During the early stages of the outbreak, authorities went to great lengths to conceal the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Local police silenced eight whistleblower doctors, among them ophthalmologist Li Wenliang, for posting on Chinese social media about a new form of pneumonia in late December. On Jan. 11, the Wuhan Health Commission reported on its website that it had not found clear evidence of human-to-human transmission in the new virus. It was not until Jan. 20 that Beijing publicly acknowledged the CCP virus was contagious. Xu said that her fathers condition worsened after he spent a week at a local hospital getting intravenous therapy. On Jan. 25, her father began to have a fever. A CT scan revealed that both of his lungs were seriously infected. He tested positive for the virus on Jan. 27. She explained that she repeatedly called Chinas emergency number but not a single hospital would take her father in. Her father was eventually admitted to the Guanggu branch of the Third Hospital of Wuhan on Jan. 29 and was immediately hospitalized in the intensive-care unit. On Jan. 31, Xu said she got a call from the hospital saying that her father was in critical condition. The next call she received was at around 3 a.m. local time on Feb. 2, when the hospital told her that her father had passed away due to multiple organ failure. Xu lamented that she was not at her fathers side when he died and said he was healthy before he was infected with the virus. She added that the two were very close. Xu said that she suspected her father contracted the virus at the first hospital where he was treated for flu-like symptoms. She recalled that he was not wearing a mask at the time. The Epoch Times was unable to reach Xu after receiving her text message. Legal Challenge in China Xu obtained legal assistance from the COVID-19 Compensation Legal Advisory Group, a consultancy group formed by two dozen lawyers and rights advocates in China and Chinese dissidents in the United States back in March. The group offers legal advice for victims in China who seek compensation and redress from Chinese authorities in connection to the outbreak. Yang Zhanqing, a New York-based human rights advocate in the group, confirmed Xus legal setback with The Epoch Times. Xu got a call yesterday [July 31] from the court, saying that her complaint materials would be sent back to her. The court said that her case did not meet the legal requirement and did not provide any more explanation, Yang said. He added that the fact that the court failed to issue a formal document announcing its decision was completely against the law. When asked about why Xu was unreachable, Yang explained: She must be subjected to some sort of threat. Before, she told me that local community [officials] showed up at her home. After civil servant Tan Jun delivered the first known COVID-19 lawsuit, another Wuhan citizen, Zhang Hai, filed a lawsuit on June 10, alleging that the government caused his fathers death, who passed away on Feb. 1. On Jan. 17, Zhang drove his father back to Wuhan for hospital treatment, after the latter suffered a bone fracture in southern Chinas Shenzhen city. Zhangs father was admitted into the General Hospital of Central Theater Command in Wuhan and had a surgery. Though the operation was successful, Zhang said his father developed a fever and tested positive for the virus on Jan. 30. His father passed away on Feb. 1. Zhang said he wouldnt have driven his father back to Wuhan if he had known that the outbreak in Wuhan was so severe. He sued the Wuhan city government, Hubei provincial government, and the hospital for compensation of 2 million yuan (about $286,730). Zhang sent his complaint to the Wuhan Intermediate Peoples Court on June 10, but the court rejected his case a week lateralso without giving an explanation or issuing a formal document about the courts decision. Speaking to The Epoch Times, Zhang questioned the courts decision to reject his case since he had documented evidence of the governments negligence, he said. He added that his case seems to have put pressure on the government; this was evidenced by authorities deciding to block his accounts on Weibo, Chinas equivalent of Twitter. He added that he planned to lodge his case at a higher court. He concluded: However they try to silence me, I am determined to hold them accountable. The Capital Governorate yesterday conducted a campaign to sterilise the streets and alleyways in Juffair as part of a drive to prevent the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COV- ID-19) outbreak in the Kingdom. The campaign was held in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Capital Governorate Police Directorate. Sheikh Hisham bin Abdul Rahman Al Khalifa, the Capital Governor, Brigadier Ibra- him Saif Bakheet Al-Najran, Director-General of the Capital Governorate Police Directorate and Director General of the Capital Governorate Police Directorate, Brigadier Ibrahim Al-Najran and 30 volunteers from the Al-Naeem Volunteer Youth Team took part in the sterilisation drive. Mukesh Ranjan By Express News Service RANCHI: In a sensational incident, two dalit youths were allegedly tied with a tree and thrashed by hundreds of villagers belonging to Yadav community and made to lick their spit alleging them of killing their goat at Ghaghardiha village under Muffassil Police Station in Giridih, around 220 kilometers from state capital Ranchi. Later, in a Panchayat called by villagers, the two youths were also imposed a fine of Rs 60,000 as a compensation paid to the owner of the goats. "On Monday, goats had entered our fields after which we tried to drag them out by hitting them by sticks. When their owners saw us dragging them they took us along with them and slit their throats and threw them into our premises alleging we killed them. Later, on Tuesday morning, they dragged me and Shankar Kumar Das away from our homes and tied with a tree and thrashed us badly before the presence of Mukhia. They also made us to lick our spit before hundreds of villagers," said one of the victims Parmanand Kumar Das. They were also imposed a fine of Rs 60,000 for killing the goat and released only after paying the fine amount, he added. Parmanand alleged that even after paying the fine amount, they were being threatened by the people of Yadav community that their throats will also be slit as was done with the goats. He said that they have left their homes as they fear that they will be killed by the Yadav. When their family members tried to mediate, they were also beaten up by the villagers. "Parmanand and Shankar were being beaten before Mukhia and when I reached there, they also started beating me. The two were also made to lick their spits and imposed a fine of Rs 30,000 each," said victims family member. Incidentally, everything happened in presence of village Mukhia Baleshwar Yadav but he remained a mute spectator and even threatened dalit youths to put their houses on fire if they tried to lodge a complaint with police. He, however, denied that the duo were made to lick their spits but accepted that they were tied to a tree but were released after he asked them to do so. When police was informed about the incident, SP Giridih visited the village on Sunday and tried to get into the details of the matter following which FIR was lodged from both sides. "It is being alleged that the two youths belonging to dalit community were tied to a tree and beaten up brutally by the people of Yadav community for killing a goat which had entered into their fields. Investigations are still on and strict action will be taken against those found involve in the incident," said Giridih SP Amit Renu. Meanwhile, separate FIRs have been lodged from both sides which includes names of several people from both sides, he added. SP said that there was an old rage between the two groups which escalated further after the incident. Police sources informed that 18 people, including village Mukhiya, have been named in the FIR lodged by the two Dalit youths. New Delhi, Aug 2 : President Ram Nath Kovind in his message on the eve of Raksha Bandhan on Sunday urged people to pledge to stand for the honour and dignity of women so that they can contribute their best for the nation and the society. "On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, I extend my warm greetings and good wishes to all my fellow citizens," the President said in his message. He said that Rakhi is the sacred thread of love, affection and trust that sisters tie on the wrists of their brothers, and that the unique festival strengthens our will to protect the interests of women and work for their well-being. "On this day, let us all take a pledge to stand for the honour and dignity of women so that they can contribute their best for the nation and society," the President said. Raksha Bandhan is an auspicious day that celebrates the unbreakable bond between a brother and a sister. The true meaning of the festival resonates from its literal translation that reads 'safety' and 'bond'. This sacred festival is observed on the last day of Hindu lunar calendar month of 'Shraavan', which typically falls in August. This year, it will be celebrated on August 3 (Monday). Iran arrests ringleader of US-based terrorist group IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, August 1, IRNA -- Iran's Intelligence Ministry announced on Saturday that it has arrested the ringleader of a terrorist group known as Tondar which is based in the United States. Iran has dealt a "heavy and severe blow" to a terrorist group based in the US. Iran has arrested Jamshid Sharmahd, the alleged ringleader of the Tondar (Thunder) terrorist group, Iran's Intelligence Ministry added. Sharmahd, who guided the armed and sabotage acts against Iran from the US, was arrested in complicated operations by the Iranian security forces and is now in the hands of the country's intelligence ministry, a statement by the ministry said. The ministry said it will give more details of the arrest later. Tondar, or the Kingdom Assembly of Iran, also known as Soldiers of the Kingdom Assembly of Iran, is an armed terrorist royalist group seeking to overthrow the ruling government and restore the monarchy in Iran. Tondar claimed responsibility for the 2008 Shiraz explosion at the Hosseynieh Seyed al-Shohada in which 14 people, including children, were killed and 215 others were injured. Mohammad-Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour, accused of being members of the terrorist group, were arrested and tried for the bombing. In January 2010, they were executed for waging war against God and attempting to overthrow the Islamic Republic. Tondar had also plotted for several other terrorist acts in Iran in recent years, including blowing up Sivand dam in Shiraz, detonating cyanide bombs at Tehran book exhibition and explosion of bombs during general ceremonies at late Imam Khomeini's shrine. All these terrorist plots were foiled by the Iranian security forces. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address More than 15,000 renters are facing evictions in New Jersey, despite Gov. Phil Murphys executive order referred to as the eviction moratorium preventing people from getting locked out even if they dont pay rent. And while these filings are legally allowed, advocates fear the financial implications could lead to a housing crisis thats forecast to be brutal in a state where 35% of residents are renters and 1.44 million have filed for unemployment since the coronavirus pandemic began. Thirty-six crew members confined on a Norwegian cruise ship have tested positive for the new coronavirus, officials said Saturday. Arriving at the northern Norwegian port of Tromso from the archipelago of Svalbard, the crew of the MS Roald Amundsen was quarantined on board the ship on Friday after four staff members tested positive for the virus and were hospitalised. Of the 158 crew members on board, 36 are infected, Pal Jakobsen, media officer for the city of Tromso, told AFP, confirming a development that raises fears of a resurgence of cases in Norway. The ship's company Hurtigruten had earlier indicated 33 positive tests. The infected crew were all Filipino apart from three people from France, Norway and Germany. The company said on Friday that four crew members "were isolated several days ago because of other disease symptoms, with no symptoms of COVID-19. "There was no reason to suspect COVID-19 when the ship docked in Tromso based on the symptoms they were showing," Hurtigruten said. The ship had nearly 180 passengers on board since departing on July 25. None of the passengers reported symptoms related to coronavirus during the voyage, Hurtigruten said. All passengers disembarked the ship on Friday but about 60 people have since been quarantined in Tromso, the cruise line said on Saturday. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health has not ruled out the possibility of more cases emerging, "but we will only have the answer once the tests have been carried out". It recommended all passengers remain quarantined while awaiting their results. As of Friday, Norway had 9,208 confirmed cases of coronavirus. One person died of the virus on Friday night, bringing the country's death toll to 256. It was the first coronavirus-related death in the Nordic country in two weeks. The Samajwadi Party National President and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh has lashed out at the Bharatiya Janata Party governments in the state and centre. The former CM of the state alleged that people of the country are stressed and are becoming hopeless due to the failed policies of the BJP government. In a statement issued on Sunday evening, SP Chief said, Neither the boundaries are safe nor business or employment in the Corona era. The economy is in steep decline. Banks are sinking, interest on deposits is decreasing. Distressed people are forced to withdraw money from their PF. During the period of labour displacement many people have lost their close ones. Due to the wrong policies of the BJP government, the public is becoming hopeless. The Chief Minister talks about Ram Rajya in the state, while in reality the situation in the state has become worse. There are murders, robberies, kidnappings. There are reports of ransom of 5 lakh rupees being asked in the name of BJP MLA. The name of the district minister resonates in the kidnapping scandal, also BJP leaders appear to be engaged in immoral business. What could be a worse example of a party with difference? said Akhilesh in his statement. Further attacking the BJP government in the state, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav said, How strange is it that people sitting in power are now calling each other corrupt. Hardoi MP says that the money given for their ventilator has disappeared. The police in Unnao are describing the BJP MLA as an accomplice of the people involved in land grabbing. The protected criminals are strong in the BJP rule. The Municipal Corporation threatens the Chief Engineer of Lucknow with the contractor. He on the other hand is being endorsed by the city mayor and she writes to the city commissioner in his favour. The former CM of the state also stated that people were allegedly upset with the anti-people policies of the BJP and also alleged that the BJP had no plans for the weaker sections of the society whatsoever. Now the situation is such that the state government is not able to give salary to its employees even on the occasion of festival. The employees of Uttar Pradesh State Employees Welfare Corporation have not got their salaries for more than two and a half years. In the Jal Nigam and C&DS, 20 thousand employees have not received their salaries for four months, alleged Akhilesh Yadav Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 02:07:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Eight U.S. troops who have been missing in a training accident are presumed deceased as search and rescue operation off the California coast ended, the U.S. military said late Saturday. "After an extensive 40-hour search, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), I Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), and the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) concluded their search and rescue operation for seven missing Marines and one Sailor," said I Marine Expeditionary Force in a press release, noting that officials determined that there was little probability of a successful rescue given the circumstances of the incident. The mishap happened Thursday afternoon when an amphibious assault vehicle carrying 15 Marines and one Navy sailor began to take on water during a training exercise near San Clemente Island. One Marine was killed and two were injured in the accident while other Marines were rescued, the Marine Corps said previously. "It is with a heavy heart, that I decided to conclude the search and rescue effort," said Col. Christopher Bronzi, 15th MEU Commanding Officer, in the press release. "The steadfast dedication of the Marines, Sailors, and Coast Guardsmen to the persistent rescue effort was tremendous," he added. "I know all of us in the USMC family are extremely saddened following the announcement of the end of SAR (search and rescue) operations," U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. David Berger tweeted Sunday morning. "This difficult decision was made after all resources were exhausted. Our prayers continue to be with the family and friends of the 8 Marines and one Sailor we lost," he noted. Officials said that efforts will now turn to finding and recovering the missing service members. Over the course of the at-sea search, rescue helicopters, ships and watercraft searched more than 1,000 square nautical miles. The circumstances surrounding the mishap are being investigated, according to the press release. Enditem Express News Service By NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leaders and former ministers under United Progressive Alliance (UPA)regime rallied behind the Manmohan Singh-led government after some younger leaders called for introspection of the tenure of UPA-2 to understand partys electoral downfall, saying the party should be proud of its legacy and should not disown it. UPA government was victim of a grand political conspiracy and malicious disinformation campaign of the BJP, political opponents, and powerful vested interests. Six years later, what was alleged in 2014 stands proven false in 2020. Congress as a democratic party is always open to a debate on its achievements and failures. Honest introspection and analysis are always helpful and gives strength to move forward, said senior party leader Anand Sharma. Emphasizing that Congressmen must be proud of UPAs legacy and no party disowns or discredits its legacy, he said nobody expects the BJP to be charitable and give us credit but our own should respect and not forget. The divide among young and senior party leaders came to fore during a meeting of Rajya Sabha MPs chaired by party chief Sonia Gandhi. Some young MPs, including Rajiv Satav, in-charge for Gujarat, called for introspection if the party is paying for the work during the UPA regime. Another minister under during the Congress led coalition, Manish Tewari tweeted: BJP was out of power for 10 years. Not once did they ever blame Vajpayee or his Government for their then predicaments. In Congress, unfortunately some ill-informed would rather take swipes at Dr Manmohan Singh-led UPA govt then fight NDA/BJP. When unity is required, they divide. Echoing similar views, a member of Team Rahul and former minister Milind Deora said, When demitting office in 2014, Dr Manmohan Singh said, history will be kinder to me. Could he have ever imagined that some from his own party would dismiss his years of service to the nation and seek to destroy his legacy that, too, in his presence? USA.Life founder hails platform as alternative to Facebook, Twitter for Christians and conservatives Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As a growing number of conservatives and Christians across the United States believe social media giants are censoring them, a new platform aims to be a refuge for those who are seeking alternatives to Facebook and Twitter. Founded in early 2019 by pastor and Silicon Valley technology expert Steven Andrew, USA.Life bills itself as the answer to Facebook and Twitter censoring Christians, Conservatives, and Liberty. The platform very closely resembles Facebook. Users can send messages, join groups, and become friends with other users. Along with likes, reactions to comments also include "the unique Christian Cross Amen." Last year, Andrew explained that Facebook blocked 5 million people per month from my account alone, so I started USA.Life to give conservatives a social network that didnt block their First Amendment right to free speech. On Wednesday, Twitter's censorship was mentioned during the House Judiciary Subcommittee's hearing on antitrust when Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., asked Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg why the [Twitter] platform had temporarily suspended Donald Trump Jr.s account. The suspension came after the presidents son shared a video of doctors talking favorably about hydroxychloroquine, a drug that some claim can cure the novel coronavirus, when used early in treatment along with zinc and Zithromax. Zuckerberg said he had no desire to engage in censorship, but defended Twitters decision to suspend Trump Jr.'s Twitter account and remove the video holding up hydroxychloroquine as a cure for the novel coronavirus. If someone is going to go out and say that hydroxychloroquine is proven to cure COVID when in fact it has not been proven to cure COVID, and that that statement could lead people to take a drug that, in some cases, some of the data suggests that it might be harmful to people, we think we should take that down, he said. Facebook has also faced multiple accusations of censorship from Christians, pro-life groups and everyday users. The Christian Post reported last week that Facebook was censoring a Christian ministry's posts that shared the stories of people who once identified as LGBT before they chose to follow Christ. Facebook accused the ministry of promoting "conversion therapy." Anne Paulk, president of Restored Hope Network, told CP that at the behest of the leftist Media Matters activist group, Facebook removed posts from their most recent conference, saying that the videos violated "community standards." More than 100,000 people, churches, and businesses have already set up accounts at USA.Life. The company hopes to have more than 1 million users by the end of 2020. Unlike Facebook, which gives users a limit of 5,000 friends, USA.Life allows users to have up to 10,000 friends. USA.Life is not the only alternative social media platform that has popped up in recent years. Parler, which has 2.7 million users, was founded two years ago by John Matze Jr. and Jared Thomson. Prominent users include Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Rand Paul, R-Ky., Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., pro-life activist Lila Rose, and the Trump 2020 campaign. For their part, the CEOs of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google have denied allegations that they engage in censorship. During Wednesday's hearing on Capitol Hill, Zuckerberg vehemently denied the accusation that his company engages in censorship. We have distinguished ourselves as one of the companies that defends free expression the most, he said. We do not want to become the arbiters of truth. That would be a bad position for us to be in and not what we should be doing. As conservatives begin to embrace alternative social media sites such as Parler and USA.Life, lawmakers on Capitol Hill are working to hold the major tech companies accountable for their censorship. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has introduced legislation that would strip social media companies, which claim to act as neutral platforms instead of publishers, of their special immunity from lawsuits if they do not act in good faith and stop censorship. In addition to founding USA.Life, Andrew has founded 1776Free, an alternative search engine to Google. 1776Frees crowdfunding page describes it as the answer to Google and others censoring Christians, conservatives, patriotic speech, family values, and liberty. Actor Rajat Barmecha, who shot to fame with his debut film Udaan, has said in a recent interview that, at one time, he was jealous of Ranveer Singh. The two made their acting debut the same year - 2010. Rajat spoke to Nav Bharat Times where he mentioned that at one time Ranveer swept all the awards for his work in Band Baaja Baraat, while he got none. In 2010, Udaan released. The same year Band Baaja Barat released. Ranveer Singh and my film released in the same year. Band Baaja came in December and Udaan came in July. From July till December, most of the people said that Rajat Barmecha will get best debut award this time. Some people in other common group of friends had said that this guy Rajat has done a good job and that it is going to be a tough competition. But all the awards went to Ranveer. There was one award function where we shared the award. He was gracious enough to let me enter the stage first. He had a lot of love for the film. Yet for a couple of years I felt continuous hatred, or maybe that bachpane wali hatred ki shayad mujhe milta toh mujhe aaj movies mil rahi honti. Abhi toh mujhe bahot hi bewaoofi wali cheez lagti hai woh (I felt a child-like hatred that I had won it I would have many movie offers. Now, I find it all so foolish). He mentioned that he would feel jealous and envious when other actors would be praised for their work. Rajat spoke about how it would disturb him that while his film would be praised and so would its director Vikramditya Motwane, no one spoke about his acting. This continued even after Amitabh Bachchan wrote a blog on the film in which he praised Rajat for his acting and asked him to always pick such roles. Also read: Sushant Singh Rajputs brother-in-law reacts to therapists interview, suggests Rhea Chakraborty may have sociopathy/psychopathy In the wake of the tragic death of Sushant Singh Rajput, the issues of nepotism and the treatment of outsiders have been much in debate. Speaking to Mumbai Mirror some time back, Rajat had said there was a time when he had been snubbed on the red carpet. Everywhere I went, I was being complimented for my performance. As a 21-year-old actor, it gave me hope. I read every script that came my way, but they were all mediocre, formulaic films or those in which I was there throughout, but added no value. I couldnt afford to do a bad film because then, Id be written off as a one-film wonder. He added how despite praise from Amitabh and Shah Rukh Khan, he did not get any attention at events. But on the red carpet, those with no project to their name but coming from a film background were clicked more than me, while the producers who had praised my work earlier, did not recognise me, he added. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By Express News Service BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Court's Indore Bench, in a one-of-its kind judgment, granted bail to a man accused of outraging a woman's modesty on the confition that he visits the complainant and get a rakhi tied by her on Raksha Bandhan. "The applicant (incarcerated accused) along with his wife shall visit the house of the complainant with Rakhi thread/band on August 3, 2020 at 11 am with a box of sweets and request the complainant to tie the Rakhi band to him with the promise to protect her to the best of his ability for all times to come, the MP High Court Indores single judge bench of Justice Rohit Arya said in its order on July 30. He (the bail applicant) shall also tender Rs 11,000 to the complainant in a customary ritual usually offered by brothers to sisters on such occasions and shall also take her blessings. The applicant shall also tender Rs 5,000 to the complainants son for purchase of clothes and sweets, the HC judge mentioned in the order. The order further mentioned that the applicant shall obtain photographs and receipts of payment made to the complainant and her son, and the same shall be filed through the counsel for being placed on record in the case before the HCs Registry. The aforesaid deposit of amount shall not influence the pending trial, but is only for enlargement of the applicant on bail, the judge made it clear in the order. The HC, among other bail conditions, also asked the applicant to furnish a written undertaking with his complete residential details that he shall abide by the terms and conditions of various circulars and orders issued by the central government and the state government as well as the local administration from time to time in the matter of maintaining social distancing, physical distancing, hygiene, etc to avoid proliferation of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The seven conditions for granting bail were in addition to the prime condition that he be released on bail, on furnishing Rs 50,000 personal bond to the satisfaction of the Court. The accused was arrested in June 2020 and was since then is in jail in connection with a case registered against him at Bhatpachalana police station of Ujjain district u/s 452, 354(A), 354, 323 and 506 of IPC. He was accused of entering the house of a neighbour and catching hold of the woman's hand, attempting to outrage her modesty. In the recent past, the MP High Courts Gwalior Bench too has made headlines for granting bail to those accused in criminal cases on the basis of unique conditions. In July, the MP High Courts Gwalior Bench had granted bail to attempt to murder accused duo on the condition that they install non-made in China LED TV screen at the Gwalior District Hospital. Prior to that, the same bench of the MP High Court in Gwalior had passed a series of orders granting bail to applicants in various criminal cases, by directing the bail applicants to register themselves with their concerned district magistrates as COVID-19 Warrior so that they are assigned suitable work taking all prescribed precautions. Commander of U.S. Central Command, and Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Jonathan Hoffman (L) participates in a press briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on Oct. 30, 2019. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Majority of Schools on Military Bases Plan to Open With in-Person Classes The majority of Defense Department schools that educate the children of the U.S. military are moving ahead with plans to return with in-class instruction later this month amid the ongoing Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus pandemic. More than 110 intend to return children to the classroom but 43 on bases where the highest level of restrictions have been imposed due to the outbreak plan to start the new school year teaching virtually. We believe its important to make sure that the kids are being educated. And so were taking those steps to make the schools open and make it safe, chief Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman told reporters Thursday. We have always believed that instruction in the classroom is the optimal learning environment for most of our military-connected students, the Department of Defense Education Activity director Tom Brady wrote in a statement earlier this month. Restoring teaching and learning to the familiar environments of our classrooms, provides students with stability and continuity, he added. Of the 15 biggest school districts in the country, only one is offering schools the option of in-person instruction, 10 of them have opted to begin the school year with online learning only and three are planning a hybrid approach. There are 159 Defense Department schools located on U.S. military installations around the world, including on bases that are situated in areas that have seen major spikes of CCP virus cases, including Florida, Texas, and Georgia. While Defense Department schools will not automatically follow local civilian school districts to determine whether they will resume in person learning, they will follow guidance from the military installations on which they are located. U.S. military bases around the world have adopted CCP virus prevention measures to curb the pandemics spread, adopting health protection condition levels based on the prevalence of the virus in their communities. We look at our bases, our bases are part of our local communities. Our servicemembers are part of the local communities. And so the decisions by the commanders in those areas are going to be made in consultation with the local communities and with the local health systems, with the local medical community, Hoffman said. Schools on bases that are at the highest health protection level, known as Charlie, will not have in-person instruction and will conduct virtual learning. But schools on bases at lower protection levels will resume classes. About 17,900 students attend the 43 schools that are located on installations that are in that more restrictive health protection status, meaning that those students will pursue their courses virtually. Twenty-four of those schools are located in either the continental United States, Puerto Rico, or at the U.S. military installation at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Schools such as those in Fort Bragg in North Carolina, Fort Benning in Georgia, and Fort Buchanan in Arizona will be solely carrying out virtual education. But some 41,000 students who go to schools on bases at the lower less robust protection levels, which the military refers to as Alpha and Bravo, will resume in-person instruction in mid to late August. Over half of the schools that fall into those two categories are located on American military bases in Europe but some 8,612 students will be attending school in person on bases that are located in the continental U.S., Puerto Rico, or Guantanamo Bay. Schools that fall into that category and will see students return to in-person classes with protective measures include U.S. Marine bases at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and Quantico, Virginia, as well as West Point in New York. The remaining schools are located in the Pacific region, which includes bases in Hawaii, Japan, and South Korea. Schools located on Bravo facilities are instituting stricter measures to prevent the spread of the disease including spacing desks at least six feet apart, having students move classrooms as little as possible, and mandating mask use among staff and encouraging it among students. So if the facility is open for business as usual, thenthen the schools will be, as well, but the goal of (the Department of Defense Education Activity) is to have in-person classes or make it available for having in-person classes and if not, to conduct virtual schooling, Hoffman told reporters last week. Hoffman reiterated that the decision to change the health protection levels on a base has been delegated to local commanders who take into account local conditions in the neighboring civilian community, including whether theres been a downward trend in new cases over the last 14 days, whether theres sufficient hospital bed space and medical care available, and whether U.S. military personnel are getting access to adequate health care. Defense education officials say a virtual learning option will be made available for parents who do not want to send their children back to school. We understand that some families may have circumstances where they do not wish to or are unable to send their child back to the school setting. We will also provide a virtual platform for those students to continue learning remotely, Brady said. The CNN Wire contributed to this report By Associated Press Social media has become a new and dangerous battleground for women's rights in Egypt after young TikTok influencers were jailed while a resurgent #MeToo movement decried male sexual violence. Last Monday, a court sentenced five female social media influencers, Haneen Hossam, Mowada al-Adham and three others, to two years in jail each on charges of violating public morals over content posted to video-sharing app TikTok. International digital rights group Access Now described them as "all women, all young, all exercising their right to freedom of expression online". Just two days later, a court sentenced another young social media influencer, Manar Samy, to three years in prison over TikTok videos, deeming the clips in which she dances and lip-syncs to popular songs to be "inciting debauchery". Many in the deeply conservative country have cheered on the arrests, as traditional social values clash with online content seen as racy and sexually suggestive. "The Egyptian government is on a campaign to arrest and prosecute women influencers on... TikTok for violating 'the values of the Egyptian family' and 'inciting debauchery and immorality,'" Access Now said in a statement. The Egyptian authorities "not only want to control what citizens say, but also how they should dress, talk, and behave online," said Marwa Fatafta, the group's Middle East and North Africa policy manager. Egypt has in recent years enforced strict internet controls as it walks a tight line between balancing the Islamic law that shapes its governance and adapting to a rapidly shifting society with a penchant for social media content. Stringent laws were approved in 2018 allowing authorities to block websites seen as a threat to national security and to monitor personal social media accounts with over 5,000 followers. "In the past, the Egyptian regime tightened its stronghold on the internet... Now, the online repression extends to non-political activity too," said Fatafta. The six jailed women combined have millions of followers. Hossam was arrested after posting a clip saying that girls could make money by working with her, a message that was interpreted as a call for prostitution, while Adham had posted satirical videos on TikTok and Instagram. Aside from being a virtual battleground of competing interpretations of morality, social media has also empowered young Egyptian women to speak up about sexual assault, sometimes with negative consequences. In May, a shocking video came to light of a young woman sobbing, her face battered and bruised. Menna Abdel-Aziz, 17, posted an Instagram video in which she said she had been gang raped by a group of young men. The authorities' response was swift: the six alleged attackers were arrested -- but so was Abdel-Aziz. All were charged with "promoting debauchery". "She committed crimes, she admitted to some of them," the prosecutor-general said in a statement. "She deserves to be punished." - 'More to come' - Since Abdel-Aziz's case surfaced, a revived #MeToo movement among Egyptian women, mostly from affluent backgrounds, has sprung into action. A gang rape allegation made in late July stemming from a prominent social media account has been one trigger. Another was young women posting testimonials about sexual misconduct that led to the arrest earlier in the month of Ahmed Bassam Zaki, 22, a former student of some of Egypt's most elite schools and universities. But the movement faces an uphill battle. Rights groups say the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has been curtailing freedoms since he took office in 2014. Comedians, academics, bloggers, journalists, political dissidents, lawyers and activists are among those who have been jailed in recent years, and a music video director has died in custody. Imprisoning social media influencers, the latest group to be targeted, "has nothing to do with protecting social values. It's about internet policing and control," Access Now's Fatafta said. "With the massive increase in content creators and influencers on TikTok in Egypt, there is a high risk that more prosecutions targeting this community are yet to come," the organisation added. In the wake of George Floyds killing by police officers in the United States and the global movement for Black lives, there has been a resounding call to re-examine the relationship between society and state, particularly its use of violence. Yet a meaningful conversation is lacking in relation to one aspect of this failing social contract the innate structural violence of our current global economic system. A closer look at African American history provides us an important lead that could help us start this conversation: the life and work of the Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey. Born to a maid and stoneworker in 1887, Garvey grew up in an impoverished community in rural Jamaica. In 1905, he migrated to Kingston, the island nations capital, where he became involved in trade unionism and political activism after witnessing the struggles of the labouring class. Drawn to the anti-colonial thinking he encountered by joining the then-National Club of Jamaica, Garvey became an autodidact by nature. His thirst for knowledge would lead him to journey across Central America and live in London from 1912 to 1914 in a quest to understand the global Black condition. Upon his return to Jamaica in 1914, he founded the United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), with the aim of fostering international unity among peoples of African origin on the premise of economic self-sufficiency. Garvey was a pioneer who epitomised both the enterprising spirit and collective self-determination of Black people across the world. The aspirations of his movement, alongside the lessons from its failures and successes, frame an important discussion around the nature of systemic outcomes. The Negro is perishing because he has no economic system, he famously said in his 1937 collection of 22 philosophical lessons, which he called Message to the People: The Course of African Philosophy. In this same work, Garvey demonstrates that he understood perfectly well the necessity of designing an economic system that serves the needs of African people globally. Further along, he observed the consequences of systemic economic exclusion and its propensity to reproduce the conditions that ensure the continuation of systemic deprivation a cycle he deemed impossible to break without the removal of poverty. In Garveys opinion, nationalism that hinged on individual advancement alone becomes fundamentally corrupt and unsustainable. By advocating that wealth is power, wealth is justice, wealth is real human rights, he sought to spur community development by promoting a collective decision-making and profit-sharing model that advances the interests of Black people in America and beyond. In Garveys 1921 recorded UNIA speech, the Explanation of the Objects of the Universal Negro Improvement Association, he asserted the idea that Black communities needed to develop an ideology and an economic modus operandi that would lead to their economic development. He was not speaking of merely duplicating capitalistic ideas, but of the creation of an innovative economic African commonwealth where Black people could maximise their collective interests and be recognised as equals. Political and social objectives were secondary to this entrepreneurial mission, as his philosophical works later affirmed that economic achievement is the primary determining factor of societal power dynamics. Garveys teachings invoke a deep reflection namely, in order to deconstruct the inner workings of an economic system, we ought to first determine what it aims to accomplish. First-principles reasoning around this matter necessarily urges us to question what the primary function of an economy is, and who or what it serves? The word economy itself can be traced back to the Greek word oikonomos, meaning household manager. In other words, its etymology implies the deliberate management of available resources so that our common household (i.e., people and planet) can not only survive, but prosper. Economics is our value system codified as equations that determine how much value we assign one thing relative to another. Accordingly, this determines what we are incentivised to do and what we confer power to. If an economy seeks to transform society, it is imperative that we infuse our values into it so that it accounts for our wellbeing. How a community, country or region chooses to measure its economic wellbeing shapes how priorities are set and how resources are allocated. We should then agree that at a bare minimum, the components that form an economys genetic composition ought to positively encourage human and planetary wellbeing. The embedded growth obligation of our present-day market economy generates an untenable paradox: It permeates and commodifies everything by incessantly pursuing profit and constant growth. It requires marketing and advertising to spawn mass zombification in favour of never-ending debt and cyclical consumption. It exterminates economic efficiency and generates copious amounts of waste through planned obsolescence and suboptimal design. It suppresses the efficiencies and productivity of collaboration by treating ideas and information as proprietary (i.e. intellectual property), resulting in waste through unnecessary intellectual repetition. It preserves a general condition of scarcity and short-term gains premised entirely upon the need for real or assumed deficiency. It deliberately withholds social efficiency by poorly harnessing accelerating technological progress and automation, not for the benefit of liberating human beings from drudgery and scarcity, but rather, to drive further economic insecurity through technological unemployment and meaningless jobs. Quite predictably, all of the above-mentioned circumstances have resulted in a noxious state of planetary imbalance that is fuelling socioeconomic inequality, poverty, exploitation, mental health issues, antisocial behaviours, habitat destruction, pollution, ecocide and biodiversity loss, among other negative externalities. The market system of economics is made to allocate capital to the most profitable endeavours, not the ones that are most socially beneficial. This is most evident across the innumerable social institutions, banking establishments, political groups, media organisations, scientific bodies, health authorities, military, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, etc, that have either been seized or compromised by market actors seeking asymmetric advantage. The inefficiencies created by humans vying for positions of power in this losing game pose an existential threat. Market capitalism has outlived its evolutionary purpose and has degenerated into a malignant cancer. An economy that is not intrinsically linked to human and environmental needs, while powered by chronic debt and consumerism, is not an economy at all. If anything, it is patently anti-economic. In Garveys time and today, what we have commonly understood to be the economy is, in effect, a fraudulent paradigm masquerading as an axiom of economic value. And Western civilisation has constructed and disseminated a monumental edifice of theory to assert its dominance based on this destructive model of market capitalism. The basis of this thinking must move African economic development away from a Western-inspired exploitative ethos to an African-inspired collaborative ethos. Followers of Garveys teachings must, therefore, prioritise dismantling the neoliberal political paradigm at the centre of their economic organising programme for African liberation. They must strive to transcend the markets crude and reductionist supply, demand and price dynamics. Properly embracing the tools of modern technological capacity provides a solution to better interweave, measure and account for the humanitarian values we deem socially desirable in a new economic system. These elements require deep cooperation in order to outcompete the very concept of competition itself, by creating a prosocial environment where the benefits of generosity, sharing and transparency must outweigh the profit of non-cooperation at all times while simultaneously rendering it antifragile in order to endure any exogenous sabotaging forces on this new system. Rethinking economic development and pan-African solidarity in new terms will require exceptional leadership and tremendous courage. Only by ending economic mismanagement can true efficiency and abundance flourish. The people who are best positioned to transform the worlds destructive systems and structures into something more humane and secure are particularly those who have been most betrayed by the existing systems. Those who are in the greatest danger of perpetuating old system patterns are the ones who have most profited from them. From the perspective of historical significance, Garvey proved to be the spark that reignited African dignity through collective endeavour. While he was never afforded the opportunity to fully realise his entrepreneurial aspirations, he provided a blueprint for developing collective entrepreneurial ventures. His legacy is that of a pragmatic introduction to the promise of pan-African principles and courage a legacy that must now be carried forward by young innovators across the African continent and her global diaspora. Now more than ever, humanity needs a century driven by exemplary pan-African leadership that is not fearful of transforming societies and communities into a superorganism of cooperation. All power is weak unless united, let us not shy away from our own divine potential for no one will save us but us. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The Supreme Court has asked the RBI and administrator of scam-hit PMC Bank to work out ways to relax limits on withdrawals by depositors in genuine cases of medical emergency and for education. A bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud said that a genuine depositor should not be made to suffer in exigencies and that restrictions should give way to the bonafide needs after proper verification and in terms with the laid down norms. The Administrator may devise appropriate modalities within the terms of the existing directives, as applicable, to ensure that genuine cases of hardship on medical and educational grounds are duly attended to, ordered the bench on Friday. Senior advocate Kailash Vasdev had submitted that among the depositors who he represents are those who are suffering from serious medical conditions such as cancer. He argued that even if the bench was not inclined to completely do away with these restriction on withdrawals, there should be some redressal for those facing serious medical emergencies or genuine requirements for education. The court accepted this suggestion and said: In the event that any genuine depositor has a grievance in regard to a disbursement for the purpose of attending to urgent medical or educational requirements, we will leave it open to the depositor to move a representation to the competent authority in the Reserve Bank of India and/or the Administrator appointed by the Reserve Bank of India. It added that the RBI and the administrator should then ensure that such depositors are not left to fend for themselves and that their requirements are attended to in accordance with the existing regulations. The bench, which was dealing with a clutch of pleas by the petitioners, however refused to quash the orders issued by the RBI to limit the withdrawals by the PMC Bank depositors. It found favour with the steps taken by the RBI, and added that such restrictions on withdrawals were placed in the interest of the depositors only. These restrictions have been put in place with reasons. They aim at protecting genuine depositors' interests. We cannot substitute our wisdom here, observed the bench while turning down the plea to remove the ceilings on withdrawals. In these appeals against the order of the Bombay High Court in December 2019, the petitioners had said that the RBI must be directed to make sufficient funds available for easy and unhindered withdrawal of the deposits of the depositors and, particularly, to be utilised for their day-to-day expenses, health and educational needs and business requirements. It added that the required degree of vigilance was not maintained by the RBI. Rather, RBI was negligent in not ensuring a discipline and order in the functioning of the bank, argued Gonsalves. But the bench was not convinced. It referred to the detailed order passed by the Bombay High Court in the bunch of petitions, and agreed with the views taken therein that the blame cannot squarely lie with the RBI. Justice Chandrachud pointed out from the high court order that while there was nothing on record to substantiate this accusation against the banking regulator, the affidavit by the RBI had emphasised on ascertaining ways to bring some normalcy and bring some form of discipline in the bank. Further, the RBI had maintained that the restrictions were put in place also to ensure that those close to the management of the bank and in cahoots do not get undue access in withdrawing their money while others are left in the lurch. The High Court has furnished cogent reasons for not interfering with the directive of the Reserve Bank of India under Section 35A of the Banking Regulation Act 1949. We are not inclined to interfere with the carefully reasoned judgment of the High Court. We decline to entertain the Special Leave Petitions under Article 136 of the Constitution, ordered the bench. Bhopal, Aug 2 : The coronavirus pandemic is on a sharp rise in Madhya Pradesh and now the police who played an important role in fighting the disease are getting infected. More than 250 policemen and officials have tested positive while over 1,000 employees have been quarantined. This has a direct impact on the efficiency of the police. Covid has captured almost every part of the state that is why strict measures such as lockdown are being taken to prevent the infection. The police, who are responsible for enforcing the lockdown, are themselves a victim of the circumstances. It has been spreading among the police during their duty hours as they come in contact with suspected corona patients. Police department statistics are a testimony to the fact that the police force is under the grip of corona. Due to corona several police officials have died in the state, which includes Bhopal police deputy superintendent Prem Prakash Gautam, Indore station in-charge Devendra Chandravanshi, Ujjain police station in-charge Yashwant Pal and assistant sub-inspector Kunwar Singh. Police headquarters have also raised concern about the growing corona infection in the police force. According to sources, the state headquarters have given instructions to all officials whose leave has earlier been sanctioned stands cancelled. According to the new directive, police officials and employees will not leave their headquarters. Under special circumstances, only due to family and health-related needs, they will be allowed to leave the headquarters after seeking permission from the inspector general of police of the zone concerned. It has also come to the notice of the police chief that officials and employees who are travelling or are returning from other places are not taking necessary precautions. They should get themselves quarantined on their return to the workplace but are not doing so, which is why the corona cases are escalating. Chinas ByteDance has agreed to divest the US operations of TikTok completely in a bid to save a deal with the White House, after President Donald Trump said on Friday he had decided to ban the popular short-video app, two people familiar with the matter said. US officials have said TikTok, under its Chinese parent, poses a national risk because of the personal data it handles. ByteDance's concession will test whether Trump's threat to ban TikTok is a negotiating tactic, or whether he is intent on cracking down on a social media app that has up to 80 million daily ... Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on Friday announces the postponement of legislative elections scheduled for Sept. 6, citing a worsening coronavirus outbreak. (Kin Cheung / Associated Press) The announcement Friday that Hong Kongs legislative elections, originally scheduled for September, would be delayed a year because of the COVID-19 pandemic is the latest example of the increasing authoritarianism in China. It came weeks after Beijing adopted a new security law that ostensibly prohibits secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces but is in fact a pretext for stopping the waves of pro-democracy protests that have roiled the former British colony since 2014. Amid a cultural purge and increased censorship , the freedoms that China had pledged to uphold following the 1997 handover of the region from Britain have been seriously eroded. It has been a terrible year for the cause of freedom in China. In June, an independent panel of United Nations experts denounced the crackdown in Hong Kong, including assaults on protesters; the continuing persecution of ethnic and religious minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet; the detention of lawyers; and the ongoing prosecution, even disappearance, of human rights activists. Sadly, the debilitation of the United States on the world stage has left Washington poorly equipped to speak up for human rights and democracy. Worse, President Trump has shown little interest in such issues, and has instead deferred to an alarming degree to global strongmen. Meanwhile, his administration has sought to dramatically change the U.S. approach to China. If we want to have a free 21st century, and not the Chinese century of which Xi Jinping dreams, the old paradigm of blind engagement with China simply wont get it done, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo recently declared. We must not continue it and we must not return to it. Although "blind engagement" is a caricature of previous U.S. policy, Pompeo has a point. After the normalization of Sino-American relations in 1979, the United States was largely supportive of Chinas peaceful rise. A bipartisan consensus across six presidencies held that exchanges of goods, students and ideas would benefit both countries. The United States was crucial to Chinas entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001, which helped open vast new markets for Chinas colossal export industries. Story continues That consensus has now frayed to the breaking point . Trump rose to power in part on his claims that China had taken advantage of the United States, stealing American jobs and technology. Hawks like Pompeo see the Obama administration, in particular, as having been naive and impotent in the face of increasing Chinese aggression, especially in geopolitical hot spots such as the South China Sea. Trumps complaints about Chinas unfair trading practices the theft and extraction of intellectual property, the subsidies for favored Chinese industries and the general disregard for international rules were valid, as was his observation that previous administrations had failed to change Chinas behavior. But his get-tough approach did little more than ratchet up tensions and costs on both sides of the Pacific. If weve learned anything from the extended trade war with Beijing, its that the United States cant bully China into the mainstream. It needs to assemble a broad coalition of countries behind a higher set of standards for exporters to operate under including labor laws and environmental protections making it harder for China to remain an outlier. And in the meantime, it needs to enforce more aggressively the trade rules China agreed to honor as a member of the WTO. Trump, sadly, has gone in the opposite direction. Rather than building coalitions, he abandoned multilateral trade deals and antagonized other major exporting nations with tariffs. And he has sought to render the WTO toothless by blocking appointments to a key panel that judges trade disputes. Its a pattern repeated across multiple areas of interest regarding China. Trumps chaotic leadership and his dictatorial leanings have severely eroded Americas standing in the world damage that will take decades to repair. The Thucydides Trap is a term that describes an apparent tendency toward war when a rising power threatens to displace an established one. The sad truth is that the authoritarians who lead the two nations Xi, who took office in 2012, is all but certain to be president for life, and Trump, who in 2018 joked, Maybe well give that a shot someday have made the trap more likely to become a reality. It would be a tragedy if hawkish and nationalist tendencies in Washington and Beijing intensified. The United States and China still have the potential to collaborate on global challenges especially the climate crisis and to promote peaceful global development. Chinas rise does not require Americas decline. But to once again lead on the world stage, the United States must first renew its own democracy. It must support democracies in Asia including India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Taiwan while continuing to engage with China on trade and human rights. Engagement has often been frustrating and unproductive, but the alternative bellicosity and a ratcheting up of tensions between the superpowers is unthinkable. Mumbai, Aug 2 : Actress Aparna Dixit says shooting elaborate wedding sequences in the Covid era has become a challenge. The actress recently shot a wedding sequence for her show "Pyar Ki Luka Chuppi", and recalls it was a difficult deal. "Wedding sequences normally are difficult because of the heavy bridal costume, extra makeup, jewellery and complex hairstyles, and generally these sequences go on for a long time. Sometimes, they go on for a number of days. When you are shooting from the first scene to the last scene, you are constantly in heavy makeup and jewellery. You can't keep removing your jewellery again and again. Now in this Covid-19 situation, it has become more difficult," Aparna said. "I have to be extra cautious to avoid getting touch-ups done frequently. I can't keep calling the makeup artist or the hairstylist for touch-ups because safety is most important. Along with the heavy bridal costume, ornaments and make-up, I have to wear my mask all the time for safety. It is quite challenging to do a wedding sequence in this situation," she added. The actress continued: "At the same time, as an actor, I believe in being ready to face any sort of challenging or uncomfortable situation. As actors, we need to fulfil the requirements right from shooting in scorching heat to getting wet in rains. I am treating this situation as a challenge where, amidst the lockdown, you have to shoot without doing touch-ups." She listed one major challenge: "Wedding sequences require the application of henna (mehndi), and for that one needs to ensure that you are not washing your hands frequently, otherwise the design would fade. Now, with the current situation, I have to frequently keep sanitising and washing my hands and at the same time ensure that the henna sticker doesn't fade!" Aparna recalled how, on the set, every small prop was sanitised. The set decoration was done on the same day within a couple of hours, and only the main cast and crew along with a few junior artistes were allowed to be present of the show, which airs on Dangal channel. SANFORD, MI Almost three months after the failure of two dams devastated some lakefront communities in mid-Michigan, their problems are far from over. Cleanup continues in an effort to get rid of debris. The lakes once formed by the dams are largely gone. In their place is a landscape of sand and weeds once covered by water. Wixom Lake home owner Kurt Stanley has had to hire a company to drill a new well on his property. The well hes used for the last three years dried up in early July. Noise of the well-drilling company filled the air around his home on Thursday, July 30. In addition to all the damage we had from the flood, we had extensive erosion to our yard and seawall and as we were trying to build back a couple of weeks ago the well went dry, kind of adding insult to injury, Stanley said. When Stanley applied for the permit to get a new well, Gladwin County officials told him hundreds of other homeowners had applied for the permit as well. The job will cost $6,000 or more, depending on how deep the company has to dig, Stanley said. Its just one of the problems hes had to address since May, when the Edenville and Sanford dams failed following heavy rains. The dam failures sent rushing water down the Tittabawassee and Saginaw rivers. The lakes havent replenished themselves. Debris, pontoon boats, propane tanks and more still sit at the bottom of the dam and in the now nearly empty Sanford Lake, located in Midland County. Vegetation has changed the landscape of the lake bed. Sanford Councilman Carl Hamann said the current focus is to figure out how to rebuild the village, a home to about 860 residents. That number is likely fewer since the flooding. Hamann said the council recently met in an effort to get lighting restored to the downtown area. Thats a big thing, because it is dark, Hamann said. Hamann pointed to the debris left in areas where homes used to stand. The village is working with local agencies to remove the debris. The village is planning to use displaced sand it acquired from its park to cover the empty space. Theres so many different avenues were working on to try to minimize the pain because the community, we dont have the money, Hamann said. Coles Wrecker, located in downtown Sanford, is one of the only businesses still operating. Some storefronts are completely caved in. Sometime during the flood, several windows to the wrecker businesses front office were blown out, according to employee Josh Woodruff. They have since been replaced. Woodruff said the business is operating at 40 to 50 percent. Everyday is a challenge, he said. Its something new everyday. Back at Wixom Lake and in Edenville, the Wixom Waters Campground was untouched by flooding, according to co-owner Martha Coleman. I think we got really lucky, Coleman said. The campground rents out lots to guests from May until October and some own trailers on the property. We had a couple people that wanted to sell their trailer just simply because there is no lake, Coleman said. They sold right away. Hamann compared the current Wixom Lake bed to a moonscape because of how the indentations in the land look rocky and barren. Despite the disaster, Stanley says hes optimistic about the future. Its been an absolute nightmare but the support of the community has been amazing. Stanley said. When asked if he was planning to keep his home even though the lake is gone, he responded its a challenge, but believes the lake will be back. Its been a dream of ours for years to have a place up north so we dont want to give it up, and quite honestly, we owe more than its worth, Stanley said. Related news: Attorney Ven Johnson tours damaged neighborhood, joins lawsuit battle for mid-Michigan flood victims Its a good feeling: Florida tree service contractor still helping to clean up flood-ravaged Sanford Read the latest on the flood and cleanup efforts in mid-Michigan here A BSF constable and two others have been arrested in connection with a cross-border smuggling racket of drugs and weapons, the Punjab Police said on Sunday. A .30 bore pistol of Chinese make along with five live cartridges and Rs 24.50 lakh were recovered from the three accused, identified as Border Security Force Constable Rajendra Prashad and two locals, Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh, Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta said. The Punjab Police is working to nab kingpin Satnam Singh alias Satta, extradited from Muscat, Oman, where he had fled after he was declared a proclaimed offender in two smuggling cases. He used a fake passport and Aadhaar card issued in the name of Gurmeet Singh to escape, Gupta said, adding that the accused had five cases of smuggling registered against him earlier. The BSF constable is a resident of Ganga Nagar district of Rajasthan and was posted at a border outpost at Chhina village in Tarn Taran district. He is the second BSF constable to be arrested recently by the Punjab police in a cross-border smuggling racket. A few days earlier, the police had arrested another BSF constable, Sumit Kumar, posted at Sambha in Jammu and Kashmir, in another similar smuggling case. Acting on a tip-off, a Jalandhar Rural police team had on July 26 apprehended two smugglers, who were travelling in a car from Delhi. The police had recovered 25 gm of heroin from them. On questioning, the duo identified themselves as Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh. Further investigation led to the recovery of the pistol along with five live rounds. During questioning, the duo also revealed that they were working with a cross-border smuggler, Satnam Singh alias Satta, a resident of Taran Tarn district who was closely linked with Pakistan-based smugglers for smuggling of drugs and weapons from Pakistan. They also disclosed that BSF constable Rajendra Prashad was a part of the smuggling racket. The DGP said that he contacted his counterparts in the BSF and Rajasthan, DGP BSF and DGP Rajasthan, and asked for help from the central agencies, for arresting the BSF constable, who was apprehended by the Punjab Police from his residence in Rawala Mandi, where he was on leave. During questioning, the BSF constable revealed that he had been roped into the drug smuggling racket by Satnam Singh, who promised him money for ignoring the smuggling of arms and narcotics consignment through his border post. He then allowed the gang to bring in a consignment of 17 kg of heroin and two foreign-made pistols in May. This time again, Satnam Singh, in connivance with Rajendra Prashad, Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh, was to bring in another consignment of heroin and arms from his Pakistan-based handlers. Satnam had allegedly given Rs 5 lakh and a mobile phone to Prashad in advance for receiving this composite consignment. The DGP said out of Rs 24.5 lakh, Rs 15 lakh was recovered from the residence of Satnam Singh, Rs 5 lakh from the BSF constable and Rs 4.5 lakh from Gurjant Singh. Courtesy Keeda HaynesBY: MARIYA MOSELEY, ABC NEWS (WASHINGTON) -- Keeda Haynes believes she brings a unique perspective to the race for Tennessee's 5th Congressional District. After spending over three years in prison for a crime she says she didn't commit, she hopes a spot in Washington will allow her to speak for vulnerable constituents -- and make a little history as well. Haynes, a former public defender, is in a three-way race that includes 17-year Democratic incumbent Rep. Jim Cooper. The primary election, which is slated for Aug. 6, has no Republican in the race so the winner will almost certainly be elected to Congress come November. "I have a unique perspective that a lot of people don't have. ... I've been a defendant and defender," Haynes told ABC News. "I really saw just how this war on drugs really decimated Black and brown, low-income communities." If elected, the progressive Democrat would make history as the first Black woman in Tennessee ever elected to Congress. The state has only had two Black representatives elected to Congress, with the last candidate elected over two decades ago, according to the U.S. House of Representatives. Along with supporting criminal justice reform and the Black Lives Matter movement, the 42-year-old Haynes is also passionate about issues such as providing access to affordable housing, raising the minimum wage and reducing student loan debt. "We are reimagining each and every system so that Black lives can matter across every single spectrum," she said. Haynes, who is from Franklin and later moved to the state's capital of Nashville, was the second of five children. She graduated from Tennessee State University with a degree in criminal justice and psychology. But just two weeks after graduating college, she had to turn down a position as a legal assistant because she had to report to federal prison. At 19, she started dating a man in Nashville for a few years and began accepting packages for his cellphone and beepers shop, she told ABC News. She later found out that those packages actually contained marijuana. She spent three years and 10 months in prison -- on what was initially a seven-year mandatory minimum sentence -- on charges of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. In 2006, Haynes was finally released from prison while continuing to maintain her innocence. She went on to pass the bar exam and work in a public defender's office for over six years. Her historic run comes as a record number of Black women are running for Congress across the U.S. In 2019, a record number of Black women were serving in state legislative offices, according to The Center of American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. In the last two years Black women saw the largest gain in representation at the state legislative level since 1994. Haynes' advice for young Black girls hoping to follow in her footsteps is to remember that you have the ability to make the impossible possible. "Prison did not deter me from doing what I said I was going to do," she told ABC News. "There will be people that will tell you that you can't do things and that things are impossible, but you have to stay focused." Haynes called late civil rights pioneer Rep. John Lewis, who was laid to rest Thursday in Atlanta, an "iconic figure" in the fight for justice and equality, and expressed eternal gratitude for the work that Lewis accomplished throughout his remarkable life. "Even in the face of police violence, he still believed in something bigger and still fought for liberation. ... I personally feel obligated to do this work in his name," Haynes said. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has felicitated with the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, on the occasion of his 57th birthday coming up on Monday. Mr Lawan, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Ola Awoniyi, on Sunday, rejoiced with Mr Omo-Agege, his family, friends and political associates for the good health granted him by God. Omo-Ageges public life has been an inspirational story of courage, forthrightness and consistency in championing the causes of his people and the unity and progress of Nigeria. Since our election to presiding roles in the Ninth Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Omo-Agege has brought those qualities to bear on our onerous task of providing leadership for the execution of the legislative agenda of the august assembly. He has been steadfast and resolute in his commitment to the vision that we all share under that agenda. Our partnership and the unwavering cooperation of all our distinguished colleagues across party lines have made the journey of the past year smooth and fruitful in the service of the people of Nigeria, Mr Lawan said. The senate president wished Mr Omo-Agege, the Obarisi of Urhoboland, many more years of fruitful service to God and the country. (NAN) Big B turns 79: Superstar Amitabh Bachchan thanks fans, says 'I walk with pride of your love' Amitabh Bachchan discharged from hospital after testing negative for COVID-19 India oi-Deepika S Mumbai, Aug 02: Veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan has been discharged from hospital after testing negative for novel coronavirus. Making the announcement his son, actor Abhishek Bachchan posted "My father, thankfully, has tested negative on his latest Covid-19 test and has been discharged from the hospital. He will now be at home and rest. Thank you all for all your prayers and wishes for him." Heartning to be back from hospital, praying for Abhishek: Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh, 77, and Abhishek were admitted to Nanavati hospital after they tested positive for COVID-19 on July 11. In the following tweet, Abhishek said he is still COVID-19 positive and will remain under medical care. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News "I, unfortunately due to some comorbidities remain Covid-19 positive and remain in hospital. Again, thank you all for your continued wishes and prayers for my family. Very humbled and indebted. I'll beat this and come back healthier! Promise," he added. Abhishek's wife, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, 46, and eight-year-old daughter Aaradhya were discharged from the hospital on Monday after testing negative for COVID-19. Easing of restrictions on churches by the President does not mean the COVID-19 pandemic is over. Dr. Emmanuel Obeng Appau, a deacon of the Assemblies of God Church, has therefore urged Christians to take good care of themselves by strictly adhering to the safety protocols. He was speaking at the Berean Assemblies of God Church at Manet-Ogbojo, near Madina in Accra as part of the church's weekly educational drive on the COVID- 19 pandemic. Deacon Appau lauded the President for easing the restrictions and explained that "easing the restrictions did not mean easing the safety protocols". He noted that despite easing the restrictions, people continued to flout some protocols such as not wearing mask in public transport and places. "Put on your face mask because vehicles are now taking their full capacities. In case, one sneezes on you, you will not be infected." According to him, wearing of mask and proper washing of hands with soaps could save people from contracting COVID-19. Additionally, he noted that, washing of hands with soap could curtail the spread of the virus after one touched an infected surface or handles. The Berean Assemblies of God Church continue to adhere strictly to the COVD-19 Safety protocols by ensuring that congregants temperatures are taken after washing their hands with soap under running water. Details and particulars of congregants are also taken and hands sanitized with alcohol based sanitizer before entering the church. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) throwing its hat into the ring the Mohali municipal corporation is likely to have a three-cornered election in October this year even as the Shiromani Akali Dal ( Badal) and the Congress are gearing up for the contest, highlighting their achievements in the last five years on social media. The splinter Akali group, Azad, floated by Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa last month is yet to decide on contesting. The elections for which dates are yet to be announced will be held in 50 wards with 2.36 lakh people voting. The former councillors of the Congress and SAD have started reaching out to their voter base on social media with details of the work done in the last few years.. The five year term of the MC ended on April 26 this year. Previously, the Congress had won 14 seats and the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance had grabbed 23 seats. The Azad group had 10 seats and two seats were occupied by independents. Then, 27 councillors, including 10 from the Azad group, 14 from Congress and two independents had elected Kulwant as mayor, but he joined SAD in August 2017. On the current elections, AAP leader Narinder Shergill said, We have decided to contest for all the 50 seats in Mohali. We are in the process of strengthening our organisation in the district and have already begun meeting with local RWA and other groups. Local MLA and cabinet minister Balbir Singh Sidhu said the Congress was ready for the polls. The people of Mohali have seen development in the past few years and we are hopeful of winning the elections with a clean majority, he said. Former mayor and senior SAD leader Kulwant Singh said, We are ready for the elections and have held a meeting with former SAD councillors. We have also approaching people to list out our achievements in the past five years. SAD ( Dhindsa) leader Tejinder Pal Singh Sidhu said a decision had to be taken on contesting. However, he added that we will hold a meeting in this regard as we will not allow the Congress to sail smoothly. The MC has already submitted details of all the wards with populations to the local bodies department. Of the 2.36 lakh voters, 25,000 belong to the scheduled caste (SC) category. Five seats have been reserved for SC candidates, two for women (SC), three for backward classes (BC) and two for women (BC). There are 43 general category seats, of which 23 are for women and 20 for men. In April this year, heated words were exchanged when Sidhu said credit for all development works in Mohali in the past eight months should go to the state government. Refuting the charge, Kulwant Singh had said most of the development took place in his tenure and that in the Congress most of the agenda approved by the house had remained stuck at local bodies offices. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It wasnt about a conflict of interest, but about the perception of one. On Friday, thats what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said was behind his move to delay a May 8 cabinet decision on WE Charity administering $543 million in federal grant money for students. Trudeau has apologized for not recusing himself from the discussion around the deal a decision thats now being examined the office of the federal ethics commissioner but only because of a perception of a conflict of interest created by his familys ties to the organization. He insists he was not, in fact, conflicted. If that turns out to be true, Trudeau is legally in the clear, says former ethics commissioner Mary Dawson. Either there is a conflict of interest or there isnt, and that will be a matter of applying the relevant provisions to the facts as determined, she said. However, its always best for politicians to err on the side of caution, says Dawson. If there is confusion for public office holders, Dawson said its a sensible thing for them to consult with the ethics commissioners office if they feel like there might be a conflict over a decision theyre making. Everybodys assigned an adviser, said Dawson, who served as the federal ethics commissioner from 2007 to 2018. Theres always somebody they can go to and they can always go to the commissioner, if need be. The prime ministers family ties to WE Charity includes his wifes volunteering work and his brother and mothers speaking engagements at WE Charity events, for which they were paid a total of $282,000 between 2016 and 2020. But Trudeau said on Friday he didnt feel the need to consult the ethics commissioner after he learned for the first time on May 8 that the Canada Student Service Grant proposal included WE Charity as the preferred third party to run it. The ethics commissioner had already cleared my wife for working in an unpaid basis with the WE organization through a podcast and through events, where they covered her travel related expenses, but did not pay her, Trudeau said. Jennifer Quaid, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, said even an appearance of conflict, though it may not rise to the level of illegality, poses ethical problems. In politics, she says, appearances matter, and people get upset and lose trust when it looks to them like a politician has acted improperly even if they havent done so with wrongful intent. Part of what makes people upset, Quaid said, is if you to stand back and look at it, you have path A and path B, maybe both will fit within the rules, but theres clearly one that has less problems. Wed like you to pick that one. Its common for ethics codes to prohibit actions that create the appearance of conflict. The code, for instance, that applies to federal public servants explicitly prohibits such actions. Meanwhile, in his 2015 mandate letters to ministers, Trudeau wrote, The arrangement of your private affairs should bear the closest public scrutiny, an obligation not fully discharged by simply acting within the law. As for whether Trudeaus family ties to WE Charity constitute a conflict or merely the appearance of one, thats a determination for Ottawas current ethics watchdog, Mario Dion, to make. And Quaid says that job wont be easy. Its very hard once you start getting into the nitty gritty of what exactly was right or wrong, she said. Youre trying to break it down into a little black and white decision. Its not really that simple. But you step back and think, My goodness, didnt you think about this? Read more about: This year has been brutal for the oil patch. Dual shock waves slammed the sector earlier in the year as OPEC and Russia ignited a price war just as oil demand started cratering because of the COVID-19 outbreak. But global oil producers have since called a truce to help stabilize the market. That seems to be working as crude oil prices have rebounded sharply off their bottom. Oil could have further to run as the global economy gets back up to speed, which could fuel gains for the oil stocks that survive this year's downturn. Three that our Motley Fool contributors think stand out as the top ones to buy this August based on that thesis are ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP), Chevron (NYSE:CVX), and Plains All American Pipeline (NASDAQ:PAA). A dirt cheap pipeline stock Matt DiLallo (Plains All American Pipeline): This year's oil market downturn is having some impact on pipeline giant Plains All American. Oil demand cratered earlier this year because of COVID-19, which forced several producers to shut down their pumps temporarily. Because of that, lower volumes will flow through Plains All American's pipelines this year, which will cut into its cash flow. Overall, the company anticipates that this will affect the earnings of its transportation segment by $300 million, half of which it expects to recoup by capturing market opportunities via its supply and logistics operations. That revised outlook has the MLP on track to generate about $2.16 per unit in cash this year. That's enough to cover its 9%-yielding dividend and virtually all its planned capital spending, both of which it reduced because of this year's downturn to preserve its financial flexibility and balance-sheet strength. Assuming the company delivers on its revised outlook, it only trades at about 3.7 times cash flow, given its current unit price of around $8 following this year's 55% sell-off. That's an insanely low price for a pipeline company. That cheap valuation suggests it could have lots of upside as the oil market recovers. Add in its big-time dividend, and this oil stock could generate strong total returns from here, making it a compelling way to play a rebound in the oil market this month. A steady force in an unsteady industry Daniel Foelber (ConocoPhillips): Unlike many of its upstream peers, the strength of ConocoPhillips' balance sheet prepared it for the present collapse in oil and gas demand. The largest independent oil and gas producer quietly spent the past four years reducing its debt, selling off weaker assets, lowering its break-even price per barrel of oil, and stockpiling cash on its balance sheet. That preparation was good timing for 2020, when the company's low amount of debt and high free cash flow (FCF) has given it a valuable amount of breathing room to make adjustments without debilitating its business. Those adjustments include raising liquidity, reducing 2020 capital expenditures by 35%, suspending share buybacks, curtailing some production in the short term, and reducing costs to make sure that it can pay its dividend. ConocoPhillips looks well positioned to afford its dividend, which currently yields 4.1%. In a time when many oil and gas companies are cutting their dividends, it can be refreshing to know that ConocoPhillips is far from that conversation. Its annual FCF is currently triple its annual dividend payment, meaning that even as FCF decreases from lost production and less spending, that decrease is unlikely to strain the company's ability to pay its dividend with cash. Strong FCF is one reason ConocoPhillips looks to be a great oil stock to buy in August. From a valuation perspective, ConocoPhillips is right up there with EOG Resources as having one of the lowest price-to-FCF valuations in the business, meaning that its shares are relatively cheap. ConocoPhillips isn't immune to volatile oil and gas prices, but it has done an impressive job of preparing its business for unexpected challenges. From income investors looking for a solid dividend to those who want to invest in oil and gas in a disciplined way, picking up a few shares of ConocoPhillips in August looks like a reasonable path to take. Big and strong Reuben Gregg Brewer (Chevron): If you are looking at oil stocks, one of the best ways to play the space is with an energy major like Chevron. It has exposure to a broad swath of the energy industry, from the upstream (oil drilling) to the downstream (refining and chemicals). That provides diversification that pure plays don't. Adding to the allure here is that Chevron also has one of the strongest balance sheets in its peer group, with a debt-to-equity ratio of roughly 0.25 times. That would be good for any company and gives it more leeway than its peers to lean on its balance sheet in these turbulent times. The company also takes a conservative approach with its business, focusing on the long-term supply/demand dynamics and not short-term volatility. That's notable today, since oil prices are in the doldrums. But for long-term dividend investors, this could be a material opportunity because Chevron's stock is down and the yield is currently near the high end of its historical range. That suggests the shares are cheap today. All in, Chevron is a leading industry player with a diversified portfolio and strong balance sheet that's trading at what appears to be an attractive historical valuation. There's a lot to like here. Installation view of "Hangover Boogie" exhibition featuring works by Chris Succo at Leeahn Gallery Daegu / Courtesy of Leeahn Gallery By Kwon Mee-yoo DAEGU Leeahn Gallery, operated by collector-turned-gallerist Ahn Hye-ryung, presents three European artists Chris Succo, Megan Rooney and Ina Gerken who developed their own abstract world at its Daegu branch. The gallery said the exhibition is held in cooperation with German art historian and curator Gregor Jansen, who serves as the director of the Kunsthalle Dusseldorf. Jansen recommended 10 young, aspiring European artists to Leeahn Gallery and Ahn picked three among them. The title of the exhibit, suggested by Jansen, is derived from the common elements of the three artists how they put energy into their works like turbulent music and continuing the tradition of early lyrical abstraction. While the beginning of modern abstract art is often contributed to Wassily Kandinsky and Piet Mondrian of the early 20th century, three female artists Georgiana Houghton (181484), Hilma af Klint (18621944) and Emma Kunz (18921963) have been rediscovered in recent years for their trailblazing in abstract forms of art based on spiritual and supernatural beliefs. "The three female artists who blazed trails in abstract art were inspired by supernatural ideas spiritualism for Houghton, theosophy for Klint and naturopathy for Kunz. The three artists who are presented at Hangover Boogie join the line of improvisational and impulsive styles of Houghton, Klint and Kunz," Ahn explained. "Succo, Rooney and Gerken went through the rapid changes amid globalization and the digital revolution. They present new styles of abstract art reflecting cataclysmic social changes." Chris Succo's "Untitled" (2020) / Courtesy of Leeahn Gallery Succo's free and lively works blur the boundary between representational and abstract and exquisite and crude. His works develop from minimal to more freestyle as the artist eliminates the use of painting utensils such as a brush or knife. Instead he paints on the canvas using his finger, the most primitive yet intuitive tool. His latest works are in vibrant colors as he applies colorful watercolors on the canvas and adds oil paint with his fingers. The movements of the artist's fingers are visible on canvas. He signs his works with spraypaint, showcasing his unrestricted style. Megan Rooney's "Dodge Ford Toyota Idaho" (2019) / Courtesy of Leeahn Gallery Rooney, born in Canada and now based in London, presented her works at "Fire on the Mountain" exhibit at the Kunsthalle Dusseldorf last year. Her works, which seem to be on the transition from representational to abstract, are inspired by her memories. "Viewers might try to find figurative shapes in Rooney's works as they might be reminded of familiar shapes like humans," Ahn said. "Her frequent use of the flamingo pink color is also inspired by memory as it was the color of her childhood home." Ina Gerken's "Untitled (We're through)" (2019) / Courtesy of Leeahn Gallery Prince Andrew's ex-girlfriend Lady Victoria Hervey today claimed Ghislaine Maxwell used her as 'bait' to entertain Jeffrey Epstein's friends, saying the paedophile 'kind of sat back and sort of waited for her to sort of go fishing'. The 44-year-old socialite and former 'It Girl', who is the daughter of the 6th Marquess of Bristol and the Duke of York's former love interest, first met the pair 20 years ago and said she was 'really young and naive' at the time. ITV released a clip to MailOnline ahead of tonight's 'Ghislaine, Prince Andrew and the Paedophile' documentary which also featured Lady Victoria describing Maxwell and Epstein as like 'Batman and Robin' and a 'double act'. She said: 'Jeffrey was really the frontman and Ghislaine was the accomplice. It was kind of like a Batman and Robin, and they were a double act. I don't think Jeffrey could have done any of it without Ghislaine.' Presenter Ranvir Singh said: 'And Ghislaine was crucial to getting those girls, was she, do you think to those dinners?' Lady Victoria replied: 'I think he just kind of sat back and sort of waited for her to sort of go fishing and go find however many girls were needed, you know, to entertain his friends. I think I was pretty much used as bait. You know, looking back at, you know I was really young and naive, and she's entertaining these, you know, big businessmen. So I didn't realise it of course at the time, but looking back...' Also pictured: Lady Victoria with Prince Andrew in London in 2002, and with Ghislaine Maxwell in Hollywood in 2004. The Government may have to consider introducing a fresh staff recruitment ban and freezing promotions in the public sector because of the recession caused by Covid-19, it can be revealed. In briefing documents prepared for new Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath, obtained by the Irish Examiner, it is made clear some of the stark choices facing him as he grapples with the 30bn deficit. Mr McGrath has been told that given the urgent need to manage Exchequer expenditure, there are a number of options that could be considered to reduce demand on the Exchequer in the short-term, including: * A moratorium on recruitment other than for key front line areas for a period of 12 months * Introduction of an Employment Control Framework (ECF) with all recruitment supported by workforce plans Under an ECF, Departments would be required to remain within current employee ceilings and be required to reallocate or reorganise staffing in order to maintain business continuity and service delivery, the document states. Options could include maintaining numbers at current levels where retiring or departing staff are replaced on a one-out, one-in replacement mechanism. This does not generate savings, rather it maintains current costs. In addition, if staff numbers are not managed adequately, or if the Government was to accede to demands for additional staff numbers in certain areas e.g. gardai, nurses the expenditure pressures would be intensified, Mr McGrath was told. Mr McGrath has also been warned that government spending under Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe in the past three years has been higher than expected, citing weaknesses in budgetary discipline in areas. Read More Poll shows rise for Fine Gael and Sinn Fein, but Fianna Fail slip Over the past three years, we have already seen expenditure growth rising at a faster-than-planned rate, in response to both political and public demands for policy action, and weaknesses in budgetary discipline in certain areas, the documents state. At the end of June when Mr McGrath took office, officials estimated the additional costs arising from the Covid-19 crisis was up to 12 billion, with further upward additional pressure, in particular relating to health. Officials warned that the additional expenditure pressures of 1.5 billion noted above would bring overall expenditure to almost 84 billion, an increase of almost 13.5 billion on REV 2020 and 5.5 billion above the SPU projections. Officials warned that the July stimulus plan, announced two weeks ago, would need to be temporary and targeted at measures that can support a more rapid return to work in significantly impacted sectors and to move people more rapidly off PUP to employment (WSS supported employment or not). Mr McGrath was also warned that there will be a specific challenge in Budget 2021 in assessing the extent to which funding will be required to support ongoing Covid-19 measures. The fiscal projections in the SPU included an additional amount of 1.5 billion in relation to additional income supports. In addition, there will be pressures persisting in 2021, in particular in Health, that will need to be addressed in the 2021 Budget Estimates, they warned. In relation to the potential to pay for a new public service pay deal later this year, officials said that in the normal course, negotiations on a successor would take place shortly. This was the pre-Covid-19 emergency position and in light of the impact of the current emergency on the public finances, the timeline and options for any talks/measures in relation to public service pay will have to be carefully considered, they argue, suggesting a deal may not be possible. With every compostable bowl that Sally the salad-making robot fills with chicken and romaine lettuce, the Bay Area food scene inches closer to the singularity: the widespread integration of dining with high-end technology. The robot, created by the Hayward company Chowbotics, can mix dozens of salad combinations in moments. All a customer has to do is tap a couple of times on a touchscreen, which shows a digital rendering of their order. Plastic cylinders inside the machine then quickly rotate and dump measured amounts of the selected ingredients into a container. The process happens without a human chef present and its complete within a matter of seconds. Theres a view of the future where Sally is the standard, a solution to ensure people can still eat out without worrying about human contact spreading a killer virus. But as we entertain autonomous dining, its worth mentioning that it was just a few years ago when San Francisco residents were appalled by the mere thought of a dining experience feeling akin to visiting an Apple store. Some full-service restaurants went as far as using high-capacity wireless access points, augmented reality and a bit of facial recognition software for some light customer order tracking. Locals found the tech-ified experience, which relied less on human workers, impersonal and off-putting because it represented a dining future they didnt yet want to embrace, one where technology was king over interpersonal interactions. But a global pandemic can change opinions. And in the dystopian fallout of San Franciscos pandemic food scene, wherein diners shuffle between empty storefronts and takeout windows while completely avoiding contact with strangers, culinary technology has become as ubiquitous as $10 avocado toast was in the pre-COVID salad days. Although there was some precedence for this, with the local proliferation of burgers, pizzas and coffee being created by robots, the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of flashy food technology. Just six months into the pandemic, Sally is already in 70 locations across the country, including at the University of San Francisco campus. And Chowbotics has partnered with supermarket chain ShopRite to debut a robot in one of its stores on the East Coast, setting the stage for the future. We were one of those lucky companies that had the solution ideally suited for the circumstances that changed the way people function as a result of COVID-19, said Rick Wilmer, the Chowbotics chief executive officer. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle Sally isnt the lone robot shaping the way diners eat in the Bay Area since the coronavirus upended our habits. A similar machine that has been taking over the local dining scene is Chef B, which makes smoothies. The concept comes from Blendid, a Sunnyvale company. Chef B is a kiosk containing a mechanical arm that acts as a smoothie barista, of sorts. It moves cups, pours drinks and slides them onto a counter for pickup. Chef B is equipped with refrigeration systems, blenders and nearly two-dozen temperature-controlled dispensers for its fresh produce and liquids. And it, too, has a digital interface for users to place orders. The kiosk has become the Bay Areas first smoothie-making robot to debut on the Doordash delivery platform. Technology has also confronted the dilemma of social distancing and worker isolation at restaurants. At San Franciscos automated burger joint, Creator, the restaurant is using a NASA-inspired vacuum-sealed airlock, basically a high-tech takeout window, to deliver its burgers to diners. The airlock, which is shaped like a box, has a conveyor belt that moves the packaged burger from inside the restaurant to outside of the restaurant. Coupled with the restaurants high-tech burger-making robot, the airlock can make ordering a meal at Creator feel like entering an episode of The Twilight Zone. Businesses that make food arent the only ones propelling the local dining scene forward into a tech-friendly age. A Bay Area startup called Kogniz had a following behind its use of an artificial intelligence-led thermal security platform that tracks fevers from a distance, and enforces social distancing in real time. Its essentially a camera with thermal optics that monitors a dining room for lapses in social distancing using facial detection algorithms to focus on the areas of a face that provide the most accurate temperature results, which is integral in detecting COVID-19 symptoms. This new dining landscape isnt a surprise to chef Anthony Strong, who in 2017 opened the countrys first-ever virtual fine dining restaurant in San Francisco called Young Fava. Customers could only buy the upscale food, like ahi crudo, through UberEats, Caviar, Postmates, DoorDash and other apps. Young Fava closed after a few months and Strong opened Prairie in 2018, a restaurant that specialized in live-fire cooking before the pandemic. In March, after the Bay Area shelter-in-place order, Strong turned Prairie into a grocery store selling goods like pasta and toilet paper, as well as meal kits since people were eating more at home. When it comes to the Young Fava restaurant concept, Strong was ahead of his time three years before the pandemic, but the industry has since become equally as forward-thinking. Still, Strong said he understands the awkwardness around dining today, not only because of the decrease in human interaction, but because human interaction is a reminder of the dangers of being near crowds. You know how a puppy will look kind of out of the side of its eye before it tries to sneak and eat something? I feel like thats the look people give when theyre dining outside, Strong said with a laugh. Its like everyone is wondering if what theyre doing is safe, should they even be doing it. Its all just so up in the air. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. While the 20-seat, intimate restaurants where patrons had to squeeze past each other in dimly lit dining rooms will not be returning anytime soon, local diners are still grappling with the new reality. Just look at Divisadero, which was San Franciscos hottest restaurant neighborhood before the pandemic. On Saturday nights, crowds would bar hop between intimate neighborhood spots like Flybar and Bar Crudo before hanging out on the sidewalks until seats became available at the nearby tapas restaurant Barvale or the uber chic Italian restaurant Che Fico. The strip was a place to see and be seen in San Francisco. Now, its a ghost town. During a recent Wednesday evening only a few diners were eating outside of popular, pre-pandemic, restaurants like 4505 Barbecue on Divisadero, and Barvale, just across the street. At nearby Bar Crudo, a father sat with his two young daughters in a parklet outside the restaurant. The group ate tacos, and between bites they fumbled to get their masks over their mouths as people strolled by. After the meal, as they walked away from the restaurant, the father turned to the young girls and muttered, That was weird, wasnt it? In cities like San Francisco, where Michelin-starred hot spots seemed to be on every corner and chefs were treated like rock stars, the dining scene has entered unprecedented territory. The pandemic has turned formerly niche luxuries like high-end technology and automation into near necessities, while social distancing pulls us further apart. If this tech-infused experience is the future, for many people, it's a very weird reality in the present. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The first astronauts launched by Elon Musks SpaceX company departed the International Space Station on Saturday night for the final and most important part of their test flight: returning to Earth with a rare splashdown. NASAs Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken bid farewell to the three men left behind as their SpaceX Dragon capsule undocked and headed toward a Sunday afternoon descent by parachute into the Gulf of Mexico. Despite Tropical Storm Isaias surge toward Floridas Atlantic shore, NASA said the weather looked favourable off the coast of Pensacola on the extreme opposite side of the state. It will be the first splashdown for astronauts in 45 years. The last time was following the joint U.S.-Soviet mission in 1975 known as Apollo-Soyuz. Space station commander Chris Cassidy rang the ships bell as Dragon pulled away, 267 miles (430 kilometres) above Johannesburg, South Africa. Within a few minutes, all that could be seen of the capsule was a pair of flashing lights against the black void of space. Its been a great two months, and we appreciate all youve done as a crew to help us prove out Dragon on its maiden flight, Hurley radioed to the space station. Safe travels, Cassidy replied, and have a successful landing. The astronauts homecoming will cap a mission that ended a prolonged launch drought in the U.S., which has relied on Russian rockets to ferry astronauts to the space station since the end of the shuttle era. In launching Hurley and Behnken from NASAs Kennedy Space Center on May 30, SpaceX became the first private company to send people into orbit. Now SpaceX is on the verge of becoming the first company to bring people back from orbit. The hardest part was getting us launched, but the most important is bringing us home, Behnken said several hours before strapping into the Dragon. A successful splashdown, Behnken said, will bring U.S.-crew launching capability full circle. At a farewell ceremony earlier in the day, Cassidy, who will remain on board with two Russians until October, presented Hurley with the small U.S. flag left behind by the previous astronauts to launch to the space station from U.S. soil. Hurley was the pilot of that final shuttle mission in July 2011. The flag which also flew on the first shuttle flight in 1981 became a prize for the company that launched astronauts first. SpaceX easily beat Boeing, which isnt expected to launch its first crew until next year and will land in the U.S. Southwest. The flag has one more flight after this one: to the moon on NASAs Artemis program in the next few years. Were a little sad to see them go, Cassidy said, but very excited for what it means to our international space program to add this capability of commercial crew capsules. The next SpaceX crew flight is targeted for the end of September. Hurley and Behnken also are bringing back a sparkly blue and purple dinosaur named Tremor. Their young sons chose the toy to accompany their fathers on the historic mission. Six months into the Covid crisis, governments are having to acknowledge that there will be a reckoning - the public inquiry just announced in the United Kingdom or an unavoidable date with the voters for Donald Trump in November. In both countries the verdict is likely to be negative. The UK and the USA have not had a good crisis and most other developed countries seem to have handled the public health emergency better. In Ireland, there is no basis for self-congratulation - the figures show that some comparable countries have kept infection and fatality rates lower, and there have been clear weaknesses in the policy response. The public health professionals will have their say in due course and there is blame to be allocated. Why did it take so long to get testing capacity mobilised, why were healthcare workers under-equipped with protective gear, what really went on in the care homes, and why was the messaging so vague on face masks and foreign travel? It is too early to judge but the Irish authorities will not get to grade their own homework. The same will happen with the economic policy response. It could take a decade before the fog clears and it becomes possible to draw conclusions about who pressed the right buttons. Most European countries have expanded their fiscal deficits deliberately, the textbook response in the short term. But the reconstruction of an open trading economy for the post-Covid world is a challenge also for supply-side management. It will not be possible to protect every firm and every job - there will be a different economy five or 10 years out and there will be more losers than winners. The political temptation is to reassure, to deny that there will be any losers, to pretend that all can be compensated and that every soft option can be afforded. The fuss last week over the tapering of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) needs to be seen in this context. It was never the case that Ireland's capacity to support those out of work had somehow been enhanced because Covid came calling. Quite the reverse - the Irish economy for the foreseeable future has a reduced capacity to finance public spending, as against the capacity it appeared to have 12 months ago. The demands on the public purse have increased dramatically, the purse is diminished unless you believe that Covid is a lucky break, and the emergency supports for the economy are temporary. They must, in Ireland as everywhere else, be withdrawn gradually unless you believe that permanent deficit finance on a large scale is feasible as well as popular. The enthusiasm for soft options in the political class, reflected uncritically in parts of the mainstream media, is irresponsible and will be so perceived a few months from now. The Government will unveil a medium-term economic plan in October, alongside the budget for 2021. The briefing documents for incoming ministers released last week provide an early preview of what lies in store. The officials drew attention to the inevitable phase-out of the emergency public spending programmes - this kind of follows from the nature of an emergency. October's National Economic Plan is already taking shape in some civil servant's laptop and it is not too difficult to guess what it will contain. The budget deficit for 2020 will be somewhere around 25bn or 30bn. For 2021, it will, even if things go well, be lower but substantial. A year or two later, it will need to be zero or small, because no eurozone country will be able to sell government debt in sufficient quantities to deliver indefinitely on all the soft options. A rough guess is that the target deficit for, say, 2023, will be 20bn lower than the out-turn expected in 2020. How do you reduce the deficit over a few years by such a large figure? History is always a decent guide and last time round it was done through modest reductions in current spending, large reductions in capital spending and serious increases in taxes. Whatever deficit reduction target is specified, it will be denounced by the political opposition and by the soft-option media, who will pretend that a better way is somehow feasible. October should be fun. Every government in the developed world has had to deal in real time with the public health emergency, and the economic fall-out and some clear patterns have already emerged. Thankfully there has been a universal willingness to let public deficits rise and to augment them with discretionary extra spending, tax cuts and payment deferrals. The composition of these measures has varied, and mistakes get made. In Ireland, the fiscal correction from 2008 onwards relied too heavily on cuts in the State capital programme and the new Government has committed to its protection on this occasion. There is a corollary as a matter of arithmetic. Unless implausible assumptions are made about the speed of recovery, there must be tax increases, tight controls on current spending, or both. The Government has ruled out increases in taxes on income, has cut the standard 23pc Vat rate and announced, to acclamation, an across-the-board pay increase for public servants. The logical implication is that the capital programme will get gutted again. The strongest temptation, to which several governments have succumbed, is the preservation of firms rather than the recovery of employment. There is no reason to expect that the economy of the future will be the revived economy of 2019, defrosted with a swift dose of demand stimulus. Economists in the USA and Europe have been busy with empirical research on the nature of the downturn and some tentative conclusions are available. The most important is that this downturn will have permanent effects and the preservation of firms in twilight industries will come at the cost of sustainable job creation elsewhere. It is not easy to perceive which firms are in the no-hope category or where the jobs of the future are most likely to emerge. The programme for government entrusts this task to the Taoiseach's department and their conclusions will inform the October economic plan. It is already clear, for example, that the aviation sector is likely to be smaller over the longer term, and that person-to-person sectors like hospitality will need new business models. Ireland has a track record of economic flexibility and that means that some industries and firms will need to contract. The emerging alliance of employer groups and trade unions, in defence of the 2019 economy, will need to be confronted later this year, in the interests of economic recovery. A letter written by one Civil Rights icon in remembrance of another is now for sale. Rosa Parks wrote a letter, detailing her thoughts about Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., to a Mr. Kessler. The letter, dated Oct. 6, 1981, is available on the website Moments in Time, at a price of $54,000. Its the only letter Ive ever seen where (Parks) talks about King, and its totally handwritten, which is quite rare, Moments in Time CEO Gary Zimet told AL.com. Even her typed letters are scarce, said Zimet, who said hes looking for any other letters of Parks or King. In the brief letter, Parks said of King, I admired and respected him as a truly great man committed and dedicated to freedom, peace and equality for all oppressed humanity. He was a leader of the masses in Montgomery, Alabama and the nation. Parks, who was born in Tuskegee, was a Civil Rights activist best known for the role she played in the Montgomery bus boycott. She has been called the first lady of civil rights and the mother of the freedom movement. King organized the Montgomery bus boycott after Parks was jailed for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery city bus to a white man. The boycott helped lead to a Supreme Court ruling that desegregated Montgomery public transportation. Parks wrote the letter to Kessler more than a decade after King was assassinated in Memphis. Parks died in October 2005 at age 92. A statue in her honor stands in downtown Montgomery. Indian interior minister Amit Shah said he had tested positive for COVID-19, Interfax reported. Shah, 55, tweeted he was tested after showing the first symptoms of COVID-19. According to him, he is doing fine and was hospitalized on the advice of doctors. The minister asked everyone who has contacted him in recent days to isolate themselves and get tested. A ministry official declined to answer when Shah last met PM Narendra Modi. India has 1,750,724 COVID-19 cases. The death toll has reached 37,364. The Indian Institute of Science has handed over Indias first ICMR-approved BSL-2 compliant mobile diagnostic labs to the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) for deployment in rural areas. The trouble, of course, is a lack of lab technicians trained to work in mobile vans, which is posing a challenge in deploying the two vehicles in rural areas. IISc-ShanMukhas Mobile Infection Testing and Reporting (MITR) Labs are BSL-2 compliant to perform end-to-end RT-PCR based Covid-19 testing. These mobile labs enable a significant reduction in turnaround times from 2-10 days to 4-12 hours for tests to determine Covid-19. Deploying the two van-labs is significant since the existing facilities are struggling to meet daily testing targets due to an alarming rise in cases. Delays in getting test reports are also hampering early treatment. The Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory at BMCRI does not have enough human resources to spare for the mobile labs, which requires two medical lab technicians per van per eight-hour shift. That is at least six personnel per van, which is 18 in total, explained Dr Sneha K S, Assistant Professor at BMCRIs Microbiology Department, where the vans had been handed over. "Getting used to working in a van, a much smaller area, is not as easy as working in spacious medical college labs," Dr Sneha said, pointing out that labs are biohazardous. Dr G S Venkatesh, director of advanced research at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), revealed a plan by the varsity to deploy students of allied health sciences in the van after a crash course in RT-PCR testing since they have done lab technician courses. Once the students get used to working in the vans cramped space, we can deploy them in areas with a high number of cases where testing facilities are scarce, Dr Venkatesh told DH. Dr Sneha expressed doubts about training BSc students in Medical Laboratory Technology (MLT) in the RT-PCR testing. While they can do RNA extraction of the samples, the rest has to be done by MSc MLT students or PhD students in Molecular Biology, she said, noting that all private Covid-19 testing labs will definitely have MSc MLT students. The process One of the vans is deployed for sample collection and processing, while the other is for testing them. In fact, samples are collected at the booth attached to the collection van and are inactivated inside a BSL-2 cabinet available in the vehicle. They are then transferred to the processing van using the pass box available in both the vans. RNA extraction is done inside the processing van. They are then transferred to the testing van where RT-PCR assay is run. After a batch of 80 samples is processed in the RT-PCR instrument, the results are posted in the ICMR portal. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Alonnisos, Greece Sun, August 2, 2020 16:07 534 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066afa84f 2 News greece,shipwreck,archeology,Museum,Parthenon-of-shipwrecks Free Greece on Saturday inaugurated its first underwater museum, a trove of 5th century BC amphorae labelled the "Parthenon of shipwrecks", off the coast of Alonissos island in the western Aegean. Culture Minister Lina Mendoni along with other officials attended the ceremony that took place in the noon underwater by divers on a boat. The site of the 5th century BC wreck will be open to tours for certified amateur divers from August 3 to October 2 while those who can't dive can follow a virtual reality tour at an information center in the main town of Alonissos. "This wreck lies at 21-28 meters depth near the shores of the Peristera islet and contains 3,000 to 4,000 amphorae," Maria Agalou, president of the municipal council of Alonissos told SKAI TV. The wreck of the two-handled vases is believed to be one of the most important of its kind because most of them are intact. They were found by a fisherman in 1985. Read also: Ancient 'Acropolis of the sea' opens to divers, guarded by high tech A big merchant ship that is believed to have sunk because of bad weather around 425 BC was carrying thousands of amphorae of wine from Chalkidiki in Northern Greece and the island of Skopelos, Pari Kalamara, director of the Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities told Ert tv. "The amphorae are revealing the form of the ancient ship. This has been a big ship", she adds. "We are offering to the humanity the Parthenon of shipwrecks", Kostas Agorastos, governor of Thessaly region, where the island of Alonissos is located, commented on Skai Tv. Authorities are planning on rendering four more ancient shipwrecks in the area accessible to amateur divers aiming to form a diving park that will attract more tourists. According to the state-run Ert tv, two diving groups from Britain are expected on Monday. Appeals have been made for parents to enforce curfews on teenagers after a beach party led to public order arrests and fears of a Covid-19 spike. The party took place on Kilkee beach in Co Clare on Saturday night with some residents reporting it went on until 3am. Fianna Fail councillor Cillian Murphy called on parents to give their children curfews. Clare County Council is set to block off the bandstand on the beach from 6pm, as a result of the party. Read More This looked like the aftermath of Oxegen and parents should be looking now at a curfew for their children and young people to prevent this again, he told the Irish Independent. There were lots of teenagers. At 6.30am I heard loud voices outside. The reality is these kids were out and their parents didnt know where they were. If they did know, there was no responsibility taken for what happened. Really the parents need to know where their children and young people are, due to Covid-19. Gardai in Kilrush made nine arrests for public order offences. Three men have been charged and are due to appear in court next month while two male youths will be dealt with through the Youth Diversion Programme. Gardai said two men and one woman were cautioned while one man was released without charge. Residents and those living outside the coastal town, have taken to social media to vent their anger at the party. One woman tweeted: Do the rules apply to some and not others? Absolutely disgraceful to see the scenes on Kilkee beach tonight and this isnt the first of it. Its no wonder cases are on the rise again with this nonsense going on and it isnt just at night either. Footage shared online showed a large number of young people partying in very close proximity and rubbish left behind afterwards. The councils ground team cleaned the area this morning. Calls have been made for a stronger garda presence to ensure further incidents are averted. The youths partied under the bandstand on the seafront and photos appear to show some damage was caused. I am concerned about the fact you have 15 to 18-year-olds out very late at night, lots of alcohol involved and no social distancing whatsoever, Cllr Murphy said. And on the other hand, we are looking at children going back to school in September. There is a responsibility with parents to make sure they know where their kids are. The incident comes on as the Government appealed for responsible behaviour over the bank holiday weekend as Covid-19 cases increase. Advertisement The only sound that can be heard is the whirring of heavy machinery and banging of jackhammers. Everywhere you look there are high-rises in various stages of construction, sitting alongside empty blocks that will soon, also, become home to soaring tower blocks. Welcome to Parramatta in 2020 - where a once-sleepy patch of suburban western Sydney founded by the First Fleet in 1788 is being turned into Australia's next big city. The scale of the transformation - underpinned by $20 billion worth of development projects - is extraordinary. Soon, Parramatta (known affectionately as Parra) will be bigger than Adelaide. It will also be a multi-cultural behemoth. In recent decades, the area's white Anglo Saxon heritage has given way to an influx of cultures from across the globe. Today, more than 65 percent of Parramatta's population were born overseas and some 140 different languages are spoken in the area. The Parramatta of today is defined just as much by its people as it is by its ever-expanding array of new buildings. In the 1980s popular department store David Jones sat at the head of Church Street in Parramatta, right next to the river Now it has been replaced by two high-rise towers, a sign of the times with Parramatta transforming into a major city over the coming decades One of the biggest improvements to Parramatta in recent years has been to infrastructure such as the train station, which is a far cry today from that which greeted locals in 1985 A number of the handful of tall buildings in Parramatta in the 1980s sat on Smith St, including law firms and council offices, while on the left of the photograph sat The Collector Tavern While The Collector Tavern remains, the previous tall buildings have been swamped by high-rises - with more currently under construction A glimpse into the future: An artists impression of what the city of Parramatta could look like once the high-rise projects are complete Parramatta is unrecognisable to what it was even 25 years ago, with enormous residential buildings and the offices of business giants like the NAB bank now located in the CBD. It is all part of the plan to turn it into the city of Sydney's west, with 260,000 extra jobs forecast by 2048 and a boom in population forecast. Adding to the need for growth in the area is its distance from Sydney's CBD - 24 kilometres - and the fact that up to half the entire population of greater Sydney will live in the western suburbs within 25 years. Iconic former Paramatta Eels star and long-time business owner Peter Wynn recalls a time when you could easily drive through the now bustling CBD like it was a country town. 'Parramatta signed me at the end of 1978, I can remember all the buildings on either side, all the shops, there was no mall - it was just like any other suburb,' Wynn, 62, said. 'Probably what I didn't realise back then was how easy it was. If you wanted to go to the shops you would just drive down Church St and pull up on the street, I remember it so clearly it is as though it was yesterday. 'It just had all the characteristics of a typical big country town. There was a pub on the corner and the shops along the main street, so being from regional NSW I could relate to that and so I felt quite comfortable. 'What hits me the most now is the skyline of Parramatta. Starting at the river where David Jones used to be there is the Meriton apartments and then as you move further south you've got apartments going up, you've got high rises everywhere. 'There's also huge multiculturalism in Parramatta now which I didn't notice initially, but since maybe the mid-1990s you could really see the change in dynamic. It's just a great place now.' Photographs from the 1930s and 40s, the 1980s and 90s, and then today, show just how Parramatta developed. Iconic former Paramatta Eels star and long-time business owner Peter Wynn (pictured) recalls a time when you could easily drive into the now bustling CBD like it was a small town - today the city is filling up with high-rises, as can be seen behind him An empty block (front) is now ready to house the next tall office next to those already built by major corporations such as NAB (back) Cranes sit atop another one of the numerous massive buildings under construction in Parramatta, while workers prepare for the lightrail which is expected to open by 2023 Today, more than 65 percent of Parramatta's population were born overseas and some 140 different languages are spoken in the area In the background of a 1980s photograph of the Parramatta cenotaph the blue sky is uninterrupted, with only a car wash and double storey buildings in the background. At the same spot today, the memorial is dwarfed by two enormous Meriton towers Back in 1898 the Parramatta train station was hardly the bustling three storey complex that ferries thousands of people to and from work, as it does today While some old buildings remain, overlooking the modern station is the high-rise office complex of accounting firm Deloitte Centenary square at the heart of the CBD was initially trodden by horse and buggies, before cars took over. Today, gone is the Murrays Limited department store and in its place sit cafes, bakeries and a hairdresser's salon, while office and construction workers regularly gather to eat in the sun. While the old clock remains in place, it is now dwarfed by enormous buildings which block out the sun for large parts of the day. A chemist once stood alone on nearby Macquarie Street, but now in its place sit a hub of shops, restaurants and small office spaces. In the background of a 1980s photograph of the Parramatta cenotaph the clue sky is uninterrupted, with only a car wash and double storey buildings in the background. At the same spot today, the memorial is dwarfed by two enormous Meriton towers. Up the road at the Woolpack Hotel - which was founded in 1796 - the difference to the early 1930s is remarkable. It once sat alone on the corner but is now surrounded by businesses, while behind it enormous office blocks reach high into the sky. A new residential building in the background is one of the only differences at this site on Church Street, but that may change soon A policeman controls traffic along Church Street - the main street of Parramatta - in the early 1930s, with a number of pubs and old buildings able to be seen Today the Tatersalls Hotel has been replaced by a 7/11 convenience store while further along the street high-rise buildings can be seen This dirt road at the heart of Parramatta was home to cars and businesses in the 1930s, but today is best known as Centenary Square While the clock and several buildings remain almost one century on, today the area is free from traffic and will soon be cast into shadow by even more high-rise towers University of Sydney urban design expert Tooran Alizadeh is a major supporter of the move to turn Parramatta into a bustling metropolis. She believes that after decades of being forgotten, a boost in its infrastructure with light rail and a monorail on the way will only aid in the CBD's growth. 'Parramatta is one of the most excitement planning projects in Australia, because what is happening there is really a once in a lifetime opportunity,' Ms Alizadeh said. 'A big part of that goes to the infrastructure gap. After a few decades of lacking infrastructure, now because of this huge ambition for Parramatta to become the second CBD we can no longer ignore the infrastructure. 'The plan is for Parramatta to be the next CBD of greater Sydney metropolitan region and that plan just shows the very, very long way that Parramatta has come.' It could be a while until Americans see more economic relief in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic as Democrats and Republicans have reached a deadlock in negotiations regarding the fourth stimulus package. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Sunday morning that Republicans are not willing to concede to the high price tag Democrats want on the legislation. 'That's something we're not going to do,' Mnuchin told ABC News This Week when asked about the $1 trillion in aid Democrats are demanding for state and local governments and the $3 trillion bill. The Republican proposal laid out by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday had a total cost of $1 trillion, which some Republicans claim is already too high a price for yet another round of relief in less than five months. 'We have to balance,' Mnuchin continued. 'There's obviously a need to support workers, support the economy.' 'On the other hand,' he said, 'we have to be careful about not piling on enormous amounts of debt.' In a sign of a continuing partisan stalemate over another relief bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could not give a timeline on Sunday. 'The fact is we will be close to an agreement when we have an agreement,' she told ABC's Martha Raddatz. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Republicans won't give into Democrats' urge for $1 trillion to state and local governments in the next coronavirus stimulus package House Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled a stalemate in negotiations as she could not give a timeline on when an agreement on next package would be reached as enhanced unemployment benefits expired on Friday 'We proposed a one-week extension at $600, so that while we negotiate a longer term solution at least all those people don't lose their money,' Mnuchin said. 'And I'm surprised that the Democrats won't agree to that' 'The fact is, they put on the floor at the end of this week in the Senate $200,' she lamented of the GOP proposal of a cut from the unemployment boost of $600-per-week in bolstered benefits to $200. 'We are unified in our support for $600,' Pelosi asserted of the Democratic Party. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters Saturday: 'We're not close yet.' Mnuchin, whose interview with ABC News followed Pelosi's, said he was 'surprised' by her comments. The Treasury secretary has been the liaison between the White House and Congress, specifically with Democrats, as negotiations commenced in March for a slew of packages to provide relief to Americans and stimulus to the economy in the midst of the pandemic. 'The president is very concerned about the expiration of the unemployment's insurance,' Mnuchin assured. 'We proposed a one-week extension at $600, so that while we negotiate a longer term solution at least all those people don't lose their money,' he added. 'And I'm surprised that the Democrats won't agree to that. They are insistent on having this as part of a larger deal.' Unemployment benefits were boosted to $600 extra per week as millions of Americans find themselves jobless in the midst of the pandemic, but Republicans are proposing that measure be decreased to $200 per week in the next bill The unemployment boost, passed as part of a previous relief bill, expired Friday as lawmakers scrambled to reach a deal on extending or amending the enhanced benefits. Democrats want to keep the $600 benefits as the virus prevails, but the Republican proposal on Monday detailed a temporary decrease to $200-per-week until that was phased out and replaced with a cap of 70 per cent of the individual's pre-coronavirus wages. The pandemic has left millions without jobs as Americans have been either temporarily or permanently laid off, had their hours cut or were furloughed. Republicans have lamented that the high rate of enhanced unemployment has incentivized the newly jobless to remain out of work and continue collecting checks. Mnuchin and Trump's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who have spent the last week negotiating with lawmakers, met with Democrats again on Saturday. 'It was a productive discussion,' Schumer told reporters at the Capitol Saturday. 'Now each side knows where, where they're at. And we are going to work very hard to come to an agreement.' Pelosi also sent out a dear colleague letter following the meeting. 'Today's meeting was more productive than our previous discussions, but no agreement can be reached yet,' Pelosi wrote. 'Work will continue on a staff level tomorrow,' the California Democrat continued. Schumer and Pelosi will meet with Mnuchin and Meadows again on Monday. Visit draws sharp criticism from Lt. Gov. Flanagan, White Earth Ojibwe, and other Minnesota Democrats, who called it a photo op By Vincent Shilling. Reprinted with permission from Indian Country Today Ivanka Trump and Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt on Monday attended the opening of a Bloomington, Minnesota, office devoted to investigating cold cases involving missing and murdered Native Americans. The office is part of the Operation Lady Justice Task Force that President Donald Trump created through an executive order in November to address violence against Native Americans, particularly women and girls. Its the first of seven such offices the administration is establishing across the country in the coming weeks, including in Phoenix, Nashville, Tennessee, and Anchorage, Alaska. Since his earliest days in office, President Trump has fought for the forgotten men and women of this country, Ivanka Trump said. Today is another fulfillment of that promise as this new office will work to ensure that the challenges American Indians and Alaskan Natives face do not go unseen or unresolved. But the visit, which followed a tour of a Duluth factory, drew heavy criticism from Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, White Earth Ojibwe, and other Minnesota Democrats. More than 50 people gathered outside wearing red to signify the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Womens movement, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. They carried signs reading, You are on stolen land and Stop pretending to care about Native Lives. Critics called the event staged and disingenuous. Chad Nelson tweeted: A group of roughly 50+ people have assembled outside the new Missing and Murdered Native American Cold Case Office in Bloomington where Ivanka Trump spoke earlier. Some saying they Will not be used as a political pawn. We need to live up to the federal governments trust and treaty responsibilities to tribes. Donald Trump and his administration fall woefully short of that goal, Sen. Tina Smith, a Democrat and member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, said in a release. Rather than a photo op, the Trump administration should focus on following through and real action to help tribal communities in Minnesota and across the country. According to the National Crime Information Center, only 116 of the nearly 6,000 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women were listed in 2016 in the Justice Departments official database. During Mondays event, Ivanka Trump cited tragic statistics from the Minnesota Health Department, which found homicide rates for Native women were seven times higher than for white women between 1990 and 2016. Those numbers are simply unacceptable, she said, according to the Star Tribune. They do not just represent a problem; theyre proof of an epidemic. During Mondays event, Ivanka Trump cited tragic statistics from the Minnesota Health Department, which found homicide rates for Native women were seven times higher than for white women between 1990 and 2016. Those numbers are simply unacceptable, she said, according to the Star Tribune. They do not just represent a problem; theyre proof of an epidemic. The office will be led by a special agent-in-charge from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services and will coordinate efforts by local, federal, and tribal law enforcement personnel to solve cold cases. The Operation Lady Justice Task Force, co-chaired by Bernhardt and U.S. Attorney General William Barr, aims to develop protocols for law enforcement to respond to missing and slain Native American persons cases and to improve data and information collection. Yet Flanagan said President Donald Trump made a career demonstrating and celebrating behavior that perpetuates violence against Native women and girls. We need a president who will fight for the health and safety of women and Native people across the country, she said in a statement. Former State Rep Lt. Governor of Minnesota Peggy Flanagan tweeted: Jul 27. While Ivanka was here for a photo op, Native folks across Minnesota continue to do the real work of protecting our women and girls. Well never stop until were all seen, heard, valued, and safe. #MMIW Minnesotas Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party also criticized the administration for failing to seriously and materially support tribal nations. Its members include state Reps. Mary Kunesh-Podein, a Standing Rock descendent, and Jamie Becker-Finn, a Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe descendant. Kunesh-Podein said Ivanka Trumps visit seemed phony. Minnesota lawmakers established a state Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls task force last year of elected officials, law enforcement, and tribal representatives to make recommendations for the Legislature. Kunesh-Podein, a co-chair and author of the bill that established the state task force, said the Trump administration didnt reach out to the task force or other Native state officials before Mondays visit, and she only learned of the cold case office after it was announced. We, in Minnesota, have worked so hard for a genuine, community-led task force to address our missing and murdered Indigenous women, Kunesh-Podein said in a release. This sudden interest and visit by Ivanka Trump feels disingenuous and smacks of manipulated political showcasing. Ivanka Trump tweeted late Monday that the Trump administration supports empowering tribal communities. This Admin is committed to advancing policies that empower tribal communities & ensure all Americans live w/ dignity & the promise of a brighter future. This historic day is another fulfillment of @realDonaldTrumps promise to always fight for the forgotten men & women across! she wrote. First lady Melania Trump is planning a visit to the Cherokee Nation. The tribe last week posted an announcement on behalf of its chief, Chuck Hoskin Jr., stating: We welcome First lady Melania Trump on her first visit to Cherokee Nation and were excited to show her the advances tribal nations are making in the field of health care for Native people and children. Earlier this month, Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse of Washington state sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy urging two pieces of legislation to address the violence against Indigenous women be considered by the House before its August recess. The two bills - Savannas Act and the Not Invisible Act - passed unanimously in the House judiciary committee in March. The Associated Press contributed to this report Flash A Chinese envoy on Wednesday urged the United States to stop politicizing the Syrian humanitarian issue and to immediately lift unilateral sanctions against Syria. China has always adopted a constructive and responsible approach in dealing with the issue of cross-border humanitarian mechanism for Syrians. In fact, it is the United States that should reflect on its actions, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. In addressing the cross-border issue, the United States voted six times against reasonable draft resolutions and amendments aimed at narrowing differences and finding solutions, he told a Security Council virtual meeting on Syria's humanitarian situation. If the United States truly cares about the humanitarian situation in Syria, it should stop politicizing the humanitarian issue, stop putting up a hypocritical political show. If the United States truly cares about the humanitarian situation in Syria, it should immediately lift unilateral sanctions against the Syrian people, instead of creating groundless excuses. If the United States truly cares about the humanitarian situation in Syria, it should stop hegemony policy, regime change and bullying practices in the Middle East and other parts of the world, which had led to endless chaos and instability, said Zhang. China follows closely the humanitarian and economic situation in Syria. China is deeply worried that Syria is now going through severe economic collapse. The loss of currency value, rising unemployment, increased food insecurity and insufficient medicine supplies all add to the sufferings of the Syrian people, he said. The fact that unilateral sanctions gravely impact the humanitarian situation in Syria is undeniable. Years of economic blockade and illegal sanctions have worsened the socio-economic and humanitarian situations in Syria, and undermined the livelihoods of innocent civilians. At this critical time, unilateral sanctions further compromise Syria's capacity to effectively respond to COVID-19. Lifting unilateral sanctions is more important and urgent than ever, he said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, his special envoy Geir Pedersen, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs have made repeated appeals for the waiving of unilateral sanctions. These appeals have also received the overwhelming support of member states. There should be a positive response to these appeals, he said. China urges relevant countries to demonstrate genuine sympathy and support for the Syrian people by lifting the sufferings they impose on them. The Security Council should fulfill its mandate and take concrete actions in this regard. China also requests a comprehensive report by the UN Secretariat on this issue, said Zhang. The Syrian government bears the primary responsibility to improve the humanitarian situation in Syria. It is encouraging to see continued efforts and progress in cross-line operations into both the northeast and the northwest of Syria. China calls on relevant parties to remove obstacles to cross-line operations, and give priority to providing humanitarian relief from within Syrian territory, he said. The international community should increase humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people, on the basis of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria. In this regard, China's position on the cross-border mechanism remains unchanged. Considering the current situation, China does not object to retaining the cross-border mechanism at this stage, he said. The Syrian issue should be addressed with a holistic approach, taking into account the political, counter-terrorism, security, humanitarian and other aspects altogether, said Zhang. China calls on relevant parties to respond to the cease-fire appeals by the secretary-general, strengthen dialogue and consultation, and actively promote a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned political process. China will continue to play a responsible and constructive role in the efforts to achieve a peaceful, just and proper settlement of the Syrian issue at an early date, he said. Today we want to talk about four phones - the Oppo Reno4 Pro and Reno3 Pro. No, we didn't count wrong, there's four of them. Part of the problem is that Oppo releases different-specced models for the Chinese market and if that's all there was, we wouldn't have an issue. But there's some overlap. Let's start with the global Oppo Reno4 Pro which was announced this week. It has a 6.5" AMOLED display (1080p+ resolution), which impresses with its 90Hz refresh rate and 1,100 nits peak brightness. Also, the 4,000 mAh battery charges at a whopping 65W - 5 minutes of charging is all you need for 4 hours of watching YouTube. However, the Snapdragon 720G chipset leaves us scratching our heads. It's more powerful than the Helio P95 found inside the global Reno3 Pro and it's a fine chipset, though it stings to know that in China the Reno4 Pro gets a Snapdragon 765G (but let's ignore that one, since it's not available anywhere else). The camera setup is confusing too. On its back it has a 48MP main camera (1/2.0" sensor) and no telephoto cam, on the front is a single 32MP selfie cam. Compare that with the Reno3 Pro that launched in Poland at around 600. That one has a 48 MP main plus 2x telephoto cams and a 44MP selfie cam to boot. It has got a 6.5" 90Hz AMOLED screen and a Snapdragon 765G chipset. It does charge at "only" 30W, however. In India the Reno3 Pro is quite different. It's based on the Helio P95 (which as mentioned is weaker than the S765G) and the screen refreshes at only 60Hz, but it too has a 2x telephoto cam and it gets a larger 64MP sensor to boot (1/1.72"). The moral of this story is to be careful when reading online reviews for a given Reno model as it could be rather different from the one available in your region. But if you could get the new Oppo Reno4 Pro, will you? The phone will be available in India next week at a price of INR 35,000. That works out to just under EUR 400, though keep in mind that the actual European price may be different. Let's examine some alternatives before you head to the polls. We already covered the different Reno3 Pro versions and the European one may be the better pick. The one in India is an alternative too, if you care about cameras more than you do about chipsets. Oppo also unveiled the vanilla Reno4, which is very similar to the Pro model. The two major differences are the screen - the vanilla has a 6.4" 60 Hz AMOLED and the charging speed - it's down to 30 W on this one. However, it will cost THB 12,000 in Thailand when it launches next week, that's EUR 325 or so. Oppo Reno4 Motorola Moto G 5G Plus Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite 5G OnePlus Nord Then there's the Motorola Moto G 5G Plus with a larger 6.7" 90Hz LCD and similar camera setup. The 5,000 mAh battery charges at a downright pedestrian 20W, but you do get the Snapdragon 765G running close to stock Android. This phone goes for around 350 right now. The Xiaomi Mi 10 Lite costs 400 for the 6/128 GB model - but you get the same 765G chipset for it, a 6.57" OLED (HDR10+, but 60 Hz), 22.5W charging and a similar telephoto-less camera setup. Unfortunately, neither the Mi 10 Lite nor the Moto are available in India. And we can't forget the hype-meister itself, the OnePlus Nord. It checks the 90Hz AMOLED and 765G boxes, has a camera setup similar to the Reno and decently fast 30W charging. All with the stock-ish OxygenOS sprinkled on top will cost you EUR 400/INR 28,000. So, what will it be? One Oppo Reno4 Pro to go or will you pick one of the alternatives? Every year, the first Sunday of August is celebrated as Friendship Day in India. While different nations have different criteria to mark this day, this year, Indians triggered a meme fest to celebrate the various kinds of friendship that makes an individuals life more cheerful. From types of friends to introverts on this day, netizens took different scenarios and gave a hilarious twist by using fictional characters even Spongebob from SpongeBob SquarePants. The first World Friendship Day was proposed for July 30 in 1958 but India follows different criteria, and thus, it is celebrated on August 2, this year. Therefore, the internet was flooded with memes and heartwarming messages for friends under #FriendshipDay2020. Take a look at some of the memes: Pic1 : Texts on friendship day. Pic2 : That one friend in hard times.#FriendshipDay2020 pic.twitter.com/7sEJCFn4rL Sumit jadhav (@Ekdum_Jhakaasss) August 2, 2020 #FriendsForever#HappyFriendshipDay2020 Me to my friend who didn't wished me on friendship day: pic.twitter.com/X88qaJN4Xm Siddhant Deshmukh (@Siddhant_21_) August 2, 2020 Read - Anushka Sharma Remembers Her Friends With An Adorable Throwback Picture On Friendship Day If my Bestfriend wishes me "Happy Friendship Day Bhaii " Le Me in next second : pic.twitter.com/oDkGIm49TC Ruining Memes (@MemesRuining) August 1, 2020 30 july : international friendship day 2 August : friendship day pic.twitter.com/6NI05yREx0 vasim deshwali (@vasim_ke_memes) July 30, 2020 Friend :- Happy Friendship Day Bhaii Me :- pic.twitter.com/p5kjQqconx STUD_MEMES (@dot_suk_) August 1, 2020 Wo Instagram and whatsapp story pe friendship day wale din alag alag friends k sath pic dalna jruri hai kya.??#FriendshipDay2020 #FriendsForever pic.twitter.com/Fl4kl4cfi0 Nikhil Gupta (@nikhilgupta1532) August 2, 2020 Boys on :- Raksha Bandhan Friendship Day pic.twitter.com/TbDv7wgVlX LEGEND (@legends_memes11) August 1, 2020 Happy "Bhai tujhe hi Dekh rahi hai" "Kuch paise udhar dede" "Bhai answer dikha de" "Chal party De" "Baap Ko mat sikha" "Bhai setting Kara de" "Tu hi mera bhai hai" Day.#HappyFriendshipDay Sahil Anwar (@SarcasticHuBhai) August 2, 2020 #HappyFriendshipDay *When your friend wished you by putting old tik tok video on whatsapp status Le you: pic.twitter.com/tlZ5zGuUtU arey! PRINCE (@Pita_shri) August 2, 2020 **Me making a collage of loyal friend of mine** #FriendsForever pic.twitter.com/Bamjv4fd02 Divyam (@Unluckyaff) August 2, 2020 When you propose your crush and on next day he comes to tie friendship band to friendzone you - pic.twitter.com/Rh4d7qtOxn Pihu (@PritiMhatre6) August 2, 2020 No Father has ever Said.. Dear Papa, Happy Friendship Day pic.twitter.com/DVTRYOVfVN Ritviz Tweeps (@eklauta_) August 2, 2020 FRIENDSHIP DAY MEANS TIME FOR THIS MEME pic.twitter.com/ahEaoxkHAJ ellie | #12+1 (@oikawashoyou) July 30, 2020 Read - Sachin Tendulkar Shares Pic From His Childhood Days On Friendship Day. Can You Spot Him? Friends Everyone Has In Their Group#Thread Aalok (@Chuckle_Some2) August 2, 2020 Friendship Day History Friendship Day is celebrated on different days across the world. International Friendship Day is celebrated on July 30 as proclaimed by the United National General Assembly. However, apart from that, various countries have opted to celebrate friendships on other days. For instance, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, and Uruguay celebrate the day on July 20. However, in countries including Bangladesh, Malaysia, India, Singapore, and UAE, Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month of August every year. Hence, for the year 2020, the day falls on August 2. The idea of Friendship Day was first proposed by Dr Ramon Artemio Bracho, on July 20, 1958, when he was dining with his buddies in a town named Puerto Pinasco that is situated alongside the River Paraguay. That led to the formation of the World Friendship Crusade, which is a foundation that encourages fellowships amongst people and communities. The crusade declared it World Friendship Day. Later, on April 27, 2011, the Unites Nations proclaimed July 30 as official International Friendship Day. Read - 'Tere Jaisa Yaar Kahan': Israeli Embassy Extends Wishes To India On Friendship Day Read - Friendship Day Poems To Share With Your Friends This Friendship Day 2020 School supplies for elementary age students. A giant question mark looms over whether - and in what form - public schools in and around Philadelphia will manage to resume education this fall amid the crippling coronavirus pandemic. Read more Its not every day that journalists are invited to listen in on internal school district meetings. Usually, the meatiest material we get served up are school board meetings with policy-speak and occasional food fights. Seldom are reporters allowed to see the sausage as its being made inside administration offices. One public education official in Delaware County declined to even get on the phone with me to discuss the challenges of reopening schools amid the coronavirus pandemic. To quote the text message I received from a handler: Due to the political nature of the situation, she prefers not to comment. So when a Bucks County superintendent not only replied to my request for a conversation Thursday but then pulled me into an in-progress video meeting with district insiders, I nearly had a stroke. Moments after accepting a Google Hangout invite from Superintendent Bill Harner, my face landed in a box on a computer screen. About a dozen Quakertown Community School District officials were talking through a head-spinning litany of proposals and contingencies. I caught the second half of the two-hour meeting. We are trying to encourage shields as a potential option, special education supervisor Carrie Staffieri was saying when I joined. We have put in a sneeze guard order ... to have some of those plexiglass dividers. She said of teachers in more specialized programs: We are giving those staff gloves, gowns, face shields. Facilities chief Rob Christine showed off a spit guard, directing his computer camera to a shiny piece of plastic glass. Harner interrupted and so did I. We made sure everyone knew I was observing the meeting on the record. READ MORE: The coronavirus scourge of the under-30 crowd is upon us and it is dangerous | Maria Panaritis For weeks, Id been hearing that school administrators across the region were pulling their hair out. Teachers in Philadelphia made known their fierce opposition and concerns about in-class teaching without proper safeguards in the perpetually underfunded district. It forced the district to cancel plans to open schools. Parents have been wondering if the looming schools disaster will leave them and their children without child care and learning as districts resort only to untested fully online instruction with limited details regarding its execution. This is why, when Quakertown fifth-grade teacher and union president Ryan Wieand asked questions the other day, I paid close attention. Teachers will make or break what happens this fall. Wieand wanted to know how substitutes would be used and whether the district was, as he had heard, planning to make elementary school librarians deliver their specialties in a general class setting, which is of concern to his members. It minimizes their jobs by just saying theyre going to be absorbed by another teacher, Wieand said. READ MORE: Republicans must back a COVID-19 relief bill to rescue public schools. The alternative is calamity. | Maria Panaritis Assistant Superintendent Lisa Hoffmans response: This was an essential, if still unofficial, modification that would not be under consideration in normal times. We cant have kids going in and checking out books, Hoffman said. We are not saying we dont need elementary librarians and theyre not going to have a job next year. They may not have the kids for a 30-minute block of time like they normally would. Wieand continued to press the issue: Its not always about losing a job. It also comes around to forcing them into jobs that they never were inspired to do before. One of the largest concerns from teachers, he later said, was a lack of details for what it takes to instruct virtually and what it takes to instruct live. Officials said such details would be coming out in the next few days. Quakertowns board is pushing a return-to-school plan that offers a choice of all-virtual, partial-in-school, or Monday-through-Friday classes in buildings for all grades. Easier said than done. Districts like Philadelphia and some of its suburbs have announced all-online school reopenings in part due to teacher concerns about coronavirus transmission rates inside buildings. I asked Wieand if his colleagues were equally on guard about that. In a survey he conducted of the unions 353 members, he said 55.7% dont feel safe returning to school, 32.3% said that they feel somewhat safe returning to school, and 12% said they feel safe returning to school. He said teachers may consider requesting partially paid leaves of absence. If their own kids are stranded at home this fall because they live in districts that have gone all virtual, or if they have coronavirus-related health concerns, these are options for them. In a recent call of Bucks County superintendents, Harner said two colleagues reported that a combined 100 teachers had requested paid leave for this fall. You cant open with those numbers. As of today, he said of his own district, I had only two requests for family leaves. Of course, that could change. Were all going to be struggling, Harner said. Its a domino because of whats going on next door. As of Thursday, about 60% of the Quakertown student body had registered for in-class instruction. Harner said he was still waiting to hear from an additional 1,000 students and their families. Curiously, Gov. Tom Wolf on Friday apparently sought to quell rumors that districts were all waiting for him and his public health advisers to wave a wand that would force all schools to open virtually. I want to be clear: I am not closing school buildings or cancelling classes, Wolf tweeted. Hours earlier, the U.S. Senate went on vacation rather than approve pandemic aid for public schools. This, dear citizens, is a mess of royal proportions. I want to be clear: I am waiting for someone to save our kids. Who will it be? Health officials are warning consumers to avoid onions sold by a California company as a multi-state salmonella outbreak continues to spread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is advising consumers, restaurant operators and retailers to not eat, serve or sell any onions from Thomson International, Inc. of Bakersfield, California. That also applies to any food made with these onions. A total of 396 people in 39 states have been sickened by this salmonella outbreak since June, including 59 hospitalizations. No cases have been reported in New Jersey, though recent cases have been reported in Pennsylvania (2) and New York (4). No deaths have been reported. Onions labeled from Thomson International, which is believed to be the source of this outbreak, should be thrown away, the CDC advises, adding that if you dont know the origin of your onions, they should not be eaten, served or sold. While red onions are considered the likely source of this outbreak, other types of onions from the company should be avoided, including white, yellow and sweet, because they may have been contaminated due to the way onions are grown and harvested, the CDC stated. Symptoms can include diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps that occur from six hours to six days after exposure to the salmonella bacteria. The illness usually lasts four to seven days and most recover without medical treatment. Those younger than 5, adults 65 and over and people with weakened immune systems are most likely to experience a severe illness. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. There was a time, and it wasn't so long ago, when showing concern at the sight of a woman's body covered in bruises inflicted by her boyfriend would have been considered normal and uncontroversial. Increasingly these days, however, the right to beat up your partner is not seen as an abomination, but the sign of a mutually beneficial (if a little risque) sexual relationship. In a new TikTok challenge, women are even sharing post-coital videos of their bruised and cut limbs, in an attempt to emulate the recent Netflix kidnap-porn film, 365 Days. These aren't small wounds - sometimes bruises are larger than the women's handspans, as well as cuts that definitely go beyond surface level. One such video went viral across social media last week, and has been viewed more than 33 million times with nearly six million likes. Why has this video resonated with so many people, or, at the very least, been considered entertaining enough to like? It's merely the latest manifestation of a growing cultural feeling that 'vanilla' sex has passed its heyday, and that getting rough is the best way to curb boredom. 'Rough' here doesn't mean using handcuffs or role-play, all of which are starting to seem a bit passe, but anything from slapping and spitting in your partner's face, to hair-pulling, choking, and much worse. This, it seems, is the new normal. Studies and anecdotes both confirm that violence during sex is on the rise, particularly in casual encounters. A 2019 study found that almost a quarter of adult women in the US have actively experienced fear from the violence inflicted on them during sexual encounters with men, while a third of women in the UK have experienced unwanted spitting, choking, or slapping. Irish women report many of the same disturbing experiences. Many men seem to consider rough sex such a common part of a normal sexual experience that they no longer feel it's something for which they even need to ask consent. Expand Close NUANCED PORTRAYAL: Sally Rooney wrote about Mariannes desire to be hurt during sex in Normal People / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp NUANCED PORTRAYAL: Sally Rooney wrote about Mariannes desire to be hurt during sex in Normal People It's obvious that this new proclivity for rough sex comes from the rise of internet porn. Sites such as PornHub routinely upload videos advertising the fact that the women in them are crying, in pain, or 'broken'. 'Destroy' is now virtually synonymous for penetration. It only takes a few seconds to find footage of women (in many cases, teenagers) screaming or whimpering in pain, while men hit them, choke them, pull their hair, and worse. That's to say nothing of the extreme racism that's also present. In porn, black men are often portrayed as particularly willing to 'destroy' waifish white women. Feminist academic Robert Jensen described porn as "what the end of the world looks like". He's right: some videos are genuinely dystopian. One defence of pornography is that the performers have all consented, and that it's just fantasy. Both these views are often wrong. Writer and activist Rose Kalemba has bravely spoken about videos of her own rape, uploaded on to PornHub without her consent when she was 13. Despite this, it took months for them to be removed, and new copies are still uploaded years later. Female performers increasingly suffer vaginal and/or rectal prolapse from filming such rough scenes. Given the ubiquity of internet porn, it's not surprising that these trends have moved out of the online recesses and into plain sight. Media outlets such as Men's Health, Vice, and Refinery29 have run articles explaining how to 'safely' incorporate strangling into your sex life. It even features on the renowned reliable medical advice-site Healthline. Most medical experts will tell you that there is no 'safe' way to strangle someone, but exploring new acts seems to be part of the 'sex-positive' outlook that many women now proudly claim to possess. Willingness to accept violence from your partner has become a badge of honour, proof that you are a 'cool girl', while sticking to boring, old 'vanilla' sex is now seen as a bit prudish. It's stunning how much the word 'vanilla' is now thrown around casually to describe anything that's a bit dull or lifeless. It's heartbreaking that women, particularly younger ones, are being groomed to be proud of their bruises in order to escape the label. When I started secondary school, 'frigid' was thrown around as one of the most shameful insults. It had little to do with actual sexual experience or curiosity, but was used to single out any girls who seemed at all prudish or stand-offish. I got this one a lot, because I was a bit quiet and bookish. Hearing 'vanilla' as an insult creates instant deja-vu for me. It's a vile way of othering and dismissing women who want respect in their sexual relationships. Adults should be entitled to a private sex life, but encouraging violence during sex is just an insidious new form of victim-blaming, dressed up in liberal trappings. Reassuringly, there is a new wave of women writers tackling this difficult subject, from Sally Rooney's nuanced portrayal of Marianne's desire to be hurt during sex in Normal People, to Michaela Coel's recent triumph I May Destroy You, about the aftermath of a hook-up gone wrong. Crucially, these narratives never blame the women for their sexual desires, but rather the culture which allowed them to be hurt in the first place. Bringing this conversation into the mainstream can only be a good thing. It should never be controversial or 'kink-shaming' to question why someone makes the decision to hurt their partner. Violence is violence, and no amount of doublespeak about sex-positivity will change that. We have Michael Hirst to thank for the amazing series Vikings. He recently took part in a panel for the show on Friday, July 24, 2020. The at-home panel was part of San Diego Comic-Con@Home 2020, and it featured some huge names from the series. Hirst was joined by Travis Fimmel, who played Ragnar Lothbrok, Katheryn Winnick, who played Lagertha, Alexander Ludwig, who plays Bjorn Ironside, Clive Standen, who plays Rollo, and Jordan Patrick Smith, who plays Ubbe. Michael Hirst says it was a risk to kill off Ragnar Lothbrok Michael Hirst and Travis Fimmel | Vincent Sandoval/Getty Images Everyone who participated in the panel was asked a fair amount of questions, but Hirsts answers were extremely illuminating. The moderator asked Hirst if there was a character that he was nervous about writing out. Not too surprisingly, the first person that comes to mind is Ragnar Lothbrok. When Hirst wrote the outline for the hit series, Ragnar was supposed to die at the end of season 1. However, Hirst realized that Ragnars story was far from over, and there was still a lot of the story that needed to be told. After his death, things continue as his sons try to pick up the pieces going forward. There were plenty of gloomy, doom-laden warnings that to kill off your major character will damage the show, Hirst said. And it was a risk But Id sold the show on the basis of that this is Ragnar Lothbrok and his sons. Ragnars presence is still felt RELATED: Vikings: Fans Weigh in on Ragnar Lothbroks Transformation Over Time After Ragnars death, his sons carve out their own legacies and make names for themselves. But just because Ragnar is gone doesnt mean he isnt still immensely felt in the show. He is continuously talked about and remarked on by others, and his presence is certainly still felt, according to Hirst. And what actually happened, was that Ragnar continued to be a presence in the rest of the show, Hirst explained. He never really went away. People would talk about him all the time. How does Ragnar Lothbrok die in the series? Ragnar returns after many years away looking for revenge for the destruction of the settlement in Wessex. Fans will remember that King Ecbert (Linus Roache) ordered the Viking settlement to be destroyed, and the people living there killed. Ragnar should have avenged his people years ago, but he does finally come to his senses and seek justice. However, he soon learns that no one respects him like they once did, and hes essentially on his own to get to Wessex. Ragnar bribes a skeleton crew, and is accompanied by his son, Ivar the Boneless (Alex Hgh Andersen). Once they land on English shores, Ragnar quickly kills the people he sailed with, and finds King Ecbert. He convinces him to hand him over to King Aelle (Ivan Kaye) to be killed. Ragnar knows that this is the only way to make sure he gets his revenge. Aelle kills Ragnar in a pit of snakes, but soon, Ragnars sons learn of their fathers death. They bring the Great Heathen Army over to England, and nothing is ever the same again. They get revenge for their fathers death, as well as for the destroyed settlement. Ragnar Lothbrok sacrificed himself for his ultimate goal of revenge for the Wessex settlement. He knew his sons would make moves, and they certainly did. Although Ragnars death was a risk, it worked out for the overall story. Flower and gifting firm Ferns N Petals is planning to expand its operation in overseas markets of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia in the next two years, according to a top company official. The company, which is aiming to be a Rs 1,000 crore company by FY2022-23, is quite bullish on the online segment. It has launched new services and is investing up to Rs 30 crore on technology in the next 18 months to tap the opportunity in the e-commerce segment in the post-COVID era. "We will be expanding in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia. By the end of FY2022-23, we will be a Rs 1,000 crore company, with presence in five countries other than India," Ferns N Petals CEO Retail & Online India, UAE & Singapore Pawan Gadia told PTI. Presently, Ferns N Petals, a 27-year-old company, has a presence in foreign markets like the UAE and Singapore. "In the UAE we are number two player and Singapore number four-player and we plan to be the leading player in one or two years," he said adding that at the end of next two years, we would have presence in five countries." Ferns N Petals operates in three verticals wedding halls and banquets, retail shop of flower and cakes and online business. The company had a turnover of around Rs 500 crore in FY2019-20. However, it expects a hit of around 15-20 percent in its top line due to lockdown disruptions in the market. "In Q1 our banquet business was zero, the retail business was down to 30 per cent of what was last year. However, our online business has grown about 25 per cent," he said adding that the company expects to continue its growth momentum in online sales going forward. The company expects normalcy in its wedding business as the government had permitted gathering with limited people under Unlock 3.0 and retail business of flowers and cake to be subdued in the coming quarters. "We expect online business to grow by 35 percent this year," he said. Post-COVID-19, the company has witnessed an increase in its e-commerce business and has also started digital gifting. "When COVID-19 hit the market, we started the digital gifting business. We have specialty to adapt and change," he said, adding Ferns N Petals is investing heavily in technology and will put Rs 25 to 30 crore in technology in the next 18 months. In its digital gift portfolio, Ferns N Petals has introduced several services which include Celebrity Video Message, Violinist on Call, Fitness on Call, and Poet on Call. "We are known as flower brand, however, in this Rakhi season, for example, we would be doing around six to seven lakh deliveries of rakhi at doorsteps in the country and around two lakhs in the other parts of the world, he said adding that it could also be Rakhi coupled with gifts as chocolates, dry fruits, sweets, plants, etc. In the online business, Ferns N Petals gets 40 percent turnover from cakes, 30-35 percent from flowers and 10 percent from personalised category. "We get 2,000 orders per day for personalised category," Gadia said. During the search at Hany Babu's house, the NIA seized one account ledger, one receipt book of a committee formed for the defence and release of GN Saibaba, several documents as well as electronic items such as hard disk, USB pen drive among others New Delhi: The NIA on Sunday searched the Noida residence of Delhi University associate professor Hany Babu Musaliyarveettil Tharayil, arrested in connection with the Bhima Koregaon Elgar Parishad case, an official said. The case pertains to the organisation of Elgar Parishad in Pune on 31 December, 2017, which promoted enmity between various caste groups and led to violence, resulting in the loss of life and property and statewide agitation in Maharashtra, an NIA spokesperson said. The investigation revealed that the Elgar Parishad, along with Maoist leaders, used the incident to spread the ideology of Maoism/Naxalism and encourage unlawful activities on the instructions of the leaders of CPI(Maoist), a banned organisation, the official of the premier investigation agency said. Hany Babu was found to be a co-conspirator along with other accused propagating Naxal activities and Maoist ideology, and was placed under arrest on July 28, the official said. Hany Babu, along with other accused Rona Wilson, Anand Teltumbde, P Varavara Rao and Surendra Gadling, formed a committee for the release of former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his links with the CPI (Maoist), he said. During the search at Hany Babu's house, the NIA seized one account ledger, one receipt book of the committee for the defence and release of Saibaba, several documents as well as electronic items such as hard disk, USB pen drive among others, the official added. He was in contact with Paikhomba Meitei, Secretary Information and Publicity, Military Affairs, Kangleipak Communist Party (MC), an organisation banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the NIA official said. An interview of Ganapathy, General Secretary of CPI (Maoist), was shared by Meitei with Hany Babu, the NIA official said, adding that the communications of Hany Babu with other Maoists of Manipur have also been retrieved. The investigation also revealed that after the release of CPI (Maoist) leader Pallath Govindankutty, Hany Babu along with co-accused Rona Wilson took the initiative to help him financially by raising funds, the spokesperson said. Further investigation in the case was underway. Parliament has approved an agreement for $200 million to fund the Ghana Jobs and Skills Project (GJSP). The project will offer competency based apprenticeship and entrepreneurial skills development to the youth and offer grants to individuals as well as micro and small enterprises to create decent jobs or establish new businesses. CoronaLife Web Series Job creation The project, expected to create a total of 199,500 jobs, made up of 94,000 direct jobs and 105,000 indirect jobs, will be implemented over a six-year period and is expected to end on June 30, 2026. It will be implemented by the Council for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (COVET) and the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI). The agreement for the project was presented to the House on July 22, 2020 by the Minster of Defence, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, on behalf of the Minister of Finance. The Speaker, pursuant to Article 103 of the Constitution and Orders 169 and 171 of the Standing Orders of the House, referred the agreement to the Finance Committee for consideration and report. Project components Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Dr Mark Assibey-Yeboah, indicated that the project was structured around five components with various sub-components. Kinapharma Safeway The first component, he said, involved the provision of apprenticeship training for jobs at the cost of $60 million while component two would take care of the provision of entrepreneurship and micro and small enterprise support for jobs, also costing $100 million. Component three, he said, would cover the operationalisation of the Ghana labour market information system, upgrading of district public employment centres and services, and independent performance reviews of select government youth and skills development programmes at the cost of $30 million. Additionally, component four, estimated at $10 million, will ensure capacity development, technical assistance and project management support for enhanced skills and jobs impact, with component five centring on contingent emergency response. Employment Dr Assibey-Yeboah said an estimated number of 25,000 individuals would receive entrepreneurship training under a standardised, quality-assured system under the programme. Out of the number, about 70 per cent are expected to have jobs within six months after the completion of their training, amounting to a minimum of 17, 500 jobs, he said. A minimum number of 50,000 individuals are also expected to receive entrepreneurship training under a sub component of the project. This sub component will also support 5,000 individuals through competitive business start-up grants and mentorship support upon successful participation and completion of an intermediate level of entrepreneurship training, Dr Assibey-Yeboah stated. He noted that about 70 per cent of the trainees were expected to have jobs six months after the completion of their training, amounting to at least 35,000 individuals. The chairman indicated that under another sub component, at least 700 competitive grants would be provided to private enterprises and a minimum of 42,000 individuals were expected to be employed in those private enterprises six months after the implementation of the grant. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video New Delhi A ship carrying Iranian goods bound for Thailand left Chabahar port last week, marking the first time the strategic port has been used to ship a consignment to a Southeast Asian country. MV Libra sailed from Shahid Behesthi terminal of Chabahar port, which is operated by an Indian state-run company, with 123 containers on July 29. This included the first ever shipment from Chabahar to Bangkok, people familiar with developments said. The merchant vessel sailed to Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai and Mumdra port, from where the consignment will be transhipped to Thailand, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity. They said the shipment is significant in view of efforts by India and Iran to enhance the economic viability of Chabahar port. The director general of Irans Sistan and Baluchestan Ports and Maritime Organisation, Behrouz Aghaei, was quoted by the Iranian media as saying that this was the first time aquatic products were shipped from Chabahar to Thailand. Afghanistan recently sent a consignment of different products, including dried fruits, to India and China through Shahid Beheshti terminal as well, Aghaei said. The vessel carrying the Afghan goods was the fourth ship that left Chabahar for destinations such as India, China and Thailand during July. India, Afghanistan and Iran signed an agreement in 2016 to jointly develop Chabahar as a trade and transit hub, including for markets in the landlocked Central Asian states to the north. India has used Chabahar since 2017 to transport essential goods and humanitarian supplies, including wheat, to Afghanistan. About 60,000 tonnes of wheat has been shipped from India to Afghanistan through Chabahar since March. The port has also been used by Afghanistan since last year to export goods to India. Hossein Shahdadi, deputy director general of Sistan-Baluchestan provinces ports and maritime department, told IRNA news agency the main goal of the Chabahar development plan is to boost the volume of transit and exports from Iran. A total of 627,000 tonnes of goods were unloaded at the port since March 20, and Shahdadi described the growth in the ports handling of goods over the past two years as remarkable. Chabahar is also the safest and the most economically efficient route for export and import of commodities from India, Afghanistan and the Central Asian countries, he said. Iranian officials are also eyeing the possibility of making Chabahar, which was granted a special waiver from US sanctions, the countrys third trade hub after Bandar Abbas and Imam Khomeini ports. Three 14-year-old boys have been arrested on suspicion of attempting to rob a woman in Newtownards. Police said the woman was followed by three male youths while walking on East Street at around 8.20am on Sunday. It was then reported that two of the youths, who were both armed with knives, approached the woman and demanded money. The woman was able to get away and no money was taken. Three 14-year-old boys have since been arrested on suspicion of attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence. They all remain in custody at this time. Detective Constable Kennedy said: "This was a very distressing ordeal for the victim, and I would appeal to anyone who was in the area and saw what occurred, or who has information about this incident, to call us on 101, quoting reference number700 of 02/08/20." "A report can also be made using the online reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport. Alternatively, information can be provided to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org." Only cure for sanctions is reliance on internal capabilities not retreat: Ayatollah Khamenei ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Sat / 1 August 2020 / 15:13 Tehran (ISNA) - The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei spoke directly to the people of Iran on the occasion of Eid al-Adha on July 31, 2020. Pointing to the large-scale demonstrations against injustice, which have been witnessed in the US in the last months, Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the main enemy of the US government is not the Islamic Republic of Iran. Rather, it is the people of that country, who will ultimately destroy the current political system in the US. In his televised speech on the occasion of the auspicious Eid al-Adha, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, "Current events in the US are like a fire under ashes that has flamed up. Even if they extinguish it, it will blaze up again and burn down the current US regime, because the politico-economic philosophy of that system is wrong and condemned to destruction." Ayatollah Khamenei stated that the US's problems are much bigger than those of Iran and that they are not comparable at all. He mentioned that astonishing class inequalities, racial discrimination, economic problems and a high rate of unemployment, problems in managing the issue of the Coronavirus, and the poor management of social issues - which have led to many cases of cruelty, murder and torture by the US police - are some of these problems. He said, "Today, the US is abhorred and isolated throughout the world." His Eminence stressed that the repeated statements of US politicians against Iran indicate their confusion, and he added, "US management is suffering from confusion and bewilderment. The Americans are trying to find an enemy. That is why they sometimes mention Iran, and at other times, they mention Russia and China. However, at the present time, the US has no enemy bigger than its own nation, and this very enemy will bring that regime to its knees." The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution added, "The sanctions imposed by the Americans against the Iranian nation are undoubtedly a crime. And these are crimes against a nation. Although they appear to be against a political system, they are actually against a nation." Ayatollah Khamenei believes that the enemies pursue short-term, mid-term and long-term goals in imposing sanctions against Iran, "Their short term goal is to make people tired. When people are tired and perplexed, they will stand up against the government. As you know, they said last year and they are saying it this year as well that a hot summer awaits the Iranian government. This means that the people will come out and stand up against the system. However, they themselves were afflicted by a hot summer." He explained, "Their mid-term goal in imposing sanctions is to prevent the country from progressing. Primarily, they want to prevent our scientific progress." The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution added that their long-term goal is to drag the country and the administration into bankruptcy, "Destroying the economy of the country is another goal that they pursue because if the economy of a country collapses, it will not be able to survive." Ayatollah Khamenei added, "The sanctions pursue an additional goal as well. They want to disconnect the relations between the Islamic Republic and the Resistance Forces in the region. This is because they know that Iran will help these forces as much as they can." His Eminence stated that the news coming from Western media indicates that the massive pressures exerted through sanctions and their maximum pressure policy have failed to produce the results they wanted. He emphasized that negotiating with the US is harmful, "This is what the US is saying today, 'You should completely abandon your nuclear industry. You should decrease your defense and missile capabilities to one tenth of what they are at the present time, and you should become defenseless. You should also abandon your authority in the region and let go of it forever.' If we agree to abandon these things, they will not be satisfied and will ask for new things." The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution stressed that sanctions are definitely curable, but the cure is not to retreat. He continued on to say, "The only cure for sanctions is reliance on internal capabilities. We should preserve all present capabilities and strive to find new ones. We definitely have many capabilities. Therefore, we must rely on and revive them. We should also bring the youth out onto the scene to participate." Elsewhere in his statements, Ayatollah Khamenei said, "I congratulate all Muslims, the dear Iranian nation and all followers of Abrahamic religions on the occasion of the auspicious Eid al-Adha, which is a great historic event for all the pious people in the world." End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In the Demonstration against the Corona pads on Saturday in Berlin have been injured, according to police sources, 18 the use of force. Three would be treated in the hospital, informed the police in the night to Sunday. More than 20,000 people had previously had rules in disregard of the distance and without a mouth, nose, protection against the measures to contain the Coronavirus protested. Because of the non-compliance with the requirements, the police broke up in the late afternoon of the rally. The resolution moved in the night. At the Brandenburg gate, hundreds of people waited in the late evening. On Twitter, the police announced that it would create, View and partially carried away. At the Demonstration people from all over Germany arrived in the area, had called, among other things, the Stuttgart-based Initiative cross-711 think. In addition to Corona-deniers and Impfgegnern also, many of the participants with a clear right-wing flags or T-Shirts in the crowd were. From the policy and sharp criticism of the behavior of the protesters came at a time of rising Corona infections. Demonstrations would have to be in Corona-times, wrote to the Federal Minister of health, Jens Spahn (CDU) on Twitter. "But not so. Distance, rules of hygiene and the everyday masks serve all of our protection. SPD-Head of Saskia esque also wrote on Twitter: "thousands Covidioten celebrate in Berlin as 'the second wave', without distance, without a mask." Updated Date: 02 August 2020, 06:19 SOUTH GLENS FALLS, N.Y. New York State Sen. Daphne Jordan (R,C,I-Halfmoon) proudly joined bowling center owners and employees from across the Capital Region at Kingpins Alley Family Fun Center, Friday in South Glens Falls, to urge Gov. Andrew Cuomo to allow the safe reopening of bowling centers. During the press conference, Sen. Jordan and bowling center owners noted that the continued closure 137 days and counting of nearly 300 bowling centers throughout NYS could place over 9,000 jobs statewide in jeopardy, with bowling centers losing approximately $90 million in revenue with an estimated economic impact to employees of $30 million in lost wages. Many bowling centers may shutter their doors forever unless the Governor acts. Bowling centers offer fun, family-friendly recreation and access to a beloved pastime. By employing over 9,000 New Yorkers and providing tens of millions of dollars in economic activity, as well as supporting countless charitable causes, bowling centers are a vital part of our economy. Sadly, many bowling centers here in our Capital District, and across our state are struggling as never before since Governor Cuomo shut down our economy, Sen. Jordan stated. Back on July 14, I wrote the Governor asking him to direct Empire State Development (ESD) to develop a plan to allow for the safe, sensible reopening of these facilities. To date, the administration hasnt responded, and a growing number of bowling centers many of which are family-owned and operated small businesses with deep roots in their communities may face the possibility of permanent closure. We cant allow that to happen. Governor Cuomo needs to step up and direct ESD to formulate a common-sense plan so they can reopen safely and sensibly, Sen. Jordan noted. Our goal for this press conference is to open a dialog with Governor Cuomo so that bowling centers statewide can present our case as to how we can open our centers safely. We offer our guidance to the governor and are happy to help work with his office to modify the previously submitted opening plan so that it meets or exceeds all of his concerns. Our center owners are some of the best in our industry! Let us work together to get the 300 bowling centers open in New York State, New York State Bowling Proprietors Association (NYSBPA) President Doug Bohannon explained. On July 14, Sen. Jordan wrote Gov. Cuomo requesting that he direct Empire State Development to develop a plan to allow the safe, sensible reopening of bowling centers that had been closed since the issuance of the Governors New York on PAUSE directive on March 22. The administration has provided no formal response to the request thus far and bowling centers remain closed. We have to protect lives but we also need to safeguard livelihoods. The proud owners of these facilities the small businessmen and women you see here have poured their money, their sweat, their tears, and everything they have into their businesses and now they are looking at potentially losing it all. In June, there were over one million unemployed New Yorkers. So many small businesses are struggling, and many may go out of business, permanently. Governor, please hear our request and allow these beloved small businesses to reopen, safely, and sensibly, Sen. Jordan added. Joining Sen. Jordan and taking part in Fridays press conference were New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner; Alison and Doug Bohannon, President, New York State Bowling Proprietors Association, owners, Kingpins Alley Family Fun Center, South Glens Falls; Rich Sheldon, owner, Saratoga Strike Zone, Saratoga Springs; Scott McLaughlin, owner, Lucky Strike Lanes, Malone; Bill Cornell, owner, Dell Lanes and East Greenbush Bowling Center; Carol Judge, General Manager, Spare Time, Latham; Bobby Downing, owner, Crystal Lanes, Corning; Jeff and Beckie Ripic, owners, Ripics Carousel Lanes, Binghamton; Mike Tryniski, owner, Lakeview Lanes, Fulton Brandon and Sean Bickford, owners, Broadway Lanes, Hudson Falls and Slate Valley Lanes, Granville, and Michael Bittel, President, Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce. New York State is home to approximately 300 bowling centers, the majority of which are family-owned and operated, employing over 9,000 people. Since the mandated closure of bowling centers 137 days ago, bowling centers have lost approximately $90 million in revenue with an estimated economic impact to employees of $30 million in lost wages. With fall leagues set to begin soon, the financial impact to these centers increases dramatically. Absent fall bowling leagues being allowed to start, many bowling centers may be forced to close forever. Additionally, bowling centers are key parts of local communities as hundreds of non-profit organizations use bowling centers to raise much-needed funds for local charitable causes. HK's coronavirus fight to get mainland medical help Global Times Source: Global Times Published: 2020/8/1 11:24:45 Last Updated: 2020/8/1 18:09:08 Following a request from the Hong Kong government, seven medical workers from neighboring Guangdong Province, will arrive in the city on Sunday, to help deal with a surging number of COVID-19 cases there. Later, a medical team consisting by 60 medical workers from 20 public hospitals from Guangdong Province will go to Hong Kong to assist its nucleic acid testing, the National Health Commission (NHC) said Saturday, which did not give a timetable for their arrival. The head of the team is with the Guangdong health commission, and previously participated anti-epidemic assistance work in Wuhan, the hardest hit Chinese city earlier in the year. The NHC said the mainland will offer other help to Hong Kong if necessary. According to Hong Kong-based Wen Wei Po, the central government will cover the cost of nucleic acid tests in the city, and the mainland assistance team will stay until the contagion is stamped out. NHC has also organized a team to help Hong Kong build the Fangcang or "cabin" makeshift hospital to deal with mild cases. Six experts from Wuhan, including the head of hospital construction and architecture, are to provide technical support during the construction of the hospital, which is now being built at the Asia World Expo stadium, and is expected to have 1,000 beds. Local media reports that 20 patients, who are in stable condition and able to care of themselves, are the first to be treated at the Fangcang hospital. Fourteen doctors and 50 nurses have been assigned to the makeshift hospital. Hong Kong's coronavirus epidemic has worsened since early July, and has resulted in the postponement of the city's Legislative Council (LegCo) elections until September 2021. Hong Kong is experiencing its worst COVID-19 spike since January, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam said on Friday. Hong Kong's daily new COVID-19 cases surpassed 100 for the 10th consecutive day on Friday, with 121 new cases. As of Saturday, the city altogether had reported 3,273 cases and 29 deaths. Stanley Ng Chau-pei, the president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, in early July proposed that the Hong Kong government collect samples and send them to the Chinese mainland for testing, or invite medical workers from the mainland to help complete full testing of Hong Kong residents. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address How you can help For growers: Growers should scout their orchards for small, poorly colored cherries starting a week before harvest, as well as stone fruit trees with leaves that may be yellow or that have small, discolored fruit. They should mark any suspect trees and send samples to a lab for confirmation of cherry disease, then completely remove any infected trees. Tianna DuPont, a tree fruit specialist with Washington State University, said August is the best time to remove the trees to prevent the spread. For community members: The Washington State Department of Natural Resources asks that people take 10 minutes in August to scout their backyard trees for disease. Removing diseased trees can help slow the spread, an agency press release said. Mike Van Horn, who owns fruit orchards in Zillah, also encouraged community members to check any backyard trees for disease and remove trees that may be infected. If people allow diseased trees in their backyard, that can help the spread of disease, he said. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked BJP MPs and MLAs to submit their bank account statements of transaction between November 8, the day he announced demonetisation, and December 31 to party chief Amit Shah on January 1, 2017. Modis direction at the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting came following allegations by opposition parties that the BJP had tipped off some of its own leaders ahead of the demonetisation announcement. In an apparent response to the charge that the bill to amend IT Act will help turn black money into white, the Prime Minister said the amended Act will channel the money looted from the poor for their welfare. The amended Act, he said, is a programme for the poors welfare from Lok Kalyan Marg, the new name of the road where the Prime Ministers residence is located.The amendment is not for turning black money into white but to spend the money looted from the poor on their welfare, he said. Quoting Modi, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar told reporters that the bill is part of his governments fight against blackmoney. A part of the tax collected on the money deposited under this scheme will be spent on electricity, roads, toilets and education among other welfare measures, he said. Modo also sought everybodys support in his effort to usher in digital/mobile economy and push the society towards cashless transactions. At the meeting, Amit Shah told party MPs to motivate traders in panchayats, municipalities and other local bodies falling in their constituency to shift to cashless transactions. Asked about impasse in Parliament over demonetisation, Kumar said the government has been ready for discussion from the day one of the Winter session and Modi will also intervene in both the House if the opposition wanted. The opposition wants discussion under Rule 56 which entails voting, a condition unacceptable to the government. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has advised Ghanaians not to compromise on their responsibilities regarding adherence to the COVID-19 (coronavirus) safety protocols. He said that was the way to go in order to stem the spread of the pandemic, which had over the last four months led to 182 deaths in the country. According to the Ghana Health Service's portal on the pandemic, the country's confirmed case count stood at 35,501 with 32,096 recoveries as of Friday, July 31. Eight of the confirmed cases have been identified as critical. President Akufo-Addo, who was addressing the Ashanti Regional leadership of the Muslim community, at the Kumasi Central Mosque, rallied the people to comply with the mandatory wearing of nose masks. "We are required as good citizens to always maintain personal Hygiene, while observing all the COVID-19 preventive protocols for own good," he noted. The President said Ghana's recovery and death rates in respect of the pandemic indicated that the government's resolve to deal with the threat posed by the coronavirus disease was on course. However, he said: "The citizenry should not take things for granted but continue to do the right thing to enhance their wellbeing." President Akufo-Addo, who is on a working visit to the Region, was grateful to the leadership of the Muslim community for creating the needed awareness on the disease amongst the people. He asked them not to relax in their efforts to support government in the fight against the pandemic. Sheikh Haroun Abdul- Mummin, the Regional Chief Imam, said the Muslim faithful would continue to pray fervently for the protection of the citizenry. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 05:50:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Egypt reported on Sunday 167 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest daily figure since April 22, raising the total cases registered in the country to 94,483, said the Health Ministry. Meanwhile, 31 patients died from the novel coronavirus on the same day, bringing the death toll to 4,865, while 1,318 others were cured and discharged from hospitals, increasing the total recoveries to 42,455, the ministry's 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. The country saw a record of 1,774 COVID-19 daily infections on June 19. But since the first week of July, daily new coronavirus fatalities and infections in Egypt started to gradually decline amid a significant increase of daily new recoveries. Egypt resumed international flights in early July, after it lifted a partial nighttime curfew it has been imposing since late March, and reopened restaurants, cafes, theaters and cinemas, as well as hotels, museums and archeological sites, all with limited capacity. The easier restrictions are part of a "coexistence plan" adopted by the government over the past weeks to maintain anti-coronavirus precautionary measures while resuming economic activities. Egypt and China have been working together on 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 sent three batches of medical aid to the North African country, the latest of which was in mid-May. Enditem By Trend Armenia obstructs negotiation process for peaceful settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by its recent provocative actions, Chairman of Azerbaijan-Bulgaria Friendship Group at the Bulgarian Parliament of the 44th convocation Hamid Hamid said. Hamid made the remark in his letter addressed to Head of Azerbaijan-Bulgaria Inter-Parliamentary Working Group at Azerbaijans Parliament Rauf Aliyev, Trend reports on August 1. The chairman stressed that recently the international community has witnessed the growth of tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan, this time on the border between the countries in the direction of Azerbaijans Tovuz district, strongly condemning the military provocation committed by the Armenian armed forces. "The latest provocative actions of Armenia should be regarded as a threat to the projects of the East-West Transport Corridor and the Southern Gas Corridor being implemented by Azerbaijan and its European partners. These projects play an exceptional role in strengthening the energy security of Europe, including Bulgaria. This provocation is aimed to create a threat to energy security and economic benefits not only of the region, but of the whole Europe," he said. Hamid, guided by the fundamental norms and principles of international law, four UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) and the Joint Declaration on the Strategic Partnership between Azerbaijan and Bulgaria from 2015, expressed full supports of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, which is a reliable member of the UN, OSCE, European Council, as well as a respected partner of the EU and NATO. "I would also like to remind the results related to the policy of the EU Foreign Ministers Council on the "Eastern Partnership" after 2020, which also enshrines the principle of "common obligations to create a space of universal democracy, prosperity and stability". This provides for general obligations in connection with the rules based on international law, in particular, territorial integrity, independence and sovereignty, as enshrined in the Helsinki Final Act and the OSCE Charter of Paris," the MP said. At the same time, he reminded that the four resolutions of the UN Security Council require the immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of the Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The European parliamentarian in his letter stressed that the international community must condemn in the harshest form the occupation policy of Armenia against Azerbaijan and the provocative actions committed by it on the border. He noted that in order to prevent the transformation of the incident into a hotbed of war, the international community should soon intervene. "I express my solidarity with Azerbaijan, looking forward to the restoration of the country's territorial integrity within the internationally recognized borders. In addition, I express my condolences to the families of those killed during the incident, and wish the wounded a speedy recovery," Hamid concluded. Russkiye Samotsvety Jewelry Center in Saint Petersburg One of the key issues facing most Russian companies today is the need for an objective assessment of the new consumption decline due to the quarantine, as well as making forecasts for a way out of it. According to a RBC-Petersburgs study made in June, the efficiency of the St. Petersburgs entrepreneurs has decreased by 40% due to the restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic. These estimates may vary in different business sectors, but one cannot deny that the countrys business and economy have been hurt. Realizing that in the face of forced restrictions on the production activities, the company loses its flexibility, so Russkiye Samotsvety (Russian Gems) relied on new communication mechanisms as they lacked the usual management decisions such as effective pricing or operational managing the accounts receivable. Innovative forms of remote interaction have entered the companys life - videoconferencing, use of modern communication channels, on-line consulting. The company considers an important aspect of its work to maintain constant interaction with partners in the regions, which made it possible to receive the latest updated information on lifting the quarantine restrictions and to discuss possible options in time for overcoming the downturn. Sergey Dokuchayev, Director General of Russkiye Samotsvety, told Rough&Polished about the challenges facing today his company that is a historical successor as for the St. Petersburg school of jewellery and the stone-cutting art it had in its palmy days. What anti-crisis measures has the Russkiye Samotsvety company to take? In accordance with the RF Government decree, the jewellery industry was not included in the list of industries most affected by the coronavirus epidemic, therefore, we had to make our own decisions in the current conditions and were thrown upon our own resources. As for our production, a number of anti-crisis measures were developed on tight budgeting and specifying all the costs, the development of relations with the existing partners, sales promotion, and the proposals were made regarding a system of possible discounts and benefits to ensure our subsequent work with debtors. The Russkiye Samotsvety branded retail business received additional tax benefits provided by the state. At present, the optimization of the inventory balance is being carried out and a number of stimulating marketing campaigns are planned aimed at attracting new customers and increasing the regular customers loyalty. How are your online sales? How do you manage your sales, what are the changes in the current situation? Nowadays, the purchasing power of the population is decreasing, so we did our best to maintain contacts with our customers and partners and invited them to make purchases against preliminary orders and via online orders. We got the opportunity for this thanks to our online platform, the Russkiye Samotsvety Online Gallery that partially compensated for the losses from closuring our retail outlets. Image credit: Russkiye Samotsvety How is the work and jewellery production organized - to what extent, what is the volume? Gradually, the situation is changing for the better because on June 9, our Russkiye Samotsvety brand stores having a separate entrance were reopened, and sales start showing positive dynamics. We understand that there is a pent-up demand for certain categories of products (engagement and wedding rings, diamond jewellery, silver cutlery), and they are still in demand. But the task is not to lose a mass segment buyer under current conditions. Therefore, our technological services are currently focused on reducing the cost of the products through upgrading our production processes, possible reducing the weight of the most popular mass segment goods, and developing new designs in the mass demand segment. All this work is aimed at diversifying the sales channels and finding new areas of activity. The trademark of the Russkiye Samotsvety jewellery factory is a stylized diamond in a setting. What part of your production is diamond jewellery? The diamond jewellery is among the companys priorities. We display a wide range of high quality and modern diamond jewellery pieces at each jewellery exhibition. The jewellery studded with precious stones makes over 40% of the goods sold by our company. We work with real, natural diamonds only. This allows us to create superior quality jewellery items while maintaining competitive prices. In addition, we pay great attention to quality standards, and the effective in-house control in all parts of the technological process excludes any claims from the buyers of our jewellery. Image credit: Russkiye Samotsvety Russkiye Samotsvety was once awarded the prestigious international Golden Mercury Prize in France For a 25% share of the total volume of goods exported to over 30 countries of the world. The Guild of Jewellers of Russia has recently been considering the export perhaps as the only way out of the current crisis in the jewellery industry. When everything gets back to normal, what are the plans of Russkiye Samotsvety as for entering the foreign markets? We intensified our efforts to increase the share of exports in the total production and are planning to enter new markets in Europe, Asia and the CIS. Just after the work restrictions had been lifted we began fulfilling the most challenging orders for our new customers from the United Kingdom. The Chinese market is also of great interest to us due to the high consumption of original design jewellery, we rely, in particular, on our branded enamel filigree pieces. As soon as the restrictions on holding mass events are lifted, we hope to take part in major international exhibitions such as Ambiente in Frankfurt am Main in February. Participating in such shows allows you to be on the same wavelength, establish new business relations and find new customers. In 2006, Russkiye Samotsvety launched the production of unique jewellery with diamonds in invisible settings - Invisible. Nowadays, this technique is used by all diamond jewellery firms. What new technologies are being used now? In 2019, we started the production of new transformable jewellery that can be transformed from one fashionable jewellery form to another. But it is worth paying special attention that in addition to creating new technologies, we also preserve and develop the old techniques and traditions of the St. Petersburg and Carl Faberges jewellery school. In particular, our unique Faberge Heritage collection of gold jewellery with diamonds made using the guilloche enamel technique enjoys continual popularity among the consumers; in general, as for new technologies - let's not hurry things along and wait for the international Junwex 2020 exhibition in September. Galina Semyonova for Rough&Polished The Victorian Department of Health has refused to say how many people have been infected with COVID-19 at schools, after at least 156 schools have been forced to close across the state due to infections, the vast majority in the past few weeks. One school, Al-Taqwa in Truganina, is linked to 185 cases. There are now 18 cases linked to Catholic Regional College Sydenham, a school in Melbournes north-west that shut last week. Al-Taqwa college in Truganina. Credit:Joe Armao It's unclear, however, how many students and staff in total have been infected at school. The health department has declined to answer how many COVID-19 infections are linked to Victorian schools. Instead, a spokeswoman said a "vast majority of cases of coronavirus in schools involve the student or staff member acquiring the virus in the community, and these cases have been well contained through reactive and temporary closures". New Delhi: BJP and Congress on Tuesday withdrew their respective appeals from the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court verdict holding them prima facie guilty of violating the law on foreign funding. The counsel representing the political parties informed the apex court that in view of the 2010 amendment made in the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), they cannot be held liable for receiving alleged foreign funds in violation of the law. The petitions are dismissed as withdrawn, a bench comprising Justices J S Khehar, Arun Mishra and A M Khanwilkar said when senior advocates Shyam Divan and Kapil Sibal, representing BJP and Congress respectively, sought to withdrew the petitions. Divan said that the 2010 amendment in the FCRA provides that a contribution to a political party is not a foreign contribution if an Indian holds 50 per cent or more shares in that firm. He further said that the Indian subsidiary of a company, registered in foreign country can donate funds and those donations cannot be regarded as foreign contribution in view of the changed law. Earlier, on November 22, Congress, which had challenged the Delhi HC verdict, sought time from the apex court to clarify the effect of the amendment brought this year to the FCRA in their matter. Congress had told the bench that amendment introduced in February this year has retrospective effect and their appeal against the Delhi High Court judgement has become infructuous. The amendment brought in the 2010 Act is aimed at easing the flow of donations from foreign companies in the name of corporate social responsibility. The high court, in its judgement pronounced on March 28, 2014, had said that by receiving donations from UK-based Vedanta Resources subsidiaries, the two mainstream political parties had violated the law concerned. It had also directed the Centre and Election Commission to take appropriate action against them within six months. Challenging the judgement, Congress had contended that the high court had erred in interpreting the law and there is no concealment or suppression of such contribution which were duly reflected in the returns submitted to the Election Commission. It had contended that Vedanta was owned by an Indian citizen, Anil Aggarwal, and its subsidiaries were incorporated here. Hence, they were not foreign sources. The high court had held that Vedanta was a foreign company as per the Companies Act and therefore, the Anil Aggarwal-owned firm and its subsidiaries, Sterlite and Sesa, were foreign sources as per the FCRA. The verdict was delivered on a PIL by a NGO, Association for Democratic Reforms and E A S Sarma, a former Secretary in the government, who had alleged that the two parties had violated the Representation of the People Act and FCRA by taking donations from government companies and foreign sources. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Ayodhya, Aug 2 : UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will visit Ayodhya on Sunday afternoon to review the preparations and security arrangements being made for the 'bhumi pujan' of the Ram temple, scheduled to be held on August 5. The Chief Minister will also meet senior saints and seers during his visit. The 'bhumi pujan' ceremony will take place around noon on Wednesday and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the function. Ayodhya will be illuminated for three days from August 3 to 5 to mark the occasion and all residents have been asked to light diyas in their houses during this period. 'Akhand Ramayana Path' will be held in other holy cities including Mathura, Kashi, Prayagraj, Naimisharanya, Gorakhpur and Chitrakoot. Meanwhile, unprecedented security arrangements are being made for the occasion and the borders of Ayodhya have been sealed. The local administration is implementing safety protocols in view of the Corona pandemic. DIG Deepak Kumar told reporters, "We are making fool proof arrangements for security and also for the guidelines in the pandemic. More than five people will not be allowed to gather at any one spot and the seating arrangement for the guests is also being done with social distancing protocols." Latest updates on Ayodhya Ram Temple Bhumi Pujan Islamabad, Aug 2 (UNI) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday assured his country's support for Pakistan's stance on the Kashmir issue. He said this during his telephonic conversation with Pakistan's President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan, Dawn News reported. "Pakistan deeply appreciates Turkeys steadfast support for the just cause of Kashmir, which President Erdogan reaffirmed during his address to the joint session of Parliament in February 2020," the PM's Office said. OPINION: Dr. Michael Wentzel, our latest contributor, lays out how medical innovation has left society, and individuals, better off, and why it offers hope for the future. First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on August 4, 1988 Maggie booed and jostled by crowd in Melbourne Melbourne: The British Prime Minister, Mrs Margaret Thatcher, was given a rowdy greeting by several hundred angry protesters here last night. About 600 protesters gathered outside the Victorian Arts Centre and chanted loudly while Mrs Thatcher addressed a state dinner. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Michael Stevens, a 24-year-old Tottenville man, has learned the hard way how susceptible we can be to bad actors now that so much of our personal and professional lives have moved into the social media space. In late June, Stevens found his Facebook account had been hacked -- his profile and cover photos replaced with symbols of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Accounts that post terrorist propaganda can be quickly locked, which is what happened to Stevens. Some Facebook users would be inconvenienced by the hack, but the Tottenville man relies on his social media accounts for his job in marketing. I work with small business clients to help their marketing in terms of social media and things like that, Stevens said. Along with all the memories and photos I have, it was very disheartening to know that it could all be lost. Screenshots show a hacked Facebook account that had its profile and cover photos replace with ISIS propaganda. (Courtesy: Michael Stevens) Since discovering the hack, Stevens has had the situation fully resolved after what he characterized as painstaking coordination with the social media giant. The process took almost a month, and even involved him reaching out to a classmate from Baruch College who works for Facebook. Stevens said the hackers also gained access to his email account that was associated with the Facebook page and other apps for which he created accounts using his Facebook, including DoorDash, Uber, and Lyft. He said that within minutes of discovering the hack, there were five separate food orders across the country totaling more than $250. Facebook, which did not answer questions regarding Stevens case, offers guided help for users whose accounts have been compromised. Your account should represent you, and only you should have access to your account. If someone gains access to your account, or creates an account to pretend to be you or someone else, we want to help, the Facebook website reads. We also encourage you to let us know about accounts that represent fake or fictional people, pets, celebrities or organizations. Multiple news reports from around the country show similar hacking incidents to what Stevens experienced. Facebook lists a number of recommendations on how users can keep their accounts safe, including two-step authentication and setting up login alerts. Going forward, Stevens said he plans to use two-step authentication on all his accounts, and hopes other Facebook users do the same. Im almost scarred from this whole process and Im just very scared of it ever happening again, he said. By Jung Da-min The latest incident of a North Korean defector's reentry to the North has raised the question among people over why some defectors choose to go back to their reclusive homeland from which they escaped to seek relief from poverty or political persecution. Defectors who return are unlikely to be very welcomed back by the regime, which considers them "traitors." They could face punishment including imprisonment and would again face the same conditions they originally fled from. But still, at least 11 North Korean defectors have returned to the North over the past five years, according to the unification ministry's data, excluding the latest event that is still being investigated. However, North Korea watchers say there may have been more returning to the North, as other government data showed 891 defectors' whereabouts were not known, as of July last year. The most recent returned defector, a 24-year-old man surnamed Kim, came to the South in 2017. He was under police investigation following sexual violence allegations made by another defector against him and is believed to have fled to the North to avoid criminal charges. But North Korea watchers say other defectors have left the South for various reasons. "The reasons for defectors returning have been diverse but could be classified into three broad groups," said Lee Kwang-baek, president of the Unification Media Group and Daily NK. "Firstly, there are people who return to the North to avoid criminal penalties after being involved in some crimes here. And there are others who face coaxing or blackmailing by the North Korean authorities which often involves pleading from their family members in the North. Lastly, those who have failed to adjust themselves to the social system here choose to return to their homeland." 11 North Korean defectors returned home over past 5 years Two-star general to be relieved after North Korean defector's border crossing Gov't, military hit for poor security, defector management Lee said he thinks the famous case of Lim Ji-hyun a woman who defected from North Korea, made a new life in the South as a TV personality after arriving here in 2014, and then returned to the North three years later in 2017 could be explained as a case representing both the second and third groups. After her return to the North, Lim appeared in a video released on North Korea's propaganda website Uriminzokkiri, identifying herself in the North with the new name Jeon Hye-sung and saying she had "a false illusion" that she could earn a lot of money when she defected to the South but faced a different reality in which she found herself working in bars to get by. "I assumed that Lim had two problems at the same time: she did not adjust to South Korean society well, and there were also threats and pleading by her family members who were coerced by the North Korean authorities," Kim said, referring to suspicions raised by North Korea watchers that she was abducted by North Korea when she went to China after receiving contact from her family members. Chun Ki-won, a pastor with Seoul-based Durihana Mission who has been helping North Korean defectors since the 1990s, said he has seen many cases in which North Korean defectors fail to adjust to South Korean society and often fall into criminal activities such as voice phishing. "While there are people who adjust well to South Korean society, there are others who do not. And helping them settle here is not really about providing money or granting admission to good universities," Chun said. "The focus should be more on helping them find ways to survive on their own, through their own efforts." He said there are about 34,000 defectors who have come here but they are receiving lesser institutional support and less attention from policymakers under the incumbent Moon Jae-in administration which puts priority on improving inter-Korean relations. The recent clash between the government and defector activists over sending balloons containing leaflets and USBs which they say tell the truth of the North Korean regime, also showed the conflict between the government and defectors here, Chun said. An Chan-il, who heads the World Institute for North Korea Studies and is also a former member of the North's military, said defector communities here were concerned if the latest case of Kim's return to the North would give people a wrong impression of defectors. "Kim's case was a very rare one. He returned to the North through the reverse direction route of the one through which he came to the South," Ahn said. "Defector communities are in a gloomy mood, worrying if South Korean people would criticize defectors as some did over the North's recent demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office in Gaeseong." Election 2020 Despite Law Changes, Myanmar Military Says Some Polling Stations Will Remain in Barracks Troops march in a Myanmar Armed Forces Day Parade. / The Irrawaddy YANGONPolling stations for military personnel and their families will have to remain inside military compounds for the upcoming election in some areas, a spokesman for Myanmars military said on Saturday, despite recent changes to electoral by-laws requiring the military to move the stations outside of its bases. In a departure from previous elections, the amendments to the electoral by-laws mean that military personnel and their family members will be able to cast their votes outside the barracks. The move was widely welcomed by poll monitors and political parties as boosting transparency and potentially creating an environment for fairer results in the Nov. 8 poll. Yet, during a press conference in Naypyitaw on Saturday, Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said that circumstances on the ground would make it impossible for some polling stations to be moved out of military cantonment areas. He didnt provide further details, however. Some polling stations are convenient to move outside [bases]. But some are not. In any case, we have said before that we will abide by the rules set by the election commission, he told reporters. Voting at military polling stations has long been a source of doubt and electoral disputes due to a lack of transparency, because the military limits monitoring of voting on bases for security reasons. Among other things, the amendments to the electoral by-laws passed in May seek to boost transparency by requiring that polling stations for military personnel be moved outside of military bases so that Tatmadaw personnel and their families can vote with civilians, in compliance with accepted norms for free and fair elections. At Saturdays press conference, Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun repeated the military chiefs vow that the Tatmadaw will do whatever it can to ensure a free and fair election. He added that the military is ready to assist with security and logistical matters in conflict areas during the election period. The Irrawaddy contacted the spokespersons for the military and the Union Election Commission on Monday to ask about the military polling stations, but neither was available for comment. There are over 1 million military-affiliated voters in Myanmar, including both the armed forces estimated 500,000 personnel and their relatives. Regarding the number of military personnel who will be eligible to vote in this years general election, Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun said on Saturday that the Tatmadaw will send its compiled list to the election commission soon. He said that unlike in previous elections, it is unlikely that we will see high-ranking military officers running in the election. Shortly before the 2010 and 2015 general elections, several senior military officers retired in order to run in the polls, representing the military-backed former ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). He added that as of July 25, no military officers had retired in order to run in the election. You may also like these stories: NLD Selects 20% Female Candidates for Myanmars November Election Myanmar Workers and Farmers Reject Parties, Push New Voices for 2020 Election Myanmar Ruling Party Muslim Candidate Says Political Oppression Makes Her Stronger Conformity in Academia, Explained Commentary To people who arent professors and dont work on college campuses, it doesnt make sense. How can a habitat devoted to open discussion and strong job protections be so constricted and unpleasant, as academia seems to be? And how can people occupying the highest parts of that enterprise be so afraid to speak their minds and contradict the majority opinion? The cases keep happening, as one person after another is punished for violating the new woke dogmas and few nearby colleagues step up to object. (See examples at University of CaliforniaLos Angeles, Harvard, and University of Oklahoma.) A special zone in our society dedicated to the free exchange of ideas and protecting inquiry from political pressures has turned into one of the most conformist realms in the United States. Uniformity of political outlook has never been higher; social attitudes are rigid. Everyone is nervous except for the woke revolutionaries, and that includes my colleagues who have voted Democrat all their lives, support affirmative action in hiring and admissions, and bow to the idols of DiversityToleranceInclusion. The explanation for it all is professional. Its based on the long and complex process through which a person becomes a professor. The Route to Tenure It starts in high school when talented seniors compete for spaces in selective universities. If you dont earn a spot at a known public or private institution, the chances are you wont be able to earn a spot in a noted public or private graduate program. Without a doctorate from a major institution, you have little hope of a job at a good school, at least not in those fields where the job market is very tight, such as the humanities, where every job opening draws hundreds of applications. If you do win a tenure-track position, you have another hurdle you must cross a few years later: tenure, that decisive day when you win or lose a job for life. The key is that at each step, you succeeded because of what other people said about you. You made it into a graduate program because the admissions committee liked your application. You were granted a doctorate because your thesis director approved your work. You got a job because the hiring committee that interviewed you gave a strong Yes to the department at large. You advanced toward tenure because you had good teaching evaluationsyes, what students say about you matters, tooand because you published research that experts reviewed and cleared for acceptance. If you earned a grant or a fellowship, it was because a panel combing through applications found yours worthy. Finally, you won tenure because more senior professors voted for you than voted against you. In other words, your value and your future lay in the hands of others. Some professors, its true, are measured by the money they bring in, especially federal research dollars that have become so important to university budgets. But most professors arent. They arent judged on how much their students earn, nor on how many undergraduates they recruit to their colleges. They make their way in academia mainly by impressing senior peersand by not irritating them. At an early age, they learn to be politic and reassuring. They know that academics tend to be thin-skinned and to hold grudges. Tenure votes and peer reviews are anonymous, also. People can knock you down without having to justify doing so. Do you really want to risk alienating them by defending a colleague who has been shunned by the rest because he criticized Black Lives Matter? The tenure vote can be a close affair. Two or three votes can make all the difference. These are the calculations a professor makes when a controversy arises. The consciousness of others is intense because others have played a large role in their success. The stakes are high, the judgments of colleagues dispositive. Its been happening since they were teenagers, and it will continue beyond tenure when their further research undergoes scrutiny and they hope to be promoted to full professor. Caution and Diplomacy After so many years of conditioning, professors have developed a personality trait of caution and diplomacy. Theyve learned to consider how others will react should they voice an opinion. They stay away from controversial subjects and controversial individuals, and when those things are pressed upon them, they take care to track the prevailing winds and get back to work. They would like to believe that they will be judged on strictly intellectual groundsIs their teaching well-organized and their handling of students conscientious? Is their research informed and rigorous? But they worry that personal considerations come into play as well, and they dont want to risk bad feelings. This is why we see the campus in such an intolerant condition. People are afraid to speak out. The work they completed that secured a favorable nod from superiors has been internalized into a general state of mind: I want your approval. They pass through their professional spheres in a more or less binding chill. To break free of it has its costs. People deeply invested in the dominant outlook despise a heretic, and they will levy costs when they can. For instance, they may tell students to avoid him, not invite him to gatherings, and keep him off department committees. They may not be able to damage his intellectual reputation, but they may stigmatize him locally as alien or wrongheaded. In a profession built on peer review, we shouldnt underestimate the power of this kind of social disfavor. His dissent may have absolutely nothing to do with his disciplinary expertise, but his disciplinary standing will nonetheless suffer. The Antidote The antidote is obvious: More professors have to protest against intolerance. They dont have to agree with the original dissenter who is being punished, but they do have to oppose the punishment he or she is undergoing. When they see a lone dissenter hit by complaints and petitions and smears merely because he or she mocked the canons of woke-ness (thats the most common crime at the present time), more faculty members must speak up. This is not as difficult as people think, for it would only take a few people to object for the whole dynamic to change. A contest of 100 against 1 is a whole lot different than a contest of 100 against 4. The impact of those three people who stood up and declared, Hey, dont go after Professor X in this waycounter his words and ideas with your better words and ideas, is much larger than their meager numbers would suggest. The majority group could no longer treat the lone dissenter as a solitary figure, a rogue, someone beyond the pale unworthy of an academic response. Conformity works in two ways: one, it intimidates people into alignment, and two, it isolates anyone who doesnt align. The group wants to make that person singular and eccentric. The substance of his words is ignored, shuffled away with a summary judgment (he made sexist remarks in class) that pigeonhole who he is and why he must be exiled. He is now the focus of attention, his poor character and general unfitness. They do it to him very loudly, too, so that others observe the process and take a lesson: Do what he did, say what he said, and this will happen to you, too. But if just a few individuals rise up, the isolation tactic fails. The group knows that it cant do the same thing to the other three who have asked for a more academic and less punitive response to the dissenter. If it did go after these secondary figures, that would spark a few more silent ones to speak up for them in turn. It would no longer appear that the group has a monopoly on what is right and true. We would realize, too, how fragile is the conformity that the group imposes. This is where the hope lies. A coercive environment doesnt make people happy. Nobody wants to walk around with a censor in his head whispering, Watch what you say. There are, of course, academic norms and common manners that must be respected, but the current coerciveness is verging on the prosecution of thought crimes. The enforcement of dogma is getting way too strict. Its contrary to the human spirit; people are getting fed up. It will take longer in academia for the reaction to surface because of the conditioning I have described, but eventually more and more people will cry, Enough! There is no sign that intolerance on campus is waning, and the people who organize campaigns against a putative miscreant are motivated and self-assured. Only a firm counterforce will reopen the campus to a wider spectrum of opinion. We need more professors to stand tall. The more of them who do so, the easier it will be for others to do so. Mark Bauerlein is an emeritus professor of English at Emory University. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The Weekly Standard, The Washington Post, TLS, and Chronicle of Higher Education. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 00:41:30|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- China and other member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) share a bright future for cooperation in traditional medicine, given the long history of practicing traditional medicine and increasing government investment in healthcare in the countries, a Chinese official said in an interview. Acupuncture and medicinal herbs, along with other traditional medicine components, are widely accepted in SCO countries, laying a solid foundation for the popularization of traditional medicine, said Yu Wenming, head of China's National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He made the comments after an SCO online forum on traditional medicine on Thursday that brought together scholars, experts and politicians for discussions on traditional medicine and its role in fighting COVID-19. Yu said that traditional medicine is a valuable treasure trove of medical wisdom and national cultures and has been proven effective in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. "We should use this treasure to the greatest extent," he said, highlighting the significance of such cooperation to cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and other SCO member states. As for existing cooperation, he said China has teamed up with other SCO countries and built several facilities for exchanges in traditional medicine. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, China has sent medical experts, including those in traditional Chinese medicine, to help SCO states fight the pandemic, Yu added. He called on SCO member states to value this national treasure and step up cooperation to improve the application of traditional medicine in preventing and treating common, frequently occurring and refractory illnesses, as well as emerging infectious diseases. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 17:59:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People are seen wearing face masks in Manila, the Philippines on Aug. 2, 2020. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 103,185 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported a record-high 5,032 new cases on Sunday, making a record daily increase for the fourth consecutive day. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) MANILA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Philippines surged to 103,185 after the Department of Health (DOH) reported a record-high 5,032 new cases on Sunday, making a record daily increase for the fourth consecutive day. The DOH reported 3,954 new cases on Thursday, 4,063 on Friday and 4,963 on Saturday, and the number of recoveries further rose to 65,557 after it reported 301 patients who have recovered from the disease. The death toll also increased to 2,059 after 20 more patients have succumbed to the viral disease, the DOH said. Metro Manila topped the five regions or provinces with the highest number of daily confirmed coronavirus cases reported on Sunday with 2,737 cases. The Philippines is currently assessing its "overall game plan" in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic after the medical community sounded "a distressed signal" on Saturday, saying the country needs a "time out" to "recalibrate the government's COVID-19 strategies." "Our healthcare system is overwhelmed. The medical community appeals for return to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Mega Manila from August 1 to 15 to recalibrate strategies against COVID-19," according to a joint letter read by Philippine Medical Association President Jose Santiago in a virtual press conference. Mega Manila consists of Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon region. Santiago read the letter addressed to Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on behalf of the Philippine College of Physicians and more than 80 other medical groups. The groups urged Duterte to impose the strictest lockdown measures in these regions. Duterte has put Metro Manila under general community quarantine until August 15, while other areas in the country are put under varying degrees of quarantine. Santiago said the 15-day ECQ will serve as a "time out" to "recalibrate the government's COVID-19 strategies." The groups also stressed in the letter that the country needs to "come up with a consolidated plan" because it is in a "losing battle against COVID-19." The groups said the ECQ is needed as healthcare frontliners "cannot hold the line for much longer." Duterte is scheduled to meet key cabinet officials later on Sunday to discuss the concerns raised by the medical community, his spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement on Sunday. Health Secretary Francisco Duque said in a statement posted on the DOH Facebook page on Sunday that the government "will revisit and include the inputs we have gathered in our overall game plan," referring to the issues raised by the medical workers. "We support the call of our frontliners to ensure a science-based approach and stricter implementation of community quarantine measures," Duque further said. As of July 31, the DOH said at least 4,938 health care workers have tested positive for COVID-19. Of these, 38 have died and 4,544 have recovered. Election 2020 Karen Parties Coordinate Campaigns to Maximize Votes in Myanmar Election Karen National Democratic Party (KNDP) opens offices in Hpa-an Township in Karen State on July 20. / KNDP / Facebook YANGONKaren political parties say they will coordinate their electoral campaigns to prevent the splitting of votes between parties in a single constituency. If a candidate from only one party runs in a constituency, he will win more votes. We will do this to win votes, Karen National Democratic Party (KNDP) chairman Mahn Aung Pyi Soe told The Irrawaddy. There are four Karen parties in the country: the KNDP and the Phalon-Sawaw Democratic Party (PSDP), both based in Karen State, and the Karen National Party (KNP) and Kayin Peoples Party (KPP), which are based in Yangon. All four parties say they have coordinated to divide electoral constituencies among them to prevent vote splitting. The KNDP will field candidates in every constituency in six out of seven Karen State townshipsall except Thandaunggyi Township, where the KPP will contest. We dont need to negotiate with KNP. We already have understanding with them, Mahn Aung Pyi Soe told The Irrawaddy. We will not contest in their area, and they will also not run in our area. In Thandaunggyi, the KPP will contest the election. Well let them run there freely. According to a letter sent by the PSDP to the KNDP chairman, seen by The Irrawaddy, the PSDP has agreed not to contest any constituencies in Karen State. The Irrawaddy was unable to obtain a comment from the PSDP. In 2018, three Karen State-based partiesthe Karen Democratic Party, the Karen State Democracy and Development Party and the Karen United Democratic Partyfolded and merged with the KNDP. Some members of the PSDP also resigned from their party and joined the merger. I heard that PSDP [candidates] will contest on the ticket of the KNDP because of the agreement, KNP General Secretary Mahn Kyaw Nyein told The Irrawaddy. Because it is mandatory for a political party to contest at least three seats in order to remain registered as a party, I heard the PSDP will contest at least three seats in Mon State. The KNP and the KPP will run candidates in Yangon and Ayeyarwady regions, where the largest populations of Karen people in the country outside Karen State are concentrated. The KNP plans to run candidates in around six townships in Ayeyarwady and the KPP will contest in more townships, because the KPP, as an older party, enjoys wider support among Karen residents in the region, according to Mahn Kyaw Nyein. Even if we happen to contest in the same constituency, we will make sure we do not contest for the same seat, he said. For example, if we contest in Constituency 1, they will contest in Constituency 2 for the state parliament. For example, we cant run for Upper House seats. We can at best run for Lower House seats. But the KPP can run for Upper House seats as it has public support in larger number of townships. The Karen parties have discussed the division of electoral constituencies since 2019 at the Karen Unity and Peace Committee (KUPC), according to Mahn Kyaw Nyein. The KUPC consists of Karen revolutionary leaders, faith leaders, representatives of Karen political parties and civil society organizations. In a video that shared widely on social media recently, Padoh Mahn Nyein Maung, member of the Karen National Union (KNU) Central Executive Committee, was seen urging the Karen people to vote for the KNDP in the 2020 election. Though he made the remarks during a speech last year on Aug. 2Karen Martyrs Daythe KNDP posted the video to its Facebook page on July 7. In the video, the KNU leader said that just as the ethnic armed group has fought for the rights of Karen people through armed struggle outside the Parliament, Karen parties and politicians will strive for the rights of Karen people inside the Parliament. What I want to say is we need to vote for Karen national parties and Karen patriotic parties in the coming election. Only then will they be able to perform Karen national duties and work for the Karen national struggle, said Padoh Mahn Nyein Maung in the video. He said Karen voters are also responsible for the lack of progress on rights for Karen people over the past five years of the current government, because of who they voted for in the 2015 election. The Karen political parties are now in the process of selecting candidates for their agreed upon constituencies. The general election will be held on Nov. 8. Six Karen parties fielded candidates in the 2015 election. They lost in every election they contested, except for one seat in the Karen State parliament representing Thandaunggyi Township. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. You may also like these stories: Myanmars 1988 Uprising Leaders Found New Party, Rally Voters of All Ages Daw Aung San Suu Kyis Naypyitaw Candidacy in Myanmar Election Still Unconfirmed: NLD Others are not. Some are ignoring public health advice for political reasons, while others seem to believe the virus cannot touch them. Representative Clay Higgins, Republican of Louisiana, told CNN that wearing a mask was part of the dehumanization of the children of God. This sort of denial leads to unnecessary tragedy, as was driven home by the death of Herman Cain. The former pizza magnate and Republican presidential candidate tested positive for the coronavirus nine days after attending President Trumps June 20 campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla. where he was shown in a number of photos sitting close to other attendees without a mask. Elected officials have a particular responsibility both to model responsible behavior during this pandemic and to take extra precautions so they dont become super spreaders. Put another way, when a lawmaker behaves like a ding dong, as one Republican aide said of Mr. Gohmert, he puts everyone at risk. The danger extends far beyond Capitol Hill. Members of Congress have an essential and unusually public, mobile job. In any given week, hundreds of members jet back and forth across the country, some to coronavirus hot spots. Representative Kay Granger is currently self-quarantining after sitting next to a non-masked Mr. Gohmert on a flight back to Washington from their home state of Texas on July 26. Representative Raul Grijalva, Democrat of Arizona, has been self-quarantining as well, after chairing a hearing on July 28 that Mr. Gohmert attended, at times unmasked. On Saturday, Mr. Grijalva announced that he had tested positive for the virus. Who knows how many other people Mr. Gohmert may have potentially exposed? In response to the Gohmert news, congressional leaders reminded members of the safety protocols already in place. The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, went further, tightening the rules on mask wearing to require face coverings on the chamber floor and inside the House office buildings. (Mask wearing has been mandatory in committee hearings since mid-June.) Those who fail to comply can be denied entry or removed by security. The Minister was raging. People keep saying the Government is all over the place. But it isnt the Government, or even the Cabinet. We arent being told of plans or developments. We are all basically having to live through Boriss midlife crisis. Many men experience a loss of confidence as middle age wraps them in its uncomfortable embrace. But when they do, most dream of remoulding themselves as the new Steve McQueen or Oliver Reed. To the bemusement of his colleagues, Boris Johnson currently seems intent on becoming the new Ed Miliband. A war on junk food. An online sales tax. Mandatory wearing of masks. The axing of the Spanish air bridge, with the Transport Secretary marooned on the other side. A panicked reintroduction of lockdown in the North, and the scrapping of plans to further ease it across the nation. Pictured: Boris Johnson trying out a North Yorkshire Police Rural Taskforce bike which is a Zero FX an Electric Bike during a visit to North Yorkshire Police headquarters, Northallerton None of us really know whats going on with him, one backbench ally told me. Hes not speaking to any of us. We all just look at each other and say I dont know what hes up to, do you?. And everyone just shakes their head. To be fair to a Prime Minister who marked his first year in office a week ago, whats been going on over the past 12 months would test anyone to the limit. His ascent to the highest office in the land, the battle to deliver Brexit, a General Election, a divorce, the birth of his first child with fiancee Carrie Symonds, a global pandemic and his own near-death experience at its hands. One Minister says that, despite traversing this political and personal firestorm, Boris is actually rediscovering his old vigour. Last time I spoke to him he looked very upbeat. Very up for it. Im not sure where this midlife crisis stuff is coming from. But many others are. In particular, they point to his sudden assault on obesity as an example of how recent events have left their mark. And are now in danger of leaving a mark on the entire country. The weight thing has really spooked him, a friend concedes. He was totally opposed to the whole sin tax agenda. But being in hospital really rocked him. Some people in Government have suggested his sudden grasping at the apron strings of the Nanny State actually represents the re-emergence of the real Boris. That now the Brexit log jam has been broken, and Labours Red Wall demolished, he intends to return to the liberal, one nation Conservatism that secured him back-to-back terms as London Mayor. The problem with that argument is the real Boris hates the sin tax agenda as well. In 2006 he created a storm at Tory conference by hitting out at celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, and backing pie-pushing mums. There was too much pressure on children to eat healthily, he told a Bournemouth fringe meeting. I say let people eat what they like. Why shouldnt they push pies through railings? But last week the increasingly portly Oliver who once proudly proclaimed, Give me Boris f*****g Johnson as our Prime Minister and Im done. Im out was heaping praise on his initiative. This could be a pivotal moment, he cooed. Boris seems to be the one thats got a plan here. Others are less sure. And one of them is Michael Gove. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is said by colleagues to be on manoeuvres. Michaels out there, says a Cabinet Minister. Hes meeting people. Hes courting them. Its pretty blatant. I dont know whether Boris is blind to it, or he just doesnt care. In Goves defence, a number of Tory MPs are becoming increasingly desperate for the courtship. Theyre alarmed at what they see as a loss of control from No10. Michaels easily the cleverest member of the Government, says a senior backbencher. Hes got experience and grip. And thats what we need at the moment. Gove has made a calculated effort to distance himself from the more heavy-handed Government interventions. On the eve of the announcement that masks would be made compulsory, he stated: Its always best to trust peoples common sense, then pointedly allowed himself to be photographed buying a Pret sandwich without one. He is also said to be building a strong alliance with Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who has won his own plaudits from Tory MPs for the mature way he took temporary charge when Boris was hospitalised. In a difficult market its those two guys Im buying shares in, said a Minister. While Gove is said by allies to be concerned by the Governments post-Covid drift towards benign authoritarianism, what is most alarming him is what he views as the growing threat to the Union. Michael is very worried about Scotland, says one. His view is that if Brexit is delivered but we lose the Union the entire project will have been a catastrophic failure. For now there is little prospect of a re-run of Goves 2016 kamikaze bid for the leadership. But our Prime Minister is still going to need to pull himself together. Despite his bombastic reputation, Boris is a more private and sensitive character than his critics and even some friends perceive. His brush with death, coming in such close alignment to the birth of his and his partner Carrie Symonds first child, has understandably affected him in ways the Westminster bear pit does not allow him to publicly acknowledge. But the reality is the nation cannot afford timid, negative leadership. Not in good times, and certainly not now. Anyone with even the most basic understanding of economics can see this is not the moment for tax increases and advertising bans. Not on so-called junk food. Not on online goods. Not on anything. We are a country that is about to enter the fight of its economic life. It cannot do that with Jamie Oliver holding one hand behind its back, while Boris pinions the other. There is another harsh reality. Britain cannot afford for its Prime Minister to embark on a dark night of the soul. Especially not this Prime Minister. Energy. Optimism. A can-do enthusiasm. This is the Boris the nation responds to. And its the Boris the nation has to have. We should now squeeze the brake pedal to keep the virus under control, he told the country last week. But he was not elected to squeeze the brakes. He was elected to drive the bulldozer through the wall. We cannot defeat Covid-19 one bowling alley and casino at a time. And we are not going to stave off economic catastrophe by interring Britain every time there is a marginal spike in infection rates. If Boris really does feel like embarking on a midlife crisis, fine. He should buy a leather jacket. Or get a motorbike. Or start listening to Steely Dan. And then he needs to come back and start leading again. Your family needs you Boris. But your country does as well. The fatality rate due to COVID-19 has declined further to 2.15 per cent from 3.33 per cent in mid-June - lowest since the lockdown in March. The country's total number of recoveries from the novel coronavirus has surged close to 11 lakh. On the global platform, India continues to register and maintain the lowest COVID-19 mortality rate. Health ministry data asserted that this was a testimony to the focused, coordinated, pre-emptive, graded and evolving "test, track, treat" strategy, and efforts of the Centre, states and Union Territories. With 36,569 patients discharged in 24 hours, the total number of recoveries has jumped to 10,94,374 on Saturday and exceeded active COVID-19 cases by 5,29,271. There are 5,65,103 active cases in the country at present, according to official data updated at 8:00 am on Saturday. BCCL The health ministry said that the recovery rate stands at 64.53 per cent. 'Emphasis on early detection through aggressive testing and effective clinical management of the hospitalised cases have resulted in the continuously falling case fatality rate (CFR), indicating that India has been able to successfully contain the fatality rate of COVID-19', the data indicated. While the CFR has been kept low, successful implementation of effective containment strategy, aggressive testing and standardised clinical management protocols based on a comprehensive standard of care approach have resulted in a consistent addition of more than 30,000 recoveries daily, the health ministry said. It also said that three-tier hospital infrastructure with seamless patient management has ensured prompt triaging and treatment. BCCL As of Saturday, there are 1,488 dedicated COVID hospitals with 2,49,358 isolation beds, 31,639 ICU beds, 1,09,119 with oxygen support and 16,678 ventilators. Also, 3,231 dedicated COVID Health Centres with 2,07,239 isolation beds, 18,613 ICU beds and 74,130 oxygen-supported beds, and 6,668 ventilators have been made operational. Moreover, 10,755 COVID Care Centres with 10,02,681 beds are now available to combat COVID-19, the ministry said. The Centre has also provided 273.85 lakh N95 masks and 121.5 lakh personal protective equipment (PPEs) and 1083.77 lakh hydroxychloroquine tablets to the states, Union Territories and central institutions so far. India saw a record single-day increase of 57,118 infections, pushing India's COVID-19 tally 16,95,988 on Saturday, while the death toll climbed to 36,511 with 764 people succumbing to the disease in the same period. Zac Efron has been lying low in Byron Bay, Australia amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And according to TMZ on Sunday, the American actor is considering a permanent move to the coastal town. Sources alleged that the 32-year-old is 'planning to list his Los Angeles home in the near future' and is 'burnt out living in and around Hollywood'. Down Under for good? According to TMZ on Sunday, Zac Efron, 32, is planning to 'list his Los Angeles home in the near future', as rumours continue to swirl he's settling in Australia for good. Pictured in a promo shot for his Netflix docu-series, Down to Earth Zac is also said to consider Byron Bay a much safer option with the pandemic. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Zac's management for comment. A spokesperson for the Baywatch star previously revealed his extended stay in Australia wasn't related to any film or television role. 'He is not there for work,' they told The Daily Telegraph last month, confirming that he was in the country solely for personal reasons. 'He is not there for work': A spokesperson for the Baywatch star previously revealed his extended stay in Australia wasn't related to any film or television role It has been reported that Zac has been quietly living in Byron Bay for 'months', with sources suggesting he moved there to escape the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. Zac, who hit the big time after starring in Disney's 2006 hit High School Musical, was spotted last month at the Byron Bay General Store cafe. In photos obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia, Zac hugged a brunette waitress and gave her a friendly kiss on the cheek goodbye. There is nothing romantic going on between them, however, because Zac is believed to be in a long-term relationship with actress Halston Sage, 26. Laying low: Zac has been quietly living in Byron Bay for 'months', with sources suggesting he moved there to escape the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Pictured in Sydney The actor previously hinted at his plans to leave Hollywood in his new docu-series for Netflix, Down to Earth. In the fourth episode, Zac confessed he has 'gotta get out of Hollywood', adding that he is 'done' with that lifestyle because it is 'not conducive' to a 'long, happy, mentally-sound life'. Although Zac joked that he isn't planning to flee Hollywood for good, just yet, his decision to escape Los Angeles in favour of Australia during the coronavirus pandemic suggests he may well be exploring relocating there temporarily. Spotted: Zac, who hit the big time after starring in Disney's 2006 hit High School Musical, was keeping a low-profile last month at the Byron Bay General Store cafe. Pictured on Baywatch Interestingly, Australian heartthrob Chris Hemsworth also cited similar reasons when he moved his family to Byron Bay in 2016. 'I love what I do as an actor, but when you are surrounded by it constantly, it becomes a bit suffocating,' he said at the time. 'We were living shoulder to shoulder in the suburbs and thought thats not how we want our kids to grow up. Moving to a kind of farm setup back here on the coast in Australia has been the best thing.' Chris, 36, Spanish wife Elsa Pataky, 44, and their three children live in a $20million mega-mansion in Byron Bay's hinterland. By Ko Dong-hwan Actor and former K-pop artist Park Yu-chun has revealed his comeback plan in Thailand, breaking his previous announcement of permanent retirement from show business. , the former TVXQ member "Mickey Yuchun" informed visitors on Aug. 1 he would "soon come back with a new album." He also said he plans to hold an exclusive fan-meeting and a mini-concert in Thailand. The post included links to the social network pages of Number Nine, an artist management company that also promoted Park's comeback news in Thai. The comeback of Park, who enjoyed heydays as an award-winning TV actor until his illicit clubbing and drug charges forced him to retire in 2019, still raised questions among news outlets because the cases revealed that the star had evidently lied about the allegations to the public. After being convicted of illegal philopon use in 2019, he was sentenced 10 months in prison suspended for two years. Before sentencing, he had said he would retire if the allegation was true. Before the drug charge, Park was embroiled in a sexual harassment charge at a club while serving his national duty as a public servant. The Supreme Court found him not guilty. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 00:07:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Teva Pharmaceutical, a world-leading generic drugmaker, and the northern Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) announced collaboration on Sunday, to promote innovative R&D in the fields of cancer and neurobiology. According to a joint statement issued by Teva and the Technion, the collaboration is a significant link in a chain of collaborations Teva has initiated with leading academic institutions, including the Tel Aviv University, the Weizmann Institute of Science, and more. Over the past several months, Teva has initiated several collaborations with the Technion, concerning the development of new immunotherapy methods to treat cancer and diseases of the nervous system. For example, the joint projects combine advanced technologies for several researches, such as developing smart drug carriers that can reach the brain or cancerous tumors, as well as activating relevant areas of activity in the brain, examining their effect on the nervous periphery and immune system. Also, the joint teams study the effect of the microbiome (the bacterial environment in the human body) on the development of Parkinson's disease. The projects entail a combination of antibody and protein engineering, as well as advanced computational analyses on the immune and bacterial systems, according to the statement. Enditem Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Galih Gumelar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, August 2, 2020 16:45 534 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066afdff8 1 National omnibus-bill,environment,red-tape,license,local-governments,corruption Free Mining players are optimistic the central governments take over of environmental licensing and management authorities in the natural resources sector from regional and local administrations will lead to a reduction in bureaucratic red tape and weed out companies with bad records by tightening the selection process. The government has drafted a plan to streamline licensing procedures through the omnibus bill on job creation that would strip local administrations of their power to manage natural resources and the environment, allowing only the central government to have authority over spatial planning and land, forest and coastal area management. The voluminous bill, which consists of 1,028 pages, will cut layers of licensing processes, including the requirement for businesses to obtain an environmental impact analysis (Amdal) document, which are currently issued by local administrations. If the bill is passed into law, the process will be handled by the central government. Businesses will still be obliged to prevent environmental damages, but they will have to report to the central government, which will perform all oversight duties. Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) executive director Hendra Sinadia said the move would lead to coal businesses facing a tougher selection process to be allowed to operate in the country, believing that the government would not let companies that have questionable environmental records to operate. Hendra said under the current arrangement, local governments had frequently handed mining permits to businesses with questionable reputations and that had submitted incomplete environmental assessment documents. Such leniency, Hendra said, had given coal miners leeway to excessively extract coal reserves and neglect environmental damages to maximize profits. At times, local administrations have also failed to detect cases of bad practices in the mining sector due to their poor monitoring systems. From 2015 until 2018, the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry succeeded in persuading governors to revoke 4,678 coal mining permits (IUP) for companies that failed to obtain Clean and Clear (CnC) status, a certificate handed out by the central government to miners that have complied with prevailing mining laws and regulations. Having said that, we welcome the governments move to centralize issuance of all permits, including environmental licenses, because we have seen that regional administrations seem to have been hobbled in their monitoring of mining practices in their regions, Hendra told The Jakarta Post over the weekend. Hendra, however, said that centralization of license issuance was only the first step to protecting the environment from unscrupulous miners. Centralizing environmental licensing and monitoring will not by itself lead to all coal miners complying with proper environmental procedures. The government needs to better coordinate with local administrations to ensure all environmental practices are being properly conducted, he added. Indonesian Mining Association (IMA) executive director Djoko Widajanto said the plan to cut red tape could curb corrupt practices among officials in local administrations. The Corruption Eradication Commissions (KPK) National Movement to Save Natural Resources (GNP-SDA) report found it was possible that corrupt practices had taken place during issuance processes for Amdal and other environmental permits. In 2018, it was reported that at least 40,000 environmental studies may have been tainted by bribery. Such impropriety has led to regional administrations allowing miners to violate prevailing mining regulations. For example, Djoko said, 2019 data from the mining ministry showed that 67 percent of around 4,500 registered mining companies had failed to deposit post-mining funds in the governments escrow account, even though the deposit was mandatory under the Mining Law. The funds are used to restore environmental damages caused by mining. Looking at that case, I think the centralization of environmental licensing will be effective in narrowing the chances of recalcitrant mining companies to operate in the country, Djoko said. New Delhi, Aug 2 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday conducted searches at the residential premises of an accused in Noida in Uttar Pradesh, the adjoining city of the national capital, in connection with the Bhima Koregaon Elgar Parishad case. The raids were conducted at the residence of DU professor Hany Babu Musaliyarveettil Tharayil who was found to be a co-conspirator along with other accused persons propagating Maoist activities and ideology, and was placed under arrest on July 28 this year, the NIA said. Further, the investigation also revealed that accused Hany Babu was in contact with Paikhomba Meitei, Secretary Information and Publicity, Military Affairs, Kangkeipak Communist Party (MC), an organisation banned under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. An interview of Ganapathy, General Secretary of CPI (Maoist) was shared by Paikhomba Meitei with the accused Hany Babu. "Communications of Hany Babu with other Maoists of Manipur have also been retrieved," the NIA said. The investigation also revealed that after the release of CPI (Maoist) leader Pallath Govindankutty, Hany Babu, along with co-accused Rona Wilson, took the initiative to help him financially by raising funds. Hany Babu, along with other accused persons identified as Rona Wilson, Anand Teltumbde, P. Varavara Rao and Surendra Gadling formed a Committee for the release of former DU professor G.N. Saibaba who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his links with CPI (Maoist). During the search of accused Hany Babu's house, NIA seized one account ledger, one receipt book of the Committee for the Defence and Release of Dr G.N. Saibaba, several documents as well as electronic items such as Hard Disk and USB pen drive. The case pertains to organisation of Elgar Parishad at Pune, Maharashtra on December 12, 2017 which promoted enmity between various caste groups and led to violence resulting in loss of life and property and state-wide agitation in Maharashtra. The investigation revealed that the Elgar Parishad along with Maoist leaders used the incident to spread the ideology of Maoism and encourage unlawful activities on the instructions of the leaders of CPI (Maoist), a banned organisation. By PTI BENGALURU: Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday ridiculed the ruling BJP's threat to sue him for alleging Rs 2,000-crore corruption in coronavirus management in the state. "Let them send a legal notice. Am I the one to be afraid of notices? Am I not a lawyer? Don't I know what weightage such notices carry?" Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysuru. Siddaramaiah, also the Congress Legislative Party leader, was reacting to BJP's state general secretary and MLC N Ravi Kumar's statement on Friday that the party would send him a legal notice. Siddaramaiah had last week alleged that the total expenditure of the government relating to COVID-19 was Rs 4,167 crore of which at least Rs 2,000 crore was allegedly pocketed by Ministers and officials. The BJP not only dismissed the charges but also decided to sue the Congressman. The Congress leader mocked that the question asked to the government is responded by the BJP with a legal notice. "I had accused the government of corruption in COVID-19 management but there is someone called Ravi Kumar who says he has sent me a legal notice. Let him send it. We will face it," Siddaramaiah said. Ravi Kumar had also questioned Siddaramaiah's competence to speak about corruption when he could not answer where he got the expensive Swiss watch from. In reaction, Siddaramaiah said the case is now a closed chapter after the anti-corruption bureau gave him a clean chit. "I have returned the watch to the government," he said. Then he sought to know whether he should also dig out the previous corruption charges involving Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa. Ravi Kumar had also stated that Siddaramaiah does have the moral high ground to talk of corruption while sitting with Congress state chief D K Shivakumar by his side, who had been to jail on corruption charges. Reacting to the charge, Siddaramaiah sought to know what morality has the BJP to ask him. Defending Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah said the cases do not relate to corruption but political vengeance. In a three-way photo for win, Plunge Blue Chip racing on the stands side landed a nose in front of Kenziesky Hanover and 86-1 Princess Deo to win the $40,000 fourth leg of the Miss Versatility on Saturday (Aug. 1) at the Meadowlands. Grand Swan cleared command past a :27.1 first quarter and slowed the tempo heading to a :57 half. Princess Deo soon angled first over and ground towards the lead as Grand Swan quickened to three-quarters in 1:24.4. At this point Plunge Blue Chipthe 2-5 favouritetipped to race third over after getting shuffled in the backstretch. Princess Deo forged to the front entering the eighth pole while Kenziesky Hanover began to shake loose from the pocket. Trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt meanwhile angled Plunge Blue Chip to the center of the course and kicked for the front late in the stretch. Gathering momentum, Plunge Blue Chip edged past Kenziesky Hanover in the final strides to win in 1:52.2 while Princess Deo settled for third. A five-year-old mare by Muscle Mass, Plunge Blue Chip won her first race from four starts this season and her 20th from 42 overall, earning $1,281,668. She competes for owners Ake Svansted Inc., Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. and Tomas Andersson and paid $2.80 to win. Union home minister Amit Shah has been admitted to Medanta Hospital in Haryanas Gurugram and is believed to be stable, after being diagnosed Covid-19 positive earlier on Sunday afternoon. The Home Minister had tweeted that he is fine but was getting hospitalised in keeping with the advice of his doctors. On displaying initial symptoms of coronavirus, I got the test done and the report came back positive. My health is fine, but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors. I request that all of you who have come in contact with me in the last few days, please isolate yourself and get your inquiry done, Shah tweeted in Hindi. The home minister also requested those who had come in contact with him to isolate themselves and get tested for the viral infection. ALSO READ | Rahul Gandhi, others wish Amit Shah speedy recovery after he tests positive for Covid-19 Earlier this week, Shah was present in the last cabinet meeting held on Wednesday. Social distancing was strictly followed along with wearing of masks, officials said. The official indicated that there is a strict protocol in place at the Prime Ministers residence for the last few months. The home minister has been leading the battle against the coronavirus from the front and stepped in to look into the health crisis in June, when Covid-19 cases started rising exponentially in national capital Delhi. Political leaders, including BJP president J P Nadda, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, DMK chief M K Stalin, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, wished Shah a speedy recovery. In Uttar Pradesh, Kamal Rani Varun, the only woman cabinet minister in the state, died of Covid-19 at a hospital in Lucknow on Sunday. She was 62. CHARLOTTE, N.C. With North Carolina and South Carolina possibly in the path of Hurricane Isaias, Duke Energy is preparing for potential power outages and encouraging customers to do the same. Hurricane Isaias is forecast to impact Florida on Saturday and Sunday, and the Carolinas on Monday and Tuesday. "We know many of our customers are spending lots of time at home due to the pandemic, and theyre depending on us for reliable power, said Jason Hollifield, Duke Energys Carolinas storm director. If power outages occur, our repair teams are ready to safely restore power as quickly as possible. During non-pandemic times, restoring power after a storm can be difficult for utility repair crews as travel and work conditions can be affected by high winds, fallen trees and flooding. Now, in addition to addressing those standard challenges, Duke Energys detailed storm response plan has incorporated CDC recommendations for COVID compliance and social distancing measures to help keep customers and communities safe. Repair crews will wear face coverings when social distancing cannot be maintained. In addition, work practices have been modified to reduce interactions. JERSEY CITY Mike Vagos youngest son had selective mutism. When his son was in kindergarten at The Ethical Community Charter School, Vago said his sons teacher helped him go from speaking to no one at school to being able to read his story in front of his whole class. Vagos son is entering the seventh grade this upcoming school year, but with the departure of TECCS former principal Marta Bergamini, he said his son might not be returning either. Vago is one of the number of parents from TECCS who told The Jersey Journal Sunday that they were saddened by how the school board handled Bergaminis exit. They all confirmed that, though board members reopened negotiations on Bergaminis contract, the co-founding principal wont be returning. This school has been part of our lives, even beyond our kids, Vago said. Its really been a community, and it just feels like thats being shattered. Last month, teachers, parents and students of TECCS protested outside the Jersey City charter school, demanding Bergamini to be rehired. The schools vice principal, Elisha Abdelaal, resigned in protest of the decision. 19 Protest over firing of TECCS founding principal Sonya Still, TECCS board of trustees chairperson, previously told The Jersey Journal that Bergamini was not fired and blamed it on expiration of her contract and inability to negotiate a new one. But on Sunday, Dan Ackman, a TECCS trustee, said there was nothing to negotiate. The contract expires every year and every year its renewed generally with the same contract, just with a new date and maybe a new salary, Ackman said. Yearly contracts for the schools faculty and staff expired July 1. When Shayle Washington, a mother of an incoming fourth-grader at TECCS, heard the final decision at the last board meeting, she said she was upset, but wasnt surprised. For COVID to happen, its something none of us could really wrap our brains around... (but) from a childs standpoint, you take away their most constant thing (school), but then you go and turn around and take away their principal, Washington said. Washington added that she wishes the board had notified parents of Bergaminis departure before it was final. But she also said if this decision was inevitable, she wishes they had someone ready to fill the vacant spot. According to parents on Sunday, TECCS has not updated families on a new principal or vice principal. Washington is looking at other schools for her daughter, but said its difficult because of COVID-19. The only way her 10-year-old will stay at the school is if theres no other options, she said. Bernadette, who did not provide her last name, said she was shocked about Bergaminis leaving. She said she couldnt think of a reason why the school wouldnt rehire the longtime principal. Bergamini had been the schools principal since it opened in 2009. This came without prior discussion or mention, she said. There was no major event or incident that made you question (Bergamini). Bernadette has an incoming fifth- and seventh-grader attending the school. She is also a former Family School Association member for TECCS, and said 95 percent of the time she was happy to have her family part of the school. But the absence of Bergamini and Abdelaal leaves the school without leadership, she said. Shes unsure of what to do next, but said she has started looking for another school. Over the next few months, the board would be searching for the strongest possible leader to be the next principal, the letter emailed to school community members said. But for Karen Lopez, she said her kids wont be there to see that. Marta Bergaminis vision for the school is no longer there, Lopez said. The teachers are there, and all of the teachers are awesome, but without her leadership, it makes it really hard for them to focus on the goodness of the work. Lopez had three children at TECCS. One just graduated, and the other two are 12 and 10 years old. She emphasized that Bergamini was focused on the children and their needs, and now thats all lost. She said if Bergamini were still principal, her kids would have absolutely stayed at TECCS. File image: Rhea Chakraborty An official of Bihar police said here on Saturday that actress Rhea Chakraborty, against whom an abetment to suicide case has been registered in connection with Sushant Singh Rajput's death, was under their watch. The Bihar police also recorded the statement of film director Rumi Jaffrey in the case here during the day, said an official. The four-member Bihar police team arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday to probe the abetment to suicide case registered against Chakraborty and others in Patna. On Saturday the team visited the Bandra police station in connection with the investigation. When asked whether Chakraborty would be interrogated, an official of the Bihar police said, "It is not required as of now. But she is under our watch." Another member of the visiting team said they have sent a notice to Chakraborty under relevant sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), asking her to cooperate with the police in the probe. He also said that the Mumbai police was cooperating with them in the investigation of the case. The team also recorded the statement of film director Rumi Jaffrey. Jaffrey, who was reportedly going to cast Sushant Singh Rajput and Rhea Chakraborty together, was quizzed for around four hours, said an official. They would be recording the statements of four-five more persons from the film industry, he said. Krishna Kumar Singh, Rajput's father, lodged a complaint against Chakraborty and six others including her family members in Patna on Tuesday. The case was registered under various IPC sections including 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 306 (abetment of suicide). Singh accused Chakraborty, a budding TV and film actor, of having befriended his son in May 2019 with the intention of furthering her own career and exploiting him. Rajput was found hanging in his suburban Bandra apartment on June 14. A Mumbai police official said earlier in the day that the visiting team had recorded the statements of six persons as part of the probe. "Till now, the police team from Bihar has met the late actor's friends, colleagues and relatives. They have recorded the statements of six persons- Rajput's sister, who stays in Versova, former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, a cook, his friends and colleagues," the official said. Manila, Aug 2 : Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the proposed 4.506-trillion-peso ($91 billion) national budget for 2021, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Sunday. In a statement, the DBM said Duterte approved the budget during a special meeting with the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on July 30, reports Xinhua news agency. "The proposed fiscal year 2021 budget aims to sustain government efforts towards effectively responding to the coronavirus pandemic by focusing government spending on improving our healthcare systems, ensuring food security, increasing investments in public and digital infrastructure, and helping communities cope and prevail in these trying times," the statement said. The DBM said the theme "Reset, Rebound and Recover: Investing for resiliency and sustainability" this year is consistent with the Duterte administration's goal of saving lives and protecting communities while making different sectors of the economy stronger and more agile. According to the DBM, the 2021 budget is 9.9 per cent higher than this year's budget of 4.1 trillion pesos, and equivalent to 21.8 per cent of the GDP. "Every peso of the proposed 2021 budget went through numerous budget hearings and consultations with the agencies, and levels of scrutiny and approval," it said. The Department added that it will be finalizing the 2021 National Expenditure Program and other budget documents so that they can submit them to the Congress "before the 30-day constitutional deadline". The Philippines continues to grapple with the rapid increase of coronavirus cases despite the strict lockdown measures imposed in mid-March. The country now has 98,232 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 2,039 deaths and 65,265 recoveries. Hamilton appeared on course to cruise to victory but limped over the line, virtually on three wheels, following the late drama at Silverstone. Red Bulls Max Verstappen crossed the line just five seconds back, having started the last lap 31 seconds behind Hamilton. Valtteri Bottas had looked set to take second spot, but also suffered a puncture with two laps to run, dropping him to 11th. Verstappen stopped for new tyres following Bottas puncture. Had he not pitted, he would have been close enough to take the win off Hamilton. Ferraris Charles Leclerc finished third ahead of Renaults Daniel Ricciardo with Lando Norris fifth. The safety car was deployed on two occasions at Silverstone following high-speed shunts involving Kevin Magnussen, and then Daniil Kvyat. But Hamilton kept his cool at both restarts, leading from start to finish, despite the puncture, to move 30 points clear of Bottas in his seemingly inevitable march towards a record-equalling seventh world crown. Up until that last lap, everything was smooth sailing, Hamilton said. When I heard Valtteris tyre went I looked at mine and everything seemed fine. The car was still turning, and the last laps I started to back off and then the tyre deflated. It was definitely heart in the mouth. You could see the tyre was falling off the rim. Oh my God, I was just praying to get it round. I nearly didn't do it, but thank God we did. Oh my God, I was just praying to get it round. I nearly didnt do it, but thank God we did. I had never experienced anything like that on the last lap. My heart almost stopped. Hamilton recovered from a rare spin in qualifying to take pole with the fastest lap ever recorded at Silverstone, and, after beating Bottas to the opening bend, his victory did not appear in doubt until the late drama. Bottas got a better getaway than Hamilton, but, after failing to draw alongside his team-mate before the first corner, he backed out of a lunge for the lead. Advertisement Alexander Albon compounded a poor weekend by banging wheels with Magnussen on the opening lap, sending the Haas driver into the gravel. The safety car is still out following @kvyatofficials crash, @PierreGASLY is currently running in P13 with the whole field putting except for Grosjean in 5th#AlphaTauri #F1 #BritishGP pic.twitter.com/qcO7FJdbSl Scuderia AlphaTauri (@AlphaTauriF1) August 2, 2020 The safety car was deployed and Albon was dealt a five-second penalty from the stewards. He would cross the line in eighth, with pressure mounting on the under-performing London-born Thai. After Magnussens damaged machine was cleared away, the race restarted on lap six, but Bottas failed to put Hamilton under any pressure. Just seven laps later, the safety car was deployed again after Kvyat lost control of his AlphaTauri through the high-speed Maggots. The Russian thudded into the barriers but despite sustaining serious damage to his car walked away unscathed from the incident. I am so f****** sorry, he said over the radio before shoving a camera out of his way as he returned to the pits. Lando finishes the #BritishGP in P5, with Carlos getting a puncture on the final lap, finishing P13. Mixed emotions for the team. pic.twitter.com/dmI7PcWeRF McLaren (@McLarenF1) August 2, 2020 The second safety car period saw the drivers stop for fresh rubber, and once Kvyats wreckage was cleared, Bottas again did not do enough to put Hamilton under any pressure on the restart. Instead, it was Norris on the move after he stormed past Ricciardo at Luffield before attempting to take team-mate Carlos Sainz around the outside at Copse. They young Briton, however, was forced to abandon the ambitious move. Sainz and Norris then made their way past Romain Grosjean the Haas driver running in fifth after choosing not to pit for tyres during the safety car. The Frenchman was handed a black-and-white flag by the stewards for his aggressive defence when duelling with Sainz. 1. Yes. Too many kids are staying home. They need a virtual learning option to keep up. 2. Yes. Teachers are out sick and subs cant handle the load. Online learning is needed. 3. No. Its too late in the school year to make a wholesale switch in teaching platforms. 4.No. Many parents arent in a position to stay home while their kids learn virtually. 5. Unsure. It may seem like a good idea from a health standpoint, but it has shortcomings. Vote View Results Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen Iran Says It Has Detained A Leader Of U.S.-Based Opposition Group August 01, 2020 Authorities in Iran say they have arrested a leader of a U.S.-based opposition group for alleged involvement in a 2008 mosque attack in Shiraz that killed 14 people and injured more than 200. The Intelligence Ministry said on August 1 that it had detained Jamshid Sharmahd of the little-known, California-based Kingdom Assembly of Iran group. Sharmahd allegedly heads the group's militant wing, which is called Tondar. Officials said the group is suspected of planning other, unspecified attacks as well. The Iranian state television report did not say when or where Sharmahd had been detained. The Kingdom Assembly of Iran is a monarchist group that seeks to overthrow Iran's Islamist government. Based on reporting by AP and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-says-it- has-detained-leader-of-u-s--based- opposition-group/30761334.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address DORCHESTER The line of cars was longer than the town on Saturday as people queued up in COVID-safe fashion for the annual Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department Fish Fry. The popular annual meal is usually part of the three-day Dorchester Homecoming, which was canceled this year due to the pandemic. But volunteers organized a drive-through service so fried fish fritter aficionados could get their fix and continue to support the volunteer fire department and the community. Theres probably 80 or more cars in this line, said Ron Shultz of Bunker Hill, who enjoys the fish fry every year. That doesnt surprise me because they are known for their fish. Ive always enjoyed coming here to eat fish and drink beer. Shultz felt good about being able to support the fire department on Saturday, but he felt even better about the meal that awaited him when he reached the front of the drive-through line. Its the batter they cook it in and how they fry it there are all these little secrets, Shultz said. Each community where the people fry it has their secrets on how they season it. Gina Frensko of Benld was also waiting patiently in line on Saturday. Im not sure what makes the fish so good but we come every year to get it, said Frensko, who thought the pandemic-precaution drive-through was a great idea because we can still support the Dorchester Fire Department. Vehicles stretched from the village limits of the southern Macoupin County community and snaked through the towns streets to the park, where volunteers took their orders and radioed them to the cooking pavilion. Each driver then pulled forward and a few minutes later departed with a hand-delivered buffalo, catfish or barbecue sandwich meal. The serving started at 11 a.m. and organizers planned to continue until they ran out of fish. Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department Chief Charlie Knoche said since there was no homecoming this year, the fish fry was done as a free will donation. We are doing it because it had been going on for 60 years and we wanted to do something because people always look forward to it, Knoche said. Its a lot of work but its kind of fun work. The 10-person Dorchester department is part of the Unit 7 Fire District, and Knoche said that members donated and delivered more than 100 pounds of fried fish on Saturday to feed area first responders and hospital patients. Knoche said the firefighters appreciated the generous freewill donations customers were making in exchange for the fish sandwiches. Usually the fire district provides what we need, but we could get nicer gloves, or more equipment for the truck that not everybody in the district might have, Knoche said. We also use some of the proceeds to improve the park every year. Daniel Day of Hillsboro is an annual participant in the Dorchester Homecoming and patiently waited in line for his fish sandwich on Saturday. The homecoming is kind of like a family get-together, you can see friends and support the fire department, so Im glad to do my part, Day said. Theyve got some good fish and I wouldnt miss it. A lot of people like the buffalo, but personally Im a fan of the catfish, just the way they fry it up, it turns out good every year. Drive-through diners appreciated the way that organizers went to extra lengths to keep the fish fry tradition alive when many events have had to take a viral vacation this year. You gotta do what you gotta do to stay safe, said Mt. Olive resident William Zubal. Their fish is the best around. If you like river fish, this buffalo and catfish are pretty hard to beat. " " Can we remake Mars in Earth's image? See more Mars pictures. James Porto /Taxi/ Getty Images Think of Mars as a massive fixer-upper. Sure, it's nowhere nearly as nice as our current planetary home, but perhaps with a little work we could live there. Given enough time and effort, can we one day terraform the red planet and turn it into a new Earth? Or is Mars nothing but a hopeless money pit in the sky? As with any prospective homebuyer, we really need to look at what's broken and what it will take to fix everything. Curb appeal aside, two key shortcomings prevent Mars from being move-in ready. Advertisement First up, the terrible atmosphere. Humans are pretty picky when it comes to atmospheric conditions. If the pressure's too high or too low, we die. If we don't get enough oxygen, we die. After all, we've evolved to live within a very specific layer of Earth's gaseous outer layer. Mars' atmosphere is very thin and incredibly cold. It lacks sufficient air pressure and contains way too much carbon dioxide. Second, if you're looking to move into a new planet, make sure there's an intact electromagnetic field. Earth has one, generated by hydrodynamic convection between its liquid outer core and solid inner core. Without this shielding, we'd be exposed to a deadly stream of highly charged particles called the solar wind. For reasons we don't entirely understand yet, Mars lacks this protection and possesses only remnants of a magnetic field at its polar ice caps. It gets worse. According to a 2010 study from the Swedish Institute of Space Physics and the University of Leicester, double solar radiation waves periodically strip away 30 percent of the sparse Martian atmosphere. These waves occur when one solar wave overtakes another to produce a single, more powerful wave. What little atmosphere remains is due to comet strikes and the occasional melting of polar ice. So what would it take to fix Mars up to Earthling standards? Scientists have made various proposals to induce a greenhouse effect on Mars through the use of mirrors, atmosphere factories or asteroid impacts. We could melt the polar ice caps to release trapped carbon dioxide or generate greenhouse gases in factories. In time, we could theoretically start using widespread atmosphere factories to turn carbon dioxide into oxygen in a manner similar to plants. All of this tinkering might thicken up the atmosphere and provide greater radioactive shielding, but Mars will continue to face atmosphere loss due to double solar radiation waves. There's no getting around the fact that Mars desperately lacks an electromagnetic field. Scientists disagree on the makeup of Mars' modern core. It might be solid, liquid or some combination of the two. It all depends on which scientist you talk to and which study they choose to support. Whatever the truth is, we know something isn't working down there. A 2008 University of Toronto study theorized that, more than 4 billion years ago, incoming asteroids applied a gravitational tug to liquids in Mars' core, producing enough of a dynamo effect to generate a temporary electromagnetic field. Could the introduction of a new, artificial moon give the core the kick-start it needs? Other proposals involve injecting Mars' core with radioactive waste to fire it up, while other scientists think artificial magnetic fields may be the answer. Mars is quite the fixer-upper. Even the best-case scenarios entail centuries of renovating, and the technology to induce or recreate electromagnetic field protection may be centuries off as well. Explore the links on the next page to learn even more about Mars. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday asked the Punjab government to handover the probe into the spurious liquor tragedy, which has claimed more than 80 lives, to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), saying the state police has been not able to crack the cases. The death toll in the Punjab hooch tragedy mounted to 86 on Saturday even as chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh suspended seven excise officials and six policemen. Saddened by the loss of lives in Punjab due to illicit liquor. State government needs to immediately take necessary steps to curb such mafias. The case should be handed over to CBI immediately as none of the illicit liquor cases from the last few months have been solved by local police, the Delhi chief minister tweeted. A majority of the victims who died consuming spurious liquor belonged to Tarn Taran, which accounts for 63 deaths, followed by Amritsar Rural at 12 and Gurdaspur (Batala) at 11. Saddened by the loss of lives in Punjab due to illicit liquor. State govt needs to immediately take necessary steps to curb such mafias. The case should be handed over to CBI immediately as none of the illicit liquor cases from the last few months have been solved by local police Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 2, 2020 Amarinder Singh had on Saturday announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each for the families of those who lost their lives after consuming the illicit liquor. Singh also issued a warning that those involved in this business should stop immediately or face grave consequences. He announced the suspension of 13 officials during his weekly Facebook Live session with the public which includes two deputy superintendents of police and four station house officers. Punjab police said it arrested 17 more people after conducting more than 100 raids in Tarn Taran, Amritsar Rural and Gurdaspur (Batala) along with several other locations near Rajpura and Shambu border. The total arrests have gone up to 25. Dinkar Gupta, the states police chief, has said a woman kingpin, a transport owner, a wanted criminal, a mastermind and owners/managers of various roadside eateries--from where the illicit liquor was being supplied--are among those arrested. (with inputs from ANI) Champaign, IL (61820) Today A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds. High 48F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Overcast. Low 27F. Winds WSW at 15 to 25 mph. Higher wind gusts possible. Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The fifth round of talks between the Indian and Chinese Corps Commanders are underway in Moldo, Chinese side of the LAC. "Talks are being held and disengagement of troops from some of the standoff points will be the main agenda," sources told TNIE on Sunday. Finger 4 on the northern flank of Pangong Lake and Patrolling Point 17A (Gogra) are the places where Chinese have not fulfilled the commitments of disengagement as decided in previous four meetings. As per the sources, the Chinese troops left the height at Finger 4 but remained deployed on the ridges in the vicinity. Also, from PP 17A the disengagement is pending. The Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenpin on Tuesday had said that disengagement was complete in Galwan, HotSpring and Gogra but was silent on Pangong Tso. "Some progress been made, but the disengagement process not been completed," said Indian MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava. Lt Gen Harinder Singh, Indian XIV Corps Commander and Maj Gen Lin Liu, Commander of the South Xinjian Military District have been representing their respective sides. Two earlier meetings were held in Moldo on June 6 and 22 and while Chishul, located in the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control, hosted two on June 30 and July 14. Epidemiologist Neil Ferguson said he never actually met Boris Johnson. (Reuters) The leading epidemiologist whose controversial report predicted a potential coronavirus death toll of more than 500,000 in the UK never actually met Boris Johnson, he has revealed. Professor Neil Ferguson, dubbed Professor Lockdown because his report prompted the governments decision to put a lockdown in place in March, said he never had a one-on-one with the Prime Minister because that is not the way science advice works in the UK. In a wide-ranging interview in the New Statesman, Prof Ferguson said he thought the UK government had a more nuanced and detailed understanding of what we knew and what we didnt about the virus than any other government, but was too slow in dealing with it. The leading scientist previously said the coronavirus death toll 'would have been at least 50% lower' if lockdown had started a week earlier. Prof Ferguson said any scientific advice goes through Chief Medical Officer for England Chris Whitty and UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance. (Reuters) In his latest interview, he told the New Statesman: I never met Johnson, I never had one-on-ones, its not the way science advice works in the UK. It all goes through Sage [the governments Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies] and then the scientific consensus is communicated to Johnson by Chris Whitty and Patrick Vallance. He said he did have some conversations on the margins of Sage meetings with No 10 special advisers, but added: that was the closest I got to any politician. His comments give an interesting insight into the process by which key decisions have been made throughout the crisis at the heart of government. In May, four months into the outbreak, Johnson admitted he didnt read the scientific papers presented by Sage, only a digest provided to him by his advisers. The government has also admitted Johnson did not attend five Cobra meetings in the run-up to the outbreak arriving in the UK. The epidemiologist, who resigned from his post on Sage after flouting lockdown rules by receiving visits from his lover at his home, said he didnt know what the perfect system was but compared the way UK scientific advice works to France, after his own report was reportedly shown directly to French President Emmanuel Macron by a colleague in what was a key factor in him deciding to lock the country down. Story continues In other European countries, like France, a small group of scientists experts on the disease - directly talked to the politicians, he said, adding that the structure in the UK prevented charismatic individuals unduly influencing policy. He questioned whether having a very nuanced, reflective, risk-adverse scientific advisory system in relation to policy resulted in an agile-enough system that could deal adequately with something like the coronavirus pandemic. In his interview, which comes as tighter restrictions were imposed on parts of the north west of England amid concerns that infection rates are rising, Prof Ferguson warned that the UK is still in the early stages of the pandemic and that the UK is unlikely to return to normal for the forseeable future. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter South Africa: Signs of daily infections stabilising After a rapid rise in COVID-19 infections over the last two months, the daily increase in infections appears to be stabilising, particularly in the Western Cape, Gauteng and Eastern Cape. While it may be too soon to draw firm conclusions, this suggests that the prevention measures that South Africans have implemented are having an effect, said President Cyril Ramaphosa in a statement on Saturday on progress in the national Coronavirus response. South Africa has recorded more than half a million confirmed cases of Coronavirus. Of the cumulative total of 503 290 cases, 342 461 people have already recovered and 152 676 cases are currently active. The global Coronavirus pandemic is the most serious public health crisis that the world has faced in over a century. On every continent, nations have struggled to contain the spread of the virus and to contend with its effects. In our own country, 8 153 people are known to have lost their lives, and the actual number of deaths due to the virus is likely to exceed this figure. We deeply mourn this loss and offer our sympathies to the families and friends who are in grief, said President Ramaphosa. He said South Africas recovery rate is currently around 68%. The case fatality rate which is the number of deaths as a proportion of confirmed cases remains at 1.6%, significantly lower than the global average. While South Africa has the fifth highest number of total COVID-19 cases globally, the country has only the 36th highest number of deaths as a proportion of the population. For this, the President said he was grateful to the work of health professionals and the innovative treatments they have pioneered. Before the advent of the epidemic in South Africa, government set in motion a strategy to respond swiftly and comprehensively to protect as many lives as possible. The national lockdown succeeded in delaying the spread of the virus by more than two months, preventing a sudden and uncontrolled increase in infections in late March. Had South Africans not acted together to prevent this outcome, our health system would have been overwhelmed in every province. This would have resulted in a dramatic loss of life, said the President. Preparing for peak in infections He said over the past few months, government has undertaken an unprecedented mobilisation of resources to prepare the country for the inevitable increase in cases. In every province, hospitals were reorganised and readied to manage an influx of patients. Government provided training for health personnel, distributed large quantities of personal protective equipment and put in place systems to monitor outbreaks and respond quickly. Field hospitals have been constructed across the country, including in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Nelson Mandela Bay and Pietermaritzburg. These facilities continue to be essential in providing adequate care to those who need it. In certain cases, these efforts were not enough. Several public hospitals in the Eastern Cape were overwhelmed as infections rose in the province, and a specialist team has been deployed to address this challenge. In other provinces hard-hit by the epidemic, including the Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, the health system has so far had sufficient capacity to cope with the number of admissions. This is a testament to the efforts of doctors, nurses, public health specialists and others who have worked hard to prepare for this moment. We need, however, to continue with these efforts to further increase the capacity of our health facilities, said President Ramaphosa. Additional facilities, equipment and personnel are being deployed in provinces still experiencing an increase in infections. Innovative use of South African skills and capabilities During this month, the National Ventilator Project will deliver 20 000 locally-produced, non-invasive ventilators to where they are most needed. A dedicated team drawn from several institutions, led by the Biovac Institute, is preparing to manufacture doses of a successful vaccine locally. The President said they were working hard to fix the logistical and other problems that have led to a shortage of personal protective equipment for health workers and other frontline staff in several parts of the country. We understand the concerns and the frustrations of these essential workers and are committed to resolving this issue with the greatest urgency, he said. He added that law enforcement have been empowered to investigate all reports of alleged corruption and irregularities in the procurement of medical and other supplies. It is unconscionable that there are people who may be using this health crisis to unlawfully enrich themselves. Prevention through individual and collective action However, the President said while there are promising signs, now was not the time to let your down guard. We have to continue to work together to reduce the number of new infections. We must maintain our vigilance until we have no more Coronavirus cases in our country. If we do not do so, there is the risk of a resurgence in those areas where the virus has now begun to stabilise, he said. As with many other countries across the world, South Africa needs to continually adjust the measures taken to prevent new outbreaks or to safeguard the health system. We have already seen, for example, that the suspension of alcohol sales has significantly reduced the trauma cases in our health facilities. While these changes can be disruptive to peoples lives and to the economy, it is necessary that we adapt to the changing path of the disease. President Ramaphosa urged the public to continue to wear a mask correctly, keep a distance of two metres from other people, and wash hands regularly. I call on every South African to remain strong and steadfast in these most difficult times, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2020-08-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Hong Kongs decision to bar a dozen pro-democracy candidates from contesting legislative elections and then to postpone the vote by a year wont leave its economic prospects unscathed. Its a striking reminder of how threatening elections can be for authoritarian governments even those where the system is stacked in their favor. The authorities actions further narrow the scope for public dissent in the former British colony, after Beijing passed a national security law at the end of June following months of anti-government and pro-democracy protests last year. That legislation overrides Hong Kongs Basic Law, the document that enshrines the liberties that were supposed to be guaranteed for 50 years under the terms of the citys return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. Disinterested observers may wonder why they bothered. Hong Kongs Legislative Council has limited power. The assembly has no direct link to the citys executive-led and Beijing-appointed government, although it approves spending and taxes. Only half of the 70 seats are directly elected by voters under universal suffrage. The rest are mostly picked by corporations and individuals representing industries and professions, some with tiny electorates and many tilted heavily toward the pro-Beijing establishment. The governments stated reason for the delay the risk of spreading infection amid a resurgence in Covid-19 cases looks flimsy. Hong Kongs third wave is indeed grave, but there is little evidence that the election would make it worse. South Koreas April ballot caused no significant outbreaks and it recorded its highest turnout in almost three decades. Consider what Hong Kong would have gained by allowing a free vote to go ahead. An open and inclusive campaign would have been a showcase for the values that the citys chief executive says remain intact, and given the government a counter-argument to those who contend the security law has extinguished Hong Kongs essential freedoms. As Ben Bland of the Lowy Institute points out, anti-establishment voices would have been given a safe place to speak up, international recognition, political experience and funding. Story continues The government wasnt willing to risk it. Officials went to the opposite extreme, disqualifying even moderate opposition candidates such as the sitting legislator who represents the accountancy profession hardly a hotbed of radicalism. In fact, the chances of an electoral embarrassment were high. Last year, voters turned out in record numbers for the District Council elections bodies that handle mundane matters such as refuse collection and traffic. Such was the level of anti-government feeling that pro-democracy candidates secured almost 90% of 452 seats (a result exaggerated somewhat by a first-past-the-post system). That was before the security legislation. Sentiment has eased, but not changed. Authorities reluctance to chance a repeat reflects a basic truth: Voting matters, even in a non-democratic or partly democratic system, where elections are often seen as hollow political theater. Hong Kongs government doesnt have quite the same pretense as the former Soviet states, or Russia, where President Vladimir Putin requires mass demonstrations of popular adulation. Neither can it afford to hold controlled competitive elections as Singapore does. It does, though, crave popular support, as seen by the flurry of advertisements, appeals and petitions as the government sought to claim approval for the national security law. Official nervousness isnt without reason. Elections, however partial and even without real opposition, can bolster non-democratic governments. They can also bring instability. A 2015 University of Oslo study of 259 autocracies found election years were associated with an increased probability of regime breakdown in the short term. Take a glance at Belarus, where Alexander Lukashenko is seeking a sixth term as president. The country is witnessing the largest pro-opposition rallies ever, even after the government silenced the media and hounded most opposition voices.Hong Kongs government has now created an even bigger problem for itself. There is no clearly determined path after elections are postponed and candidates disqualified. Does the legislature simply stay on, and if so what happens to lawmakers who have been barred from running again? The Basic Law, after all, clearly stipulates a term of four years, which is ending. By doing all this just as it cracks down on even teenage activists and removes library books, authorities are also blocking all release valves for public discontent. The risk, says Lee Morgenbesser of Griffith University, who studies elections in authoritarian states, is that bottled-up anger eventually erupts. Hong Kong's rapid dismantling of its institutions has been unparalleled. Even Putin took years to mount his assault. Add in the background of a grim economic situation and the mishandling of a public health emergency, and the alarm among international businesses is only likely to grow. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering commodities and environmental, social and governance issues. Previously, she was an associate editor for Reuters Breakingviews, and editor and correspondent for Reuters in Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia. Matthew Brooker is an editor with Bloomberg Opinion. He previously was a columnist, editor and bureau chief for Bloomberg News. Before joining Bloomberg, he worked for the South China Morning Post. He is a CFA charterholder. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Sydney's PR queen Roxy Jacenko hit minor snags with keeping her successful Sweaty Betty empire operational and profitable during COVID-19. But as local PR firms struggle to stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic, Roxy is about to launch a new business with billionaire chicken heiress Jessica Ingham. 'PR in Australia has taken a hit. There is a lot of uncertainty,' Roxy, 40, told The Sunday Telegraph this week. 'There is a lot of uncertainty': Roxy Jacenko, 40, (right) is gearing up to launch her new business with chicken heiress Jess Ingham, (left) as PR agencies struggle to stay afloat Despite her publicity company being majorly impacted by the pandemic, she claims she always had a plan in case business slowed down. 'I'm fortunate that business has started to pick up again, but I always had a game plan if something like this happened. I know nothing lasts forever,' she explained. Roxy added that she always had multiple ideas in the works: 'I've never been someone who (thinks) "business is flying, I don't need to worry".' 'I know nothing lasts forever': Roxy said she has always had multiple ideas and 'game plans' in the works for when things don't work out Over the past few weeks, Roxy has been teasing a new business venture with her long-time friend, Jess, on her social media platforms. Last month, The Sydney-based entrepreneur shared the logo for her new brand, XRJ Celebrations, to Instagram stories and linked to the company's business handle. She had previously alluded to the new venture as far back as June. 'I'm fortunate that business has started to pick up again': While her PR company is doing well, she is still going ahead with her new venture with pal Jess Ingham (right) 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. 'I'm now semi-retired,' she joked, explaining how the hectic nature of her job made it impossible for her to enjoy life. Coming soon: Last month, Roxy shared a the logo for her new brand, XRJ Celebrations, to Instagram stories and linked to the company's business handle '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. Study: Over half of churchgoers find Bible challenging when reading on their own Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Over half of Protestant churchgoers have difficulty understanding Scripture when they read it on their own, highlighting the need for communal Bible study, a new report revealed. A new poll from LifeWay Research, in partnership with Explore the Bible, found that 57% of Protestant churchgoers say the Bible is challenging when read alone. However, nine in 10 churchgoers agree they can usually understand how a passage of Scripture is relevant to them, and four in five express confidence in their ability to help others with doubts about the truthfulness of Scripture. Churchgoers are ready to defend the Bible as true and as a faithful moral standard, said Scott McConnell, executive director of LifeWay Research. But most admit they stumble on understanding the specific meaning as they read. The survey of 1,002 American Protestant churchgoers conducted Sept. 20-27, 2019, also highlighted churchgoers attitudes toward Bible study. The poll found that 93% say they enjoy exploring a passage of Scripture to understand its meaning. Reading and studying as an individual is important, but we need others to help us think through what we discover, said Dwayne McCrary of Explore the Bible. Studying together also allows us to gain insights from others that move us forward in our study as well. Notably, the study also found that about four in five churchgoers say the Bible can have multiple meanings for different readers, and 30% say they accept some truths of the Bible but dont accept all of them. For a religion claiming a basis in Gods Word, its surprising to see this many practicing Christians giving their own word priority in their beliefs, said McConnell. In a world filled with constant changes, its hard for some to accept the biblical claim of an unchanging source of truth. A separate report from the Barna Group, a social research firm focused on religion and public life, found that U.S. adults who say they read the Bible daily dropped from 14% to 9% between early 2019 and 2020 amid the coronavirus outbreak. However, "churched respondents," or those who have attended a Christian church service within the past six months, were significantly more likely to be Scripture engaged. This study supports the idea that the church plays a significant role in benefiting peoples well-being and Scripture engagement, said John Farquhar Plake, American Bible Society director of ministry intelligence. To increase Scripture engagement, we must increase relational connections with one another through the church. The pandemic and now this survey have shown that when relational church engagement goes up, so does Scripture engagement, but when it goes down, Scripture engagement drops with it. While the importance of community among Christians is well-documented, an earlier study from The American Enterprise Institute found that nearly two-thirds of American Christians are uncomfortable with returning to in-person worship services over coronavirus concerns. Ed Young, pastor of Fellowship Church located in the Dallas area, told The Christian Post that while the issue of reopening is complex, its important to weigh the hype of the pandemic against the spiritual costs. Look at our culture. There is so much going on right now spiritually, especially among young people facing depression, anxiety, and attempting suicide, he said. I have counted the cost of not opening our church versus opening, and I believe that risk and faith go hand in hand. I believe its critical to reopen churches. Young, whose church reopened immediately after Texas Governor Greg Abbotts stay-at-home order expired, stressed the importance of using common sense and following CDC guidelines when it comes to reopening. Options are important, he clarified. I am very much a proponent of having different doors of the church open, whether they be physical doors or digital doors. Still, he cited Hebrews 10:25 (And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near) to encourage congregations to meet physically. Something supernatural happens when we gather physically in a house of worship, Young said. I believe the risk of not coming together is greater than the risk of meeting." I reckon that once youre checking in a case, you might as well cram in absolutely everything you could possibly need or want. Coleen Rooney is pictured above arriving in Barbados The Rooney family arrived for their Barbados holiday with shedloads of luggage. Seven vast hard-shell suitcases. Yes. I counted. But seven cases for eight people Wayne, Coleen, their four sons and Coleens parents makes them pretty lightweight packers in my book. I reckon that once youre checking in a case, you might as well cram in absolutely everything you could possibly need or want. For me, one of the unintended pluses of flying during the pandemic is that were encouraged to check in luggage rather than carry it on, to avoid that desperate crush trying to nab overhead space. This means I no longer have to feel the group pariah when I am the only one forcing everyone else to wait at the baggage carousel. Even so, I like to think I actually use the things I haul around with me rather than have them simply sitting in a foreign cupboard unworn, needing to be unpacked and ironed when we get back. Returning from our recent holiday in France, I was startled to see how much seemed to fall into this category and decided to make a list. It was a salutary read. For starters, it turns out I pack two evening wardrobes: one for my fantasy world and one for what I know will be my real one. In the fantasy, I emerge radiant from the shower after a day of sun and sea to dress bare-armed and bare-legged in pretty dresses and skirts for the night ahead. In the real one, I am shrouded in fabric to ward off the mosquitoes that head, at sundown, for any exposed centimetre of skin. You might have thought that by now I would have accepted that I need to dress as if in Saudi Arabia, but no. I still pack the clothes I would like to wear. So this year, returned unworn yet creased were two floral midi dresses, one cotton maxi skirt, one knee-length silk skirt, one linen smock dress, three pairs of floaty trousers and a pair of khaki chinos, taken on holiday despite the fact that I never wear khaki chinos anywhere and dont know why I ever bought them. The Rooneys luggage is seen arriving in Barbados. For me, one of the unintended pluses of flying during the pandemic is that were encouraged to check in luggage rather than carry it on, to avoid that desperate crush trying to nab overhead space Five of the eight T-shirts remained unworn and two cashmere cardigans didnt even make it out of the suitcase, along with the running kit which, frankly, was an exercise of hope over experience. Just like the watercolour paints. The two swimming costumes I packed didnt see the water, which was no surprise since I only ever wear bikinis. Yet I always bring along one-pieces in case I find myself in a place where a bikini would be inappropriate. No idea where I think that would be. Many times Ive been asked if I am aware that they do have shops in Naples, Ibiza, Athens, wherever. But I dont want to waste precious holiday time searching for shampoo when I could be lolling in the sun with a glass of rose. So in goes every conceivable pharmaceutical and cosmetic option. I could give Boots a run for its money and I use hardly any of it. But isnt it always when you havent packed the Pepto-Bismol that you need it? When we got home this year I found three lipsticks, bath essence, turquoise eyeliner why do I always think I will suddenly suit blue eyeliner on holiday? and a foundation, all untouched. All this along with a jade facial roller that demonstrates the true madness of my packing. Who in their right mind would waste their precious holiday hours with a facial roller? Mayor Khans offensive fences A joyful return to the reopened Wolseley restaurant. I discussed with owner Jeremy King the mess that is the Piccadilly pavement outside which, like so many in London, has been blighted by hideous plastic fencing. Its Labour mayor Sadiq Khans brainwave to boost social distancing by increasing pavement width but it just looks like roadworks. Jeremy says in the four weeks he has seen only three people use the extra space outside the Wolseley, and one of them was him. Jeremy and his team at the Wolseley are masters at front of house. As we re-emerge, I bet the firms that flourish (whether they be hair or beauty salons, or restaurants) will be those where we feel known. Its not just food and pedicures, its a sense of community that weve missed, and a person who greets you warmly is a big part of that. Its Labour mayor Sadiq Khans brainwave to boost social distancing by increasing pavement width but it just looks like roadworks No, your selfie wont change the world A week is a long time on Instagram. Could it have been only last weekend my feed was suddenly overrun by attractive black and white selfies of women accompanied by #challengeaccepted, a list of other womens names and usually some kind of female empowerment message? Now the backlash has begun. I couldnt work out what on earth was going on until I read a post explaining how this challenge was in support of a young Turkish woman, Pinar Gultekin, allegedly murdered by her boyfriend. Her friends had used this hashtag chain to raise awareness of the countrys appalling rate of femicide. But that message quickly got lost and hardly any of the women posting last week had the slightest inkling of this tragedy, illustrating the vapidity and confusion of Instagram movements. Nowadays the social pressure to take part is tremendous, even for a tough broad like me. Should I risk offending the women who nominate me by not joining in? Am I dissing the sisterhood? Likewise when the black square took over Instagram in support of Black Lives Matter, was I going to be called out as racist if I didnt follow suit? In the event, and apologies to those who invited me, I decided to hold off #challengeaccepted because, really, is posting a picture I like of myself the best way I can help tackle violent domestic abuse? Shouldnt there have been at least a link to donate to womens refuges? And when posting the black square back in May (which I did), was I really making an intelligent contribution to fighting racism or sheepishly succumbing to gesture politics? Boriss new dummy? No thanks! The job I least want in the world is to be the new No 10 spokesperson. It is also, no doubt, the job I would be least likely to get. The role of spreading Downing Streets message in daily televised briefings is thought likely to go to a woman, with Skys Sophy Ridge and Brexiteer journalist Isabel Oakeshott supposedly in the frame. But why would any independent-thinking woman want it? Of course, with this Governments poor track record on promoting women to any meaningful position (with the noted exception of Priti Patel), No 10 think that this glorified ventriloquists dummy should be female. They can look attractive, take flak, possibly cut the aggressive questioning and keep leaving the real work to the men. Speaking of female appointments my tuppence-worth on Antonia Romeo, the high-flyer tipped to succeed Sir Mark Sedwill as head of the Civil Service, is that shes a good egg and not the extravagant flibbertigibbet she is being portrayed as because when she was consul general in New York she was given paint by Farrow & Ball to decorate the apartment that came with the job. Since part of that role was promoting British business and culture, why not? And in 2016 when she agreed to co-host a party at that flat to celebrate British Vogues centenary, far from being extravagant, she had her young son handing out the canapes to our guests like Alexa Chung and the then newlyweds Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall. NYC schools not to reopen unless coronavirus rate below 3 percent Global Times Source: Xinhua Published: 2020/8/1 10:16:07 New York City officials said Friday that schools will not reopen for in-person instruction unless the city's coronavirus infection rate remains below 3 percent on a seven-day rolling average. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city would be watching the positivity rate for COVID-19 in NYC to determine if schools can reopen and stay open for the 2020-2021 school year. "We will not reopen our schools unless the city's infection rate is below 3%." The city's infection rate has remained steady at around 2 percent for several weeks, and was at 1 percent on Friday. School leadership and staff are reviewing school space and making necessary repairs and adjustments to ensure safe conditions for in-person student learning this fall. "The city will prioritize free testing for school-based staff with 24-hour turn around time results at any of the 34 city-run testing locations," New York City Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza said. "School-based staff members are also encouraged to opt into monthly COVID-19 testing which is critically important." New York City released a detailed plan for returning students to class late Thursday, hours before New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's Friday deadline for the state's 700 school districts to submit their plans for review. Cuomo said he would decide whether schools in the state would reopen in the fall in the first week of August. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A US intelligence official with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been reassigned following revelations that his office compiled "intelligence reports" on journalists and analysed communications between protesters amid ongoing demonstrations in Portland, Oregon. Brian Murphy was removed from his post following a report in The Washington Post revealing that the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis sent open source intelligence reports to federal law enforcement agencies containing information from two reporters who had published leaked unclassified government documents while covering Black Lives Matter protests. Acting DHS secretary Chad Wolf directed the office to "immediately discontinue collecting information involving members of the press" after learning about the reports, according to a 31 July statement from spokesman Alexei Woltornist. "In no way does the acting secretary condone this practise and he has immediately ordered an inquiry into the matter," he said. "The acting secretary is committed to ensuring that all DHS personnel uphold the principles of professionalism, impartiality and respect for civil rights and civil liberties, particularly as it relates to the exercise of First Amendment rights. Mr Murphy's reassignment follows threats from Donald Trump to send National Guard troops into Portland after the DHS and Oregon governor Kate Brown had announced an agreement for federal officers' withdrawal. It came following weeks of federal occupation alongside local police and lawsuits from demonstrators alleging violent and unconstitutional use of force. A statement from Mr Wolf characterised the agreement in less certain terms, saying that his department will "continue to re-evaluate" the city's efforts to protect federal courthouse where officers have been staged before they leave. He said the agency would "continue to maintain our current, augmented federal law enforcement personnel in Portland until we are assured that the Hatfield Federal Courthouse and other federal properties will no longer be attacked and that the seat of justice in Portland will remain secure." Governor Brown said that officers from US Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the wing of DHS "have acted as an occupying force and brought violence." But the president, who has heightened a "law and order" agenda as he mounts a re-election campaign depecting the US as under attack from other Americans, has instead threatened to activate the National Guard and deploy "very strong offensive force" against protests. "We have no choice," he claimed. "The left-wing extremists have spread mayhem throughout the streets of different cities." According to an internal memo obtained by The Washington Post, Mr Murphy sought to broaden the definition of Portland's violent protesters in a way that more closely aligns the department with the president's rhetoric. The office would label people who had previously been described as "violent opportunists" attacking law enforcement and vandalising property as "violent antifa anarchists", according to the report. Mr Murphy claimed that protesters were "overwhelmingly" linked to ideologies that are "driving individuals towards violence" despite DHS analysis that determined there was not enough information to make that conclusion. Press advocacy groups have collected more than 600 law enforcement attacks against journalists during widespread demonstrations against police brutality, underscoring threats to First Amendment protections and government transparency, according to the US Press Freedom Tracker. Portland unrest continues as officials call for federal 'ceasefire' 13 show all Portland unrest continues as officials call for federal 'ceasefire' 1/13 Portland activists gather People gather in a protest camp near the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse as the city prepares for another night of unrest on July 27, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. For over 57 straight nights, protesters have faced off in often violent clashes with the Portland Police Bureau and, more recently, federal officers. Getty Images 2/13 Portland Moms join the protests The demonstrations began to honor the life of George Floyd and other black Americans killed by law enforcement and have intensified as the Trump administration called in the federal officers. Getty Images 3/13 Federal officers detain activists Federal police make an arrest as they confront protesters in front of the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse in downtown Portland as the city experiences another night of unrest. Getty Images 4/13 Demonstrators continue protesting at courthouse The federal government has meanwhile announced plans to send additional federal agents to the scene. Getty Images 5/13 Portland protests continue A demonstrator holds his arms up in the air as federal officers launch tear gas during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse. AP 6/13 Federal officers deploy tear gas Federal officers deploy tear gas and crowd control munitions at demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse. AP 7/13 Federal officers advance on demonstrators Federal officers advance of demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse. AP 8/13 Military veterans participate in a Black Lives Matter protest Military veterans participate in a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse. AP 9/13 Federal police face off with protesters The officers once again clashed with protestors amid weeks of tense confrontations. Getty Images 10/13 Protestors gather at courthouse People gather to protest in front of the Mark O. Hatfield federal courthouse in downtown Portland as the city experiences another night of unrest on July 27, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. Getty Images 11/13 Protestors continue gathering The protests have continued for 57 days. Getty Images 12/13 A demonstrator holds a sign in front of a fire A demonstrator holds a sign in front of a fire during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse. AP 13/13 Demonstrators shield themselves from advancing federal officers Demonstrators shield themselves from advancing federal officers during a Black Lives Matter protest. AP The group has discovered at least 87 reporters have been arrested in the US within the last few months, as well as dozens of reporters who have been targets of rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper spray and other weapons. Those include The Independent's chief US correspondent Andrew Buncombe, who was arrested while reporting on protests in Seattle. House Intelligence Committee has been "conducting rigorous oversight" of the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis over the last two weeks, including Mr Murphy's role in the agency's monitoring of journalists, according to committee chairman Adam Schiff. "In light of recent public reports, we are concerned that Murphy may have provided incomplete and potentially misleading information to Committee staff during our recent oversight engagement," the California Democratic congressman said in part in a statement. He said that the committee will be "expanding" its oversight. "We expect full and timely compliance from the Department and the Office of Intelligence and Analysis," Mr Schiff added. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/8/2020 (534 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Incident 1027 Incident 1026 When: July 16, 2020 Where: First block of Roslyn Road A male and female visited an apartment block on Roslyn Road. They broke in, stealing items from several locked storage lockers. Incident 1027 When: July 11, 2020 Where: 1200 block of Henderson Highway The two males shown here allegedly forced entry into an apartment block on Henderson Highway. The suspect on the left had allegedly already made two previous attempts at breaking into the same building. NEW DELHI - Surges of new coronavirus cases continued Sunday in India and the Philippines, which recorded another daily high to surpass 100,000 total infections, as officials across the globe considered stricter measures to stymie the spread of the pandemic. A curfew was imposed on Australias second-largest city, Melbourne, following a spike in infections. Countries including the United States, India and South Africa are struggling to rein in their first wave of infections while South Korea and others where the disease abated try to avert a second wave as curbs on travel and trade ease. Governments worldwide have reported 684,075 deaths and 17.8 million cases, according to data gathered by Johns Hopkins University. Indias 54,735 new cases were down from the previous days record 57,118 but raised the total to 1.75 million. The month of July accounted for more than 1.1 million of those cases. The major cities of New Delhi and Mumbai might have passed their peaks, said a government expert, Randeep Guleria. Subways, cinemas and other public facilities are closed until Aug. 31. The Philippines reported 5,032 new cases, raising its total to 103,185, with 2,059 deaths. On Saturday, leaders of Philippine medical organizations appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to reimpose a lockdown on the capital, Manila. They said the health system was in danger as personnel fall ill or quit due to fear or fatigue. In Japan, the government reported 1,540 new cases, close to Fridays record of 1,579. The spike in infections, most of them in their 20s and 30s, prompted warnings young people were letting their guard down. Gov. Yuriko Koike of Tokyo, which has about one-third of the new infections, says she might declare an emergency to contain the outbreak. In Florida, authorities were trying to prepare storm shelters while enforcing social distancing as Tropical Storm Isaias churned toward the heavily populated state. It was due to be near the coast early Sunday. Florida reported 179 deaths on Saturday, raising its total to more than 7,000. The governor warned residents to expect power outages and said they should have a weeks supply of water and food. The United States has the worlds biggest number of confirmed cases at 4.6 million, or one-quarter of the total, and 154,361 deaths. White House coronavirus task force leader Dr. Deborah Birx said Sunday that the virus had entered a new phase in the U.S. as it has rapidly spread in rural and urban America. What we are seeing today is different from March and April. It is extraordinarily widespread, Birx told CNNs State of the Union as she urged Americans to wear face masks and observe social distancing measures. In Australia, Premier Daniel Andrews of the southern state of Victoria announced a 8 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew on Melbourne, a city of 5 million people. Schools statewide are to return to home-based teaching and day care centres were closed. Andrews said there were seven deaths and 671 new cases since Saturday. If we dont make these changes, were not going to get through this, Andrews said. Also Sunday, China and South Korea reported more infections but spikes in both countries appeared to be tailing off. China had 49 new confirmed cases, up from the previous days 45. Thirty were in Xinjiang in the northwest, where authorities are trying to contain an outbreak focused on the regional capital, Urumqi. Three cases were found in students who returned from Russia to Wuhan, the southern Chinese city where the pandemic began in December. Most anti-disease controls were lifted there after the ruling Communist Party declared victory over the disease in March. Hong Kong reported 125 new infections as authorities tried to find the source of its latest outbreak. The Chinese government said a team of seven virus testing experts was sent to the city to help. South Korea reported 30 new cases, raising its total to 14,366 with 301 deaths, but said only eight were acquired in the country. The government warned earlier case numbers would rise as South Koreans came home from the Middle East and other places with outbreaks. Authorities say cases from abroad are less threatening because arrivals are quarantined for two weeks. On Saturday, the leader of a secretive Korean church was arrested in an investigation into whether the group hampered the anti-virus response after thousands of worshippers were infected in February and March. On Saturday, South Africa reported 10,107 new cases, raising its total to 503,290. That put the country fifth behind the United States, Brazil, Russia and India in total cases, though its population of 58 million is much smaller than theirs. In Europe, the number of new cases reported in Italy dipped below 300 for the first time. An employee in the Austrian chancellery tested positive for the virus but didnt work directly with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, the Austrian Press Agency reported. ___ McDonald reported from Beijing. AP journalists worldwide contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Read more about: A woman cooled off by a fountain in Rome as fourteen cities were put on alert in Italy More than a dozen Italian cities were put on alert and Spain experienced record temperatures as heatwaves gripped Europe last week. A fire destroyed a vast area of a forest in southwest France and people in Britain filled beaches on the country's hottest day of the year so far. The city of San Sebastian on Spain's northern coast had a temperature of 42C (107F) on Thursday. It was the hottest temperature there since records began in 1955, the country's national weather agency Aemet said. The city of Palma, on Spain's Mediterranean island of Majorca, set a local record of 40.6C (105F) on Tuesday. Aemet said tropical nights, when temperatures do not fall below 20C (68F), were also frequent in many parts of Spain in July. The agency said: "Climate change is increasing the frequency of heatwaves." Aemet added that the annual number of days in heatwave conditions has doubled since the 1980s. Temperatures peaked at around 40C (104F) in many parts of Italy on Friday, where 14 cities were put on alert. Heatwaves were expected in several major northern cities including Rome, Bologna, Florence, Turin, and Verona. Tourists and local residents in Rome tried to escape the heat by sheltering under trees, cooling down at public fountains or having ice creams. Italian weather forecasters say the heatwave is coming from Africa. A fire ravaged more than 150 hectares of a pine forest in southwest France on Thursday evening, forcing people to evacuate many homes. The fire broke out at the Chiberta forest, in the centre of the Anglet in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques region, and was brought under control on Friday morning. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire. No casualties were reported but around 100 people were evacuated from the area and 16 were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, The Connexion reported. People across the UK sought the shade as temperatures rose above 37C on Friday. The Met Office said a reading of 37.8C, 100F, was recorded at Heathrow Airport in west London. Story continues It made Friday the hottest day of 2020 and the third-hottest on record. Previous bouts of hot weather have seen people pack beaches around the British coast, though they have not always observed social distancing measures intended to prevent the spread of coronavirus . The city council in Brighton appealed for visitors to stay away. The council said it was "concerned about the number of people in the city" and added: "Large numbers make it impossible to maintain physical distancing." Rocket Labs Electron vehicle will resume ferrying satellites and other payloads to space this month. The FAA has given the company the go-ahead to launch Electron rockets again after figuring out why its 13th mission ended in failure. In early July, Rocket Labs Pics Or It Didnt Happen mission resulted in the loss of both the rocket and its satellite payloads, including a Canon satellite that was supposed to demonstrate an Earth imaging camera system before it enters mass production. The company launched an investigation with the FAA and managed to pinpoint the culprit: an anomalous electrical connection. Apparently, one of the rockets electrical connections was intermittently secure through flight, increasing resistance and causing the component to heat up and expand. That, in turn, caused surrounding components to liquefy, which led to the electrical systems disconnection and ultimately to the engines shutdown a few minutes into the second stage burn. In its announcement, Rocket Lab said that it was able to gather the data it needs, because the vehicle was unharmed and was able to continue sending information to its ground team. It also explained that it wasnt able to detect the issue before the flight, because the electrical connection remained secure throughout testing. However, its now knows that the issue can be avoided through additional tests. Rocket Lab founder and CEO Peter Beck said in a statement: The issue occurred under incredibly specific and unique circumstances, causing the connection to fail in a way that we wouldnt detect with standard testing. Our team has now reliably replicated the issue in test and identified that it can be mitigated through additional testing and procedures. The next Electron launch doesnt have an exact date yet, but it will take off from Rocket Labs Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here. On a recent evening in San Francisco, a group of seven gathered outside Italian restaurant Il Pollaio on Columbus Avenue where 25 takeout meals awaited them. The bags were divvied up among the group as they began their delivery shift on behalf of the North Beach restaurant. The fleet forms volunteer-based North Beach Delivers, a free delivery program that supports North Beach restaurants and helps them retain sales to thrive throughout the pandemic. Since its inception in late April, the team of volunteers helped generate nearly $50,000 to date. "The restaurants are thrilled," said Danny Sauter, president of North Beach Neighbors, the neighborhood organization that launched North Beach Delivers. "I think they enjoy the energy of [being] really busy for a night. It takes their mind off of things, and puts them back in their mode of being a chef and cooking good food for people." Sauter, who is also a candidate for District 3 supervisor, said hes delivered meals each Thursday from a variety of restaurants in the neighborhood. Some nights, Sauter and the team can distribute up to 50 orders within a two-hour period. ALSO: What happens if your bar doesnt fit in CAs reopening plan? Smugglers Cove doesnt know Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE North Beach Delivers began taking shape at the end of March, shortly after the shutdown. Sauter said that as restaurants began to feel the financial impact of shelter in place, North Beach Neighbors wanted to find a way to help businesses survive the pandemic. The two big problems they reflected on was the amount of revenue being lost to third-party delivery apps and the glaring dip of weekly customers. To help diminish lost revenue, North Beach Delivers was formed and featured its first restaurant, Piazza Pellegrini. "We started on a whim as a test [and] didn't know how it would go," Sauter said. "It's kind of just grown week by week." Since the program started, a single neighborhood restaurant is featured per week and promoted by newsletter and on Instagram. Locals who sign up for the newsletter can see the featured menu and place their orders between Tuesday morning and Wednesday evening. Meals get delivered each Thursday between 5 and 8 p.m. Customers have also been generous when it comes to tips, Sauter said, and often tip upward of 40% all of which go directly to the featured business. "We were at a restaurant last week that told us it felt like things are normal for the first time in a couple of months because the kitchen was so busy." Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE The group of volunteers is a mix of North Beach Neighbors members and North Beach residents who wanted to pitch in either by foot, e-bike or by driving. In the past few months, the team has helped deliver takeout for Sotto Mare, Family Cafe and even Michelin-starred restaurant, Mister Jius. ALSO: SF Michelin-starred restaurant closes due to COVID-19 exposure Sauter said that the success of North Beach Delivers has also inspired other San Francisco neighborhoods to adopt the same model. So far, it's included Russian Hill, the East Cut, and Middle Polk. "Our first expansion was with Russian Hill Neighbors a few months ago," Sauter said. "We kind of [showed] them the ropes for the first couple of weeks and shared what we had learned. Now they're running it completely by themselves and they're doing Wednesday night deliveries in Russian Hill." Sauter hopes that more San Francisco neighborhood groups and community benefit districts adopt the program, especially if theyre committed to helping neighborhood restaurants. "I don't know any neighborhood where it wouldn't work right now, and that's what's so exciting about this. It just can keep growing," Sauter said. By the end of the delivery shift, most restaurants treat the volunteers to a free meal as a sign of gratitude. During the past few months, the volunteers have been able to witness how a meal begins from start to finish. Thats been one of the most rewarding aspects of the volunteer gig for Sauter, who said he enjoys seeing the journey. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE "[We] actually see who's getting a meal, and sometimes it's a family or sometimes it's a senior who orders from us each week," Sauter said. "We get to see that entire journey and see how important it is to support neighborhood restaurants. Its a very tangible, visceral way to experience that." If you want to help North Beach Delivers by volunteering for the program, shoot them an email here. Susana Guerrero is an SFGATE digital reporter. Email: Susana.Guerrero@sfgate.com | Twitter: @SusyGuerrero3 MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. Misinformation on coronavirus is proving highly contagious A month after launching takeout, SF's oldest restaurant shuts down all operations San Mateo County added to state COVID-19 watch list, faces business closures Full bladders, closed bathrooms. Strategies for peeing while out during coronavirus 'If anyone gets sick, we're ruined': SF restaurant that hosted COVID wedding party speaks out Any remaining hope that the coronavirus thats pushed the US, Europe and much of Asia into historic economic downturns would take a holiday has been all but crushed. The virus continues to rampage through parts of the US and engulf nations across the developing world, particularly India, Brazil and South Africa. Its made a comeback in Japan as well as areas of Europe and China. At its current pace of about 250,000 or so new cases a day, there could be well more than 50 million infections worldwide by the end of 2020. As for fatalities from the pandemic, well go well over a million," Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in California, estimated in mid-June. There are currently about 685,000 coronavirus deaths globally, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The time until the release of a safe and effective vaccine will be very challenging, with countries like the US and Brazil potentially leading the way in severity, said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. The same type of surge in daily cases that took place in the US around the Memorial Day holiday could be repeated around Labor Day, when schools reopen, he said. I think well see a substantial increase in transmission thats going to spill over into more adults and at-risk people," he said. And then that gets us into the beginning of flu season, when transmission is potentially enhanced by all the indoor activity. If you add that all up together its not a pretty picture." At the same time, as governments face new flare-ups and reimpose full or partial lockdowns, the prospects for a brisk global economic rebound later in the year have dimmed, according to economists and executives. While the virus-stricken world is in a better place than in April and May, when near-total lockdowns to prevent virus spread delivered a savage economic hit, the continuing emergence of new hotspots, or sudden outbreaks in old ones, has disrupted economic activity just enough to slow momentum toward a robust recovery. Awaiting Vaccine High-frequency data that track indicators such as restaurant bookings and job postings have been flat or trended downward in some economies. The highly transmissible virus is expected to remain a formidable and elusive adversary until a first generation of effective vaccines can be rolled out to the public, which many experts expect in 2021. In the U.S., Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell last week said an increase in virus cases and the renewed measures to control it are starting to weigh on economic activity," pointing to signs of lower consumer spending, based on debit- and credit-card use and weakening labor-market indicators in the small-business sector. On Thursday, the U.S. announced that its economy contracted at a 32.9% pace from April through June, one of the biggest drops on record. As bad as that was, it was already baked into market expectations. More worrisome to some was that the number of Americans filing first-time unemployment claims rose for the second week in a row just as emergency benefits to about 30 million jobless people were set to expire at the end of July. Congress is divided on whether to extend, and by how much, enhanced unemployment benefits and direct payments to Americans. Other parts of the world, which seemed to have the virus under control, continue to confront new outbreaks. China has seen infections surge in the northwestern region of Xinjiang. The U.K. has reintroduced restrictions to parts of northern England after a new flurry of cases, only weeks after it started to reopen. European worries The resurgence of infections across Europe has prompted governments to impose new travel and social restrictions, such as the UKs quarantine for all travelers from Spain, where cases have surged. France, Belgium, Germany and other countries have seen worrying upticks as well. While jobless benefits are on balance more generous in Europe than the U.S., the economic pain seems likely to deepen in the euro area. Joblessness in the region could hit almost 10% by the end of the year as the economy slumps, according to a Bloomberg survey. In the UK, unemployment is forecast to reach 8%, more than double its level in the previous year. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., meanwhile, warned that Asia-Pacific economies, which accounted for more than 70% of global growth in 2019, passed a major inflection point in June when the pace of the regions reopening slowed materially," and significant challenges loom. While the early restart has looked like a V in many places, and third-quarter GDP growth will be robust given the comparison with a very weak second quarter, normalization is apt to be slower from here," according to Andrew Tilton, Goldmans chief economist in the region. Corporate bankruptcy The corporate pain from the pandemic remains fierce, particularly in the U.S., where more than 160 companies have declared bankruptcy. From retailers and airlines to restaurants and fitness centers, the carnage has included some well-known names such as Hertz Global Holdings Inc., J.C. Penney Co. and Ascena Retail Group Inc., owner of the Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant apparel chains. As of the end of July, with more than half of the Standard & Poors 500 companies having reported so far, earnings have fallen by about 33% from the year-earlier period, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. General Motors Co., General Electric Co., Starbucks Corp. and Nike Inc. are among the first-tier companies that have reported losses. Corporate leaders also see evidence that U.S. demand has sputtered after a recent uptick in Covid-19 cases that started in June. While we were encouraged by the early signs of recovery, the past few weeks demonstrate the trajectory may be uneven," Boeing Co. Chief Executive Officer David Calhoun said last week. Job cuts Thanks to government subsidies and programs, far fewer European companies have fallen into bankruptcy court. However, in recent weeks Airbus SE, Commerzbank AG and Burberry Group Plc were among major companies to signal actual or possible staff cuts. On Friday, the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM said it will cut 4,500 to 5,000 positions ranging from pilots to cabin crew and ground staff this year and next. The pandemic has wiped out the airlines efforts to pay down debt. As a kind of tsunami, the entire corona crisis is now washing it away," said KLM CEO Pieter Elbers on a call. Cry and start over, is how it feels," he said. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 05:55:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MEXICO CITY, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Mexican authorities have captured the head of the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel, Jose Antonio Yepez, better known as "El Marro," official sources said on Sunday. Yepez was arrested at daybreak by members of the army and the prosecutor's office for the central state of Guanajuato, where the cartel operates, Mexico's Minister of Security and Civilian Protection Alfonso Durazo said via Twitter. "Right now he is in the custody of local judicial authorities," Durazo said. Yepez was to be taken immediately to Altiplano, a high-security prison, to face charges of organized crime and fuel theft. The drug lord was detained along with five others in Guanajuato, in an operation that also rescued a business woman they were holding captive, federal and state authorities said in a brief statement. Santa Rosa de Lima is believed to be involved in the siphoning off of fuel from state oil company Pemex's fuel ducts in Guanajuato, which is among the three states where fuel theft is most prevalent. Santa Rosa de Lima is also said to be in a constant turf war with the rival Jalisco New Generation Cartel for control of Guanajuato, according to authorities. Enditem (Natural News) In mid-July, Republican Mayor of the City of Miami, Francis Suarez, warned that many of the citys hospitals were at around 95 percent capacity due to the massive new influx of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases. Now, a July 27 report prepared by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said that the hospitals in Miami-Dade County are so overwhelmed that their intensive care units are at 146 percent capacity. Fortunately, there may be room for cautious optimism, as this number is slowly dipping. In a briefing made to the press on July 15, Suarez stated that if the COVID-19 growth rate in Miami-Dade County stays the same, hospitals in the area will only have some capacity for another four weeks. Because of Miami-Dades shortage in ICU beds, many hospitals in Miami have resorted to converting beds that should have been for non-coronavirus patients. Mayor Suarez has even started working with the city and the state to convert 450 hotel rooms to help isolate COVID-19 patients whose cases are not too terrible. However, even with these interventions, he fears that the coronavirus might still spread because many people who live in one- and two-bedroom apartments will have nowhere to go. Suarez also said in his briefing that the highest rate of infection is coming from people aged 18 to 34. He used his time in the briefing to warn young people that they could be unknowingly spreading the coronavirus to some of Miamis most vulnerable populations. They are going back to the home and infecting everybody in the household, said Suarez, who cited a survey showing that 33.7 percent of respondents said that they contracted COVID-19 from being in contact with a family member. Other local officials from southern Florida and state Gov. Ron DeSantis have agreed that gatherings of younger Floridians are a key factor in the rising number of cases that have emerged in the state since June. Carlos Gimenez, mayor of Miami-Dade County, believes that many of these mass gatherings are being done by young people who are either celebrating the end of their school year or, in some cases, joining the Antifa and Black Lives Matter riots. (Related: Despite the SURGE in coronavirus cases in the United States, Black Lives Matter is still organizing rallies, marches and RIOTS.) Since the young kids started infecting each other, now we see the results as more older folks are now going into the hospital, said Gimenez. Exactly what we feared that they were going to take it to their parents, that they were going to take it to their grandparents. Listen to this episode of the Health Ranger Report, a podcast by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, as he talks about how the vaccine for the Wuhan coronavirus is probably not going to work, as studies continue to show how the antibodies people build up in response to COVID-19 become ineffective after about three months. Health workers are cautiously optimistic As of press time, Florida has 470,386 total cases of COVID-19, including 6,843 deaths 257 of which were reported on Friday. Miami-Dade County alone accounts for around 25 percent of cases in the state, with 118,462 coronavirus cases, including 1,611 deaths. At one point in July, the state kept seeing over 10,000 new coronavirus cases every day. While these numbers are alarming, Florida might have just gotten through the worst of the second wave. Even though health experts in the region know that the number of deaths will continue to increase, the number of people the state currently has hospitalized for COVID-19 is slowly starting to trickle down. Last week, the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 in the state was around 9,000. By Friday, that number had gone down to 8,200. Michael Lauzardo, an expert on pulmonary disease with the University of Florida Health Shands Hospital (UF Health Shands) in Gainesville, northern Florida, believes that many more Floridians are starting to heed the advice of their local and state leaders, who have been strongly recommending that they avoid going out unnecessarily, practice social distancing and wear face coverings whenever that is not possible. The overall tone to me is that this is good news, said Lauzardo. People are changing their behavior. Theyre listening, [but] theres still a long way to go. Other health professionals in the state have expressed the same sentiments. Peter Paige, chief medical officer for the Jackson Health System, which operates several medical institutions across Miami-Dade, is hoping that, in August, the states number of active COVID-19 cases will continue dropping, which will hopefully give the states health institutions at least a few weeks if not longer of respite. Doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, Paige says, have been working almost nonstop for the past five months. Im cautiously optimistic, said Paige. Its a term thats kind of en vogue now. But I dont want to count our chickens yet, just because its been so unpredictable over the last five months. Sergio Segarra, chief medical officer of Baptist Health South Florida, which operates 11 hospitals across three counties in southern Florida, including Miami-Dade, said that their hospitals have also been seeing a slight dip in COVID-19 patients over the past week. Things are getting better in terms of that the number of admissions are slowing down, the number of COVID-related visits to the emergency department are slowing down, that were able to discharge on a daily basis more people than we admit, said Segarra. Learn more about how different cities, counties and states across the United States are dealing with the second wave of the coronavirus by reading the articles at Pandemic.news. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk News.Yahoo.com FloridaHealthCOVID19.gov GISAndData.maps.ARCGIS.com AlJazeera.com MiamiHerald.com Insights into future trends and innovations in confectionery and snacks are on the horizon as industry prepares for ISM and ProSweets 2022, to be held in Cologne,... Read More Harry and William fell out, when Duke of Sussex branded older brother a 'snob' Prince Harry took offence when his 'snobby' brother cautioned him not to rush into marrying Meghan Markle. Harry took offence when William told him: 'Take as much time as you need to get to know this girl.' Harry is said to have considered the choice of the words 'this girl' to be condescending. 'In those last two words, 'this girl', Harry heard the tone of snobbishness that was anathema to his approach to the world,' claims the book. 'During his ten-year career in the military, outside the Royal bubble, he had learnt not to make snap judgments about people based on their accent, education, ethnicity, class or profession.' Prince Harry took offence when his 'snobby' brother cautioned him not to rush into marrying Meghan Markle. Pictured: The brothers with Meghan Markle and Kate Middle at Westminster Abbey in 2018 Meghan was disappointed Kate never reached out Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle never became friends - while the Duchess of Sussex was 'disappointed' she never reached out to her or visited. The Duchesses 'struggled to move past distance politeness' and had 'nothing in common other than the fact that they lived at Kensington Palace', according to the authors of Finding Freedom. In one particularly awkward encounter when Meghan was dating Harry, Kate went alone in her Range Rover on a shopping trip - despite the fact Meghan was also going to the same street. The lack of any friendship between the pair was confirmed in 2018 when the Sussexes announced they wanted to base their family at Windsor. Despite this frostiness, Meghan felt hurt at newspaper stories of the 'duelling duchesses' and was angry at the failure of the palace press office to correct them. Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle never became friends - while the Duchess of Sussex was 'disappointed' she never reached out to her or visited. The pair are pictured at Wimbledon together in 2018 Courtiers branded Meghan Markle a 'showgirl with lots of baggage' and said 'there's something about her I don't trust' A courtier in the Royal Household has said 'there is something I don't trust' about Meghan Markle, the book claims. The book, Finding Freedom, claims as soon as Meghan was introduced to members of the Royal Household, tensions emerged. One source claimed: 'She comes with a lot of baggage.' Another suggested: There's just something about her I don't trust.' Another described Meghan as 'Harry's showgirl Harry was convinced he was going to marry Meghan after the second date The biography describes in detail the couple's first date in Soho, London, which went so well that Meghan later confided in a friend: 'Do I sound crazy when I say this could have legs?'. Before arriving in the capital she had also told a confidant that she'd be happy for 'a nice English gentleman to flirt with' while promoting Suits in Britain. During that first date at London's Dean Street Townhouse the couple spent three hours in conversation, Harry drinking beer and Meghan sipping martinis. Harry was said to be 'in a trance' and had told himself: 'I've got to up my game here' when trying to impress the LA-born actress. The book says: 'Meghan had enough dating experience to know a charmer when she saw one, and Harry was obviously not at all that' - adding the couple were 'immediately obsessed' with each other and bonded over their joint 'passions for wanting to make change for good'. The biography describes in detail the couple's first date in Soho, London, which went so well that Meghan later confided in a friend: 'Do I sound crazy when I say this could have legs?'. The couple are pictured in March According to one friend quoted in the book, Harry and Meghan 'chatted a lot' but the evening, like the night before, ended chastely, with Harry returning to Kensington Palace despite their 'electric chemistry'. Describing how they flirted throughout, the authors said: 'A touch of an arm here, direct eye contact there.' The pair had now met just twice but Harry already knew 'they would be together at that point', a friend said, adding of Meghan: 'She was ticking every box fast.' Meghan, who was in London visiting, documented much of her trip on social media. The night out was so successful the second date the following night at the same venue where they are said to have sneaked in via a side door, hidden from view by a delivery truck bringing in produce and fresh fish from Billingsgate Market. Prince Harry was the first to say 'I love you' in his relationship with Meghan Markle, with friends revealing the couple were 'immediately obsessed' with each other. They are pictured in March this year One trusted waiter was asked to serve them the entire evening to keep it private. According to one friend quoted in the book, Harry and Meghan chatted a lot but the evening, like the night before, ended chastely, with Harry returning to Kensington Palace despite their electric chemistry. Describing how they flirted throughout, the authors said: A touch of an arm here, direct eye contact there. The pair had now met just twice but Harry already knew they would be together at that point, a friend said, adding of Meghan: She was ticking every box fast. Meghan, who was in London visiting, documented much of her trip on social media. Harry was the first to say 'I love you' Prince Harry was the first to say 'I love you' in his relationship with Meghan Markle, with friends revealing the couple were 'immediately obsessed' with each other. Meghan's necklace controversy Meghan Markle was left 'frustrated and emotional' after a palace aide 'scolded' her for wearing a necklace with the initials H and M before she and Prince Harry were engaged, according to Finding Freedom. The former Suits star, 38, was spotted wearing the personalised 184 14 karat gold chain by Los Angeles-based designer Maya Brenner - believed to have been a gift from the prince - while out shopping in Toronto in December 2016. The bold move was seen as an early indication of the seriousness of their relationship - a month after the news of their love affair emerged. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex later announced their engagement in November 2017. The former Suits star, 38, was spotted wearing the personalised chain - believed to have been a gift from the prince - while out shopping in Toronto According to a source close to the couple, following the publication of the images Meghan received a dressing down from a palace aide. 'She was advised that wearing such a necklace only served to encourage the photographers to keep pursuing such images and new headlines,' they said. Prince Harry was REFUSED Queen's offer of a trial period' that would have allowed him and Meghan Markle to return to the fold 12 months after Megxit Prince Harry was so keen on quitting the royal family that he initially refused the offer of a trial period which could have seen him and Meghan return to the UK after Megxit, The review was insisted upon by courtiers and other royals, with the Queen keen to let Harry know he could return to the fold if he changed his mind. However, the Duke of Sussex was keen to make a 'clean break' and had to be persuaded to agree to the trial period. A source said: 'He was adamantly opposed to the review process.' Harry is thought to have been against the idea because it came from 'the institution' and he feared that a review would lessen the impact of their departure, allowing the media to write they could return. Prince Harry was so keen on quitting the royal family that he initially refused the offer of a trial period which could have seen him and Meghan return to the UK after Megxit. Meghan is pictured with the Queen in June 2018 Harry believed the 'old guard' at Buckingham Palace disliked Meghan and wanted to make her life difficult. That belief is thought to have fuelled his desire to not include a review option in Megxit. Harry 'ditched an old friend for criticising Meghan' The Duke of Sussex was so 'incandescent' with rage at the racist abuse Meghan Markle received after their relationship went public that he ditched an old friend for gossiping about her. Harry was shocked at the reception given to his new girlfriend by his social circle and the wider public, according to Finding Freedom. He was especially concerned about the ugliness of racism...both unconscious and intentional. Charles didn't know about Harry's press statement Before they were engaged, Harry gave a bombshell statement from Kensington Palace condemning the press while confirming Harry's new girlfriend. But it's release coincided with Prince Charles' tour in the Middle East, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall having arrived in Bahrain to meet the country's King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa. The palace decided to go ahead with the statement, much of it drafted by Harry himself. Before they were engaged, Harry gave a bombshell statement from Kensington Palace condemning the press while confirming Harry's new girlfriend, upsetting Charles who didn't know about the statement until 20 minutes before. Pictured: Prince Harry and Prince William walk behind Charles, and the Queen at Westminster Abbey. Also pictured: Duchesses of Cornwall (front), Cambridge (middle) and Sussex (back) His father only learnt of the statement 20 minutes before it was released and, unsurprisingly, it soon dominated the news cycle. Prince Charles and his team were left crushed and disappointed, though Charles also understood the intervention was a necessary one. However, the episode only served to prove that Harry felt the need to prioritise the woman he loved over duty to the royal family. Harry had a secret Instagram account Harry used the username SpikeyMau5, inspired by Canadian DJ Deadmau5, before freezing the account after his relationship with the former Suits star emerged in October 2016. The private Instagram profile had a mouse-shaped helmet for a picture - but piqued attention from Meghan's legions of fans when she became just one of two people following it four years ago just after the couple had a blind date at Dean Street Townhouse in Soho. The 'Spikey' element of its name came from the code word used by Scotland Yard officers guarding the Duke of Sussex 24/7. Harry and Meghan's 1500 a night camping trip Six weeks after their first date, Harry took Meghan to Botswana where the pair stayed in 1,500-a-night tents. A friend is quoted as saying: She came back smiling and just completely spellbound. Meghans phone was also said to be full of photos, including selfies of her and Harry. Ive never felt that safe that close to someone in such a short amount of time, she reportedly told a friend. They continued their relationship in secret with Harry flying out to Canada to spend time with her. But the authors said that ever since the couples trip to Africa, their romance had been on a fast track. Technically the getaway was just their third date but by then, they were each already dancing around the idea that this just may be a for ever thing, a friend said. The biography also claims: - Straight Canaiolo, in Australia? Tuscany has a new address, and its in the King Valley. Canaiolo is normally a blending grape that adds a bit of fruit weight to Chianti, and was more widely planted than Sangiovese in late 1800s Tuscany. Theres an Italianate charm here to this Pizzini Canaiolo 2016 too. It smells oakier than it is (20% new oak) but really its a wine shaped by acidity and tannins, the tannins ferrous but contrasted with inviting choc berry fruit. Charm. Rusticity. Imagine Sangiovese, but with more berry fruit through the middle and a slightly more grainy tannin profile. I like. Best drinking: now to ten plus years. 17.7/20, 92/100. 13.8%, $26. Would I buy it? Worth a few glasses with some prosciutto. HELP KEEP THIS SITE FREE Rather than using a paywall or bombarding you with ads I simply ask for a small donation via the Paypal link below. Any amount welcome, it all helps keep this site free. Ad: GET A $20 VOUCHER TO SPEND ON WINE Now at The Wine Collective Ad:Now at The Wine Collective Share this: Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email WhatsApp Reddit Print FILE PHOTO: The spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in New York By April Joyner NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors are preparing their portfolios for a potentially rocky patch in U.S. stocks, worried that a dramatic rebound in equities may stall amid dimming economic data and rising political uncertainty. Most money managers are wary of cutting equity exposure too drastically in a market that has rallied more than 40% since late March and stands near all-time highs despite widespread economic devastation and a global coronavirus pandemic. Still, the continued divergence between stocks and the real economy has worried some investors. U.S. growth took its worst hit on record in the second quarter, while more recent data points to fading consumer confidence and jobless claims back on the rise. The S&P 500 <.SPX>, meanwhile, stands some 4% below all-time highs, though its weekly advances have grown progressively smaller in July. That disconnect is pushing some investors to beef up cash positions or tilt their portfolios toward Europe, where economic prospects appear to be brighter than in the United States. The performance of options strategies designed to profit in sideways markets - such as the "iron condor," which involves long and short positions on both calls and puts - has also improved. The iron condor strategy has drawn controversy and prompted investigation by some legal firms following its poor performance during sharp sell-offs, such as in December 2018. "The longer (economic weakness) persists, the more permanent the structural damage becomes," said Michael Hans, chief investment officer at Clarfield Citizens Private Wealth in Tarrytown, New York. "For the moment, a range-bound scenario makes sense." Concerns over the U.S. presidential election are also mounting. On Thursday, President Donald Trump suggested on Twitter that the Nov. 3 vote be delayed, though he has no direct authority to do so. Net outflows from equity funds were $1.8 billion in the fourth week of July, while bond funds took in $17.2 billion and money market funds received $5.5 billion, according to EPFR. Story continues Market participants hope the Labor Department's July payrolls report, due next Friday, will shed more light on the state of the recovery. Some investors who have racked up big gains during the equity rally of the last few months are now turning cautious. Eric Marshall, portfolio manager at Hodges Capital in Dallas, has sold some of the stocks he purchased earlier in the year and added to cash positions, convinced that rewards have diminished for buying even the most beaten-down shares. "We've taken profits, and we've been very slow to redeploy that money back," he said. Uncertainty over the near-term outlook for equities and Treasury yields near record lows have prompted Charles Day, a private wealth manager at UBS in New York, to raise cash holdings to between 5% to 10% in the portfolios he manages. "Normally the safe-haven money would be on the fixed-income side, but having some cash for a while seems to be prudent to me," he said. Others see greater opportunities in European stocks than in U.S. equities, in part because of the region's lighter COVID-19 caseload. Ben Kirby, co-head of investments at Thornburg Investment Management, recently added Deutsche Telekom AG to his portfolio, betting the company will benefit from a sustained shift to remote work. "As the S&P has been rallying, we've been reducing our exposure to domestic stocks," Kirby said. "Europe is looking increasingly resilient." Range-bound U.S. stocks could still be lucrative for some investors, however. Choppy trading in U.S. stocks has helped keep the Cboe Volatility Index <.VIX> above its long-term average even though shares overall have moved minimally, strategists say. That is a favorable environment for short-volatility strategies, said Stacey Gilbert, portfolio manager for derivatives at Glenmede Investment Management in Philadelphia. Option sellers expect to collect income when expectations for market gyrations remain high but actual moves are more muted. Likewise, an index that tracks the S&P 500 "iron condor" options strategy <.CNDR> - which profits in range-bound markets and had been badly hit this year - is set to post its first monthly gain since last October. "Many people think that the recovery has mostly done what it's going to do" for now, said Mike Zigmont, head of trading and research at Harvest Volatility Management, which specializes in iron-condor strategies. "There's not much upside, but there's not much downside left, either." (Reporting by April Joyner in New York; Editing by Dan Grebler and Matthew Lewis) Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 15:57:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANOI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- It was time to pay the electricity and water bills, Do Thanh An, a 32-year-old office worker in the Vietnamese capital city of Hanoi, fetches her mobile phone and made a few clicks on an e-wallet platform. She developed this new norm after the COVID-19 epidemic began. Already having got her e-wallet a few years ago, An, who spends around 1.5 million Vietnamese dong (65 U.S. dollars) for electricity, water, Internet, cable television and prepaid phone every month on average and goes to supermarkets for fresh food every two days, had only got used to online payment until recently. Amid fear of COVID-19 in the country, hanging out, visiting crowded places and handling cash have become risky activities for many. Giving a heavy blow to many industries, the epidemic has, on the other hand, become an opportunity for online payment. "The COVID-19 epidemic turned our lives upside down. I was even concerned with handling money as it might be a source of virus transmission. Sometimes I just let the shops keep small change so I didn't have to handle too many notes at a time," An said. She thus began to resort to e-wallet for most of her transactions as an alternative, as the possibility of disease transmission still remained a big concern though she washes her hands every time after handling money. An is one of the Vietnamese customers who favored this new payment method in order to limit physical contacts amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which has later become a habit due to its convenience. Currently, An uses e-wallet services to pay for a range of services from electricity bills, prepaid phone cards to supermarkets, and has shifted from cash-upon-delivery to prepaid mobile payment when shopping online. "It is simple, easy and safe to use. It just takes a few clicks to pay and it is free to top up or withdraw money from e-wallet to my bank accounts," An said. Not only consumers, businesses also started to favor and encourage online payments during this special period. Vu Thi Nhung, a 27-year-old owner of a clothing shop in an outskirt town of Hanoi, encouraged customers to pay with credit cards or e-wallet. "Though many people still rely on cash as the main payment method, I see that there is an increase in cashless payment. Online pay makes it easy and safe for us to control our money," she said. Many service providers and businesses have made online payment available for customers, with many incentive programs such as bonus points and refunds every month from various online payment services. Customers like An can earn a few U.S. dollars of refunds while paying for electricity and water bills online. According to Truong Cam Thanh, director of Zalopay, a Vietnamese e-wallet service provider, the epidemic has shown that online payment would grow strongly and replace traditional payment methods in the near future. The epidemic, while posing difficulties for the economy, also creates opportunities to push the growth of online payment. Those able to grab the opportunity can increase market share and improve their competitiveness in the future, she added. Boosted amid the epidemic, online payment in Vietnam is expected to see further development under favorable policies and promoting measures by the country and the banks. Non-cash payments have increased sharply in Vietnam, especially through mobile devices and the Internet, according to the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV). As of the end of 2019, Vietnam had 88.5 million personal bank accounts, an 11-percent increase from 2018. It is expected that by the end of this year, 70 percent of Vietnamese adults will have bank accounts, according to the central bank. Statistics from the bank also show that in the first four months of 2020, domestic payment via bank cards increased by 26.2 percent in volume and 15.7 percent in value. Payment via mobile phones increased by 189 percent in volume and 166.1 percent in value over the same period of last year. According to a cashless payment development project for 2016-2020, Vietnam targeted that cash would account for 10 percent of the total money in circulation by the end of 2020. Pham Tien Dung, director of the payment department under the SBV, said that the payment infrastructure has been improved and the electronic payment ecosystem has been formed in Vietnam, allowing customers to make online payment transactions on multiple occasions. According to Nguyen Thanh Thao, a lecturer at the Academy of Finance, banks have applied new and modern technologies in payment including the application of fingerprint authentication, face recognition, QR code, contactless payment, and mPOS technology. However, she also noted that cashless payment in Vietnam has yet to be developed to meet expectations. She cited statistics of International Data Group as saying that in 2019, nearly 40 percent of Vietnam's population had bank accounts, but 80 percent still used cash in their daily payments and 98 percent used cash for payment under 100,000 Vietnamese dong (4.3 U.S. dollars). The main reasons include the long-established habit, their reluctance to access to new payment technology, and concerns about the security and safety as well as fees when using online payment methods, Thao said. She suggested that Vietnam should set up a modern retail payment infrastructure that operates efficiently, continuously and meets the quick, safe, convenient and reasonably priced payment demand of individuals and businesses. The country should also improve the quality of e-payment activities, apply modern payment technologies and methods to enhance online payment's convenience, reduce its costs and risks as well as ensure user information security, she added. Enditem HILLSBORO The life cycle continues unabated among creatures unaware of coronavirus chaos as two baby barred owls made their way into this world. Little did they know they would still become part of the bigger world picture as a part of a statewide study. The Bremer Sanctuarys Facebook pages postings about the pair have received the most likes, loves, comments and shares in the pages history. Observers have been monitoring the birds once a week, for a for five-week period, posting their findings. The sanctuarys siblings initial story of their birth was included in the Illinois Audubon Societys spring magazine and their photos featured at the 4-H Barred Owl Nest Box Challenge Facebook page. The amount of shared posts and exposure led to recognition from several other platforms and groups. It all started when Illinois Raptor Centers Jacques Nuzzo, of Decatur, noticed that field studies found that barred owls seem to prefer an open-top nest site, which sparked an idea. Nuzzo made a blueprint of a modified nest box with a partially open top that would provide a natural setting for nesting barred owls. A traditional nest box is designed with a hole in one side and a roof overhead to keep occupants shielded from the elements. Thus, late last year, Nuzzos modified box was constructed and installed for baby barreds, while paired with a traditional box. The University of Illinois Extension 4-H made plans to conduct a study comparing the styles of the nest boxes, including placement of pairs of boxes in each Illinois county to be monitored by local 4-H clubs, but then the new coronavirus came into play. This spring, the viral pandemic shut down many of the nature parks where the boxes were installed. Yet, this didnt faze barred owls during mating season, as two Bremer Sanctuary volunteers discovered. Luckily, the pair were able to access a nest box site March 26 to see an adult barred owl peering out of a modified nest box. The next day a reach pole was constructed with a cellular phone attached at the top, whereby the first video was captured of the boxs contents. There, on video, observers saw two 1-week-old barred owlets and a still-to-hatch egg. The incubation period for barred owls is 28-33 days, so the eggs were probably laid around Feb. 17, hatching around March 20. Barred Owls lay one egg every two to three days and incubation begins with the first egg laid, then the eggs will hatch in the order they were laid. Upon hatching, the owlets are helpless and covered in white down with their eyes closed. Monitoring then occurred April 4 and April 11 and found the third egg never hatched and was discarded. The owlet twosome were growing at a high rate. They were already displaying adult behaviors, such as hissing and bill clapping when they perceived a threat. They had lost the down fluff and were growing feathers. Also, noted in the nest box was a large cache of small rodents brought in by the parents. In the first weeks, the female was in the nest box, but would flush when someone approached. But she remained in the immediate area, returning as soon as humans retreated. The last reach-pole monitoring occurred April 16 when the owlets were moving about the box with ease. We didnt want to spook them into an early fledge, a Bremer volunteer said. The parents remained in the area and were calling from twenty yards away, as they typically do not stay in the nest box at this stage, but merely bring in food. From a distance, April 24, the box was scoped and only one owlet remained, while the other had entered the branching phase and the next day left the nest. When the young leave the nest, at about four weeks, they are not able to fly, the volunteer said, but crawl out of the nest using their beak and talons to sit on branches. This branching phase is when they obtain the skills to fly, by hopping short distances while flapping their wings. Owlets are considered fledged at 35 to 40 days. Once they leave the nest box, they do not return to it, but stay in the nearby vicinity. Two months later, June 27, one of the owlets was spotted about 50 yards from the modified nest box. It was identified by the fledglings begging call to the parents for food. Two other barred owls also were spotted in the vicinity, which could possibly both parents or one parent and a sibling. Parents care for the young for at least four months, much longer than most other species of owl. Young tend to disperse very short distances, usually less than six miles, before settling. Pairs mate for life and territories and nest sites are maintained for many years. To view Illinois Raptor Centers Jacques Nuzzos modified box blueprint for download visit www.illinoisraptorcenter.org. For more information visit www.bremersanctuary.org. Rep. Karen Bass, D-Calif., is a self-described lifelong activist, shaped by transformative decades in South Los Angeles. In recent days, Basss name has been repeatedly floated as a potential running mate for former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee who has said he will make his decision ahead of this months Democratic convention. As the buzz and scrutiny grows, Bass says she wants the job. Being a partner with somebody who I have deep respect for, with somebody who I believe is authentic, is genuine, has the capacity to have empathy, has tremendous experience, and working alongside of him, aside from being considered is a tremendous honor, but all of that is the reason why I would want to go forward with this, she said Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press. Both Bass and the Biden campaign did not respond to requests for comment on this story. Her profile could make her a match for Biden, who is reportedly also considering other, better known candidates, including former national security adviser Susan Rice and Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. (Biden has vowed to pick a woman as his vice president.) Bass has spent more than a decade in public service. Before being elected to Congress, she served as a state representative from 2005 to 2010 and became the California Assembly speaker, making history as the first African-American woman in the country to assume such a role. Last year, she became chair of the influential Congressional Black Caucus. Rep. Karen Bass questions Attorney General William Barr during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP) As a Los Angeles native, Bass, 66, is no stranger to protests over police brutality and racial tension. She was 12 years old when the 1965 Watts Rebellion an uprising sparked in part by an altercation between a Los Angeles police officer and Black motorist occurred. The Rodney King verdict again roiled her city in 1992. Bass spent the 90s steeped in local activism. In 1990, while working as a physicians assistant, she helped start Community Coalition, which sought to transform South Central L.A. amid the ravages of the crack cocaine epidemic. Story continues She was first elected to Congress in 2010, representing districts that encompass some of L.A.s best known, historically Black neighborhoods. Criminal justice reform and gun control are both longtime focuses of Basss legislative agenda. She recently helped introduce the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which would, among other things, ban chokeholds under federal law. Bass drew some national attention last week during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, when she sharply questioned Attorney General William Barr over police use of force and comments he made questioning whether there is systemic racism in law enforcement. The laws are made equal. They are certainly not applied equally, Bass said to the attorney general. In a Thursday interview with NPRs Morning Edition, Bass described herself as a lifelong activist committed to fighting for social and economic justice. Joe Biden speaks at a campaign event at the William "Hicks" Anderson Community Center in Wilmington, Del., on Tuesday. (Andrew Harnik/AP) Despite her activist past, Bass shares Bidens more moderate approach to police reform. Many of the protesters who took to the streets following George Floyds death made their rallying cry Defund the Police, a call to reallocate funds from police departments to social services and programs. While expressing support for the movement generally, Bass has avoided the controversial protest mantra. I think that the whole defund movement has raised such an important issue, she told NPR. I say it differently. ... I say, Refund the communities. Because the whole point is that over the last 30 years we have had no problem pouring money into police, into prisons, into jails, while we have cut funding for social services. Biden holds a similar view. While President Trump and his campaign have tried to falsely paint the former vice president as eager to defund and even abolish police departments, Biden has instead said he supports diverting some money from police budgets to services like counseling. [See also: Clyburn says 'Defund the Police' slogan could derail reform efforts] But Bass also has some baggage, some of which is already drawing scrutiny. On Friday, the conservative Daily Caller surfaced video footage of Bass praising the controversial Church of Scientology at an event in 2010. Critics have accused the religious organization of engaging in a litany abusive practices, which its leadership has vigorously denied. She addressed the video on Saturday, saying in a statement that she knew she was speaking to people with beliefs different than her own and was seeking to find common ground. I found an area of agreement in their beliefs where all people, of whatever race, color, or creed are created with equal rights, which is what my remarks were about, she said. Since then, published first-hand accounts in books, interviews, and documentaries have exposed this group. Bass also took heat from Florida Democrats last month for describing the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro as Comandante en Jefe in a statement on his 2016 death. She has repeatedly walked back her comments. Wouldnt do that again," Bass said Sunday on Meet the Press. "Talked immediately to my colleagues from Florida and realized that that was something that just shouldnt have been said. She reiterated that message on Fox News Sunday: Would not do that again, for sure. Rep. Karen Bass speaks during a June news conference ahead of the House vote on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020. (Carolyn Kaster/AP) Overall, Basss progressive bona fides earn her support from the Democratic Partys more liberal wing. Some supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who lost the partys primary, have continued to organize in the hopes of pushing Biden to the left. On July 20, a group of Sanderss delegates to the Democratic National Convention sent an open letter to Biden urging him to select an exceptional progressive Vice Presidential candidate. Bass was one of three names on their list, along with Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., and former Ohio state Sen. Nina Turner, a Sanders campaign co-chair. But that liberal streak makes some doubtful Biden will pick Bass. One House Democratic source speculated Bidens campaign was merely floating Basss name to benefit from her progressive appeal. And some Sanders allies are skeptical Biden would pick Bass rather than a more established figure like Harris or Rice. Would be wild if he actually picked Bass, one dubious former Sanders campaign staffer said. Additional reporting by Hunter Walker. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Smith has been committed to the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs twice in the past 3 months. The first time was on April 20, more than a month into the coronavirus scourge in the U.S. Its neither the place he wants to be nor where Stephanie believes he needs to be for proper treatment. Warm Springs is not a place for recuperation, she said. The doctors report when he was going in the first time was that he was perfectly ambulatory and had a steady gait. He came out in a wheelchair. Tests at St. Patrick Hospital indicated that Smith had several strokes while at Warm Springs. Yet when he became delusional and combative at the Missoula hospital, he was sent back to the state facility in early July. Obviously people dont want to be in a hospital, Stephanie said. In his mind he thought he was being kidnapped (at St. Pats) and so he yelled out he was being kidnapped. Thats when they took him away to Warm Springs. I think hes going to die this time around. He almost died the first time. She does not fault caregivers at St. Pats or at Warm Springs, who she said are doing yeomans work to keep COVID-19 outside their doors. You are here: An Iraqi health official on Saturday said that the recent increase of COVID-19 cases is an alarming sign as the Health Ministry reported 2,095 daily new infections in the country. The Iraqi Deputy Health Minister Hazim al-Jumaili said in a statement that "the ministry has warned many times of the failure to comply with the health preventive measures that would lead to an increase in COVID-19 infections in the country." Al-Jumaili called on the authorities to take strict procedures against the violators of the ministry's instructions and the health preventive measures. Iraqi Health Ministry reported 2,095 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 126,704. The new cases included 422 in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, 295 in Basra, 264 in Karbala, 195 in Erbil, and 143 in Wasit, the ministry said in a statement. It also reported 64 fatalities during the day, raising the death toll to 4,805, while 1,841 more patients recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 89,275. The new cases were recorded after 13,791 testing kits were used across the country during the day, and a total of 1,014,760 tests have been carried out since the outbreak of the disease, according to the statement. In a separate statement, the ministry said "it has noticed that most citizens are not abiding by the health preventive measures, through gatherings of families to exchange congratulations on the Eid al-Adha festival." The ministry called upon the health authorities and crisis committees in the country's provinces to play their role and tighten the measures to curb the spread of coronavirus infections, the statement added. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, Iraq has been taking measures to contain the pandemic. On July 26, Iraq's Higher Committee for Health and National Safety, headed by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, decided to extend the weekly full curfew from July 30 to Aug. 9, including the Eid al-Adha holiday. China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 7 to April 26, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and install an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad. Since March 7, China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. WASHINGTON British Trade Minister Liz Truss will meet top U.S. officials in Washington in coming days to assess progress on reaching a free trade agreement between the two countries, a spokesman for the U.S. Trade Representatives Office said on Saturday. Truss is scheduled to meet U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer on Monday and Tuesday, his office said, confirming a Financial Times report. After leaving the European Union in January, Britain is keen to stand alone and has started a series of trade negotiations with other countries. A deal with the United States is seen as a priority. Truss has previously said there was no timetable set for Britains trade talks with the United States, adding that British negotiators had made very good progress" despite conducting talks via video conference due to the coronavirus outbreak. Were not going to rush into a deal and there is no deadline. We will be tough in pressing our interests," Truss told a parliamentary committee in June. The British embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday. The FT reported late in July that the British government had abandoned hopes of clinching a free trade deal with the United States ahead of the American presidential election on Nov. 3, with officials blaming the pandemic for slow progress. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a visit to London last month that the United States and Britain still have more work to do on a free trade deal. A third round (of negotiations) scheduled for later this month, a primary focus for the United States is to see that we can make progress on this and bring this to a closure just as quickly as possible," Pompeo said. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor A woman reacts after 27 people were killed in Guanajuato, Mexico, on July 1. The attack was believed to be carried out by the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, whose leader was arrested Sunday. (Mario Armas / AFP/Getty Images) Mexican authorities on Sunday arrested the leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima cartel, a gang known for stealing millions of dollars in fuel from government pipelines and for turning once-peaceful Guanajuato state into one of the most dangerous regions in the country. Videos show the predawn capture by federal and state authorities of Jose Antonio Yepez Ortiz, who is known by the alias "El Marro," which means "the Sledgehammer." He was detained along with five others in a raid that authorities said also freed a kidnapped businesswoman. The capture of Yepez Ortiz, one of the most high-profile arrests by the Mexican government in years, highlights the contradictory nature of the security policies pushed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. He has vowed to fight crime by eradicating poverty and break with the militarized strategies of his predecessors but in practice has not always done so. It also casts a focus on the changing nature of Mexico's criminal organizations, which have branched out far beyond transnational drug trafficking and are now engaged in cargo robbery, domestic drug sales and control of industries as diverse as gold mining and the avocado trade. Yepez Ortiz, 40, first made headlines for reportedly stealing more than $1 million worth of fuel a day from the many pipelines radiating from a government-owned oil refinery in the city of Salamanca. His cartel became the most powerful of the country's many fuel-theft gangs, known as huachicoleros, and later branched out into other illegal enterprises, including extortion and local drug sales. In 2017, his group ran afoul of the Jalisco New Generation cartel, one of the most powerful criminal organizations in Mexico, led by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho." Mexican media have reported that the Jalisco cartel, which is a leading smuggler of methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States, originally tried to make a deal with Yepez Ortiz: Keep the lucrative fuel-theft business but allow Jalisco's drug mules to ferry their product through the state. Story continues Yepez Ortiz not only rejected the offer, but also reportedly ordered the killing of the nephew of the Jalisco group's leader, setting off a cartel war that has convulsed the state in violence. There were 3,540 killings in Guanajuato last year, a more than threefold increase since 2016. With 2,293 killings in the first half of this year, Guanajuato is on pace to set a new record. Among the many brutal acts recorded in the state in recent months was the massacre of 27 people at a drug rehabilitation center in the city of Irapuato, which authorities believe was carried out by the Santa Rosa gang. Last year, Yepez Ortiz escaped a raid by authorities on his compound, possibly through an underground complex of tunnels. Authorities did not say where he was arrested Sunday. A video that appeared to be leaked from somebody present at the raid showed him, in a gray sweatshirt and tan work boots, being taken toward a helicopter by heavily armed security forces. Mexican Security Secretary Alfonso Durazo said Yepez Ortiz would be charged with organized crime and fuel theft. Mexican and U.S. authorities praised the arrest, with U.S. Ambassador Christopher Landau tweeting in Spanish: "Criminals think they are so smart, but in the end we good guys will always win." But others questioned whether it might actually stoke more violence. Crime scene investigators at a homicide scene in Acapulco. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) The Jalisco cartel last month posted a video apparently filmed near the border of Jalisco and Guanajuato states that showed dozens of its members outfitted with assault riffles and machine guns as well as an anti-aircraft missile. "Experience leads us to be cautious," tweeted former congressman Fernando Belaunzaran. "Dozens of leaders have been captured in Mexico and it has not caused a reduction in violence.." He was referring to the targeting of cartel capos, known as the kingpin strategy, which has been a key element of Mexican security efforts since 2006, when the country, aided by the United States, first deployed soldiers, marines and federal police officers in the war on the gangs. While some security analysts argue that such strategies helped stop Mexico from becoming a narco state, they also unwittingly unleashed a wave of violence as would-be kingpins fought for control of cartels. For example, Mexico has recorded several of its bloodiest years since the arrest and extradition of Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquin El Chapo Guzman in 2017. Drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. (Associated Press) Lopez Obrador, who was elected in a landslide victory in 2018 in part on his pledge to bring peace to this violence-weary nation, has repeatedly renounced the militarized approach of his predecessors, for whom capturing cartel leaders was a priority. He has vowed to tackle organized crime by fighting poverty instead, a strategy he has dubbed "hugs, not bullets." Yet those promises have not translated to concrete changes on the ground. Since he took office a year and a half ago, armed federal forces have continued to pursue leaders of criminal groups, including a botched operation to capture Guzman's son last fall. Federal troops briefly detained the young drug boss, but later decided to release him after the Sinaloa cartel took large parts of the northern city of Culiacan hostage. Lopez Obrador said the decision to release the younger Guzman was made to save innocent lives. We will no longer fight violence with violence, he said at the time. There is no longer a war against drug traffickers. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times ) The arrest of Yepez Ortiz led some to question whether that was really the case. "Hadn't they said they weren't after the bosses anymore?" asked Sergio Sarmiento, a columnist for Reforma newspaper, on Twitter. Times staff writer Patrick McDonnell and Cecilia Sanchez in The Times' Mexico City bureau contributed to this report. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a briefing at the White House last month. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Friday that the White House condemned Hong Kong's decision to postpone its legislative council elections for one year. One day earlier, President Donald Trump suggested in a tweet that the US should delay its presidential election over his baseless claim that mail-in voting is fraudulent. President Trump does not have the power to delay the November presidential election. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. One day after President Donald Trump suggested delaying the November US presidential election, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said during a press conference that the White House condemned Hong Kong's decision to postpone its legislative council elections for one year. "We condemn the Hong Kong government's decision to postpone for one year its legislative council elections and to disqualify opposition candidates," McEnany said Friday after a reporter asked whether Trump supported the move to delay the elections. "This action undermines the democratic processes and freedoms that have underpinned Hong Kong's prosperity," she said, according to a transcript of the press conference produced by the White House. Read more: Hong Kong just delayed its elections in a blow to democracy with unsettling parallels to Trump President Trump does not have the power to delay the November presidential election, as Business Insider has previously reported, and he floated his Thursday suggestion over his baseless claims that mail-in voting is fraudulent. Carrie Lam, the chief executive of Hong Kong, cited concerns over the coronavirus outbreak in the decision to delay the election initially slated for September, which will now be held in September 2021. The move was widely seen as a setback for the pro-democracy movement that has been building there while China tightens its grip on Hong Kong. Story continues Related: The rise and fall of Donald Trump's $365 million airline Read the original article on Business Insider Austria's Ambassador to Tehran Stefan Scholz says that untouched and unique nature of southwestern Iranian province of Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari is tourist resort with great capacity for attracting foreign tourists, Trend reports citing IRNA. Scholz made the remarks during his visit to tourist resort of the province on Saturday evening. At his visit, the ambassador said efforts made by the provincial officials for sustainable development are visible. He further predicted a proper prospect for agricultural production and environment protection in the province. Austrian ambassador is planned to take a two-day visit to Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari Province. In the meantime, he is scheduled to meet with governor and mayor of the province. Pimlico Plumbers entrepreneur Charlie Mullins says he has fired a number of staff who refused to return to work on Friday after ending his companys use of the Government furlough scheme. Mullins, who runs one of Britains biggest independent plumbing firms, said the majority of his 450 staff returned, with around 30 losing their jobs through redundancy voluntarily or having their employment terminated. He urged other companies to follow suit by pulling workers off the furlough scheme as soon as possible to limit the long-term damage to the economy and risking massive unemployment. He said he believed the job retention programme should be replaced with a scheme devised to help only the most troubled industries and vulnerable people unable to return to work. Pimlico Plumbers entrepreneur Charlie Mullins says he has fired a number of staff who refused to return to work on Friday after ending his companys use of the Government furlough scheme He said furlough is already causing problems, with some workers milking the system and many that are never going to get a job again because they have been at home too long. We made a decision on Friday that youre either back to work or weve made you redundant, he said. The furlough scheme was a good idea and it was the lifeline that businesses and workers needed at the time. But I think its been badly abused and milked by a lot of people who dont want to go back to work. I had people begging to come back to work and I had other people telling everybody the last thing they wanted to do was to go back to work and theyll stay on furlough as long as they can. He said he believed the most reluctant to come back in were also the first people that ran out of the office within five minutes when the furlough scheme was first launched. From August 1, employers are expected to pay National Insurance and pension contributions for employees on furlough. In September, the Government contribution will reduce to 70 per cent, with further reductions before it is closed in November. Mullins, who runs one of Britains biggest independent plumbing firms, said the majority of his 450 staff returned, with around 30 losing their jobs through redundancy voluntarily or having their employment terminated After that, if an employer brings someone back who was furloughed and continues to employ them between November and January 2021, the Government will award a 1,000 bonus for each worker. Mullins, speaking from Marbella, Spain, yesterday, said: A lot of bosses are uncomfortable saying to people: You no longer have a job. Its not a nice thing to have to do. 'Companies are putting it off because someone else is paying and to me theyre not proper bosses. Youve got to take the rough with the smooth. Youve got to take the criticism. I said from day one, Im not prepared to pay anybody to sit at home and do nothing. Now this has kicked into play weve made people redundant. In 2018, Mullins lost a landmark Supreme Court workers' rights case against a self-employed gas engineer. Gary Smith, who worked for Mullins' business for nearly six years until he had a heart attack, should have been treated as an employee, judges have ruled. Mr Smith, who joined in 2005 but fell ill in 2011, should have been given paid holiday and sick pay as well as other perks including rest breaks despite being classed as self-employed. He successfully claimed he was a staff worker because he was required to use the firm's van for assignments and contractually obliged to do a minimum number of hours a week. Mullins said the ruling was 'disgraceful' and would lead to a 'tsunami of new claims' in Britain and accused judges of 'bottling' the chance to 'rectify' our out-of-date employment laws. He said: 'It was a terrible decision'. Management of nutrition and health for calves on arrival is one of the most important decisions for ensuring positive outcomes for beef production, said Clint Krehbiel, UNL animal science department head. Participants will learn from scientists who are passionate about their success and the health and well-being of beef cattle. A manuscript featuring a detailed account of Prince Andrew's alleged sexual encounter with a woman who claims she was a victim of Jeffrey Epstein is among newly released court documents. Titled The Billionaire Playboy's Club, it was written by Virginia Giuffre - who claims she had sex with Prince Andrew on three separate occasions. Giuffre, who is also known as Roberts, also alleges she had sex with a mystery "prince" - a man whose name she did not know, according to the unsealed documents. Andrew categorically denies he had any form of sexual contact or relationship with Virginia Giuffre, who was aged 17 at the time. Giuffre wrote in her manuscript that he whispered "sweet nothings" into her ear and kissed her neck while on the dancefloor of London's Tramp nightclub, during an evening out with Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. She wrote: "I would just giggle not really knowing how to reply to an ageing man with a bad smile and terrible moves... " Later when the two had a bath together at the home of Maxwell, who has known Andrew since university, she wrote: "He was adorning my young body, particularly my feet, caressing my toes and licking my arches." And after, she alleges, they had sex, she was left with "feelings of dismay". The documents are from a now-settled defamation lawsuit filed by Giuffre. She claimed in the suit and other litigation that Maxwell recruited her in 2000 to be a sexual servant for Epstein. US district judge Loretta A Preska had ordered the papers released but two depositions given by Maxwell in the civil lawsuit in 2016 were not produced after her lawyers appealed against the ruling. When making her 2016 deposition in support of the lawsuit, Giuffre was asked about men Maxwell was alleged to have told her to have sex with and, naming individuals, said "another prince that I don't know his name". There is no suggestion the royal is a member of the British monarchy. Among the newly released papers were emails Maxwell and Epstein exchanged in January 2015 when Giuffre's allegations were getting a new round of media attention. Responding to an email from Maxwell, Epstein, then a convicted sex offender, wrote: "You have done nothing wrong and I (would) urge you to start acting like it." He suggested she go outside and hold her head high, "not as an (escaping) convict". Maxwell, who dated Epstein for a period in the 1990s, is in custody while awaiting trial on charges of trafficking minors for her former partner. The British socialite, who has pleaded not guilty, will go on trial in July 2021. Over the years, Virginia Giuffre has told her story to the FBI but no charges were brought based on her allegations and she is not one of the three alleged victims in the current criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell. Andrew stepped down from public royal life following his disastrous Newsnight interview in which he failed to show remorse over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, and little empathy with the sex offender's alleged victims. With a steady decline in the number of active Covid-19 cases in Delhi, the containment zones have come down to 496 from 715 following a review, providing relief to thousands of people living in these restricted areas, while a second sero-prevalence survey kick-started on Saturday in the national capital. The city reported 1,118 fresh coronavirus cases, taking the tally to 1,36,716. The active cases stand at 10,596. With 26 fresh fatalities, the death toll stands at 3,989. The recovery rate is over 89 per cent. While more restrictions are being eased under Unlock 3, a fresh tussle is on between the AAP government and the lieutenant governor, this time on whether hotels and weekly bazaars should be reopened. A day after LG Anil Baijal rejected the AAP government's decision to allow hotels and weekly bazaars to resume business, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking directions to the LG to reverse his order. In his letter to Shah, Sisodia said the Delhi government will again send its proposal on reopening of hotels and weekly markets to the lieutenant governor on Tuesday. Sisodia accused the Centre of adopting a "dual policy" towards Delhi where Covid-19 situation has been "quite under control" in past one month and "is gradually headed to become normal". "At such a time when hotels and weekly markets are open in the whole country, even in states like UP, Karnataka etc where highest number of cases have been reported hotels, it is beyond comprehension as to what the Centre wishes to achieve by keeping hotels and weekly markets shut in Delhi," he wrote. "I request you to ask the LG not to stop the proposal. If traders start their business, jobs will be generated, and that the condition of the economy will improve," Sisodia, who also holds the finance portfolio, said. The AAP government has been advocating further easing of restrictions to revive economic activities. After a two-day review, the number of containment zones has been brought down to 496, which affects the movement of 1,06,211 people, according to Delhi Revenue Minister Kailash Gahlot. Earlier, there were 715 containment zones affecting 3,48,099 people, he said. In a containment zone, all entry and exit points are completely barricaded to prevent any movement of residents. Police are deployed to keep a watch on it, while necessary supplies are provided to people in such zones at their doorstep. The review to decrease the number of containment zones by Delhi government comes close on the heels of a Health ministry office memorandum earlier this week, allowing all states and Union territories to de-notify a containment zone 14 days after discharge of the last confirmed case which was 28 days earlier, officials said. "As desired by Honble CM @ArvindKejriwal all the containment zones in Delhi were extensively reviewed in the last 2 days with each District DM and surveillance Team," Gahlot said in a tweet. In Delhi, a locality is declared a containment zone by district authorities if three or more persons test positive to Covid-19. In a review of Covid-19 situation in Delhi, on June 29, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had expressed concern over the large size of containment zones in Delhi as it restricted movement of a large population, Gahlot said. "During the last two days an extensive review of containment zones was carried out with Revenue and Health officials. The result has been quite satisfactory. Against 715 containment zones affecting 3,48,099 people, number of containment zones is now down to 496 which affect the movement of 1,06,211 people," the minister said in the statement. The Delhi government had been demanding change in containment zone norms as some zones in the city were under complete lockdown for 3-4 months forcing their residents to stay indoors, a senior government officer said. There are now 39 zones in central district, 50 in East, 39 in New Delhi, 59 in North, 24 in North East, 28 in North West, 7 in Shahdara, 50 in South, 30 in South East, 109 in South West, and 61 in West. Meanwhile, a five-day sero-survey, aimed at covering all districts and various demographic segments, began in the national capital on Saturday. An earlier survey from June 27 to July 10 showed 24 per cent of Delhi residents have developed antibodies. "This will aid the govt to tailor its strategy to changing circumstances," the chief minister's office tweeted. Samples for the sero-survey were collected from four districts, including North Delhi and Northwest Delhi. A sero-prevalence survey involves testing the blood serum of individuals to check for the prevalence of antibodies against infection. A senior government official said 15,000 samples would be collected from August 1 to 5 as part of the exercise, spanning different areas and age groups. Representative samples will be taken from all the 11 districts. The last sero-prevalence survey was conducted by the Delhi government in association with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). The fresh round would follow the same protocol as that was for the last survey, officials said. In support of equality and inclusion, Weathered Souls Brewing Co. has donated $20,000 from proceeds of its Black Is Beautiful brewing campaign to 100 Black Men of San Antonio. On Friday, brewery co-founder Marcus Baskerville presented the check to the chapters president Ivory Freeman and executive director Milton Harris. The head brewer said he thought of the Black Is Beautiful campaign as a collaborative initiative that would raise awareness about the need for equality and inclusion across the nation. Baskerville said the brewery donates 100 percent of the beers proceeds to entities and charities that support police brutality reform and legal fees for foundations that support equal opportiunity in communities. Robin Jerstad, San Antonio Express-News / Contributor I had to figure a way to give back, Baskerville, 35, said, and make a difference in my community. Freeman said the group appreciated the donation and was happy to see a young Black individual prosper. The credibility that hes getting in an industry that is predominantly not African American is a huge mark of success, he said. Harris said the funds would support the nonprofits Youth Build San Antonio program that helps young people attain a high school diploma, work force certification and find employment. Were so honored that he chose our organization to partner with, the chapters executive director said. Were excited to see what the future holds. Weathered Souls co-founder Michael Holt said Baskerville has done a phenomenal job getting the word out to the public. If the message rings true, then its well received, he said. I feel like hes found his voice. Now the challenge is to continue it as long as possible and make as big a difference as we can. The brewers also provide their partners with the recipe for the stout base so they can add their own twist to the beer. Robin Jerstad, San Antonio Express-News / Contributor Working with Weathered Souls to create a unique taste was behind Cayce Rivers, CEO of Meridian Hives visit from Austin. The marketing team of the company that makes alcohol out of honey reached out to Baskerville after the launch. He said the plan is for the Baskerville to make a stout and age it in a barrel once aged with blueberry black currant with orange blossom honey. Its just another way to keep the collaboration going, Rivers said. We wanted to get involved, and its a good cause. Baskerville said a trip to Dallas in May sparked the idea. While driving he heard Breonna Taylors mother on a morning radio show talk about treatment by police after she learned of her daughters death. That conversation literally brought me to tears, he said. Robin Jerstad, San Antonio Express-News / Contributor He said Jeffrey Stuffings of Jester King brewery challenged him to turn his plan into a collaboration. That began a 24-hour period of trying to devise a plan. Not able to sleep, Baskerville woke up at 3 a.m. and drove to the brewery where he wrote a mission statement. He said they encourage their partners to consider a long-term commitment and keep pushing for equality. Currently, the stout is only carried at the brewery, located at 606 Embassy Oaks. The brewers said 1,070 breweries are taking part in the program, partners in all 50 states and 20 countries. This is the first time in history that weve had over 1,000 different businesses contributing to the cause of social justice, Baskerville said. My generation to be doing something like that is great. Vincent T. Davis is a reporter in the Greater San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Vincent, become a subscriber. vtdavis@express-news.net | Twitter: @vincentdavis The Egyptian ambassador in Amman is currently following up with Jordanian authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting Egypt said on Sunday that one of its nationals was shot dead in Jordan by a Jordanian citizen, the latest in a series of assaults on Egyptians in Arab countries. According to a statement by the Ministry of Manpower, 30-year-old Egyptian Amir Samir Ibrahim was shot by a Jordanian man in a neighbourhood in Amman. The ministry did not provide further details about the incident; however, it said that the shooter was arrested. The Egyptian ambassador in Amman is currently following up with Jordanian authorities to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting, the statement said. The shooting in Jordan is the latest in a series of assaults against Egyptian expats in the Arab countries in the past few weeks. Last week, two Egyptian construction workers were shot dead by a Saudi citizen in an altercation at one of the Saudi mans construction projects. The assailant turned himself in to the police and confessed to committing the crime, authorities said. The shooting in Saudi Arabia came a few days after Kuwaiti authorities arrested a citizen for assaulting an Egyptian expat working as a cashier in a store in the Gulf country. A two-minute video has surfaced of the incident in Kuwait and has gone viral online. The video shows the Kuwaiti man slapping the Egyptian worker three times before several other store workers and customers intervened to stop the assault. The video sparked anger on social media among users who called on Egyptian authorities to take action. Egypt stressed that the latest incident in Kuwait was an isolated incident and does not represent the relations between the two countries. Egyptians living abroad are estimated at 13 million, according to earlier statements by Egypt's Emigration Minister Nabila Makram. Some 65 percent of Egyptian expats live in Arab countries, according to figures released by official statistics agency Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) in 2017. Search Keywords: Short link: New York One Sunday afternoon in July, around a dozen parents gathered in a backyard in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, a village about a half-hour north of midtown Manhattan. Another dozen joined them via Zoom. Folding chairs had been placed at prudent distances, and masks were dutifully worn. An Australian Labradoodle belonging to the home's owners strutted among the guests. Despite the breezy suburban tableau, the occasion was fraught. Over the preceding months, the adults in the backyard had grown increasingly concerned about the coming school year, which, it had become clear, might put students in class, at best, only part time. Parents were determined to avoid having their children sit alone for hours each day, withering in the gray light of a Chromebook. A young woman named Cate Han, one of the founders of the Hudson Lab School, in Hastings, along with partners from Portfolio School, in Tribeca, were in the yard to pitch a solution: Learning Pods. "We looked at the situation and asked, 'What makes sense?'" Han said. "A social bubble, consistent schooling, and have it be with a teacher in person." Babur Habib, a Portfolio founder, took a more visionary tone. "Yes, we are in a pandemic," he said. "But when it comes to education, we also feel some good may even come out of this." One thing was certain. It was going to be very expensive maybe prohibitively so but these parents wanted a solution. Many had chosen to live in Hastings because of its outstanding public schools. Now they were considering withdrawing their children and embracing a novel teaching model that could have implications for public education for years. There might be no more potent symbol of inequality during the pandemic than the pod school: A single semester in a Hudson Lab pod can cost more than $13,000. This fall, a majority of 50 million American children enrolled in public school are almost certainly going to be confined within their homes for part or all of the school day. The numerous harms of being kept out of school academic, social, emotional, psychological, physical are felt by all children, but a disproportionate weight will be borne by those with the least resources. The wealthiest children will be ensconced in private schools and catered to by tutors and nannies. For most, there are few options. But for a slice of enterprising American parents with resources, so-called pod schools have arrived. Cropping up all over, these small educational groups aim to offset the looming wreckage of a national experiment in distance learning. Among the many options are School House, based in New York City, which is offering "micro schools" around the country, and Whiz Kidz, based in nearby Irvington. The idea of learning pods, both formally organized by outfits like the Hudson Lab, as well as more ad hoc parent-run variations, appears to be speaking to parents who feel that government agencies and school districts have failed to plan for their children. The program presented by Han and her colleagues that afternoon sounded relatively simple. Parents will form groups of three to 10 children, usually in the same grade. The "pods" will meet each day from around 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in a host parent's basement or cordoned-off living room or perhaps somewhere outdoors, to learn from a teacher provided by the Hudson Lab. Each pod for grades K-4 will cost $125,000 for the academic year, or $68,750 for a five-month commitment. With five children in a pod, for example, the cost per student will run $13,750 per semester. The more children in the pod, the lower the cost per student. There is different pricing and reduced hours for preschool pods. (Both HLS and School House are seeking partnerships with foundations so they can offer scholarships.) "My children didn't get an education this spring," said Ronit Sukenick, who offered her backyard for the Hudson Lab presentation. She has two boys, Jonah and David, who experienced the last three months of second and sixth grade at their dining table. "None of the things that were great about my sons' schools translated to remote learning," she said. "No science experiments or a teacher at their sides. No interaction with friends." The loss of both the academic and social aspects of school was a refrain from more than a dozen parents I spoke with regarding distance learning. Han appealed to the palpable anxiety among the parents in the yard. "We are social beings," she said as a few parents nodded in agreement. "Our identities are formed based on our interactions with others." Learning for children is tied to being with peers, she said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Why should a child suffer in isolation, struggling to learn how to read through a computer, when they could thrive with a small group of peers and a real teacher instead? Lauren Lazarin is a single mother in Riverdale, in the Bronx, with a limited income, but she's considering signing up for a Hudson Lab pod. "If I have to ditch my salaried job as an early childhood educator and work as a private tutor so my 5-year-old daughter can get her education and I can keep my family safe," she said, "then I might have to make that choice." For Sukenick, who works as a physical therapist, the choice is stark. She can either quit working while she looks after her sons when they're home, or she can keep her very fulfilling job and deplete her savings to pay for the pods. "This is our emergency fund," she said, noting they were thankful to have it. "And this is our emergency." Erica Paris, a stay-at-home mom in Towaco, New Jersey, recently received her daughters' fall schedule from the school district. Her 8-year-old, Alexa, will attend elementary school four half-days per week; Emma, 12, will attend middle school just two half-days per week. Paris said she will have to hire someone to help with remote learning during their copious time out of school. "I respect educators. I don't know how to take the curriculum and do it myself," she said. "I can't be both a teacher and a parent." She has reached out to other parents "to see if their girls want to do a small group and share a tutor." For Paris, the sharing of a tutor is less about saving money than for the advantage of her girls being in a group setting. Her daughters' schedules are also baffling and frustrating. "The reason they have half-days is because the teachers' contract guarantees a duty-free lunch, which is understandable," she said. "But couldn't we figure out how to hire aides for an hour? Two half-days of school a week is ridiculous." Several weeks after the backyard presentation, Han told me that Hudson Lab has not finalized any pods yet but has around 60 applications. Many families are waiting to hear what the state and local guidelines will be before making a decision. Sukenick has not yet decided on plans for her boys. Whatever it is, she hopes it will include an in-person experience every day. Lazarin, the single mother in Riverdale, isn't only worried about remote learning. She's also worried about the in-school environment, with "these unnatural experiences of eating lunch in cubicles, recess alone in a square on the pavement." After pausing for a moment, thinking about the pod, she said, "If I have to sell my arm to make that happen, then I'll do it." RTHK: British lawmaker arrested in rape case A member of Britain's Parliament and former minister from the ruling Conservative Party has been arrested after a parliamentary aide accused him of rape, sexual assault and coercive control, according to reports on Saturday. The politician was not named but the Metropolitan Police said in a statement that it had begun an investigation. "On Friday, 31 July, the Metropolitan Police Service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault," said the police. "A man in his 50s was arrested on Saturday, 1 August on suspicion of rape. He has been released on bail to return on a date in mid-August." Reports of the arrest also appeared in the Sunday Times newspaper, which said the allegations had been raised with a senior Conservative party official. In a statement from the Conservatives, quoted by the Press Association, a spokesman said: "We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously. As this matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to comment further." (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2020-08-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisway and Leader of the Opposition M K Stalin mourned the death of Border Security Force (BSF) havildar from Tamil Nadu, Thirumurthi, in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. The Chief Minister, who has instructed the Food and Civil Supply Minister R Kamaraj to visit the family along with the district collector to personally pay their condolences to Thirumurthis family in Pullavavarayankudikadu village in Tiruvarur district, has also promised a government for a family member based on their qualification. An official press release said that Thirumurthy was injured on July 25 when his firearm fired accidentally and that he died on Saturday in hospital. Stalin, in a statement, paid homage to Thirumurthy, who had joined the forces at a young age of 21 and served the nation. Rajya Sabha authorities have been unable to take full possession of a plot of land in the heart of New Delhi for the last 17 years due to encroachments, underlining how painstakingly difficult it can be even for public offices to get hold of government land. The 8,700 square metre plot in RK Puram is worth more than 200 crore, and was allotted to the Rajya Sabha in 2003 to construct a guest hostel for the Upper Houses MPs and accommodation for its officers. According to officials, the land had been under encroachment by some NGOs and slum residents, and the issue remains unresolved despite repeated efforts and offers of compensation. Some officials pointed out that between 2005 and 2012, Rajya Sabha authorities didnt take any steps to clear the coveted land of the unauthorised occupants, resulting in mounting troubles for the current regime. On July 30, House chairman Venkaiah Naidu held a high-level meeting to review the status of the issue with House officials, Union ministry of housing and urban affairs, Delhi government and legal counsels. Naidu asked officials to take appropriate and quick action to get the land cleared of encroachments, an official said. Out of the total plot, around 4,384sqm remains occupied by different organisations, including NGOs, and after years of neglect, unauthorised slum clusters have occupied another 1194 sq m. House officials said the plot is earmarked to be used for officers accommodation and also to set up the Rajya Sabha TV office, which is now housed at a plush but expensive property in Talkatora Stadium at an annual rent of 15 crore a hefty amount for a channel with hardly any revenue source. Naidu also noted that there have been inordinate delays and urged that necessary steps be taken to resolve all outstanding issues including pending cases in the high court, where the issue has been pending for a long time, said an official. Another official involved in the issue said, Several meetings have been taken at various levels and the government agencies are trying their best, but nothing seems to be moving. There are three NGOs that have not moved out so far, apart from a large slum cluster and a place of worship, which has been built without sanction. The plot has become more important as the Parliament is set to merge the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha TV channels into one, which will necessitate more space at a lower cost of operations. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A former UK minister and sitting Conservative Party lawmaker, who has not been named as he is yet to be charged, is out on bail after being arrested on suspicion of rape. According to The Sunday Times, the allegations of rape against the parliamentarian were made by a former employee who alleges that the lawmaker assaulted her, forced her to have sex and left her so traumatised that she had to go to hospital. On Friday, July 31, the Metropolitan Police Service received allegations relating to four separate incidents involving allegations of sexual offences and assault, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement. These offences are alleged to have occurred at addresses in Westminster, Lambeth and Hackney between July 2019 and January 2020. A man in his 50s was arrested on Saturday, August 1 on suspicion of rape. He has been released on bail to return on a date in mid-August, the statement said. The ruling Conservative Party said it takes such allegations extremely seriously. We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously. As this matter is now in the hands of the police it would be inappropriate to comment further, a party spokesperson said. The reports, which first appeared in the newspaper, claim that some allegations were raised with the partys chief whip Mark Spencer and with Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons some weeks ago. It is understood that Spencer told the woman to make a formal complaint to parliamentary authorities, who would investigate. She later went to the police. The chief whip takes all allegations of harassment and abuse extremely seriously and has strongly encouraged anybody who has approached him to contact the appropriate authorities, including Parliaments independent complaints and grievance scheme, which can formally carry out independent and confidential investigations, a statement from Spencers office said. "Millions are sitting unemployed today. Innumerable claims of inflation, poverty, and unemployment have erupted in society. Economic leadership is more important than leadership in the battlefield," Shiv Sena said. Mumbai (Maharashtra): Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece Saamna said on Sunday that the corona crisis has led to 10 crore people getting unemployed, and economic leadership is more important than leadership in the battlefield. "The stoves of 40 crore families have been extinguished. What is the solution to their problems? Bhumi pujan of Ram temple will be done, BJP needs Rajasthan, it will happen. Rafale aircraft from France also came to Ambala. But how are those who lost jobs in this period coping with the situation? Will the rulers ever tell them?" it added. Shiv Sena said that if the corona crisis is not addressed properly, there may be protests on the ground against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "How long will people spend their days on mere hopes and assurances? In the last 15 years, not a single problem of the people has been removed. Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, is a friend of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Due to the economic crisis and corona related atrocities, the Israeli people have started demonstrating on the streets everywhere. The people of Israel are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Netanyahu. The same time can also come in India," it contended. Shiv Sena further said: "Colleges, factories, shops are closed. Malls, restaurants are closed. Local trains, public transport are at a standstill. Agricultural products are lying down. Wherever we go, there is nothing to hear or see except for despair. In Maharashtra, ST employees are not paid. Its provision will be made at the government level. Government employees will also be paid their salaries by taking loans." It further questioned whether Prime Minister's Rs 20 lakh crore package benefitted anyone. (This August 1 story corrects the number of German fatalities in eighth paragraph to more than 9,000 not 1,000) BERLIN (Reuters) - Thousands marched in Berlin on Saturday to protest against measures imposed in Germany to stem the coronavirus pandemic, saying they violated people's rights and freedoms. The gathering, estimated by police at 17,000, included libertarians, constitutional loyalists and anti-vaccination activists. There was also a small far-right presence with some marchers carrying Germany's black, white and red imperial flag. Protesters danced and sang "We are free people!" to the tune of rock band Queen's "We Will Rock You". Others marched with placards saying "We are making a noise because you are stealing our freedom!" and "Do think! Don't wear a mask!". "Our demand is to return to democracy," said one protester who declined to give his name. "The mask that enslaves us must go." The protests followed a rallying call from Michael Ballweg, an entrepreneur and political outsider who has organised similar rallies in Stuttgart and is running to become mayor of the southwestern city. Police filed a complaint against the organiser for failing to ensure marchers wore masks and kept their distance. Mainstream politicians criticised the protesters, with Social Democrat co-leader Saskia Esken calling them "covidiots". "They not only endanger our health, they endanger our successes against the pandemic," tweeted Esken, whose party is Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition partner. After Germany's initial success in curbing the pandemic, infections are rising again. More than 200,000 people have caught COVID-19 and more than 9,000 have died from it. Most people in Germany have respected measures that include wearing face masks in shops, while the government has just imposed mandatory tests for holidaymakers returning from high-risk areas. Story continues But a vocal minority is chafing against the restrictions. "Only a few scientists around the world who follow the government's lead are heard," said protester Peter Konz. Those who hold different views "are silenced, censored or discredited as defenders of conspiracy theories". (Reporting by Reuters TV, Writing by Douglas Busvine; Editing by Giles Elgood) There have been three shootings in recent days that have rattled neighborhoods in Norwalk and Darien. The latest incidents occurred within 15 minutes of each other late Saturday afternoon. Norwalk police were dispatched to Suncrest Road in the Colonial Village community around 4:45 p.m. after a report of shots fired, Lt. Jared Zwickler said in a prepared statement. Officers arrived on scene and found three vehicles damaged by gunfire, he said. The initial investigation revealed that a group of individuals fired shots from a white sedan at a group standing in the complex and fled the scene. He said city detectives are investigating the shooting, and no injuries were reported. Shortly after the shooting in Norwalk, police in Darien reported numerous gunshots were fired from a moving vehicle on West Avenue around 5 p.m. Police said the gunfire may have been targeting another vehicle, and no injuries were reported. Police have not confirmed if the shootings were connected. Norwalk police are also investigating a shooting that occurred around 10 p.m. Thursday night when a man was wounded in the leg outside a West Cedar Street bodega located around the corner from Colonial Village. Police said they are investigating the incident based on security video footage since the victim and the shooter had fled by the time they arrived. Anyone with information about the Norwalk shootings can call 203-854-3011. Anyone information on the Darien incident can call 203-662-5300. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks during a joint press conference with Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at Lancaster House in London, England, on July 21, 2020. (Hannah McKay-WPA Pool/Getty Images) Pompeo Condemns HK Government Decision to Postpone Election U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the Hong Kong governments decision to postpone the election for the citys unicameral legislature for a year. There is no valid reason for such a lengthy delay, Pompeo said in a statement issued on Aug. 1, emphasizing that Hongkongers have demonstrated their desire to hold free and fair elections in past decades. While the city was slated to vote on Sept. 6, Hong Kongs top official Carrie Lam announced on July 31 that the Legislative Council (LegCo) election would be postponed, claiming that gatherings of voters on polling day would threaten public health amid an uptick of CCP virus cases in the city. City elections currently have electoral committee mechanisms in place that favor pro-Beijing candidates; pro-democracy protests in past years have called for universal suffrage. Pompeo raised concerns that the Chinese-ruled city would never again be able to votefor anything or anyone if Beijing continues to ignore its commitments as stipulated in the SinoBritish Joint Declaration. The treaty was signed in advance of Hong Kongs transfer of sovereignty from British to Chinese rule in 1997, guaranteeing that the territorys basic freedoms, as well as its separate political and economic systems, be preserved. Pompeo urged Hong Kong authorities to allow the elections to proceed as close to the original timetable as possible. If they arent, then regrettably, Hong Kong will continue its march toward becoming just another Communist-run city in China, he said. Several U.S. lawmakers, governments, and rights groups also criticized the decision to postpone the vote. A day before the postponement, the government disqualified 12 pro-democracy candidates from running, with the rationale that theyre unfit to uphold Hong Kongs mini-constitution, the Basic Law, or loyalty to Hong Kongs government under China. City officials said activities that invalidated the candidates included promoting Hong Kong independence, supporting self-determination, and opposition to Chinas national security law. Beijings sweeping new law took effect on July 1, punishing activities deemed as secession, subversion of state power, terrorism, and colluding with foreign countries, with a maximum penalty of life in prison. In mid-July, about 610,000 Hongkongers cast ballots in an unofficial primary to select the pro-democracy candidates they would like to see run against the pro-Beijing camp. The large turnout was also seen as a symbolic protest vote against the new security law. Toto Wolff hates that Mercedes didn't score a one-two, just like in Hungary. Due to a flat tyre, the German race team lost second place with Valtteri Bottas suffering with two laps to go, but it could have been a lot worse. Lewis Hamilton had just enough margin on rival Max Verstappen when he also had a flat tyre. "When Valtteri's tyre broke up, I was very disappointed," said Wolff to Sky Sports. "His flat tyre was at the only imaginable point on the track... He drove another solid race and should have taken eighteen points here." Bottas wasn't the only Mercedes driver with a flat tyre, because two laps later it was Hamilton's turn. "Lewis shouted the exact same sentence over the radio. We really didn't think that could be true. He also got the flat tyre at a very bad time, but he just managed to make it. We were also a bit lucky." What if Verstappen...? If Red Bull and Verstappen hadn't chosen to go in for the fastest lap of the race, the victory might not have gone to Mercedes. "You don't know if the pit stop saved him a flat tyre or if it cost him the victory," concluded Wolff. Phonics approach neglects meaning, context The trouble with basing literacy learning on "cracking the phonics code" is that English phonemes are often more heavily influenced by meaning than direct letter/sound relationships ("Schools on board with phonics check", August 1-2). "Two" for example, is related to twin and twain. The key to understanding "cough, tough, though, bough, bought" lies not in the letter/sound link, but in the meaning and the context. The school of thought behind synthetic phonics is that literacy learning can be directed along a precisely delineated pathway. That's like planning the exercises that every baby must follow in learning to walk. Statistics can provide valuable evidence about many things, but even the sophisticated techniques now available fall short of being able to provide any sort of universally valid and reliable data on the very complex patterns of literacy acquisition. It is unfortunate that the pervasive influence of one narrow school of thought has so much influence on educational decision-makers in NSW. - Robert Binns, Blaxland The return of the phonics method for teaching reading is wonderful news and another nail in the coffin of the whole language approach foisted on us by Californian humanist educators in the 1970s. The problem is that most Australian teachers under 50 were neither taught to read with phonics, nor taught how to use it during their teacher training. Some major in-service training will be required. - Peter Russell, Coogee Apparently, proponents of phonics dont like the idea of a child recognising a word merely because they are familiar with it. Understandably, not even the Australian Literacy Educators Association could find any word other than silliness to describe this. - Paul Hardage, Leura By all means, teach phonics as an aid to learning to read, but the goal is interpretation of meaning and the teaching profession is well aware of how to maintain the balance, despite phonics evangelists. Of greater concern is the trend for students to arrive in high school never having read a novel, or any text, beyond the classroom, and struggling with deeper analysis. - Vanessa Tennent, Oatley Having always been somewhat spelling challenged, I keep the following quote handy to justify the ineffectualness of all the spelling schemes I have tried. "Aoccdrnig to rseeacrh at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are plcaed. The olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer is in the rghit pclae." - Joy Cooksey, Harrington I am baffled as to why there is so much vitriol regarding the teaching of synthetic phonics. For those offended by the overwhelming evidence proving its efficacy, well they can just get phoughkt! - Catherine Hoskin, Gloucester Don't vilify staff for aged home horrors All Australia knows that aged care facilities have barely enough staff to cope with their usual workloads let alone with a COVID-19 outbreak, yet the blame for the contagion and death occurring there continues. Aged care nursing is different from hospital nursing. Staff need to be far closer to their patients, often with arms around them for support, for far longer, and with faces close so that hearing-impaired patients can hear. With insufficient staff to deal exclusively with infected people, nurses can don and doff protective gear up to 40 times a day but are expected never to slip up. The carers themselves may become sick, infect their loved ones and lose the income that pays their mortgages and feeds their families. Once there are mounting cases in a nursing home, it may be time to consider acceding to relatives requests for infected residents to be truly quarantined by moving them out. This does not need to be to hospital unless appropriate. There are unused premises which could be utilised where people with the virus could be cared for by trained staff who would not have to put on and take off PPE all day. At very least, the blame and claims of incompetence should cease lest we end up with no-one willing to take on the job. Jennifer Briggs, Kilaben Bay My experiences with aged care have been various: Ive had my Mum in each of a for-profit and not-for-profit nursing home and they have been chalk and cheese, in that order. I have made it clear to my daughters that should I ever need aged care, it must never be in a for-profit business, no matter where, when, what or why. Id rather rot in the comfort of my own home than in a for-profit nursing home as things stand at the present. Brian Pymont, Frenchs Forest Accept fire tips now The bushfire season is already declared in parts of NSW and the Bushfire Royal Commission report is not due for another month (Fire season starts in six regions, Aug 1-2). By the time the 400-page report is read, considered and recommendations enacted, well be well into the summer of 2021. Wouldnt it make sense to adopt now the recommendations made by the 23 former fire and emergency leaders in 2019 as an interim action plan? Climate change isnt going away. Ray Peck, Hawthorn, Vic Solar farm caveats With the granting of major project status to the world's largest solar and battery farm in the Northern Territory, it looks as though the government has found a way to provide Singapore and Indonesia with fast, reliable and cheap electricity ("Giant solar farm to export power gets green light", July 31). Would it be cynical to think that we will end up paying, through grants and tax deductions, more than we receive. Past returns on development of our oil and gas fields do not give confidence all that time decrying renewable energy instead of developing industries to take advantage of it. Meanwhile our government is spending millions to consider how it can expand an obsolete coal-fired generator in Queensland. It's hard for manufacturing to compete when your own government would rather export cheap power and import all its industrial requirements. Keith Platt, North Narrabeen The revelations that the National COVID-19 Commission is still promoting dangerous gas expansion should put the nail in the coffin of that idea ("Back to future with gas jobs plan", July 29). Gas is expensive, wrecks the climate and groundwater and would bring toxic salt into the landscape and affect the farmers who grow our food. The secretive commission should be replaced with a transparent process. We can't miss the opportunity to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in renewables. Trina Jones, Urila The removal by Angus Taylor of a "respected climate lawyer" as chairperson of ARENA and replacing him with an investor in carbon industries, combined with the appointment to the board of people he knows will be supportive of his highly questionable climate change strategy, is highly distressing and questionable (Shifting powers, August 1-2). It again illustrates the determination of the Coalition to support the fossil fuel industry and downplay the role of renewables. Alan Morris, Eastlakes Praise for pioneer Tonia Shand was deserving of your fine tribute (DFAT trailblazer diplomatically overcame limitations on women, July 31). I worked with her once and she was a consummate leader. She had style, poise and charm professional in all respects and she created teams. Mike Fogarty, Weston, ACT Sad delusion If publishers of political memoirs were fair dinkum, stickers carrying Fiona Capps remark, a sad reflection on the delusions of the political class and its scramble for power, about Christopher Pynes The insider (Non-fiction Review, Spectrum, August 1-2), would appear on most of their publications. Col Shephard, Yamba Survivors' legacy The inspiring Eddie Jaku can be assured that the story of the Holocaust will not "fade out of history" when its survivors are gone ("Pursuit of happiness", August 1-2). As someone whose four grandparents were killed in Auschwitz, I can promise him that there are many who are making sure that our children and our children's children will know of this shocking example of what people can do to each other. In various parts of the world, the nightmare of people's inhumanity to their fellow humans continues to be a brutal reality. Blinkered complacency in our own bubble should not be an option, and leaving suffering refugees from such violence to moulder offshore makes us complicit. Anne Ring, Coogee Better Rach than black Wendy Squires' article was a breath of fresh air ("Darkness be gone: I'm giving positivity a real red hot go", August 1-2). We have become numbed to thinking we need to know every sad detail of the pandemic. After reading Squires' article, I dropped the paper to the floor and turned off the television to let Rachmaninoff's 2nd Symphony wash over me. Written around the same time as the Spanish Flu pandemic 100 years ago, this amazing piece of music still has the power to say that life is OK. Greg Vale, Kiama Stay strong Karen How wonderful to learn about the existence of Karen, the complaining, privileged, middle-aged woman that is the bane of serving staff. Apparently there is no Ken or Steve or John as no man has ever complained, raised his voice, harangued, bullied or threatened any staff member in the history of the modern world. The need for thoughtful and respectful interactions is not, and never has been, gendered. - Jill Robinson, Randwick Dear Karens, on behalf of all boomer, white males welcome aboard. - Paul Falconer, Thirroul Never in our wildest dreams back in the '70s would I and my wog mates ever think that such a common popular Australian name as Karen would become a pejorative term. We thought having a name such as Luigi, Voula or Con would always be a negative. How times change. - Con Vaitsas, Ashbury Susan Griffiths (Letters, August 1) wonders about the male alternative to Karen. Monty Python seemed to put a lot of faith in Bruce if I recall correctly. - Phil Armour, Yass Spring about to bloom Space News space history and artifacts articles Messages space history discussion forums Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Resources selected space history documents advertisements Astronauts on SpaceX capsule make first US splashdown in 45 years August 2, 2020 Two NASA astronauts flying on SpaceX's first crewed capsule have safely splashed down from the International Space Station, marking the first water landing by an American crew in 45 years. Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley returned to Earth on Sunday (Aug. 2), two months after becoming the first astronauts to launch on a commercial spacecraft to the space station. Descending under parachutes, the SpaceX Demo-2 (DM-2) Dragon capsule "Endeavour" was dropped into the water about 39 miles (63 kilometers) south of Pensacola, Florida, at 2:48 p.m. EDT (1841 GMT). "Endeavour, on behalf of the SpaceX and NASA teams, welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX," radioed Mike Heiman, SpaceX's CORE (Crew Operations Responsible Engineer) from the company's mission control in Hawthorne, California. "It was truly our honor and privilege to fly the [maiden] flight of the Crew Dragon Endeavour," replied Hurley. The landing was the first time that a crewed spacecraft splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico and the first U.S. mission to end in any body of water since the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in July 1975. SpaceX's prime landing site, off the coast of Cape Canaveral in the Atlantic Ocean, was unavailable due to the conditions caused by Tropical Storm Isaias. SpaceX dispatched a small fleet of boats to recover Behnken and Hurley aboard Endeavour. A modified platform supply vessel, the GO Navigator, was configured to hoist the Dragon out of the water. The astronauts reported that they were doing well, despite pre-landing concerns about possible sea sickness. Dragon departing Behnken's and Hurley's return to Earth began on Saturday, the day before their splashdown. Assembling in front of same hatchway where they had docked and come aboard the space station on May 31, Behnken and Hurley bid goodbye to their Expedition 63 crewmates, Chris Cassidy of NASA and Anatoli Ivanishin and Ivan Wagner of the Russian federal corporation, Roscosmos. "We were reminded fairly recently that we're at about the 45th anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, which is also the last time a U.S. spacecraft splashed down, rather than landed on the land," said Hurley during the brief ceremony. "It is kind of neat to have that mission that exemplified the teamwork between Russia and the United States back then, the Soviet Union and the United States, but now Russia and to share this expedition with Anatoli and Ivan." The astronauts then loaded the Dragon with about 330 pounds (150 kilograms) of science results and spent station equipment for the return to Earth. They also packed a few personal items that they wanted to bring home, including a U.S. flag that had previously been flown on the first and last space shuttle missions, a plush Earth that was left behind by the earlier uncrewed SpaceX Demo-1 test mission and a sequined toy dinosaur that they brought with them to the orbiting laboratory. "I think my son and Doug's son are really excited not only to get their fathers back, but to get our apatosaurus, our 'zero-g indicator,' that they nominated to go with us on this historic mission," said Behnken. "For Jack and Theo, 'Tremor' the apatosaurus is headed home soon and will be with your dads. You'll have to pick which one of us is your favorite." Following one more meal as members of the station's crew, Behnken and Hurley boarded the Dragon and the first of three hatches between the spacecraft and station was closed at 5:36 p.m. EDT (2136 GMT). About two hours later, after the remaining hatches were sealed and a final "go" was given by flight controllers on the ground, Endeavour undocked from the forward port of the Harmony node at 7:35 p.m. EDT (2335 GMT). "Dragon departing," radioed Cassidy, after ringing a ship bell, continuing a tradition that was started by the station's first crew 20 years ago. "It has been an honor and a privilege to be part of Expedition 63," said Hurley. "It has been a great two months and we appreciate all you've done as a crew to help prove out Dragon on its maiden flight." Return to Earth Two brief bursts and four short burns by Endeavour's Draco thrusters, executed over the course of two hours, propelled the capsule away from the space station and adjusted the Dragon's orbit to line up with a landing off the coast of Florida. Behnken and Hurley were then able to relax and get about seven hours of sleep. "Good morning Dragon Endeavour! I am happy you went into space but I am even happier you are coming back home," said 10-year-old Jack Hurley in a recorded wake-up call for his father. Wake up, wake up, wake up!" added 6-year-old Theo Behnken. "Don't worry, you can sleep in tomorrow. Hurry home so we can go get my dog!" Activity picked up again on Sunday at 1:52 p.m. EDT (1752 GMT) with the jettison of the Dragon's rear-mounted trunk. Lined on one side with solar panels, the trunk provided power to the spacecraft while on orbit. "Oh yeah, we felt it," reported Hurley as the trunk separated. Five minutes later at 1:56 p.m. EDT (1756 GMT), Endeavour preformed a deorbit burn, firing its thrusters for 11 minutes and 22 seconds, which slowed the Dragon's orbital velocity and aligned its descent. "Nominal burn," radioed Hurley. The Dragon's nose cone was commanded closed, shielding the docking hardware that was used to connect to the station, and the spacecraft was maneuvered to its entry attitude before Endeavour encountered the upper traces of the atmosphere. Communications were lost with the crew for about six minutes due to the build up of atmospheric entry plasma around the capsule. "Endeavour has you loud and clear!" said Hurley, replying to a comm check from SpaceX mission control after the blackout ended. The spacecraft deployed its two drogue parachutes at approximately 18,000 feet (5,500 meters). Just seconds later, at 6,500 feet (1,980 m), the drogues detached and four main parachutes unfurled, which then lowered Endeavour to the water. Helped out of their capsule after SpaceX's recovery team worked to clear residual thruster propellant (nitrogen tetroxide) vapor near the hatch, Behnken and Hurley received brief medical checks and then boarded a helicopter for Naval Air Station Pensacola, where a NASA Gulfstream jet aircraft was ready to fly them to Ellington Airport, near the Johnson Space Center, in Houston. "I just wanted to thank you guys for bringing us home safe before I disembark from the good ship Endeavour," said Behnken, addressing the team in Hawthorne. "Thanks for doing the most difficult parts and the most important parts of human spaceflight, getting us into orbit and bringing us home safely." "I would like to add my thanks to everybody... anybody who has touched Endeavour, you should take a moment to cherish this day, especially given all of the things that happened this year," added Hurley. "Just proud to be a small part of this whole effort to get a company and people to and from the space station." Endeavour will be delivered to SpaceX's Dragon Lair in Florida for inspection and post-flight processing. (The same spacecraft is scheduled to fly again in 2021 with a crew that includes Behnken's wife, NASA astronaut Megan McArthur.) Names and numbers During their DM-2 test flight, joint operations commander Behnken and spacecraft commander Hurley helped to conduct science and maintain the space station's systems, while also evaluating the Dragon's performance on orbit. During a July 8 hour-long test, the two astronauts were joined by Cassidy and Ivanishin on board Endeavour to assess the ship's comfort in preparation for future Dragon missions with four people aboard. Behnken also joined Cassidy for four spacewalks outside of the station to upgrade batteries and configure the complex for future upgrades. The EVAs (extravehicular activities) were enough for both crewmates to tie the American record of 10 for the most career spacewalks. DM-2 was both Behnken's and Hurley's third spaceflight. Behnken, 50, holds a doctorate in engineering, is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force and was chief of NASA's astronaut corps from 2012 to 2015. He previously flew as a mission specialist on two space shuttle flights to the International Space Station, STS-123 in 2008 and STS-130 in 2010. He has now logged a total of 92 days in orbit. Hurley, 53, is an engineer and colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps. He piloted two space shuttle flights, including STS-127 in 2009 and the final flight of the program, STS-135 in 2011. His total time in space is now 93 days. Behnken and Hurley chose the name "Endeavour" for their Crew Dragon to honor the history of their first ride to orbit, the space shuttle Endeavour. Their landing, though, came within days of the 49th anniversary of the first spaceship Endeavour the Apollo 15 command module splashing down from the moon. "It is neat that it has a legacy that goes all the way back to Apollo," said Hurley, replying to a question from collectSPACE during a press conference a few days before his and Behnken's return to Earth. "I didn't realize the significance as far as how close it was to splashdown ... so that's kind of icing on the cake." At 64 days, the DM-2 spacecraft flew the second longest U.S.-launched crewed mission after the 84-day Skylab 4 command module in 1974. During the DM-2 mission, Endeavour traveled 27.1 million miles (43.7 km) over the course of 1,024 orbits of Earth. SpaceX's Crew Dragon "Endeavour" splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley aboard, on Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. The spacecraft returned from the Demo-2 (DM-2) mission after 63 days docked at the International Space Station. (NASA/Bill Ingalls) NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (at left) and Doug Hurley are seen inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon "Endeavour" on board the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship shortly after having splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. (NASA/Bill Ingalls) SpaceX's Crew Dragon "Endeavour" descends under parachutes towards a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, Aug. 2, 2020. (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Partially obscured by the International Space Station's Harmony and Columbus modules, Crew Dragon Endeavour is seen firing one of its thrusters just seconds after undocking in this photo taken by Expedition 63 commander Chris Cassidy on Aug. 1, 2020. (NASA) Transfer bags and other supplies float outside the hatchway leading into the Demo-2 Dragon, awaiting being packed aboard Endeavour to be returned to Earth. Among the items are the "Capture the Flag" American flag and the "Little Earth" and "Tremor" toys. (NASA) Continuing a 20-year tradition, Doug Hurley (left) and Bob Behnken added their Demo-2 mission insignia to the International Space Station. As the first commercial crew, they chose a new area for the decal inside the pressurized mating adapter's vestibule. (NASA) SpaceX's Crew Dragon Endeavour (at right) is seen while docked to the International Space Station in a photo taken during a July 1, 2020 spacewalk. (NASA) The SpaceX Crew Dragon "Endeavour" spacecraft is seen as it lands with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Support teams arrive at the SpaceX Crew Dragon "Endeavour" shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. (NASA/Bill Ingalls) The SpaceX Crew Dragon "Endeavour" is lifted onto the GO Navigator recovery ship shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. (NASA/Bill Ingalls) NASA astronaut Doug Hurley waves to onlookers as he boards a plane at Naval Air Station Pensacola to return him and Bob Behnken to Houston a few hours after the two landed in their SpaceX Crew Dragon "Endeavour" off the coast of Florida, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. (NASA/Bill Ingalls) NASA astronaut Bob Behnken gives a thumbs up to onlookers as he boards a plane at Naval Air Station Pensacola to return him and Doug Hurley to Houston a few hours after the two landed in their SpaceX Crew Dragon "Endeavour" off the coast of Florida, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. (NASA/Bill Ingalls) 2022 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi will participate in the ceremony which will mark the beginning of the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5. Coincidentally, this comes exactly a year to the day that Article 370, a special provision for Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), was effectively nullified and basic changes in the constitutional and geographical situation of this state were carried out. Will these events have an effect on society and politics going forward? It is no secret that the construction of a grand temple in Ayodhya and the removal of Article 370 were primary pillars of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s road map. These have been on the partys agenda since its inception. But it was PM Modi who has seen the partys agenda through. It is not just these two issues; he has also pushed his partys agenda and ideology on the contentious triple talaq provision and the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Being an astute politician, he understands that these decisions find favour with a majority of people. Through these and other issues, he is clear that he can capture 51% of the votes for the BJP, a long-held dream of the partys ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). But there are risks associated with these decisions. After the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, successive prime ministers have had to explain the fateful events leading to that day and its aftermath alongside the events which brought about Operation Bluestar and its consequences in almost every international forum. Many liberal Western leaders felt that minority rights were not being safeguarded in India. The biggest stumbling block to resolving the issues of Article 370, the CAA and the Ram temple was adverse international opinion. The PM had begun to hone his strategy right from his first term. During that term, he coined the slogan sabka saath, sabka vikas. After winning the next general election, he added another phrase to the slogan sabka vishvas. Here, sabka obviously means everyone, both the minority and the majority. He was actually sending out a clear message of inclusion within and outside the country before taking some tough decisions. The result was that when Pakistan tried to take up the matter of Article 370 and the partition of J&K in the United Nations along with China, it found little traction. Almost all the major countries treated this as an internal matter of India. Modi was successful in getting Indias view accepted by both the West and West Asian nations. Before taking the decision on Article 370, the government had laid the groundwork internally. The Amarnath Yatra was stopped, security forces were deployed in the erstwhile state of J&K and tourists were sent home. Everyone understood that something major was about to take place at the time. Yet, what came was a surprise to almost everyone. All the major leaders in the state were arrested or put under house arrest as soon as the decision was taken. Many Kashmiri leaders, including Mehbooba Mufti, are still under arrest. But history is repeating itself. Sheikh Abdullah, then J&Ks tallest leader was placed under house arrest on August 8, 1953. He remained in the jail till 1964. Later, the separatists of the Hurriyat Conference and other political figures have been in and out of jail on different occasions. This is why they were in no position to resist Delhis muscular intervention. Those who anticipated substantial resistance have been proved wrong over the last year. The Ayodhya issue is completely different. The Supreme Court (SC) handed down a verdict on this after considerable deliberations. The 162-year-long dispute had become too tedious for the country; so people accepted the SCs decision. The PM will send out a clear signal to the majority of Hindus that he is mindful of their sentiments by attending the programme on August 5. This will help the BJP in the coming days. Elections are on the cards in Bihar in November and then in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry by May 2021. Many who were silent on triple talaq and the temple issue were suddenly vocal on the CAA. More than two dozen people were killed in the violence that erupted in many places over this issue. The opponents of the CAA sat on prolonged dharnas and were only dispersed completely when the coronavirus pandemic struck. There are apprehensions among this section that after Ayodhya, there may be similar efforts with regard to temples in Kashi and Mathura. There are also worries that the developments in Kashmir enabled China to create disturbances on the Sino-Indian border. China may now try and use the Kashmir issue to further its own agenda at the diplomatic level, having been caught short in Ladakh and earning international opprobrium over its lack of transparency on the coronavirus which originated in Wuhan. All this means the governments job is not complete yet. But, in terms of popularity, Modi has left all the BJPs leaders, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, far behind. The real test for him will be to win the trust of every citizen of India. He also has to forge a foreign and security policy which ensures that Indias borders are not violated and that the country is perceived as a voice of reason and restraint internationally. Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan The views expressed are personal First, some historical background to provide some context. (Meta: There is a TL;DR at the bottom if you want to skip to it.) History Ive been an independent/freelance software developer/engineer/consultant/whatchamacallit for 10+ years. All thoughout, I recorded my business activities in an accounting software package (an ancient version of Quickbooks). I did a couple of units in accounting in my undergraduate years so I understood the fundamentals of accounting (assets/liabilities/equity/debit/credit etc.) and the value of having proper financial records. It was easy to do and made sense to me. In addition to providing software services and consulting to clients, I also dabbled in creating my own startups. Some had moderate success. Some bombed out completely. Nevertheless, Ive been trying to do bootstrapped businesses for quite a while (though maybe it wasnt known by that term back then). Then, about 5-6 years ago, an old client of mine asked me to join his new startup. He was very persuasive. So I did. However, since I was in Australia and the startup company was in California, it was just easier to have a client/consultant relationship than to be an employee. Legally employing me would mean the company would have to incorporate a subsidiary in Australia and all the ensuing hassle that involved. Nah, too much trouble. I remained, technically and legally, a consultant/contractor although, for those five years, I worked exclusively for the startup and no one else. But since I was an independent contractor, I had to keep my own books. And so, I continued to use my accounting software package (which Im now going to abbreviate to ASP) to record the business activities that I did for my boss. Which was just as well because I still have some recurring revenue from an old SaaS of mine. Those need to be booked as well. All through the last 10+ years, the ASP been served me well. Its not perfect, but it was good enough. Quite good for the $80 (ish? It was on special, I think) that I paid for it at the time. However, it was getting quite dated and the license would eventually expire. (I actually have it running in a non-Internet-accessible Windows XP virtual machine. Thats how old it is.) One day, I was going to have to replace it, or otherwise do something about it, but not yet. Then, in 2020, the coronavirus/covid-19 pandemic happened. The company I was working for lost funding and folded. Well That was enjoyable: Having a regular a job for 5+ years. And I was getting used to it. What now? Five years for a tech startup is tiring (I didnt expect it to last as long as it did). I didnt want to rush into looking for another job straightaway. I wanted to take some time off. I spent a couple of weeks catching-up/reading-up/revising the startup literature. Inevitably, I got drawn back into the bootstrapped business game again. Idea As the wisdom goes, the way to come up with startup ideas is to notice a problem that you have (How to Get Startup Ideas): Why is it so important to work on a problem you have? Among other things, it ensures the problem really exists. It sounds obvious to say you should only work on problems that exist. And yet by far the most common mistake startups make is to solve problems no one has. The verb you want to be using with respect to startup ideas is not think up but notice. At YC we call ideas that grow naturally out of the founders own experiences organic startup ideas. The most successful startups almost all begin this way. During the couple of weeks, I tried to go zen and notice things. In particular, I tried to notice things which are problems but which my mind would normally just dismiss as thats just how things are. It was a fun time and a challenging exercise to temporarily rewire my brain to look at the world differently. I noticed some things. I brainstormed some ideas. Some were wacky. Most were terrible. And then I noticed my ancient accounting software package. Its a problem thats existed for many years but had always been pushed back as Not now. I was surprised. Very. This problem had been dormant for many years. I had just never noticed it before. I thought about it some more. The software is fine but it needs replacing. Could I create a replacement? How much work would it be? Would anyone else want it? Would they pay for it? Ive been using it for 10+ years but I only use a small fraction (5%?) of its functionality. Could I improve it by omitting the other 95%? Lots and lots of questions. It prompted me to do some research around the Internet and I noticed the following: All the major accounting software vendors have gone online/SaaS. SaaS is great for the vendor but, in the case of accounting, its terrible for the user. Think about it. Business-critical accounting data is stored in the cloud where its all controlled by the vendor. Essentially, the major vendors are forcing small businesses to give up control and then holding the data hostage in return for ongoing SaaS subscription fees. (And it looks like the vendors are getting away with it.) No way was I, as a user, gonna go with that. If I was inclined to purchase a replacement for my ASP, I would have trouble finding a suitable one that wasnt SaaS. I dont want my business-critical data to be in the cloud. I want it to be in a file on my computer. Furthermore, I dont want to pay $10-$20 every month to do what, 10 years ago, an $80 product could do for another 10+ years. Think about it: $10-$20 per month vs a $80 one-off fee. Its a ridiculous comparison. Niche So, here, I think, there is a gap in the market. Small and micro-businesses which would otherwise purchase an entry-level ASP are not being well served by the SaaS offerings which are available. (Im not talking about large businesses which spend much more on accounting software, irrespective of whether its SaaS or not. Those are fine.) So do I want to go after this market segment? Id like to but Im not. Um, why not? Because Im just one person. I dont have the resources/time/funding to go for that. And anyway, respected sources recommend starting out as niche as possible (How to Get Startup Ideas): you can either build something a large number of people want a small amount, or something a small number of people want a large amount. Choose the latter. Not all ideas of that type are good startup ideas, but nearly all good startup ideas are of that type. So, instead of targeting the entire market segment, Im going to go for a niche. Whats the niche? Well, basically, the niche is me :) Or rather, the niche would be the characteristics which describe me as a user. So itd be things like: Solo operator. No employees. No stock. Not a corporation. Manage own accounting data. Dont need an accountant. Control over own data. Non-SaaS. and maybe some other stuff that hasnt manifested yet. Having used my ASP for 10+ years, I know exactly the feature set that I use. I dont think Im anyone special so there should be other people in a situation like mine. In theory, my feature set should be a good match for them too. So Ive found, or rather, noticed, a problem and a niche. And the way Ive defined it, its small enough that I can aim a bootstrapped startup at it. Do I wanna go for it? Yeah, lets give this a shot and see how things turn out. TL;DR (conclusion) This is why I started GigoBooks: I have an itch to scratch. The itch has been around for several years before I eventually noticed it. It points me to (I think) a market niche which is underserved. Im going to scratch my itch, and also, create something to serve the niche better. The something is a more suitable, more affordable, non-SaaS accounting software. However, with the emergence of Akhilesh Yadav as the main face of the SP and his ageing father Mulayam's control declining, Singh's influence started waning. With opposition to him growing within the party, Singh was first expelled in 2010. Later, his name emerged in the alleged cash-for-vote scam and he was arrested in 2011. (Image: PTI) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump will take action shortly on Chinese software companies that are feeding data directly to the Beijing government, posing a risk to U.S. national security, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday. "President Trump has said 'enough' and we're going to fix it and so he will take action in the coming days with respect to a broad array of national security risks that are presented by software connected to the Chinese Communist Party," Pompeo said on Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures." The news comes after Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One on Friday that he would issue an order for social media platform TikTok to be banned in the United States as early as Saturday. Over the last several months, U.S. officials have repeatedly said TikTok under its current Chinese parent company, Beijing-based software firm ByteDance, poses a national risk because of the personal data it handles. "They're true privacy issues for the American people and for a long time, a long time the United States just said 'well goodness if we're having fun with it, or if a company can make money off of it, we're going to permit that to happen,'" Pompeo said. In response, under a recent proposal, ByteDance is willing to divest the U.S. operations of TikTok to Microsoft in a bid to make a deal with the White House, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters on Saturday. That offer has gained some support from allies of the president, including Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. In a separate interview on Sunday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews the national security implications of foreign business deals, is looking at the matter. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Steve Orlofsky) Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on Thursday (July 30) was discharged on Sunday (August 2). Chairman (Board of Management), Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, told ANI that Sonia Gandhi's condition at the time of discharge was stable. On Friday (July 31), hospital authorities had said that Sonia Gandhi was showing improvement in her health condition. "Her investigations are being carried out and she is showing satisfactory improvement," Dr D S Rana chairman of the Board of Management of the hospital had said in a health bulletin. The Rae Bareli MP was admitted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in New Delhi for routine tests and investigations. She was admitted to the private hospital at 7 pm on Thursday. TikToks Chinese parent ByteDance has agreed to completely divest its operations in the US in response to US President Donald Trumps threat to ban the app completely within the nation. Reuters As per a new proposed deal, the app will now be completely handled by Microsoft Corp within the US. As per U.S. officials quoted in a recent Reuters report, TikTok posed a national risk with the kind of personal data it procured from its users. That was until the app was headed by ByteDance. With the backout by the Chinese firm, it is to be seen whether Trump lets the app operate in the country or not. ByteDance backed out after its previous appeal of keeping a minority stake in the TikTok U.S. division was rejected by the White House. As per the new proposed deal, ByteDance would exit completely from the operations, leaving Microsoft as the new in charge of all U.S. user data of the app. (Representative Image: Reuters) The report clarifies that both White House and Microsoft declined to comment on the update. TikTok backlash TikTok has faced massive backlash from several governments in the midst of anti-China sentiments and reports of security loopholes in the app. Indian government, for instance, recently banned the app in the country citing data security concerns. Apart from the security risks on the app which have been pointed out time and again, even by the renowned hacker group Anonymous, there is a growing sentiment across the globe to boycott Chinese goods and services. The opinion follows a blame of the spread of the pandemic from the country as well as its recent military clash on the borders with India. In case POTUS decides to stick to his stance, a similar fate for the app in the US can follow suit as was seen in India. (Representative Image: Reuters) However, if the deal is accepted by the White House and Microsoft manages to acquire TikTok, it would mark a massive re-entry of the tech giant on social media and consumer front, especially in an audience of young. Other tech giants like Apple, Facebook and Google were also potential buyers of the Chinese apps US operations at some point. But their recent regulatory trial in the US meant they were not really in a rush to make an acquisition that might be muddled with national security concerns. Victoria Beckham has denied claims she's planning to sell sex toys as she prepares to rival Gwyneth Paltrow's $250 million (192 million) Goop empire with her new lifestyle brand. A report from the Daily Star had alleged the fashion mogul, 46, was looking to match the 47-year-old actress' company in 'every way' and had trademarked the initials 'VB' for her exciting venture. Hitting back at the reports, a source close to the business exclusively told MailOnline: 'This is absolutely not true! There are no plans to sell sex toys!' EXCLUSIVE: Victoria Beckham has denied claims she's planning to sell sex toys as she prepares launch her new lifestyle brand (pictured with husband David in 2019) A source speaking to the publication had claimed: 'Victoria wants to raise revenue by launching her Goop-style business as soon as possible as she thinks she can get a piece of the same markets so profitably targeted by Gwyneth's brand. 'She may seem unsmiling and prudish, but Victoria reckons she has a cheeky sense of humour, and will not be shying away from trying to snag a share of the sex trade like Gwyneth has done.' 'Sex toys will be a no-brainer for Victoria, who wants to make a fortune from the new brand.' Goop famously sells the world's most expensive dildos and a 24-karat gold plated vibrator that costs 12,000. MailOnline has contacted Victoria's representatives for comment. Competition: A report from the Daily Star had alleged the fashion mogul, 46, was looking to match the Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop empire in 'every way' (pictured in January) On her new brand, a source told The Sun earlier this month: 'The Beckhams are huge in the States. Victorias products are likely to be lapped up and provide her with a lucrative leap into the international market.' Victoria already boasts a host of beauty products to her name, after launching an eponymous brand to complement her fashion label. On Thursday, it was reported that Victoria had to axe 20 staff at her loss-making fashion label to 'future-proof' it after the coronavirus pandemic - just months after reversing plans to furlough employees. Shutting down: 'This is absolutely not true! There are no plans to sell sex toys', a source close to the business exclusively told MailOnline Her company, with its flagship Mayfair store which sells 2,000 dresses and 1,000 handbags, will also halve the number of annual fashion collections after being hard-hit by the Covid-19 crisis. The blow for the staff come just two months after she came under fire for deciding to furlough 30 members of staff. Public outcry prompted her to reverse the decision, insisting her team's welfare 'means everything to me'. CEO: Goop famously sells the world's most expensive dildos and a 24-karat gold plated vibrator that costs 12,000, as well as candles that 'smell like her vagina' Victoria and her husband David, 45, are estimated to be worth 355million. The fashion line, which she launched in 2008, made losses of 12.3million in 2018. A spokesman for Mrs Beckham said: 'We have built a new strategic vision to streamline and future-proof the brand and, sadly, have to make redundancies to deliver this.' Making cuts: On Thursday, it was reported that Victoria had to axe 20 staff at her loss-making fashion label to 'future-proof' it after the coronavirus pandemic Earlier this year, the former Posh Spice axed plans to furlough around 30 of the company's 120 staff after facing fierce criticism for drawing on the public purse. The fashion brand sent letters to 30 members of staff warning them that they were going to be furloughed under the Government's scheme for two months. She told The Guardian: 'We will not now be drawing on the government furlough scheme. At the beginning of the lockdown the shareholders agreed with senior management to furlough a small proportion of staff. 'At that point we didnt know how long the lockdown might last or its likely impact on the business. The welfare of my team and our business means everything to me.' It is understood the firm's application would have cost taxpayers 150,000. The firm denied the U-turn was a result of the public backlash and instead insisted the board 'now believe that with the support of our shareholders, we can navigate through this crisis without drawing from the furlough scheme'. EZULWINI The installation of windows and aluminum cladding done at the ICC&FISH hotel has cost taxpayers E140 million. With E140 million, government could pay salaries to at least 14 000 educators whose salaries would range around E10 000 monthly. Though the work done at the hotel and convention centre is highly praised by contractors, certain parties believe the contract was too expensive. Aluminium and panel cladding is regarded as one of the most expensive alternatives in the building industry and can only be done by specialists. ICC&FISH stands for the International Convention Centre (ICC) and Five-Star Hotel (FISH). The project is monitored by contractors in the joint venture who are Kukhanya Construction, Inyatsi Construction and Steffanuti Stocks (KISS). installation tenders The tenders for the installation of the windows, which can be easily viewed when driving past Ezulwini, were awarded to two companies. It has been gathered that the companies include ACS Group, which fitted windows of the entire FISH hotel while the other company was Swazistar. This company, according to information sourced from the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development, did the aluminum cladding at the convention centre. world class job Impeccable sources have confirmed that the contracts for the installation of windows exceeded E140 million due to the professional work and high technology that was used in the project. The companies did a world class job at the five star hotel, with technology competing with other world class companies in Africa, a government engineer said. Asked about the staggering price tag, the engineer said the specifications and designs were not an easy task as it needed experts for every fitting. The ICC&FISH hotel is reportedly one of the most expensive hotels in Africa, with a cost amounting to E4.8 billion so far. The project seeks to stimulate economic growth in the tourism sector as the hotel was envisaged to accommodate big international conferences. The ICC building consists of a single building, with an approximate floor area of 40 000m2, that will house a 1 800-seat theatre, an exhibition centre, conferencing chambers, a restaurant and a multi-purpose hall across its two basements, a ground floor and a first floor. The roofs will consist of a combination of concrete roof slabs and a structural steel roof structure, which will be covered either by steel roof sheeting or by glass. Some of these curved structural steel roofs span 56 metres, and there is also an elliptically-shaped dome which spans up to 48 metres. The building finishes are of very high specifications and the facades are a combination of specialised cementations coatings, aluminum cladding and plaster and paint. luxurious bathrooms The Eswatini News reported that the facility was being fitted with luxurious bathrooms that would cost the taxpayer at least E275 000 per bathroom. The total amount that government was expected to pay for the bathrooms was fixed at E78 million. The total cost for the project now stands at over E4.8 billion. It was said that the bathrooms were manufactured and assembled in Italy and were being fitted by a local company, ACS Group, which is based in Matsapha. Meanwhile, last year the House of Assembly approved the E1.2 billion International Convention Centre and Five Star Hotel (ICC&FISH) Loan Bill. It has also been reported that government further wanted to borrow E1.2 billion from the Export-Import Bank of the Republic of China on Taiwan. Of the E1.2 billion, it was mentioned in Parliament that E493 million would be used to pay outstanding debts. As published by the Times SUNDAY last week, a source at the Ministry of Finance has claimed that a supplementary budget of E800 million will soon be tabled in parliament for works to complete the project. Reacting to this, some MPs, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed receiving news about the supplementary budget. We are waiting for it and once it has been filed we will oppose it. This is because we have received information and claims that there was a lot of rot going on there, one of the the MPs said. Meanwhile, Timothy Matsebula, Auditor General, last week told the Times that an audit exercise for the ICC&FISH project was ongoing and would soon be released. We were disturbed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Otherwise, an audit is in its final stages, he said. By Linda Stamato During a debate in the New Jersey Assembly over the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), a male legislative colleague said to Millicent Fenwick, who represented Bernardsville (1970-1972), I just dont like this amendment. Ive always thought of women as kissable, cuddly and smelling good. Fenwick retorted, Thats the way I feel about men, too. I only hope for your sake that you havent been disappointed as often as I have. How mild this gender-spiced repartee seems now. For, now, we have a male GOP member of the House, Representative Ted Yoho of Florida, accosting a fellow member of Congress, a woman, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, calling her disgusting, hurling insults at her and closing with the epithet, f**king b*tch, that was overheard and thus confirmed -- by a reporter on the scene. I guess we shouldnt be surprised considering the standards set by the current occupant of the White House. But, still, in the political sphere, dismissing women, feeling comfortable ridiculing and diminishing them, abusing them verbally, has been going on for a long time, violating any sane standard for acceptable behavior. But now, what may have once been thought, even uttered under the breath, as they say, is out in the open -- and abundant in social media. Its despicable, abhorrent. Shameful behavior has to be exposed, to be called out. No more silence. No more looking away. No more permitting offenders to sliver back into their holes, with weak excuses and fake apologies. (Yohos non-apology, by the way, consisted of this: I cant apologize for my passion or for loving my god, my family and my country. Yes, his words precisely!) And so A.O.C. is calling him out. She took to the floor of Congress in a robust rebuke directed at the man and the culture that allows, and in some cases, fuels the behavior Yoho displayed. Hillary Clinton was subjected to verbal abuse, characterizations and threats during the last election. Indeed, Lisa Lerer of the New York Times estimates that Hillary has been called a b*tch in public life millions of times! And, yet, Mrs. Clinton has said nothing publicly about the abusive label that enemies have attached to her. And no one is or was surprised that she didnt. Now, though, it is different. Or, it certainly feels different. It is not only in politics that men demean women, of course, but it is particularly evident there because it is about power, and it is particularly offensive there because the verbal abuse is shrouded in ostensible political cover, being OK, I guess because political parties and positions are at stake. But, it is not OK, not ever, not in any place, not for any reason. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is stepping up to be the instrument to end it. She not only refuses to look the other way, she has decided to make a stand for an end to it, in a visible, concrete, unequivocal and unapologetic way. She said that she was sorely tempted, initially, to pack it up and go home its just another day, as she recalled how often she has been subjected to racist and sexist names by men, but then she decided she could not allow her nieces and other girls to see Congress accept this kind of behavior with silence. And, as Yoho retreated to the usual cover citing the existence of his wife and daughters as evidence of his decency, Ocasio-Cortez answered these words with her own, shaming him for using his wife and daughter as shields for his poor behavior: Women are standing with her, including her Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate. And their male colleagues are providing witness as well. They say they hold similar views as A.O.C. but they are not subject to the vitriol that appears reserved for women. Will Republican women join forces to demand an end to this abuse of women in political life? After all, defending the dignity of women, their colleagues at that, is not political. Their support of A.O.C. can make that critical point. Certainly, they must see that. I feel sure that if Millicent Fenwick were still with us, she would be by A.O.C.s side. Our culture is convulsing and it is changing. For those who dont want to be on the right side of history and wish to continue to ignore, allow or, indeed, to employ rude, obnoxious, misogynistic treatment of women in political life, expect to be surprised by the differences that will be on full display in November. Linda Stamato is a co-director of the Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy of Rutgers University. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Heres how to submit an op-ed or Letter to the Editor. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. The coordinator of anti-coronavirus operations in Irans capital says exciting slogans are not an answer to the pandemic and efficient management should be used to fight the pandemic. As the coronavirus crisis shows no sign of abating in Iran and the situation in the capital is critical, Dr. Alireza Zali says Greater Tehran with a dense population of more than 15 million is different from smaller cities. Doctor Zali told semi-official ISNA news website that defeating coronavirus is more an exciting slogan than a realistic statement. He added it is not wise to raise the flag of glory against the pandemic. Instead, officials should learn from successful models in other countries and speak scientifically. Irans health officials have repeatedly urged tougher restrictions and quarantines to control the pandemic, which started in mid-February. But government policy has been haphazard and focused on not shutting down the economy. As a result, Iran which was the second hotspot after China is still grappling with the first wave of the pandemic. Dr. Zali warned that there will be new waves of infections in the country. He is one of the health officials in Iran who have rejected the idea of herd immunity, arguing that the human cost of letting the virus spread will be simply too high. Tehran officials in recent days have spoken of 700 people being hospitalized daily in the capita and 5-10 percent dying from COVID-19. Independent media and some government institutions have estimated that Irans 17,000 official death toll is an underestimation and the real figure can be double or triple. WASHINGTON (AP) The vote to renominate President Donald Trump is set to be conducted in private later this month, without members of the press present, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Convention said, citing the coronavirus. While Trump called off the public components of the convention in Florida last month, citing spiking cases of the virus across the country, 336 delegates are scheduled to gather in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Aug. 24 to formally vote to make Trump the GOP standard-bearer once more. HONG KONG, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Garrison in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) held a flag-hoisting ceremony on Saturday to mark the 93rd anniversary of the PLA's founding. At the ceremony held in the early morning at the Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks, Commander of the PLA Garrison Chen Daoxiang extended greetings to all the service members of the garrison, and expressed gratitude to the HKSAR government, the central government's agencies in Hong Kong and people from all walks of life in Hong Kong for their care and support for the garrison's development. Chen pointed out that the promulgation and implementation of the law on safeguarding national security in the HKSAR marks a milestone for the practice of "one country, two systems." Safeguarding Hong Kong's prosperity and stability, the PLA garrison will unswervingly defend national sovereignty, security and development interests, and steadily push forward the sustained successful practice of "one country, two systems," Chen said. The garrison will also work with the HKSAR government, the central government's agencies in Hong Kong and people who love the country and Hong Kong to guard Hong Kong's journey to a fresh start, he added. Madhya Pradesh High Courts Indore bench granted bail to an accused of sexual harassment on a condition that he would visit the complainant on the day of Rakshabandhan with a box of sweets and request her to tie a Rakhi on his hand while he would promise to protect her and also give a sum of Rs 11,000 to her as a gift as a part of the custom, as per the order. The court, through its order passed on Thursday, granted bail to the accused on the furnishing of a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with one solvent surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of the trial court, as per the order. In the order, a single bench of justice Rohit Arya stated, The applicant along with his wife shall visit the house of the complainant with a Rakhi thread / band at 11 am on August 3 with a box of sweets and request the complainant to tie the Rakhi band to him with the promise to protect her to the best of his ability for all times to come. He shall also tender Rs 11,000 to the complainant as a customary ritual, usually offered by the brothers to sisters on such an occasion and shall also seek her blessings. The applicant shall also tender Rs 5,000 to the son of the complainant for purchase of clothes and sweets. Also Read: MP school girl ends life since parents didnt buy her smartphone for online classes The applicant shall obtain photographs and receipts of payment made to the complainant and her son, and the same shall be filed through the counsel for placing the same on record of this case before this registry, said the order. The government advocate Sudhanshu Vyas said, The woman, a resident of Ujjain district lodged a complaint against her neighbour on April 20 that he had barged into her house and sexually harassed her. An FIR was registered with Bhatpachalana police station under section 354 (sexual harassment), 452 (house tress pass), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC. The accuseds counsel, Vishal Patidar said, We filed a petition in the high court for a bail as he is the only bread earner in the family and since he has been arrested other members in the family have come on the verge of starvation. Civil rights attorney slams Obama for political speech at John Lewis' funeral Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Lifelong Democrat voter and civil rights attorney Leo Terrell criticized former President Barack Obamas speech at the funeral of civil rights icon and Congressman John Lewis in an interview with Fox News Sean Hannity on Thursday. Terrell, noticeably frustrated by Obamas speech, claimed there were fallacies in the former presidents remarks on racism and election integrity. The setting of the speech, though, was also egregious to Terrell, a former radio host who recently announced that 2020 will be the first time he ever votes for a Republican. He has often appeared on news talk shows to provide political commentary. Youve got Barack Obama using a house of worship a funeral to raise a Democratic campaign speech, Terrell told Hannity. What amazes me is that he basically lied on television when he said federal troops were used for peaceful protesters. Theres not a peaceful protester whos trying to demolish a federal building. Terrell decried an analogy Obama used to compare President Donald Trump to George Wallace, the former Alabama governor known for racist and segregationist ideas during the 1940s. Terrell said the analogy was an example of using the race card. George Wallace may be gone, but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators, Obama said. While federal agents have largely been deployed to cities experiencing violence and riots such as Portland, Oregon, the Trump administration was criticized after federal agents used pepper spray and other irritants to clear demonstrators from Lafayette Square in Washington D.C. in June. A video surfaced from the clearing operation of a U.S. Park Police officer using a riot shield to attack an Australian news cameraman. National Guard commander Adam DeMarco testified before the U.S. House of Representatives this week that tear gas was used in the clearing operation. U.S. Park Police Acting Chief Gregory Monahan told Congress Tuesday that tear gas was not used in the clearing operation but said that officers used other irritants and dispersal agents that include stinger balls, smoke canisters and pepper balls. In his speech at Lewis funeral, Obama also slammed Trumps displeasure with mail-in voting propositions. Obama said that voter suppression laws have targeted students and minorities. Obama admitted that there may be some who might not want him to dwell on political matters at a funeral, but said that he is mentioning these issues because this is a celebration of John's life. John Lewis devoted his time on this Earth fighting the very attacks on democracy and what's best in America that we are seeing circulate right now, the former Illinois senator said. Terrell took issue with not only the speech but also how some responses to tragedy are handled differently than others. According to Terrell, it is a matter of vilifying black Republicans. He mentioned Obamas silence on the deaths of David Dorn, a black retired officer killed in a riot; black Trump supporter Bernell Trammell, who was shot and killed in Milwaukee; as well as Herman Cain, a black Republican and former presidential candidate who died this week. You got a great man in John Lewis buried today and Herman Cain is being vilified. Im sick and tired of black Republicans being vilified, Terrell told Hannity. We are smart enough to realize were off the Democrat plantation and will vote for whats best for the country. Cain was a successful business owner and ran for president in 2000 as well as 2012 after his childhood consisted of difficulty and poverty in the South. His death by coronavirus was touted as a political statement on social media, as he was not in favor of wearing a mask during the pandemic. In wake of Obamas comments, nationwide concern on racial equality and the impact of the Black Live Matter movement, Terrell argued that that the movement does not appear to care about all black lives. Not all black lives matter because theres a lot of black police officers being killed and there is a lot of black-on-black crime, Terrell said. So if youre going to care about black lives, care about all black lives. Terrell said he will vote for Donald Trump in a July 17 interview with Hannity. A vote for Trump would be the first time Terrell has voted Republican in his life, he explained. His reasoning was due to his dislike for presumptive Democrat nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden during the Obama presidency. Terrell said Biden was dishonest, not up-front and has a socialist agenda. He reemphasized his opinion on Thursday. I havent received a penny or dime from anyone and Im voting for Trump because he is the best candidate to win the highest office in the land, Terrell said. Whats in the best interest of this country is electing Donald Trump in November. Texas City Commissioner Killed in Gun Battle With Police: Officials A Texas city commissioner was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police and a sheriffs deputy who responded to a domestic call in Mission, officials said. They responded to the call at Sullivan City Commissioner Gabriel Salinass home, finding his girlfriend with stab wounds. Her 4-year-old son was also discovered with a head injury, authorities told The Associated Press. Robert Dominguez, the police chief in Mission, said officials then saw Salinas, 39, who shot at the responding officers, prompting them to engage with the suspect, according to AP. Salinas then barricaded himself inside the home. After several hours of non-contact, police sent in a robot and discovered him dead inside a bathroom. As far as I know right now, it was not a self-inflicted gunshot wound. I think that he died as a result of being hit in the transfer of fire, Dominguez told the news outlet. A Hidalgo County sheriffs deputy was also involved in the shootout, he said. Dominguez told The Monitor that Salinas suffered from hemophilia, a blood disorder. Obviously that didnt help, he said. The woman who was injured in the domestic incident is expected to recover, officials told AP. Her son was also treated and released from the hospital. An autopsy will be carried out to determine whether Salinas was under the influence of drugs. Dominguez noted that COVID-19 has taken its toll on the community, which is located near the U.S.-Mexico border. People have been in quarantine in their homes trying to avoid the virus and so forth, and tempers flare and sometimes unfortunately people dont know how to deal with situations like that, he said, according to The Monitor. Dominguez said Salinas was arrested last year on a misdemeanor assault charge involving the same woman, who was not identified. The charge was dismissed when the woman didnt press charges against him, according to the official, as reported by KSAT-TV. The Texas Rangers and Texas Department of Public Safety are both investigating the shooting, the report said. Full-bodied. Divinely scented. Succulent texture. Fleshy and supple. A description of your favorite glass of Pinot Noir? Not exactly. These tasting notes refer to Vinesime, a Pinot Noir-infused skin care line from France, now available in the U.S. Like a fine wine, Vinesime products are made from Burgundys most noble and pedigreed Pinot Noir grapes, organically grown in family vineyards, and containing the highest concentration of antioxidants, polyphenols, and resveratrol of all grape varieties. Vinesimes organic pinot noir marc extract infuses skin with immediate softness and hydration, leaving it feeling, well, as yummy as a glass of Pinot. Company founder Edouard Damidots muse is the immune system of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comte regions Gevrey-Chambertin vines, so powerful that it protects the health, beauty, and longevity of the entire plant. Plants create their own defense systems and replace damaged cells quickly, said Damidot. And so I wondered, how can we mimic this behavior in skin care? Vinesime's botanical scientists adapted their knowledge of plant molecular defense systems in creating the skin care line. Ingredients are grown in the organic vineyards of Burgundy, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The eye cream, for instance, is made from rare-grape Gamay Teinturier Freaux stem cells. 97% of product ingredients are all natural. The products glass and beechwood packaging is sustainable, reusable, recyclable, and made in France. So, now there is more than one way to enjoy your favorite varietal. Youll be tempted to finish the bottle, and if so, no problem. Luckily, this Pinot provides hydration rather than a hangover. Photos courtesy of Vinesime Contrast Injector Market Research Report by Product (Accessories, Consumables, and Injector Systems), by Application (Interventional Cardiology, Interventional Radiology, and Radiology) - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 New York, Aug. 01, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Contrast Injector Market Research Report by Product, by Application - Global Forecast to 2025 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913964/?utm_source=GNW The Global Contrast Injector Market is expected to grow from USD 607.47 Million in 2019 to USD 921.99 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.20%. Market Segmentation & Coverage: This research report categorizes the Contrast Injector to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Product, the Contrast Injector Market studied across Accessories, Consumables, and Injector Systems. The Consumables further studied across Injector Heads, Syringes, and Tubing. The Injector Systems further studied across Angiography Injector Systems, CT Injector Systems, and MRI Injector Systems. Based on Application, the Contrast Injector Market studied across Interventional Cardiology, Interventional Radiology, and Radiology. Based on Geography, the Contrast Injector Market studied across Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The Americas region surveyed across Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and United States. The Asia-Pacific region surveyed across Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand. The Europe, Middle East & Africa region surveyed 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 Contrast Injector Market including Angiodynamics, Apollo RT Co., Ltd., Bayer AG, Bracco Imaging S.P.A., GE Healthcare, Guerbet Group, Nemoto Kyorindo Co., Ltd, Sino Medical-Device Technology Co., Ltd., Ulrich GmbH & Co. KG, and Vivid Imaging. FPNV Positioning Matrix: The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Contrast Injector 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 the market 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 Contrast Injector Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Contrast Injector Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Contrast Injector Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Contrast Injector Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Contrast Injector Market? 6. What are the modes and strategic moves considered suitable for entering the Global Contrast Injector Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05913964/?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. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 The two NASA astronauts who rode to the International Space Station aboard SpaceXs new Crew Dragon are heading home for a Sunday splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, capping a two-month voyage in space that marked NASAs first crewed mission from home soil in nine years. Crew Dragon Endeavor" decoupled from the orbital station at 7:35 p.m. ET carrying U.S. astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley ahead of a Sunday afternoon splashdown off the coast of Pensacola, Florida the first procedure of its kind in a privately built space capsule. Its been a great two months, and we appreciate all youve done as a crew to help us prove out Dragon on its maiden flight," Hurley told the remaining U.S. station crew member Chris Cassidy, as Crew =Dragon autonomously eased away from its docking port to begin the 21-hour journey home. NASA and SpaceX monitoring the crews return from Houston, Texas and SpaceXs headquarters in Hawthorne, California ruled out splashdown options in the Atlantic earlier this week due to Tropical Storm Isaias, a cyclone expected to churn alongside Floridas east coast as a hurricane in the coming days. Upon a successful splashdown at 2:48 p.m. ET Sunday, the spacecraft will have completed its final key test to prove it can transport astronauts to and from space a task SpaceX has accomplished dozens of times with its cargo-only capsule but never before with humans aboard. The hardest part was getting us launched, but the most important part is bringing us home," Behnken said during a farewell ceremony early on Saturday aboard the space station. Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musks SpaceX became the first private company to send humans to orbit on May 31 with the launch of Behnken and Hurley, who will have spent more than two months on the space station upon returning. The mission marked the first time NASA launched humans from U.S. soil since its shuttle program retired in 2011. Since then the United States has relied on Russias space program to launch its astronauts to the space station. NASA officials have said Crew Dragon, an acorn-shaped pod that can seat up to seven astronauts, has been in a very healthy" condition since docking to the space station, where astronauts have been conducting tests and monitoring how the spacecraft performs over time in space. Behnken and Hurley will have a few hours for sleep during their journey home in the capsule, which will gradually decrease its orbital altitude through a series of automated thruster firings. Theyve got plenty of food and water aboard the spacecraft," SpaceX engineer Siva Bharadvaj said during a livestream of the undocking. NASA, aiming to galvanize a commercial space marketplace, awarded nearly $8 billion to SpaceX and Boeing Co collectively in 2014 to develop dueling space capsules, experimenting with a contract model that allows the space agency to buy astronaut seats from the two companies. Arbitrary and sometimes harsh quarantine rules and a lack of information about the coronavirus have contributed to a culture of stigma around the virus in parts of Africa, which is approaching 1 million cases, AP reports. Why it matters: Coronavirus patients were being treated just like the way, early on in the HIV epidemic, patients were being treated, Salim Abdool Karim, chair of South Africas COVID-19 ministerial advisory committee, told the World Health Organization last month. That's hampering nations' abilities to control the coronavirus pandemic. Karim said it has led to people avoiding testing for fear of being ostracized. What's happening: People at one quarantine facility in Kenya told AP their money was rejected by the staff and the surrounding community when they tried to buy food. At another, kitchen staff declined to serve sick people. E gypt invited Elon Musk to visit and see for himself that the pyramids were not built by aliens. The SpaceX boss tweeted on Friday:" Aliens built the pyramids obv", which was retweeted more than 85,000 times and liked by more than half a million people. He appeared to be showing support for conspiracy theorists who say extraterrestrial beings constructed the ancient structures. But Egypt's international co-operation minister Rania Al Mashat told the tech tycoon that seeing the tombs of the pyramid builders would be the proof. She urged him to further explore evidence about the building of the structures built for pharaohs of Egypt. Ms Al Mashat tweeted: "I follow your work with a lot of admiration. I invite you & Space X to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders. Mr. Musk, we are waiting for you." Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass also responded in a short video in Arabic, posted on social media, saying Mr Musk's argument was a "complete hallucination". He is quoted by EgyptToday saying: "I found the tombs of the pyramids builders that tell everyone that the builders of the pyramids are Egyptians and they were not slaves." Mr Musk did later tweet a link to a BBC History site about the lives of the pyramid builders, saying: "This BBC article provides a sensible summary for how it was done." There are more than 100 surviving pyramids but the most famous is the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, which are more than 450ft (137m) high. Washington is making unscrupulous attempts to accuse Russia of aggressive and dangerous intentions in the missile defense domain, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, TASS reported. The Ministry said it had taken note of an article posted on the US Department of Defenses website, which says that missile defense is allegedly becoming an element of great power competition. "Citing an unnamed Pentagon official, the article claims that Russia and China are developing several increasingly sophisticated missile defence systems in the context of rivalry with the United States. As follows from the text, the US military sees this as a threat," the ministry said. "We take this post as part of a targeted disinformation campaign seeking to discredit Russia. Clearly, there are unscrupulous attempts to ascribe to us some aggressive and dangerous plans, this time in missile defence. Unmistakably, this is about the United States trying to justify its own large-scale and expensive programmes for creating and modernising weapons and plans to build up its military presence around the world. ," the ministry said. It added that Pentagon was using the great power rivalry rthetoric in an attempt to substantiate US measures aimed at gaining military superiority to the detriment of other states security. The Russian Foreign Ministry also said the US military has been deploying its strategic missile defense infrastructure not only on its territory, but also around the world, which makes it a global system in nature. "Washington is also thinking about developing the space segment of its missile defence system, in fact, planning to deploy attack weapons in outer space. In addition, in the context of missile defence at the doctrine level, the Pentagon has left open the possibility of delivering preventive disarming strikes against other countries in order to destroy missiles before they are launched. Moreover, the United States claims these are defensive actions," the Russian Foreign Ministry went on. It added that the actively expanding US missile defense architecture "is changing the strategic balance of forces in the sphere of offensive weapons, creates major additional global instability risks and contributes to forming dangerous conditions for stepping up a nuclear and space arms race." According to Moscow, Russia has repeatedly expressed its concerns about the unilateral and unrestricted US effort to create a global missile defense system. "After the United States scrapped the ABM Treaty, Russia has more than once come up with initiatives designed to remove any "annoyances" and to establish cooperation in the anti-missile sphere. Washington and its allies have refused to move in this direction and are reluctant to take Russias interests into account. So, the desire to shift onto us the responsibility for the situation created by the United States is at least unseemly," the ministry said. "Once again, we urge Washington to take a responsible position and to take a critical look at its missile defence plans, which, if implemented, will not be beneficial for the security of either the United States or its allies," Russian diplomats said. "It would also be helpful to abandon these tactics of shifting responsibility to others, which is undignified behaviour for a great power, in order to divert the attention of Americans and the entire international community from their own actions of seeking to ratchet up tensions and break the international stability system." "We are ready to discuss missile defence issues with the United States as part of a bilateral strategic dialogue," the ministry said. By Express News Service KOLKATA: In yet another round of face-off between Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and West Bengal government, the constitutional head of the state on Sunday accused Mamata Banerjees administration of hiding information related to political violence, cyclone Amphan corruption and outcome of Bengals global business summit. While the ruling Trinamool termed Dhankhar as the face of the BJP in the state asking him to stay within his Constitutional boundaries, the CPM said the Governors queries echoed the issues that their party had raised in the Assembly on several occasions. In his three consecutive tweets, Dhankhar raised questions on the rule of law in Bengal and said opacity would breed scams. "Right & Duty of Governor to seek information @MamataOfficial - be Political Violence, Bengal Global Business Summit, PDS, Amphan Relief Corruption etc information is not made available Ruling Party stand GOVERNOR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED Is this RULE OF LAW or DEMOCRACY! Dhankhar tweeted. Slamming the Bengal government for not providing information, Dhankhar wrote on his Twitter handle, "Why information is not provided? What is there to hide? Government must clarify. For sake of accountability and transparency, responsibility be fixed on those @MamataOfficial who defaulted in giving information. Opacity would breed scams and add skeletons to cupboards". Highlighting the state of Right to Information (RTI), the Governor further tweeted, "Failure @MamataOfficial to give information to Governor reveals worrisome state of RTI. I had earlier cautioned Chief Information Officer at low RTI applicants- for fear of police knock and repression if they seek information. Sharing information is a deterrent to corruption". Reacting to Dhankhars allegations, TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said the Governor should know his limits. "He the face of the BJP in West Bengal and he keeps echoing the partys voice. Before hitting out at the state government, he should know his limits," Banerjee said. CPM's central committee member Sujan Chakrabarty said the issues mentioned by the Governor in his tweets were raised in the state Assembly on several occasions. We asked the state government to come up with the information during the Assembly sessions. But our questions were never answered, he said. CPMs Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Bhattacharya said this is the first time the Governor raised issues related to common peoples interest. West Bengal had witnessed several rounds of face-off between Dhankhar and the state government since he assumed office last year. In his communications, Dhakhar had raised issues such as clipping his wings as chancellor of the universities and alleged about scams in the public distribution system along with deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described Dhankhars communications of such content, tenor and tone that were unprecedented in the annals of constitutional history. BAYONNE A 48-year-old man was arrested Friday night after authorities say he slashed a hospital security guards ear with a knife. According to the victim, Saladin Blunt was told to leave Bayonne Medical Center after being discharged from its emergency room, Bayonne Capt. Eric Amato said. As Blunt exited the hospital, he acted belligerently towards patients and staff, so the victim ordered him to leave and Blunt complied, Amato said. But Blunt returned when the victim turned his attention to someone needing assistance. Blunt then punched the victim twice in the face and slashed him across his ear with a pen-styled knife, Amato said. The 48-year-old fled the area, but was arrested at 8:34 p.m. near 23th Street and Broadway, several blocks away, by responding officers, Amato said. The knife was never found. Blunt was taken to the Hudson County jail and was charged with aggravated assault and weapon possession. During the arrest process, police found the Bayonne man was also wanted on a warrant issued out of the Bayonne Municipal Court, Amato said. Every name on the BrandBucket marketplace is exclusively listed with BrandBucket. That means that all of our sellers are very responsive, making for quick domain transfers. A dedicated BrandBucket agent will manage your domain transfer from beginning to end, ensuring a secure and easy transaction. They will manage the receipt of the domain into one of BrandBuckets secure registrar accounts and then complete the transfer to you. 1. Verification and registrar choice After we receive the payment and verify it, we will reach out via email to confirm which registrar you want the domain transferred to. We also provide a link to our tracking system, where you can communicate with us, check on the status of your transfer, view your invoice, and download your logo files. In most cases, if a domain is moved between accounts at a single registrar, the transfer is quick and usually completes within 48 hours. If a domain changes registrars (in other words, you would like to move it away from where it is currently registered), the transfer is slower. The total transfer time can then be anywhere from 48 hours to 7 days. BrandBucket has vetted and supports the following registrars: GoDaddy Namesilo Uniregistry NameCheap Google Domains Network Solutions Name.com Dynadot Amazon Route 53 123 Reg Gandi 2. We request the name from the seller. Once we know where you would like the domain transferred, BrandBucket will request the domain from the seller. All of our sellers are very responsive, making for a quick process. 3. Transfer the name into your account As soon as we receive the name from the seller, we start the transfer into your account and guide you through the whole process. 4. Verify with the buyer that the transfer is complete Once we confirm that you have received the name, we consider the escrow process to be complete. Only then do we release payment to the domain seller. When Lindsay Gooditis became the principal of Franklin Township School in Hunterdon County last summer, one of her primary goals was to provide consistency within the district. Seven months later, the coronavirus outbreak forced the closure of her school and all others across New Jersey. When Louisiana began to open back up again after a hard lockdown this spring, Gov. John Bel Edwards touted two key antidotes to ensuring coronavirus did not spin out of control again: testing and contact tracing. Things havent gone according to plan. Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles and several other cities are struggling to contain the virus. Hospital intensive care units are overwhelmed. School leaders dont know whether they should open classrooms in the fall. And Louisiana has the highest per-capita rate of known coronavirus cases in the nation. Contact tracers are supposed to speak with infected people as soon as they test positive, find out who theyve been in contact with, and warn those people to self-quarantine. But that's proved easier said than done: Early concerns about whether people would be unwilling to talk to contact tracers have been just one obstacle. Now, delays in test results are making it nearly impossible for contact tracers to do their work effectively. In many cases, positive test results take as long as a week to return. By the time that happens, and contact tracers are able to get in touch with the person affected, the virus may have already left the sick persons system and infected several new hosts. The state has spent $8 million on contact tracing since May 15, thanks to a $190 million federal grant for testing and tracing thats supposed to last through 2023. By then, state officials project they will have spent $48 million on contact tracing. Though Louisiana now employs nearly 700 contact tracers, that group is still outnumbered by new daily cases, which have averaged 1,927 per day since July 20. When those people answer their phones, nearly three-fourths of them still arent providing the names of close contacts whom they may have infected. As a result, its a pretty leaky system. Take the case of Priscilla McCraney. She got a coronavirus test on July 19 in New Orleans after she spent time with family members who later tested positive. She said her only clue she might be sick came when she sniffed a candle at a Ross store and realized she couldnt smell it. By the time her results came back positive on July 24, she felt fine again and had gotten her sense of smell back. She didnt hear from a contact tracer until July 30 11 days after she got tested, and six days after she found out she was positive. Just imagine all the people like me who dont have any symptoms or [have] just loss of smell and think its sinuses, said McCraney, 36. Its really scary to think if I go back to work and theres somebody else that doesnt have any symptoms, theyre spreading it all over again. By the time tracers reached her, McCraneys infection was long gone, and it was way too late to warn people she had contact with that they might have been exposed. If someone isn't tested until they show symptoms and you don't get the result and begin to trace for seven, eight, nine days after that, there's not a lot of benefit to tracing, said John Barry, the New Orleans historian who wrote The Great Influenza, a bestseller about the 1918 flu pandemic. +2 Another coronavirus vaccine trial comes to Louisiana: Ochsner to test Pfizer vaccine As research for a coronavirus vaccine continues to ramp up worldwide, more and more clinical trials are coming to Louisiana. Barry said slow test results, high numbers of positive cases and high rates of community spread all frustrate effective contact tracing. A tool developed by George Washington University says that, based on Louisianas current caseload, the state needs more than 12,000 contact tracers to do the job well. Still, public health officials, contact tracers and Barry all say that having a contact tracing system thats not keeping up is still better than having no system at all. In a situation like this, contact tracing is not as effective as it could be compared to a world where cases are lower and community spread is lower and easier to identify, said Omar Khalid, chief of staff for Louisianas Office of Public Health. You cant use contact tracing as a silver bullet anytime, but especially when youre seeing spread on this level but we still think theres value in it. More people answering phones, but not giving contacts One bit of good news: More people are now talking to contact tracers than when the effort first started. As 'contact tracing' moves forward in Louisiana, Republicans push to make sure it's voluntary Republicans in the Louisiana Legislature who are skeptical of contact tracing in the coronavirus response spearheaded by Democratic Gov. John In early June, tracers were only reaching 48% of the people they called. That number has improved dramatically, with contact tracers now reaching 69% of the people they target. Of those theyve contacted, 27% have not answered or returned calls, while 4% have flatly declined to answer questions. But while contact tracers are having better luck reaching people, theyre struggling to get them to cough up the information that they most need: 73% of people talking to tracers are not providing a list of close contacts. Anyone who spent at least 15 minutes within 6 feet of the infected person within 48 hours of the person testing positive is considered a close contact. Theyre saying theres not any other person theyve been in contact with shortly before theyve become symptomatic, Khalid said. Those who have provided names have listed a total of 13,475 close contacts. So far, contact tracers have been able to reach 76% of them, with 5% declining to answer any questions. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Despite the challenges, Khalid said it makes no sense to give up on contact tracing when cases begin to overwhelm the state's ability to keep up. If they did, health officials would lose useful information about where outbreaks are stemming from, how people are recovering and more, he said. Barry noted it's also important to have the infrastructure for contact tracing in place for when cases come back down. The Department of Health declined to make any contact tracers available for an interview. But a Louisiana contact tracer who participated in a Reddit Ask Me Anything forum on July 20 said the job felt like drinking from a fire hose. +2 Louisiana hospitals are under strain as coronavirus cases surge: 'Who can come to help?' The largest hospital in Louisiana, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, is down to a single available intensive care b Back in June when there were only 500ish cases a day, it felt like we were doing something worthwhile, the tracer wrote. Now with 2000+ cases a day, it feels like what we are doing isn't helping that much. I think the most important thing we do is data collection for the state's epidemiologists as they are using what we give them to make their decisions on the virus. Contact tracing existed in Louisiana since long before the pandemic, and has been used to track the spread of diseases like mumps and tuberculosis. In the early days of the pandemic, a small state team tried to keep up. Since then, hundreds of others have joined the effort. Emily Rawls, 30, of New Orleans, was among the teams first targets: She talked to contact tracers in mid-March after she tested positive for coronavirus. But she said the contacts she named told her they never heard from the state. Khalid said that at a certain point in the spring, it became clear the spread of the virus in New Orleans was too broad and the departments resources were spread too thin. Thats when the state brought in four private companies to help: Lafayette-based Calls Plus and Hub Enterprises, West Monroe-based Coast Professional and Kenner-based Hammerman and Gainer. Its Louisianans calling Louisianans Those contractors say theyve adjusted the way that they work in hopes of reaching more people and making them feel more comfortable. Our Views: Let's bring more public awareness to contact tracing to build confidence There seem to be some concerns about the state of Louisianas effort to deal with the novel coronavirus pandemic. Some state legislators and o Contact tracers used to call with no advance warning, and few people answered. Now, they usually text first, to say a contact tracer will be calling, and imploring people to answer. Contact tracers have also learned more about how to counsel the people they call many of whom are going through difficulties as they battle the virus and the anxiety surrounding it, said Barbara Lamont, president of Calls Plus. She said tracers are often talking people through mental health crises, and they try to connect people to helpful resources, like suicide hotlines. Another lesson, Lamont said, is that health officials and members of the public interpret the phrase contacts differently. Tight-knit families in Louisiana dont necessarily think of kin as contacts, she said. They think of contacts as strangers, and theyre reluctant to give you their mother and brother, Lamont said. +27 An inside look at New Orleans' coronavirus field hospital: 150 bodies to watch 12 people When Dr. Lindsey Jackson arrived last month to work a stint at a New Orleans field hospital, she expected hundreds of coronavirus patients wou Coast Professional, Inc. has added 200 workers in a month, for a total of 300, to try to keep up with the workload, said Brooke Singletary, vice president of business development. Hub Enterprises doubled its contact tracing staff to nearly 400 since its work with the state began in mid-May. Staffers are working from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays. Hubs vice president, Robin Buchanan, said her company has also added 40 employees on top of the nearly 400 doing contact tracing to take calls from people returning messages from contact tracers. Buchanan urged people to learn the phone numbers: contact tracers call from (877) 766-2130 and they text from 225-396-5389. Its Louisianans calling Louisianans, Buchanan said. Its your neighbor, the person down the street were just trying to get the information we need to protect people and to give proper notice that theyve been exposed. Sometimes, it all works pretty well. Matthew Nichols of Metairie, 47, got tested for coronavirus, received his positive result and heard from a contact tracer all within the span of five days in late June. He said contact tracers quickly followed up with his wife, and he received daily messages from contact tracers checking in afterward. But thats not always the case. Soranny Martinez, 31, of New Orleans, got tested for coronavirus in early July and found out she was positive a few days later. She got another test a little over a week later to ensure the virus was gone. How a 31-year-old New Orleans coronavirus survivor died from a rarely seen condition weeks later A 31-year-old woman checked in to a New Orleans hospital this spring after five days of fever, cough and stomach pain. Hospital workers stuck It wasnt until after she took the second test that she heard from a contact tracer. About the only part of the system that worked as it should have: Contact tracers immediately called her mom after they got off the phone with her. I would have guessed they would have called me earlier, Martinez said. Brasilia, Aug 2 : Official figures from Brazil have shown a big increase in the number of fires in the Amazon region in July compared with the same month last year, it was reported on Sunday. Satellite images compiled by Brazil's National Space Agency revealed on Saturday that there were 6,803 - a rise of 28 per cent, the BBC reported. The latest figures raise concerns about a repeat of the huge wildfires that shocked the world in August and September last year. President Jair Bolsonaro has encouraged agricultural and mining activities in the Amazon. But under pressure from international investors in early July his government banned starting fires in the region. Bolsonaro has criticised Brazil's environmental enforcement agency, Ibama, for what he describes as excessive fines, and his first year in office saw a sharp drop in financial penalties being imposed for environmental violations. NTO BHPian Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: TN-02 Posts: 204 Thanked: 1,216 Times Re: Vento Elemento - 6 years with a VW Vento 1.6 TDi Audio Upgrade on my Vento TDi One thing that I learnt in the 100+ days sitting inside the 4 walls of the house is that Corona can kill us mentally before it does physically. You can try to prevent the physical exposure of the Virus however, staying mentally strong is the need of the hour. Hope all the BHPian families are safe and enjoying quality family time and my sincere prayers who are in the wrath of this deadly virus. This will pass and we will hit back stronger than ever! After being locked down for over 100 days, my interaction with the external world was only limited to vaccine runs for my son and checking tyre pressure of my vehicles, I had this urge to do something with my Vento. As I finished my previous post, audio upgrade with a good sound insulation was in the list of things I had planned for my Vento. I have done audio upgrades in the past for my Punto and Civic and one thing that lacked with the installers is the knowledge on sound and how to tune it to your liking. One wise man, in this case, my audio installer said, You can buy the most expensive speaker but, you do not know if it performs in the way it should! This had a very deep impact in my mind as my past installs have been with the best possible audio components however, they failed to give me the satisfaction I expected. I was going through the cons of high-end audio installs This one place has always been on the back of my mind. The name suddenly came to my mind when I was thinking about the audio install. My go to validation place, Team BHP also says the same about this place. Thanks to BHPians Thirdmainroad and SwiftnFurious for sharing their reviews. The place was decided. It is none other than Speedfreaks Anna Nagar. On a lazy Sunday afternoon, I texted Mr. Karthik the owner of Speedfreaks with my requirement. He promptly replied asking a few questions. Here are the questions from Karthik and my answers to them: 1. Utility of the car - personal or family? 90% personal use, 10% family use 2. Where you sit in the car? I sit in the drivers seat 3. What is the genre of music you listen? I listen to a varied genre. From Carnatic fusion, to select few from Metallica, majorly Bollywood, a few Punjabi (Wakhra swag, Bapu zimidar kind), coke studio, and good AR Rahman Tamil. 4. What is the source you play from? Apple music, from iPhone mostly and Spotify 5. Define good sound according to you. Crystal clear audio with mild bass 6. Budget? 30-50K for the audio components Karthik said that he will revert in a while and he did with a suggested configuration. He also said that my budget will exceed for my requirement and that, a good audio installation can go a long way. I can carry it forward to any new car that I buy. With that, we fixed an appointment for the next Saturday morning. Cut to next Saturday, I reached Speed freaks and Karthik arrives in his red Brio. After the routine temperature check and hand sanitization, we proceeded to Karthiks office. I got two things in Karthiks office. One is a physics lesson on sound and second is the learning that my initial planned budget was sufficient for just one component, the digital signal processor. Karthik also demoed the sound setup on his brio and I was simply blown away with the sound clarity. At the back of my mind, I was contemplating whether should I spend so much on the audio install for a 6-year-old car. However, the excitement of the fact that my favorite place, the cars interior, becoming even more attractive overruled all the calculations that were going on in the mind and I agreed to the installation. I paid a 30% advance and booked an appointment for Monday morning and left. I requested Karthik to also get my car sanitized once the work is over and he agreed upon to it. This is the configuration of audio we installed in my Vento: 1. Sound Magus MP6X 6 Channel DSP with 4 channel Amplifier 2. Mono Amplifier Sound Magus DK-600.1 3. 6.5component speakers from Xcelsus XU 6.2L 4. 3 layer damping on the doors 5. Source Existing RCD 340G+ head unit 6. Rear fill existing OEM speakers 7. 10Hertz sub woofer ES250D 8. Weather protection for the speakers 9. Wires and connectors 10. Amplifier pads, Sub enclosure Fabrication. Let the pictures do a little bit of the talking The dashboard with RCD 340G+ Xcelsus tweeters on the A pillar Front left door Front right door Rear Door The door pads Amplifier pads in the boot Sub woofer How much did it cost? It cost me Rs. 1,52,000 inclusive of installation. 3X of my initial planned budget. How is the install? The audio is simply phenomenal. I am discovering new sounds in the audio I have listened before and I am simply loving it. I do not have any reason to step out of the house. But, just for the sake of listening to the audio, I am taking the car out for a spin every morning. Karthik used 2 terms, Sound staging and sound imaging. Though I did not understand much about these terms, what I could feel is, sound comes from front of me, as if I was sitting in front of the stage of a concert hall. The sound is so beautiful, you should experience to understand what it is. By far the best audio I have experienced in any car I have travelled in so far. Though sound is very subjective, the audio in my car is perfect in fact, exceeds my expectation of what I want in a car audio. In addition to the phenomenal tuning, Karthik has given me a remote with 4 presets. Driver seat focused audiophile listening, Front passenger seat focused audiophile listening, a bassy preset (for the Punjabi beats) for the driver and the passenger. Closing the eyes and listening, I can feel the sound travelling around me. In addition to this, the damping and sound proofing has reduced the decibel levels in the car's cabin. The car runs way smoother. I would recommend speedfreaks to anyone who is not satisfied with their current car audio. They may not be the cheapest but, by far they are the best audio people I have experienced. Karthik also gave a complimentary detailing for the car. The car just glows. If not for the pandemic, I would be on a long road trip with the car now! Closing with a shot from a routine alignment and balancing. One thing that I learnt in the 100+ days sitting inside the 4 walls of the house is that Corona can kill us mentally before it does physically. You can try to prevent the physical exposure of the Virus however, staying mentally strong is the need of the hour. Hope all the BHPian families are safe and enjoying quality family time and my sincere prayers who are in the wrath of this deadly virus. This will pass and we will hit back stronger than ever!After being locked down for over 100 days, my interaction with the external world was only limited to vaccine runs for my son and checking tyre pressure of my vehicles, I had this urge to do something with my Vento. As I finished my previous post, audio upgrade with a good sound insulation was in the list of things I had planned for my Vento. I have done audio upgrades in the past for my Punto and Civic and one thing that lacked with the installers is the knowledge on sound and how to tune it to your liking.One wise man, in this case, my audio installer said, You can buy the most expensive speaker but, you do not know if it performs in the way it should! This had a very deep impact in my mind as my past installs have been with the best possible audio components however, they failed to give me the satisfaction I expected.I was going through the cons of high-end audio installs click to read , I still decided to simply not think about it and go ahead with the audio upgrade. Also, with the financial threat Corona has put us through, I have decided to retain the Vento for another 4 years and consider upgrading only when I feel it is absolutely necessary and not budging to my whims and fancies.This one place has always been on the back of my mind. The name suddenly came to my mind when I was thinking about the audio install. My go to validation place, Team BHP also says the same about this place. Thanks to BHPiansandfor sharing their reviews. The place was decided. It is none other thanOn a lazy Sunday afternoon, I texted Mr. Karthik the owner of Speedfreaks with my requirement. He promptly replied asking a few questions.Here are the questions from Karthik and my answers to them:1. Utility of the car - personal or family?90% personal use, 10% family use2. Where you sit in the car?I sit in the drivers seat3. What is the genre of music you listen?I listen to a varied genre. From Carnatic fusion, to select few from Metallica, majorly Bollywood, afew Punjabi (Wakhra swag, Bapu zimidar kind), coke studio, and good AR Rahman Tamil.4. What is the source you play from?Apple music, from iPhone mostly and Spotify5. Define good sound according to you.Crystal clear audio with mild bass6. Budget?30-50K for the audio componentsKarthik said that he will revert in a while and he did with a suggested configuration. He also said that my budget will exceed for my requirement and that, a good audio installation can go a long way. I can carry it forward to any new car that I buy. With that, we fixed an appointment for the next Saturday morning.Cut to next Saturday, I reached Speed freaks and Karthik arrives in his red Brio. After the routine temperature check and hand sanitization, we proceeded to Karthiks office. I got two things in Karthiks office. One is a physics lesson on sound and second is the learning that my initial planned budget was sufficient for just one component, the digital signal processor. Karthik also demoed the sound setup on his brio and I was simply blown away with the sound clarity.At the back of my mind, I was contemplating whether should I spend so much on the audio install for a 6-year-old car. However, the excitement of the fact that my favorite place, the cars interior, becoming even more attractive overruled all the calculations that were going on in the mind and I agreed to the installation. I paid a 30% advance and booked an appointment for Monday morning and left. I requested Karthik to also get my car sanitized once the work is over and he agreed upon to it.This is the configuration of audio we installed in my Vento:1. Sound Magus MP6X 6 Channel DSP with 4 channel Amplifier2. Mono Amplifier Sound Magus DK-600.13. 6.5component speakers from Xcelsus XU 6.2L4. 3 layer damping on the doors5. Source Existing RCD 340G+ head unit6. Rear fill existing OEM speakers7. 10Hertz sub woofer ES250D8. Weather protection for the speakers9. Wires and connectors10. Amplifier pads, Sub enclosure Fabrication.Let the pictures do a little bit of the talkingThe dashboard with RCD 340G+Xcelsus tweeters on the A pillarFront left doorFront right doorRear DoorThe door padsAmplifier pads in the bootSub wooferIt cost me Rs. 1,52,000 inclusive of installation. 3X of my initial planned budget.The audio is simply phenomenal. I am discovering new sounds in the audio I have listened before and I am simply loving it. I do not have any reason to step out of the house. But, just for the sake of listening to the audio, I am taking the car out for a spin every morning.Karthik used 2 terms, Sound staging and sound imaging. Though I did not understand much about these terms, what I could feel is, sound comes from front of me, as if I was sitting in front of the stage of a concert hall. The sound is so beautiful, you should experience to understand what it is. By far the best audio I have experienced in any car I have travelled in so far. Though sound is very subjective, the audio in my car is perfect in fact, exceeds my expectation of what I want in a car audio.In addition to the phenomenal tuning, Karthik has given me a remote with 4 presets. Driver seat focused audiophile listening, Front passenger seat focused audiophile listening, a bassy preset (for the Punjabi beats) for the driver and the passenger. Closing the eyes and listening, I can feel the sound travelling around me.In addition to this, the damping and sound proofing has reduced the decibel levels in the car's cabin. The car runs way smoother. I would recommendto anyone who is not satisfied with their current car audio. They may not be the cheapest but, by far they are the best audio people I have experienced.Karthik also gave a complimentary detailing for the car. The car just glows. If not for the pandemic, I would be on a long road trip with the car now!Closing with a shot from a routine alignment and balancing. Last edited by GTO : 3rd August 2020 at 07:44 . Reason: Minor typo A beach in Western Australia remains closed after a shark mauled a surfer, who is now recovering in hospital having had a few chunks taken out of his leg. Bunker Bay beach near Dunsborough in the states southwest was shut on Aug. 1 after the attack on July 31. Drone surveillance on Friday afternoon confirmed the presence of schooling salmon and a seal colony in the vicinity of the area, the WA government said in a statement on Aug. 1. These environmental conditions may increase the likelihood of encountering a shark in the area. Phil Mummert, aged in his 20s, suffered leg injuries in the attack and photos showed his surfboard with huge bite marks. The government said a four-metre white shark is believed to be responsible. Mummerts girlfriend posted Mish Wright on Saturday posted a Facebook update about her boyfriends condition. After an unimaginable and gruelling night Im happy to let you all know that Phils surgery went really well and hes now recovering, she wrote. Weve been flooded with lots of lovely messages and Ive been reading them all to Phil. Wright was on the beach when Mummert got a few chunks taken out of his leg on July 31. She thanked those who went to Mummerts aid, including fellow surfers who helped him from the water. I honestly dont know how a person can see a total stranger getting attacked by a 4m great white shark and swim towards to save him so we are beyond grateful to everyone that helped save Phils life. There have been five fatal shark attacks in Australian waters in 2020. One of them was in WA in January, when experienced diver Gary Johnson, 57, was taken near Cull Island, close to West Beach in Esperance. A fortnight ago, a 10-year-old boy suffered shock and cuts when a shark ripped him from a fishing boat about five kilometres offshore from Stanley in northwest Tasmania. https://www.aish.com/ci/s/Take-Holocaust-Denial-Off-Facebook.html In the #NoDenyingIt campaign, Holocaust survivors ask Facebook to remove Holocaust denial. Enough is enough. Tell Facebook to say no to Holocaust denial. Thats the message of the new campaign launched last week #NoDenyingIt. Its message is clear: Facebook like too many other social media platforms has become a cesspool of Holocaust denial and its time we all demanded that stop. No more denying the Holocaust on Facebook, or anywhere else. As a result of Facebooks refusal to categorize Holocaust denial as a form of antisemitic hate speech, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) recently observed, this (Holocaust-denying) rhetoric appears across the platform, including in both public and private groups specifically devoted to the topic an ADL review clearly found explicit denial, as well as the hate-filled and conspiratorial antisemitism common to this philosophy. Facebook does maintain what it terms Community Standards, and provides a lengthy list on its website of posts that violate their standards and will be removed from the platform. This includes hate speech, which Facebook defines broadly as direct attack(s) on people based on what we call protected characteristics - race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, caste, sex, gender, gender identity, and serious disease or disability. Under these very guidelines it seems that claims the Holocaust never occurred can be considered hate speech. After all, if the Holocaust didnt happen, then the tens of thousands of Jewish witnesses who watched as their mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and other loved ones were murdered - and told the world what happened in the Jewish ghettos and Nazi death camps - somehow must all be lying. If the Holocaust is a hoax, then the millions of Jews around the world today who continue to remember and mourn its victims would all be liars, participants in one of the greatest lies the world has ever seen. That, in fact, is the claim of many Holocaust deniers, and this false and malicious slander that Jews somehow invented the Holocaust has done real damage to Jews and continues to put Jewish lives in danger today. Accusing Jews of perpetrating a hoax of global proportions by inventing or exaggeration the Holocaust echoes age-old anti-Jewish tropes that Jews are all powerful and malevolent, and seek to lie to others and bend non-Jews to do their will. Its a dangerous assertion and seeks to turn people against Jews, calling into question the most basic assumptions about Jewish culture, life and history. For many Holocaust deniers, claiming that the Holocaust never occurred - or that it didnt happen the way witnesses and historians claim - is a way to delegitimize the Jewish state. Israel has been central to Jews and Jewish thought for thousands of years, and Jews have lived in the land of Israel continually for all that time. During the Holocaust, a thriving Jewish community was building the land of Israel, openly calling for and fighting for an independent Jewish state. Yet many Holocaust deniers simplistically and inaccurately claim that Israel only came into being because of the Holocaust. If there was in truth no Holocaust, this way of thinking goes, then the foundation on which the Jewish state supposedly rests are without merit. This line of reasoning is particularly prevalent in Europe, observes Dr. Elhanan Yakira, a Philosophy Professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, who earned his Ph.D. at the Sorbonne in Paris. European Anti-Zionists posit falsely that the Holocaust is the universal and basic explanation for the existence of Israel and its conduct, he notes; The international community, they claim, would never have supported Israel...if not for the extortion based on the Holocaust (Quoted in Demonizing Israel and the Jews, RVP Press, New York: 2013). For many of Israels enemies, denying the Holocaust goes hand in hand with calls for wiping the Jewish state off the map. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei s a virulent Holocaust denier. He has hosted a major Holocaust denial conference in Tehran, championed a French Holocaust denier, and publicly fomenting doubt that the Holocaust ever took place. He openly calls on the international community to wipe out Israel and destroy the Jewish state. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas wrote a Holocaust denial book, claiming that instead of six million Jews being murdered, the figure was less than one million. He later explained his Holocaust denial in terms of political expediency: he was at war with Israel when he wrote the book, and deliberately lied about the Holocaust in order to foment Jew hatred and carry out violence against the Jewish state by every means possible. Claims that the Holocaust never occurred take a huge toll. In the United States, a majority of Americans today dont believe that the Holocaust took place the way its taught in History books: for instance, only 45% of people surveyed in a 2020 poll believed that the death toll was 6 million Jews. A third didnt know how many Jews were murdered; many believe the true death toll was much lower. In the Middle East and North Africa, the situation is even more dire. A major 2014 poll found that only 8% of respondents in the Arab world had heard of the Holocaust and believed that what theyd learned about the Holocaust wasnt true. In Africa, only 12% of respondents said theyd heard about the Holocaust and believed it was true. In Asia, that figure was 23%: the rest either had not heard of the Holocaust or told pollsters they believed that Holocaust facts were false or exaggerated. Given this staggering level of ignorance and mistrust, it should be clear that denying the Holocaust is a form of hate speech, a cudgel used to call Jews liars and foment mistrust and hatred against us. In too many cases, claims that the Holocaust never happened are met with a shrug. Thats what happened in an 2018 interview that Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks founder and CEO, gave to Karen Swisher, a writer with the online magazine Vox, about Facebooks responsibility to police hate speech and remove factually incorrect posts from the site. Im Jewish, Zuckerberg volunteered, and theres a set of people who deny that the Holocaust happened. I find that deeply offensive. But at the end of the day, I dont believe that our platform should take that down because I think there are things that different people get wrong. I dont think that theyre intentionally getting it wrong It was a staggering claim to make from a man whose company has 2.6 billion active monthly users, making Facebook arguably the worlds largest forum for public speech and discourse. After his claims that Holocaust deniers arent intentionally getting it wrong, Zuckerberg apologized but still refused to take down posts and even entire groups dedicated to denying the Holocuast. The best way to fight offensive bad speech is with good speech, he claimed. Yet this analogy is dead wrong: Holocaust denial isnt merely one opinion among many. Its a tool to delegitimize Jews and Israel and to encourage hatred and mistrust. It violates Facebook's own Community Standards and is dangerous speech. It has no place on Facebook or anywhere else. Any decent person should recognize that giving Holocaust denial a platform means aiding and abetting and supporting this odious worldview. After the interview, the Claims Conference, a New York based global organization that acts as a clearinghouse for Jewish claims against Nazi Germany and its allies, reached out to Zuckerberg to try and show him how dangerous his willful ignorance about how damaging Holocaust denial is. They wanted to arrange for Zuckerberg to sit down with Holocaust survivors and hear their stories - but Zuckerberg refused. Now, the Claims Conference has launched a major new campaign to get Zuckerberg and others finally to listen to those survivors and take down Holocaust denial posts. #NoDenyingIt features a brief, moving video in which Holocaust survivors push back against attempts to deny their history, and explain what happened during the Holocaust and what they witnessed with their own eyes. One participant is Eva Schloss, Anne Franks step sister and a survivor of Auschwitz. In Germany or in Austria people go to prison if they deny the Holocaust because they know its a lie, its libel, shes explained. How can somebody really doubt it? Where are the six million people? There are tens of thousands of photos taken by the Nazis themselves. They were proud of what they were doing. They dont deny it, they know they did it. Serge Klarsfeld, a renowned Nazi hunter whose father survived Auschwitz, is another participant in the campaign. Klarsfeld and his wife Beate tracked down feared SS commander Klaus Barbie, the Butcher of Lyon, and also located Rene Bousquet, the Nazi official who sent thousands of Jews from Paris to Auschwitz in the infamous Vel dHiv Roundup on July 16 and 17, 1942. After sixty years of helping officials locate Nazis so they could be prosecuted for crimes against humanity, Klarsfeld has a message for Mark Zuckerberg. Holocaust denial does result in real physical harm. Its not a mere intellectual exercise, and it shouldnt be protected. Zuckerberg is Jewish, Klarsfeld explains, and its important that Facebook, which is a big vehicle of ideas, thoughts, and images, does something about hateful speech - and not only hateful speech but an incitement to violence. Because if people start to believe that the Jews didnt die in the Holocaust and this was big hoax, then theyll become angry with the Jews and commit violence. In the United States, there have been shootings of synagogues. In a time of crisis, people are looking for scapegoats, and through history, Jews have been scapegoats. Throughout history, if you give people an alibi to commit violence against Jews, they will use it. The #NoDenyingIt campaign is simple. Let people hear for themselves from Holocaust survivors, eople who were there and witnessed the genocide of six million Jews first hand. When people say that the Holocaust did not happen, they are saying that my father, my sister, and sixty people in my family were not murdered, survivor Lea Evron states in the video. We are witnesses, explains Sidney Zoltak, another survivor. There is no denying it, the Holocaust was real. I know because after we got down from the cattle car, my mother, my father and my twin sister Sabina were sent immediately to the gas chamber, concentration camp survivor Pinchas Gutter remembers. Join these survivors and call on Facebook to take down Holocaust denial and revisionism. As the video urges, Please tell Mark Zuckerberg to remove Holocaust Denial from Facebook. Please share this video. As Holocaust denial grows and infects ever greater numbers of people, its a message we all need to share. Watch the #No Denying It video below: An ice cream vendors pushes a cart along the sand at Junipero Beach in Long Beach on a warm afternoon. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) Searing temperatures in inland areas of Southern California are expected to last through Monday, extending the suffering for vulnerable and unhoused people across the region who have nowhere to escape the heat. "It's been a miserable week," said Paul Read, co-founder of the homeless services provider Passion, which does outreach in the San Fernando Valley. "People don't want to go out in the heat. They're getting dehydrated." Temperatures have hit triple digits in the Antelope Valley cities of Lancaster and Palmdale, as well as in parts of Riverside County, where the Apple fire has burned more than 4,100 acres. The broiling weather is expected to continue through Sunday, easing slightly on Monday and cooling later in the week, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Lisa Phillips. In Los Angeles County, the health officer said a heat alert was being extended through Sunday for the Santa Clarita Valley and western San Fernando Valley, and through Monday for the Antelope Valley. "It is critically important to never leave children, elderly people, or pets unattended in homes with no air conditioning and particularly in vehicles, even if the windows are cracked or open, as temperatures inside can quickly rise to life-threatening levels," L.A. County Health Officer Muntu Davis said in a statement Sunday. "If you have an elderly or infirm neighbor who is without air conditioning, check on them throughout the day. More than a dozen cooling centers are open across the county for people who need to escape from the heat, including four centers in the city of Los Angeles, according to the county. However, in light of the ongoing pandemic, their capacity has been reduced to prevent crowding. The city of Los Angeles has cautioned people to call ahead to check if space is available. Brooke Carrillo, who sleeps in a tent in Chatsworth, said the scorching weather has been especially miserable for homeless people during the COVID-19 crisis because the usual places they would cool off such as libraries are closed. Story continues In the encampment where she lives, "people are putting up tarps to cover the walkway and get some shade, and every time sanitation comes they're tearing them down," Carrillo said. "People are getting frustrated." Phillips, the meteorologist, said that despite the high temperatures, the region has yet to hit "red flag" conditions for wildfires because such severe conditions have not been persistent across a wide area. "It's about timing," she said. "If you've got those really dry, really hot conditions, coupled with wind for an extended period of time, that makes fighting fires really difficult." Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel during a visit to North Yorkshire Police headquarters, Northallerton. (PA) Speculation has continued over the possibility of more changes to coronavirus restrictions after it was reported that Boris Johnson asked officials to draw up new social distancing measures to avoid a second nationwide lockdown. The prime minister is reportedly considering a lockdown for London because of a steady rise in cases nationwide in recent days, according to The Sunday Times. The newspaper reported that vulnerable elderly people could also be asked to shield once again to protect them from the pandemic, with those between the ages of 50 and 70 given "personalised risk ratings" and asked to remain inside based on the severity of their medical conditions. Restricting travel beyond the M25 for those living in London and putting a stop to staying at other people's houses have also reportedly been mooted as potential strategies. But Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick cast doubt on the reports, saying talk of an expanded shielding programme was just speculation. Londoners could be limited to travel within the M25 motorway, according to reports. (AP) Asked about whether new age-related measures were likely, he told Times Radio: This is just speculation. You would expect the Government to be considering all of the range of options that might be available. Thats not something that is being actively considered. He also said there was no plan, as far as Im aware to bring in travel controls and restrictions on where Londoners could stay as part of efforts to avoid any increased transmission rate in the capital from spreading to the rest of the country. Last week the government was forced to halt the easing of lockdown measures, which have seen pubs reopen and social distancing loosened. On top of the alleged lockdown avoidance preparations, experts speculated that ministers might have to order the closure of pubs, which were permitted to start serving again on July 4, if schools are to reopen fully in September. Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said earlier a "trade off" could be required if the prime minister's pledge is to be met. Story continues Last Friday, the government increased regional lockdown measures for some four million people across Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire after a rise in cases. Health secretary Matt Hancock said the restrictions were being brought in because people were "meeting and not abiding (by) social distancing". "We take this action with a heavy heart, but we can see increasing rates of Covid across Europe and are determined to do whatever is necessary to keep people safe," Hancock said on Twitter. Government data published on Friday showed there was "some evidence that the incidence of new infections has increased in recent weeks" in England, he said. His comments followed chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty's remarks that the country was "near the limit" for opening up society following the coronavirus lockdown. Chief medical officer Chris Whitty said: "I don't think it is helpful" to talk yet of a second wave sweeping across Europe, but admitted the actions taken so far to ease restrictions were "at the edge" of what could be done safely. "The idea that we can open up everything and keep the virus under control is clearly wrong and what we're seeing is that we're at the outer edge of what we can do," he said. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter China, in a new tactic to further surveillance drive against Uyghur muslims, has now started campaign advertising marriages to Uyghur women to attract Han men into the Xinjiang povince, slammed on charges of 'mass-rape' and new form of persecution to meet totalitarian ends. China has started the forced marriage game by advertising marriages to Uyghur women and girls to attract men into the Xinjiang or East Turkistan region of China, according to a report published in the Daily Citizen Focus on the Family. This is government-sponsored mass rape, Rushan Abbas, head of Campaign for Uyghurs, was quoted as saying in an interview. As part of the Beijing governments Pair Up and Become Family campaign, Han Chinese members of the Communist Party go and live with Uyghur families for a period of time, The Daily Citizen reported. While the campaign is portrayed as a means to develop deeper cultural ties and familial bonds, in reality, its a way to keep an eye on the Uyghur families and report to the authorities if Chinese practices are not followed by the families. Also read: China baffled over Germanys suspension of HK extradition treaty, calls it breach of international law Also read: US cracks the whip on Chinese Companies, imposes sanctions on companies in Xinjiang for rights violations Citing an estimate, The Daily Citizen said that about a million Han men and women have participated in these surveillance efforts. It is the Uyghur women who suffer the most in these situations. Abbas said, The Uyghur women are vulnerable to sexual abuse. Their husbands are sent to prisons or forced labour facilities or concentration camps. Besides the forced marriages, the young Uyghur women are also reportedly sold to Chinese men for marriage. While the Uyghur men are taken away to concentration camps, the Uyghur women are forced to marry Han men, Abbas said while adding, The girls nor their families, can reject a forced marriage, for fear of repercussions. If they say no, then they will be viewed as Islamic extremist who didnt want to marry non-Muslim Chinese. So, they cannot reject a proposal. Just imagine, when a girl cannot choose who she wants to marry or if she cannot reject who she doesnt want to marry, what is that? Thats rape. Uyghur women are being raped through the governments sponsorship of sham marriage. Han Chinese men are encouraged to come to East Turkistan to marry Uyghur girls with government gratification like jobs, housing and money. The Daily Citizen also reported that there is a guide about How to win the heart of a Uyghur girl, wherein the author suggests, coordinating between these local work units and social security workers will produce strong backing and support that cannot be defeated by religious extremism.' Also read: Chinese consulate in Houston was a den of spies: Mike Pompeo Delhi minister Rajendra Pal Gautam on Sunday said a dedicated software will be developed for the preparation and customisation of new photo electoral rolls for gurdwara in March next year. The Directorate of Gurdwara has made a request to the Information and Technology department in this regard, he said. Gautam, who is the Delhi minister for gurdwara elections, said the Directorate of Gurdwara has also requested the Office of Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi, to help it match and verify data of electoral rolls with that of state electoral rolls. "This cross-checking will be helpful in ensuring transparency in the preparation of photo electoral rolls for the elections to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee," he said. To expedite the process, the Directorate of Gurdwara Elections will extend manpower support to the Delhi CEO office, the minister said. The Directorate of Gurdwara Elections conducts elections to the DSGMC and the members have a term of four years. (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.) NOTE: The Press Council has not upheld a complaint about this article. Read the full adjudication here. The state's troubled workers' compensation scheme is facing an annual loss of at least $850 million, with NSW Treasury warning the significant loss is expected to worsen because of COVID-19. A NSW Treasury briefing note from May reveals the scheme suffered "another substantial loss" in 2019/20 and calls for new laws to deal with the sharp rise in medical fees paid by injured workers. John Nagle, CEO of icare, which runs the NSW workers' compensation scheme, will appear before a NSW upper house inquiry on Monday. Credit:Jessica Hromas The revelations come ahead of the state-owned insurer icare, which runs the workers' compensation scheme, appearing before a NSW upper house parliamentary inquiry on Monday. Koyambedu Market complex was shut after it emerged a Covid19 cluster on April 27. With the market still closed, the flower vendors continue to struggle to make a living without a proper marketplace to do business. After the Market complex was shut, the Chennai Metro Development Authority (CMDA) which administers the Asias largest market, had shifted vegetable market to Thirumazhisai in Thiruvallur district and fruits market to Madavaram in the city. But the CMDA has failed to provide proper market space for flower vendors who were earning income selling at the large Koyambedu market for decades An office bearer with Koyambedu Wholesale Flower Merchants Welfare Association said that they allotted space for just 30 vendors in Madavaram despite 470 flower shops at the market. As a result, the flower vendors started to sell on the streets of Chennai in small vans. We had requested the government to provide us the open space that lays vacant outside the Koyambedu market complex for business as we required little space to do business compared to vegetable and fruit markets. But none of the government officials have paid heed to our request so far, said a flower vendor. "Recently, after the traders made a desperate appeal to the owner, the parking space of the Rohini Threatre in Koyambedu opened for at least 22 flower vendors. We have set up the market with our own expense maintaining social distancing and periodic disinfecting activities," said a flower vendor. He also urged the government to take steps to allot a proper marketplace soon. "Flower market, which used to get at least 30 truckloads of flower in the post-pandemic era, now ended up in just 5-10 lorries- each lorry with five tonnes," the office bearer added. Radha, who was selling flowers at the Koyambedu market, is now selling flowers in the streets since the Koyambedu market was closed. "I didnt try to go to Madavaram as it is too far from here. Most of the flower vendors have chosen to sell flowers in the streets along with their children. If we had got a proper market space, we could have earned better," she says. Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam last month had announced the setting up of a committee to explore the option on the reopening of Koyambedu market. CMDA officials said that they had given approval to a few vendors to sell flowers at Parrys Corner. Some of them have also opened markets at Maduravoyal. The flower market was decentralised in order to maintain social distancing, said officials. If you had any doubt that the Democrats know they have a losing candidate (who has this week pushed back the announcement of his running mate) at the head of their ticket, their conduct the past week is the tell: 1.The outrageous House Judiciary Committee hearing with Attorney General William Barr, whose IQ surely bests that of the combined intelligence of the Democrats on the committee, was surely a desperation move to hold their base. Scott Johnson: To say the Democrats must be crazy would be an overly charitable interpretation of their performance in the House Judiciary Committee spectacle starring Attorney General Barr yesterday. They only seemed crazy as they repeatedly disgraced themselves. The disgrace, however, was obviously premeditated. It turns out they had called Barr as a backdrop for their own accusatory and disparaging speeches with the thought that they would cut him off and preclude him from responding. They prevented him from responding by reclaim[ing their] time virtually every time Barr sought to respond to the accusations. I cant be the only one who thought to himself, Forget your time. You need to reclaim your mind. When it comes to the defense of the United States, theyre on the other side. Barr was given no opportunity to respond to their ridiculous accusations, but he demolished the panel when given even a tiny opening. Michael Goodwin: After the GOPs Jim Jordan countered with an attack on the FBIs spying on Trumps campaign and played a video of pundits calling the violence in Portland and elsewhere peaceful protests, the air had left the room before Barr said a word. When he got his chance, he didnt just defend his tenure -- he went on offense to demand an end to the demonizing of police and the dangerous defunding movement. The war against law enforcement, he said, is making police more risk-averse, and that is part of the reason crime is soaring across America -- leading to the deaths of the very people the Black Lives Matter movement says it wants to help. The leading cause of death for young black males is homicide, he said, adding that about 7,500 are murdered each year, 90 percent by other black Americans. Each of those lives matter, the attorney general declared. Thankfully, somebody is not afraid the truth will get him canceled. It was the first of many times Barr turned the tables on his would-be tormentors. He often appeared bored, but when he was allowed to speak, his words cut through the room like a knife. He called the attacks in Portland and elsewhere an assault on the government of the United States. Later, he chided Nadler & Co. for their silence in the face of clear criminal activity. This is the first time in my memory that the leaders of one of our two great political parties, the Democratic Party, are not coming out and condemning mob violence, he said. Cant we just say the violence against the federal courts has to stop? Could we hear something like that? 2. The Democrat mayors walkbacks of their overt support for the rioters now that its clear that most Americans prefer the rule of law to mob rule and that these mass peaceful or mostly peaceful riots are eroding the Democrats' hopes for a return to the Oval Office. Under our federal system there is little the president can do -- except protect federal facilities in cities whose mayors refuse to cooperate -- but some mayors are beginning to cooperate and I think its because they recognize this Democrat-supported mayhem is working against them. (a) As murder rates soared in Chicago, Mayor Lightfoot relented and agreed to the Presidents offer to have National Guard troops help restore order. The Chicago Tribune reports that both sides are still keeping their options open -- The President for sending in troops to patrol, rather than just aid in the investigations and Mayor Lightfoot to withdraw from the agreement, but I consider this a white flag on her part that her present tactics are only worsening the chaos. Trump on Wednesday said he is expanding Operation Legend, with the agents heading to Chicago to bolster existing law enforcement efforts -- not create a Portland-style camouflaged paramilitary strike force that is attracting widespread criticism. The agents will work in partnership with Chicago police and Lightfoots office under the direction of U.S. Attorney John Lausch, who Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor, knows and trusts. Trump and Lightfoot are in agreement over the strategy of sending in agents to plug into existing operations. Trump, who has bragged since his 2016 campaign he knows how to easily solve crime in Chicago, did not take a future heavier handed response off the table. Thats why Lightfoot is wary. (b) Portland: In Portland, instead of continuing to attack the placement of federal troops around the federal courthouse, Oregon has agreed to send in State Troopers and local police forces to protect the facility. Federal troops will withdraw conditionally from the courthouse but will remain in the area to return if Oregon doesnt do what it has promised to do. "The Department will continue to maintain our current, augmented federal law enforcement personnel in Portland until we are assured that the Hatfield Federal Courthouse and other federal properties will no longer be attacked and that the seat of justice in Portland will remain secure," said Wolf. "This has been our mission since the violent, criminal activity began." (c) Seattle The Seattle authorities passed a law banning police from using standard riot control techniques, but a federal court judge issued a temporary ban on that law, which Chief of Police Carmen Best noted would not allow her troops to handle riots. Again, federal troops will augment the force that Democrat officials are doing everything to hamstring. Meanwhile, on Thursday, a federal government plan arrived in Seattle, carrying federal law enforcement officers who were expected to be deployed this weekend to protect federal buildings from any possible rioting. They would augment the deployment of local police. (d) Minneapolis The mayor and city council, looking and behaving like a high school student council, have voted to defund the police. Local communities are forming their own self-defense operations. 3. The push for mail balloting as evidence grows of its inadequacies. Among these are the fact they make voting by ineligible voters more likely; the mail delivery system is insecure and, worst of all, the slow counting of ballots and the challenges likely to ensue from such an absurd run around normal procedures guarantees prolonged election challenges and fights, possibly leaving the results in limbo as the parties wend their way through the court system. 4. RussiaGate At the House Judiciary Committee Hearings, Democrats pressed Barr to agree that no criminal prosecutions would be initiated until after the election. He refused. Given that any trials of those involved would be in an almost 96 percent Democrat jurisdiction, Ive always believed that the prosecutors need to have plea agreements. So it was of interest to read a report that Strzok and others are believed to be cooperating with the Durham probers. L.J. Keith of Community Digital News: WASHINGTON, DC: Former FBI agent Peter Strzok is cooperating and working with the John Durham probe of the origins of the Russia Hoax, investigative reporter Adam Housley reports. If true, it would be a bombshell development in the investigation of the criminal conspiracy against Donald Trump. Strzok would be a key witness against higher-ups at the FBI, the intelligence community, and the White House. He is at the center of both the Hillary Clinton exoneration and the origins of the Russia Hoax. He and Andrew Weissmann started Crossfire Hurricane. They used the Brennan Mifsud frame job of George Papadopoulos and the Steele Dossier to obtain fraudulent FISA warrants... Adam Housley, an award winner former Fox News reporter tweeted on July 23rd: Being told that Peter Strzok is talking with investigators. To recap, as we head into the national campaign, the Democrat mayors and councils have done little to protect their citizens and property, and only the federal government, despite the strictures of the federal system, has been working to restore law and order. Its possible that indictments will be filed against the wrongdoers in the RussiaGate scandal before the election, and the Democrats are doing everything they can to make the election as chaotic and litigious as they possibly can. As if there is not enough chaos in ordinary national elections (and transitions), they hope to make it even more so. Doesnt sound like they think they have this in the bag. Rasmussen says they certainly do not. He places the President ahead of Obamas approval ratings at this point in time. Rumi Jaffery was a close friend of Sushant Singh Rajput and Rhea Chakraborty, an officer from Bihar Police team said. A team of Bihar Police, probing Sushant Singh Rajput death case, recorded director Rumi Jaffery's statement in Mumbai on Saturday, 1 August. "During Sushant's last days, Rumi Jaffery was close to Sushant and Rhea Chakraborty. So, we have recorded his statement," an officer, from Bihar Police team, said. However, the police officials said they could not reveal any details regarding the progress of the case just yet. Asian News International tweeted the news Maharashtra: Bihar Police team probing #SushantSinghRajputDeathCase leave from the residence of director Rumi Jaffery in Mumbai. An officer of Bihar Police team says,"During Sushant's last days,Rumi Jaffery was close to Sushant & Rhea Chakraborty. So,we've recorded his statement" pic.twitter.com/s4Gn5W62WU ANI (@ANI) August 1, 2020 According to the Mumbai Police, statements of 41 people, including filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, film critic Rajeev Masand, director-producer Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and filmmaker Aditya Chopra have been recorded in the investigation so far. Earlier, Bihar Police had written an application to Mumbai's Bandra Police asking them to hand over and share all documents related to Rajput's alleged suicide case. The Bandra Police officials have said that they would respond soon, informed Bihar Police. An FIR was filed by Rajput's father KK Singh against Chakraborty in Bihar in connection with the death case under several sections including abetment of suicide. "Our team is in Mumbai and our Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) is in constant touch with his counterpart there. Yesterday, our team met Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) and he assured that they will cooperate," Bihar Director General of Police (DGP) Gupteshwar Pandey said on Saturday. "They are also waiting for the Supreme Court verdict in the Sushant Singh Rajput death case, then they will provide us all documents," he added. The four-member Bihar police team arrived in Mumbai on Wednesday, 29 July, to probe the 'abetment to suicide' case registered against Rajput's friend, actress Chakraborty, and others in Patna. "Till now, the police team from Bihar has met the late actor's friends, colleagues, and relatives. They have recorded the statements of six persons- Rajput's sister, who stays in Versova, former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, a cook, his friends, and colleagues," the official said. Rajput was found dead at his Mumbai residence on 14 June. (With inputs from agencies) * Jeffrey Epstein's Manhattan mansion is on sale for $88m: Getty Images Two homes owned by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein before his suicide in prison have gone on the market for a combined $110m (84m). The billionaire child sex offenders sprawling Manhattan townhouse is listed for $88m (67m), while his waterfront estate in Palm Beach, Florida, has an asking price of $22m (17m.) Both homes are part of vast portfolio of properties he amassed before his arrest on sex trafficking charges a year ago. He also owned an apartment in Paris, a ranch in New Mexico, and a private Caribbean island known locally as paedophile island. The 28,000sq ft, 40-room Manhattan mansion is reported to be the most expensive property currently for sale in New York City. A listing on real estate website Street Easy describes the lavish 1930s home as having provenance and commanding authority in a neighbourhood steeped in New Yorks richest history. This mansion presents a once in a life-time opportunity to own the largest single-family home in New York City, the advert reads. This historic landmark could easily present itself as a palatial consulate, embassy, foundation, or a museum to once again house some of the worlds greatest works of art. But prospective buyers will also be aware of the lurid past of the building raided by the FBI in July last year. Epstein is said to have abused scores of girls in the townhouse some reportedly recruited from New York dance studios to give him erotic massages. Epstein is said to have adorned the mansion with bizarre decorations including a life-sized doll hanging from a chandelier, a painting of Bill Clinton in a dress, and a giant mural of himself in a prison yard. A listing for the Palm Beach property on realtor.com touts a beautiful lakefront residence designed by architect John Volk. Epsteins former Florida estate is located just a couple of miles north of Donald Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort, where Ms Giuffre as a spa attendant when she first met Ghislaine Maxwell, who is alleged to have recruited her as a sex slave. Story continues Epstein took his own life in August last year while awaiting trial. The proceeds from the sale of his properties is expected to go to his estate, which in May agreed to set up a compensation fund for his victims. Read more Court papers detail Prince Andrews alleged sex with Epstein victim Prince Andrew lobbied US government for better plea deal for Epstein New documents show Ghislaine Maxwell emailed Epstein in 2015 Actor Zaan Khan, who is known for Hamari Bahu Silk opened up about non-payment dues by the show's producers. The actor recently led a silent protest outside the producer's recidence, along with other crew and cast members of the show. Talking to Pinkvilla, Zaan said, "I am telling you someone or the other might commit suicide owing to the situation. I had to sell off my car, I am seeing such a time where my family members are forcing me to come back home. They are concerned for me because they see all the news and are worried. I belong from a good family and moreover, if it was only about me, I would have still resisted but I cant see the other people suffering, they badly need that money." He further added that it is not about their show, but the television industry. He said that there is no unity among artists as many people haven't shown their support towards others stuck in a situation. He also gave actor Sushant Singh Rajput's example, saying that people are talking about him after his death by suicide. He said that no one cares about the people suffering. Talking about the financial plight of the crew, he said that he held a protest with 25-30 people, including make-up artists, spot helpers etc. He further added that the producer never came out of her apartment. He also accused another producer Jyoti Gupta of beng responsive and said that the channel had no accountability whatsoever. He had previously taken to Instagram to repost photographer Viral Bhayani's photo from their protest. The actor, along with other members were seen holding placards that read- "Pay Our Dues." Recently he also shared a video of veteran actor Sarita Joshi, who opened up about not getting paid her dues. He wrote, "Its a shame Such a senior respected actress who holds a padamshri award has to make a video like this.I dont want to say anything more.THIS IS WRONG ON SO MANY LEVELS." Hamari Bahu Silk actress Vandana Vithlani has also had to make and sell Rakhi's to sustain herself due to the lockdown. This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata). Chennai: Mounting yet another attack on the Centre's new National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, DMK President MK Stalin on Sunday alleged if it was implemented, education in a decade will be confined among a few. He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's assertion on NEP ensuring all-round coverage vis-a-vis providing education, and wanted the ruling AIADMK to oppose it. "The Prime Minister has said this (NEP) ensures job creators than job seekers. It is not. I say the government has shied away from its duty of creating jobs for people," he said at a virtual interaction with some educationists and others to discuss the reforms. On Saturday, Modi had said the new education policy announced by his government emphasised on making 'job creators' instead of 'job seekers' and was an attempt to transform the 'intent' and 'content' of the country's education system. Stalin said contrary to Modi's assertions, "education will not be available to all." "If this education policy is implemented, in 10 years, education will be confined to a select few," he claimed. Villages will 'collapse' and "poor will become poorer," he added. Assuring his party's opposition to the reforms, Stalin, also Leader of Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, wanted the AIADMK government also to follow suit. "The Tamil Nadu government should deny the NEP; reject it," he added. It should especially not accept the three-language formula suggested in NEP, he said. Sushant Singh Rajputs phone records will be tracked and the family of his former manager, Disha Salian, will be questioned in connection with the death of the Bollywood actor, Bihar police have said. According to news agency ANI, the four-member team from Patna Police, which is in Mumbai to probe Rajputs death, has said that none of the SIM cards that were being used by the actor was registered under his name. One of them was registered in the name of his friend Siddharth Pithani. We are now tracking the call detail records (CDRs), a member of the team was quoted as saying by the news agency. The 34-year-old actor, who was found dead in his Bandra apartment in June, used at least 50 SIM cards, according to reports. One of the members of the Patna Police team also said that they will question the family of Salian, who died a few days before Rajput. Even after constant attempts to connect with them on phone, we have failed to establish any contact, an official said, according to ANI. The team has recorded the statements of Rajputs former girlfriend Ankita Lokhande, friend Mahesh Shetty, sister Meetu Singh, Dr Kersi Chawra in Mumbai as well as his cook and sweeper. Some more people will be examined in connection with the case. The team also visited several banks to gather details about transactions from Rajputs accounts. Also Read: Sushant had no Godfather, says his sister in appeal to PM Modi, wants him to step in Rajputs father, Krishna Kumar Singh, had lodged a complaint against Chakraborty and six others including her family members in Patna last week. The case was registered under various IPC sections including 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement), 380 (theft in dwelling house), 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 306 (abetment of suicide). His father accused that Rhea Chakraborty befriended his son in May 2019 with the intention of furthering her own career and exploiting him. He also alleged that at least Rs 15 crore was withdrawn from his sons bank account to which Chakraborty and her family members had gained access. He also said that barely a week before Rajput was found dead at his Bandra residence, Chakraborty had visited his house and taken away his laptop, ATM card and other important documents. PALO ALTO, Calif., Aug. 2, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Third Quarter 2020 Summary Operating performance reflects a full quarter of COVID-19 impact across all geographies Oncology Systems gross orders down 14% in dollars and in constant currency in the quarter; trailing twelve months gross orders grew 1% in dollars and in constant currency 7 EthosTM orders received, including 5 in North America and 2 in Europe , bringing total orders since launch to 38 units and 2 in , bringing total orders since launch to 38 units Total company revenues down 16% in dollars and 15% in constant currency, to $694 million ; organic revenues down 19% (1) ; organic revenues down 19% GAAP operating earnings grew 11% at 8.6% of revenues; non-GAAP operating earnings declined 32% at 14.1% of revenues GAAP net earnings per diluted share of $0.67 ; non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share of $0.78 (1) Excludes the year-over-year impact of foreign exchange rates and growth from CTSI and Interventional Solutions businesses Varian (NYSE: VAR) today announced its third quarter fiscal year 2020 results. "I am proud of the team's execution during the quarter, especially given the challenging operating backdrop created by the pandemic," said Dow Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Varian. "Our continued investments in our strategic enablers, combined with our strong financial standing, position us well to exit the pandemic stronger, and extend our global leadership in oncology. In addition, we are pleased to announce a transaction with Siemens Healthineers delivering immediate and compelling value to our shareholders, while bringing us even closer to realizing our transformative vision. Our innovative and patient-centric culture has enabled us to become an iconic leader in radiotherapy and multi-disciplinary cancer care, with a trusted global brand and strong customer loyalty. We are thrilled to partner with Siemens Healthineers to extend our renowned customer care, serving clinicians and patients from the very first stage in the fight against cancer." Summary (Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts) Q3 2020 Q3 2019 Y/Y Q3 FY20 YTD Q3 FY19 YTD Y/Y Revenues $ 694.3 $ 825.8 (16) % $ 2,317.7 $ 2,346.2 (1) % Gross margin as a percentage of revenues 43.0 % 42.5 % 50 bps 43.3 % 42.0 % 130 bps GAAP net earnings attributable to Varian $ 61.2 $ 29.4 109 % $ 192.6 $ 221.2 (13) % GAAP net earnings per share - diluted $ 0.67 $ 0.32 110 % $ 2.11 $ 2.41 (12) % Net cash provided by operating activities $ 83.0 $ 126.5 (34) % $ 217.5 $ 254.0 (14) % Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to Varian (1) $ 70.8 $ 120.8 (41) % $ 255.0 $ 314.3 (19) % Non-GAAP net earnings per share - diluted (1) $ 0.78 $ 1.32 (41) % $ 2.79 $ 3.42 (18) % Shares used in computing GAAP and non- GAAP net earnings per diluted share 91.2 91.8 91.4 91.9 (1) Non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share are defined as GAAP net earnings and GAAP net earnings per diluted share adjusted to exclude the amortization of intangible assets and amortization of inventory step-up, acquisition and integration- related expenses or benefits, impairment charges, restructuring charges, significant litigation charges or benefits, legal costs, gains and losses on equity investments, and significant non-recurring tax expense or benefits. Reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures can be found at the end of the press release. The company ended the quarter with $769 million in cash and cash equivalents and $580 million in debt. Net cash provided by operating activities was $83 million. Oncology Systems Segment Oncology Systems revenues totaled $654 million, down 17%. Gross orders were $665 million, down 14%. Gross orders in the Americas were down 8%, including North America, which was down 6%. In EMEA, gross orders fell 32%. In Asia-Pacific, gross orders were up 4%. Proton Solutions Segment Proton Solutions revenues totaled $33 million, up 6%, primarily driven by continued growth in services revenues. Other Segment Revenues for the Other segment were $7 million. The Other segment is comprised of the Interventional Solutions business, including cryoablation, embolic microspheres, and microwave ablation. Additionally, it includes investments in cardiac radioablation. Non-GAAP Adjustments This quarter, our GAAP operating earnings and GAAP EPS included a $21 million gain on an equity investment that went public, a $14 million workforce restructuring charge and a $9 million impairment of our available-for-sale investments. As a reminder, in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, GAAP net earnings and GAAP EPS included a $51 million goodwill impairment charge related to our Proton Solutions business and a $21 million charge associated with the write-off of in-process research and development acquired in the CyberHeart acquisition. Cancellation of Conference Call In light of the announced transaction with Siemens Healthineers, Varian has cancelled its third quarter fiscal year 2020 earnings conference call previously scheduled for 4:30 PM ET on August 5, 2020. About Varian At Varian, we envision a world without fear of cancer. For more than 70 years, we have developed, built and delivered innovative cancer care technologies and solutions for our clinical partners around the globe to help them treat millions of patients each year. With an Intelligent Cancer Care approach, we are harnessing advanced technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and data analytics to enhance cancer treatment and expand access to care. Our 10,000 employees across 70 locations keep the patient and our clinical partners at the center of our thinking as we power new victories in cancer care. Because, for cancer patients everywhere, their fight is our fight. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com and follow @VarianMedSys on Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements Except for historical information, this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements concerning the company's future orders, ability to extend the Company's global leadership in oncology" and the anticipated impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business; and any statements using the terms "could," "believe," "expect," "promising," "outlook," "should," "position us well," "will" or similar statements are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include the future impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, including but not limited to, the impact on our workforce, operations, supply chain, demand for our products and services, and our financial results and condition; our ability to successfully manage the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic; our ability to achieve expected synergies from acquisitions; risks associated with integrating recent acquisitions; global economic conditions and changes to trends for cancer treatment regionally; currency exchange rates and tax rates; the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act; the impact of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (including excise taxes on medical devices) and any further healthcare reforms (including changes to Medicare and Medicaid), and/or changes in third-party reimbursement levels; recent and potential future tariffs or a global trade war; demand for and delays in delivery of the company's products; the company's ability to develop, commercialize and deploy new products; the company's ability to meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory requirements, regulations or procedures; changes in regulatory environments; risks associated with the company providing financing for the construction and start-up operations of particle therapy centers, challenges associated with commercializing the company's Proton Solutions business; challenges to public tender awards and the loss of such awards or other orders; the effect of adverse publicity; the company's reliance on sole or limited-source suppliers; the company's ability to maintain or increase margins; the impact of competitive products and pricing; the potential loss of key distributors or key personnel; challenges related to entering into new business lines; and the other risks listed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which by this reference are incorporated herein. For additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those projected herein, please refer to our Form 10-K for the year ended September 27, 2019 and subsequent Forms 8-K and 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this release because of new information, future events, or otherwise. Varian has not filed its Form 10-Q for the period ended July 3, 2020. As a result, all financial results described here should be considered preliminary, and are subject to change to reflect any necessary adjustments, completion of purchase accounting, or changes in accounting estimates, that are identified prior to the time the company files the Form 10-Q. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries Preliminary Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited) (Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts) Q3 2020 Q3 2019 Q3 FY20 YTD Q3 FY19 YTD Gross orders $ 682.2 $ 891.6 $ 2,346.7 $ 2,384.2 Oncology Systems 665.4 778.3 2,212.6 2,261.0 Proton Solutions 9.7 111.3 96.4 121.2 Other 7.1 2.0 37.7 2.0 Order backlog 3,213.6 3,118.4 3,213.6 3,118.4 Revenues 694.3 825.8 2,317.7 2,346.2 Oncology Systems 654.5 792.9 2,197.4 2,242.2 Proton Solutions 32.7 30.9 82.6 102.0 Other 7.1 2.0 37.7 2.0 Cost of revenues 395.8 474.4 1,315.2 1,360.5 Gross margin 298.5 351.4 1,002.5 985.7 As a percentage of revenues 43.0 % 42.5 % 43.3 % 42.0 % Operating expenses Research and development 65.3 62.1 203.4 182.4 Selling, general and administrative 145.0 153.6 497.3 441.5 Impairment and restructuring charges 23.1 50.6 63.6 50.6 Acquisition-related expenses 5.2 31.2 13.4 35.8 Operating earnings 59.9 53.9 224.8 275.4 As a percentage of revenues 8.6 % 6.5 % 9.7 % 11.7 % Interest income (expense) (0.2) 1.9 (3.1) 7.6 Other income, net 25.1 4.2 28.6 27.4 Earnings before taxes 84.8 60.0 250.3 310.4 Taxes on earnings 23.9 30.5 57.4 88.6 Net earnings 60.9 29.5 192.9 221.8 Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests (0.3) 0.1 0.3 0.6 Net earnings attributable to Varian $ 61.2 $ 29.4 $ 192.6 $ 221.2 Net earnings per share - basic $ 0.67 $ 0.32 $ 2.12 $ 2.43 Net earnings per share - diluted $ 0.67 $ 0.32 $ 2.11 $ 2.41 Shares used in the calculation of net earnings per share: Weighted average shares outstanding - basic 90.8 91.0 90.8 91.0 Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 91.2 91.8 91.4 91.9 Varian Medical Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries Preliminary Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (In millions) July 3, September 27, 2020 2019 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 769.2 $ 531.4 Trade and unbilled receivables, net 987.4 1,106.3 Inventories 600.4 551.5 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 274.7 206.2 Total current assets 2,631.7 2,395.4 Property, plant and equipment, net 346.3 311.5 Operating lease right-of-use assets 123.6 Goodwill 607.4 612.2 Intangible assets 265.7 300.7 Deferred tax assets 92.3 84.7 Other assets 387.4 397.2 Total assets $ 4,454.4 $ 4,101.7 Liabilities and Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 164.5 $ 248.5 Accrued liabilities 468.5 459.5 Deferred revenues 778.4 766.0 Short-term borrowings 580.0 410.0 Total current liabilities 1,991.4 1,884.0 Long-term lease liabilities 102.6 Other long-term liabilities 417.3 440.1 Total liabilities 2,511.3 2,324.1 Equity: Varian stockholders' equity: Common stock 90.9 90.8 Capital in excess of par value 901.2 845.6 Retained earnings 1,054.9 934.0 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (113.5) (102.1) Total Varian stockholders' equity 1,933.5 1,768.3 Non-controlling interests 9.6 9.3 Total equity 1,943.1 1,777.6 Total liabilities and equity $ 4,454.4 $ 4,101.7 Discussion of Non-GAAP Financial Measures This press release includes the following non-GAAP financial measures derived from our Condensed Consolidated Statements of Earnings: organic revenue growth, non-GAAP operating earnings, non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share. We define organic revenue growth as revenue growth less the impact of revenue growth from our CTSI and Interventional Solutions businesses and adjusted for the impact of foreign exchange. We define non-GAAP operating earnings as operating earnings excluding amortization of intangible assets and amortization of inventory step-up, acquisition and integration-related expenses or benefits, restructuring charges, impairment charges, significant litigation charges or benefits and legal costs. These measures are not presented in accordance with, nor are they a substitute for U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. In addition, these measures may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes. The non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors are cautioned that there are material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as an analytical tool. We have provided a reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure used in this earnings release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. We have not provided a reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to the corresponding GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis due to the potential significant variability and limited visibility of the excluded items discussed below. We utilize a number of different financial measures, both GAAP and non-GAAP, in analyzing and assessing the overall performance of our business, in making operating decisions, forecasting and planning for future periods, and determining payments under compensation programs. We consider the use of the non-GAAP measures to be helpful in assessing the performance of the ongoing operations of our business. We believe that disclosing non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplemental data that, while not a substitute for financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, allows for greater transparency in the review of our financial and operational performance. We also believe that disclosing non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our operating results and future prospects in the same manner as management and in comparing financial results across accounting periods and to those of peer companies. Non-GAAP operating earnings and non-GAAP net earnings exclude the following items, except for gain and losses on equity investments, and significant non-recurring tax expense or benefit, which are only excluded from non-GAAP net earnings: Amortization of intangible assets and amortization of inventory step-up : We do not acquire businesses and assets on a predictable cycle. The amount of purchase price allocated to intangible assets, the step-up of inventory values, and the term of amortization can vary significantly and are unique to each acquisition or purchase. We believe that excluding amortization of intangible assets and amortization of inventory step-up allows the users of our financial statements to better review and understand the historic and current results of our operations, and also facilitates comparisons to peer companies. Acquisition and integration-related expenses or benefits : We incur expenses or benefits with respect to certain items associated with our acquisitions, such as transaction costs, hedging gains and losses, changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities, gains or expenses on settlement of pre-existing relationships, integration costs, and breakup fees. We exclude such expenses or benefits as they are related to acquisitions and have no direct correlation to the operations of our on-going business. Impairment and restructuring charges : We incur impairment and restructuring charges that result from events, which arise from unforeseen circumstances and/or often occur outside of the ordinary course of our on-going business. Although these events are reflected in our GAAP financials, these unique transactions may limit the comparability of our on-going operations with prior and future periods. Significant litigation charges or benefits and legal costs : We may incur charges or benefits as well as legal costs from time to time related to litigation and other contingencies. We exclude these charges or benefits, when significant, as well as legal costs associated with significant legal matters, because we do not believe they are reflective of on-going business and operating results. Gains and losses on equity investments: We may incur gains and losses from our equity investments in public and privately-held companies. We do not trade equity investments, and we do not plan on these investments for the funding of ongoing operations. We exclude such gains and losses because we do not believe they are reflective of our core business. Significant non-recurring tax expense or benefit : We may incur a significant tax expense or benefit as a result of tax legislation and/or a change in judgment about the need for a valuation allowance that are generally unrelated to the level of business activity in the period in which these tax effects are reported. We exclude such expenses or benefits from our non-GAAP net earnings because we believe they do not accurately reflect the underlying performance of our continuing business operations. We apply our GAAP consolidated effective tax rate to our non-GAAP financial measures, other than when the underlying item has a materially different tax treatment. The following tables reconcile GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures: Varian Medical Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Preliminary Revenue Growth and Organic Revenue Growth Financial Measures (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions) Q3 2020 Q3 2019 Percent Change Impact from Acquisitions Impact from Foreign Exchange Organic Growth Total revenues $ 694.3 $ 825.8 (16) % 2 % 1 % (19) % Varian Medical Systems, Inc. and Subsidiaries Reconciliation of Preliminary GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) (Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts) Q3 2020 Q3 2019 Q3 FY20 YTD Q3 FY19 YTD Non-GAAP adjustments Amortization of intangible assets and inventory step-up (1) $ 8.6 $ 6.8 $ 27.5 $ 17.1 Acquisition-related expenses and in-process R&D (2) 5.3 31.2 13.5 35.8 Impairment charges (3) 9.2 50.6 49.7 50.6 Restructuring charges 13.9 13.9 Litigation charge and legal costs 0.9 1.0 5.7 2.7 Other 0.8 0.8 Total non-GAAP adjustments to operating earnings 37.9 90.4 110.3 107.0 Gain on equity investments (4) (25.7) (2.0) (27.1) (23.8) Tax effects of non-GAAP adjustments (2.6) (2.5) (19.2) (0.4) Significant effects of tax legislation (5) 5.5 (1.6) 7.8 Changes in deferred tax related to an acquisition (6) 2.5 Total net earnings impact from non-GAAP adjustments $ 9.6 $ 91.4 $ 62.4 $ 93.1 Operating earnings reconciliation GAAP operating earnings $ 59.9 $ 53.9 $ 224.8 $ 275.4 Total operating earnings impact from non-GAAP adjustments 37.9 90.4 110.3 107.0 Non-GAAP operating earnings $ 97.8 $ 144.3 $ 335.1 $ 382.4 Net earnings and net earnings per diluted share reconciliation GAAP net earnings attributable to Varian $ 61.2 $ 29.4 $ 192.6 $ 221.2 Total net earnings impact from non-GAAP adjustments 9.6 91.4 62.4 93.1 Non-GAAP net earnings attributable to Varian $ 70.8 $ 120.8 $ 255.0 $ 314.3 GAAP net earnings per share - diluted $ 0.67 $ 0.32 $ 2.11 $ 2.41 Non-GAAP net earnings per share - diluted $ 0.78 $ 1.32 $ 2.79 $ 3.42 Shares used in computing GAAP and non-GAAP net earnings per diluted share 91.2 91.8 91.4 91.9 (1) Includes $1.5 million, $3.2 million, $5.7 million, and $8.0 million respectively, in cost of revenues for the periods presented. (2) Includes a $20.8 million charge associated with the write-off of in-process research and development acquired in the CyberHeart acquisition in the third quarter of fiscal year 2019. (3) Includes $9.2 million impairment to our available-for-sale securities in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, and a $40.5 million impairment of loans receivable from CPTC in the year-to-date period 2020. (4) Includes a $20.9 million gain on an equity investment that went public in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020. Includes the $22.0 million gain on sale of our equity investment in Augmenix in the year-to-date period 2019. (5) Represents a one time tax effect of a change in law related to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. (6) Represents a charge to income tax expense due to the increase of a valuation allowance as a result of an acquisition. Investor Relations Contact Anshul Maheshwari Vice President, Treasury and Investor Relations +1 (650) 424-5163 [email protected] Press Contact Eric Brielmann / Kaitlin Kikalo / Sophie Throsby Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher + 1 (415) 869-3950 / +1 (212) 355-4449 SOURCE Varian T he UK coronavirus death toll has risen by eight, according to Government figures. The total number of people who have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK has reached 46,201 as of 5pm on Saturday. But separate figures published by the UKs statistics agencies show there have now been 56,400 deaths registered in the UK where Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate. The Government also said that in the 24-hour period up to 9am on Sunday, there had been a further 744 lab-confirmed cases. Overall, a total of 304,695 cases have been confirmed. Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures 1 /81 Coronavirus hits the UK - In pictures A deserted Westminster Bridge PA A man wearing a face mask or covering due to the COVID-19 pandemic, walks past customers sat outside a restaurant AFP via Getty Images Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown Andrew Parsons Runners pass cardboard cutouts of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William during the London Marathon in London AP An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station Jeremy Selwyn Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield PA A sign is displayed in the window of a student accommodation building following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mancheste Reuters People take part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions, in Londo AP People sing and dance in Leicester Square on the eve on the 10PM curfew Reuters Hearts painted by a team of artists from Upfest are seen in the grass at Queen Square, following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Bristol Reuters Graffiti reads 'good luck and stay safe', as the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases grow around the world, under a bridge in London Reuters A sign is pictured in Soho, amid the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London Reuters Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures, during a coronavirus briefing in Downing Street, London AP A person runs past posters with a message of hope, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues in Manchester REUTERS Riot police face protesters who took part in a 'We Do Not Consent' rally at Trafalgar Square, organised by Stop New Normal, to protest against coronavirus restrictions in London AP An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London's Piccadilly Circus PA Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas' hospital Getty Images Durdle Door in Dorset Reuters Captain Tom Moore via Reuters Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in "PE with Joe" a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak PA An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Reuters Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno @AndrewStuart via PA Tobias Weller PA Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London. Matt Writtle A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus PA Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue Reuters A young man cuts another man's hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford Reuters General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London via Reuters Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Reuters A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace Getty Images A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home PA Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak. PA Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers PA A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of "panic buying" cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus. Getty Images People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour PA Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus PA Children are painting 'Chase the rainbows' artwork and springing up in windows across the country Reuters Social distancing in Primrose Hill Jeremy Selwyn A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended PA Homeless people in London AFP via Getty Images A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow's street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss PA The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic PA A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world Reuters Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside PA Britain's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street Reuters The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh's Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak. PA Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear PA A sign at a Sainsbury's supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world Reuters Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images A sign advertising a book titled "How Will We Survive On Earth?" Getty Images A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria Jeremy Selwyn A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads "Diseases are in the City" in Edinburgh AFP via Getty Images Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors PA A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh PA A quieter than usual British Museum Getty Images A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask SplashNews.com A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station Jeremy Selwyn A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre Getty Images A deserted Trafalgar Square in London PA Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport Getty Images The Government figures differ from the hospital death tolls which are released by individual devolved authorities. NHS England said a further five people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in hospital, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals to 29,347. Loading.... Loading.... Patients were aged between 52 and 86 years old, and all had known underlying health conditions. Another two deaths were reported with no positive Covid-19 test result. Public Health Wales said a further three people have died after testing positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths in the country to 1,565. The number of cases in Wales increased by 37, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 17,279. The figures for Scotland and Northern Ireland are yet to be released. A writer who claims she was in Ghislaine Maxwell's 'little black book' has lifted the lid on secretive high society circles is the US that have become threatened with scandal since Jeffrey Epstein's arrest last year. Helen Kirwan-Taylor, who was born in New York but now lives in Notting Hill, west London told The Sunday Telegraph she remembers Maxwell as being 'quick-witted, attention-seeking and the complete darling of her set'. She also said British people in the Big Apple with 'any whiff of poshness' were always accepted into the best soirees in the Nineties, and that they 'managed to infiltrate every circle, appearing at all the right parties and nightclubs'. Helen Kirwan-Taylor, who was born in New York but now lives in Notting Hill, west London told The Sunday Telegraph she remembers Ghislaine Maxwell as being 'quick-witted, attention-seeking and the complete darling of her set' Maxwell, 58, is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York as she awaits trial on charges of conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse girls. Epstein was charged with sex trafficking but died in jail while awaiting trial last year. She denies all the charges. Speaking about her memory of Maxwell - who has been charged with multiple counts of criminal sex trafficking - Helen wrote: 'Ghislaine was like a sniffer dog: sharp, alert and with a nose that could detect any useful information. 'She appeared at every party along with half a dozen of the then 'it girls' whose main occupation seemed to be finding a wealthy man with a "house". Ghislaines close female friends, however, were career-minded and independent as she clearly was. Many worked in the City.' Helen was included in the book due to her job as an assistant producer at news magazine programme 60 Minutes, which gave her access to 'presidents and prime ministers'. The journalist's husband was in the book as he was 'friendly with Ghislaine at Oxford' as was her father-in-law, who was also an acquaintance of the socialite, while many of her friends were in the 'inner circle'. Maxwell, 58, is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York as she awaits trial on charges on conspiring with Jeffrey Epstein to sexually abuse girls. Epstein was charged with sex trafficking but died in jail while awaiting trial last year. The pair are pictured together in 2005 The contents of the infamous black book were first revealed in 2012, when Epstein's housekeeper was arrested by the FBI for trying to sell it. They were then published on gawker.com, and included hundreds of high profile names including Donald Trump, Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, Mick Jagger, Tony Blair, Richard Branson and Naomi Campbell. Helen also revealed that after her media baron father Robert Maxwell died in mysterious circumstances in 1991, her 'empire crumbled beneath her'. While Helen claims Ghislaine's brothers became down-trodden, something she observed over dining with them, Maxwell upped sticks from London and reinvented herself in New York. 'Not only was she mixing with the very rich, but she seemed to be right in the middle of the action. In fact, she seemed to be directing traffic. Socialising was her clearly well-paid job,' she wrote. Helen was included in the book due to her job as an assistant producer at news magazine programme 60 Minutes, which gave her access to ' presidents and prime ministers'. She is pictured in a throwback image recently shared to Instagram Helen, who grew up all over the world but describes herself as a 'New Yorker', also added that Brits had the upper hand at society parties. 'I observed how easy it was for someone with a British accent and the faint whiff of poshness to forge their way into the most exclusive circles. Brideshead Revisited (a bit like Downton Abbey now) had captured the nations imagination,' she recalled. She added it was 'patently clear' that Brits never invited wealthy Americans back to their homes, and that at least two weddings she knows of were based on the incorrect assumption that one spouse-to-be had money. The journalist's husband was in the book as he was 'friendly with Ghislaine at Oxford' adding that her father-in-law was also an acquaintance of the socialite and many of her friends were in the 'inner circle'. They are pictured together in a shot recently shared on Instagram A society friend also told Helen that Maxwell was quickly accepted into New York circles because 'she came with a stamp of approval from Prince Andrew'. 'The thinking was if she hangs out with him, she must be OK. There are so many people in New York that you have no idea where they made their money,' the unnamed society friend said. She added that many newbies on the social scene hire PRs to make sure their names appear on the invitations that 'really matter' and that it was 'critical to get your picture in the Post, the Times, Vanity Fair and Vogue'. The data indicates that businesses gradually reopening will help boost the UK economy. Photo: Getty Most companies have voiced concerns about a further economic shock if Britain leaves the EU without a trade deal, according to a new research by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The CBI said its study suggested that three out of four firms are worried about the impact of a non-negotiated exit from the EU. A survey of 752 businesses made it clear that most have neither the time nor resources to prepare for a non-negotiated EU exit, CBI said. The survey also revealed that business preparations, with the UKs biggest trading partner for the end of the transition period have stalled or gone into reverse since January. Around 15% of firms surveyed said they have improved their preparedness for the UKs exit from the Single Market and Customs Union, 58% report no change and 21% expressed fears preparations have gone backwards. READ MORE: NatWest completely prepared for no-deal Brexit Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the CBI, said: A deal that supports the UKs world leading services firms and keeps UK exporters free from red tape, costs and new trade barriers is paramount as the UK takes its all-important steps towards recovery. Fairbairn stressed that both the UK and the EU are desperate for a deal that protects their economies following the unprecedented coronavirus crisis. In the event that Britain leaves the EU without a trade deal at the end of the post-Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020, the UK and EU will trade on World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms, meaning tariffs and border costs on a wide range of products and goods. Another CBI research also showed that activity in the UK private sector fell sharply in the three months to July, but at a slower pace to -57% up from -71% in June, according to CBIs monthly Growth Indicator. The study, which surveyed 752 companies between 25 June and 15 July 2020, saw business and professional services activity drop to -50% in July from -77% in June and distribution sales decline at a slower pace (-47% from -57%) compared to June. Story continues Manufacturing output declined to -59% from -57% in June and consumer services activity continued to fall at broadly similar rates to -88% from -89%. READ MORE: Coronavirus: UK economy wont fully recover until 2024 On average, businesses said they were operating at 85% of usual capacity due to social distancing, compared with 72% when a stricter rule generally requiring two metres of distance was in force. The data indicates that businesses gradually reopening will help boost the UK economy, although activity is still falling sharply, particularly for those in consumer-facing sectors. CBI lead economist, Alpesh Paleja said: Its clear that many businesses remain in acute financial distress. The Chancellors Summer Statement was a good start in addressing the growing economic legacies of COVID, but theres more to do. More immediate direct support for firms, from grants to further business rates relief, is still urgently needed. India is now the epicenter of the global coronavirus pandemic. It ranks just behind the US and Brazil in confirmed cases and is growing faster than either. The total rose 20 per cent in just the last week, despite the fact that India is testing less than most of its peers. Its looking increasingly likely that India will wind up being the country with the most cases in the world. This is not just a function of its massive population; China, too, has over 1 billion people. It is a reflection of the fact that big, diverse countries are at a disadvantage in dealing with ... Lucknow, Aug 2 : UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has cancelled his scheduled Ayodhya trip on Sunday, following the demise of UP minister for technical education Kamla Rani Varun, after a prolonged illness. Kamala Rani Varun, 62, was legislator from Ghatampur Assembly segment, and had been hospitalised in the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS). The Chief Minister was scheduled to visit Ayodhya on Sunday to review the preparations and security arrangements being made for the 'bhumi pujan' of the Ram temple which is going to be held on August 5. He was also supposed to meet senior saints and seers during his visit. The 'bhumi pujan' ceremony will take place around noon on Wednesday and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to participate in the function. Ayodhya will be illuminated for three days from August 3 to 5 to mark the occasion and all residents have been asked to light diyas in their houses during this period. 'Akhand Ramayana Path' will be held in other holy cities including Mathura, Kashi, Prayagraj, Naimisharanya, Gorakhpur and Chitrakoot. Meanwhile, unprecedented security arrangements are being made for the occasion and the borders of Ayodhya have been sealed. Campaigns in four of the 12 initiative measures in Californias November election have sued state Attorney General Xavier Becerra, charging that his office wasnt fair and neutral when it prepared the titles and summaries that will appear on the ballot. Becerra has written an argument in favor of Proposition 16 rather than the true and impartial statement required by state election law, opponents of the measure said in their suit. The measure would repeal Proposition 209, a 1996 initiative banning affirmative action in public university admissions and in government contracting and hiring. That complaint was echoed in the other suits, which argue that Becerra improperly slanted the language in those ballot titles in favor of positions he supports. A spokesman for Becerra was unavailable for comment. In an email, his office said state law requires the attorney general to issue the official titles and summaries, adding, We take that responsibility seriously. Ballot review The 2020 ballot titles and summaries, along with the entire Official Voter Information Guide for the November election, are now available for review until Aug. 10 on the Secretary of State's website. By law, any voter can challenge any of the material on display, including the ballot titles. See More Collapse The title and statement that appear on the ballot can make or break an initiative effort, said Jamie Court, who as president of the public interest group Consumer Watchdog has been involved in many ballot measure campaigns. The ballot label is the billboard for your initiative, he said. Its the last thing voters are going to see before they cast their ballot. In campaigns where there is not a lot of money spent for or against, it may be the only thing some voters see. Each of the campaigns has its own reasons for seeking to have those titles revised. Proposition 15 would revise 1978s Proposition 13 to allow most commercial and industrial property to be regularly reassessed. Opponents are unhappy with the title, which says the initiative increases funding sources for public schools, community colleges and local government services by changing the tax assessment of commercial and industrial property. The title of a virtually identical measure Prop. 15 backers pulled from the November ballot said it requires certain commercial and industrial property to be taxed based on fair-market value. If its a tax increase, said Jon Coupal of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which filed the suit, call it what it is. In the Prop. 16 affirmative action battle, opponents complain that by saying in the title that the measure allows diversity as a factor, Becerra tilts the argument. Diversity is already allowed as a factor in school admissions and other decisions, the suit argues, and the title and summary improperly takes sides in the election by ... leaning on the high-polling buzzword diversity. Proposition 22 would reverse part of AB5, a 2019 state law granting employee rights to many gig workers, and allow Uber and Lyft drivers to work as independent contractors. Supporters say the title and summary were infected with the contagion of bias and hostility. The title language saying the initiative exempts app-based transportation and delivery companies from providing employee benefits to certain drivers is both wrong and prejudicial, the suit argues. A more neutral title, according to the suit, would say the initiative would change employment classification rules for app-based drivers. Proposition 23 would change the rules for kidney dialysis clinics. Opponents argue the title statement that the initiative requires on-site medical professional for every clinic is both wrong and misleading. They say it suggests there are no medical professionals at the clinics now, although federal law requires a registered nurse to be present whenever someone is treated. The title also doesnt note that the initiative would require a doctor to be present at all times, an expensive proposition for the clinics, the suit states. Legal battles over ballot measures are nothing new. In 2008, supporters of Proposition 8 unsuccessfully sued then-Attorney General Jerry Brown to have the ballot title changed from his Eliminates the right of same-sex couples to marry, to Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. In 2017, Republicans looking to kill the states 12-cents-a-gallon gas tax for road repairs fought to change Becerras title, which said the GOP-backed initiative eliminates recently enacted road repair and transportation funding, without mentioning the tax rollback. A judge ruled that the attorney generals title was one-sided and misleading, but was overturned on appeal. Theres plenty of legal wiggle room in writing ballot titles, said Jessica Levinson, an election law professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. The attorney general has a ton of discretion, she said. And judges are pretty deferential. Its pretty aggressive to say (to the attorney general), Youre not neutral and youre looking to mislead the public. Thats not to say campaigns dont have a chance to make their pitch. We go in and the other side goes in to make our cases, telling them what are the most important parts of our arguments, said Court of Consumer Watchdog. But the final decision is up to the attorney general and thats not a good thing, said Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin (Placer County). Kiley has twice sought to put constitutional amendments on the ballot that would take the responsibility for writing the ballot summaries from the attorney general and give it to the nonpartisan Legislative Analysts Office, which already prepares the fiscal impact statements for the ballot. Neither went anywhere. A 2017 bill lost on a party-line committee vote and a 2019 effort never even moved to committee. By moving the responsibility to a nonpartisan figure like the legislative analyst, the ballot is insulated from the demands of politics, Kiley said. The attorney general can write titles for initiatives on issues his office is already dealing with, like challenges to AB5, which sets the rules for app-based drivers that Prop. 22 is seeking to overturn. Other measures can be supported or opposed by his political allies or donors. This is a long-standing problem, Kiley said. And its not just about Democrats. Republican attorney generals also produced slanted titles. For campaigns convinced theyre on the wrong side of the attorney generals ballot work, a change to a nonpartisan system cant come soon enough, The Dodgers are always going to hate the Giants, said Coupal, an opponent of Prop. 15. But the umpire should have nothing to do with that. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh minister Kamal Rani Varun died of the coronavirus disease at a hospital here on Sunday. The technical education minister was 62. Following her demise, chief minister Yogi Adityanath cancelled his pre-scheduled visit to Ayodhya, additional chief secretary, home, Awanish Kumar Awasthi said. The CM was supposed to visit Ayodhya to review the preparations for Ram Temple foundation laying ceremony on August 5. The state government also declared a one-day state mourning on Sunday. She was suffering from fever, cough and breathlessness and was admitted to PGIs Rajdhani Covid Hospital after she tested positive on July 18. She also had co-morbidities in the form of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypothyroidism. She had bilateral pneumonia at the time of admission and was shifted to the ICU on the day of admission itself because of high oxygen requirement, said Dr Radha Krishna Dheeman, director of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS). We even sought expert advice from professor Randeep Guleria, director AIIMS and professor Ritesh Agarwal, PGIMER, Chandigarh to save the minister. However, she did not respond to medical therapy. She was put on mechanical ventilator on Saturday but her condition continued to deteriorate with hypotension and multi-organ dysfunction and she succumbed to her illness on Sunday at 9:30 am, he said. Her funeral rites were conducted at the Bhairo Ghat crematorium in Kanpur in accordance with Covid-19 protocols. A guard of honour was given as soon as her body reached Bhairo Ghat crematorium, Kanpur district magistrate Brahmdeo Ram Tiwari said. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP governor Anandiben Patel, UP Cm, cabinet ministers and political leaders across party lines condoled her demise. Meanwhile, UP Bharatiya Janata Party chief Swatantra Dev Singh has also tested positive for Covid-19. I had been experiencing initial symptoms of Covid-19 and underwent a test for it. I was found positive for Covid-19, Singh tweeted in Hindi. The leader requested his acquaintances, who came in his contact recently, to get themselves tested for the infection. On the advice of doctors, I have quarantined myself at my home. I request all the residents of UP to exercise caution and strictly adhere to the guidelines of the government, he said in another tweet. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on August 2 said that the people of the state are praying for the speedy recovery of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has tested positive for coronavirus. Gujarat is the home state of Shah, who earlier in the day said in a tweet that he has tested positive for the infection. Several senior leaders and Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) took to Twitter and posted with the hashtag #GetWellSoonAmitShah to wish the union minister a speedy recovery. Rupani, who was in Surat to take a review of the coronavirus situation, told reporters that he prays for Shah's speedy recovery. "On behalf of the people of Gujarat, we all pray to God that he gets rid of coronavirus and gets well soon. We hope Amitbhai recovers soon and comes out of it," he said. Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel tweeted, "Hon'ble Home Minister of India Shri @AmitShah ji tested positive for Corona. I pray to God for his speedy recovery." Newly-appointed president of the BJP's state unit, C R Paatil, also wished the Union minister a speedy recovery "Hon'ble @AmitShah ji, Get well soon ! Wishing you a speedy recovery," he said on the micro-blogging site. 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 Surat MP Darshana Jardosh tweeted, "Praying for your good health and speedy recovery @AmitShah Ji."good health and speedy recovery @AmitShah Ji." Former state BJP chief Jitu Vaghani said, "I pray to god for your speedy recovery. I have full faith that you will get well soon and join the public service, wishing you the same #GetWellSoonAmitShah." Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Epidiolex (cannabidiol) [CBD] oral solution for the treatment of seizures associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in patients one year of age and older. Epidiolex was previously approved for the treatment of seizures associated with two rare and severe forms of epilepsy, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome (DS). This is the only FDA-approved drug that contains a purified drug substance derived from cannabis. It is also the second FDA approval of a drug for the treatment of seizures associated with TSC. CBD is a chemical component of the Cannabis sativa plant. However, CBD does not cause intoxication or euphoria (the "high") that comes from tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is THC (and not CBD) that is the primary psychoactive component of cannabis. The FDA continues to believe the drug approval process represents the best way to make new medicines, including any drugs derived from cannabis, available to patients in need of appropriate medical therapy such as the treatment of seizures associated with these rare conditions. This paradigm ensures new therapies are safe, effective, and manufactured to a high quality that provides uniform and reliable dosing for patients. The agency is committed to supporting rigorous scientific research on the potential medical uses of cannabis-derived products and working with product developers who are interested in bringing patients safe and effective, high quality products." Douglas Throckmorton, M.D., deputy center director for regulatory programs in the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research TSC is a rare genetic disease that causes non-cancerous (benign) tumors to grow in the brain and other parts of the body like the eyes, heart, kidneys, lungs, and skin. TSC usually affects the central nervous system and can result in a combination of symptoms including seizures, developmental delay, and behavioral problems, although the signs and symptoms of the condition, as well as the severity of symptoms, vary widely. TSC affects about 1 in 6,000 people. Epidiolex's effectiveness for the treatment of seizures associated with TSC was established in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial where 148 patients out of a total of 224 in the study received Epidiolex. The study measured the change from baseline in seizure frequency. In the study, patients treated with Epidiolex had a significantly greater reduction in the frequency of seizures during the treatment period than patients who received placebo (inactive treatment). This effect was seen within eight weeks and remained consistent throughout the 16-week treatment period. The most common side effects that occurred in Epidiolex-treated patients with TSC in the clinical trial were: diarrhea, elevated liver enzymes, decreased appetite, sleepiness, fever, and vomiting. Additional side effects for patients with LGS, DS, or TSC include: liver injury, decreased weight, anemia, and increased creatinine. Epidiolex must be dispensed with a patient Medication Guide that describes important information about the drug's uses and risks. As is true for all drugs that currently treat epilepsy, including Epidiolex, the most serious risks may include an increase in suicidal thoughts and behavior, or thoughts of self-harm. Patients, their caregivers, and their families should be advised to monitor for any unusual changes in mood or behavior, such as worsening depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior. Patients, caregivers, and families should report behaviors of concern immediately to healthcare providers. Epidiolex also caused liver injury in some patients. Most cases were generally mild, but a risk of rare, but more severe liver injury exists. More severe liver injury can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fatigue, anorexia, jaundice, and/or dark urine. The FDA granted Priority Review designation for this application. The approval of Epidiolex was granted to Greenwich Biosciences Inc., of Carlsbad, California. The splashdown was the first astronaut water landing since the end of the Apollo programme in the 1970s. SpaceX has safely delivered two astronauts back to Earth for NASA, following an historic two-month mission to the International Space Station (ISS). With the help of four white and orange parachutes, test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken splashed down in the Gulf of Mexico at 18:48 GMT on Sunday. As soon as the capsule hit the water, the recovery crews went to work on retrieving the parachutes and saving the capsule so they could hoist it out of the water and extract the crew. Both Hurley and Behnken reported feeling great after returning to Earth and were fully checked out by medical staff before flying home to Houston and their families. Water landing Astronauts typically arrive on land, and this return was not only the first to splash down in the Gulf but also the first water landing since the end of the Apollo programme in the 1970s. To prepare for the landing, NASA selected seven potential landing sites around the Florida Peninsula, with the preferred site being Cape Canaveral. But after a tropical storm formed in the Atlantic Ocean earlier this week, the teams had to turn their attention to Floridas West Coast. Pensacola was selected as the primary site on Saturday, shortly before the crew undocked from the space station. The weather conditions in Pensacola were pretty close to perfect on Sunday afternoon when the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule re-entered the Earths atmosphere. To begin their journey home, Hurley and Behnken undocked from the orbital outpost at 21:54 GMT on Saturday evening, with the capsule backing away from the station autonomously and kicking off its trip back to Earth right on schedule. A capsule with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico [NASA/Reuters] The astronauts spent roughly 18 hours in orbit, slowly distancing themselves from the ISS, and lining up with the landing zone before making a harrowing dive into Earths atmosphere. The Dragon had to conduct what is called a deorbit burn, or a short firing of its onboard thrusters that helps the capsule not only re-enter the Earths atmosphere but significantly slow itself. The craft then made one final manoeuvre to make sure it was in the optimal position for landing before starting the trek back to Earth. And this is where things really started to heat up. Falling through the atmosphere, Crew Dragon reached temperatures of 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1927 degrees Celsius). It relies on a specially designed heat shield to protect the vehicle and the crew inside. Due to the intense heat and plasma surrounding the vehicle, Hurley and Behnken experienced a brief communications blackout that lasted approximately six minutes. Shortly after splashdown, the capsule was swarmed by several private vessels that should not have been in the area. After they landed, the boats just came in, NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine told Al Jazeera. We need more assets next time. Bridenstine went on to say that the US Coast Guard was tasked with clearing the landing zone prior to splashdown and they had done so. Unfortunately, the fact that it was a bright, sunny day out and that onlookers were excited about the landing led to a tricky situation. After hauling the Dragon capsule onto the recovery vessels, SpaceX and NASA teams detected traces of highly toxic hypergolic fuel. Spacecraft rely on these fuels to power onboard thrusters. The crew was never in any danger, but these traces of gas are the reason why onlookers are encouraged to keep their distance. NASAs commercial crew program manager, Steve Stitch, said that the Crew Dragon capsule completed all of its objectives and did so with near flawless execution. Im speechless, he told Al Jazeera, after the successful splashdown. Bridenstine added that the test flight is a shining example of NASAs Commercial Crew Program. This [mission] proved that these public-private partnerships are successful, he said. Which is good news for NASA who is placing its grand plans for Mars and the Moon in the hands of SpaceX and other commercial providers. The capsule will now be transported back to SpaceXs Dragon lair at Cape Canaveral where it will undergo intense scrutiny as crews prepare it for its next flight. Once engineers have finished combing through the flight data, as well as the Dragon hardware, they will certify the craft for regular flights the first of which will blast off from Kennedy Space Center sometime in September. On board will be three NASA astronauts Mike Hopkins, Victor Glover, and Shannon Walker along with the companys first international partner, Soichi Noguchi of Japan. Sometime in early 2021, four astronauts including Megan McArthur, who is Behnkens wife will climb on board, along with fellow NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough, Thomas Pesquet of the European Space Agency and Japans Akihiko Hoshide, for their own mission to the ISS. This NASA video frame grab shows SpaceXs Crew Dragon spacecraft with NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley and Robert Behnken watching on their screens an infrared view of the International Space Station after undocking from it [NASA/AFP] Sacred honour for safe return Sundays landing was a crucial part of the mission. SpaceX has brought multiple spacecraft back from space before, but none that has carried humans until now. Crew Dragon is a bit trickier to land than its cargo-carrying counterpart. That is because the Crew Dragon is packing an emergency abort system. This is only the second time that the crewed version has landed, with the first occurring successfully in March 2019. Bringing a spaceship home, thats a really big deal, Benji Reed, director of crew mission management at SpaceX, said during an earlier news conference on the landing. And its very important, as part of that sacred honour that we have, for ensuring that we bring Bob and Doug back home to their families, to their kids, and making sure that theyre safe. The SpaceX capsule is lifted onto a ship in the Gulf of Mexico [NASA TV/AP Photo] The landing also marked the final test for SpaceX as part of NASAs Commercial Crew Program, an initiative designed to build space taxis for NASA that will transport its astronauts to and from the space station. On May 30, SpaceX became the first private company to fly astronauts for NASA. Following the successful launch of Crew Dragon in late May, NASA announced that SpaceX would be able to reuse both its Falcon 9 first-stage boosters and the Dragon capsules on future astronauts missions, and not require new hardware each time. Each Dragon capsule can be flown as many as five times, and according to Reed, it should only take about two months to get Hurley and Behnkens capsule ready to fly again. Over 1,300 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Sunday across Japan. Authorities have counted more than 1,000 new cases for five days in a row through Sunday. In Tokyo, 292 new cases were reported on Sunday. The daily tally in the capital fell below 300 for the first time in four days. Tokyo officials are asking people to refrain from eating and drinking in groups. Authorities are also calling on individuals to avoid speaking at close range, even with a small number of people. On Monday, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government plans to ask the owners of karaoke bars and restaurants that serve alcohol to shorten their business hours. There are no plans to shut England's pubs the Housing Secretary said today despite England's Chief Medical Officer warning that they may have to close so schools can restart in September. Robert Jenrick, this morning was asked on Times Radio whether the Government would look to close pubs after a rise in coronavirus transmissions and said: 'We don't have any plans to do that.' He added that schools would definitely return to full capacity in September and confirmed it would be the priority should there be a second spike of infections. It comes just days after Chris Whitty warned the country had 'probably reached near the limit or the limits' of what can be done to return to life as normal for now. He suggested trade-offs would have to be made if schools are to reopen in September, with some restrictions being reimposed. The packed Westbourne in west London on Friday night. Mr Jenrick has denied pubs will close Families could be asked to avoid using public transport or meeting other households under one option. But Mr Jenrick said said the government had no plans to close pubs or another nationwide lockdown. He said: 'I think you're right to say that reopening schools and getting our children back into the classroom with that direct face-to-face contact with their teachers will be a priority for the Government when we have to make those tough choices,' he said. He said any fresh restrictions were unlikely to apply wholesale, adding: 'We don't want to do anything that is a blanket approach across the country. 'Our strategy is to manage this in a localised way with targeted action as we've done in Leicester, as we're doing now in the north-west. 'We will follow the data and look at options if we have to but that approach is the way we restrict in certain areas - it is difficult for those who live there but it provides greater freedom for the rest of the country, for businesses to reopen and for people to get on with their daily lives, and that has to be the way forward if we can.' Robert Jenrick, this morning was asked on Times Radio whether the Government would look to close pubs after a rise in coronavirus transmissions and said: 'We don't have any plans to do that' It comes as shutting pubs again to allow schools to reopen risks putting millions out of work, shattering confidence and costing the economy dear, Ministers have been warned. A top Government adviser yesterday said the move might be necessary as a trade-off to stem a possible rise in coronavirus cases caused by 10 million children returning to the classroom. Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, said most people would prioritise the health and wellbeing of children over going to the pub. Kate Nicholls, of Hospitality UK, which represents pubs, restaurants and hotels, said shutting down large chunks of the economy was a short-sighted strategy. We need to be focusing on collective efforts to drive down and control infections, she said, adding that the hospitality industry directly employs 3.2 million, with another two million reliant through supply chains. Its simply too big to just switch off. We would be talking about millions of people unemployed, a major loss of economic activity. Senior Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith said it was a false choice to say pubs should close to allow schools to open. The former Tory leader pleaded for Ministers to ensure both are kept open. He told The Mail on Sunday that impending economic Armageddon was a far greater risk than Covid-19. He said: Of course, we must protect the vulnerable. We must protect people with co-morbidities. But he added: The rest of us should be back at work by now and schools should be opening. 'If we dont get this economy moving, more people will die because the economy collapsed than will ever die of Covid. Cambodia Union Chief Arrested on 'Incitement' Charges in Vietnam Border Dispute 2020-08-01 -- Cambodian union leader Rong Chhun was charged with "incitement" and jailed in Phnom Penh Saturday, a day after his arrest for claiming the government has allowed Vietnam to encroach on farmland along their shared border, according to court officials and lawyers. The outspoken activist's arrest over an issue that touches nationalist nerves and evokes sympathy for poor farmers drew about 100 supporters to a protest in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court demanding his release. Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, was charged with "incitement to commit a felony or cause social unrest" and is being held in Prey Sar prison, pending trial, Phnom Penh Municipal Court Deputy Prosecutor and court spokesman Kuch Kim Long told RFA. "After questioning him, the judge decided to detain Rong Chhun temporarily," he said. The charges fall under Article 495 of Cambodia's Penal Code, with a broad definition of incitement that includes creating "serious turmoil in society" through public speech or sharing writings or drawings, or videos with the public. "The charges of incitement are not justified," said lawyer Choung Chou Ngy, one of Rong Chhun's four-member defense team. "It is unjust." He said the four lawyers will meet to request bail for Rong Chhun. An incitement conviction carries prison terms of six months to five years and fines. "He did not comment any crimes," said Choung Chou Ngy. Border concerns resonate Rong Chhun is a member of the Cambodia Watchdog Council (CWC) an umbrella NGO of unions representing teachers, workers, farmers, and students whose criticism of the government's stance on border demarcation resonate with people who live near the border, said a supporter from Svay Rieng, a southern province that juts into Vietnam. "He was only talking about the border. Rong Chhun should not have been arrested and detained," said villager Yos Sophoan. "He is a Cambodian. He loves his country. People are concerned about the border," he told RFA. The banned opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party also condemned the arrest in an appeal for international pressure to secure Rong Chhun's "freedom without any conditions." On July 20, Rong Chhun had visited Trapeang Phlong commune, in Tbong Khmum province's Ponhea Kraek district, where Cambodians claimed recently placed border posts had caused them to lose land to neighboring Vietnam. The following day, he issued a statement on behalf of the Cambodia Watchdog Council in which he cited irregularities with the placement of border posts 114 to 119 that resulted in the loss of "hundreds of hectares" (one hectare = 2.5 acres) of ancestral land belonging to area farmers. On Friday, Cambodia's official Cambodia Border Committee rejected Rong Chhun's claims that any farmers had lost land, saying his organization had disseminated "fake news" based on "groundless accusations." The CWC says that farmers are losing land because Cambodia is demarcating the border based on a 1985 treaty from Vietnam's 1979-89 occupation of the country following its ouster of the Khmer Rouge regime. Unresolved border issues between Cambodia and Vietnam, former French colonies from the 1860s to 1954, have sparked incidents in the past, with the construction by Vietnam of military posts in contested areas quickly challenged by Cambodian authorities in Phnom Penh. A joint communique signed by Cambodia and Vietnam in 1995 stipulates that neither side can make any changes to border markers or allow cross-border cultivation or settlement pending the resolution of outstanding border issues. Reported by RFA's Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Paul Eckert. 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 August 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PMU official: US only concerned about looting Iraqi oil, never thinks about nation Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 August 2020 8:49 AM An official from Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces or Hashd al-Sha'abi says Washington only seeks to loot the Arab country's crude oil, stressing that US officials are unconcerned about the Iraqi nation and their woes. "The United States simply intends to exploit the needs of our people to achieve its own goals," Iraq's al-Ahad television network quoted Qais al-Khazali, leader of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, which is part of the PMU, as saying in a televised speech on the occasion of Eid al-Adha (Feast of Sacrifice) on Friday. He stressed that US President Donald Trump is only thinking about how to take control of Iraqi oil fields and how to secure agreements in the field of electricity with the Iraqi government. Khazali then called upon the incumbent Baghdad government to quickly implement the framework agreement that the previous administration signed last year with German industrial conglomerate Siemens to upgrade the electricity grid of the power-strapped country. The Trump administration is pushing for a deal between Washington, Baghdad and six Persian Gulf states to connect Iraq's nationwide power grid to that of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). "Can the government not succumb to US pressure?" al-Khazali asked, underlining that the completion of the agreement is "a sovereign decision." Iraq relies on Iran for trade and natural gas that generates as much as 45% of its electricity. Iran transmits another 1,200 megawatts directly, making itself an indispensable energy source for its Arab neighbor, but the United States is trying to pry Baghdad away from Tehran's orbit. The US has been enlisting its companies and allies such as Saudi Arabia to replace Iran as Iraq's source of energy. Khazali warned against attempts by certain foreign media outlets to take advantage of renewed overnight anti-government protests. "Some media outlets that receive money from abroad have driven the youth to pessimism and despair. They openly encourage the conflict. There are dangerous plans in order to profit from protests," he pointed out. People have recently taken to the streets of Iraq's capital and other cities in demonstrations against corruption, unemployment and poor public services. Mass protests erupted across central and southern Iraq in October 2019, forcing former prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to step down in the face of the rallies. Some 550 people were killed in that wave of rallies and another 30,000 wounded. Iraq's new Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has promised a dialogue with protesters and has requested comprehensive lists of all those who have been killed and wounded throughout the months-long protests in a bid to put those accountable on trial and bring about compensation. Back on May 25, Khazali strongly denounced US military presence in Iraq, saying such a deployment is meant to safeguard the security and interests of the Israeli regime. "There is a national and courageous will, which rejects the presence of any foreign troops on Iraqi soil. There have been talks of US intentions to withdraw from Iraq, but we doubt them," he said at the time. The senior Hashd al-Sha'abi leader added, "The US [military] presence in Iraq is meant to protect the security and interests of the Israeli regime. Neither are we warlords nor thirsty for blood, but rather patriots looking for the dignity and sovereignty of the Iraqi nation." Anti-US sentiment has been running high in Iraq following the assassination of top Iranian anti-terror commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and his Iraqi trenchmate Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of the PMU, and their companions in a US assassination drone airstrike authorized by President Donald Trump near Baghdad International Airport on January 3. Iraqi lawmakers approved a bill two days after the attack, demanding the withdrawal of all foreign military forces led by the United States from the country. The US responded to the move by threatening crippling sanctions against the Arab country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Googles new Pixel 4a is set to launch tomorrow. Here are full specifications, features, and price of the next phone. Google has already confirmed it is going to launch a new smartphone on August 3. The company is expected to launch Pixel 4a, the affordable variant of its main flagship launched last year. Ahead of the official launch, Google Pixel 4a has already made multiple unofficial appearances. Now, with a just a day left for the launch, the new Google phone has leaked again along with high-resolution renders and specs details. Leakster Ishan Agarwal via Samsungbloat has revealed Google Pixel 4a will come with a 5.81-inch full HD+ display with a punch-hole camera on the front, HDR support, 19:5:9 aspect ratio, OLED panel, and Always On support. Google Pixel 4a will measure 144x69.4x8.2mm and weigh 143 grams. The smartphone will run on Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor coupled with 6GB of RAM and 128GB storage. It will be powered by a 3,140mAh battery. Full Google Pixel 4a Specifications in this thread thanks to @samsungbloat! -6+128GB, $349 in the US -Snapdragon 730G -Pixel 4a 5G with Pixel 5 fall launch, $499 -5.81" Punch-hole FHD+ HDR 19.5:9 OLED Display, AOD & Now Playing -144x69.4x8.2mm, 143g -3140mAH Battery#Pixel4a pic.twitter.com/qkcwlznJQL Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) August 1, 2020 Googles next smartphone will have a 12.2-megapixel rear camera with 4K video recording support. It will also have an 8-megapixel front-facing camera. Google will retain headphone jack on the phone and include a rear-facing fingerprint sensor. Google Pixel 4a is likely to be priced at $349 ( 26,000 approximately). The phone will be initially available in the US, UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia, Japan, and Canada. -12.2MP (F/1.7) 77 FOV Dual Pixel Phase Detection Camera w/ OIS -8MP (F/2) 84 FOV Front Camera -Upto 4K 30FPS, 1080p 120FPS -Titan M Security Module -Availability: U.S, UK, Ireland, Germany, Austrailia, Japan, Canada Thanks again @samsungbloat for providing this info. pic.twitter.com/sfneH53F7C Ishan Agarwal (@ishanagarwal24) August 1, 2020 Google Pixel 4a was supposed to launch slightly earlier this year but got delayed. The new Google phone comes shortly before Samsung will launch premium Note series and Galaxy Z Fold 2. Googles hardware, however, will be targeted at the affordable premium segment. Googles premium Pixel 5a and Pixel 5 are expected to launch this fall for a starting price of $499 ( 37,400 approximately). Space enthusiast and techie Shanmuga Subramanian has claimed that rover Pragyan of Chandrayaan-2, the Indian Space Research Organisations moon mission, is intact on the lunar surface and had rolled out a few metres from the lander. He had previously found the debris of India's moonlander Vikram. NASA had given credit to Subramanian, while sending him an e-mail on how his discovery had assisted its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera team to find the site of the primary impact, along with other debris at the impact location. In a series of tweets along with the pictures of the moon surface, Subramanian said, "Chandrayaan-2's Pragyan "ROVER" intact on Moon's surface and has rolled out few metres from the skeleton Vikram lander whose payloads got disintegrated due to rough landing." "We have received communication from him (Subramanian). Our experts are analysing the same," K. Sivan, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), said. Chandrayaan2's Pragyan "ROVER" intact on Moon's surface & has rolled out few metres from the skeleton Vikram lander whose payloads got disintegrated due to rough landing | More details in below tweets @isro #Chandrayaan2 #VikramLander #PragyanRover (1/4) pic.twitter.com/iKSHntsK1f Shan (Shanmuga Subramanian) (@Ramanean) August 1, 2020 "It seems the commands were sent to the lander blindly for days & there is a distinct possibility that the lander could have received commands and relayed it to the rover... but the lander was not able to communicate it back to the earth," Subramanian said. Tweeting a picture taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbital (LRO), Shanmugam said the white dot might be the skeleton lander devoid of other payloads and the black dot might be the rover. According to him, the rover may be still intact on the moon's surface. Latest pictures from LRO (Jan 4, 2020) showed rover tracks on the moon from the lander. He said the debris he had found earlier might be from one of the payloads. The debris found by NASA might be of other payloads, transmitting antenna and thrusters. Speaking to CNN-News18, Subramanian speculated about the chances of the Pragyan rover remaining intact: "There are many possibilities on how it could have been intact, as it was bolted to the Lander, and could have survived the harsh rough landing." He also clarified that he was still waiting for a confirmation from ISRO. Asked specifically if he was saying that the rover was functioning optimally, he said he had not said anything on that aspect. Speaking about his method of finding the tracks of the rover, he said :"I downloaded EDR images from NASA's LRO quickmap site and used USGS ISIS3 open source software and processed it further to enlarge these images. And in the enlarged image we can find tracks of the rover." Vikram lost contact with ISRO following its launch from Chandrayaan-2 moon orbiter on September 6 last year when it tried to make a soft landing near the moon's south pole. July 21, 2020 marked a year of the launch of India's second moon mission by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV)-MkIII-M1. It was on July 22, 2019, when the GSLV rocket, nicknamed 'Bahubali', blasted off from the second launch pad at India's rocket port in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh carrying Chandrayaan-2 Orbiter Vikram (lander) and Pragyan (rover). When chief minister Yogi Adityanath visits Ayodhya to participate in the bhumi pujan on August 5, the event will also mark the culmination of a long struggle launched by mahants (head priests) of the Gorakhnath Math (monastery) in Gorakhpur for construction of the Ram temple. Located 137 kilometres east of Ayodhya, the Gorakhnath Math has been at the centre of the Ram temple movement since British rule. It played a pivotal role in the Ayodhya movement under three mahants -Digvijay Nath, Avaidyanath and Yogi Adityanath. Digvijay Nath, who became mahant in 1935 not only made the math a centre of right-wing political activities, but also became a leading light of the temple movement. After joining the Hindu Mahasabha in 1937, he started mobilising the Hindu community for the Ram temple in Ayodhya. He led a team of volunteers to Ayodhya in 1949, held a meeting with then Raja of Balrampur, Pateshwari Prasad Singh and Swami Karpatri Maharaj, a prominent seer. Also Read: Yogi Adityanaths Ayodhya visit cancelled after minister Kamal Rani Varuns death The Akhil Bhartiya Ram Rajya Parishad Party was floated at the time. On the intervening night of December 22-23, 1949, when Ram idol was placed in the then disputed structure, Digvijay Nath was present in Ayodhya. He motivated volunteers to start prayers. Although the state government directed then district magistrate to remove the idol, he refused to execute the order, stating that the move may lead to communal violence in the area. Pradeep Rao, a teacher at Gorakhpurs MP Post Graduate College who has done research on the Nath tradition of monasticism and the Goraknath Math, said, The placing of the idol inside the mosque worked as a catalyst in the Ram temple movement, mobilising devotees and sadhus to take the fight for the temple to the streets, courts and Parliament. Till his death in 1969, Digvijay Nath gave the momentum to the Ram temple movement, he said. Also Read: Venkaiah Naidu associates Ayodhya Ram Temple with Indian culture, secular values The next mahant, Avaidyanath, continued the movement for the Ram temple. In 1984, he constituted the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Yagya Samiti to bring all the Hindu organisations and sadhus associated with the Ram temple movement on a single platform. He organised a march from Sitamarhi in Bihar to Ayodhya for liberation of the Ram temple in September 1984. He called upon the people to vote for that party or leader who supported the construction of the Ram temple, Rao said. At the dharam sansad (religious conference) organised at Udupi, Karnataka, on October 31, 1985, Avaidyanath and Ramchandra Das Paramhans, a mahant of the Digambar Akhara, demanded opening of the lock of the mosque so that devotees could offer prayers to the idol. A committee known as the Akhil Bhartiya Sangharsh Samiti was constituted to give a push to the movement. On February 1, 1986, when the then district judge of Faizabad gave the order for opening of the lock, Avaidyanath was present in Ayodhya. In a rally organised in Delhi on September 22, 1989, Avaidyanath announced shilanyas at Ram Janmabhoomi on November 9, 1989. Later, in a meeting organised in Haridwar, he announced that sadhus will visit Ayodhya to start construction of the Ram temple. The then union home minister Buta Singh and the then Uttar Pradesh chief minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari urged him to postpone the programme. A few years later, a delegation led by him met the then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao in the early 1990s. An announcement was made at the dharam sansad held in Delhi on October 30, 1992 that kar sewa for the Ram temple in Ayodhya would be launched from December 2, 1992. Inspired by the temple movement, Yogi Adityanath, a fresh graduate, then known as Ajay Singh Bisht, visited Gorakhpur in 1992 to meet Avaidyanth. He renounced family life to become a monk of the Nath Panth. He became a disciple of Avaidyanath and started participating in meetings of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mukti Yagya Samiti headed by his guru. The leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, Hindu Mahasabha, as well as sadhus of Ayodhya, participated in these meetings. The task to organise the meetings was entrusted to the young Adityanath who proved his mettle by inviting the sadhus, heads of various Hindu religious orders and scholars from across the country. Impressed with Adityanaths capabilities and diligence, Mahant Avaidyanth appointed him his successor in 1996. Soon, he established himself as a leader. Contentious issues like construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya, uniform civil code, ban on cow slaughter and anti- conversion campaign topped the agenda of these meetings organised in east UP. In 1998, Mahant Avaidyanth decided to bid adieu to active politics. He announced that Adityanath will contest the Lok Sabha election from prestigious Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat that Avaidyanath had won four times. In 1997-98, when the Ram temple movement started losing its sheen in other parts of UP, Adityanath kept the issue alive in east UP by organising Vishwa Hindu Mahasammelan and Virat Hindu Sangam in Gorakhpur and the adjoining districts. The representatives of 970 Hindu organisations and 10,000 sadhus were invited to the meetings. VHP leader Ashok Singhal also extended support to Adityanath. In 1998, Adityanath was elected to the Lok Sabha from Gorakhpur. He raised the Ram temple as well as Hindutva issues in the House. In 2002, when Adityanaths relationship with the BJP leadership soured, he not only activated the Hindu Mahasabha in east UP but also launched the Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) to mobilise youths for the Ram temple movement. Soon, these organisations spread their wings in central and east UP. After being appointed chief minister on March 19, 2017, Yogi Adityanath has visited Ayodhya several times. The state government declared Ayodhya a municipal corporation, launched projects to promote tourism and amenities for pilgrims, organised Deepotsav on the Diwali eve in 2017, 2018 and 2019. The state government also announced that a 200 feet high statue of Lord Ram would be installed on the banks of the Saryu river in Ayodhya. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic Adityanath visited Ayodhya on March 25, when the idol of Ram Lalla (the child Ram) was shifted to a new pre-fabricated structure. He went there again on July 25 to review preparations for the bhumi pujan and inspect other projects under way in various parts of Ayodhya. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. By Express News Service GUWAHATI: Responding to Assam governments call, 43 police personnel who have already recovered from COVID-19, came forward and donated their plasma. The Assam Police, in collaboration with the states Health Department, had organised a plasma donation camp in Guwahati where 67 cops had turned up. After the necessary screening, 43 of them were found to be eligible. Later, all of them donated their plasma. Recognising their service to humankind, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta and others felicitated them. Sarma spoke very highly of the Assam Police for leading the fight against COVID-19 from the front. Assam Police came forward to donate plasma for a noble cause to save lives. Their sacrifice and contribution will be written with golden ink, the Minister said. FOLLOW COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES HERE He said the Assam Police had also set an example by delivering medicines to the needy during lockdown and looking after the well-being of senior citizens who live alone. Mahanta said it was a moment of pride for the police organization. The example set by the cops will not only boost the morale of those from the organization who are still under treatment, but it will also give a ray of hope to the people of the state, he said. Last month, Sarma had said that plasma therapy was found to be the most effective for Covid-19 patients. While making an appeal to the recovered people to donate their plasma, he had said that such people would get preferential treatment in job interviews and government facilities in the future. The observations in the United States and India are that plasma therapy has no negative impact and 90 per cent patients recover if plasma could be given in a moderate state of a persons illness. Only those people, who were in intensive treatment for Covid-19, can donate it. The society will acknowledge the contributions of such people considering that one plasma can save two lives, he had said. It was an awkward show. Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Sundar Pichai and Mark Zuckerberg, the CEOs of Amazon, Apple, Google and Facebook, each sat on a web call this week to face an antitrust panel in Congress. The already less-than-ideal format, in which politicians often grandstand more than ask probing questions, was only made more strange by the COVID-induced situation of having everyone phone in to the panel. The whole thing would have felt a bit sci-fi if the stakes werent so very real. Because the fact that these four men, who collectively run companies worth about $5 trillion and reach around half the worlds population, were hauled in front of a congressional panel at all signifies the deep worry about techs growing power. And while this specific hearing was to focus on questions of competition and antitrust, inevitably the panel strayed into issues of speech, censorship and influence. Yet, watching the whole affair, it was hard not to get the sense that governments are working with a set of outdated rules. For one, a group of American politicians could only ever defer to the idea of fostering competition. But what the hearings may have inadvertently revealed is that what separates big tech from other kinds of companies is that they are platforms historically unique entities that need their own set of rules. Despite the strangeness, there was some real tension. Under the glare were a series of troubling patterns from the big tech companies. Amazons Bezos came under fire for his companys practice of being a platform for smaller third-party sellers to hawk wares but also using the data from those sales to compete with them. Similarly, Rep. Pramila Jayapal brought receipts of early emails when Facebook was considering acquiring Instagram, showing that Facebook essentially threatened the then much smaller photo-sharing app. It was indicative of just how much big tech has gotten away with as we were lost in its haze over the past decade or so. But Jayapal, who represents part of Seattle, also took the time to thank Bezos for his contributions to the city and suggested that all she wanted was more Amazons, rather than one behemoth. It pointed to the bind we are in: worried about tech companies but also beholden to them and how essential they have become to both our lives and the economy at large. Can you actually have more than one Amazon, though? The trouble is, large technology companies dont just offer a service or product to consumers in the way that Ford or Sony might. Rather, they offer a platform that is, a thing on which other services and businesses are built. Facebook is not just a way to connect with friends, it is also full of neighbourhood groups, buy and sell clubs, news, videos, messaging, digital payments and more. Something similar might be said of all big tech companies. Apple has its app store, from which it takes a 30 per cent cut of sales, and is why you cannot buy a book from Amazon or Kobo from your iPad (those companies refuse to let Apple take a cut). They arent merely companies as much as a kind of infrastructure for both themselves and other companies. Making matters more complicated is that platform companies only really work when they have scale. What would be the point of joining Facebook or setting up a business on Amazon if there werent hundreds of millions of people also on those sites? Its a phenomenon called network effects: the value of a platform to someone goes up the more people are on it. The trouble is obviously that such scale helps to prevent competition. If a network is only good when it has hundreds of millions of people on it, then how can you set up a competing one? Thats why these companies cant be reined in using traditional rules about antitrust, or even rules for traditional media or utilities. They are new and, as such, need to be treated with new rules. Even breaking up companies wouldnt have the desired effect: separate out Instagram and WhatsApp from Facebook, and the latter would still reach 2.5 billion people. The closest analogy we have to platform companies are utility companies: organizations that in places like Canada are tightly regulated in no small part because they form the backbone for so many other things. That is how platform companies like Facebook or Google should be regulated: as if they are infrastructure, because thats what they are. But, because of network effects, we will need new rules: limitations on what platform companies can do in regards to competition, their users data, and the availability of that data to potential competitors and governments, too. Yes it will be awkward and it will be hard. But we cant tackle one of the biggest problems of this century if we are stuck using tools from the last. Read more about: A hospital research team in the southern city of Lyon has come up with an instant breath test to tell whether someone has coronavirus or not. The discovery could pave the way for new coronavirus testing beyond throat and nose swabs. It may be too early to say whether testing a person's breath for Covid-19 will be a game changer in France's efforts to tackle the pandemic, but for some researchers, it is a step in the right direction. "We're pretty confident we're on the right track," Christian George, director of the National Centre of Scientific Research (CNRS) at the la Croix-Rousse hospital in Lyon told Reuters. "Two months ago, we still knew very little about this disease, and now, we are starting to get information that is becoming clearer by the day," he noted. That information is given out by a new breathalyser: a grey machine, the size of a refrigerator, that identifies chemical compounds in exhaled air. The contraption is currently being tested on patients at the la Croix-Rousse hospital. Breath at last Patients are required to blow into a tube and in a matter of seconds they are told if they have Covid-19 or not. George and his team have tested dozens of people in three months, 20 of whom had the virus. Unlike the uncomfortable standard PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, the new breathalyser is not invasive and provides an immediate result. Some observers have said it is high time that attention was paid to the air we breathe, an important variable in what remains a respiratory pandemic. There are still a few hurdles to get through before the breathalyser can be made available to the public. New era First, is the cost. The current machine, which enters its second trial phase, is too expensive for widespread consumption experts say, and are relying on cheaper models further down the line. Second, is its availability. The breathalyser is unlikely to be ready until the end of the year, too late if there is a second wave of the virus in France. The other difficulty is being sure that the breathalyser tests specifically for Covid-19 and not every single respiratory disease. "We remain cautious," said the CNRS' George, but insisted this new testing method could mark a "new era in medical diagnostics". WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 30th July, 2020) US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad visited Kabul to meet with President Ashraf Ghani, High Council for National Reconciliation Chair Abdullah Abdullah and other officials to discuss peace talks and preventing violence in the country, the US Embassy said in a news release. "Ambassador Khalilzad... discussed ongoing efforts to resolve the remaining issues ahead of intra-Afghan negotiations, including the need to keep violence down by all sides after the historic Eid al-Adha ceasefire and the final prisoner releases," the US Embassy said on Thursday. Khalilzad emphasized the need to stop the violence in Afghanistan and seize the historic opportunity and achieve lasting peace. On Tuesday, the Taliban movement pledged to halt offensive operations for the three days of celebrations during the Islamic holiday that lasts until August 3. Soon afterward, Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani ordered the armed forces and police to adhere to the three-day ceasefire. A 72-year-old passenger has died aboard an Air Peace flight P47182 en route Abuja from Calabar. It was also gathered that he had been on medication and was travelling to Abuja for a medical examination when he died. His death was confirmed by a Port Health official, who noted that the passenger had no pulse upon the planes arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The deceased was reportedly escorted to the airport by his daughter, and cleared by Port Health officials at the Calabar airport to fly. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates New Delhi, Aug 2 (UNI) In a first for Indian Railways, a virtual retirement function was organised for 2,320 Indian Railways officers/staff who superannuated on July 31 with Minister Piyush Goyal interacting with all of them. At the event all the Zones/Divisions/Production Units were connected on a single platform along with the officers and staff. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Goyal said hailed the contribution of the retiring employees to making it a better Railways and the role played by them in making the organisation future ready, and added that in the past few years, Railways had shown improvement in its style of working. The event was attended by Minister of Railways and Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, Minister of State of Railways Suresh C Angadi, Railway Board Secretary Sushant Kumar Mishra and senior officers of Railways. Mr Goyal complimented the retirees for their valuable contribution and wished them a good life ahead. During the Covid phase, freight trains, parcel trains, and Shramik Special trains were moved. "Railways have put in best efforts to serve the nation during the pandemic. Railway employees are no less than Corona warriors. I would like to compliment the staff for putting best efforts during the fight against Covid". Terming retirement as an intermediate station in ones life journey, he said the latter half of the journey can be interesting if one decides to do something better for the country and be the leader of transformation. "If we spare some time from our life and utilise our experiences from our life in the service of the nation, our countrys future can become bright. We may encourage the next generation in a better way and leave a better country for them," he said. He urged the retirees to continue to perform small acts which can bring discernible changes in society like rain water harvesting, production of manure from wet waste, thinking of innovative ways to increase production of farmers harvest. Addressing retirees, Mr Angadi said their advise/suggestion to motivate the young staff was always welcome. "A Railwaymen is always a Railwaymen," he stated. Later, the officers and Staff interacted with the two ministers and thanked them for making their retirement function memorable. They also expressed that they would always be a part of Rail Parivaar, an official release here said. UNI SD JAL 1541 HONG KONG (Reuters) - Seven Chinese health officials arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday, the first members of a 60-person team that will carry out widespread COVID-19 testing in the territory as it races to halt a third wave of illness. The initiative marks the first time mainland health officials have assisted Hong Kong in its battle to control the epidemic. The city has reported around 3,500 coronavirus cases and 34 deaths since January, far lower than many other global metropolitan centres. But the daily number of new infections has been in three digits for the past 12 days. Members of the testing team, co-ordinated by the Chinese government, are mostly from public hospitals in Guangdong province, China's National Health Commission said. A group of local Hong Kong councillors said on Sunday that some local residents fear China may use their presence as an opportunity to collect DNA samples for surveillance purposes. The territory's government denied the claims, saying virus testing would only be conducted in the city and samples would not be transported to the mainland. In June, to widespread criticism in the West, Beijing imposed a security law on the territory to tackle what China defines as secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces, punishable by up to life in prison. Hong Kong's autonomy was guaranteed under a "one country, two systems" formula when Britain returned the city to Chinese control in 1997. Hong Kong government leader Carrie Lam said on Saturday it had asked for help from Beijing due to the resurgence in cases. She said the government was studying whether everyone in Hong Kong could be tested, local broadcaster RTHK reported. Following a surge in locally transmitted coronavirus cases in July, the territory introduced curbs including restricting gatherings to two people and mandating face masks in all outdoor public spaces. (Reporting by Farah Master; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and John Stonestreet) The next time we sing Bella ciao! along with the Money Heist family, it will have a different meaning. Alas, all good things must come to an end and this time, its one of Netflixs biggest breakout series: La Casa de Papel. The Spanish-language hit crime drama is waving goodbye with its season 5 adventure. La Casa de Papel or Money Heist | Courtesy of Netflix Money Heist Season 6 rumor laid to rest with Season 5 announcement Season 5 was confirmed in July when La Casa de Papel creator/showrunner Alex Pina revealed hes currently writing the script. That long-awaited news led to speculation about season 6 rumors, but Netflix has finally shot them down with its announcement that Money Heist part 5 will be its last. In a press release, the streamer wrote that the final ride is set to include 10 episodes and production begins on Aug. 3. Thats an increase from the typical eight episodes that fans are used to in parts 1-4. Netflix included a statement from Pina that read: Weve spent almost a year thinking about how to break up the band. How to put the Professor on the ropes. How to get into situations that are irreversible for many characters. The result is the fifth part of La Casa de Papel. The war reaches its most extreme and savage levels, but it is also the most epic and exciting season. RELATED: Money Heist Season 5 Confirmed by Series Showrunner Alex Pina Fans can expect new faces in Money Heist part 5 In the final scenes of part 4, Inspector Alicia Sierra tracked the Professor down to his new hideout and had him at gunpoint. Meanwhile, the rest of the gang reunited with Lisbon inside the Bank of Spain, regrouping to hatch their next great escape. Whos left? Tokyo, Rio, Denver, Helsinki, Palermo, Stockholm, Manila, and Bogota must proceed to leave with the gold its a given. But will new characters derail their plans? According to Netflixs statement, Sense8 actor Miguel Angel Silvestre is joining the cast in part 5 along with Patrick Criado. Viewers will have to wait and see if theyre part of Professors plan B or on the governments side. This isnt farewell for Money Heist creator Alex Pina Since its first season, La Casa de Papel climbed up the streaming charts in terms of popularity to become an international juggernaut. With that in mind, fans shouldnt be concerned about the series chief storyteller or his partners slipping into obscurity. Back in July 2018, Pina secured an exclusive overall deal with Netflix that ensures hell continue creating content under his Vancouver Media banner. For many fans, this holds promise for some of their favorite Money Heist characters. Why? Pina alluded to spinoffs during interviews, and once told OprahMag hed love to write shows for any of the characters. I think Arturito could have a black comedy, he said. Berlins case for his own show is very clear; hes a misogynist, a psychopath, egocentric, a narcissist, a delinquent, a rapistbut still there are lots of people who adore him, because he values friendship, loyalty or fraternity. From Nairobi to El ProfesorDenver is yet another character with his own charm. Pina currently has other projects on Netflix or in development. Stream seasons 1-4 of Money Heist now. Nyamach Lul has known more loss and sorrow in her 16 years than most people have experienced in a lifetime. The teenager from South Sudan first lost her father in an attack by an armed group, and then her mother to illness. After fighting broke out in her hometown of Guel Guk, Upper Nile State, Nyamach and her younger sister fled to safety in Ethiopia. We take care of one another its just the two of us." The one constant in Nyamachs life has been her sister, 13-year-old Nyakoang. For the past four years, the Lul sisters have made a home for themselves in Jewi, one of seven camps hosting more than 300,000 South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopias Gambella region. There are another 40,000 refugees from South Sudan living elsewhere in the country. We take care of one another its just the two of us, says Nyamach. Unlike other siblings, the girls try not to quarrel with each other. Were really scared to argue because we dont know what the future will hold for us, she adds. The Lul sisters fled South Sudan in 2016, following thousands of other people who were also desperate to escape the killing, rape and razing of villages by the warring parties. It was very tough. We fled with nothing, Nyamach adds. South Sudans conflict has had a devastating impact on children, who account for over half of the more than two million South Sudanese living in exile. Not only has the violence robbed them of their families, homes and childhoods, it has also left thousands of children fending for themselves. In Ethiopia, most refugee children live with their families, but a significant number more than 42,000 are either unaccompanied or separated from their parents or guardians. The displacement crisis has one of the highest proportions of children-headed households in the world. Globally, the figure stands at 150,000. As the head of her small household of two, Nyamach has had to grow up too soon. I dont think about my family because they are gone, she says. We are here and they are not and thats just the way it is. Nyamach keeps an immaculately clean and tidy house. Cooking pots are neatly stacked, one on top of the other, the floor has been swept and the broom hung on the wall. Green doilies she has crocheted herself adorn the walls. There is a place for everything. After coming home from school, the Lul sisters settle into a familiar routine. Nyamach prepares the cornmeal porridge that is served for dinner most evenings. While she crushes kernels of maize into flour with a stone, Nyakoang fills a clay jar with water, washes a pot for Nyamach to cook the porridge in and gathers the firewood for cooking. She watches what Im doing and learns step by step from me, says Nyamach. Nyamach Lul, 16, crushes kernels of maize into flour outside the house she shares with her 13-year-old sister in Jewi refugee camp, Ethiopia. Nyamach and her sister are unaccompanied minors. UNHCR/Eduardo Soteras Jalil Unaccompanied South Sudanese minor, 16-year-old Nyamach Lul, stands in the doorway of the house she shares with her 13-year-old sister Nyakoang, in Jewi refugee camp, Ethiopia. UNHCR/Eduardo Soteras Jalil Unaccompanied South Sudanese minors, 16-year-old Nyamach Lul (left) and 13-year-old Nyakoang (right) prepare food at home in Jewi refugee camp, Ethiopia. UNHCR/Eduardo Soteras Jalil Unaccompanied South Sudanese minors, 16-year-old Nyamach Lul (left) and 13-year-old Nyakoang (right) prepare food at home in Jewi refugee camp, Ethiopia. UNHCR/Eduardo Soteras Jalil When food is scarce, Nyamach urges Nyakoang to eat first. When the girls needed shoes, Nyamach sold part of their food rations and bought a pair for Nyakoang first. I like to see her happy more than myself, the older sibling says. A neighbour keeps an eye on the girls but Nyamach resists the idea of having a foster parent. I would not let that happen. Only I will take care of my sister, she says, revealing a steely single-mindedness that makes her seem much older. Patrick Kawuma, head of the Gambella sub-office of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, says the situation for South Sudanese children remains a crisis of huge proportions, not least for unaccompanied or separated minors. Where possible, UNHCR locates missing parents and works towards reuniting families to allow children to be children. Having children as heads of households means that they are becoming adults at a very, very young age. It really means they have to grow up too fast and miss the stage of being a child. Nyamachs priority is ensuring that she and her sister survive as best they can and that they stay in school. Her favourite subject is English. Im hoping for a good job one day, she says. Roberto Robledo was from a rancho a small rural settlement in San Luis Potosi state in central Mexico, Reynaldo told me. When my dad opened the stores, he started bringing relatives from this ranch to come and work for him, Reynaldo Robledo said. He would also bring other people to come work for him. Then in 1975-1976, he rented a store to his cousin Juan Diego Rodriguez. Thats how the ownership spread, Reynaldo explained: His dad would rent a store to someone else, not formally franchise it, and sometimes they branched out on their own. A dispute over one of Rodriguezs stores led to him changing the name to Albertos, Reynaldo Robledo explained. Legend says Rodriguez didnt want to spend much money making the change, so he simply took some paint and changed the R and o in Robertos to an A and an l. With that, the first descendent of the Robertos chain was born Albertos and it spread fast across Southern California. As time went on, they all brought relatives and friends from San Luis Potosi to start new restaurants, and gradually some of them branched off with new names. A well-known Robertos on Mission Boulevard in San Diego is now called Ruribertos. 19,000 more Americans could die from Covid-19 in the next 20 days, CDC composite forecast shows The long-standing New Mexican tradition of burning Old Man Gloom began as a rebellion. For hundreds of years, people have participated in the Fiestas de Santa Fe, which commemorates Don Diego de Vargas 1692 reoccupation of the City of Holy Faith, what is today Santa Fe. Historically the burning of Zozobra has unofficially marked the beginning of the days-long celebration. But burning of the 50-foot effigy wasnt always a part of the tradition. Zozobra was the creation of Santa Fe artist William Howard Shuster Jr., who was himself a spirited rebel. The inaugural construction of his giant burning puppet in 1924 was part of a larger rebellion. It all began when Fiestas de Santa Fe organizers announced they would charge fiestagoers a fee to attend the event. Shuster, fondly known to his friends as Shus, and other local artists scoffed at the idea, saying the requirement would prevent the citys poorest members from participating in the revelry. They decided to create a free parallel event in protest and called it El Pasatiempo. Their fiesta included a pet parade and the hysterical pageant. And of course, the burning of Zozobra a large marionette made of cotton cloth and wood stuffed full of the worlds glooms. Shuster burned the first Zozobra that year in his backyard during a private party for his friends. Zozobra would make his first public appearance in 1926 when the two fiestas combined. The artist was known as much for his eccentricity as well as his professional accomplishments. When he first came to Santa Fe, Shuster met famed Ashcan School artist John Sloan, who served as his artistic mentor. Shuster, Willard Nash, W.E. Mruk, Josef Bakos and Fremont Ellis formed the original Santa Fe Art Colony, Los Cinco Pintores, in deference to the citys Spanish heritage. The five artists showed their work throughout the U.S. Shusters work hangs in the permanent collection of the New Mexico Museum of Art. Shuster got the idea for Zozobra when he traveled to Mexico and witnessed the Yaqui Indians carrying a cartoneria (papier-mache sculpture) of Judas around the Stations of the Cross during Easter Holy Week. The villagers stuffed the Judas effigy with firecrackers and set him ablaze when they completed the ceremony. It was Shusters friend E. Dana Johnson, editor-in-chief of the Santa Fe New Mexican, who chose the fearsome name. The old Spanish dictionary defined Zozobra as the gloomy one. It also translates to anxiety. Shuster was born in Philadelphia on Nov. 26, 1893. He started his professional life as an industrial engineer but abandoned that career to join the military and fight in World War I. He was gassed by the Germans and suffered permanent lung damage. He came to New Mexico on the advice of a cousin who was a doctor. Shuster recalled the conversation in a newspaper interview. His cousin told him he could stay in Philadelphia and maybe live a year or go to a high, dry climate in the West where he had a good chance of dying of a snake bite, old age or bad whiskey. He never did run into that deadly snake and I cant speak for the whiskey but he did indeed die at an old age. He was 75 in February of 1969, when he succumbed to emphysema, leaving behind a ritual that survives to this day, although Santa Fe officials at one time considered abolishing it over safety concerns. Burning of Zozobra event chair Ray Sandoval said some broken storefront windows at the hands of a biker gang in the 70s and a 1980s gang shooting on the plaza after the event pushed officials to consider ending the tradition. The solution was to move it from a Friday to a Thursday to make it more family friendly. Sandoval said the move impacted turnout, dropping the average attendance to about 18,000. The fiery spectacle has since returned to Friday. The burning takes place Labor Day weekend, which is the weekend before the Fiestas. Last year, nearly 64,000 went to Fort Marcy Park to witness the spectacle. Of course this year is completely different. There will be no in-person viewing and instead KOAT will broadcast the ceremony on Friday, Sept. 4. Sandoval said now more than ever the world needs Zozobra 2020 has created a lot of gloom for everyone, Sandoval said. Zozobra is a specter created by all of us. All of our bad acts. But the fire specter is created by all of us too. By our good deeds. Community members will still have an opportunity this year to stuff their glooms into the marionette before hes set afire. For a dollar fee, anyone can submit their gloom online at burnzozobra.com/gloom. The money raised pays for the ceremony and goes to help youth-centered nonprofit organizations in the community including Girls Inc., Santa Fe Youth Symphony and Cooking with Kids. Shuster attended his last Burning of Zozobra ceremony in 1968, having witnessed decades of burning, and seeing something he started in his backyard turn into a cultural phenomenon. In a 1966 New Mexican article, Shuster reminisced about past fiestas. He recalled the year he and some friends had a parade float they called Still Life in America featuring an old copper still. We were all acting drunk and I guess we were a little intoxicated, he said. One man on the float was called Demon Rum and he was carrying a jug in his hands full of a suspicious liquid. When the police tried to arrest him for drinking in public, they found only tea in his jug. Although Shuster handed over construction of the puppet in 1964 to the Kiwanis Club, which still handles the event today, he seems to have never given up his fighting spirit. In the same article he had this to say. The townspeople dont participate in Fiesta the way they used to, he said. They just watch the activities and dont join in any of them. The whole fun of fiesta is getting involved in it and, well, raising some hell. If ever there was a year that epitomized raising some hell, 2020 is it. Curious about how a town, street or building got its name? Email staff writer Elaine Briseno at ebriseno@abqjournal.com or 505-823-3965 as she continues the monthly journey in Whats in a Name? Keeping with Tradition Editors note: The Journal continues Whats in a Name?, a monthly column in which staff writer Elaine Briseno will give a short history of how places in New Mexico got their names. To submit a gloom for the Burning of Zozobra visit burnzozobra.com/gloom. Each submitted gloom costs $1. The burning will take place Sept. 4. Press Release August 2, 2020 Bong Go urges government agencies to prioritize welfare of healthcare workers Senate Committee on Health and Demography Chair Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go assured the medical community that their concerns were heard by the government after their press conference held in the morning of August 1. On the same day of the public briefing conducted by medical associations, Go said that he was invited as Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, to participate in a virtual meeting with key Cabinet officials led by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, representatives from the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), and the National Task Force (NTF) on COVID-19 to discuss recommendations to be presented to President Rodrigo Duterte to address the concerns of the medical community. "Sila po ang mga bayani sa laban na ito. Tulungan natin sila at huwag na pahirapan pa. Lahat po ng serbisyo na pwedeng ibigay sa ating health workers, ibigay na po natin agad sa lalong madaling panahon," Go stressed. He, however, reminded government officials to always deliver on their commitments. "Dapat kung may binitawang salita, maibigay at huwag tagalan ang serbisyo. Kung mangangako kayo, siguraduhin ninyo na mabibigay para hindi kayo malagay sa alanganin at madamay ang Pangulo." Go, for his part, said that he is studying the possibility of providing financial assistance and additional benefits such as life insurance coverage for private sector healthcare workers (HCWs) who are assigned to handle COVID-19 cases. He cited that while public sector HCWs are provided better compensation and benefits by the government, those in the private sector are more often not provided the same. "Kakausapin ko po si Pangulong Duterte, ang ating finance managers at ibang mga mambabatas kung pwedeng maisali pa sa Bayanihan 2 bill ang probisyon na magbibigay dagdag benepisyo sa healthcare workers, sa pribado man o publikong sector. O baka pwedeng magawan ng paraan sa Executive branch nalang through a directive from the President," Go said, explaining that this can be funded by recommending its inclusion in the Bayanihan to Recover as One Bill still pending Congress, or if possible, through a Presidential directive. Go is also appealing to concerned agencies to provide accommodation and transportation assistance and to issue Work and Quarantine Passes to on-duty HCWs so they can conveniently report to work. He added that free and frequent COVID-19 testing must also be made available to them. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Go vowed that he will continue to push for the enactment of measures that can further protect and promote the welfare of the whole medical community. Among the bills he filed are Senate Bill 1226 or the proposed Department of Health (DOH) Hospital Bed Capacity and Service Capability Rationalization Act, which aims to authorize DOH to increase bed capacity and service capability of its retained hospitals; SB 1451, also known as the Medical Reserve Corps Act of 2020 to augment the health workforce; and SB 395 or the Advanced Nursing Education Act of 2019 to enhance nursing programs. In order to immediately ease the burden of the medical community, Go urged the government to hire additional HCWs to augment the current workforce. He also suggested tapping HCWs from areas with less COVID-19 cases to help those in pandemic epicenters. Go appealed to the public to show support and empathy to all front liners saying that "they are sacrificing their own lives to save others. In our own way of showing our compassion and through our cooperation, we can save their lives as well." "Frontliners ang inaasahan natin ngayon dahil sila ang mas nakakaalam, kaya suportahan natin sila," Go added. Tensions has been high since the eve of the protests that were scheduled for Friday, but were thwarted by heavily armed soldiers and police officers deployed throughout the country. Portland (AFP) - Amid the partial withdrawal of controversial federal troops from Portland, protesters in the Oregon city said over the weekend they were digging in for a much longer fight. Sierra Boyne, a 19-year-old African American first-aid provider wearing a vest with a red cross, said protests were not about to wane. "Seeing the energy," she told AFP, looking around at a crowd of hundreds, "the movement will not stop until there is a definitive change." The scene outside the recently embattled federal courthouse was mostly peaceful Saturday and early Sunday, though police elsewhere in the Oregon city clashed with a crowd hurling bottles. After days of fury prompted in part by the presence of the federal troops deployed by President Donald Trump, the scent of tear gas lingered in some areas. Much of the tension earlier filling the air was gone, but several protesters, echoing Boyne, said they were not about to stand down. Leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement urged a crowd of thousands to "re-center" their efforts, away from challenging the militarized federal presence and back to the racial justice demands that have seized the nation since African American George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis police during an arrest in May. The relative calm of recent days came after the US government agreed to draw down federal troops in a deal reached with Oregon Governor Kate Brown, with state police called in to protect the federal courthouse. On Saturday, after one person reportedly launched a firework at the federal building -- an act that previously would have drawn a sharp police response -- fellow protesters chastised the person responsible. - 'Not saying goodbye' - Yet, several demonstrators insisted that the gradual departure of the camouflage-wearing federal troops, sometimes operating out of unmarked vans, would not end protests against systemic racism. "We are not saying goodbye," 46-year-old Alicia told AFP. "This is a never-ending movement. No one is leaving. This is a revolution." Story continues After the recent deal with the government, local, state and federal law enforcement remained largely absent from the central zone, and protests have ended mostly peacefully, with chanting and singing. But while the courthouse area remained relatively calm Saturday, protesters and police clashed in the city's eastern section, local media reported. After demonstrators began throwing bottles and aiming lasers at officers, the police declared the gathering unlawful and, after ordering people to disperse, repeatedly charged at them, reports said. No injuries were immediately reported. What will it take to ultimately defuse the anger in the progressive city and end the protests? No single issue garners consensus, but Boyne listed these objectives: the "defunding" of police, more subsidies for the poor, and the resignation of Mayor Ted Wheeler, whom she blamed for a "brutalizing" police response. But protester Alicia held out a considerably broader demand -- nothing less than the revocation of the US Constitution. As their marriage struggles continue to play out in the public eye, Kanye West might be taking a much-needed break with his wife Kim Kardashian and their four children. The outspoken rapper, 43, was seen on the tarmac at a local airport in Cody, Wyoming on Sunday, boarding a private jet with son Saint, four. And while it wasn't confirmed that Kim, 39, was in the jet with their other children, a source confirmed that the plane had indeed taken off from Los Angeles, California before arriving in Wyoming. On the move: Kanye West was seen on the tarmac at a local airport in Cody, Wyoming on Sunday, boarding a private jet with son Saint Kanye was in white sweats while son Saint wore a camouflage top and khaki pants. The ultimate destination of the jet was not revealed either, but there is speculation that West might be taking a break after a month rife with bizarre Twitter meltdowns, public overshares, and an emotionally charged presidential rally. Security personnel was seen at the landing strip where Kanye was, lending further credence to the idea that Kim was in the vicinity as well. Pointing at the cameras: Saint wore a camouflage top and khaki pants Potential family trip: While it wasn't confirmed that Kim was in the jet with their other children, the plane had indeed taken off from Los Angeles before arriving in Wyoming Kardashian was last seen with her husband of six years last week, when she flew solo to their ranch in Wyoming to meet with West, where he's been spending time away from her and the family while he works on music and continues his impulsive bid to run for the office of United States President. While there, the pair were pictured having an emotional exchange in Kanye's car, which looked to have left Kim in tears. The Keeping Up With The Kardashian star proceeded to leave Wyoming solo back to LA to reunite with their kids. Embattled star: The ultimate destination of the jet was not revealed, but there is speculation that West might be taking a much-needed break after a month rife with bizarre Twitter meltdowns, public overshares, and emotionally charged presidential rallies That's him: Kanye was seen at the top of the jetway stairs in white sweats Since then, Kim has denied that she feels 'torn' about the prospect of leaving Kanye, whose erratic recent behavior might be due to his bipolar disorder as she has mentioned publicly. After his presidential campaign rally on July 19th in which he tearfully revealed he and Kim had considered aborting North, West launched into a days-long string of Twitter rants denouncing both his wife and his mother-in-law Kris Jenner. Kim, who was reportedly livid that he shared the abortion story publicly, made a statement last month saying that her family was 'powerless' to intervene to help Kanye with his bipolar disorder issues, inasmuch as he is an adult. And while Kardashian's representatives have told MailOnline that reports that she is weighing whether to leave her husband are 'absolutely not true,' as for Kanye, several of his recent tweets suggest that the idea of divorcing Kim has been on his mind for some months. Manic episode: After his presidential campaign rally on July 19 in which he tearfully revealed he and Kim had considered aborting North, West launched into a days-long string of Twitter rants denouncing both his wife and his mother-in-law Kris Jenner Better times: Kim, who was reportedly livid that he shared the abortion story publicly, made a statement last month saying that her family was 'powerless' to intervene to help Kanye with his bipolar disorder issues, inasmuch as he is an adult; Kanye seen here in November 2019 Nonetheless, KK indulged herself this weekend by sharing throwback photos of herself trying on her wedding dress, in what was perhaps partially a wistful episode of missing how things once were. She has also continued to focus on her family posting pictures of her children along with birthday festivities for her grandmother MJ as well as her shapewear line Skims, for which she continues to pose regularly. It has also been reported that the couple have actually been living separately for the past year, with Kanye at their $14 million ranch in Wyoming and Kim back in Hidden Hills, Los Angeles with their four children, making near-monthly trips to see West. Kim and Kanye share three other children, in addition to Saint - daughters North, seven, and Chicago, two, and younger son Psalm, one. Staying focused on other things: Kim has continued to focus on her family posting pictures of her children regularly; her son Psalm, right, seen with his cousin True, daughter to Khloe Florida man sentenced to prison over Facebook threat to kill Christian group Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Florida man has been sentenced to six months in prison for threatening to literally kill" employees of the national conservative Christian non-profit American Family Association in social media messages that Facebook allegedly said did not violate its policies. Chase Davis, 21, of Pompano Beach, Florida, was sentenced to federal prison last week by U.S. District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell after sending two May 2019 Facebook messages in which he claimed that he and others would kill every person who runs the Mississippi-based AFA. In addition to incarceration, Davis must also serve 400 hours of community service, pay $1,440 of restitution to AFA for costs it incurred to protect its employees from the threat and will be required to accept mental health treatment, according to Department of Justice. After his sentence is served, Davis will be under court supervision for three years. I am coming to Tupelo unexpected with a group of people and we are going to kill every single person that runs your group, Daviss May 2019 Facebook messages to the group reads. I have put together a group to have you... obliterated to dust. Yes, I literally mean killing all of you. In a statement, AFA explained that its employees contacted Facebook after receiving the threats. Facebooks policy does not allow hate speech, credible threats or direct attacks on an individual or group, content that contains self-harm or excessive violence. But the activist organization claims that Facebook deemed the messages it received were not a violation of policy. AFA added that its appeal of Facebooks decision was unsuccessful. The threat did prompt immediate reports to federal law enforcement and an FBI investigation was launched. Davis was indicted for criminal threats in the summer of 2019 by a grand jury in the Northern District of Mississippi. He pled guilty to the charges in a Florida federal court. His guilty plea in Florida was according to a rule that allows a defendant to plead guilty to charges in the district where they reside through an agreement by the parties and the court, according to the Justice Department. It is important to protect free speech, but when it crosses the line and becomes threats to harm others on the basis of race, religious beliefs, political affiliations or other protected reasons, we will use Federal laws to hold those individuals accountable for their actions, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi William C. Lamar said in a statement. The Christian Post reached out to the AFA and Facebook for comment on this story. Responses could not be received by press time. The motive has not been directly proven as a threat to conservative Christians, but Davis messages do suggest a hatred towards AFA, a Christian nonprofit that advocates for public policy goals and holds conservative views on issues like abortion and LGBT rights. AFA supports a biblical worldview that God created us by design as male and female and that marriage is between one man and one woman, AFA Senior Vice President Buddy Smith said in a statement. With all the sexual brokenness in our society and in the church today, AFA will not be intimidated into silence a relationship with Jesus Christ is the only answer to the culturally controversial questions about gender and sexuality. AFA advocates for traditional family values but is listed as a "domestic hate group" by the controversial far-left civil rights organization Southern Poverty Law Center. AFA and dozens of other organizations that hold Christian conservative views on issues like marriage and sexuality have contested their labeling by AFA as hate groups. SPLC has been cited by some media organizations in their reporting on such groups. In 2018, 47 conservative groups, including the AFA, issued an open letter calling on government agencies, news organizations and other entities to avoid using SPLC for guidance, claiming that the organization has defamed and otherwise harmed" dozens of groups because of ideological differences. In August 2012, the headquarters of the Family Research Council, a Washington D.C.-based Christian conservative activist organization, was attacked by a gunman who later admitted to FBI agents that he found FRC through SPLCs list posted online of anti-LGBT hate groups. FRC President Tony Perkins accused SPLCs reckless labeling of causing devastating consequences. Perkins at the time claimed that SPLC had provided a guide map for terrorists to target FRC and like-minded groups. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has urged tighter regulation on internet communication, especially regarding harmful content and what constitutes free speech. In February, Zuckerberg spoke at a conference in Germany, stating that private companies should not have to make regulation decisions and that the government should, according to BBC. In the February speech, Zuckerberg recommended a combination of existing television and media regulations to be applied with a new regulation targeting social media specifically. On Wednesday, Zuckerberg testified before the U.S. House of Representatives antitrust subcommittee to discuss the power of big-tech companies and the content on their platforms. "I understand that people have concerns about the size and perceived power that tech companies have, Zuckerberg said in prepared remarks. Thats why Ive called for a more active role for governments and regulators and updated rules for the Internet. If we do this right, we can preserve whats best about this technology ... while also protecting society from broader harms." The Waco Plan Commission is recommending the city bump up the minimum lot size require for a septic tank, citing a desire to protect drinking water sources. Because of the availability of sewer service inside city limits, changing the minimum from half-an-acre to an acre would primarily affect future subdivisions on the outskirts of the city, in what is known as the extraterritorial jurisdiction, Planning Director Clint Peters told the commission during a recent meeting when the Plan Commission approved the recommendation to the city council. In recent decades, subdivisions of about 20 lots were the biggest going in seeking to use septic tanks in the citys jurisdiction, and even developments that size were few and far between, Peters said. The requests were typically for one or two lots at a time. Were starting to see larger subdivisions that come in with 40, 50, 60 lots, Peters said. The citys primary concern is limiting the risk of runoff reaching Lake Waco, its drinking water source, Assistant City Manager Paul Cain said. Groundwater conservation districts created by the state have started to implement their own limits on septic tanks to control the risks they pose to groundwater, Cain said. "You do not care that your mother lives among strangers in the depths of Siberia, among rocky mountains and terrifying gusting winds, left to die without any help, hungry and cold...." At the age of 76, Jozefa Bujdo was paying the consequences of marrying a Russian and having a son who entered the Polish police force. Arrested as the "parent of a traitor" by the occupying Soviet authorities in April 1940, Jozefa boarded a converted cattle car in territory absorbed by the Byelorussian S.S.R. and headed 2,500 kilometers east to serve out her sentence of corrective labor on the Kazakh steppe. The mother of six was the only one in her family to make the trip, which came seven months after the Soviets invaded her native Poland as part of a secret pact with Nazi Germany to divvy up her homeland. In faraway Aktyubinsk, present-day Aqtobe, she would complete what would effectively be her death sentence. But in hastily documenting her experiences in a recently discovered cache of letters sent back home to her children, she would leave behind a story of desperation that would span continents and generations. Letters Of Desperation Alojze, her beloved and sole remaining son, was the main reason for Jozefa's dire situation. When the NKVD secret police rounded up "hostile elements" after the Soviet occupation of eastern Poland in 1939, Alojze's occupation as a policeman made him a marked man. He was arrested and listed as a "senior officer" -- but he escaped, sparing him the fate of thousands within the Polish police, intelligentsia, and military. Fate was not so kind to Jozefa. She was arrested, labeled a traitor, sentenced, and quickly put on a train, one of some 1.2 million Poles from their country's eastern borderlands who were forcibly resettled to remote areas of the Soviet Union. Upon her arrival in Aktyubinsk, Jozefa would be assigned to a "supervised residence" -- in her case, she rented a bed in the kitchen of a crowded downtown apartment -- and given work details that likely drew on her skills as a seamstress. Based on her first letter home -- one of the 20 written in an obscure dialect mixing Old Polish and Russian that were squirreled away by her granddaughter, a mystic, in the U.K. -- she didn't plan to stay forever. She sets her sights on securing a contentious family sewing machine so that upon her return she can keep bread on the family's table. But to do that, she needs to get past her daughter-in-law: "It is my son's [Alojze's sewing] machine, not hers. Everything she has she got thanks to his labor -- furs and other things. And through my son, it also belongs to me. It's my machine, and I won't give it back." But hunger and illness threaten to extinguish her glimmer of defiance, and she pleads for her children to do what they can to help, assuming they are living well at home: "Oh, my old and sick age!" And the prices are tremendous here -- potatoes are 4 rubles a kilo; flour is 6 rubles; meat, 20 rubles, bacon is 50 rubles -- and the rest is so expensive that there is not enough [money] to buy it. Everything is terribly expensive." "I am not begging for mercy -- [it is for] my work. Remember that they have bacon and smoked meat, and please send. If I were in your place I would never forget, and if you were kind, you would send a little every month." Unable to work and faced with the loss of the roof over her head if she cannot come up with the rent, she lashes out at her children: "Not a day goes by that someone else does not receive a letter or a packageand they run to me [saying]: 'Is there a letter or a package for you?' And your mother, in great sorrow, says 'not for me.' And what kind of words are these? Nothing. There is no letter or package for me, so let the pain pierce my head lowered in shame on my sorrowful chest, and pierce my eyes swelled with tears." Soviet Catch-22 Jozefa was born in 1864 in a village in modern-day Belarus that was at the time part of the Russian Empire, would later become part of the Second Polish Republic, and, after the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, would come to be occupied by both the Soviets and the Nazis. In 1892, she married outside her Catholic faith to a citizen of the Russian Empire, Konstanty Bujdo, a decision that was not welcomed by her family. While her long union with Konstanty bore two sons and four daughters, it also contributed to her remaining in a Soviet internment camp even after the Polish government in exile forged a one-sided agreement with the Kremlin under which the Soviet resettlement of Poles was reviewed. While many of her countrymen were freed, Jozefa's marriage to a Russian citizen decades earlier precluded her release because she was not classified as pure Polish, but as a Soviet minority. And unfortunately for Jozefa, the release of Polish nationals would not include members of prewar minorities. Instead, she was transferred to a collective farm in Shibayevka, a village outside Aktyubinsk that has since been renamed Nurbulaq. There, she was likely put to work sewing clothes and binding broom heads. Michael Daniel Sagatis, a great-grandson of Jozefa's who would discover her letters in South Wales in 2015, told RFE/RL by telephone that Jozefa's daughters were also placed in an "impossible situation." Their mother has been exiled and is writing these highly emotional letters that are demanding the daughters in some way help preserve Jozefa's life by sending money and food," Sagatis said. "And while the demands have been written through the letters, clearly Jozefa's daughters have their own survival that they must also prioritize during this period." After the Nazi invasion, he said, "the postal service would cease to function, and the letters would stop coming." The Youngest, Wanda Most of the letters Jozefa wrote are addressed to her daughters Maria (Mania), Janina (Janeczka), and Wanda (Wandeczka, Wandzia, Wandziu). Alojze is frequently mentioned, as is her deceased son, Piotr; her late husband, Konstanty; and another daughter, Helena (Hela), who lived in Vilnius, which was part of prewar Poland. Wanda, Jozefa's youngest child, is on the receiving end of some of the most affectionate passages, but also the biggest guilt trips: "My dearest Wandziu, thank you so much for the nice letter, but it would be even nicer if you would remember who your mother is, and who she was for her beloved Wandzia. How she cared about your health and didn't let my Wandzia go hungry and cold." "And my Wanda does not care at all. I am shocked that your conscience allows you to sleep in spite of this. It is a nightmare, with such screams and such storms that forests are falling from the noise. The hills are heralding a message, with voices sorrowfully screaming for the rescue of their mother. The time will come... The gusting winds and the terrifying storms will cease." Sagatis sympathizes with Wanda, his grandmother, and the tough position she was put in as the result of war, the occupation of her homeland, the NKVD's active pursuit of her brother, and the fact that she was newly married and carrying a child. "I think back at that period, that while the letters are coming -- you know, they're these very kind of strong, strong letters from Jozefa, especially the ones directed at Wanda, and how Wanda must have been feeling: the youngest daughter being made to feel that she's responsible for keeping her mother alive, who's 2,500 kilometers away. And they're still communicating by letter," Sagatis said. "And then the letters stop, and, you know, by this point, Zofia is born." The Mystic, Zofia It was Zofia -- an otherworldly soul who would gain international fame as "Sister Marie Gabriel," a self-styled nun and prognosticator of a doomsday future -- whose hoarding habit would provide a bridge to the past. At 5 years old, she would make an arduous trek with her father and mother, traveling through Central Europe and across the Alps on their way to a Polish settlement camp in southeastern Italy. From there the family sailed to the United Kingdom and were interned at a displaced persons camp for Polish refugees in North Wales. Wanda gave birth there to her second child, Sagatis's father. She later settled down in London, where her grandson recalls her being a devout Catholic who maintained close ties to the city's Polish community. Zofia, meanwhile, caught the world's attention in the 1990s after Sister Marie Gabriel predicted that Halley's Comet would explode in 1991. Later, in a "cosmic newsflash" in the British press, she predicted that the comet would collide with Jupiter as "a warning from God to all nations and governments that they must reduce the crime epidemic on Earth drastically or face extinction by fireball asteroid." She wrote numerous books, including one in which she tells of going to the Russian Embassy with her handwritten prediction just months before the comet displayed an unusually bright flare in 1991. Zofia's legacy was further cemented in pop culture with the 2010 release of the song Sister Marie Says by the English band Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark. Sagatis recalls visiting his Aunt Zofia as a child and seeing that her house was filled floor to ceiling with bags and boxes, covered with cloths and sheets to "hide the fact that she was a compulsive hoarder." Eventually, Sofia moved to South Wales to be closer to her brother and lived there until her death in 2014. Sagatis attributes his aunt's persona as a mystic to the trauma she inherited as a child. Faced with the decision of what to do with her possessions, the family decided to painstakingly go through them all, revealing that her hoarding and book research also meant she "kept and would make multiple copies of documents," Sagatis said. Among those to barely escape the trash bin, he said, was an envelope containing Jozefa's letters, which had been saved by her daughters. After the war, they repatriated to communist Poland and reunited the letters with Wanda when she visited in 1963. While Jozefa's experience "wasn't something that was actively talked about in detail at home," Zofia's strange behavior was -- and its cause defied diagnosis or explanation, Sagatis said. The discovery of her letters kindled his interest in past family events, accounts of 20th-century history, and the effects of inherited family trauma. Sagatis's journey to track down evidence of Jozefa's life has led him, at times accompanied by his own sister, to Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Russia, and, most recently, Belarus, to discuss the possibility for Jozefa's official rehabilitation. Sagatis's research has also led to the creation of a series of international exhibitions, a TEDx talk on intergenerational memory, and a documentary short film. He is currently working on a nonfiction account of his experiences. The End Is Nigh "One more fit, and I am gone. I am scared. If [my] life were calm and [I had] good food, maybe my lungs and heart would get better. With the life I have I will die. Without help. I am the only one to blame. Without help from the children, I needed to last a couple of months. The machine should have been sold two months ago...and we should not have left each other." Based on his research, Sagatis said that Jozefa is believed to have died in 1943 and was likely buried in a cemetery on a hill just outside Shibayevka, now Nurbulaq, in Kazakhstan. There is no grave marker to remember Jozefa, but there are a handful of family photos, and her letters, which contain her last wish: "Wandziu, if you [all] forget about me, then that is hard, but I am ordering you not to forget about my most beloved papa [Konstanty] and Piotreczek, not even [if you are] in the greatest torment. This request of mine must always have a place with you, and if you disregard it now, your conscience will wake you up after my death. Once again, I ask you to do something for the sake of my return to you all. Wandziu, my Wandziu! Your image is forever etched in my heart, even though you all forgot about me. With great pain in my heart, I end my cordial words. Sincerely loving you, Mother." Senior House Democrat James Clyburn on Sunday doubled down on his comments comparing Donald Trump to a dictator, suggesting the president 'doesn't plan to leave the White House'. The House Majority Whip told CNN: 'I dont think he plans to leave the White House. He doesnt plan to have fair and unfettered elections. I believe that he plans to install himself in some kind of emergency way to continue to hold onto office. 'And that is why the American people had better wake up. I know a little bit about history, and I know how countries find their demise. It is when we fail to let democracy, and the fundamentals of which is a fair, unfettered election.' Trump had on Thursday suggested delaying the November election until 'people can properly, securely and safely vote'. In March last year South Carolina Democrat Clyburn said the Trump family are among the 'greatest threats to democracy' in his lifetime. Senior House Democrat James Clyburn, pictured, on Sunday doubled down on his comments comparing Donald Trump to a dictator Trump had on Thursday suggested delaying the November election until 'people can properly, securely and safely vote'. In March South Carolina Democrat Clyburn said the Trump family are among the 'greatest threats to democracy' in his lifetime I dont think he plans to leave the White House. He doesnt plan to have fair and unfettered elections. I believe that he plans to install himself in some kind of emergency way to continue to hold onto office, Democratic Rep. James Clyburn says about Pres. Trump. #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/q0CgdTwWcX State of the Union (@CNNSotu) August 2, 2020 Clyburn had told PBS on Friday: 'I have been saying now for about three years that this president doesn't plan to have an election. He's not planning to give up the office. 'He thinks that the American people will be duped by him, like the people of Germany was duped by Adolf Hitler.' He added Sunday: 'I feel very strongly that this man has taken on strong-arm tactics' before comparing Trump to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini and Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler. Clyburn is the third-ranking Democrat in the House. In March last year he said: 'Adolf Hitler was elected chancellor of Germany. And he went about the business of discrediting institutions to the point that people bought into' it. 'Nobody would have believed it now. But swastikas hung in churches throughout Germany. We had better be very careful.' Trump has, of late, refused to say if he'll accept what happens in November. Asked by Axios' Jonathan Swan, in an interview to air Monday on HBO, the president wouldn't say if he would accept the will of the voters but did argue Hillary Clinton hadn't accepted the 2016 election. Donald Trump's Senior Campaign Advisor Jason Miller said Sunday that the president does not want to delay the November elections. 'The election is going to be on November 3rd and President Trump wants the election to be on November 3rd,' he told Fox News Sunday His senior campaign adviser insisted Sunday morning that the president wants to hold the elections on the typical date of November 3, even though he suggested last week that they be postponed. 'The election is going to be on November 3rd and President Trump wants the election to be on November 3rd,' Jason Miller told Fox News Sunday. Miller said instead that it is Democrats who want to move the election date by expanding mail-in voting measures in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 'The problem here, and what I think President Trump was doing a good job in highlighting, is the fact that these Democratic governors are the ones who want to go and move the election,' Jason told Fox News host Chris Wallace. 'These Democratic legislators who want to extend the election,' he lamented. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell shot down Trump's suggestion to delay the November 3 contest Even some of Trump's top Republican allies disagreed. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (left) and House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (right) said the election should not be delayed WHO DOES DECIDE WHEN U.S. VOTES? The White House has little to no say in the timing of the election - it has already been set down by Congress . The Constitution sets a limit on the president's term of January 20 and puts the responsibility for choosing a new one on the Electoral College - made up of the states' electors. It then spells out that Congress has to pick the date for choosing the electors, which must be the same across the country. Initially states did not all choose the electors by popular vote, but as they did, and with the advent of instant communication in the form of the telegraph, it became clear there had to be a national election date. In 1845, Congress set the date of the presidential election itself for the first time, as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. It has not been changed since, and would need an act of Congress to change it. Given the Democrats' hold on the House that seems impossible. But there is some room for the White House to pressure states to put off elections for a few weeks. The constitutional requirement that they choose their electors does not set a date - but in 1948 Congress did, as 'the first Monday after the second Wednesday in December.' In theory, states could delay their elections to closer to that date - but that would take the country to the brink of a constitutional crisis and appears highly unlikely to happen. Advertisement Miller's comments came a few days after Trump said Thursday morning that he wanted the election delayed until 'people can properly, securely and safely vote.' Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, among other top Republicans shot down the president's proposal. During a call with reporters hosted by Trump's campaign on Saturday, Senator Marco Rubio said he is 'not concerned about mail-in voting in Florida,' which is the president's main argument for changing the date of the general election. Trump does not have the power to delay the election. That would take an act of Congress and even the president's top allies on Capitol Hill made it clear Thursday that would not happen. McConnell pointed out elections hadn't been delayed in the past and did not need to be now. 'Never in the history of the country through wars, depressions, and the Civil War have we ever not had a federally scheduled election on time. 'And we'll find a way to do that again this November 3,' McConnell told a local Kentucky television station. He confirmed he expected the election to take place on November 3. 'That's right. We'll cope with whatever the situation is in the election on November 3 as already scheduled.' Other Republicans agreed. 'I don't believe we should delay the elections. Delaying the election probably wouldn't be a good idea. 'I think we can be able to safely vote in person in November,' said Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally on Capitol Hill. Senator Rick Scott, another Trump ally, said he 'doesn't agree with delaying the election.' Joe Biden has warned that Trump could seek to nullify and try to delegitimize November's contest should he lose. 'Mark my words: I think he is gonna try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can't be held,' Biden said at a virtual fundraiser in April. As I settled down to write on Libya, the news ticker opened up the whole West Asian vista. IAF pilots flying the first batch of Rafales from the Dassault Aviation Facility in France had barely settled down to relax at the UAE's Al Dhafra air base, where they were breaking journey, when they found themselves exposed to what they feared might be fatal danger. They scrambled for cover because an Iranian missile landed nearby. They must have heaved a sigh of relief when it was established, without the shadow of a doubt, that neither they nor the UAE, were in the Iranian firing line. Iranians, inventive as the achaemenids have always been, were shooting missiles at a prototype of a US aircraft carrier Nimitz they had floated in the Strait of Hormuz. The choreography of the exercises clearly caused alarm in UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain where the US 5th Fleet is docked. The spokeswoman for the US 5th fleet, Commander Rebecca Rebarich was furious. "The US Navy conducts defensive exercises with our partners promoting maritime security in support of freedom of navigation," she said, adding: "Whereas Iran conducts offensive exercises attempting to intimidate and coerce." From the Iranian side, Commander of the National Guards, Maj. General Hossein Salami was brazen: "What was shown today in these exercises, at the level of aerospace and Naval Forces, was all offensive." This exchange is representative of the mood in the entire region. There has not been a day free of tension in the region for decades but for this narrative let us consider July 20 as the cut-off when Israeli aircraft fatally targeted a Hezbullah Commander, Ali Kamel Mohsen. Promptly came the Hezbullah response: Zionists should be ready for a suitable retaliation. Just as the cauldron was simmering, came the startling disclosure by Hamas political leader, Ismail Haniyah. He told, Qatari newspaper Al Lusail that major powers had offered $15 billion in aid for Gaza "provided Hamas gave up armed struggle and laid down arms". The offer was rejected. Facing convulsions within Israel and a possible change of heart on the issue in Washington, the project of inundating the West Bank with settlements has gone into limbo. Occasionally Benjamin Netanyahu shows his oats in neighbouring Syria because of Israeli paranoia about the Iraqi-Syrian road having been opened. This gives Tehran a direct land route to Lebanon via Iraq and Syria, creating deep anxieties in Israel about sophisticated Iranian weapons being ferried to Syria and arch-enemy, Hezbullah. Every now and again Israel panics into aerial bombardment of some such transaction. Not only is the Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon road link a menace, the Hezbullah, Hashd al Shaabi in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen, the pro Iranian arc, are persistently menacing the Saudis and Israel. In these choppy waters, Jordanian Prime Minister, Omar Razzaz tosses a boulder: he made the startling suggestion that a single Israeli-Palestinian state would be acceptable to Jordan provided "equal rights were given to both people". This was novel beyond recognition in an area where a two-state solution has been the mantra for three decades. Not only is the thought absurd in itself, it blissfully overlooks the "Jewish nation state law" passed by the Knesset. The law states that all occupied Palestinian territories belong exclusively to the Jewish people. It is politically impolite to say so in Amman, but the only Palestinian state which the Right wing Israelis will ever concede happens to be Jordan. Against this varied and disturbed mosaic, the impending Egypt-Turkey confrontation in Libya portends a regional catastrophe. Before I share this catastrophe with you, let me seek your indulgence just for one paragraph to share my bewilderment, naively maybe, on an issue I acquainted myself with during my first visit to Libya in 1986 when President Reagan ordered the bombing of Benghazi and Tripoli in which Qaddafi's baby daughter was killed. In my conversation with him in those tense conditions, he never forgot to mention his pet project -- Great Man-Made River, the world's largest network of pipes, covering a distance of 2,820 kilometers, pumping water from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer System. Qaddafi called it the Eighth Wonder of the world. During recent operations, NATO bombed a key segment of the pipelines. It is universally accepted that this miraculous source of pure, underground water, its cost barely 10 per cent of desalination projects, which will last anywhere between a 1,000 to 100 years, in a region where water security is projected to be a serious problem in the future -- why is there no mention of this project in a nation being looted by major powers? Is it happening so stealthily? Now to the Turkish-Egyptian confrontation building up in Libya: it will be like the clashing of the Cymbals, the crescendo in a Wagner symphony. When Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, was toppled by US-Israeli machinations in 2013 and the then Saudi Crown Prince turned up in Cairo with an offer of $eight billion to help Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi ascend the Egyptian throne, what was the Saudi motivation? Remember Juhayman al Otaybi and his 400-500 supporters had occupied the Mecca mosque in 1979, virtually the same month as when the Ayatullahs ousted the Shah of Iran. This internal rebellion by an extreme variety of the Brothers is what Saudis fear more than Iranian Shiaism. Sisi is Hosni Mubarak II reincarnated to keep the Brothers under his heel. To Israel's chagrin, the Brothers are a powerful influence on Hamas, whose links with Qatar are secure. Qatar, meanwhile, relies on the Turkish army. Notice the linkages? Tayyip Erdogan who restarted "Namaz" at Hagia Sophia, has come out, all guns blazing as an unabashed Brother. His clash with Sisi, the oppressor or Brothers in Egypt, will cut the ground from under Sisi's feet. That clash has to be avoided by forces which, alas, are these days preoccupied with issues of their own survival. (Saeed Naqvi is a senior commentator on political and diplomatic issues. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com) Michael Wing Editor and Writer Follow Michael Wing is a writer and editor based in Calgary, Canada, where he was born and educated in the arts. He writes mainly on culture, human interest, and trending news. Women receive bread at a food handout during the Eid al Adha at the 'Hunger Has No Religion' feeding scheme, in Johannesburg - KIM LUDBROOK/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock/Shutterstock South Africa has become the fifth nation to pass the grim milestone of half a million confirmed coronavirus cases, which account for more than 50 per cent of all Covid-19 infections on the continent of Africa. Zwelini Mkhezi, the health minister, announced a further 10,107 new cases on Saturday, meaning that the Rainbow Nation now only tails the USA, Brazil, Russia and India by number of infections, despite having a significantly smaller population. Despite the dizzying numbers, Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, said he sees promising signs that the alarming growth of cases is stabilising and the health care system in his country is coping in most areas. In a letter to the nation on Sunday, Mr Ramaphosa said that despite the high number of confirmed cases, he sees some positive developments. Most notably, the daily increase in infections appears to be stabilizing in the provinces of the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape and Gauteng. Gauteng province has become the latest epicentre of the outbreak. Home to the capital, Pretoria, and the largest city, Johannesburg, Gauteng now has 35 per cent of the nations cases. Health experts warn that hospitals are struggling to cope and that the virus may not peak until late August or early September. People wearing protective face masks sit on their mats, with some social distance spaces observed between them, during Eid al-Adha prayers at the National Mosque, in Abuja, Nigeria - AFOLABI SOTUNDE/REUTERS Meanwhile, the governor of Nigerias commercial capital Lagos announced that places of worship including churches and mosques will be allowed to reopen in a continued phased reopening of Africas most populous city. "Places of worship in Lagos will now be opened from Friday, the 7th of August for our Muslim worshippers, and on Sunday, the 9th of August for our Christian worshippers," Babajide Sanwo-Olu said in a statement. "We will only allow 50 per cent of their maximum capacities, either at the church or at the mosque." However, the governor advised those over the age of 65 to remain at home and avoid these places of worship. Lagos is the epicentre of Nigerias outbreak. The city of 20 million inhabitants has suffered 15,000 cases and 192 deaths so far. Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Darko-Mensah, has given assurance to the effect that his region was jealously guarding against a surge in COVID-19 cases. As a region with few COVID-19 patients, we are doing everything humanly possible to jealously guard against a surge and even halt the spread, he stated. He said that explains why the region has never relaxed in ensuring that the citizens religiously comply with all the COVID-19 safety protocols. Mr Darko-Mensah gave the assurance when he launched the phase two of the ministry of local government and rural development (MLGRD) disinfection, fumigation and cleaning exercise in markets, lorry parks and public spaces at the Takoradi Market Circle, Takoradi, Western Region. He was particularly excited that all the markets, lorry parks and public toilets in the Western Region were going to be covered in the exercise. According to him, his region had also set up various isolation centres aimed at containing the spread of the virus. He, therefore, entreated the residents to continue to adhere to all the safety protocols, especially now that many of the COVID-19 restrictions had been eased. Early on Saturday on the sidelines of the same exercise in Shama District, the District Chief Executive Officer (DCE) of Shama District Assembly, Joseph Amoah, advised the Ghanaians against being complacent in the countrys battle against the COVID-19 epidemic. the high number of COVID-19 patient recoveries across the country should not make us lose our guard or be complement, but rather drive us collectively to win the war against this infectious virus, he cautioned. The exercise, which covered all the markets and public spaces in the district, was done by Zoomlion Ghana Limited. According to the Shama DCE, the citizenry must be serious with the COVID-19 preventive measures directed by the President and the health professionals. if we follow the protocols outlined by our health experts, the war against COVID-19 would eventually be won, he averred. In this regard, he charged Zoomlion to do a very good job." And to ensure that that is done environmental health professionals within the district have been asked to monitor the exercise and report back, he revealed. Hon Amoah said the prudent measures put in place by President Akufo-Addo had -- to a very large extent helped to contain the spread of this malignant virus across the country, he said. He buttressed this point by indicating that as of Saturday, August 1, 2020, about 32,000 COVID-19 patients nationwide have recovered and have been discharged, leaving 3,223 active cases. In the Western Region, we have recorded 3,223 COVID-19 cases out of which 6 have sadly succumbed to the disease with 2,544 persons being discharged, leaving active cases of 83., he said. For Shama district, we have 83 positive COVID-19 cases, 75 recoveries and 5 active cases," he noted. Again, he disclosed that 23 students who contracted the virus within the district had all recovered. Hon Amoah used the chance to commend the district health directorate, NADMO, COVID-19 Emergency Task force and security services for their efforts in the district's fight against the coronavirus disease. Giving a breakdown of the exercise within his district, he said, 33 markets, 49 public toilets and all the lorry stations and public health facilities would be covered. The Metro Coordinating Director, Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), John Nana Owu, addressing journalists at Kojokrom Lorry Station in the Essikado Sub-Metro, appealed to residents in the metropolitan to follow the COVID-19 protocols. "As COVID-19 restrictions have been eased, I want to use this opportunity to reiterate the need for citizens in this metropolitan to be disciplined in their activities and comply with all the COVID-19 preventive protocols," he advised. He revealed that 35 markets together with public toilets and lorry parks were expected to benefit from the exercise. Places disinfected and fumigated included Kojokrom Market and Lorry Station, Essikado Ketan Market and Lorry Stationin the Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA)Shama Health Centre, Shama Abor Public Toilet, Shama Junction Market and Taxi Stationall in the Shama district among others. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The flooding-related closure of a northern Manitoba health clinic has prompted an Indigenous organization to call for the immediate reopening of health-care services in the area. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/8/2020 (534 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The flooding-related closure of a northern Manitoba health clinic has prompted an Indigenous organization to call for the immediate reopening of health-care services in the area. Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak Grand Chief Garrison Settee has asked Manitoba to declare a state of emergency in Leaf Rapids, a community of 500 people that's about 200 kilometres northwest of Thompson. Settee was notified the local health clinic would be closed until August 10 because of the high level of the Churchill River. In a statement, MKO said there is only one ambulance in Leaf Rapids, and if more than one person needs an emergency medical transport to either Thompson or Lynn Lake, "the result could be tragic." Settee and Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Chief Marcel Moody have met with the Northern Health Region about this issue. "Given that we are living in the midst of a pandemic, keeping the health clinic open should be a top priority to help ensure the safety and wellness of all Manitoba residents, especially the disadvantaged, such as the residents of Leaf Rapids," Settee stated. The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) had recruited three powerful warlords, including Ahmad Shah Massoud, in Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion and the US-Pakistan proxy war there, a new book on India's external spy agency has said. The book 'RAW: A History of Indias Covert Operations' by investigative journalist Yatish Yadav, however, did not disclose the identity of the two other warlords, as they still occupy positions in Afghanistan politics. At least three RAW spies involved in covert action in Afghanistan have claimed that Afghan armed forces were "demoralised and divided, remained practically inactive" during the Soviet armys December 1979 invasion, the book, which will be released on Monday, said. The book, which provides details of RAW operations in Afghanistan and elsewhere, said that the mujahideen sought to fill this gap aided by the Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agents. The US' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)'s partnership with the ISI was a "serious concern" for India and the RAW needed allies to counter the unlikely partnership of the mujahideens and the Pakistani spy agency. In training the mujahideen, Pakistan planned to kill three birds with one stone: first, show its irreconcilable enemy, India, that it could use the Islamic block as global leverage to achieve its long-held desire to annex all of Kashmir; next, acquire arms and funds to strengthen itself against India and Afghanistan; and finally, threaten Moscow and entertain China, the book said. It claimed that the RAW helped Afghanistans fledgling security apparatus to fight back the ISI agents operating in the region and behind the scenes with its network providing accurate inputs on arms smuggled from Pakistan to insurgents in Kandahar. Sometime in April 1980, the Indian government was pressured by the United States to openly criticise the presence of Soviet troops in Afghanistan, but the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had refused to yield. Indias concerns related to Afghanistan were manifold but at least two issues agitated the spies: the training of mujahideen that could be used by Pakistan against India and the unhindered arms supply by the US to the Pakistan army, which was virtually part of its intelligence unit, the ISI, the book said. The book also claims that the US knew about the Indian activities in Afghanistan and the Americans launched propaganda against the RAW with stories appearing with Washington dateline, which said that the US supply of arms was a "sort of punishment" to India for failing to oppose the Soviet Union on Afghan soil and the Soviet-Vietnam interference in Cambodia. Around September-October 1989, the book claims, the RAW officers armed with evidence of terror training camps confronted US officials. The Americans were told by the Indian spies that Pakistan was not preparing holy warriors for Afghanistan but terrorists who would haunt the Western powers in the future. The Indian spies, however, were rebuffed. RAW also feared, the book said, that the Taliban would not waste time in killing former President of Afghanistan Mohammad Najibullah Ahmadzai once they gained dominance in the war. An Indian spy recalled the message the RAW sent to Najibullah, who was staying at the UN mission in Kabul, to leave the country but he refused outrightly. Another effort was made through a reluctant Massoud, but Najibullah rejected the offer once again, arguing that the Taliban may not attack him. Despite our insistence and warnings about the Pakistan-Taliban trickery, Najibullah waited for some kind of miracle to happen. It did not happen and he was brutally executed by the Taliban, the book quotes an ex-spy as saying. File photo It has been reported that a drunken soldier in the Democratic Republic of Congos troubled east has opened fire on passers-by. The soldier killed at least 13 people in the incident including a two-year-old girl and seven women, sources said on Friday. According to the Agence France Presse, AFP, the murders incensed locals who laid out the victims shrouded bodies. Youths built a big fire nearby and a local leader vilified the army and demanded that its troops and a UN force stationed in the district pull out. Shocked relatives of the victims drifted around as they tried to make sense of the tragedy. The incident happened late Thursday at Sange, in the territory of Uvira in South Kivu province, the sources said. The person responsible is a drunken member of the FARDC (DR Congo armed forces) who opened fire on at least 20 civilians who crossed his path, a prosecutor in Uvira said. Captain Dieudonne Kasereka, an army spokesman, said the soldier was in a state of drunkenness and shot 13 people who died, and wounded nine others. The gunman was still armed and on the run, Kasereka added. An army delegation and a UN team is in the area to calm the population, which is demonstrating against the army, he said. Angry residents blocked Highway 5 which runs through the area, using branches, rocks and burning tyres. They also displayed the 12 bodies, wrapped in funeral shrouds, at a busy crossroads, blocking traffic, several witnesses told AFP but removed them later following talks between district representatives and civilian and military officials. Ndaburwa Rukalisa, a local leader in Sange, said the soldier was a member of the locally based 122nd Battalion of the FARDC. A judicial source said that a two-year-old girl was among those who were shot dead. Local leader Bernard Kadodo said we cant understand the lax attitude of the army and Blue Helmets in Sange. The battalion has to pull out of Sange quickly. We want the UN mission to leave the city too. Sange lies 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province. Better Capitalism John Moore/Getty Affordable and accessible childcare the underpinning of a functioning US economy that allows parents to work is hanging by a thread. And on Women's Equality Day, it's important to call attention to this issue, as women shoulder most childcare responsibilities. The House passed two bills, the Child Care is Essential Act and the Child Care for Economic Recovery Act. They would provide a combined $100 billion in direct child care funding over the next five years, including $50 billion in immediate pandemic relief. But it remains to be seen if the Republican-led Senate will pass the legislation. Except for the $2 trillion stimulus package passed in March, the Senate and House have not agreed on spending priorities during the pandemic. Because of the pandemic, a whopping 40% of childcare providers expect to close permanently unless they get additional public assistance soon, according to a survey by the National Association for the Education of Young Children of more than 5,000 childcare providers. Without a bailout, the industry won't recover, multiple providers and industry experts told Business Insider. Story continues This comes as schools, the other main source of childcare, struggle with reopening plans. Some schools are proposing a hybrid in-person and virtual approach, leaving parents with many questions. How to balance childcare and work? What to do if offices reopen? Only 17% of parents feel prepared for virtual learning or homeschooling, a new Care.com survey of 2,000 parents shows. And 65% of parents anticipate needing more childcare than they currently have this fall. According to a separate Bankrate survey of 1,500 parents, 30% say they're going to have to cut back their work hours to take care of their kids, and 15% say they are going to exit the workforce completely. "Failure to bail out the child care industry will be a step back to the progress that has been reached by women in the US in terms of the participation in the labor market," Maria Floro, an economics professor at American University, told Business Insider. Without a bailout, the childcare crisis will fall on the backs of women and their careers A very real potential outcome of this crisis, should government aid not pass the Senate, is an exodus of women from the workforce, Matthias Doepke, a highly cited Northwestern economist who published an analysis of the gendered effects of the coronavirus pandemic, told Business Insider. Economic research from the University of Chicago reveals that about 17% of all US workers have a child under the age of 6 at home, and most of these workers do not have an alternative caregiver in the household (such as a stay-at-home spouse). "Without access to childcare, many of these workers will be unable to go back to work. Women would make up the majority of the affected parents, in part because there are many more single moms than single dads, but even within couples the women often carry the majority of childcare obligations," Doepke said. Think about the difficult choice couples face from a financial point of view. Men, by and large, make more money than women do. So when faced with the decision of which partner in a heterosexual couple should sideline their career to care for the kids, there's an obvious answer. "If you want to make the economic, rational decision, it makes sense that the person with the larger earnings goes back to work, so that would, most often, be the husband," Doepke previously told Business Insider. There's also the fact that women currently provide more childcare and generally take on more household work than men, making them more likely to continue to do so in the future. Research has indicated that mothers perform about 60% of childcare: 7.2 hours per week for fathers versus 13.7 hours for mothers. Separate research shows working women are more likely to take on childcare duties than men. Women leaving the labor force will impact the economy for decades, Betsey Stevenson, a labor economist at the University of Michigan and former member of President Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, told Politico's Zack Stanton. Families will have to reckon with not only lost wages from the years women are out of the workforce, but also the lost income in earning potential over their lifetimes. "We're going to see what happens as women choose to take time out, as they scale back their hours, as they get sidelined in their jobs. All of those things will mean they're in a worse position in four and five years' time than they would have been without the pandemic," Stevenson told Stanton. This could mean the wage gap could actually increase in the coming years as men get further along in their careers, and women step back altogether or stay stagnant in exchange for flexibility, Floro said. "It will be a step back to the progress that has been reached by women in the US in terms of the participation in the labor market. You might see a widening of the gender wage gap," Floro said. The economy will also struggle to restart. "The bottom line of this analysis is that without schools open and childcare available, we cannot get anywhere near a full recovery, because a good share of the workforce will be unable to work due to childcare needs," Doepke said. Read the original article on Business Insider Accra, Ghana (PANA) We are pleased to inform you that after the recent COVID-19 test conducted, your results came out negative, read a text message to Benedict Abbey Lucknow, Aug 2 : Kameshwar Chaupal, a member of Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, has dismissed the allegations of Mahamandaleshwar Kanhaiya Prabhunandan Giri, saying that "a saint is never a Dalit". On the inclusion of Dalits in the trust, he said, "I am a Dalit and I have been made a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust." In fact, Mahamandaleshwar Swami Kanhaiya Prabhunandan Giri of Prayagraj recently alleged that Dalit saints are being neglected in the Bhoomi Poojan rituals to be held on August 5 for the construction of Ram temple as they have not been invited to the ceremony. Swami Kanhaiya also alleged that no Dalit has been made a member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. BSP supremo Mayawati also expressed displeasure over the issue. In a special interaction with IANS in this regard, Trust member Kameshwar Chaupal said that there is a lack of confidence behind the allegations. Mahamandaleshwar cannot become one himself. The appointment to this post is done by the Akhara Council. This election is held according to merit. The Akhara Parishad does not see any saint on the basis of caste but ii makes someone a 'Mahamandaleshwar' on the basis of merit. So now, from where this Dalit thing came from after being a saint? Chaupal said that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad emerged only to remove the distinction from inside the society. "On February 1, 1989, the 'Dharmasansad' of saints was held in which one lakh saints participated. At that time this decision was taken that the foundation stone of Ramjanmabhoomi would be laid by someone from the back row of the society. Being from Scheduled Caste, I laid the foundation stone and non of the dharmacharya had opposed it." He said that after the formation of the trust, it was decided that as long as Lord Ram would be in belief, a Dalit would be a member of the trust. "However, trusts are not formed on the basis of caste. He said that Mahamandaleshwar should not think like this. This is an immature complaint. His statement is prejudiced. He said that when no body knows about the guest list of the event, how can he allege that no one has invited him?" Asked if there is any communication gap in the Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust because you said to put the time capsule in the foundation of Ram temple and the General Secretary rejected it. On this, Chaupal said that it is not so that everyone in the trust has the freedom to speak. Every issue is discussed deeply and openly. "We talked about the capsule looking at the future, so that history is preserved. The General Secretary of the trust wants to talk more about it. Everything came out openly. This proposal will be discussed right now. Everything happens democratically. This is not a matter of dispute. Earlier there had been talk of not making any changes in the model of the temple, but after discussing it, changes are being made. There is no defeat or victory in this." Asked why L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Vinay Katiyar, the leaders of the Ayodhya movement, could not find a place in the Trust, Chaupal said that this was beyond his scope. The government has formed a trust on the decision of the Supreme Court. When asked whether if it does not appear that the trust is kept away from maternal power? On this, he said that first Scheduled Castes, then Backwards and then common people will think that we are not taken in, now you are talking about maternal powers. Actually, this work is not for profit but it is a matter of sacrifice. This is about dedication. If you will see the Ramayan then you will find that someone got Lanka and another one got other things but it was Hanuman who got nothing. But still he is being worshipped everywhere. Devotion is needed to build the temple. Right now everyone is satisfied with the trust. All they want is that there should be a grand temple as soon as possible. When asked why people are giving silver gold despite refusing the trust, he said that "we have a lot of transparency here. Those who donate silver and other things we appealed to them to give cash directly and deposit it in the account. Now you can also pay online. We are calling upon people to donate according to their ability." The Prime Minister is expected to perform Bhoomi Poojan and foundation stone. You have laid the foundation stone before this. How are you feeling? In response to this question, Chappal said that the foundation stone was established long ago. Now there is only Bhoomi Poojan. The chairman of the trust has also clarified this point. He said that when we laid the foundation stone in 1989, it was a period of struggle. At that time Babri Masjid's structure was standing on it, which was demolished in 1992. It remained abandoned for so many years. Therefore, it is necessary to perform Bhoomi Pujan for purification. My contribution is like a squirrel in Ram Setu. But it is a matter of pride that the Prime Minister is going to do this because he is the most recognised leader of the country. I am feeling proud after laying the foundation stone. In response to another question, Chaupal said that the trust wants that the temple should be built at Ramjanmabhoomi as soon as possible and dedicated to the public. A committee for temple construction has been formed. Experts have been appointed for every subject. On the question of not inviting the people of the opposition parties for the Bhoomi Poojan programme, he said that "earlier we had invited people from opposition parties for 'Dharamsansad' multiple times. But they didn't come due to fear of losing their vote bank. These people will not come even after invitation. Anyway, due to coronavirus, the programme is being organised in a very limited manner." (Vivek Tripathi can be reached at vivek.t@ians.in) In May this year, Iqbal Singh Chahal took charge as commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Chahal has delivered promising results, lauded especially for controlling the spread of virus in the citys slums. Aggressive contact tracing and quarantining of suspected cases has helped, Chahal says, adding that the BMC plans to do about 12,000-14,000 coronavirus tests per day in the next month. Edited excerpts: Q. Is Mumbai out of COVID-19 danger yet? If we compare the situation of Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) exactly a month back, on June 30, we had 76,000 cumulative cases and today we have 1,10,000...so we added about 1,100 cases every day on average. But the number of active cases a month back was 28,000, and today it has gone down to 20,000. If we also look at the rate of infection (one person infecting other people), it was 1.5 percent last month and yesterday, for the first time, we touched 0.97 percent (overall Mumbai average). These facts are quite reassuring. Q. Can you tell us about the implications of the Sero-survey? The Sero-survey has been very heartening, in fact I'm grateful to NITI Aayog and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), who joined hands with us for it. We found that 57 percent people have developed antibodies in the slums of Chembur, Matunga and Dahisar. In Mumbai, since 55 percent people live in slums, a huge population has developed this... we're very close to herd immunity. According to World Health Organization (WHO), when 60 percent people have developed antibodies herd immunity sets in. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Also read | Herd immunity in India may generate only in pockets, can be short-lived: Scientists Q. How much should daily cases fall further to say that Mumbai is out of the woods? On July 1, when 1,100 to 1,200 cases came, we were doing only 3,600 to 3,700 tests every day. On July 30, 11,000 people were tested. We have increased our testing rate by three times. A few days ago, the number of cases also fell from 1,100 to 700. Q. Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) (Kalyan, Dombivli, Thane, Mira road, Bhayandar etc) are still worries; how are you tackling this? Our infection rate is below one percent in MCGM; if MMR was not around us, I can assure you that we would've opened up everything today. MCGM has a population of around 20 million. MMR comprises eight different municipal corporations starting from Vasai, Virar, Mira Road, Bhayandar; then we have Thane, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, and these account for another 20 million people. Things over there not satisfactory. The case load and infection rate is very high, which is why we're not opening up. The moment we start trains, they will begin from MMR-Kalyan, Satara, Nalasopara, Vasai or Virar, and we will have almost 6 million people who travel to and fro...that's the reason we're not opening up fully. Q. What plans to further scale testing in Mumbai? We plan to do about 12,000 to 14,000 tests per day in the next month. We have enough hospital beds; for example, on July 30, more than 14,000 beds were lying vacant in hospitals. This doesnt include quarantine beds and COVID care centres, which have full-fledged beds complete with doctors, oxygen and ICUs. When I took over in May, we only had 3,700 hospital beds in Mumbai; today, we have 23,000. About 5,000 beds are occupied by MCGM patients and we are also accommodating almost 3,000 patients from MMR who come in critical condition to our special hospitals. Q. What are the lessons for the BMC and public health policy from this pandemic? When I joined BMC on May 8, we took a major policy shift in our strategy. We decided not to follow other countries where everyone is only talking about vaccine, medicine and trials. I wanted my team to focus on fundamental surveillance, and we moved to that. We went house to house and reached 1.81 crore people; we deployed almost 10,000 health workers and 50,000 BMC employees roaming around in slums and containment zones. This surveillance helped us pick up people who were co-morbid, who were suspects and unwell. We moved 1.3 lakh people into institutional quarantine. We monitored them for 10 days, sanitised their homes and sent them back after 10 days. This strategy is not followed by the US or Canada. It has worked well for us. Also read: Indian billionaires bet big on head start in coronavirus vaccine race Q. How are you controlling the number of fatalities? In the beginning of June, one of the major hospitals in Mumbai reported 17 deaths on the same day, which was hard to digest. It struck me that after one falls sick, most of the population wont go to a Breach Candy hospital but to a nearby clinic or nursing home. Nursing homes were confused about treatment; it took long for them to refer patient to bigger hospitals. These nursing homes are not supposed to admit critical COVID-19 patients. On June 8, I gave an ultimatum to hospitals in Mumbai and asked them to declare undeclared deaths in 48 hours else under the Epidemic Diseases Act their license shall be cancelled. Between June 11 and 15, 862 deaths were reported; these were deaths from March-April-May. I went to the chief minister with these numbers, and he said lets be transparent and declare everything irrespective of the mortality rate. On June 16, our mortality rate shot from 2.9 to almost 7 percent. On July 29, this 7 percent has come down to 5.6 percent. In fact, when Washington Post did research in India, they said that only Mumbai has transparency of mortality. This is the reason for our higher mortality rate. Q. What are your impressions on people from the slums versus people from high-rises in terms of their reactions to the virus? I salute people living in the slums, they are so disciplined. When we visited their houses, they opened their homes to us and cooperated thoroughly. Cases have drastically gone down in slum areas. People from upper and middle class still need to become more responsible80 percent of our cases out of 1,100 per day are coming from these buildings. This is consistent since 25 days, which is why we are appealing to high-rise buildings to learn from slums, whether they like it or not. At least for the sake of their families. Not stepping out of the house without a mask should become a practice, along with maintaining social distancing and sanitising everything. Q. What are the plans for opening up? On June 29, during our cabinet meeting with Chief Minister (CM) Uddhav Thackeray, he mentioned that we should bury the word lockdown and from now on, should only talk about Mission Begin Again. If MCGM wouldn't have been affected so much by MMR, I can assure you everything could've easily opened up. Also read: Maharashtra extends lockdown till August 31, allows malls & restaurants to operate Q. What is the capacity creation in case of second wave? When the pandemic hit us in March, we only had 3,700 hospital beds and 271 ICU beds. From 271 we've gone to 1,700 plus ICU beds and 23,000 hospital beds. Our doctors and BMC workers are quite experienced enough now to face the pandemic. If the second wave comes, we're fully prepared. Having said that, the CM said we shouldn't be complacent and I fully agree with that. This article was first published on the Forbes India website September will come with more than the usual amount of back-to-school jitters as parents, teachers and students grapple with how to return to class safely in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each province plans on reopening schools in the fall with varying requirements for keeping kids at a distance from one another, and Ontario is the only province to mandate that all students from Grades 4 to 12 don a mask. All provinces ask that students and teachers who feel unwell stay home rather than go to school, and require additional cleaning measures and stringent hand-washing routines. Experts at SickKids released a document last week, saying smaller classes are key to limiting kids contacts, and that younger students should remain at least one metre apart, and teens two. They also recommended that masks should be used by high school students when physical distancing is difficult. Heres how each province is planning to bring students back to class: British Columbia B.C. was the only province in Canada to open all schools at the end of the previous school year albeit on a part-time basis, with voluntary attendance. Now the provincial health officer has announced a plan to return all students to school full-time, with in-class instruction. The distinguishing feature of B.C.s back to school plan is the creation of learning groups essentially social bubbles within schools that will set caps on the number of students able to socialize with one another outside of their own classrooms. For elementary school students, the learning groups have a maximum of 60 students, while the number is 120 for high school students. The B.C. teachers union has come out against the back-to-school plan, saying its too early in the pandemic to bring a full cohort of students back to classrooms safely. Masks will not be mandatory in B.C. classrooms, but will be recommended where social distancing isnt possible. The province will be making masks available in schools. Alberta Alberta will be bringing students back to school for full-time in-class instruction in the fall. The provinces back-to-school plan emphasizes cleaning of surfaces, and spreading messages to students and parents about physical distancing and hand sanitizing. The plan allows for the possibility of staggering break times so that fewer students socialize together at the same time. Masks will not be required under Albertas plan, but the Calgary board of education is recommending them for the start of the school year. Saskatchewan Saskatchewan has announced a phased approach to back-to-school, whereby the return of in-class learning depends on whether the province keeps case counts of COVID-19 to a minimum. The plan provides for the possibility of a return to at-home instruction if the province sees a COVID-19 resurgence. Saskatchewan has not yet announced which phase of its back-to-school strategy will be in effect come September, but plans to do so next week. Masks will be optional. Manitoba All students will return to in-class instruction in the fall in Manitoba but high school students may still be learning with a mix of online and in-class teaching. High schools will decide on individual plans for bringing students back to school, with the requirement that the students must interact within cohorts with a maximum size of 75. A likely result is that high school students will learn in-class for only two days a week. Students in Grade 8 and below will go back to school full-time. Masks will not be required. Ontario Most of Ontarios students will return to traditional classrooms full-time in September. Elementary students and many high schoolers will be in school five days a week in standard class sizes, while secondary students at two dozen boards that are higher risk will only attend class half the time in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. Those high schoolers will have a maximum class size of 15 and receive curriculum-linked independent work when they are not in school. Some of it will have to be live video conferencing or other so-called synchronous learning. Students in grades 4 through 12 will be required to wear masks in class, while younger kids are encouraged to do so. Quebec Quebec released its fall back-to-school plan in June. It was one of only two provinces to send students back to school before the end of the 2019-20 school year, but reneged on plans to return Montreal students to classes as the city tackled one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the country. The plan includes strict physical distancing rules. Students up to Grade 9 will have to keep two metres between one another, except for small subgroups comprising six students each. For older students, schools can decide to implement similar subgroups or stagger school attendance to every second day, with half of the instruction happening online. Quebecs education ministry has confirmed it has not changed the back-to-school plan announced in June, as neighbouring jurisdictions such as Ontario released their strategies. Quebec will not be requiring students and staff to wear masks. New Brunswick New Brunswick announced a return-to-school plan with significant physical distancing measures in June. Students in Grade 5 and below will only interact in groups of 15, with class sizes likely larger than that. Middle school students will be asked only to interact with other members of their classrooms, and high school students will return on a staggered basis, taking about half their instruction online. The province quickly reversed a decision to make masks mandatory in public buildings last month, and they will not be required. Nova Scotia Nova Scotia plans to return students to school in the fall with classrooms reorganized for physical distancing, and students restricted to socializing within their classroom bubbles. The province will require high school students to wear masks in circumstances where physical distancing is not possible, but students wont have to wear masks in classrooms where desks are spaced apart. School gatherings and assemblies will be cancelled, and students will be required to eat lunch at their desks. The province will require masks for high school students in common areas, and for all students on school buses. Prince Edward Island Students will return to school in Prince Edward Island full-time in September, with classrooms rearranged for physical distancing, staggered break times and the promotion of social contact only within cohorts. The province also plans to reduce bus routes, asking parents to transport their kids to school if they can. Students and staff may be asked to wear masks in common areas. Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador will send students back to class full-time in September unless an uptick in coronavirus cases changes course for the province. The province released three scenarios at the beginning of July: a full return with extra physical distancing, a partial return or the cancellation of classes. The province has not yet officially announced which scenario it will use come the fall. Newfoundland and Labrador does not recommend masks for kids, but says students and staff may choose to wear one. With files from The Canadian Press Read more about: Written by Petar Djordjevic First of all, let me say that I fly Air Serbia quite often (Etihad Silver status, probably gold status this year unless Corona says otherwise). I really enjoy Air Serbia. I moved my business more towards Serbia and one of the reasons why I did that, apart from favorable tax rates, is great connectivity with my main markets and places where my customers are. (Sofia, Bucharest, Athens, Istanbul, Zagreb, Ljubljana, Kiev... soon Tirana etc.). Apart from being emotionally attached to Air Serbia (I guess it comes from the time when they had the first group of really professional and great staff and among the best service in terms of soft product), I cant be blind not to notice the decrease in service quality. I do not mean in catering, as one may think, or seats, they are quite decent for current aviation standards, but rather the skills of staff (from check-in to the crew). The experience onboard is not standardized and depends on the people working on the particular flight. If they are nice and professional, they will give you a warm greeting and you will feel it, if they are not ... you will feel like you are in an Indian bus. For example, I have heard one Cabin Senior saying to the crew member not to help people with English forms to enter Germany. I was shocked with the Cabin Senior attitude. This form is related to corona and Air Serbia only provides it in English language. Needless to say, that most Gastarbeiters (foreign workers) like most Germans dont care about or are not fluent in English. Not sure if there is anyone who is responsible for these matters, but I would look or ask for the German language form. I worked in positions where I had experience in firing quite a lot of people, mostly because of attitudes like this, and never for a single mistake regardless how big it was. Contrary to that, I remember couple of Air Serbia employees providing wonderful service such as Ana (extremely polite, with wonderful attitude, very upper-class vocabulary. Looks more like she works at one of the ME3 airlines in Business or First class. I do remember pursers on my OTP flights Tijana and Dejan also for the wonderful service and nice way of treating passengers. I remembered these peoples names, which doesnt happen often, but I surely do when they leave a positive impression. Overall, I dont complain (much and often) about Air Serbia, as I would like to see it imporve. As a Serbian taxpayer and a customer, I would really like to see the money going to something that will be profitable and stable, but also something to be proud of in terms of service and people working there. Unfortunately, I can notice that newer employees at Air Serbia do not have what it takes to be an FA. Very disappointing. Maybe its hard to find the right people at a time of increased employment. I have some examples on some other flights that I will write about another time. Flight #1 - I flew from Frankfurt to Athens, with a 2 day stopover in Belgrade, which I used to combine business in Greece and visit my parents, dogs and friends. It is my common practice when I fly. My dogs already got used to the fact that there are treats and toys for them in my luggage. I continued to Athens on January 26, a flight I will review later. 24JAN Frankfurt to Belgrade, flight JU335 , dep 2025 arr 2220 Seat: 3F I boarded among the last passengers, because I simply like it that way. The plane looked quite full and even business class was full (which is not always the case). I noticed that there was obviously problems with too much hand luggage in the cabin. Luckily, I checked it in. I put my handbag next to my seat. I usually use the middle seat for that. Boarding completed. No one on seat 3D. Yes, what a relief! The crew seemed confused about the amount of bags in the cabin. Not sure why they didnt put some of it in the cargo compartment. I must say that it was amusing for me to watch them behave like muve bez glave. I know it is important not to miss the slot at FRA (as it was before Corona). All of a sudden, the Cabin Senior (the way Air Serbia calls Chef/Maitre de Cabine) Goran, appeared in a rush and asked if I wouldnt t mind having one bag next to me. He fastened it to the aisle seat. I was fine with it, since it looked like there was no other choice. All I could hear at that time was one of the lines from All Nippon Airlines announcement: For smooth evacuation nothing should block the exits or aisles. How contradictory? I looked at the seat of the passenger next to me, and I saw ironed shirts brought into the cabin. Luckily my business does not require shirts and ties. I prefer not to carry anything with me, even my laptop makes me feel like Im carrying rocks. Another flight attendant came and passed the menu. Minutes later she came to pick up the order. I have to point out that I liked it when in the past Air Serbias flight attendants introduced themselves to each passenger and handed and explained the menu better. This one was more like: Here you go! Not much or nothing of the Serbian hospitality that always comes with a bit of a small talk. Before, they were even taking coats and jackets and placing them in special areas on coathangers, but it seems Ryanair concept of more seats prevailed that. The menu is actually quite good for flights that last less than 2 hours. I didnt feel like eating fish, so I went the American way - Cheeseburger and Fries. The plane has WIFI and internet connection, which I use sometimes if I dont feel like sleeping. It is convenient to chat with people from the plane and to help the time pass faster. Let me quote my mother I read more books, before internet. After take-off, I checked the Air Serbia Deli Menu with drinks and snacks available for purchase on board. It looked appealing to me. I like the combination of Plazma and apple juice. Maybe they should offer warm milk and Plazma on the menu. The meal was served. Writing this trip report, I was wondering... What was the meal like?! Did I like it?!. I checked the photos of almost clean plates (lol) so it must have been tasty, or there was too much bread on the plate, so I decided to clean up what was left with it. I see there was still water, but I am sure that I ordered sparkling water. I am sure because I never order still water if I can choose sparkling, but it seems I got still water. Later I got sparkling because I probably stressed it to them. I didnt drink alcohol, probably because I had to take rent-a-car after. If this wasnt the case, I would definitely go with couple of Rakijas and sparkling water, followed with white wine and sparkling water. I am a bit disappointed that they dont serve Kisno vino anymore. It was one of my favorites and standouts on the menu. They use real plates, real cutlery and real glass, so I was surprised to see paper coffee cups. It wouldnt cost much more to add a glass coffee cup. The salad may look plain on the photos, but it was pretty fresh. I remember that I was surprised that celery root can taste so good. From that flight on, I have it a few times a month at home. Years ago, Air Serbia had something with cheese pie and ajvar. That one was perfection! I am always looking for it on the menu, but I didnt have any luck this time around. Compared to my favorite Air France, not so bad overall. And it certainly is better than Lufthansa. Similar to Air Europa. A bit below KLM standards. Air France has better wine, food can be really tasteless sometimes, but wine, sweets and cheese, never failed my expectations. They do have a cute way of pushing passengers to take some sweets home. Take it for your family! Take more! (is it expiring soon or what?!) I asked for another and another and another sparkling water (on intercontinental flights, I usually put in the reservation a special request to be supplied with 3 bottles of cold sparkling water it has something to do with Germany, sparkling water and energy drinks). I opened Air Serbias magazine. It looked pleasing. Highest ratings article, well not for this flight, otherwise I could agree. I am glad that they interviewed my ex fellow citizen of Wiesbaden and Belgrade, Biljana Vilimon. The part with the timetable, reminds me of the 80s and 90s and I liked it. I remember my father telling me things like: there werent flights twice a day like we have it today. You had to look up the timetable book and then call and reserve. Unfortunately, we will have to wait until flights resume at full capacity. Nowadays, I fly and see empty terminals. It makes me sad and I get teary-eyed. It may sound funny, because I do fly a lot, but each and every time I look at the fleet section of the in-flight magazines and study it, its like I have never flown before. I like to see many different brands on those Air Serbia boxes on board. Im not sure how are they called. Probably just a box. I get a pretty nostalgic feeling when I see Jat Airways sign/logos even on Airbuses these days. After so much of sparkling water, it was time to pay a visit to the restroom. I had to jump over someones bag, but it wasnt that hard. The toilet was clean and decent looking. However, some toiletries are short on stuff, and as I did cost cutting many times, I know how budgeting works, but guys please look at the liquid soap bottle and its supplies. Also face lotion Made in China, well not for this face. Made in Serbia would definitely make me try it. I had to jump back to my seat. No problem. At least some physical activity after all that sitting. Probably not completely in accordance with rules and by the book, but ... luckily, we did not have a fire like on Aeroflots Sukhoi when the people died simply because passengers were selfish enough to fight for their bags and blocked the timely evacuation. I probably slept till the landing woke me up. I could see the wonderful Belgrade Airport with a lot of Air Serbia planes. Overall, I really enjoyed the flight. The food was good. Crew (I had contact with Chef de Cabine and another lady) was a bit chaotic, not particularly interested in providing good service, as they werent particularly interested in procedures, and probably just thinking about getting back home and sleep. If it wasnt for this bag next to me, I would probably forget that I was on this flight. I am sure Air Serbia can and must do better. Not all passengers are flying Wizz Air, nor do they like that kind of approach and service they get there. It is obvious you cant beat their prices, but at least try to beat their soft service with nicer, more pleasant and motivated people. (I will have to write a review of my Dortmund - Belgrade flight. That was the only option to fly from Germany right after the opening of the airport. That flight was like from a horror film!!) I will write a review of BEG-ATH flight, also in Business with the visit to the Air Serbia lounge. I hope that this review is not too long. I also noticed that people here like photos, so I included almost all of them. NSW has recorded 12 new COVID-19 cases as the state grapples with continued restriction breaches and its first coronavirus-related death in more than two months. An 83-year-old man connected to the Crossroads Hotel cluster in southwest Sydney died on Saturday morning, taking the NSW death toll to 52 and the nationwide tally past 200. It was the first coronavirus-related death in NSW since late May. NSW recorded 12 new cases - with just one in hotel quarantine - in the 24 hours to 8pm on Saturday from almost 22,500 cases. Eight people are in intensive care, with at least 103 being treated for the virus in hospital. NSW Health's Dr Jeremy McAnulty on Saturday said seven cases in the past week have not been linked to known cases, emanating from southwestern Sydney, western Sydney, southeastern Sydney and Sydney local health districts. NSW has recorded 12 new coronavirus cases and its first death in more than two months. Pictured: a nurse takes a swab from a patient in Sydney The Thai Rock Wetherill Park (pictured) cluster has grown to near 100 cases, while the Potts Point restaurant has reached 24 The Thai Rock Wetherill Park cluster is nearing 100 cases, while the cluster in Potts Point has reached 24 and the funeral events cluster sits at 25. A popular venue on Sydney's Northern Beaches, meanwhile, was on Saturday forced to shut after hosting a COVID-positive patron on the afternoon of July 24. The Bavarian in Manly underwent deep cleaning and reopened to the public on Saturday afternoon. Patrons on the afternoon of July 24 should monitor for respiratory symptoms. The Harpoon & Hotel Harry in Surry Hills, Matinee Coffee in Marrickville and Tan Viet in Cabramatta are among other venues required to undertake deep cleaning in recent days. A cleaner in Harpoon and Hotel Harry in Surry Hills on Friday after the venue was exposed to coronavirus The Bavarian bar and restaurant on Manly Wharf was also forced to close for cleaning before reopening on Saturday afternoon Harris Farm Market in Leichhardt and Darlo Bar in Darlinghurst also on Friday confirmed they were frequented on July 26 by COVID-positive people and have undergone deep cleaning. NSW Police Minister David Elliott on Sunday said nine fines had been issued overnight for breaching restrictions, while Liquor and Gaming NSW has fined Sydney's Watsons Bay Hotel $5,000 after finding patrons drinking while standing and poorly-spaced poker machines. It was the 15th NSW venue to be fined in the past three weeks for breaches. 'It beggars belief that anybody would turn on the TV news bulletin today and see what's going on in Melbourne and want to breach the law in NSW,' Mr Elliott told reporters. NSW Police said the fines were issued on Saturday night in relation to large parties in East Jindabyne and Maroubra, while a separate beach party in Mosman is being investigated after two 16-year-old girls required medical treatment for excessive alcohol consumption. Prudential Life Insurance Ghana (Prudential), a leading insurer in the country, has today announced their partnership with three institutions; United Way Ghana, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the School of Languages, University of Ghana to fund projects that are set to impact over 23,000 Ghanaians. United Way Ghana is bringing together local expertise in the fields of education, health and financial empowerment to fight the pandemic and address COVID-19 social issues in underserved communities in Ghana. The partnership with United Way will provide Food, PPEs and Literacy programs for families from deprived communities in Ayawaso North, set to impact about 3,000 individuals. UNFPA, the lead UN Agency that targets vulnerable adolescent populations, will use their expertise to fill the gaps that exist in addressing the needs of Kayayei. Prudentials fund will provide 500 Kayayei in the Tema station area with access to basic healthcare services, personal development and reproductive health education, provision of food supplies and care kits. The University of Ghana School of Languages will be reaching over 20,000 people through the provision of local language interventions in traditional media (radio and television), on social media platforms and direct contact with some minority language speakers in selected market places, to fight stigma and misinformation on COVID-19. Languages targeted are Akan, Ga, Ga-Adangbe, Dagbani, Ewe, Hausa, Fafra, Ghanaian Sign Language, Ghanaian Pidgin English, English, and French. Marc Fancy, Executive Director of Prudence Foundation said: The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on peoples health, livelihoods and economies, highlight the important role that Prudential can play in supporting communities and governments. Through the new Group-wide Prudential COVID-19 Relief Fund, we are pleased to collaborate with our businesses across Asia and Africa to provide additional support to vulnerable communities during such challenging times. Emmanuel Mokobi Aryee, CEO of Prudential Life Insurance Ghana said: Prudential is passionate about providing relief to its communities in these trying times. So far, we have introduced the free COVID-19 cover for our existing and potential customers, as well as the Cha-Ching Kid$ At Home activities developed to help parents enhance their childrens financial literacy while at home. Now, we are happy to be associated with these institutions to provide COVID-19 relief for many more Ghanaians. Janet Butler, Vice President, Africa Region of United Way Worldwide speaking on behalf of United Way Ghana said Thank you Prudential for choosing us as your partners for COVID-19 relief and response. Your support is critical at this time when the communities we serve need our help the most. We look forward to working with you and making a positive impact on vulnerable families in Ghana Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Over 2,00,000 people have died due to coronavirus in Latin America and the Caribbean, the latest tally has stated. As per official records, a total of 145,628 have lost their lives in Latin America with Brazil and Mexico accounting for over one-third of the total tally. In the South American continent, Brazil with 93,616 deaths is the worst-hit followed by Peru where 19,408 deaths have been reported. Brazil tops the list According to international media reports, the death toll in the regions doubled only in the span of a month. In addition, to deaths, infections have also spiked with Brazil leading with over 2,707,877 cases and 93,569 deaths. However, in a statement earlier this week, Brazilian health authorities said that they expect the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine by December and following doses in spring of 2021. On the other hand, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro asked people to face the novel coronavirus, saying people die every day and nearly everyone will eventually catch the disease. Read: Mexico Coronavirus Chief Sidesteps Calls To Resign Read: Aadi Perukku 2020: History, Meaning And Significance Of This Auspicious Day Meanwhile, a total of 4,919,054 people have contracted the virus in the Latin and Caribbean region together while 2,00,212 have lost their lives. Cuba, the largest country in the Caribbean has reported 2,633 cases and 87 deaths. Meanwhile, in Haiti, a total of 7,464 people have tested positive and 165 died. Peru, Colombia and Chile are the worst-affected countries after Brazil and Mexico. According to the latest tally by John Hopkins University, a total of 434,193 people have contracted the virus in Mexico while 47,472 have died. Earlier this week, the head of Mexicos efforts to fight the coronavirus sidestepped calls to resign after Mexicos death count spiked. Mexico is closely followed by Peru which has reported 407,492 cases and 19,021 deaths. According to virus infection numbers as a proportion of the population, Peru tops the region's list, followed by Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Panama. Read: Peru Mourns The Death Of 56 Journalists Due To COVID-19 Read: Tropical Storm Isaias Lashes Cuba's Eastern Coast Image : AP RACINE Painters of all ages and races spent the morning and part of the afternoon Saturday with rollers and brushes. They filled in chalked-in letters that formed a special set of words, significant to each painter in some way or another. I was looking for a meaningful way to bring a voice, said Fredricka Hunter of Mount Pleasant, roller in hand. Ive always believed God loves all and were all his children, said Caroline Bonilla of Racine, working alongside Hunter. As some painters danced to songs played by a DJ such as Superstition by Stevie Wonder while working, eventually the words Black Humanity Now! appeared on Wisconsin Avenue in front of the Racine County Courthouse, 730 Wisconsin Ave., in bright yellow letters. The process Bonilla said she came to support her friend, Scott Terry, and to support the community. Terry organized the project and proposed it to the City of Racine. For extra convincing, he started a change.org petition that received almost 3,170 signatures. Terry, born and raised in Racine, described this effort as a project of his business, Mahogany Gallery, and the Sentinel Mentors initiative. An artist himself, hes also a community activist, calling for an end to police brutality against Blacks. Once it was approved by the city, Terry posted information to his personal Facebook page as well as started a Facebook group calling participants to action. The group had a link where volunteers could sign up and the list was capped at 40 for social distancing guidelines. They all felt really connected to it and wanted to be a part of it, Terry said. People just rallied behind it. Everybody here is making history. Terry said painters came from Racine, Milwaukee and Kenosha counties, and states as far as Illinois and Minnesota. Terry said he chose the phrase Black Humanity Now! as opposed to Black Lives Matter or another phrase because he wanted something different and unique. Theres so much trauma that happens in Racine, trauma that happens right here on this block, he said, referring to the area where the mural was painted. Having it painted here can serve as a constant reminder, calling for black humanity. We have a lot of work to do to bring that mindset to Racine. The mural did not require city funding. It was sponsored by Aldermen Jeff Coe, Mollie Jones, Edwin Santiago, Jennifer Levie, Maurice Horton, Marcus West, Trevor Jung, Mary Land, Henry Perez, Natalia Taft, Jason Meekma and Melissa Lemke. The first paint stroke, at 10 a.m. Saturday, was done with the aldermen. Additionally, Terry created a GoFundMe page for the project and $1,075 was raised, surpassing his $825 goal. Funds were used to purchase safety vests, paint trays, brushes and rollers, extension poles, cleaning supplies, masks, insurance and, of course, paint enough cans to cover more than 9,000 square feet. Time to put a spotlight on Hunter said the location was powerful for her and she supported the project. This is amazing. This is for me to live my voice, she said. She also wanted to set an example for her daughter and teach her that her voice is powerful, far and just. As a person of color, we are often seen historically as being inhumane, she said. Its time to put a spotlight on that; the issue is coming to the forefront. Hunter said the overall Black Lives Matter movement means the tide is changing and black people are starting to be valued. Its not negating anyone else, she said. We are standing up, saying death is not something thats palatable. Whats so beautiful is people are standing up nationwide. The best part of the mural project was the camaraderie and the atmosphere of love, she said. The group gathered at Smoked On The Water, 3 Fifth St., for a celebration after the mural was complete. Love 22 Funny 4 Wow 4 Sad 4 Angry 49 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, August 2, 2020 15:15 534 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066af9804 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,coronavirus,pandemic,medical-workers,doctor,IDI,doctors,medical-practitioners,COVID-19-death-toll Free At least 72 doctors across the country have died from COVID-19, the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) said on Saturday. Based on information received by IDI, at least 72 doctors are reported to have died after testing positive for COVID-19 or while being a COVID-19 PDP [patient under surveillance], IDI spokesperson Halik Malik said on Saturday as quoted by kompas.com. Halik said that four doctors had died in the past week alone, the latest of which was Andhika Kesuma Putri, a pulmonologist in Medan, North Sumatra. He said that most of the doctors who died were relatively young, ranging between 28 to 34 years old. Generally they have comorbidities, but there were also some with no comorbidities at all, he said. Read also: Medics concerned as Jakarta sees rising COVID-19 hospitalizations He said that the increasing number of cases and deaths showed that the outbreak in the country had yet to be put under control. The government should focus on restoring public health through policies and strategies that have been proven to control COVID-19 transmission, he said. It should optimize testing, tracing, isolating, and treatment in all regions. According to the official government count, Indonesia had recorded 109,936 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 5,193 deaths as of Saturday. (kmt) Gaurav said that emerging economies such as Vietnam have made significant factory investments in recent years, anticipating a shift in production out of China, where costs were rising. But the small scale of many of these factories leaves them few safety nets against a major downturn. Even when demand recovers, they will face a challenge of rebuilding their workforce, which has dispersed amid the pandemic. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Drug major Lupin is recalling 35,928 bottles of a generic antibiotic drug in the US market following unfavourable result in retention samples, the US health regulator said in a report. As per the latest Enforcement Report of the US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), the Mumbai-based company is recalling Cefdinir for oral suspension USP, 250 mg/5mL, packaged in 60 ml bottles. The lot has been manufactured at Lupin's Mandideep (Madhya Pradesh) manufacturing facility, and then supplied to company's Baltimore-based arm, Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc, which has initiated the country wide recall on July 2. As per the USFDA, the company is recalling the specific lot due to "out-of-specification (OOS) result observed in an assay test of retention samples." Cefdinir is an antibiotic used to treat pneumonia, otitis media, strep throat, and cellulitis. The ongoing voluntary recall has been classified as class II recall. As per the USFDA, a class II recall is initiated in a situation in which use of, or exposure to, a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote. The company did not elaborate if the product is also sold in India. A mail sent to the company in this regard remained unanswered. Usually, drug firms cater to the domestic market from separate manufacturing plants. The USFDA approved facilities are specifically utilised to cater to US, the largest market for pharmaceutical products in the world. As per an earlier report of the regulator, the Mumbai-based firm is also in the process of recalling 4,92,858 bottles of Metformin Hydrochloride extended-release tablets in 500 mg and 1,000 strengths due to possibility of the affected lot containing cancer causing nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) above the acceptable intake limit. CHANDIGARH: As part of its crackdown against drugs, the Punjab Police has busted another Pak-backed cross border drugs and weapons smuggling racket, with the arrest of two smugglers and yet another BSF constable, posted along the Pakistan border in Tarn Taran district. The Police is working to get the kingpin, Satnam Singh @ Satta, extradited from Muscat, Oman, where he had fled after he was declared Proclaimed Offender in two smuggling cases. He used a fake Passport and Aadhar card issued in the name of Gurmeet Singh to escape, said DGP Dinkar Gupta, adding that the accused had five cases of smuggling registered against him earlier. Sattas ill-gotten property, which he had purchased using drug money in the name of his family relative Maninder Kaur, at Sandhu Colony Amritsar, has been frozen, he added. Jalandhar Rural Police, which unearthed the racket, had recovered a .30 Bore Pistol (Made in China), alongwith 5 live rounds and Rs 24.50 lakhs as drug money, from the three arrested accused identified as Surmail Singh, Gurjant Singh and BSF constable Rajendra Prashad, r/o Rawala Mandi in Ganga Nagar district of Rajasthan, said the DGP. Giving details of the operation, Gupta said that acting on a tip-off, Jalandhar Rural Police, on July 26, apprehended two smugglers, who were coming in a Verna Car from Delhi. The cops recovered 25 gm from their car during search. On questioning, the duo identified themselves as Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh. Surmails further questioning led to the recovery of the .30 Bore Pistol along with 5 live rounds and 35 gm of heroin. During further investigations, both the accused also revealed that they were working with a cross-border smuggler Satnam Singh @ Satta, r/o Village Naarli in Taran Tarn district, who was closely linked with Pak-based smugglers for smuggling of heroin and weapons from Pakistan. They also disclosed that BSF constable Rajendra Prashad was also part of the smuggling racket. The BSF constable was posted at a Border Outpost at Village Chhina in Taran Tarn district. The DGP said that he contacted his counterparts in the BSF and Rajasthan, DGP BSF and DGP Rajasthan, and took the support of the central agencies as well, for ensuring the arrest of the said BSF constable, who was apprehended by the Punjab Police on July 28 from his residence in Rawala Mandi, where he was availing his leave. During further questioning, Rajendra revealed that he was recruited into the drug smuggling racket by Satnam Singh @ Satta, who promised him money in lieu of his complacency in smuggling of arms and narcotics consignment through his Border Post. He then helped the gang in getting 17 kgs of heroin and 2 foreign made Pistols in May. This time again, Satnam Singh, in connivance with the Rajendra Prashad, Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh, was to bring in another consignment of heroin and arms from his Pak based handlers. Satnam Singh @ Satta had given Rajendra Prashad Rs 5 lakh and a mobile phone in advance for the receipt and handling of this composite consignment. The DGP said that out of the Rs 24.5 lakh, Rs 15 lakh was recovered from the residence of Satnam Singh, Rs 5 lakh from the BSF constable and Rs 4.5 lakh from Gurjant Singh. The legal marijuana industry has spent years battling illegal sellers who have eaten away at its market share and undercut its prices. But the coronavirus has proven to be a boon for legal pot shops, as customers fear the risks associated with inhaling questionable products and are nervous about letting sellers into their homes. Legal operations have moved quickly to take advantage of the situation, seizing on relaxed rules to expand shopping options in states across the country, including curbside pickups and deliveries. Also, pandemic-frazzled Americans are simply getting stoned more often. It's understandable that people may be more hesitant to get their products from sources that are unregulated, said Kris Krane, CEO of 4Front Ventures, which operates dispensaries in multiple states. They may not want to go to their dealers house, or they may not want to have their dealer come into their house, at a time when people are social distancing and not supposed to be interacting with people that they don't know. In addition, cities that never allowed pot shops in their towns, even in states where marijuana is legal, are rethinking the local bans in search of fresh tax revenue. And more people than ever are registered as medical marijuana patients: Florida added nearly 5,000 patients a week in June, and more than 50,000 since March. The data is murky credible sales figures on illegal marijuana transactions are inherently difficult to come by and its likely that those sales are also booming as anxious Americans smoke more weed while hunkered down. But many close industry watchers believe the current circumstances are pushing more Americans into state-legal markets. Revenues are expected to hit $17 billion this year, according to New Frontier Data a 25 percent spike over 2019. Mitch Baruchowitz, managing partner at cannabis investment firm Merida Capital Partners, argued in a paper in May that the pandemic is cannibalizing the illegal market. He hasnt seen anything in the ensuing months to change that assessment. Story continues The vast majority of the current growth in the cannabis space is being driven by consumers transitioning from the black market to the legal market, Baruchowitz wrote. A cannabis dispensary customer smells a marijuana sample from a budtender at CannaDaddy's Wellness Center marijuana dispensary in Portland, Ore. The boom in sales is driven in large part by new legal markets, particularly the start of recreational sales in Illinois and Michigan. But even some states with relatively mature markets have seen big spikes in sales. In Oregon, for example, monthly revenues jumped from just below $70 million during the first two months of this year to more than $100 million in May and June. Trulieve, Floridas biggest retailer, doubled its fleet of delivery drivers across the state to keep up with demand. Obviously we all understand because we're living it, that there is an increased anxiety level, which can trigger increased consumption, said Kim Rivers, the companys CEO. The California problem Even with this years rapid growth, however, the legal marijuana market is still dwarfed by illegal sales, which New Frontier estimates at $63 billion for this year. Nowhere is the underground weed market a bigger problem than in California, where its estimated that 80 percent of marijuana sales are still from illegal sources and most industry officials are deeply skeptical that the pandemic will significantly alter that reality in the short term. One of the major challenges state regulators have faced since voters legalized recreational marijuana in 2016 is moving consumers away from the thousands of shops made legal under Californias medical cannabis law. That supply chain has existed since 1996. According to Josh Drayton, communications director for the California Cannabis Industry Association, growth in the illegal market has likely outpaced that of legal businesses during the pandemic, in part because they offer products for significantly cheaper prices. Legal marijuana products cost an estimated 40 percent to 50 percent more than their unregulated competitors, after expenses related to taxes and testing are tacked on. While there may be a short-term uptick in sales coming from consumers concerned about safety, many more consumers will be even more concerned about price now that they are out of work, said Jackie McGowan, founder of Green Street Consulting. A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy keeps watch on a group of people apprehended at an illegal marijuana dispensary in Compton, Calif. Efforts to step up enforcement actions against illegal businesses and educate consumers about the differences between regulated and unregulated shops have largely been put on hold due to budgetary constraints. Drayton also pointed to a dearth of cannabis-related legislation being considered in the state capitol as a sign that illegal operations will continue operating unchecked even as the legal market grows. Without a strong education campaign, which cannot be afforded during these times, I think we're going to stay in these parallel paths for quite some time, he said. One positive the industry has seen in recent weeks is an increase in the number of cities considering cannabis revenues as a tool for plugging coronavirus-related budget gaps. While the proliferation of licensed shops could put a dent in the unregulated market in the future, these jurisdictions are likely years away from seeing cannabis shops open in their borders. Still, the potential for the legal market to expand in the next few years and put more pressure on unregulated businesses gives industry observers in California a reason for hope. Michigan faces a similar problem in quashing illegal sales: The vast majority of cities in the state including Detroit still dont allow recreational pot shops to operate. In addition, marijuana cultivation is still ramping up in the state, since full legalization only took effect in December. Demand, especially in the adult-use market, is still higher than the supply as the production in the industry continues to grow, said Andrew Brisbo, executive director of Michigans Marijuana Regulatory Agency. That keeps prices still higher than I think they will be in the long term. Cash crunch could drive more legalization Industry officials are divided on whether the pandemic is eroding the illicit marijuana market, but theres little doubt that the current economic troubles will push more states to consider legalization. Thats in large part because states' desperation for cash is only going to grow. Even if marijuana taxes would only make a difference at the margins, it undoubtedly will prove enticing to lawmakers. Some New York lawmakers are pushing this idea, after legalization efforts failed in each of the last two years. Theyll likely face even greater pressure to enact recreational sales if New Jersey voters pass a recreational legalization referendum in November, as expected. Even in deep red states, the idea is likely to get a good look. A Republican lawmaker in Oklahoma has argued the state should look at allowing recreational sales, suggesting it could raise $100 million per year. Kevin Sabet, president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national advocacy group that opposes legalization, doesnt believe those arguments will prove decisive. This pandemic will give lawmakers who already support legalization another talking point theyll emphasize, Sabet said. I dont think this is going to change minds. But Krane, of 4Front Ventures, points to the end of alcohol prohibition as a historic template for what might happen with marijuana in the coming months. Alcohol prohibition was largely ended as a result of the Great Depression, as the country was in desperate need of new sources of revenue, Krane argued. It went from something that was seen as politically impossible to a political necessity in a very short amount of time, and I think we're seeing a similar situation here. "Dont sell your soul for a pile of soybeans," warned US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo a year ago, when Australian foreign affairs and defence ministers met their United States counterparts. This Kansas front porch advice deserved to be imbibed with caution. Within five months, the US was pumping six times more soybeans into the Chinese market than in the same period last year. The US has opened fire against China with sanctions and technology bans. But President Donald Trump and his cabinet treat as inviolable their phase one trade deal with China, signed in January. China is reported to have approved 40 US and Brazilian meat processors to send beef to Chinese markets even as four Australian abattoirs get locked out. Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on July 27. Credit:AP That the US might get Australia all hot and bothered about China and then slip into our markets may be one factor in Marise Payne and Linda Reynolds drawing a line or two in our vassalage. No, we would not use Pompeos language implying an open-ended crusade against the Chinese Communist Party. And no, we would not become the only US ally to run patrols within the 12-nautical mile radius of Chinese structures in the South China Sea, even though we reject the claims. There are other examples, NPR reported. After the death of a woman in Texas who had reposted a rant about the virus being a socialist hoax, trolls attacked a GoFundMe page that had been set up to pay her medical expenses. She got what was coming to her, they said. Maybe these COVID skeptics did act recklessly and use poor judgment. But there should be no joy in these tragedies, or the deaths of 150,000 other Americans from the pandemic. There is, however, a lesson in this: Were mired in a toxic muddle of ignorance and misinformation about COVID-19 for a reason. And the problem starts at the top. Each of these people would have been better served by a coherent, consistent and fact-based message from their leaders. If only .... After appearing semi-serious for a split-second about the threat of COVID-19, the president retweeted a cockamamie video from a doctor who claims there is a cure for the coronavirus. (She also can cast out demons, she says, and believes in lizard people.) Trump also has Made Virus Briefings Grate Again, musing during one of them why Dr. Anthony Fauci has higher approval ratings than his. A second teenager has now died following an early Saturday morning shooting on Utah Drive. According to the Winston-Salem Police Department, officers responded to the shooting at approximately 12:37 a.m. at 811 Utah Drive. When they arrived, police said, they found two 14-year-olds lying in the yard with apparent gunshot wounds. One of the teenagers was pronounced dead at the scene, police said, while the other was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center by ambulance. The second died later Saturday evening at approximately 6:50 p.m. Their names are being withheld by police at this time. The WSPD Criminal Investigations Division investigated and, according to police, learned from witnesses that the two victims and some others were having a small gathering at the address. A vehicle drove through the area and fired at the two victims, police said. Police said witnesses heard multiple shots, and investigators located multiple shell casings at the scene. This is the 17th and 18th homicides in Winston-Salem this year, compared to 15 at this time last year. The investigation into this crime is still very active, according to police. Authorities are asking that anyone with information regarding this investigation contact the Winston-Salem Police Department at (336) 773-7700 or CrimeStoppers at (336) 727-2800. CrimeStoppers may also be contacted via Crime Stoppers of Winston-Salem on Facebook. BEIJING, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Committed to ensuring food safety, China has redoubled efforts to bring safe and healthy food to dining tables in the country amid the global COVID-19 outbreak, rolling out measures to improve supervision of imported and home-produced food. As COVID-19 continues to spread globally, cluster outbreaks have been reported in several overseas food-processing enterprises, putting cold-chain products under close scrutiny of Chinese authorities. In a move to cut off possible virus transmission via imported food, China's customs authority in July halted imports from three Ecuadorian shrimp producers, ordering frozen products from these firms to be returned or destroyed after samples from the inner wall of a container and product's outer packaging tested positive for the virus. Though the test results don't mean the virus could infect people via food, they exposed loopholes in companies' food safety regulations, said Bi Kexin, head of the import and export food safety bureau of the General Administration of Customs. Li Ning, a researcher with the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, said that food posed a low transmission risk, but there was a possibility of transmission if the food-processing environment was contaminated or workers got infected. Regarding food safety as an important task of the Communist Party of China and the government at all levels, China has called for the strongest measures, the most rigorous standards, the strictest supervision, the most severe punishment for violators and the most serious accountability system for food safety. Faced with rising global COVID-19 cases, the task of ensuring farm-to-fork food safety entails more comprehensive containment measures. The country has been stepping up efforts to keep a close eye on both imported food and food-related industries at home. IMPORTED FOOD TRANSMISSION BLOCKED To cut off overseas virus transmission channels, China intensified inspection and testing of imported food in the cold chain. As of July 9, the country's customs officers had tested 227,934 samples of imported cold-chain food, official data showed. Mechanisms to facilitate coordination and information sharing have also been put in place, while food dealers have been requested to take immediate steps once a problem is spotted. "Be it imported or home-produced, food sold in the domestic market should be strictly supervised according to law," said Dang Qianying, an official with the State Administration for Market Regulation. China's inspection of imported food is in line with international standards and regulations, and won't interrupt normal international trade, said Li Xingqian, director of foreign trade department of the Ministry of Commerce, stressing that food businesses should observe guidelines jointly issued by the World Health Organization and the UN Food and Agricultural Organization at this special time. Such steps were aimed at protecting people's health, Li said, adding that Beijing's COVID-19 outbreak in June has sparked public concerns over the risk of the virus being transmitted from imported refrigerated food. Despite stricter food supervision and inspection, China will remain committed to expanding imports, and promoting agricultural trade has always been an integral part of the country's opening-up policy, Li said. Official data showed that food and agricultural imports of the country have grown rapidly this year despite COVID-19 disruptions. During the January-May period, import of agricultural products rose 9 percent year on year, 17 percentage points higher than the country's total imports during the period. China welcomes quality and safe food from all over the world, and stands ready to conduct in-depth cooperation with other countries to promote food safety and the healthy development of global food trade, Bi said. NO STONES UNTURNED AT HOME As food safety supervision concerns every bite of food of the country's 1.4 billion people, and the public's health and lives, Chinese authorities at all levels have prioritized food safety in public health, urging greater efforts to reduce threats. In response to COVID-19, the country has clamped down on illegal wildlife trade and consumption, and tightened supervision of the food industry, covering employees, environment and logistics. To reduce public health risks, China has banned illegal wildlife trade and consumption. It announced in July to gradually close all live poultry markets. People in the food industry were the focus of anti-virus efforts. Beijing, for example, started large-scale nucleic acid testing on workers in farmers' markets, catering and delivery industries in the wake of the outbreak in its Xinfadi wholesale market, to stem virus transmission in food-related business activities. Given that food delivery workers tend to be more frequently exposed to other people and thus face higher health risks, the country has specifically issued anti-virus guidelines for them, requesting them to keep a social distance of at least 1 meter, choose contactless means of delivery and put food in separate areas. Supervision of food market has been intensified across the country, especially in places with a large population. In south China's Guangdong Province, one of the country's economic powerhouses, COVID-19 prevention inspections were conducted extensively, covering local farmers' markets, retail and wholesale markets for aquatic products, and supermarkets. Also under the spotlight was domestic cold-chain food logistics. To regulate the sector, China has implemented a national regulation, outlining compulsory requirements for all links of cold-chain food, including production, processing, transportation and sales. While resorting to the toughest measures to prevent food safety problems at source, supervise all links and control risks, China in 2016 also pledged to establish a more unified and authoritative supervision system. The country issued a guideline in 2019, aiming to tighten food safety supervision "from the farmland to the dining table" and further build up capacities to ensure whole-chain food safety and quality. According to the guideline, the country will establish a preliminary food safety supervision system based on risk control and supply management by 2020, be capable of basically bringing major food risks under control, and elevate food safety conditions to a level commensurate with the target of finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. MONTREALThe Pavillon Camille-Lefebvre long-term-care home in southwest Montreal houses some of the patients most vulnerable to succumbing to a pandemic, including 18 who live on ventilators full time. But as COVID-19 swept through Montreals nursing homes like a seemingly unstoppable force, the Pavillon Camille-Lefebvre achieved a rare feat: not a single positive case, much less any COVID-19 deaths. Montreal is the Canadian hot spot for COVID-19, with over 28,772 cases and 3,437 deaths as of Friday. Around 80 per cent of the provinces deaths have occurred in seniors residences and long-term care homes. Information obtained from Montreals five health boards suggest only a handful of facilities were able to avoid infection. In addition to Pavillon Camille-Lefebvre, those include two private facilities in the northern region, one small facility located within a hospital and one larger public care home. A few others, including the Montreal Chinese Hospital, were able to stop the virus from spreading despite one or two cases. Judith Morlese, a nurse-manager at the Pavillon Camille-Lefebvre, believes the facilitys success in keeping out COVID-19 was about more than just luck. She says rapid action, dedicated infection-control teams and constant communication with staff were some of the keys to keeping the virus at bay, and they could provide a blueprint for other homes to follow if a second wave occurs. Morlese said acting early, often ahead of the provincial government directives, was central to preventing infection. The centre began developing a pandemic plan in January, before the first case in the province was declared, and made the decision early on to ban visitors and require staff members returning from overseas to stay home until testing showed they were not infected. By February, meetings to discuss the pandemic were held daily. Staff members were brought on board early and subjected to a thorough screening process every day before work. They were told to stay home and get tested at the first appearance of symptoms. As cases began to crop up elsewhere, anxiety rose. Employees were met at the beginning of every shift and reminded to treat all patients, and each other, as if they were positive. We were nervous because we saw what was happening, and we felt bad for our partners in the network, we were scared, Morlese said in an interview. So thats the truth. We were really, really scared. Morlese says much of the homes success came from diligently following the simple health directives regarding sanitizing equipment, handwashing and wearing of protective equipment. However, the facility also had two advantages that many of the others didnt: namely, a skilled infection-control team and the ability to limit staff from working in multiple facilities. The 135-bed facility is also linked to the Lachine Hospital and is part of the McGill University Health Centre, which proved an advantage because it meant better access to epidemiologists and other experts, according to Morlese. France Nadon, an infection-control consultant at the home, said part-time workers with multiple jobs were asked not to work elsewhere if they wanted to keep working at the Pavillon. Those who stayed were offered full-time work, which helped the home to avoid the staff shortages that authorities have cited as a weak point that allowed COVID-19 to enter in so many homes. Infection-control specialists were on hand to answer employee questions and give refresher courses on the proper use of protective equipment, Nadon said. Between 10 and 15 employees acquired COVID-19 outside of work, but none of them passed it on to patients which Nadon says is a tribute to the vigilance they showed when it came to handwashing, disinfecting, and physical distancing. They respected the rules, they kept their masks on, they washed their hands and visors, she said. Henry Siu, a McMaster University associate professor who has studied long-term care preparedness, says researchers are still studying what factors translate into success in fighting the virus. While much is unknown, he says the homes that were early adopters of measures such as stricter visitation policies and limiting workers to one facility may have had better outcomes. In Ontario, he said, private homes seem to have fared worse, possibly because of aging buildings designed to house multiple residents in one room and inadequate space for distancing. He said that while luck probably does have a part to play in which homes suffer major outbreaks, those that are proactive, have up-to-date infection-control protocols and strong leadership are going to be much better equipped to deal with outbreaks. As health authorities warn of a potential second wave, Siu said hes hopeful that Canadian long-term care homes will be better prepared. But while they may have become more vigilant about distancing, hygiene and monitoring for symptoms, he said systemic issues, including poor home designs and low pay and poor working conditions that force workers to hold multiple jobs, are harder to solve. Nadon and Morlese say arent celebrating their homes success just yet. Though theyre tired, they remain focused on the possibility of a second wave, which could come just as they also have to fight an onslaught of flu and other seasonal respiratory viruses. Morlese says that while the worry isnt gone, they feel more prepared this time. Were less stressed because we know what we have to deal with, she said. Read more about: Whilst most of European media have narrowed down the deterioration in EU-Turkey relations to the issues of the refurbished Hagia Sophia and the protracted Libyan proxy war, their energy ties were just as crippled by Turkeys intensive drilling campaign in Cyprus offshore, generating bad blood between the Old Continent and Ankara. Driven by its purported objective to drill 26 wells in the Eastern Mediterranean, every one of Turkeys wildcats in Cypriot waters has gauged Europes unity and shed light on its ill-preparedness to confront Turkish actions. Now Turkey has started to drill its initial objective along its northern coast, the Black Sea the one offshore area that is undeniably Turkish. The reticence of Turkish authorities to drill their Black Sea first might explain a lot as to why drilling in the Mediterranean might be more beneficial. The Turkish Fatih drillship has started prospecting works within Turkeys Black Sea shelf this July and is assumed to have spud the Tuna-1 wildcat on July 20. Tuna-1 will be drilled in water depth of more than 2km, having been pinpointed as a potential drilling site following 3D seismic surveying in the area in April-May 2019 (by means of the Polar Empress vessel). The location of the Tuna-1 well is peculiar as TPAO has decided to go at it right next to the quadrangle of the Romanian-Bulgarian-Ukrainian-Turkish maritime border, within the deepwater Block 26. It seems that the wildcats location not far away from Ukraines Skifsky block and (perhaps more importantly) from the largest-so-far offshore discovery of the Black Sea deepwater, the OMV-operated Neptun field in Romania, is a deliberate attempt to maximize the success potential of the well by drilling as close as possible to proven commercial discoveries. At first glance, TPAO is taking the correct step politically it was the Fatih drillship that has become Turkeys first-ever own drillship (until 2018 the vessel was operated on the Norwegian Continental Shelf), it was the first to drill a Turkish wildcat in the Eastern Mediterranean (in waters that are internationally recognized as belonging to Cyprus). Moving the ominous drillship into waters that are actually internationally recognized as Turkish alone might shift the prevailing focus a bit. As of today, TPAO owns 2 similar drillships Yavuz (the sister ship of Fatih) and Kanuni (built a year after the two in 2012, also in South Korea) so continuing its objectionable drilling program in the Eastern Mediterranean need not come at the detriment of other activities in the Black Sea. Related: How Indias Oil Major Became Bigger Than Exxon The Turkish upstream segment is quite interesting in that it defies the prevailing logic of the Eastern Mediterranean. Ever since the first exploration well was drilled in 1954, more than 250 companies were active in its upstream sector yet throughout the years Turkeys national oil company TPAO remained the main driller, surveyor and appraiser (75-80% of all exploratory and development works have been done by TPAO). There have been sporadic surges in interest, be it Turkeys alleged shale bounty or its continental shelf, however the countrys fast-growth prospects were marred by the mostly viscous, low-gravity barrels it wields (Turkeys largest oil fields have an API gravity of 13-15). Moreover, Turkeys recovery rate hovers around a meagre 20% - no surprise then that as of today, Turkeys own oil production meets 9% of its consumption and 2% of its natural gas needs (already accounting for the COVID-induced demand drop, otherwise would be even lower). Turkeys focus on its Black Sea potential emerged in the 2000s as the countrys energy needs surged amidst stagnant (and low) production rates. TPAO joined ranks with BP to spud the Hopa-1 wildcat in Block 3534, the easternmost of Turkeys Black Sea offshore next to the maritime border with Georgia, assuming a 10 TCf gas potential, however they were compelled to abandon the drilling as poor reservoir quality and overpressure issues have rendered further activities pointless. At the heyday of Black Sea appraisal, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Petrobras, BP were all involved, making it the Black Seas hottest region in terms of major participation. Despite some minor discoveries in the shallow waters of the Black Sea (Akcakoca), the Turkish authorities ambitious claims of 10 billion barrels lying at the bottom of the sea waiting to be discovered turned out to be largely pipe dreams as no deepwater drilling wielded any commercial discovery so far. Turkeys dedication to its Black Sea acreage serves a double purpose. First and foremost, drilling the Tuna wildcat and any other exploration well distracts the layman from Turkeys activities in the Eastern Mediterranean concurrently to the Tuna-1, TPAO drilled another deepwater well in the Mediterranean Sea (Seljuk-1) by means of its Yavuz drillship, located within Cyprus Block 06 that is jointly held by Total and ENI. By searching for Seljuk-1, one barely finds any media mention of it, perhaps attesting to the media becoming indifferent to the seemingly inextricable Cyprus dilemma. All the while obfuscating its Cyprus-related dealings, the second reason for launching the Black Sea drilling is non-political: underexplored and out of majors sight, consolidating its internal powers to assess the Black Seas potential might still spring an implausible surprise. By Viktor Katona for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Cornwall Council has criticised ignorant holidaymakers refusing to wear masks amid growing unease over the number of visitors crowding the UKs tourist hotspots. Adam Paynter, the authoritys deputy leader, said locals were concerned about a possible rise in coronavirus infections as people flock to the south west for holidays instead of travelling abroad during the pandemic. One restaurant in Cornwalls Watergate Bay, north of Newquay, said it received regular complaints from tourists about staff wearing masks. Since we reopened our team hear this on a daily occurrence, said a post on the Facebook page of Wax. Oh youre wearing mask. We left X City to get away from all of that! It shocks us that anyone would take offence to our staff wanting to help protect our customers from COVID. Mr Paynter said he heard of similar reports of visitors refusing to wear masks because they were on holiday. He told LBC: Ive heard two different incidents where people have been overheard saying: Well, Im not going to wear a mask, I came down here to get away from all of that. I think thats pretty ignorant, thinking that coronavirus doesnt exist down here. While new coronavirus cases in Cornwall remain low compared to other parts of the UK, infections almost doubled from 10 to 19 in the past week. Clearly weve still got a very low number of cases of coronavirus but obviously residents want to keep it that way, Mr Paynter said. Its something that local residents are concerned about because theyve been sensible, theyve behaved, theyve done everything the government has asked them to, and now theyre seeing people come down here and not socially distancing, not following the rules, and its understandable that people are annoyed at that. Theres definitely sentiment locally from people saying theyre really not comfortable with whats going on and the numbers of people down here. Some residents of Cornish resorts have been reported to be afraid to go food shopping because of crowds of visitors packing narrow streets and ignoring social distancing. Authorities in other parts of the UK, including Margate, Bournemouth and Brighton, have also raised concerns about unmanageable numbers of visitors crowding beaches and public transport. There are also fears that coastguard crews could be overwhelmed as more people swim in the sea. The RNLI only have a certain capacity, said Rick Everitt, leader of South Thanet Council. Theyre doing a great job where they are but they dont have unlimited resources to deal with people in the water. On Saturday, a man in his 40s has died after being pulled from the sea near a beach in west Cornwall. Devon and Cornwall Police said they were contacted by the coastguard at 1.30pm on Saturday to reports that a man had got into difficulty at Pedn Vounder Beach, near Porthcurno. Members of the public and medical staff were unable to revive him, the force said. The next of kin have been informed and a file will be prepared for the coroner, it added in a statement. ALBANY Last year, New York Civil Liberties Union lawyers released a report that showed police in Albany County overwhelmingly arrested minorities for low-level marijuana violations. At the time, police insisted they did not target minorities and Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins vowed to examine what was behind the disparity in his city. But a year later, a Times Union review of Albany police data from July 9, 2019, to July 9, 2020, shows little has changed. The city's police department made arrests or wrote tickets for marijuana-related offenses 134 times, ranging from violation-level tickets to felony-level possession arrests. According to the departments data, 97 percent of the time, those arrested or ticketed were Black. Only four white people were charged with marijuana offenses during the time period despite nationwide evidence that shows Black and white people use marijuana at roughly the same rate. Hawkins said violent-crime and quality-of-life investigations drive many of the arrests, but his vow to conduct an in-depth investigation of the matter was sidetracked by the department's need to focus on matters connected to the coronavirus pandemic. The arrests are happening nearly two years after District Attorney David Soares said he would no longer prosecute minor marijuana arrests when it is the only charge a defendant faces. The data shows that the majority of the arrests were for low-level offenses, either violations or low-level misdemeanors. Seventy six of the 134 incidents were for unlawful possession of marijuana, a violation. Twenty-five arrests were for felony amounts of marijuana, which is at least 8 ounces of the drug. Debora Brown-Johnson, president of the Albany NAACP branch, said the organization had a conversation with the police department about its approach to marijuana cases after the NYCLU study was released last year. Last week, she said the organization remains concerned and the issue is something Mayor Kathy Sheehan needed to address. Questions still exist, whats going on here, is this a targeted group? she said. It cant be that it's just us. We know that doesnt make sense. Its one thing for people to say they experienced it but heres the data that shows what's happening. It doesnt make sense at the end of the day and so because this is an issue in the city, its incumbent on the mayor to take a deeper dive herself and take a look and see what changes can be made to address it. In an emailed statement, Sheehan wrote the city would examine the marijuana arrest data as part of a broader, state-mandated overhaul of the citys police force. In response to the police protests earlier this year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo pushed an effort that will force localities around the state to enact police reforms or face the threat of losing state funds. The city of Albany Police Reform Collaborative will be undertaking a comprehensive review of the Albany Police Department data associated with arrests by race, gender, and other demographics, and we look forward to having a robust community discussion around these statistics, she said. In an interview, Hawkins said a more in-depth examination of the departments marijuana enforcement had been delayed while the city confronts difficulties with the pandemic but he defended the way his officers enforced the laws around marijuana possession. Hawkins said all of the felony-level arrests and many of the other citations were connected with police investigations into violent crime or major quality-of-life issues related to drug use and sales. Its always concerning when you see that all of the arrests were black males, said Hawkins, who is Black. Its not surprising to me that when were concentrating on addressing violent crime were going to pull in some marijuana-related issues. In recent months, violence in the city has spiked but there has been no corresponding rise in marijuana arrests. Since June 13, the department has written one marijuana citation, for a violation-level offense on July 26. From the departments data it is difficult to make connections between specific arrests and investigation into major crimes or shootings. Of the 134 arrests and citations, 117 are related to calls for a crime in progress, according to the data, but the statistics give no indication of what crimes were being committed or investigated. Hawkins said the areas with more marijuana citations are locations where police are receiving more calls for service, such as West Hill, Arbor Hill and the South End. According to patrol-zone-level data, 30 percent of the marijuana citations and arrests happened in the area bordered by Central Avenue, Judson Avenue and Lark Street, which includes parts of Arbor Hill and West Hill. It is unclear if the tickets result in any meaningful prosecutions. Last summer the state decriminalized the possession of less than 2 ounces of marijuana. The maximum penalty is $50 for possessing less than 1 ounce of pot and a maximum of $200 for between 1 and 2 ounces. After Soares' office said it would no longer prosecute cases where the sole charge was possessing less than 2 ounces of marijuana, the Sheriffs Department said it would stop writing possession tickets. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The city police department, however, decided to continue to make those arrests. The department has had conversations about how to handle low-level possession tickets and Hawkins said officers were not out on patrol looking for minor marijuana crimes. Were not stopping young men in the community and writing them minor possession of marijuana tickets, its just not happening, he said. Im not seeing that these young men are being targeted but its concerning to me that that they are the ones who are impacted by this. The disparity also caught the attention of Douglas Roest-Gyimah, a social worker in the city. In June, Roest-Gyimah began circulating a petition asking Sheehan to order the department to stop enforcing marijuana laws, arguing the practice unfairly harms minority residents and families. Roest-Gyimah said he was inspired to examine the data after recent protests against police brutality in the city that were prompted by the killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died May 25 after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes. I was moved by everything there, not only to protest but to go home and engage and do something, he said. Roest-Gyimah looked at data on the citys website and said what he found shocked him. So he wrote a Change.org petition and shared it on social media. The petition asks Sheehan to acknowledge the data and that the police departments effort to fight drugs is waged on its Black residents. It also asks her to share her views on the causes of the disparity and come up with a specific plan to fix it, pointing out her office issued a three-step community plan to fight illegal fireworks after weeks of complaints. The petition acknowledged that Sheehan has moved to make some changes in the police department, including issuing an executive order banning chokeholds. It also credited her for the decision to move the statute of Gen. Phillip Schuyler, a Revolutionary War hero who was among the region's biggest owners of enslaved people, from in front of City Hall. However, we believe neither of these gestures do much of anything at all to create meaningful, long-lasting change, Roest-Gyimah wrote. We write you to ask that you respond to this ongoing humanitarian crisis with equal enthusiasm and vigor as you did with the fireworks. More than 2,500 people have signed the petition. Roest-Gyimah expressed frustration at the lack of response from the city. He said he emailed the petition to the mayors office and tried calling. He also said he signed up for one of Sheehans Create Change Together chats, a series of in-person or teleconference meetings with the mayor and police chief that began in the aftermath of the protests. Nearly two months later, he said he still hasnt received any response or an invitation to join one of those discussions. The city told the Times Union it has received "dozens of requests" from people who want to talk with the mayor and police chief. The city is prioritizing meetings for those who have had personal police experiences they want to discuss. Bandhan Bank's promoter will sell Rs 10,500 crore worth of equity stake in the private sector lender through a block deal on Monday. The block deal involves selling 33.74 crore shares in the lender at a floor price of Rs 311 per share, as per the terms sheet. The floor price is about 10 per cent lower than Bandhan Bank's Friday closing price of Rs 345.25. The bank's main shareholder Bandhan Financial Holdings Limited (BFHL or NOFHC), which currently owns 60.95 per cent shares in the lender, is expected to offload about 20.95 per cent stake in Bandhan Bank. The move is a part of the bank's effort to bring down promoter shareholding in the lender to meet the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulatory norms. As per the RBI's new banking licensing norms, banks have to bring down the promoter holding to 40 per cent within three years from the date of commencement of business. The Kolkata-based private sector lender started operations as a universal bank on August 22, 2018. Bandhan Bank, which transformed itself from a micro-finance lender to a universal bank, has two types of banking outlets -- bank branches catering to general banking customers and Banking Units (BU) that cater to micro banking customers. Also Read: Bandhan Bank Q1 profit drops 32% to Rs 550 crore on higher COVID provisions Bandhan Bank, in its annual report for FY20, had said that it was exploring options to further bring down promoter's stake in the bank to the prescribed 40 per cent limit of the paid-up equity capital. JP Morgan, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs are running the formal process to complete the transaction. In January 2019, Bandhan Bank had acquired HDFC-owned Gruh Finance in a stock-swap deal, which brought down promoters' holding in the lender to 61 per cent from 82.28 per cent. The RBI had imposed monetary fine of Rs 1 crore on Bandhan Bank last October as it had failed to bring down the holding company's stake to the prescribed level by the said time frame. By Chitranjan Kumar In 1961, an American astronaut reached space for the first time and soared through the heavens in a gumdrop-shaped capsule. Since then, people have flown to the moon, created space planes and designed rockets that return to Earth for precision landings. But when astronauts lift off next year from U.S. soil for the first time in six years, their vehicle of choice will be another capsule. Boeing Co. and SpaceX are relying on the tried-and-true design as the two companies each develop spacecraft under NASA contracts to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station. Despite the sleek spaceships of sci-fi imaginings or the familiar winged body of the shuttle, engineers have returned to the seemingly clunky capsule again and again for a simple reason it works. Advertisement The capsule is a very durable technology, said Matthew Hersch, assistant professor of the history of science at Harvard University . It may not be romantic to fly, but its going to get you there and back safely. A rendering of Boeings CST-100 Starliner capsule. (Boeing) Since the end of the shuttle program, the U.S. has relied on Russia to transport its astronauts to and from the space station in the Soyuz spacecraft, another capsule. Boeing and SpaceX said they are confident their vehicles will fly next year, despite recent reports from the U.S. Government Accountability Office noting that delays for the two companies have pushed the first test flights past the initial deadline. The new spacecraft have a number of features that werent available on earlier capsules touchscreen displays, large windows, more powerful electronics and lighter materials. The spacesuits that astronauts will wear also have been slimmed down. SpaceX has released several photos of its spacesuit, which Chief Executive Elon Musk said was tested to ensure astronauts would stay safe even if the pressure in the capsule dropped suddenly. Boeings Boeing blue spacesuit is about 40% lighter than previous suits, and the gloves were specially designed to let astronauts interact with touchscreens. Chris Ferguson, a former NASA astronaut and current Boeing director of Starliner crew and mission systems, wears the Boeing spacesuit. (Boeing) Back in the early days of the U.S. space program, astronauts lamented riding in anything that allowed for such limited human control. Borrowing the name from something you swallow didnt enhance the appeal. Initially, there was great enthusiasm for making those spacecraft look like airplanes, but it was difficult to create wings that could navigate various parts of a mission and survive the heat of reentry, Hersch said. Any spacecraft rated to carry humans has a specific set of requirements. It must be efficient in its volume with enough space for all necessary life systems, but have as low mass as possible. It also has to withstand tremendous g-forces, pressure and heat during launch and reentry. The heat shield on a capsules blunt, slightly curved bottom helps protect the crew as the vehicle reenters the atmosphere. Capsules are aerodynamically stable when traveling at supersonic speeds during reentry and require little maneuvering to return to Earth in an emergency, giving them inherent stability, said David Giger, senior director of Dragon development engineering at SpaceX. Whats really interesting about capsule design is its aerodynamically efficient both on ascent and descent, said David Barnhart, director of the USC Space Engineering Research Center. It only takes one event to take it back down, which is essentially a reentry burn, and thats good because it minimizes moving parts and complexities. A person wears the SpaceX astronaut spacesuit and stands near the Dragon 2 capsule. (SpaceX) In creating spacecraft for NASAs commercial crew program, both Boeing and SpaceX have built on the example of their predecessors. Boeing constructed its design based on some of the data from the 1950s and 1960s era Mercury and Gemini, as well as NASAs Orion , a crew spacecraft that first flew in 2014 and is slated to ride into space atop the agencys Space Launch System rocket in 2019. Rob Adkisson, Boeings chief engineer for the commercial crew program, said the CST-100 Starliners compact capsule design matches its mission as a people mover, compared to the larger space shuttle that essentially functioned as a truck back and forth. It looks a lot like Gemini and Mercury, he said of the Starliner. But its quite a bit different. The Chicago aerospace giants Starliner will blast into space on an Atlas V rocket before deploying and docking autonomously at the space station. Upon its return to Earth, the spacecraft will jettison its service module, deploy parachutes to slow down and drop its heat shield so the vehicles airbags can inflate for a softer ground landing. Rob Adkisson, right, chief engineer with Boeings Commercial Group Program, examines a capsule heat shield component with David Schiller, aerostructures lead for the companys commercial crew program. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Mannequins riding the Starliner during a recent test were barely jostled inside, Adkisson said. The capsule is designed to be reused 10 times. A version of the capsule is undergoing tests at a Boeing facility in Huntington Beach where space structures like Apollo, the original Delta and Delta II rockets and parts of the space station were also cleared before their missions. The CST-100 Starliner capsule is set to make its debut test flight in June 2018, with a crewed test flight two months later. You design robust margins into what you do, demonstrate that everything operates as we expect it to, Adkisson said. That gives us a lot of confidence and gives our customer a lot of confidence that weve got it nailed. One major development is the fine-tuning of the capsules heat protection. The Starliners base heat shield has an ablator, a proprietary material that absorbs energy on reentry and only chars like a marshmallow, said David Schiller, leader of Boeings commercial crew aerostructures integrated product team. The command module from the 13th Lunar mission in 1995 at the Space Works Facility in Hutchinson, Kansas, where it was restored for display at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. (Dan Bayer / Associated Press) The base heat shield and its four backshells located around the crew vehicle are made of composite materials. A glass/phenolic honeycomb core is wedged between the composite layers, like an ice cream sandwich, to provide high strength while staying lightweight. The entire vehicle is covered with thermal protection, including a type of woven ceramic blanket similar to the ones used on the space shuttle, and ceramic tiles on the backshells to deflect heat. Like Boeing, SpaceX also looked to previous capsules when it first embarked on its Dragon spacecraft. Back then, the Hawthorne company was still very young, so engineers looked back at the legacies of Mercury, Gemini and the moon programs Apollo. The lessons are incorporated in its Dragon 2 crew transporter capsule, along with those learned from developing SpaceXs Dragon 1 vehicle, currently used by NASA to take supplies to the space station. The Dragon 2s abort system is a marked change from Apollo, which used a rocket on a tower located at the top of the capsule and was discarded on the way up to orbit. SpaceXs launch abort system can be used at any time during the entire ascent trajectory and stays on the capsule so it can be recovered on splashdown part of the companys emphasis on reusability, said Giger of SpaceX. A mockup of NASAs Orion, which is designed to eventually travel to Mars, hits the water in a simulated ocean splashdown test at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va. (Steve Helber / AP) Dragon 2 will also utilize more advanced avionics technology than was possible during Apollo the capsules avionics draw less than half the power of the Apollo spacecraft and lunar module combined and the avionics are smaller and can be consolidated into fewer numbers of components. The most obvious example is the touchscreen displays inside the capsule. The SpaceX capsule will also utilize more automation, such as its docking ability, to improve safety and allow crew to focus on crucial tasks, he said. The company is also working on developing the capsules precision landing capability in the ocean so recovery crews can arrive within minutes. Just because it looks like a capsule does not mean the inherent technology is the same, Giger said. Dragon 2, which will ride into space on a Falcon 9 rocket, is set to make its first test flight in February 2018, and a crewed flight will come four months later. In the meantime, the capsules hardware is going through qualification testing and software is being developed and evaluated, said Garrett Reisman, director of space operations at SpaceX and a former NASA astronaut who flew on two space shuttle missions. Were trying to take a giant leap forward in safety, he said. We have the opportunity to do that through design, improvements in technology and also by leveraging all the history that our partner NASA brings to the table ... to make sure we dont repeat mistakes made in the past. In this rendering, SpaceXs Dragon 2 capsule docks autonomously with the International Space Station. (SpaceX) Already a subscriber? Thank you for your support. If you are not, please consider subscribing today. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com Twitter: @smasunaga ALSO Cassini, the NASA spacecraft that expanded the search for life beyond Earth, dies in Saturns sky As NASAs Cassini mission flames out over Saturn, scientists mark bittersweet end of mission OK. Lets do it! An oral history of how NASAs Cassini mission to Saturn came to be Im not sad. Im thinking how lucky I am: Humanity says goodbye as Cassini plunges to its death Elon Musk posts blooper reel of crashing SpaceX rockets Lucknow, Aug 2 : As a special gift to women in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) will offer free services to women in its buses of all categories, on the occasion of 'Raksha Bandhan'. The free bus travel facility will be available for 24 hours, from August 2 midnight till August 3 midnight. The Chief Minister has also ordered intensive patrolling by UP police to ensure women's safety. The government has asked police to ensure that people adhere to the social distancing norms and strictly follow the guidelines issued in view of Corona pandemic. The guidelines say that no public program should be held on Raksha Bandhan and that people should celebrate the festival in their houses. The state government has also announced that all sweet shops and rakhi vendors will be allowed to remain open on this weekend in view of Raksha Bandhan. Barnaby Joyce has fired another shot in his war of words with Johnny Depp that started when the Hollywood actor and his ex-wife Amber Heard illegally brought their dogs into Australia. In October 2015, Heard faced criminal proceedings for taking the couple's two Yorkshire Terriers, Pistol and Boo, into the country on a trip from America without a permit. Mr Joyce, who was then Agricultural Minister, famously demanded the dogs 'bugger back off to the United States' or threatened that they would be euthanised within 50 hours. The pooches flew home and the then Hollywood couple recorded a video in 2016 apologising for their actions. MP Barnaby Joyce ( pictured in Parliament on June 11) has called Johnny Depp an 'old trout' five years after the Hollywood actor called him 'sweaty, big gutted man from Australia who was inbred with a tomato' Unimpressed by Mr Joyce's handling of the saga, Depp called the politician a 'sweaty, big-gutted man from Australia who was inbred with a tomato' while appearing on US talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2016. Now, as Heard and Depp lay bare the sordid details of their relationship in London's High Court, Mr Joyce has fired back at the actor. 'Hey, Johnny, look where your life ended up, old trout!' Mr Joyce told 60 Minutes on Sunday night. The bitter quarrel between the MP for New England and the actor has been thrust back into the spotlight with the Pistol and Boo saga being re-examined in Depp's libel case against The Sun newspaper. Depp and Heard had repeatedly denied that they knew anything about Australia's laws on dogs being brought in from overseas, but a former staff speaking at the defamation case told the court that was untrue. Emails presented to court last week allegedly indicate that Heard was looking for a vet to bribe to falsify documents for her. As the allegations came to light, Mr Joyce spoke out, claiming 'I always knew they were dodgy'. Mr Joyce said 'I always knew they were dodgy' after a former staffer claimed at Depp's libel case in London that former Hollywood couple (pictured together at the HEAVEN gala in 2015) knew they were breaking Australia's strict quarantine laws by sneaking their dogs into the country on their private plane He also said Heard could face perjury charges if she ever returns to Australia. 'They're not above the law. That's what annoyed the Australian people so much, this belief that you're some sort of royalty from Hollywood we don't care about that rubbish,' he said. Mr Joyce added that he felt the humiliation of the video was warranted and that Depp's insult wasn't much of a sting. 'As far as I was concerned, they looked like two people in a basement in Beirut. I wanted it. I thought it looked totally humiliating,' he said. The Pirates of the Carribean star is suing the newspaper over an April 2018 article that suggested he was a 'wife beater'. Johnny Depp (left, outside the High Court this Wednesday) is suing The Sun's publisher over an article which alleged he was violent towards Amber Heard (right, at the court) Depp and Heard were given 72 hours to send Pistol and Boo (pictured) back to the US, with officials warning that the dogs would otherwise be euthanised Explicit details of the couple's turbulent marriage has dominated headlines, as each accused the other of domestic violence. One claim included Depp bashing Heard's head into a fridge and sending texts threatening to cut off Elon Musk's penis after suspecting they were having an affair. In another, the model, 34, claimed her ex-husband, 57, used his severed finger to paint 'I love you' in blood on a mirror while they were temporarily based in the Gold Coast while he was filming. Heard's case has seen Depp hit with 14 allegations of domestic violence, claims he defended during three days of testimony. The newspaper, which failed to have the case thrown out of court, is relying on Heard's claims to defend their article as true. The actor has denied hitting his former wife on several occasions, but admitted he 'accidentally' headbutted her during a fight in Los Angeles in 2015. The court also heard Depp allegedly threw a phone at Heard and called her 'Amber Turd' after she allegedly defecated in their marital bed after a blazing row on her 30th birthday party. MP Barnaby Joyce ( pictured in Parliament on June 11) said he wanted the former couple's now infamous apology video to look humiliating Depp raises a clenched fist above his head as he departs the High Court in London for the final time on Tuesday Heard denied the claims, and suggested it may have been one of their small dogs, Pistol or Boo. The court was also shown photos Heard provided of her injuries, including bruises on her arms and black eyes. The model also alleged Depp tried to set fire to a painting Heard's former partner Taysa van Ree gave to her, that was hanging in her bedroom. While denying the claims, Depp has accused Heard of violence towards him, saying his finger was actually severed after she threw a bottle of champagne. He said he would be frequently 'punished' if he 'broke her rules', such as whether she took his boots off or whether he put his arm around her while watching TV on the sofa. Depp's libel case wrapped up on Tuesday. Judge Andrew Nicol has retired to consider his verdict and is expected to hand down his ruling in several weeks. Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Kamla Rani Varun, died on Sunday (August 2) due to coronavirus infection. She was undergoing treatment at a Lucknow hospital. 62-year-old Kamla Rani and was a legislator from the Ghatampur Assembly segment, and had been hospitalised in the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS). Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the demise of the minister and paid homage saying that Kamal Rani Varun respected public aspirations as a minister and lauded her commendable contribution to society. In a Tweet UP's chief ministers office, wrote, ''Kamal Rani Varun respected public aspirations as a minister. As a minister, she made a commendable contribution in efficiently discharging departmental functions.'' It added, ''Her death is an irreparable loss to the society and the government. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while paying a humble tribute, expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family.'' Meanwhile, CM Adityanath, who was set to review today preparations for Ram temple bhoomi pujan ceremony on August 5, has cancelled his Ayodhya visit after the news of the ministers death. Condolence message started pouring in after the news of the Minister's demise. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is currently undergoing Covid-19 treatment in a hospital, tweeted his condolence message for the minister. He wrote, ''Sad news of untimely demise of cabinet minister Kamal Rani ji in Uttar Pradesh government. I pray to God for the peace of the departed soul and the strength of the family to bear this profound sorrow.'' Rani was an MLA from Ghatampur constituency in Kanpur and she was also a member of the 11th and 12th Lok Sabha. Hanoi authorities have traced more than 72,000 people who returned to the capital from Da Nang since July 8. A medical worker takes samples for quick tests for residents returning from Da Nang City in Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi. Nearly 50,000 of them have undergone rapid testing for COVID-19, of whom 11 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the first instance. After confirmatory PCR tests, 10 obtained negative test results while one is pending. Director of the municipal Department of Health Nguyen Khac Hien on Saturday said all 127 people who had interactions with the two infected people in Hanoi, Patient 447 and Patient 459, have tested negative for the novel coronavirus. They, however, will be tested again. Meanwhile, they will be placed under close medical observation. Truong Quang Viet, deputy director of the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC Hanoi), said some health stations in Hanoi have been overloaded and test kits are running out due to the increasing number of people registering for rapid testing. The centre has sent 78,000 test kits out of the 80,000 available to health stations, thus there are only 2,000 kits left in stock. The municipal Department of Health is requesting the Ministry of Health to provide another 20,000 testing kits. Hanoi had encouraged people who have returned from pandemic-hit areas to declare their health conditions. Those with signs of cough, fever, shortness of breath must immediately contact medical facilities. The city's authorities said that some people continued their tours to many provinces in the central region after visiting the beach city and it was necessary to get their medical declarations together with those who returned from Da Nang by road and rail. A working group consisting of experts from the Hanoi Medical University have volunteered to go to Da Nang City to participate in training and supporting testing procedures for COVID-19. The members of the working group are key experienced staff of the university who have tested nearly 10,000 samples at the university's lab during the pandemic. Ta Thanh Van, principal of the university, said the team will go to the central province and stay there for as long as required. Home coming Nearly 280 Vietnamese citizens from 24 European and African countries were brought home on Sunday, with their flight landing at Van Don International Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh. The flight was arranged by Vietnamese and French authorities, and the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines. Also on Sunday, more than 230 Vietnamese citizens in Thailand were brought home on a flight organised by Vietnamese and Thai authorities and budget carrier Vietjet Air. More flights are expected to be organised to repatriate overseas Vietnamese citizens in accordance with their wishes, the pandemic situation and quarantine capacity at home. A total of 230 Vietnamese citizens were flown home from the Republic of Korea by a flight of budget carrier Vietjet Air on Saturday. Right after landing at the airport, all passengers were given health check-ups and then sent to quarantine areas in accordance with current regulations. VNS Half a tonne of cocaine to be smuggled into Australia could have been the cause of a light plane crash in Papua New Guinea. The heavy cargo, worth an estimated $80 (US$57.1) million on the streets, was seized by police in PNG after a failed take off. The crash occurred on the same day five men were arrested for allegedly conspiring to import more than 500kg (1,102lbs) of cocaine into Australia, police said on Aug. 1. The men are alleged members of a Melbourne-based criminal syndicate with links to Italian organised crime. They were arrested in Queensland and Victoria after the Cessna aircraft left Mareeba Airport, in the sunshine states far north, bound for PNG July 26. Police allege the men travelled from Sydney and Melbourne to Atherton, southwest of Cairns, between July 19 and 25, before facilitating the flight to collect the drugs. The aircraft flew at about 3,000 feet from Mareeba to PNG, in an effort to avoid radar detection, Australian Federal Police said in a statement. Later the same day the plane crashed while trying to take off from a remote airstrip at Papa Lea Lea, north of Port Moresby. The AFP alleges greed played a significant part in the syndicates activities and cannot rule out that the weight of the cocaine had an impact on the planes ability to take off, the statement said. Two days after the crash the pilot, an Australian man, was arrested after going to the Australian consulate in PNG. He has been charged with a PNG immigration offence. The five men arrested in Australia have been charged with conspiring to import the cocaine from PNG into Australia. They include four from Victoria aged 31, 33 and 61, and a 36-year-old from Sydney. Police allege one of the Melbourne men was expected to transport the drugs south using a truck. All five men face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted. Police released photos of what appear to be cut-out plasterboard sheets, presumably making a concealed area to transport the cocaine in the back of a truck. The crashed aircraft is shown on its belly in scrubland, one engine still smoking and a wing destroyed by fire. The cocaine was wrapped in black plastic in large cubes. Police have also seized property and financial assets valued at about $3.5 million suspected to be under the control of a syndicate member. These include three properties, shares, account funds and a vehicle. By Cheryl Goodenough Sen. Tom Kean Jr., a Republican running for Congress, is nothing like Donald Trump. Kean is a gentleman, like his father, the former governor. He doesnt grope women or tweet racist stuff. Hes a thoughtful fellow, and everyone likes him. So, I wanted to ask him why he supports Trump, why he joined the cheering crowd at Trumps rally in Wildwood, and why hes going to vote for Trump in November. And if he wins this race and goes to Washington as a Republican, doesnt that mean hell work to advance most of Trumps agenda? Kean wouldnt pick up the phone, which is out of character. I tried his campaign manager, but he wouldnt talk either. I searched Keans website for clues, top to bottom, but couldnt find the words Donald Trump anywhere. Keans strategy, as I understand it, is to close his eyes really tight, plug his ears, and hope the shadow passes. Its from the same playbook that a deer uses when confronted with a headlight. Certainly, in the Republican primary he didnt disown Trump, which is problematic, says Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. The question is how much he distances himself from Trump now because thats the only way he can win. The 7th district, one of the richest in the country, stretches along Route 78 from Essex County all the way to Pennsylvania. Its a swing district that voted for Barack Obama in 2008, Mitt Romney in 2012, and Hillary Clinton by a single point in 2016. But in 2018 it became part of the Blue Wave that knocked off four of New Jerseys five Republican members of Congress. In the 7th, Tom Malinowski, a Democrat running for the first time, solidly beat Rep. Leonard Lance, a popular GOP incumbent who had won landslides in each of the previous four elections. Malinowski is now seeking his second term and is slightly favored to win. President Trump has turned half the towns in the district into base Democratic towns, says David Wasserman of the Cook Political Report. Look at Westfield, Springfield, clearly Summit but also Millburn these are towns that used to be competitive but have turned virulently anti-Trump. The 7th is among the most educated districts in the country, with college graduates making up 51 percent of its adults. Trump lost white college graduates to Clinton by 9 points, but Trump has hemorrhaged support among this group in recent months, giving Biden an eye-popping 21 point lead. Id be surprised if Trump gets a third of that vote, Wasserman says, a key reason hes rated the district as lean Democrat. Keans other problem is Malinowski, a human rights activist and diplomat in the Obama administration who proved to be an adept candidate out of the box, beating Lance by 5 points in 2018 and raising more than twice as much money as Kean in this race. Malinowski is more aggressive, and is already hammering at Keans vulnerable spots, like his 100 percent approval rating from the National Rifle Association, his support for former Gov Chris Christies decision to kill the Hudson River tunnel project, and his opposition to bills in Trenton that guarded Obamacare from Republican sabotage, and built protections against surprise medical bills. Kean opposes Republican orthodoxy on some issues. Hes stronger on the environment and has won the endorsement of the Sierra Club in past elections. He opposes the SALT provision of the 2017 tax cut that limited the deductibility of state and local taxes. And he supports funding for the Gateway project, the successor to the Hudson River tunnel project that Christie killed. But Malinowski reminds us that politics is a team sport, and that Kean will never get his way on those issues in the Republican caucus. Former Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, a Republican in the neighboring 11th district, staked out the same positions, but lost the fight even at the peak of his powers when he served as chairman of the Appropriations Committee. The idea that little Tom Kean as a back-bencher in the House is going to convince Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy to change their minds on either SALT or Gateway is preposterous, Malinowski says. You need a Democratic majority to drive those things through. Kean has some advantages, starting with that name. Murray has polled on former governors, and finds that Gov. Tom Kean, now 85, remains far and away the most popular former governor. But he left office 30 years ago, and the number of people without an opinion on him is rising, standing at 43 percent when Murray checked in two years ago. Mike Ferguson, a Republican who represented the district for eight years, before Lance took over in 2009, says that Kean can pitch himself as a bridge between the two parties, much as Democratic Rep. Josh Gottheimer has done in the 5th district. That would offer some immunity against Trump. Kean is a well-known brand, somebody who has been in public life for 20 years, Ferguson says. Hes known for being a centrist and being independent-minded. Its easy for people to look at him and not associate him with someone else on the ballot. Hes got a strong brand and thats helpful. Maybe. But Kean has a second problem, aside from Trump. Hes timid, by nature. He is trying to survive on the name while avoiding controversy. His campaign website is devoid of substance on issues. He lists four guiding principles as Senate President, all of them platitudes like growing our way to a better future and long-term strategies for an affordable state. I sent Kean a long list of questions to find out where he stands on federal issues, but he wouldnt respond, even in writing. To me, it seems bizarre that Kean is hiding under his desk like this with just three months to go, especially in a pandemic that limits his public appearances, and with half as much money as his opponent. Lance was a popular incumbent who campaigned with vigor in 2018 and he lost to Malinowski. How does Kean expect to win without telling voters where he stands, or explaining his support for Trump? Malinowski is reminded of the musical Hamilton and the character of Aaron Burr, whose cynical advice on politics is something Kean seems to have taken to heart: Talk less. Smile more. Maybe it will work, given that name. But in this big moment in American history, its a strategy that seems terribly small. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. The Ondo State Government has commenced the fumigation of its schools across the 18 local government areas of the state as part of safety measures ahead of the partial resumption of schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Akin Asaniyan, disclosed this on Sunday in Akure while speaking with newsmen at the premises of one of the fumigated schools. Mr Asaniyan said the fumigation of schools would be done in all public and private schools across the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fumigation was in line with the Federal Governments directives on partial reopening of school for graduating students. Secondary school students in exit classes would resume on Tuesday and would be participating in the 2020 WASSCE, according to the latest directive of the Federal Government. Mr Asaniyan said the state government had put all necessary measures in place to ensure safety of students and teachers by following all laid down guidelines of the Federal Government. Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Tayo Adeniyi, said the fumigation initiative would allay the fears of parents as regards the partial reopening of schools. The Managing Director of ZL Global Alliance, whose company was in charge of the fumigation, Biola Bashoorun, said her team had fumigated up to 70 percent of schools across the state. Mrs Bashoorun said the processes were carried out in line with the COVID-19 protocols as directed by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC). According to her, some of the schools fumigated in Akure were Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Ejioba High School, Akure High School and Aquinas College among others. In her remarks, the principal of Akure High School, Olumisoye Susan, said the step taken by the state government would encourage parents to release their wards for resumption. The fumigation team also visited Ondo West Local Government Area where it fumigated more than 20 schools.(NAN) International passengers arriving in India will have to upload a report showing they had tested negative for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) if they want exemption from a mandatory seven-day institutional quarantine, according to a union health ministry guideline issued on Sunday. Travellers also need to submit online a self-declaration at least 72 hours before their scheduled travel on the portal www.newdelhiairport.in, the guideline said. The test should be done using the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, considered to be the gold standard of testing for Covid-19, and conducted no longer than 96 hours before travel. Since the government started Vande Bharat Mission flights from May 6 to repatriate Indian citizens stranded overseas, the Centre has been allowing passengers to go home straight, bypassing the seven-day mandatory institutional quarantine. Exemption from the quarantine is meant only for people with compelling reasons including human distress, pregnancy, death in the family, serious illness and for parent(s) with children of the age of 10 years or below. Top officials involved in the planning maintained that the authorities, especially at Delhi airport, are flooded with a vast number of exemption requests -- both genuine and fraudulent leading to massive crowds at Delhi airport that result in passengers getting stuck for about 3-4 hours in the triage area. The officials requested anonymity. Civil aviation authorities said that earlier this month a young man held up an inhaler to back his claim that he had a serious disease to go home. Another man cited a death in the family to skip institutional quarantine and other passengers in the queue took the lead and made similar excuses to go home, Delhi government officials said. Passengers would ask relatives or friends to send WhatsApp messages and show them to authorities to claim death in family, said one official. Civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri told HT that he received complaints from passengers about long, tiring queues and massive crowding at the Delhi airport, which prompted him to ask officials and airport authorities to put in place an online system. The new system will kick in from August 8. We have deliberately given this time so that passengers are informed and well-prepared before arrival, one of the officials added. The government will inform passengers of the status of their application through the same portal. They should also give an undertaking on the portal that they would undergo mandatory quarantine for 14 days i.e. 7 days paid institutional quarantine at their own cost, followed by 7 days isolation at home with self-monitoring of health, the guideline added. Travellers who seek exemption from institutional quarantine and upload their Covid-19 free certificate will also need to fill an online self-declaration form attesting to the authenticity of the certificate. Any fraudulent claims will be liable for criminal prosecution. The test report could also be produced upon arrival at the point of entry airport in India, the guideline says. Only asymptomatic travellers will be allowed to board after thermal screening, including those arriving through the land borders. Only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to cross the border into India. If the required documents are not furnished online for some reason, passengers will have the option of filling a hard copy in duplicate in the flight or ship that will be submitted to the health and immigration officials at the airport, seaport or land port. Passengers found to be symptomatic during screening will be isolated on the spot and moved to a hospital for further assessment, in line with government protocol. States are free to tweak the guideline according to local requirements. States can develop their own protocol with regards to quarantine and isolation as per their assessment post arrival of passengers in the state concerned, the guideline says. Urging international communities to tackle Chinese oppression, Indian, Tibetan, Vietnamese and Taiwanese diaspora took part in a protest against China in Toronto on Saturday. The protest was organised by Canada-Hong Kong Link, Bangladesh Minority Rights Alliance, Indian, Tibetan, Vietnamese and Taiwanese diaspora. The demonstrators were seen holding flags of the US, Tibet and India. They also raised slogans in support of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many held placards and banner against the Chinese government. They raise the issue to the treatment meted out on Uighur Muslims by the Chinese Communist Party. One of the posters read Help stop Uyghur Forced Labour. Another read Fight for democracy. India the greatest democracy on the face of the Earth. India the shining light to the world. I want to thank Prime Minister Modi for setting an example to the world on how to confront evil China, said a protestor. Another protestor said that China has taken control of Hong Kong people through new security law. We stand with people of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam and India. We stand with countries around the world which have been under its (Chinese) oppression, said the protestor. Now the Chinese regime is taking total control of Hong Kong people, she added. (ANI) Rep. Karen Bass apparently is on the shortlist to be Joe Bidens running mate. You might be asking, Karen who? Precisely. Bass is a congresswoman from California. Shes the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Bass is also a communist sympathizer. How else can one explain her support for Fidel Castro? When Castro died in 2016, Bass stated: The passing of the Comandante en Jefe is a great loss to the people of Cuba. Comandante en Jefe. A nice touch. Now that, somehow, she made Bidens shortlist, Bass suddenly sees Castro in a different light. Bass told Chris Wallace that she now understands that the Castro government was a brutal regime. Where did this insight come from? Bass says she spoke with colleagues from Florida who raised concerns about her comments. She would not [make them] again, for sure, she promised. But as late as 2016 indeed, apparently as late as until her name surfaced as a possible VP nominee Bass, a frequent visitor to Cuba, believed that Castro was benevolent and that his passing was a great loss for the Cuban people. What combination of stupidity and anti-Americanism could have induced such a belief at that late date? Im embarrassed that, in my early teens, I spoke up for Castro in the 1960s. For a member of Congress to be praising him more than 50 bloody years later is astounding. It also astounds me that this lefty moron apparently is under serious consideration to join Joe Bidens ticket. Maybe it shouldnt, but it does. In an appearance on Meet the Press, Bass tried to brush aside Sen. Marco Rubios attack on her undeniable sympathy for Castro. She said that Republicans have decided to brand the entire Democratic Party as socialists and communists. I dont know any Republican who is branding the entire Democratic Party as communists. But Bass cant deny that until at least 2016, she thought Castro, a communist par excellence, was great for the Cuban people. Thus, if anyone were to start trying to brand Democrats as communists, Karen Bass would be Exhibit A. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) The first astronauts to ride a SpaceX capsule into orbit headed toward a retro-style splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico on Sunday afternoon to close out a two-month test flight. It will mark the first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts and the first return in the gulf. Unlike Floridas Atlantic coast, already feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Isaias, the waves and wind were calm near Pensacola in the Florida Panhandle. Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken departed the International Space Station on Saturday night, and awoke to a recording of their young children urging them to rise and shine" and we can't wait to see you." Don't worry, you can sleep in tomorrow, said Behnken's 6-year-old son Theo, who was promised a puppy after the flight. Hurry home so we can go get my dog. Their atypical ride home by Elon Musk's SpaceX company the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit was expected to be fast, bumpy and hot, at least on the outside. The Dragon capsule, named Endeavour by its crew, was to go from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph (28,000 kph) to 350 mph (560 kph) during re-entry in the atmosphere and finally to 15 mph (24 kph) at splashdown. Peak heating during descent: 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,900 degrees Celsius). Top G forces: four to five times the force of Earth's gravity. A SpaceX recovery ship with more than 40 staff, including doctors and nurses, was poised to move in at splashdown, with two smaller, faster boats leading the way. To keep the returning astronauts safe in the pandemic, the recovery crew self-quarantined for two weeks and were tested for the coronavirus. SpaceX expected it to take a half-hour for the ship to arrive at the capsule and additional time to lift it out of the water onto the deck. A flight surgeon was going to be the first to look into the capsule, once the hatch is pulled open. After medical exams, the astronauts were expected to fly home to Houston. The last time NASA astronauts returned from space to water was on July 24, 1975, in the Pacific, the scene of most splashdowns, to end a joint U.S.-Soviet mission known as Apollo-Soyuz. The Mercury and Gemini crews in the early to mid 1960s parachuted into the Atlantic, while most of the later Apollo capsules hit the Pacific. The lone Russian splashdown was in 1976 on a partially frozen lake amid a blizzard following an aborted mission; the harrowing recovery took hours. SpaceX made history with this mission, which launched May 30 from Florida. It was the first time a private company launched people into orbit and also the first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a decade. Hurley came full circle, serving as pilot of NASA's last space shuttle flight in 2011 and the commander of this SpaceX flight. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. NASA turned to SpaceX and also Boeing to ferry astronauts to and from the space station, following the retirement of the shuttles. Until Hurley and Behnken rocketed into orbit, NASA astronauts relied on Russian rockets. SpaceX needs six weeks to inspect the capsule before launching the next crew around the end of September. This next mission of four astronauts will spend a full six months aboard the space station. Hurley and Behnken's capsule will be refurbished for another flight next spring. Boeing doesn't expect to launch its first crew until next year. The company encountered significant software problems in the debut of its Starliner capsule, with no one aboard, last year. By beating Boeing, SpaceX laid claim to a U.S. flag left at the space station by Hurley and the rest of the last shuttle crew. The flag which also flew on the first shuttle flight was carefully packed aboard the Dragon for the homecoming. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. New Delhi: As many as 24 ISI agents have been arrested for spying for the Pakistani intelligence agency so far this year, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday. In addition to these 24 agents, one Pakistani spy agent detected in October 2016 was Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi based intelligence officer Mehmood Akhtar, Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir said replying a written question. Of those, who were arrested so far this year, nine were detected in Rajasthan, six in Punjab, two in Gujarat, two in Jammu and Kashmir, one in Uttar Pradesh and four in Delhi. Ahir said some of the staff posted in Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi is suspected to be involved in running espionage network. The official who was apprehended by the Delhi Police for spying was consequently declared persona-non-grata by the Indian authorities. The Government is taking adequate steps to counter such incidents in future. The Government is resolutely committed to take all necessary steps to ensure the security of the nation and the safety of our citizens, he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. To our bold and thoughtful Prime Minister, we would like to address this very simple idea. Unless we can revive and restore the economy, our ability to conquer the Covid menace will shrink and fade, and so will our power to fight all other diseases. And unless we can get schools back and running fully in September, it is going to be very hard indeed to get the economy working properly. It is now August. The end of summer is in sight. There is little time to be lost. The economy is not some abstract thing. It is not smooth, rich men in sharp suits making killings in the City of London. The economy is the essential framework of all our lives. The economy repairs the roads, fills the shelves of supermarkets, cares for the old, pays for the police, the fire service, the ambulances and, of course, the NHS. If it falters, all these things falter too. After defending the country against its foreign enemies, and protecting law-abiding citizens against crime, the economy is the biggest single responsibility of government. And ours is not doing very well at all just now. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson wearing a face mask while working on the train back from North Yorkshire on Thursday Without the vast flow of artificial life support from Rishi Sunak, which simply cannot last much longer, much of it would swiftly fold. Small businesses, which employ so many individuals and embody the hopes of so many brave risk-takers, are shrivelling for lack of custom, yet in many cases must still pay business rates and rents. High streets are half-empty as shoppers switch to the ease of the internet. Public transport, devastated by health fears, is now back in the hands of the state as it could not make ends meet without giant subsidy. Pubs and restaurants, hampered by miserable restrictions imposed on them, battle to win back customers in search of the lost pleasures of an evening out. But when those customers turn up they are met with bureaucracy, unsmiling rules and in many cases the dispiriting feeling that they might as well have stayed at home. The leisure travel industry is visibly crumbling, especially after last weeks sudden reimposition of quarantine on travellers returning from Spain. Who now dares risk his or her savings on a holiday, when the destination may at any time be ruled too dangerous to travel, with barely a whisper of warning? MPs, Ministers and civil servants may be able to cope with 14 days of enforced idleness at home. They will be paid anyway. But plenty of others whose work cannot be done via a home computer dare not take such a risk. The indiscriminate reimposition of stern rules on Greater Manchester may look responsible to Ministers, many of whom probably think that The North is what they occasionally see on Coronation Street. But residents of these areas are baffled by the rules and the reasoning behind them. Is this sweeping measure really in proportion to the supposed danger, or have the Governments medical advisers been carried away by the huge power that inexpert politicians have conferred on them? The response of the people of this country to such strictures has so far been rather moving. Told that they can help to stem a dangerous disease by making profound and enduring sacrifices of personal freedom, millions have laid aside doubts and obeyed the most extraordinary instructions for months on end. Theatre workers protest outside the National Theatre, against the mass redundancies of low-paid art jobs due to the Coronavirus outbreak, in London, Saturday Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R), the Chancellor Rishi Sunak (L), seen here joining Cpl Gemma Connell (C) from the Royal Squadron at RAF Northolt in her 24 hour cycle Challenge to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, Britain, 30, July 2020 They have been separated from friends and family, prevented from working, deprived of their sources of income, kept away even from weddings, funerals and church services. Their childrens schools have been shut exposing once again the shaming divide between the quality of private and state provision, a chasm that 50 years of promises and reforms have not been able to narrow. University educations, for which the young are required to sink themselves in frightening debt, have been blighted with worrying effects on future careers. Their parents daily lives have been more infested with regulations and nosey parkers than at any time since the Second World War. Cinemas and theatres have gone dark. Travel plans have had to be thrown in the bin. Yet they have barely complained. And so the Government and its advisers seem to feel they can keep loading more and more restrictions on them. This is not just an abuse of generosity. It is not just a mistake, though it is a mistake because even the patience of the British people is not unlimited. Worse still, it stands in bitter contrast to the way the same Government has behaved towards those increasingly overmighty subjects, the public-sector trade unions. Huge numbers who work with their hands, or who for other reasons can do their jobs only if they are physically present, long ago returned to their daily tasks. Yet Government departments and the public sector as a whole, (apart from the NHS) have hardly begun to get back to work. Even though they are supposedly under the direct control of Her Majestys Government, Whitehall offices echo with emptiness. Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson arrives at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, King Charles Street, London on July 21 And it is still far from clear whether the state schools of England will open properly next month. And if they do not, and if their after-school activities do not resume, legions of parents will simply be unable to return to work properly, and the economy will continue to stutter and stall. It is as simple as that. Fundamentally, these failures are down to the unwillingness of Ministers to govern properly. Sometimes this means insisting the elected Government has the ultimate right to rule, and overcoming sectional objections. Lady Thatcher faced down and defeated the great industrial unions on these grounds nearly 40 years ago because they were damaging the country and indeed destroying the jobs of their own members by obdurate folly. They were a far more powerful force than todays public-sector giants. Yet Ministers most notably Education Secretary Gavin Williamson seem to have forgotten they were given huge powers by Boris Johnsons smashing Election victory such a short time ago. And with those powers came the responsibility to use them. The teaching unions have no excuse or good reason to resist. Covid-19 barely affects the young at all, and other countries have successfully reopened (or continued to maintain) national education systems without tragedy. The unions just think they can get away with it because they have not been properly challenged. The suggestion that the long-suffering public should have to undergo more closures and restrictions as the price for the reopening of schools is shocking. They have put up with more than enough already. Mr Johnson and his Cabinet do not only have the force of democracy behind them, they have the greatly enhanced powers we have granted them in return for their promise to protect the country. They have the support of the media and of public opinion. It is time they used their political muscle in this matter. The whole future of the country in the end depends on it. Get Britain back to work, Boris, and start with the schools of England. Australian artists are lending their support to digital protests that aim to draw attention to the Philippines' new, oppressive anti-terror laws. The legislation has enabled the Philippine government to detain suspected terrorists without charges for up to 24 days. Activists and human rights groups say the laws are too broad and President Rodrigo Duterte could use them to silence his critics. Protesters wearing masks hold up placards as they protest an anti-terror bill in the Philippines. Credit:Getty Images Mr Duterte's government has a track record of suppressing dissent: in June an award-winning journalist who runs a news website critical of President Duterte was found guilty of libel, and earlier this year the government forced the country's largest TV and radio network off air. The Philippines is classified as a "flawed democracy" by The Economist Intelligence Unit's democracy index. And while some have been flouting the Philippine government's pleas to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic to protest against the new laws in person, others are being more creative. Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has called billionaire Clive Palmer the nation's 'greatest egomaniac', telling him to drop his case against his state government over its border closures after the Commonwealth withdrew its support. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has written to Mr McGowan saying the Commonwealth will no longer participate in the case, after taking into account the changed state of the coronavirus pandemic that has worsened since the matter was first brought to court. Mr McGowan thanked the prime minister for his letter and for listening to his government and the people of WA. 'I'm very grateful the Commonwealth has pulled out,' Mr McGowan told reporters in Perth on Sunday. Clive Palmer (pictured last week in Brisbane) argued WA's border closure is unconstitutional and damaging trade He said Brisbane-based Mr Palmer, who leads the United Australia Party, should also withdraw and is prepared to fight him in the High Court if he doesn't. 'He is showing himself at this point in time to be Australia's greatest egomaniac,' the premier said 'Mr Palmer can now solve this matter by withdrawing his action. He is not acting in the interests of the people of Western Australia, he is only acting for his own interest.' The Queensland mining magnet argues WA's border closure is unconstitutional and damaging trade, while Mr McGowan has said it was necessary to protect WA residents and based on expert health advice. WA Premier Mark McGowan has said it was necessary to protect WA residents and based on expert health advice A four-day hearing in the Federal Court in Perth concluded on Friday, with WA's Solicitor-General Joshua Thomson saying in his closing submissions that no community transmission in the state since mid-April showed the closure was working. Justice Darryl Rangiah reserved his findings and the matter will ultimately be decided by the High Court, with a judgment expected around October. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who's also been tough on the border issue, said such legal challenges were 'ridiculous'. 'I cannot for the life of me understand why someone like Mr Palmer wants to put everything we have done at risk,' she told reporters in Brisbane. Mineral Resources Ltd employee Racheal Lynch poses for a COVID-19 swab test in Perth, WA 'Everybody should respect that states have a job to do to protect their families.' AAP has contacted Mr Palmer's representative for comment. Last week, Mr Palmer called Mr McGowan a 'menace' because of his 'unreasonable' border closure. Mr Palmer launched the legal action in May after he was denied an exemption to enter WA. Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese said the prime minister needed to better explain why he joined Mr Palmer's legal action in the first place and why he has now withdrawn that support. Australian cruise ship passengers arrive at the Duxton Hotel after their Qatar Airways flight to Perth International airport on March 30 'It was always opportunistic for him to join Clive Palmer who was so supportive of the Liberal National Party during last year's federal election,' Mr Albanese told reporters in Sydney. 'And it's opportunistic today for the prime minister to get the message that Western Australians have been doing the right thing under the leadership of Mark McGowan.' WA has banned anyone from entering the state unless they are an exempt person or have a special pass. Those granted passes for compassionate reasons or other grounds have to self-quarantine for 14 days after their arrival. The Paycheck Protection Program, which was created as part of a $2.2 trillion relief package signed in March, was devised to help small businesses with fewer than 500 workers cover payrolls and overhead expenses while much of the economy was shuttered. When big publicly traded companies that had access to other forms of capital took out PPP loans, the Trump administration publicly shamed them and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin urged them to repay the money, saying they could face criminal liability if they did not qualify for the loans. The Supreme Court will hear the plea of former Bishop Franco Mulakkal, seeking direction to discharge him from the nun rape case, on August 5. A bench headed by Justice AS Bopanna will hear Mulakkals plea for dropping of rape charges against him. Mulakkal had filed the plea in the top court where he claimed to be innocent and said he was implicated after he questioned the financial dealings of the victim nun. He approached the top court after the Kerala high court rejected his plea for discharge from the case. The prosecution in the high court had contended that there was strong evidence against him and he was moving pleas frequently to delay the trial. He had approached the Kerala High Court after a trial court in Kottayam had dismissed the plea to discharge him from the case in March. In June 2018, the nun, who is a member of the Missionaries of Jesus congregation based in Punjab, had complained to the police in Kottayam that Jalandhar Bishop had raped her several times between 2014 and 2016. After several rounds of questioning, the special investigation team (SIT) of Kerala Police arrested him in September 2018. The SIT had filed the chargesheet against him last year. - The Kenyan political circle has its owners whose role is only to finance operations and calling the shots in their favour - Their names are rarely mentioned during political campaigns but they are behind the scenes controlling everything - This clique of billionaires is usually motivated to control and influence politics in the country with the aim of protecting their business interests As the old adage goes, behind every successful man there is a woman, and so is the case in the Kenyan political scene; behind every successful political party there is a billionaire. You will rarely hear their names in political campaigns, a few of them desire to run for political seats but their grip and control of the Kenyan politics can only be felt by those close to the party leaders. READ ALSO: Magufuli insists coronavirus can't survive where there's God President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition leader Raila Odinga are well known for their huge political support. Photo: Daily Nation Source: UGC READ ALSO: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang aangusha Kombe la FA wakati wa kusherehekea PAY ATTENTION: Don't miss trending Kenyan news. Follow TUKO.co.ke on ! They will show up and pull strings for their favourite candidates in presidential elections. Nowadays, they have expanded their tentacles to county politics where they manage and finance campaigns behind the scenes. This clique of billionaires whose source of wealth dates back to the colonial times will always emerge in every political campaign, not only to offer their financial support but also to advance their business interests. So wealthy are the individuals that during the 2017 presidential campaigns, President Uhuru Kenyatta held tens of tycoons for a fundraiser at Safari Park where KSh 1 billion was raised within two hours. If you think getting KSh 1 billion in two hours is an easy task, ask embattled Sirisia MP John Walukhe who has failed to raise a similar amount for almost a month now after he was found guilty in a graft scandal. Below is a list as compiled by the Daily Nation detailing some of the top wealthy individuals financing political parties and campaigns in the country. 1. Peter Munga He is the billionaire founder of Equity Group and currently in talks with Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru and ward representatives for a truce following disputed impeachment of the county boss. Munga is from Muranga county and is a member of the Mt Kenya Foundation, a club that was instrumental in ensuring Uhuru Kenyattas presidential victories in 2013 and 2017. Equity Group founder Peter Munga is well known for his influence in the Mt Kenya politics. Photo: Business Daily Source: UGC 2. Muhoho Kenyatta Muhoho is President Uhuru Kenyatta's younger brother who is said to be taking care of their family empire. Although he is rarely heard of, he is very influential in government. In the corridors of power, Cabinet Secretaries and other government officials always consult him a lot on national issues. President Uhuru Kenyatta's younger brother who is in charge of Kenyatta's family business. Photo: Business Daily Source: Facebook 3. Peter Muthoka Muthoka is the man who holds the Ukambani politics by the grip. He commands respect of elected leaders, from ward representatives, MPs to governors. He hosted elected and religious leaders from across lower Eastern on December 25 at Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyokas Yatta farm, giving every MP KSh 100,000, ward representative KSh 50,000 and KSh 500,000 for each bishop. 4. Jimi Wanjigi Little was known about Jimi Wnjigi until 2018 when he was involved in running battles with government following the 2017 elections. Wanjigi was one of the cornerstones of George Saitotis presidential campaign until the latters sudden death in a helicopter crash in 2012. He then shifted his support to Jubilee Party in 2013 but later parted ways that saw him support Raila Odinga's presidential ambitions in 2017. Billionaire Jimi Wanjigi standing with his wife during a past press conference. Photo: Daily Nation Source: Twitter 5. Paul Wanderi Ndungu i The former chairman of betting firm SportPesa has a majority shareholding in a number of companies and was one of the main financiers of the Jubilee administration. He was behind the emerging of The National Alliance (TNA) party and the United Republican Party (URP) that led to the formation of Jubilee Party. The former SportPesa chairman was behind the formation of Jubilee Party in 2017 before he fell out with the administration. Photo: The Star Source: UGC 6. Johnstone Muthama Muthama who runs a company specialising in mines and precious stones, admits to having funded a number of presidential candidates in the country. The former Wiper party chairman was recently expelled from the Kalonzo Musyoka-led party after he warmed up to Deputy President William Ruto. Former Machakos senator Johnstone Muthama is among the key financiers of Wiper Party who recently joined William Ruto's political camp. Photo: Enock Ndayala Source: Original 7. Hassan Joho The Mombasa county governor is another tycoon who is well known for luxurious flights and for throwing big parties where he invites the who is who from the Bongo music industry. The heavily-bearded county boss bankrolled his brother's campaign for Nyali MP but lost to independent candidate Mohammed Ali. Popularly known as Governor 001 or the Sultan of Mombasa, Joho is also another big financier of Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) which saw him being elected as party chairman. The Sultan of Mombasa is well known for his classic dressing style and flashy lifestyle that leaves many wishing they were rich like him. Photo: UGC Source: Instagram Do you have an inspirational story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690. Follow us on Telegram: Tuko news Source: TUKO.co.ke Egypt resumed public cultural activities last month as part of phase one of the country's cautious reopening following the COVID-19 lockdown Egypt's Boghdady Big Band will take the stage of the Cairo Opera House's Fountain Theatre on 7 August for a performance titled 'Best Tunes and Greatest Songs for Big Bands.' Founded by conductor Magdy Boghdady, the band has found success with their jazz repertoire, which combines American and Egyptian tunes and standards like Brazil, April in Paris, New York, Moon Dance, Fly Me to the Moon, Mambo Jumbo and others. Boghdady Big Band will hold another concert at the Alexandria Opera House on Sunday 9 August. The Cairo Opera House is hosting a series of events during the month of August, including concerts for Black Theama (Wednesday 5), Ali El-Haggar (Thursday 6), Medhat Saleh (Thursday 12), Mohamed El-Helw (Friday 21), and many other events. Egypt resumed public cultural activities last month as part of phase one of the country's cautious reopening following the Covid-19 lockdown, with all events held under strict measures that include social distancing, obligatory facemasks, and sanitising. Programme: Friday 7 August, 8pm Open Theatre, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Then, in July, President Donald Trump ordered that people living in the country illegally not be counted for the apportionment of congressional districts. Never mind that the Constitution says, Representatives shall be apportioned among the several States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed (our emphasis). Never mind that without a tally of people here illegally, which does not exist, there is no way to subtract them from the population of a given area. Trust Company of Oklahoma (TCO), the oldest and largest independent trust company in the state, is proud to announce the promotions of Philip D. Mock to Chief Investment Officer (CIO), Nick Gallus to Director of Investment Research, and Bri Ghosn to Controller. In addition, TCO has hired John Priebe as a Portfolio Manager and Jackie Jimenez as a Compliance officer. As Chief Investment Officer (CIO) and member of the Board of Directors, Philip D. Mock, CFA, CPA, CFP will manage TCOs investment portfolio and the Investment Management division. He joined the company in 2016 as a portfolio manager. Since then, he has been helping clients achieve long-term goals by developing a tailored investment plan. Prior to that, he worked at Mariner Wealth Advisors, at BOK Financial and at PwC, LLP. Philip holds a masters degree in Accounting and Bachelors in Accounting and Sociology all from Oklahoma State University. He is a certified public accountant (CPA) and a Certified Financial Planner professional. Philip is a member of the Oklahoma Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A motorbike driver rides past closed businesses in Ho Chi Minh City amid a nationwide social distancing campaign to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in April 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. Food and beverage businesses are trying to figure out survival strategies amid the renewed local transmission of Covid-19. Hoang Tien, founder and CEO of cafe chain Coffee Bike, said the resurgence in Covid-19 cases worries him since the nationwide social distancing campaign in April had badly affected his business. Coffee Bike, which operates a network of stores and vendor carts, has seen revenues at its cafes fall by 15-20 percent after the outbreak. Tien is considering a switch to online if another social distancing campaign is imposed. He is among many businesspeople in the food and beverage industry who are concerned about another bout of social distancing since restaurants and coffee shops will be among the first to be shut down if large numbers of cases are recorded in big cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. As of Sunday Vietnam has recorded 144 Covid-19 cases since the pandemic resurfaced on July 25. Industry insiders fear this next wave will cause major difficulties for their businesses since most of them are still trying to recover after revenues plummeted in the first two quarters. 89s Presso, a coffee shop in HCMCs District 1, has only recently seen revenues recovering to half the pre-pandemic levels. "We are concerned about the new cases as our business only reopened a short time ago," a spokesperson said, adding that if social distancing is imposed in the city revenues would surely plummet. Nam Khuat, owner of Kin Dee Thai Gastropub restaurant in the same district, said July was the first month since social distancing in April when revenues were at pre-pandemic levels. If there is social distancing again, he would have to negotiate a reduction in rents, cut staff working hours, let part-time employees go, and increase online sales to survive, he said. Revenues from lodging and food and beverages in the first seven months fell 16.6 percent year-on-year to VND281 trillion ($12.1 billion), according to the General Statistics Office. In HCMC it was almost three times the rate at 45.1 percent, while it was 24.5 percent in Da Nang and 18.9 percent in Hanoi. The figures could worsen in the second half if another social distancing campaign is imposed, pushing the food and beverage industry into another crisis, Hoang Tung, CEO of restaurant chain Pizza Home, said. But demand remains strong because major cities, except Da Nang, have not had a large number of cases, and the economy is recovering thanks to the governments quick efforts to contain the pandemic. Businesses that have survived are likely to survive the next wave too since they have experience now, he said. Tungs own strategy was to close down inefficient outlets, reduce production costs and rents and increase online sales. Industry insiders also want the government to give them advance notice this time so that they can prepare to close down. Last time they were forced to close within a day of being informed. Vietnam has had 590 Covid-19 cases, 212 of them active. Srinagar, Aug 2 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah on Sunday demanded a probe by a retired judge of the Supreme Court into the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley in early 1990s. At a webinar, the National Conference President blamed the then Governor, Jagmohan for engineering the exodus of the local Pandit community by promising to bring them back within three months after restoring peace in Kashmir. Kashmir was in the throes of a bloody insurgent violence in early 1990s. Some prominent members of the Pandit community, including state BJP chief Tika Lal Taploo, retired judge Neelkant Ganjoo - who had sentenced JKLF founder Maqbool Bhat to death, poet and activist Sarvanand Koul 'Premi' and many others were killed by militants at the beginning of separatist violence. Abdullah claimed that the probe into the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits by an honest, retired Supreme Court judge would clear many misconceptions about the exodus. Citing many examples of local Muslims standing alongside their Pandit brothers to dispel the impression that the community had conspired to throw the Pandits out of the Valley, he said: "Kashmir is never going to be complete unless the Kashmiri Pandits come back and live in peace with us. "My father (Sheikh Abdullah) never believed in the Two Nation theory. He never believed that Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists are different from each other. We believe that all of us are children of Adam and Eve," he said. Abdullah, however, said he could not support the idea of a separate homeland for Kashmiri Pandits without going into the details of the proposal floated by Kashmiri Pandit organisation 'Panun Kashmir'. The Associated Press reports on opposition by Germans to their governments shutdown order. The AP, of course, has a position on the issue: Thousands protested Germanys coronavirus restrictions Saturday in a Berlin demonstration marking what organizers called the end of the pandemic a declaration that comes just as authorities are voicing increasing concerns about an uptick in new infections. Got that? The demonstrators are wrong! The AP wouldnt want to get through an opening sentence without telling its readers what to think. With few masks in sight, a dense crowd marched through downtown Berlin from the Brandenburg Gate. Few masks in sight! How dare they? Protesters who came from across the country held up homemade signs with slogans like Corona, false alarm, We are being forced to wear a muzzle, Natural defense instead of vaccination and We are the second wave. They chanted, Were here and were loud, because we are being robbed of our freedom! When Germans protest against being robbed of their freedom, you know its serious. Police used bullhorns to chide participants to adhere to social distancing rules and to wear masks, apparently with little success. I doubt that the writers of the AP story appreciate the humor in that sentence. Police estimated about 17,000 people turned out. The demonstrators were kept apart from counterprotesters, some of whom chanted Nazis out! It is typical in Germany, as in the U.S., that people who object to infringements of their freedom are Nazis. Protests against anti-virus restrictions in Germany have drawn a variety of attendees, including conspiracy theorists and right-wing populists. Then they must be wrong. Of course, right-wing populists cover a broad range that would include people like us, and like most American conservatives. Unlike the U.S., Brazil and Britain, Germanys government has been praised worldwide for its management of the pandemic. The obligatory anti-Trump spin that we find in pretty much every AP news story. Absent from the APs account is any explanationlet alone a sympathetic understandingof why many Germans have had it with their governments shutdown. Via InstaPundit we see: Germany economic collapse: Nearly 10 YEARS of growth wiped out in nightmare for Merkel. In the second quarter of this year, the German economy shrunk by a massive 10.1 percent compared to the first three months of 2020 as the crushing impacts from the coronavirus crisis become increasingly evident. Of course, it wasnt the virus that crushed Germanys economy, it was the shutdown. The huge crash in the April to June period was triggered by a massive collapse in exports and measures introduced in a desperate attempt to contain the coronavirus pandemic. This will set alarm bells ringing in Germany as even in the worst three months of the financial crisis in 2009, the countrys economy shrank by less than five percent. This is a point that is not made often enough: the costs of government shutdowns to fight the coronavirus are huge and indisputable. The benefits of shutdowns are speculative and hypothetical. In my opinion, those benefits are minimal and maybe nonexistent. Closing down economic and social life can indeed slow the spread of the COVID virus (or any disease), albeit at enormous cost. But what is the benefit? The evidence increasingly shows that shutdowns merely prolong the inevitable effects of the disease. Instead of suffering only from the effects of the disease, we now suffer from the same effects of the disease, spread over a longer time, but in addition are experiencing the incalculable human toll caused by the shutdowns. I have yet to see any convincing evidence that this assessment is incorrect. Swedens experience, while by no means a pure test case, is instructive. Sweden did not order an economy- and life-destroying shutdown, and early on, as anyone would have expected, the disease spread more rapidly there. That was the point. But now COVID in Sweden seems to have run its course, which is what diseases do: The dreaded second wave here and in most of Europe is the inevitable result of temporarily slowing the spread of the Wuhan flu, or any other disease. The best course, I think, is to get it over with. Diseases are bad, there is no doubt about that. But we, and most European countries, have, I think, compounded the evil effects of COVID with foolish policies that have added unnecessary destruction to the inevitable toll of the disease. In a suburban Houston congressional district that backed President in 2016, a twice-elected Republican sheriff is battling a Democrat who's the son of an immigrant from India. To Democrats, that smells like an opportunity. Things are flipped in central New York, where freshman Democratic Rep. Anthony Brindisi faces the Republican he ousted two years ago from a district near Syracuse that includes smaller cities like Binghamton and Utica. Trump won there easily, and Republicans say his place atop the ticket will help propel Claudia Tenney back to Congress. The tale of two districts 1,600 miles apart spotlights that many pivotal House races hinge on suburban voters. While some like Brindisi's have a more rural, blue collar feel than the diverse, better educated one outside Houston, an overriding factor will be how Trump is viewed in the district. And that's a problem for the GOP. Two years after a 40-seat surge fuelled by wins in the suburbs hoisted Democrats to House control, Republican hopes of recapturing the majority have buckled along with Trump's approval ratings. Some worry that the party will lose seats, an agonising letdown from their one-time dream of retaking control by gaining 17 seats. My fear for Republicans is there are simply not enough rural voters to offset the losses they've suffered in the suburbs these last few years, said former Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa, a Trump critic. It's certainly possible the Democrats could pick up more than a few seats. Democrats boast an ever-expanding target list that includes a half-dozen Republican seats in Texas plus others outside Atlanta, Cincinnati, Los Angeles and Phoenix. They hope to win in traditionally red strongholds like Alaska, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska and rural Virginia, while toppling New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who defected to the GOP last year. Republicans have opportunities too, including in small town areas in central California, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico and Virginia. They're spending money on suburban seats they've previously lost in Georgia, Minnesota and Texas, plus others in Salt Lake City, Oklahoma City, New York City's Staten Island and Charleston, South Carolina. Spokesman Bob Salera of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the House GOP's political arm, said Republicans will gain seats because progressives' proposals on policing and health care will be totally toxic among suburban voters. But Democrats are fortifying their chances with a money-raising bonanza. Since January 2019, all 29 Democrats in House districts Trump carried in 2016 have banked more money than their GOP challengers, usually by multiples. The same is true for all but two of the 24 other Democrats in seats Republicans said they'd pursue aggressively this year. That's testament to the environment," said GOP pollster Jon McHenry, citing the presidential race's impact on down-ballot contests. And it's a wake-up call." Further bolstering Democrats is repulsion among educated voters over Trump's racially inflammatory tirades, his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemi c and crippled economy, and the fact that many suburbs are growing more diverse. All that could prove telling in the Houston-area district where Democrat Sri Preston Kulkarni is battling GOP Sheriff Troy Nehls. The suburban district has been trending away from Republicans as it becomes wealthier and more diverse, with Trump's 8-point victory there well below 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's 25-point win. The district has so many minorities that Kulkarni's campaign literature is in 21 languages. Houston has also seen a major virus resurgence. It's the greatest failure of leadership in American history, Kulkarni said of Trump's pandemic response. The American-born Kulkarni left college temporarily when his father was dying of cancer to help provide care and to aid the family's struggle with medical bills. He wields the story as a cautionary tale as Democrats make health care their top issue during a pandemic in which Republicans want the Supreme Court to overturn former President Barack Obama's health care law. A former foreign service officer, Kulkarni lost a 2018 bid for the seat to GOP Rep. Pete Olson, who chose to retire after that close call. Outspent last time, Kulkarni has raised five times what Nehls has collected. Nehls served two decades in the Army Reserve and is sheriff of Fort Bend County, which dominates the congressional district. He's emphasized his proven independent brand" as a sheriff used to building bridges" with diverse communities," said campaign spokesman Nick Maddux. Yet Nehls hasn't hid his support for Trump, attending when the president visited Texas recently. He's shared Trump's disdain for protective masks, writing that a local mandatory mask order looks more like a communist dictatorship than a free Republic. In a digital ad early this year, the announcer boasted that as sheriff, Nehls locked up over 2,500 criminal illegal immigrants." Brindisi's upstate New York district was struggling economically before the virus hit, and many expect Trump's populist and nationalist appeals to help the president carry it again. Brindisi defeated Tenney in 2018 by 2 percentage points, and Trump carried the district by 16 points two years earlier. Tenney said she's focusing on her accomplishments during her two years in Congress, including backing the GOP's huge 2017 tax cuts. And she's attacking Brindisi for falsely posing as a moderate, citing his support for Trump's impeachment. (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.) CLEVELAND, Ohio An Ashtabula County bar was the only establishment in Ohio to be cited for a coronavirus health violation overnight Saturday, the Ohio Investigative Unit said. The Corner Bar in Austinburg, about 50 miles east of Cleveland, received an administrative citation from the OIU after patrons were found to be drinking after the 10 p.m. alcohol sales curfew that went into effect Friday, according to a statement provided by the OIU. Around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, OIU agents saw a woman standing in the doorway of the bar, drinking an alcoholic beverage, the statement says. The agents entered the bar and saw about 10 more patrons drinking, as well as bartenders still serving drinks. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order Friday afternoon that says bars and restaurants cannot serve alcohol past 10 p.m. Patrons have until 11 p.m. to finish their last beverage. The executive order is an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus in bars. Four Northeast Ohio restaurants and bars received OIU citations overnight Friday into Saturday. Most of the establishments were cited for violations of social distancing rules as well as serving alcohol past 10 p.m. The health orders being enforced by the OIU were issued by the Ohio Health Department to promote safety in bars and restaurants and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The cases against the restaurants and bars will go before the Ohio Liquor Control Commission for possible penalties, including fines or the suspension or revocation of liquor permits. More Northeast Ohio coronavirus news: New coronavirus infections, rate of tests found positive decline for a second week in Cuyahoga County Democrats including Sen. Sherrod Brown bemoan end of $600 federal unemployment supplement See what Cuyahoga County school districts are doing for classes following health boards remote learning recommendations Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 00:30:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Somali National Army (SNA) on Sunday killed 5 al-Shabab militants during an operation in the southern region of Lower Juba. Isma'il Abdi Malik Malin, commander of SNA's 16th Unit, told reporters that the troops conducted an operation in Jamame town inflicting casualties on the militants. "Our forces destroyed many bases used by the militants as hideouts in the area and we killed five of them in a fierce confrontation between the army and the militants," said Malin. He said that a senior al-Shabab leader who represented the militants in finance was also killed during the gun battle. The latest operation was conducted amid intensified attacks against al-Shabab militants in the southern region of Somalia. Enditem In Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump is calling on schools to reopen, and open 100 percent. In Novi, Michigan its not anywhere near that easy. Superintendent Steve Matthews is still sorting through exactly what school will look like in the fall, and plans to offer a virtual and an in-person option, though its not clear what in-person will look like. Our preference is to offer a five day a week, kind of a typical school day experience for students, Matthews said. But they cant do that and keep kids six feet apart, in line with social distancing recommendations. Theyve set up classrooms and spaced the desks as much as possible, and the distance between students is two to four feet. So hes presenting the school board with two in-person options: five days a week or students coming in on alternate days, so half the class would be there at least six feet apart in person and half would tune in online. This year, Michigan school districts are coupling a perennially hectic back-to-school season with a wave of unknowns unique to the COVID-19 pandemic. As they look for governmental guidance, experts say a competing plan from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is and should be weighted more heavily than the one-size-fits-all approach to reopening taken by Trump and U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. I would say that the decision has to be local... we dont have one national outbreak, we have lots of local outbreaks, said Logan Spector, Professor and Director of the Division of Pediatric Epidemiology & Clinical Research at the University of Minnesota. It cant possibly be the case that a national strategy makes sense. State, federal reopening plans diverge Whitmer has cited shuttering school buildings this spring as one of the more difficult decisions shes made during the pandemic. Going back to her time in the legislature, shes put a big emphasis on education. Shes taught at the university level herself, and put an emphasis on supporting students and teachers on the campaign trail. When it came to planning for back-to-school in the fall, she threw the heft of her offices resources behind the effort, assembling 25 parents, education and health experts on her Return to School Advisory Council. The group came up with a roadmap with a mix of requirements and recommendations for schools as they reopen. One key? Schools have to come up with plans based on what economic reopening phase their area is in. Phase 3 means schools go virtual. In Phase 4, which most of the state is currently in, allows in-person learning with strict safety protocols, including masks for staff and students in grades 6-12. In Phase 5, which northern Michigan is in, the plan calls for in-person instruction with more flexible guidelines. Skillman Foundation President & CEO Tonya Allen chairs the task force that came up with Michigans back-to-school roadmap. The workgroup included stakeholders from parents to educators and started with the question of what was best for kids. Our plan is not based on what is coming from the federal government, Allen said. ... We dont want to get tied up into the national political debates on this issue, which have exacerbated peoples concerns. Because it is about what they want to do rather than whats right for children, whats right for families. The plan unveiled by the Trump administration, meanwhile, would financially incentivize schools to reopen. It would put $70 billion in the next coronavirus relief funding bill toward K-12 schools, with $35 billion reserved for schools that reopen. The funding would support schools innovating to keep people safe, such as by using flexible schedules or cohorting -- that is, keeping groups of kids together. Speakers at a White House event last month drew the line between reopening schools and reopening the economy. We want to reopen the schools. Everybody wants it. The moms want it, the dads want it, the kids want it. Its time to do it, Trump said at the event. Were very much going to put pressure on governors and everybody else to open the schools, he said. Whitmer, however, hasnt caved to that pressure. Shes said repeatedly that she will only send kids back to school if its safe. If the numbers continue to go up, then we may not be able to resume in-person instruction, she said last week. Thats what were trying to avoid with things like the masking requirement and doubling down on these protocols. Related: A partial shutdown now could result in a safe reopening of Michigan schools this fall, experts say Schools planning for everything One thing the state plan leaves room for is district-by-district decisions. We cant dictate for all 800 districts precisely what a day looks like, Whitmer said last week. And they didnt try to. The task force went into planning for reopening knowing every school district had unique factors, from the students it served to how schools were laid out. What it came up with was a set of basic standards, plus measures that were recommended or strongly recommended. For example, the predicament Matthews is facing in Novi is not being able to put six feet of distance between desks. The task force strongly recommends spacing desks six feet apart in classrooms in Stage 4, which the state is currently in. But, like many things that need to be considered district-by-district or building-by-building, its not a mandate. Thats really why the plan is designed to have that flexibility, because we know there is no one-size-fits-all plan for for everyone. Because the disease isnt a one-size-fits-all, it doesnt affect every community the same way, Allen said. Matthews said the states roadmap has been helpful as the district works to plan for next year, but the guidance was not as clear from the federal government as I would have liked. Michigan school districts are referencing the states plans, said Michigan Association of Superintendents & Administrators Deputy Executive Director for External Relations Peter Spadafore. The state plans and guidance seem to be based more on the data than on a desire to see school in person, Spadafore said. Michigan coronavirus picture still uncertain Michigan coronavirus cases have embarked on a slow climb since mid-June, when the seven-day moving average dipped to 150 new confirmed cases per day. As of July 28, the seven-day moving average is 726 cases per day. The infectious respiratory virus has sickened 82,356 in Michigan and 6,206 deaths have been associated with the disease, most of those among older people. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is thought to spread mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets released when people speak or breathe. Thats made people wary of gathering too many people in indoor spaces, where the virus is more easily spread. The governor has limited indoor social gatherings, for example, to 10 people. But schools arent social gatherings. Theyre a lifeline for some kids, providing education, meals, and meaningful connections with people outside their own families. The American Academy of Pediatrics is advocating they open in Michigan and nationally. Dr. Lisa Whitehead, an Ann Arbor pediatrician who served on an task force about reopening schools with the Michigan Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said getting kids in school in person should be a priority. I think that there is plenty of both anecdotal as well as research evidence that the virutal platform is not going to be even close to similar as a traditional classroom would be when youre talking about outcomes for kids, Whitehead said. Kids are missing out on physical fitness opportunities schools provide, she said, and online learning disadvantages kids who are young, have special needs or come from disadvantaged backgrounds. According to the AAP, preliminary data show children are at a lower risk of contracting COVID-19 and are less likely to be primary vectors in the spread of the disease. Whitehead said whether or not its safe to open schools will vary community by community. If the community level of transmission is too high, then its going to be nearly impossible to create a safe, in-person environment, Whitehead said. And even whats safe in an area now may not be safe three weeks or months from now, experts say. I think without a doubt educators should be prepared to change modailty on a dime if conditions warrant, Spector said. Thats the case in Novi, where Matthews has beefed up technology for teachers who need to be prepared to teach from anywhere. Theyre still getting a final plan approved by the school board, but, we think were going to be fairly nimble, Matthews said. Note: This story has been updated to correct a name. 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 executive orders requiring people to wear face coverings over their mouth and nose while in public indoor and crowded outdoor spaces. See an explanation of what that means here. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. For more data on COVID-19 in Michigan, visit https://www.mlive.com/coronavirus/data/. Related stories: Reopening schools depends on how people behave, Michigans Dr. Khaldun says Are Michigan students really going back to school? Teachers, health officials say reopening is a minefield A US official on Thursday referred to an oilfields deal between the SDF and a US firm in the Kurdish-controlled region. Syrias foreign ministry has said a United States oil company has signed an agreement with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), calling it an illegal deal aimed at stealing Syrias crude. The ministry statement, published on state media on Sunday, did not name the firm involved in the deal with the SDF, a US-backed alliance of militias that seized swaths of north and east Syria from ISIL and carved out autonomous regions. The statement came days after US Senator Lindsey Graham and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo referred to an oilfields deal between the SDF and a US firm during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing. Graham said during Thursdays hearing that SDF General Commander Mazloum Abdi informed him that a deal had been signed with a US company to modernise the oil fields in northeastern Syria, and asked Pompeo whether the administration was supportive of it. We are, Pompeo responded. The deal took a little longer than we had hoped, and now were in implementation. The Syrian foreign ministrys statement said Damascus condemns in the strongest terms the agreement signed between al-Qasd militia (SDF) and an American oil company to steal Syrias oil under the sponsorship and support of the American administration. It added: This agreement is null and void and has no legal basis. US withdrawal Syria produced about 380,000 barrels of oil per day before it plunged into war following a crackdown on protests in 2011. During the long-running conflict, which has seen the involvement of many international powers and ISIL also seizing large parts of the country for years, Damascus lost control of most oil-producing fields in a stretch east of the Euphrates River in Deir az Zor. Western sanctions have also taken a toll on Syrias energy industry. US President Donald Trump has shown an acute interest in the oilfields of northeast Syria. Despite announcing a US military pullback from the region in December 2018, Trump also pledged that a small number of US forces would remain where they have oil. Trump faced congressional criticism for the pullback, with some prominent Republicans saying the administration was abandoning Kurdish allies who had been instrumental to defeating ISIL (ISIS) in the region. Critics also said the move opened the region to further influence from Russia, whose military support has been key to al-Assad taking back large swaths of the country. The Pentagon said late last year that oilfield revenues would go to the SDF. The alliances makeup largely consists of fighters from the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) a group considered terrorists by Turkey and smaller groups of Arab, Turkmen and Armenian fighters. Following Trumps pullback announcement, Ankara launched a military operation into northern Syria with the stated aim of removing the SDF from the region bordering Turkey and creating a so-called safe zone where millions of the Syrian refugees it hosted could be resettled. Published on 2020/08/02 | Source A boy walks by a tourist information center at Gimpo International Airport on Sunday. /Yonhap As the summer holidays begin, health authorities are on alert for another possible spike in coronavirus. Advertisement The Ministry of Education and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in new guidelines on Sunday went so far as to urge families with school-age children or school staff to stay at home during the holidays. They urge people to avoid going to places where crowds gather in tight spaces and spend their holidays at home if possible. An official from the ministry said, "If a student or a school staffer returns from a trip infected, there is a possibility of community transmissions within schools. We came up with these guidelines to keep our schools open". The guidelines also urge people not to participate in events hosted by schools or religious groups. There were 6.11 million pupils and 550,000 staff in kindergartens and schools nationwide as of Oct. 1, 2019. The two-week school holidays start from the end of this month. According to a poll of 6,150 people by the Korea Transport Institute on Sunday, 23.2 percent will go away on a holiday in the first week of August. The daily traffic volume on highways in that week is expected to be 4.76 million vehicles, up 1.3 percent from last year, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Demand for domestic travel has increased as international travel has become impossible. Among those who said they will go on holiday this summer, 98 percent said they will travel somewhere within Korea. If you drove by St. Peters Prep on Grand Street in Jersey City last Friday or St. Peters University on Montgomery Street, you wouldnt have noticed anything changed or new, except the university is constructing a new dorm. But something big-time did occur on the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuits. A new province was formed by combining the provinces of New York, New England and Maryland into what will be the East Province of the Jesuits in the U.S. and the largest of the five provinces in North America. It will cover 16 states, from Maine to Georgia, and the District of Columbia with 600 Jesuits and 11 universities and colleges including biggies like Georgetown, Fordham and B.C. Twenty-six middle and high schools are covered, including Prep, the all-scholarship Regis after which the late Regis Philbin was named after his dads alma mater and Xavier in Manhattan. The Jesuits of the new province also staff 17 parishes, six retreat houses -- including Loyola in Morristown -- and two international schools. The Rev. Joseph M. OKeefe became the new provincial the same day as the merger took place. In the Jesuit magazine, aptly titled JESUITS, OKeefe described his feelings as both daunted and excited. He sees his mission to discern, he said, how can we respond to the needs of the world and church? He called the new province an efficient coming together as we muster resources and said he expects to chart a course for the next decade. For example, he acknowledged that there are fewer Jesuits than even 50 years ago when the New York Province (encompassing New York and New Jersey) alone had more than 1,000 Jesuits and was the largest in the world of over 36,000 Jesuits. Today, 140 of the 600 in the new province are retired and the average age is 72. But, he said, the younger Jesuits are remaining. OKeefe knows that to continue all these institutions he relies on dedicated laypeople who have learned the Jesuit charism. At Prep, we learned it in freshman year when we wrote the acronym A.M.D.G. (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam for the greater glory of God) on the top of all our papers. Jesuits can be found in every profession. Jesuit George Drance, for example, is artist-in-residence at Fordhams Department of Theatre. He is also an accomplished director who has mounted plays at the famous La Mama Theatre on the Lower East Side. As a priest with a ministry to the artistic community, I see the new relationships between institutions in the various cities of the East Coast as offering greater possibilities for artistic collaboration and outreach, Drance said. Closer to home, the Rev. Rocco Danzi, just completing 10 years at SPU, moved from vice president for Mission and Ministry to become the pastor of St. Aedans Church, which is the university parish, run by the Jesuits. He started out as director of Campus Ministry for the university. In his 31st year as a Jesuit, Danzi realized that his calling is to do ministry more than administration and to be more with people as opposed to approving budgets. He will be one of only 12 Jesuits in the one Jersey City Jesuit community at SPU whereas when I was in school there were over 50 Jesuits uptown and another 50 Downtown. Today, there are now more lay presidents and principals of the various institutions. In the last year, the Jesuits pulled out of Wheeling College in West Virginia and one of the priests there, the Rev. Luis Tampe, moved to SPU. Soon, OKeefe and his consultors will discern how to reduce the number of retreat houses, where people can go for refreshment and renewal, from six to four. And he questions whether they can continue to staff so many parishes, which should be staffed by diocesan priests. But he cautioned that there are extensive consultation protocols and every institutional change has to be approved by the Superior General in Rome. And Pope Francis is a Jesuit, who has declared an Ignatian Year beginning March 2021 to last until the feast of the canonizations of St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier in 2022. It will be a year of spiritual renewal, OKeefe said. In 1833, the Maryland Province covered the entire country at the time and as the Jesuit numbers grew, more provinces were carved out of it. This time they have reunited, though with many more institutions. OKeefe feels blessed that he can really drive to any of his institutions and the big cities of Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and D.C., where most are located. In the next six years he will rack up many miles of visitations. He holds six degrees, including a masters and a doctorate in education from Harvard. He has been on the faculty of Fordhams Graduate School of Education. I am at heart a teacher, and good teachers listen as much as they speak, he told JESUIT Magazine. Many of those lessons will come in handy as provincial. The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken. New Delhi: An internal study conducted by Pakistan to understand the mood of the public on the situation of Uighurs in China found that confidence-building measures in Xinjiang and a "better understanding of the religion" will be helpful for Chinese authorities. The internal assessment of the public sentiment on the atrocities against Uighurs Muslims by Chinese in Xinjiang saw religious Urdu journals being more vocal about it matter. China needs to come up with in "understanding the people's aspirations and concerns" are the key findings of the internal assessment done by Pakistan to understand the mood of the public on the situation of Uighurs. The assessment recommended that "reliable and mature religious" leaders need to be kept on frequent communication. And these religious leaders should feel the "closeness" in which they may give a suggestion to Chinese authorities on the issue. But largely a relook by Chinese authorities of "governance" is what is needed--this includes revisiting approach of compulsory and forcible re-education of Uighur Muslims. While Pakistani internal assessment has lauded Chinese leadership in the long term strategy of mainstreaming and integration of people of Xinjiang, the report suggests the common population should not be seen as a collective threat. It hopes fasting, prayers, recitation of Quran should be allowed since these are important tenets of Islam and restrictions over them is a cause discomfort. The internal report has recommended that Muslims should be allowed the freedom to perform their rituals which will give a positive message inside and outside of China. In fact, the news of curbs and restrictions on the Muslim way of life in other parts of China as well is seen as extremely disturbing for anyone in Pakistan, the report concurs. It is important to know, Pakistan has banned online publication of extremist journals Hittin. The primary cause has been that it has been very critical of Chinese influence in Pakistan and Beijing should not be seen as a well-wisher to people of the region. It has talked about the mammoth infrastructure project the China Pakistan economic corridor in the same context and highlighted the "plight of Muslims in East Turkistan". Xinjiang is also referred to as East Turkestan especially by extremist and terror groups--East Turkestan Islamic Movement Driving home from work at 7 in the morning, Dr. Maria Raven needs to take her mind off the night she has just spent treating COVID-19 patients as chief of emergency medicine at UCSF Parnassus. So she starts thinking about the dinner party she will host to break in the dining room of her newly purchased Willis Polk-designed 1915 home in the Claremont Hills of Berkeley. The plan is for indoor dining with the windows and French doors of her home to be wide open, and guests spaced far enough apart to negate the benefit of body heat. She will provide the lap blankets. Sounds depressing, doesnt it, she says with a laugh, during a calm day at work. The challenge with any social gathering since the pandemic began is to balance the act of keeping it safe for people involved, but not so adapted for safety that its a reminder of the depressing state of our world right now. Raven is up to it. She is both an entertainer and a doctor, which makes her uniquely qualified to offer some guidelines for throwing a dinner party at home. And, to be clear, Raven is planning for the future, not today, with a January target date for her party. In her normal, pre-pandemic life, Raven liked to unwind on a Saturday night by whipping up a Mediterranean-inspired buffet for 20, kids included. She always has good medical stories to tell, starting with the twist that she was a history major at UC Berkeley who did her thesis on women in film during the Great Depression. The paper came out too long even for her faculty adviser, the esteemed cultural historian Lawrence Levine. How she got from there to a hospital residency in New York City, treating gunshot wounds and internal damage from falling off subway trains and down elevator shafts, then later to the top job at the UCSF emergency department is a story unto itself. Her party invitation list is usually drawn from her college friends and parents from her kids schools in Berkeley. Ravens regular seating strategy is to throw everyone together during cocktails, and after a round or two of her killer martinis and negronis see what carries over to the dinner table. But normal seating strategies have been turned upside down for the risk of virus transmission. Ravens dining room table usually seats 10, but not now. People who already live together can sit right next to each other. They can share chairs and food, she says in a follow-up email. Cant believe I didnt think of that earlier! Even with couples crammed together it will hold eight, maximum, which means four will be at an auxiliary table. What she did think of earlier is that she will cap her party at 12 because that is the limit of her group of COVID contacts. Anyone thats not in my social bubble is getting tested before they are coming, she says. Even if my parents are coming from Tucson, they have to get tested. Raven has been tested twice, but just to be on the safe side she will scrub down as if for surgery before beginning her food prep, and put on a surgical mask. Her beaux arts home has a formal dining room, though Raven is not a formal dinner party person, she says. But social distancing requires a degree of formality. Everything will have to be choreographed, starting with her opening the front door to greet her arrivals, having switched from a surgical mask to a more stylish cloth mask made by her mom to accent her outfit. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Instead of greeting her guests in the hallway she will meet them outside to establish the mood of social distancing. She will not go so far as to welcome each of her arrivals with a temperature gun to the forehead. That would be going too far, though she does have access to the tools. I dont think temperature guns are effective, she says. It would spoil the mood, not to mention that those things are inaccurate. Once inside there will be a box of surgical masks shes brought home from the hospital on offer. They might not match what guests are wearing but they are the most comfortable, she says. As a responsible host, she will keep her own mask on while serving, but masks will be optional for guests. The greater danger is in the cocktail hour. People will want to carry their drinks around to see the house then crowd around the island in her European-style kitchen with its Wedgewood stove. It will be the doctors duty to guide each person to a seat in the living room or in the backyard, if weather permits. Once seated, 6 feet apart except for couples who arrive together, she expects them to stay seated. With her mask still on, she will take the cocktail orders and deliver drinks to guests in their seats. She is strict about that. Your behavior changes after a couple of drinks, she says. A huge way that COVID is spreading is in bars. You cant stand and drink and bunch together. This adds a lot of work and Raven would normally deputize her two kids, ages 14 and 12. But that exposes them to unnecessary risk so they will be sequestered downstairs with a video. Normally she will allow her friends to bring their own kids to form a separate party, but she wont be able to police two groups. She also will not hire catering help because that adds another level of risk. So she will mix the martinis and negronis and Champagne cocktails and serve them in glasses initialed with a Sharpie so nobody can pick up the wrong drink by mistake. If they do, they can leave their seats to visit the bottle of Purell on the kitchen counter. But nothing is mandatory and she is not going to scold people. Thats why there will be no kids beside her own in the house. I trust people, she says. We are all adults and no one wants to get COVID. Her trademark dish is a kale Ceasar salad, either set up on a buffet table or passed around the dining room table. This is usually followed by sliced steak served with roasted potatoes, Brussels sprouts, bread, all passed around family-style. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. There would be a lot of shared plates but now I cant do that, she says. I would prepare individual servings for each person because I know the likelihood of transmission is very low if people dont share food. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle The odds of having the food still warm by the time everyone is served is also low, assuming the wind is whistling through the dining room and carrying all the germs out the window. Sliced steak is good served cold, she says, people are just going to have to tolerate it. Wine bottles will not be passed. With her own mask still on she will go around the table and pour the wine into the Sharpie-marked wine glasses. Then she will mask back up to go around for refills. Another danger is between the main course and dessert. This is when people tend to get up and switch seats to cozy up to someone else. If you are playing by the (new) rules people arent doing that, she says. People are staying in their seats. But she is willing to bend, provided guests put their masks back on, which will complicate the after-dinner drinks. An elbow bump, possibly a 6-foot air kiss, will have to suffice as farewell. She wont have to worry about fetching coats since everybody will still be wearing them. That is about the only area where her load will be reduced. Its a lot more work and a lot less fun, she says after rehearsing it in her mind. But at least it is something social. Raven remembers the last party she attended, a joint Saturday-night birthday celebration on March 7. She turned 47 on March 5 and was one of the honorees. People were speculating that this could be our last dinner, she says. It wasnt. But even an emergency-room doctor is surprised at how long it has been. So she wont mind the extra cleanup, first with the dishwasher on high heat. Then out comes the hydrogen peroxide wipes they use in the emergency department, to clean all surfaces in the house. It could be 1 or 2 in the morning before everything is sanitized. Im a social person and I get energy and happiness from sharing my house with other people and making dinner for them, she says. It is one of the things people have been missing the most. Enough of the Zoom cocktail parties. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@samwhitingsf gift city gujarat Sri Lanka is working on a financial hub, with help from China, that could give India's GIFT City some competition. Sri Lanka has recently given tax incentives for the Colombo International Finance Centre (CIFC) in Port City, according to a report by The Economic Times. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. "Definitely there is an opportunity," Thulci Aluvihare, head of strategy and business development, CHEC Port City Colombo, told ET Magazine. "It depends on how fast we can adapt to suit the requirement of Hong Kong companies used to much-sophisticated commerce and trade looking to relocate," Aluvihare said. The Port City Colombo Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, the report said. The government that comes into power after the election on August 5 will likely pass legislation to ease the approval process for the project, the report said. Aluvihare said Indian investors are particularly dissuaded by the "perception" that the project is Chinese. He clarified that the investors will be purchasing a Sri Lankan lease. Once work on financial hub gains steam, it would give competition to India's GIFT City. GIFT City, located between Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, recently gave approval for 28 entities, according to a separate report by The Economic Times. A longtime resident of Watson Lake, Yukon, has contributed to the world of science simply by taking a picture. This week, Peter Skerget took a photo of a fuzzy yellow and brown moth that he thought was unusual. He then posted the image on Facebook, asking neighbours if they had seen such a creature before. The CBC emailed the picture of the insect to Ottawa for identification through the National Identification Service (NIS), a federal service offered through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The service usually deals with invasive species and agricultural concerns but agreed to have a look. Entomologist Chris Schmidt, a research scientist who contributes to efforts of the NIS, said the picture "is in fact the first documented record for the Yukon" of a four-spotted ghost moth. The moths had previously been documented in Alaska and the southern N.W.T. Skerget has lived in Watson Lake since 1980 and says he doesn't recall seeing a ghost moth before. Peter Skeget/Facebook He spotted this one was clinging to the side of the Cedar Lodge Motel, which he owns and operates. "I guess I just like nature and pay attention to stuff," Skerget said. "It was camouflaged and I looked closely and realized I had never seen one like that before." 'Valuable' evidence Owen Lonsdale, manager of the NIS, says the picture is useful. "It means it's the first specimen officially reported [in Yukon]. There is evidence, and it is tied to a photographic record, which is great," he said. "It's a scientifically useful data point. This is valuable when we're talking about the first record for a territory." Skerget is keeping his eyes peeled for more ghost moths. But it seems the critter may have ghosted him. "I keep looking at that spot, and it never came back," he said. Midnight Oil's first new song in 18 years will be broadcast worldwide as part of the National Indigenous Music Awards this Saturday from 7pm. Gadigal Land, named for the traditional owners of a large swath of Sydney, is flagged as "a provocative recount of what happened in this place, and elsewhere in Australia, since 1788". Midnight Oil perform in Sydney's Domain in November 2017. Credit: Brook Mitchell The song features singers Kaleena Briggs, Bunna Lawrie, Dan Sultan and Gadigal poet Joel Davison. It is the first taste of the band's seven-song mini-album, The Makarrata Project, created in collaboration with First Nations artists and slated for October release. "Weve always been happy to lend our voice to those who call for racial justice, but it really feels like weve reached a tipping point," the band said in a statement. RIDLEY TOWNSHIP Delco native Kelly Reeves stood in Frederick L. Mann Memorial Park with her husband and their three sons Saturday, partly concerned and partly hopeful. Fourteen-year-old Victor held a neon sign that read, I should be playing Minecraft BUT the World F-D Up So I March. Head down, 12-year-old Julian stayed close to his mom, with a sign reading, Black Lives Matter: There is NO Excuse. Three-year-old Franklin sat in the stroller being pushed by dad, Frank Smith, holding a placard reading, BLM Change is Needed. Just around the corner, a Confederate flag waved in the air. Nearby, motorcycles drove by, revving their engines, drowning out any talk or sound. Both of them you can see it, Reeves said as she looked to two of her children. This one, (hes) clinging and hes saying, Were going to stay in the center, (of the marching crowd) because we saw the Confederate flag. A Black woman, she shared what seeing that says to her. It instantly makes me feel unwelcome in the place that I was born and raised, which doesnt make any sense because I grew up with your children going to the same schools, same experiences, same loves, same fears and youre telling me that me being here is not ok, that my existence is not ok, that my kids existence is not ok, she said. Reeves, her white husband, Frank and their three sons joined extended family members Saturday in marching through the streets of Ridley as part of a Black Lives Matter demonstration. Born and raised in Delaware County, moved to Delaware but came back because this is important, Reeves said. My nephew still lives here. My sister still lives here. Weve experienced racism in Delaware County firsthand so we thought it was very important for our children to be here, for our family to be here because this is where we came from and we need to make sure that everyone knows this isnt OK. And that our sons and daughters also can see we have a voice, they have a voice and they can be the change. For a moment, her pre-teen son looked up and murmured his wish for the future. When I become president, Julian said, I will make racism illegal. The Road @ Chapel Hills chose to close its doors for 13 days after one of its ministers tested positive for the coronavirus. They welcomed their first daughter together, Harper May, at the beginning of May. And on Sunday, new parents Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Stefanovic went for a stroll in Sydney with their baby and the family dog, Chance The Yapper. The 45-year-old Today show host was on daddy duty and carried little Harper in a sling close to his chest. Family time: They welcomed their first daughter together, Harper May, at the beginning of May. And on Sunday, new parents Karl Stefanovic and Jasmine Stefanovic went for a stroll in Sydney with their baby and the family dog, Chance The Yapper. All pictured His 36-year-old shoe designer wife was all smiles as she strolled alongside him, holding Chance on a lead. Karl was dressed casually in loose grey shorts and a fitted black t-shirt, along with red sneakers. He covered up his famous face with a pair of sunglasses, and wore a number of bracelets on one wrist. Baby love: The 45-year-old Today show host was on daddy duty and carried little Harper in a sling close to his chest Strolls: His 36-year-old shoe designer wife was all smiles as she strolled alongside him, holding Chance on a lead Sporty: Jasmine opted for a sporty outfit including a pair of black tights and a pink hoodie with a Fila logo Beaming as he walked along, Karl was an absolute natural, with baby Harper looking relaxed in her sling. At times, the curious three-month-old poked her head out of the carrier to look around at the sunny street Jasmine opted for a sporty outfit including a pair of black tights and a pink hoodie with a Fila logo. Daddy daycare: Beaming as he walked along, Karl was an absolute natural, with baby Harper looking relaxed in her sling What's that! At times, the curious three-month-old poked her head out of the carrier to look around at the sunny street Looking chill: Karl was dressed casually in loose grey shorts and a fitted black t-shirt, along with red sneakers. He covered up his famous face with a pair of sunglasses She added a pair of black Adidas sneakers and a loose white shirt that peaked from beneath her hoodie. She finished her look with a white cap, under which her blonde hair sat in a ponytail, and she appeared to be makeup free. Chance patiently trotted along with the trio, wearing a muzzle, and at one point Jasmine appeared to have to stop him from tugging on his lead. Behave! Chance patiently trotted along with the trio, wearing a muzzle, and at one point Jasmine appeared to have to stop him from tugging on his lead A look: Jasmine finished her look with black sneakers and a white cap, under which her blonde hair sat in a ponytail, and she appeared to be makeup free Who's on the line: Karl appeared to take a phone call on speaker, holding the iPhone above his head as he talked Karl appeared to take a phone call on speaker, holding the iPhone above his head as he talked. Jasmine and Karl welcomed Harper on May 1. She was born at Sydney's North Shore Private Hospital. In a statement to the Today show at the time, Karl said: 'Harper and Jasmine are doing well and dad had a great night's sleep.' He added: 'I am in awe. Harper is absolutely perfect.' A Limerick taxi driver who won half a million euro in Friday nights EuroMillions Plus draw said he feels on top of the world. Eddie Costelloe, from Moyross, welled up as he credited his beloved late mother, Helen, who passed away in 2013, for encouraging him to follow his dream of one day winning the lottery. In an exclusive interview, Eddie, 43, said: On my mothers deathbed, I said to her, Mam, Im going to win the lotto one of these days, and she said, Son, you will, and Ive been chasing this for a long time. Pumping the air with his fist, the ecstatic father of two added: Seven years it took me, and I got it. Im after getting half a million. He described the win as life-changing for himself and his wife, Antoinette, along with their two children Cian (5) and Megan (9). Its unbelievable; its unreal, it hasn't sunk in yet. This is what I wanted all my life. I always knew it, because my mother said it, when she was on her deathbed, and ever since then I have chased it, he added. Eddies mothers anniversary, (4-7-13), has also twice previously brought him good luck, netting him 15,000 from two previous lotto draws. On Friday, he decided to do a EuroMillions Quick Pick at his local Circle K filling station, in Thomondgate, after a long day at work transporting parcels for delivery firm Nightline, a position he took up after his work as a taxi driver dried up during the coronavirus lockdown. Im top of the world, top of the world. We are sorted for life. Im going to rent out my taxi because I dont want to be listening to drunk people anymore Im finished, Im done, he announced. Despite the massive cash boost, Eddie and Antoinette, who is a care worker with CareBright, will continue working to give their two children the best start in life, while also enjoying a few non-essential treats. Its not going to (stop) me from working, because its not in me to sit around, Ill always work. Im a taxi driver and as you know the industry has been hit hard, but I reverted back to delivering parcels for Nightline, and thats my job now, so going forward, I'm going to keep (delivering) my parcels, Eddie said. Antoinette maintained the big win was not retirement money, well still be working, I have (up to) six clients that I look after everyday, she added. However, the happy couple, who have been together for 12 years, and married for the past three years, will be traveling in style to work from now on as Eddie plans on purchasing a new van and Antoinette is going to pick her new car, whatever she wants. Well buy our house, and a nice holiday home in Lanzarote, he added. It is a double celebration for Eddie and Antoinette with Eddie considering becoming a Season Ticket holder at his beloved Liverpool FCs Anfield after the club clinched its first English league title in 30 years, and Antoinette is due to celebrate her 41st birthday next week. Overjoyed, Eddie said he usually spends 10.50 on the lotto, but, this time around he decided on a 14 ticket, which returned him 500,000. It was about 10.15pm when I checked the ticket and scanned it on my phone, and a message came up - Congratulations, you have won big, keep your ticket safe, Eddie said. After that, I went down to my brother-in-law Noel OConnor, and I asked him to check the ticket as I thought I was after winning something like 5,000, but it ended up being 500,000. I started screaming. There was a baby (asleep) upstairs, so Noel was calming me down and brought me out to the kitchen, and we double checked, triple checked, five, six times we checked it - half a million euro. Antoinette, who was out at the time with Cian and Megan, said: He phoned me at 9pm saying he was going to bed because he had work early in the morning. And then, he rang back, and he couldnt breathe, he told me we were after winning money, he couldn't talk. I thought his mothers three numbers had come up again. It was crazy, it was really mad, were gobsmacked, Antoinette added. Well have to keep him grounded, she joked. Eddie continued, shes the brains behind the machine now. Family and friends gathered at the Greenhills Hotel to celebrate, and Eddie quipped the 500,000 winning ticket was in hiding. Staff at Circle K were also celebrating after Eddie dropped in a generous cash sum as a token of his appreciation for their role in his big win. All the staff, Elaine and Kelly, are lovely. Antoinette used to work there. I always use the garage, its top class. WASHINGTON For the first half of his term, President Trump treated the White House press briefing as must-see television. From his small dining room off the Oval Office, he kept close watch over his first two press secretaries as they battled with journalists, defended his performance and often tried to rewrite history. Kayleigh McEnany, the fourth person to hold the job since Mr. Trump took office, does all of those things. The difference now is that the president, who once considered the White House briefings to be appointment television, does not always watch. Just over 13 weeks from Election Day, Mr. Trump is back to serving as his own primary spokesman, putting his faith in himself to pull out of a deep polling hole and make the case for why voters should choose to give him four more years despite his mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic and a brutal recession. Whether he is helping himself is subject to debate. But his decision to put himself front and center on a near-daily basis has left Ms. McEnany in a distinctly secondary role. Not only has her audience of one failed to watch a number of her briefings in recent weeks a senior administration official suggested on Friday that the president was busy with other matters she has also encountered flagging interest from television networks; only Fox News regularly carries her briefings live, and at least one network has declined a request to have her appear on one of its shows. On July 25, rights defender Azimjan Askarov died in a prison in Kyrgyzstan. Askarov had been in custody for 10 years, despite appeals from international and domestic rights organizations, the UN Human Rights Committee, the European Union, and individual governments who all pointed out violations of Askarovs rights from the time he was detained until his death. The official cause of Askarovs death was respiratory problems, but his lawyer said Askarov was exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 before his death. There has been widespread outrage over Askarovs death and calls for those responsible for his arrest, conviction, and imprisonment to be held responsible for their actions. On this week's Majlis podcast, RFE/RL's media-relations manager for South and Central Asia, Muhammad Tahir, moderates a discussion about not only what happened to Askarov but the fate of other political prisoners in Central Asia who have been wrongly imprisoned. This weeks guests are, speaking from the United States, Muhammad Bekjon, an independent journalist who was imprisoned for 18 years in Uzbekistan, and Bekjon's daughter Aygul; from Almaty, Yevgeny Zhovtis, the director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law; from California, Steve Swerdlow, longtime rights defender in Central Asia and an associate professor at the University of Southern California; and in Prague, Bruce Pannier, the author of RFE/RL's Qishloq Ovozi blog. Listen to the podcast above or subscribe to the Majlis on iTunes or on Google Podcasts. The Bombay high court (HC) last week directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to reach a settlement with a senior citizen living in a structure constructed on a plot of land at Khar (West) which was leased by the civic body to her father in 1949. The court directed the civic body to consider giving her additional area if she agreed to move to an area farther in the suburbs. The court made the suggestion while hearing a petition filed by 67-year-old Bridget Pereira, seeking directions to the civic body to repair her residence which was damaged after a wall built by BMC collapsed and damaged her house. BMC, however, submitted that as the senior citizen would have to be provided with alternative accommodation at some point of time, rather than bearing the cost of repairing the current structure, which was built in 1949, it was offering her alternative accommodation in Santacruz, Versova, Malad, Kandivli, or Dahisar. A division bench of justice KK Tated and justice RI Chagla, while hearing the petition filed through advocate Bhavesh Parmar, was informed that the petitioner was living alone with her dog in the premise admeasuring 667 square feet (sqft), which was earlier in the name of her demised father. Parmar submitted that BMC had increased the height of the compound wall which collapsed on July 17, and damaged the structure in which Pereira lived. As BMC did not respond to her request to either repair her structure or allow her to repair the same, she approached the court. The court observed that as per BMC rules, the senior citizen should get an area equal to her existing structure if she was being offered an alternative place in the vicinity of Khar. However, if she had to go beyond Versova or farther, she should be offered more area. The counsel for BMC submitted that they had offered a 269sqft area in Santacruz as they did not have any accommodation in Khar, and added that the petitioner could choose other alternative accommodation in Versova or farther in the suburbs. After hearing the submissions, the court sought to know why BMC was only offering 269sqft area in return for the 677sqft that the senior citizen would have to vacate. The petitioner should get alternate accommodation in Khar or Santacruz. If that is not possible, it should consider giving her 750sqft area if she decides to move to Versova or beyond, the court said. The court then directed the BMC to arrive at a settlement by August 18. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the proposed 4.506 trillion national budget for 2021, the Budget Department confirmed Sunday. The proposal was agreed upon during Dutertes special meeting with the Development Budget Coordination Committee last week, the agency said in a statement. The proposed 2021 budget higher than this years allocated 4.1-trillion will focus on projects that will strengthen the countrys response against the COVID-19 pandemic, DBM said. These include policies and programs that will: improve the healthcare system, ensure food security, increase investments in public and digital infrastructure, and help communities and affected sectors cope with the pandemic. In view of the Presidents approval of the PhP4.506 trillion FY 2021 proposed budget, the DBM will be finalizing the FY 2021 National Expenditure Program (NEP) and other budget documents for submission to Congress before the 30-day Constitutional deadline, DBM said, adding the proposed budget went through numerous hearings and consultations with experts and agencies prior to approval. Earlier this year, Duterte, under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, was given special powers to reallocate portions of the 2020 funds for COVID-19 response. The second Bayanihan bill, which establishes a 140-billion standby fund for socioeconomic and health programs, was approved by the Senate on final reading last week. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has refused to commit to reopening pubs next week. The delayed move to Phase Four which would include reopening pubs was postponed for three weeks after health officials had become concerned over a rise in cases. Pubs are due to re-open on August 10. Currently, bars and restaurants must serve a "substantial meal" - valued at a minimum of 9 - to serve alcohol, and customers can only stay on the premises for a total of 105 minutes. The Vintners Federation of Ireland said the 4,000 family businesses who have been closed since March must be allowed to reopen on that date to "have any chance of viability". Stephen Donnelly said he "did not want to make any comment" on the reopening until he had received advice from public health officials and the Government's key focus is reopening schools in September. The National Public Health Emergency Team will submit its advice on phase four to the Government tomorrow, after which, the Cabinet will decide on whether phase four should go ahead. Read More Government to bring in random Covid-19 testing at airports "It is certainly the case that decisions could be made if NPHET deemed it necessary in order to keep the opening of schools on track," Mr Donnelly said. "This has been a very very difficult situation for pub owners. Various publicans have come to me and other members of the Cabinet and asked a very fair question, which is why are they being singled out? Because retail is back open, a lot of other parts of normal life are back open, albeit with restrictions. I asked exactly this question to the public health officials, and what they said was the international experience shows that when the pubs reopen the number of new cases goes up. "So what they found was that doesn't seem to be the case with restaurants, for example, which is why they advised the restaurants could open, albeit with the restrictions in place. "The public health officials are concerned about what has happened in other countries but the publicans are in a very very difficult position, and I have huge sympathy with them and Government has huge sympathy with them." Ireland has seen a rise in cases in recent weeks, with officials flagging concerns after 85 new cases were reported last Thursday. Last week had a five-day average of 44. The minister said public health officials "will be looking at all options" on Tuesday with a view to protecting public health and keeping schools reopening on track. If public health officials advise that pubs should stay closed, the minister said it would be a government decision on what steps to take on the issue, but noted that both this government and the previous administration has followed public health advice closely. "Certainly the previous government and this government has followed public health advice very carefully," he said. "It's not to say that there has been a perfect alignment, it's NPHET's job to advise governments specifically on public health measures and government obviously has to consider that and many other measures for the entirety of our country and society. "That would be a matter for Government to decide and Cabinet is meeting on Tuesday." Indian and Chinese military commanders will hold a fresh round of negotiations on Sunday to finalise modalities for taking forward the disengagement process on friction points like Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh, government sources said. The meeting is scheduled to start at 11 AM at a designated meeting point in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control. The key focus of the fifth round of corps commander-level talks is expected to be finalising a framework for total disengagement of troops from friction points besides withdrawal of forces and weapons from the rear bases of the two militaries in a time-bound manner, the sources said. The formal process of disengagement of troops began on July 6, a day after a nearly two-hour telephonic conversation between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on ways to bring down tension in the area. The Chinese military has already pulled back from the Galwan Valley and certain other friction points but the withdrawal of troops has not moved forward from Finger areas in Pangong Tso as demanded by India. India has been insisting that China must withdraw its forces from areas between Finger Four and Eight. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers. On July 24, the two sides held another round of diplomatic talks on the border issue. After the talks, the Ministry of External Affairs said both sides agreed that an early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols was essential for overall development of bilateral relations. The sources said India conveyed a firm message to the Chinese side that it has to implement the disengagement process as agreed to during the four rounds of corps commander-level talks between the two militaries. Also read: Govt allows export of made-in-India ventilators Also read: Six of top-10 firms lose Rs 1.38 lakh cr in m-cap; TCS biggest gainer WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump insists that schools reopen so students can go back to their classrooms, but the Maryland private school where his son Barron is enrolled is among those under county orders to stay closed. Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Travis Gayles said his order to stay closed for in-person instruction through Oct. 1 and to conduct online classes only will be reevaluated before Oct. 1 to determine whether it should be extended, terminated or amended. Gayles noted increases in transmission rates for COVID-19 the disease caused by the virus in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Virginia, particularly in younger age groups. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have based our decisions on science and data, Gayles said in a news release announcing the decision late Friday. At this point the data does not suggest that in-person instruction is safe for students or teachers. Barron, 14, is due to enter ninth grade at St. Andrews Episcopal School in Potomac, Maryland, which is located in Montgomery County. The 2020-2021 school year is slated to begin Sept. 8. St. Andrews has been preparing for two different options: distance learning or a hybrid model with students learning both on an off campus. The school had planned to make a final decision the week of Aug. 10 and notify families, according to a note on the school website. Trump argues that children are being harmed by being away from the classroom. Federal medical experts have said decisions about reopening schools should be made locally. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan criticized the Montgomery County order, saying those decisions should be made by schools and parents, not politicians. The White House and St. Andrews Episcopal School did not immediately return requests for comment late Saturday on the Montgomery County order. ___ Associated Press writer Brian Witte in Annapolis, Md., contributed to this report. India's Home Minister Amit Shah was admitted to the hospital on Sunday after testing positive for the coronavirus, he said in a tweet. Why it matters: Shah "is widely viewed as the second most powerful person in India" behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Wall Street Journal reports. What he's saying: "My health is fine, but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors. I request that all of you who have come in contact with me in the last few days, please isolate yourself and get your inquiry done," Shah tweeted. The big picture: India is reporting the third-most coronavirus infections in the world, behind Brazil and the U.S., per Johns Hopkins although experts have expressed doubt at official records from China and Russia. The country is reporting more than 1.7 million infections, primarily in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, and over 37,000 deaths. Over 1.1 million people in the country have recovered. Go deeper: India reports third-highest coronavirus case count in the world Certain sections in Pakistan appear to be celebrating a new youth icon Khalid Khan, whose images are flooding social media as netizens laud the new national hero. The reason why Pakistan is celebrating Khalid is because he shot a man in broad daylight inside a Peshawar courtroom, in front of a sitting judge on Wednesday afternoon. Celebrated as the 'lion' and 'ghazi' of Pakistan, social media's glorification of Khalid and its complete whitewash of the gravity of his offence only exposes how hollow Pakistan's administration and justice system is. The man who was shot in broad daylight - Tahir Ahmad Naseem - was a US citizen and also an Ahmadiyya Muslim, one of the highest persecuted communities in Pakistan. He was fired upon in the courtroom not once, not twice, but six times while Khalid howled at the man calling him 'an enemy of Islam'. Tahir Ahmad Naseem was facing charges of blasphemy, a law which guarantees a death sentence in Pakistan. Pakistan's very own ruling party PTI's leader Haleem Adil Sheikhput up a photo of the killer on his Facebook page shortly after the incident, changing his display picture with Khalid in a filter that showers flower petals onto the photo. Ahmadiyyas along with several other minority communities have been time and time again abused under Pakistan's blasphemy laws which rules out the offender's pleas and ensures a quick end to the 'criminal.' The fact that Naseem was murdered in the middle of Pakistan's court and judiciary mid-trial, only for his killer to be celebrated as a national icon, throws massive light on the decades of violence against minority communities in the country, which is not only real and happening but is also celebrated. The US has slammed Pakistan over the shocking incident. We extend our condolences to the family of Tahir Naseem, the American citizen who was killed today inside a courtroom in Pakistan. We urge Pakistan to take immediate action and pursue reforms that will prevent such a shameful tragedy from happening again. State_SCA (@State_SCA) July 30, 2020 Read: India's Secrecy & Pakistan's Self-served Peril, Harish Salve Opens Up On Kulbhushan Case Read: Rafale's Touchdown Gives Pakistan Goosebumps, Cries 'India Amassing Beyond Requirement' A team of doctors led by AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria is likely to visit Medanta hospital in Gurugram, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been admitted for Covid-19 treatment, sources at AIIMS confirmed to ANI. The team is likely to oversee Shahs line of treatment at the hospital and advice doctors there accordingly, sources added. Earlier in the day, Shah informed that he has tested positive for coronavirus and has been advised by the doctors to be admitted to the hospital. Taking to Twitter, Shah said that he underwent coronavirus test after getting the initial symptoms of the virus. He also appealed to people who have come in contact with him in the last few days to isolate themselves and get tested. On getting the initial symptoms of corona, I got the test done and the report has come positive. My health is fine, but I am being admitted to the hospital on the advice of doctors. I request all of you who have come in contact with me in the last few days, please isolate yourself and get your test done, Shah tweeted. On Saturday, Shah addressed a webinar Lokmanya Tilak: Swaraj to Atmanirbhar Bharat organized by ICCR Delhi on the 100th death anniversary of Lokmanya Tilak. New Delhi: Steel major Tata Steel on Monday announced the signing of a Letter of Intent with Liberty House Group to enter into exclusive negotiations for the potential sale of its Speciality Steels business for an enterprise value of 100 million subject to due diligence and corporate approvals. Liberty House is owned by steel baron Sanjeev Gupta. As per a report in Economic Times, The Letter of Intent covers several South Yorkshire-based assets including the Rotherham electric arc steelworks, the steel purifying facility in Stocksbridge and a mill in Brinsworth as well as service centres in Bolton and Wednesbury, UK, and in Suzhou and Xi'an, China. Speciality Steels employs about 1,700 people making steels for the aerospace, automotive and the oil & gas industries. In a statement, Bimlendra Jha, CEO of Tata Steel UK, said: "The Speciality Steels business is independent of the pan-European strip products supply chain and today's announcement is in line with the overall restructuring strategy of the UK portfolio. This is an important step forward in seeking a future for Speciality Steels and we have reached this stage thanks to the efforts of employees, trade unions and management. We now look forward to working with Liberty on the due diligence and other wo .. Tata Steel UK has invested 1.5 billion of capital over the last nine years. The company's boards consider the technical feasibility and economic returns of investments when taking decisions, as well as their affordability. The company is pursuing a transformation plan to create a sustainable future for its UK strip products business. The success of this plan is likely to influence decisions on future investments. Washington Signs that President Donald Trump's reelection bid is in crisis grew steadily this past week, one of the most tumultuous moments of a presidency increasingly operating with an air of desperation as it tries to avoid disaster in November. Campaign officials pulled television ads off the air amid a late-stage review of strategy and messaging. At the same time, Trump publicly mused about delaying the November election, airing widely debunked allegations about fraud that were rejected by Republicans and Democrats. And as the campaign aims to mount a more aggressive defense of Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, the president has reverted to touting unproven miracle cures, attacking public health officials and undercutting his own government's push to encourage good health practices. Trump briefly lamented his predicament during a taxpayer-funded event Friday in Florida that doubled as a political rally "We had an easy campaign, and then we got hit by the China virus," Trump said as uniformed sheriff's deputies stood behind him and a crowd of dozens of supporters huddled before him. Few wore masks or practiced social distancing. With the president unable to hold traditional rallies and his central economic message no longer relevant, campaign officials are scrambling to assemble a fresh case for his candidacy on the fly. After a six-day pause in advertising, new ads targeting Democratic rival Joe Biden are set to begin airing Monday, according to campaign officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. But Trump himself is perhaps the greatest impediment to any successful campaign pivot, as the president has rejected calls from Republican allies and lawmakers to project a steady hand during what is shaping up to be another lost summer of self-inflicted setbacks. The turbulent final week of July capped a month that may rank among the most ominous of Trump's term in office A slew of public polls showed Trump falling further behind Biden, who now leads by double digits nationally; Trump demoted his campaign manager Brad Parscale and replaced him with longtime GOP operative Bill Stepien; nearly 25,000 Americans died of the novel coronavirus, and a record 2 million were infected; Trump canceled the Republican National Convention celebrations; the economic recovery from a record contraction slipped into reverse; and 30 million Americans lost their $600 weekly federal unemployment assistance. Struggling on multiple fronts, Trump's campaign launched a shake-up Stepien is attempting to get a better sense of how the campaign has been focusing its energy and targeting its resources. Stepien told others he wanted to understand how ad decisions were made and why certain ads were being run, officials said. Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner approved the pause in ads, an official said. Stepien is also reviewing personnel allocation to determine whether structuring the campaign they way Parscale did makes sense. Campaign officials have denied there is any lingering tension over Parscale's demotion. But Stepien's elevation and swift embrace of new tactics amount to a tacit rebuke of the former campaign manager's tenure. The Stepien-led review of spending and strategy comes as a legal complaint this past week accused the campaign and an affiliated fundraising committee of failing to properly report nearly $170 million in campaign spending through firms run by Parscale. The Trump campaign denied any wrongdoing. Campaign officials said that when the pause in ad spending ends Monday, new television spots will aim to brand Biden as a tool of liberal extremists. The negative ads will initially target swing states that have the earliest mail-in voting dates. Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Wisconsin are among states that begin mailing out absentee ballots to voters more than 45 days before the Nov. 3 election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Michigan, Georgia and Texas are among states where ballots will also begin hitting mailboxes in September. The campaign is operating under a renewed sense of urgency as it becomes clearer that a large portion of the electorate will likely cast their ballots early by mail as a result of the pandemic. That gives Trump even less time to turn things around. But even as Stepien and top campaign aides try to impress on the staff that time is limited, Trump has done little to show he plans to change tactics. Trump's allies say they realize the pandemic will likely be the central issue for voters and have urged him to show he is in command of the crisis. The president has opted to double down on divisive messaging, reverting to form after appearing to embrace a more serious tone about the pandemic. In recent days, Trump has used his massive social media platform to promote a doctor who falsely claimed Americans did not need to wear masks because the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine is a "cure" for the coronavirus. Trump continued to express support for the doctor, Stella Immanuel, after a reporter informed him Tuesday that she had also claimed that alien DNA is used in medical treatments. When pressed, he ended the news briefing and walked away. The president set off a fresh round of drama Thursday when he publicly mused about delaying the election, which he claimed without evidence will be marred by historic fraud. A chorus of Republicans and Democrats publicly rebuked him On a political level, Republicans are worried the president's onslaught against mail-in voting could hamper their efforts to turn out the vote. GOP party officials have struggled to convince voters to request mail-in ballots. Like Trump's attempts to appeal to "Suburban Housewives" and virus-wary senior citizens, his push to discredit mail-in voting underscores the sense of angst in his reelection bid as Biden settles into a comfortable lead. One top Biden campaign official acknowledged that the Democratic campaign strategy is often to stay out of the news when Trump's behavior is inflammatory. Biden's team didn't respond until Thursday evening to the president's early morning missive suggesting that the election should be delayed. "It is absolutely a strategic decision," said a Biden official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "We don't let him pull us off of our message and we don't play his game." Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. But some Biden campaign allies believe the former vice president's operation is being too selective about how it responds to Trump's attacks. Former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell said he's been begging top campaign officials to punch back at Trump's ads that wrongly suggest Biden supports defunding the police. The spots were playing in key swing states before the Trump campaign's pause. Trump, as he often does when he feels under pressure, is preparing to go more aggressively into attack mode. "We are doing a new ad campaign on Sleepy Joe Biden that will be out on Monday," Trump wrote Friday on Twitter. Stepien has told allies he wants attacks going forward to focus on the liberal figures trying to influence Biden. But it's not clear the strategy is working. Several campaign aides and allies admitted they have struggled to negatively define the former vice president in the eyes of voters. Many of Trump's attacks on his mental acuity, liberal policies and approach to public safety have not broken through. "One thing that we have found in our focus groups is that people don't know anything about Joe Biden," said Kelly Sadler, communications director for America First, the official pro-Trump super PAC. America First, which is running ads painting Biden as weak on crime, is conducting polling to test which messages might work best against the former vice president. Trump campaign ads set to run in the coming days are aimed at turning up the pressure on Biden, who the president has tried to brand as "corrupt" and "puppet of the militant left." Trump's campaign is in a defensive crouch when it comes to the electoral map. Polls show Biden leading across the battleground states and competitive in Republican strongholds such as Texas and Georgia. Trump's campaign, which has already spent $1 billion, is using its war chest to defend Republican territory. America First stopped running ads in Michigan, acknowledging its less likely than other swing states to remain in Trump's column in November, an official said. The group is running television spots in North Carolina, Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Stepien has sought to focus the campaign on securing the most direct path to 270 electoral votes. The campaign, which has also pulled back advertising in Michigan, has gamed out scenarios where Trump loses some of the states he won in 2016 and still ends up victorious. "We only need to win either Wisconsin or Michigan or Pennsylvania to win this thing again," Stepien told reporters on July 24. But news that Trump's campaign had paused to reassess its messaging was welcomed by Biden's team, which viewed the move as a validation of the Democrat's low-key strategy. T.J. Ducklo, a spokesman for Biden's campaign, said Trump is losing because "he abandoned the American people" and lacked "any coherent strategy" to address a pandemic that has cost 150,000 lives and millions of jobs. "There," he said in a statement. "Message assessment complete." Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA The UK has been lobbying the US Congress in support of a controversial new warhead for Trident missiles, claiming it is critical for the future of Nato as a nuclear alliance. A letter from Britains defence secretary, Ben Wallace, seen by the Guardian, urged Congress to support initial spending on the warhead, the W93. The letter, sent in April but not previously reported, draws the UK into a US political debate, pitting the Trump administration against many Democrats and arms control groups over whether the the $14bn W93 programme is necessary. The US navy already has two warheads to choose from for its submarine-launched Trident missiles. The close cooperation on the W93 casts further doubt on the genuine independence of the UK deterrent parliament first heard about it when US officials accidentally disclosed Britains involvement in February and the commitment of both countries to disarmament. Related: White House held talks over resuming US nuclear tests, John Bolton says The UK is also supporting the administrations efforts to speed up work on the warhead and its surprise $53m request for initial weapon design work in the 2021 budget, two years ahead of the previous schedule. Sceptics believe the rush is intended to lock in funding before the election. A Biden administration would be likely to review or even cancel the W93 programme. These are challenging times, but it is crucial that we demonstrate transatlantic unity and solidarity in this difficult period, Wallace told members of the House and Senate armed services committees. Congressional funding in [2021] for the W93 program will ensure that we continue to deepen the unique nuclear relationship between our two countries, enabling the United Kingdom to provide safe and assured continuous-at-sea deterrence for decades to come. The British intervention comes as the initial funding for the warhead hangs in the balance. It was approved by the House and Senate armed services committees but blocked at least temporarily, by a House energy and water subcommittee last month. Story continues Congressional staffers said they could not recall such a direct UK intervention in a US debate on nuclear weapons. Weve never had a letter of this sort before, so it was a little bit surprising that this is the issue that they chose to weigh in on, a committee aide said. The UK insists its Trident nuclear deterrent is autonomous, but the two countries share the same missiles and coordinate work on warheads. The current UK Trident warhead, the Holbrook, is very similar to the W76 warhead, one of two the US navy uses in its own Trident II missiles. The US and UK versions of the W93 are also expected to resemble each other closely. Both countries will use the same new MK7 aeroshell, the cone around the warhead that allows it to re-enter the earths atmosphere, which will cost another several hundred million dollars. Little has been disclosed about the W93, but it is thought to be based on a design that was tested during the cold war but not made part of the US stockpile at the time. It will potentially be the first new warhead design in the US stockpile since the cold war and is expected to be of considerably higher yield than the current W76, which is already six times more powerful than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima 75 years ago next week. The demand for funding for the W93 is particularly controversial in the US as the W76 and a higher-yield submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) warhead, the W88, have already been subject to multibillion-dollar upgrades. This is excess on top of excess, Kingston Reif, director for disarmament and threat reduction policy at the Arms Control Association, said. We already have two SBLM warheads. The W76 just went through a major life extension programme and is slated to be good into the early 2040s, and the W88 is going through a major alteration. The US can continue to assist the UKs arsenal without rushing the development of an unnecessary, at least $14bn new-design, third SLBM warhead, Reif added. The total cost of the US nuclear weapons modernisation programme is expected to be far in excess of $1tn. The US and Russia, which is also upgrading its arsenal and developing new weapons, together account for more than 90% of all the nuclear warheads on the planet, and both countries are putting increasing emphasis on them in their rhetoric and defence postures. Under Donald Trump, the US has now left three nuclear agreements and his administration is reluctant to extend the last major arms control deal with Russia, the 2010 New Start treaty, which is due to expire in February. The bonfire of nuclear accords, combined with the huge amounts spent on weapons like the W93, are a threat to the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty, the fundamental bargain by which countries without nuclear arms pledged not to acquire them on condition the recognised nuclear powers (the US, UK, France, Russia and China) took steps to disarm, under article six of the treaty. When I look at something like the W93, its not, in and of itself, a violation of article six, said Daniel Joyner, a University of Alabama law professor specializing in nuclear treaties. Its just a further data point to evidence, the current non-compliance of the US and UK with article six. In his letter to the congressional committees, Wallace wrote: Your support to the W93 program in this budget cycle is critical to the success of our replacement warhead programme and to the long-term viability of the UKs nuclear deterrent and therefore, the future of Nato as a nuclear alliance. Alexandra Bell, a former state department official and now senior policy director at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, said the US-UK special relationship had shown greater solidarity in promoting new weapons than in arms control. Related: Fumbling the nuclear football: is Trump blundering to arms control chaos? The UK is noticeably missing when it comes to emphatic support for New Start extension, but yet at the same time it feels comfortable directly telling members of Congress what they should do about our own modernization plans, Bell said. I think thats weird. Asked about the purpose of Wallaces letter, a UK defense ministry spokesman said: The UKs existing warhead is being replaced in order to respond to future threats and guarantee our security. We have a strong defence relationship with the US and will work closely with our ally to ensure our warhead remains compatible with the USs Trident missile. According to official figures, the US W76 warhead is viable until 2045 at least - and the UK version is expected to last until the late 2030s, so there is no urgent technical need for replacement. Greg Mello, executive director of the Los Alamos Study Group, said nuclear weapons hawks at the Pentagon, the National Nuclear Security Administration and the Los Alamos National Laboratory were pushing to lock in spending in case there is a change of administration. They would like to get this program endorsed by Congress this year, and theyre very close to it, Mello said. Once it is a programme of record, it will take more for a future administration to knock it out. More than 150 rounds were fired during a shooting in a Portland neighborhood on Friday, ending the city's deadliest month since the 1980s. The Portland Police Bureau said Saturday that the shooting occurred around 11.08pm outside an apartment building near the 600 block of NE 87th Avenue. A woman was struck in the arm by one of the rounds, police said. Responding officers applied a tourniquet and she was transported to the hospital by ambulance with what are believed to be non-life threatening injuries. No other injuries have been reported to police; however, bullets struck at least eight occupied apartments and seven vehicles. The Portland Police Bureau said Saturday that the shooting occurred around 11.08pm outside an apartment building (pictured) near the 600 block of NE 87th Avenue Bullets struck at least eight occupied apartments and seven vehicles (one damaged vehicle pictured) One woman was shot in the arm. She was taken to a hospital with what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries. Officers have closed Northeast 87th Avenue north of Northeast Glisan Street as they continue their investigation Officers have closed Northeast 87th Avenue north of Northeast Glisan Street as they continue their investigation. As of Sunday afternoon, no arrests have been made. The shooting came as Portland police revealed that 15 people were killed during the month of July. The total is the highest number of deaths in a single month since the 1980s, KATU reported. Meanwhile, the Portland Police Bureau declared an unlawful assembly Saturday night when people gathered outside a police precinct in the city and threw bottles towards officers, police said. Until that point, federal, state and local law enforcement had been seemingly absent from the protests Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The demonstrations - that for weeks ended with tear gas, fireworks shot towards buildings, federal agents on the street and injuries to protesters and officers - have recently ended with chanting and conversations. Activists and Oregon officials urged people at Saturday night's protest in Portland to re-center the focus on Black Lives Matter, three days after the Trump administration agreed to reduce the presence of federal agents. Groups gathered Saturday evening in various areas around downtown Portland to listen to speakers and prepare to march to the Justice Center and Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse. One of the more popular events, 'Re-centering why we are here - BLM,' was hosted by the NAACP. Speakers included activists as well as Oregon Sen Jeff Merkley and Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty. Merkley and Hardesty spoke about policies they are putting forward, including to cut police funding and restrict chokeholds. 'The next thing we need you to do is vote like your life depends on it, because guess what, it does,' Hardesty said. For the first time since the presence of federal agents in Portland diminished, law enforcement and protesters noticeably clashed Saturday night. Meanwhile, the Portland Police Bureau declared an unlawful assembly Saturday night when people gathered outside a police precinct in the city and threw bottles towards officers, police said. Protests remained peaceful outside the Mark O. Hatfield courthouse (pictured) US Army veterans attended a protest against racial inequality and police violence in Portland on Friday Until that point, federal, state and local law enforcement had been seemingly absent from the protests Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Demonstrators are seen at Saturday night's protest Portland police officers arrest a protester after dispersing a crowd of about 200 people from in front of the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office on Saturday A Department of Homeland Security officer emerges from the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse after demonstrators lit a fire early Sunday morning As one group of protesters gathered outside the courthouse another marched to a precinct for the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office and Portland Police Bureau. Police stated that protesters threw glass bottles and directed lasers at officers. Just before 10pm, Portland police declared an unlawful assembly and told people to disperse or they may be subject to use of force or be arrested. Police could be seen charging, multiple times, at protesters in the area. At the courthouse, the scene was different. Around 11.30pm hundreds of people remained, standing and listening to speakers. By midnight, protesters again began to march through the streets downtown. Thursday and Friday's protests also attracted more than 1,000 people - both nights were relatively peaceful. In a news release early Saturday, the Portland Police Bureau described Friday's crowd as subdued and said there was no police interaction with protesters. At one point during Friday's protest, a lone firework was shot at the courthouse. In the weeks past the action would be met with more fireworks or teargas canisters being dropped over the fence into the crowd. This time, protesters chastised the person who shot the firework, pleading to keep the demonstration peaceful. Navy veteran Adam Winther holds a flag while forming a Wall of Vets during a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse on Friday Black Lives Matter protester Jorge Mendoza holds a sign while rallying at the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse on Saturday Black Lives Matter protesters hold signs during a caravan on Friday in Portland Thursday night was the first time in weeks that demonstrations ended without any major confrontations, violence or arrests, and similar scenes were seen Friday (pictured) The relative calm outside a federal courthouse that's become ground zero in clashes between demonstrators and federal agents had come after the US government began drawing down its forces under a deal between Democratic Gov Kate Brown and the Trump administration. Portland had seen more than two months of often violent demonstrations following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. In early July, President Donald Trump sent more federal agents to the city to protect the federal courthouse, but local officials said their presence made things worse. On Friday night, Trump declared that federal agents will not leave Portland, even after a second night of peaceful protests. The commander-in-chief said Oregon's largest city has been overrun with 'thugs' and 'rioters' after more than two months of protests. 'Homeland Security is not leaving Portland until local police complete cleanup of Anarchists and Agitators!' Trump tweeted on Friday night. His statement came despite Gov Brown making a deal on Wednesday with the Department of Homeland Security for a phased retreat of federal agents. On Thursday, federal officers withdrew from the streets, in a move that state officials hope will continue to ease tensions as the city tries to move on from months of chaotic nightly protests. Thursday night was the first time in weeks that demonstrations ended without any major confrontations, violence or arrests, and similar scenes were seen Friday. NHS Grampian says the cases are associated with The Hawthorn Bar in Aberdeen. The pubs owners said that some customers who visited on Sunday, July 26, have since tested positive for the virus. All those who tested positive are showing only mild symptoms, though the health board says there may be further cases linked to the cluster. We cannot rule out the possibility of detecting further cases linked to this cluster The Hawthorn Bar had physical distancing measures in place and contact tracing is being carried out in line with the Scottish Governments Test and Protect scheme. Dr Emmanuel Okpo, consultant in public health medicine, said: Our health protection team are speaking to the confirmed cases, establishing who they have been in contact with and providing further advice on isolation and testing as required. We are also carrying out wider contact tracing work, as part of the Test and Protect scheme. Advertisement We cannot rule out the possibility of detecting further cases linked to this cluster. He continued: These cases highlight that Covid-19 still poses a real risk to all of us. We cannot emphasise enough the need for everyone to take all the necessary precautions to keep themselves and others safe. This means wearing a face covering when required, practising thorough hand hygiene, maintaining physical distancing, and avoiding crowded places. This last point is vitally important as restaurants and pubs are opening up. If you arrive at a venue and you feel its too busy to observe physical distancing, then consider leaving. The owners of the pub, which has an adjoining bar called The Adams, said they had been given permission to continue trading by the councils environmental health team. In a post on Facebook, they said: Our venue underwent further deep cleaning as well as decontamination by fogging. We assure all customers we have been and continue to do our utmost to protect their safety and we continue with strict rules and measures in place. We do ask all customers to be extra vigilant and adhere to our policies at all times. They continued: Our thoughts are with those affected and we wish them a speedy recovery. Please consider this is a very difficult time for us and we hope our customers continue to support us throughout. People walk and skateboard on the sidewalk past businesses on July 20 in Newport Beach. Orange County reported 31 new COVID-19 deaths Saturday. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Southern California counties continue to report high death tolls from the coronavirus. Orange County reported 31 new deaths Saturday. Los Angeles County tallied 50, which officials contrasted with last week, when an average of 38 people were dying each day. The number of deaths we are seeing is a sad reminder of the devastation COVID-19 causes, Barbara Ferrer, the L.A. County health director, said in a statement. Statewide, at least 214 coronavirus-related fatalities were reported Friday, according to a Los Angeles Times tally, the fifth time in July California has broken a single-day record in reported cases, and the third time this week. The record was last broken on Wednesday, when 176 deaths were recorded. The average number of daily COVID-19 deaths in California for the seven days that ended Friday was 127. Last week, the number was 104. Experts say deaths are a lagging indicator of the virus impact, meaning they reflect infections that were acquired weeks before. COVID-19 cases have been rising since late May, when California reopened the economy and many people got back to old routines. Four of the deaths reported by Orange County were skilled nursing facility residents, and two were residents of assisted living facilities, authorities said. The county also reported 637 more cases of the virus, bringing its total to 36,833 cases and 649 deaths. There were fewer patients in county hospitals compared with four days ago 546, versus 626 on Tuesday. L.A. County reported 2,303 new cases of the virus, bringing its total to 190,836 cases of the virus and 4,669 related deaths. As in Orange County, hospitalizations continued to decrease slightly. There were 1,856 confirmed coronavirus cases in county hospitals and nearly 31% in intensive care, compared with 2,022 patients four days ago. Nearly 1.8 million people had been tested and received their results, with about 10% testing positive. Officials issued another plea for both people and businesses to take steps to limit disease transmission. They include wearing a face covering and staying home as much as possible, as well as implementing infection control protocols and reporting any outbreaks to the public health department, authorities said. "Only by doing our part and working together can we reduce transmission to a lower rate that allows more people to get back to work and allows our children to return to their classrooms," Ferrer said. "Hopefully, as you make your decisions about how to spend this beautiful weekend, you will do so understanding your power to affect the health of the entire community. Times staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report. Washington, Aug 2 : NASA and SpaceX are targeting Pensacola in Florida as the primary return location for Crew Dragon with two American astronauts from the International Space Station (ISS), said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "We are targeting undocking at 7.34 p.m. EDT today," he tweeted on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported. Following a scheduled assessment of weather conditions for splashdown, teams from NASA and SpaceX are proceeding with preparations to bring NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley home to Earth aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon "Endeavour" spacecraft. Conditions are "Go" at the primary targeted site, off the coast Pensacola, and alternate site off the coast of Panama City in the Gulf of Mexico for splashdown and recovery scheduled at 2.41 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, Aug. 2, according to NASA. Teams will continue to closely monitor Hurricane Isaias and evaluate impacts to the potential splashdown sites, said NASA. SpaceX will monitor changes to conditions until 2.5 hours prior to the scheduled undocking, when a determination to proceed with departure will be made. If conditions are marginal and exceed the accepted criteria, a joint recommendation by SpaceX and NASA will be made whether to proceed with undocking. The splashdown will wrap up NASA's SpaceX Demo-2 test flight after more than two months at the ISS. It will be the first return of a commercially built and operated American spacecraft carrying astronauts from the space station, said NASA. Hurley and Behnken arrived at the ISS in the Crew Dragon on May 31 following a launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on May 30. This is SpaceX's final test flight and is providing data on the performance of the Falcon 9 rocket, Crew Dragon spacecraft and ground systems, as well as in-orbit, docking, splashdown, and recovery operations, according to NASA. Mr. Biden says he will pay for the credit, in part, through higher taxes on corporations and large financial institutions. We believe he should be bolder, by eliminating the mortgage interest deduction and using that revenue to offset the new tax credits cost. Until now, frontally attacking the MID has been politically risky; suburbanites like it. Yet one of the few positive effects of Mr. Trumps 2017 tax bill was to cut the annual cost of the MID to $30 billion in 2018, roughly half its previous level, shrinking even further the number of households that can take advantage of it. Its political base narrowed, the MID is ripe for elimination. Replacement of the MID with a targeted tax credit for first-time buyers would rationalize housing policy and possibly chip away at entrenched segregation and wealth disparities. Yes, the Suburban Lifestyle Dream can be a beautiful thing. The point is to make it accessible to all who want it. Toyota introduces its new brand design with a reworked version of the brand logo and typography. It signals a new era for Toyota, as the brand continues to work relentlessly towards a better future for all. The new visual identity is driven by simplification. With a clear, coherent visual identity it allows Toyota to demonstrate its progressive, innovative thinking, and highlights its premium quality while being accessible to everyone. This new brand identity is mobile-ready and optimised for a digital audience. Toyotas new brand logo distils its emblem to a simple 2-D design, losing the Toyota wordmark, as the emblem itself is well-known across Ireland and Europe. The design communicates simplicity, transparency and modernity and is perfectly adapted to the digital space but equally effective in the physical world. The new logo will be gradually applied across all communication touchpoints, while the current logo will still be used for the vehicles. The new visual identity comes with a new bespoke typography, Toyota Type, multi-purposed for both on-line and off-line environments and enabling open and engaging customer relationships. It marks a step-up in digital readiness as Toyota expands its online offerings with the recently launched Virtual Showroom across the Toyota Ireland and dealer websites. The new brand design speaks to Toyotas motoring leadership, and with more than 20 years of research and investment in hybrid technology, Toyota Ireland has been long established as a market leader within the motoring and sustainability space. As part of the Toyota brand promise, Built for a Better World, Toyota not only possesses the worlds most efficient range of sustainable self-charging hybrid electric vehicles but has also committed to the future with developments in hydrogen fuel cell technology and beyond with the development of a manned lunar rover. Steve Tormey, Toyota Ireland Chief Executive said, At Toyota, we are extremely proud of our innovation heritage and have been the leaders in the move towards electrified motoring, through the development of self-charging hybrid electric technology, for over 20 years. This rebrand is very much representative of the Kaizen principles of constant improvement that are an essential part of our DNA. Our new logo and brand aesthetic will serve to connect better with our customers across all our communications touchpoints, and signal a new era as we move closer towards fulfilling our mission to create a better future for generations to come and deliver upon our Built for A Better World brand promise. England's Sam Horsfield held his nerve to claim a maiden European Tour title at the English Open on Sunday. Horsfield took a one-shot lead into the final round at the Forest of Arden near Birmingham and carded a closing 68 to finish 18 under par, a shot ahead of Belgium's Thomas Detry. Detry had recorded his ninth birdie of the day on the 17th to move into the lead for the first time, only to bogey the last after seeing his par putt from three feet catch the edge of the cup and stay out. That left Horsfield needing to play the last two holes in one under par. He birdied the par-five 17th and after a cautious tee shot on the last, safely two-putted for par to complete a closing 68 and one-shot victory. "It's special," said the Florida-based Horsfield, who won the European Tour qualifying school in 2017. "With everything that's going on in the world right now I'm thankful that the European Tour has been able to put on tournaments for us to play. I've been in Orlando for the last three months and I felt like my game was right there. "I played decently last week (in the British Masters), had a pretty bad finish, but I kept the positives from that and played pretty solid all week." England's Chris Paisley, Welshman Oliver Farr and Sweden's Alexander Bjork shared third place on 14 under par. Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez, playing in a record 707th European Tour event, fired a final round even-par 72 to finish seven under for the tournament, 11 shots behind the winner. England's Sam Horsfield America's top infectious diseases official has raised concerns over the safety of COVID-19 vaccines being developed by China and Russia as the world scrambles for answers to a pandemic the WHO warned will be felt for decades. Six months after the World Health Organization declared a global emergency, the novel coronavirus has killed at least 679,000 people and infected at least 17.9 million. As countries across Western Europe announced new lockdowns and reported historic economic slumps, the UN health body said the pandemic was a "once-in-a-century" crisis and its fallout would be felt for decades. Several Chinese companies are at the forefront of the race to develop an immunity to the disease and Russia has set a target date of September to roll out its own vaccine. Lack of transparency But US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said it was unlikely his country would use any vaccine developed in either country, where regulatory systems are far more opaque than they are in the West. "I do hope that the Chinese and the Russians are actually testing the vaccine before they are administering the vaccine to anyone," he told a US Congressional hearing on Friday. "Claims of having a vaccine ready to distribute before you do testing, I think, is problematic, at best." As part of its own "Operation Warp Speed," the US government will pay pharma giants Sanofi and GSK up to $2.1 billion for the development of a COVID-19 vaccine, the companies said. In east Asia, territories which saw success in tackling the early wave of the coronavirus are now confronting worrying new spikes. Japan's Okinawa declared a state of emergency Saturday after a record jump in cases on the island -- many linked to US military forces stationed there -- while Hong Kong opened a new makeshift hospital to house COVID-19 patients. The finance hub had been a poster child for tackling the coronavirus, with local transmissions all but ended by early summer. But since July daily cases have risen to record highs, partly brought in by the tens of thousands of people who were exempted from a mandatory quarantine imposed on most arrivals. Fresh lockdowns France, Spain, Portugal and Italy all reported huge contractions in their economies for the April-June quarter, while Europe as a whole saw gross domestic product fall by 12.1 percent. In a sign of the trade-offs being forced on European governments, Britain imposed new lockdowns Friday on millions of households in northern England. With large Muslim populations in those areas, the ban was painfully timed, on the eve of the Eid-al-Adha festival. Meanwhile, in the United States -- the world's biggest economy and hardest-hit nation -- jobless Americans were bracing for an end to extra unemployment payments after Congress failed to reach a deal on extending benefits. It came just a day after the US posted a second-quarter GDP drop of 9.5 percent from the same period a year ago, the worst it had ever recorded. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows will meet with congressional leaders every day until there's agreement on phase four coronavirus relief after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the two sides can't even agree on the basics. "We must defeat this virus, and that is one of the points we still have not come to any agreement on. ... If we're going to open our economy and have our children be in schools, we have to defeat the virus, and that is one of the contentious issues that we have to deal with," Pelosi told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. Mnuchin pushed back against Pelosi's claims and said both sides understand the need to kill the virus. However, disagreements about extending federally enhanced coronavirus unemployment benefits are holding negotiations up. "The president is very concerned about the expiration of the unemployment insurance," Mnuchin told "This Week." "We proposed a one-week extension at $600 so that, while we negotiate a longer term solution, at least all those people don't lose their money. I'm surprised the Democrats won't agree to that. They're insistent on having a larger deal." PAYROLL TAX CUT WON'T BE INCLUDED IN FOURTH CORONAVIRUS BILL, MNUCHIN SAYS Pelosi did not seem willing to compromise on the extra $600 a week. "President Trump ... is the one who is standing in the way of that. We have been for the $600. They have a $200 proposal, which does not meet the needs of America's working families," Pelosi said. "The amount of money that is given as an enhancement should relate to the rate of unemployment. As that goes down, you can consider something less than $600." Lawmakers reported progress on a huge coronavirus relief bill Saturday, as political pressure mounts to restore an expired $600-per-week supplemental unemployment benefit and send funding to help schools reopen. Story continues "This was the longest meeting we've had and it was more productive than the other meetings," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who was part of the rare weekend session. "We're not close yet, but it was a productive discussion now each side knows where they're at." Schumer spoke alongside Pelosi after meeting for three hours with Mnuchin and Meadows. The Democratic leaders are eager for an expansive agreement, as are President Trump and top Republicans like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. But perhaps one half of Senate Republicans, mostly conservatives and those not facing difficult races this fall, are likely to oppose any deal. GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE Prior talks had yielded little progress and Saturday's cautious optimism was a break from gloomy private assessments among GOP negotiators. The administration is willing to extend the newly expired $600 jobless benefit, at least in the short term, but is balking at other Democratic demands like aid for state and local governments, food stamp increases, and assistance to renters and homeowners. The Associated Press contributed to this report. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS Related Articles 02.08.2020 LISTEN The last born of Dr Kwame Nkrumah has once again defended his late father's legacy following an assertion made by the Education Minister a few days ago at a ceremony in Accra. The Minister of Education, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh during a ceremony in Accra where a total of 100 busses were handed over to some Senior High Schools in the country; said that Akufo Addo's government has performed far better in the Education sector than all governments Ghana ever had including the government of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the nation's founder. However, in reaction to the minister's claim, Sekou Nkrumah, the son of the nation's founder said he disagrees with the minister's assertion and describe the minister's comment as a joke. Sekou further stated categorically clear in a social media post that his father's legacy in education cannot be surpassed by the Akufo Addo administration and any other governments that Ghana has had so far. Below is Sekou's comment Source: A motion to call a halt to the regeneration of a badly designed Rathangan housing estate in light of the housing crisis was not passed at this months Kildare Municipal District meeting. A motion to call a halt to the regeneration of a badly designed Rathangan housing estate in light of the housing crisis was not passed at this months Kildare Municipal District meeting. Plans for remedial works at St Patricks Park, Rathangan include the demolition of 44 houses to be replaced with 22 new homes as part of 9.4m redevelopment for the estate over ten to 12 years. The motion was raised Cllr Mark Lynch who called for the introduction of families back into vacant homes. Cllr Fiona Mc Loughlin Healy said that she drove around the estate and there was discontent around regeneration and the time constraints. The longer it goes on the less the support from residents, she said. In response Peter Minnock from Kildare County Council said that what was needed was a drive around St Patricks Park in 1974 and not this week. The design never worked for the estate, he added. It was an imported design. That this was a big project that took four years to get funding. There are a few people trying to unfold the problem. We are not just building houses, we are rebuilding a fractious community. The meeting heard that to abandon the project now would mean the worst possible outcome for the residents and for the town. Members were told that with 2m already spent to date, and it would be a waste of both financial and human resources invested over the past five years, while funds allocated for the project would be quickly reallocated elsewhere to either Dublin or Limerick. Cllr Lynch said that he disagreed adding that this was a Celtic Tiger proposal and solution to bulldoze over these houses. Kildare County Council ran people out of that estate and boarded houses up and ran it into disruption. It would get 200 people off the housing list and into houses today. Cllr Suzanne Doyle, in response, said that prior to this issue we couldnt get people into this estate. Maybe now but that train has left the station, she said. Revellers in Spain were left drenched in saliva after a DJ spat Jagermeister over the excited crowds despite the country marking the biggest jump in new coronavirus cases since a national lockdown was lifted in June. Shocking footage showed DJ Fali Sotomayor spray party-goers packed inside the Kokun Ocean Club in Torremolinos in the Costa del Sol with the alcoholic drink before offering the drink to others. The scenes come just days after ministers decided to reimpose quarantine travel restrictions on Spain after it emerged ten Britons had tested positive for the virus after returning from the country. During the clip, the tattooed DJ takes a drink from the bottle of Jagermeister and looks at the dancing crowds in front of him. The Malaga-born DJ drinks the alcoholic drink as party-goers continue to dance in front of him Within seconds, Mr Sotomayo sprays the beverage out onto the revellers as the party-goers continue to scream underneath the droplets. The DJ then begins to offer the drink to others inside the packed nightclub as the heavy techno music blares in the background. Following the scenes, Mr Satomayo apologised for his actions and admitted he was 'ashamed and sorry' about what had happened. Speaking on behalf of promoter Les Castizos, which he forms part of, the Malaga-born DJ said: 'We accept total responsibility for this incident and are ashamed and sorry about what happened. 'Kokun Ocean Club is in no way responsible for our actions and totally respected social distancing.' Admitting he had acted 'irresponsibly' he added: 'We feel indebted to the thousands of colleagues, artists, members of the public and other people who feel upset about what they've seen.' A spokesman for Malaga hotel association Mahos added: 'This shows a totally negligent attitude in what is a pandemic. 'We will never defend such an attack on public health.' Local reports said the incident occurred on July 7, although the video only emerged on Facebook on Saturday. Revellers inside the packed Kokun Ocean Club in Torremolinos, Spain, are left drenched in saliva after DJ Fali Sotomayor sprays them with Jagermeister The DJ dances along to the blaring music before offering the Jagermeister to others in the crowd Mr Sotomayo begins to offer the beverage out to revellers in the crowd as the music blares in the background On Friday, Spain's health ministry reported 3,092 new coronavirus cases in the country- marking the biggest jump since a national lockdown was lifted in June. Cumulative cases, which also include results from antibody tests on people who may have recovered increased to 288,522 from 285,430, the ministry added. Earlier this week, ministers reimposed the quarantine travel restrictions on Spain after it emerged ten Britons returned from the country with coronavirus. The Government's Covid-O committee, which includes Michael Gove, Grant Shapps and Priti Patel, were told the country had seen a spike in infections in 15 of its 19 regions. Professor Chris Whitty described the number as 'statistically significant' as ministers took the controversial decision to reimpose quarantine. The decision came as Boris Johnson warned there were 'signs of a second wave' of coronavirus in Europe. During a visit to Nottinghamshire on Tuesday the Prime Minister said: 'Let's be absolutely clear about what's happening in Europe, amongst some of our European friends, I'm afraid you are starting to see in some places the signs of a second wave of the pandemic.' Mumbai, Aug 2 : It has been over three months that Irrfan Khan passed away. Radhika, who co-starred with the late actor in his last release, has an interesting anecdote as she recalls working with him. Radhika Madan opened up on the bond she shared with Irrfan on the sets of their film, "Angrezi Medium", and shared how she used to call him "papa" or "dad". In the film, Irrfan played Radhika's father. "I never addressed him as sir, I always addressed him as 'papa' or 'dad'! He would just smile. I remember when I first met him and I called him 'dad', instead of feeling weird about it, he gave me a big hug. I will always remember him as 'dad'," Radhika said, while speaking to IANS. "I feel so grateful that I got the opportunity to just stand in front of him and share screen space. I learnt so many things from him as an actor and as a person. Working with him was a big tick on my wish list," she said. Irrfan breathed his last in Mumbai on April 29 after battling colon infection. Mumbai: After three weeks since the Centre announced the demonetisation decision and two days after the banks reopened after the weekend holidays, queues outside banks and ATMs in the suburbs were found to be shorter on Monday though citizens complained of not getting the desired amount withdrawn. Many citizens expressed concern that they may have to continue to face the hardships owing to the cash crunch for some more days. Archita Mishra, a resident of neighbouring Thane, said she felt short-changed by her bank as she could get only Rs 2,500 withdrawn over the counter. I went to the bank to withdraw Rs 24,000 and I was quite hopeful to get it as there was no rush at all today. But my hope faded away as the bank executive told me that I could get only Rs 2,500 as the bank didnt have sufficient currency in its coffers, she said, adding that the banks should put up a notice informing the people of the scenario. OP Sharma, a resident of suburban Bhandup, said though the queues had shrunken substantially, the banks needed to adopt a supportive attitude towards the senior citizens. While a few banks are making separate queues for senior citizens, State Bank of India is not mending its ways as a result of which, the elderly people are forced to stand in the line under the scorching sun. This should be corrected immediately, said the retired Central Railway officer. He said the rush at the banks had reduced substantially since the exchange of scrapped Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes was halted. Neelam Trivedi, a Ghatkopar-based homemaker, claimed that the banks on Monday sent the people away citing liquidity crunch. Its good that the huge rush and serpentine queues are reducing with the passage of days, but this is also a harsh reality that the people are returning empty-handed as the banks are unable to give them sufficient money due to the liquidity problem, she said. Recalling how people were queueing up outside banks since the wee hours to either get their old currency notes exchanged or deposited till a few days back, Trivedi said the situation had changed now. Goregaon resident Vinayak Sawant said, I joined the queue at an ATM at 4 pm after seeing only six-seven people ahead of me. But, we could not withdraw more than Rs 2,000. I hope the situation will improve very soon. As per the Reserve Bank of India, one can withdraw up to Rs 24,000 per week from their bank account, including withdrawals from ATMs. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Congress MP Rajiv Satav has clarified his remarks about Thursday's meeting of the party's Rajya Sabha MPs where he suggested the party should consider the tenure of its United Progressive Alliance -II government while considering reasons for its decline and fall from power. Satav, while writing on Twitter Saturday, said he was not comfortable discussing what goes on inside party meetings in forums outside. "The meeting of RS MPs with Congress President was extremely fruitful. This was one of the many platforms that INC has given us time and again, to voice our views ... Christopher Bolei is worried about how hell make ends meet now that the $600 federal unemployment benefit is cut off. In March, Bolei, 63, who lives in San Rafael, California, was laid off from his job as a maintenance supervisor at a startup that manages real estate properties. After falling behind on rent, he fears hell get evicted as rent moratoriums expire. For the past three months, hes missed his nearly $3,000 monthly rent payment due to growing medical costs for his partner. She has lupus, an autoimmune disease, and faces $30,000 in medication costs this year to treat a brain injury following a car accident. More:Pelosi slams White House over deadlock in COVID-19 relief negotiations and $600 unemployment benefits Were struggling. Its been really stressful. That extra $600 is barely keeping us afloat, says Bolei, who had been receiving about $4,200 a month in benefits with the additional weekly $600. In California, state unemployment maxes out at $450 per week. There are two COVID Americas: One hopes for an extension of federal unemployment and stimulus. The other is saving and spending. Housing hurdles: COVID hasn't stopped the housing market, but good luck finding a home you can afford Christopher Bolei, 63, lives in San Rafael, California. Millions of struggling out-of-work Americans are in limbo after the additional $600 in weekly unemployment benefits expired at the end of July, leaving many fearful of how they will survive and pay their bills without the extra jobless aid. Unemployment benefit extension? Last week, Senate Republicans released a $1 trillion proposal for another coronavirus stimulus package, dubbed the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability protection, and Schools Act, or HEALS Act. One of the controversial aspects of the plan would reduce the unemployment bonus from $600 to $200 through September, and then cap federal jobless assistance to 70% of workers' pay moving forward. The Democrats want to extend the weekly $600 federal unemployment bonus through January, and rejected a short-term deal to continue the bolstered aid for one week. Story continues President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has split with some of his GOP allies and softened his opposition to an extension of the $600 boost. "We want a temporary extension of enhanced unemployment benefits," Trump said at the White House Thursday. "This will provide a critical bridge for Americans who lost their jobs to the pandemic through no fault of their own." The GOP's bill, which would cut enhanced unemployment benefits by $400 per week, or by two-thirds, would have dire consequences for more than 25 million people currently out of work and receiving the emergency income boost, according to The Century Foundation, a nonprofit think tank. Under the plan, weekly benefits would drop from a national average of $920.68 per week to $520.68 per week. The Senate Republican proposal to reduce the weekly $600 supplement to $200 threatens to lead to 3.4 million fewer jobs created over the next year, according to the left-leaning Economic Policy Institute. Washington is playing Russian roulette with the economic recovery, says Andrew Stettner, a fellow with The Century Foundation. We cant seem to control the virus and lots of people still havent been called back to their old jobs. But we have done a lot to keep the economy steady. The key to that has been generous unemployment benefits that have allowed people to continue to pay their bills." People in states with lower average unemployment payments could see their weekly benefits drop by as much as 57%, data from The Century Foundation shows. Many states that face spikes in coronavirus cases would experience the largest percentage reduction in benefits, including Florida (47.1%), California (44.2%) and Mississippi (50.5%). The clock is ticking Experts say Congress must act quickly because many Americans don't have a financial cushion. The labor market is facing a net loss of 14.7 million job losses from the coronavirus recession. Jobless claims remain historically high and permanent job losses are growing, a troubling sign for the labor market as the extra unemployment aid expires. Reinstating the extra jobless benefits could create an administrative nightmare for state unemployment agencies, where recipients could face a lapse in aid of two to four weeks even if benefits are reinstated right away, according to the Economic Policy Institute. State agencies could also face challenges trying to reprogram their systems for the GOP's 70% wage-replacement plan, experts say. Most state agencies dont have enough resources or the technology to agilely respond to this, says Heidi Shierholz, senior economist and director of policy at the Economic Policy Institute. Policy makers have chosen not to invest in them for decades. We set them up to fail. Some worry about how a wage replacement will be calculated Critics of expanding unemployment insurance argue that the extra money discourages Americans from finding new work, especially since many low-wage workers in hard-hit industries like restaurants and retail have received more money in unemployment. But white-collar workers who had been relatively less affected at the onset of the pandemic may now be more exposed to permanent layoffs, economists say. Adding to the concern, even an additional $600 per week doesn't achieve full wage replacement in some high-cost cities like New York City, San Francisco and Washington. To combat this, the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has called on policymakers to propose a 40% federal match, boosting a typical state benefit, which is usually between 40% and 50% of a jobless persons prior earnings, to between 56% and 70% of previous earnings. Still, Thomas Darnell, 48, of West Point, Mississippi, is worried about how the government will calculate the additional unemployment benefits in the future. If its 70% of his prior wages, like the GOP is proposing, hes concerned it will be based on his income in 2019, which was less than his wages in 2020 because he was temporarily unemployed last year. For him, the health and economic repercussions from the pandemic hit close to home. Darnell, who was an assembly line worker at a diesel engine manufacturing plant, has worked in factories for over 20 years, but cant find a job. First, he was furloughed for three weeks in April and then laid off in May. Then things got worse: His entire household of seven, including himself, his wife, three kids and daughter-in-law, along with his baby grandson, contracted coronavirus after they saw their immediate family over the Independence Day weekend. Im tired and shaky. Even after a few weeks, Im still trying to recover, Darnell says, who has since been cleared of the virus but still has lingering symptoms. One of my biggest fears is trying to find a job, but being stuck quarantined at home. If a potential employer calls me for an interview, will my name be pushed off the list because Im sick? Facing eviction The GOPs latest stimulus proposal doesnt include an extension for federal eviction moratoriums, which had protected millions of renters living in buildings with federally backed mortgages from losing their homes during the pandemic. One in five of the 110 million Americans who live in households that rent are at risk of eviction by the end of September, according to the Aspen Institute, a nonprofit think tank. A lot of people dont have very much in savings, Stettner says. Unemployment benefits have helped them pay their bills. But when you start taking that away, we could begin to see the same housing risks that we saw during the Great Recession. People are being forced to move in with their families, or theyre living out of a car. About 42% of Americans reported that they felt somewhat-to-very financially unstable, according to a recent survey from consumer finance company Credit Karma. Nearly one-quarter of those who felt financially unprepared for the current economic situation felt this way because they didnt have a savings cushion. Nearly a third of Americans somewhat-to-strongly disagree that the government is doing enough to help people financially during the pandemic, even with the additional $600 in unemployment benefits. If unemployment benefits shrink, it's likely this number will increase, experts warn. Darnell of Mississippi, for instance, isn't facing eviction or foreclosure, but he still owes property taxes on his home. He was forced to dip into his 401(k) this year for the third time since 2017 to support his family. Mississippi is among states with the lowest weekly benefit maximum in the country at $235 per week. With the additional $600, Darnell was making about the same as his prior weekly wages, he says. Now, he fears what will happen as the bonus ends. If we lose that extra money, its going to be impossible to survive, Darnell says. Hopefully, I can retire one day, but I dont know if that will ever happen. He cant afford health insurance, which has added to his anxiety because he and his wife are both diabetic, he says. Like Bolei, Darnell and his wife have been forced to make a grueling decision between either paying for their medications or keeping food on the table. Do we buy insulin or groceries? Its a hard juggle, Darnell says. Im willing to make less money and start working again to get health insurance, but no one is hiring. The positions hes applied for pay between $10 to $14 an hour, he says. He was previously making $17 an hour. People aren't just sitting on unemployment. Were trying to find jobs. Theres just not a lot of work down here, Darnell added. I hate to depend on the government, but I dont have much of a choice. Sinmi Araoye, 33, sitting outside in Boston, Massachusetts, in September 2019. Others have found temporary work Sinmi Araoye of Medford, Massachusetts, aspires to live the American dream, but she keeps running into obstacles. Araoye, who grew up in Nigeria, worked as an Uber driver to help put herself through nursing school at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She has a bachelor's degree and holds two master's degrees one in international fashion retail and the other in management and marketing yet she still couldn't find a better-paying job. After working at department stores and grocery stores making between $10 to $16 an hour, she decided to pursue a fourth degree in nursing. When the economy shuttered in the spring, Araoye filed for unemployment. The extra $600 and the state benefits kept her income on par with what she was earning before the pandemic. Now that the bonus has expired, she cant afford to live off of state benefits alone, she says. "It's going to be hard," Araoye says. "I don't have steady income. I felt ashamed. I felt like I failed." COVID-19: Black women and Latinas struggle to buy food, build savings amid pandemic, study says Massachusetts provides one of the most generous jobless benefits nationally, with maximum state aid reaching $823 per week for individuals. But Araoye qualified for only $265, she says, which doesnt cover her $1,500 rent. Araoye, 33, is starting a temporary job with the U.S. Census Bureau as an enumerator, where shell go door-to-door to collect household and demographic information. Shell be making $27 an hour, but it lasts only six weeks. She doesn't know what she'll do for money when the job ends, she says. Im grateful for a job because itll give me a financial lifeline, but I'm worried that Im putting myself in harm's way, says Araoye, adding that she doesnt feel comfortable returning to Uber until outbreaks are contained. Theres no good alternative," she says. "I dont really have a choice. Jeffrey Drew, 43, last year in Tampa Bay, Florida. Some people are living with family again Jeffrey Drew, 43, suffered delays getting his unemployment checks. After applying in April, he waited for months until his money started trickling in by the summer. Drew, who lives in Sun City Center, Florida, moved from New York last year in hopes that he could transfer to the same internet provider he had worked at for about three years. When that didnt pan out, he took a job as a line cook at a sandwich shop. When he was laid off in early April as the pandemic hit, he applied for unemployment, but months went by without any money. With bills piling up, he was forced to turn to his mother for help to pay his $300 car payment and $100 auto insurance. Its been a nightmare, says Drew, who worries about contracting the virus in Florida, a pandemic hot spot, since he lives with his 76-year-old mother. Its scary. I got in a car accident and Im struggling to pay for the repairs. In mid-July, he eventually got paid just over $6,500 in back unemployment. But once the weekly $600 benefit expired, he qualified for only $125 a week in state benefits, he says. In Florida, the state unemployment maximum is $275 a week. Its going to hurt. That extra money helped keep the bills paid, Drew says. I still havent found a job. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus stimulus: The clock is ticking for many Americans On Thursday evening, Junior Minister Pippa Hackett paced up and down the alleyway near the Royal Hibernian Way just off Dawson Street in Dublin city centre. She was dining with her husband and Green Party councillor Mark Hackett and her Seanad colleague Pauline O'Reilly in the upmarket Isabelle's restaurant just a stone's throw from Leinster House. Despite losing out on a few quid following a U-turn on a 16,000 top-up for ministers of state at Cabinet she still had some spare cash to spend in one the city's chic restaurants. But she felt it necessary to leave the stylish eatery to take the call - which came a few hours after Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan voted against the Government on housing legislation. Hourigan was followed by Green Junior Minister Joe O'Brien, who abstained on the final vote on the legislation to extend a rent freeze and eviction ban but only for those impacted by Covid. Both later issued statements saying they did not support Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien's legislation to limit supports for renters to only those who lost earnings because of the pandemic. The defection by two Green TDs just a month into the life of the new Government infuriated Fianna Fail and Fine Gael TDs who hoped members of the three governing parties would toe the line until at least six months in. Hourigan had been earmarked as someone who might jump ship at the first sign of choppy seas but O'Brien is a minister and he was expected to show loyalty to the fledgling Coalition. The move by the two TDs left newly appointed Government Chief Whip Jack Chambers blind-sided, as were Taoiseach Micheal Martin and Tanaiste Leo Varadkar. Hourigan had flagged her difficulties with the legislation to her Green colleagues but O'Brien had not been as vocal. There was speculation on Thursday evening that he may have abstained so as to spread the blame and lessen punishment for Hourigan. The word around the Convention Centre in Dublin was that Green Party leader Eamon Ryan was furious with O'Brien but less so with Hourigan. Back in the Royal Hibernian Way, Hackett paced the luxury shop-lined mall in the city centre as the Green parliamentary party debated what sanction should be imposed on the two rebel TDs. Pressure was exerted on Ryan to go easy on the pair for their first indiscretion. Both are popular party members, especially among the government-sceptical wing of the organisation. They settled on banning them from speaking in the Dail for two months, which in reality meant two weeks as the summer recess began on Friday and TDs will not return for six weeks. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael thought the punishment was farcical. The Dail sat until after 2.30am on Friday due to a bitter debate about speaking time which resulted in a significant group of Opposition TDs walking out of the Chamber in protest. It was suspected but not confirmed that among the walk-out protesters was Leas Ceann Comhairle Catherine Connolly, who won a shock vote to land the 38,787-job the previous week. Fine Gael TD Paul Kehoe raised concerns on the night about Ms Connolly's potential involvement in the protest given her position as an independent Dail chair but he was overruled by Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail. However, Kehoe later wrote to Connolly asking her to clarify her position and suggesting she had "undermined" the position she held by siding with the Opposition. "I would remind you that you were democratically elected by members of Dail Eireann and the result was accepted by all so I would ask did you accept the democratic decision of the house on Thursday?" he said. *************** The previous day was an early start for Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys and her team. They gathered around 8am on Wednesday to discuss the growing controversy surrounding the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). The previous evening the three party leaders had an informal discussion about the payment after a Cabinet sub-committee. It was recognised that there was a problem but there was no official agreement to change tack. On Wednesday morning, the Taoiseach and Tanaiste both spoke to Humphreys to ask her opinion about what the next move should be. The minister's initial reaction was to hold firm having received the backing of some party members. But the controversy was not going away and a fix was needed. She finally decided to ditch the ban on those in receipt of the payment travelling to Green List countries and alerted the leaders to the policy change before announcing it in the Dail. **************** Wednesday evening was parliamentary party night for the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael TDs and senators. The U-turn on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment was fresh in their minds as they met in the Convention Centre. It was the latest in a growing list of self-inflicted errors by the new Government, and backbenchers were getting tired of the negative. A Fianna Fail TD who attended his party's meeting said he had the feeling of "being a passenger on a plane that terrorists and taken over". "They could crash the plane any minute," he added. After the relative fireworks of the previous week, the meeting was stale but there was criticism of the handling of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment issue. Dun Laoghaire TD Cormac Devlin insisted the people on the welfare support should be entitled to the same travel rights as anyone else. He said Fine Gael's stance on stopping people from travelling was a "stark reminder" of the differences between the two parties. "Cormac was making the point that Fine Gael was treating good working people as scroungers and we need to keep our identity as a party that realises that every now and again people need the safety net of social welfare," said the TD who was there. Meanwhile, in Fine Gael's meeting, party members endured a lengthy debrief on the general rlection campaign which saw it drop to being the third largest party in the Dail. Again errors were highlighted and party chairman Richard Bruton set out a plan to ensure Fine Gael doesn't continue to lose touch with the electorate while in Government. A group of Fine Gaelers headed across the road to the The Boat Restaurant & Bar, which serves food and drink on board the moored MV Cill Airne. Among those present were the remaining members of the once-influential Fine Gael five-a-side team, Eoghan Murphy, Martin Heydon, Sean Kyne and Brendan Griffin. They were joined by Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Minister of State for Public Health Frankie Feighan, and they all enjoyed pints and food in the restaurant in Dublin's Docklands. There was a split in Fianna Fail after its parliamentary meeting but only in terms of where they went to eat and drink. A group interestingly involving Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath and Jim O'Callaghan headed for the Lombard bar just off the south quays. The group of around 15 TDs and senators enjoyed socially distant pints and food in the newly refurbished city centre pub, which is regularly frequented by political hacks. There was some concern among the group that there were too many of them together toasting the end of the Dail - even though they were adhering to social distancing rules. Meanwhile, across town another group, mostly consisting of senators, headed for Fianna Fail's natural home in Doheny & Nesbitt's on Baggot Street. "There was no split in the party, there was equal amounts of bitching about Micheal in both pubs," a source said. The women of Fianna Fail decided to go for the more auspicious surroundings of Peploes restaurant on St Stephen's Green where a 10z ribeye steak might set you back 36. But after the month they've all had it's hard to begrudge them all a night out on the town. OTTAWA, Aug. 02, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Health authorities in Canada echoed in the past that Coronavirus rates would likely decrease during the summer months, but according to Meladul Haq Ahmadzai, CEO of Taleam Systems and a global health researcher, those messages were simply wishful thinking and wrongly communicated without much support to the public. Coronavirus rates have been increasing in Canada. Ahmadzai says, At first, we saw the COVID-19 disease impacting seniors in retirement homes, but now we are starting to see a similar pattern with younger people. Taleam Systems has proudly supported medical clinics and hospitals with technology solutions. The business also provides computer services and custom-made computer health technology at reduced prices to businesses. Ahmadzai adds, the COVID-19 disease is not a global problem with much of Canadas border being closed instead it is a local problem within the country. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also pumped billions of dollars to keep the economy running, but politicians seem to be comfortable with the current pandemic, signals Ahmadzai. Ahmadzai explains, politicians seem to be fine with the Coronavirus situation in Canada, but they should keep in mind, the election season is due to come as well, and Mr. Trudeau has already dropped in the polls. Today, there are 117,000 COVID-19 transmission cases in Canada, and about 9,500 people have died from the disease so far. Taleam Systems provides computer services in Canada to health experts and small businesses since 2011. To learn more about Taleam Systems visit www.taleamsystems.com Media Contact: Meladul Haq Ahmadzai, CEO Phone: 613-521-9229 Email: melad@taleamsystems.com Express News Service By NEW DELHI: Delhi Social Welfare (SW) Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam and Delhi Commission for Woman (DCW) Chief Swati Maliwal rescued 19 senior citizens living in a poor and pitiful condition with no food and water at a non-government organization (NGO) based old age home, situated at outer Delhis Nihal Vihar area. After receiving a complaint that some senior citizens were being tied up and beaten at the old age home when they requested to go back home, Maliwal along with the social welfare minister and her team conducted a surprise inspection of the old age home on Friday night. The DCW said of the 19 rescued most are specially-abled and were being kept in a small cramped up room. There were no separate wards for men and women. Many of them were being forced to share beds. The room was in a miserable condition. The stench in the room was unbearable as there was only one toilet and many elderly had defecated on the beds. There was no caretaker either and the old residents were made to clean the premises themselves, said a DCW official. The commission also said that the old age home violated norms to check the spread of Covid-19 contagion as zero social distancing was being practiced and no provision of masks and sanitizers was made available for the elderly. Taking stock of the situation, the SW minister ordered for immediate action and has directed the SW department to ensure that the residents are rehabilitated. Maliwal also issued summons to the Social Welfare director and the Delhi Police to ensure registration of an FIR against the management of the old age home and the NGO. Parents sacrifice their entire life raising their children and once they grow old, they are left to suffer in such miserable conditions Strict action will be taken against the management and the NGO, said DCW chief Swati Maliwal. TALLAHASSEE, FL The state of Florida has issued the following statement concerning COVID-19 and Tropical Storm Isaias: "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 1, 2020 The State of Florida Issues COVID-19 and Tropical Storm Isaias Updates The State of Florida is responding to COVID-19 and Tropical Storm Isaias. As the state continues to respond to both events, updates on the states actions will be issued as necessary. Governor Ron DeSantis is in constant communication with Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz and State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees as the State of Florida continues to monitor and respond to the threat of COVID-19 and Tropical Storm Isaias. President Donald Trump approved Governor DeSantis request that he declare a pre-landfall emergency for the State of Florida in anticipation of Tropical Storm Isaias for the following counties: Brevard, Broward, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie and Volusia. A copy of the letter can be found here. Today, Governor DeSantis provided two updates of the states response to Isaias at the State Emergency Operations Center. Governor DeSantis announced that Uber has activated free rides to shelters in counties responding to Tropical Storm Isaias. Individuals can use the code IsaiasRelief to receive up to $25 off up to three trips to or from state-approved shelters. He also announced that more than 11,400 power restoration personnel are pre-staged in anticipation of impacts from Tropical Storm Isaias. Governor DeSantis received briefings from the Florida Division of Emergency Management throughout the day. Hurricane warnings are in effect from Boca Raton to the Volusia and Flagler County Line. The National Hurricane Center is predicting a storm surge of two to four feet from the Jupiter Inlet to Ponte Vedra Beach. Floridians in these areas should take necessary precautions and follow orders from local government officials. Recent actions the state has taken to respond to COVID-19 and Tropical Storm Isaias: The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) is prepared to support any requests for assistance from health care facilities and special needs shelters due to Isaias. The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has sent PPE shelter kits with gloves, hand sanitizer and masks to sustain 10,000 people for 96 hours to counties in Tropical Storm Isaias path. The Division has pre-staged 1.8 million meals and 9.4 million water bottles for counties experiencing impacts from Tropical Storm Isaias. The Division is working with private-sector partners to monitor fuel activity. At this time, there are no reports of shortages. FDEM has deployed staff to county Emergency Operations Centers in the storms path to assist with local response efforts. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is closely monitoring field offices that may be potentially impacted by the storm and has distributed guidance and communication to staff in the event of office closures. The Agency made outreach calls to critical health care facilities along the eastern seaboard that are in a surge zone for the storms path. All nursing homes and assisted living facilities have a generator on-site. The Agency is ensuring health care facilities in the storms projected path are updating the Emergency Status System and providing notification of any plans to evacuate. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is currently monitoring Isaias and any evacuation orders and shelter openings along Floridas East coast. DEO is preparing to deploy potential disaster resources as needed in response to Tropical Storm Isaiass impacts. This includes the Business Damage Assessment Survey, Emergency Bridge Loan and Disaster Unemployment Assistance. DEO is also coordinating with state and local partners to determine proactive action, updates or unmet needs from the private sector. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) closed 22 State Parks for day use and eight campgrounds with overnight accommodations are currently closed in response to Tropical Storm Isaias. Florida State Park closures can be found at https://www. floridastateparks.org/ StormUpdates . DEP has completed pre-storm beach surveys. Pre-storm prep guidance has been distributed to all hazardous waste, drinking water and wastewater facilities. DEP has issued Emergency Orders which authorize repairs, replacement, restoration, and certain other measures made necessary by Tropical Storm Isaias. DEP is coordinating HART team resources for deployment in impacted areas if needed. Dam Safety Alerts have been sent out to 60 dam owners. Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) continues to closely monitor Isaias and stands ready to assist. FHP is in communication with law enforcement and transportation partners to identify and assist with any local needs before, during and after the storm. FHP has Quick Response Force Troopers strategically located across the state and available if needed. FHP continues to urge motorists to use extreme caution if driving during storm conditions. All Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) facilities and centers are on alert, monitoring weather advisories and have completed pre-storm preparations for Tropical Storm Isaias. The Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) State Purchasing team continues to lead Emergency Support Function (ESF) 7, providing critical procurement and consultation support during the emergency. The DMS Telecommunications team continues to lead ESF 2, providing critical telephonic communication and direct connectivity support during the emergency. The DMS Real Estate Development and Management team continues to work with facility managers in potential areas of impact for coordinating state building closures. DMS continues to encourage state employees in potential areas of impact to make plans, prepare kits, and stay informed. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) worked with AHCA to issue new telemedicine guidance for Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting (iBudget) Waiver adult day training (ADT) providers. The Florida National Guard (FLNG) is continues to monitor Isaias and is prepared to mobilize support as state response efforts continue. Approximately 1,467 Florida National Guardsmen are mobilized to support Floridas response to COVID-19. FLNG has expanded its support to mobile testing teams and the community-based and walk-up test sites. To date, the FLNG has assisted in the testing of more than 999,000 individuals for the COVID-19 virus. Through Executive Order 20-181, Governor DeSantis authorized the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to suspend the size and weight restrictions for vehicles transporting emergency equipment, including fuel, to disaster impacted areas of our state quickly and efficiently. FDOT is currently monitoring Isaias and will shore up construction sites and monitor drainage in and around the states roadways to help ensure the safety of the traveling public. As Tropical Storm Isaias approaches Floridas coast, Volunteer Florida is working with partners and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) to prepare resources and potential response efforts, including shelter operations. The agency is also preparing to assist with coordinating volunteer opportunities through Volunteer Connect, Floridas official volunteer opportunities platform. Additional actions the state has taken to respond to COVID-19: FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) is prepared to support any requests for assistance from health care facilities and special needs shelters due to Isaias. This week, the FDOH has updated the Florida COVID-19 Response page to include a map with state-supported and county health department supported COVID-19 Testing Location Sites . This map will be updated once a week. DOH issued a revised Public Health Advisory recommending the following: All individuals in Florida should wear face coverings in any setting where social distancing is not possible. All individuals should refrain from participation in social or recreational gatherings of more than 10 people. All individuals over the age of 65 and all individuals of any age with high-risk health conditions should limit personal interactions outside of the home. DOH has posted a list of Agency for Persons with Disabilities Licensed Group Homes with positive COVID-19 cases. This report will be updated weekly and is available here . DOH reminded all Floridians to protect the vulnerable by avoiding the Three Cs: Closed Spaces, Crowded Places and Close-Contact Settings and by wearing a mask in public: Closed Spaces . Avoid closed spaces with poor ventilation that could allow contagious droplets to linger in the air. Crowded Places . Avoid crowded places with many people nearby; the greater the number of individuals in an area, the greater the chances of COVID-19 spreading from person-to-person. Close-Contact Settings . Avoid close-range conversations and stay at least six-feet from others. All individuals should refrain from participation in social or recreational gatherings of more than 50 people. To date, DOH has reported more than 1,600 contact tracers who are assisting with COVID-19 efforts across the state. DOH announced that the list of long-term care facilities in Florida associated with COVID-19 cases will now include active cases in each facility in order to provide real-time data. The list of long-term care facilities with active COVID-19 cases is available here . DOH is providing a report detailing surveillance data for every Florida county. Previously, this information was only available for select communities. The surveillance data report is available here. At the direction of Governor DeSantis, State Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees declared a Public Health Emergency for COVID-19 in Florida. DOH established a public call center for questions regarding COVID-19. The call center launched Monday, March 2, and is open 24/7. In an effort to increase testing, Governor DeSantis has directed Surgeon General Dr. Scott Rivkees on an emergency temporary basis to allow licensed pharmacists in Florida to order and administer COVID-19 tests. DOH is working with Floridas Board of Pharmacy and Floridas Department of Business and Professional Regulation on mobile pharmacy compliance guidance. More information on DOHs COVID-19 response is available here. FLORIDA DIVISION OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT The State Emergency Operations Center continues to be activated at a Level 1 as the State Emergency Response Team responds to Tropical Storm Isaias and COVID-19. The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has sent PPE shelter kits with gloves, hand sanitizer and masks to sustain 10,000 people for 96 hours to counties in Tropical Storm Isaias path. The Division has pre-staged 1.8 million meals and 9.4 million water bottles for counties experiencing impacts from Tropical Storm Isaias. The Division is working with private-sector partners to monitor fuel activity. At this time, there are no reports of shortages. FDEM has deployed staff to county Emergency Operations Centers in the storms path to assist with local response efforts. In anticipation of impacts from Tropical Storm Isaias, FDEM has closed state-supported testing sites in the following counties until Wednesday, August 4: Brevard, Broward, Clay, Duval, Lake, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Orange, Palm Beach, Seminole, St. Lucie and Volusia. Updates on the status of the state-supported testing sites will be provided via social media on the Divisions Twitter and Facebook . The Division is hosting twice daily calls with County Emergency Management Directors to deliver updates regarding Tropical Storm Isaias and provide assistance to Countys as they prepare to respond to the storm. FDEM has created a PPE reserve for hurricane season. Currently, the Division has: 20 million masks 22 million gloves 10 million gowns 1.6 million face shields 270,000 coveralls 20,000 thermometers FDEM expanded separate, observed self-swab lanes to symptomatic individuals to 15 state-supported drive-thru COVID-19 testing sites. More information is available here . Under the direction of Governor DeSantis, the Division continues to deploy additional staff to hospitals responding to COVID-19 across the state. To date, 2,101 nurses have been deployed to support hospitals statewide. To date, the Division has sent the following PPE to support health care workers and first responders: More than 52 million masks More than 15.2 million gloves Nearly 2 million face shields More than 1.1 million shoe covers More than 4.8 million gowns More than 106 thousand goggles More than 71 thousand coveralls At the direction of Governor DeSantis, the state currently supports 60 COVID-19 testing sites across the state, with the capacity to conduct up to 35,900 tests per day. The state continues to expand testing capacity, in addition to supporting county-run testing efforts, to ensure all Floridians can receive a COVID-19 test. A list of state-supported testing sites can be found here . Five state-supported drive-thru testing sites located in Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Orange and Duval counties are offering free antibody testing to anyone over the age of 18. The sites offering antibody tests are available here . Find more information on DEMs response to COVID-19 here. FLORIDA AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is closely monitoring field offices that may be potentially impacted by the storm and has distributed guidance and communication to staff in the event of office closures. The Agency made outreach calls to critical health care facilities along the eastern seaboard that are in a surge zone for the storms path. All nursing homes and assisted living facilities have a generator on-site. The Agency is ensuring health care facilities in the storms projected path are updating the Emergency Status System and providing notification of any plans to evacuate. AHCA has made more than 4,300 onsite visits to facilities and more than 43,400 telephone calls to residential providers statewide to provide support and determine emergent needs of facilities. This week, AHCA held a call with the Florida Health Care Association and partner long-term care facilities to discuss the Agencys continued response to COVID-19. AHCA convened a call with all 22 of the AHCA Dedication Isolation Facilities to discuss continued collaboration with hospitals across our state to serve COVID-19 positive patients who need an appropriate discharge setting from hospitals. AHCA added an additional tab to the Hospital Bed Capacity Dashboard to reflect hospitalizations with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19. On June 16, AHCA issued Emergency Rule 59AER20-4 and Emergency Rule 59AER20-5 . These rules require nursing home and assisted living facility staff to be tested for COVID-19 every two weeks with testing resources provided by the state and to submit test results to their employer/facility. AHCA issued Emergency Order NO. 20-003 providing financial relief to nursing homes and Intermediate Care Facilities during the states public health emergency. The emergency order extends the deadlines for March and April 2020 Quality Assessment payments until June 15, 2020 for Intermediate Care Facilities, and June 20, 2020 for nursing homes. AHCA issued Emergency Rule 59AER20-2 and Emergency Rule 59AER20-3 . These rules require nursing homes and assisted living facilities to grant access to the Florida Department of Health or their authorized representative for the purpose infection prevention and control, including mandated COVID-19 testing of both on-duty and off-duty staff when arranged by the Department. At the direction of Governor DeSantis, AHCA issued Emergency Rule 59AER20-1 requiring hospitals to test all patients for COVID-19, regardless of symptoms, prior to discharge to long-term care facilities. AHCA sent out an email to nursing homes requiring the transfer of residents with verified or suspected cases if they cannot be appropriately isolated and adhere to the CDC recommendations for COVID-19 response. AHCA issued a provider alert announcing additional flexibilities within the Medicaid program made at the direction of Governor DeSantis. Authorization requirements and services limits for medically necessary behavioral health care for are now waived. AHCA created a new temporary Personal Care Attendant program to help long-term care facilities fill staffing shortages. The program provides an 8-hour training on assisting with direct care so that personal care attendants can temporarily perform additional duties. AHCA has been working with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to ensure current Medicaid recipients maintain benefits during the state of emergency. Medicaid application deadlines have also been extended. Find more information on AHCAs response to COVID-19 here. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL REGULATION DBPR issued Emergency Order 2020-09 , effective June 26, 2020, that suspends the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises for all vendors licensed for such sale who derive more than 50 percent of gross revenue from the sale of alcoholic beverages. Such vendors may continue to sell alcoholic beverages in sealed containers for consumption off the premises in accordance with Executive Order 20-71, Sections 1 and 2. DBPR issued Emergency Order 2020-08 which extends the deadlines for examination eligibility and licensure eligibility through December 31, 2020, for professional licenses regulated pursuant to Chapter 455, Florida Statutes, and the related professional practice acts. The Order supersedes section 4 of DBPR Emergency Order 2020-03, which had previously extended these deadlines through May 31, 2020. DPBR has distributed Additional Information for Barbershops and Cosmetology Salons Pursuant to Executive Order 20-120 and FAQs for Executive Order 20-120 Expanding Phase 1: Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step. Plan for Floridas Recovery to provide additional information and guidelines for barbershops, cosmetology salons, and cosmetology specialty salons. Find more information on DBPRs response to COVID-19 here. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES Friday morning, the Florida Department of Children Families (DCF) held a series of briefings with agency leadership regarding Hurricane Isaias. The team discussed disaster plans, identified needs that could arise in the coming days and made it clear that the goal is to keep the workforce safe, while still maintaining high-quality service delivery for Floridas children and families. Governor DeSantis announced federal approval for the implementation of Floridas Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program, which allowed the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to issue more than $662 million in benefits during the month of June to more than 2.1 million children who have temporarily lost access to free and reduced-price school meals during COVID-19-related school closures. Per DCFs request, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved Floridas waiver to permit the state to launch a pilot project that allows families to purchase groceries online with their Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card beginning April 21, 2020. As part of her Hope for Healing Florida initiative, First Lady Casey DeSantis announced that DCF will be receiving a $1.9 million emergency grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which will provide crisis counseling and other mental health support for Floridians impacted by COVID-19. DCF continues to work diligently with the Department of Health (DOH) to develop precautionary protocols for child welfare professionals and adult protective investigators who may have to make in-person visits to ensure the safety of those vulnerable populations. Find more information on DCFs response to COVID-19 here . FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS The Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) staff have begun working to make necessary preparations for inmates housed in facilities located in the path of Tropical Storm Isaias. Decisions to evacuate facilities will be made on a case-by-case basis and on what is in the best interest of the public, staff and inmate safety. Offenders on community supervision will be given specific instructions from their probation officers in the event evacuations are deemed necessary or if their probation office closes during normal reporting hours. In the event of an institution evacuation, announcements will be made upon completion. Inmate locations will be posted on the website approximately 24-hours after relocation, per standard protocol. Individuals are encouraged to visit the FDC website or social media channels prior to contacting individual institutions. Frequent updates regarding visitation and office closures will be posted on Facebook, Twitter and www.dc.state.fl.us . FDC has sourced the following to correctional institutions since the onset of the pandemic, and these numbers continue to grow: More than 250,000 N95 masks More than 2.5 million surgical masks More than 430,000 boxes of gloves More than 5,000 pairs of eye protection More than 50,000 gowns and coveralls More than 800 hand sanitizer dispensers (for use by FDC staff) More than 6,000 gallons of hand sanitizer (for use by FDC staff) FDC is expanding COVID-19 testing at institutions when indicated by a positive case. More than 40,000 inmates have been tested. FDC has resumed modified volunteer activities at select institutions. FDC has distributed cloth face coverings to all correctional officers and inmates at correctional institutions statewide. FDC is closely aligned with the CDC Interim Guidance on Management of COVID-19 in Correctional and Detention Facilities. New inmate commitments from county jails undergo additional screening and 14-day quarantine before placement within the general population. FDC has suspended visitation at all correctional institutions statewide. Find more information on FDCs response to COVID-19 here. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) is currently monitoring Isaias and any evacuation orders and shelter openings along Floridas East coast. DEO is preparing to deploy potential disaster resources as needed in response to Tropical Storm Isaiass impacts. This includes the Business Damage Assessment Survey, Emergency Bridge Loan and Disaster Unemployment Assistance. DEO is also coordinating with state and local partners to determine proactive action, updates or unmet needs from the private sector. Governor Ron DeSantis has directed DEO to continue waiving the work search, work registration and waiting week requirements for claimants through September 5, 2020. To comply with federal law, effective May 10, 2020, claimants for all Reemployment Assistance programs, including state Reemployment Assistance, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, will be required to return to the CONNECT system every two weeks to request their benefits. In doing so, claimants will confirm that they are still unemployed and acknowledge that they are able and available for work should it be offered. For more information, click here . If claimants, currently receiving Reemployment Assistance benefits, no longer wish to receive benefits, they do not need to request their benefits, as payments will stop processing if weeks stop being claimed. DEO, in partnership with the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, launched a website to verify the identity of claimants who have been locked out of their CONNECT account, the online system for processing Reemployment Assistance claims. Individuals who were locked out of their CONNECT account have been notified and provided a direct link to verify their information so they can access their account. DEO is administering the Federal Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program. The program is offered by the federal CARES Act and provides up to 13 weeks of benefits to a claimant who has exhausted Reemployment Assistance. For more information, please click here . The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program that provides unemployment benefits to those that may not otherwise be eligible under Floridas state Reemployment Assistance program is available. Eligibility includes independent contractors, gig workers and individuals who are self-employed. Working Floridians who have been impacted by COVID-19 and believe they may be eligible for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, can visit org and select "File a Claim" to apply and be considered for PUA. Individuals may also call 1-833-FL-Apply (1-833-352-7759) for any questions they may have. DEO continues to provide updates on the efforts made to address the challenges to Floridas Reemployment Assistance program in response to COVID-19. This includes the State Reemployment Assistance Claims Dashboard that is updated daily to reflect the total number of Reemployment Assistance Claims submitted, verified, processed and paid. DEO announced more than 1,000 small businesses have been awarded more than $49 million from the Florida Small Emergency Bridge Loan program . The Business Damage Assessment survey is activated and continues to accept surveys to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Floridas local business operations and determine the appropriate actions for recovery. Click here to access the survey. Find more information on DEOs response to COVID-19 here. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION On Friday, the Florida Department of Education activated its storm response page at fldoe.org/em-response in anticipation of Tropical Storm Isaias. This page will share any campus and state office closures or updates regarding the storm. The Florida Department of Education has activated its buddy system for staff to keep in contact with school districts, colleges and early learning coalitions to provide assistance with any issues they may be experiencing due to Hurricane Isaias. As of July 31, the Florida Department of Education has approved 23 school district re-opening plans. On June 11, the Florida Department of Education announced the full-reopening of Floridas schools and CARES Act plan, visit here . Florida Education Commissioner Corcoran issued Emergency Order 2020-06 - Further Guidance for Closing Achievement Gaps and Creating Safe Spaces for Learning that: Ensures that Florida schools are open for in-person learning and in compliance with the many educationally important state and federal laws that ensure an equitable education for all types of learners, including our many at-risk students. Gave districts and schools flexibility to craft their own locally conceived plans, a request from districts, charters and private schools. Gave districts and schools guidance and flexibility on how to compassionately maintain education for medically vulnerable students and families. Guided that state and federally required services for at-risk students must meet the same high bars of quality set forth in law. Created additional pathways for districts and schools to comply with state laws that numerous districts, charter schools and private schools asked for guidance on. Provided districts, charters, privates and the many professionals that run schools the financial certainty that they will be supported as they support our students. In order to receive the flexibility and continuity provided for in Emergency Order 2020-06, school districts must submit a reopening plan for review and approval that satisfies the requirements of the order. These plans are due to the Department of Education by July 31, and approved plans will be posted at www.fldoe.org/em-response . Hosted multiple webinars providing guidance to Florida school districts, charter schools, private schools, and education stakeholders on plans to re-open. The recordings of the webinars can be found here . Find more information on DOEs response to COVID-19 here . FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS Bihar police is looking for Sushant Singh Rajputs flatmate Siddharth Pithani to record his statement in the actors death case but has failed to locate him so far, a top state police officer said on Sunday. Pithani is a creative content manager and flatmate of the late actor who was found dead at his Bandra apartment in Mumbai on June 14. Bihar police is looking for Siddharth Pithani to record his statement as he used to stay with the actor. Efforts to contact Pithani have been futile. He has not come forward before the police...Notice will be served if he does not appear, Inspector General, Patna Zone, Sanjay Singh told PTI. Pithani had alleged in an email to Mumbai police two days ago that he was being pressured by Rajputs family to record a statement against his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. Pithani had said that he shared a professional relationship with the late actor. Singh said that IPS officer Vinay Tiwary, who is posted as City SP (Central) Patna, has already left for Mumbai to lead the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case. Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey had Saturday said, if needed, an IPS officer would be sent to Mumbai to join the investigation. Pandey had also said that Bihar police team had failed to locate Rhea Chakraborty, whom Rajputs father has accused of abetting the actors suicide. Rajputs father has also accused Chakraborty of wrongful confinement of the actor, spiriting away Rs 15 crore from one of his bank accounts, and having him undergo treatment for mental illness without keeping his family informed. A four-member team is already in Mumbai to probe the Bollywood actors death case after his father K K Singh lodged a police complaint in Patna on July 25, more than a month after his demise. Mumbai police is also parallelly probing the case. Several political leaders including Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi have alleged that Mumbai police was not cooperating with their Patna counterparts in the investigation. Uddhav Thackeray (Maharashtra CM) is under pressure from the Congress-funded Bollywood mafia. So its bent on saving all the elements responsible in the case, the BJP leader had tweeted in Hindi on Saturday, and accused the Mumbai police of creating hurdles before the Bihar police team. Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey, meanwhile, said the state police team in Mumbai had not yet got any documents from the metropolitan police. Apart from the FIR that we have registered, we have nothing. We have not received the inquest report, postmortem report, video footage of the building.....That the investigation moves forward and truth is unravelled is the responsibility of both Mumbai and Bihar police. Sushants death is not a simple matter, he told a TV news channel. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into federal law a bill denouncing the 2014 agreement with Kazakhstan on using the Balkhash radar station as part of the Russian missile warning system MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 31st July, 2020) Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed into Federal law a bill denouncing the 2014 agreement with Kazakhstan on using the Balkhash radar station as part of the Russian missile warning system. The relevant document was published on the official legal information portal. The Balkhash node includes the Dnepr radar, used as part of the Russian missile warning and space control system. The Russian Defense Ministry has explained that the Balkhash node has become redundant after the commissioning of four new radar stations in Russia. Connecticut emergency management officials are beginning to prepare for the potential impact of Tropical Storm Isaias this week. The storm reached hurricane strength overnight Friday before being downgraded Saturday to a tropical storm as it approached Florida. Isaias is now off the coast of southeastern Florida and is expected to reach the New York City area on Tuesday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. On Sunday evening, the National Weather Service issued a tropical storm watch for coastal Connecticut. It warned of winds from 35 to 45 mph with gusts to 60 mph. Scott Appleby, emergency management director for Bridgeport, said his city is expecting gusty winds and the potential for heavy rainfall late Tuesday into Wednesday. We are asking the community to begin preparations now as well and to ensure they have a plan of action in place for themselves, their families and/or their business, he said Sunday. In the event residents need to be sheltered due to the storm, Appleby said COVID-19 precautions will be needed like social distancing, screenings, isolation areas, disinfecting, as well as looking into the possibility of hotels and/or dormitories if needed. All of these new COVID steps have been in place since May and most recently been tested during the PT Barnum fire, he added. Isaias is expected to bring heavy rains to southern Connecticut Tuesday night, with thunderstorms and tropical storm conditions possible. The storm is expected to dump 2 to 4 inches of rain on southeastern New York and much of New England, according to federal meteorologists. Heavy rainfall from Isaias could result in potentially life-threatening flash flooding in the Bahamas and flash and urban flooding along the East Coast of the United States, the National Hurricane Center said Sunday. Minor to isolated moderate river flooding is possible across portions of the Carolinas and Mid-Atlantic. Ridgefields Office of Emergency Management told the towns residents to prepare to stay home, as opening shelters will be a last resort amid the pandemic. Group shelters will only be opened in Connecticut as a last resort for this storm, or any other major event until the pandemic ends, Emergency Management Director Dick Aarons wrote in a Facebook post. Please think about checking on and helping your neighbors. He said town residents should prepare a go-kit that includes supplies of any prescription medicines, stock up on three days worth of food and water, and should inspect and fuel up household generators. In Fairfield, Assistant Fire Chief Schuyler Sherwood said the towns Emergency Management Team is continually monitoring all weather forecasts. He said members of the team would be meeting multiple times Monday to make sure the town is prepared. At this time, it appears out concern is going to be some minor to moderate wind damage and some possible flooding, Sherwood said. At this point, our current advice is to shelter in place. Sherwood said for Isaias and all storms Fairfield might have to deal with, it is important that residents have emergency plans in place. He said families should have a safety kit in their home and a plan for if they need to evacuate. Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson tweeted on Friday that the towns emergency management team is tracking and planning for the potential impact of the storm. Rick Fontana, the director of New Havens Office of Emergency Management, said he had been on conference calls with the National Weather Service on Saturday and Sunday. Even thought Isaias was downgraded from a category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm, he said it was important that people not let their guard down. Storms are unpredictable and they do change, Fontana said, adding that slight condition changes could make a storm more intense. We are preparing as if we are going to get a tropical storm with 60 mile an hour winds. Fontana said the city has been coordinating departments and external partners such as the Red Cross, to make sure everyone is on the same page in preparation for the storm. He said New Haven is telling its residents they need to take three steps in preparation. Have an evacuation plan. Have a kit that gives you 72 hours of water and non-perishable food (as well as) water and a first aid kit, he said. The next step is really staying informed make sure that you are hooked into the local alert network. Those are key elements, because this storm could change. Fontana said the city is also changing the protocols for shelters as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. He said the largest shelters, that typically to allowed up to 500 people, would be capped at 50 to 80. If we do have to open a shelter, everyone will have their temperature taken prior to entering, Fontana said, later adding that they would be administering rapid result COVID-19 tests. Everyone will be required to wear a mask. According to Fontana, the city will have a shelter set up specifically for people who tested positive for the virus. On Sunday, the National Weather Service reported a possible tornado touchdown late Sunday afternoon between Sharon and Lime Rock Park in Litchfield County. The announcement came after the NWS issued a tornado watch for most of the state, covering Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield, Middlesex, Hartford and Tolland counties. The storm has already prompted North Carolina officials to issue a mandatory evacuation order for Hatteras Island early Sunday. Tropical storm warnings and storm surge watches have been issued for parts of Florida and the Carolinas. Staff writer Susan Shultz contributed to this story. When South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, issued an order in early March to close all public schools to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Roslyn Clark Artis jumped into action. Artis, the president of Benedict College a private, historically Black liberal arts school in Columbia knew she had to evacuate roughly 2,000 students from campus, which she described as a herculean effort. I put out a bat signal, a call for help, and sent a letter to my board of trustees and within 24 hours they raised $54,000 and we set up a travel agency in my office, Artis told NBC News in a phone interview. The school ended up buying more than 100 plane, bus and train tickets to get the students with greatest need home, started a 24-hour shuttle service from the campus to local airports, bought luggage for students, paid baggage fees and provided a small meal stipend for students who had long layovers and needed to eat in the airport. That was just the beginning. Now, Artis is preparing for the fall with her bat signal still on. Many historically Black colleges and universities like Benedict were founded and subsidized by states, the federal government, philanthropists or churches, among others, to specifically educate Black Americans who were, throughout history, barred from attending majority-white schools. Many HBCUs have always had to do more with less, experts say. In recent years, a number of schools have been forced to the brink of closure or put their accreditation at risk. Artis has made a decision to have only the students with the greatest need roughly 900 come back to campus and implore others to stay home for virtual learning. Its not the best for the schools bottom line, she said, but the best for her students. Since March, there have been 13 coronavirus cases resulting from her students living in crowded homes with their families. Some students are experiencing homelessness. One of her rising seniors, a football player, was shot and killed in April. And many students are subsidized by federal or state grants and scholarships, which often do not bring money to the school. Story continues I think we put everybody in the bucket of if they're open, they're money-grubbers; if they're closed, they're concerned for safety, she said, noting she has refunded tuition payments and honored sports scholarships that would otherwise go unused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are scared to death. It is not safe. The cases are rising. I am worried sick. I have not had a good night's sleep since March. "However," she added, "what we know to be a fact with low-wealth, first-generation kids of color: Many times they are safer at Benedict, even with COVID-19, than they are in their communities where they are food-insecure, housing-insecure and physically unsafe." The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted those funding and resource inequities, experts say, and forced some of these schools to make tough decisions to continue to educate their unique population. COVID-19 has affected HBCUs just like every other campus, but one of the things that our institutions are disproportionately affected by is, our institutions disproportionately educate a lower-income population, said Brian Bridges, vice president of research and member engagement for the United Negro College Fund, which works with more than 30 HBCUs. And COVID-19 is exacerbating, or at least reinforcing, how much of a divide there is between the haves and have-nots. More than 70 percent of students attending HBCUs are low-income, compared to 35 to 40 percent nationally, Bridges said. As a result, UNCF worked with a number of HBCUs to provide tech support, laptops and other resources as schools moved to virtual learning environments to try to slow the spread of the virus. It also worked with schools that took a financial hit after returning refunds to students by lobbying for federal assistance. Under the CARES Act, HBCUs received more than $500 million in aid, which experts say helped many schools stay afloat but also helped somewhat close the historic gap in funding. Harry Williams, president of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which works closely with nearly 50 public HBCUs, said despite the historic funding woes, the pandemic played a major role in basically magnifying the inequities but also showed very clearly how HBCUs can adjust and adapt. Its an issue Michael Sorrell, president of Paul Quinn College, another historically Black school, is all too familiar with. He became the Dallas colleges president more than a decade ago and eliminated the schools football program to rescue its budget. Despite making the schools financial position whole in recent years, the pandemic has scrapped plans for any on-campus learning, and in the fall, Paul Quinn College is moving to an online-only environment. As some predominately white schools, such as New York University, face tuition lawsuits from students over the pandemic, Sorrell said his schools model has always been put students first. Funding doesn't have a damn thing to do with your compassion and your concern, or your moral compass, he said. And my staff believes, and our institution believes, that people didn't send you their kids to treat them as an accessory to your bottom line, right? Prior to the pandemic, Paul Quinn College already provided basic health care access and mental health screening for students. In the fall, its continuing to do that as well as provide laptops and other resources to accommodate students to a new normal. We're going to work really hard, not say, We can only be this because this is all the money we have, Sorrell said. Yes, we do have restrictions. Yes, we are cognizant of our financial position. But, I mean, if you're a parent, do you really want to hear me tell you that the reason your child died was because I didn't have the budget to keep them safe? I don't know how that conversation would go. Outpouring of philanthropy Last year, when billionaire philanthropist Robert Smith, who is Black, pledged to eliminate up to $40 million in student loans for Morehouse College's almost 400 graduates, his gift was heralded as both historic and a life-changing event. It also thrust historically Black colleges and universities into the national spotlight and highlighted their financially precarious position in higher education. Image: Washington DC, Howard University campus sign (Jeff Greenberg / Universal Images Group via Getty Images file) A year later, a bigger sea change event happened for a number of HBCUs across the country: the outpouring of support in the form of philanthropy in the wake of the May death of George Floyd in Minneapolis while in police custody. Floyds death prompted a racial reckoning across the country and a clarion call for improving existing racial inequalities. In recent weeks, MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of billionaire Jeff Bezos and one of the worlds richest women, gave more than $100 million to six HBCUs, including Howard University in Washington and Morehouse College in Atlanta resulting in some of the biggest single gifts to these schools. Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings and his wife, philanthropist Patty Quillin, also announced a $120 million donation to several HBCUs. Dominion Energy, the Virginia-based energy company, donated a combined $25 million to 11 HBCUs in four states to be dispersed over six years. Many more donations both public and anonymous have flowed to several HBCUs and organizations that support them. But HBCU presidents and other experts say it is too early to tell how this philanthropy will help HBCUs in the long run. What we know is that there are a small number of schools that the donors who have been giving these significant gifts to, in this season, feel comfortable giving to, Sorrell said. In order for this moment to sustain itself, we're going to have to see an expansion of that. However, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund's Williams sees it as creating a stronger financial foundation for these schools. Its only going to make the institutions better and also help with the sustainability of these schools, Williams said. This is one of those moments in time: The light has shined on us and it's bright and the opportunity to introduce a new generation the power of historically Black colleges." As a graduate of Lee High School, Class of 81, I have been following the debate regarding changing the name of the school. If our school board, community leaders, teachers, students and parents feel the name should be changed, then as a community I believe we should support it. I appreciate the school board creating a commission to select a new name. I hope they will thoroughly study all alternatives and choose a name that has real meaning to our students, teachers and great community. My suggestion would be to rename Lee High School to George H. W. Bush High School in honor of our 41st president and former Midland resident. To me, there are a number of reasons why this should be seriously considered. After his discharge from the Navy, he enrolled in Yale University. While there, he was approached by the first executive director of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to lead the campus fundraising efforts for UNCFs mission to increase the graduation rate of African American college students and to preserve Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Naturally he accepted. This began his long-time relationship with UNCF which led to him being named the Texas State chairman of the organization as well as donating a portion of the proceeds from his 1987 autobiography to the UNCF. During his unsuccessful Senate bid in 1964, he was not an advocate of the Civil Right Bill of 1964 because he saw it as an overreach of the government not the much-needed protections it would offer minorities. When he was elected to Congress, he was one of the few Republicans supporting the Civil Rights Act of 1968, which was not a popular position with many of his supporters. As president, he was able to champion and achieve actions and results which benefited minorities and others who had traditionally been neglected and ignored. During his first year in office he signed an executive order creating a Presidential Advisory Board on HBCUs. In addition, he persuaded Congress to fund matching grants for HBCU students. From the moment he was elected president, he was committed to naming a Cabinet that was reflective of the United States. Up to that time, most Cabinet secretaries were White men, though Bush chose to appoint women, an African American and two Hispanics during his four years in office. His commitment to providing a better future for all citizens included proposing a bill to amend the Clean Air Act to curb acid rain and decrease sulfur dioxide emissions, signing the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 to provide more opportunities to those with physical and mental challenges and signing the Ryan White CARE Act of 1990 to dedicate federal funds to those living with HIV/AIDS. In 1991 he signed the Civil Rights Act, which provided more protections for those facing discrimination. On the education front, President Bush authorized federal funds to support open enrollment, incentive pay for excellent teachers and rewards for schools showing performance improvement with underprivileged students. He also founded the 1,000 Points of Light initiative, which focused on educational needs of those living in poverty, promoting volunteerismand encouraging community involvement. And as most of us remember, he was a champion of Mrs. Bushs efforts to increase literacy in the country. I know there are many possibilities when choosing a new name for the high school -- perhaps some that people would see as more deserving than President Bush. But I just wanted to share my rationale as to why George H. W. Bush is a name this Lee graduate would love to see on the campus. Race-thinking has been discredited for decades. But it is still with us . Yet race is a historical contingency, not a state of nature. One of the most sinister things about race is that its sibling, racism, not only lasts, but continues to grow. Race has so co-opted our consciousness and language that any attempt to deal with the effects of racism has been very difficult. The language of race was one of the questions that occupied us, a group of academics, during the course of a multi-year series of discussions that constituted the Effects of Race project at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study. The addictiveness of race-thinking thwarts all efforts to unite humanity into a common cause. New endeavours to utilise race for economic, educational, biological, and most recently genetic reasons continue despite the fact that people share so many overwhelming commonalities. Any subdivisions erected between people are essentially meaningless. Many embrace race as a concept, but it mostly persists because the damage caused by racism persists. The economically powerful see race as a shorthand for class, intelligence, education, ability, as well as biology. The economically disadvantaged see it as the cause of their suffering and as a uniting principle. In both cases, it is a factor used to justify an Us-Them dichotomy. What can be done about the durability of the concept of race? One thing we can consider is changing the vocabulary. Language and power Language space is constantly changing, but the reuse of value-laden words has the power to reinforce past preconceptions and prejudices. Reusing old race words in new contexts doesn't remove their original meanings, it only adds to them. The language-space of race is so crowded that new terms (neologisms) with no connections to past meanings are hard to derive, but a new vocabulary is what is needed because so many of the old words are derogatory and hurtful. Neologisms like people of colour arose in the 1930s after coloured people became restricted to mean African American people in the United States. It was revived again at the end of the twentieth century as an inclusive group of people identified as anyone who wasn't a person of European descent with light skin whites and who were subjected to differential treatment by the dominant white culture. Read more: Why does racism prevail? Leading scholars apply their minds One successful effort has been the conversion of hateful speech by subjugated people themselves. The word queer was once a highly derogatory term for people who prefer partners of the same gender. Redeployment and repurposing of the word as a positive identifier has lessened its impact as a slur, even though it is still used as marker of Us-Them . In fighting homophobia, the upbeat neologism gay has been more effective at thwarting discrimination of non-binary sexuality. Repurposing official race labels like the apartheid-era Black and Coloured, for utilitarian purposes of government and social restitution in South Africa, has not seen the power and confusion of those words diminish much. Any reuse or redefinition of race-thinking terms just reinforces all previous meanings. What does race actually mean? So, should we stop talking about race? In a word, no. We must understand the full expanse and power of racial language. Denial of race will not bring about the demise of race, instead it only cloaks terms that perpetuate the power of the concept and its potential for harm. What we need to do is unpack the term race from other confusions surrounding it. Do races have a biological reality? If race is biologically real, then it should only be defined by a biological meaning. All people living today belong to one species, Homo sapiens, and this species has never been divided into separate groups that were on their way to becoming new species. Read more: How the dimensions of human inequality affect who and what we are People have always moved and intermixed, but, despite this, the concept of population isolation and a belief in pure races is common. But species are individuals in the logical sense. Subsets of species, whether called subspecies or races, have no such individual reality. They are always in flux and have identities that vary according to the time and place of their definition. The categories of race and ethnicity used by the United States Census such as Black or African American and Asian are good examples because they have very specific meanings for the census, but change regularly and are only understood clearly by people of the time and place the usage was developed. These widely used terms lack any biological reality, but that association still exists for most people because race started out as a quasi-scientific concept. Let's find new words Race is not biology nor is it a linguistic-ethnic grouping. It is not class. Race is not shorthand biology or any other grouping definition. But continued belief in the existence of real races and the biological or social reality of the race concept provides justification for the continuation of a racially inequitable status quo and the social marginalisation of historically disadvantaged groups. When we use race we need to be very specific about what we mean. Using race to describe inequality is misleading when what we seek to discuss are socioeconomic disparities. Let's find new terms to describe these phenomena. It's essential that we abandon official race labels and stop educating children about race categories because these concepts are freighted with toxic baggage. We cannot just keep the good parts of race because othering has no good side. Race should be spoken about only in an historical context or in terms of current racism. This article is part of a series . Other authors include Barney Pityana, Goran Therborn, 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 National Science Foundation of the U.S.A., the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Rockefeller Foundation. George Chaplin receives funding from the National Science Foundation of the U.S.A. By Nina G. Jablonski, Evan Pugh University Professor of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University And George Chaplin, Senior research associate, Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University Children with defective heart valves will no longer have 'Abbott had alleged that Edwards's Pascal heart valve repair system infringes certain claims of its Irish national patent.' (stock photo) Edwards Lifesciences, a US-headquartered medical technology company, and its rival Abbott have settled their global dispute over an alleged patent infringement relating to a heart valve, including a case filed in Ireland. Abbott, which employs 3,000 people across nine sites in Ireland, filed the lawsuit in the Commercial High Court in Dublin in February against Edwards, which is developing a facility in Limerick. According to a filing by Edwards in May, Abbott had alleged that Edwards's Pascal heart valve repair system infringes certain claims of its Irish national patent. A trial date had been scheduled for January 12, 2021. Cases were also filed in countries including the US, UK and Germany. In Edwards's most recent quarterly results, published last week, it confirmed the Irish case was included in the settlement. In a call with analysts, Scott Ullem, chief financial officer of Edwards, confirmed the settlement. "This impacts our income statement as well as our cashflow statement. The principal impact to our profit and loss was $368m pre-tax charge in the second quarter," he said. "In addition, we will incur a total of approximately $100m in royalty expenses between now and May 2024, which will be recorded in cost of sales. The cashflow impact includes a one-time $100m payment to Abbott made earlier this month along with quarterly payments in future years." Abbott confirmed last month it had reached an agreement with Edwards to settle all outstanding patent disputes between the two companies. It said the deal meant all pending cases or appeals in court and patent offices around the world would be dismissed. It also lifted an injunction placed on the sale of one of Edwards's products. "In connection with this agreement, Abbott will receive a one-time payment and ongoing payments based on Pascal sales through 2025 as well as a potential sales milestone payment in 2026," read the statement. "Details of the settlement are confidential." PHILADELPHIA and NICOSIA, Cyprus, July 31, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hill International (NYSE:HIL), the global leader in managing construction risk, announced today that it was selected by the Natural Gas Infrastructure Company of Cyprus (ETYFA) to lead an international consortium and provide owners engineer services in connection with the Cyprus Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Import Terminal Project, the nations largest and most anticipated energy project. With a budget of over 289 million ($336 million) and an implementation timeframe of 24 months, the project will be constructed at Vasilikos Bay on the southern coast of Cyprus. It represents the beginning of a new energy era for Cyprus, bringing to fruition years of the nations efforts to end energy isolation, ensure diversification of energy sources, strengthen the security of supply, reduce the cost of energy, and protect the environment. The projects main components include: a former LNG carrier with a storage capacity of 136,000 cubic meters that will be converted to a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) in China; construction of a jetty and a jetty-borne gas pipeline; construction of an onshore gas pipeline and associated infrastructure. After the LNG carrier is converted to an FSRU, the vessel will be equipped with a state-of-the-art regasification modular unit. The completed terminal will be capable of receiving LNG from LNG carriers ranging in size from 120,000 to 217,000 cubic meters. Following an international tender, ETYFA have entered into an agreement with the joint venture of China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering, Metron, Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, and Wilhelmsen Ship Management to engineer, procure, construct, manage, and operate the project. Hill, as owners engineer, will oversee the implementation of the project by carrying out design reviews and supervising the works at the shipyard in China and at the Vasilikos site in Cyprus. Given the technical and commercial requirements of the project, Hill is leading a team formed with Bureau Veritas Maritime & Offshore Solutions and reputable engineering firms Tractebel and Gazocean. Story continues We are delighted and honored to support the Republic of Cyprus in delivering this critical infrastructure project, says Manolis Sigalas, Hill Vice President & Managing Director for Southern Europe. As this assignment requires multidisciplinary expertise in the fields of shipping, marine works, and gas infrastructure, we are excited to be leading such a distinguished team of global firms to support our client. We share Cyprus vision and objectives for the project and will work hard with all stakeholders involved for its successful delivery. The project is co-financed by the European Union through a Connecting Europe Facility grant, loan facilities from the European Investment Bank and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and equity participation by the Electricity Authority of Cyprus. This is an important win for Hill in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the regional oil and gas sector, says Hill Chief Executive Officer Raouf Ghali. We are proud to be expanding our operational presence in Cyprus with such an impactful infrastructure project and we remain optimistic about the regions future prospects. About Hill International Hill International, with approximately 2,700 professionals in more than 55 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management, and other consulting services to clients in a variety of market sectors. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as the eighth-largest construction management firm in the United States. For more information on Hill, please visit our website at www.hillintl.com . Forward Looking Statements Certain statements contained herein may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and it is our intent that any such statements be protected by the safe harbor created thereby. Except for historical information, the matters set forth herein including, but not limited to, any statements of belief or intent, any statements concerning our plans, strategies, and objectives for future operations are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations, estimates and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although we believe that the expectations, estimates, and assumptions reflected in our forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from those projected or assumed in any of our forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in our forward-looking statements are set forth in the Risk Factors section and elsewhere in the reports we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including that unfavorable global economic conditions may adversely impact our business, our backlog may not be fully realized as revenue, and our expenses may be higher than anticipated. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any forward-looking statement. Hill International, Inc. Elizabeth J. Zipf, LEED AP BD+C Senior Vice President (215) 309-7707 elizabethzipf@hillintl.com The Equity Group, Inc. Devin Sullivan Senior Vice President (212) 836-9608 dsullivan@equityny.com A likely cut in repo rate will weaken the Indian rupee, which has lately been supported by healthy fund inflows. Analysts said that the currency will move into a range between 75 and 74.50 as rising forex reserves keep the rupee in check. The RBI's Monetary Policy Committee is expected to release its resolution on the monetary policy after its meeting on August 4 to 6. It is widely expected that the Reserve Bank of India is likely to administer another dose of lending rate cut to aid the revival process from the Covid-19 induced economic downturn. "The RBI is lapping up dollars heavily under 75 and speculators are supplying. A rate cut may marginally weaken the rupee, but not much as relatively undervalued rupee and high rate differential with the US can support the currency. A range of 75.25 and 74.70 is on cards," said Anindya Banerjee, DVP, Currency and Rates, Kotak Securities. Recently, India's foreign exchange reserves increased by $4.99 billion during the week ended July 24. The reserves grew to $522.63 billion from $517.637 billion. India's forex reserves comprise foreign currency assets (FCAs), gold reserve s, special drawing rights (SDRs) and the RBI's position with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). According to Sajal Gupta, Head, Forex and Rates, Edelweiss Securities: "The market shall be watching the RBI commentary on monetary policy. MPC is expected to be dovish and growth supporting. Break below 74.50 would only give further direction to the market." Last Friday, the rupee marginally appreciated to 74.81 against a greenback. "We expect a rate cut of at least 25 bps to support the slowing growth," said Rahul Gupta, Head of Research-Currency, Emkay Global Financial Services. "This may give a boost to risk appetite and weigh on the USD-INR spot. Although the spot has not broken the crucial support of 74.50, unless it falls below that, we expect the spot to remain afloat. The trend for the next week will continue to be sideways with bearish bias between 74.50 and 75.10," Gupta added. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Bob Warren and his wife, Barbara, took all the precautions. They quarantined at their home in Los Lunas. They had their family buy them groceries and put their packages in the sun after delivery to ward off the coronavirus. Warren took an obligatory pre-surgery COVID-19 virus test and got the green light to undergo an outpatient cardiac procedure July 1 after he tested negative. But just days after the successful heart catheterization at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico in Albuquerque, Warren began feeling ill, running a fever of 103.5. He took a second test for COVID-19, which came back positive. But by then, he had unknowingly exposed his wife to the virus. Warren, 77, died of COVID-19 on Monday, two days after his wife of 44 years lost her battle with the same infection. She was 84. Warren was among more than 100 patients who may have been exposed during what the state Department of Health reported as a coronavirus outbreak among four health care workers from the New Mexico Heart Institute in early July. Among those was Warrens cardiologist, Dr. Charles Kim, who Warrens family said performed the cardiac catheterization. How many patients contracted COVID-19 or suffered serious medical complications from the exposure hasnt been disclosed by the DOH or Lovelace Health System, which owns the Heart Institute and the nearby Heart Hospital. Officials cite federal health privacy laws. Meanwhile, Kim has been hospitalized since early July in intensive care, according to his sisters social media posts. Albuquerque resident Bill Nevins said he was absolutely stunned and cried when he learned his longtime friend had tested positive for the virus. He was angry, but I think just at the terrible irony of it all, Nevins told the Journal last week. He had gotten infected when he went in to be treated. The couples chronic health conditions he had cardiac problems and she had multiple medical issues left them more susceptible to the deadly virus, but had never got them down for long, Nevins said. In the end, however, COVID basically pushed both of them over the edge, said Nevins, who himself has been in semi-isolation in a cabin in Angel Fire since April to keep from catching the virus. Notice criticism The family of Bob and Barbara Warren contends Lovelace didnt provide adequate notice of the outbreak to Bob. Daughter-in-law Sharon Jonas said Bob never got a call notifying him he had been exposed unlike some patients interviewed by the Journal who were called the day after DOH received word of the first positive COVID test of the physician. Jonas said her family has been devastated every day by the events of the last four weeks. The cardiac procedure on July 1 was successful, she told the Journal. But when her father-in-law began experiencing symptoms of the virus beginning the week of July 6, His first response was to call the Heart Institute. He was told he would receive a call back that day and did not, she said. Bob Warren called the Heart Institute again the next day and was informed at that time about possible exposure from a staff member, she said. But he wasnt told that Dr. Kim had tested positive. Jonas said family members believe her father-in-law should have been notified on July 5 or July 6 at the latest that he had been exposed. Instead Bob and Barbara were forced to fight COVID-19 on their own without advance notice, she said. Earlier notice could have prevented any exposure to Barbara and safer practices at Lovelace likely would have prevented exposure to Bob from the very beginning. Lovelace officials have told the Journal that instead of waiting for DOH contact tracers to inform those exposed and quarantine, Lovelace performed its own contact tracing. Two of those contacted, interviewed by the Journal, said they received phone calls about their possible exposure on Monday, July 6. DOH spokesman David Morgan told the Journal last week, As soon as Lovelace management was aware of the potential for exposure, Lovelace notified and tested its staff, identified exposed patients and made phone calls to notify them of the exposure and give them direction on quarantine and monitoring for symptoms. Patients exposed have been referred to DOH for active monitoring. Jonas said that from the beginning, they (her in-laws) did everything right and took the virus very seriously. We hope that our familys loss can serve as a reminder of how devastating it can be for any person, or any organization to let their guard down about this virus. We all have a responsibility to each other, and that includes Lovelace, Jonas said. On Friday, Lovelace spokeswoman Whitney Marquez told the Journal in an email, In order to protect the confidentiality and privacy of our patients and employees, we cannot comment on patient health information. We work very closely with the New Mexico Department of Health to identify individuals with potential exposure. The coronavirus is highly contagious and continues to spread throughout the community, making it difficult to determine how or where individuals become infected. She added: We are committed to adhering to all state and organizational guidance toward the protection of our patients, visitors, staff, and community. Patient safety is our priority. Advocate for the poor Warren was a poet, Nevins said, a union man, and a lifelong advocate for the poor and the disenfranchised. He served as assistant director of the Albuquerque Storehouse in the 1990s, and as the resource director for Habitat for Humanity in Valencia County. Before that, he worked for a poverty church in Houston. He and his wife, Barbara, left behind three generations of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who called her Baba and him Papa Bob, according to their obituaries. Nevins said he met R.B. Bob Warren about 20 years ago in a University of New Mexico creative writing class Nevins was teaching. Warren, a student, showed up with a complete book of poetry he had written. The two became good friends. In reviewing Warrens book of poetry, Litanies Not Adopted, on Amazon.com, Nevins wrote in part, Warren has lived through real struggle on the factory floor, in the streets, and among those whom too many poets, and too many of us out here in the harsh world, ignore: the poor, the angry, the lost. Warren spent years in Detroit, helping fight racial injustice and was committed to the Black Lives Matter movement, Nevins said. We shared an ironic view of the world, Nevins said. In a final phone conversation from his hospital bed, Warren asked Nevins to write an elegy or eulogy for him and share it the love in it with the poor. That is a Bob kind of thing to ask. I did so. Doctors struggle While Warren and his wife, Barbara, were fighting COVID-19 at Lovelace Hospital, cardiologist Dr. Charles Kim was in the ICU struggling for his life, according to posts by his sister Sharon on Facebook. Lovelace officials have told the Journal they dont know the source of the infection at the Heart Institute. Kim, a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School, is an interventional cardiologist with the Heart Institutes medical group, which was purchased by Lovelace in 2018. A woman who answered a Journal call to Kims home in Albuquerque in mid-July declined an interview. The DOH has confirmed that after Lovelace reported a positive test of a physician on Sunday, July 5, three other employees at the Heart Institute subsequently tested positive. The agency said on July 9 that the doctor was in his 50s and was hospitalized in intensive care. According to Kims sisters Facebook page, he had been diagnosed with the virus, hospitalized by July 6 and had been on and off a ventilator since then. While her friends offered support and prayers, she wrote last week that her brother was getting better but that the last two weeks, have been a roller coaster. Efforts by the Journal to reach Sharon Kim werent successful. Final call After he was hospitalized July 11, Bob Warren ended up on a ventilator. Barbara Warren started exhibiting symptoms after her husband went into the hospital and was admitted to Lovelace Medical Center on July 20, her family said. They were on different hospital floors, and their family said Bob never knew his wife had also been hospitalized. Nevins recalled that in their last phone conversation, Bob Warren described a horrible night at home when symptoms rapidly escalated to where he could not breathe, and was taken to Lovelace the next morning or so. Nevins said the last thing Bob said to him was that he felt tired and needed sleep and, of course, he told me he loved me and my wife/partner Jeannie and he God-blessed us. We managed to get a few laughs into our brief chat, as we usually did. Sharon Jonas said her in-laws were amazing loving people, committed to helping others, to supporting social justice matters. Even before Warren contracted the virus, he was highly critical of the federal governments response to the virus, but supported the state efforts, Nevins said. No memorial services are planned at this time because of the continuing COVID-19 threat, but may occur in the future, Jonas said. Nevins said he emailed the elegy he wrote to his friend but doesnt know if Warren ever read it. Heres an excerpt: Bob abides. Bob never hides. Bob may go, but Bob is here, right here. We know. Veteran Indian politician and Former Samajwadi Party (SP) general secretary Amar Singh died on Saturday evening (August 1) after a prolonged illness. Singh was 64 and he breathed his last in Singapore after being hospitalised there for a long time as he was undergoing a kidney transplant and was facing some other health-related issues for a few years now. Soon after his demise news broke out tributes and condolences messages started pouring. Several top political leaders and his Bollywood friends extended their condolences and expressed grief on Singh's death. PM Narendra Modi took to Twitter and said, ''Amar Singh Ji was an energetic public figure. In the last few decades, he witnessed some of the major political developments from close quarters. He was known for his friendships across many spheres of life. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his friends & family. Om Shanti.'' Amar Singh Ji was an energetic public figure. In the last few decades, he witnessed some of the major political developments from close quarters. He was known for his friendships across many spheres of life. Saddened by his demise. Condolences to his friends & family. Om Shanti. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 1, 2020 President Ram Nath Kovind's office tweeted: "Sad to hear of the demise of senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Shri Amar Singh. A man of many parts, Singh was an able parliamentarian. Condolences to his family, friends and well-wishers. Sad to hear of the demise of senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP, Shri Amar Singh. A man of many parts, Singh was an able parliamentarian. Condolences to his family, friends and well-wishers. President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 1, 2020 Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu also expressed grief on Amar Singh's demise and wrote a post in hindi saying, "Deeply saddened to learn that Shri Amar Singh, a dear colleague and member of Rajya Sabha is no more. I have been enquiring about his well-being and we were in constant touch during his treatment in Singapore. I was hoping that he would recover and return home soon." Deeply saddened to learn that Shri Amar Singh, a dear colleague and member of Rajya Sabha is no more. I have been enquiring about his well-being and we were in constant touch during his treatment in Singapore. I was hoping that he would recover and return home soon. pic.twitter.com/ZT2Cjwmi1P Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) August 1, 2020 SP chief Akhilesh Yadav also tweeted a condolence message with his picture with Amar Singh saying, "emotional condolences and tribute to Shri Amar Singh ji for being deprived of affection". Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan also shared a close association with Amar Singh, posted a monochrome picture of himself on Twitter and Instagram. Big B didnt write anything in the caption while posting the photo. The 'Brahmastra' actor's head was down which implicated that he was saddened by Amar Singhs demise. The mortal remains of the Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh will be brought to Delhi from Singapore on Sunday (August 2). An Atlas V rocket with the Perseverance rover lifts off from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on July 30, 2020. - The Perseverance rover will seek signs of ancient life on Mars and collect rock and soil samples for possible return to Earth. The Atlas V is one of the largest rockets available for interplanetary flight, having also launched the InSight and Curiosity to Mars. The launch vehicle is provided by United Launch Alliance. Perseverance is scheduled to arrive at the Jezero Crater on Mars on February 18, 2021. (Photo | AFP) Cape Canaveral, Florida: The biggest, most sophisticated Mars rover ever built a car-size vehicle bristling with cameras, microphones, drills and lasers blasted off for the red planet Thursday as part of an ambitious, long-range project to bring the first Martian rock samples back to Earth to be analysed for evidence of ancient life. NASAs Perseverance rode a mighty Atlas V rocket into a clear morning sky in the worlds third and final Mars launch of the summer. China and the United Arab Emirates got a head start last week, but all three missions should reach their destination in February after a journey of seven months and 300 million miles (480 million kilometers). The plutonium-powered, six-wheeled rover will drill down and collect tiny geological specimens that will be brought home in about 2031 in a sort of interplanetary relay race involving multiple spacecraft and countries. The overall cost: more than $8 billion. NASAs science mission chief, Thomas Zurbuchen, pronounced the launch the start of humanitys first round trip to another planet. Oh, I loved it, punching a hole in the sky, right? Getting off the cosmic shore of our Earth, wading out there in the cosmic ocean, he said. Every time, it gets me. In addition to addressing the life-on-Mars question, the mission will yield lessons that could pave the way for the arrival of astronauts as early as the 2030s. Theres a reason we call the robot Perseverance. Because going to Mars is hard, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said just before liftoff. It is always hard. Its never been easy. In this case, its harder than ever before because were doing it in the midst of a pandemic. The U.S., the only country to safely put a spacecraft on Mars, is seeking its ninth successful landing on the planet, which has proved to be the Bermuda Triangle of space exploration, with more than half of the worlds missions there burning up, crashing or otherwise ending in failure. China is sending both a rover an orbiter. The UAE, a newcomer to outer space, has an orbiter en route. Its the biggest stampede to Mars in spacefaring history. The opportunity to fly between Earth and Mars comes around only once every 26 months when the planets are on the same side of the sun and about as close as they can get. Launch controllers wore masks and sat spaced apart at the Cape Canaveral control center because of the coronavirus outbreak, which kept hundreds of scientists and other team members away from Perseverances liftoff. That was overwhelming. Overall, just Wow! said Alex Mather, the 13-year-old Virginia schoolboy who proposed the name Perseverance in a NASA competition and watched the launch in person with his parents. The launch went off on time at 7:50 a.m. despite a 4.2-magnitude earthquake 20 minutes before liftoff that shook Southern California, the site of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which is overseeing the rover mission. If all goes well, the rover will descend to the Martian surface on Feb. 18, 2021, in what NASA calls seven minutes of terror, in which the craft goes from 12,000 mph (19,300 kph) to a complete stop, with no human intervention whatsoever. It is carrying 25 cameras and a pair of microphones that will enable Earthlings to vicariously tag along. Perseverance will aim for treacherous unexplored territory: Jezero Crater, riddled with boulders, cliffs, dunes and possibly rocks bearing signs of microbes from what was once a lake more than 3 billion years ago. The rover will store half-ounce (15-gram) rock samples in dozens of super-sterilized titanium tubes. It also will release a mini helicopter that will attempt the first powered flight on another planet, and test out other technology to prepare the way for future astronauts. That includes equipment for extracting oxygen from Mars thin carbon-dioxide atmosphere. The plan is for NASA and the European Space Agency to launch a dune buggy in 2026 to fetch the rock samples, along with a rocket ship that will put the specimens into orbit around Mars. Then another spacecraft will capture the orbiting samples and bring them home. Samples taken straight from Mars, not drawn from meteorites discovered on Earth, have long been considered the Holy Grail of Mars science, according to NASAs original and now-retired Mars czar, Scott Hubbard. To definitively answer the profound question of whether life exists _ or ever existed _ beyond Earth, the samples must be analyzed by the best electron microscopes and other instruments, far too big to fit on a spacecraft, he said. Ive wanted to know if there was life elsewhere in the universe since I was 9 years old. That was more than 60 years ago, the 71-year-old Hubbard said from his Northern California cabin. But just maybe, Ill live to see the fingerprints of life come back from Mars in one of those rock samples. Said Bridenstine: There is nothing better than bringing samples back to Earth where we can put them in a lab and we can apply every element of technology against those samples to make determinations as to whether or not there was, at one time, life on the surface of Mars. Two other NASA landers are also operating on Mars: 2018s InSight and 2012s Curiosity rover. Six other spacecraft are exploring the planet from orbit: three from the U.S., two from Europe and one from India. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Vietnam has offered the U.S. "a stable, prosperous, and independent partner," says Consul General in HCMC Marie Damour as the two countries celebrate their 25th anniversary of relationship. While their trade relation is "pretty good," the U.S. benefits from the ties with Vietnam in many different ways, she said at a panel discussion held in Ho Chi Minh City Thursday to mark the event. "Vietnam has offered the U.S. a stable, prosperous, and independent partner in Southeast Asia that contributes to international peace and security, and to supporting the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region, as well as rules of the world trade system. All of those things contribute to the U.S.s security," Damour said. "When we say we view Vietnam as a critical partner, we genuinely mean that because without trusted partners like Vietnam, we would not be nearly as successful and economically stable." Vietnam has probably been the most successful country in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic, she said, noting also that the entire Vietnamese society had got involved, something she would like to see in the U.S. Damour also said that ever since Vietnam entered its Doi Moi renovation process in 1986 and opened its economy to the world, the country has achieved "light-speed" development. On July 11, 1995, former U.S. President Bill Clinton announced the normalization of relations between the two countries, 20 years after the end of the Vietnam War. Twenty five years on, Vietnam and the U.S. are now comprehensive partners, with bilateral trade increasing from $450 million in 1994 to $77 billion in 2019. For several years, the U.S. has been Vietnams biggest export market, while Vietnam has been one of the U.S.s fastest growing export markets. Dam Bich Thuy, President of Fulbright University Vietnam, said at the discussion that she appreciated the people-to-people diplomacy of the U.S. The U.S. really "knows how to deal with people," she said, adding that many young people in Vietnam have been dreaming of going to the country, a destination where it seems anything is possible. The U.S. has a way to nourish such ideas, Thuy said. She also said that the relationship between the two nations has become so sustainable because "it so deeply rooted, rather than just some treaty or agreement that the two have signed with each other." American soldiers from aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt paint the icon of U.S. and Vietnam's 25th diplomatic relationship anniversary on the wall of a charity center in Da Nang during a visit on March 5, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong. Nonpartisan support Regarding the relationship between Vietnam and the U.S. in the near future, especially in the context of the upcoming presidential election in November, Consul General Damour said "there is support across the political spectrum in the U.S. for the relationship with Vietnam." "The priorities that weve had with Vietnam are widely supported regardless of whether our congress-people are from the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. "I dont see much change regardless of whos gonna sit in the White House," she said. Nguyen Thanh Trung, director of the Center for International Studies (SCIS) at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said that the ties between the two countries were on a firm footing. "I think the relationship between Vietnam and the U.S. is on a track that is very hard to change, and I think its not dependent the decision of any individual. We have built so many things that we have to be on that track," he said. Trung also said he does not think China was a factor in deciding where that Vietnam-U.S. relationship can reach. It is more important that Vietnam and the U.S. can overcome challenges from both sides and share their common outlook and vision to take their bilateral ties further, he added. In a statement issued by the nations Press Secretary on July 10 to commemorate 25 years of diplomatic relations, the U.S. congratulated Vietnam on its ASEAN chairmanship and announced that both countries had reached an agreement that would bring Peace Corps volunteers to Vietnam for the first time. The U.S. also reaffirmed it will stand alongside Vietnam in support for the peaceful resolution of disputes, the rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, and unimpeded commerce. An 18-year-old Washington state girl who went missing on July 24 was rescued alive Saturday after an eight-day search in the mountains. Giovanna Gia Fuda was found around 2 p.m. Saturday in the Cascade Mountains east of Seattle after a search crew found her notebook, then clothing along a creek, King County Sheriffs Office Sgt. Ryan Abbott said at a press conference. It shows that miracles do happen and dont ever quit, and thats what we were doing, Abbott said. They just continued to search and thank god they found her. Fuda was last seen on July 24 at a coffee shop in Index, Wash., a day before her car was deserted about 10 miles away from a gas station. Officials initially ruled her disappearance suspicious, but Abbott said Saturday that she may have just gotten lost in the woods after running out of gas. After being found Saturday conscious and talking, Fuda was taken to the local hospital in stable condition. She survived by drinking water from the creek and eating berries, officials said. We are thrilled for the family, Abbott said. They have been out with us here. They have been trying to help us search; theyve been a great support. And from my understanding, of course, the parents were thrilled when they found out Gia was alive. 2020 New York Daily News Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden laid out his energy plan last month. President Trump followed by pledging support for the oil and gas industry during his visit Wednesday to the Permian Basin, the nations largest oil-and-gas producing region. The energy debate has been joined, said Daniel Yergin, vice chairman of IHS Markit and author of the upcoming book The New Map: Energy, Climate and the Clash of Nations. He said voters should see energy and energy transition as a major topic of debate of debate in the 2020 presidential election as never before. Bidens $2 trillion plan promotes electric vehicles, energy efficiency and aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through using less fossil fuel. He also emphasizes mass transit, expanding solar and wind farms and building electric vehicle-charging stations. Trump calls for opening additional areas of the nation for oil and gas exploration, promotes exporting U.S. crude and natural gas and touts the nation as the worlds leading oil and gas producer. Just as shale oil dominated energy discussions, especially with regards to the Permians unconventional shale growth, energy transition is running neck-and-neck as the phrase most commonly used in discussions involving energy, Yergin said in a phone interview. Its the subject of great discussion but theres not a lot of agreement on what it means, he said. Some think the carbon age will be over by 2030; others think it will be a long transition period. The presidential race will focus on climate policy and energy transition. His view and that of others at his company is that there will be a long-term transition unfolding over decades rather than overnight. The energy industry has always been in transition, said Chevron Chairman and CEO Mike Wirth recently during the Texas Oil and Gas Associations Powering Forward virtual summit. I think its one of least understood terms out there, Wirth said. If you look at the history of energy in the world, its always been in transition. About 200 years ago, we had biomass as primary source of energy -- burning wood and peat. Then you have oil in middle of 1800s being discovered. When oil was first used, it wasnt used as fuel for airplanes or cars because they wouldnt be invented for decades to come. It was used for light as kerosene replaced whale oil, which was the primary source of light at the time. He said that use of kerosene saved whales from extinction. Whales were being (hunted) into extinction, Wirth said. If it werent for the use of kerosene for lighting, whales might have been a species that disappeared in 1800s. Ironically, save the whales is a catchphrase for protecting the environment; our industry helped save whales. Fast forward to around turn of the 20th century, there were incredible concerns about emissions form horses, Wirth said. Transportation at that time was horse-drawn. As you know, horses have solid, liquid and gas emissions. It was a real problem in places like New York where sanitation was suffering from the consequences. In fact, there was a conference about the Great Horse Manure Crisis of 1894. The projection was, London would be covered in horse manure by 1950. That didnt happen, either, because Henry Ford and innovation and technology came up with the horseless carriage and modern transportation as we see it today. Lots of technology comes as a surprise, said Yergin, pointing out that the shale revolution was also a surprise. The falling cost of solar panels is a surprise. Were more focused on technology and innovation than before. Big oil companies are putting a lot of effort into innovation. But for some goals, technology is just not available. There needs to be a lot of invention and big oil will be part of that with their engineering technology. Looking ahead, said Wirth, you can see all these energy forms come into the system. Technology responds to society and customer needs of the time; it responds to expectations for protecting the environment, and its innovation and technology and markets that combine to solve these problems. As we look today at the concerns about the climate and greenhouse gas emissions, the same kinds of innovations and confidence in the markets and the ability of people to rise to the challenge will respond. That doesnt mean the end of oil and gas, Wirth said. Well find ways to make oil and gas more efficient, more environmentally benign. Oil and gas will be part of the energy mix just as biomass and coal are still enormous parts of the mix and have never really gone down in terms of consumption. Oil and gas producers need to pay attention to energy transition and be part of it, said Yergin. The relationship between investors and shale companies was already getting difficult, and now shale is working to develop a new relationship, he said. Energy transition will be part of that. 'They're Steamrolling Us': Lacking State Support, Russia's Small Businesses Are Struggling To Survive By Matthew Luxmoore August 01, 2020 ST. PETERSBURG, Russia -- Aleksandr Zatulivetrov was once the proud owner of six restaurants in a city thronging with tourists. But four months after Russia introduced lockdown measures, he has put his apartment up as collateral and sold his car to cover rent for the two remaining establishments he hasn't been forced to sell. The COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on Russia's small businesses, leaving many struggling to stay afloat amid state support that pales in comparison with packages offered in many Western countries. Zatulivetrov estimates his losses at 5 million rubles ($68,000) and puts the blame squarely on government mismanagement of the crisis. "I always had a clear position: I don't bother the authorities, and they don't bother me. That's the social contract," he said in an interview at Buterbrodsky, a restaurant he runs near the city center that was finally allowed to open this week. "But now they're steamrolling us." Since President Vladimir Putin came to power in 2000, St. Petersburg, his native city, has been transformed. The historic center received a facelift, and businesses boomed in ways not replicated elsewhere: Staid, Soviet-era canteens gave way to vegetarian cafes; boutique hotels replaced drab lodgings; and bars proliferated to serve visitors that flock here each summer to witness the famous White Nights and the midnight sun. But stay-at-home measures imposed in late March, just as the tourist season was set to begin, have threatened the survival of many of those new locales and forced others to improvise. Some introduced delivery services; others went underground, drawing down shutters and operating through word-of-mouth. But few avoided a collapse in revenue. In April, a decree by Putin effectively ordered companies to suspend operations while continuing to pay salaries to workers forced to stay home. The situation, and the constantly shifting government guidelines, forced dozens of businesses to close and left many owners struggling to make ends meet. "We're in shock," said Vladimir Konyukhov, a chef who owns stalls selling sushi at two St. Petersburg food courts that remain closed on health grounds. He says his business survived lockdown by opening a delivery service that kept its 50 employees busy and covered 30 percent of their salaries. But after four months, he says, "our project finds itself on the edge in terms of revenue and turnover." On a recent afternoon, the pedestrian zones of St. Petersburg were clogged with human traffic. Chairs and tables crowded out the sidewalks of popular side streets. Desperate to maximize revenue, some restaurants introduced service charges and began taking large deposits for table reservations. At Buterbrodsky -- a portmanteau of the Russian for "sandwich" and the surname of famous Russian poet Joseph Brodsky -- a skeleton staff served guests at three small tables positioned outside the entrance, steps from a busy road. Although they employ thousands in large cities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg, small and medium-sized businesses are responsible for only around 20 percent of Russia's GDP. The economy is dominated by industrial conglomerates and major energy exporters. "Our main problem is we're too used to asking," Zatulivetrov, who says he's negotiating the sale of his other remaining restaurant, My Zhe Na Ty, said of small business. "They pity us, tell us to hold tight, but we're not a major source of income for the city. If we disappear, so what? Others will come." He pointed to the Lakhta Center, an 87-story skyscraper visible from the veranda of Buterbrodsky and home to the St. Petersburg branch of state energy giant Gazprom. "That's the real taxpayer," he said. Dmitry Grozny, a business journalist and former editor of Business Petersburg, a local publication, says the clash between small business and the state in Russia has deeper, systemic roots. "The interaction between the two is very weak in Russia," he said. "Officials and business owners live in parallel realities. The former often see business owners as a bunch of rich people who can sit calmly without work and their complaints about lockdown as simply a manifestation of their greed." St. Petersburg usually plays second fiddle to Moscow, the dynamic capital of 12.7 million that sets the tone for Russia. But when authorities in Moscow, despite reporting a surge of coronavirus infections, announced that indoor dining would open on June 23, St. Petersburg did not follow suit. So on July 20, Zatulivetrov and other small business owners gathered to brainstorm ways they could pressure authorities to let them reopen after four months of lockdown, streaming their event live on Facebook. Maksim Levchenko, whose Fort Group owns 12 shopping malls throughout St. Petersburg, issued a direct appeal to Aleksandr Beglov, the city's powerful Kremlin-backed governor. "If you're a man, if you're a governor, then take responsibility and let us work! Because we have been sitting without work for four months now," he said. Levchenko's overture was widely shared on social media. And Beglov was apparently moved to action. In a televised meeting with officials, he instructed his deputy, Yevgeny Yelin, to petition authorities in Russia's capital for permission to open St. Petersburg's malls and restaurants. "Buy a plane or train ticket, go to Moscow," the governor told Yelin. "Bring back [their] decision on Thursday, latest on Friday. If the decision is negative, I'll go there myself on Saturday." The following day, on July 21, Yelin announced the city would allow shopping malls and indoor dining to open from July 27, though food courts would remain closed and various restrictions would stay in place. But the concession coincided with a new law clamping down on alcohol sales that threatened the closure of hundreds of bars in the city. It also shut out restaurants operating in food courts. "This reopening was meant to be a breath of fresh air, for us to pay suppliers and begin working fully," said Konyukhov, the sushi stall owner. He remains banned from using the venues he traded in before the pandemic. For Konyukhov and other entrepreneurs out of pocket after months of uncertainty, Governor Beglov's vacillation over the question of lifting lockdown exposed his reluctance to take responsibility for controversial decisions. St. Petersburg has been hit hard by the coronavirus, recording over 31,000 cases and 2,023 deaths as of July 30. In mid-June, Yelena Tsereteli, the regional official in charge of small-business development, said 40 percent of small businesses in St. Petersburg would not weather the pandemic. "They keep telling us we need to wait, but there's no official road map," Levchenko said. "Instead, there's a complete indifference. No one wants to take responsibility." For Zatulivetrov, who received calls daily from employees asking to return to work, the July 27 reopening was welcome news. That day, his neighbors hosted a party to celebrate in the courtyard of his apartment building. But while his restaurant is enjoying higher foot traffic, he said he has lost 60 percent of a workforce composed largely of students from outside St. Petersburg and Central Asian seasonal workers who returned to their home countries and now have no way of reentering. The uptick in demand, he said, is temporary. On July 17, Russia's Federal Statistics Service reported that real disposable incomes in the country fell by 8 percent between April and June, the height of lockdown restrictions, representing the largest plunge since the catastrophic default of 1998. Zatulivetrov said anger at government policies was only rising among his employees. "The government had the best chance in years to gain support and love. But the opposite has happened," he said. "Whether we have a second wave [of the pandemic] or not, the real collapse will begin in the fall. People have simply run out of money -- you can see it." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-s-small -businesses-are-struggling-to-survive-and-many -blame-the-government/30761235.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The government, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has announced the guidelines to be followed by senior high schools (SHSs) to exit the second year Gold Track students for their vacation. Guidelines Providing the details of the three-module guidelines at the governments COVID-19 update briefing in Accra on Thursday, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma Aboagye, said the guidelines allowed students in schools that had recorded no case of COVID-19 and those who did but had not recorded any fresh cases in the last two weeks to go home. The third group will be any school that has had a positive case in the last two weeks. Dr Kuma Aboagye explained that students who would be identified as contacts of newly recorded cases in the last two weeks would be delayed for further observation and assessment before being allowed to go home. The arrangement for discharge is in three categories. There would be subsequent press release on that. Students in schools that have not reported any case vacated yesterday and were allowed to go home. The second category is the schools which have recorded a case but in the last two weeks have not recorded any cases. They have also been allowed to go home. The third group will be any school that has had a positive case in the last two weeks. Their assessment will be done to identify their contacts, and if any student is found in that category, their vacation would be delayed for a while and assessment and observation done before allowing them to go home, Dr Kuma Aboagye said. He explained that consultations would be done with parents of students whose vacation would be delayed. Although educational institutions remain closed, the President in his 10th address to the nation said the second-year Gold Track students would be allowed to go back to school for six weeks, starting from June 22 to July 31, to complete their academic year. National update The number of active cases of the COVID-19 in the country stood at 3,223, showing drop from 3,600 during the update last Tuesday. Dr Kuma Aboagye reiterated that active cases were the most important figure to be focused on by all stakeholders because it represented the actual national burden. He said a total of 32,096 persons had recovered and been discharged from health facilities, adding that so far over 390,000 tests had been conducted for the virus. Dr Kuma Aboagye said cumulatively, the country had recorded a total of 35,501 out of which 182 had died. Whatever we are doing, particularly the adherence to the protocol of which we are seeing some improvement, must continue and we hope with that we should be able to bring the numbers down, he said. Focus on active cases The Minister of Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, appealed to stakeholders such as the media and communicators to focus on the active case data as that represented the true national burden. He said a focus on the cumulative cases had international socio-economic implications on the country. Colleagues, Ghana does not have 35,501 COVID-19 cases. If we tell the world that Ghana has 35,501 COVID-19 cases, it has implications. The impact is that as the world opens up its airports and opens up for international travels, because of what we are telling the world, we would not be counted among the permitted categories. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video After an eight-year stretch of rising 50 times in value, Air Canada (TSX:AC) stock is down 67% year-to-date. In the early days of the pandemic, many investors thought it was a great chance to buy low. Thus far, most of them havent turned a profit. Rising case loads around the world have kept a tight lid on air traffic. These days, theres no end in sight. To make matters worse, Air Canada was just hit with some terrible news. Things arent looking good Air Canada in particular has been hurt by fewer international flights. The Canada-U.S. border was shuttered in March, with the closure extended several times since then. If this airline stock is to recover, U.S. travel needs to be reinstated. Thats not looking likely. A recent poll shows that more than 80% of Canadians prefer the border to remain closed through the end of 2020. Last week, we received more troubling news, as COVID-19 exposures were detected on two Air Canada flights through Vancouver. The two new exposures bring the total number of flights through the Vancouver airport with reported exposures since June to 33, reports Global News. Canadian airports are rolling out additional COVID-19 protection measures to mitigate the ongoing risk. All of these data points strongly suggest that Canadas airline industry wont return to normal anytime soon. Thats concerning given Air Canada posted a $1 billion loss last quarter. It may still be hemorrhaging more than $10 million every day. The clock is ticking for every airline stock. The recent COVID-19 exposures on Air Canada flights wont help. Air Canadas future When will the current crisis end? CEO Calin Rovinescu has some thoughts. Realistically, we expect it to take at least three years for Air Canada to get back to 2019 levels of revenue and capacity, he concludes. You know that some of the manufacturers have come out and an estimated three to five years. Boeing and Airbus, I think both have estimates in that range. Story continues So we wont return to baseline until 2023 or later. Doing the math, Air Canada doesnt have that much time. In fact, the entire industry may not survive that long, unless they raise substantial amounts of capital. But even if they gain access to funding, the results for long-term shareholders could still be negative. The sad reality is that unless airlines raise new capital, they will go bankrupt, writes Vitaliy Katsenelson, chief investment officer at Investment Management Associates. This capital, though it might save them, will reduce the value of their businesses. Equity issuances would permanently dilute shareholders, as future earnings will be shared with a much-increased shareholder base. This is simply not an industry that deserves your money right now. The situation is dire and will remain so for years to come. A simple cash flow analysis proves that operators like Air Canada will need to raise billions to survive. They may be unable to do so, meaning that shareholders would lose everything. At best, all the potential gains will be diluted through massive share and debt issuances. The post Air Canada (TSX:AC) Investors Just Got Some Terrible News appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Fool contributor Ryan Vanzo has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2020 New Delhi, Aug 2 : SpiceJet operated its maiden long-haul charter flight bringing back home 269 Indians from Amsterdam to Bengaluru and Hyderabad on Sunday. The airline operated the long-haul charter flight from Amsterdam on an A330-900 Neo aircraft. The flight arrived in Bengaluru at 8.58 a.m. and the same aircraft then proceeded to Hyderabad with the remaining passengers, the company said in a statement. Ajay Singh, Chairman & Managing Director, SpiceJet said that the airline has successfully repatriated over 75,000 Indian citizens operating more than 450 charter flights from different parts of the world. "This repatriation flight from Amsterdam is another feather in our cap and we hope to do many more such flights in the coming days," he said. Singh added: "SpiceJet is immensely proud to operate its maiden long-haul repatriation flight from Amsterdam to India and bring back home our fellow Indian nationals. This is a historic moment for SpiceJet and Indian aviation." Noting that there is an opportunity in every adversity, he said that time and again SpiceJet has "tried to convert a crisis into an opportunity". He said that the pandemic has given the airline an opportunity to show our true potential. The twin-aisle A330 aircraft used by SpiceJet has a configuration of 353 economy and 18 business class seats. Further, in a video message, Venu Rajamony, Ambassador of India to the Netherlands also expressed his gratitude to the Indian community organisations in the Netherlands and SpiceJet for organising the first charter flight from Amsterdam to Bengaluru and Hyderabad. It looked like a scene from a Hollywood action flick. A bloodied motorist was filmed hanging on for dear life to the hood of a semi-trailer truck that was driving at high speed northbound on the Florida Turnpike near Boynton on Saturday afternoon. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, dispatchers were told that a white male was driving a Toyota SUV with a male passenger traveling southbound on the Turnpike. The passenger told dispatchers that the driver started acting erratically and stopped the vehicle on the exit ramp to Boynton Beach. A man is seen above hanging on to the hood of a semi tractor-trailer that was driving northbound on the Florida Turnpike near Boynton Beach on Saturday The driver of the truck, Edward Hughes, said that the man shattered his windshield with a metal object while hanging on to the hood The truck drove for some nine miles while the man held onto the hood while attempting to shatter the windshield The driver then got out of the Toyota and started walking on the highway. According to the FHP, the man hopped over the media concrete wall from the southbound side to the northbound side, causing traffic to slow down. He then jumped on top of the hood of a semi tractor-trailer that was driving northbound. Edward Hughes, the driver of the semi, told TMZ that the man appeared to have been bleeding and flagged for him to stop. Florida Highway Patrol troopers intercepted the truck and transported the man to an area hospital for evaluation Hughes said he stopped the truck - only for the man to latch onto the hood and start bashing his windshield with a metal object. Hughes said he panicked and pressed hard on the gas in an attempt to knock the man off the hood. Amateur video shot by another motorist on the Turnpike shows Hughes jerk the truck by accelerating and then pressing hard on the break in an effort to jar the man off of the hood. Hughes also tried to weave in and out of lanes, but to no avail, as the man kept on stubbornly clinging to the windshield. As Hughes kept driving, the man managed to break through the glass. The man stayed on the hood of Hughes truck for about nine miles before FHP troopers managed to intercept the vehicle. The troopers took the man into custody and drove him to Wellington Regional Hospital, where he was being evaluated on Saturday. A BSF constable and two others have been arrested in a cross-border smuggling racket of drugs and weapons, the Punjab police said on Sunday. A .30 bore, made-in-China pistol along with five live cartridges and Rs 24.50 lakh were recovered from the three accused, identified as Border Security Force Constable Rajendra Prashad and two locals, Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh, said Director General of Police Dinkar Gupta. The BSF constable, a resident of Ganga Nagar district of Rajasthan, was posted at a Border Outpost at Chhina village in Taran Tarn district. Prashad is the second BSF constable arrested recently by the Punjab police in a cross-border smuggling racket. The police had arrested another BSF constable, Sumit Kumar, posted at Sambha in Jammu and Kashmir, in another cross-border smuggling case. Giving details of the operation, Gupta said acting on a tip-off, a Jalandhar Rural police team had on July 26 apprehended two smugglers, who were coming in a car from Delhi. The cops had recovered 25 gm of heroin from them. On questioning, the duo identified themselves as Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh. Surmail's further questioning led to the recovery of the pistol along with five live rounds. During questioning, the duo had also revealed that they were working with a cross-border smuggler, Satnam Singh alias Satta, a resident of Taran Tarn district. Satta was closely linked with Pak-based smugglers in smuggling heroin and weapons from Pakistan. They also disclosed that BSF constable Rajendra Prashad was also involved in the smuggling racket. READ | Ward Boy Held For Molesting COVID-19 Patient In Pune Hospital The DGP said he contacted his counterparts in the BSF and Rajasthan for the arrest of the BSF constable. He was apprehended by the Punjab police on July 28 from his residence in Rawala Mandi, where he was availing his leave, said the DGP in a statement here. During questioning, the BSF constable revealed that he had been roped into the drug smuggling racket by Satnam Singh, who promised him money for ignoring the smuggling of arms and narcotics consignment through his border post. He then allowed the gang to bring in a consignment of 17 kg of heroin and two foreign-made pistols in May. This time again, Satnam Singh, in connivance with Rajendra Prashad, Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh, was to bring in another consignment of heroin and arms from his Pakistan-based handlers. Satnam had allegedly given Rs 5 lakh and a mobile phone to Prashad in advance for receiving this composite consignment. The DGP said out of Rs 24.5 lakh, Rs 15 lakh was recovered from the residence of Satnam Singh, Rs 5 lakh from the BSF constable and Rs 4.5 lakh from Gurjant Singh. The police were working to get the kingpin, Satnam Singh, extradited from Muscat, Oman, where he had fled after he was declared proclaimed offender in two smuggling cases. He used a fake Passport and Aadhar card issued in the name of Gurmeet Singh to escape, said DGP Gupta. The accused had five cases of smuggling registered against him earlier. Satnam Singhs ill-gotten property, which he had purchased using drug money in the name of his family relative Maninder Kaur at Sandhu Colony Amritsar, has been frozen, he added. READ | Maharashtra: Three Held For Diverting Food Grains Meant For Poor READ | UP: Bulandshahr Lawyer Found Murdered, Friend Among Three Held We already knew the Republican National Convention in Charlotte was going to be a really scaled-back affair due to coronavirus restrictions. But now it looks like it could also be the first convention in modern history to be closed to the press. Although it seems the issue is still under discussion, if plans go ahead as scheduled it means there will be no journalists in the room when delegates formally vote to renominate President Donald Trump. We are planning for all of the Charlotte activities to be closed press: Friday, August 21 Monday, 24th given the health restrictions and limitations in place in the state, a spokesperson for the convention told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which was first to report the news that was later confirmed by several other news outlets. We are happy to let you know if this changes, but we are working within the parameters set before us by state and local guidelines regarding the number of people who can attend events. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The news comes after the Republican National Convention has gone through lots of changes in previous weeks. Trump had previously said the convention would be held in Jacksonville, Florida rather than Charlotte because of coronavirus restrictions. But late last month, Trump scrapped the Jacksonville plans amid fears that it was going to be sparsely attended. I looked at my team and I said the timing for this event is not right. Its just not right, Trump said at the time. To have a big convention, its not the right time. Even though press wont be allowed to attend, several portions of the convention proceedings will be livestreamed, including the vote to formally renominate Trump. Due to space restrictions, only 336 delegates will vote at the convention on behalf of the more than 2,500 official delegates. Advertisement Advertisement An RNC official now says that the decision is not final and that they are still working through press coverage options. Hopefully they'll give the American people the access they deserve. Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) August 2, 2020 Advertisement Several journalists spoke up against banning the press at the convention, including Associated Press reporter Zeke Miller, who characterized it as ill-advised. But he later suggested the decision may yet change, writing on Twitter that officials are still working through press coverage options. The New York Times Maggie Haberman pointed out that Trump is trying to have it both ways by being angry at coronavirus-related closures and using the cover they provide to bar press. Haberman later added that even though Aug 21-23 will be closed to the press, it still is unclear what will be the plan for the 24th, when the vote to renominate Trump will be held. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorneys for the family of a corrections officer stabbed to death by a neighbor are demanding that charges against the defendant be upgraded to murder because they say he instigated the fatal fight and recorded it for social media fame. Zachary T. Latham, 18, of Vineland, is accused of stabbing William T. Timmy Durham Sr., 51, on May 4 following a feud and allegations that Latham had tormented the Durhams for weeks with taunts and threats, including video of a confrontation posted to TikTok that got 3 million views. "Specialists inform that "the situation is stabilizing, the number of admissions to hospitals and inpatient centers is decreasing". This is a positive sign, but it's too early to jump to conclusions," Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov said in another interview with the Birinchi Radio of Public Broadcasting Corporation of the Kyrgyz Republic, Trend reports citing Kabar. He noted the situation in the world with the coronavirus infection has not fully stabilized. "As you can see, in some countries, including developed ones, where it was believed that the outbreak had subsided and quarantine had been lifted, are facing with a growth of the disease again," Jeenbekov stressed. The Kyrgyz leader said there is a special need for every citizen of Kyrgyzstan to continue taking responsibility for the situation and taking care of themselves and their loved ones. "The main focus is on providing medicines, preparing our hospitals for the winter period, building new ones and converting old hospitals according to the new requirements. We strictly control this work, the Government is actively working in this direction," Jeenbekov noted. The President stressed that state bodies and the Government could not rectify the situation alone. "If each of us shows civic responsibility, we will overcome this disease," he added. Sooronbay Jeenbekov once again expressed his deepest condolences to the families and relatives of the victims of the coronavirus infection. "July 30 was declared the Day of National Mourning. We paid tribute to the memory of the victims of the coronavirus infection and recited a memorial prayer for them. We are now experiencing one common fate. In unity and harmony, we will emerge from these difficult days," he said. Summer in Connecticut may look a little different this year, but that doesn't mean that there isn't anything fun to do. Several places around the state are hosting socially-distanced events in order to get people out of their houses and into the summer sun. Scroll through to see some of the socially-distanced events you can attend around Connecticut. On one of the hottest days of the year, 68-year-old street vendor Emilio Vargas sets out with his classic squeeze horn that hangs from a thin rope attached to his cargo bike, along with a horseshoe for good luck. They call him the Elote Man for the Mexican-style corn he sells throughout Second Ward. On a good day, which starts around 11 and ends around 6, he sells out. But Emilio, originally from Sabinas, Coahuila, Mexico, knows his current lack of business is due to COVID-19. People arent coming out to buy from him as often anymore. Hidalgo, Eastwood and Settegast Park were once huge draws for weekend family crowds and a main source of income for our street vendors. Typically he would be making the rounds between different parks, but some are still wrapped in yellow caution tape. Emilio is currently selling fresh fruits, drinks, assorted chips, raspas and a small menu of watermelon, sliced cucumber and pineapple because his product isnt selling fast enough. Emilio is no celebrity but he is one of the most visible people in our community. As he navigates through our streets, he weaves us together. He represents how, no matter what, we check on each other. My neighborhood Im a true product of the East End a Magnolia Park Shark, an East End Little League All-Star, the 35-year-old son of a Mexican immigrant mother, may she rest in peace. I come from a time before the Metro green line split Harrisburg in half and even further back when the iconic neon glow of the Maxwell House coffee cup could still be seen from downtown. The COVID-19 crisis is hitting our community harder than others. Roughly one-third of coronavirus tests for Hispanic people come back positive and Hispanics account for a disproportionate share of all related deaths in the state about half. Many have no choice but to keep working on the front lines. Others face dire circumstances of losing their jobs. We know who works in the shuttered restaurant kitchens. At the same time, many in our community dont have access to small business loans and unemployment payments that benefit others. I consider myself a street photographer, so I can show what people are facing, and how some of the most hardworking people in our society come together, how we give even if we dont have much to give. For years Id make the daily trek into downtown and speak with the people who call the streets of downtown Houston their home. I created relationships with some of them, and they would eventually invite me into their lives and allow me the privilege of taking their portraits. But you can only take so many photos before you start to get involved. My hope is to raise awareness here, on Instagram, wherever people will see and read my work and come together for those in need. Connecting I teamed up with Cesar Espinosa of FIEL, an immigrant-led civil rights organization, to talk to street vendors in the East End and ask them how theyre adapting in these uncertain times. I think I get this need to connect from my mother, Guadalupe Lopez. She could speak to anyone. During her time here on Earth, she worked tirelessly as a teachers assistant and was a great mother. Lately Ive been thinking more about her journey here. I never got the chance to ask her exactly how she made it to America. Ive also been thinking about my grandmother, Margarita Martinez. An immigrant from Mexico, she worked as a custodian for Rice University, a job she held proudly for 35 years. Growing up I remember watching the daily struggles that my grandmother and mother endured to keep our family together. They divided their time between church, home and helping others. My mother once met an undocumented woman at church and helped her find work and a place to stay. That friendship lasted until my mother passed, and her friend is still a part of my familys life; she helps take care of my grandparents. Selflessness runs deep throughout the Latino community here in Houston and in many other Latino communities throughout the country. Growing up, we were living paycheck to paycheck, but we were still sharing with family friends who were struggling. I think we do that because we know that at any moment, that could be us. That kind of mentality is instilled in the Latino community. We rally around each other. Don Emilios story is a testament to that. A year ago, he was struck by a car and suffered a broken shoulder. His bike was a complete loss. For many aging vendors, an accident like this would have meant ruin. But the community rallied and organized a crowdfunding benefit to help him stay afloat and he was able to recover. La lucha He started business back up in April. And then, the pandemic. After first meeting Don Emilio in mid-July, I spent the next week looking for him again. Days went by with no luck. Then a friend told me he was out working and selling in the heavy rain. He was low on funds but said he still needed to work, even though it was storming. Me gusta la lucha para vivir, he said. I like the fight to live. Ive never been a drifter or in gangs, he told me as we kept dry in the shelter of an old neighborhood car wash. I have always just worked hard. Tireless and humble, he is the perfect example of a classic neighborhood street vendor. Most East End vendors are senior citizens and some of the hardest working people youll ever meet. They are our grandparents, mothers and fathers, and should be treated as such. So its important, especially now during the pandemic, that we come together and help people like Emilio, who against all odds continue their tradition. Im reaching out to those who have more than they need. Buy from these vendors, and if you can spare more money, a tip or gift card to a near by restaurant goes a very long way. Your help doesnt even have to be monetary. It can be a simple hello, or ask how theyre doing. Together, our community can keep the tradition of street vendors alive, and also the livelihoods of those who depend on it. Lopez is a 35-year-old Mexican American photographer from Houston, Texas. Follow him on Instagram, @houstonslacker. Ram temple in Ayodhya to be ready by 2025, open for 'darshan' to devotees by 2023 end Foundation works for Ram Mandir to be ready by October, 'garbhagriha' by Dec 2023: VHP Drones, restrictions on outsiders, Covid-19 protocols in Ayodhya ahead of Ram temple event India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Aug 02: Security has been stepped up in Ayodhya ahead of the ceremony to lay the foundation stone on August 5 for the construction of the Ram temple. Police in Uttar Pradesh's Ayodhya have put in place several security arrangements, including Covid-19 protocols and preventive measures. Elaborating security arrangements in the temple town before and during the bhoomi pujan ceremony, Deepak Kumar, deputy inspector general (DIG) of Ayodhya range, said "A protocol would be followed for the security of PM Modi during his visit to Ayodhya. A Covid-19 protocol has also been followed. Covid warriors will also be deployed." Vedic rituals continue as decked up Ayodhya awaits Ram Mandir event "We are continuously keeping a watch across the VIP routes via drones. There are no movement restrictions for the people residing in Ayodhya. I urge people not to step outdoors to contain Covid-19. We will not let outsiders enter the city," he told ANI. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News More than five people will not be allowed to gather at a place but shops can open in the temple town, the officer also said. The proposed Ram temple in Ayodhya will be almost double the size of what was originally planned as its design was modified following the Supreme Court verdict last year, its architect said on Friday. The temple, to be constructed in Nagara style of architecture, will have five domes instead of two as envisaged earlier to accommodate more number of devotees, the architect said. The project is likely to be completed in the next three years once the work commences. The 'bhoomi pujan' (ground-breaking) ceremony of the temple in Ayodhya is scheduled to be held on August 5, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend, as told by the members of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra, a trust formed to oversee its construction. Candidate savaged by fake posts as online abuse mounts By Sandran Rubatheesan View(s): View(s): Controlling social media is like trying to clean the ocean with a bucket: Mahinda Deshapriya Misinformation spreads fast, say watchdogs Until a rash of pages impersonating her emerged in a coordinated misinformation campaign on Facebook, first-time election candidate Sashikala Raviraj had no idea how powerful the impact of social media could be. Numerous misleading and obscene posts about her and other candidates of her party have appeared on newly-created fake IDs on Facebook and are being shared across other social media. Some of the posts questioned her sincerity in wanting to serve the public, citing the length of time since the assassination of her husband, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Nadaraja Raviraj, in 2006. Eventually, Mrs. Raviraj issued a statement pointing Facebook users to her official page, but some of the fake pages are still active. I was not aware of this mudslinging campaign against me until my supporters brought it to my notice and they reported it to Facebook to take the posts down, but there are many pages still on the platform, Mrs. Raviraj said. The former schoolteacher is running in her late husbands electorate, Chavakachcheri, on the ticket of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK), the main constituent party of the TNA. As a relatively a new face in politics and with just a few days until election day next Wednesday (August 5), Mrs. Raviraj worries how she can counter false perceptions of her and is discussing the problem with election monitoring watchdogs. Her supporters continue to report fake pages to Facebook but new IDs continue to emerge with similar contents. At least 10 fake pages are actively involved in this coordinated campaign. Mrs. Raviraj is not alone in being subjected to online harassment: in an aggressive campaign, a Hindu nationalistic group based in Jaffna openly urged people not to vote for a candidate who worships at an Anglican church. Even though that particular post was removed from Facebook, it continues to be shared on Whatsapp, another social media site owned by Facebook, as well as on another popular site, Viber. In another instance, mastheads of Tamil weeklies atop fake headlines were posted in the past few days, making it difficult for social media users to know that these stories were not genuine. One such false story had a prominent opposition candidate saying a particular community should be held responsible for the spread of COVID-19 in a certain region. During the presidential election last year, the Election Commission entered into an unwritten agreement with Facebook to remove problematic content reported by volunteer groups and election watchdogs through a vetting process at the Election Disputes Resolution Unit. Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said he was not satisfied with the level of cooperation from the platform given delays in taking down reported posts. Controlling social media is a myth. Its like an ocean where we are trying to clean dirt with a small bucket, Chairman Deshapriya said. Other countries, too, are struggling to address this issue. The best way available for us is to educate people on how to use social media responsibly, he said while referring to a complaint by a candidate alleging his fellow candidates altered his online posters by replacing his preferential number with theirs to gain more votes. Soon after nominations closed for the forthcoming parliamentary election, the Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) an independent election watchdog based in Colombo, was looking to secure laptops available for rent. It wanted the laptops to set up a unit to monitor hate speech on social media and candidates campaign finance details. It turned out that all available laptops had been already taken by candidates for campaign purposes online. The Sunday Times learns that most of the candidates have hired unemployed youths on payments of Rs. 1,200 a day to engage in online campaigning. This week, CMEV released a report saying hate speech and divisive language has been increasing as the campaign enters the final stretch. This is because of the perception that the race is tightening, and also as competition between candidates within particular electoral districts becomes more intense, CMEV said. The watchdog also pointed out that candidates of certain parties were more guilty than others of ethnic and religious hate speech. Assistant Commissioner Suranga Ranasinghe, who heads the Election Dispute Resolution Unit, pointed out that during the presidential poll only 860 of some 1,200 complaints reported to Facebook by the Election Commission had been removed. We dont have proper regulations to regulate these platforms and take legal action against violators. If any candidates are found to be engaged in campaigning on these platforms during the cooling-off period from midnight today, we will report them to the respective platforms to get the contents taken down, Mr. Ranasinghe said. Peoples Action for Free and Fair Elections (PAFFREL), another election watchdog, said it had set up a mechanism to fast-track action on bad posts. Soon after our team identified those problematic contents on social media sites, they were further scrutinised by a legal expert before contacting the Election Commission to take it down, PAFFREL Executive Director Rohana Hettiarachchi said. PAFFREL has partnered with Hashtag Generation, a youth-led online community organisation, to identify violations of election law, disinformation, and hate speech on Facebook. Once we have identified these problematic contents, we pass a report through the Election Commission for immediate removal or forward it directly to Facebook. They have to act fast in the removal process but it is quite slow, Hashtag Generation co-founder Senel Wanniarachchi said. When contacted for comment, Facebook told The Sunday Times: Were working hard to protect the integrity of the Sri Lanka election by combating harmful content, working with civil society organisations to identify and stop emerging threats, and by limiting the spread of misinformation. Were constantly reviewing our tools to make sure that Sri Lankans feel safe while using our platform and taking part in the civic process. Facebook defends hate speech action process Facebook says its improved processes mean it now can detect and remove most of the hate speech it acts on before abuses are reported. Countering criticism, the social media giant said it continues to expand its proactive detection technology for hate speech to more languages. The platform said its proactive detection rate for hate speech increased by more than eight points over the past two quarters, totalling almost a 20-point increase in just one year. As a result, Facebook said, it was able to find more corrosive content and can now detect almost 90 percent of the content it removes before anyone reports it to the platform. On running ads on the platform, Facebook said anyone who wants to run ads about elections or politics in Sri Lanka will need to confirm their identity and run these ads with a paid for by disclaimer. It requires advertisers to provide information about the individual, entity, or organisation responsible for the ad. An advertiser can use a name as it appears on ID documents, or select a page for which he or she is an administrator, or another organisation name to appear in the paid for by disclaimer. These requirements, Facebook said, would hold advertisers accountable for the ads they run on Facebook and Instagram. The ad, paid for by disclaimer, and contact information provided are placed in the Ad Library for seven years, along with more information such as range of spend and impressions, as well as the demographics of viewers. Four kittens were found abandoned in a country lane in Friday's heatwave after being 'thrown out of a car'. Police called the RSPCA on August 1 after a cat carrier was found dumped in Curtis Mill Lane, Romford. Temperatures had soared to 35C on Friday by the time the kittens had been rescued by Animal Welfare Officer Siobhan Trinnaman. Four kittens, pictured, were found abandoned in Curtis Mill Lane, Romford, in Friday's heatwave after being 'thrown out of a car' Police called the RSPCA on August 1 after a cat carrier containing the kittens was found dumped in the country lane She said she was 'appalled' that the kittens were left and that they could easily have 'died in this box in this heat'. The animals are believed to be 'so thin their spines were prominent' and they are 'full of flu and all had sticky gunky eyes'. The kittens were taken to RSPCA Harmsworth Memorial Animal Hospital where they will be treated. A member of the public spotted the animals who had been left in a black and white cat carried that had been abandoned at the roadside. Animal Welfare Officer Siobhan Trinnaman said they could have 'died in this box in this heat' and from the way the cat carrier was found it looked like it could have been thrown out a car The finder told the RSPCA that they believed that it could have been thrown out of a car from the way it was found. The kittens are believed to be around 12 weeks old, with one boy and three girls. The RSPCA is appealing for anyone with any information and urges anyone who may know who owns the kittens to contact the charity's appeal line on 0300 123 8018. (IOB) is taking various measures to reduce its so as to come out of the RBI's prompt corrective action framework and its one-time settlement strategy has paid dividend in recoveries of bad loans, the state-run bank said in the annual report for 2019-20. The Chennai-based lender had returned to black, registering a net profit of Rs 144 crore in the January-March quarter of the fiscal ended March 2020, after a hiatus of 18 quarters. IOB, which is under the Reserve Bank of India's prompt corrective action (PCA) framework, had last posted profit in June 2016. During the period under review (2019-20), the bank has realised that at the field level, one of the best recovery tools that has received very well is the special one-time settlement (OTS) scheme, IOB said in the annual report. "Bank is making various dynamic efforts in reducing the NPA (non-performing assets) stock with the intention of early exit from PCA. Though the core objective in NPA recovery is recovery of the entire contractual dues without any hit on the profit front," it said. The lender said it had to shift the strategy for NPA recovery by other means including compromise settlements apart from taking other legal measures as a resort due to various factors. Under this scheme, the bank has raised the discretionary powers of its regional, zonal and central offices to take up high value NPA resolution. "The scheme has received excellent response as envisaged at the field level. During 2019-20 there was a total resolution in around 69,200 accounts involving Rs 3,400 crore under OTS mechanism," said the lender. Besides, the bank has also introduced the online version of OTS with the check-box approach. Borrowers can submit their OTS applications online and the same is getting escalated to the next layer according to the discretionary powers for OTS sanctions, it added. "Though, it (online OTS) is yet to pick-up significantly, a beginning is made and we have advised the branches to give more awareness to the NPA borrowers," IOB said. Further, the bank also conducted mega pan India e-auctions for the properties possessed under SARFAESI Act till March 2020 every month and bank was able to put e-auction of 3,167 properties since July 2019. "444 properties were sold fetching Rs 263 crore under e-auction in FY20. Due to initiation of e-auction procedure under SARFAESI, the same had paved the way in resulting in OTS, upgradation and full closure of NPA accounts." There was a resolution in 1,290 accounts involving Rs 695 crore due to initiation of SARFAESI action. In order to bring more buyers, the bank conducted SARFAESI property fares, it added. IOB brought down its gross NPAs or to 14.78 per cent of the gross advances at end of March 2020 from 21.97 per cent by year ago same period. Net NPAs also fell to 5.44 per cent from 10.81 per cent by March 2019. In value terms, the gross NPAs were cut to Rs 19,913 crore as against Rs 33,398 crore. While, the value of net reduced to Rs 6,603 crore from Rs 14,368 crore. The net NPA percentage of the bank as on 31st March 2020 is brought down below PCA threshold, IOB said. During FY20, the bank has not done any recruitment due to PCA, it added. Bank's staff strength stood at 24,857 by the end of March 2020. PCR (provision coverage ratio) of the bank has improved substantially as at end March 2020 from 71.39 per cent to 86.94 per cent, one of the highest in industry. As a result, bank could register a net profit to the tune of Rs 144 crore for Q4FY2019-20, it said. "We had made the year 2019-20 as the Year of Resurgence for our bank. We have attacked the NPAs in a big way and increased the advances in capital-light assets and improved CASA (current account savings account) significantly. These efforts have culminated into the profits posted in Q4 2019-20 after a gap of 18 quarters," said Karnam Sekar, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the bank in the annual report. Sekar retired from the bank on June 30, 2020. (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.) Tanzania banned Kenya's national airline from entering the country effective Saturday, in the latest move in a deepening row triggered by Tanzania's controversial handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Tanzania said Kenya Airways flights were being banned "on a reciprocal basis" after Kenya decided against including Tanzania in a list of countries whose passengers would be permitted to enter Kenya when commercial flights resumed on 1 August. "Tanzania has noted... its exclusion in the list of countries whose people will be allowed to travel into Kenya," Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority director general Hamza Johari said in a letter sent to Kenya Airways on Friday. "The Tanzanian government has decided to nullify its approval for Kenya Airways (KQ) flights between Nairobi and Dar/Kilimanjaro/Zanzibar effective August 1, 2020 until further notice," Johari wrote. "This letter also rescinds all previous arrangements that permit KQ flights into the United Republic of Tanzania." Kenya Airways chief executive Allan Kilavuka said Saturday he was "saddened" by the letter and hoped the situation would soon be resolved. Tanzania has taken a controversially relaxed approach to tackling the coronavirus pandemic and began reopening the country two months ago. President John Magufuli's refusal to impose lockdowns or social distancing measures, and to halt the release of figures on infections since late April, has made him a regional outlier and caused concern among Tanzania's neighbours and the World Health Organization. Magufuli declared Tanzania free of coronavirus in June, thanking God and the prayers of citizens for the disease's defeat disease. The diplomatic spat between Kenya and Tanzania erupted soon after the outbreak of the pandemic in East Africa, when Kenya blocked Tanzanian truck drivers from entering the country, fearing they would spread the disease. Quarterly Activities and Cashflow Report Perth, July 31, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cardinal Resources Limited ( ASX:CDV ) ( FRA:C3L ) ( OTCMKTS:CRDNF ) ( TSE:CDV ) a Ghana gold focused exploration and development company, is pleased to present its Quarterly activities report for the period ended 30 June 2020.HIGHLIGHTS- On March 16, 2020 the Company advised that it had received notification from Nord Gold SE (Nordgold) that it had acquired a relevant interest of 19.9% of the shares in Cardinal, (having acquired 16.4% stake previously owned by Goldfields Limited), and further advised that Nordgold had provided a non-binding ndicative and conditional proposal to acquire all the issued capital of Cardinal that it did not already own for AU$0.45775 per share in cash.- On March 30, 2020 the Company updated its shareholders and provided commentary as to how the Company is managing the current COVID-19 pandemic.- On May 4, 2020 the Company announced an update on permitting approvals and COVID-19 impacts on the Company's progress.- On June 5, 2020 the Company announced that the senior secured credit facility (as amended in February 2020 and March 2020) had been assigned from Sprott Private Resource Lending, L.P. to the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), a Ghana Government owned infrastructure investment vehicle.- On June 16, 2020 the Company responded to media speculation in Ghana and advised that the Company continued strategic discussions with banks, financiers and other parties which continued to show interest in bringing the Namdini Project into production with a view to maximising economic outcomes. Whilst discussions in relation to any potential transaction remain ongoing, at that time no agreement had been entered into in relation to any transaction.- On June 18, 2020 the Company announced the recommended all-cash takeover offer of Cardinal Resources by Shandong Gold Mining (Hong Kong) Co, Ltd (a subsidiary of Shandong Gold Mining Co, Ltd) ("Shandong Gold"). Cardinal entered into a Bid Implementation Agreement with Shandong Gold, pursuant to which Shandong Gold agreed to acquire 100% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares in Cardinal at a price of AU$0.60. Proposed implementation by way of an off-market takeover offer with a 50.1% minimum acceptance condition. The Board of Cardinal unanimously recommended acceptance of the Shandong Gold offer in the absence of a superior proposal.- On July 7, 2020 the Company announced that it had raised AU$11,960,000 as a result of the issue of 26,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares to Shandong Gold in accordance with the terms of the Bid Implementation Agreement.- On July 15, 2020 Cardinal received an unconditional on-market takeover offer at AU$0.66 per share from Nordgold. Having regards to the unsolicited nature of the takeover bid and the provisions of the Bid Implementation Agreement with Shandong Gold, the Board of Cardinal recommended a 'take no action' at the time in relation to the Nordgold takeover bid.- On July 20, 2020 the Company advised that its Namdini Mining Licence had officially received Sovereign Parliamentary Ratification in Ghana.- On July 22, 2020 the Company advised that it had received a revised and improved proposal for an offmarket takeover from Shandong Gold, pursuant to which Shandong Gold will offer to acquire all of the shares in Cardinal it does not presently own at a cash price of $0.70 per share.- On July 27, 2020 the Company, after careful consideration of the Revised Shandong Gold Offer and Nordgold's unconditional on-market offer for Cardinal, Cardinal's Board of Directors (in consultation with the Special Committee, its financial and legal advisors), unanimously recommended that Cardinal shareholderso ACCEPT the Revised Shandong Gold Offer (in the absence of a superior proposal); ando REJECT the Nordgold Bid.- On July 30, 2020 the Company advised that it had entered into a deed with each Shandong Gold Mining (HongKong) Co., Limited and Shandong Gold Mining Co., Ltd, to amend the Bid Implementation Agreement.To view the full quarterly report, please visit:About Cardinal Resources Ltd Cardinal Resources Ltd (ASX:CDV) (TSE:CDV) (OTCMKTS:CRDNF) 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. Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has warned against large gatherings and house parties over the bank holiday weekend as 45 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed. No further coronavirus-related deaths were recorded, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) said. There is now a total of 26,109 confirmed cases and a total of 1,763 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. Of the cases notified on Saturday, 23 are men and 22 are women. More than three quarters of the cases (77%) are under 45 years of age, while 50% are aged 25-44 years. Eighteen are associated with outbreaks or close contacts of a confirmed case, while 12 cases have been identified as community transmission. The HSE said it is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Dr Glynn said over the last five days we have seen an average of 44 cases a day. This trend is clearly concerning and now is the time to ensure you and your families are making every effort to keep each other safe, he added. Important advice from @CillianDeGascun Thanks to you, medical scientists, public health doctors & others for all your vital work on the testing & contact tracing front @ACSLM1 https://t.co/M3WBNq88mP Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) August 1, 2020 He urged people to avoid large gatherings over the bank holiday weekend. He said: Ensure gatherings are kept to a minimum and invite no more than 10 others into your home. Do not organise or attend house parties. Restaurants must enforce a limit of 50 people (including staff) on their premises at any one time. All workplaces should again review their procedures and protocols. Avoid congregated settings or environments where safety precautions are not in place. Wash your hands regularly, carry hand sanitiser and wear a face covering where appropriate. Ensure you isolate immediately if you experience any flu like symptoms. It is our individual action that will stop the spread. Sao Paulo (AFP) - When Priscila Tomas da Silva's husband lost his job loading trucks because of coronavirus shutdown measures in Sao Paulo, they faced a stark choice: pay the rent, or feed their six children. So they built a shack in a new favela emerging on the city's northern outskirts, a symbol of the devastation the pandemic is causing in Brazil. The favela, in the Jardim Julieta neighborhood, has sprouted at an informal parking lot for semi-trucks. About four months ago, a crush of newly homeless people began turning it into a full-blown favela, or shantytown, as the fallout of COVID-19 wreaked havoc on Brazil, the country hit second-hardest in the world by the pandemic after the United States. Now, nearly 700 families live here. More seem to arrive all the time, carrying furniture on their heads through unpaved alleys against a backdrop of hammering and drilling -- the sound of new plywood shacks going up. Most houses do not have bathrooms yet, and many have plastic tarps for roofs. Conditions are crowded, hygiene a challenge and social distancing virtually non-existent, highlighting how vulnerable favelas are to the virus. But people are trying hard to make it home. Inside one shack, a hodgepodge of scrap lumber with beds made of wooden pallets, Da Silva, 35, held her infant son and explained how her family of eight found themselves unable to afford their rent of 500 reals (about $100) a month. "My husband, who was the only one with a job, got fired because of the pandemic. We couldn't pay the rent, because we have six kids to feed, too.... So we came here," she told AFP. - 'Going to kill us' - The pandemic is taking a heavy economic toll on the poor in Sao Paulo state, the epicenter of the outbreak in Brazil, with nearly one-fourth of the country's 91,000 deaths. Many people with informal jobs, such as day laborers, housekeepers and nannies -- around 40 percent of the workforce in Latin America's biggest economy -- lost virtually all their income when quarantine measures prevented them from working. Story continues Many countries have suspended evictions for tenants in such cases. But in Brazil, far-right President Jair Bolsonaro vetoed similar legislation in June. In the Jardim Julieta favela, many residents describe being left with no options. Joyce Pinto, 27, lost her informal job at a copy shop when Sao Paulo went into lockdown, leaving her without childcare for her two-year-old daughter. "I had to stay home with her, and we struggled to make the rent," she said. "The landlord started threatening me," said her husband, Gilmar Chaves, 29, an unemployed day laborer. "He was going to kill him (Chaves) and my daughter," Pinto said, her eyes full of fear. So they borrowed money from her mother for plywood and built a shack. - Slum. Eviction. Repeat - Since the pandemic began, the newly homeless have also invaded an abandoned building in Sao Paulo's city center. In fact, epidemics and plagues have been forcing Brazil's poor into favelas and other informal settlements throughout history, said Lino Teixeira, coordinator for urban policy at the Favela Observatory, a research and advocacy group. "The creation of favelas, going back to some of the very first ones, is linked to a series of urban epidemics, from yellow fever to the Spanish flu to smallpox to measles," he said. Often, the poor are then evicted again from their newly claimed land. And 2020 is no exception. "We've been seeing a vicious circle where... people are forced from their homes because they can't pay the rent, occupy land somewhere else... and soon get evicted again," said Talita Gonzales, a researcher at the Eviction Observatory, a housing rights group. In Sao Paulo, South America's biggest city, more than 2,500 families have been evicted or face the threat of eviction during the pandemic, even as officials urge everyone to stay home, according to the group. The authorities have already served eviction notices for the Jardim Julieta favela. The deadline is August 7. Many residents say they have nowhere else to go. "At least here we have a roof over our heads," said Luciene dos Santos, 42, an unemployed hairdresser's assistant. "If we can't stay, where will we go? To live under a bridge. Like so many others." Alan Parker, who juggled genres and celebrated music with hits such as "Bugsy Malone", "The Commitments" and "Evita", died on Friday at the age of 76. The British director, whose films have won 10 Oscars and 10 Golden Globes, also explored US race relations with "Mississippi Burning" and chilled audiences with the film noir "Midnight Express". The US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences called Parker "an extraordinary talent". "His work entertained us, connected us, and gave us such a strong sense of time and place," it said in a tweet, calling him "a chameleon" for his ability to change with the times. Andrew Lloyd Webber called Parker "one of the few directors to truly understand musicals on screen". His family said he died "following a lengthy illness". - Modest beginnings - The son of a north London house painter and dressmaker, Parker first tried his hand at writing and directing commercials. He made his first film for the BBC before blossoming in the 1970s with a rapid succession of standout hits, starting with the 1976 gangster musical spoof "Bugsy Malone". Its cast of children included a 16-year-old Scott Baio in the lead as an Irish-Italian boxer, and Jodie Foster as a gangster moll. She was then just 13 but already had seven films to her name. The film got critics' attention. "Midnight Express", a dark Oliver Stone scripted thriller about a US student who was thrown into a Turkish prison for drug smuggling, got Parker his first Oscar nomination. He followed that up in 1980 with the genre-setting American teen musical drama "Fame", which was spun off into a popular US TV series and led to other musical dance films. Parker shifted gears completely with "Pink Floyd -- The Wall", whose dark themes and powerful imagery helped build up the British rock group into superstars in 1982. "Alan was my oldest and closest friend, I was always in awe of his talent," said fellow British film director David Puttnam, who produced some of Parker's movies. "My life and those of many others who loved and respected him will never be the same again." - Controversy - Parker moved from exploring music to asking questions about US treatment of African-Americans in the Deep South in the 1960s with the 1988 drama "Mississippi Burning". The film, which was based on the FBI's investigation into the disappearance of three civil rights leaders, was a critical and commercial success. But it also created controversy and an unexpected political debate. Some US civil rights leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr's widow Corette Scott King,condemned it for fictionalising events and portraying the FBI too positively. The head of the NAACP, the leading US civil rights organisation, said "it reeks with dishonesty". Parker stood by his work, but admitted that he never expected the backlash. "I was somewhat bemused by it all -- and a little punch-drunk," Parker wrote on his official website. "It certainly wasn?t intended to be the definitive story of the black Civil Rights struggle." The film won just one Oscar, for cinematography, after being nominated for seven. - Cult status - But Parker's career did not suffer. The director returned to his musical roots with the 1991 musical comedy drama "The Commitments", based on the novel by the Irish writer Roddy Doyle. The film gained cult status and became especially celebrated in Ireland itself. "I have not had a more enjoyable time filming than when I made this movie in the daily, hilarious company of these brilliant kids," Parker recalled on his website. "Probably of all my films, 'The Commitments' is the most liked -- particularly by critics." Parker's last major success came with the 1996 musical drama "Evita", in which Madonna played Argentina's late first lady Eva Peron. The adaptation of Lloyd Webber's stage show won three Golden Globes and an Oscar for best original song. Parker retired soon afterwards, spending the last years of his life painting. He was knighted in 2002. The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) said it was "deeply saddened" by the news. James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli said she was "heartbroken". Alan Paker made his first film for the BBC before blossoming in the 1970s with a rapid succession of standout hits, starting with the 1976 gangster musical spoof "Bugsy Malone". Parker with his wife Lisa on the red carpet at the BAFTA film Awards in London in 2013 Parker's last major success came with the 1996 musical drama "Evita" starring Madonna, Antonio Banderas and Jonathan Pryce Students at the University of Texas Permian Basin can pursue beginning this fall a degree in Energy Land Management through the schools Bachelor of Business Administration program. The program will allow students to study business disciplines and the landman profession simultaneously. Were launching this because of local industry, said Steve Beach, dean of the College of Business, during a virtual press conference to announce the new degree. Industry indicated to us the need and desire for locally trained land forces and wanted our help providing talented people with a land degree. The Energy Land Management program will prepare students for negotiating drilling leases for landowners and energy firms. It also will provide additional production management coursework, which Beach called a unique feature. Stuart MacDonald, director of the program, said, As we all know, as everyone involved in the industry knows, there is a cyclical nature to it. If you look back 100 years, look at 1908, and universities were setting up geology programs, department heads would tell students they werent sure they were making a wise choice, that all the major fields had been found and there was not much left to do. I can tell you were in a trough, but the industry will be back and those trained in the down cycle will be the ones very much in demand as the industry bounces back. In the industry, if there are certain areas where students have experience, that carries weight and the Permian Basin is one of those areas, MacDonald said. We can train people in one of the premiere basins in the world, put students in contact with industry leaders. We will have people who are almost immediately trainable to work in land departments not just in the Permian Basin but across the U.S., and they will have a solid background. What this does for the industry is, it gives them people they can train and make senior landmen much more quickly than they could if they didnt have this type of background, this type of experience in what were going to give them. If you look at the land profession, they really do need new people coming into the industry, and they need a local source of people who understand the Permian Basin and how it operates. Said Beach: It makes sense to me, being a finance guy, that they need folks in the landman profession who can make sense of the numbers, who have a deep understanding of the business side of business as they work out documents and contracts. Students getting a business degree and experience beyond the landman profession can also easily theres a demand for those skills no matter where; its really a preferred approach to training these students. He said the university had been working toward this program for many years, having offered land training as part of its energy land management program since the 1980s. Adding this energy business certification -- many of the courses were already in place -- but officials needed to get the program approved and accredited. Beach said the university plans to pursue accreditation from the American Association of Petroleum Landmen as soon as possible. The degree itself is four-year university degree, but the university can take students transferring from local community colleges, which will allow those who want to stay in the Permian Basin stay in the region, he said. The Permian Basin Landmens Association is funding five $2,000 scholarships for students in the Energy Land Management program, and the university will provide up to five more scholarships for 2020-2021. The temperature in the early hours of the day had shown that it was going to rain and no amount of pleading with the gods was going to change that. It started slowly and in the blink of an eye, it became heavy. The percussion of water varies according to the surface it wets. Except days when there are deadlines to meet, the early hours of Thursday, July 9, should be for breakfast and light rest. Nothing more. This was exactly what I did. The sound of the rain on my roof was conforming as I turned the pages of a long forgotten book. Soon, my phone rang the caller was Amitolu Shittu, the Director General of Amotekun in Osun State. I wondered if it was time for my long-awaited adventure. I had met with Mr Shittu in June to show interest in following the security operatives on operation anytime they are going to arrest illegal miners. After long hours of argument and counter argument, he assured me that he would allow me to go on an operation with them. However, this never happened until July 9. The voyage Upon answering Mr Amitolus call, he asked if I was in Osun and would be able to make it to Osogbo in order to join the security operatives in carrying out arrests. For security reasons, he refused to disclose the location of operation and cut the call. Swiftly, I jumped off my bed and checked through the window with a half smile. The rain had reduced and all expected of me to meet my target was to call the nearest motorcyclist who could run as fast as possible to get to Osun capital, Osogbo within an hour. I got to my destination at 12:15pm. Mr Shittu welcomed me with the assurance that the trip would be fruitful saying all intelligence tactics have been employed. Still, he did not disclose the area where the operation would be carried out. While waiting for my trip to an unknown mining site, it started rainy again. This time, heavier than what it was in the morning. We wont leave Mr Shittus house until some minutes past 4pm after the rain had subsided. Lets go!, he told me as I entered the only Amotekun vehicle available at the moment. We are going to Ilesha, he instructed his driver. Mr Shittu sat behind the driver while I sat at the owners side. While on our way to Ilesha, the DG called the Commanders in the area to inform them of our trip. I was aware that the Commissioner of Police in the state and other security heads were properly briefed about the outing but perhaps not on the particular forest where the busting would be done. When we got to Ilesha, we headed to Ayeso Police Station which also serves as the Area Command of the area. The DG was there to let the area commander know that the community police were around. It was at the police station that major fighters who are trained hunters joined us for the real business of the day. They were more than 50 Amotekun officers who came with extra five vehicles with fully armed men. My first sight on the individuals going for the operation was all that scared me. I asked if we were going for war or arrest, an officer responded saying: miners are harmful and they sometimes make effort to overpower us. They are hardened criminals. What then will be the fate of an harmless reporter? The accurate response failed to come. Amotekun vehicle We soon left for the bush where the illegal arrest was meant to be made. Until I sighted signposts, no one told me where we were going. Having seen various signposts, I concluded that we were going to Ido-oko Ijesha. The journey to the bush again took several hours. Ido-oko Ijesha is one of the forgotten communities with no basic amenities in Osun State. Following the downpour witnessed that day, the road had become more miserable for few road users. The wheels of the vehicles turned over the wet track which forced vehicles to slow down. It was getting dark already. The furious DG came down from his vehicle and urged all his subjects to do the same while the vehicles were freed from the mud they had been trapped in. On the illegal site After another 15 minutes drive, we arrived at an illegal mining site in the bush. By mere appearance, one could easily tell that the biophysical environment of acres of land had been badly affected by the illegal mining activities going in the forest. The result of miscalculation of steps here is death. The land has two excavators. Excavators No amount of effort can be put in place here to have reasonable agricultural produce in the next 50 years, one of the Amotekun operatives told PREMIUM TIMES. Land degradation is one of the most discussed topics of the 21st century due to the implications on agricultural productivity, the environment, and its effects on food security. Degraded parcel of land While Section 44 (3) of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining law of 1999 provides that ownership and control of all minerals in Nigeria is vested in the federal government, which is mandated to manage such natural resources in a manner as may be prescribed by the National Assembly, massive illegal activities had been carried out here with here without the required licence. Upon seeing Amotekun vehicles, the illegal miners started running into thick forest to escape arrest. As they ran, the Amotekun officers also followed them up with their locally made gun. The forest was combed for over 15 minutes as they captured the illegal miners one after the other. Amotekun pursuing miners The arrest After the arrest of over six local miners, I asked one of the hunters if they were done with business of the day but he would not respond to my request. Some arrested local miners Stooooooorm the buuuush, arrest all. Locate the Chineeeeeesseeeee, disaaaaaaarm them, the commanders were shouting to their officers. As an armless reporter, two hunters were assigned to me as guards. They were told to make sure I left the scene unscratched which they did perfectly well. Soon, more illegal miners were brought out from different corners of the forest where they hid. Among them were three Chinese Liu Yange, Liu Ti Gang and Tang Ai Ting. They were arrested alongside 21 other locals. Arrested Chinese miner They have been mining on the site for over six months. When questioned about their licence, they could not produce any. They also refused to name their proprietor(s) and how they got the land for mining. By the time the ups and downs were coming to an end, the day was totally dark. The excavators were sealed with the Osun State government seal which forbids further operation on the land and 10 Amotekun members were stationed at the place. Their role was to watch over the land till further instruction from authorities. The foreigners were then driven to Osun State Police Command where they were interrogated and detained for prosecution. Sealed excavator Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES after the operation, Mr Amitolu said the aim was to make sure that the land were not destroyed and that he hoped the government will continue to support the operatives in the best interest of the state. At 9:50pm, this reporter felt relieved having completed the job of the day. Indeed, it was a day well spent with Amotekun and illegal miners. Illegal mining in Osun In December 2019, PREMIUM TIMES published an investigation on how illegal mining activities thrive in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria with the support of police. Advertisements While some of the perpetrators use names of influential people without their knowledge, many reportedly receive blessings from them and even get the support of monarchs in the mining areas. The activities of some Chinese and local gold miners have increased danger capable of endangering the lives of the people in the environment. Chinese miners Experts told PREMIUM TIMES that illegal mining destroys landscapes, lush vegetation, and leads to erosion. Those carrying out these acts are also exposed to some risks such as acute respiratory failure which has an effect on their kidneys, lungs, skin and even kids around could have terminal diseases. For farmers, it causes water pollution which automatically renders agricultural land unusable and that has displaced some farmers and perpetuates a cycle of poverty after losing their farm lands to miners in the state. Degraded parcel of land After PREMIUM TIMES publication, Nigerian government said it has commenced moves to stop the illegal activities killing Nigerias economy and environment. Amokekun The governors of the six states of the Southwest region of Nigeria on January 9, launched a security outfit, codenamed operation Amotekun to defend the region rising insecurity accentuated by indiscriminate killings, kidnappings, banditry and destruction of farmlands. Amotekun corps After its launch, the initiative triggered controversy across the country as the Nigerian government through Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation, described the initiative as illegal. The six governors would later meet Mr Malami and the parties agreed to give legal backing to the initiative but said it wont be a regional outfit as earlier conceived, but state-based. In February, the governors also met with Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu who agreed that the community policing is partnership and the new initiative will be done in partnership with the police to deal with crime-related challenges. By April, Osun governor, Gboyega Oyetola launched a taskforce including Amotekun to fight illegal mining activities. In their first outing, they arrested 27 illegal miners in the state. Those apprehended included 17 Chinese nationals and 10 locals, including a local traditional ruler (Baale). Checking the list for operatives Afterwards, over 100 arrests have been made with suspects being handed over to police. When contacted the following day for an update on the arrested folks, the state police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said in the matter is being investigated. We cannot just arrest and take them to court the following day. We need to do necessary investigation, she said. When reminded about earlier arrests and the silence of police, Mr Opalola told PREMIUM TIMES that she would need to get to the state CID for updates. The police spokesperson is yet to respond this newspaper follow up afterwards. The deputy governor of state, Benedict Alabi, had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview that Governance is about strategy and processes. If you arrest somebody thats executive. Prosecution is done by the judiciary. The judiciary also have their ways and processes. The same way it took us to carry the arrest is the same way the judiciary will take time for prosecution. Nobody will do what we have done, arrest foreigners and throw them back to the society. That should not come to anybodys mind.. It is not done that way. The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Kuru attested to the efficacy of the processes of receivership and winding up procedures as amended in the 2019 AMCON Act, which President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law last year. He, therefore, called on Asset Management Partners (AMPs) of the Corporation to leverage those provisions among other potent aspects of the Act to rave up recoveries. Mr Kuru, who spoke at a one-day seminar for AMCON AMPs facilitated by Fatihu Abbas Legal Academy at the Trancorp Hotel, Abuja, said ever since the Act was signed into law by the president, the Corporation has witnessed some remarkable improvement in its recovery efforts, which is why it is a veritable tool that AMPs should explore to its maximum. READ ALSO: He charged partners of AMCON in the recovery drive to tighten the noose on obligors using the weapon of the amended AMCON Act to stop a few recklessness individuals who have continued to take advantage of the loopholes in our laws to escape their moral and legal obligations to repay their debts. Describing the AMP schemes as a major tool in the recovery efforts of the Corporation and key to its success, the AMCON Chief Executive who was represented at the seminar by Joshua Ikioda, AMCONs Group Head of Enforcement called on all AMCON partners to intensify efforts using the added powers as provided by the AMCON Act. We have repeatedly made the point at every opportunity that all stakeholders must view the AMCON mandate as one of serious national importance, said Mr Kuru. If at sunset AMCON is unable to recover the huge debt of over N5trillion, it becomes the debt of the Federal Government of Nigeria for which taxpayers monies will be used to settle. The implication is that the general public will be made to pay for the recklessness of only a few individuals who continue to take advantage of the loopholes in our laws to escape their moral and legal obligations to repay their debts. We should not allow a few individuals to escape with our commonwealth. And we want to do it within the confines of the law. Our various interactions with stakeholders, and particularly feedbacks we receive from Honourable Judges necessitate continuous training and retraining our AMPs especially as it relates to challenges encountered during filling processes in court and enforcing AMCONs rights on obligors assets. Mr Kuru said considering the Corporations new enforcement strategy and the newly amended AMCON Act 2019, the role of AMPs has become even more vital and cannot be overemphasised. We reiterate, our AMPs are very key to the success of AMCON. The AMCON boss, therefore, urged the AMPs to share some of their experiences with one another so that both the Corporation and the AMPs can all succeed in the national assignment. Gov. Greg Abbott made the right call allowing voters more time to cast early ballots for the November general election. The extension of the early voting period by six days will help minimize lines at the polls for an election that is expected to draw a record turnout. In Bexar County, primary runoff elections generally garner a 2.6 percent to 5.3 percent voter turnout. A double-digit turnout in last months elections has Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen anticipating 60 to 65 percent of the countys more than 1 million registered voters will show up at the polls for the November election. Presidential elections generally bring out about 50 percent of registered voters. On ExpressNews.com: Gov. Abbott extends early voting period for November election Preparing for the large voter turnout will take more time and effort this election cycle due to public health concerns, and the need for physical distancing and personal protection for poll workers and voters. The better solution would have been to ease the restrictions on who can cast a mail ballot. Given the current political climate, this is unlikely to occur any time soon, which means those who can vote by mail need to take advantage of the opportunity to reduce the health risks for themselves and others. Texas election law allows mail balloting only for those who have a disability, are 65 or older, or will be out of the state during the election. One-fifth of Bexar Countys registered voters are 65 or older. During the spring primaries, 23 percent of the voters 65 and older cast ballots. Most of these voters appeared in person at the polls. On ExpressNews.com: Gov. Abbott leaves polling places out of Texas mask mandate If you are eligible to vote by mail, skip the line. Dont put yourself or someone else at risk. Applications for mail ballots can be submitted now. The application is on the Bexar County Elections website. If all 234,802 Bexar County voters who are 65 or older would cast mail ballots, it would significantly reduce the line at the polls during the early voting period and on Election Day. Early voting for the general election starts Oct. 13 and ends Oct. 30. If you cant vote by mail, make sure to wear a mask, even though they are not required at the polls; treat other voters with kindness, even though they might be voting differently than you; and show appreciation to the poll workers, many of whom are older. They are taking great risk to keep democracy humming. Douala, Aug 2 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd Aug, 2020 ) :Fighters from the Boko Haram group killed at least 16 people in an attack on a camp for displaced people in northern Cameroon, an official said on Sunday. "The toll is currently 16 dead, it is clear that it was Boko Haram that was responsible," local mayor Mahamat Chetima Abba told AFP Sunday following overnight attack. West Bengal has taken a 1,022 crore transition loan from the Centre to help its power distribution company tide over liquidity stress amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The loan is part of the central governments 90,000-crore Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan package to assist stressed distribution companies. The West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd (WBSEDCL) has been facing financial woes with minuscule collections in April and May resulting in an over 2,000 crore shortfall, officials said. With a consumer base of about two crore, WBSEDCL caters to the entire state except Kolkata and a part of its adjoining districts. We have taken a 1,022-crore loan to clear dues of various Central and state entities, West Bengal Power Minister Sobhondeb Chattopadhyay told PTI. The Centre had on May 13 decided to make an infusion of 90,000-crore through Power Finance Corporation (PFC) and Rural Electrification Corporation (REC), as a part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan. Under this intervention, REC and PFC would extend special long-term transition loans up to 10 years. According to reports, the 10-year loan to the West Bengal government has a three-year moratorium period and is repayable in 84 EMIs. Testing capacity, a problem in communities throughout the country, varies widely among schools and could play a major role in whether they can remain open during an outbreak. Big schools, from Syracuse University to the University of California, San Diego, that have connections to labs, health programs or medical schools say they are capable of processing large numbers of Covid tests in 24 to 48 hours. In a typical big-school plan, the University of California, Berkeley, will test all residential students within 24 hours of their arrival, for free, using either a standard nasal swab or a saliva test being developed by an internationally renowned genomics research lab on campus. Students will subsequently be sequestered for 7 to 10 days, leaving their single dorm rooms only to go (masked) to the bathroom or to pick up a meal from a central location in the building or outside, then retested. If they test positive, theyll be isolated in a special dorm. (Some schools hope to create supportive communities, along the lines of an old-fashioned TB sanitarium, for students who test positive.) After that, everyone living on campus will be tested regularly, twice a month, if the spit test proves to be accurate enough. But little Cornell College in Iowa, with only 1,000 students, is not doing universal testing on arrival, believing that it would give a false sense of security because of the incubation period. The school will be doing randomized rapid testing of 3 percent of its asymptomatic students per week through its health center, which will take just a few minutes to get results. It will reserve the more sophisticated testing, with the help of the county health department, for students who show symptoms. Other small schools in similar situations are finding themselves at the mercy of private labs that can take days to deliver results, making results almost meaningless. But even some big schools are worried about testing backlogs. If we have to wait days for a result, said Michael Haynie, Syracuses vice chancellor of Strategic Initiatives and Innovation, the quarantine requirements will overwhelm us before we even get started. Alison Byerly, president of Lafayette College, in Easton, Pa., cited worries about testing supplies as a reason to shift all classes online, and to ask most students to study from home. Cost is an issue. Delaware State University, an historically black college, is among several that have enlisted the nonprofit Testing for America and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, among others, to help finance its testing program. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said the abrogation of the erstwhile state's special status had neither ushered in development nor put an end to terrorism as being narrated by some vested interests in New Delhi. He also alleged that the BJP has not learnt any lessons from the hijacking of an Indian Airlines plane in 1999 and subsequent release of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad founder Maulana Masood Azhar as they think "they are the wisest of the wise, which is unfortunate". Speaking at a webinar organised by Epilogue News Network, Abdullah, a Lok Sabha member and president of the National Conference (NC), said the government took the decision on the abrogation of the special status without consulting anyone from Jammu and Kashmir. "It was passed in one day in Rajya Sabha and another day in Lok Sabha," he said and added that the narrative sold by the government is that Kashmir would now become a part of India. "We were always part of India holding the tricolour," Abdullah said. Jammu and Kashmir was enjoying the special status which was guaranteed to the Muslim majority state on joining Hindu-majority India after rejecting Muslim Pakistan, he asserted at the webinar on "Discerning old order delineating new order - a year after neutralization of Article 370 and abrogation of Article 35 A - understanding the nuances of the old and the new order; the consequences and challenges". BJP leader and former minister Priya Sethi and former MLC Surinder Ambardar countered Abdullah and said the abrogation of Article 370 provisions had become necessary to ensure all-round development. "One year is little time to assess the benefits, give us some time and you will see for yourself," Sethi said. Article 370 was a continuation of the two-nation theory which gave rise to Pakistan in 1947, Ambardar said. On August 5 last year, the Centre abrogated the special status guaranteed to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 of the Constitution and bifurcated the state into Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Abdullah said the promised development has not come and gave the examples of the Kathua-Banihal rail-link and an all-weather tunnel connecting Kargil with Kashmir Valley. And, Adbullah said, "We were never separatists or projected separatism." "What changed which forced them (to take such a decision)? This was the agenda of the BJP to abrogate it and so it projected it that development will be pouring in from the top, industrialists will come in and the whole map will change. Yes, the map changed as the Maharaja's Kashmir overnight disappeared and we are a union territory which is unfortunate. UTs become states but states never become UTs," he said. He also questioned detention of political leaders, including himself. "Imagine my party lost top leaders including ministers to militancy to keep the tricolour (flying) high. Have they won the hearts of the people (in Kashmir)the very people who were chanting the slogan of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' were put in jail and arrested without any reason while others are still under house arrest. "Are we enemies of India. I pity these leaders and I wonder which direction they are taking this nation to. What will be the outcome of this nation? We have started the way for destruction as we are not winning the people," Abdullah said. On the prevailing peace after the abrogation of Article 370 provisions, he said the roads were heavily guarded and there was no way anyone could even peacefully protest. "In any case, the Gupkar declaration of all political parties on August 4 had made an appeal to people to stay calm." Referring to the continued suspension of 4G mobile internet services in Jammu and Kashmir since the August 5 development, he said people in the rest of the country are enjoying the service but the children of Jammu and Kashmir are not given the benefit of it, even during the prevailing situation of the coronavirus pandemic. "Are they not human beings and part of this nation. You deny them this." He said some policy-makers in New Delhi think that by shutting down 4G they can hide whatever is happening here. "Every country in the world knows what is happening here. Packing up media, shutting telephones down, and using your media to put false stories one day this will rebound on you. When you will be sitting in the opposition and you have to answer for your misdeeds," Abdullah said. He also spoke about his contributions at various world forums, including the United Nations, representing India in the past and lamented that the authorities did not even spare him from detention under the draconian Public Safety Act. "When (Jaish-e-Mohammad founder) Maulana Masood Azhar was released (in Afghanistan), the whole team was sent and what was my reaction to it. We could not fight terrorism. You are talking about the great India that you are going to build. You can never build India unless you are ready to sacrifice yourself. You want others to be sacrificed while you will enjoy the glory. "I told the then Prime Minister A B Vajpayee in front of the then home minister (L K Advani) clearly and categorically that don't do it. You are destroying the nation forever. Did they listen, are they listening now. I don't think they have learnt and they think they are the wisest of the wise (and) nobody knows better than them, It is unfortunate," Abdullah said. India's Interior Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday that he had tested positive for coronavirus and had been admitted to hospital. Amit Shah, a close aide to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and one of the country's most powerful politicians, heads a key ministry that has been at the forefront of managing India's coronavirus outbreak. "I request all of you who came in contact with me in the last few days to isolate yourselves and get tested," Shah said in a tweet. Search Keywords: Short link: Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Thomas Urbain and Peter Hutchison (Agence France-Presse) New York, United States Sun, August 2, 2020 21:09 534 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066b04d55 2 Lifestyle pandemic,united-states,scooters,moped,coronavirus,COVID-19,Transportation Free Long associated with narrow, cobbled streets in Europe and congested Asian megacities, scooters are now becoming a common sight in car-loving America as commuters shun public transport because of the coronavirus pandemic. New Yorkers turned to the turquoise-blue rental mopeds of ride sharing company Revel in huge numbers in recent weeks, while scooter retailers are reporting a big uptick in sales. "I decided a few months ago during all this craziness to start running a scooter," said 30-year-old Alan Taledia, who bought a 150 cc Vespa. "I don't have to do any public transportation, so it's better for me. I feel more comfortable," the insurance worker added. Sales of motorcycles and electric two-wheelers -- popular among the Big Apple's army of food delivery drivers -- are also booming as residents plump for cheaper alternatives to four wheels. Andrew Hadjiminas -- president of a Vespa, Piaggio, Aprilia and Moto Guzzi retailer in Brooklyn -- says the store has sold more than 200 vehicles in the last three months. "We are experiencing a positive sales growth over last year," he told AFP. "As people start to think about their commute and mobility during and after this pandemic, they are searching for ways to get around that are safe and fun," Hadjiminas added. At Unik Moto in Long Island City, demand has tripled compared to July 2019, with some weeks seeing about 20 scooters being sold, according to general manager Chris Benson. The shop, which has struggled to keep its inventory stocked, mainly sells models by the Taiwanese manufacturers Sanyang Motor company and Kymco. "There was a big boom, up to now," Benson told AFP. Riding in America's most populated city, where car ownership is high and traffic can be bumper-to-bumper, comes with risks though. Revel, which has done much to popularize mopeds, paused its New York services this week following the deaths of two riders, including a 26-year-old CBS reporter, in separate crashes. Revel, founded by two American entrepreneurs, launched a pilot program in 2018 with 68 electric mopeds in Brooklyn. Before suspending operations on Tuesday, its New York fleet had grown to 3,000 vehicles, each with a top speed of 30 mph, clocking 100,000 miles (160,000 kilometers) a day. Read also: Electric scooters: Not so eco-friendly after all? Revel suspension There were just over 4,000 trips on Revel scooters in the two weeks before New York City shut down in March, the company said. In the last fortnight of June, rides were up to almost 18,000 daily, a spokeswoman for Revel said. Critics, though, say the near silent vehicles are a safety hazard, pointing out that they are often driven by inexperienced riders. The company requires that users have a valid driver's license to book a moped, but doesn't ask them to take a test. Revel has suspended 2,000 riders in the past six weeks for violating safety guidelines, such as refusing to wear the helmets that are provided with each trip. The spokeswoman said Revel is toughening its safety measures, including riders having to confirm that they are wearing helmets and safety exam built into its smartphone app. Its operations are continuing in Washington, Austin and Oakland and the service is launching in San Francisco in August. Revel riders hope they will be able to scoot around New York's streets again soon. "It's unfortunate that there's always people who want to ruin the service for everyone," said Emma Rogers, a comedian. "It's all electric so it's good for the environment. (And) I wouldn't say it's more dangerous than a bicycle or a car." As a twenty-something woman, I remember my middle-aged relatives complaining that theyd had to all but knock drinking on the head, as they just couldnt handle how it made them feel the next day. At the time, I thought they were lightweight wusses. Today, I am one of them. Like so many middle-aged people, Ive found that it now takes relatively little to give me a crashing hangover the next day. Worse still, they seem to linger for an age. The last red-wine-induced hangover I had was so bad that I banned myself from drinking it. But what if there was a magic potion that could enable me to have a couple of glasses of wine and feel no ill effects the next day? It may sound like fairy dust, but there are several products that claim to be able to diminish, or even banish, those hateful hangovers. Claudia Connell shares her experience of using Clean Wine's handbag-size bottles of liquid spray (pictured) that promise to reduce the effects of a hangover Hangover be gone is the advertising slogan of Clean Wine, which produces handbag-size bottles of liquid spray that it says is clinically proven to reduce, or even eliminate, the effects of a hangover after drinking wine. If you glance at a bottle of wine, youll see that the label usually says contains sulphites. These are the preservatives added to wine to stop it from going off. The theory is that, by removing these sulphites with a neutralising agent, you will also remove the hangover. The firm states that it works on red, white, rose and sparkling wines, as well as sweet wines, sherry and port. All you do is pump the required number of sprays into your glass before pouring and enjoying your wine hopefully without the need to say: Ill be paying for this tomorrow as you take a sip. My go-to drink these days is vodka, lime and soda, as I dont want to wake up feeling like a herd of wildebeest trampled over my head in the night. But I miss the taste of wine. So why not have a glass if Clean Wine could wash away my hangovers? Ever hopeful, I ordered a 7.50 bottle. As per the instructions, I added two sprays to my empty glass before pouring a chilled rose with a 12 per cent alcohol content. I swirled the liquid around as my glass clouded with condensation. Its key that Clean Wine is sprayed into an empty glass, which means you must drain your first before spraying and refilling. This may not be practical in a restaurant or bar where servers top up drinks. I followed my first glass of rose with a second, and felt a little tipsy. A friend called with a crisis, so I didnt get to bed until really late. Was I going to regret that second glass? Amazingly, I felt as right as rain. No thumping head, no desperate craving for carbs and coffee. Claudia said she didn't have any ill effects after a night spent drinking half a bottle of 8 per cent volume prosecco (file image) Two days later, I repeated the spray test, but this time with half a bottle of 8 per cent volume prosecco and, again, felt no ill effects the morning after. What kind of witchcraft was this? As much as Id like to believe it was fairy dust, the key ingredient is the far less magical-sounding hydrogen peroxide. Thats the stuff used in everything from hair dye to disinfectant. Thankfully, this is a safe, food-grade version thats also tasteless. Clean Wine and other sprays like it are marketed on the belief that it is the sulphites in wine that cause hangovers. While some sulphites occur naturally in the fermentation process, free sulphur is added as a preservative, and its this that can be neutralised by hydrogen peroxide. The bad news is that most experts accept that hangovers are unlikely to be caused by sulphites, not least because they are also present in many foods, particularly cured meats and sausages. I cant recall ever suffering a hotdog hangover. Sadly, its the alcohol that gives you a headache, says Master of Wine Clem Yates. Each wine has varying amounts of alcohol. Cool climate wine, such as from Germany, generally has a lower level. Claudia ignored advice from Clean Wine to avoid using the spray to 'drink more than normal', as she opened her favourite Sancerre with a 13 per cent alcohol volume (file image) It relates to how much sugar is in the grape, which the yeast converts into alcohol. So, the more sugar you have, the more alcohol your wine will have. Wine from New Zealand and Australia will have higher alcohol levels because their grapes are sweeter. Being a glass-half-full person, I still had faith in the magic spray, and decided to test it out on white wine. Clean Wine tells you to avoid binge-drinking, drink moderately, stay hydrated and not use the spray to drink more than normal. But I throw caution to the wind, open my favourite Sancerre with a 13 per cent alcohol volume, and polish it off while having a box-set binge on the sofa. Despite feeling truly sozzled, I still remembered to blast every glass with the spray. The last time I got really drunk, I bought a gazebo from the shopping channel QVC and wrote a love letter to my next-door neighbour, who I then had to avoid like the plague. Claudia woke up with the worst handover she'd had in years, after polishing off a bottle of Sancerre (file image) To avoid similar temptation, I took myself off to bed, safe in the knowledge I would awake feeling fresh as a daisy. Or at least that was the plan. I woke up three times in the night with a pounding head and had to make myself an emergency sandwich at 3am. By 7am, I felt like death. It was the worst hangover Id had in years. After giving my poor liver a break, it was time for the ultimate test: red wine. One glass is usually enough for a headache to set in, two leads to me staying home in my pyjamas to eat my bodyweight in toast. yet, in the name of science, I drank two large glasses of 13.5 per cent pinot noir, spraying each time with Clean Wine. Despite eating a meal and drinking water, my headache kicked in even before I went to sleep. The next day, it felt like someone had set light to my brain, and the thought of doing a days work was unbearable. There goes my miracle. Claudia said despite the glowing testimonials on the Clean Wine website, she was unable to magic away hangovers (file image) Hangovers are to do with hydration levels, says Clem. If youre really well-hydrated, you will suffer less of a hangover because the water in your body is diluting the alcohol. The older we get, the less capable we become of storing water, and thats why some people could drink a bottle in their 20s and not feel the effect, but find its a different story in middle-age. I would love there to be a spray that got rid of hangovers I would buy a crate-load but Im afraid theres no such thing, she adds. Despite the glowing testimonials on the firms website, it seems I cant magic away hangovers any more than I can magic away the calories in cake. So, what is the answer to the misery of mid-life hangovers? Its rather boring, Im afraid, says Clem. You need to consume less alcohol and drink more water. And, with that, red wine is back on the banned list. cleanwine.co.uk With 54,736 new covid-19 positive cases reported on Saturday, the Union Health Ministry records the national tally to have crossed the 17 lakh mark, with nearly 4.5 lakh cases recorded in Maharashtra, the worst-affected state, alone. Indias COVID-19 tally crossed the 17 lakh mark with 54,736 positive cases and 853 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. The total COVID-19 cases stand at 17,50,724 including 5,67,730 active cases, 11,45,630 cured/discharged/migrated and 37,364 deaths, said the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry. As per the data provided by the Health Ministry, Maharashtra the worst affected state from the infection has a total of 1,49,214 active cases and 15,316 deaths. A total of 4,31,719 coronavirus cases have been recorded in the state up to Saturday, as per the state health department. Also read: Punjab liquor deaths: CM announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for affected families, suspends officials Also read: Assam plans to reopen educational institutions from September 1 Tamil Nadu has a total of 60,580 active cases and 4,034 deaths. In Delhi, the total cases rose to 1,36,716, including 1,22,131 recovered/discharged/migrated cases and 3,989 deaths. There are 10,596 active cases in the national capital. The total number of COVID-19 samples tested up to August 1 is 1,98,21,831 including 4,63,172 samples tested yesterday, said the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) on Sunday. Also read: Delhi Govt, LG lock horns again: LG cancels key Unlock3.0 decisions by AAP Govt The Santa Rosa de Lima cartel began its reign in the state of Guanajuato, pilfering oil from pipelines that crisscross that area of central Mexico and siphoning off amounts estimated at one point to be valued at nearly $2 million a day. As the head of a small start-up cartel, which analysts say was largely run as a family crime group, Mr. Yepez showed uncharacteristic pluck, challenging both the government and much larger and more diversified criminal groups. In emotional videos, Mr. Yepez has often lashed out at his enemies and even threatened the president himself if federal troops were not withdrawn from his native state, where they had been sent to fight fuel theft. But the government of Mr. Lopez Obrador, which has placed paramount importance on the oil economy, kept targeting the oil racket. Already this year, the authorities had arrested Mr. Yepezs mother and sister, prompting additional emotional videos. The revenue from the oil theft, meanwhile, was too lucrative for other criminal organizations to resist specifically the much larger and more prominent New Generation cartel of Jalisco. The fight between the two groups made Guanajuato the countrys deadliest state last year, with more than 3,000 killings. This year, it is on track to exceed that figure. We are talking about a state with 12 homicides a day, and 360 murders in the last month alone, said Eduardo Guerrero, a security analyst in Mexico City. Thats 15 percent of the nations homicides. The New Generation cartel also tried to assassinate the head of security in Mexico City in a brazen daytime fusillade in June. I have not been able to see properly ever since I drank spurious liquor, says Tilak Raj, one of the survivors of the Punjab hooch tragedy that has killed 98 till Sunday. The tragedy has been unfolding since Wednesday evening and has claimed 75 lives in Punjab's Tarn Taran, 12 in Amritsar and 11 in Gurdaspur's Batala. Tilak Raj, a contractual employee of the Batala Municipal Corporation, says he felt uneasy after drinking spurious liquor, which he had bought for Rs 60 from Triveni Chauhan and Darshana Rani, alias Faujan, outside the Hathi Gate locality in Batala. Both accused have already been arrested by police. "After I drank it, I was not able to see properly and felt uneasiness," says Tilak Raj. He survived as his family immediately took him to the doctor. "Now, I am feeling slightly better but my vision has not improved and I am feeling giddy," says 50-year-old Tilak Raj. Another Batala survivor, Ajay Kumar, says he started shivering after consuming spurious liquor. "I am still feeling weakness," says 32-year-old Kumar, who is admitted to the local civil hospital. Kumar blamed both Trivani and Darshana for the supply of spurious liquor. Many Batala residents alleged that illicit liquor was being openly sold in the Hathi Gate locality but no action was taken by the authorities. Another survivor in Amritsar's Muchhal village said he felt uneasiness after drinking spurious liquor. He said he could not see properly after consuming it. According to a top excise official, though the reports of the chemical analysis of the material seized in police raids were yet to come, a superficial check showed that the material was denatured spirit, generally used in the paint or hardware industry. Meanwhile, some families of the deceased in Amritsar flayed police for not taking any action against those indulging in the illegal liquor trade. Charan Kaur, who lost her 65-year-old husband to spurious liquor in Amritsar's Muchhal, said accused Balwinder Kaur had been selling liquor for more than two decades in the village. Whenever police would come, she would hide liquor or throw it away, said Kaur. YPSILANTI, MI Lynn Parmelees headstone in Highland Cemetery may stick out to some, with its tongue-in-cheek design of a spider, cobweb and RIP. But thats what the horror movie fan wanted after his three-and-a-half-year battle with pancreatic cancer, his widow Jenny Parmelee said. He simply wanted to rest in peace. A Nigerian, Mr Gabe Okoye, is on the ballot in a forthcoming Democratic Party's senatorial primary runoff election in the U.S. Okoye, who hails from Enugwu-Aguleri, in Anambra, is seeking the main opposition party's ticket for the Nov. 3 general election into the Georgia State Senate to represent District 9. Okoye, who is a chieftain of the party in the state, faces a black female challenger, Nikki Merritt, in the second round scheduled for Aug. 11. They both advanced to the runoff stage after defeating a third aspirant, Cheryle Moses, in the first round of the primary held on June 9. The winner will face the incumbent, Sen. Peter Martin, a Republican, who has been representing the district since 2015 and is seeking a fourth term. Okoye is currently a Planning Commissioner in Gwinnett County, the second-most populous local government in Georgia, and is the first black man to serve as a commissioner in the county's 202-year history. The civil engineer and founder of Georgia-based construction firm, Essex Geoscience, also currently serves on the Executive Committee Board of the Gwinnett and state chapters of the Democratic Party. Among other goals, Okoye is seeking to capture the District 9 seat from the Republican Party, which has held it for over 30 years, with nothing to show for it. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was also aspiring to give the black community in Gwinnet County, his base, a strong voice at the state level. In these regards, the senatorial hopeful carved a niche for himself while serving as the Democratic Party chairman in the local government between 2016 and 2018. As of the time he emerged the party chairman in 2016, Gwinnett was a Republican stronghold, with only five of the 25 elected officials in the county being Democrats. However, the tide turned when Okoye led the party into the 2018 mid-term elections and recorded historic wins. They captured 13 elected offices, including the majority of Gwinnett seats in the Georgia state legislature, from the Republicans, who currently hold only seven positions. The Democratic Party swept the two county commission seats that were up for election and also took one of the two School Board seats contested for. Also, the party reclaimed the office of the Solicitor General of the county after decades in the hands of the Republicans. Under my leadership of the party, we elected the first black commissioner, first black school board member, and also the first black Solicitor-General of the county in its 200-year history as of 2018. The Democratic Party also produced the first black state judge from this county under my watch, Okoye told NAN. A firefighter from Carpinteria monitors a huge plume of smoke from the Apple fire along Bluff Street, north of Banning. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Californias first major wildfire of the year grew to more than 20,000 acres over the weekend, destroying one home, forcing thousands to evacuate and sending up a plume of smoke so massive that it generated its own winds, authorities said. The Apple fire in Riverside County burned up steep and rugged hillsides, making it inaccessible to firefighting vehicles as it spread north and east toward the San Gorgonio Wilderness while continuing to threaten homes to the south. The fire spread rapidly in the early hours of Sunday, growing to 20,516 acres or 32 square miles by mid-morning. The blaze was 5% contained as of 7 p.m. as 2,200 fire personnel in the air and on the ground worked to douse it. Officials were unable to gauge the exact size of the blaze Sunday evening, but Lisa Cox, fire information officer for the San Bernardino National Forest, said that "there was significant growth and fire activity." Multiple evacuation orders and warnings remained in place Sunday in both Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Roughly 7,800 residents in over 2,500 households were ordered to evacuate, according to April Newman, a public information officer with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the Riverside County Fire Department. The terrain is characterized by a web of narrow canyons and drainage channels, which has created the potential for extremely active fire behavior, Cox said. What we saw yesterday was a perfect example of that, she said, referring to a large pyrocumulus cloud that mushroomed up from the fire and into the sky on Saturday. The towering spectacle, which creates its own turbulent weather, could be seen all the way in Los Angeles. The cloud pushes embers down and blows them in all directions, creating the potential for rapid and unpredictable spread, Cox said. The concern with that is that firefighters cannot control what that plume of smoke does, she said. On Sunday, humidity levels plummeted to the teens by mid-afternoon. Westerly winds picked up after 3 p.m. and peaked between 6 and 9 p.m. at 10 to 20 mph, with gusts of up to 30 mph, said Miguel Miller, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. The pattern of winds strengthening in the late afternoons and evenings will likely persist for the next several days, he said. Story continues Its not anything outrageous or very strong, but its enough to push the fire around a little bit, he said. An evacuation center for people and animals was opened at Beaumont High School, where the American Red Cross arranged hotel rooms for 32 people from about 10 households Saturday night, regional disaster officer Debbie Leahy said Sunday. The evacuation center is staffed by volunteers who are trained in COVID-19 safety protocols and outfitted with face coverings, and social distancing is strictly observed, she said. All who enter must undergo a brief health screening, and nurses are also conducting daily telephone screenings of the evacuees who were placed in hotel rooms, she said. "Were in a COVID environment, and then if we have these wildfires at that, it complicates the situation," she said. "But if we just all focus on safety, were going to be OK." Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Sunday that California has secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help ensure the availability of resources to fight the Apple fire. The grant will also assist local and state agencies responding to the fire to apply for reimbursements for up to 75% of fire suppression costs. The U.S. Forest Service on Saturday ordered an emergency closure of the San Gorgonio Wilderness, including the Pacific Crest Trail between the forest boundary and Forest Road 1N01. Forest Service recreation areas in the Forest Falls area were also closed. Forest Service recreation staff and volunteers visited trailheads to let hikers and backpackers know that the wilderness area is closed, and on Saturday announcements were also made via helicopter, Cox said. They're not in danger right at this moment, but we preemptively want to make sure they have enough time to get out, she said. The vegetation fire was first reported at 4:55 p.m. Friday in the 9000 block of Oak Glen Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. There wasnt word on its cause. The fire was burning through thick grasses and brush, which were fueled by seasonal rainfall that was close to average in the area, Miller said. That made for a decent green-up, as they call it, in the springtime leafing out the vegetation, the grasses get going, he said. Then by May, June, certainly by July ... those grasses simply dry up, they turn yellow, they turn flammable. And thats why summertime is the high fire season. Another brush fire erupted in Southern California on Sunday night in Gorman, an unincorporated community in northwestern L.A. County. The blaze had grown to 200 acres, and forward progress had been stopped by 9 p.m., according to the L.A. County Fire Department. The fire ignited near Gorman Post Road and northbound Interstate 5 two hours earlier. London, Aug 2 : Arsenal hot shot striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remained coy over his future at the Emirates Stadium after leading the 'Gunners' to FA Cup glory. Aubameyang scored twice as Arsenal recorded a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Chelsea at the Wembley Stadium on Saturday. Aubameyang has been linked with a move away from Arsenal in recent times with French champions Paris St. Germain and Spanish giants Barcelona reportedly interested in acquiring his services. "I'm really not thinking about this. I just want to enjoy this with the guys and take the trophy," Aubameyang told BT Sport. "I think we deserved the win. Everyone gave their best today for the team and yeah, we deserve it. The journey has been long but today we're enjoying this great game," he added. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, however, is of the opinion that the FA Cup win will convince Aubameyang to sign a new contract as his current deal expires at the end of next season. "He'll stay," Arteta told reporters as per Daily Mail. "He knows what I think and that I want to build the squad around him. Everything is based on my discussions with him and his people. Nothing is done yet but I hope we will hear something soon. "The players all admire him here and we value him so much. He wants to stay. It's about getting the deal done but moments like this will help him realise that we are on the right path and he's a big part of it. He's loved by everyone at the club, so hopefully he can continue with us," he added. - Kim Chiu recently took to social media to describe her strange experience of going to a mall - The actress said that was first time she dropped by the mall since quarantine protocols took place - She also shared that that was the quickest malling she ever had and things around have changed - Kim likewise told one of her followers that she also felt like crying and terrified at the same time PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Kim Chiu recently shared her strange experience of going to a mall for the first time since the quarantine period took place. Kim Chiu (Photo courtesy of Flickr) Source: UGC KAMI learned that in an Instagram post, the actress said she dropped by the mall days ago and that was the quickest malling she ever had. Days ago went to the mall for the first time after months, and it was the fastest malling Ive ever done less than 30mins. Things around us are never the same. It is weird. When will this nightmare be over?!!! Are things going to be the same when this pandemic is done?? When?.... How? So many questions in my mind and none of them have any answer. PAY ATTENTION: Shop with KAMI! The best offers and discounts on the market, product reviews and feedbacks. One of her followers then asked the Kapamilya star, Did you feel like crying when you went to the mall? Yes!!! Kim responded. Na amaze ako!!! But takot din so I have to do it fast. Haaaiii.... PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Kim Chiu is one of the most acclaimed and prominent female showbiz personalities in the Philippines. She is currently in a relationship with Xian Lim. On July 12, she posted a sweet birthday message for his real-life partner Xian who turned 31 years old. Few weeks after, Xian reiterated his feelings with the actress in a new social media post that includes a video showing his never-before-seen travel moments with Kim. Just recently, Kim used her social media account to express her frustration with the way the government is handling the COVID-19 crisis. According to the actress, she is hoping that the government will prioritize the welfare of the people instead of personal agendas. Please like and share our amazing Facebook posts to support the KAMI team! Dont hesitate to comment and share your opinions about our stories either. We love reading about your thoughts and views on different matters! Source: KAMI.com.gh Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 17:36:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- From the Iran nuclear issue, the termination of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and U.S. Middle East policies, to climate change and trade disputes, Washington has gone its own way without consulting its partners in advance and undermined Europe's security and economic interests, let alone the U.S. withdrawal from several international organizations; -- The ties between Europe and the United States now seem to be further worsening after the troops withdrawal plan; -- "Great cold between the United States and Europe," French newspaper Le Monde titles an editorial, saying that Europe is aware of the deteriorating transatlantic relations, and they have to act. BERLIN, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Washington has unveiled its plan this week to withdraw 11,900 troops out of Germany, as part of a sweeping troop re-organization that has brought condemnation from both parties in the U.S. Congress, as well as from European allies. Among the U.S. troops that would be withdrawn, about 5,600 will be repositioned to other North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries, while the rest will return to the United States with some beginning rotational deployment back to Europe, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper told a news briefing. The Pentagon chief claimed that the redeployment, which could begin within weeks, will strengthen NATO, enhance deterrence against Russia and improve U.S. strategic flexibility. Observers, however, cannot help but notice a widening rift between the two allies across the Atlantic Ocean, who have been experiencing unprecedented discords for the past few years, making some believe that a kind of structural change is taking place in their partnership. The Berlin Central Train Station is illuminated with light of EU theme in Berlin, capital of Germany, on May 7, 2019. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) WORSENING TIES Ever since Donald Trump assumed U.S. presidency and made "America First" his administration's motto, Europeans have had to get used to the president's casual willingness to risk decades-old alliances and rip up international agreements. From the Iran nuclear issue, the termination of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and U.S. Middle East policies, to climate change and trade disputes, Washington has gone its own way without consulting its partners in advance and undermined Europe's security and economic interests, let alone the U.S. withdrawal from several international organizations. The key framework for NATO, the traditional transatlantic alliance, has also been put in doubt as Trump called the military alliance "obsolete." Earlier in July, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent fresh warnings of possible sanctions to companies involved in the Russia-Germany pipeline program and the second line of the Turk Stream. But German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas quickly rejected the threats and accused Washington of its extraterritorial sanctions. A bicyclist is seen near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, capital of Germany, March 28, 2020. (Photo by Binh Truong/Xinhua) The COVID-19 pandemic has split the two sides further. The United States seized a mask shipment bound for Europe. It also attempted to secure exclusive American rights to a vaccine under development in Germany, not to mention the two sides' different attitudes towards the World Health Organization. The ties between Europe and the United States now seem to be further worsening after the troops withdrawal plan. "We don't want to be the suckers anymore," Trump told reporters at a White House briefing on Wednesday, reiterating his contention that NATO allies are taking advantage of the U.S. generosity. Photo taken on Feb. 12, 2020 shows the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng) Esper said at a Pentagon briefing that the move would boost U.S. strategic interests, and prepare the military for "a new era of great power competition." On the other side, Germany, serving as a key hub in NATO military presence in Europe's geological heart, considers U.S. troops critical to its security and that of West Europe. Therefore, Berlin is angry that Washington made the decision without consulting its ally and used it as a punishment of Germany's incompliance on the NATO defense budget goal. "Europe's most important partner is the United States. Of course, I am aware that working with America is currently more difficult than we would like," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on May 27 at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung when she was introducing the foreign and security policies during Germany's current half-year EU Council Presidency. People vote at a polling site during the New York 2020 primary elections in Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, June 23, 2020. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua) STRUCTURAL CHANGES Following Esper's announcement of the armed forces' withdrawal plan, Peter Beyer, the German government's transatlantic coordinator, said the reduction of American troops in Germany is "not in Germany's nor NATO's security interests, and also makes no geopolitical sense for the United States. "Great cold between the United States and Europe," French newspaper Le Monde titled an editorial on June 20, saying that Europe is aware of the deteriorating transatlantic relations, and they have to act. Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, told the Wall Street Journal earlier that Washington's attacks on Europe have materially damaged the transatlantic relationship, adding that Europe should recognize that the situation will not return to the past. "Those in Europe who are now betting everything on a change in the White House should be prepared for the fact that even in that case it will not be as comfortable as it once was," Maas told Rheinische Post on Monday. Photo taken on July 7, 2020 shows the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) "U.S. foreign and security policy has changed, and not just since Trump became president," Maas said, who earlier noted that the transatlantic partnership has "structural changes." Some observers believe that the structural changes may refer to U.S. withdrawal from global affairs and waiver of responsibilities, considering that over the past century the United States has touted its global leadership in many global crises. In some observers' views, the COVID-19 pandemic is probably the first global crisis in more than a century where no one is even looking to the United States for leadership. It, together with other contributing factors such as the troops withdrawal, has brought U.S.-Europe divisions into focus and prompted calls for a rethinking of the transatlantic relationship with regard to the new circumstances. "We grew up in the certain knowledge that the United States wanted to be a world power. Should the U.S. now wish to withdraw from that role of its own free will, we would have to reflect on that very deeply," Merkel told media in late June. (Video reporters: Ren Ke, Tang Ji, Chen Chen, Zhang Zhang; Video editor: Li Ziwei) On Saturday, gardai in Kilrush received a call around 3pm reporting a possible burglary on Toler Street, where they found a man coming through the side window of a house. The man in his 30s was arrested after a short foot chase and was found in possession of a knife. Upon further examination of the house, a hatchet and a screwdriver were found, which are believed to have been used during the burglary. The man is being held at Kilrush Garda Station where he has also been charged for two additional burglaries at shops on Francis Street and John Street, criminal damage to the shop on John Street and theft from a Church in Kilrush. The man is due to appear in Ennis District Court today. A man in his 40s was also arrested in Limerick in connection with five burglaries and two attempted burglaries that occurred in the city. Advertisement The man was found by patrolling gardai when they heard glass smashing and saw the man exit a business premises following a burglary. The man taken to Henry Street Garda Station where he was also charged for a number of burglaries and attempted burglaries on Lower Mallow, Lower Cecil and O'Connell Street. Minister of Technical Education in Yogi Adityanath's cabinet, Kamal Rani Varun has succumbed to Covid-19 at the age of 62. Chief Minister, UP Governor and Deputy CM among others expressed condolences and acknowledged her efficiency in the Cabinet and her popularity amongst the masses. Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kamal Rani Varun passed away due to coronavirus in Lucknow on Sunday morning. She was undergoing treatment for COVID-19 at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences in the state capital. She served as Minister of Technical Education in the Uttar Pradesh government. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered condolences to the family of the late Minister and said she worked efficiently during her time as the minister. I express my deepest condolences to the family of Cabinet Minister Kamal Rani Varun. She was COVID-19 positive and was receiving treatment at the SGPGI Hospital. She was a popular public leader and social worker. She worked efficiently while being the part of the Cabinet, the Chief Minister told ANI. She was an MP in the 11th and 12th Lok Sabha. She discharged her duties with efficiency as the Technical Education Minister in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet, he added. Also read: Vizag crane mishap: Rajnath Singh institutes inquiry committee Also read: Ram temple bhoomi pujan: Yogi Adityanaths visit to Ayodhya cancelled Uttar Pradesh Governor, Anandi Ben Patel, has also expressed her condolences on the sudden demise. The sudden death of Kamal Rani is shocking. She was very active during her stint as Member of Parliament in the 11th and 12th Lok Sabha. I express my deepest condolences to her family in this time of grief, Anandiben Patel said in a statement. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also expressed grief over the demise of Rani and said that it will be very difficult to find a substitute for her in the cabinet. I am deeply saddened by the news of the death of our cabinet colleague Kamal Rani Varun. I express my condolences to her family. She had tested positive for COVID-19 a few days back. It will be very difficult to find a substitute for Kamal Rani in the cabinet, Maurya told ANI. The body of Kamal Rani Varun will be taken to Kanpur from Lucknow according to the COVID-19 protocols where her last rites will be performed. Also read: Punjab liquor deaths: CM announces Rs 2 lakh ex gratia for affected families, suspends officials A young consular staff member who tested positive to COVID-19 in Queensland was infectious on a domestic flight after returning from overseas. The man, who is in quarantine, was the states only confirmed case on Aug. 2 from more than 13,700 tests over 24 hours. He flew into Maroochydore from Sydney on July 31 on Jetstar flight JQ790. Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the man, in his 20s, was infectious on the flight and health authorities are tracing people who sat near him. The man was allowed to take the domestic flight and quarantine at home as part of a select group of exemptions, Young said. He did everything that he should have done but it does mean that this is a risk, she added. There are 13 active COVID-19 cases in Queensland and people are being warned to remain cautious. We are very comfortable with the figures overnight, but that next week is very crucial, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. We are in a little bit of uncharted waters at the moment. The state government has tightened restrictions on aged care homes in southeast Queensland as a precaution. Visitors will no longer be allowed at facilities in Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Redland, the Gold Coast and the Scenic Rim, with exemptions for end-of-life. Meanwhile, 104 residents at a Brisbane nursing home have returned negative test results. It was confirmed on Aug. 1 a woman who works at the Bolton Clarke aged care facility at suburban Pinjarra Hills had tested positive. One resident was unable to be tested but Young said there was no cause for concern. The resident will be quarantined for a fortnight and monitored, she said. The home had been locked down after the workers husband tested positive on July 31. He is believed to have contracted the virus at Sunnybanks Madtongsan IV Korean restaurant, which was attended by an infected woman who allegedly failed to declare a recent visit to Melbourne when returning to Queensland. She is one of three women two of whom have tested positive charged with fraud and lying to health officials. Milan Kundera, the 91-year-old author of The Unbearable Lightness of Being and other acclaimed novels, has decided to donate his private library and archive to a public library in the Czech city where he was born and spent his childhood. The Moravian Library in the city of Brno said that the entire collection would be transported from Kunderas apartment in Paris in the fall. The donated items include editions of Kunderas books in Czech and some 40 other languages, articles written by and about him, published reviews and criticism of his work, newspapers clippings, authorised photographs and drawings by the author. Everything will be made available to the public, mostly in digital versions, the library said. Czech Culture Minister Lubomir Zaoralek welcomed the move, calling it an extraordinary cultural event. Kundera fled communist Czechoslovakia and has lived in France since 1975. France is where he published his most famous books, including The Book of Laughter and Forgetting (1979), The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1984), The Art of the Novel (1986) and Immortality (1990). His later works, written in French, have not yet been translated into Czech. Kunderas wife, Vera, told the library that her husband has been cooperating with a translator on the first Czech edition of his 2000 novel Ignorance. The author lives in virtual seclusion, only travels to his homeland incognito and never speaks to reporters. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Matt Gaetz urges Jeff Bezos to cut ties with SPLC over AmazonSmile bans Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida urged Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos to sever the company's ties with the Southern Poverty Law Center during the House Judiciary Subcommittee's hearing on antitrust Wednesday. During the hearing on Capitol Hill with the CEOs of Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google, Gaetz pressed Bezos over his companys relationship with the SPLC, which it partners with to decide which organizations can receive donations through the AmazonSmile program. Some conservative and Christian organizations have been prohibited from participating in AmazonSmile, while atheist organizations and Planned Parenthood are allowed to receive donations through the program. I am not here accusing you as someone who would ever traffic in hate, but it seems you have empowered people who do. Im particularly talking about the Southern Poverty Law Center, Gaetz told Bezos at the hearing that followed a yearlong investigation by the committee into the four biggest tech companies in the U.S. Amazon, Gaetz asserted, allows the SPLC to dictate who can receive donations on your AmazonSmile platform. Listing organizations the SPLC has labeled as extremists, Gaetz named several faith-based organizations, including Catholic Family News, Catholic Family Ministries, the American Family Association, the Family Research Council, and the Jewish Defense League. The first four of the aforementioned groups were designated as hate groups because of their opposition to same-sex marriage. Similarly, renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson was also listed on the SPLC's "extremist files" for subscribing to traditional Christian values on issues of sexuality and marriage. Carson was listed next to white supremacists, Neo-Confederates and anti-Semites. His name was finally removed in February 2015, with apology, following immense criticism. Im just wondering why you would place your confidence in a group that seems to be so out-of-step and seems to take mainstream Christian doctrine and label it as hate, Gaetz asked. In response to Gaetz's question, Bezos first discussed how the AmazonSmile program works, explaining that it allows customers to designate a certain fraction of their purchases to go to charity that we then pay for. We use the Southern Poverty Law Center data to say which charities are extremist organizations. But why?" questioned Gaetz. "Since theyre calling Catholics and these Jewish groups hateful groups, why would you trust them? Im going to acknowledge this is an imperfect system, Bezos replied. I would love suggestions on better or additional sources. Gaetz replied by suggesting that Amazon "divorce [itself] from the SPLC. Although Bezos indicated an openness to using other sources other than the SPLC in determining which groups can participate in AmazonSmile, he did not commit to cutting ties with the organization. In another exchange between Gaetz and Bezos later on in the hearing, the congressman once again brought up Amazons relationship with the SPLC. Gaetz asked Bezos whether he agreed with the SPLCs previous characterization of Carson, the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, as an extremist, and Bezos said he did not. When Gaetz again asked why Amazon would partner with a group that labels Carson as someone worthy of an extremist watchlist, Bezos explained that his company needs to have some source of data to use to weed out actual extremist groups. I would like a better source if we could get it, Bezos added. After Gaetz indicated that he was pleased that Bezos recognized the infirmities of the Southern Poverty Law Center, he asked Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg if he agreed with the characterization of Carson as an extremist. After Zuckerberg indicated that he disagreed with that characterization, Gaetz asked, why would you trust the people who think he is? Zuckerberg followed up by asserting that he didn't know the details of Facebooks relationship with the SPLC. Over the past few years, Amazon has blocked several charity organizations from the AmazonSmile program because the SPLC attached the hate group label to them. These charities include D. James Kennedy Ministries, the Family Research Council and the religious liberty law firm Alliance Defending Freedom. In response to its banishment from the AmazonSmile program, D. James Kennedy Ministries filed a defamation lawsuit against both the SPLC and Amazon. Attorney David Gibbs III, who represented the ministry, warned of a world where churches are banned from the internet, churches are banned from services, (and) Amazon wont deliver to churches if his client did not emerge victorious from the lawsuit. The fact that only right-leaning groups seem to get extra scrutiny from Amazon raises the appearance of a double standard. As Heritage Foundation president Kay Coles James explained in a Washington Times op-ed, Amazon customers can use the AmazonSmile program to donate a portion of each purchase to left-leaning organizations such as Planned Parenthood, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and the Center for American Progress. Coles James also noted that shareholders at Amazon defeated a resolution that would have ended the use of the SPLCs defamatory list when determining which charities to include as part of AmazonSmile. She was referring to a resolution requesting a report on viewpoint discrimination that Amazon shareholders, at the urge of the board of directors, voted down. The report would have evaluated the range of risks and costs associated with discriminating against different social, political, and religious viewpoints. Should Bezos decide to "divorce" Amazon from the SPLC, as Gaetz suggested, his company would not be the first tech giant to do so. Last year, Twitter stopped using the SPLC as one of its safety partners in its effort to prevent abuse, harassment, and bullying. Twitters decision to cut ties with the SPLC came at a time when the organization grappled with allegations that it promoted a toxic workplace culture. "One of the challenges of our time, without being pietistic or moralistic is to re-instil in the consciousness of our people that sense of human solidarity, of being in the world for one another and because of and through others."- Nelson Mandela Today, the world continues to face the battle of survival against the deadly COVID-19 outbreak but it seems like we are battling with another pandemic called lack of solidarity. According to WHO, on 31st December 2019 there was an outbreak of a viral pneumonia in Wuhan which led to the lockdown of China and many countries across the globe. Currently, COVID-19 has affected 215 countries with over 16 million infected cases, about 10 million recoveries and 657,987 deaths globally. This, therefore, shows the extreme damage this virus continues to ravage the world. As COVID-19 keeps wrecking our world from various sectors of humanity including economic, social, culture, diplomacy and politics, the real foundations of human solidarity continue to be tested. In the beginning of March, the quick spread of the virus across the globe, generated worldwide panic and anxiety. And in eradicating this anxiety, another pandemic of lack of solidarity has been created as some world superpowers stick to blame games against each other, racism, xenophobia and stigmatization. According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, solidarity is defined as unity (as of a group or class) that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards. The unity of the world in fighting against the pandemic looks farfetched as some leaders continue to make critical decisions which escalate the effects than the solutions. Unfortunately, US President Donald Trump recently announced that America will no longer be part of World Health Organization based on an accusation that WHO is acting under Chinas control. A move many believe will hurt the efforts of WHO because US is the organizations largest donor, which provided over $400 million in 2019, that makes up almost 15% of their entire budget. Even before the COVID-19 emerged, there existed a trade war between China and US but it seems the outbreak of the pandemic has escalated the situation. After downplaying the severity of coronavirus in January since it was declared Public Emergency by WHO, President Trump blamed China and the global health agency for failing to contain the outbreak. In rebuttal to US accusations, Lijian Zhao, spokesperson of Chinas Foreign Ministry alleged on twitter that the US military brought COVID-19 to China during the World Military games in October, 2019. These and many more blame games have been played by the Worlds leading economic powers, which is hampering solidarity efforts in the pandemic response. As the world fights against a common enemy, COVID-19, society continues to focus on our differences rather than similarities. Within the first half of 2020, there have been racial abuse cases related to the pandemic against Asians and Africans across the globe. In Australia, two Asians were attacked in Melbourne as they tried to enter a supermarket and a home owned by an Asian couple was marred with abusive messages in Sydney on the premise of COVID-19. With the increase in racial abuses during the outbreak of the pandemic, patients rejected treatment from Asian doctors in UK. In Guangzhou, a city in China, black people faced eviction from their rooms as the pandemic was ongoing. In France, during a TV debate, two French doctors suggested that trials of a COVID-19 vaccine should be done in Africa. In another barbaric incident, Jonathan Mok a Singaporean student suffered a xenophobic attack in London which left his left eye bruised. In his personal account of the incident, Mok claimed that one of his perpetrators said that I dont want your coronavirus in my country. It was also unfortunate for Donald Trump, US President and Mike Pompeo, United States Secretary of State to often claim in their press briefings that the pandemic is known as Chinese virus. COVID-19 survivors have also had their fair share of the new wave of lack of solidarity pandemic in the form of stigmatization and discrimination. In Ghana, Fred Drah, who recovered from COVID-19 narrated how together with his family are discriminated and stigmatized because of the pandemic. Increasingly, health workers at the forefront of the pandemic battle have also been stigmatized in many instances. For instance, according to media reports health personnel in countries like Mexico, Malawi and India were denied access to public transport as well as some were evicted from rented apartments. COVID-19 outbreak has shown our weakness as a united global village. The pandemic has no affiliation with any country, colour or race, profession, age group and ethnicity but what the virus attacks are humanity. Blame games by leaders, racism, xenophobia, discrimination and stigmatization are toxic ingredients which wont help in defeating this pandemic. Unfortunately, the world has seen too much hate than solidarity in our fight against the pandemic. Humanity cant allow this pandemic to keep tearing us apart. We have a generation to save; a world to protect; a story to tell tomorrow and posterity to judge us. We can only overcome crisis with solidarity. Let us unite to rise above our imperfections to achieve a common goal. As Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization rightly puts it that, the world should Fight, unite, ignite in solidarity against the virus. Author: Patrick Owusu Ansah (nansa[email protected]), Research Assistant, Shanghai International Studies University, China. In the Valley takes Serena to such a fever pitch of destruction that in a lesser writers hands it might seem overheated. But Rash maintains the deep keel that has always distinguished him and has perhaps led to him being characterized as Southern, a designation he apparently finds dismissive. He shouldnt; hes one of the best living American writers, and his laconic understatement is much more powerful than excess. Theres nothing rash about Rash. The way that influenza deaths figure in In the Valley is as terrifying as anything you may find on the subject, even if its crescendo is: By the time he got the doctor, it was too late. His family was nothing more than three filled coffins. The novellas minor characters, human and otherwise, are all drawn with exceptional care. Thats also true in the nine other stories in this slim volume, though some are very short. Ransom amounts to an extended vignette, but it captures the chemistry between a well-off college student and the man who abducts her, hoping to make only one kind of killing. The unexpected happens, as it always does with this author. And these two turn out to be just simpatico enough to leave the captive with a memory guaranteed to endure. Ransom is a new story. Others in the collection have appeared in places as varied as Best American Short Stories 2018 and the literary review Bitter Southerner (which is ironically named and well worth looking into). The opening piece, a beauty, even found its way into Best American Mystery Stories 2019 for its way of pitting exhausted Civil War troops against a woman defending her homestead. Its called Neighbors. And it revolves, as so much of Rashs work does, around secrets held deep within Southern hearts. The most haunting and darkly funny of these is The Baptism, a story that begins and ends with shotguns. The reason for the firepower: Jason Gunter, well-known neer-do-well and terrible husband, who is working up to his second marriage. His first wife either hanged herself or disappeared, depending on whom you ask in the rural spot where the story unfolds. One person who wouldnt like to be asked: Reverend Yates, who knows that Jason intends his next wife to be a very young girl. RTHK: Iran claims arrest of US-based monarchist leader Iran said on Saturday its intelligence services have detained a US-based leader of a pro-monarchist group whom it accused of being behind a deadly 2008 bombing and of plotting other attacks, and that he is being held in Iran. An intelligence ministry statement cited by state television did not say how, where or when the detention took place. Jamshid Sharmahd, the ringleader of the terrorist Tondar (Thunder) group, who directed armed and terrorist acts in Iran from America, was arrested following a complicated operation, and is now in (our agents') powerful hands, it said. Television showed a video of a man identifying himself as Sharmahd and giving his date of birth. The man was later shown with a blindfold, saying: "They needed explosives and we provided it." Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran's ambassador to Britain, said on Twitter that Sharmahd "is in custody in Iran". Tondar did not confirm the detention. In reaction to what it said were reports of Sharmahd's "abduction", the group said on its website it did not confirm "stories being told by various networks". However it said in an earlier posting on social media that "Tondar .. will continue to fight even in the absence of a commander". The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Based in Los Angeles, the little-known Kingdom Assembly of Iran, or Tondar, says it seeks to restore the Iranian monarchy that was overthrown by the 1979 Islamic revolution. It runs pro-Iranian opposition radio and television stations abroad. According to the groups website, Sharmahd is an electronics engineer who was born in 1955. The website said he is Iranian-German and lived in Germany before moving to Los Angeles in 2003. No comment was immediately available from the German foreign ministry. The Iranian ministry statement said Sharmahd planned and directed an explosion at a religious centre in the southern city of Shiraz in 2008 that killed 14 people and wounded 215. It said Iranian intelligence aborted several other plots in more recent years, including blowing up the shrine of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the late founder of the Islamic Republic. It did not say when the alleged plot was aborted. It said further details of Sharmahd's detention would be announced later. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2020-08-02. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. I think the writer should get his facts straight before pointing any fingers. Bill ONeill Ocean City Education fights poverty I am a local college student who attends Villanova University. Currently, I am a marketing intern at the Borgen Project, a non-profit organization that is aimed to resolve poverty among impoverished areas around the world. There are various factors that make up global poverty. One significant aspect is the lack of education in an area which hinders progression towards a more sustainable and suitable community. There are currently more than 130 million females that are not enrolled in any form of education. Within impoverished countries, girls from the ages of 10 through 19 are more likely than boys to be kept out of school. In essence, when these girls reach the state of adulthood, their lives are jeopardized as they are forced to drop out due to many components of family pressure such as marriage, and being a housewife. SYDNEYNew South Wales has recorded 12 new COVID-19 cases and health authorities have updated mask usage recommendations to include public-facing workers, worshippers, and people near clusters. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said authorities would not enforce mask usage in NSW but had revised their recommendations to address four specific circumstances. As well as in situations where social distancing is impossible, such as on public transport, masks should be worn in NSW by public-facing employees such as hospitality or supermarket workers, worshippers and residents of suburbs near clusters. Those who are elderly or suffer underlying health issues should also wear masks. We have been talking about masks for several weeks but obviously the persistent situation in Victoria gives us cause for alarm in terms of the potential for further seeding in NSW, and it is about risk mitigation strategy, Berejiklian told reporters on Aug. 2. Were going to the next stage of assessing what else and how else we can decrease the risk and break the current chain coming through NSW. However, Berejiklian reiterated social distancing remained the first line of defence. NSW recorded 12 new COVID-19 caseswith just one in hotel quarantinein the 24 hours to 8 p.m. on Aug. 1 from almost 22,500 tests. Eight people are in intensive care. NSW Healths Jeremy McAnulty has said seven cases in the prior week were not linked to known cases, emanating from southwestern Sydney, western Sydney, southeastern Sydney and Sydney local health districts. One additional case recorded on Aug. 2 had no known source. It comes after an 83-year-old man connected to the Crossroads Hotel cluster in southwest Sydney died on Aug. 1, taking the NSW death toll to 52 and the nationwide tally past 200. It was the first coronavirus-related death in NSW since late May. The Thai Rock Wetherill Park cluster in western Sydney is nearing 100 cases, while the cluster in Potts Point in the east has reached 24 and the funeral events cluster in the west sits at 33. A popular venue on Sydneys Northern Beaches, meanwhile, was on Saturday forced to shut after hosting a COVID-positive patron on the afternoon of July 24. The Bavarian restaurant in Manly underwent deep cleaning and reopened to the public on Saturday afternoon. Patrons on the afternoon of July 24 should monitor for respiratory symptoms. The Harpoon & Hotel Harry in Surry Hills, Matinee Coffee in Marrickville and Tan Viet in Cabramatta are among other venues required to undertake deep cleaning in recent days. By Angelo Risso The BJP government denies accusations the charges against the left-wing activists are politically motivated. The United Nations has joined the calls for the release of human rights activists in India who are in prison awaiting trial under anti-terrorism laws. The conservative BJP government denies accusations by rights groups the charges against the left-wing activists are politically motivated. Many rights groups are asking the government why it has not investigated the alleged role of Hindu nationalists in the violence that Rao and Bharadwaj are in jail for, even though a fact-finding mission found Hindu nationalist leaders were responsible. Al Jazeeras Elizabeth Puranam reports from New Delhi, India. After clouds arrive from the coast in the early morning, forecasters say, Sunday will gradually become sunny over the course of the day and top out near 84 degrees. Through Tuesday night, wind will bring clouds and fog along the coast, and any clouds arriving in the Portland metro area will scatter in the late morning. In Eugene and the rest of the central and southern Willamette Valley, skies will stay clear. The first week of August will be sunny and until Thursday have highs in the low to mid-80s. The temperature will peak Wednesday with a high of 85 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. A cold front moving across western Oregon and Washington brings cooler temperatures and clouds Thursday, with a high near 75 and a chance of morning showers, especially north of Salem. Friday and Saturday are expected to be sunny with peak temperatures near the low 80s. Ryan Nguyen; rnguyen@oregonian.com; @ryanjjnguyen Harsh rhetoric from Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah appeared to threaten further conflict after border unrest this week, but experts predict both sides will try to avoid escalation. As the coronavirus pandemic has deepened Lebanon's economic turmoil and also rocked Israeli politics, the last thing either of the arch foes wants now is a new military conflict, they argue. Tensions spiked last Monday along the UN-demarcated Blue Line after months of relative calm when Israel said it thwarted an infiltration attempt by up to five Hezbollah gunmen, a claim denied by the Iran-backed group. Israel reported an exchange of fire that forced the "terrorists" back into Lebanon and said it fired artillery across the heavily guarded border for "defensive" purposes. The incident came a week after an alleged Israeli missile attack hit positions of Syrian regime forces and their allies south of Damascus on July 20, killing five, including a Hezbollah member. Hezbollah said at the time a response to the deadly Syria strike was "inevitable", heightening tensions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Monday that Hezbollah was "playing with fire" and that Israel's response to the border incursion would "be very strong". The United Nations peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) on patrol along the southern Lebanese border with Israel near the northern Israeli town of Metula on July 28 / AFP/File Since then the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) remain on "alert" to see if Hezbollah is "going to do anything else," said analyst Orna Mizrahi of the Institute for National Security Studies. However, Mizrahi, who previously served in Netanyahu's national security office, argued that a full-blown escalation now was in neither side's interest. With the pandemic wreaking havoc -- especially in Lebanon, stuck in its deepest economic crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war -- she argued that "both sides don't want a conflict now". - 'False calm' - The last major conflict between Israel and Hezbollah broke out in 2006. A month of fighting left more than 1,200 Lebanese dead, mostly civilians, and killed 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers. The Blue Line has remained tense ever since, as an AFP team experienced on a visit last month, 10 days before the border incident. Officer Jonathan Goshen said Israeli forces could see Hezbollah "preparing for the next war". Armoured vehicles and 155 mm self-propelled howitzers are deployed in the Upper Galilee in northern Israel on the border with Lebanon on July 27 / AFP/File Hezbollah's military presence along the Blue Line is not immediately visible to visiting reporters, but a March report from the United Nations said the group has fighters and weapons deployed there. "The border looks calm, but it isn't," Goshen told AFP, weaving in a Jeep amid the trees near Metula, the northernmost village on the Israeli side. According to Goshen, when Israeli forces approach the Blue Line, "it's quiet for the first 10 minutes and then we see them coming all the time, trying to collect intelligence". During AFP's visit, a small group was visible moving among the fruit trees on the Lebanese side, sparking heated discussion among IDF troops on whether they were Hezbollah or farmers. "Hezbollah!" Goshen said, before ordering his soldiers to pull back. - Avoiding 'imbroglio' - The Israeli northern town of Metula in the foreground and the Lebanese southern plain of Marjayoun / AFP/File Hezbollah specialist Didier Leroy of the Royal Higher Institute for Defence also argued that the group remains primarily focused on the turmoil gripping Lebanon, which has seen protests since last year against a political system widely deemed corrupt and incompetent. The demonstrations, which have also shaken Hezbollah strongholds, are a "significant factor" in its calculations, he said, adding that "the atmosphere in Lebanon is not favourable for a hardline anti-Israel agenda". While Israel's financial crisis is less severe, the Jewish state is struggling to contain surging coronavirus transmission while street protests over economic hardship, and against right-wing Netanyahu's leadership, have grown by the week. Nahum Barnea of the Yediot Aharonoth newspaper, one of Israel's most prominent columnists, reported that when the gunmen crossed the Blue Line, IDF soldiers were ordered to take extraordinary steps to avoid an escalation. "What made the engagement unusual, maybe even unprecedented, was the unequivocal (do not kill) order that the IDF soldiers were given," Barnea wrote. The Israeli army declined to comment when asked by AFP if its soldiers indeed had orders to refrain from using lethal force. Barnea, in his column, argued that "the logic behind the decision is clear: killing members of the cell would have necessarily led to a day of fighting in the north, and maybe more than one day. "The decision-makers faced the imbroglio from 2006: they didn't want to roll into the Third Lebanon War." burs-cgo/bs/fz The chief of Uttar Pradesh's BJP unit, Swatantra Dev Singh, has tested positive for COVID-19 and has quarantined himself at his home as per doctors' advice. Singh made public this information on Sunday in a tweet in Hindi. "I had been experiencing initial symptoms of COVID-19 and underwent a test for it. I was found positive for COVID-19, said Singh in his tweet. The leader also requested his acquaintances who came in his contact recently to get themselves tested for the infection. I request every person who came in my contact to get themselves tested for infection and quarantine themselves as per the guidelines," he added in his tweet. "On the advice of doctors, I have quarantined myself at my home. I request all the residents of UP to exercise caution and strictly adhere to the guidelines of the government," he said in another tweet. Also Read: Coronavirus update: Over 54,000 COVID-19 cases in India in single day, tally breaches 17 lakh-mark Also Read: Indian, Chinese commanders to hold Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo today Almost five in six office employees will stay at home today despite the Governments drive to get staff to return to their workplaces. A Mail audit of 30 of Britains biggest firms, representing 320,000 employees, found that just 17 per cent of office-based staff would travel to work this week. Boris Johnson had heralded today the first Monday in August as the day work from home guidance ends and Britain should return to the office. He said Britons could go back to the workplace at the discretion of their employers and would no longer be advised to stay away from public transport. Almost five in six office employees will stay at home today despite the Governments drive to get staff to return to their workplaces. With offices closed and staff working from home, Canary Wharf remained eerily quiet last Monday Canary Wharf is usually bustling during typical evening rush hours, with thousands working at the East London landmark But many businesses are not planning for most workers to return to offices until at least towards the end of the year, while the likes of Facebook and bank RBS said staff will not go back until 2021. Just one firm surveyed, investment bank JP Morgan, had set a target for a substantial return to the office today just 2,400 of its 19,000 staff. On Radio 4's Today Programme the chief executive of British Land, who of the largest commercial landlord's in the country, said that some businesses may not return to the office until early next year. Chris Grigg said: 'I don't think we are going to see an instantaneous return and I think we are going to see a big variety. We are talking to some people who want most, if not all of their people back but in September, which seems to be a key time. Law centres risk closure Law centres across the country could collapse during the coronavirus pandemic, MPs have warned. Without more funding, not-for-profit legal services providers could disappear putting access to justice at risk for those who need it, the House of Commons justice committee said. A report by the committee into the impact of coronavirus on the legal professions in England and Wales said publicly funded providers must be supported now to ensure they are there to give access to real justice in future. It warned that the coronavirus pandemic had caused massive disruption to the legal system. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said: I am working very hard, not just with the Treasury but internally, to see what more can be done to help the flow of regular income to the professions, particularly those at the sharp end of legal aid. Advertisement 'But others are going to wait longer I think, throughout the rest of the year and in some cases into early next.' He added that public transport and kids and schooling were factors impacting the return of staff to offices. Mr Grigg added: 'That issue of how to look after your children with both partners working is something which I think employers have to be sensitive to.' The approach taken by white-collar workers is in stark contrast to building sites, warehouses, shops and restaurants where staff have been at their workplace for weeks. The Government has been criticised for failing to hammer home its back-to-work message. Kevin Ellis, chairman of accountancy giant PwC, which has 22,000 staff in Britain, said he believed his employees would only spend three or four days per week at work even after the pandemic. It had 5,000 staff in its offices last week and he hoped to reach 11,000 by the end of this week. The Mail contacted 60 of Britains biggest firms and half provided a response. Of the 320,000 workers, there are just over 53,000 going into the office. Three companies said their employees would not return to work until 2021, while a further nine had not confirmed a date. Barclays boss Jes Staley, who still has 60,000 staff working at home, said the return to the office would happen over time. Aerospace firm Airbus said staff would return from the middle of this month. Four firms, including Vodafone, will return from September, Microsoft will bring staff back from November and the London Stock Exchange will bring 30 per cent back in December. WH Smith and catering company Compass said their offices were open, but the decision on whether to return is voluntary. Unilever will ask staff to return from September in a hybrid system where people come into the office only a few days a week. BT said it would only ask staff to return when we are confident it is safe. The Mails findings come as a report published today said Londons pubs, shops and restaurants alone had lost 2.3billion in lunch and after-work trade between March and June. The Centre for Economics and Business Research calculated the cost of lockdown to ghost town Londons hospitality sector at 25million per day. I t said the new normal where close to one in three work from home on any given day will drain 178million per month from Londons hospitality and retail sectors. The alarming analysis has re-ignited fears there will be a bloodbath of businesses across cities such as Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh, with consequences for the wider economy. Around 6,000 jobs have already been lost at baguette seller Upper Crust and Pret a Manger, and city centre burger chain Byron has shut half its restaurants and axed 650 staff. Former President John Dramani Mahama has berated President Akufo-Addo for using executive power to foment ethnic discrimination and abuse. This is not the Ghana our forebears toiled for and built! Each and every successive President left a peaceful, stable and united country, he fumed. There has been a barrage of reports and videos of the Presidents deployment and alleged discriminatory use of soldiers to target people in the Volta Region and settlements of Voltarians and non-Akans in the ongoing voters registration exercise. The former Leader in a Facebook post said: These calculated acts of dehumanisation, disenfranchising Ghanaians and stripping them of their citizenship must end. The road President Akufo-Addo is taking our beautiful country through, using the military and party thugs to stop people from exercising their right to register and vote in the upcoming December elections, is dangerous and unacceptable, he added. He claimed never will this spectacle happen under a new NDC administration, saying we will foster a spirit of peace and unity in our nation. He pledged: As Commander-in-Chief, I will not use our military in such a partisan manner to terrorize our own people, and in matters that are purely civil and dwell in the very heart of our constitutional democracy. Source: kasapafmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video There were no marchers, no chanting, no raised fists on the quiet West Oakland street. Just the sound of a mothers voice on the verge of tears. When one of our young Black men or Black women are killed, it should affect the community. This continues to happen in our community over and over. Black lives matter. All lives matter. Jeffery Chambers life mattered, his mother, Dorothy Grant, told the few assembled reporters. The gathering was small. A news conference of family members organized with the help of Oakland police in an effort to solve the stabbing death of Lil Jeff, a 25-year-old with a history of schizophrenia, described by his family as loving and funny. Chambers lived on and off the streets for years. His only contacts with law enforcement stemmed from his mental health issues. He was stabbed in the early hours of July 17 while sleeping on a couch on the sidewalk of Eighth and Campbell streets in West Oakland, just across from Prescott Elementary School, which he had attended as a child. Our whole family is Oakland born and raised, and we have never been touched by violence like this, his aunt, Debra Chambers, said. We live with it all around us, but we were never touched by it like this. He wasnt about going out or selling drugs or guns or anything like that. He was goofy kid, a kind kid. It could happen to someone you love, said his father, Jeffery Chambers Sr. Chambers was one of 48 homicide victims in Oakland this year. His loved ones want the world to know that Chambers life mattered and to plead for anyone who might have information on his death to come forward. They had another message as well. When we say Black Lives Matter, we need to start with our own race first, the elder Chambers said. Police had no details about a suspect in the killing. Photos by Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle You dont hear about this kind of crime all across the city. You hear about it here, East Oakland City Councilman Larry Reid said. This is where we have the shootings and homicides. And who are the people committing them? People who look like me. Meanwhile, the debate at City Hall is about defunding the Police Department. A large part of the people who protest and show up at the City Council and my house demanding that we defund the police do not live in East Oakland or the flatlands, East Oakland Councilman Loren Taylor said. They dont have to deal with crime and the aftermath. On Tuesday, the Oakland City Council voted unanimously to hand the defunding issue over to a yet-to-be-named task force. The goal is to come up with a plan to cut police funding by 50% over the next two years, with the funds instead going into community and health services. Crime, however, is still pervasive in Oakland, critics of defunding say. Yalonda M. James / The Chronicle There have been 1,757 aggravated assaults, 192 shootings into occupied homes and cars, and 102 shootings into cars and homes that were unoccupied in the first six months of the year, according to Oakland Police Department reports. Cutting and diverting funding is a popular idea, but Taylor said the goal of reducing crime must be included as well. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. There needs to be a balance between the need for police response and improving police accountability, she said. If we are to defund the police, the money should first go into alternatives to policing that improve public safety and crime prevention. Then we can have the conversation about funding other programs. The family of Lil Jeff has a more immediate goal. The person or people who killed my innocent son needs to be brought to justice, Grant told reporters. For Chambers aunt, its about the police doing more than just driving through the neighborhood. We need more experienced police. Its one thing to go to academy, but its another thing to actually know the hood and know how to relate to people and how to approach a situation, Debra Chambers said. Crime, community, cops, controversy and another family mourning its loss. Thats the story of Oakland, Reid said. And it has been the story for as long as anyone can remember. This story has been updated to reflect that police had no information about a suspect. In addition, a quotation was removed that included the words Black-on-Black killing. The phrase has been criticized for wrongly suggesting Black people are prone to criminal acts and prone to committing crimes against one another. A reference to the quotation was also removed from the headline. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phil Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KGO-TV morning and evening news and can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier Ministers have abandoned a key pledge to test all care home residents for coronavirus regularly throughout the summer, it has been reported. Government officials had promised to regularly test up to two million care home residents and staff in a bid to keep track of the virus. But in a move which could plunge the government's test and trace system into chaos, officials now say they will axe the current timetable for the plans due to 'unexpected delays', according to the Sunday Times. Regular testing for older care home residents and those with dementia was due to take place from July 6. But the paper reports that in a leaked memo sent to local authority chief executives on Friday night, the government's adult social care testing director, Professor Jane Cummings, said the ' timelines were being moved to September. In the leaked memo, Professor Cummings also admitted that the system for registering tests was 'unnecessarily burdensome', the Times reports. However a Department for Health and Social Care spokesperson today said it was continuing to issue 'at least 50,000 tests a day' to care homes across the country and said it was 'completely wrong' to suggest care homes were being deliberately deprived of testing kits. Ministers have abandoned a key pledge to test all care home residents for coronavirus regularly throughout the summer, it has been reported Government officials had promised to regularly test up to two million care home residents and staff in a bid to keep track of the virus As many as 20,000 care home residents may have died of coronavirus in the UK since the pandemic began. A senior public health official told the Times that more lives would 'undoubtedly' be lost as a result. Meanwhile the axing of the current timeline could throw the NHS test and trace scheme into chaos - after the government's own scientific committee, SAGE, called for regular testing to stop the virus spreading between care homes. Today a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said they would not comment on the leaked memo. However, a in a statement, the spokesperson said: 'It is completely wrong to suggest care homes were deliberately deprived of testing resources and any care home resident or member of staff with symptoms can immediately access a free test. 'We continue to issue at least 50,000 tests a day to care homes across the country and prioritise tests for higher-risk outbreak areas. 'A combination of factors have meant that a more limited number of testing kits, predominantly used in care homes are currently available for asymptomatic retesting and we are working round the clock with providers to restore capacity.' The leaked memo comes after it was revealed that a large number of overs 50s could be given orders to stay at home as part of Boris Johnson's 'nuclear plans' to avoid another national lockdown. In a more 'segmented approach' to dealing with future lockdowns, people aged between 50 and 70 would be given personalised risk ratings - taking into accounts factors like their age and conditions - and asked to shield in the event of an outbreak. The plans could prove controversial as the factors under which the elderly could be asked to self-isolate might be more heavily influenced by age than clinical vulnerabilities. The advice for shielding was only lifted on Saturday for those in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and remains in place until August 16 for those shielding in Wales. It comes after Mr Johnson was forced to announce a slow down of the lockdown easing on Friday, with planned relaxations for the leisure and beauty sectors delayed after a rise in Covid-19 cases was recorded, with prevalence in the community thought to be rising for the first time since May. In other developments yesterday: Britain suffers 771 more Covid-19 cases and 74 deaths amid warnings the infection rate could be at 'tipping point'; Eden in Cumbria, Sandwell in the Midlands, Northampton, Peterborough, Rotherham and Wakefield were yesterday revealed as six places which are on the government's coronavirus 'watch-list'; Passengers arriving at Heathrow's Terminal 5 were left furious after they were forced to queue for hours with no social distancing; Holland's top scientists said there's no solid evidence coverings work and warn they could even damage the fight against Covid-19; Russia is preparing for a mass coronavirus vaccination campaign in October after finishing clinical trials - with teachers and doctors first in line; Arsenal fans ignored Covid-19 social distancing rules to celebrate outside the Emirates Stadium after the Gunners beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final. A large number of overs 50s could be given orders to stay at home as part of Boris Johnson's 'nuclear plans' to avoid another national lockdown 'At the moment, shielding is binary, you're either on this list or off it,' a source told the Sunday Times. 'But we know there isn't a simple cut-off at age 70. People would get a personalised risk assessment. The risk rises after 50, quite gently to start with, and then accelerates after age 70.' The Prime Minister held a 'war game' session with Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday to run through possible options for averting another nationwide lockdown that could stall any potential economic recovery, according to the newspaper. It is believed Mr Johnson last week compared the prospect of a full national lockdown to a 'nuclear deterrent' to be as a last resort, but aides now say he is wants smaller 'tactical' nuclear weapons with which to fight covid-19. Along with the head of the Covid-19 taskforce, Simon Case, Mr Sunak and other senior figures, the group held an hour-long discussion on three outbreak scenarios; one in northwestern England, one in London and finally a general increase across the country. In a more 'segmented approach' to dealing with future lockdowns, people aged between 50 and 70 would be given personalised risk ratings - taking into accounts factors like their age and conditions - and asked to shield in the event of an outbreak A significant proposal in the national model was reimposing the shielding programme, based on their age or particular risk factors that have been identified since March. Other ideas mooted should the R-rate escalate in the capital include restricting travel beyond the M25 and putting a stop to staying at other people's houses - similar to policies implemented in local lockdowns imposed in Leicester and parts of the north-west of England in recent days. And in a move that would burst the public's figurative 'bubbles', ministers could ban mixing of households indoors (including overnight stays), as has happened in the nine local authorities under a partial lockdown in north west England. The move could have been inspired by test and trace data seen by Health Secretary Matt Hancock just before the meeting which showed that the top two ways the virus was transmitted were by an infected person visiting the subject's house, and by that person visiting an infected friend. CASES ARE ON THE UP... AND THE R RATE MAY BE ABOVE ONE Coronavirus cases in England are now at the highest levels since May and government scientists are 'no longer confident' the crucial R rate is below the dreaded level of one. Government statisticians yesterday admitted there is 'now enough evidence' to prove Covid-19 infections are on the up, calculating that 4,200 people are now catching the virus each day in England alone. The estimate by the Office for National Statistics, which tracks the size of the outbreak by swabbing thousands of people, has doubled since the end of June and is 68 per cent up on the 2,500 figure given a fortnight ago. One in 1,500 people currently have the coronavirus - 0.07 per cent of the population. But experts believe the rate is twice as high in London and still rising. The figure does not include care homes and hospitals. Number 10's scientific advisers also upped the R rate in the UK, saying they now believe it stands between 0.8 and 0.9. It had been as low as 0.7 since May. SAGE also revealed the growth rate - the average number of people each Covid-19 patient infects - may have jumped to above one in the South West, home to the stay-cation hotspots of Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. And they said it was likely to be equally high in the North West. Matt Hancock last night announced tough new lockdown measures in Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Advertisement Going to work was only third on the list and going out shopping lower still. But Downing Street sources distanced themselves from the detail in the reports, calling them 'speculative'. On top of the alleged lockdown avoidance preparations, experts have speculated that ministers might have to order the closure of pubs, which were permitted to start serving again on July 4, if schools are to reopen fully in September. Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said earlier a 'trade off' could be required if the Prime Minister's pledge is to be met. His comments followed chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty's remarks that the country was 'near the limit' for opening up society following the coronavirus lockdown. The moves in Whitehall are seen as a clear indication that ministers are prepared to dial down social interactions to ensure that schools can open again next month and shops can keep doing business. Boris Johnson previously pledged that all pupils at both primary and secondary schools in England will return in September, following months of closures for most students. But leading scientists and the head of a major teaching union last night amid signs that cases of Covid-19 are increasing again at an alarming rate. Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said the Government will need to provide 'clarification' to schools. He told the Observer: 'In light of recent changes to plans for relaxing lockdown measures, the Government needs to provide greater clarity to school leaders, teachers and parents about what this will mean for the reopening of schools in September.' A warning from chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty that the country is 'near the limit' for opening up society will prompt questions for parents as well as teachers, Mr Roach told the newspaper. 'If schools are to reopen safely, the government will need to give them clarification about what they need to do to take account of the latest scientific evidence and advice, as well as sufficient time to review and, if necessary, adjust their reopening plans,' he added. Meanwhile, Dr Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, told the Observer that although risks to children and teachers are likely to be low, this transmission would increase infection rates. The Prime Minister held a 'war game' session with Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday to run through possible options for averting another nationwide lockdown that could stall any potential economic recovery 'Would reopening schools increase the spread of Covid-19 in the population? Yes. I think it would very probably do that,' he told the newspaper. It comes after a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said ministers might have to consider closing pubs in England in order for lessons to start again next month. Sage member warns England should consider closing pubs to open schools next month Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said England could have to consider closing pubs in order to reopen schools next month. When asked about the chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty's prediction that the country was 'near the limits' of opening up society, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine academic told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think that's quite possible. 'I think we're in a situation whereby most people think that opening schools is a priority for the health and wellbeing of children and that when we do that we are going to reconnect lots of households. 'And so actually, closing some of the other networks, some of the other activities may well be required to enable us to open schools. 'It might come down to a question of which do you trade off against each other and then that's a matter of prioritising, do we think pubs are more important than schools?' Advertisement Professor Graham Medley, who chairs the Sage sub-group on pandemic modelling, said this scenario was 'quite possible'. 'I think we're in a situation whereby most people think that opening schools is a priority for the health and wellbeing of children and that when we do that we are going to reconnect lots of households,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'And so actually, closing some of the other networks, some of the other activities may well be required to enable us to open schools. 'It might come down to a question of which do you trade off against each other and then that's a matter of prioritising, do we think pubs are more important than schools?' Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was forced to deny that it had abandoned its pledge to regularly test care home residents through the summer following a leaked memo from Professor Jane Cummings, the Government's adult social care testing director. The Tory administration has come in for criticism for failing to do more to prevent Covid-19 infections from reaching care homes, where some of the country's most vulnerable population reside, during the initial spring peak. According to the Times, Prof Cummings wrote to local authority leaders to inform them that 'previously advised timelines for rolling out regular testing in care homes' were being altered because of 'unexpected delays'. Regular testing of residents and staff was meant to have started on July 6 but will now be pushed back until September 7 for older people and those with dementia, PA news agency understands. A department spokeswoman confirmed there were issues with 'asymptomatic re-testing'. The problems relate to a combination of factors, including a restraint on the ability to build testing kits, already announced issues with Randox swab kits, overall lab capacity, and greater than anticipated return rate of care home test kits. The DHSC spokeswoman said: 'It is completely wrong to suggest care homes were deliberately deprived of testing resources and any care home resident or member of staff with symptoms can immediately access a free test. 'We continue to issue at least 50,000 tests a day to care homes across the country and prioritise tests for higher-risk outbreak areas. 'A combination of factors have meant that a more limited number of testing kits, predominantly used in care homes, are currently available for asymptomatic re-testing and we are working round the clock with providers to restore capacity.' DHSC said it would not comment on leaked documents when asked about Prof Cummings' memo. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Sunday said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to declare the locust attack a national disaster. "The locust outbreak in the state is very fierce. Barring two or three districts, all 33 locusts have been attacked by locusts. The crops are getting damaged," Gehlot told reporters in Jaisalmer. He said he has requested the Prime Minister to declare the locust outbreak a national disaster. Locusts come to India via Africa and other countries including Pakistan and they are breeding at a large scale here. Gehlot reached Jaisalmer from Jaipur on Sunday after meeting state Congress MLAs holed up in a resort in tight security. "How long can the farmer tolerate crop damage? They should get full compensation from the government. I hope the Prime Minister will pay attention to this," Gehlot said He said in the video conference of chief ministers with PM Modi too, he had raised the issue of the loss to farmers due to the locust attack. Gehlot said Prime Minister Modi had taken interest in it and asked about the affected districts. (Photo Credit: PTI) The spread of the coronavirus infection is declining or stabilizing in 80 Russian regions, Russias chief sanitary doctor Anna Popova said in an interview with Vesti program on Rossiya-1 TV channel on Sunday, TASS reports. "The situation in each region is different, basically today there are 80 regions of the Russian Federation where there is either clear stabilization [of the situation with the disease spread] or decline [in cases]. Only in five regions we observe not very significant and not very evident but unfortunately explained growth," the head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing said. The chief sanitary doctor noted that the growth in COVID-19 cases could have been caused by hastily lifted restrictions or negligence. In some regions the authorities jumped the gun with ending the lockdown and in others people were skeptical over the coronavirus threat, she explained. Since the start of the pandemic, over 17.8 mln people have been infected worldwide and more than 685,000 deaths have been reported. To date, 850,870 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Russia, with 650,173 patients having recovered from the disease. Russias latest data indicates 14,128 fatalities nationwide. Earlier, the Russian government set up an Internet hotline to keep the public updated on the coronavirus situation. WASHINGTON The Lincoln Project is a group of self-described alienated Republicans who want to make sure President Donald Trump loses in November. Toward that end, the group has endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president. Led by notables such as George Conway, who obsessively berates the boss of his wife, Kellyanne, on Twitter, as well as one-time GOP heavyweights Steve Schmidt and John Weaver, the group claims its goal is to reclaim the soul of the Republican Party. That is impossible to believe, because theyre working not only to oust Trump but also to hand the Senate over to Democrats. If they succeed, the Democratic Party would control the White House and both houses of Congress. Every conservative policy theyve allegedly worked to make happen would be trampled in a remorseless stampede of liberal activism. They claim they are being true to the Constitution as they clear the way for judges who see the indispensable document as the fruit of the poisonous tree. In a December New York Times opinion piece, Lincoln founders wrote that they would punish Republicans who have exhibited a craven acquiescence to Trump. Then who do they pick on? Not the folks who wouldnt care if Trump shot someone on Fifth Avenue. Lincoln Project has targeted vulnerable Republican Senators like Maines Susan Collins. In a $1 million ad campaign, the group charges Collins never stands up to Trump and dismisses her as a Trump stooge. The male narrator also warned that Trump and McConnell controlled her voice. Be it noted, Collins publicly announced in 2016 she would not vote for her partys nominee. As she wrote in The Washington Post, Collins could not countenance the GOP nominees remarks about the disabled, a judge of Mexican heritage and his disparaging of two Gold Star Muslim parents. As proof, the ad offers Collins record of voting with Trump and McConnell 67.5% of the time which in this hyperpartisan age shows unusual independence. By that FiveThirtyEight metric, Collins voted with GOP leadership less than any other Republican in the Senate. In 2017, the Lugar Center named Collins the most bipartisan lawmaker in the Senate because she works with people who have won elections. Did I mention that the group raised $16.8 million from April through June and a big chunk of that pile came from billionaire Democratic donors? But you already figured that out. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, investor Stephen Mandel gave $1 million to the Lincoln Project. Hollywood big-shot David Geffen, Bain Capital exec Joshua Bekenstein and billionaire Amos Hostetter, all big Dem donors, gave $100,000 to the project. The Center describes the Lincoln Project as a liberal super PAC. Some of that money, the Center noted, has found its way into the coffers of its board members and firms run by them. I talked to Lincoln Project co-founder Mike Madrid, who told me, I have not received any compensation at this point. He added: If I wanted to make money, I would have gotten involved in the grift that is the Trump campaign and Trump operation. A veteran GOP operative with an expertise in Latino voting trends, Madrid told me before he is a Republican, he is a conservative and an American. He is not coy about his belief that Trump is a racist who should have been impeached. Trumps Thursday tweet in which he floated the idea delaying the Nov. 3 election should settle that score, he said. Thus, the Lincoln Project has waged war, not just on Trump, but also Trumpism, which is a threat to the Republic, hence the decision to go after those who are enablers. Collins did not vote to impeach Trump, Madrid said. So she has to go. If the Democrats take the Senate, so be it. Hes being true to his conservative principles. There is a true French Revolution fervor to the Lincoln Projects bid to punish not just Trump but those associated with him and there is no such thing as too much character assassination. The group also popped out a nasty ad about Ivanka Trump, the presidents elder daughter and senior adviser that lampoons her Find Something New campaign which helps workers find more fulfilling career paths outside the traditional four-year college route. You can even get a job in the White House. Just ask daddy, the bubbly Valley Girl narrator offers. They dont mention Ivanka Trump doesnt cash a paycheck. Really, its just plain mean that they have attacked her for trying to help non-college graduates, a wonky issue that she has embraced, adopting wonk lingo, using partner as a verb and spending way too much time with put-a-mirror-under-his-nose-to-see-if-hes-alive Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross because she cares about this agenda. The ad is a primal scream of outrage that Ivanka Trump isnt the shallow fashionista they want her to be. The streets have given testament to rage on the American left. Social media are the venue for rage among the American right. Here you see the fury of the GOPs no longer wanted luminaries. They say they love the country. They say theyre going after bad Republicans because they love their party. Yeah, right. Women know that kind of love. Its the kind that drives a man to his nightstand where he thinks he will find the answer to his pain. And when he points that barrel at his wife, hell call it love. But what he is thinking is: If I cant have you, nobody can. Contact Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@reviewjournal.com or 202-662-7391. Follow @DebraJSaunders on Twitter. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The attorney general has said that there is no obligation on the Central government to pay the GST compensation shortfall to the states. New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the Attorney General's view on GST compensation was sought after consultation with the states and a meeting of the GST Council would be held to discuss the legal opinion. The finance minister was responding to a question on apprehensions raised by certain states about the reported AG opinion on GST compensation. "This matter was discussed in the GST Council meeting when it met last time. Members expressed their views on the matter and it was decided that legal opinion should be taken from AG," Sitharaman told reporters. The GST Council, chaired by the Union finance minister and comprising state counterparts, had in March decided to seek views from the AG, who is the chief legal officer of the government, on the legality of market borrowing by the Council to make good the shortfall in the compensation fund. "The opinion has come...we will hold an exclusive GST Council meeting on the issue of compensation," Sitharaman said, adding that the date of the meeting will be decided shortly. According to sources, the Attorney General has opined that there is no obligation on the central government to pay the GST compensation shortfall to the states and GST Council has to decide on ways to make good the shortfall in the compensation fund. The payment of GST compensation to states became an issue after revenues from the imposition of cess started dwindling since August 2019 and the Centre had to dive into the excess cess amount collected during 2017-18 and 2018-19. Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law, states were guaranteed to be compensated bi-monthly for any loss of revenue in the first five years of the GST implementation from 1 July 2017. The shortfall is calculated assuming a 14 percent annual growth in GST collections by states over the base year of 2015-16. Under the GST structure, taxes are levied under 5 percent, 12 percent, 18 percent, and 28 percent slabs. On top of the highest tax slab, a cess is levied on luxury, sin, and demerit goods, and the proceeds from the same are used to compensate states for any revenue loss. The Centre had released over Rs 1.65 lakh crore in 2019-20 as GST compensation. However, the amount of cess collected during the year 2019-20 was Rs 95,444 crore. The compensation payout amount was Rs 69,275 crore in 2018-19 and Rs 41,146 crore in 2017-18. The irony is palpable. A senator whose nom de famille is Cotton finds it problematic that the 1619 Project would offer pedagogy that differed from the more acceptable understanding of African American slavery. But the New York Times-developed school curriculum, which takes its name from the year enslaved Africans arrived in Point Comfort, Va., near Jamestown, that reexamines the legacy of slavery in America, finds itself in the crosshairs of Arkansas senator Tom Cottons legislative ire. Sen. Cotton calls the 1619 Project racially divisive and wants to prevent its curriculum from being taught in U.S. schools by denying federal funding. Sen. Cotton recently offered this insight to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: We have to study the history of slavery and its role and impact on the development of our country because otherwise we cant understand our country. Had Sen. Cotton ended his remarks at this point, there would have been no need for further discussion. He simply reiterated the goals of the 1619 Project. COVID-19 death toll in Texas went down after error on the system. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) took action by revising the death count accordingly after a technical glitch had mistakenly attributed to the coronavirus deaths. For the week of July 27, DSHS corrected the fatality of COVID-19 and announced it in a tweet on Thursday. DSHS acknowledged the error and stated on a Twitter post, "An automation error caused 225 fatalities to be included even though COVID-19 was not listed as a direct cause of death on the death certificate." An automation error caused 225 fatalities to be included even though COVID-19 was not listed as a direct cause of death on the death certificate. pic.twitter.com/4mKBzjIrfO DSHS corrects COVID-19 fatality counts for the week of July 27.An automation error caused 225 fatalities to be included even though COVID-19 was not listed as a direct cause of death on the death certificate. #COVID19TX dashboard: https://t.co/ofycOLqWQZ Texas DSHS (@TexasDSHS) July 30, 2020 In the Texas COVID-19 dashboard, the following correction was displayed. The task force members for COVID-19 like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House voice, and Dr. Robert Redfield, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director testified on Friday before the House Select Subcommittee concerning the nation's strategy as well as the virus. USA Today reported that Dr. Fauci expressed his hope for the safe and effective vaccine, which would be available for Americans in the late fall or early winter. Meanwhile, Redfield advised Americans to get flu shots this year. "If there are coronavirus and flu activity at the same time, this could place a tremendous burden on the healthcare system related to bed occupancy, personal protective equipment, laboratory testing needs, and healthcare worker safety," Redfield said. The U.S COVID-10 advisers acknowledged the delays and shortages in virus testing as the U.S grappled with surging cases and rising death toll. The lead adviser on testing for Trump's administration, Admiral Brett Giroir, told lawmakers that it is impossible to get all test results back within 48 to 72 hours due to the demand and supply of tests. "We cannot test our way out of this or any other pandemic," Giroir said in his opening remarks during the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. D-N.Y Rep. Nydia Velazquez asked Dr. Fauci if the increase of COVID-19 cases was linked to the rise in testing, as the president has repeatedly claimed. Dr. Fauci disputed the claim and explained that the increase in positive cases was real. Fauci reiterated that if we do more testing, we will see more cases. However, the increase that we are seeing are real increases and also reflects the increase in hospitalization and deaths. Meanwhile, the CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield promoted the general reopening of schools earlier this month during a Buck Institute Webinar streamed on July 14. Dr. Redfield highlighted the low risk of coronavirus for children without the existing conditions and the spike in suicides and drug overdoses that Redfield pointed to as "far greater" in number than the coronavirus-linked deaths of the young ages. "It isn't a risk of school openings versus public health. It's public health versus public health," Redfield said. Check these out: COVID-19 and Its Positive Consequence: Long-Lost Sisters Reunite After More Than 50 Years COVID-19 Eye Transmission: Should We All Be Wearing Goggles or Face Shields? USC Reports Coronavirus Outbreak at Fraternity Row, 40 Infected Eid al-Adha, a major Muslim festival, was observed by thousands over the weekend although the coronavirus pandemic has thwarted traditional celebrations. The big picture: The United Arab Emirates closed mosques for Eid prayers, the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia was scaled down, Oman reinstated a nighttime curfew, and Lebanon and Iraq recently entered two-week lockdowns, the Wall Street Journal reports. The pandemic had made it "harder for many to fulfill the religious tradition of purchasing livestock" for the Feast of Sacrifice, PBS reports. Muslims around the world stayed at home or with relatives for the holiday. Of note: Some of the earliest outbreaks of the virus were traced to religious services or pilgrimages. Countries including Saudi Arabia "reported a big jump in cases following the Eid al-Fitr festival in May after restrictions were eased," WSJ reports. The Saudi Health Ministry said that no coronavirus infections have been reported from the small number of pilgrims allowed to perform the hajj this year, per PBS. Morning prayers at the Jama Masjid mosque in New Delhi, India, on Aug. 1. Photo: Naveen Sharma/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images A Palestinian couple at the Dead Sea on Aug. 2 during the Eid al-Adha holiday. Photo: Hazem Bader/AFP via Getty Images Morning prayer at Hagia Sophia mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, on Aug. 2. Photo: Islam Yakut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Morning prayers at the Jama Masjid mosque in New Delhi, India, on Aug. 1. Photo: Naveen Sharma/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Raw hides of sacrificial animals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Aug. 1. Photo: Ahmed Salahuddin/NurPhoto via Getty Images Prayer in Dhaka on Aug. 1. Photo: Ahmed Salahuddin/NurPhoto via Getty Images A Kashmiri Muslim family enjoys lunch on Aug. 1 in Srinagar, India. Photo: Yawar Nazir/Getty Images Prayer in flood-affected area near Dhaka on Aug. 1. Photo: Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Two Rohingya girls in new clothes at the refugee camp in New Delhi, India, on Aug. 1. Photo: Amarjeet Kumar Singh/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Go deeper: Muslim health care workers balance Ramadan fasting with battling coronavirus Belarusian President Accuses Russia Of Trying To Cover Up Vagner Group Election Plot By RFE/RL's Belarus Service, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 01, 2020 Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka has accused Russia of trying to cover up an attempt to send 200 fighters from a private Russian military firm into Belarus on a mission to destabilize the country ahead of its August 9 presidential election. Lukashenka made the remarks on August 1 after he said he'd read an initial report by Belarusian investigators into the alleged plot by members of the Vagner Group -- a private Russian military company thought to be controlled by an influential political ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Its fighters have turned up in conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, and Libya. Earlier on August 1, the Russian Embassy in Minsk announced that its diplomats had met with a group of 33 jailed Vagner Group contractors who've been detained by Belarusian authorities. "As far as I understand, this is just the first group of 180 or 200 people that had been planned for redeployment to Belarus," Lukashenka told the BelTA state news agency on August 1. "Russia's attempt to hide the 'tail' now and claim that the arrival of this group was agreed on with us -- this is total nonsense," Lukashenka said. The Kremlin has demanded their release, saying their arrests were "unreasonable." Earlier this week, 32 contractors from Vagner were detained near Minsk while another was detained in southern Belarus. The Ukrainian Prosecutor-General's Office said on July 31 that Kyiv would ask Belarus to hand over 28 of the detainees on charges of fighting alongside Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. It said nine Ukrainian citizens are among the 28. However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on August 1 that Moscow considers all of the detainees to be Russian citizens. Peskov also has rejected Minsk's claims that the group planned to interfere in Belarus's presidential election. He says the 33 men were detained while they were in transit to Istanbul before flying to "a third country." "Their stay is connected neither to Belarus itself nor its internal affairs," Peskov told reporters on July 31. However, Alyaksandr Agafonov, who leads the Belarusian investigation, says the men's plans for onward travel were just "an alibi." Agafonov also said that the "evidence about the reasons for their stay in Belarus is incoherent and contradictory." The head of the Belarusian Security Council, Andrey Raukou, said on July 30 that "upwards of up to 200 militants" remain at large in Belarus and efforts to locate them continue. The August 9 presidential vote in Belarus is shaping up to be a tough race for incumbent Alyaksandr Lukashenka, an authoritarian leader who has been in power since 1994. Lukashenka has cracked down on the opposition during the campaign, with the arrest of hundreds of people, including journalists, bloggers, and political activists. Charges were pressed against two potential candidates. With reporting by Reuters, TASS, dpa, AFP, Interfax, AFP, and UNIAN Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-diplomats -meet-detained-vagner-contractors- in-minsk-jail/30761549.html Copyright (c) 2020. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ALTON The owner of Macs Downtown said he is working with the Madison County Health Department after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus. We had one employee; she tested positive, shes in quarantine and hasnt been back, Mac Lenhardt said Saturday. Two who were with her on her shift have been in quarantine. One tested negative but still in quarantine. The claim: The Cleveland Clinic asked employees not to wear cloth face masks in its buildings because they "don't work" On July 22, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced a statewide mask mandate requiring face masks be worn in nonresidential indoor spaces, outdoor locations without sufficient space for social distancing and on public transportation. A post on Facebook that has been shared thousands of times claims that on the same day of the mandate, the Cleveland Clinic banned its employees from wearing cloth face masks. "DeWine holds a press conference to tell Ohioans that masks are mandatory but Cleveland Clinic sends out an email today to inform their employees they cant wear cloth masks in their building because they dont work," the post reads, followed by a confused emoji. Denise Pringle, the author of the post, told USA TODAY that her post was in reaction to multiple changes in guidance from the Cleveland Clinic on whether employees could wear cloth masks since the start of the pandemic. "Either they work or dont work!!!!!" Pringle wrote. Fact check: Document claiming to show CDC guidance about various types of masks is a fake What Cleveland Clinic told employees Andrea Pacetti, a media relations manager at the Cleveland Clinic, wrote in an email to USA TODAY that the post likely referred to the hospital's recently updated mask guidelines. "As we approach influenza and respiratory virus season, our caregivers are now wearing face masks (surgical or ear loop) rather than cloth masks, inside our facilities," Pacetti wrote. "These masks provide an additional layer of protection from inhaling respiratory droplets, which is particularly important for those who work in a health care setting." Fact check: No mask? You can ask why it isnt against HIPAA or the Fourth or Fifth Amendments However, Pacetti told USA TODAY that the change is not indicative of a belief at Cleveland Clinic that cloth face masks are ineffective. Story continues "We still believe that cloth masks are a key way to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities," Pacetti wrote. "Some people with COVID-19 have mild or no symptoms, and may be spreading the virus unknowingly. A cloth mask can help individuals cover a cough or sneeze, reducing the spread of germs." Fact check: Ear loop masks, homemade cloth masks, offer protection against COVID-19 Any cloth covering is better than no cloth covering. Cleveland Clinic website supports benefits of cloth masks, too Multiple articles on the website of the Cleveland Clinic also espouse the benefits of cloth face masks for average people. One touches on the distinction between medical-grade masks and cloth masks. "Cloth masks arent the same as surgical masks or N95 respirator masks, which are used by medical workers at high risk for being exposed to the coronavirus," the website reads. "Cloth masks may not prevent you from inhaling any particles that carry the coronavirus. But that doesnt mean its not worth wearing one." Why is that? Because they do prevent people from spreading the virus to others by reducing the number of microorganisms that they release into the air when they breathe, talk, cough, or sneeze, according to Dr. Aaron Hamilton, an internist at Cleveland Clinic. They also prevent you from touching your nose and mouth, which may be how the virus enters the body. Fact check: What's true and what's false about face masks? In another article, Dr. Raed Dweik, chairman of the Cleveland Clinics Respiratory Institute, explained that the latest research shows that cloth face masks actually captured proteins that were smaller than coronavirus particles. Therefore, he said its reasonable to assume the masks are also capturing coronavirus particles and helping stop the spread of the virus. Fact check: ADA does not provide blanket exemption from face mask requirements Our rating: False Based on our research, the claim that the Cleveland Clinic told its employees cloth face masks "don't work" is FALSE. Cleveland Clinic and its doctors have repeatedly endorsed cloth mask usage. Though it instructed employees not to wear cloth masks in its facilities, guidance was issued with a mandate that they instead wear masks that have an "additional layer of protection" such as surgical or ear loop masks. Our fact-check sources: Thank you for supporting our journalism. You can subscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here. Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: Cleveland Clinic didn't say cloth masks 'don't work' Vietnam documented four new cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Sunday morning, including two imported cases, one in Ho Chi Minh City, and one in the central province of Quang Ngai. Patients No. 587 and 588 previously returned to the Southeast Asian country from Russia on July 17 and landed in the northern province of Hoa Binh, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. They were quarantined in Hoa Binh Province upon their arrival. The two had tested negative for the novel coronavirus twice before testing positive on Saturday. They are now treated at Hoa Binh General Hospital. Patient No. 589 is a 42-year-old Ho Chi Minh City resident who had visited the central city of Da Nang, Vietnams COVID-19 epicenter at the moment, prior to his diagnosis. He is receiving treatment at Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. The 590th patient, a 40-year-old man in Quang Ngai Province, previously had close contact with a COVID-19 patient at Da Nang Hospital, one of the clusters in Da Nang. Vietnams COVID-19 tally has reached 590, with 373 having recovered as of Sunday morning. Three COVID-19 patients have died in the Southeast Asian country, partly due to severe underlying health conditions. Vietnam has logged 144 local infections since July 25, all of which can be traced to Da Nang, which has recorded more than 100 cases in the community. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The government last week announced it had decided to control the import of televisions. Fully built televisions have been put on the restricted list for imports, which means that licences will have to be granted for import by the Director General of Foreign Trade. TVs worth about Rs 7,000 crore are imported, especially from Vietnam and China. Many brands choose to make their mass market TVs in India it is only the high-end TVs, which have a relatively small market in India, that are imported. Other goods are also going to see such restriction, including set-top boxes ... SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, right, is docked to the International Space Station on July 1. (NASA) NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley are headed back to Earth after a two-month mission at the International Space Station, marking the first time a privately owned craft will return astronauts from the space station to Earth. The crew departed the space station Saturday afternoon aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule, the same craft that brought them to orbit in that vessel's first crewed flight. After leak checks, the astronauts lowered the visors of their helmets, and a command to undock was sent to the spacecraft at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time. Two sets of hooks were disconnected, and then the capsule started to float slowly away from the space station around 7:35. Several engine thrusters fired to further separate the spacecraft from the space station. By 7:40, all that could be seen of the capsule from the space station view were two dots of light. Its been an honor and a privilege," Hurley said on the communications system as the capsule drifted away from the space station. "It's been a great two months, and we appreciate all youve done as a crew to prove out Dragon on its maiden flight. The last major test for the capsule will come Sunday, when it is set to splash down at 2:41 p.m. Eastern time in the Gulf of Mexico, near Pensacola, Fla. There were seven possible landing sites along the Florida coast; three in the Atlantic Ocean are in the path of Tropical Storm Isaias. The splashdown will mark the first time in 45 years that astronauts have returned to space via an ocean landing. The last such landing came in July 1975, when an Apollo capsule splashed down in the Pacific Ocean during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Program mission. Since then, spacecraft have made landings on terra firma NASA's space shuttle landed on a runway, and the Russian Soyuz capsule lands in Kazakhstan. A successful Sunday splashdown would cap off a test mission that has so far gone well for Hawthorne-based SpaceX. The Elon Musk-led company developed its Crew Dragon capsule under a NASA contract with the intent of one day ferrying NASA astronauts regularly to the space station. Aerospace stalwart Boeing Co. is also developing its own Starliner capsule under a NASA contract for this purpose. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Nadine Anderson (letter, July 29) says President Trumps accomplishments can only be described as major if measured against low standards. In one respect, shes correct, because theyre measured against the Obama administration. Other than that, her letter is similar to those of other long-time Democrats. It states many things but leaves out information needed for complete understanding. Concerning Trumps dealings with NATO, she neglects to mention that Trump forced members to pay what they had committed to pay, but didnt. He pulled troops from Germany because Germany is fully capable of defending itself. If that is a victory for Putin, I must have missed Russias invasion of Germany. Trump replaced NAFTA because the new agreement is better for America. He had China and other countries agree to buy more American products, trying to correct the significant trade imbalance. If anyone is upset that cheaply made products from China now cost our citizens more, heres a suggestion buy American! Many things Trump has done have the same goal bringing manufacturing and jobs back to the U.S. Democrats say this is Obamas economy, but none can explain how his tens of thousands of new regulations, many business-inhibiting, helped the economy. Also, Gov. Tom Wolf, not Trump, killed the economy in Pennsylvania, and Gov. Phil Murphy, not Trump, in New Jersey. People with low standards love Nancy Pelosi, Adam Schiff, Jerry Nadler, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, etc. All long-time members of the swamp who do nothing, want our votes and then forget about us. Charles H. Henshaw Stewartsville Riding on the heels of falling Case Fatality Rate, the Union Government decides to permit exports of ventilators India PIB Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Posted On: 01 AUG 2020 4:53PM by PIB Delhi The Group of Ministers (GOM) on COVID-19 has considered and agreed to the proposal of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare allowing the export of made-in-India ventilators. This decision has been communicated to the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for further needed action to facilitate the export of indigenously manufactured ventilators. This significant decision comes on the heels of India continuing to maintain a progressively declining low rate of case fatality of COVID-19 patients, which currently stands at 2.15%, which means that fewer numbers of active cases are on ventilators. As on 31st July 2020, only 0.22% of the active cases were on ventilators across the country. Additionally, there has been substantial growth in the domestic manufacturing capacity of ventilators. Compared to January 2020, there are presently more than 20 domestic manufacturers for ventilators. The export prohibition/restriction on ventilators was imposed in March 2020 to ensure domestic availability to effectively fight COVID-19. All types of ventilators were prohibited for export vide DGFT Notification No. 53 w.e.f 24.03.2020. Now with export of ventilators having been allowed, it is hoped that domestic ventilators would be in a position to find new markets for Indian ventilators in foreign countries. ****** MV (Release ID: 1642872) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address After a while, you barely remember what a Friday night in the Mission used to feel like. Two years after the coronavirus first sent civic life into a tailspin, some people are out slowly, they emerged from their Zoom trivia nights and into the street, cautiously meeting up with one friend, two at most, and deciding on a bar for the evening. Still, youre standing on the corner of 18th and Valencia as the sun goes down, and the thrum is missing. Yes, there are bacon-wrapped hot dog carts on the corners and hip-hop radio blaring from passing cars. But when it comes to options for a night on the town, the pandemic might as well have been a sinkhole. First theres the obvious: Which bars still exist? When the PPP money ran out, there were closures gradually at first, then a tsunami. You bought gift cards, donated to fundraisers, and bought merch, so much merch. You own nine shot glasses, a dozen beer koozies and most of your clothes are bar or music venue T-shirts. Half of them now advertise places gone for good. In their stead are new spots, since closures freed up the liquor licenses that had previously been damn near impossible to obtain. The new places are VC-backed, and safe in that they are almost entirely free of human interaction: automatic temp checks at the door, touchless ordering by QR code, rooms forged from stainless steel and bleach. Then there are underground options, which, if you squint, are almost quaint in a Prohibition-era way. Instead of alcohol, whats illicit is unregulated proximity to other bodies, the kind of closeness where you can smell your neighbors shampoo, where a drunk stranger might bump into you and spill your whiskey and in the Before Times you would have been so, so annoyed. In 2022, such an interaction sounds so intimate it makes you blush. There are a half-dozen spots in the city where you can have it, if you know someone, or youre willing to pay a little more. Of course, as during Prohibition, there is the threat of legal consequences. Unlike Prohibition, there is also the possibility that you might get sick and die. And then there are the old standbys. Against all odds, some of the citys most iconic bars survived the coronavirus. They operate legally, serving alcohol to paying customers. But they havent been themselves in a very long time. If I stand in one corner and map out six feet (between customers), I can get about 12 people in there, says Myron Mu, the longtime proprietor of the Saloon in North Beach, with more than a hint of weariness. And thats if theres no music. Opened in 1861, the Saloon is a small place, known for cheap drinks, live blues and dancing, with a $5 cover on weekends. Its a spot where the band packs in tight and the crowd packs in tighter, and the folks sitting at the bar are always within spitting distance. Like all business owners whose incomes screeched to a halt since San Franciscos shelter-in-place order in March, July of 2020 finds Mu staring down a sea of unknowns. There are immediate questions about how to stay afloat with no income, and infinite, thorny variations on the answers that depend on leases, owning vs. renting and, accordingly, different levels of desperation. Small-business loans, fundraisers, outdoor table service? To-go drinks are great, but under Alcohol Beverage Control regulations, they have to be sold with food. Is it worth partnering with a restaurant? Do you invest in Plexiglass dividers when the rules might change next month? In the absence of clear guidance, its no wonder that a Wild West of pop-ups, grocery stores and delivery services have proliferated in recent weeks. But Mu, like many bar owners, has also begun doing the math on the more distant future: the one where maybe theres a vaccine, but its been sparsely administered; where indoor bars and restaurants can reopen, but with stringent regulations and its up to individual proprietors to decide if, when and how to take the risk. OPTIMISM METER Lukewarm: Without substantial aid, the outlook is bleak for some of S.F.s classic bars, but insiders point to one potential bright spot: The market value of liquor licenses is dropping, so when the industry begins to rebuild, there may be fewer barriers for a first-time owner. Theres a thin line between life and death for a bar, says Mu, noting that at one point, in the 90s, the bar lost its license for dancing and the business began tanking. That taught me the business is fragile. If this virus sticks around like the common cold does, it just kind of changes everything a bit. And I dont know, quite honestly, how the Saloon will survive that. Operating with a capacity of 12, hed have to raise drink prices substantially. He worries about his beloved 60-something doorman who lives with his 90-something mother; Mu, whos 72, says his employees are like family: He couldnt live with it if someone got sick. And then theres the fact that the Saloon without music is, well, another animal entirely. Which brings us here: San Franciscos most beloved bars, having survived recessions, earthquakes and fires, now face a series of brain-breaking riddles. What does social distance mean at a business whose product is close-up human connection? And how do you reinvent a space whose charm is that it always stays the same? Its a gross understatement to say that San Franciscans simply love our old bars. We project onto them, rely on them as portals to the past. Theyre keepers of our cultural mythology, a way to catch a whiff of this citys formerly debaucherous glory. We clutch that story the way a drunk grips their drink at last call: Sure, the rent might be unfathomable and the new condos are hideous and all our queer artist friends have been forced to either move away or get jobs at Facebook, but see this corner table in this small and kind of dingy room? Jack Kerouac used to drink here. Thats gotta count for something. Classic bars are also tourist destinations, which means theyre good for city business. Bars in general are a crucial valve in San Franciscos financial engine: A 2016 economic impact report found that nightlife generated some $6 billion in revenue. But the coronavirus has been bad, to put it gently, for bar PR. And though we may love them, its impossible to predict the collective psychology around returning to our favorite spots in a year, or even three: How will we balance our desperation for social interaction, desire to support small businesses and fear of getting sick? How many of us will be too broke to do anything other than just keep drinking at home? I dont think anybody is smart enough to really understand the big cultural changes that are coming, but were talking about a major sociological shift, says Tavahn Ghazi, whose family owns the Little Shamrock in the Inner Sunset. Ghazi grew up in San Francisco, and hes been taking the closures hard; nearby Arts Cafe was a childhood favorite. The Shamrock, a homey Irish pub, has been operating since 1893, including through both the 1906 and 1989 earthquakes. (During the Loma Prieta, the electricity went out and the TVs fell down. Patrons ran outside but then the bartenders lit candles and kept pouring, so everyone came back in to drink.) Ghazis father, Saeed, bought the building 30 years ago, so at least theres no rent to pay right now. But they know other owners arent so lucky. This isnt just about a bar, says Ghazi. In some cases youre talking about places that were anchoring nostalgia for something weve all known we were losing for a long time anyway, the freaks that made SF what it was culturally. But now the (businesses) that were hanging on the edge of the cliff are going under. And a lot of places are just not going to make it. While they wait to see what the next year brings, the Shamrock is holding weekend pop-ups with to-go drinks; Ghazi has also been expanding his side business, a catering company that specializes in stromboli. Do I want to make food for a living? No, I hate it, but Ill do it, because being in a kitchen is a lot better than being in a soup line, Ghazi says. The margins arent good. But theres no worse margin than a closed door. Some historic-bar owners find themselves looking to the past for guidance. Ive been asking What would my grandpa do in this situation? says Maralisa Simmons-Cook, a co-owner, alongside her mother, Elly Simmons, of Specs Twelve Adler Museum Cafe. Would he say, Screw it, Im closing down, or would he find some way to poke fun at it? Named for its founder, Simmons-Cooks grandfather Richard Specs Simmons, the lively, tchotchke-jammed North Beach bar has been a hub for artists, writers and musicians since it opened in 1968. For me and my mom, I know it doesnt even feel like its our choice about whether or not to keep it going, she says. It has a legacy. Its for the community. The Simmonses tried a pop-up for a few weekends, but eventually decided the math didnt make sense. Then Elly Simmons launched a successful GoFundMe after some prodding from jazz musician Taj Mahal. But with rent to pay, as they stare down another few months of no business, those funds have barely made a dent. For now, like many bar owners, theyve fixed their sights on the future: reservations and table service; creative ways to space out a room thats meant to be full and cozy. Maybe if its slammed we take your name and number at the door and then we text you. Which is just so crazy and futuristic to think about at Specs, I know, says Simmons-Cook with a laugh. But once youre inside, itll still be Specs. Michael Krouse, who owns Madrone Art Bar near Alamo Square, has been chewing over an idea for a socially distanced reopening that would look a bit like a live-action board game. There could be a timer that dings to move 10 or 12 people through the space during a half-hour time slot, for example, and when you stand on a certain square you would order a certain type of drink. But Krouse has already spent his PPP money, and with no pause on rent, he worries he wont get the chance to try it out. I think many people dont understand the plight were in, says Krouse, who recently published an open letter calling for industry-specific government relief. Yes, we serve drinks, but every bar is also a community, a little ecosystem. Thats why people need to speak up our public officials need to know that these are beloved places. You decide on Elixir, which has been on the corner of 16th and Guerrero in one form or another since 1858. It burned with the rest of the city in 1906, but owner Patrick McGinnis rebuilt it. During Prohibition it was a soda fountain. It has also been, as a Chronicle story noted in 2017, a Wild West bar, an Irish working-mans place, a sailor bar, a shot-and-a-beer joint, a gay Latino hangout, a dingy dive (and) a beer bar with 63 brews on tap before assuming its current incarnation as a cocktail spot. It has seen some things. During the height of the pandemic, the bar leaned on delivery and virtual cocktail tastings. In 2022, it has a human at the door with a touchless thermometer and a clipboard for taking names when things get busy. The bar opens at noon now, to do lunch and coffee, since owner H. Joseph Ermann realized no one was out partying till 2 a.m. anymore, and he needed to get back that 8-10 hours of business. Inside, you help yourself to hand sanitizer, nod at the masked bartender, and slide into a snug, with a wooden divider separating your table from the next. Its an idea Ehrmann got from old pubs in Ireland, where they were originally installed for modesty: to prevent women from being seen in bars. The last time you were here, before the pandemic, it was January of 2020. It was cold out, the Christmas lights were still up, and you were with four friends. The bartender told you to help yourself to red beans and rice steaming in a hot pot at the end of the bar. As you did, the old guy sitting closest to it passed you the hot sauce and you started talking. It turned out you were neighbors. This time, its the uncanny valley of dive bars; no serendipity, no rowdiness, no one elbow-to-elbow as they try to order a drink. Still, its not so bad, here in this room thats had a half-dozen names and personalities over 150 years. It smells the same, and its a place to be, with a good whiskey selection. Like an animal, it has adapted to its surroundings, evolved in order to survive, and it will do that again. It is this thing, for now. Youll have to wait and see what comes next. Emma Silvers is a freelance writer in San Francisco. Email: Culture@sfchronicle.com. In the time leading up to his shootout with police, Adam Zaborowski lost his job, lost a custody battle for his child and was just not handling the pandemic well, his lawyer said Sunday. The 35-year-old Slatington man was charged Saturday with attempting to kill seven police officers near his home at 801 Main St. That shootout followed an incident Friday where Zaborowski allegedly shot at a clerk at Cigars International in Bethlehem Township. He allegedly refused to wear a face mask in the cigar store despite the threat of COVID-19. Defense attorney John Waldron said a conversation with Zaborowskis father offers some insight into the motivation for both shootings. Waldron is out of the area and has been unable to speak with Zaborowski, he said. Zaborowski is in a hospital recovering from gunshot wounds to his leg and buttocks, Waldron said. Waldron said he learned that Zaborowski lost his job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also recently lost custody of his child. These factors dont justify Zabrowskis behavior but do lend insight to his motives, Waldron said. He just wasnt dealing well with the loss of his job, the loss of his child, just not handling the pandemic well, Waldron said. I think he was getting stretched too tight. It doesnt excuse his conduct, Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin said. Martin confirmed that at least seven officers were put in harms way during the Saturday shootout. Zaborowski shot an AK-47 assault rifle and a semi-automatic handgun at police, Waldron said. One officer from Slatington was injured during the gunbattle, police said. Waldron said Zaborowskis father told him Zaborowski is expected to recover and be released from the hospital in two to three days. Thats incredible given the amount of danger he put himself in, Waldron admits. Police are trained to shoot at suspects only when deadly force is justified, Waldron confirmed. Theyre not shooting at your foot. Theyre not shooting at your buttocks, Waldron said. Its kill or be killed. So the fact that he got shot twice with non-life-threatening injures when he had an AK-47 and another handgun, Adam is very fortunate he ended up the way he did. Asked whether Zaborowski is lucky to have survived the incident, Martin said, He opened fire on the police officers. He opened fire with an AK-47 and an automatic pistol. Do you think hes lucky? Adam Michael Zaborowski.Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com Waldron said he wants to learn more about Zaborowski through mental health evaluations and tests to see what exactly was going on in his life to have him react this way. Zaborowski was arraigned Saturday from his hospital bed on 22 related charges for the Slatington incident, according to online records. Bail was set at $1 million. Zaborowski is charged with seven counts of attempted homicide, seven counts of attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, seven counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and a single count of possession of a gun despite a felony. He cant own a handgun due to a previous aggravated assault conviction, police said. Waldron said hes represented Zaborowski in the past. I know his dad. I know his mom. I know Adam, Waldron said. From what I hear with these allegations, this is not his typical behavior pattern. The dispute at Cigars International started Friday morning when Zaborowski allegedly refused to wear a face mask in the store in the 4000 block of Nazareth Pike in Bethlehem Township. When the clerk insisted, Zaborowski allegedly grabbed two cigars and left without paying for them. The clerk followed him outside to retrieve the cigars, police said. Then Zaborowski pulled out a semiautomatic handgun and fired one shot in the air then two shots at the clerk, according to Bethlehem Township Police Chief Daniel Pancoast said. Several store patrons were sitting outside smoking cigars as the shots were fired but none was hit, Pancoast said. Police were outside Zaborowskis home at 9:35 p.m. Saturday, waiting for an arrest warrant to arrive when Zaborowski got in his truck and left, police said. Police stopped him at Second and East Washington streets, where he got out and opened fire on police with a high-capacity semiautomatic rifle, police said. Police administered first aid to Zaborowski after the shooting. When Zaborowski is well enough to leave the hospital hes expected to head for Lehigh County Prison. Hell be arraigned on the Northampton County charges at a later date. Hes charged with attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of robbery, two counts of reckless endangerment and two gun offenses in Northampton County. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. A staggering 900-plus girls and women are missing and feared dead in Peru since COVID-19 confinement began, authorities said Monday. The Andean nation home to 33 million people long has had a horrific domestic violence problem. But COVID-19, which has compounded home confinement combined with job losses and a health crisis, has seen an already scary situation grow worse in just 3-1/2 months, according to Eliana Revollar, who leads the women's rights office of the National Ombudsman's office. Seventy percent of that figure are minors, she added. "During the quarantine, from March 16 to June 30, 915 women in Peru were reported missing," and feared dead, said Revollar. Before COVID-19, five women were reported missing in Peru every single day; since the lockdown, the number has surged to eight per day. Revollar said Peru's situation was grim because the lack of a national missing persons registry made it hard for authorities to keep track of the crisis. Walter Gutierrez, the ombudsman, told RPS Radio: "We need to know what has happened to them." Revollar said she would push for the creation of a missing persons registry. Women's rights groups and NGOs however say that very often police refuse to investigate domestic violence, make fun of victims, or claim that the missing have left their homes willingly. But that doesnt address the fact that Peru has a problem with domestic violence and other violence against women, as well as human trafficking and forced prostitution. In January, the case of a university student and activist for women's rights and safety, Solsiret Rodriguez, was in the headlines here -- but only when her body was found three years after she went missing. Last year there were 166 killings of women in Peru; just a tenth of those were cases of a person first being reported missing. And there were just under 30,000 calls to report domestic violence, according to the Women's Ministry. And coronavirus hasn't spared Peru: it has had more than 384,000 coronavirus cases and 18,229 deaths. It is the third-hardest hit country in Latin America behind Brazil and Mexico. The man had been on the run for a week. A suspect who had earlier taken a senior detective hostage in Ukraine's Poltava region, resisting arrest for carjacking, before escaping the pursuit, was located and eventually shot by a sniper in a tense police operation. Once confronted by a police search unit in his hideout at an abandoned house in a rural area of Poltava region on Saturday, the culprit somehow managed to take another police operative hostage. The suspect with a criminal record, identified Roman Skrypnyk, was standing behind the hostage, wielding a grenade when he was taken down by a sniper, a senior police official said. Read alsoLutsk terrorist remanded in custody for 60 days without right to post bail (Photos) The hostage police officer successfully jumped clear of an explosion that followed just seconds after the suspect was shot and let go of the armed grenade. An armed man, who took a senior policeman hostage in the central Ukrainian city of Poltava on Thursday and drove off with him, has abandoned both the car and the officer and run into a forest, the police said. Warning: Graphic video Earlier the same week, another hostage situation unfolded in Lutsk, western Ukraine, where a man seized a commuter bus with 12 passengers and a driver, issuing bizarre demands to authorities, including that the Ukrainian president promote a certain documentary on social networks. The man eventually surrendered to police after Volodymyr Zelensky talked to him over the phone and actually posted a short video clip of himself promoting the film. All hostages were safely released without casualties. She is optimistic about the plan, though, especially its provisions around social-emotional wellness, anti-racism work and a four-phase reopening. It provides a clear vision for how we could do this in a way that, frankly, will make nobody happy but that will keep the greatest number of people safe, both in terms of the pandemic and in terms of the social and emotional wellness issues that have arisen for so many of us, said Fix Dominguez, who holds a doctorate in the sociology of education and has a child entering seventh grade at City Honors. On Saturday at his coronavirus briefing, Gov. Cuomo made it clear that parents across the state are the people who will ultimately decide whether to send their children back to the classroom. Parents are already well informed and will be looking for details in their district's reopening plans, he said. If they do not see answers to their questions, they will conclude their district is not prepared. Reopening plans should represent the start of a discussion between parents and district officials, Cuomo said. A woman was shot to death in an east Birmingham neighborhood Saturday night in what police said they believe is a domestic incident. Birmingham police received a 911 call at 9:11 p.m. that someone was trying to kick in a door at a home in the 1100 block of Kawanda Lane. Moments later, they received a second call of a person shot at the same location. When East Precinct officers arrived at the home, they found the adult female unresponsive just outside the front door of the residence. She was pronounced dead on the scene. Sgt. Rod Mauldin said the resident of the home has been detained for questioning. We do believe this incident is domestic in nature,' Mauldin said. One resident said he heard at least two shots fired. Mauldin said he does not know if anyone else was in the home at the time. Police are asking any neighbors or witnesses who may have been outside at the time and heard or saw something to call investigators at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. Tips to Crime Stoppers are anonymous and could lead to a cash reward. The homicide is Birminghams 70th so far in 2020. Of those, eight have been ruled justifiable and one accidental and therefore are not deemed criminal. The discovery of human remains recently in southwest Birmingham are included in this years numbers though the 17-year-old victim, Daniel Rickett, disappeared and was likely killed in 2018. In all of Jefferson County, there have been 100 homicides, including the 70 in Birmingham. Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday (August 2, 2020) said that the Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal should 'mind his own business' as he was asking for a CBI probe into the Punjab hooch tragedy that took place on July 29. He also said that Delhi CM is making political meat from the tragedy to revive AAPs lost political fortunes in Punjab. CM Singh stated that the Punjab Police has solved all the past cases and has effectively busted mafia involved in current illicit liquor case. .... Chief Minister says @PunjabPoliceInd has solved all past cases and has effectively busted mafia involved in current illicit liquor case. (2/2) CMO Punjab (@CMOPb) August 2, 2020 Earlier in the day, Delhi CM Kejriwal took to Twitter and expressed that he is saddened by the loss of lives in Punjab due to illicit liquor, adding that the State government needs to immediately take necessary steps to curb such mafias. He also said the case should be handed over to CBI immediately as none of the illicit liquor cases in the past few months have been solved by local police. Saddened by the loss of lives in Punjab due to illicit liquor. State govt needs to immediately take necessary steps to curb such mafias. The case should be handed over to CBI immediately as none of the illicit liquor cases from the last few months have been solved by local police Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 2, 2020 Meanwhile, as many as 104 people have lost their lives so far in the Punjab spurious liquor tragedy. The death toll in the Tarn Taran district has now increased to 80, while, 12 each have died in Batala and Amritsar Rural. The death toll in the unfortunate #HoochTragedyPunjab has reached 104, with 80 deaths in Tarn Taran and 12 each in Batala and Amritsar Rural. Police station wise death toll attached. pic.twitter.com/8bAYg9oY4Y Raveen Thukral (@RT_MediaAdvPbCM) August 2, 2020 Earlier on Saturday, Punjab CM said the death of people due to spurious alcohol is due to negligence of some in excise and police department and suspended 3 ETOs, 4 Excise Inspectors, 4 SHOs and 2 DSPs. CM Singh assured that whoever is involved in the spurious liquor business will not be spared and strict action will be taken against those responsible at the earliest. He also announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs for the families who lost their lives. Indian Railways plans to speed up infrastructure projects and generate around 1.16 million person-days of employment this financial year for migrant workers who have returned home to six states since the lockdown for the coronavirus disease was enforced on March 25. Work on railway infrastructure projects is returning to the previous years level, railway board chairman VK Yadav told Hindustan Times. The plan to accelerate the construction of infrastructure is targeted at Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage The national transporter plans to utilise the entire capital expenditure budget it has been allocated this year, according to Yadav, who said infrastructure building had already started picking up. Indian Railways has a capex budget of Rs 1.61 lakh crore for financial year 2020-21. The railroad network has employed migrant workers in states where the maximum number of such workers have returned, and already generated more than 380,000 person-days of employment in the past four weeks, he said. That is helping us to expedite our infra projects. Our infrastructure work has really started picking up and we have almost reached previous years level, Yadav said. According to railway ministry data, Uttar Pradesh has generated the maximum employment of 140,000 person-days followed by Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. The national carrier has raised its earlier target of generating 800,000 person-days of employment for migrant workers in infrastructure projects worth Rs 1,800 crore over 125 days, until October 31, under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rojgar Abhiyaan. The Centre has identified 116 districts with a large concentration of returnee migrant workers in Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh for the ambitious employment-cum-rural public works programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 20. The PM said Rs 50,000 crore would be spent on building durable rural infrastructure under the initiative. There are several projects identified across these states where the labourers have been deployed. We require unskilled labourers too for a lot of construction work. We want to expedite projects in these states. There is a nodal officer in each state supervising this and we monitor and prepare a weekly report, a ministry official said, requesting anonymity. The ministry of railways is also considering generating employment under the governments flagship rural job guarantee scheme for minor construction works. Indian Railways is also in talks with states to get back labourers for construction work on its biggest infrastructure projectsthe dedicated freight corridors, HT reported on July 5. The project implementation agency, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL), which had been left with about 50% of its workforce after the lockdown for Covid-19 was enforced on March 25, has begun the process of getting back nearly 20,000 labourers. DFCCIL has sought help from state governments including those of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand to arrange workers for the Rs 81,000 crore project, scheduled to be completed by 2021. DFCCIIL has begun booking special trains in bulk and deploying buses to get the workers back. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 2 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Export of carpets from Turkey to Turkmenistan dropped by 45.8 percent in the first five months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, having made up $752,000, Turkish Trade Ministry told Trend on June 24. In May 2020, Turkeys export of carpets to Turkmenistan fell by 80.8 percent compared to May last year and amounted to $59,000. Export of carpets from Turkey to world markets dropped by 18.3 percent from January through May 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, having stood at $851.6 million. Turkeys export of carpets to world markets for the reporting period amounted to 1.4 percent of the countrys total export for the same period of this year. "In May 2020, Turkeys export of carpets to world markets amounted to slightly over $117.3 million, which is 50.2 percent less compared to May 2019," the ministry said. Turkeys export of carpets to world markets in May this year amounted to 1.2 percent of the countrys total export. During the last twelve months (from May 2019 through May 2020), Turkey exported carpets worth over $2.3 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu For Gabriel Gordon and his wife Lena, the small restaurant they opened 14 years ago in the coastal California town of Seal Beach was a dream project and the cornerstone of their future success. But this weekend, Beachwood BBQ, which had become a staple in the community, permanently shut down -- yet another casualty of the carnage the coronavirus pandemic has unleashed on restaurants across the United States. "This restaurant launched everything for us and allowed us to have a nice life," said Gordon, 43, who is now concentrating his efforts on another restaurant and three breweries he owns. "This is what allowed us to have a nice life and it's heartbreaking to see it close." According to the National Restaurant Association, the restaurant industry -- the second largest private sector employer in the US -- is among the hardest hit by the pandemic, with losses projected to reach a staggering $240 billion by the end of the year. "It's such an apocalyptic time for this industry," Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs for the association, told AFP. "We were the first industry to shut down and we will be the last to recover from this pandemic. "That's because we won't be in place until the airlines are fixed, until the hotels are fixed and until tourism is back." As of July 10, according to Yelp, there have been 26,160 total restaurant closures across the United States, of which 60 percent (15,770) have permanently shut down. That represents the highest total business closures in the country, surpassing retail. The impact has especially been felt in major cities and regions that rely on tourism during the summer months in order to stay afloat the rest of the year. - 'Like losing family member' - "Cities like Los Angeles ... depend on tourism, conventions, vacationers, honeymooners -- that's what drives restaurant traffic," said Kennedy. "Until that's restored, we are not going to see anything approaching normal business markets for the restaurants." In California alone, the statistics are sobering. There were some 1.4 million people working in a restaurant before the pandemic, and over the past four months some 1 million have either been laid off or furloughed, said Sharokina Shams, vice president of public affairs for the California Restaurant Association. "We anticipate that 30 percent of California restaurants will close permanently as a result of the pandemic," Shams told AFP. "The last couple of economic crises that this industry can talk about would be the last recession in 2008 and the couple of years that followed 9/11. "This is far, far worse." One of the reasons the sector has been hammered is the fact that restaurants often operate on very low profit margins and have very thin cash reserves. And although the financial rescue handed out by the government helped, restaurant owners say it does not go far enough to allow many to survive. "The average restaurant is making between six and seven percent profits ... and has about 16 days of cash on hand," Kennedy said. "And suddenly (with the pandemic) they are expected to find a way to pay their rent, their utilities, to deal with the inventory. "For a growing number of restaurants, the answer is to shut down permanently." That was the case for Madelyn Alfano, 62, owner of Maria's Italian Kitchen, a restaurant chain in the Los Angeles area, who was forced to close two of her outlets and is fighting to keep the remaining ones open. "It's like losing a family member ... it's my life savings, passion and there is a feeling of defeat," Alfano told AFP, commenting on the two closures. "I would equate this to someone with an illness and the doctor says 'we have to cut off your foot so you can live'." She said as the pandemic hit, her business plummeted 50 percent overnight and, like other restaurateurs, she had to swiftly adapt to a new reality. "When I tell people what the net profit of a restaurant is they tell me I'm absolutely crazy to do this," Alfano said. "Every morning, you don't know what the day is going to bring ... and as the owner of a restaurant you cannot show fear. Stoicism is very important." For Gordon, one redeeming side-effect of the pandemic is that it has forced him and others in the industry to reflect on their frantic pace of life and to slow down. "A lot of us are saying 'why do we need to open six or seven days a week'," he said. "This has made us rethink our whole business model." Gabriel Gordon stands behind the glass entrance door to his restaurant Beachwood BBQ, in Seal Beach, Californian, which he has been forced to permanently shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Madelyn Alfano owner of Maria's Italian Kitchen leaves her restaurant now closed due to Covid 19 pandemic, on July 28, 2020, in Santa Monica, California. Madelyn Alfano owner of Maria's Italian Kitchen poses inside one of two restaurants she was forced to shut down because of the Covid-19 pandemic, on July 28, 2020, in Santa Monica, California. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 00:04:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations said on Sunday that large numbers of desert locust swarms that have formed in Horn of Africa (HoA), mainly Ethiopia and Kenya, since January 2020 could move west in the coming weeks, threatening fields, pastures and livelihoods in West Africa. The FAO, which noted the full extent of the desert locust swarm warning, stressed its latest situation update on Sunday that national surveillance operations are in full swing, and control measures are ready because of the major early warning and rapid response effort coordinated by FAO. "We have witnessed the unprecedented desert locust threat to food security and livelihoods in East Africa, and we are doing everything we can to prevent a similar crisis repeating in the Sahel region, which is already experiencing several ongoing crises," a FAO statement read. According to FAO's desert locust watch, swarms that bred in spring in East Africa are now shifting to the summer breeding areas, and countries west of the HoA should remain on high alert. The FAO also noted that most of the swarms in northwest Kenya are expected to ride winds carrying them north to cross South Sudan into Sudan. "Unless it rains more in Sudan's desert, providing favorable breeding conditions for the pests, the locusts will not stay in Sudan for long and would instead move west through the Sahel of West Africa in search of food and favorable breeding areas," it added. Earlier this week, the FAO had warned that the East Africa region is facing an unprecedented triple food security threat caused by the combined effects of recent severe floods, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the upsurge of desert locusts. The FAO, in a joint position statement issued together with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the World Food Programme (WFP) on late Tuesday, stressed that "urgent action is required to prevent a major food crisis in Eastern Africa." It emphasized that there is an increased risk of below-average rains during the upcoming October to December season, which could further threaten food security and livelihoods across the region. According to FAO, even before these current challenges, Eastern Africa was considered among the most food insecure regions of the world, with nearly 28 million people in food insecurity crisis in 2019, or 20 percent of the total severely food insecure population across the world. It also stressed that an estimated 9 million children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition, including 2 million facing severe acute malnutrition. The IGAD region is also one of the world's leading sources and hosts of internally displaced persons and refugees and asylum seekers who, due to limited livelihood opportunities and degraded coping mechanisms, are particularly vulnerable to food insecurity and malnutrition, according to the FAO. The FAO, which has been working closely with countries at risk in the region to coordinate a major preparation campaign in case the worst happens, also on Sunday stressed that national contingency plans are now activated. The desert locust, which is considered as the "most dangerous of the nearly one dozen species of locusts," is a major food security peril in desert areas across 20 countries, stretching from west Africa all the way to India, covering nearly 16 million square kilometers, according to the FAO. According to the FAO, the desert locust is "the most destructive migratory pest in the world," in which a single swarm covering 1-square-km contains up to 80 million locusts and can eat the same amount of food in one day as about 35,000 people. Locust numbers increase 20 times in three months with every new generation. Enditem Flooded by complaints of exorbitant rates being charged from Covid-19 patients for medicines, PPE kits, swab tests etc by private hospitals and laboratories, the West Bengal government has issued seven new advisories, fixing the rates. The government has also imposed curbs on use of critical care medicines carrying different price tags. Most hospitals are charging patients for the most expensive antibiotics, antifungals, analgesics and other drugs although these are available in different price ranges, the government has said in one of the advisories. Patients relatives shall be offered to choose which branch they would like to purchase, the advisory adds. On July 27, chief minister Mamata Banerjee told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he could tell the world that the Bengal government is offering totally free treatment. She made the remark during a virtual meeting with the PM. While Banerjee referred to government hospitals, the scenario in private hospitals is completely different if one goes by the advisories. There are 28 government hospitals dedicated to Covid-19 patients against 55 private hospitals of the same category. On Sunday, 2,739 new Covid-19 cases and 49 deaths were reported in the state. On Saturday, the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Regulatory Commission issued seven separate advisories, saying numerous anomalies had come to its notice. All hospitals and laboratories in the state are registered under the Clinical Establishment (Registration, Regulation and Transparency) Act. The state health department had earlier issued three notices to private hospitals but the complaints did not stop. In most cases, the patients alleged that they were charged in excess of Rs 5 lakh although antibiotics and oxygen were all they needed. The commission has said that high-end antibiotics such as Meropenem used in critical care management, are available under different brands having different price tags and henceforth hospitals must keep adequate stock of at least 3/ 4 brands. Unless a doctor specifically prescribes a particular brand the pharmacy must supply Meropenem having the lowest price tag, the commission has said. Citing the dearth of beds in hospitals, the commission said that if there are more patients waiting at the emergency compared to the number of vacant beds available, only the doctor-on-duty would assess the condition of the waiting patients and allot beds to the deserving ones, ignoring any other extraneous consideration or recommendations. The same procedure would be followed in case of transfer of a patient from normal bed to ICU/ITU, said an advisory. Incidentally there are numerous complaints that patients have been kept in ICU for long periods only to inflate bills. The government has already fixed a sum of Rs 1,000 per day on account of PPE to be charged in the in-patient bill. However, some of the clinical establishments are charging additional amounts on account of sanitizer, additional gloves, head gear, etc, said an advisory, adding that it cannot be done. It has come to the notice of the commission that the pathological laboratories authorized to conduct Covid-19 tests by way of home collection are charging additional amounts over and excess of Rs 2,250 fixed by the government, said one of the advisories. It said that if samples are collected from a persons residence the laboratories cannot charge conveyance fee of more than Rs 10 per kilometre calculated on the basis of the distance between the laboratory and the customers home. The commission has said that many hospitals are charging various amounts in their out patients departments in the guise of sanitary charges in addition to the doctor consultation fee. No more than Rs 50 can be charged from a patient and another Rs 50 if the consultant doctor wears a full PPE kit, said an advisory. Reacting to the advisories, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the government has so far failed to monitor hospitals. On the one hand we are seeing people turning paupers after footing exorbitant hospital bills while on the other the government is issuing advisories. The government should have monitored what is going on and listened to experts, said Rahul Sinha, BJP national secretary. A Chicago Dunkin Donuts employee was arrested and faces charges for allegedly spitting into an Illinois state trooper's coffee. Illinois State Police said Vincent J. Sessler, 25, of Chicago, was arrested and charged Friday with disorderly conduct, reckless conduct, and battery to a peace officer following the incident which occurred the previous night. Police said that the unnamed Illinois State Trooper had gone to the Dunkin' Donuts Thursday at about 10.20pm to buy a large cup of black coffee, according to CBS 2 Chicago. Former Dunkin' Donuts employee Vincent J. Sessler, 25, was charged after allegedly spitting into the coffee that was served to an Illinois State Trooper on Thursday night The trooper removed the cup's lid in an effort to cool down the very hot coffee. That was when he saw a 'large, thick piece of mucus' floating in the coffee, police said. During the investigation, the mucus was confirmed to be saliva. Sessler, an employee at the Dunkin' Donuts, was arrested Friday at 12.49pm. According to a social media post, a friend of the trooper said he had been in uniform at the time of the incident and was using his marked police vehicle. The post also stated that surveillance video from the Dunkin' Donuts captured an employee spitting into the cup before pouring the trooper's coffee. Neither the trooper nor his agency or the employee was identified in the post, although the Dunkin' Donuts was listed by address. A Facebook post claimed that the trooper was in uniform and in his marked service vehicle when he was served the allegedly spit-infused coffee at the Dunkin' Donuts The owners of the Dunkin' Donuts franchise (pictured here) where Sessler worked said they fired the man after conducting their own investigation into the incident Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly said in a statement that the incident 'is outrageous and disgusting.' 'The men and women of the Illinois State Police put their heart and soul into protecting the lives and rights of all people in this state every day,' Kelly said. 'They deserve better than this insulting and dangerous treatment.' Illinois State Police will not be going to that particular Dunkin' Donuts for food and drink anymore out of safety concerns, CBS 2 reported. A Dunkin' Donuts spokesperson said in a statement obtained by NBC 5 Chicago that Sessler was fired after the investigation into the incident. 'The type of behavior reported to us is inconsistent with the brands values,' the spokesperson said, adding that the franchise owner of the location where the incident occurred said he 'took immediate action to investigate the matter and terminated the individual responsible for this reprehensible behavior.' The spokesperson also noted that 'Dunkin' has a deep appreciation for police officers who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe, and the franchise owner has reached out directly to the officer to apologize for the experience.' The investigation into the incident is still ongoing. Sessler was said to still be in Chicago Police custody as of late Saturday, WFSB reported. There have been multiple reports of police officers being served contaminated food or fearing they're being targeted with doctored meals in recent months. In June, it was claimed that three NYPD officers were intentionally served milkshakes containing bleach at a Shake Shack in Manhattan. An investigation later revealed that it was an accident due to the improper rinsing off of the machine's cleaning solution. Also that month, a veteran officer at a Georgia police department police officer was seen in a viral video in tears as she revealed an incident in which her drive-thru order at a McDonald's was delayed, prompting her to decide not to eat the food because she couldn't see it being made. In December 2019, a plainclothes NYPD officer was cut after biting into a hamburger with a razor blade inside it. Police initially believed the act was intentional, but an investigation later revealed that it was an accident. In the Fall 2012, as the willing subject of one of the most anticipated literary biographies in recent memory, Philip Roth joked that he had surrendered power over his own life to author Blake Bailey. I trust you have been getting all the windy emails Ive been sending you, Roth wrote to his biographer in correspondence shared by Bailey with The Associated Press. My whole writing life now revolves around you. Anything to make Blake happy. This is madness. Baileys Philip Roth: The Biography is coming out April 6, 2021, W.W. Norton & Company announced. Its 880 pages are the finished result of an undertaking that pre-dates not just Roths death in 2018, at age 85, but Roths retirement from public writing after 2010 and the involvement of Bailey. The book is also the outcome of an intricate relationship between Roth, the relentless son of Jews from Newark, New Jersey, and Bailey, a Catholic school graduate from Oklahoma City previously known for his acclaimed books on fiction writers Richard Yates, Charles Jackson and John Cheever, whom Roth knew and admired. Our association was sometimes complicated, but rarely unhappy and never dull, Bailey told the AP. Roths novels include American Pastoral, Portnoys Complain and many other works of classic, contentious fiction, and his dystopian The Plot Against America, about a fascist US presidency in the 1940s, was adapted into an HBO series that aired this year. He had been thinking of a book about his life since the 1990s, originally asking University of Connecticut professor Ross Miller to be his biographer, for a publication scheduled for release by Harcourt Houghton Mifflin. But Roth and Miller, the nephew of Roths friend Arthur Miller, had different ideas for the book and parted ways in 2009. At the suggestion of fellow literary biographer James Atlas, Bailey got in touch with Roth. Why should a gentile from Oklahoma write the biography of Philip Roth? Bailey remembered Roth asking him. Im not an a bisexual alcoholic with an ancient Puritan lineage, but I still managed to write a biography of John Cheever, Bailey responded. Biographies of living subjects come in different categories: authorised, in which the subject participates and often has final approval; unauthorised, written without the subjects cooperation, and those like Baileys that land in between. Bailey began working on the biography in 2012 and received broad access to Roth, to his friends and to Roths private papers, including a 295-page rebuttal to an unflattering memoir written by ex-wife Claire Bloom, that will otherwise be destroyed or sealed until 2050. He said that his agreement with Roth was similar to those he had with the literary estates of his previous subjects, all of whom had died before he began biographies of them. Bailey would have full creative control but would allow his manuscript to be vetted for accuracy. They cant tell me what to think or how to interpret, said Bailey, who added that he hopes readers find his book page turning and that whatever perceptions they have of Roth would become far more nuanced. Among the most acclaimed and talked about authors of his time, Roth was protective of his life and work, even openly confronting Wikipedia about errors on its page for his novel The Human Stain. Bailey says that Roth certainly did try to shape the books narrative, but always responded well when Bailey pushed back with civility and professionalism. Biographers have a long history of disenchantment with their subjects, but Bailey says he came away with great affection for Roth, and that for his books epigraph he uses a suggestion made by the author: Dont try to rehabilitate me; just make me interesting. Roths life and literary sensibility differed in many ways from Cheevers, but Bailey says both compartmentalised their behaviour. According to Bailey, Roth was part conformist, part rebel and part monk devoted to his art. Chekhov said that he had to squeeze the serf out of himself drop by drop, and for his part Philip said he had to squeeze the nice Jewish boy out of himself drop by drop, Bailey said. But he never quite succeeded; he remained both a nice Jewish boy and something very unlike a nice Jewish boy to the end. Roth had heart troubles for decades and would speak fatalistically of not being alive for the books release. His emails to Bailey reflect his dedication to the biography, to the point of obsession, and his awareness of time and mortality. In a message sent in November 2012, not long after Hurricane Sandy, Roth notes that he has come upon some correspondence from his great contemporary, John Updike, who had died a few years earlier. Ill get them to you in the next post-storm-clean-up UPS package, Roth writes. This is a hard job, man. I may go back to writing. In another email, Roth advises Bailey to get in touch with an 87-year-old friend from his alma mater Bucknell University who had sounded slightly disoriented when they last spoke. He provides a phone number and informs Bailey that his friend is expecting his call. Roth also lists recommended subjects, everything from his former landlady, to the mores and ethos of Bucknell to the McCarthy era of the 1950s. After all that, Roth tells him, you are on your own. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON By Express News Service MADURAI: The Chennai Cyber Crime police, on Saturday, carried out a search at the house of controversial YouTuber Maridhas in Surya Nagar and seized his laptop. The team of officials led by Additional Deputy Commissioner Saravana Kumar came to Maridhas house at noon. The search was in connection with the complaint lodged by Associate Editor of News 18 channel, Vinay Sarawagi . According to the complaint, Maridhas created an email ID in Sarawagis name and sent a letter to acknowledging that Maridhas allegations about the company were true. Sources said that when the Chennai police reached Maridhas house, he refused to give the laptop. However, he handed over the laptop after the police agreed to give a list of the contents of the laptop and also a printout of his mails at the time of seizure, they added. After the laptop was seized, it was sealed in the presence of the VAO. Love, competition, arguments and friends forever- the relationship of brothers and sisters are about all this and much more. From childhood fights to being each others best friends, its wonderful to grow up with siblings. Actors Mrunal Thakur, Radhika Madan and Mouni Roy agree as they share about their bond with their brothers, this Rakshabandhan and explain why this festival is important for them. A common sentiment they share is there is no one like a brother! Mrunal with her siblings Dhaval, Mandar, Lochan and Yadnesh Mrunal Thakur: I may miss out on Diwali or Dussera but never on Rakshabandhan. I ensure I am with my brother on this day. I am very close to my sister Lochan, my brother Mandar and two cousins- Dhaval and Yadnesh. We make a close knit team of five and at times, I feel like I am their mother. Though I am 12 years older to him, yet he is my confidante. Mandar calms me when I am stressed and is more practical than me. He is my therapist as I can talk to him about anything and he gives me space to be myself. Not just brothers, but I also tie rakhis to my sister and my aunt, who has been a huge emotional support. This year, we will celebrate togetherness and the fact that we are all at home, safe during this pandemic. Radhika says her brother Arjun Madan celebrates her success more than her. Radhika Madan: As a kid, Rakshabandhan was about the gifts and money I got from my brother, Arjun Madan, but only when he left for Toronto, Canada for further studies, I realised the meaning of rakhi. I always looked up to him and he always supported me in my career decisions. Each year, I choose the best rakhi and send it to him with gifts and sweets. Our ritual is to eat the first bite of food together on this day and we wait till the other person wakes up. Today, its about teasing and the nok-jhok between bhai-behen. My brother celebrates my success more than me. He is my best friend and I love him too much even if I hate him at times. This year, we will celebrate rakhi virtually and will tease each other on the video call. I miss him a lot. Mouni has sent a rakhi to her brother Mukhar Roy from UK. Mouni Roy: Rakshabandhan and the Bengali festival Bhai phota have always been special to me. While growing up, we celebrated Bhai phota more often and later, both festivals. My brother, Mukhar Roy, and I are not in the same city every year but I make sure he gets the rakhi and gifts from me, as he is younger to me. I am in London, UK and I have already sent the rakhi to him. As we lost our dad quite early in life, he looks up to me as his guardian and I have smoothly fit into that role and that of his sister. We have a fun relationship and are each others person. I have a rakhi brother in Mumbai and I celebrate every rakhi with him. This is the second year that I am not there for Rakshabandhan but we will celebrate when I meet next. I am missing my mum and brother as I have been out of the country most of this year due to the pandemic. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The main element of destabilizing the Ukrainian society from within is "manipulation of protest sentiments, built including on patriotism. Head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service Valeriy Kondratiuk has elaborated on major threats coming from Russian in the information space. In an op-ed Kondratiuk penned for ZN.ua, he wrote Russia's attempts to dominate the Ukrainian information space are among the prerequisites for building up aggression against the country. "The Kremlin plans to intensify its information and psychological warfare. To this end, social networks, targeted information operations, fake news, and disinformation campaigns are being actively employed," Kondratiuk wrote. "It is worth recalling manipulation of versions regarding flight MH17 downed by Russian invaders, allegations about Ukraine 'training terrorists for ISIS', and false information spins about the alleged use of the Ukrainian territory for setting up secret biological weapons research labs," the intel chief wrote. "We should also keep in mind the norm laid down in the updated version of Russia's constitution on the impossibility of alienating territories, as well as criminal liability for public calls to this end. From now on, anyone who says Crimea belongs to Ukraine could be prosecuted in Russia." The main element of destabilizing the Ukrainian society from within is "manipulation of protest sentiments, built including on patriotism (among the most actively exploited issues are language and religion, claims of 'external control' over Ukraine, including due to dependence on the IMF and other Western institutions and governments). Read alsoCulture minister Tkachenko announces national media literacy project The Kremlin spares no financial or human resources in this regard, Kondratiuk stresses. "Provocations are being inspired and widely covered in media involving attacks by alleged 'nationalists' on 'opposition' pro-Russian forces. False information is being spread internationally about 'Ukrainian mercenaries' in conflict regions, participation of Ukrainians in mass unrest on foreign soil," he wrote in the op-ed. The latest example of such a special information operation was related to protests in Serbia. The Kremlin has spread fake news about the involvement of "mercenaries from Ukraine" in protests in Belgrade sparked over people's discontent with new COVID-19 curfew rules. The activities of pro-Russian TV channels in Ukraine also require comprehensive assessment and response on the part of the Ukrainian government, Kondratiuk concluded. Russian government's strategic goals, despite all cosmetic statements by the authorities in Moscow, remain unchanged: bringing Ukraine back into the orbit of total influence, eliminating its national identity and independence, establishing external control over the ongoing processes in the country, and ultimately terminating Ukraine as a sovereign state," the intelligence chief says. On Friday July 17th, 2020, Mama Zainab, as she was popularly called, sent her 12-year-old daughter, Zainab Justina Adeyemo to a neighbouring village, Eshe-Akoko in Akoko North west Local government Area, Okeagba, Ondo state. The vivacious Zainab, a senior prefect at Saint Augustine Nursery and Primary School in her village, Iru-akoko, wasted little time in responding to her dear mothers errand. Journey to the unknown She left their house around 2pm and took a motorbike to make it easier and quicker for her. Unfortunately, hours after her mother thought she would have come back, she was nowhere to be seen. The apprehensive mother quickly dashed to the village where her daughter was sent only to be told that she had long gone back after delivering the message. Still hopeful, she rushed back to her village to meet an empty house, no Zainab. In desperation, she went back to Eshe where she sent her and was told that her daughter joined a popular commercial motorcyclist called Dare while returning home. She was directed to Dares house where, to her chagrin, Dare denied seeing her. Suspect opens up This infuriated other commercial motorcyclists and they attempted lynching Dare, their colleague, but later ended up dragging him to the nearest police station where he admitted that he truly carried the girl with his motorbike and that he dropped her at Iru motor Park. At this stage, he was compelled to show them where he dropped her, which he did. He was then taken to the nearest police station. Agony of a mother Mama Zainab who could not control her emotions at this stage narrated to Vanguard Crime Guard in tears. On getting to the police station, now visibly frightened Dare pleaded that he should be treated gently assuring that the missing girl would eventually be seen. Shockingly, he further claimed that while he was on his way from Eshe to Irun with Zainab, they had an accident and the girl was seriously wounded. Initially, we told the police to carry out immediate investigation into his claims but they were insisting that we must wait for the stipulated 24 hours before taking any action. This infuriated villagers and they went out in search of Zainab without the police. Luckily, after about five hours thorough search, the corpse of Zainab was discovered along a footpath in the bush. The police was informed and they later picked it. Protest for action The delay by the police forced both commercial motorcyclists in the area and villagers to stage a protest demanding that Dare must be brought out to say what happened to the little girl. The protest made the police to accost Dare who started narrating how he raped and later killed the little girl. He told gory tales of how he was raping her inside the bush while they were on their way only to discover that she was dead. He claimed that Zainab died as result of the struggle that ensued between them during the process and he dumped her body in the bush. Police sources said after his confession, the protesting crowd nearly set the police station ablaze by insisting that Dare must be handed over to them to be killed, However, the police succeeded in curtailing their moves and later transferred the suspect to the State Criminal Investigations Department in Akure where more investigations will be carried out over the case. *** Source: Vanguard Photograph of Post Office at N. 63rd Street at Media in Philadelphia as seen on Thursday, July 30, 2020. Read more Neighborhoods across the Philadelphia region are experiencing significant delays in receiving their mail, with some residents going upwards of three weeks without packages and letters, leaving them without medication, paychecks, and bills. The delays come at a time when the U.S. Postal Service is experiencing significant changes. The new Postmaster Generals policies eliminate overtime, order carriers to leave mail behind to speed up their workdays, and slash office hours, which coupled with staffing shortages amid previous budget cuts and coronavirus absences are causing extensive delivery delays. According to local union leaders and carriers, mail is piling up in offices, unscanned and unsorted. Mail carriers who spoke with The Inquirer said they are overwhelmed, working long hours yet still unable to finish their routes. Offices are so short-staffed that when a carrier is out, a substitute is often not assigned to their route. I understand we are flexing our available resources to match the workload created by the impacts of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, said USPS spokesperson Ray V. Daiutolo Sr. We have a liberal leave policy and we are aggressively trying to hire qualified candidates. We appreciate the patience of our customers and the efforts of employees as conditions change on a day-to-day basis. We are proud of our workforce for the essential role they are playing for the customers they serve. He said the USPS made its leave policy more flexible due to the pandemic. Residents are trying to understand the situation, but many are struggling to get by without checks or packages of food theyre expecting to receive. I feel bad complaining because its a bigger issue, said Robert Young Sr., an Overbrook resident who went more than a week without receiving mail, leaving him without workers compensation payments. But we still have to live. Its just piles of our mail sitting in the post office Customers are past frustrated. For example, in Overbrook Park, which has seen at least four coronavirus cases among carriers in the last month, according to the union, residents are desperate. Valerie Rice said her mail has arrived only once every two weeks in July. She receives medication for her 25-year-old grandson, who has autism, through the mail. But now it doesnt come on time, forcing her to go to different drugstores across the city, in hopes they have what he needs. I try to stay by him and pray for life that I have what I need to take care of him, said Rice, 65. Donald Bullock said he has gone three weeks without his mail leaving 71 letters and three packages, including two paychecks, sitting inside the Overbrook post office, according to his USPS mail alerts. Daiutolo said that in Overbrooks case, the managers are flexing available resources to match workload and that every effort is being made to deliver mail. People across the city North Philly, Queen Village, South Philly, and parts of Southwest say theyre seeing two- to three-day lags and that their packages are arriving weeks after their projected delivery date. Residents have filed customer-service complaints and have gone to their post office trying to pick up their mail, but theyre told they must wait for the carrier to deliver their items. Its the same runaround, but nothing is being done, said Young. Its just piles of our mail sitting in the post office. Staff shortages and policy changes Across Philadelphia, at least 133 Postal Service employees from carriers and clerks to mail handlers and custodians have tested positive for the coronavirus since March, according to records provided by American Postal Workers Union Local 89. Two employees have died. Philadelphias main headquarters has been hit hard the Processing and Delivery Center has seen 34 cases, while the Main Office of Delivery on 30th and Chestnut Streets has seen 28. The cases are exacerbating staffing shortages, said Nick Casselli, president of APWU Local 89. When an employee tests positive, they cannot work for at least two weeks, and employees who have been in contact with them are forced to quarantine for 14 days. If there is no one to fill in, the mail doesnt go out. On top of staff shortages, the agency has seen a significant increase in packages due to a boom in online shopping as people stay home. Casselli said Philadelphias plant was processing about 30,000 parcels per day before the coronavirus. Now, its processing 100,000. They were short-staffed before COVID, and now they dont have the manpower to process the mail that needs to be delivered, said Casselli. Mail is sitting for a week to 10 days before theyre even scanned to go out. Amid this increase, sudden policy changes instituted to cut costs by new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump donor who was appointed in May, are exacerbating delays, at a time when unprecedented voting by mail has put scrutiny on the agency. In memos to employees, DeJoy has ordered carriers to leave mail behind if it delays routes, and said the agency will prohibit overtime. Additionally, post offices hours are being slashed, including in Camden and Cherry Hill. These are things that have never ever happened in the history of the post office, said Casselli. Carriers are being told to leave mail behind The USPS, which is part of a $1.6 trillion mailing industry that employs 7.3 million people, faces crippling debt. Philip F. Rubio, a history professor at North Carolina A&T State University who has written numerous books about the Postal Service, said the current changes are part of the Trump administrations quest to turn the public against the post office and ultimately privatize it. Whats happening now is really egregious, he said. Mail carriers say the new orders have forced them to abandon some of the most sacred commitments of their job. Two Philadelphia-area carriers who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect their jobs said supervisors instruct them to leave mail behind and prioritize the delivery of Amazon packages. Both said that their stations are overflowing with parcels, and that they cannot fit the amount of mail they have to deliver in one day in their trucks or bags. Its more packages than at Christmastime. Its impossible to keep up, said a North Philadelphia-area carrier who is working 90 hours per week, still unable to finish his routes. A 20-year carrier in Delaware County said cutting overtime would be detrimental amid huge amounts of mail and directions to leave it behind. In his area, six routes do not have assigned carriers, so others work overtime to deliver those routes. If overtime is cut, there will be no bodies to deliver that mail. The things we were told never to do because that would get us fired are all the things management is encouraging us to do, he said. In 20 years of delivering, no one has ever told us not to deliver mail up until this point. Correction: This story has been corrected to note that the USPS is only one part of the $1.6 trillion mailing industry, which employs 7.3 million people. The Postal Service itself employs 633,108 people. A year after he died at the age of 17, a young mans love of helping others lives on. Through a foundation established by his parents, Benjamin Canlas is still making the world a better place one bike at a time. The Benjamin Canlas Courage to be Kind Foundation gives away mountain bikes to Filipinos who are struggling to hold on to jobs. The Philippines has been hit hard by COVID-19. Dr. Glennda Canlas and her husband, Dr. George Canlas, created the foundation to honor their son and his kindness. One time, Benjamin saw a food seller riding an old bicycle. Its pedals were missing. To help, Benjamin used his own money that he had saved to fix the food sellers bike. After their sons death, his parents saw a way to connect private donors with those in need. In this way, they could honor their son. In an interview with the Associated Press, Benjamins mother said, There is so much need out there. But people are willing to help. You just have to put them together. In the Philippines, many businesses have been closed and many jobs have been lost as a result of the coronavirus crisis. This has left thousands of Filipinos struggling to have enough money to survive. Many have had to take odd jobs. These are small jobs that are often done in someone's home, such as cleaning or repairing things. And that means traveling from one place to another. However, public transportation has been severely restricted by the coronavirus. So many people must walk for hours in the sun or rain to get to these jobs. Benjamins parents had the idea to give away bikes to deserving individuals nominated by their friends, family members or coworkers. When the giveaway contest was announced on social media, they did not know how much interest there would be. At first, their plan was to give away seven bicycles. But then they received more than 50 nominations. All of them were then checked for truthfulness. And then on July 11, 27 people were awarded bicycles. These bicycles are meant to help make their lives a little easier. Among the winners is 25-year old Ronaldo del Rosario Jr. He lost his job at a fast food restaurant due to the coronavirus lockdown. To support his wife and young baby, he borrowed a bicycle. He sold rice cakes in the morning and smoked fish in the afternoon, traveling many kilometers each day. This caused the borrowed bike to break often. So, he often lost valuable time and earnings on repairs. Mharygrace Ortega is del Rosarios partner. Ortega nominated del Rosario because the wheels on the borrowed bicycle were always breaking down from working so hard. At first, del Rosario could not believe that he was getting a new bike. A bike, he said, isnt just a simple thing. He explained that a bike supports his life. A bike is his partner in his work every day. Del Rosario added that when he lost his fast food job, he also lost the usual daily routine that came with it. His new bicycle has helped him to get used to his new work, which has him traveling far every day. Another new bike owner is Liezel Camilla. Camilla is 24 years old and a mother of a 2-year-old child. When her husbands work was put on hold, she started selling and delivering food on her own. With tears in her eyes, Camilla said that she is so happy that she will not have to walk so far anymore. Even as the contest ended, nominations continued to come in. The foundation said there are people still in need and much work needs to be done. The foundation is working on launching more sustainable projects. The goal is that these projects will help more people while also urging others to be kind and help those in need. We live in a world where it still takes courage to be kind, said Dr. Glennda Canlas. Benjamins mother added that the goal of the foundation is to help create a world where kindness does not require courage it is simply the thing we all do. Im Anna Matteo. The Associated Press reported this story. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story foundation n. an organization that is created and supported with money that people give in order to do something that helps society courage n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerous mountain bike n. a type of bicycle that has a strong frame, thick tires, and straight handlebars and that is used for riding over rough ground donor n. a person or group that gives something (such as money, food, or clothes) in order to help a person or organization contest n. an event in which people try to win by doing something better than others check v. to look at (something) carefully to find mistakes, problems, etc., or to make sure there is nothing wrong with it lockdown n. a security measure taken during an emergency to prevent people from leaving or entering a building or other location: routine n. a regular way of doing things in a particular order sustainable adj. able to last or continue for a long time (Natural News) Are you race fluid? Because it only makes sense that if a person is allowed to fluidly change at any given moment from a biological man or woman into the other gender, that any person can fluidly self identify as Black, and then receive slavery reparations. Right? This is the Democrat and Liberal logic, so lets roll with it. Lets break it down, nice and simple here. Theres gender fluidity, where a grown man can put on a wig and some lipstick and stroll right into the girls locker room at the gym (or Target bathrooms) and disrobe, and its all good, because he self-identifies as a 9-year-old girl. Then theres race and ethnicity fluidity, where you can be a White person and change your mind one day and self-identify as a Black person, or go from Black to White, or any race or creed instantly. Its the same as switching religions or your opinions about politics. So if youre not Black now, just switch. According to Obama, a simple social media post or a note from some foreign doctor shall suffice, in the legal sense. That immediately entitles you to reparations from all White people, because White people were responsible for installing slavery in America, and those were your fluid ancestors who suffered. Are we making clear sense yet? Illegal immigrants can self-identify as American citizens and instantly become legal Remember in 2015 when universities all across America starting teaching students that gender is NOT biological, but rather a fluid concept not based in biology at all. Never was biological, never will be, they say. Dont bother looking in every single biology book ever printed for facts, because Politico already fact-checked it, along with FactChecker.com and Zuckies Fakebook. Yes, embrace gender-neutral pronouns or get fired, blasphemed and ostracized. Get banned from all social media platforms if you dare even question gender fluidity, the state of mind that has nothing to do with actual science at all. And that brings us to immigration reform. Every Democrat in America, whether they think so or not, supports gender fluidity, race fluidity, ethnic fluidity, no police, no jails, no borders, no arresting domestic terrorists. That is the platform and ultimate mission of those leading the Democrats, and everyone who votes for Democrats on any level votes for all of that. Period. Because that is what you will get. That is why all illegal immigrants right now can self-identify as legal American citizens, and they should be free of all this supposed fascist government tyranny and white supremacy thats coming from the White House. Right? Have you seen the movie Idiocracy yet? Its real life for every Democrat right now. Thats why you cant have an intelligent discussion ever again with a Democrat, so dont try. Its official. Sleepy Joe Biden has chosen Camacho as his VP. The following is a real slice of life for the Democrats of 2021. This is what all Democrats are voting for in November: All White people in America need to self-identify as Black if Biden wins, then we ALL get reparations Did you know there are six gender identity choices on most California university admissions applications? Yes, and there are biology classes at these same universities, so its very difficult to imagine the hypocrisy in the classrooms, shifting back and forth from real science to fake science, over and over again. Thats where the lies really start and are bred into society. Obama made sure of that in his eight silent but deadly years. So now, we must submit to the insanity, but to our advantage. We must all self-identify as Black, so we can get that money were entitled to, because our mental-fluid-ancestors suffered so much. Thanks Obama for the brain wash cult thats got everyone so confused and upside down. Its called rapid onset gender dysphoria and its as misguided and twisted as BLM and Antifa calling themselves peaceful protesters. Dont forget, it was Obama that made it so immigrants can change the sex on their official U.S. documents by simply showing a letter, a transgender memo from a foreign doctor. When did Obama make this legal? On his last full day in office. Tune your internet dial to Chemicals.news for great info about keeping your mind and body clean, firing on all cylinders, and making smart choices about what causes you should support (or not). Wait a second. Heres a thought. Everyone just self-identify as someone who already has antibodies to beat Covid-19. Its an all-natural, fluid solution! Sources for this article include: Chemicals.news NaturalNews.com Breitbart.com Eight categories of citizens of Ukraine are allowed to enter the European Union, despite a general entry ban imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said. "Ukraine does not meet the criteria defined by the EU for the state to be included in the list of epidemiologically safe countries (green list) the citizens of which can cross the border. But there are eight categories of citizens who are allowed to enter the territory of the European Union despite the ban," Kuleba said during an online briefing on July 7, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. In particular, these categories include healthcare workers, medical researchers; people who care for the elderly and those who require urgent medical care; border guards; carriers of goods and other representatives of transport services, taking into account the need; diplomats, police officers on duty, civil defense services and teams, representatives of international organizations and international military contingents; persons in transit; persons traveling for non-tourist purposes or other business matters or who have another economic interest; persons traveling for study or other urgent personal reasons. As for the latter category, Kuleba specified that these reasons can be interpreted differently by the authorized bodies of a country, the border of which a Ukrainian is trying to cross. The minister noted that the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine constantly provide the EU with updated data on the situation with coronavirus in the country, and assured that they will do everything to ensure that Ukraine is included in the "green" list as soon as possible. As reported, on March 12, the Government introduced the quarantine in Ukraine to counteract the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus infection. In particular, trading establishments were closed except groceries, pharmacies, gas stations, and banks. The operation of subway in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Dnipro, municipal, intercity, and interregional road, rail, and air transport services were suspended. On March 28, Ukraine completely closed its border for scheduled passenger services, including air services. Domestic air traffic was resumed on June 5, and international scheduled flights on June 15. Adaptive quarantine is in force in Ukraine until July 31. ish TEHRAN, Iran, Aug.2 Trend: Iran is to announce necessary health instructions for the Mourning of Muharram in the coming week, said Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. "The health protocols for the Mourning of Muharram should be implemented at mosques and those who violate instruction would be confronted," said Rouhani. "All the Health Ministry's regulations continue to be implemented until vaccine is discovered, the government's approach to fight the coronavirus has not changed," he said. "The statistics show the infections in ten provinces have become under control and these provinces have passed the infection peak," he said. "In the current situation wearing a mask is mandatory and everyone should follow it in public transportation and offices. Large gatherings including weddings, funerals and conferences are banned. If the situation improves, it is possible that some gatherings would be allowed," he said. "We have given authority to provinces to implement more restrictions to prevent Coronavirus spread," he added. The Mourning of Muharram is a set of commemoration rituals observed by Shia Muslims, as well as some non-Muslims. The commemoration falls in Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. The event marks the anniversary of the Battle of Karbala (AD 680/AH 61), when Imam Hussein ibn Ali, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was martyred by the forces of the second Umayyad caliph. Family members and companions accompanying him were either killed or subjected to humiliation. The commemoration of this event during the yearly mourning season, with the Day of Ashura as the focal date, serves to define Shia communal identity. Muharram observances are carried out in countries with a sizable Shia population. The federal government is being urged to conduct a review of Chinese state involvement in Australias electricity grid and consider the removal of some equipment amid fears of remote sabotage. Influential South Australian senator Rex Patrick is behind the push as Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows China has overtaken Vietnam as the main supplier of transformers for the Australian electricity network in recent years. Some believe imported transformers could put the power grid under threat of attack. Credit:Paul Jones Transformers are crucial parts of the grid that convert alternating current from one voltage to another, powering households and energy-intensive factories. In 2018-19, Chinese companies supplied 29 of the 70 transformers imported by Australia. Of these, 16 were for use in Victoria. The Andrews government signed a memorandum of understanding with China in 2018 to participate in its controversial Belt and Road initiative. The American daily newspaper appreciated Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for the way Dharavi has beaten back the virus against all odds A view of deserted roads near Dharavi during the lockdown. Washington Post has lauded the Dharavi-model that helps contain the spread of Coronavirus. (PTI Photo) Mumbai: After the World Health Organisations (WHO) appreciation, now the Washington Post has also lauded the Dharavi-model that helps contain the spread of Coronavirus. The largest slum in the country saw rapid transmission of the deadly virus during the initial days of its outbreak. The American daily newspaper has appreciated the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the way Dharavi has beaten back the virus against all odds. Earlier, it had also praised Mumbais data transparency vis-a-vis other major cities of India in the fight against Covid-19. In the article titled How a packed slum in Mumbai beat back the coronavirus, as Indias cases continue to soar, in its Friday (July 31) edition, the Washington Post has stated that Dharavis turnaround offers both lessons and promise for other dense neighbourhoods, particularly in parts of the developing world battling the pandemic. For Dharavi to turn a corner in the midst of this crisis is a noteworthy story of customized solutions, community involvement and perseverance, said the newspaper. Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, who was entrusted by the Maharashtra government with the responsibility to curb the growing Covid-19 pandemic in Mumbai, hailed the civic officials for their efforts in containing the outbreak in Dharavi. Team BMC resolves not to lower guard and never be complacent in fight against Covid-19, he said. According to the data, the first Covid-19 patient in Dharavi was found on April 1, nearly three weeks after Mumbai recorded its maiden positive case on March 11. But now Dharavi has only 72 active Covid-19 cases, while 2,235 patients have recovered and discharged from Covid-19 facilities. More than 85 per cent of patients in Dharavi have recovered so far. Applauding the efforts, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus last month had said Dharavi has shown that even if the outbreak is very intense, it can still be brought back under control with sustained and dedicated efforts. A strong focus on community engagement and the basics of testing, tracing, isolating and treating all those that are sick is key to breaking the chains of transmission and suppressing the virus, he had said. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray too lauded the efforts by saying Dharavi has become a global role model in the containment of coronavirus. It showed that coronavirus can be contained through self-discipline and community efforts. Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Kerala gold smuggling: Junior foreign minister fasts to raise pitch for CMs resignation Minister of state for external affairs V Muraleedharan on Sunday started a day-long hunger strike to demand the resignation of Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the gold smuggling case in the southern state. Muraleedharan, who belongs to Kerala, is holding the days fast at his official residence in New Delhi. Read more Assam issues fresh unlock guidelines; malls and gyms to open from Monday Shopping malls and gymnasiums in Assam will start operations from Monday, according to a fresh set of unlock guidelines released by the state government today. As per an order issued by chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, the new directives will come into force from 7 pm on August 2 and will remain valid till 7 pm of August 14. Read more UP govt recommends CBI probe in Kanpur lab technicians kidnapping and murder case After facing major embarrassment over alleged negligence and delayed action from the police, the Uttar Pradesh government on Sunday recommended probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with kidnapping and murder of lab technician Sanjeet Yadav in Kanpur. Read more What US ban on Chinese app TikTok would mean President Donald Trump says he wants to take action to ban TikTok, a popular Chinese-owned video app that has been a source of national security and censorship concerns. Read more Heres how to be a good friend, spend time together and more this Friendship Day Friends are the families we choose and theyre always around when you need them -- whether it is to share a joke, a piece of gossip, or even to lighten our mood in stressful moments. One can always count on them, and at the same time be grateful for all the love you get from another human being. Read more Aaditya Thackeray tweets images of female pedestrians on traffic light and sign board in Mumbais Dadar area Maharashtra cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray recently took to Twitter to share an image and wrote that it shows gender equality with a simple idea. Now, his post has received tons of reactions from tweeple. Read more My one-day record is actually good: Ousted India batsman eyes ODI comeback He may have become an indispensable part of Indias Test set-up, but as far as limited-overs formats are concerned, some claim Ajinkya Rahane leaves a lot to be desired. Rahane has scored 2962 ODI runs from 90 matches at an average of 35.26 of which 843 have come from batting at No. 4 in 27 matches with an average of 36.65. Read more Watch: Demonstrators chant Modi, Modi, praise India in Torontos anti-China protests Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) While President Rodrigo Duterte heeded the call of the medical community to tighten quarantine restrictions in certain areas, he did so only partly. Only Metro Manila and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal will be placed under a stricter quarantine status, the President announced on Sunday. Instead of reverting to the enhanced community quarantine, a more relaxed modified ECQ will be imposed in these areas from August 4 to 18, he added. The Presidents decision came after his meeting with key Cabinet officials to discuss the various concerns raised by members of the medical community. Medical societies on Saturday called for a two-week enhanced community quarantine in Mega Manila, which in addition to the countrys capital also consists of Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and Mimaropa. The appeal was made following the national governments July 31 decision to keep Metro Manila under a more relaxed general community quarantine, and nearby areas under either a GCQ or modified GCQ. READ: Pagod na pagod na kami: Frontliners appeal for two-week ECQ in Mega Manila amid surge in coronavirus cases In an August 1 letter, the medical community said the countrys healthcare system is already overwhelmed, and that frontliners are already burned out. It recommended that the two-week timeout be used to address healthcare workforce deficiency, failure of case finding and isolation, failure of contact tracing and quarantine, transportation safety, workplace safety public compliance. Under the MECQ, any person below 21 years old, those who are 60 and above, those with immunodeficiency, comorbidity, or other health risks, and pregnant women are required to remain in their residences, except when obtaining essential goods and services, as well as reporting to work. The countrys COVID-19 tally hit past 103,000 on Sunday, with a record high increase in cases at over 5,000 more recorded. Metro Manila accounted for 2,737 of these newly announced cases. Over the past two weeks, the region logged over 12,000 new cases topping the list of regions nationwide, according to the Department of Healths COVID-19 tracker. While Republicans, Democrats and the Trump administration haggle over the details of the next COVID-19 aid package, one sure thing appears to be another round of direct payments to Americans. As millions await final decisions on enhanced unemployment benefits, small business loans, funds for state and local governments and schools potentially reopening in the fall, Americans are also curious whether stimulus checks proposed by both Democrats and Republicans and backed by President Donald Trump in recent months hang in the balance. According to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, the checks are still coming its just a matter of time. Mnuchin on Sunday told ABC News that across both parties, there are different things that are very contentious, but stimulus checks are not among them. Theres definitely areas of agreement, he said, citing enormous bipartisan support for checks in the mail. Mnuchin indicated a deal could come this upcoming week, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pushing for an agreement before a summer congressional recess that begins on Aug. 7. CNET recently reported that if the president signs a new package by Aug. 10, the earliest the first checks would go out is likely the week of Aug. 24. Mnuchin also noted that there was near-universal agreement on refreshing the Paycheck Protection Program, a small business loan initiative that helped many companies retain their workers and stay afloat. Both the Democrats $3 trillion proposal in May and the recently-unveiled GOP $1 trillion plan include direct payments to tens of millions of Americans, similar to those offered in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which Trump signed in late March. The latest GOP proposal is expected to provide $1,200 relief checks to single taxpayers who make up to $75,000 annually. Married taxpayers who file jointly and make up to $150,000 will also get $2,400 from the new stimulus package, with Americans incomes being determined by their 2019 or 2018 returns. The new package would also provide $500 to taxpayers for each dependent, regardless of whether they are an adult or a child. The CARES Act previously only allowed the additional funds for dependents 17 years old and younger. Trump has accused Democrats of holding back to $1,200 to $3,400 (family of four) checks that were ready to be sent out! He complained that Democrats continually push for nearly $1 trillion in state and local aid for radical left governed states, most of which are doing very badly. In fact, the Democratic proposal includes $875 billion for municipal governments in states and communities across the nation, regardless of political affiliation of the municipal leaders. Democrats note that state and local governments have been forced to layoff more than 1.5 million public employees, including firefighters, teachers and health care workers, in the wake of unforeseen budget shortfalls due to the pandemic. For more on the stimulus checks, read here. McConnell recently told The Washington Post that hopefully we can come together behind some package we can agree on in the next few weeks. Mnuchin said Sunday that the Trump administration will return to Capitol Hill every day until we reach an agreement. We understand theres a need to compromise, but theres a big need to get kids back in school, people back to jobs and keep people safe. Related Content: Demonstrators aiming to bring Brixton to a halt stopped traffic by blocking main roads on Saturday, despite police imposing restrictions in the area. Hundreds of people gathered in south London for Afrikan Emancipation Day, when a large crowd stopped traffic and forced motorists to turn around while marching on the A23 Brixton Road. Extinction Rebellion was among groups who said it would occupy the area and cause disruption, prompting the Metropolitan Police to impose a number of restrictions ahead of the event. Crowds of people listened to music in Windrush Square where the event began watched speeches and observed a three-minute silence to mark the event, which is in its seventh year. Held on August 1, it marks the passing of the 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act, according to organisers. A coalition of groups were involved in the event on Saturday, including Stop The Maangamizi: We Charge Genocide/Ecocide, the Afrikan Emancipation Day reparations march committee and the Rhodes Must Fall Oxford campaigners. Protesters, floats with speakers and people on motorbikes spilled out onto Brixton Road shortly before 4pm and began to march to nearby Max Roach Park. Antoinette Harrison, who lives in nearby Clapham, praised the unity of the event as she marched with her cousin and cousins children. On why she chose to join, the 38-year-old told the PA news agency: We are tired. And I was just saying, our parents have gone through, were going through this, and I dont want our next generation to. Its got to come to an end. Senior officers have imposed conditions on an arranged demonstration in #Brixton tomorrow. 1. People must only assemble in three designated areas. 2. Any assembly must be finished by 8pm. #Thread pic.twitter.com/ma9Kum6UCb Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 31, 2020 She added: Whats lovely about it is theres such unity. Its not just the one race, like it was back in the day, now its whites, blacks, Hispanics everyone. Asked if she had any concerns about Covid-19 while attending, Ms Harrison, who has been protesting since earlier in the summer, said: This is a pandemic racism and not having justice. A large number of Metropolitan Police officers observed the event, with some attempting to move demonstrators, many of whom were wearing masks, off the road and onto the pavement. The force said three people were arrested during the event on Saturday, which officers called largely peaceful. Expand Close Motorcyclists supporting the demonstration on Saturday (Jonathan Brady/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Motorcyclists supporting the demonstration on Saturday (Jonathan Brady/PA) One man was arrested for affray, according to Scotland Yard, while another man was arrested for assaulting an emergency worker. A woman was arrested for racially aggravated assault, and all three remain in police custody, the force said. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor, in charge of the operation, said: The gatherings today have been largely peaceful and we thank our communities for working with us to ensure the voices of the community could be heard safely and done so responsibly to ensure the safety of all. Ahead of the demonstration, the force said blocking the road would cause serious disruption to Brixton and the surrounding area because it is used by hundreds of bus routes and thousands of motorists. Expand Close A number of police officers attempted to keep protesters off the roads (Jonathan Brady/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A number of police officers attempted to keep protesters off the roads (Jonathan Brady/PA) A number of conditions were imposed on the demonstrations within areas such as Windrush Square and outside Brixton Police Station, stipulating that attendees must not spill into nearby roads and any event must finish by 8pm. The Metropolitan Police said that the time limit was set so that officers could separate those attending the demonstrations from people attending other gatherings or unlicensed music events. It also said that gatherings of more than 30 people will be in breach of the Health Protection (Coronavirus) Restrictions and its decision to impose conditions did not mean the assembly in breach of these regulations was authorised by police. Alabama Baptists 'grieved' after pastor posts photo celebrating birthday of KKK leader Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Alabama Baptist leaders said they were grieved after learning that Pastor Will Dismukes of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Prattville had offered prayers at an event celebrating the 199th birthday of Nathan Bedford Forrest, a leader in the Confederate Army and the first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Dismukes, who's also a Republican state representative, was subsequently forced to resign from his role as pastor. The statement comes as Dismukes, 30, is also being urged to resign from political office. Dismukes sparked the national controversy when he shared a post on Facebook from the July 25 event along with a photo of him surrounded by confederate flags. The event was held at Fort Dixie in Selma and coincided with ceremonies honoring the late U.S. Rep. John Lewis, an Alabama native who is an icon in the civil rights movement, The Alabama Baptist reported. Had a great time at Fort Dixie speaking and giving the invocation for Nathan Bedford Forrest annual birthday celebration. Always a great time and some sure enough good eating!! he wrote. As outcry grew over the post which was removed by Dismukes but not before several people took screenshots of it. Leaders of the Alabama Baptist Convention State Board of Missions also spoke out. We are saddened and grieved to learn of the recent Facebook post by State Representative Will Dismukes who also serves as a bivocational pastor. In the wake of tremendous controversy, we reaffirm our opposition to any kind of racism. On July 27, each of us affirmed a June 4 blog article A Personal Credo Concerning Racism written and posted by Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist Convention State Board of Missions, the Alabama Baptist Convention leaders wrote. Keith Hinson, associate for public relations at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, which is associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, explained to The Christian Post on Friday that SBC churches are "entirely autonomous in decision making, including about the choice of who may or may not serve as a minister," which leaves the door open for Dismukes to be rehired as a church leader. "Southern Baptists are somewhat unique in that there is no denominational credentialing of ministers," Hinson noted. Pastors within the conventions are not licensed to preach through the state or national organizations. The Pleasant Hill Baptist Church did not immediately respond to a request from CP for further comment. Mel Johnson, lead mission strategist for Autauga Baptist Association, of which Pleasant Hill is a member, told The Alabama Baptist that he attended a deacons meeting at the church on Wednesday, a day after they decided to part company with Dismukes. I am grateful for the opportunity to have met with the churchs leadership for prayer and encouragement as many, through no fault of their own, have found themselves caught in the midst of this issue that has drawn national attention, Johnson said. Scripture is clear that all people are created in Gods image and therefore equal in every way before Christ and our personal need of Him as Savior and Lord. Immediate effort was made to connect with Will on behalf of our leadership with commitment toward a biblically based process to mitigate controversy surrounding this issue, Johnson noted. He was open and receptive to our call and subsequent in-person meeting on Tuesday afternoon (July 28). On Monday, the College Republican Federation of Alabama called on Dismukes to resign from political office. Hard to believe that Rep. Will Dismukes will be able to equally represent all of his constituents when he attends KKK Grand Wizard Birthday Parties that feature PICKANNINY Freeze Watermelon Stands. He shouldnt have a place in the Alabama Legislature. #alpolitics#resignpic.twitter.com/VSf49Lr0Cj Chris England (@RepEngland70) July 29, 2020 The College Republican Federation of Alabama calls for the resignation of State Representative Will Dismukes. Representative Dismukess Facebook post of him at an event that celebrated former KKK Grand Wizard Nathan Bedford Forrest is unacceptable and has no place in the State Legislature or the Republican Party, the group said in a statement. Chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party Chris England echoed those sentiments in a statement on Twitter Wednesday, along with damaging copies of documents advertising the controversial birthday celebration. Hard to believe that Rep. Will Dismukes will be able to equally represent all of his constituents when he attends KKK Grand Wizard Birthday Parties that feature PICKANNINY Freeze Watermelon Stands. He shouldnt have a place in the Alabama Legislature. #alpolitics#resign, England wrote. Nicole Kidman was seen leaving her $6.5million Southern Highlands estate for the first time after completing her 14-day quarantine with her husband Keith Urban and their daughters, Sunday, 12, and Faith, nine. The actress, 53, and her other half, 52, divided fans after being granted permission to skip mandatory hotel quarantine and self-isolate at their sprawling country property following their arrival back to Australia via a private jet from the United States. Despite the controversy, the Big Little Lies star looked in high spirits as she got her first taste of post-quarantine freedom while being driven out of her property. Freedom! Nicole Kidman [pictured], 53, was seen leaving her $6.5million Southern Highlands estate for the first time after completing her 14-day quarantine with her husband Keith Urban and their daughters, Sunday, 12, and Faith, nine Nicole was dressed to combat the winter chill in a faux-fur lined hooded jacket over a chunky white jumper. The screen star relied on her naturally striking features with a simple slick of makeup, and she wore her curly red locks loose. While Keith was nowhere in sight, Nicole appeared to be in great company as she exited her property in the car. Home sweet home: The actress and her other half divided fans after being granted permission to skip mandatory hotel quarantine and self-isolate at their country property [pictured] following their arrival back to Australia via a private jet from the US Low-key: Nicole was dressed to combat the winter chill in a faux-fur lined hooded jacket over a chunky white jumper Natural: The screen star relied on her naturally striking features with a simple slick of make-up, and she wore her curly red locks loose Nicole may have made the outing to officially begin work on her new series, Nine Perfect Strangers, which was recently given the green-light to begin filming in Australia. The series will provide an economic boost to the struggling local film industry by creating 'hundreds' of local jobs when filming commences on August 10. Despite Nicole's plans to help the local film industry during the economic downturn, some Australians angrily suggested that COVID-19 travel restrictions only seemed to affect ordinary people, not the rich and famous. Fun times: While Keith was nowhere in sight, Nicole appeared to be in great company as she exited her property in the car Back to work: Nicole may have made the outing to officially begin work on her new series, Nine Perfect Strangers, which was recently given the green-light to begin filming in Australia One fan fumed on social media: 'Completely unfair and wrong! If we all have to do it and no one is getting exemptions then EVERYONE should have to do it! And they wonder why people start breaking the rules.' Another wrote: 'Two different sets of laws: one for the rich and powerful and one for the ordinary person.' However, many others pointed out that they didn't see a problem with it if the pair stayed at home for two weeks. New project: The series will provide an economic boost to the struggling local film industry by creating 'hundreds' of local jobs when filming commences on August 10 Divisive: Despite Nicole's plans to help the local film industry during the economic downturn, some Australians angrily suggested that COVID-19 travel restrictions only seemed to affect ordinary people, not the rich and famous Other side: However, many others pointed out that they didn't see a problem with it if the pair stayed at home for two weeks. One supporter wrote: 'This is right decision. They have their own property, why not? They both deserve a little credit for promoting Australia every day... Welcome home.' Another added: 'Why is everyone carrying on? They are isolating at home, just not at a hotel. So what if they are stars? They still have to isolate away from everyone.' According to the NSW Government website, people returning from overseas are only exempt from staying at a quarantine hotel if there are 'strong medical, health or compassionate grounds'. One supporter wrote: 'This is right decision. They have their own property, why not? They both deserve a little credit for promoting Australia every day... Welcome home' The previous round of corps commander-level talks took place on 14 July and lasted for nearly 15 hours. New Delhi: Senior military commanders of India and China are holding a fresh round of talks on Sunday with an aim to ensure expeditious disengagement of troops from all the friction points along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh, military sources said. It is the fifth round of corps commander-level talks in nearly two months with an aim to defuse the border tensions triggered by a violent clash between the two militaries in Pangong Tso area in eastern Ladakh on 5 May. The meeting was scheduled to start at 11 am in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The sources said the Indian side will insist on the total withdrawal of Chinese troops from the Finger areas in Pangong Tso at the earliest besides completing the disengagement process on a couple of other friction points. The previous round of corps commander-level talks took place on 14 July and lasted for nearly 15 hours. In the talks, the Indian side had conveyed a "very clear" message to the Chinese army that the status quo ante must be restored in eastern Ladakh and it will have to follow all mutually agreed protocols for border management to bring back peace and tranquillity in the area. The Indian delegation also apprised the China People's Liberation Army (PLA) about the "red lines" and conveyed that the onus was largely on China to improve the overall situation in the region. After the talks, the Army said both sides are committed to "complete disengagement" of troops, adding that the process is "intricate" and requires "constant verification". The Chinese military has pulled back from Galwan Valley and certain other friction points but the withdrawal of troops has not moved forward from the Finger areas in Pangong Tso as demanded by India, sources said. India has been insisting that China must withdraw its forces from areas between Finger Four and Eight. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers. On 24 July, India and China held another round of diplomatic talks on the border issue. After the talks, the Ministry of External Affairs said both sides agreed that an early and complete disengagement of the troops along the LAC in accordance with bilateral agreement and protocols was essential for the overall development of relations between the two nations. The formal process of disengagement of troops began on 6 July, a day after a nearly two-hour telephonic conversation between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on ways to bring down tension in the area. In Sunday''s talks, the Indian delegation was set to be led by Lt Gen Harinder Singh, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps, while the Chinese side was to be headed by Major General Liu Lin, Commander of the South Xinjiang military region. The sources said the focus of the talks would be on finalising a framework for a "time-bound and verifiable" disengagement process from all the friction points like Pangong Tso and Depsang and pulling back large numbers of troops and weapons from rear bases along the LAC. The first round of the corps commander 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 clash on 15 June in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed. The Chinese side also suffered casualties but it is yet to give out any details. According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35. Following the Galwan Valley incident, the government has given the armed forces "full freedom" to give a "befitting" response to any Chinese misadventure along the LAC. The Army has sent thousands of additional troops to forward locations along the border following the deadly clashes. The IAF has also moved air defence systems as well as a sizable number of its frontline combat jets and attack helicopters to several key air bases. This Feb. 25, 2020, file photo, shows the icon for TikTok. Associated Press TikTok's US General Manager Vanessa Pappas appeared in a one-minute video released Saturday morning to assure users the short-form video platform is "not planning on going anywhere." The video message came as an apparent response to President Donald Trump's comment one day earlier that he is banning the Chinese-owned app. The Trump administration has been publicly threatening to ban the app since early July, often floating concerns about the app's ties to China, but TikTok has denied that it would share user data with the Chinese government. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Less than a day after President Donald Trump announced he is banning TikTok from the United States, the app released a message assuring all users that the short-form video platform is "not planning on going anywhere." Business Insider previously reported that Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday night that he is banning the Chinese-owned platform from the US. US General Manager Vanessa Pappas appeared in a one-minute video released Saturday morning addressing the "TikTok community" in response to Trump's announcement. "We've heard your outpouring of support and we want to say thank you, we're not planning on going anywhere," Pappas said. "TikTok is a home for creators and artists to express themselves, their ideas, and connect with others across different backgrounds and we are so proud of all the various communities that call TikTok their home." Pappas thanked the "1,500 US employees who work on this app every day" and mentioned the platform's plans for an "additional 10,000 jobs we're bringing into this country over the next three years." The administration's previous threats to ban the app set alarms off among creators, but Pappas reiterated the app's plans for a $1 billion US Creator Fund. Trump's comment to reporters came after a month of his administration publicly threatening to ban the app, with officials like Secretary of State Mike Pompeo citing concerns about the app's ties to China and the possible sharing of user data with the Chinese Communist Party. TikTok has denied that it would share user information with the Chinese government. Story continues Pappas acknowledged the app's plans for "safety and security" by saying, "we're building the safest app because we know it's the right thing to do." "We appreciate the support, we're here for the long run, continue to share your voice here and let's stand for TikTok," Pappas said. After the TikTok's US debut in 2018, the app has attracted more than 80 million users and more than 2.3 billion downloads worldwide, Business Insider previously reported. Trump told reporters he planned to take action "as soon as Saturday," but the White House had not released any plans as of Saturday morning. In addition to banning the app, Trump also threatened an executive order that would force TikTok's Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to divest from the app's US operations. Reuters reported on Saturday that the company agreed to divesting, placing Microsoft as the new owner of TikTok in the US. The "concession will test whether Trump's threat to ban TikTok is a negotiating tactic or whether he is intent on cracking down on a social media app that has up to 80 million daily active users in the United States," the outlet noted. Read the original article on Insider She was the standout star of Love Island 2019 thanks to her sassy wit and acerbic putdowns. And Maura Higgins looked every inch the star as she put on a leggy display while stepping out in Loughton, Essex on Saturday. The reality star, 29, flaunted her endless bronzed legs and teased a glimpse of her honed midriff hotpants and a crop-top. Wow: Maura Higgins looked every inch the star as she put on a leggy display while stepping out in Loughton, Essex on Saturday Maura's powder blue Alexander Wang shorts featured frayed edges, with the star boosting her height with white leather ankle boots. The beauty oozed confidence as she displayed her incredible abs and tiny waist in the high-necked and backless top. Her brunette tresses were styled in soft waves while her pretty features were enhanced with a rich palette of make-up. Wow: The reality star, 29, flaunted her endless bronzed legs and teased a glimpse of her honed midriff hotpants and a crop-top The outing comes as Molly-Ma insisted she's completely fine re-watching her boyfriend Tommy Fury's flirtations with her best friend Maura in last year's Love Island. The reality star, 21, claimed the pair are now 'like brother and sister', but said she understands why some of her fans 'find it weird' that the trio are now close pals. Molly-Mae insisted Maura and Tommy's connection during the early stage of the series was 'really not deep' as her followers grilled her about their flirtation during an Instagram question and answer session on Thursday. Fine with it: The outing comes as Molly-Ma insisted she's completely fine re-watching her boyfriend Tommy Fury's flirtations with her best friend Maura in last year's Love Island The influencer stated that she and Maura, 29, were not close friends when the Irish beauty set her sights on the boxer, 21, in the villa. As the question about whether she had watched Tommy and Maura's Love Island antics popped up, Molly smiled and rolled her eyes as she told how she's had so many questions about the subject. She explained: 'You have to understand that it's really OK. When that Maura and Tommy situation happened in Love Island, me and Maura didn't even know each other then, we weren't even friends. 'It's a different story if it's your mate, Jesus that's a no go. It's really not deep, we weren't friends when it happened.' The way they were: The social media star, 21, took to Instagram for a Q&A session on Thursday, where her fans grilled her about Tommy and Maura's past connection The star went on to joke that while it was OK back then, she won't be happy if Maura tries anything now as she said: 'But now, if she tries to go for him now!' before pulling a warning face. She continued: 'But no stress about that one but Tommy and Maura are like brother and sister now. 'I know it seems weird to some of you guys and I get that some of you find it weird, but for us three it's really not, we're best mates.' The trio met on the 2019 series of Love Island with Maura originally setting her sights on Tommy, although she soon found love with ex-beau Curtis Pritchard. Old news: As the question about whether she had watched Tommy and Maura's Love Island antics popped up, Molly smiled and rolled her eyes as she told how she's had so many questions about the subject In the past: 'You have to understand that it's really OK. When that Maura and Tommy situation happened in Love Island, me and Maura didn't even know each other then, we weren't even friends' While Tommy and Molly-Mae, who met in the ITV2 villa, recently celebrated their one-year anniversary. Tommy, Molly and Maura are still close and Maura even visited the couple this week, where they were seen heading to lunch together. Maura and Tommy shared a giggle as they had a play fight which saw Maura take a tumble, while Molly filmed the shenanigans. Meanwhile in the Q&A, the PrettyLittleThing ambassador discussed her romance with Tommy and says there is plenty of 'trust' between them. Not bothered: 'It's a different story if it's your mate, Jesus that's a no go. It's really not deep, we weren't friends when it happened' Best friends: Tommy, Molly and Maura are still close and Maura even visited the couple this week, where they were seen heading to lunch together, while she and Tommy had a play fight Stronger than ever: Meanwhile in the Q&A, the PrettyLittleThing ambassador discussed her romance with Tommy and says there is plenty of 'trust' between them She explained: 'For us, our relationship is based on trust. We have such a strong amount of trust in our relationship and each other, that's why we work so well.' The beauty, who recently lashed out at body-shaming trolls, also admitted that she's thinking about getting her lip fillers dissolved. She said: 'I have been thinking recently that I want to get them dissolved. I've had all other fillers dissolves.' But Molly then went on to joke that she has has 'no lips' without fillers so 'will have to think about that'. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, Calif., on July 23, 2020. (Ashley Landis/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Trump to Act on Chinese Software Companies in Coming Days, Pompeo Says WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump will take action shortly on Chinese software companies that are feeding data directly to the Beijing government and posing a risk to U.S. national security, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Aug. 2. President Trump has said enough and were going to fix it and so he will take action in the coming days with respect to a broad array of national security risks that are presented by software connected to the Chinese Communist Party, Pompeo said on Fox News Channels Sunday Morning Futures. The news comes after Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One on Friday that he would issue an order for social media platform TikTok to be banned in the United States. Over the last several months, U.S. officials have repeatedly said TikTok under its current Chinese parent company, Beijing-based software firm ByteDance, poses a national risk because of the personal data it handles. Theyre true privacy issues for the American people and for a long time, a long time the United States just said well goodness, if were having fun with it, or if a company can make money off of it, were going to permit that to happen,' Pompeo said. Cyber experts have warned that the app acts as spyware for the Chinese regime. The company has denied these claims and sought to distance itself from its Beijing owner, pointing to its American board members and new chief executive. It says its servers are located in the United States and Singapore, and that it would not share user data with the Chinese regime if requested. In a separate interview on Sunday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), which reviews the national security implications of foreign business deals, is looking into the matter. On July 29, Mnuchin said that TikTok was under CFIUS review and that the agency would make a recommendation to Trump this week. By Doina Chiacu An image of a space gas bubble taken by the European Southern Observatorys (ESO) Very Large Telescope that resembles the butterfly has intrigued the internet. Shared by the European Southern Observatory on Twitter, the image depicts a bubble known as NGC 2899 located between 3000 and 6500 light-years away in the Southern constellation of Vela (The Sails ) that looks like a butterfly with its symmetrical structure, beautiful colours, and intricate patterns. Astronomers were able to capture the highly detailed image of NGC 2899 using the FORS instrument installed on UT1 (Antu), one of the four 8.2-meter telescopes that make up ESOs VLT in Chile. The image was taken as a part of the ESO Cosmic Gems program, an initiative to capture unique space phenomenon and visually attractive celestial objects using ESO telescopes for research purposes. The vibrant butterfly bubble seems to extend two light-years from its center and glows sharply among the stars of the Milky Way galaxy. Further, its temperature can reach up to ten thousand degrees. Resembling a butterfly with its symmetrical structure, beautiful colours, and intricate patterns, this striking bubble of gas, NGC 2899, appears to float and flutter across the sky in this new picture from our VLT. Credit: @ESOhttps://t.co/IseDOa6YRe pic.twitter.com/gPpSBa2N9y ESO (@ESO) July 30, 2020 Read: NASA Astronaut Shares Extraordinary Image Of Earth From Space Station, Take A Look Read: SpaceX Crew Dragon Departs From Space Station, Astronauts Begin 19-hr Journey To Earth According to a report by the Stephen Memorial Observatory, Hiram College, Ohio, the high temperature in the bubble are due to the large amount of radiation from the nebulas parent star, which causes the hydrogen gas in the nebula to glow in a reddish halo around the oxygen gas, in blue. The object has two central stars, which are responsible for its symmetric appearance. The structure has stunned the astronomers as only 1020 percent of planetary nebulae display this type of bipolar shape as the Butterfly bubble. ESOs high-resolution instrument While ESOs high-resolution instrument was one of the first to be installed on ESOs VLT and is behind numerous beautiful images, this particular image has been recorded using Focal Reducer and low dispersion Spectrograph by the scientists. FORS has contributed to observations of light from a gravitational wave source, has researched the first known interstellar asteroid, and has been used to study in-depth the physics behind the formation of complex planetary nebulae, ESO revealed in its blog post. Read: NASAs Hubble Space Telescope Captures Image Showing 'summertime' On Saturn Read: NASA Astronauts Aim For Florida Coast To End SpaceX Flight After deaths of hundreds reported from several districts of teh state of Punjab, CM Captain Amarinder Singh has taken note, announcing an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh to families of the deceased, suspending Excise and Taxation Officers in an attempt to ameliorate grievances. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced Rs 2-lakh compensation each to the families of the deceased in the hooch tragedy that claimed at least 86 lives. During the 13th edition of the Facebook Live of #AskCaptain interaction, the Chief Minister announced the suspension of ETOs (Excise & Taxation Officers), Lovejinder Brar, from Gurdaspur, B S Chahal from Amritsar and Madhur Bhatia from Tarn Taran. The Excise & Taxation Inspectors (ETIs) who have been suspended with immediate effect are Ravi Kumar (Gurdaspur), Gurdeep Singh (Amritsar) and Pukhraj from Fatehabad and Hitesh Prabhakar from City Tarn Taran in district Tarn Taran. Also read: Yogi Adityanath to review bhoomi-pujan preparations in Ayodhya today Also read: Assam plans to reopen educational institutions from September 1 The Chief Minister also ordered the suspension of and inquiry against seven excise and taxation officers and inspectors, along with two DSPs and four SHOs of police in connection with the hooch tragedy, which has so far claimed 86 lives, as per an official statement of the Punjab government. Most of the deceased are from Tarn Taran, which accounts for 63 deaths, followed by Amritsar Rural at 12 and Gurdaspur (Batala) at 11. As the death toll in the hooch tragedy rose to 86, the Punjab Police arrested 17 more people in a massive crackdown spanning more than 100 raids. The total number of arrests in the case has gone up to 25, the police said. The Chief Minister warned those indulging in spurious liquor business to stop immediately or face grave consequences. I had directed the police to trace the culprits and charge all the people involved in the case, in which he had yesterday ordered a magisterial inquiry by a Divisional Commissioner, who has been asked to submit his report within a month. Such illegal acts are not acceptable, I will not let people dying to the greed of a few criminals, Captain Amarinder Singh said. The police officials suspended on charges of negligence in duty include DSP Jandiala (Amritsar Rural) and DSP sub-division Tarn Taran, and the SHOs of PS Tarsikka (Amritsar Rural), City Batala (Batala police district), PS Sadar Tarn Taran and PS City Tarn Taran. According to the excise department, though reports of the chemical analysis of the material seized in Fridays raids were yet to come, a superficial check showed that the material was denatured spirit, generally used in paint/hardware industry. Also read: 11 dead as massive crane collapses at shipyard in Visakhapatnam Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 15:02:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Allowing U.S. citizens to sue China over the COVID-19 pandemic would be a "huge mistake," a Californian senator has said. "We launch a series of unknown events that could be very, very dangerous. I think this is a huge mistake," said Senior Senator Dianne Feinstein recently during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Noting that China has pulled tens of millions of people out of poverty in a short period of time, Feinstein regarded China as a country "growing into a respectable nation among other nations" and a "potential trading partner." Feinstein also said that other countries, including China, could use the new legal precedent against the United States, resulting in global chaos, according to Fox News. Her comments came three months after Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit demanding that the Chinese government take responsibility and make compensations for the global pandemic. Enditem An encrypted BlackBerry device that was cracked five years after it was first seized by police is poised to be the key piece of evidence in one of the states longest-running drug importation investigations. In April, new technology "capabilities" allowed authorities to probe the encrypted device, which was used by one of the alleged kingpins and revealed 3000 messages over a one-month period, a Sydney court has heard. Frank Farrugia was arrested at the Sofitel hotel at Darling Harbour. Credit:Facebook The development has paved the way for the arrest of another five members of an alleged criminal syndicate. For at least two of the men - Frank Farrugia and Deniz Kanmez - the cracked BlackBerry was allegedly the silver bullet in netting their arrest, according to a source close to the investigation. (Natural News) Confirming what the Health Ranger has been saying about the threat of escalating civil unrest, Terrence Popp from Redonkulas.com Productions has put up a new video at Brighteon.com that warns about this Marxist uprising and what it means for America. Right now in Portland, Seattle, and elsewhere, as you probably already know, the makings of a civil war are at play. Rioters and looters from Black Lives Matter (BLM), Antifa, and other domestic terrorist groups are wreaking as much havoc as they possibly can in an attempt to destabilize large cities and plunge the country into full-on civil war. For the time being, these warzones, and many are calling them, remain isolated to a handful of urban cores. But in time, the plan is to spread them out into the suburbs, with BLM and Antifa mobs carrying out what the Health Ranger describes as armed flash mob killing sprees, particularly against White communities. Their goal is probably to make it so vicious and terrible that it kicks off a race war, Popp also warns, using much of the same language. Youre going to cause people to basically pack up and go full tribal, and then its going to get really interesting. Check out the video below from Brighteon.com for Popps full analysis of the situation and where he believes it all is headed: The goal is to remove all white people, replace free American society with leftist slavery Responding to the call for law and order among some, President Donald Trump is sending in federal officers to these warzones in an attempt to diffuse the situation. Many of his opposers claim that this is fascism in action, and they are calling these federal officers Trumps storm troopers, and other such inflammatory names. The situation is clearly spiraling out of control in many of these areas, which all seems to be part of a larger plan to usher in a new Marxist society governed by the socialist mob. Another factor at play is communist Chinese involvement in procuring weaponry and other tools being used to exacerbate the unrest, including through California Governor Gavin Newsoms face mask money-laundering scheme. China has been caught smuggling weapons and other various forms of equipment into this country, Popp says. I saw it on a couple of news feeds that I monitor and this isnt like the semi-automatic AK-47s of the mid- to early-90s. This is real war [stuff] like machine guns and various other top-quality [stuff]. You dont get that stuff for hobbyists or people who just want to defend themselves, he adds. These are weapons of war. As for BLM, Popp says that the domestic terrorist movement has been receiving hundreds of millions of dollars from up to 270 U.S. corporations, many of which just so happen to sell goods manufactured in communist China. Stopping short of accusing all of these companies of knowingly funding the communist uprising that is BLM, Popp does warn that it is happening nonetheless and that Americans need to be prepared for what is coming. The goal of Black Lives Matter is to achieve the complete overthrow of the United States of America, to be replaced by a Marxist authoritarian regime where White people are executed, churches are burned to the ground, and corporate-fascism authoritarians (like Google, Facebook, Disney, etc.) rule the enslaved nation, where thought crimes are punishable by death, and all speech is heavily censored and controlled by the regime, warns the Health Ranger, noting that when it all hits the fan, there will be no more calling the police for help. More related news about this disturbing subject can be found at CivilWar.news. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com Brighteon.com NaturalNews.com Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, wearing a face mask, attends a news conference in Hong Kong, China, July 31, 2020. /Reuters Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam defended her decision to postpone the city's Legislative Council (Legco) election on Saturday, saying that the decision was based on the objective development of the epidemic, without political considerations. The government must also consider the rights of voters stranded overseas, she added in an interview with broadcaster TVB. "We estimate that there are hundreds of thousands of people stranded in the mainland or overseas. If we continue the election under the severe epidemic, and people are worried about the risk of infection, more than 7 million people in Hong Kong may be harmed," she said. The chief executive added that opinion polls showed that more than half of the public supported the postponement and believed that the foundation of public opinion on the decision was solid. Asked if she was worried about being sanctioned by Western countries, Lam said these countries have used the postponing of elections as a pretext to attack Hong Kong but her administration has a response plan. The election for the seventh-term LegCo members of the HKSAR, originally scheduled for September 6, 2020, will be postponed for one year. Hong Kong has seen a resurgence of COVID-19 outbreak since early July. A total of 1,852 additional COVID-19 cases were reported between July 8 and July 30, up 140 percent from the total number of cases recorded over the previous six months. Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr Rauf Olaniyan, has explained the reason for the anger displayed by Mrs Florence Ajimobi, widow of former Governor Abiola Ajimobi, during the burial of her husband. The deputy governor said this in Ibadan on Saturday when the leadership of the South-West Group of Online Publishers paid him a Sallah visit. Olaniyan said he knew the widow was grieving, insisting that he was not angry with her. He said he had nothing against the family, adding that the widow had called him and they had settled everything. The widow also spoke angrily to the deputy governor when he and some dignitaries went to condole with her at her residence. But commenting on the incident, Olaniyan stated, I was not angry with Mrs Ajimobi and the family. I had no premonition that something like that was going to happen. When you are going into politics, you must not forget to put the Omoluabi ethos in your bag. In fact, you must have had it before going into politics. You must know when to give respect. I cautioned the ADC and Chief Detail after we got there that nobody must be touched. I told them to keep their heads when others were losing theirs. She ( Mrs Ajimobi) has called and we have settled everything. I understand her, she was grieving, mourning the death of her husband. We dont know the enormity of that grief. The deputy governors convoy was denied entry at the residence of Ajimobi during the eight day prayer for the deceased. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates But to many physicians and medical trainees, the study served to spotlight the gender biases theyve long encountered in the field. Or in the words of Eshani Dixit, a third-year medical student at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School: It said the quiet part out loud. A 2019 report in the New England Journal of Medicine found that sexual harassment, gender discrimination and verbal abuse have contributed to high rates of burnout among female doctors. The survey of 7,400 surgical residents found that 65 percent of women experienced gender discrimination on the job, either from patients, attending physicians or other staff, and 20 percent reported sexual harassment. A recent international salary survey found that female doctors make 20 to 29 percent less than their male counterparts. Some of the barriers that women face in the medical workplace are subtle, according to Dr. Adaira Landry, an emergency medicine physician in Boston. Dr. Landry said she has sometimes been mistaken for a nurse or custodial services worker because her colleagues and patients are not accustomed to seeing a Black female doctor. She knows that standards are not applied equally when it comes to appearance, either. She recalled the discomfort she felt when she heard a white attending physician ask a Black female trainee to cover her dreadlocks because it wasnt a professional look. I cant and dont want to change my hair, facial features and body frame, Dr. Landry said. Thats who I am. But if those are seen as unprofessional, what does that mean for me? Dr. Landry noted that comments about professionalism in medicine are often couched in language about making patients feel comfortable. Yet research has shown that patients feel more at ease when treated by doctors who look like them. A 2018 study found that Black patients have better health outcomes when they are seen by Black doctors. The study found, for example, that Black patients seen by Black doctors were more likely to agree to preventive care, like cholesterol tests and diabetes screenings, and to feel comfortable and relaxed. And slowly, the medical field is growing more diverse. Last year was the first in which women ever so slightly outnumbered men in medical school. The number of Black medical students has also been gradually on the rise. And a new generation of doctors is challenging some of the old norms and assumptions of the profession, including through the #MedBikini campaign. JOHANNESBURG, July 31 (Reuters) - South Africa's central bank said on Friday it would start short-term rand buy-sell backs, or reverse repurchases, of up to one month, with commercial lenders in a bid to further manage liquidity in money markets. "The buy-sell backs will be conducted on an ad hoc basis, as and when required," the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) said in a statement, adding the sum on offer would be at its discretion. (Reporting by Emma Rumney; editing by John Stonestreet) In an interview with reformist daily Etemad on Sunday August 2, A Tehran City Councillor, Mahmoud Mirlohi, has revealed that the case of illegal sale of properties by the Tehran Municipality under Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf is still open for investigation. Qalibaf (Ghalibaf), who is currently the Speaker of Iranian Parliament (Majles) was the mayor of Tehran for 12 years from 2005 To 2017. The case, also known as "the astronomical corruption at the Tehran Municipality," has been under investigation on and off since 2017 and Qalibaf has lodged a counter-complaint against councillor Mirlohi and Yashar Soltani, a journalist who first disclosed the case on his website Memari News. Mirlohi told Etemad that the dossier of "astronomical corruption at the Tehran Municipality" has disappeared in the corridors of the Iranian Judiciary. However, he disclosed that some of the properties that had been illegally transferred to an IRGC-affiliate, the Rasa Tejarat Company, have been taken back during the past weeks. Rasa Tejarat is part of the IRGC's Cooperative Foundation. Qalibaf is a former IRGC major general and still enjoys the support and confidence of the military organization. Initial reports about the case said that the Municipality had sold over 670 real estate properties to regime insiders and the circle of Qalibaf's aides at prices much lower than the market price. Mirlohi told Etemad on Sunday that the case now includes over 2,000 properties as further follow ups have revealed. It is not clear how many of the properties were cheaply given away to Rasa Tejarat and how many to individuals, some of whom were most probably also members of IRGC. The councillor says the current Mayor Pirouz Hanachi is slated to talk about 41 of the illegal sales in which former municipality officials and some former Tehran City Councillors are said to have been involved. Reports by the State Audit Organization as well as media reports have revealed in 2017 that numerous real properties were sold at "unreal and very low" prices, sometimes with a 50 percent discount and in 60 instalments during the time Qalibaf served as Tehran's mayor. Although the State Audit Organization has confirmed that at least 200 properties were sold illegally by the Tehran Municipality, there has been no report on any legal investigation about the role and responsibility of Qalibaf in these cases. In other words, Qalibaf has not been indicted or officially implicated in the astronomical corruption case even after Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei ordered an investigation into IRGC-linked corruption at the municipality. Oddly enough, while the original case remains unattended to, Qalibaf's complaint against Mirlohi has already been investigated at Bench 15 of the Tehran Court chaired by Judge Hamid Alizadeh. Judge Alizadeh is currently under arrest as an accomplice in a major bribery case involving former Deputy Judiciary Chief Akbar Tabari. Despite being implicated by the media in the corruption case, Qalibaf has been an advocate of anti-corruption campaigns in Iran in recent years, particularly after 2017 when he was one of the contestants in the presidential race. Meanwhile, other Tehran City Councillors have revealed in their interviews with Etemad that as a result of the illegal transaction with the Tehran Municipality, the IRGC-affiliated Rasa Tejarat Company owes 40 trillion rials (around $1.25 billion at the time) to the Municipality, but it has refused to pay its debt. In 2018, another IRGC-linked outfit called Yas Holding was accused of owing the municipality around $11 billion. There is still no official report on the details of possible investigations, but anecdotal accounts indicate that the case of astronomical corruption is also being investigated at the Iranian Armed Forces' Judicial Organization. Apart from major General Qalibaf's involvement as the former mayor of Tehran, the presence of IRGC-affiliated companies in the case puts the matter in the jurisdiction of the Armed Forces' Judicial Organization. This is likely to make matters about the case even less transparent. A Welsh farmer who has diversified into handbags and leather goods production will be raffling a luxury leather chair to raise funds for farming families. Hayley Hanson, a fifth-generation farmer from Llandefalle, Breconshire, is raffling off a Simmental Cow Hide & Velvet Chair to raise money for charity R.A.B.I. Her company was established in 2011, using leather as a by production of beef production or fallen stock. Crafted in Hayleys workshop on her farm, it is the only luxury brand that uses Welsh leather. She said she was initially going to do a fashion show and talk for R.A.B.I, but that was cancelled due to the Covid-19 crisis. "The charity is close to my heart and wanted to do something to help in place of the event I was originally going to do, she said. My business is a farm diversification. I am a cattle farmer from a long line of farmers; my parents and my three children all live on the same farm. "We make Welsh leather and hide, as well as our own brand of handbags and leather goods." Raffle tickets will go on sale on August 1 on Hayleys website at the price of 5. R.A.B.I the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution is farmings oldest and largest charity. It offers support to farming people of all ages, including farmers, farmworkers and dependants. Operating in the shadows of the online marketplace, specialized tech companies you've likely never heard of are tapping vast troves of our personal data to generate secret "surveillance scores" - digital mug shots of millions of Americans - that supposedly predict our future behavior. The firms sell their scoring services to major businesses across the U.S. economy. People with low scores can suffer harsh consequences. CoreLogic and TransUnion say that scores they peddle to landlords can predict whether a potential tenant will pay the rent on time, be able to "absorb rent increases," or break a lease. Large employers use HireVue, a firm that generates an "employability" score about candidates by analyzing "tens of thousands of factors," including a person's facial expressions and voice intonations. Other employers use Cornerstone's score, which considers where a job prospect lives and which web browser they use to judge how successful they will be at a job. Brand-name retailers purchase "risk scores" from Retail Equation to help make judgments about whether consumers commit fraud when they return goods for refunds. Players in the gig economy use outside firms such as Sift to score consumers' "overall trustworthiness." Wireless customers predicted to be less profitable are sometimes forced to endure longer customer service hold times. Auto insurers raise premiums based on scores calculated using information from smartphone apps that track driving styles. Large analytics firms monitor whether we are likely to take our medication based on our propensity to refill our prescriptions; pharmaceutical companies, health-care providers and insurance companies can use those scores to, among other things, "match the right patient investment level to the right patients." Surveillance scoring is the product of two trends. First is the rampant (and mostly unregulated) collection of every intimate detail about our lives, amassed by the nanosecond from smartphones to cars, toasters to toys. This fire hose of data - most of which we surrender voluntarily - includes our demographics, income, facial characteristics, the sound of our voice, our precise location, shopping history, medical conditions, genetic information, what we search for on the Internet, the websites we visit, when we read an email, what apps we use and how long we use them, and how often we sleep, exercise and the like. The second trend driving these scores is the arrival of technologies able to instantaneously crunch this data: exponentially more powerful computers and high-speed communications systems such as 5G, which lead to the scoring algorithms that use artificial intelligence to rate all of us in some way. The result: automated decisions, based on each consumer's unique score, that are, as a practical matter, irreversible. That's because the entire process - the scores themselves, as well as the data upon which they are based - is concealed from us. It is mostly impossible to know when one has become the casualty of a score, let alone whether a score is inaccurate, outdated or the product of biased or discriminatory code programmed by a faceless software engineer. There is no appeal. Surveillance scoring bears a faint resemblance to credit scoring in the 1960s. In that pre-computer era, private investigators working for banks, retailers and insurance companies tailed consumers and scoured newspapers for information about arrests, promotions, sexual orientation, drinking habits and cleanliness to decide a consumer's creditworthiness -- until Congress established rules in the 1970s giving consumers the right to review and question their credit scores. Today's data snoops obtain infinitely more information about their targets, and in real time. And the impact of surveillance scoring is far more pernicious. The tech industry insists that its every advance improves our lives. But that's a myth. Surveillance scoring enables companies to cloak old-school discrimination in an aura of technological infallibility and wonder. Secret surveillance scores create micro-markets in which some consumers are no longer welcome. They divide Americans into "haves" and "have-nots," with the losers relegated to the status of second-class citizens. Consumers need a 21st-century solution to this emergent threat. Congress, awash in tech money, is mired in an outdated legal paradigm: "disclosure" of privacy policies and "consent" via a click. No one pretends that these industrial age contract law concepts will do anything to curb data larceny, let alone regulate or bar secret surveillance scores. We petitioned the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and regulate surveillance scoring. The commission's response? A blog post urging the firms that develop and apply scores to regulate themselves. This is only the latest example of Washington's capitulation to the tech industry, whose continuous loop of privacy violations, abject apologies and payment of inconsequential penalties confirms that consumers cannot rely on the federal government for protection. Secret surveillance scoring places us at the precipice of the "singularity," a dystopian turning point after which machines will make judgments about humans that will determine our fate. We either seize control of our future, or risk losing it. - - - Rosenfield and Antonini are consumer advocates. The relative of a Scottish soldier murdered by the IRA after being lured from a Belfast pub have launched a bid to get justice for his family. Fusilier Dougald McCaughey (23) was shot dead with fellow soldiers- brothers John (17) and Joseph McCaig (18)- in March 1971. Mr McCaughey's cousin David McCaughey has raised 10,000 to help fund a legal bid for a new inquest into the triple murder, the Daily Record reports. The victims were murdered while off duty and in civilian clothes, having been lured from a city-centre bar in Belfast, driven to a remote location and shot whilst relieving themselves by the roadside. No one was ever convicted for the murders. David said he has "high hopes" of getting justice for the Royal Highland Fusiliers after uncovering what he believes is fresh evidence which is enough to launch a new investigation into the murders. The 52-year-old, from Glasgow, said: This is the closest weve been to justice in all these years. Expand Close From left: Dougald McCaughey and brothers Joseph and John McCaig were killed in 1971 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp From left: Dougald McCaughey and brothers Joseph and John McCaig were killed in 1971 Were reaching a critical point now. I have a wee grand-daughter now who is just 18 months and when she grows up, I want to be able to tell her we got justice for Dougald. There isnt a day that goes by when I dont think about those boys. Im not a quitter, Ill do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of this. My own grandad told me never let those boys be forgotten and I never will. I was a wee boy when the call came in that Dougald, of Glasgows Castlemilk, had been murdered. My dad was on the phone in the hall and I saw him break down - Id never ever seen him cry before. It was hard to get your head around it. The last time we saw him was on New Years Day. I can remember him playing with me and being full of fun. The original inquest was a paper exercise and never gave anyone any answers - maybe now we can change that. Expand Close A tribute mural in Newtownabbey / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A tribute mural in Newtownabbey The inquest into the three soldiers death in August 1971 revealed they were shot at close range. It was revealed the soldiers were on a pub crawl when they met two women in a bar and were then lured to a remote road where their killers lay in wait. Coroner James Elliott recorded an open verdict because of the rules in Northern Ireland at the time over deaths that had not been through the criminal courts. But he told the jury the shootings were "one of the vilest crimes ever committed in living memory. He added: In England it would be murder. Supporters hope to raise 20,000 to fund their legal bid. David hopes to get more evidence and intelligence files from the UK authorities, using legal action if necessary. If the families are unsuccessful in getting prosecutors to take action, the funds will be used in a private prosecution. The campaigners have submitted a request to the Attorney General of Northern Ireland, John Larkin, for a new inquest. Former IRA intelligence chief Kieran Conway has previously said Paddy O'Kane, who served in the Parachute Regiment before joining the IRA, openly spoken about his role in the murders. He previously said: I believe any man that could execute three young soldiers in that manner must have been a psychopath. After a summer full of planning, shifting start-dates and evolving guidelines, the 2020-21 school year will officially begin in Southeast Texas this week with Bridge City Independent School district welcoming students back to their classrooms, with a host of health and safety guidelines in place. It kicks off a timeline over the next two months in which districts will start in a variety of formats for what is shaping up to be a unique and difficult school year. Districts will continue to balance the social, emotional and educational needs of students against the continuing threat of the coronavirus. As cases of coronavirus began to surge in Southeast Texas earlier this summer, a number of schools announced that they would delay their in-person start dates until the end of August or until September, starting with West Hardin County Consolidated Independent School District, which announced a Sept. 8 start. This delay will allow us to make the appropriate health and safety preparations and provide the necessary training for staff, students and parents in order to have a safe and efficient start of school, a statement from the district said. The district has been sensitive to contagious illnesses in the past, closing their district in November 2019 after nearly 20% of the campus was out with the flu. As the Texas Education Agency released guidance allowing for an online transition period, more districts in the region announced delays, including Beaumont ISD. That district will start in a virtual setting on Aug. 17, with the option for students to attend in person starting on Sept. 14 or later, depending on local health conditions at the time. As the date draws nearer, parents have shared growing concerns about the safety of returning to the classroom. Almost half of parents responding to a district survey said they would prefer virtual learning. A New York Times analysis of University of Texas at Austin data published Friday estimates that a school of 1,000 students or more in Jefferson County is likely to have as many as 14 people with coronavirus attend campus within the first week. In the 2019-20 school year, Beaumont United had more than 2,000 students. While the analysis was based on coronavirus numbers in July, which could decrease before school returns, BISD is implementing a number of changes to ensure social distancing. In its high schools, BISD will implement a hybrid model in which half the students who choose to attend in person will attend every other day, with their other days being remote instruction. That still allows for about 1,000 students on campus at a time, however. Port Neches-Groves ISD, which had almost 1,500 students attend its high school in the last school year, will offer no virtual instruction. Classes will resume on Aug. 19. The lack of a virtual option upset some students and parents, but the district clarified this week that it will offer homebound instruction for medically vulnerable students with a note from their doctors. The district predicts that less than 5% of its student population will need that option. Port Arthur ISD, which was one of the first districts to opt for a mandatory mask order, will also delay its start date for the first four weeks. The district will still have virtual instruction from Aug. 18 to Sept 15. Other safety measures, such as daily temperature checks, will be implemented at Nederland ISD, which announced last week that the school start date would be pushed back until Aug. 31. NISD will not offer virtual instruction in the meantime. Polling shows the district could see as much as 30% of its district online. Almost all districts are following a program suggested by the TEA that provides for a variety of self-paced, virtual learning options, and socially distanced in-person classes. Other parents are opting for schools outside of their district. For the first time in its history, Evolution Charter Academy, a charter school founded in 2002, announced this week that it was approved to accept open-enrollment students from across the state. Bob Hope School, a Charter School with campuses in Port Arthur and Beaumont, will open campuses in phases and stagger classes once they start. They will require daily temperature checks. All schools will open remotely for three full weeks of school, school spokesperson Adriana Sanchez said. The elementary schools will start school on Aug. 24, followed by the middle school on Aug. 31 and the high school on Sept. 8. Vidor and Hardin-Jefferson ISD will both return with both in-person and virtual options on Aug. 12, with about 20% expected to be online. A full list of school reopening plans will be available online this week, as the last schools in the region finalize and post their plans. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes London, Aug 2 : Actor Rami Malek is reportedly planning to move to London to start a family with his girlfriend Lucy Boynton. Rami and the British actress, who played his on-screen lover Mary Austin in the 2018 film "Bohemian Rhapsody", are said to be hunting for a house together, reports mirror.co.uk. The pair are said to be enjoying a more anonymous life in the UK compared to back in Los Angeles. A source told the Mail on Sunday: "They've been looking at mansions in North London. They plan on settling down and starting a family here as Rami doesn't get much privacy when he goes out in LA these days." Back in April 2018, there were reports that suggested Rami was falling for London as much as he was for Lucy. A source had said at the time that the "Mr Robot" star would "visit her in London all the time" after four months of dating. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Around 11 oclock on Tuesday, some Staten Island restaurant owners received an email from the Department of Transportation. The memo read: Printable Sign Attached for 11 PM Open Restaurants Closure. This message pertained to eateries that signed on for street dining, not for those with eating areas on private property. The Asokwa Municipal Assembly has finally elected a presiding member to chair its meetings after four unsuccessful attempts. Mr Elliot Ofosu Barnor, who was the previous presiding member of the assembly, was this time unanimously endorsed by all the elected assembly members at its meeting last Wednesday. At the close of nominations, Mr Barnor was the only candidate who filed to contest as the PM of the assembly and got 100 per cent votes of all the 18 members who were present at the meeting. The assembly has 19 members made up of 12 elected assembly members and seven government appointees. Previous meetings This is the fifth time the assembly has met to elect a PM since its inauguration in January this year. The previous meetings ended in deadlock as none of the candidates was able to secure the two-thirds number of votes required to assume the position. Mr Barnor, an Assembly Member for the Atonsu-Kuwait-Aprabo Electoral Area, was until last Wednesday not a member of the assembly as the district level election for his electoral area was put on hold due to a court case. The election eventually came off on June 28, 2020 and he retained the seat as the assembly member for the area. He thus became eligible and filed to contest the position this time and got the overwhelming endorsement from his colleagues. Court case The assemblys inability to elect a PM at its first two meetings led to the disqualification of the candidates who contested for the position. However, one of the candidates who was disqualified, Mr Oscar Riches, the Assembly Member for Asokwa New Town, took the assembly and the Electoral Commission to court to stop them from conducting the election without his candidature. He applied for a restraining order against the assembly and the EC from organising the election of the presiding member. The court, presided over by Justice Frederick Tetteh, however, dismissed the application, thus paving the way for the assembly to hold a new meeting to elect a PM. Acceptance In his acceptance speech, the newly elected PM was grateful to his peers for the endorsement and pledged to work with the all of them for the development of the municipality. Mr Barnor, popularly known as Pulele, called for the support of all and the traditional authorities within the municipality to rally behind the leadership of the municipal assembly to chart a new path for the area. MCE For his part, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Akwannuasa Gyimah, commended the assembly members for finally electing a PM which he said was an indication of their readiness to chart the development agenda of the municipality. He also praised the Member of Parliament for the area, Ms Patricia Appiagyei, for the role she played in ensuring that the assembly got a PM. He said the MP had used almost every opportunity she got to appeal to the assembly members to close their ranks and agreed on a common candidate to be elected as a presiding member to enable the assembly to function properly and work for the benefit of the people. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Details Miramont Castle, 9 Capitol Hill Ave., Manitou Springs; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays other weeks; last tours go through 30 minutes before close. $8 to $12, free ages 3 and younger, active duty military with ID and active firefighters with ID; 685-1011, miramontcastle.org Something else: Lunch is available as well as high tea and light Victorian tea in Queen's Parlour Tea Room at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.; call for reservation; $25 to $40, $1 off tour with purchase of tea; 884-4109. The first female Vice-Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Proferssor Mrs Rita Akosua Dickson was on Saturday sworn into office. She takes over from Professor Kwasi Obiri Danso whose tenure in office came to an end on Friday, July 31, 2020. Professor Akosua Dickson becomes the 11th Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, which was established 69-years ago. She is a professor in pharmacy. Before becoming the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Akosua Dickson served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor from October 1, 2018 to July 31, 2020. Vision In her inaugural address she said one of her key vision will be to roll out a special initiative dubbed: "Support one needy student with one laptop" to help poor students who may be unable to acquire a laptop for online studies. Prof Dickson promised to position KNUST in the global community by promoting research and helping Industry to grow. She also promised to champion entrepreneurship and critical thinking through evidence based teaching and learning. Prof. Akosua Dickson said digital and e-education would be key in sustaining education all year round and to create a young research forum for the university. She called for decency, respect and decorum in the working environment and "all hands on deck." She studied at the KNUST and graduated with a Bachelor of pharmacy in 1994. She undertook her national service at the Department of Pharmacy and also had her internship at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH). Prof. Dickson obtained her Masters in Pharmacy in 1999 and was appointed a lecturer in 2000 at the KNUST. She won a Commonwealth scholarship in 2003 to pursue her PhD at the King's College London, University of London, UK. After obtaining her PhD, she also acquired a certificate in academic practice from the same university. Prof. Dickson returned to Ghana in 2007 and was promoted to the position of a senior lecturer in 2009 and subsequently became an associate professor in 2014. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The oft-mutating QAnon philosophy has captured the imagination of a new corps of pro-Trump congressional candidates, about a dozen of whom have already secured spots on the ballot in November, according to a tally by Media Matters for America, a liberal research organization. Among them is Angela Stanton-King, a Republican House candidate in Georgia who served two years in prison for her role in a car-theft ring but whose sentence was commuted by Trump in February. A month later, she posted a popular QAnon video on Instagram, writing of the president, This would explain why they tried so hard to make us hate him. She has since posted repeatedly about the scourge of pedophilia, a fixation of the QAnon movement. A British start-up behind technology used in driverless cars has secured 10million in funding from the Government's coronavirus fund and other investors. The amount raised by Chester-based Wejo, which hopes to play a major role in autonomous cars, is among the largest secured by a British start-up through the Government's Future Fund. The fund was established at the height of the pandemic to support often ambitious but still loss-making fledgling technology firms, and prevent them running out of cash. Chester-based Wejo hopes to play a major role in autonomous cars The 10million came from new and existing investors, including US giant General Motors, which took a 35 per cent stake last year that valued Wejo at more than 200million. The Government's input is a convertible loan that turns into shares over time. The sum must be matched by other investors. It is not known how much the Government gave Wejo, but firms can apply for up to 5million. Chief executive Richard Barlow, who founded the firm in 2014, said: 'It gives us clear water and supports some contracts we have won during the Covid-19 outbreak.' News of the funding comes a week after Wejo unveiled a tie-up with Hyundai its latest deal with a car maker following agreements with General Motors and Mercedes owner Daimler. Start-ups that rely on external funding from investors including venture capital firms have struggled during the outbreak as investors hold back on ploughing large sums into their investments. Car makers were also cutting their spending, hurting firms such as Wejo as people started driving less and Barlow had to cut some jobs. He said: 'I don't think any of us knew where the world was going in March and I had to be a good custodian of capital. I'm sorry for some of the decisions I had to make.' Wejo's technology allows the sharing of huge amounts of data from cars, which is expected to be key when autonomous vehicles are launched. Wejo has been working with authorities in the US to track car movements during lockdown, providing data to eight US states. Connected cars will be key when traffic can be managed by monitoring real-time data from vehicles. Wejo's technology will also alert drivers to when parking spaces become available. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Paris, France Sun, August 2, 2020 11:08 534 6657ac82168da9fa101c8a4066af46db 2 Entertainment Gerard-Depardieu,France,film,actor,assault,rape Free Paris prosecutors said Saturday they had asked for an investigation into rape allegations against French actor Gerard Depardieu to be reopened after an earlier probe was dropped last year. An actress in her 20s accuses Depardieu of assaulting and raping her in his Paris home in August 2018. After she reported her allegations against the celebrated actor -- who is 71 and who denies any wrongdoing -- prosecutors in the southern city of Aix-en-Provence opened a preliminary investigation which they then passed on to their Paris colleagues. The Paris probe was dropped after nine months in early 2019 after investigators failed to assemble enough proof to proceed to formal charges. Read also: French film star Depardieu questioned in rape probe But now the actress has relaunched proceedings by acting as an "injured party" which under French law almost always leads to a case being examined by an investigating magistrate. Depardieu's lawer, Herve Temime, declined to comment when contacted by AFP. Depardieu, who is a superstar in France thanks to films like Cyrano de Bergerac, Jean de Florette and Camille Claudel, has also had a successful international career, working among others with Peter Weir in Green Card and with Ridley Scott in 1492. Kamal Rani is the first minister in Uttar Pradesh to die after contracting coronavirus Lucknow: UP Cabinet minister for Technical Education Kamal Rani Varun succumbed to COVID-19 on Sunday at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences here. Kamal Rani, the first minister in Uttar Pradesh to die after contracting coronavirus, was 62. She had comorbidities including diabetes, hypertension and hyperthyroidism, a senior doctor at the hospital said. On July 18, the minister had tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Hospital here. She was later shifted to the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPIMS). In a statement issued here, SGPIMS Director Dr RK Dhiman said the minister "suffering with fever, cough and breathlessness was admitted to SGPGI after being detected COVID positive on July 18. She also had comorbidities in the form of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and hypothyroidism. She had bilateral pneumonia at admission and was shifted to ICU on the day of admission itself because of high oxygen requirement." The statement further said, "Later she required non-invasive ventilation (NIV) with high oxygen requirements. On evaluation she had all the features of severe disease and she was given Inj. Remdesevir followed by Tocilizumab following which she had transient improvement in her clinical status for few days but again her condition started deteriorating with progressively increasing NIV and oxygen requirements". She was immediately transfused with convalescent plasma and steroid doses were hiked, the statement said, adding that expert advice from Prof. Randeep Guleria, Director AIIMS and Prof Ritesh Agarwal of PGIMER, Chandigarh was also taken. "However, she had progressive severe disease unresponsive to maximal medical therapy. She was put on mechanical ventilator on August 1 but she continued to deteriorate with hypotension and multi-organ dysfunction and succumbed to her illness on August 2 morning at 9:30 am," Dhiman said. Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the minister's death. In a condolence message issued here on Sunday, Adityanath said, "Kamal Rani Varun died on Sunday at around 9.30 am. She was an experienced and capable leader. She discharged her responsibilities with competence. She was a dedicated public representative, who was always working for the welfare of deprived and oppressed sections of the society." Currently, Kamal Rani was MLA from Ghatampur in Kanpur. In the past, she was also a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha twice. Meanwhile, chief minister Adityanath cancelled his visit to Ayodhya scheduled for the day, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said on Sunday. Speaker of the state Legislative Assembly Hriday Narayan Dixit and UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also condoled the minister's death. Born on May 3, 1958, Kamal Rani was among the 18 members inducted in the council of ministers headed by Adityanath on August 21, 2019, the first such reshuffle since the BJP government came to power in March 2017. Kamal Rani was the only woman cabinet minister in UP following Rita Bahuguna Joshi's resignation after getting elected to the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, in a statement issued here on Sunday, principal secretary Jitendra Kumar said, "The national flag will be flown at half mast in the state capital, and in the district on the day of cremation." On July 3, 2020, theatre artist and playwright Pankaj Tiwari began walking the 320km distance from Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, to Calais, in France. Together with his co-performer, Abhishek Thapar, Tiwari walked to raise awareness in Europe about the abysmal condition of migrant labourers in India, who after being displaced from their cities of work during the lockdown meant to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, began to walk back to their home villages, in many cases right across the country. The tough get going Tiwari himself hails from a small town in eastern Uttar Pradesh one of the main places in the country from which people leave for faraway states to find work. He calls his 320-km trek in Europe, The Art of Walking a durational performance. Nan van Houte, the guardian in the Dutch province of Zeeland in the Netherlands, joined Abhishek and Pankaj for a couple of hours to walk with them When the lockdown was announced it brought Indias economy to a jolting halt, and many daily wage labourers and other workers in precarious conditions were rendered jobless, moneyless, food-less and fearful of contracting the virus in the cramped huts of the cities they worked in. The migrant workers were so desperate that they began walking to their homes in the remote villages and small towns of India. They had no choice but to walk: trains, buses and other public transport were suspended. The streets were barricaded and most places were under a curfew. So with their families, children and a few belongings, they walked home, covering distances between 300km and 2,200km. A few of them died on the way. A few of them lost their children. A few of them were killed on the train tracks. A few survived and got home. Thus, Pankaj and Abhishek began their walk from Amsterdam to Calais. Walk all over the world The walk seeks to connect the crisis in India to an ongoing global humanitarian crisis that spells privilege as much as it spells dispossession, loss and homelessness. The walk retraces the unfortunate path of structural violence and apathy. It is a meditation and mourning, says Tiwari. Pankaj and Abhishek Thapar leaving Amsterdam on Day 1 of the walk During their journey, Tiwari and Thapar hold conversations with other migrant artists to build solidarity across Europe on many issues. They arrived in Calais at night on July 14, and ended their journey with a meal that they had cooked for 48 refugees the following evening. The Art of Walking seeks to create a space for conversation, exercise an urgent role, and function as art in a crisis. Eighty per cent of the production budget of this project is meant for the migrant workers in India. I am from Balrampur district and I am the first person in my family who has actually seen an aeroplane, says Tiwari. Somehow I got the chance to study enough and arrived in Europe, just last September. The big cities of India have a lot of migrants from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, which is my place, my roots. After the lockdown, I was looking at the images of people walking home over long distances. I was shocked. Pankaj Tiwari hails from a small town in eastern Uttar Pradesh Tiwari continues: I wanted to do something with that, but did not know what, and how? Then I was invited by a UK festival to create a work for them. A few curators have told me that I am a migrant artist. I thought, what does it mean to be a migrant artist and a migrant labourer? How can I be rooted to my reality in this globalised world and what can I do at my end? The issues of India are not taken up in international spaces. When I looked for a migrant issue in Europe, Calais came up. I thought to bridge the two. The time is now As an Indian passport holder, Tiwari cant enter the UK without a visa. In the same way, refugees from all over the world gather in Calais, hoping to get to the UK, but are stuck. So, the final act of his performance was held near the ocean, on a beach looking towards the UK. We made a fire and generated heat at the border, says Tiwari. I wanted to find a concrete way to seek solutions and also to create a dialogue on the issue of migration in the context of Europe as well as India. Using the durational performance as a framework, we are hinting at a long time and long distance. Tiwaris aim was to raise enough funds to take care of about 150 families of Indian migrant labourers for four months, and also help create a dialogue in the art world of Europe about the issue of migration and international laws. We believe artwork should create discourses, says Tiwari. The Art of Walking will not wait for the art market or funding bodies or even the UN to decide that this is an important issue. The Art of Walking positions itself in the contemporary post-art market, post-UN, post-justice, post-white saviours. From HT Brunch, August 2, 2020 Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch Mumbai : The Bombay High Court has directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to evolve a mechanism to ensure that investigation of offences, particularly pertaining to complaints against builders and developers, should get overwithin 90 days as stipulated in the Criminal Procedure Code. A division bench of the High Court headed by Justice VM Kanade also directed the Police Commissioner to call for explanation from the investigation officer in cases where the charge sheet is not filed within the stipulated 90 days. "An explanation should be called from the investigation officer as to why the investigation is not completed within areas onable period of time and why chargesheet had not beenfiled in the stipulated period," said the bench. The Judges also opined that if the explanation in this regard is not found to be satisfactory, then adverse remarks should be made in Confidential Records of such officers. The High Court was hearing a petition filed by a city developer and other respondents seeking to quash a complaint filed by a resident of a building who was promised a flat after its reconstruction but was sold to another person. "In the present case, we are informed by the instructing officers that handwriting expert's opinion was not obtainedin time and, therefore, the chargesheet was not filed." The bench expressed that this explanation is not satisfactory and opined that directions should be issued tothe Police Commissioner to make an enquiry in this case. However, it refrained from passing any orders because it did want the complainant and her husband to be harassed further and also because if such investigation is made again,they may have to run from pillar to post and visit the office of Police Chief. "On this ground alone, we do not propose to give such directions," the Judges said in a recent order. One of the petitioners and builder Rajendra Jain, who was present in the court, voluntarily agreed to donate an amount of Rs one lakh to Tata Cancer Research Institute of Mumbai. The court accepted his offer but directed that the amount should not be paid in currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000denomination as these have been forfeited by the government int he recent demonetisation move. Complaints from an active-duty airman's colleague landed the airman in front of her command leadership. She was taking too many breaks while on duty, they said, and they recommended that she fix the problem on her own. But the breaks she took were to pump milk for her newborn baby. Read Next: Marine Corps Plan to Ditch Tanks Could Burden the Army, Experts Say "It was a constant battle," said the officer, who gave birth to her second child two years ago. She asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal, but said she works in health care at a Texas base. Her coworkers began accusing her of "taking advantage of pumping time to avoid assignments or putting my own needs ahead of my patients," she said in a recent interview with Military.com. None of that was true. The Air Force has a policy allowing new moms time to pump every three to four hours for 15 to 30 minutes at a time, once they're back on duty. The officer was spacing her breaks at least five or six hours apart during a 12-hour shift, but still faced scrutiny and a lack of support from her colleagues, she said. "Nothing was ever done," to rectify her poor treatment, she said. "Overall, we need more support for moms postpartum returning to work." Her situation underscores the challenges and backlash women still face when they have babies while in the military. Some end up leaving service because they don't find their duty compatible with having a family, and others have been passed over for promotion just because they took time to have a baby, according to experts who spoke with Military.com. Chaplain, Capt. Sarah Sampas, 99th Air Base Wing Chaplain, and Maj. Raquel Dronenburg, 26th Weapons Squadron MQ-9 weapons instructor pilot, relax in massage chairs provided in the Nellis Chapel lactation room on Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, August 3, 2018. (Bailee A. Darbasie/U.S. Air Force) But now, new initiatives in planning could require training to root out unconscious bias surrounding motherhood in the military and support postpartum mothers, including removing barriers that limit their careers. "We are primed for this; we are ready," said Lt. Col. Jessica Ruttenber, a 20-year career KC-135 Stratotanker pilot currently working as a mobility planner at the Pentagon. Ruttenber, who was instrumental in changing the cockpit height restriction policy, also sits on the Department of the Air Force's Barrier Analysis Working Group within the Women's Initiative Team. She is WIT's lead coordinator for pregnacy discrimination. Ruttenber pointed to Defense Secretary Mark Esper's July 14 military-wide directive outlining a series of steps aimed at eliminating "discrimination, prejudice and bias in all ranks" and promoting equal opportunity. The language included "pregnancy-based discrimination." While a specific policy has yet to be unveiled by the Pentagon, Ruttenber is hopeful it will lead to universal change. "I think we're gonna look back and say this year was a big milestone for women in service for pregnancy," she said. Heard on the Hill Ruttenber runs a personal blog that discusses her Air Force career on top of raising three kids in a dual-military household. The site, hidden-barriers.org, has served as an open forum where women can contact Ruttenber, offer suggestions and share their own experiences of motherhood and service. This year, a post about women sustaining a successful military career while starting a family caught one lawmaker's attention. "You know, during the '50s, my mom was in the Navy, and she had to get out of the Navy because she became pregnant," said Rep. Debra Haaland, a Democrat from New Mexico. Her father, a Marine, went on to have a 30-year career. "Even though times have changed in that regard, pregnant mlitary women are still experiencing microaggressions and subtle forms of discrimination," she said in a recent interview. It's one of the motivations behind the Equality for Military Mothers Amendment (EMMA) that Haaland introduced in the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment requires the defense secretary, along with the services, to develop a comprehensive plan "that ensures Armed Forces members are not unduly affected due to pregnancy, childbirth, or medical condition arising from pregnancy or childbirth," according to the bill. House lawmakers backed the provision during a vote July 20. "We have so many hearings where this subject comes up: Why don't we have more women in leadership positions? Why aren't more women getting promoted to these higher ranks?" Haaland said. "We need to give them opportunities to succeed." Both the House and Senate have passed their versions of the Fiscal 2021 NDAA; it now heads to conference. If the EMMA amendment makes it through, it would require the Pentagon to submit a plan 90 days from passage. Time at Home, Better Health and Longer Careers The services have each made maternity leave more flexible over the years in line with the DoD's Military Parental Leave Program. Currently, a birth parent can take six weeks of convalescent leave to recover from the birth; the services have also designated six additional weeks of "primary caregiver" leave, which is typically taken by the birth parent. The leave can be taken consecutively following convalescent leave, or any time within the first year of the child's birth or adoption. The Army and Air Force allow a secondary caregiver to take 21 days -- or three weeks -- of leave; the Navy and Marine Corps provide 14 days. Ruttenber said discrimination, conscious or not, often starts during maternity leave, with a woman's direct chain of command perceiving her as less dedicated or less competent if she chooses to start a family. "Just because [women] might be taking some convalescent leave because they're pregnant, doesn't mean you should not hire them for a particular position," she said. "[Commanders] may think they're protecting the individual to give [her] more time with family, but what they really need to do is to ask them what they want out of their career. "Do they want to take that time off, or do they want to keep accelerating that time?" Ruttenber continued. "It's just, what is the balance of trying to stay relevant in your current job, while getting the right amount of time postpartum to have time with your baby?" U.S. Air Force Senior Airman, Patrice Brown, a member with the 178th Force Support Squadron, smiles at her daughter, Zoe on Nov. 14, 2018. (Rachel Simones/U.S. Air Force) According to a Government Accountability Office study published in May, pregnancy was one of the top three reasons given for separation, between 2004 and 2013, by female enlisted women with five or fewer years of service. "These female service members stated that they felt they needed to ensure that pregnancy occurred at certain times in their careers to minimize negative career effects," the GAO said. There's more evidence to back up that claim. Maj. Cary Balser, who works for the Air Force's plans and programs office, found that, within one year after birth, an active-duty woman in the Army or Air Force who took 12 weeks of leave instead of six was less likely to be promoted in comparison to her peers without children, and fathers, for that same time period. Balser was working on the study for his Ph.D. dissertation program at the University of Notre Dame, but not in an official Air Force capacity. According to his findings, the negative trend especially impacted those between the ranks of E-4 to E-6. Balser studied data collected following the Pentagon's maternity leave policy change in 2016. In a separate study, Balser found that the more time off active-duty mothers were granted, the more their mental and overall maternal health improved. "We see very sharp decreases in postpartum depression rates," he said. With increased paid leave, there was a decrease in mothers seeking health care services for acute or walk-in care for common problems experienced postpartum, such as high-blood pressure or infections. That, in turn, improved their long-term health, he said. The study found that time off to improve on an active-duty mother's well-being doesn't need to be taken consecutively. "Results suggest that policymakers should consider designing and more rigorously testing leave policies with different structures to better understand optimal policy design and the causes of maternal health challenges, especially on mental health," Balsers study states. "There's probably room for thinking about non-continuously taken leave as a way to reduce stress for mothers just in general," Balser said. Women are also more likely to extend their time in service with improved maternity leave policies, per a study from CNA, a data analytics and research organization outside Washington, D.C. The 2019 study, which looked at sailors' reenlistment rates, found that more women were opting to stay in the Navy when maternity-leave policies were expanded. Researchers looked at male and female reenlistment rates and found that, up until then-Navy Secretary Ray Mabus expanded the policy, fewer women were reenlisting than men. "For about two years prior to the expansion of maternity leave, the reenlistment rates of male sailors were higher than those for female sailors," according to Daniel Leeds, a research analyst in CNA's Resource and Force Readiness Division. In 2015, Mabus tripled the Navy and Marine Corps' maternity leave from six weeks to 18. That was later rolled back to 12 weeks in January 2016 by then-Defense Secretary Ash Carter, but CNA's data found more women were opting for another term when they had more than six weeks of leave after having a baby. According to Leeds' explanation within the study, once the new maternity leave policy was implemented, "the gender gap in reenlistment disappeared." "The expansion of maternity leave increased the reenlistment rate of female sailors by 3.7 percentage points relative to that of male sailors," Leeds wrote. Researchers also concluded that, while working weeks are lost due to additional maternity leave, the increases in reenlistment "more than offset these losses." "Higher reenlistment rates could also reduce recruiting and training costs," the CNA study said. Growing Initiatives Supporting women in their careers means eliminating or amending the policies that unnecessarily limit them, Ruttenber said. According to the GAO, female service members interviewed for its report "stated that negative effects still persisted due to missed opportunities while pregnant, such as in-residence professional military education, or career field-specific problems, such as loss of flying time for pilots." Women don't necessarily want to admit their pregnancy too early for those reasons, Ruttenber said. "We also risk women's health by not addressing this because they [put off] getting access to [obstetrician/gynecology] care," she said. Women are put on an occupational health profile once they disclose their pregnancies to their commanders. "When you're put on a profile, you're no longer worldwide deployable," Ruttenber said. But training exercises and professional military education, among other opportunities, should not be viewed in the same light as going to war. "There's room for improvement there," Ruttenber said. "Women are pregnant for nine months. -- they're not pregnant [their] entire [career]," Haaland added. A sailor breastfeeds her child in the lactation room at Naval Support Facility Arlington, June 6, 2019. (Tyler Preston/U.S. Navy) There have been steady changes. For example, in September, the Air Force began allowing some female pilots to stay in the cockpit longer without need of a medical waiver, removing some restrictions on flying while pregnant and eliminating the requirement for "a higher headquarters waiver" for airmen with uncomplicated pregnancies to be able to return to flight. This month, the service said it has begun allowing all pregnant and postpartum airmen to attend professional military education without requiring an exception to policy or a fitness assessment test first. Meanwhile, the Washington state Army National Guard recently started a partnership with the National Security Innovation Network to examine how or if the Guard can put forth solutions for women who feel they must decide how long they wish to serve before getting pregnant because they believe doing so will force them to leave the service altogether or be considered non-deployable, according to Military Times. The network is interviewing students, civilians and service members for its study, with the intent of publishing policy recommendations. Ruttenber said she felt the stigma or seen setbacks with each of her pregnancies. "I always felt a little stifled and also, every time I had a baby, I was also grounded," she said, referring to flight restrictions. "I found it extremely difficult to get a waiver at each location, as if I was the first person to ever fly pregnant. And I started watching other women just get frustrated, trying to get that waiver just to maintain basic qualifications." The nursing airman in Texas, who's also felt the same frustrations, said it shouldn't be this difficult to start a family while doing what she loves. "I shouldn't have to give up a career I had worked so hard just to get started in just because there isn't support [that is] needed for pregnant moms, especially postpartum," the airman said. "Rather than guilting them for having a baby, support them," she added. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Related: Air Force Takes First Step to Buy Maternity Flight Suits Worrall Street in Ordsall, Salford, where police said they dispersed an illegal gathering at the weekend. (Google Maps) Police have branded a planned gathering reckless after officers dispersed dozens of people from a roof in Salford, Greater Manchester. Greater Manchester Police said officers were called to the property on Worrall Street in the city following a report that a group of people were setting up audio equipment on the roof just after 7pm on Saturday. The force said the group was safely dispersed and no arrests had been made but enquiries are ongoing. The incident comes as police shut down a house party in north London on Friday night believed to have been attended by more than 160 people. The incidents are the latest of what have previously been dubbed quarantine raves. In June a 20-year-old man died of a suspected drug overdose and three others were stabbed in Oldham after thousands of people attended a gathering in Manchester. Announcing the dispersal of the latest attempted gathering, Greater Manchester Police said a dispersal order covering the whole city of Salford had now been put in place. Superintendent Colette Rose said: First and foremost, I would like to thank the vast majority of people who are complying with the Covid-19 restrictions and reporting those who arent. They are providing us with vital intelligence which is allowing us to safely disperse gatherings which we know could result in serious incidents. Read more: English told to get out of Scotland by protesters at Glasgow Central station She said the gathering consisted of dozens of people, many of whom it is believed travelled to Greater Manchester from a neighbouring county. I hope tonights action reassures members of the public that Greater Manchester Police takes reports of breaches seriously and that officers are deployed to follow them up, she added. These specially trained officers attend and, in cases where offences are identified, take appropriate action and work to identify those responsible for this reckless behaviour. Police were called to Tavistock Terrace in Archway, London, on Friday night after more than 160 people attended a house party on the street. (PA) In London, Metropolitan Police officers broke up the event, said to have been held at an Airbnb property in Tavistock Terrace, Archway, on Friday night following complaints from neighbours. Story continues Footage of the party shows dozens of people in the garden of the terraced house not wearing masks or socially distancing before police officers enter the property and move people away. A Met Police spokeswoman said officers were called to Tavistock Terrace shortly after 11.50pm on July 31 to reports of a large gathering of people playing loud music. She said officers spoke to the organisers, asking them to close the event, and put a closure notice in place, but no arrests were made. Kuwait has banned until further notice commercial flights to 31 countries it said that it regarded as high risk due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation was quoted as saying by Reuters in a report carried by Saudi Press Agency. The ban was announced the same day Kuwait began a partial resumption of commercial flights, the report said. The authorities have said Kuwait International Airport would run at about 30% capacity from Saturday, gradually increasing in coming months, it added. The countries include India, Pakistan, Egypt, the Philippines, Lebanon and Sri Lanka, which all have large numbers of expatriates in Kuwait, an Arab News report said. The list also includes China, Iran, Brazil, Mexico, Italy and Iraq, it added. A retired taxi driver ended up in hospital with a serious infection after being denied a face-to-face GP appointment under Covid-19 safety rules. Since March, most GP surgeries have radically cut down on face-to-face consultations in a bid to reduce coronavirus spreading. Doctors phone patients instead, often from their own homes. Few surgeries have resumed normal service and some remain closed, despite the virus dropping to low levels in many areas. Lisa King, 54, from Brentwood in Essex, feared the arrangements could have been fatal for her husband Peter, 62. Lisa King (pictured right), 54, from Brentwood in Essex, feared the arrangements could have been fatal for her husband Peter (pictured left), 62 Three weeks ago she emailed their surgery requesting an urgent face-to-face appointment for Peter. Hed had ongoing pains for weeks, his stomach was bloated and tender and he had just been violently sick. She was worried it was cancer. Deal Tree Health Centre emailed back the following day saying on this occasion they would grant Mr King a telephone GP consultation, which took place that day. After asking a series of questions, the GP said Mr King probably had acid reflux and prescribed a drug. The doctor told him to get back in touch in a weeks time if he had not improved. But Mr King did not improve and the following Sunday his condition markedly worsened. Mrs King called 999 and an ambulance arrived within 20 minutes. She recalled: Peter was in so much pain he was crying. When the paramedics got here, one ask him where it hurt and suggested a physical examination. As she moved to do so, Peter flinched. She then said, Right, you need to go to hospital immediately. At Queens Hospital in Romford, doctors found a gall stone lodged in his bile duct and his gall bladder badly infected and inflamed. Mrs King recalled: We were told if it had been left much longer, his gall bladder would have ruptured and caused systemic sepsis, which can be fatal. If hed seen a doctor six days earlier, the GP would have known something was wrong that it wasnt just indigestion. You cant diagnose something like this over the phone. She warned: People will die if this lack of face-to-face consultations continues. And I dont know why surgeries are not re-opening. Does anyone? Because I can go and get my hair done. You can go to the pub, and the gym too. All those places have had to invest in PPE for their staff. Doctors are part of the NHS theyve got PPE provided for them. So what are they afraid of? Mr King has had an operation to remove one gall stone but may need more surgery for others found in his gall bladder. He has also been diagnosed with an inflamed pancreas, and been told the delay in surgery probably made matters worse. The telephone consultation was not good enough, he said. Last week, a survey found just one in ten GP appointments is now being carried out in person. Pictured: Stock photo of a remote consultation The symptoms I was displaying required a physical examination by a GP to determine accurately what was wrong with me. The doctor had appeared terse and dismissive, he said, which I presume was because he thought it was only indigestion. Last week, a survey found just one in ten GP appointments is now being carried out in person. And last Friday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock threw his weight behind much greater use of remote appointments, dismissing those concerned as simply being naysayers. Mr King said: It seems to me that GPs are establishing a new normal behaviour for themselves, of phone consultations. I think it needs to be addressed before it gets out of hand. Last night, Dr Ken Wrixon, of Deal Tree Health Centre, said: We hope Mr King makes a speedy recovery, and encourage him or his wife to get in touch with us so that we can look into this further. While face-to-face appointments are available at the practice, to help keep people safe were offering telephone appointments with our GPs in the first instance, but encourage patients to get back in touch if they feel their condition has got worse so we can reassess whether their care needs have changed. HSBC Holdings PLC (NYSE:HSBC), Lloyds Banking Group PLC (NYSE:LYG), Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ) and ORIX Corp. (NYSE:IX) have reached their three-year lows. HSBC Holdings declined to $22.65 The price of HSBC Holdings shares declined to $22.65 on July 31, which is only 1.4% above the three-year low of $22.34. HSBC is a British international financial services holding company. As of December 2018, it is the largest bank in Europe with total assets of $2.558 trillion. The company has around 3,900 offices in 67 countries and around 38 million customers. The company is also a component of the FTSE 100. HSBC has a market cap of $91.41 billion; its shares were traded around $22.65 with and price-sales ratio of 6.56. The trailing 12-month dividend yield is 4.41%. On July 29, HSBC Holdings announced the company has partnered with the Asian Development Bank to establish a supply chain financing program to support companies providing Covid-19-related supplies. The agreement could enable up to $1.2 billion per annum of additional trade by Asian small and medium-size enterprises. HSBC has already mapped over 10,000 critical suppliers with the Asian Development Bank. Lloyds Banking Group declined to $1.32 The price of Lloyds Banking Group shares declined to $1.32 on July 31, which is only 3.8% above the three-year low of $1.27. Lloyds Banking is a British international financial services company that was formed by the acquisition of HBOS by Lloyds TSB in 2009. The company's activities are organized into various sectors, including retail banking, commercial, insurance and pensions. The bank has a market cap of $23.35 billion; its shares were traded around $1.32 with a price-earnings ratio of 13.49 and a price-sales ratio of 0.31. The trailing 12-month dividend yield is 4.21%. On July 22, Lloyds Banking Group announced a strategic partnership with Form3, a payment technology company that focuses on simplifying payment architecture capabilities. The partnership will allow Lloyds to investigate and develop a cloud-native payments-as-a-service platform to improve the group's payment processes. To support the partnership, Lloyds has also acquired a minority equity stake in Form 3 as part of its next investment round, which is expected to complete in August. Story continues Canon declined to $16.17 The price of Canon shares declined to $16.17 on July 31, which is only 0.4% above the three-year low of $16.10. Canon is a Japanese company focusing on the manufacture of imaging and optical products. Some of the company's products include cameras, camcorders, photocopiers, steppers and computer printers. The company has a primary listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and a secondary listing on the New York Stock Exchange. The company is also a component of the TOPIX Core 30. Canon has a market cap of $16.91 billion; its shares were traded around $16.17 with a price-earnings ratio of 25.05 and a price-sales ratio of 0.55. The trailing 12-month dividend yield is 9.25%. The forward dividend yield is 9.25%. On July 31, Canon announced that in the first half of 2020, it has used the Amazon Reporting Tool or letters of inquiry to remove 79 listings from Amazon in Australia. The listings offered third-party laser toner cartridges, which the company believes infringed one or more Australian patents. ORIX declined to $53.99 The price of ORIX shares declined to $53.99 on July 31, which is only 2.5% above the three-year low of $52.65. Orix has a market cap of $13.47 billion; its shares were traded around $53.99 with a price-earnings ratio of 4.82 and a price-sales ratio of 1.09. The trailing 12-month dividend yield is 6.53%. The forward dividend yield is 6.53%. The Japanese financial company offers a diverse set of services, including leasing, lending, rentals, life insurance, real estate financing and development and retail banking. The company offers financial services in North America, Asia, the Middle East and Northern Africa. On June 29, ORIX announced it has filed a report with the Director-General of the Kanto Financial Bureau in Japan concerning the results of the exercise of voting rights at the 57th General Meeting of Shareholders held on June 26. The report resolved the election of 12 directors as members of the board of directors. Disclosure: I do not own stock in any of the companies mentioned in the article. Not a Premium Member of GuruFocus? Sign up for a free 7-day trial here. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. SOUTH HADLEY This is going to be an awesome book distribution. To celebrate the release of his latest book, Rowley Jeffersons Awesome Friendly Adventure, Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, will stop at the Odyssey Bookshop on his Awesome Friendly Adventure Tour to hand out signed copies of the book (via a custom-made 96-inch, trident-shaped gizmo) to readers in a safe, fun, socially distant way. The awesome event will take place Aug. 9 beginning at 10 a.m. at the store at 9 College St. For this book tour, the author wanted to have an adventure. When we started planning the tour, we were living in normal times. So, when the world turned upside down (due to the pandemic), we needed to rethink things, he said. What started off as a cross-country tour by plane became a driving tour of the Northeast by van. Im sure itll be an adventure but in a different way. The tour runs Aug. 3-10. Now more than ever, its important for kids to be able to escape to different worlds in the pages of a book. Its a great time to discover your interests, said the owner of An Unlikely Story bookstore in Plainville, Massachusetts. I think kids like the Wimpy Kid books because theyre accessible and funny. And I think kids can see themselves in the characters. The drawings help too! Rowley Jeffersons Awesome Friendly Adventure will be followed by the publication of the 15th title in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, The Deep End, on Oct. 27. Organizers of the tour are working with local bookstores, schools, libraries and community organizations to find Awesome Friendly kids in each tour market for a visit from the author. I cant wait to connect with my fans and meet real Awesome Friendly kids along the way, said Kinney, who will be traveling in a wrapped Awesome Friendly Adventure van. I hope the tour will bring readers some much-needed celebration and positivity in the spirit of Rowley and his Awesome Friendly Adventure. Tickets are $18.84 (including service fee) and include one signed copy of Rowley Jeffersons Awesome Friendly Adventure and admission for one child and one parent to a socially-distanced meet-and-greet and photo opportunity with the author. Ticket options are broken down in 15-minute time slots; participants must arrive during the time slot on their ticket. For more information and to get tickets, go to odysseybks.com/event/jeff-kinneys-awesome-friendly-adventure-tour. The calls were mostly brief and to the point, recipients said. House Speaker Michael Madigan just wanted to know where his members stood last week after two of his members demanded he step aside as House Speaker and Democratic Party of Illinois chairman. Did they agree with their fellow Democratic state Reps. Terra Costa Howard and Stephanie Kifowit that he should resign, he asked. Enough said they did not agree that Madigan issued a statement hours later saying the feedback he received was positive and that he had "no plans to resign." The House Black Caucus, for one, appears to be mostly sticking with Madigan. That's really no surprise. He's been loyal to African American members for years killing or altering bills they opposed, protecting their districts even after Chicago lost almost 200,000 African Americans in the last census, etc. But it goes deeper than that. Black legislators, like most Black people, all know someone who's been falsely accused of a crime, be it family, friends or constituents. Most are strong backers of social justice reforms. Several told me it would be counter to what they stood for to turn on Madigan now. The same goes for many Latinx legislators. If those two caucuses ever turn on him, though, the party is over. And Madigan surely knows that. Most "regular" and downstate Democrats also appear to still be with Madigan. He's been good to them as well and the next Speaker might be far more liberal than they'd prefer. And then there's organized labor, which has long supported Madigan, but then welded themselves to him during the Bruce Rauner years when the Republican governor was trying to kill them off. Labor is the largest source of campaign cash and precinct workers in the state. Cross the unions and you have few other places to turn to for help. Few Democrats will risk this. Many of the House Democrats I spoke with last week made a "stability" argument. They complained that the people demanding that Madigan resign haven't presented an alternative to Madigan. Who, for instance, would handle the fundraising and the precinct work and everything else involved with winning elections this fall if Madigan suddenly departed? Who would lay the groundwork for the fall veto session? Creating a sudden void with no alternative just didn't make sense to them at this moment, although that may very well change if any of his close associates are indicted, some admitted. Black Caucus members I spoke with almost uniformly pointed to their own internal confusion and stagnation since May when their caucus chair Kimberly Lightford abruptly resigned. They and other Democrats also talked about the brutal infighting within the Senate Democratic caucus after Senate President John Cullerton unexpectedly retired last year. A Madigan departure would be ten, twenty, fifty times worse than any of that, they said, and they're probably right. In my conversations with Black Caucus members, I was told that they hadn't received a single constituent phone call about Madigan since the ComEd deferred prosecution agreement was revealed. Their constituents, I was told, are totally focused on things like crime, unemployment benefits and navigating through everything else wrought by the pandemic. In other words, they're preoccupied with life during particularly hard times and just don't care about MJM. I'm not trying to defend or justify any of this, by the way. I despise treating politics like a one-dimensional cartoon. There's more going on than may meet the eye with a cursory glance at the headlines. On the other side of the spectrum, first-term suburban women have their own issues to deal with. Many of their constituents are indeed making angry calls about Madigan. The speaker's money and talent may not be enough to save some of them in the face of all this scandal with ComEd and maybe other companies which have more recently been subpoenaed. And as I've told you before, the system Madigan built works only as long as his members believe he can protect them from their opponents. Once that confidence is gone, he serves no purpose. More importantly, this situation is most definitely not why they signed up for a political run. A lot of these folks were activated after Hillary Clinton's 2016 loss. So, being connected in any way to an alleged bribery scheme likely makes their skin crawl. It appears that Madigan has bought himself some time, for now. But if more people are charged and the feds get even closer to him, that may not turn out to be enough. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 00:56:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A wounded man is treated at a local hospital in Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar province, Afghanistan, on Aug. 2, 2020. At least two civilians were killed and 24 other people wounded in a car bomb blast and ensuing gunfire outside a prison in Nangarhar province Sunday, a local official confirmed. (Str/Xinhua) JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- At least two civilians were killed and 24 other people wounded in a car bomb blast and ensuing gunfire outside a prison in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province Sunday, a local official confirmed. The attack took place during a three-day Eid al-Adha ceasefire between the Afghan government and the Taliban. "Terrorists detonated a car bomb at front gate of Nangarhar prison roughly at 6:30 p.m. (local time), destroying the front wall of the building," provincial government spokesman Attahullah Khogiani told Xinhua. The spokesman added that a group of assailants engaged with the prison guards and tried to enter into the prison after the blast. "The security forces are responding to the attack and they are trying to foil the terrorist vicious plan to infiltrate into the prison building," he said. The exchange of fire continued as of 8:30 p.m. local time Sunday, according to witnesses. The details would be made public later as investigation was underway to find more facts about the incident and the casualties were likely to be changed, he added. The blast sent a column of thick smoke into the sky and triggered panic, the spokesman said. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. The Islamic State (IS) group also has presence in the region, 120 km east of Kabul. The blast came as the Afghan security forces and Taliban militants were observing the Eid festival truce which is expected to end late Sunday. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 18:38:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Staff workers clear the surface of Xiangjiang River in Wangcheng section in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Aug. 1, 2020. In recent days, water flow in Changsha section of Xiangjiang River has gradually leveled off, with branches and other garbage flowing down the river from the upper reaches and piling up on both sides of the river bank. At present, the cleaning team of the Changsha section of Xiangjiang River has more than 90 members who are responsible for clearing the 78.5-kilometer-long waterway, and are able to collect about 50 tons of floating garbage on the water surface every day. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai) Rep. Waters Recognizes National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing & Awareness Day This week, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chair of the Financial Services Committee and a leading advocate in Congress for HIV/AIDS prevention, testing, and treatment, introduced a resolution in recognition of National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day, which is celebrated every year on July 21st. With more than 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States today roughly 15 percent of whom do not know they are infected I am proud to have authored legislation that recognizes National Clinicians HIV/AIDS Testing and Awareness Day and supports the efforts of medical professionals who are on the frontlines of this fight, said Congresswoman Maxine Waters. This important day is an opportunity to highlight the critical role that doctors, nurses, dentists, and other clinicians play in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, and treatment efforts. By encouraging their patients to be tested for HIV, doctors and nurses can enable infected individuals to access appropriate medical care and begin taking action to avoid spreading the virus to others. The Congresswomans resolution urges physicians, nurses, dentists, and other clinicians nationwide to become actively involved in HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, treatment, and referral services. It also urges individuals to get tested for HIV and educate themselves about the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The resolution is cosponsored by 19 Members of Congress. ADVERTISEMENT Congresswoman Waters is a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. She is continuing her efforts to expand the Minority AIDS Initiative, which she established as chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1998. On March 13th of this year, she sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative in fiscal year 2021, which was signed by 93 of her colleagues. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 08/02/2020 ADVERTISEMENT [ Spoilers Warning: This report features spoilers revealing if Paul and Karine are still together or if the : Happily Ever After? couple has split.] ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Did Karine leave Paul and return to Brazil or is the couple still together and married? ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT So are Paul and Karine still together or has the couple split up? ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Paul Staehle found a place for Karine Martins to live on Season 5 of : Happily Ever After? that made her happy, but did the harmony last long? Are Paul and Karine still together or did they break up?Paul, a 35-year-old from Louisville, KY, and Karine, a 23-year-old from Tonantins, Brazil, met on a dating app and talked for over a year before Paul finally flew to Brazil to meet her in person and see if there was potential for a long-term romance.After starring on Seasons 1 and 2 of : Before the 90 Days, the pair also appeared on Season 1 of : The Other Way, which wrapped in late October 2019.Paul and Karine got married in 2017 but their wedding didn't air until the following year on Season 2 of : Before the 90 Days.Paul and Karine then proudly announced in October 2018 that Karine was pregnant after she had suffered multiple miscarriages. The couple were ecstatic to have a baby boy on the way.But shortly before baby Pierre was born on March 22, Karine threatened to file for divorce from Paul because she was tired of fighting with him, and she believed Paul had some major trust and jealousy issues.Karine and Paul also struggled financially, and so that added stress and tension to their situation.Karine wanted to feel supported and taken care of, but Paul repeatedly insisted he was doing everything he could to provide for his family and be a good father and husband. Paul felt his efforts were never enough for his wife."I really want a divorce. I am tired of what Paul does to me," Karine said in a confessional during an episode of the series."He lives in the past and too many fights make a relationship fall apart. There's no more hope. I'm thinking of my son now.": The Other Way's first season even featured Karine and her mother leaving Paul behind in Tonantins and traveling to Manaus via boat to file for divorce shortly before Pierre was born.However, Karine decided to give Paul another chance because she loved him and thought he'd be a good father to her son.Paul and Karine had been married for two years by the time Season 5 of : The Other Way filmed. The couple had been in Brazil for over a year but Paul said they were "barely getting by."Paul and Karine therefore planned to move to the United States so Paul could get a job and make more money. He also wanted to give Pierre a better life."It took a lot, but I was able to sponsor Karine on a CR-1 visa, which is a spousal visa and allows Karine to apply and get a two-year Green Card before she even enters America," Paul told the cameras."She already has her Green Card approved; she is a complete permanent resident."A lot of people thought Karine was using Paul when they got together, but Paul said Karine was actually dead-set on living in Brazil. Karine even said she wouldn't mind raising their son together from different countries, but Paul hoped their relationship wouldn't come down to that."If Paul doesn't keep his promises, I don't know for how long I'll continue here in America," Karine said in a confessional.Paul's mother, however, refused to lend her son money or let him and Karine stay with her. Paul was forced to step up like a man and make a life for his family on his own.Karine then had a tearful goodbye from Brazil with a one-way plane ticket in her hand. Her mother Gracilene was well aware Karine and Paul fought all the time, and so she was worried about Paul treating her daughter right.After arriving in America, things got off to a bad start when Paul bickered with his mother in the car over Karine pulling Pierre out of his car seat.Karine liked Paul's mother but was rubbed the wrong way that she didn't want to help them more.Karine found herself disappointed again when she saw Paul's car and that it was a total "mess" with food, trash, clothing and work supplies scattered about.Karine refused to get inside because she thought it wasn't safe enough for her and the baby.Paul thought Karine's expectations were really high and said their life wasn't going to be perfect right away, especially since he had used up most of his savings in Brazil.Karine was already missing her family and how much they helped her with Pierre, and she admitted, "I don't know why I left Brazil to come to America."Paul thought he could impress Karine with a bigger and better grocery store in the United States, but Karine wasn't impressed and said there were similar stores back in Brazil.Paul then took Karine to a trailer park to hopefully find a home for them. The first trailer they viewed needed a lot of work and was a mess. There was a toilet but no air conditioning, and Karine told Paul, "It's not happening."The house was falling to pieces and Karine said she would never let her son live there.The pair then looked at another mobile home and it had plumbing with a regular bathroom. Karine wasn't happy with either of the options and said she preferred her place in Brazil.The rent was "doable," according to Paul, but Karine wasn't happy. Karine told Paul that he wasn't being a good husband and her ideal home would have two bedrooms, some space, a kitchen and a yard where their baby could run and play."If Paul doesn't find a beautiful house, Pierre and I will come back to Brazil without him," Karine said in a confessional.Since Karine didn't like any of the options in the trailer park, Paul found his wife a tiny home on the same lot as the trailer park. The house was a one-room studio place with a little front porch.Paul had to clean the refrigerator and put an air conditioner in a window, and he got the place ready for his family.When Karine saw her new home in America for the first time, she said, "It's good. I like it here." All she wanted was a house with walls, a bathroom and enough space for her family."Paul is really trying to make me happy. This house is the first step for me to feel comfortable here in the U.S. And right now, it makes me happy," Karine said.Paul felt "so relieved" Karine liked the place, but they could only live there temporarily. Paul hoped to secure a job and help Karine settle into her new life in America?Karine obtained her CR-1 spousal visa a few months after giving birth to Pierre and then moved to Louisville, KY, to start a new life with Paul.Karine and Paul documented their time together in America over the course of several months on social media, and they appeared to be a happy family last summer.But speculation the couple's volatile relationship was once again on the rocks first began in early September when Paul had made an Instagram Stories posting claiming Karine was threatening him with divorce -- again."Doing a poll strictly out of curiosity. For someone I know very well...... Should a wife divorce her husband over his mother buying gifts daily spoiling their son?" he wrote in the Instagram Story."Should a grandmother be banned from seeing her grandchildren over spoiling them. And a husband be divorced for defending his mother's actions?"Although Paul seemingly tried to play it off like the scenario was happening to some other couple, most of his Instagram followers knew better as the couple's social-media postings openly showed they were living near Paul's mother in the Louisville at the time with Pierre.As a result, it appeared Karine was angry with Paul's mother for "spoiling" her son as well as Paul for taking his mom's side.Things seemed to go back to normal until late September, when Paul suggested, once again, the couple's marriage was ending and Karine had initiated a divorce.According to the comments, Karine told Paul that she didn't want him in her life anymore and had retained a divorce lawyer.Paul revealed the news in a pair of since-deleted Facebook postings from September 27, according to screenshots captured by his followers."Karine asked me to remove our photos. And let everyone know that she doesn't want me in her life," he wrote in his first Facebook posting.Paul then also wrote a subsequent posting in a mix of Portuguese and English. When translated, the text states, "Karine's divorce lawyer called me. Guess I need a lawyer."Shortly afterward, Paul deleted both postings and removed most photos of Karine from his page.In October 2019, the cloud seemed to pass because Paul asked fans on Instagram for great haunted-house recommendations in the spirit of Halloween.Not only did Paul have a date planned for his wife, but he also posted a photo of them smiling at the time.Paul and Karine also celebrated their second wedding anniversary in early November 2019.But later that month, the pair openly discussed filing for divorce again.Paul claimed Karine had "started divorce proceedings in Manaus," and Karine told Us Weekly on November 12 that she was "looking for a lawyer.""Over the course of our Christmas dinner Paul and Karine broke up, got back together, broke up, got back together, broke up and this just in -- are back together. Stay tuned for more on this developing story," Instagrammer John Yates posted on December 25.In December 2019, Paul alleged Karine had taken off with their baby and was with a new man named Blake. He also said Karine was demanding a divorce again at the time.Paul and Karine's rocky on-again, off-again marriage appeared to be back "on again" as of late July, however things then changed and exploded dramatically.On July 30, Paul posted a lengthy Instagram Live video in which he and Karine had a huge fight in which they made assault allegations, called the police, and Paul said he may file for full custody of their son Pierre after Karine allegedly cheated on Paul and violated a Child Protective Services case against her.During the Instagram Live video, an apparent friend of Karine's also told the police Karine wanted to be taken to a "shelter" where someone could "help her."The woman said Karine depended on Paul -- who seemed to be holding Karine's passport and other documents -- for everything, including money, and so Karine basically didn't have a way out.Later that night, at around 4AM on Friday, Paul posted another video on his Instagram Stories and seemed to claim the police were called again."I apologize to you guys for earlier. It's been crazy here. I did not get arrested. The cops did come back," Paul said."We had a storm and Karine got on her cell phone and called the police because the WIFI disconnected. She said I was halting her communications... which didn't make any sense to me because she had her phone the whole time and the WIFI just randomly went out.""Sometimes Internet goes out in our houses -- it happens right?! But you're going to call the cops? For that? The cops weren't too happy about it."Paul added it's "been stressful" for the couple and they "need prayers.""That's the big thing," Paul noted. "Everybody, pray for us. And like I said... I don't want Pierre in dangerous situations. Pierre has been in a very dangerous situation before and that's why things happened."Then, later on Friday, Paul reportedly made additional Instagram postings in which claimed Karine had gone "missing" with Pierre while he was in the hospital being treated for a STD and he seemed to blame on his allegations that Karine has cheated on him since they arrived in Kentucky."I've never cheated on Karine, ever, but apparently I've tested positive for an STD and they are giving me treatment for me," Paul said in one video.A couple of hours later, Paul then reportedly claimed Karine had filed a "full restraining order" against him and posted photos showing a copy of the order Karine had filed against him."I'm not allowed to be around her or my son, within 500 feet of them at all," he said.In the handwritten alleged application he shared, Karine made an array of shocking allegations against Paul -- including claims that he has sexually assaulted and "forcefully rapes me," "hold[s] my Green Card and all my documents," monitors her phone, has "cameras around the house" that he uses to monitor her on his phone when he is not home, has forced her to drink beer while pregnant, and has forbidden Karine's doctor from prescribing contraception to her.According to her application, Karine claims she only came to America to "visit my in-laws, and now he do not let me go back... when I ask to go back to my family he threats to take my son away.""I am terrified he will hurt me or hurt my son because I runned away from him and am even afraid to go back to Brazil now because he can go to Brazil and hurt us."The latest events represent a dramatic change from the couple's status only weeks earlier.In late June, Karine had posted a photo of Paul playing with Pierre and captioned it, "Happy Father's Day." She also added a blue heart to her post.And Paul posted an Instagram video on May 19 of a bike he had purchased and was putting together for Karine.Earlier in May, Paul had also taken to Instagram to happily announce Karine is pregnant with the couple's second child.It appeared Karine was already several months along into her pregnancy at the time.The baby's gender and due date have yet to be announced.However, Paul and Karine's relationship then began to hit some rocky waters earlier in July.Paul lashed out at Karine on Instagram for allegedly calling Paul a "horrible father and husband" and threatening to move their son Pierre back to Brazil.Paul took to Instagram on July 15 with the angry message to Karine and quickly deleted it afterward, but Yates captured a screenshot of the rant and posted it on his own account.Paul blasted Karine in saying, "Yelling at me in public calling me horrible father and husband. We spend every penny we have on bills and designer [clothes] and video games for you. I did not buy anything for myself.""I made sure you and Pierre had everything you all could possibly want and I bought nothing for myself. I try to show my family USA History and I get shunned. Because only your country and culture matter," Paul continued."I take you to the hospital and stay by your side, make sure [you're] at all your doctors appointments and let you spend all your money only on what you want -- but I am a Bad Father and Husband you yell in public."Paul also insisted he's the one who changes "every poopy diaper" Pierre has."Even when I am not home and you call me to come home just to change his diaper because the smell of poop makes you sick. But I am the terrible husband and father. I also never ever cheated on you," Paul wrote."But I understand you want to take Pierre to Tonantins and live because I am such a horrible person," he concluded.The pair then appeared to briefly reconcile, as Paul posted a video to his Instagram Stories on July 21 of Pierre eating an apple and Karine can be heard in the background happily repeating, "Yummy!"In addition, Paul posted an ad on July 28 that Karine helped him tape.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Samsung has announced a rather cool new initiative for customers in India, wherein the company will provide a demo of the Samsung Galaxy phones to potential customers, in the comfort of their home. It is called the Experience Samsung at Home service and this covers all Samsung Galaxy smartphones, tablets and wearables that the company currently sells in India. This is designed to help customers experience and buy smartphones, tablets and wearables without having to step out of their homes as the Coronavirus pandemic continues to make the rounds. Samsung is roping in the services of offline stores for the 'Experience Samsung at Home service. Samsung has a new Experience Samsung at Home service portal where you can share your contact details. A Samsung Exclusive Store nearest to your location will contact you within 24 hours to understand what Galaxy phones, tablets or wearables you are considering, and confirm an appointment time at your home. Samsung sales all their Experience Consultants (SEC) are trained to follow the proper safety and sterilization guidelines in line with the COVID prevention regulations. You can select the products after the demo, and they will be delivered to your home. We have taken a number of measures to ensure consumer safety as social distancing is important to fight this pandemic. Experience Samsung at Home is yet another initiative to create new shopper journeys as it will aid physical distancing by leveraging our deep retail presence in India, says Mohandeep Singh, Senior Vice President, Samsung India. Samsung is roping in the services of offline stores for the 'Experience Samsung at Home service. Samsung believes that the Experience Samsung at Home service will enable consumers to explore and purchase the products online and get deliveries offline from their neighborhood Samsung Exclusive Stores. Our new initiatives are also helping our offline retailers and have resulted in a sharp recovery in our smartphone business post lockdown, says Singh. The Experience Samsung at Home service remains unavailable in Red zones or containment zones for COVID, as classified by local authorities from time to time. Samsung also clarifies that for any purchases that you make, the payment must be made directly to the Samsung Exclusive Store which is providing the demo and the product for purchase, and a variety of payment options will be available. BCCL The fatality rate due to COVID-19 has declined further to 2.15 per cent from 3.33 per cent in mid-June - lowest since the lockdown in March. The country's total number of recoveries from the novel coronavirus has surged close to 11 lakh. Read more Here's more top news of the day: 1) Punjab Hooch Tragedy: 86 Dead After Drinking Spurious Liquor; 25 People Arrested So Far AFP The death toll due to Punjab Hooch tragedy rose to 86 on Saturday, after 48 more people died of drinking spurious liquor, prompting the state government to suspend seven excise and six police officials. Read more 2) With No Network & Access To Online Classes, Children In Gir Forest Forced To Graze Cattle TOI While for the students in metropolitan areas and towns where network is not an issue, e-learning is not a problem, the real sufferers are the school children from rural and remote areas where network accessibility is a concern. Read more 3) Akshaya Patra, That Serves Midday Meals To Students, Raises $950000 Ensuring No One Goes Hungry Reuters Over the years, the programme helmed by the Akshaya Patra Foundation, has not only provided nutritious food to millions of school children, but also worked towards making their meals better. Read more 4) Desperate Times: Activists Warn That COVID-19 Might Result In A Huge Spike In Human Trafficking Representational Image She is a daughter of a fisherman in the Sundarbans and the 13-year-old Tarannum was trafficked by a local shopkeeper eight years ago. He tricked her on the pretext of getting her a job as domestic help and promised a good pay. Read more 5) Bizarre Tragedy! Woman Runs Over Four People With Her Car In Delhi, Puts Blame On Her Dog Representational Image A boutique owner ran over four people in her car in Delhi's Amar colony area which resulted in several injuries but when police questioned her, she put the blame on her dog, according to an IANS report. Read more In this frame grab from NASA TV, the SpaceX capsule is lifted onto a ship, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020 in the Gulf of Mexico. Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken spent a little over two months on the International Space Station. It will mark the first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts and the first time a private company has ferried people from orbit. (NASA TV via AP) Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk's SpaceX company. It was the first splashdown by U.S. astronauts in 45 years, with the first commercially built and operated spacecraft to carry people to and from orbit. The return clears the way for another SpaceX crew launch as early as next month and possible tourist flights next year. Test pilots Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken arrived back on Earth in their SpaceX Dragon capsule named Endeavour, less than a day after departing the International Space Station and two months after blasting off from Florida. The capsule parachuted into the calm gulf waters about 40 miles off the coast of Pensacola, hundreds of miles from Tropical Storm Isaias pounding Florida's Atlantic coast. "Welcome back to planet Earth and thanks for flying SpaceX," said Mission Control from SpaceX headquarters. "It's a little bit overwhelming to see everybody here considering the things that have gone on the last few months since we've been off planet," Hurley said after arriving back home in Houston Sunday evening where they were greeted by a small masked-gathering of family and officials, including Musk. NASA astronauts Robert Behnken, left, and Douglas Hurley are seen inside the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft onboard the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship shortly after having landed in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. The Demo-2 test flight for NASA's Commercial Crew Program was the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station and return them safely to Earth onboard a commercially built and operated spacecraft. Behnken and Hurley returned after spending 64 days in space. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) Musk had rushed to Houston from SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California, to welcome them. He was clearly movedand relievedwhile addressing the group. "I'm not very religious, but I prayed for this one," he said. The astronauts' ride back to Earth was fast, bumpy and hot, at least on the outside. The spacecraft went from a screaming orbital speed of 17,500 mph (28,000 kph) to 350 mph (560 kph) during atmospheric reentry, and finally to 15 mph (24 kph) at splashdown. Peak heating during descent was 3,500 degrees Fahrenheit (1,900 degrees Celsius). The anticipated top G forces felt by the crew: four to five times the force of Earth's gravity. Within a half-hour of splashdown, the scorched and blistered 16-foot capsule was hoisted aboard a SpaceX recovery ship with a staff of more than 40, including doctors and nurses. To keep the returning astronauts safe in the pandemic, the recovery crew quarantined for two weeks and were tested for the coronavirus. NASA astronaut Douglas Hurley waves to onlookers as he boards a plane at Naval Air Station Pensacola to return him and NASA astronaut Robert Behnken home to Houston a few hours after the duo landed in their SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. The Demo-2 test flight for NASA's Commercial Crew Program was the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station and return them safely to Earth onboard a commercially built and operated spacecraft. Behnken and Hurley returned after spending 64 days in space. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) The opening of the hatch was held up briefly by extra checks for toxic rocket fumes outside the capsule. After medical checkups, the astronauts were flown by helicopter to Pensacola and then to Houston. There was one unexpected problem that could have endangered the operation: Once the capsule was in the water, private boats "just made a beeline for it," and got too close, said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, promising to do better next time at keeping sightseers on pleasure boats safely away. NASA video showed one vessel flying a large campaign flag for President Donald Trump. The Coast Guard in Pensacola said it had deployed two vessels to keep the public at least 10 miles away from the capsule. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, who both attended the launch, congratulated the SpaceX and NASA teams. In this frame grab from NASA TV, a private boat with a Trump campaign flag goes by the SpaceX capsule after is splashed down Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020 in the Gulf of Mexico. Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken spent a little over two months on the International Space Station. It will mark the first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts and the first time a private company has ferried people from orbit. (NASA TV via AP) "Great to have NASA Astronauts return to Earth after very successful two month mission. Thank you to all!" Trump tweeted. The last time NASA astronauts returned from space to water was on July 24, 1975, in the Pacific, the scene of most splashdowns, to end a joint U.S.-Soviet mission known as Apollo-Soyuz. The Mercury and Gemini crews in the early to mid-1960s parachuted into the Atlantic, while most of the later Apollo capsules hit the Pacific. The lone Russian "splashdown" was in 1976 on a partially frozen lake amid a blizzard following an aborted mission; the harrowing recovery took hours. Gemini and Apollo astronaut Thomas Staffordthe commander of the last crew to splash downwatched the reentry on TV from his Florida home. While pleased with the crew's safe return, he wasn't overly impressed. "It's what we did over 50 years ago," he said. NASA astronaut Robert Behnken gives a thumbs up to onlookers as he boards a plane at Naval Air Station Pensacola to return him and NASA astronaut Douglas Hurley home to Houston a few hours after the duo landed in their SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. The Demo-2 test flight for NASA's Commercial Crew Program was the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station and return them safely to Earth onboard a commercially built and operated spacecraft. Behnken and Hurley returned after spending 64 days in space. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) Its throwback splashdown aside, SpaceX made history with the mission, which launched May 30 from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. It was the first time a private company launched people into orbit and also the first launch of NASA astronauts from home turf in nearly a decade. Hurley was the pilot of NASA's last space shuttle flight in 2011 and the commander of this SpaceX flight. NASA turned to SpaceX and also Boeing to build capsules and ferry astronauts to and from the space station, following the retirement of the shuttles. Until Hurley and Behnken rocketed into orbit, NASA astronauts relied on Russian rockets. SpaceX already had experience hauling cargo to the space station, bringing those capsules back to a Pacific splashdown. "We are entering a new era of human spaceflight where NASA is no longer the purchaser, owner and operator of all the hardware. We're going to be a customer, one customer of many," Bridenstine said from Johnson Space Center in Houston. "I would love to see a fleet of crew Dragons servicing not just the International Space Station but also commercial space stations." Astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken prepare to return to earth on a SpaceX capsule, Sunday Aug. 2, 2020. It will mark the first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts and the first return in the gulf. Unlike Florida's Atlantic coast, already feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Isaias, the waves and wind were calm near Pensacola in the Florida Panhandle. (SpaceX via AP) SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell called the mission a springboard to "doing even harder things," like collaborating on astronaut flights to the moon and then Mars. "There's no question, it was an enormous relief after months of anxiety making sure we could bring Bob and Doug back home safely," Shotwell said. SpaceX needs six weeks to inspect the capsule before launching the next crew around the end of September. This next mission of four astronauts will spend a full six months aboard the space station. Hurley and Behnken's capsule will be refurbished for another flight next spring. A Houston company run by a former NASA official, meanwhile, has partnered with SpaceX to send three customers to the space station in fall 2021. "It took years to get here, we brought the capablity back to America, and we came home safely to our families, and it took a lot of people a lot of time to make that happen," Behnken said back in Houston. Support teams and curious recreational boaters arrive at the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley on board in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. The Demo-2 test flight for NASA's Commercial Crew Program was the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station and return them safely to Earth onboard a commercially built and operated spacecraft. Behnken and Hurley returned after spending 64 days in space. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley, left, and Robert Behnken prepare to depart their helicopter at Naval Air Station Pensacola after the duo landed in their SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. The Demo-2 test flight for NASA's Commercial Crew Program was the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station and return them safely to Earth onboard a commercially built and operated spacecraft. Behnken and Hurley returned after spending 64 days in space. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) SpaceX support teams are deployed on fast boats from the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship ahead of the landing of the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Fla. The Demo-2 test flight for NASA's Commercial Crew Program is the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station and return them to Earth onboard a commercially built and operated spacecraft. Behnken and Hurley are returning after spending 64 days in space. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) SpaceX support teams are deployed on fast boats from the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship ahead of the landing of the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Fla. The Demo-2 test flight for NASA's Commercial Crew Program is the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station and return them to Earth onboard a commercially built and operated spacecraft. Behnken and Hurley are returning after spending 64 days in space. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) NASA astronaut and Crew Recovery Chief Shane Kimbrough, left, and NASA Chief Astronaut Pat Forrester watch as SpaceX support teams are deployed on fast boats from the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship ahead of the landing of the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Fla. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) In this image from video made available by NASA, astronauts Doug Hurley, left, and Bob Behnken prepare for undocking from the International Space Station, aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. (NASA via AP) This image from video made available by NASA shows the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule, left, before it undocks from the International Space Station on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2020. (NASA via AP) NASA Chief Astronaut Pat Forrester, left, and NASA astronaut and Crew Recovery Chief Shane Kimbrough, along with other NASA and SpaceX support teams onboard the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship, prepare for the landing of the SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Fla. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) In this May, 30, 2020 file photo, NASA astronauts Douglas Hurley, left, and Robert Behnken walk out of the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building on their way to Pad 39-A, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Behnken and Hurley riding the Dragon SpaceX capsule are headed toward a splashdown Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, in the Gulf of Mexico to close out their two-month test flight. It will mark the first splashdown in 45 years for NASA astronauts and the first return in the gulf. Unlike Florida's Atlantic coast, already feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Isaias, the waves and wind were calm near Pensacola in the Florida Panhandle. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File) The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft is lifted onto the SpaceX GO Navigator recovery ship shortly after it landed with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley onboard in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020. The Demo-2 test flight for NASA's Commercial Crew Program was the first to deliver astronauts to the International Space Station and return them safely to Earth onboard a commercially built and operated spacecraft. Behnken and Hurley returned after spending 64 days in space. (Bill Ingalls/NASA via AP) Boeing doesn't expect to launch its first crew until next year. The company encountered significant software problems in the debut of its Starliner capsule, with no one aboard, last year. Its capsules will touch down in the U.S. Southwest desert. By beating Boeing, SpaceX laid claim to a small U.S. flag left at the space station by Hurley and the rest of the last shuttle crew. Minutes after splashdown, Musk tweeted a flag emoji followed by "returned." Also on board: a toy dinosaur named Tremor, sent into space by the astronauts' young sons. The two boys recorded a wake-up call for their fathers Sunday morning. "Don't worry, you can sleep in tomorrow," said Behnken's 6-year-old son Theo, who was promised a puppy after the flight. "Hurry home so we can go get my dog." Explore further NASA astronauts aim for Florida coast to end SpaceX flight 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. State Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, has announced plans to reopen educational institutions above Class 4 from September 1, proper measures and directives to be followed by all students and staff; decision yet to be finalised. Assam Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday announced plans to reopen schools, colleges and educational institutions from September 1. However, the final decision would be taken by the Centre. The state government is considering a proposal to open the schools in Assam from September 1 and teachers will have to get a COVID-19 test between August 23 and 30, Sarma said in a press conference. We are planning to open the schools from September 1, but the final decision will be taken by the central government. Testing of COVID-19 will be made compulsory for teachers from August 23-30. However, schools up to class 4 will remain closed, he added. Also read: Andhras three capital bill gets governors nod, Committed to Amaravati, says state BJP Also read: Biggest one day spike in Covid cases, 57,000+ cases reported for the first time in 24-hrs Meanwhile, state Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, also reported that as many as 1,457 new COVID-19 cases were detected in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 41,726 in the state. According to the data the positivity rate in the state is at 5.36 per cent. The total number of cases include 30,357 discharged cases, 11,265 active cases, and 101 deaths. Also read: Delhi Govt, LG lock horns again: LG cancels key Unlock3.0 decisions by AAP Govt SpiceJet said it operated its maiden long-haul charter flight from Amsterdam to Bengaluru and Hyderabad on Sunday carrying 269 Indians. The low-cost carrier said in a press release it had chartered a wide-body A330neo aircraft from Portugese airline Hi Fly for this flight from Amsterdam in the Netherlands. While the Amsterdam-Bengaluru leg of the flight had the Hi Fly's call sign 5K471, the Bengaluru-Hyderabad leg had the SpiceJet's call sign SG471. "The flight arrived in Bengaluru at 8.58 am IST and the same aircraft then proceeded to Hyderabad with the remaining passengers," SpiceJet said. The twin-aisle A330neo aircraft used by SpiceJet has a configuration of 353 economy and 18 business class seats. Scheduled international passenger flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 amid the coronavirus pandemic. However, special international charter flights, permitted by the Indian aviation regulator DGCA, have been operating as usual. The aviation sector has been significantly impacted due to the travel restrictions imposed in India and other countries in view of the pandemic. All airlines in India have taken cost-cutting measures such as pay cuts, leave-without-pay and firings of employees in order to conserve cash. Also Read: Coronavirus update: Over 54,000 COVID-19 cases in India in single day, tally breaches 17 lakh-mark Also Read: Indian, Chinese commanders to hold Corps Commander-level talks at Moldo today Hear ye! Hear ye! The Court of Public Opinion is now in session, the Honorable Judge Vox Populi presiding. Our first case today: The People versus E. Lee Trinkle, former governor of Virginia. Governor Trinkle, you stand accused of racism and support for eugenics. How do you plead? Well, since Trinkle has been dead since 1939, he cant very well testify, but he has been the latest historical figure put on trial, so to speak. Last week, the University of Mary Washington renamed its Trinkle Hall, finding the name so offensive that it expedited the renaming ahead of other nomenclature concerns. This is of interest to us for several reasons, beyond our interest in Virginia history. Trinkle was the rare governor from Southwest Virginia he grew up in Wytheville. His name also adorns buildings at Radford University as well as the College of William and Mary. If his name causes such consternation at Mary Washington, should it not also provoke the same concerns at those other schools? And just what was Trinkles record anyway? The specific charges are contained in a report prepared last year for the Mary Washington Board of Visitors which found that students are uncomfortable walking by Trinkle Hall. It said that Trinkle is perhaps best known by three pieces of legislation either passed or presented during this time as Governor. These included the Racial Integrity Act of 1924, the Forced Sterilization Act of 1924, and the Racial Segregation Act of 1926. The first of those mandated that all birth certificates and marriage licenses classify people as either white or colored. It officially banned interracial marriage and also had the effect of denying that Virginia was home to Native Americans by declaring that they were really Black. The second of those is self-explanatory and set in motion Virginias practice of sterilizing women who had the misfortune to be institutionalized in state prisons or mental hospitals. The third proposed under while Trinkle was governor but passed and signed after he left office formalized racial segregation in public assemblies. If you were a defense attorney for Trinkle, youd move to have that charge dismissed on the grounds that a governor cant be responsible for every bill that some legislator proposed or something that next governor (Harry Byrd Sr.) allowed to become law. The Mary Washington committee disagreed, finding that Trinkle is linked to the legislation in large part for his unwillingness to speak against it at a time when such action may have curtailed further action. Lets be generous and just deal with the first two charges. Unfortunately, those charges are undeniably true. Worse, Trinkle didnt just passively sign the bills, he actively promoted them. After the General Assembly passed the Racial Integrity Act of 1924, Governor Trinkle sent copies of the legislation to the governors of each state with a request that they try to have similar acts passed, according to the Mary Washington report. Trinkle was also active in promoting the sterilization law. Arizona State Universitys Center for Biology and Society posted a history of Virginias sterilization law on its website in 2011 long before these naming controversies. It called Trinkle a supporter of the eugenics movement and an influential political supporter for the sterilization law: Governor Trinkle released a report on the critical financial condition of the state of Virginia. Within the report, Trinkle reported that one of the largest contributions to Virginias financial state was the increased spending on institutionalizing what he called defectives. Trinkle advocated the sterilization bill as a cost-saving strategy for public institutions that had experienced growth in the incarceration of what he referred to as feebleminded and defective populations. Trinkle added that legalizing sterilization for the insane, epileptic, and feeble-minded persons would allow these patients to leave the institutions and not propagate their own kind. Arizona State says the law passed quietly and without ceremony, but not without consequences. More than 8,000 women were sterilized under the Virginia law, which remained on the books into the 1970s. Nazi doctors cited the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upheld the law in their defense at Nuremberg. In 2015, the Virginia General Assembly authorized reparations for the survivors. The Mary Washington report is wrong in one respect. Trinkle may be known today for signing these bills, but thats not how he was known in his day. The major issue that consumed his governorship was road-building he favored bonds to pay for them but was constantly frustrated by Byrd, who favored pay-as-you-go and ultimately prevailed. Trinkle was also known as a strong proponent of education, which is why he wound up with three colleges naming buildings after him. As governor, he also was involved in raising funds for two private Black colleges the schools we know today as Hampton University and Tuskegee University in Alabama. That certainly seems unusual for a Southern governor from that era. After leaving the governorship, Trinkle continued his advocacy for education. He served on the boards of two private colleges Hampden-Sydney and Hollins. In 1930, Gov. John Pollard named Trinkle as chairman of the State Board of Education. When Trinkle died, the story in The Roanoke Times that recapped his career emphasized his work on transportation and education with no mention at all of the things that define him now. Perhaps that was a journalistic failure at the time, but it also speaks to how accepted and normal those policies of segregation and sterilization were at the time they simply werent news. So how should Trinkle be remembered today? For his day, he was something of a progressive he backed womens suffrage and later the New Deal, two things the rest of Virginias political establishment didnt. The classic history of Virginia Virginia: The New Dominion by Virginius Dabney devotes six pages to Trinkle. None mention segregation or sterilization, but rather how Trinkle constantly ran afoul of Byrd and his conservatives. Trinkle, the book says, was to demonstrate a modest degree of independence in office independence which ultimately caused the organization to force him into political outer darkness. Nearly a century later, Trinkle again gets consigned to that oblivion for things that didnt make the first draft of history, but should have. President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Russia's Airborne Forces on their professional holiday, commending their impeccable skills and loyalty to the Motherland, Sputnik reports. Airborne Forces' Day is annually celebrated in Russia on August 2. This year, the elite branch marks the 90th anniversary. "You are rightfully proud of the glorious history of the legendary 'winged infantry' and the Names of its founding fathers ... Importantly, the current generation of soldiers and officers carries on with dignity the established military and patriotic traditions, holds sacred the laws of military brotherhood, and shows impeccable skills and loyalty to the Oath and the Fatherland in the most challenging emergency situations," Putin said in a congratulatory message. The president expressed special gratitude to the paratrooper heroes and veterans of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - Expressing appreciation for WHO and partners COVID-19 pandemic response efforts, the emergency committee convened by the UN health agencys chief, has made it clear that there is not yet an end in sight to the public health crisis that has so far infected more than 17 million and killed over 650,000 people Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 03:20:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Iron Dome anti-rocket system intercepted a projectile fired from the Gaza Strip on Sunday, the Israeli army said. The rocket triggered sirens in the southern city of Sderot and other communities in the area surrounding the Gaza Strip. A military spokesperson said in a statement that "one projectile was fired from the Gaza Strip towards Israeli territory and was intercepted by the Iron Dome Aerial Defense System." The Hebrew-language news site of Ynet reported that debris from the intercepted rocket fell over a vehicle in Sderot and damaged it. There were no reports of injuries. Following three rounds of war and numerous clashes over the past years, Israel and Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian group that runs Gaza, have largely kept an unofficial ceasefire in recent months. Enditem The Congress on Sunday stepped in to check a war of words between seniors who served as ministers in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and young leaders considered close to former party chief Rahul Gandhi, cautioning both sides against playing Twitter-Twitter. Both sides were told to air their views only on organisational platforms and not on social media. The partys media department head Randeep Singh Surjewala was asked by the top leadership to rush to Delhi from a trip to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan and address a news conference to ask the warring leaders to refrain from escalating the matter, a Congress leader said on condition of anonymity. Also read: BJP using ED in Rajasthan after failing to kidnap democracy, says Congress Rahul Gandhi has been upset by media reports suggesting a deep divide within the party between the seniors and young leaders and unwarranted criticism of the UPA government, the leader said. Rahul Gandhi does not appreciate people making an issue out of a non-issue. He wanted an immediate end to this so-called old versus young divide debate and the Twitter war over UPAs performance and subsequently Surjewala rushed to Delhi, the leader added. Surjewala, addressing a news conference at the party headquarters in Delhi, said, I will advise friends who are playing Twitter-Twitter to stop making comments on social media. We have internal democracy and you should present your views at the appropriate party platforms. The advisory to stop open mudslinging in the social media came a day after four former ministers Anand Sharma, Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor and Milind Deora -- came out to defend the ten-year tenure of Manmohan Singh as PM and the UPA government following critical remarks against the former ruling coalition by young Congress leader Rajeev Satav, considered close to Rahul Gandhi. At Sonia Gandhis meeting with partys Rajya Sabha members on Thursday, Satav suggested introspection over the UPA II tenure that, he said, was responsible for the party dropping to an all-time low of 44 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Surjewala conveyed the leaderships message in no uncertain terms to both the sides that no one can question former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and there were no differences between him and Rahul Gandhi who owns up {to} and stands by each and every decision of UPA I and II. On Sunday, except former Madhya Pradesh Digvijaya Singh and Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore, who later deleted his tweets, no other leader commented on social media. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Earlier this month, JAY-Z, Yo Gotti, and Team ROC helped secure legal representation for 227 inmates at Mississippis Parchman Prison, enabling them to file a class action lawsuit against the new Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Nathan Burl Cain and prison healthcare provider Centurion, alleging subpar living conditions at Parchman. According to documents viewed by Pitchfork, on Tuesday (July 28), Centurion served notice that it would be terminating its contract with the Mississippi Department of Corrections on October 5, 2020. In a memo filed to the Greenville division of the United States District court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Centurion CEO Steven H. Wheeler wrote to Cain that we do not believe we can further improve the effectiveness of our level of care without additional investment from the Department in correctional staffing and infrastructure along the lines of what we have already recommended. Several Parchman inmates have submitted sworn COVID-19 questionnaire forms detailing the lack of COVID-19 testing protocol, social distancing, PPE, and more at the penitentiary. The suit alleged several hygiene issues, including a potable water system contaminated with human feces, the presence of black mold, vermin, inmates limited access to showers, and more. It also alleged that kitchen facilities and food services at the prison were unacceptable, claiming that a Mississippi Health Department inspection in 2019 had found containers of dried, spoiled and molded food, flies and other pests in the kitchen, among other nauseating conditions. Marcy Croft, an attorney with Team ROC, issued the following statement, referencing Centene, Centurions parent company: We hope that Centenes decision to end its relationship with the Mississippi Department of Corrections sends a clear message to Governor Tate Reevesits time to invest in the health and well-being of the people in your prisons. There is no excuse for the 53 deaths across the Mississippi prison system over the past several months, many of which were preventable. We will not stop until the incarcerated receive consistent and competent medical care, especially now with the COVID-19 crisis. This must be a priority. Originally Appeared on Pitchfork A woman, who spent 141 days in hospital battling Covid-19, pneumonia and sepsis, has finally been able to go home. Fatima Bridle, 35, fell ill with coronavirus after returning to the UK from a month-long trip to Mohammedia, Morocco. Mrs Bridle, a former lab technician, spent nearly the whole of the UK lockdown in Southampton General Hospital fighting the virus. Fatima Bridle, 35, spent 141 days in hospital battling Covid-19, pneumonia and sepsis and has finally been able to go home She was in a coma for 40 days and had to be put on a ventilator when her lungs collapsed, spending 105 days on the life-saving machine. Mrs Bridle told the Sun on Sunday that the NHS saved her life and that all the staff 'deserve a medal'. She described the pain she suffered from the ventilator as 'horrific'. 'I wished I was dead at one point. It was so scary and terrifying. I wanted to scream out but I couldn't,' Mrs Bridle said. One of Mrs Bridle's lungs collapsed and she will never be able to breath at full capacity again. Her husband Tracy, 56, an ex-solider, had also fallen ill and had not been able to see his wife in five months. She fell ill after returning from Morocco and was in a coma for 40 days was put on a ventilator when her lungs collapsed, spending 105 days on the life-saving machine Her husband Tracy, 56, an ex-solider, had also fallen ill and had not been able to see his wife in five months The couple had previously ruled out speaking on FaceTime because they both found it too emotional to talk through a screen after so much time apart. He described her as his 'medical miracle'. Mrs Bridle is now being monitored at home by medics and has said she hopes to work for the NHS. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was 'absolutely thrilled' by news of Fatima's recovery. Mrs Bridle is now being monitored at home by medics and has said she hopes to work for the NHS Speaking of the NHS staff at Southampton General Hospital, Mrs Bridle that they 'deserve a medal' and that they saved her life He added: 'It proves that no matter who you are, the NHS is there for you and your family.' This comes as a further eight people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in Britain on August 2. This brings the total number of confirmed deaths during the pandemic to 46,201 according to preliminary figures. Beyonce in "Black Is King" Beyonce in "Black Is King" Travis Matthews/Disney+ There are times when a person doesn't realize how drained, hot and thirsty she is until she sees water. "Black Is King" triggers that realization in its opening with a wide shot of a river, its gentle current carrying a basket. The biblical allusion to the story of Moses is plain to see, only in this context the untethered basket is a visual metaphor for a people . . . but also, for escape. Filming for "Black Is King," Beyonce Knowles-Carter's visual album accompaniment to her 2019 release "The Lion King: The Gift," took place in the second half of last year after the film's release but before the culture at large erupted with protests in the name of Black Lives Matter. It arrives at a time of unfortunate inevitability for any social justice movement, when forces align against it to disrupt its progress, at a moment when demonstrations of empathy are teetering over the line into something like an obsession with footage of Black suffering. That river answers all of this along with the surrounding images of lush forests cutting to shots of people in bright colors, faces tilted skyward; a tight shot on the visage of an elegant elder; then an aerial gaze from over the ocean, floating in to shore where Beyonce awaits in a diaphanous white gown. "Bless the body, born celestial," she says in voiceover, "beautiful in dark matter." A few beats later she adds, "You are welcome to come home to yourself. Let Black be synonymous with glory." Here, one of the world's most recognizable artists uses the framework of an established story created by one of Earth's most recognizable brands to create, as the press materials read, "a celebratory memoir for the world on the Black experience." But its arrival at the end of a particularly brutal July for the planet and for Black Americans in particular provides a much-needed reminder that abundance and greatness is as much our birthright as anyone else's. Story continues The Disney+ debut of "Black Is King" comes at the end of a month that opened with the debut of the movie version of "Hamilton," and though they may be thematically dissimilar what they have in common is a familiarity of story and sound. Those most likely to be drawn to see "Hamilton" probably had every line and verse of the soundtrack memorized before seeing the play. The BeyHive and "Lion King" obsessives have had a year to listen to "The Gift," not to mention embrace and uplift the empowerment themes beating in the heart of songs like "Brown Skin Girl," which became last summer's tribute to women whose complexions have long been diminished by a colorism- infected culture and by that I mean Eurocentric Western culture as a whole that favors fairer skin tones. But it's another experience to see its melody and poetry informing a debutante's ball where women with deep cocoa-toned complexions spin in elegant floor-length gowns as Beyonce herself playfully swans around in a separate scene that also features Lupita Nyong'o, Naomi Campbell, models Aweng Ade-Chuol, and Adut Akech alongside her former Destiny's Child bandmate Kelly Rowland and her daughter Blue Ivy. This is a loving embrace of a segment of women popular culture tends to overlook, evocative of the film as a whole. "Black Is King" zooms between South Africa and Western Africa as well as leaping between New York, Los Angeles, and locations in London and Belgium. And if this stylistic jet-setting feels dizzying, then you haven't been keeping up with the ubiquitous nature of Black culture. Beyonce may be highlighting an international roster of artists in her music on an album that pulses with Afro-pop vibes, but the seamless intermingling of tradition, present and future tells the viewer: Black is worldwide and like the jaunty song says, it is "a mood 4 eva." Given the disparate styles with which "The Lion King" is transformed into a metaphor for a people's story, and the fact that its story drives the plotting of "Black Is King," there will no doubt be some temptation to deem it less original in execution than 2016's "Lemonade." That visual album took the world by surprise and became that spring's anthem for Black womanhood, as well as a means of metabolizing and voicing the long subsumed anger that Black women are forced to hold back. But "Black Is King" is as carefully realized a construct as Beyonce's previous videos and visual albums with the sort of vibrant cinematography and international scope tailor made for the Disney brand. (Her Netflix film "Homecoming" provides a revealing window into her process, and could be useful prerequisite viewing for this new work.) The film further burnishes Beyonce's reputation as a thoughtful visual artist alongside her unmatched skills as a stage performer. And while "Black Is King" demonstrates a vision of crystalline precision, its tamed sprawl of dancers, actors, musicians and scenery demonstrates the artist's curation prowess above all. Although she is listed as the director, Beyonce credits longtime collaborator Kwasi Fordjour as co-director alongside Ghanaian-Dutch filmmaker Emmanuel Adjei, hip-hop artist and filmmaker Blitz Bazawule and Belgian artist Pierre Debusschere. But from the opening frames the true superhuman of the piece is costume designer Zerina Akers who, it must be noted, shares her credit with no one. (Surely it must have taken a legion of hands to string countless pearls into crowns and transform Beyonce into a singular galaxy of sparkle rendered in sequined, beaded, and rhinestone-encrusted bodysuits and gowns. And this only references a couple of outfits among scores of them.) Few individuals can pull together a diaspora's worth of imagery, music and styles, and unify them in a way that reads one way to the wider audience and can be viewed very differently to another. But what we see and hear only works because an army of talent coalesces around a single creative force. Indubitably in the coming days there will be a cascade of analysis of the hidden symbolism and cultural references embedded within "Black Is King." One obvious tip of the hat is a Busby Berkeley homage placing the performer at the center of a spinning mandala of synchronized swimmers in a pool outside of a mansion. The entire scene is a gaudy flex, and as if to drive that point home, the diva's husband Jay-Z co-stars in that sequence. But its materialist opulence is precisely the point this kind of Hollywood Golden Era grace was never afforded to Black people back in the day, and if Beyonce can make that part of her visual festivity alongside rapier-sharp rhymes and Afro-futurist tableaux, then why not? A dust storm comes into play near the end of the film's 85-minute run, an acknowledgement of trials and shadows Black folks have always faced, endured and come through. As it is filmed and staged even this has a stunning beauty to it and is an appropriate segue into a climactic resolution that fits the Disney story, and it would feel equally as appropriate if "Black Is King" weren't connected to that existing intellectual property. But so what if it is? "The Lion King" is a tale of stolen legacy, mending, and restoration the same motifs that color the history of the people to and of whom "Black Is King" speaks. "We have always been wonderful. I see us reflected in the world's most heavenly things. Black is king . . . we were beauty before they knew what beauty was." To see this is to witness that truth take shape, and it is a proud and beautiful sight. "Black Is King" is now streaming on Disney+. https://youtu.be/69MO7yU0d70 Related Articles America struggled with racism long before there was a United States of America. It took a great war to end slavery in our nation, but it didnt end racism. There was a long struggle for equality after the Civil War, turmoil that witnessed the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and Jim Crow laws to suppress people of color. We thought progress was being made with passage of the civil rights legislation of the mid-1960s, largely through the sustained and focused courage of such individuals as John Lewis, eulogized and buried in the national spotlight only last week, and C.T. Vivian, who died the same day as Lewis but whose equally relevant departure transpired in the shadows. We were certain that racism was becoming our past when we elected our first non-white president in Barack Obama. Yet racism is a stubborn quality, ever waiting to be revived, ever sure to again divide. Framers got it right Our nation was rocked by demonstrations, assassinations and an unpopular war in 1968. It seemed at the time that our people were more deeply divided than at any time since the Civil War. Somehow, we managed to see our way through those dark days. We got through it because we talked, we listened, we realized that you can love America and still criticize it. Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has been dumped by two family members, who have chosen to team up with rival Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. The family members are Osaro Obaseki and Victor Obaseki. They are both cousins of the Edo governor. Victor Obaseki, who spoke at the meeting with Ize-Iyamu in Benin, admitted that although Godwin Obaseki is a kin, he wont be getting the support of the family. I am here today in the company of my cousins to support Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu. Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, the executive governor, is our cousin. Generally, the Obasekis have their own way of doing things; we are a different branch of faith, we are supporting our brother, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu with unalloyed support fully for him. I have supported him before, and I would continue to support him, we would do all our campaigns for him without let or hindrance, fully from the bottom of our hearts. On his part, Ize-Iyamu expressed his delight at the support of the Obaseki family, stressing that this serves as a confirmation of the poor administration that Obaseki has given to Edo state in the past four years. He said: Let me thank you for the endorsement. I have known some of you for many years and I am very happy that politics has not strained our relationship. It is true as Osaro said that far away in New York, I had the opportunity of meeting with him and other Edolites, where I shared my ambition. Osaro has been a good gentleman and humble man, and has always declared his support. Governor Godwin Obaseki is running for re-election on the PDP platform. The election will hold on 19 September. Related Federal Parliament was supposed to sit this week. The decision to cancel was taken a couple of weeks ago, on medical advice. The timing is coincidence, not conspiracy, but Scott Morrison will be relieved. He is starting to come under some political pressure for the first time in a long time. And this, when events in Victoria have turned darker still, with yesterdays declaration of a state of disaster. Years ago, John Howard learned too late that the Senate plays an important role: it had always managed to save him from disasters like WorkChoices, until it didnt. Illustration: Jim Pavlidis Credit: Similarly, governments have a tendency to see oppositions as petty politickers who fail to appreciate the enormous complexity of the governments grave responsibilities. But oppositions also have a role in helping governments - as early warning systems. This is the downside of Morrisons recent success in shutting Anthony Albanese out of public debate not just for Morrison, but for all of us. A light plane overloaded with cocaine and bound for Australia crashed soon after taking off in Papua New Guinea, exposing a Melbourne-based criminal syndicate with alleged links to Italian organised crime. The Australian Federal Police have charged five men four from Melbourne with conspiring to import more than 500 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated value of $80 million, from PNG into Australia. Police allege the syndicate arranged for a Cessna light plane to fly from Mareeba, near Cairns in north Queensland, to PNG to collect the drugs last Sunday. The Cessna light plane, before it crashed in PNG. Credit:AFP The pilot went out of his way to avoid detection, flying at around 3000 feet from Mareeba to PNG so the plane would not show up on radars, police said. Tricia Eseigbe-Kerry July 14 will go down in history as a day of double joy for actress and talk show host, Tricia Eseigbe-Kerry. Indeed, that day was her birthday and also the day she gave birth to her daughter, after 10 years of waiting! In this chat, the versatile role interpreter talks about how her family supported her during her darkest days of childlessness, and the joys of motherhood among other interesting issues. Enjoy it. Images of you and your hubby clutching your baby set social media on fire some days ago. Tell us how you felt when you delivered your baby? Firstly, it can only be God, and we give God all the thanks and praises for this wonderful bundle of joy that He gave us; we cannot thank God enough. As for the reactions that greeted the arrival of our baby, it took us by surprise, and like I said in my first press statement, again I would like to thank everyone that celebrated us and most especially, the media, family and friends. The outpouring of positive emotions that greeted the arrival of our baby was mind blowing, and we say thank you! Ten years is a long time to wait for a baby. What were your challenges and how did you cope during those 10 years of waiting? This is a very good question and I would answer it from the depths of my heart. Obviously, like you said, it was 10 years of stigmatization, 10 years of ridicule, 10 years of unprecedented orthodox and traditional medical procedures, all in the quest to have a baby. But we thank God we are here to tell a positive story after this traumatic last 10 years. Be it physical, mental, spiritual, financial, psychological, anyway you can describe it; it wasnt a pleasant journey. I managed to cope with my faith in God and His grace that strengthens me to this day. Was there pressure from your in-laws and how did you handle it? Fortunately, there was no pressure from my in-laws, my husband and family. I have a very superb family support system, which helped in coping as well. I know it is not the case with everyone and I would like to use this medium to plead with our society not to pressure women that are experiencing the same challenges like I did, because it is a very difficult journey which does not require unnecessary pressure from in-laws, family and friends. There are so many things physically, mentally and medically that these women are going through. These are parts of the things that motivated me in setting up my foundation about women and children christened, Boldfaces Women & Children Development Initiative. I truly pray that people will give women that are looking for the fruits of the womb more positive support. How does it feel being a mother after 10 years of waiting? It is exciting; we give God all the glory. It is every womans dream and our societys expectation that once you get married, you start having children. But the most important thing is that children are the next generation. I am happy. How was your husband able to cope for 10 years without a child, and what were those special things he did that encouraged and kept you going? I want to believe that question is for him, but I can assure you that I didnt get any stress from him since the day we got married on December 19, 2009 till date. I was the one more stressed out while he was super-chilled. He is a man that believes that children or no children, it is the man and the woman that will always grow old together, because the children will come, grow and move on into a new family. Also, he is a man of faith that believes that whatever that has been declared in heaven shall come to pass on earth. It is all about patience and Gods time is surely the best. In other words, like the scripture says, iron sharpeneth iron, which means his faith aligned with mine, and that kept us going. He is a very confident believer in the Almighty God and that is a strength on its own, strong enough to weather the storm. At the end of the day, our God came through for us. What advice do you have for couples seeking children after years of marriage? It is important for them to know that at the end of the day, children or no children, the couples bonding is most needed in handling their situation. I am talking about both physical and spiritual bonding, because they only have each other to deal with in all the adversity that comes with not having a child. Secondly, as a believer, unwavering faith is needed even when science states otherwise, because faith will unlock uncommon graces that will change the situation. Never give up, hold on to God almighty and keep hope alive no matter what happens. Could you recall your labour room drama, was your husband by your side in the labour room? On the 13th of July, my birthday eve, I was looking forward to my birthday when contraction started. I called Dr. Sharon, my doctor to inform her; she is an integral part of my journey and she advised we came in because that wasnt my due date, which we did. Yes, my husband was there by my side as supportive as ever. And hours into my birthday, I gave birth to my lovely baby girl. We give God all the glory. Your husband was in the labour room with you. What were the special things he did to encourage you? I was in too much pain to know. But like I said, he was there and supportive as always; reassuring, calming and praying for me. Was there any time you gave up hope on motherhood and considered adoption as a way out? No, I never thought of it but that is not to say there is anything wrong with adoption, because I have always encouraged people to adopt. It depends on individual situation. With mine, I have always had positive results with near misses, and I knew that one day, I will get to the finish line. And as believers, we cannot give up on God because he never gave up on us. That is why I always say to people keep hope alive, your miracle is on the way. 10 years or more, it doesnt matter. Our God is on the throne and at His appointed time, He will come through like He did for me; He will do what He did for me for you. *** Source: Sunday SUN Thousands of Western Australian public school children, some as young as four, have been tested for COVID-19 in an effort to ensure there is no community spread of the virus within the state. More than 4700 asymptomatic students, teachers and staff at 40 WA public schools took part in the first round of voluntary swab tests as part of the state governments DETECT program. About 4000 WA public school children have been tested for COVID-19 through the state government DETECT program. All tests, which require consent from parents for child participants, returned negative results with testing at participating schools expected to be repeated at least twice more this term. Participants range from four years old to 71, with 85 per cent students. The woman was airlifted to hospital. .PICTURE KEVIN McAULEY/McAULEY Multimedia A woman has been airlifted to hospital after being injured jumping into the sea on Saturday. Coastguard Rescue officers from Ballycastle and Coleraine attended the incident which took place at Dunseverick Castle on the North Antrim coast. The injured woman was airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. The Coleraine Coastguard said: "Coleraine and Ballycastle CRTs were tasked to a person injured after jumping into the sea as part of a coasteering group. "Portrush Inshore Lifeboat transported coastguard rescue officers with specialist water rescue equipment and an NIAS paramedic to the casualty location. "Due to the serious nature of the injuries, the decision was made to evacuate the casualty by CG helicopter R199 from Prestwick. "The casualty was then transferred to HEMS helicopter and taken to Royal Hospital in Belfast. "The PSNI did a great job holding back the large volume of traffic on the coast road. Great teamwork from all the agencies." Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 17:30:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Seven virus testing professionals from the Chinese mainland arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday afternoon as the first batch of mainland supportive teams to help tackle a worsening spread of COVID-19. The medical professionals, who will help with laboratory work here, are members of a 60-strong nucleic acid testing team established recently at the request of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government for assistance in the battle against the epidemic. They came at a time of surging COVID-19 infections in Hong Kong, where medical resources were stretched to the limit and the virus testing capacity was not enough. Members of the team were selected from over 20 public hospitals in Guangdong Province. The head of the team used to lead the province's supportive group to Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province. The National Health Commission said it will continue to assemble mainland medical resources and send more support at any time based on the requirements of the HKSAR to fight the epidemic. The commission has also set up a panel of six experts from Wuhan to provide technical support for Hong Kong's construction of makeshift hospitals. Enditem Last Monday, letters landed at Quinn Industrial Holdings in Magherafelt addressed to the six Irishmen steering the remains of Sean Quinn's old empire. The letters were a bolt out of the blue, but there was nothing in them that the businessmen had not already heard before. The contents essentially amounted to another demand to give Sean Quinn his businesses back. The difference this time was that they were sent by Sean Quinn's bankruptcy solicitor on behalf of his son and four daughters: Sean Jr, Brenda, Aoife, Colette and Ciara. After years of their father doing the running, Sean Quinn's children had properly entered the fray in his long and fractious battle to win back his lost empire Their legal missive expressed the children's "unwavering desire" to "revive the legacy of the Quinn family business". Their central contention is this: when local businesspeople and Sean Quinn's old management team secured American investors to buy back his old businesses from the receivers who seized his firm in 2011 over a 2bn debt, they did it for Sean Quinn. So that he could walk back into his old desk and take back the reins. The children point out that the family was kept appraised of the deal, despite the commercial sensitivity. And their support for it, "expressed publicly", was "instrumental and decisive to the success of the bids, to the extent that the agreement would not have been reached without them". The letter concluded by asking directors to transfer shares in the company to them. Failure to do so would result in "proceedings" that would compel them to do so. The recipients of the letter include Kevin Lunney, who was kidnapped and tortured in a violent assault last year, and two other members of his old management team, Liam McCaffrey and Dara O'Reilly. All were once his loyal lieutenants when Quinn was in charge. The others are a former Fine Gael councillor and businessman, John McCartin, and two successful businessmen from Northern Ireland who decided to help Sean Quinn in his hour of need, Ernie Fisher and John Bosco O'Hagan. O'Hagan is a businessman from Tyrone who was friends with Sean's brother Peter, and felt sorry for him after he lost his business. He helped set up a trust that raised 1m from 35 donors to help pay Quinn's legal bills. When the old management team and John McCartin came together to try to patch together a deal to buy back Sean Quinn's businesses, Mr Fisher and Mr O'Hagan were asked to join the board of the company they set up for that purpose. Mr O'Hagan told the Irish News last year that he wished he'd never gotten involved with the former tycoon who built a manufacturing, cement and hotel empire out of gravelly fields on the Fermanagh and Cavan border. Sean Quinn lost control of his businesses in 2011 over a spectacular debt to the former Anglo Irish Bank. A campaign mounted by his supporters - which he has repeatedly insisted was not in his name - has waged on and off ever since. The tactics have included violent arson attacks on the businesses, intimidation and defamation of its executives. The abduction and torture of Kevin Lunney last year was a marked escalation in violence. Five directors of Quinn Industrial Holdings have been warned by gardai of a credible threat to their lives. Mr Lunney and his brother, Tony, Liam McCaffrey, QIH's chief executive, Dara O'Reilly, its chief financial officer and John McCartin have been warned of a credible threat to their lives and continue to live under garda protection. Detectives are investigating the long-standing campaign of sabotage and intimidation, which again Mr Quinn has repeatedly condemned. Expand Close QIH directors Kevin Lunney, Liam McCaffrey and Dara OReilly / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp QIH directors Kevin Lunney, Liam McCaffrey and Dara OReilly For months now the torrid hostilities Sean Quinn and his supporters and his old management have simmered away from the headlines. But as last week's legal missive shows, they have not gone away. The Quinn children's legal joust comes a year after they settled their mammoth acrimonious legal action with the State-owned Irish Bank Resolution Corporation over their debt to Anglo. They each have 440m judgment hanging over them as part of the settlement - amounting to 88m each. Before the settlement, the court had heard that children sought to claim they were under undue influence by their father and operated under his influence. They have kept a low profile in the fall out from the Kevin Lunney affair, while their father gave a number of interviews and clashed with the local parish priest, Fr Oliver O'Reilly, complaining to the Vatican that he and his family had been "frightened and intimidated" by his being falsely accused from the altar "my own local priest". His - and his children's - gripe goes back to the 2014 when the plan was hatched to buy back Sean Quinn's old businesses. The Quinn children suggest it was their father who instigated the plot. With the knowledge and approval of Sean Quinn, they set up a company called Quinn Business Retention Company (QBRC) - with O'Hagan, Fisher and McCartin on its board - to go to market and find investors. By the end of 2014, three US funds put up the 94m to allow Quinn's former management team to buy back the manufacturing businesses. The investors drew the line at employing Sean Quinn. But he was hired back as a consultant on a 500,000 a year salary, and Sean Junior on a salary of 100,000. They lasted the guts of a year before the relationship broke down. According to the Quinn children, it was quite simple. The children claim that QBRC was "formed and run entirely for the benefit of the Quinn family" and its objective was to get control from as much of the former Quinn company as possible. The directors acted as "fronts", they claim. It was "not feasible" for the Quinn family to be directly involved in the deal because it was "embroiled in litigation" at the time with the bank. At the heart of the Quinn children's claim is 22pc equity in Quinn Industrial Holdings Limited, which operates the manufacturing businesses. The shares were split equally between QBRC and the management team, with the US investors owning the remaining 78pc of the equity. As QBRC was run for the benefit of the Quinn family, they claim 22 per cent shareholding is beneficially theirs. The legal correspondence sent by the Quinn children last week states: "At a meeting at the Slieve Russell Hotel on 23 December 2014, the Company's [Quinn Business Retention Company] shareholders confirmed to Sean Quinn Senior and Junior that they were pleased with the outcome of that deal, that they were not interested in or motivated by personal gain and that they continue to hold the Company's shares for the benefit of the Quinn Family [sic]. The precise manner and timing of the transfer of shares to the Quinn family was not discussed in any detail, save that the shares would be transferred in the most tax efficient manner." The Quinn children gave the directors 21 days to set out in writing their proposals to transfer the shareholding. In the absence of a satisfactory response, the letter said, they reserved the right to issue "proceedings" to compel them to do what they asked. The directors declined to comment on the letter this weekend. But a letter from the American investors - Contrarian Capital, Silverpoint and Brigade - to Sean Quinn's adviser in 2016, that precipitated his departure as a 500,000-a-year consultant, tells a different story. The letter, previously published by the Sunday Independent, refers specifically to Sean Quinn's demand for the 22pc stake as a demand "for an immediate handover of equity he does not own; he wants QIH management to immediately address 'points of principle' that are akin to Sean dictating the strategic direction of the Company; and he asks for a board seat." The letter goes on to say that the American investors imposed a restriction preventing the directors from transferring the shares to Sean Quinn or any third party. They were willing to lift the restriction over time if Mr Quinn agreed to engage constructively with the management team and supported the business in the community. The letter concluded: "We believe unless Sean truly embraces the need to work with our existing management team, rather than discredit them, there is not a role for Sean in our company going forward." Sean Quinn left his post soon after that. Two years later, at a rally in the Tilermade, a retail premises in Derrlyin, Quinn told supporters that he been trying ever since to get his business back. He had been "stabbed in the back" by his old management team who had "made sure the Quinns couldn't get any of the business". The directors declined to comment but they have sent the letter they received from the Quinn children to An Garda Siochana. Over the last few months, QIH has written to Sean Quinn a number of times for allegedly trespassing on company property. On March, the company sent him a solicitor's letter accusing him of trespass between 11am and 12 noon. On the same date, around the same time, a local man, Sean McGovern was also seen on the premises. He too received a letter from the company asking him to refrain from entering company property. Mr McGovern had been arrested in connection with the abduction and attack on Kevin Lunney but was released without charge. He later told the Irish News he had no hand, act or part in the attack. On Friday afternoon, Mr McGovern and other supporters protested outside the company headquarters in Derrylin demanding "justice" for his son, Bernard, who is currently in custody in connection with an alleged assault on Mr Lunney and Dara O'Reilly. Mr Quinn declined to comment to the Sunday Independent. Sean Quinn Jr did not return calls. Attempts to reach Mr McGovern were unsuccessful. QBRC and QIH also declined to comment. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 22:06:31|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in Japan increased by 1,330 to reach 39,255 on Sunday amid a resurgence of infections across the country, according to Japan's health ministry and local governments. The total number of cases excludes 712 from the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship quarantined in Yokohama earlier in the year. The new daily addition surpassed the 1,000 mark for the fifth straight day on Sunday after a record number of 1,578 new infections were confirmed on Friday. Authorities in large cities have been forced to re-impose restrictions on some businesses to contain the spike. The Tokyo metropolitan government reported 292 new cases of infections on Sunday, bringing the cumulative total for Tokyo to 13,455. The capital had raised alert for the outbreak in mid-July to the highest, meaning "infections are spreading." Following Tokyo, Osaka Prefecture recorded 194 new cases, while Aichi reported 160 new cases. Fukuoka Prefecture saw a spike of 145 new infections on Sunday Tokyo's neighboring prefectures of Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba reported 72, 74 and 51 new cases on Sunday respectively, the latest figures showed. The death toll in Japan from the pneumonia-causing virus currently stands at 1,026, including 13 from the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The health ministry also said there are currently 83 patients considered severely ill with ventilators or in intensive care units. The ministry added that 26,565 people have been discharged from hospitals after their symptoms improved, according to the latest figures released Sunday. Enditem Episode 143: House of Representatives District 19 Candidate Forum The Northeast News, OneKC Radio, Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, NEAT and Independence Avenue CID hosted a forum for community members to ask questions of candidates Phyllis Hardwick, Ingrid Burnett and Wick Thomas for District 19 of Missouri's House of Representatives on Thursday, July 30. The primary election is on Aug. This part of KC is traditionally Democratic and now two contenders look at advance that agenda beyond the scope of the establishment candidate . . . Take a listen: US-based group ringleader admits providing explosives for 2008 deadly bomb attack in Iran Iran Press TV Saturday, 01 August 2020 4:49 PM Upon arrest by Iranian security forces, the ringleader of a US-based anti-Iran terrorist group admits providing explosives for a 2008 attack against a religious congregation center in southern Iran that killed 14 people. "I was called before the bomb was about to be set off," Jamshid Sharmahd, head of the Tondar (Thunder) outfit, said in footage provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network on Saturday. "They were in a good position. They [just] needed explosives that we provided for them," he added. The attack that targeted Seyyed al-Shohada mosque in the city of Shiraz also wounded 215 others. Sharmahd personally planned and directed the attack. The footage also incorporated intercuts of his previous televised remarks, during which he is seen admitting to Tondar's working alongside the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Do you know where is the FBI's office, the same federal building, wherein we are present?" he is seen telling a member of the audience in one. The Iranian Intelligence Ministry announced arresting Sharmahd earlier in the day in a statement, and notified that he had directed "armed operations and acts of sabotage" inside Iran from the US in the past. According to the statement, the group had planned carrying out several high-profile and potentially hugely-deadly attacks across the Islamic Republic, but was frustrated in the attempts after intricate intelligence operations targeting the outfit. These included blowing up of Sivand Damn in Shiraz, detonating cyanide-laden bombs at Tehran International Book Fair, and carrying out explosions during mass gatherings at the Mausoleum of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini. Also on Saturday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry held Washington liable for supporting Tandar as well as similar terrorist outfits and criminals that try to lead sabotage, armed, and terrorist operations from within the United States against the Iranian people. The deadliest anti-Iran terrorist group that ironically receives the biggest share of its support from Washington is the Mujahedin-e-Khalq Organization (MKO). The US regime and its European allies have inexplicably taken the cult's name out of their blacklists and have been lavishing political and monetary support on it, despite the MKO's being responsible for slaying around 12,000 Iranians since the 1979 victory of Iran's Islamic Revolution. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The court found that during questioning by Crown staff on May 1, 2017, Mr Hoch was threatened with a long prison sentence if he refused to confess, while Ms Charles was warned that her parents and her partner's parents would face serious consequences back in China. Crown's investigators, all former members of Victoria Police, were also found to have claimed they could influence the outcome of a police investigation if Mr Hoch and Ms Charles admitted to the alleged scam. Mr Hoch was told by Crown surveillance member Manuel Lyberis: We are just trying to help you mate. It's like a get-out-of-jail card and you might only get one opportunity. Crown's investigations manager, Jason McHutchison, warned Mr Hoch he would cop the full extent of the law if he refused to answer questions honestly. After telling Mr Hoch he had been a detective with Victoria Police for 12 years, Mr McHutchison said he would ask the police to treat him alright. Thats why we have dealings with the police. Thats my job, to deal with police ... if we tell them ... to treat someone good, theyll treat them good, Mr McHutchison said, according to the judgment. The general manager of security and surveillance at Crown casino, Craig Walsh, also a former police officer, was present during some of the interviews. He told Mr Hoch he wanted to be able to tell police that he had co-operated, and advised him to consider his family. Two other women initially implicated in the scam have since had their charges dropped. Mr Hoch came to the company's attention during a routine review of the previous day's biggest winners, which included an examination of CCTV footage of the table and an assessment of betting patterns. Crown's investigators were found to have claimed they could influence the outcome of a police investigation if the pair admitted to the alleged scam. Crowns internal investigators arrested Mr Hoch and his co-accused on the night of May 1, 2017, when they were taken to a holding room inside Crown's flagship casino in Southbank. One of the rooms was marked "Victoria Police Interview Room", according to court documents. The court noted the pair were never cautioned or informed of their right to silence or legal representation by Crown's surveillance team. Ms Charles gave evidence that she was warned by Crown staff that she was in big trouble and that her parents in China would be notified. Her partner's parents worked for the Chinese government and would also face serious repercussions, she told the court. The interview with Ms Charles was supposed to have been recorded by a digital device in the possession of Crown investigator Wayne Eales. However, about one hour of the interview including the entire period when the alleged threats were made by Crown officers was never recorded, the court heard. Mr Eales told the County Court he may have accidentally switched off the digital voice recorder, but could not recall switching it back on. When Mr Hoch and Ms Charles were finally handed over to detectives from Melbourne West station, they made full admissions, including how the scam worked and how the proceeds of the enterprise were divided. Warrants were executed on their properties, where police uncovered more than $200,000 in cash and casino chips worth about $50,000, which was seized under proceeds of crime laws. In March, County Court judge Richard Smith ruled the conduct of Crown's surveillance team had significantly compromised the substantial and fulsome admissions that Mr Hoch and Ms Charles later made to police at Melbourne West station. Prosecutor Daniel Porceddu made an interlocutory appeal against Judge Smith's decision on March 19, when he conceded the Crown case would be significantly weakened without the admissions provided to police by Mr Hoch and Ms Charles. However, the County Court ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal in a judgment handed down on July 30. "In our view, not only was it open to his Honour (Judge Smith) to exclude the evidence of the police interviews under that section, he was clearly correct to do so. "The unfairness was palpable. On his Honours unchallenged findings, both respondents believed they were likely to be imprisoned unless they co-operated with police," the judgment by the Court of Appeal states. The matter will return to the County Court for a mention hearing in October, but lawyers for Mr Hoch and Ms Charles are expected to apply to have the trial discontinued at an earlier date. Lawyer Steven Collin, for Ms Charles, and barrister Sam Andrianakis, for Mr Hoch, declined to comment. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 2) Around six months after the country confirmed its first coronavirus contamination, the national tally of infections breached 100,000 on Sunday, the Department of Health said. The agency announced 5,032 new cases, with 2,114 detected in the last three days and 2,918 more from the validation backlog. This marks the fourth consecutive day that the country has hit a new record in single-day rise in cases. The latest increase broke Saturdays numbers which was at 4,963, It also brought the national case count to 103,185 where 35,569 are active cases, or currently ill patients, according to the department. Based on the latest case bulletin, Metro Manila accounted for 2,737 of the new infections. The DOH further detailed that the top five contributing cities in the region are Quezon City with 569 cases, the City of Manila with 379, Makati with 339, Caloocan with 151, and Taguig with 132. Among provinces, Cavite recorded 463 cases, Cebu province had 449, Laguna tallied 326, and Rizal 201. Health officials confirmed another 301 recoveries for a total of 65,557. The death toll also climbed to 2,059, with 20 more fatalities. Fourteen of these newly reported deaths occurred in July, three in June, and the other three in May, the DOH said. Broken down into regions, 15 were from Central Visayas, four from Metro Manila, and one from Calabarzon. The Department of Foreign Affairs also recorded 13 new infections among Filipinos abroad, bringing the case tally to 9,569. Recoveries are still at 5,572 while the death count remains at 671. As cases continue to rise, frontliners have called for a two-week return to strict enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and its nearby regions Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and Mimaropa. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte will meet with key Cabinet officials on Sunday to discuss the various concerns raised by members of the medical community while the country continues to battle the health crisis. READ: Pagod na pagod na kami: Frontliners appeal for two-week ECQ in Mega Manila amid surge in coronavirus cases Worldwide, 17.8 million people have been confirmed to have caught the virus, while some 685,000 have died since the outbreak began in Wuhan, China late last year, according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. UP's Cabinet minister for Technical Education Kamal Rani Varun succumbed to COVID-19 on Sunday at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences here. Kamal Rani is the first minister in Uttar Pradesh to die after contracting coronavirus. She was 62. On July 18, the minister tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Hospital here. She was later shifted to the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences. Meanwhile, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the minister's death. In a condolence message issued here on Sunday, Adityanath said, "Kamal Rani Varun died on Sunday at around 9.30 am. She was an experienced and capable leader. She discharged her responsibilities with competence. She was a dedicated public representative, who was always working for the welfare of deprived and oppressed sections of the society." 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 Currently, Kamal Rani was MLA from Ghatampur in Kanpur. In the past, she was also a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha twice. Meanwhile, chief minister Adityanath has cancelled his visit to Ayodhya scheduled for the day, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi said on Sunday. Speaker of the state Legislative Assembly Hriday Narayan Dixit has also condoled the minister's death. Born on May 3, 1958, Kamal Rani was among the 18 members inducted in the council of ministers headed by Adityanath on August 21, 2019, the first such reshuffle since the BJP government came to power in March 2017. Kamal Rani was the only woman cabinet minister in UP following Rita Bahuguna Joshi's resignation after getting elected to the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, in a statement issued here on Sunday, principal secretary Jitendra Kumar said, "The national flag will be flown at half mast in the state capital, and in the district on the day of cremation." AccuWeather forecasters are warning chances of snow and other wintry weather to break out across portions of the eastern United States, just after a winter storm spent the weekend making a mess of places from the Tennessee Valley through the Southeast and up the Eastern Seaboard into New England. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has removed a third statue of Christopher Columbus from the streets, a week after taking down more prominent monuments to the controversial Italian explorer. The latest statue of Columbus to go down was located at Drake Fountain on 92nd Street at South Chicago and Exchange avenues, and was far less well-known than its brothers in Grant Park and Arrigo Park. Even as national controversy mounted over Columbus statues in public places, the South Chicago monument had largely escaped public notice until a Sun-Times report noted its existence earlier this week. According to the city, the statue of Columbus was dedicated in 1892 and was believed to have been the first in Chicago. Following public safety concerns over planned demonstrations similar to the one in Grant Park two weeks ago, the city has temporarily relocated the Christopher Columbus statue at Drake Fountain in the South Chicago neighborhood until further notice, Lightfoots office said in a statement. This temporary relocation is part of an effort to prevent individuals from pulling down statues in an extremely dangerous manner, which has created unsafe situations for protestors and police, as well as residents of the surrounding community. Lightfoot ordered statues of Columbus removed from Chicagos Grant and Arrigo parks early last week, hoping to avoid another high-profile confrontation between police and protesters. The mayor drew criticism from those who believe she caved to activist demands, but she defended the move by saying it was necessary for public safety. She has also promised that the removal of Columbus statues would only be temporary, spurring criticism from progressive aldermen who say they dont want to see them reinstalled. Lightfoot also said that the city would soon announce a formal process to assess the monuments, memorials, and murals across Chicagos communities, and develop a framework for a public dialogue to determine how we elevate our citys history and diversity. The city reiterated the point on Friday. Chicagos statues of the explorer have become the center of a heated controversy for Lightfoot, who has opposed taking down statues of the Italian explorer on the grounds that it would be erasing history. She also has rejected calls to rename the Columbus Day holiday. Columbus has been condemned by activists around the country who point to the Italian explorers mistreatment of Indigenous people after he landed in the Americas in 1492. TORONTO - Five things to watch for in the Canadian business world in the coming week: Unemployment figures Statistics Canada will release its July labour force survey Friday. Junes unemployment fell to 12.3 per cent after hitting a record high 13.7 per cent in May as the economy added 953,000 jobs. Julys numbers will give a broader picture of how the start of the economic recovery from COVID-19 pandemic is playing out. Restaurants report Two restaurant conglomerates, Restaurant Brands International Inc. and Recipe Unlimited Corp., release their second-quarter results Thursday. The COVID-19 pandemic hit the industry particularly hard as dine-in services shut across Canada, leaving them to rely on take-away service only. Home prices The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver will release its monthly housing report Wednesday. Sales in the once-scorching housing market started to return to more typical levels in June after dipping to four-decade lows in April. The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board will release its figures the following day. In June, TRREB said the number of homes sold in the Greater Toronto Area was just shy of the mark set a year ago and the average selling price rose nearly 12 amid tight supply. Bombardier reports Bombardier Inc. reports its second-quarter earnings Thursday. The report comes one week after the European Commission green lit the acquisition of the companys rail business by French train-maker Alstom. Canopy Growth CEO Canopy Growth CEO David Klein will participate in a fireside chat at TerrAscend Corp.s investor day Thursday. Kleins appearance comes after his company conducted what it called a small number of layoffs recently. It declined to provide figures for the number of jobs lost. This report by The Canadian Press was first published August 2, 2020. (Natural News) In response to President Donald Trumps ordered shutdown of the Chinese consulate in Houston, communist China has threatened major retaliation in the form of real pain. According to Chinas state-run Global Times paper, Trumps closure of this facility is reckless and dangerous, and will soon result in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) taking retaliatory action against the United States. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin announced in an official statement that closing the Houston consulate represents a political provocation unilaterally launched by the U.S. side that seriously violates international law. As the U.S. flagrantly drums up stigmatization and fans hatred against China, our embassy in the U.S. recently has even received bomb and death threats on Chinese diplomatic missions and personnel in the U.S., Wang added. Adding on to Wangs statements, the Global Times urged the U.S. to immediately correct its mistakes by reopening the consulate, otherwise China will make a legitimate and necessary response. The Global Times went on to claim that the U.S. has been attacking and launching smear campaigns against communist China for a while now, as well as unreasonably making trouble for staff members at Chinese consulates. The impetus behind the closure was the revelation that several Chinese researchers who had worked or studied at the University of California, Davis were actually communist Chinese spies in disguise. This led to Sen. Marco Rubio opening up a can of worms about the Chinese consulate in Houston, followed by President Trump taking immediate action in accordance with an ongoing investigation being conducted by the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies. Will communist China now close down a U.S. consulate as retaliatory punishment? These are just the latest of many actions taken against communist China in recent years as increasingly more information comes out about their infiltration of America. Back in October 2019, as well as more recently in June of this year, the U.S. twice imposed restrictions of Chinese diplomatic staff in response to threats from the regime. There have also been trade sanctions and Trumps ban on the use of Huawei technology in Americas 5G rollout. To most Americans, these are steps in the right direction to cut off communist China from continuing to take advantage of our country. But to the communist Chinese regime itself, such actions represent a serious escalation in bilateral confrontations, which could result in countermeasures. The most likely form of retribution would be China closing a U.S. consulate somewhere, writes John Hayward for Breitbart News. The Global Times suggested shutting the one in Hong Kong, which would supposedly be a move which is conducive for Hong Kongs stability, as U.S. consulate staff there have played a role in the months-long unrest in Hong Kong last year.' Another possibility is that China will shutter the U.S. consulate in Wuhan, the epicenter of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) plandemic. Communist China is apparently gleeful that many consulate staff have still not returned following the worst of the global crisis, and may never return. The South China Morning Post (SCMP), another Chinese state-run media outlet, has speculated that perhaps the U.S. consulate in Chengdu will be closed as retaliation against the U.S. for its closing of Chinas Houston consulate. The US consulate in Chengdu opened in 1985 and is strategically important because it covers the countrys southwestern region, including the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Tibet autonomous region and Chongqing, the SCMP reported. Whatever the case may be, let China do what it thinks is best. It is hardly fooling anyone with its feigned surprise over the closure of its Houston consulate, which Hayward notes has long been a well-known hive of espionage activity. The latest news about the threat of communist Chinese infiltration is available at InvasionUSA.news. Sources for this article include: Breitbart.com NaturalNews.com New Delhi: In the latest development in Sushant Singh Rajput's death case, it has been learnt that between July 2019 to August 2019, there were several transactions made from his bank account for certain puja rituals. The transactions were made in intervals, starting July 14 when Rs 45,000 was taken out for 'puja samagri', as mentioned in the bank statement. A week later, on July 22, Rs 55,000 and Rs 36,000 were then debited from Sushant's account. Again, on August 2, a transaction was made in the name of 'puja samagri' for Rs 86,000. Moreover, on August 8 and 15, Rs 11,000 and Rs 60,000 was debited for 'pandit fees' and 'puja samagri', respectively, After August 15, there is no mention of any kind of transaction done for puja. The development comes just a couple of days after Sushant's family accused his actress girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty of practising black magic. Also, the actor's office boy named Ram has claimed that Rhea practised black magic. "After Rhea came into Sushant's life, a lot of things changed. Like other employees, my salary also got delayed, I was asked to work for longer durations and was harassed. Rhea started asking me to do her personal stuff too. And if any worker refused to do it then she would fight," Ram told Zee News on Saturday. "Rhea used to give some medicines to Sushant Singh Rajput. Before she came into his life, he was a happy person but afterwards, there used to stay melancholic. Rhea also practised black magic", he added. Sushant died by suicide at the age of 34 in Mumbai. His death case is being investigated by the Mumbai Police since then. However, after Sushant's father KK Singh filed an FIR in Patna against Rhea, the Bihar Police has also set up an investigation in Mumbai. Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya, whose grandfather co-founded energy drink company Red Bull, walks to get in a car as he leaves a house in London in this April 5, 2017, file photo. AP-Yonhap Thailand's prime minister has ordered a second autopsy be conducted after the death of a key witness in a deadly hit-and-run case linked to the heir to the Red Bull energy drink fortune, amid public anger that the charges were dropped. Jaruchart Mardthong, 40, died in what police said looked like a motorcycle accident on Thursday, amid public suspicion about the exact cause of his death. Results of an initial autopsy have not yet been released. Local media said his family had planned to cremate the body on Sunday. He was a key witness in the police investigation into Vorayuth "Boss" Yoovidhya, who was accused of killing a police officer in 2012, according to deputy government spokeswoman Traisulee Traisoranakul. Police said last week that all charges against Vorayuth had been dropped, stirring public anger about the country's entrenched culture of impunity for the rich and well-connected. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha wants to ensure justice and clear public suspicion over the case, Traisulee said in a statement on Sunday. "The prime minister reiterates that the government will help create justice in the case. Any wrongdoers will be punished. This case will not be unresolved in the public's mind," she said. Police said Jaruchart had died at hospital after crashing with another motorcycle driver, who was also injured but had left hospital. Prayuth previously said a committee had been formed to look at what led to the case being dropped but it would not interfere in the work of the attorney-general, police and court. The committee has 30 days to complete its task. Vorayuth had missed eight summonses to appear in court. He was accused of crashing his black Ferrari into policeman Wichien Klanprasert and dragging his body for dozens of metres before fleeing the scene. He was 27 at the time. Authorities issued a warrant for his arrest five years after the incident and Vorayuth later left the country. His current whereabouts are unknown. Police have said the old case against Vorayuth had officially ended and could only be relaunched if relatives of the victim filed the case directly to a court, or if there were new witnesses or evidence. (Reuters) Protesters against coronavirus restrictions have gathered in Berlin for a demonstration titled The End Of The Pandemic Freedom Day. It comes amid increasing concern about an upturn in infections in Germany. A crowd of people whistling and cheering, and with few masks in sight, marched from the Brandenburg Gate on Saturday ahead of a rally on a wide boulevard that runs through the citys Tiergarten park. A woman wears a Angela Merkel mask with the inscription Bye bye democracy(Christoph Soeder/AP) Protesters held up homemade placards featuring slogans that included Corona, false alarm, We are being forced to wear a muzzle and Natural defence instead of vaccination. Some chanted: Were here and were loud, because we are being robbed of our freedom. Police estimated that about 17,000 people turned out. Demonstrations against restrictions this year have drawn a variety of people, including some conspiracy theorists and right-wing populists. Thousands march along the Friedrichstrasse (Christoph Soeder/AP) People came from various parts of Germany for Saturdays protest. Germanys management of the pandemic has widely been viewed as relatively successful, with a lower death rate than comparable countries. The country has been easing lockdown measures since late April but social-distancing rules remain in place, as does a requirement to wear masks in public transport and shops. Infection figures have crept up over the past few weeks and officials have warned against complacency. Germanys national disease control centre registered 955 new cases on Friday, a high figure by recent standards. Togbe Afede XIV, President of the National House of Chiefs, has called for a human face approach to the border closure to mitigate livelihoods of communities at the frontiers. He said the "benefit of nationality" has eluded residents of border communities requesting for mitigating approaches. Togbe Afede, doubling as the Agbogbomefia of Asogli State, said these, when he led the Standing Committee of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs to tour Leklebi-Kame border community in the Afadzato South District and others in Ho Municipality and Ketu South and engaged with immigration officials. He said the situation was worse than expected, as it affected access to basic facilities in the country for those caught on the cross borderline. He said the siting of immigration posts away from the actual border lines affected communities on the frontier, and that efforts to secure the nations borders must not hinder the livelihoods of cross border residents. Its a blanket suggestion that you cannot cross the checkpoint when you know that Ghana lies beyond that checkpoint. How do parents explain to their children that we are no more Ghanaian? Suddenly you cannot come to your own country. Can you imagine the psychological trauma? Togbe Afede asked. The post at Leklebi Kame is several hundred meters away from the actual border post, and officials of the Ghana Immigration Service there told the Committee that the Presidents directives prevented Ghanaians living beyond the post from crossing, and they had made several arrests. The place is calm. There are no crossings, no one dares, one official said, and confirmed that people from beyond the post, who were schooling in Ghana too had been denied passage. He said the location created challenges and threatened their peaceful coexistence with residents, and suggested that the post be moved more closer to the border. Togbuiga Delume VII, Paramount Chief of Ve Traditional Area, said there had been no reports of harassments by security personnel there since their deployment. Mr Thomas Alutornu, Secretary to the Hornuta Traditional Council in the Ho West District reported to the Committee that military personnel deployed to the area, few days later started breaking into homes, and also arrested some residents they claimed were Togolese seeking to register. He said the people lived in fear as they were surrounded by security personnel until the voter registration process was done with. They were turning people away, yet we share a common boundary with Togo and we share same culture, Mr Alutornu said, adding that it was wrong to claim that people of frontier communities were not Ghanaians. He however noted that no violence had been recorded, although some local vigilantes had also committed to helping keep out non-Ghanaians. Togbe Afede called for peace and unity, and said the chieftaincy institution supported peaceful conduct of the elections, and would continue to work towards its success. The Committee visited border communities in the Ho Municipality, and also major entry points in the Ketu South Municipality, asking border officials to continue to sympathize with the people. Togbui Amenya Fiti V, Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area, conducted the entourage round some security barriers mounted within communities. The Committee also toured the several security posts manned by military and immigration officers, which Togbe Fiti pointed out were placed on a line wrongly sited by the Togolese Authorities, and called for the redemarcation of Aflao lands. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan said Sunday he had been discharged from hospital, three weeks after being admitted with "mild" coronavirus symptoms after testing positive for the disease. The news came as powerful Indian Home Minister Amit Shah revealed he had tested positive for coronavirus, which is infecting tens of thousands of people a day -- and killing hundreds -- in the world's second most-populous country. More than 1.7 million people have now been infected in India and more than 37,000 have died, giving it the world's highest toll behind the United States and Brazil. Bachchan's actor-son Abishek, who was admitted at the same time, will remain in hospital, while his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai and granddaughter Aaradhya were discharged last week. They were the highest-profile family in India to contract the virus in a country that worships movie stars. "I am back home. I will have to be in solitary quarantine in my room," Bachchan wrote on Instagram, saying he had tested negative. He thanked his family, fans "and the excellent care and nursing" at the hospital, saying they "made it possible for me to see this day". At the time he said he had "mild" symptoms. Bachchan's discharge came as Home Minister Amit Shah -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's right-hand man -- said he had tested positive for the virus. "On getting initial symptoms of coronavirus, I got myself tested and my report is positive," Shah tweeted. "My health is fine, but on the advice of doctors I'm getting myself admitted to a hospital." The 55-year-old called on everyone in contact with him over the past two days to get tested and isolate. It was not clear if Shah had met Modi or other senior cabinet ministers in recent days. He was admitted to a hospital in Gurgaon, just outside the capital New Delhi, local media reported. Bachchan, 77, idolised in India and affectionately known as "Big B", has worked for more than half a century in the film industry. His release from hospital was cheered by his legion of fervent fans. Hundreds of them gathered at the Amitabh Bachchan Temple -- built by his fans in the city in 2001 and which has a life-size statue of the revered celebrity -- in Kolkata on Sunday. "Amitabh is our 'guru'. He is more than god to us," Amitabh Bachchan Fan Association secretary Sanjoy Patodiya told AFP on Sunday ahead of the actor's announcement. "His fans are spending sleepless nights praying that their god gets well soon." For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Covid-19 has spawned contact-tracing worldwide, triggering collection and processing of personal data. Privacy protections surrounding this are nascent, raising significant concerns about their permanence in our society. The Supreme Courts landmark Puttaswamy judgement recognised privacy as intrinsic to personal liberty under Article 21. Concurrently, it recognised that a legitimate interest, say, an epidemic, might restrain the right provided the doctrines of necessity and proportionality are satisfied. In this context, a recent order from the Kerala High Court in Balu Gopalakrishnan assumes significance. The Kerala government contracted US-based Sprinklr Inc for Covid-related medical data analysis. Petitioners assailed this contract for lacking adequate privacy safeguards, arguing that the jurisdictional choice of New York virtually renders Indian citizens defenceless against a breach. The courts order pervasively focuses on data localisation, that data concerning Indian residents must reside within India to secure jurisdiction of her courts. This sentiment has been echoed by Union ministers as well. We submit that data localisation is an anachronism, and severely inhibits privacy protections envisaged under the Constitution. A comprehensive safeguard instead necessitates attaching jurisdiction through the residence of the data subject. In fact, Delhis obsession with data localisation stalls the resolution of another obsolescence ailing Indias privacy regime the absence of a data-protection legislation. Currently, statutory protections are entirely contained within the Information Technology Act, 2000 (IT Act). Data localisation advocates, and respondents in Gopalakrishnan argue that localisation attaches jurisdiction using Section 75(2) of the IT Act, which applies the Act extra-territorially (outside India) if a breach involves a computer located in India. Any reassurance from Section 75(2) is a facade. Consider this, Sprinklr decides to use a supercomputer in Ohio and copies data from Indian servers. The supercomputer at Ohio containing data of Indian nationals is breached. In such a case, Section 75(2) will not operate since the computer located in India was not breached, and absurdly, an Indian will be without remedy. The IT Act was designed to facilitate e-commerce, not for data protection. Thus, virtually, the entirity of its penal provisions are predicated on tangible loss (see Sections 43A, 66, 66C, 66D, and 66E). Disclosure that someone is diabetic may not cause a loss but is still a privacy violation yet, the IT Act provides no remedy here. Resolving these absurdities requires a fundamental re-imagination of our privacy jurisprudence. Jurisdiction should attach to any entity collecting, processing, and/or storing personal data based on the residence of the data subject, not its location. This approach allows greater flexibility for processing while also comprehensively protecting privacy. The spatial approach of data-localisation is incongruent to the very concept of privacy. This was first enunciated by the US Supreme Court (Scotus) in Katz v United States, where wiretapping without entering a persons home was challenged as a violation of Fourth Amendment rights. The Fourth Amendment is textually spatial; it protects against unreasonable search and seizure of someones persons, houses, papers, and effects. Drafted around 1791, its text could not possibly predict the intrusion that remote technologies can accomplish today. Therefore, like data-localisation, it was written with spatial limitations and a literal interpretation renders it redundant today. Cognizant of this vulnerability, Scotus held that privacy attaches to people, not places, and therefore, wiretapping even absent a literal intrusion was unconstitutional. The Indian Supreme Court, in Dist Registrar & Collector v Canara Bank, adopted Katz with approval, placing individuals at the locus of privacy. In Puttaswamy, Justice Chandrachud wrote, Privacy is a concomitant of the right of the individual to exercise control over his or her personality. Justice Nariman distilled an informational aspect of privacy, distinct from an individuals physical body. As a principle seeking to preserve privacy, therefore, data localisation ignores its evolution and attempts to restrict it to an obsolete conception of tangibility and spatiality. Restrictive view To argue that Indian courts cannot pursue offenders abroad without data localisation is a restrictive view of jurisdiction. The Supreme Court in GVK Industries acknowledged Parliaments power to legislate extra-territorially for the interests or welfare of inhabitants of India. Article 73 of the Constitution makes the Union executive power contemporaneous with Parliaments legislative authority. Therefore, where the welfare of Indians is concerned, legislative and executive powers of extend outside India too. The Constitutions Fundamental Rights Charter is meant to check state authority. Consequently, it too, must operate abroad if the state pursues extra-territorial acts. Concluding otherwise would confer absolute impunity to state action abroad, even when it infringes the rights, interests or welfare of the people of India. The Constitution provides for writs under Articles 32 and 226 for enforcing rights of Indians, indicating that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and high courts would extend extra-territorially in such cases. There is precedent for this understanding of jurisdiction. Section 4 of the IPC provides that an Indian citizen may be charged with an IPC offence committed while she is abroad, even if it is not an offence in that country. Parliament has therefore attempted to regulate the conduct of Indian citizens abroad to accord with Indias standards of criminality. In such cases, Indian courts gain congruent jurisdiction already. For data protection, Europes General Data Protection Regulation statutorily attaches jurisdiction based on residence of data-subject, rejecting data-localisation. Under the Protective Principle, international law also permits extra-territorial jurisdiction of states for its own preservation or protecting its interests. Clearly, critical personal data of its residents is at the core of a states interests. In Maneka Gandhi, the SC noted that courts should expand the reach and ambit of Fundamental Rights, rather than to attenuate their meaning and content by a process of judicial construction. By relying on constricted and overly simplistic anachronisms like data-localisation, policy makers are turning away from this guiding principle. (Maniktala is an LLB student, Campus Law Center, University of Delhi; Khurana, is an LLM graduate from the UCLA School of Law, USA) Delhi Police on Sunday arrested a man and claimed to have busted a gang that booked outstation cabs from Delhi before murdering the driver and fleeing with his vehicle and other valuables. Police said the arrested suspect, identified as Vikas Tomar, killed a taxi driver in June this year and might have been involved in a similar murder in 2008. Investigators said they had launched efforts to arrest other members of the gang and were trying to ascertain if they were involved in multiple murders. Tomar, police said, is a resident of Baghpat in UP. He is a graduate and is married two kids. Deputy commissioner of police (Rohini) PK Mishra said that on June 15 a missing persons report was lodged by the family members of a cab driver Pradeep Singhal, 35, of Vijay Vihar, Rohini. the family alleged that Singhal had gone missing on June 12 along with his taxi. A search operation was started and after checking call details and a number of CCTV footages, we received information about a body that was recovered in Rabupura district of Gautam Buddha Nagar, which resembled Singhal. The body was later positively identified as that of Singhal by his family. A case of murder was registered and investigations started, Mishra said. During preliminary probe, when police teams scanned through Singhals call details, they zeroed down on three suspicious mobile phone numbers. Following days of surveillance we managed to identify the prime suspect as VikasTomar, who may have been previously involved in a murder case of a taxi driver in 2008 and is currently out on bail. His hideouts were raided and we finally managed to arrest him on July 26, Mishra said. The DCP said Tomar led the police team to the spot where he had dumped Singhals body. Further, on Tomars instance, we also recovered the taxi from Kaushambi, Uttar Pradesh that he was trying to sell through his associates in UP but failed, Mishra said. The officer said, during interrogation Tomar confessed to having killed Singhal. He said he and his associates booked the taxi for Meerut through an app based cab service provider on June 12. On their way they befriended the cab driver Singhal and got him drunk. When Singhal was inebriated, they bludgeoned him to death and dumped his body in a canal. They then took the taxi to Kanpur to sell it for 2 lakh. He also confessed that he had looted a taxi in a similar way by murdering a taxi driver in 2008, the DCP said, adding that theyre also probing if Tomar is involved in multiple murders. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LEWISBURG The number of inmates at the Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary who have tested positive for the coronavirus is up to 35. The increase from 18 earlier Saturday was reflected in statistics on the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) coronavirus resource page. The BOP Friday revealed mass testing of the 1,047 inmates was underway after the first positive case. The statistics show no staff has tested positive. Staff members are not required to be tested but they are screened and their temperatures taken before they are allowed into the prison. Attempts to learn if the testing, which is being done in house, has been completed were unsuccessful. That information may not be available until Monday, a BOP spokesman said. An inmate at the Allenwood low-security prison a short distance away also has tested positive, according to the BOP, but no information was available on the situation there. The outbreak is concerning especially on how it might affect the community and the health care system, Union County Commissioner Stacy Richard said. A lot of people work at the prison she said. We are ready to care for prisoners if hospitalization is required, Kendra Aucker, president and chief executive officer of Evangelical Community Hospital that is only a short distance from the prison. We are and have been in active communication with the BOP regarding COVID-19 and its potential impact on the prison, she said. Through communication and cooperation with other healthcare providers in area we will control to the best of our abilities this outbreak to ensure no one organization is overwhelmed, she said. All inmates who are positive for COVID-19 or symptomatic are isolated and provided medical care in accordance with Centers for Disease Control guidance, the BOP says. Inmates whose condition rises to the level of acute medical care will be transferred to a hospital setting, it says. U.S. Rep. Fred Keller, the Snyder County Republican who district includes the prison, said he is in the process of gathering more information on this new development at Lewisburg. Earlier this year he fought with the BOP to stop inmate transfers during the pandemic. Inmates would not contract COVID-19 without federal workers exposing them to the virus, claims Angela Trop, a board member of the Lewisburg Prison Project, a non-profit organization that assists the incarcerated in Pennsylvania with civil rights violations related to their confinement On July 1, it and the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project in a letter to Warden Stephen Spaulding expressed grave concerns about conditions at the facility. It stated the organizations had received complaints about deplorable housing conditions that do not adequately protect inmates from COVID-19 transmission. Examples cited included: * Due to insufficient telephones inmates often must wait two hours without air conditioning and without proper social distancing. * As many as 140 inmates are allowed in common spaces at one time that is which is directly at odds with the Center for Disease Controls guidance on for detention centers and prisons. * Dust is being inhaled from the extensive pigeon droppings on sills of windows that need to be open due to the lack of air conditioning. The number of inmates at Lewisburg jumped from 179 to more than 1,100 in April when prisoners from the tornado-damaged Estill medium-security prison in South Carolina were transferred in. At the time, Lewisburg still was in the process of being transformed from a high-security special management unit prison to a medium-security facility to include telephone banks, televisions and computer stations. The only other federal prison in Pennsylvania with a considerable number of COVID-19 cases is the low-security facility at Loretto in Cambria County. Its statistics updated Saturday showed 19 inmates and 6 staff have tested positive. Another eight inmates are listed as recovered. Foreign investors will face tough national security checks designed to protect Australias critical assets from falling into the wrong hands. Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has released the first section of the draft laws, which will go to parliament later this year, as Australias relations with China are already on the rocks. The first section out for consultation deals with the definition of national security business and the secondto be released in Septemberwill cover with other regulatory changes. The changes mirror similar regimes introduced in the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and New Zealand. The rules would apply to foreign bids for technology, telecommunications and energy companies, as well as small-scale defence and services firms. No minimum dollar threshold will be needed to trigger the national security test. The treasurer will have expanded powers to force the sale of assets or impose conditions after a deal is reached if national security is at risk. Currently, private foreign investments under $275 million, or $1.2 billion (US$856 million) for countries that have free trade agreements with Australia are not screened. Australias foreign allies and state and territory leaders have been briefed on the reforms. More than $13 billion of foreign investment in Australia last financial year came from China. The United States with $58 billion was the biggest source of investment, ahead of Canada, Singapore, Japan, with China in fifth place. The Foreign Investment Review Board has more than 1,000 conditional approvals on their books. About 80 percent of approvals last year had conditions attached. As part of the reforms, the government is also streamlining approvals for non-sensitive businesses. It is expected the laws will come into force from January 1. By Paul Osborne Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal El agua es vida. Water is life. This concept is universal, but it is particularly applicable in the dry, arid climate of northern New Mexico. When people think about water in this area, acequias might immediately come to mind. They are an important part of New Mexico history and have been providing water to crops dating back to Native peoples in the 1400s. Year in and year out, the complex irrigation systems literally brought life to people in northern New Mexico. But water does not just play an important role in agriculture; water resources are also vital to a variety of ecological, municipal, industrial, recreational and societal needs across the region. On a local level, water from the headwaters of the Pajarito Plateau in the Jemez Mountains eventually finds its way down to the Rio Grande, which supplies water to surrounding areas, and then continues downstream to supply water to Texas and eventually Mexico. Because of the dry climate and steep terrain in northern New Mexico, the amount of water available to its communities is driven largely by winters with heavy snowfall and summer monsoons. Historically in the upper Rio Grande, most of the water flow for the basin comes from high-elevation snowpack that begins in October or November and melts by June. Monsoonal rains usually begin in June and last until September, providing more than half of the incoming precipitation to the region. However, as average temperatures rise, as Earth system models predict, communities that rely on surface water, such as Santa Fe and Albuquerque, and farmers throughout the region could face challenges in the future. Snowpack usually melts slowly throughout the spring and allows water to be absorbed into the ground, rather than becoming runoff. The same can be said for the heavy, but short, bursts of rain during the summer. With temperatures expected to rise by somewhere between three and seven degrees by 2050, the amount of precipitation and its form may change, making the water less available for people to use. Higher temperatures could mean that there will be more rain throughout the year and less snow. As a result, more of the precipitation could become runoff, never being absorbed by the land; smaller snowpacks that melt faster will amplify this problem. Heavier rainfall and snow packs that melt faster present a unique problem: water is introduced too quickly and never has a chance to be absorbed. This runoff finds its way to streams and rivers, and continues downstream as part of the natural water cycle. When snow melts more slowly and rain falls at a slower rate, it gives the ground a chance to absorb the moisture. That replenishes the ground water that communities rely on and can create a water reserve that can be used in drier times. Changes in snow, rain, and drought across the region will affect cities, operations and resources that rely on a consistent water source. Communities need to understand these changes and their impact so planners can prepare for times with less water. To help, a team of researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory is using computers to model how the land is impacted by changes in temperature and precipitation, taking into account elevation, soil data, geology, vegetation and other factors. Their research shows how much rain or snowmelt is absorbed, how much becomes runoff and how that affects surface-water levels. The teams recent study showed that changes in absorption and runoff have a significant impact on water quality and quantity in the region. They also found that absorption and runoff are sensitive to changes in seasonal precipitation when it rains, when it snows and if some precipitation falls as rain instead of snow because of warming temperatures. It turns out that the form and rate of precipitation might be more important than the overall amount. If precipitation that might have fallen as snow in March in previous years shifts to March rains in the future, much of that water might drain off the mountains into the river at a time when irrigators cannot use it, for instance. Increased rainfall can lead to increased erosion, causing increases in sedimentation, which has negative impacts on water quality, alters habitats and washes away soil, which then limits plant growth. All these threats pose unique challenges, but using models to study the risks can help communities prepare for them. Knowing if vegetation is drier and more susceptible to fire can help land managers prepare for, or prevent, fire conditions. Understanding how water movement is changing across the landscape can help to determine value and risk in development of land. And knowing that, with warmer temperatures, snow may not provide the reserve it has in the past can help guide water managers in conserving and protecting water resources. With this knowledge, during times of drought in the future, the communities in northern New Mexico can understand why there is less water, keep the acequias flowing and find new ways to keep the land alive. Katrina Bennett is a hydrologist at Los Alamos National Laboratory. She studies changes to water resources that impact human and ecological systems. Her research has focused on the influences of climate variability on the hydrology of watersheds in the Colorado River basin, Rio Grande, Alaska and Canada. Tokyo: Astronomers, who are searching for signs of alien life, have observed the transit of an Earth-like extrasolar planet which is potentially habitable. The planet is located 150 light-years away from the Earth. A transit takes place when a planet passes in front of its parent star. During transit, the planet blocks a small amount of light from the star like the planets shadow. How the observation was done? The transit of K2-3d was observed by the researchers, including those from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) and the University of Tokyo. The MuSCAT instrument on the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory 188-cm telescope was used to observe the planet. The next generation of telescopes like TMT may play a significant role in helping the scientists search the planets atmosphere for molecules related to life, such as oxygen. Flaws in previous space telescope observations Previous space telescope observations were not capable of calculating the orbital period of the planet precisely. It makes the task of scientists to predict the exact times of future transits more daunting. This research group has now successfully measured the orbital period of the planet with a high precision of about 18 seconds. This has also greatly improved the forecast accuracy for future transit times. Astronomers will now be able to know exactly when to look out for the transits using the next generation of telescopes. This research result is also an important step towards the search for extraterrestrial life in the future. What is K2-3d? NASA K2 mission had discovered the K2-3d, an extrasolar planet. The planet, which is located 150 light-years away, is 1.5 times the size of the Earth. The host star of the planet is half the size of the Sun. The planet orbits the star with a period of about 45 days. Compared to the Earth, the planet orbits close to its host star (about 1/5 of the Earth-Sun distance). However, because the temperature of the host star is lower than that of the Sun, calculations show that this is the right distance for the planet to have a relatively warm climate like the Earths. What makes K2-3d potentially habitable? Liquid water could possibly exist on the surface of the K2-3d planet. This raises the tantalising possibility of extraterrestrial life. K2-3ds orbit is aligned so that as seen from Earth, it transits (passes in front of) its host star. This causes, short, periodic decreases in the stars brightness, as the planet blocks some of the stars light. This alignment enables researchers to probe the atmospheric composition of these planets by precise measurement of the amount of blocked starlight at different wavelengths. Since it is closer to Earth and its host star is brighter, K2-3d is a more interesting candidate for detailed follow-up studies. Potentially habitable planets discovered so far About 30 potentially habitable planets that also have transiting orbits were discovered by the NASA Kepler mission, but most of these planets orbit fainter, more distant stars. (With inputs from PTI) For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Ellen DeGeneres, the long-running host of the eponymous daytime talk show, is ready to hang up her microphone in the midst of allegations of a toxic work environment, according to anonymous sources at Telepictures. According to a Telepictures insider, the television host is telling Telepictures and Warner Bros executives that she has had enough and would like to tender her resignation from the talk show. This is in the wake of claims that the comedian perpetuated toxic work conditions. Ellen feels that she could not continue in the talk show. To salvage her personal brand, the resort is to stop the operation of the talk show, indicated the Telepictures source, reported "Daily Mail." DeGeneres released an apology in the form of a letter addressed to her staff following months of the said allegations. Dozens of former employees on July 30 set forth with allegations of harassment, sexual misconduct, and assault, indicated Mix 94.1. The Telepictures source stated that DeGeneres was well aware of the work conditions as she is the star of the talk show. She blamed the executives but she is ultimately the one to be held accountable. She addressed the claims in her letter, apologizing for the pain they have endured, and asserted that this will mark the beginning of changes to ensue, reported Hollywood Unlocked. "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" is currently undertaking official investigation for claims of mistreatment, racism, discrimination, and racism behind the camera. The talk show's staff were apparently did not find her words favorable. Also Read: Ellen Degeneres Letter of Apology Addresses Toxic Work Environment Allegations Representatives for DeGeneres and "The Ellen Show" have yet to officially respond to the "New York Post's" appeal for commentary about the most recent in a long series of allegations. Also, "The Ellen DeGeneres'" show's executive producer, Ed Glavin, was reportedly dismissed. Portia de Rossi's wife was not present when de Rossi was captured in Los Angeles in the midst of the controversies. The Australian actress, 47, who has been married to DeGeneres since 2008, was flying solo as she walked their three dogs. A BuzzFeed News investigation cited claims of sexual misconduct courtesy of the talk show's senior staff but not the 62-year-old herself. One incident, in particular, was head writer Kevin Leman allegedly groping staff and solicited another staff member for sex during a work party. According to another anonymous source, "The behavior of her show executives has been appalling, but (Ellen) is no better. In fact, she is the worst." "It's outrageous that she is trying to pretend that this is all a shock to her. The fish rots from the head, and Ellen is the head. We've dealt with her BS for so many years, she's not innocent at all, she's not nice and the show is not filled with happiness." The staff reportedly did not find DeGeneres' apology memo favorable because she diverted the blame to her executive producers. Should Ellen DeGeneres end her talk show or combat the said allegations towards her and the show? Related Article: Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Aniston Locking Lips in Her Show Trends Again @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. By Kazeem Ugbodaga Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Saturday disclosed that 10,835 people have recovered from Coronavirus within the communities and have been discharged. He disclosed this while giving update on COVID-19 situation in Lagos at the State House, Marina on Saturday. The governor said since the beginning of the virus, Nigeria had seen more than 43,000 infections, and a significant disruption of social, religious, educational and economic life, like every other part of the world. As at yesterday, Friday, July 31, 2020, Lagos State has had a total of 15,150 confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 10,835 persons who have recovered and been discharged. We have sadly now lost 194 persons to the virus. This leaves us with 1,813 active cases in community and 96 under management across various isolation centers in the State. Lagos State remains the epicenter of the pandemic in Nigeria, but we also, I am pleased to say, have set a national example in terms of the efficiency of our testing, tracing, treatment, and our partnerships with the private sector and the Federal Government. Most of our patients in Lagos recover under our supervision, he said. The governor said Lagos now had two pathways through which confirmed cases were managed: either through Home-Based Strategy, or in designated COVID-19 Care Centres. Sanwo-Olu stated that those people in the Home Care category were being supported medically with COVID Care Packs, and psychologically through counselling teams available via Call Centre 08000CORONA. In addition, these individuals are given access to our tele-medicine services through the State-owned EKOTELEMED, and are also visited weekly by our doctors to ensure that they are recovering adequately and in a timely fashion. In terms of our Isolation Centers, we have since, last night, shut down our Eti-Osa Isolation Center and will be shutting down our Agidingbi Isolation Center and moving all the patients there to our soon to be commissioned Indoor Center. Furthermore, our Infectious Diseases Hospital in Yaba is now also gradually being reverted back to its status as a hospital to cater to all forms of infectious diseases. The Ca-Covid dedicated tent on the IDH grounds will however remain strictly for Covid-19 cases, he added. The governor disclosed that in June, the government further expanded COVID-19 testing capacity in Lagos with the accreditation of seven private laboratories and that in the week ending July 26, 2020, Lagos had successfully tested close to 9,000 samples, across the public and private sector laboratories, a 50% increase from the approximately 6,000 samples tested in each of the preceding two weeks. We believe that this increase in testing will lead to an increase in the number of daily confirmed cases of the Virus in Lagos State. This is a welcome development, since our capacity to contain the pandemic depends significantly on how successful we are in identifying all the existing cases. I must however also mention that we have seen a general decrease in positivity rates in Lagos State over the past two weeks, which, combined with the increase in testing numbers, paints a very encouraging picture of the outcome of our response strategy. We will continue to fine-tune our efforts and strategies to build on our successes and close any existing gaps, he said. Related Sri Lanka's election chief Mahinda Deshapriya said on Sunday that there is no threat of the at polling centres as he asked voters to abide by health directives while voting in the parliamentary election on August 5. "Voters can cast their vote without any fear during the poll," Deshapriya, the Chairman of the National Election Commission, was quoted as saying by the News1st channel. He asked voters to abide by health directives at polling centres. Over 16 million voters are registered to vote on August 5 to elect a 225-member parliament for a 5-year term. The COVID-19 pandemic which forced the postponement of the polls date twice has also resulted in a change to the votes counting. The counting would take place only on the following morning - a departure from the practice of counting them from 8 pm on the election night. The decision was taken to comply with the health guidelines to maintain social distancing and employ other COVID-19 preventive measures. Deshapriya said that special security measures implemented at past elections will also be implemented together with new measures being introduced at the August 5 election. The health guidelines had also placed restrictions on campaigning for the election. The August 5 election is likely to be Deshapriya's last election as the Chairman of the National Election Commission. Deshapriya said that while the term of the National Election Commission ends in November, he hopes to take time off from September for personal reasons, the Colombo Gazette reported. "We (National Election Commission) have to go home on 13th of November 2020. I hope to take leave before that for some private work. So I may need to take time off from September 15, he said. Deshapriya said that he has been involved in elections for 37 years and that was more than enough. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on March 2 dissolved the Parliament, six months ahead of schedule, and called for snap polls on April 25. However, the election commission in mid-April postponed the elections by nearly two months to June 20 due to the outbreak in the island nation. The commission in June informed the apex court that the polls cannot be held on June 20 because of the pandemic and the new date was decided following a unanimous decision reached between the members of the commission. Sri Lanka's coronavirus tally currently stands at 2,816 with 11 deaths. (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.) Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Bihar political parties urge Election Commission to postpone state polls due to Covid-19, floods The political parties in Bihar have requested the postpone the assembly election in the state due to Covid-19 and floods, reported Hindustan Times sister publication Hindustan. While the state recorded its biggest spike in Covid-19 cases on Saturday, it has seen close to 5 million affected by the floods. Read more Rhea Chakraborty must come forward, join probe into Sushant Singh Rajputs death case: Top Bihar police official Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty must join the investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput being conducted by Patna Police in Mumbai if she has nothing to hide, Bihars top police official has said. Read more Rs 3 lakh crore credit facility will cover professionals, says FM A Rs3 lakh crore emergency credit facility targeted at small enterprises will now be extended to professionals such as doctors and chartered accountants as well to help them tide over the crisis triggered by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Saturday, warning that the timing of a full economic recovery is tough to predict when the pandemic is still to play itself out. Read more China sends team to Hong Kong to do widespread coronavirus testing Seven Chinese health officials were due to arrive in Hong Kong on Sunday, the first members of a 60-person team that will carry out widespread testing for Covid-19 in the territory as the global financial hub races to halt a third wave of illness. Read more IPL 2020: Franchises seek clarity as Governing Council meets The IPL Governing Council (GC) will meet virtually on Sunday evening to put in place processes and protocols for staging the Indian Premier League in the UAE. The tournament is planned from September 19 to November 8, although the Indian board is still awaiting permission from the Indian government to hold the event abroad. Read more Ankita Lokhande on why she didnt go to Sushant Singh Rajputs funeral: I knew if I see him like that, I will never be able to forget Late actor Sushant Singh Rajputs ex-girlfriend, actor Ankita Lokhande, said that she decided not to attend his funeral as she could never forget it if she saw him like that. Sushants last rites were performed at the Pawan Hans crematorium in Mumbai on June 15, a day after his death by suicide. Read more Feline gently bonks kitty sibling on the head. What happens next is unexpected. Watch If youre someone who avidly watches cat videos, then you may agree with us when we say that our furry feline friends are mysterious beings. It is often tough to guess the reason behind their derpy actions captured in some of the most beloved clips, but that may be what makes them so exciting to watch. Read more Friendship Day 2020: Wishes, images, quotes and greetings to share with your friends Friendship Day, is celebrated on the first Sunday of August in India and falls on August 2 this year, it is the day people come together with their friends celebrate each other and the relationship that exists between them. No matter how old or young we are, friends are what keep us going. Read more Watch| 12 lakh jobs: Govt woos iPhone makers, Samsung, others to make in India The governor of Belgium's Antwerp province is urging visitors to stay away, after a rapid increase of coronavirus cases in recent weeks. Speaking with British broadcaster Sky News, Cathy Berx said nearly half of all new infections seen in Belgium were from Antwerp. She suggested regional lockdown restrictions may have not have been eased so early if the calculation of the reproduction rate had focused on individual provinces instead of the entire of the country. "If it would have been applied on Antwerp itself, they would have seen that it was still rather high," Berx said. Authorities concerned about a potential second wave in Belgium have tightened social distancing measures. In Antwerp stricter regulations, including a night time curfew and the mandatory wear of face masks in public spaces when a distance of 1.5 meter can't be observed, has also been introduced. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Veeramalla Anjaiah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Mon, August 3 2020 With a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$1.11 trillion and 273 million people, Indonesia should have been a major industrial hub in Southeast Asia. But it is not a major player in industrial production nor exports. It lags behind many of its ASEAN peers in many aspects. Why? There may be several reasons for the continuous decline in the manufacturing sector, especially in labor-intensive industries. The main reason for this situation is Indonesias low-quality workforce. Indonesian workers productivity is one of the lowest in Southeast Asia. Most Indonesian workers do not possess skills that are required for industries. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 22:41:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The raging COVID-19 epidemic situation in Hong Kong has always been cared about by the central government. At the request of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, the central government has decided to send testing personnel to Hong Kong to help with mass nucleic acid testing and assist the city in building temporary quarantine and treatment centers. The central government has voiced its understanding of and support for the HKSAR government's decision to postpone the Legislative Council election due to the worsening epidemic situation. Since its return to the motherland in 1997, Hong Kong, with resolute support of the central government, has continued to overcome challenges in its quest for development and made remarkable achievements. To tackle the deteriorating COVID-19 situation aggravated by a new outbreak wave since July, the HKSAR government has requested support from the central government. Thus, the central government has been taking concrete actions to solve the urgent problems plaguing Hong Kong, injecting strong impetus into Hong Kong's fight against the epidemic. On Sunday, seven members of a newly established nucleic acid testing team from the mainland arrived in the HKSAR to assist in laboratory work. Besides, a support team for makeshift hospitals has also been assembled on the mainland. The full support of the central government has provided a solid guarantee for the fight against COVID-19 in Hong Kong. Hong Kong will always have the motherland's strong backing to overcome the epidemic and all future challenges. With the constant support of the central government and active assistance of all sectors of the mainland, Hong Kong, under the leadership of the HKSAR chief executive and government, will vanquish the epidemic soon. Enditem A leading Labour MP has today blasted the Home Office over the 'dangerous' scenes at Heathrow Airport, where passengers were forced into massive queues with little social distancing amid claims of a lack of Border Force staff at passport control. Nick Thomas Symonds, Labour's Shadow Home Secretary, described yesterday's scenes at the London airport as 'unacceptable' and 'dangerous in the midst of a global pandemic'. It comes after chaotic scenes broke out at Heathrow's border gates yesterday as hundreds of passengers were crammed into queues after just three officers were left to check passports. The travellers, many with young families, even chanted 'we want more staff' as the lines in the 'poorly ventilated' room stretched for at least an hour. Heathrow Airport branded the situation 'totally unacceptable', but left were powerless because the gates are controlled by UK Border Force. Meanwhile a spokesperson for the Border Force today apologised for the delay. The Home Office also promised to work with the airport to 'ensure this does not happen again' - but did not go into further details. Chaotic scenes broke out at Heathrow's border gates as hundreds of passengers were crammed into queues after just three officers were left to check passports Today Mr Symonds told MailOnline: 'These scenes at Heathrow Airport show that Border Force have been over-stretched, which is totally unacceptable. 'The Home Office needs to get a grip of this issue - it is a huge inconvenience for travellers, unfair on Border Force staff and frankly dangerous in the midst of a global pandemic.' Sources tonight blamed the long delays on travellers failing to comply with passenger locator forms, alongside the arrival of big family groups, who were therefore unable to use e-gates. One passenger, Natalie Crane, 32, from Surrey, had arrived back from a holiday to Majorca with her husband, mother, and three young children when she was faced with a two-hour delay. She said: 'We queued with about 500 or 600 people; there was no social distancing, no ventilation - it would have been impossible to socially distance that many people in the room. It was just barbaric. While the central London airport's self service E-gates were operating, Natalie and dozens of other parents couldn't use them because of age restrictions on children, and had to see a border officer. 'After a while we found out there is only three people on the counters checking passports, so then everyone started chanting get more staff get more staff, this a disgrace. 10 minutes later all of a sudden you've got about 10 staff on. 'When we complained to one of the staff on the counters because he wasn't making people aware he was available, his response was 'don't go on holiday'.' 'There was no compassion from the staff whatsoever.' The travellers, many with young families, even chanted 'we want more staff' as the lines in the 'poorly ventilated' room stretched for at least an hour A spokesperson for Heathrow Airport told MailOnline that the queues were 'totally unacceptable', but that Border Force have forecasting systems to help avoid passenger queues on arrival. The spokesperson also called for the Border Force to 'sort out' its resourcing in order to prevent issues in arising again in the future. Emma Moore, Border Force Chief Operating Officer said: 'Border Force apologise for the extensive queues and delays that occurred at Heathrow Airport. We understand the significant inconvenience and discomfort this would have caused those affected. 'We are working with Heathrow Airport to ensure this does not happen again and social distancing measures are maintained while dealing with the increased number of passengers arriving at the airport. 'We would urge travellers to fill in their passenger locator forms before travelling to the UK to avoid any delays.' The experience added insult to injury MS Crane's family of five, who also fell victim to the government's quarantine rule change. 'We went to Majorca last Saturday, so the evening we arrived we found out that Spain was being taken off the list and that the Balearics and canaries were not going to be exempt. Heathrow Airport branded the situation 'totally unacceptable', but left were powerless because the gates are controlled by UK Border Force 'I can't say it ruined the holiday because once we were there we knew we had to try and enjoy it. But it was disheartening, especially when you've got your children with you as well. 'I think I would've been more understanding if I was in one of the areas of Spain with the highest cases, but I'm on the island of Majorca.' All flights at Heathrow are currently operating from Terminals 2 and 5 following the temporary relocation of airlines from Terminals 3 and 4. Heathrow was expecting 280 plane arrivals across the two terminals today. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City is launching a program that will allow small business owners and homeowners to obtain free inspections of their structures -- like business accessory signs, decks, porches and retaining walls -- without the risk of penalty to determine if they comply with city safety regulations. The mayors administration recently announced the start of the new No-Penalty Business Accessory Sign Inspection Program and the return of the annual No-Penalty Deck and Porch and Retaining Wall Inspection Programs. The initiatives launched July 31 and last through Sept. 15. Our small businesses are the core of our city, said Mayor Bill de Blasio. That is why we want to work with them to help them keep their businesses safe, and instead of just giving them a fine or violation. Instead of penalizing small businesses and homeowners, the initiatives will help New Yorkers comply with regulations and proactively maintain their properties -- saving time and money by fixing potential problems before they occur. Making sure your home and property are in good shape is essential to keeping your loved ones and neighbors safe, said city Buildings Commissioner Melanie E. La Rocca. Putting off needed home repairs or keeping up a sign that is out of compliance might seem harmless in the short run, but it could end up costing a lot more than you bargained for. Were pleased to offer these programs to help small businesses and property owners comply with the regulations that keep us all safe. The city Department of Buildings (DOB) will start accepting business accessory sign inspection requests from small business owners until Sept. 15 under the No-Penalty Business Accessory Sign Inspection Program. For the first time, DOB is offering to inspect business signage at no cost and without penalty. During the inspection, DOBs team will come out and verify that business accessory signs comply with city regulations and are safely installed. Small business owners can take advantage of these no penalty inspections and avoid issues later by bringing signs up to code if any deficiencies are found. Those interested can contact 311 to set up an appointment. Also ending Sept. 15, the No-Penalty Deck and Porch and Retaining Wall Inspection Programs will allow homeowners and property owners to contact 311 to request a free DOB inspection of their decks, porches, or retaining walls. By law, homeowners must properly maintain any deck, porch, or retaining wall on their property, and ensure that the structures comply with city regulations. Over time, weather and shifting soil can cause these structures to deteriorate and periodic maintenance of these structures is crucial in preventing accidents. During the scheduled inspection, a DOB inspector will look for potential dangers, such as cracking, rotting, bulging, leaning, and conditions that could lead to structural failure. The Buildings Department first launched the No-Penalty Retaining Wall Inspection Program in 2005 and later added the No-Penalty Deck and Porch Inspection Program in 2010. Since the start of the initiatives, the city has dealt with over 1,100 properties across the five boroughs -- helping to prevent structural failures and saving money for homeowners. New Yorkers concerned about the safety and stability of any of these structures in their neighborhood can contact 311 to report any unsafe conditions. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. Six police officers and seven others suspended for failure to prevent sale of illegal liquor that killed 86 in Punjab. Indian police say they have arrested more than two dozen people on suspicion of selling tainted alcohol that has killed at least 86 people in recent days in the northwestern state of Punjab. Six police officers and seven other officials have also been suspended for failure to prevent the sale of tainted liquor as a magistrate began an investigation into the deaths in three districts. Police raided rural hamlets to break up a bootlegging cartel on Sunday. We have conducted raids at more than 30 places today and we have detained six more persons, Dhruman H Nimbale, a senior police officer in Punjabs Tarn Taran district, told Reuters news agency. Another official told AFP news agency that 11 people had died in Gurdaspur district. The Press Trust of India added that 12 people were killed in the neighbouring district of Amritsar and 63 in Tarn Taran. Punjab states Police Chief Dinkar Gupta said the 25 suspects arrested over the incident supplied the tainted alcohol to roadside eateries from where it was sold to travellers and villagers. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said he had ordered a special inquiry into the deaths and anyone found guilty will not be spared. A government statement said the deaths were due to spurious liquor and a crackdown on illegal alcohol manufacturing in the state was ordered. Relatives sit near Sawinder Singh, who is being treated at a government hospital after allegedly drinking tainted alcohol, at Tarn Taran [Narinder Nanu/AFP] The incident came after authorities in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh said on Friday that nine people had died after drinking alcohol-based sanitiser. The victims drank the sanitiser as a substitute for alcohol, which has been restricted during a coronavirus lockdown in India. 200504160656387 Deaths from illegally brewed alcohol, known locally as hooch or country liquor, are common in India, where the poor cannot afford licensed brands from government-run shops. Illicit liquor, made in backstreet distilleries and sold for as little as 10 rupees (13 US cents) a litre, is often spiked with methanol to increase potency. In 2019, at least 133 people died after drinking tainted liquor in two separate incidents in Indias northeast Assam state. The victims were mostly tea plantation workers. That same year, another 80 people died from tainted liquor in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, about 1,000 people die in India every year because of these substances. By PTI BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Congress chief Kamal Nath will host a recital of 'Hanuman Chalisa' at his residence here on Tuesday, a day before the ground-breaking ceremony for Ram temple construction in Ayodhya. All COVID-19 protocols will be strictly followed during the event, Congress spokesman Bhupendra Gupta said on Sunday. "'Hanuman Chalisa' recital has been organised at Nathjis residence on Tuesday. He is an ardent devotee of Hanumanji. He has asked the party cadre and leaders to recite 'Hanuman Chalisa' at their homes on Tuesday, Gupta said. On Saturday, Kamal Nath said a Ram temple is being constructed in Ayodhya with the consent of every Indian. Asked about the reason behind the event being organised by the former state chief minister, Gupta said Tuesday is an auspicious day. "Nothing should be read into it. It is purely a spiritual event," he said. On 'Hanuman Jayanti' in April, Nath could not hold a grand annual religious event in his constituency Chhindwara in the wake of the fall of his government, he said. Some years ago, Nath, who was then a member of Parliament, got a 101-feet-tall statue of Lord Hanuman installed in Chhindwara district, he added. In March this year, 22 rebel Congress MLAs, loyalists of former Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, resigned from the party, leading to the fall of the 15-month-old Kamal Nath government in the state. Following the rebellion, Kamal Nath resigned as chief minister on March 20, paving the way for the BJP to return to power in the state. Since March, 25 MLAs have so far resigned from the Congress as well as the state Assembly. Only God can bless Governor Makinde, God bless the Ministry of Labour too. Expanded Global Industries Limited, Ibadan, the sister company of , a 300-level student of the University of Ibadan died last Tuesday, has reached out to compensate the family of the deceased. The deceased was said to have been accidentally killed by a production machine while he was on duty. Due to this incidence, the Oyo State government has sealed up the company, a soap-making factory located in Oluyole Estate Extension, Ibadan. Describing the death of the late factory worker as a regrettable incident, Expanded Global, in a statement, dated 30 July, 2020, said it was shocked and saddened by the loss and expressed sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. The company, in the statement signed by its Human Resources Manager, Aliyu Jubril, said its representatives had met with the family, along with representatives from the students council to express its deepest condolences. It also gave an assurance that it would continue to engage with the family [of the deceased] and provide necessary support during this difficult period. He said Henkel is a 142-year-old company operating at the highest level globally and has been in operation in Nigeria for over 10 years without recording a single fatal accident until the sad occurrence of Tuesday. Henkel Nigeria employs thousands of workers (directly and indirectly). This is an accident that is highly regretted and the company is sad. Although nothing can replace a life, but Henkel has an insurance package for all its staff, including the casual workers. It will be responsible for all the burial expenses for the deceased. It is also offering compensation to ameliorate the loss of Richard. While the compensation cannot replace human life, it will help to ameliorate the suffering of the family, he said. He however appealed to the Oyo State Ministry of Labour to reconsider its decision to close down the factory, noting that sealing up the company would only trigger off a round of hunger for some of the innocent workers in the company. He called on the police to quicken its investigation into the unfortunate incident as, according to him, a prolonged closure of the factory would only worsen the economic crisis occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. Customer numbers have fallen since compulsory face masks were introduced in shops, figures reveal. The decline is apparent in statistics for last Friday, compared with the previous Friday when the law changed. Over that period, footfall dropped by 1.6 per cent in England overall with the steepest downturn in retail parks, where 6.6 per cent fewer people passed through. Shopping centres, with a 4 per cent drop, also suffered, while high streets fared slightly better with a 1.9 per cent rise. Customer numbers have fallen since compulsory face masks were introduced in shops, figures reveal The decline is apparent in statistics for last Friday, compared with the previous Friday when the law changed But experts warned it was too early to draw conclusions, because in Scotland overall footfall increased by 3.9 per cent. In Wales, where masks are not mandatory, customer numbers fell 0.3 per cent. It appears the introduction of mandatory face coverings in retail stores in England has yet to boost shopper activity, said Diane Wehre of Springboard, the company which compiles the figures. Compared with last year, footfall in England across all retail destinations remains 37.8 per cent lower. The home of Mayor Eric Garcetti has been the scene of weekend protests by demonstrators calling for a moratorium on rents and by opponents of a plan to create a Community Safety Partnership Bureau within the LAPD. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Three people were taken into custody and two were cited over the weekend outside the Windsor Square home of Mayor Eric Garcetti, where hundreds of protesters converged to demand the mayor cancel rents, according to an LAPD spokesman. After the arrests on Saturday, protesters demonstrated outside Garcetti's home on Sunday, in part to protest plans to build a Community Safety Partnership Bureau within the Police Department. Joshua Rubenstein of the Los Angeles Police Department on Saturday said one person was arrested on suspicion of battery on a police officer, a second was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest, and a third was arrested on suspicion of trying to free an arrestee. In addition, two others were cited and released for being a "pedestrian in a roadway," Rubenstein said. Rubenstein said that toward the end of a largely peaceful demonstration, some people continued to block parts of the roadway, "creating a hazardous situation," and officers began to enforce traffic laws after warnings. "When one of the traffic violators was stopped and advised he was going to be cited, a battery on a police officer occurred and the violator was taken into custody," Rubenstein said in a statement. "Other suspects became aware of the detention by the officers and attempted to surround the officers and additional assaults were committed against additional officers." Protesters disputed that account, saying there was no warning before the arrests and that people had not attacked officers. Demonstrators at the Saturday event said that one of the people detained was a teenager who was dangling a doughnut on a string in front of officers. Ian Carr, an organizer with the progressive group Ground Game LA, said that officers grabbed and handled the teenager roughly after he ran backwards away from them, then held the youth down in the back of a vehicle. Carr said he did not see the teen hurt any officers. Story continues "People were screaming that he was epileptic," said Jordan Blakeman, a protester who writes for the website Knock.LA, which is affiliated with Ground Game LA. "He was absolutely being hurt, from the pitch of his screaming." Protester Devon Young said she and her friends began filming what was happening to the teenager before being detained. Young said that one of her friends was beaten with batons and that at one point an officer knelt on her neck, leaving her vomiting afterward. They were loaded into a van with a third friend before Young was released with a citation, she said. Young said that her two friends who were taken into custody were not violent toward officers. "I have it all on film and the only thing I have is police brutalizing them," she said. Rubenstein said in his statement that assaults on officers "caused the response of additional officers to bring the situation under control." The people who were detained were taken to the LAPD's Olympic Station, Rubenstein said. A Garcetti spokesman did not immediately provide comment Saturday on the demonstration or the arrests. The Saturday demonstration was one in a string of protests outside Garcetti's home. Demonstrators with the People's City Council, which includes activists from groups such as the Los Angeles Tenants Union, Ktown for All and NOlympics LA, toted banners and signs and brought mariachi musicians to play outside the mayoral residence, demanding that the city impose a blanket ban on evictions, cancel rents and commandeer hotels for homeless people. During the protest, activists posted a "3-Day Notice to Cancel Rent or Quit" on a gate outside the home. At one point, demonstrators blocked a nearby stretch of Wilshire Boulevard, according to videos of the event posted on Twitter. Tenant rights activists have urged city leaders to take additional action to prevent people from losing their apartments and sliding into homelessness, fearing a wave of evictions as expanded unemployment benefits expire. The state court system is considering lifting its emergency restrictions on processing eviction cases later this month. The Los Angeles city attorney's office has warned against canceling rents, advising council members in a memo that it would violate the law and could cost the city more than a billion dollars in compensation to landlords. The council voted narrowly in April against imposing a broader ban on evictions after a city attorney argued it was unlikely to survive in court. On Sunday, the demonstrations continued with dozens of protesters showing up early at the mayor's Windsor Square residence to denounce his policing initiative. Video posted on social media showed protesters gathered in front of the house, banging on anything they could find to make a racket and chanting expletives at the mayor. Activists said they were incensed by Garcettis use of the words reimagining public safety to announce a new Community Safety Partnership Bureau, saying that the mayor co-opted words from their campaign to defund the police to instead announce a new police initiative. Under the program, officers from the new bureau would help neighborhood residents come up with sports, recreation, and other programs intended to curb crime in their communities, according to a city statement. It would also assist in connecting people with employment training, counseling and other resources. Activists said their Peoples Budget calls for defunding the Police Department. Under their plan, they said, the money would be shifted to similar programs, but without police involvement. As long as the community continues to be assailed in this way and as long as he refuses to listen to us, were going to go to places where he has to listen, including his house, said Melina Abdullah, a leader with Black Lives Matter Los Angeles. Another activist who goes by the name of Akili and who attended Sunday's rally agreed. "We don't want social workers with guns," he said. "And the capacity to kill and arrest you." Times staff writer Liam Dillon contributed to this report. Sumeet Bagadia MCX Mentha oil futures have been sliding since mid of April on reports of higher sowing in Uttar Pradesh this year (2020-21) compared to the previous year (2019-20). Moreover, as the lockdown was at its peak during that period, exports from India also weakened. Domestic market demand had also been limited because of the lockdown. Later in May and June, MCX Mentha oil futures had further declined with positive pre-monsoon reports by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) and later normal rainfall witnessed in the northern parts of India. 80 percent of the Mentha oil is sown and grown in Uttar Pradesh, while the remaining 20 percent is sown in Haryana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. Looking ahead, we expect MCX Mentha Oil futures to trade bearish as the peak harvesting is expected to begin in the northern parts of Uttar Pradesh in the coming weeks. Earlier in June, harvesting had been delayed due to the lockdown phase and lack of labour activities, however, with the lockdown having to be eased in the rural and semi-urban regions of India, cutting of the Mentha oil crop phase-wise has already begun in the aforementioned states. Moreover, the domestic demand from pharmaceutical companies which is usually higher during the winter season is reported lower at this point of the year. Furthermore, the import demand from major importing countries such as China, the US, Netherlands, Germany, the UK, France, Brazil, Japan and Singapore is relatively lower amid worries of a further rise in COVID-19 cases worldwide. Though the USD/INR rate is still trading at the lower levels and Mentha oil commodity being export-oriented, the exports from India are still lagging behind and could possibly remain lower in the month ahead. The major export varieties include the Japanese mint oil (derived from Mentha arvensis), peppermint oil (Mentha Piperita), dementholised Japanese mint oil, Spearmint (Mentha spicata), Water mint oil (Mentha Aquatica), horsemint oil (Mentha Sylvestris), and Bergemont oil (Mentha citrate). The weather conditions also play an important role during the time of harvesting and the incidence of cold waves and heavy rains, are usually harmful during leaf formation. However, that is not the case in the state of Uttar Pradesh in the current period and we are expecting a good crop this year compared with the previous year. So far, the actual production data has not been released yet, however, the domestic traders' sentiment indicates a 10-15 percent incline in production of Mentha Oil this year (2020-21), compared with the previous year (2019-20). Stock worries in the domestic markets are currently lower as last year's (2019-20) stocks are reported around 10,000 to 12,000 tonnes, higher compared to 7,000-8,000 tonnes in the preceding year (2018-19). We expect a bearish trend in the MCX Mentha Oil Futures and prices are likely to move towards Rs 870 levels per kg in the month ahead. The author is Executive Director at Choice Broking. : The views and investment tips expressed by investment expert on Moneycontrol.com are his own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Russian Foreign Intelligence Chief Hopes Incident in Belarus Resolved for Friendly Ties Sputnik News 12:12 GMT 01.08.2020(updated 12:14 GMT 01.08.2020) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Foreign Intelligence Chief Sergey Naryshkin said on Saturday he hoped the incident of Minsk's detention of 33 Russian nationals will be resolved in the interest of fraternal relations between the two countries. "I very much hope that the incident will be settled and overcome after some time. This is in the interest of developing friendly, fraternal relations between our two countries and two peoples," he told reporters. Naryshkin went on to say that according to data available to his agency, European capitals suspect that the arrest was choreographed. "I, perhaps, will not give my additional comments - after all, the service that I head follows the events that develop all around, including what assessments political elites of other countries give. And I must say that political elites, government circles in European countries qualify this as a staged act. And this is regrettable," Naryshkin added. He went on to express his bewilderment at "illogical" coverage of the situation in some Belarusian media outlets. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A Trenton familys trip to get ice cream turned ugly last Monday when a sword-carrying man confronted them and made a racial comment, causing their daughter to cry in frustration. The Bellamy family, Antonio and Diane and their three children, frequent the Dairy Queen across the river in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, and typically enjoy their treats at nearby benches on a walking path near the Delaware River. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 04:55:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- A fast-growing wildfire in Riverside County of Southern California forced around 8,000 local residents to be evacuated, the authorities said Sunday. The blaze, dubbed "Apple Fire," which started Friday night, has scorched 20,516 acres (83.1 square km), according to the latest information updated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). A total of 1,360 firefighters are battling on the scene, but they have been unable to contain any of it so far. The Apple Fire was first reported as two small fires near Cherry Valley, about 110 km east of Los Angeles downtown, and then spread very fast, fueled by hot and dry conditions with low humidity levels and gusty winds. Six helicopters and six air tankers were assigned to launch so called "air attacks" against the fire, which is threatening 2,500 homes, local NBC news channel said, estimating 19,000 gallons of flame retardant were used on Saturday. Cal Fire's statewide fire map shows over a dozen wildfires are burning on Sunday. Enditem During debate on LB 814, State Sen. Ben Hansen of Blair provided clarity on a core scientific truth that is central to this legislation. In his floor speech, he underscored that [e]very embryological textbook used today recognizes that the human organism that begins from fertilization is a living member of the human species. He correctly concluded that this scientific fact is non-debatable as a biological issue. When a sperm from a male human being and an egg from a female human being unite, a unique and distinctive new human creature with its own genetic code is formed. This new human being will have an unrepeatable living experience from this moment in time. While this remains a basic scientific fact, the question remains for some whether a human life at its earliest forms of development is worthy of legal protection. Throughout history and across cultures, people have used labels to devalue certain classes of human beings. We have seen labels applied to race, gender, religion, disability and health status, among many other categories. These labels not only often violate basic scientific truths, but also seek to strip human beings of their intrinsic dignity. This same plight is all too familiar to the unborn human being who is often labeled as less than human. A 38-year-old Phillipsburg woman has admitted her role in an insurance fraud scheme that bilked public and private health plans out of at least $8.8 million by filling fake prescriptions for compounded medicines. Christine Myers pocketed almost $1.5 million in the scheme to get insurance reimbursements for phony prescriptions and faces up to a decade in prison, according to a news release. The former co-owner of a New Jersey marketing company last week pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud via video conference before U.S. District Judge John Michael Vazquez. Myers admitted that she and others sought to defraud insurers by recruiting the very people who enjoy that coverage, offering them cash bribes to get medications they didnt need, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in a news release. Her conviction should serve as a warning to those who would exploit their health coverage for financial gain. As part of her plea deal, Myers must give up the $1.475 million she netted in the scheme and pay restitution of at least $8.8 million. Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 1. Heres how the scheme worked according to court records and testimony: Pharmacists mix compounded medications for patients when a physician determines a Food and Drug Administration-approved medicine would not work, for example, if a patient is allergic to dye in a prescription. Certain insurance plans pay exorbitant reimbursement rates for some compounded medicines, including scar and wound creams and metabolic supplements and vitamins. Those involved in the scheme discovered this and from February 2015 until February 2017 they created an elaborate system to submit fake prescriptions for compounded medicine to pubic and private insurance plans. Myers created a marketing company and hired sales representatives to target people who had insurance plans that covered compounded medications. The sales reps got those individuals to obtain prescriptions for the medicines, even if they did not need them, often by paying them cash. They were then directed to send the prescriptions to specific telemedicine companies, which Myers company or its affiliates paid. The prescriptions were filled by certain compounding pharmacies, which Myers company conspired with. The pharmacies would be reimbursed by the insurance plans and pay Myers company a percentage of the reimbursement. Myers then pocketed a portion of the payment and paid her sales rep a commission. Two of the sales representatives -- Christopher Frusci and Enver Kalaba -- are former Metropolitan Transportation Authority employees. Since the MTAs health plan covered compounded medicines, Frusci and Kalaba targeted workers at the agency and paid them cash bribes for every compounded prescription they submitted. Frusci and Kalaba already both pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud. Frusci is awaiting sentencing. On Feb. 7, 2019, Kalaba was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison and one year of supervised release. He must give up the $138,630 he made in the scheme and pay back $2.9 million in restitution. Christine Myers treated health insurance plans as a vehicle to line her own pockets when she engaged in an elaborate scheme that resulted in defrauding insurers out of at least $8.8 million, said Joe Denahan, the FBI Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge. The FBI, in conjunction with our law enforcement partners, will continue to investigate and bring to justice criminals who defraud the system and cheat the American taxpayer. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Andrei and Elizabeth Castravet are currently playing defense on 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After. Now in Moldova, Elizabeths dad, Chuck Potthast, and her brother, Charlie, are relentlessly questioning Andrei about his past. But after fans uncovered consumer complaints about Chucks business, they think he has no right to judge Andrei. 90 Day Fiance stars Elizabeth and Andrei | via Instagram Andrei doesnt get along with Elizabeths family Andrei has been at odds with Elizabeths family since the very beginning of their 90 Day Fiance journey. His father-in-law, Chuck, has been grilling Andrei to get a job, and has also offered Andrei work at his own company. But after their daughter Eleanor was born, Andrei ended up staying home to raise her while Elizabeth went to work. Andreis relationship with Elizabeths entire family has been tense. Elizabeths family dont understand any boundaries, and theyre always in my business, Andrei says on 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After. My relationship with Elizabeths family is nonexistent. Her family is coming to Moldova for the wedding, but theyve been critical from the start. Elizabeths sisters arent thrilled about visiting Andreis home country, and they went so far as to call it dirty and unsafe. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Elizabeth Defends Andrei and Explains Why He Comes Off Really Mean Chuck and Charlie question Andrei in Moldova on 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After When Chuck and Charlie arrive in Moldova, they start out by insulting the airport and the country. Then, on the ride back to Andreis parents house, they start interrogating Andrei about his work history and past. Andrei tells them that he was a cop in Chisinau for a year, but that he moved to Ireland after running into some issues. They begin pushing him to reveal what issues he had, but Andrei refuses to answer. You know, maybe its me being an overprotective dad, Chuck says on the show. But, what I found a little strange was why he would leave a nice career and move to a foreign country. Theres a lot of red flags there. Fans uncover complaints about Chucks business After hearing Chuck and Charlie grill Andrei about his past, fans started doing some digging of their own. Some Reddit sleuths found a Better Business Bureau page for Chucks business, CDC Capital Investments LLC, that highlighted complaints about his company. One complaint alleged that the company put them in a rental property that was actually foreclosed. When the property was sold, the complainant claims that they were abruptly evicted and were never refunded for their deposits. Yelp has similar complaints against the company, with one reviewer calling Chuck a slumlord. Chucks company has not responded to the complaints. But if the allegations prove true, it will make Elizabeths familys tirade against Andrei look even less warranted. Photograph: Carlos Barria/Reuters William Barr was hungry. Mr Chairman, could we take a five-minute break? the attorney general asked Jerry Nadler of the House of Representatives judiciary committee. No, retorted Nadler, his hearing almost done. Barr responded sardonically: Youre a real class act. Related: Trump badly miscalculated in Portland and even he knows it | Cas Mudde It was pure Barr: a proud, combative, unflappable and unapologetic partisan warrior in the loyal service of the White House. During the five-hour session on Capitol Hill in Washington this week, Barr made clear why he has been dubbed Donald Trumps faithful protector and personal henchman. He defended using federal forces in US cities, denied giving Trumps allies favorable treatment and demurred on issues such as foreign election interference or whether Novembers poll can be postponed. For critics, it was proof positive that Barrs unswerving loyalty to the president has torn down the wall that separates the White House and justice department and ensures law enforcement operates independent of politics. Some believe he now poses an existential threat to democracy itself. Because of his position as the attorney general, he has control over a lot of whats acceptable and what isnt under the law up until the point where the federal judiciary can stop him. It makes him very dangerous, especially when youre dealing with a president who has no regard for the constitution or the rule of law, said Tara Setmayer, a former Republican communications director on Capitol Hill. During his 18 months in office, Barr, 70, has backed Trump even as he defies norms, stokes division and is buffeted by the coronavirus pandemic, economic slump and tumbling poll numbers. Democrats have demanded his impeachment, accused him of politicizing the justice department and enabling an imperial presidency like no other. Democrat Joe Biden, Trumps election opponent, tweeted on Thursday: Bill Barr is the Attorney General of the United States not the presidents private attorney. Story continues Barr, a devout Catholic and keen bagpiper, previously served as attorney general under President George HW Bush from 1991 to 1993. This raised hopes that he would be an establishment Republican who could check Trumps impulses, maintain the departments independence and offer normality in an era that is anything but. Those hopes were badly misplaced. In reality he had always been an advocate of expansive presidential power and a hard line on fighting crime. He is therefore seen as a perfect fit for Trump, who has repeatedly tested the limits of executive authority and is now pushing a law and order theme for his election campaign against Biden. Weeks after his Senate confirmation Barr cleared Trump of obstruction of justice allegations even when Robert Mueller, the special counsel, did no such thing, and produced a summary of Muellers Russia investigation that set an unduly rosy narrative for the president. Barr has since made good on Trumps rallying cry to investigate the origins of the Russia investigation in what Democrats see as a politically motivated attempt to damage Biden, the former vice-president, ahead of the election. He has also been sharply criticized for a decision to drop the prosecution of Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn and urging a more lenient sentence for Trumps ally Roger Stone, a move that prompted the entire trial teams departure. The Flynn dismissal will be reviewed by a federal appeals court but Trump commuted Stones sentence altogether. Barr testifies before the House judiciary committee earlier this week. Photograph: Matt McClain/AP In addition, Barr claimed that Geoffrey Berman, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, New York, had agreed to step down, only for Berman to explicitly deny this. Such actions have prompted open letters signed by thousands of justice department alumni demanding Barrs resignation. On Tuesday, Barr faced grandstanding Democrats and conspiracy theorist Republicans in his first appearance before the House judiciary committee. Nadler accused him of waging persistent war against the justice departments independence in an apparent effort to secure favors for Trump. Shame on you, the chairman said. The attorney general defended the aggressive federal law enforcement response to civil unrest in Portland and other cities. What unfolds nightly around the courthouse cannot reasonably be called a protest, he said. It is, by any objective measure, an assault on the government of the United States. Although some protesters in Portland have been violent, most have been peaceful and have included military veterans, off-duty lawyers, school pupils and rows of women known as the Wall of Moms. Law enforcement officers have responded with teargas, pepper balls and flash bangs. Setmayer said: By sending federal law enforcement officers into places like Portland and other cities, all its doing is offering propaganda for the Trump campaign to use to push the law-and-order scare tactics of his campaign. They dont have anything else to run on. So this is the crux now of the fear campaign that Donald Trump plans to use and Bill Barr is a willing accomplice. I think he has all of Trumps bad intentions but with little of Trumps incompetence Matthew Miller Paul Rosenzweig, a senior fellow at the R Street Institute and veteran of the George W Bush administration, added: Weaponising the Department of Justice is bad but basically your troops are lawyers with pens. Weaponising the Department of Homeland Securitys law enforcement is worse because your troops are armed with guns. The Capitol Hill hearing raised further concerns about the fast-approaching election. Asked whether it would be appropriate for the president to accept foreign help, Barr parried that it depends what kind of assistance. Only when pressed did he clarify: No, its not appropriate. While Barr testified that he has no reason to think the election will be rigged, he said there could be a high risk of voter fraud due to the wholesale conversion of election to mail-in voting. Asked whether a sitting US president can move the election date, he replied: Actually, I havent looked into that question under the constitution. Two days later, Trump tweeted that widespread mail balloting would be a catastrophic disaster and floated the idea of changing the election date, which he has no power to do. Election experts point out that all forms of voter fraud are extremely rare and note that Trump himself voted by mail in the last Florida Republican primary. Stuart Stevens, a Republican political consultant and author of the upcoming book It Was All a Lie: How the Republican Party Became Donald Trump, tweeted on Thursday: Trump cant cancel an election? Ummm. Ponder this: Trump orders DHS to impound ballots in Dade County on Nov. 1 after reports of irregularities. Who stops them? Courts order return. But ballots now declared invalid. Chaos. Florida re-vote? What would Barr do? Republicans? What Barr would do remains a critical question. Once regarded as a conservative stalwart, he has proved less bulwark than bully in the Trump administration, critics allege. Rosenzweig said: I was one who thought that his appointment as attorney general would be good for the department because 30 years ago he was within the bounds and norms of establishment Republican behavior, perhaps a little more conservative than many but an institutionalist who would restore the departments independence and stand up to Trump in asserting that. Related: US Covid testing has been a historic catastrophe. Is Trumps testing tsar Brett Giroir to blame? I have been both shocked and surprised to see that this is not the case any more. I dont know whether the person 30 years ago was hiding all of this or if hes changed, but it is clear that the man who 30 years ago was the attorney general for George Bush is not the same person as the man today. In that sense, Barr is far from alone. Matthew Miller, a former director of the justice departments public affairs office, said: Bill Barr has gone off the deep end like the entire Republican party. His journey is just the same journey the rest of the Republican party has gone on which is very conservative, but also hes had his brain pickled by years of Fox News. Miller added: I think he has all of Trumps bad intentions but with little of Trumps incompetence. You combine Trumps bad intentions with someone who is actually competent and mastering the levers of government and its fairly dangerous. An observation flight last week showed temperatures remain high at around 540C in the active vent area. These have reduced from over 740C measured in February and indicate a slowly cooling active vent area. The latest gas flight was made in mid-July and regular measurements since May confirm moderate amounts of gas (200 to 300 tonnes per day SO2, 20 to 40 tonnes per day H2S and 1500 to 2000 tonnes per day CO2) continue to be emitted from the active vents, says Craig. "These are at similar rates to those measured between eruptive episodes over the last decade. "Measurements of SO2 gas from instruments on the island have also recorded levels of SO2 like those previously seen between eruptive periods." Deformation data obtained from satellite-based technology in the past month indicate continued subsidence around the active vent area as well as ongoing subsidence of the main crater wall, south and west of the active vents. In July, the level of volcanic seismic tremor has remained generally low, aside from two short duration bursts of moderate volcanic tremor earlier in the month. Craig says recent rainfall has created small ponds of water on the crater floor. However, these do not appear to be encroaching into hot vent areas. "All observations over the past month indicate that the volcano remains in minor volcanic unrest and at Volcanic Alert Level 1. "The Volcanic Alert Level reflects the current level of volcanic unrest or activity and is not a forecast of future activity. "Although current indications are that activity is decreasing, an eruption could still occur with little or no warning. "The main plausible triggers for a sudden eruption remain the collapse of unstable material from the crater walls onto the vents, increased release of gas from the shallow magma, and the ingress of water underground onto the shallow magma body." Should any explosive activity produce an ash cloud, the likelihood of ash affecting the mainland remains very low. "Under suitable weather conditions, the gas and steam plume may be noticed on the mainland as weak acid rain. "Volcanic Alert Level 1 indicates the primary hazards are those expected during volcanic unrest; steam discharge, volcanic gas, earthquakes, landslides and hydrothermal activity. While Volcano Alert Level 1 is mostly associated with environmental hazards, eruptions can still occur with little or no warning. "GNS Science and our National Geohazards Monitoring Centre continue to continuously closely monitor Whakaari/White Island for changes in activity. Further updates will be provided as needed." The Volcanic Alert Level remains at Level 1. The Aviation Colour Code remains at Green. Over 3,000 studies found that health education materials far exceed the eighth-grade reading level of the average American, too. Beyond not using plain language (joint pain, not arthritis), texts assume the patient knows more than they do. Telling people to sanitize surfaces to kill the coronavirus means little if you dont tell them what to use and how to do it, Caballero says. What does it mean to practice good respiratory hygiene? she asks. These are not actionable instructions. Imogen Anthony got a brand new tattoo this week and she can't help but show it off. The 29-year-old shared a number of photos as well as a video clip to Instagram on Sunday, giving fans a close-up view of the ink, flashing her bottom in the process. The model posed with her back to the camera, showing off her derriere and covering her bust with her arm. Flashy! Imogen Anthony (pictured) got a brand new tattoo this week. The 29-year-old shared a number of photos as well as a video clip to Instagram on Sunday, giving fans a close-up view of the ink, flashing her bottom in the process She appeared freshly showered, with water running down her back in the photographs. Imogen's hair was wet, and she appeared makeup free but for some left over eyeliner. Despite having been in the shower, she kept on her large statement earrings for the images. Squeaky clean: The model posed with her back to the camera, showing off her derriere and covering her bust with her arm. She appeared freshly showered, with water running down her back in the photographs New ink: The Instagram star showed off her many tattoos, including her new space-themed ink, which she had debuted on Thursday. The design features two angels with guns aiming at a complex design made up of lines and circles The Instagram star showed off her many tattoos, including her new space-themed ink, which she had debuted on Thursday. While she didn't reveal much about the tattoo in the caption, the model and designer said there was a hidden meaning behind the intricate design when she answered a fan's question in the comments. 'Love your Tattoos, Can I ask if they have meaning. Hope it is okay to ask and not intruding,' the fan asked. She told a fan of the tattoo: 'It's just a representation of the Universe, Golden Plaque from the Voyager, nature and animals, mother nature being destroyed, religion, aliens, all that kinda weird stuff. Also about religion shooting down any ideas of other life in the Universe. I'm weird' 'It's okay, it's just a representation of the Universe, Golden Plaque from the Voyager (google search, pretty amazing) nature and animals, mother nature being destroyed, religion, aliens, all that kinda weird stuff,' she answered. 'Also about religion shooting down any ideas of other life in the Universe. I'm weird.' The design features two angels with guns aiming at a complex design made up of lines and circles. The tattoo was done by Mallory Hammond at Byron Temple Tattoo. Jose Antonio Yepez Ortiz, the leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima gang, was one of Mexicos most wanted crime bosses. Mexican security forces have arrested the leader of the Santa Rosa de Lima gang who spread violence through north-central Mexico and fought a years-long turf battle with another powerful criminal cartel. Officials in the state of Guanajuato said Jose Antonio Yepez Ortiz, better known by his nickname El Marro, which means The Sledgehammer, was captured on Sunday along with five other people. Security forces rescued a kidnapped local businesswoman during the operation and also secured an arsenal of weapons, the Guanajuato attorney generals office said. Security Minister Alfonso Durazo said Yepez would be taken to the Altiplano penitentiary, a maximum-security prison where drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman was housed before he escaped through a tunnel in 2015. Guzman was recaptured in 2016. Yepezs arrest is considered a major coup for Mexican President Lopez Obrador, who pledged during his 2018 campaign to bring down record levels of violence plaguing the country. Instead, gang violence has further increased during his presidency, with homicides reaching a record rate in 2019. Yepezs Guanajuato-based gang has been engaged in a bloody struggle for criminal control of the state with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of the countrys most powerful and violent groups. The turf battle with Jalisco turned the industrial hub, with its foreign auto plants and parts suppliers, into the most violent state in Mexico. Yepez is considered one of Mexicos most-wanted bosses and has appeared in expletive-laden videos threatening his enemies. He built his gangs wealth by drilling into the pipelines that crisscross the state and then selling the fuel on the black market, as well as robbing trains. In June, a clip of an emotional Yepez lamenting the arrest of his mother and sister, who were taken into custody with 30 gang members, was widely broadcast on national media. The women were freed days later, and both claimed they had been tortured. On July 24, the authorities also arrested a top Yepez lieutenant and head of one of the groups cells, Jose El Mamey Guadalupe. Demonstrators carrying placards and chanting Thatcher out mingled with supporters and shoppers as Mrs Thatcher walked along the mall about 5 pm. Senior police last night criticised British authorities over yesterdays walk in the Bourke Street Mall by the British Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, during which she was jostled and pushed by about 300 people. Uniformed police and security men surrounded Mrs Thatcher to provide an escort, but struggled to forge a path through the crowd. When Mrs Thatcher arrived at the Walk Arcade, police managed to block the entrance partially and keep some of the demonstrators out. The demonstrators, from several socialist and gay-rights groups, were protesting at recent British Government policies, which they claimed discriminated against homosexuals. Senior police last night defended the security arrangements for Mrs Thatchers city walk, but said they would have preferred that it did not take place. The assistant commissioner (operations), Mr Frank Green, said the walk along the mall had been at the insistence of British authorities, and against the recommendations of the Victorian Government and police. Mr Green said British authorities had insisted on an informal walk, and this was why no barricades had been erected in the mall. On Thursday, some quarterly figures from the oil majors started coming in and they are mostly negative. Royal Dutch Shell reported a staggering $18 billion quarterly loss, made worse by a $16.8 billion write-down on a range of its assets. The huge loss came after earning $3 billion in the second quarter of 2019 and reporting a profit of $2.7 billion in the first quarter of this year. When excluding the write-down and other one-off items, Shell eked out a net profit of $638 million. The $16.8 billion write-down was expected, and even came in at the lower end of the range it offered in June. Even so, the number is stunning, with impairments related to LNG, lower crude oil prices and lower refining margins. The companys gearing ratio a ratio of net debt-to-capital rose to 32.7 percent, up from 28.9 percent at the end of the first quarter. Shell warned that it may have to curtail production in the third quarter because of concerns about demand, which will likely have a variety of impacts on our operational and financial metrics. Meanwhile, some other companies also reported poor figures as well. Eni reported a net loss of 4.41 billion euros in the second quarter, taking its half-year results to a loss of 7.34 billion euros. The figure included an impairment of 3.5 billion euros, largely the result of lowered oil price assumptions going forward. The Italian oil company also cut capex deeper, and notably, overhauled its dividend policy to track oil prices, rather than a fixed shareholder payout. That amounts to a cut in payouts for this year at least. ConocoPhillips reported a $1 billion loss in the second quarter, with roughly a quarter of its production shut in during the second quarter. The company said that it was bringing production back online and expects to fully restore output by September. On Wednesday, Total announced an $8 billion impairment on the value of its assets, largely related to Canadas oil sands. The French oil giant will report quarterly results on August 4. But there was a silver lining for Shell and some of the other European majors. Several of them were able to take advantage of extreme price volatility to profit from trading, and their trading units cushioned the blow to other parts of their companies. For instance, Shells $1.5 billion in earnings from trading was 30 times higher than the same period a year earlier, and after excluding one-off items such as the massive impairment, earnings from trading allowed adjusted results to come out in positive territory. But that is not something that the majors can bank on going forward. Trading wont be able to offset the declining prospects of their core business producing and refining oil and gas. It is against that backdrop that the companies nervously eye long-term demand trends. Demand will take a long time to recover if it recovers at all, van Beurden told reporters. Related: What Is Behind Gold's Astonishing Rally? Behind Totals large write-down was a downward revision in assumed long-term oil prices. The company assumes Brent will average $56.80 per barrel between 2020 and 2050, which seems to be an admission that prices likely wont spike in the future, or at least, wont spike for any lengthy duration. Total expects what sounds like one last upcycle: Total maintains its analysis that the weakness of investments in the hydrocarbon sector since 2015 accentuated by the health and economic crisis of 2020 will result by 2025 in insufficient worldwide production capacities and a rebound in prices, the company said in a statement. But beyond 2030, oil demand will have peaked and will converge towards $50 in the long-term, the company said. Total undertook a review of the risk of stranded assets, which would refer to reserves beyond 20 years and with high production costs. Canadas oil sands are the most likely victim of such an analysis; of Totals $8 billion write-down, $7 billion of that figure was concentrated in Canadas oil sands. Totals holdings in Fort Hills and Surmont bore the brunt of the write-down. The French company said that it would no longer invest in Canadas oil sands and would even leave the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), an industry trade group, due to the misalignment between their public positions and Totals, which would appear to be a reference to climate change. Total is aiming for carbon neutrality by 2050. The two American oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron report on Friday. To date, they have charted a different course than their European counterparts, resisting efforts to transition to low-carbon energy sources. Exxon is also pursuing a different strategy on its spending priorities. Reuters reports that Exxon will cut staff and capex even deeper in a last ditch effort to preserve its dividend. The company has already had to take on $18 billion in debt this year in order to cover spending and its shareholder payouts. More debt will be needed to keep those payments going, but its not clear that it can stick to that strategy forever. There is only so much Exxon can continue to lean on its balance sheet before they start to jeopardize Jennifer Rowland, an analyst with Edward Jones told Reuters. By Nick Cunningham for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com: By Express News Service KOCHI: In alleged negligence by hospital authorities, a three-year-old kid who accidentally swallowed a coin died at Aluva, near Kochi, on Saturday night after being denied treatment at least in three hospitals citing the family hails from a Covid-19 containment zone. Prithviraj, the lone child of Raju and Nandini, has been identified as the deceased. The childs parents have come forward alleging that the child was denied treatment in three government hospitals. The incident happened around 11 am on Saturday. Soon after the child swallowed the coin, he was rushed to District Hospital, Aluva. The hospital authorities referred the child to Ernakulam General Hospital stating that there was no paediatrician. However, the General Hospital authorities sent them to Government Medical College Hospital, Alappuzha, so as to consult a paediatric surgeon. According to the parents, the doctors advised them to give fruits and rice to the child and the coin would go out naturally. The child was brought home back and by Saturday night he developed uneasiness, and his condition worsened later. Though he was rushed to Aluva District hospital, he breathed his last on the wee hours. "The Alappuzha hospital authorities said that they could not admit the child as we are coming from a containment zone. However, the child developed uneasiness by night and began crying, said Nandini. It was by 3 in the evening that the kid was taken to the Ernakulam General Hospital. "X-ray was taken and the coin was found in his stomach and therefore was not a threat. The kid was not showing any breathing difficulty and seemed active at the time. Since there was no paediatric surgeon at the hospital, we suggested them to take him to the medical college and the family preferred to go to Alappuzha Medical College since it was closest. An ambulance was also arranged for their travel," said Dr A Anitha, Medical Superintendent, Ernakulam General Hospital. Dr Anitha also added that there were no symptoms like fever, or cough showed by the kid. "Since the kid was coming from a containment zone, we took the necessary steps as well but no such symptoms were found," said Dr Anitha. New Delhi: The Union Home Ministry has informed a department related to Parliamentary Standing Committee that it needs three more months to frame the rules of the newly passed Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). A senior official said that the MHA had raised the issue before the Standing Committee in its recent meeting and said it was, however, not known whether the Ministry has got permission for extension, news agency IANS reported on Sunday. The official said that additional time has been sought to frame the rules because the Ministry was busy dealing with coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown imposed for the last few months to curb the spread of the disease. The CAA rules will be framed very soon, however, specific time was not been mentioned in the meeting, the committee was informed, the official said. In December, 2019, the Parliament had passed the amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955, it was notified in January 2020 by the Narendra Modi-led government. Rules for legislation should be framed within six months of the date of the President`s assent or the standing committee on subordinate legislation should be approached for extension of time as per manual on Parliamentary Work. The CAA states that India will grant citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Parsis, Christians, Jains and Buddhists from Muslim-majority countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan on grounds of religious persecution. The CAA will be applicable to those who entered India before December 2014. At the peak of the coronavirus outbreak in Italy, hospitals and crematoriums in the countrys hardest-hit region were overrun and obituaries filled 10 pages of one local newspaper. But roughly five months later, the nation has become something of a success story in how to recover from the outbreaks devastating first wave. In northern Italy, where the coronavirus ravaged cities from late February through April, doctors credit the turnaround to the countrys strict nationwide lockdown, widespread testing, robust contact tracing and a very gradual process of reopening. But while Italy has seen a significant drop in the number of new infections logging around 150 to 300 new cases nationwide each day for the past week, down from a record high of more than 6,500 on March 21 experts are bracing for an inevitable second wave. Were worried because the virus didnt just disappear, said Dr. Roberto Cosentini, head of the emergency medicine unit at the Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital in Bergamo, in Italys Lombardy region. Still, the countrywide stay-at-home orders were essential to getting the virus under control, said Francesco Longo, a health economist and director of the Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management at Bocconi University in Milan. He added that the sweeping mandate, enacted by the federal government, helped Italy avoid a situation similar to whats unfolding now in the United States, where inconsistent lockdown and masking strategies among states have resulted in many different surges happening on different timelines across the country. If you are in Florida and you hear your governor saying something, and then the governor in New York is saying the opposite, its really difficult, he said. In Italy, it was just one voice. Italy has recorded more than 247,000 confirmed cases and over 35,000 deaths, the majority of which was concentrated in Lombardy. Cosentini said its likely that Italy will see a surge of new COVID-19 infections in the fall which, when combined with the seasonal flu, could be tough on local hospitals. Yet, its also possible that a second wave could come sooner than October. Story continues Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak Several European nations, including Spain, Germany and France, are already seeing upticks in new infections after months of relative stability. Cosentini said he fears a return to what the country experienced in late February, but he added that doctors and hospitals are also better equipped now to deal with the coronavirus a result of tough lessons learned during the initial outbreak. 60 million people in the same boat Cosentinis hospital treated its first coronavirus patient, an individual suffering from severe pneumonia, on Feb. 22. Even after following the situation as it unfolded in Asia, he said he and his colleagues were unprepared for how quickly the outbreak would escalate. We started with 10 to 20 patients, and by the beginning of March, we had up to 80 new patients a day, he said. That was really hard. Image: (Claudio Furlan / LaPresse via AP file) To cope with the influx of patients, the doctors quickly learned that they needed to overhaul a number of procedures. In addition to converting most other hospital wards into coronavirus wards, Cosentini reorganized the facilitys emergency rooms to accommodate the overflow from the intensive care units. He said hospitals across northern Italy were badly strained at the time, but had the government not imposed a 2-month nationwide lockdown March 9, things may have become catastrophic. We were very close to the failure threshold, he said. The toughest times were the first and second weeks of March, but then social distancing and the lockdowns started to be effective and gave us a chance to discharge recovering patients and have free beds for new people. Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak Though some saw it as an extreme measure at the time, a big part of Italys success in driving down the rate of infection owes to the fact that all Italians were subject to the stay-at-home orders, according Longo. We had 60 million people in the same boat, and the national narrative was:' When infections are under control everywhere, well reopen the entire country,' he said. This gave a strong sense of mutual belonging. Italian health officials also understood the importance of being nimble and adjusting their strategies as the outbreak evolved, Dr. Stefano Nava, chief of respiratory and critical care at Sant Orsola Hospital in Bologna, said. Early on, people were advised to only go to the hospital if they were seriously ill, in a bid to avoid overwhelming the countrys health care system. But this thinking changed as doctors learned more about the novel virus. Image: (Marco Di Lauro / Getty Images) At the beginning, we waited too long to admit patients to the hospital, and when they were admitted, we were probably too aggressive even with the treatment, said Nava, who himself tested positive for COVID-19 and was sick for 31 days. We learned that unless the patient is very sick, you should be quite conservative and treat nonaggressively to avoid further complications. This meant trying as much as possible to avoid intubating patients and resorting to ventilators in only the most extreme cases. It also meant expanding the testing to find mild or moderate cases, and if necessary, intervening before patients were experiencing too much respiratory stress. The disease was new, not only to us but also to patients, so patients were waiting six to eight days after the onset of fever before coming in, Cosentini said. That made some of the severe cases much more difficult to manage. Bracing for a second wave Even as the situation in Italy has stabilized, testing should remain an important part of the countrys mitigation strategy, experts said, particularly as a way to track the virus spread among people who may be asymptomatic. The role of positive asymptomatic carriers is still a very big question, so its very important to [test] a lot of people, said Dr. Eugenio Baraldi, director of neonatology and the neonatal intensive care unit at University Hospital in Padua. This will be a big problem for all of the world. The Italian government started lifting lockdown measures May 4, but the countrys reopening has been a slow and gradual process, according to Longo. Social distancing guidelines remain in place, particularly at beaches and other public venues, but things are otherwise back to some semblance of normalcy, he said. Italians are encouraged to wear masks in restaurants and elsewhere in public where social distancing is challenging. Longo said mask compliance varies, with people in harder-hit areas more likely to adhere closely to the guidelines, while people in areas less impacted by the virus are more relaxed. Reinforcing these behaviors will be critical as the country prepares for a second wave of the pandemic. Longo said the government has already started a widespread campaign encouraging people to get free flu shots in order to alleviate some of the burden on hospitals both in the fall and in winter. The country is also investing in additional hospital beds and other resources to shore up health care facilities. And Longo said the federal government is working with state and local officials to figure out how best to contain future outbreaks while also supporting the nations economic recovery. We learned that its not black and white it doesnt have to be lockdown or completely free, he said. We still have a lot of restrictions now, even if were back to our normal lives. But perhaps the biggest lesson learned, Longo said, is that messaging matters in building the cohesion that is essential within countries, and among nations, to combat the pandemic. The messages cant be contradictory, he said. If you have 50 percent of the population respecting the rules and the other 50 percent does not, its a mess. And then the virus wins. Meghana Sastry By Express News Service BENGALURU: Family members and people from the Human Rights Anti-Corruption Bureau staged a protest outside St. Philomena's Hospital on Saturday, after hospital authorities refused to discharge a patient over non-payment of the bill. Priya was admitted 21 days ago after she contracted COVID-19 from her husband, a painter by profession. "We were shocked by the bill of Rs 7.4 lakh. We cannot afford such an exorbitant amount. We had only Rs 10,000 with us and managed to pay Rs 35,000 in total to admit her, by taking loans from people," said Andrew, Priya's husband. She was initially referred from KC General Hospital to St. Philomena's, where the hospital stated that the bill will cost approximately Rs 1 lakh. When the family made it clear they cannot afford it, they asked her to pay whatever she had. When the final bill turned out to be Rs 7.4 lakhs, the family struggled and put together Rs 2.5 lakh for her medicines and other facilities of the hospital. However, the hospital refused to let her go until she paid the entire amount. Her uncle with the help of members from the Human Rights Anti-Corruption Bureau staged a protest and negotiated with the hospital. Santosh Kumar, general secretary of the Bureau said," Last night we got a call from Andrew's family. When we visited the hospital, they refused to release her until we cleared the bill. We held a silent protest outside at 12.15 pm and spoke with the administration thereafter at 1 pm. We negotiated with them till 7.30 pm and they agreed to settle the bill at Rs 1 lakh." "We told the hospital that if they cannot make a concession for poor people, we would take it up with Medical Education Minister Dr. K Sudhakar," Kumar added. The hospital finally agreed to let her go after she paid another Rs 1 lakh, which was pooled in with the help of do-gooders from the Bureau. Community groups and heritage lovers in County Longford are being encouraged to sign up to celebrate National Heritage Week 2020, which takes place between August 15 and 23. Heritage Week is coordinated by the Heritage Council and is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage and Longford County Council. Each year the festival celebrates all aspects of Irelands heritage, bringing together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation. In Longford our natural and cultural heritage is celebrated through a wide range of events organised by local community groups and organisations. Due to Covid-19 related restrictions on social gatherings, the Heritage Council is inviting communities around the country to undertake projects that explore a topic associated with this years theme Heritage and Education: Learning from our Heritage. There are three sub-themes that can be explored: Heritage on Your Doorstep, Relearning Skills From Our Heritage and the Heritage of Education, that communities and individuals are invited to explore and share with the wider community on heritageweek.ie and the Longford Heritage Office social media. Speaking on this years initiative, Mairead Ni Chonghaile, Heritage Officer for Longford County Council said: Heritage Week is such an important event, as it gives a chance for communities and local groups to showcase the best of their community and fosters a real sense of pride in the county. This year, due to the Covid-19 restrictions, there is less of an emphasis on individual events, and we are encouraging people to explore their locality more and share what they have discovered. A number of fascinating projects and virtual events have already been lined up, ranging from exploring the River Camlin with writer John Connell, discovering the Ounamoun Nature Reserve, to finding out more about the Anglo-Normans at Granard, and the local connection to the Connaught Rangers Mutiny of 1920. Some of the projects are very personal, such as investigating the personal impact post-Great Hunger evictions had on one Longford family. Given the focus of these years theme on education, the special place that County Longford holds in the development of education in Ireland will be looked at in video projects on the Edgeworth family and the old Latin School in Moyne, as well as on the Schools Folklore Collection of the 1930s. The Longford Heritage Officer is encouraging people and communities to get involved by exploring the heritage on their doorstep, learning a traditional craft, or sharing their skills and knowledge with others. The projects can be shared with the heritage office using photographs and video. Small gatherings, workshops and walks can also be organised, within Covid-19 guidelines. More information on National Heritage Week 2020 can be found by visiting www.heritageweek.ie or by contacting Mairead Ni Chonghaile at heritage@longfordcoco.ie or telephoning (043) 33 41124. File image Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on August 2 said people may seek Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation if problems like job losses are not resolved. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, 10 crore people have lost their livelihood and the crisis has affected 40 crore families, Raut claimed in his weekly column 'Rokthok' in the Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana'. Salaried middle class people have lost their jobs, while the trade and industry have suffered losses to the tune of about Rs four lakh crore, the Rajya Sabha member said. "There is a limit to people's patience. They cannot just survive on hope and assurances. Even the prime minister will agree that even though Lord Ram's 'vanvas' (exile) has ended,the present situation is difficult. No one had ever felt so insecure about their lives," Raut said. "Israel is witnessing protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and there are demands for his resignation over the failure to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis. India, too, could witness the same," he said. Taking a dig at the Centre, Raut listed its "measures" to contain the coronavirus situation and the "economic crisis". He said Section 144 (prohibitory orders) was imposed around the Ambala Air Force station to protect the five Rafale jets (on their arrival from France recently). Before Rafale, Sukhoi and MiG aircraft have come to India, but such a "celebration" was never done, he said. "Will Rafale jets with the bomb and missile carrying capacity be able to destroy the crisis of unemployment and economic challenges?" Raut asked. Hitting out at the Centre, he said attempts were made to destabilise the (Congress-led) Gehlot government in Rajasthan, and there is a possibility of imposition of President's rule in that state. Raut noted that BJP leader Pragya Thakur has said reciting 'Hanuman Chalisa' daily will rid the world of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also pointed that gold prices have reached Rs 51,000 per 'tola' (one tola is 10 gm). Raut further noted that BJP president J P Nadda has said his party "will come to power on its own in Maharashtra". "Nobody is talking about the crisis, employment. It is easy to say crisis gives rise to opportunity. But, nobody knows how people are dealing with the crisis," the Shiv Sena leader said. The Covid-19 focus has shifted to young people. More of them are becoming infected and health authorities across Europe are concerned that they are a significant cause of the worrying increase in case numbers happening in several European countries. More young people are also becoming infected in Ireland, with the median age of new cases now at 33. They are also in our minds because we want them to go back to school and college. The increase in case numbers is leading to annoyance in Europe. Many thought Europe had almost beaten Covid-19 and could look on what is happening in the US with dismay. Not so. The Belgian government has warned that another 'complete lockdown' is on the cards. Prime Minister Sophie Wilmes has said: "If we can't reduce the coronavirus, it will be a collective failure." France's health minister is begging for greater vigilance. Health advisers there have said: "There's everything at risk in the next three weeks because we're entering the dangerous period." In Germany, health advisers are "deeply concerned". Meanwhile, in Spain, experts have stated: "We're in the 10 most important days of summer. The situation is critical and if we don't manage it, we will have to go backwards." It's clear why all of this is happening. In mainland Europe, people are going on holidays (and therefore travelling through airports, and mixing with lots of others), and not obeying the instructions. And lots of people have become lax because it's the summer time and they want to enjoy themselves, especially our young people. In Spain, many outbreaks were traced to bars and clubs. The Catalan government has shut all nightclubs but this has led to young people holding drinking parties in the streets. The German health minister is so worried about young Germans getting infected on holiday in Mallorca and Ibiza that he has introduced mandatory testing of returning travellers. In France, infections in young people are also the greatest cause of concern. The French health minister has appealed, particularly to them, to follow all the guidelines. He said that older people are still being careful while young people are paying less attention. The situation in several European countries is therefore approaching a tipping point, the far side of which is lockdown. When we look further afield we see the ongoing problems in the USA, where over 150,000 have now died, with no sign of the rate of increase in cases abating any time soon. Again, young people are a major feature. The director general of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, recently said that we are only in the early stages of the most severe pandemic in its history, with the total number of cases doubling in the past six weeks - again, many of these being in younger people. He yet again emphasised the four key measures that we all must follow, and especially our young people: social distancing, hand washing, avoiding crowds in enclosed spaces, and mask wearing. Yet still the virus continues on its relentless march, leaving death, long-term illness and economic destruction in its wake. And, ultimately, it is our young people that will pay a price for all this. They will especially bear the brunt if we don't reopen our schools and keep them open. This is the single most important event in the coming months. It's all about the numbers. Given our current trend, it's looking good. If that changes, though, and case numbers start rising, it is in jeopardy - hence the need for vigilance. To give you an idea of what numbers heading in the wrong direction look like, once Hong Kong had seen 100 cases per day five days in a row, they began reintroducing restrictions. For us, that number would be 65. Where are our risks? Apart from inward travel, our other major risk is the pubs. If we reopen them all, there is a real risk of case numbers rising, and the schools might not then reopen. The safest thing would be to allow rural pubs to reopen, given their importance for local communities and the especially low levels of virus outside the major urban centres. Check your Covid Tracker App and you'll see almost 50pc of cases are in Dublin, with the other counties accounting for 1-3pc of cases. Rural publicans also perhaps stand a better chance of monitoring behaviour. If you insist on pubs reopening in big cities, you might have to go back into lockdown and home school your kids again. How would you like that? Everything is being done to allow schools to open safely. We can look to other countries to see what works and what doesn't. Overall, the signs are good. On May 18, there was a conference call with education ministers from across the EU. Children had been back in school for several weeks in 22 European countries (Ireland sadly not among them) and there was no significant sign in any of them that schools were a cause of an increase in Covid-19 cases. Remember, children are by and large spared from illness with Covid-19. It's still not fully clear whether children are as infectious as adults, but caution should prevail. Although children may not become ill, there is still a risk of them infecting vulnerable people with disastrous consequences. Equally, in countries outside Europe, the picture has been promising. In Japan, students attend on alternate days, observe social distancing and wear masks, and again, there is no evidence of outbreaks in schools. Uruguay was one of the first countries to send its children back to school, with no evidence of school-related outbreaks. Again, students attended on alternate days, with rules on social distancing and mask wearing being followed widely. Israel is one country which hasn't fared so well. Schools reopened there in May with staggered schedules, mask mandates and social distancing rules. However, cases have surged in Israel, and school children and teachers are among the new cases. Several hundred schools have closed as a result. The blame lies with lax enforcement of the rules. One issue that has been widely debated is the wearing of masks. This is a challenge with younger children, with the Ontario Ministry of Education recommending against them because it is "not practical for a child to wear a mask properly for the duration of the school day". Differences are evident across countries. I would advocate for mask-wearing in secondary schools - not in the classroom where social distancing and hand hygiene are observed, and where pupils are in the one group - but outside the classroom in communal areas. This is the case in Germany, and it would have the added benefit of getting pupils used to wearing masks. And, of course, teachers have to be especially careful, to protect themselves and their pupils. The Belgian authorities have threatened everybody that if they are bold, the schools won't reopen. The warning is designed to put manners on people. In Ireland, to make sure case numbers don't rise like they are doing in other European countries, we must especially tell our young people to avoid crowds, wear masks, and wash their hands. And we must ensure the schools are following all the guidelines. And then, you know what? Our young people won't be the cause of further outbreaks. It might be a straight run to Halloween and beyond to Christmas - and who knows, Santa might leave a vaccine in your stocking. Luke O'Neill is professor of biochemistry in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin. Midland County added 15 confirmed coronavirus cases over the weekend as well as one death, according to daily state reports. Twelve of the cases and the death were reported Sunday. Midland County Public Health Director/Health Officer Fred Yanoski said on Sunday the majority of new cases in the last week stem from household contacts -- a person tests positive for the virus and then his or her household members are tested and are positive. "They all aren't isolated cases, "he said. "We're seeing household members who are household contacts test positive. This reaffirms how highly transmissible the virus is." Yanoski said the trend in Midland County continues to be infections among the younger population. "Positive cases are still trending far younger than they were in the beginning of the pandemic," he added. He said the death recorded on Sunday was an elderly person who had a history of chronic issues. That person died in another county. The state on Sunday recorded zero deaths but Yanoski said with large events, such as the coronavirus pandemic, that involve multiple healthcare systems, multiple laboratories and the state, there sometimes will be lags or confusion in getting everything correct. Midland County's pandemic total is now at 239 confirmed cases, with 72 probables and 10 deaths. Aug. 1-2 daily numbers Bay County: Eleven cases added; pandemic total stands at 492 cases, 55 probables, 31 deaths Gladwin County: One case added; pandemic total stands at 50 cases, two probables, two deaths Isabella County: Two cases added; pandemic total stands at 176 cases, 24 probables, nine deaths Saginaw County: 21 cases added; pandemic total stands at 1,748 cases, 97 probables, 126 deaths The state on Sunday, Aug. 2 added 426 new cases and zero deaths. The state on Saturday, Aug. 1 added 735 cases and seven deaths; four of which were from vital records reviews. Overall, Michigan is at 82,782 cases and 6,206 deaths. Testing The state report shows Midland County having performed 8,173 diagnostic tests and 660 serology (antibodies) tests, totaling 8,833 tests. Gladwin County is listed as having administered 2,982 diagnostic tests and 103 serology (antibodies) tests, totaling 3,085 tests. As of July 27, MidMichigan Health which covers a 23-county region and has medical centers at seven sites, including Midland has completed a total of 12,880 tests. Of those, 12,278 were negative, 115 positive and 487 are pending. Nursing Homes Brittany Manor in Midland is listed in the state report as having four cumulative cases and no deaths among residents as of July 30, and two cumulative cases and no deaths among staff. Midland King's Daughters is reporting one cumulative case among staff and Medilodge of Midland is reporting two cumulative cases among staff. The other reporting facility Stratford Pines is reporting no cases. Gladwin Pines Nursing Home is listed as having two cumulative confirmed cases and no deaths among residents as of July 30, and one confirmed case and no deaths among staff. Gladwin Nursing & Rehabilitation Community, the other long-term health facility reporting to the state, is reporting no confirmed cases or deaths among residents and staff. Recovered As of July 30, the Midland County health department website lists 188 recovered cases and 21 hospitalizations. The state lists the total recovered at 60,022 cases, as of July 31, which represents COVID-19 confirmed individuals with an onset date on or prior to July 1. Midland County Health Department data People younger than 40 make up 57% percent of total Midland County cases, confirmed and probable, as of July 30. Of Midland County's 289 confirmed and probable cases, 60 cases are in 0-19 age range; 59 in 20-29 age range; 46 in 30-39 age range; 40 in 40-49 age range; 43 in 50-59 age range; 16 in 60-69 age range; 13 in 70-79 age range, and 12 in 80+ age range, as of July 30 Of nine of Midland's deaths, five have been female and four male. One was between the ages of 50-50; two were between ages of 70-79, and six were 80 years and older. 83 percent of cases have fallen within the 48640 and 48642 (mostly Midland) zip codes, as of July 30. Next highest were 48657 (Sanford) and 48618 (Coleman) Cases by race: 88.8% were listed as Caucasian; 3% as African-American; 3% as Asian; 0.7% were listed as two or more races, and 4.5% were unknown. MidMichigan Health statistics Patient census: MidMichigan Health system is listed as having nine COVID-19 patients, including two COVID-19 patients in ICU and 62% bed occupancy, as of July 30. PPE days on hand as of July 30: The health system reported 15-21 days for N95 masks; 0-6 days for surgical masks; 21+ days for surgical gowns; 21+ days for shields and 15-21 days for gloves. Recommendations for public Socially distance at least 6 feet from non-household members. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty. Wear face coverings in public. Stay home when sick. Covering coughs and sneezes. Throw used tissues in the trash right after use. Routinely clean frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning wipe or spray. If you think you've been exposed to COVID-19 and develop a fever and symptoms such as cough or difficulty breathing, call your health care provider for medical advice. If he/she isn't available call MidMichigan Urgent Care in Midland at 989- 633-1350 or MidMichigan Medical Center's Emergency Department in Midland at 989-839-3100. MidMichigan Health has a COVID-19 informational hotline with a reminder of CDC guidelines and recommendations. The hotline can be reached toll-free at 800-445-7356 or 989-794-7600. Michigan Department of Health and Human Services also has a hotline number for Michigan residents for questions about COVID-19. The number is 1-888-535-6136 and is available seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can also send an e-mail to: COVID19@michigan.gov. E-mails will be answered seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. If you are feeling anxious, stressed, depressed and feel you need to talk to someone, reach out to Community Mental Health for Central Michigan by calling 800-317-0708. The Santa Rosa de Lima cartel and Yepez Ortiz were behind that surge. The large number of refineries and web of pipelines in Guanajuato made oil a natural target for the group. When the government appeared to begin cracking down on oil theft, the cartel launched a campaign of widespread extortion across the state. The 500,000-person city of Celaya briefly ran out of tortillas in 2019 because so many tortillerias had been shut down under the pressure of extortion and violence. But LueKinna Hodges, who said she has made some bad choices previously, said she was arrested and threatened by law enforcement. "Systemic racism is something that a lot of people are scared to talk about," she said. "But its set up to make us fail, us brown people. "When I get pulled over and harassed, they go back and look at stuff I did 20 years ago. And thats not fair, she said. The classes that should be mandatory before you become a police officer, one of them should be cultural diversity. Speaker Frank Holley was exasperated. Theres nothing thats been said here that hasnt already been said, he said. White people have different priorities than Black people. We need Black police officers who can relate to Black people." Fifty years later, were still having the same conversation. Were still talking and talking and talking, no action," he said. We cant wait until stuff happens. We have to be more empathetic versus sympathetic." While speakers continued from the Council chambers and via Zoom, conversations kept going in the Zoom chat, in which people could type comments and responses. Under its vocally anti-American President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines has emerged as a focal point between China and the US in their continuing contest for dominance in the region. After years of cosier ties between Manila and Beijing, at the expense of the Philippines' traditional alliance with the US, Duterte last month appeared to signal a retreat from his anti-Washington stance by reversing an earlier decision to scrap a key military agreement with the US in June. While analysts say Duterte is unlikely to change his policy on China any time soon, the shift to reinstate the Visiting Forces Agreement - which gives legal status to US troops stationed in the country - underlines the difficult balancing act the Philippines must strike in its dealings with the two powers. As tensions have flared between China and the US, the Philippines has become part of their strategic confrontation amid Beijing's growing aggression in the resource-rich South China Sea - also one of the world's busiest shipping routes - where China's claims to most of the waters are disputed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. Washington needs the support of Manila and other key partners in Southeast Asia in its efforts to push back on Beijing's ambitions in the region. For China, maintaining ties with the Philippines is equally important amid its rising confrontation with the US. The US took a stronger stance in the middle of July when Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared support for the 2016 ruling by an international tribunal which rejected most of Beijing's claims in the South China Sea. It was a historic victory for the Philippines, which took the dispute to The Hague, but China has never accepted the decision. Beijing said the latest US policy statement on the issue "deliberately stokes territorial and maritime disputes". The Philippines backed the US stance, calling on China to accept the ruling. In his State of the Union address on Monday, Duterte argued the Philippines was "neither beholden nor a pawn to anyone" in the South China Sea, but also made clear the country was not prepared to go to war over its competing claims with Beijing. Story continues "China is claiming it," he said. "We are claiming it. China has the arms, we do not have the arms. So, it is simple as that. They are in possession of the property." In addition to their rivalry in the South China Sea, China and the US both have clear trade and investment interests in their relations with the Philippines. Beijing has long sought to increase its leverage in the maritime disputes and related ongoing discussions for a code of conduct in the South China Sea by winning over its Southeast Asian nations on the economic front. China has wooed the Philippines with investments under its Belt and Road Initiative - Chinese President Xi Jinping's signature development strategy - and was its top trading partner last year. On the other hand, Washington has sought to counter growing Chinese influence in the region with its Indo-Pacific strategy which includes more frequent freedom of navigation exercises in the contested waters. The US and the Philippines have deep historical ties, with a mutual defence treaty dating back to 1951 and a military relationship which has continued since the closure in 1992 of the American naval base at Subic Bay and the Clark Air Base in Luzon. On taking office in 2016, Duterte pivoted the Philippines towards Beijing, vowing to set aside the tribunal finding in exchange for Chinese investment. In October that year, he travelled to Beijing for a meeting with Xi and declared "America has lost now" and he had "realigned myself in your ideological flow". In February Duterte made his biggest move in distancing the Philippines from its historical ally when he announced the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement. It was an angry response to the revocation of a US visa for a former police chief who helped to lead Duterte's bloody war on drugs, although the official reason was to diversify foreign relations. The move - which US Defence Secretary Mark Esper described as "unfortunate" - complicated Washington's efforts to push Beijing into following international law in the region. Months later in June - after resistance from within his government - Duterte reversed course. Foreign Minister Teddy Locsin said the decision to reinstate the agreement was a response to "vast and swiftly changing circumstances of the world in a time of pandemic and heightened superpower tensions". Derek Grossman, senior defence analyst at the Washington-based think tank Rand Corporation, said Beijing was likely to be increasingly concerned that the Philippines could turn anew to the US to hedge against Chinese assertiveness - particularly as Manila had officially endorsed the US shift in its South China Sea policy. "That said, Duterte's latest statement - that China controls the South China Sea - seems to have been timed to throw cold water on the notion that the Philippines is once again happily conducting alliance relations with the US," he said. "As we know well, Duterte is extremely anti-American and has been seeking ways to diversify Filipino foreign and security policy away from over-reliance on the US." Public sentiment in the Philippines has long been pro-US, but Grossman said there had recently been a "further souring" of opinion on China, for reasons "ranging from suspicions about coronavirus, the South China Sea, illicit Chinese activities in the Philippines such as gambling and human trafficking allegations and potential distrust for Belt and Road projects in the Philippines." Jeffrey Ordaniel, assistant professor of international security at Tokyo International University, said Beijing was wary of any strengthening of treaty commitments between the US and the Philippines, noting that their mutual defence treaty covered the South China Sea. "The Philippines' South China Sea policy has been largely determined by Duterte's parochial concerns, characterised by his deep-seated anti-US sentiments and favourable view of China," he said. "The weakening or strengthening of the US-Philippine alliance is obviously an important determinant of how far China could continue to push the envelope in the South China Sea." Ordaniel said Duterte was unlikely to change tack on his approach to China, but noted the strongman leader had less than two years left in office. "The 2022 election will be pretty significant for China and the US. Many are expecting or hoping for the pendulum to swing back - for the Philippines to align itself again with America." 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. Unionists are aiming to keep pressure on Sinn Fein over the funeral of Bobby Storey more than a month after the row began. Despite the Assembly recess DUP and other MLAs have tabled a series of written questions to deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill over her attendance at the burial on June 30. The DUPs Thomas Buchanan has asked whether Mrs ONeill was obliged under the rules to inform the joint office she shares with Arlene Foster of her intention to go to the funeral, and whether she did so. And Jim Allister has asked if the deputy First Minister was conveyed to the funeral in an official Executive car and what advice has been sought from outgoing Attorney General John Larkin over whether she breached her pledge of office commitment to support the rule of law unequivocally in word and deed. Read More On Saturday it emerged that Sinn Fein finance minister Conor Murphy has acknowledged using his publicly-funded ministerial business car to stop in on the Storey funeral. A department spokesman added: The minister was going from home to Stormont on official business and stopped in west Belfast on his way. Expand Close Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill attended the funeral at Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill attended the funeral at Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA) TUV leader Mr Allister said: There are very legitimate questions for the PSNI and Belfast City Council to answer about the funeral but we should not lose sight of the fact that the most fundamental questions are for the deputy First Minister and more generally the Stormont Executive. There seems to be the usual desire to shrug the shoulders and move on. The weakness of the political response was the Assembly in passing a motion which merely expressed disappointment without any condemnation or suggestion the rules had been breached. It sent a message that republicans are above the law and that law makers can become law breakers without sanction. Asked for a response to the barrage of questions being formally tabled there was no reply from Sinn Fein. But Mrs ONeill told the Executive committee that organisation of the funeral was in conjunction with the PSNI with the regulations and restrictions in place particularly around the issue of stewards and making sure the whole route was stewarded. Im satisfied my actions were within the regulations and the public health guidance, she added. Expand Close The funeral of Bobby Storey in west Belfast Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The funeral of Bobby Storey in west Belfast Read More There are no longer joint press conferences with DUP leader Mrs Foster who insists it cant be business as usual because the regulations were flouted. And it has also emerged that Sinn Fein Junior Minister Declan Kearney was unable to respond to an Assembly debate on the regulations because he was also attending the funeral. The war of words also continued on social media after the DUPs Trevor Clarke demanded SFs Gerry Kelly resign from the Policing Board over his senior role in the funeral at the republican plot in Milltown Cemetery. On Twitter Mr Kelly hit back: I am deeply proud to have placed our National flag on the coffin of my close friend and comrade Bobby Storey. If Mr Clarke had a tenth of the courage and integrity of Bobby I might have taken him seriously. More than 30 mourners were permitted to have a service at Roselawn Crematorium for the veteran republican, while other grieving families had their services postponed, provoking a dispute still rumbling in the council. When Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced an all-of-the-above strategy to conduct "a normal" election in November, he cast it as a decision to maximize voter access during the coronavirus pandemic. A massive backlash ensued. Over the past three weeks, the custodians of hundreds of traditional polling precincts have said they will refuse to host voters, or conditioned participating on the government paying to deep-clean and sanitize their churches or community centers. Thousands of veteran elections judges have dropped out, many of them retirees whose age or health conditions put them at high risk of deadly complications if they contract covid-19. "I will not volunteer for an unnecessary suicide mission," said Rebecca Wilson, 67, a chief elections judge from Prince George's County who has been a poll worker for 18 years. As of Friday, even after a thousand state workers took Hogan up on the offer of two days paid leave in exchange for staffing the polls in November, roughly a third of Maryland's 27,000 election judge jobs remained vacant. It is another example of the deadly pandemic weaving uncertainty though the presidential election process. As President Donald Trump faces bipartisan rebuke for suggesting the election be delayed and undermining mail-in voting, Hogan is under withering criticism - and facing open revolt - from rank-and-file poll workers in his state. Elections administrators are baffled by the moderate Republican governor's unusual voting plan. After long lines and delays at the limited number of polling places open during the primary, Hogan proposed thinning Election Day crowds by sending absentee ballot applications to every voter and opening all precincts for those who choose to vote in-person on Nov. 3. Maryland's nonpartisan, local election boards, career bureaucrats tasked with finding poll workers, say the plan is fundamentally flawed. "Without election judges, it will be impossible," said David Garreis, president of the Maryland Association of Election Officials. "Recruiting election judges is the most difficult task by the local boards in normal circumstances." The organization is meeting with Hogan's deputy chief of staff next week to lobby for massive voting centers in places like stadiums or other large venues that can process thousands of voters, spread far apart, with minimal staff. Hogan, meanwhile, has steadfastly rejected the criticism and deflected responsibility for how the election should be conducted in November, saying the Board of Elections should have already figured this out. "This is their only job," Hogan said in an interview. "They have no plan. . . . And so I said, 'great, well, we're going to just do it all-of-the-above.' " The board voted 3-2, split along party lines, in early July to use a limited number of in-person voting centers and mail absentee ballot applications to every registered voter. Maryland is among eight states planning to mail absentee ballot applications because of the pandemic. The two Democrats on the board also wanted limited in-person voting centers but preferred mailing ballots to every registered voter. Though it was considered as an option, neither side supported opening all of the state's precincts. Since board decisions require a four-vote supermajority, a rule geared at limiting partisanship and increasing transparency, the split vote did not count as an endorsement of any plan, leaving Hogan to go his own way. Across the country, 29 states have enacted plans to let voters cast ballots from home without needing an excuse to do so, and all have provided some avenue to let people who need to vote in person do so, said Richard H. Pildes, a constitutional law professor at NYU School of Law who has written about how critical it is to have in-person voting. D.C. intends to open 80 voting centers across the city and mail every voter a ballot. Virginia residents must request an absentee ballot; they will not be sent an application. Much attention of voter rights advocates has focused on the eight states, including New York and Connecticut, that do not consider fear of the pandemic a legitimate reason to vote by mail. Maryland appears to stand alone for having widespread backlash to its in-person voting alternative to supplement absentee balloting. "I'm not aware of the kind of pushback from local elections officials that seems to be happening in Maryland right now happening elsewhere," Pildes said. "That might be because in other states, the state officials are not requiring that every traditional polling precinct open." Hogan ordered the board to send absentee ballot applications in early July, hoping to encourage more ballots to be mailed early and avoid a last-minute surge in requests. But any changes to the absentee ballots applications in Maryland - including renaming them "mail-in" ballots - involves a formal notification and approval process that takes a month. None can be mailed until after the state board approves them during a Wednesday meeting. And without an emergency proclamation from Hogan to change state law, none of those mailed-in ballots can be opened or counted until two days after Election Day. "It could take weeks" to get results, said state administrator of elections Linda Lamone, who faced calls to step down after the problem-plagued June 2 primary. Lamone told the Hogan administration and state lawmakers it will cost an extra $20 million to finance the plan, with a big portion of the cost due to sending an absentee ballot application to every voter in the state, plus return postage. Public health experts, meanwhile, have cast the state's precinct plan as reckless and suggested that requiring people to take initiative to request a ballot - rather than simply mailing one - might ultimately push more people into understaffed precincts with long lines and, potentially, high viral loads. "The virus is hoping that a lot of people show up to vote, particularly in crowded places," said Joshua Sharfstein, a vice dean at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and former state health secretary under Hogan's predecessor, Martin O'Malley (D). "The fewer people who are put in that position, the better." And majority-minority communities most vulnerable to the virus are also statistically most likely to have to wait in line to vote, according to a recent report on election planning and the pandemic from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Hogan, who has been lauded nationally for his response to the pandemic, said he shares the goal of keeping voters safe. "My goal is to give everybody every possible opportunity to vote," he said, adding that the state will provide all the personal protective equipment necessary to operate the polls. Garreis, who is a deputy elections administrator in Anne Arundel County, said the costs of that are enormous: He estimated that getting plexiglass shields to separate 6,000 election check-in judges from voters could add up to $1 million just for his county. The governor has resisted calls for an all or mostly mail-in election by Attorney General Brian Frosh, D, and a coalition of voting rights groups, public health doctors and activists, saying the June primary was an "unmitigated disaster." The board sent some English-speaking voters ballots in Spanish. The company in charge of mailing out ballots sent many of them late. Some people reported never receiving their ballots, and others got multiple ballots. Limited polling locations in Baltimore City and elsewhere led to hours-long waits. "Frankly, I think that election went well under the circumstances," Lamone said this week. "Look what happened: people showed up at the polling place with their mailed ballot in hand. . . . They wanted to watch it go into the machine. We didn't anticipate that, and there was no way to react to it. We're trying to make sure that it doesn't happen again." Lamone, who did not her share her opinion on how the election should be conducted, said she's concerned about local boards being able to process all the ballot application requests, mailed-in ballots and early voting and Election Day ballots, all while observing social distancing. Hogan is unsympathetic and unmoved. "All we've heard is a bunch of arguing and whining," he said. "We're going to have to take these actions or they're going to fail miserably like they did during the primary." Steve Johns, 62, said the governor's plan vastly underestimates what it takes to run an election or show up to be a low-level election judge, as Johns has in Prince George's for the past two elections. "The [rule] book is almost as thick as a school textbook," he said. "If you want to do it well, you have to read it and pay attention in class." Johns took the election judge training in January, before the pandemic hit Maryland. But he refused to serve after Hogan announced his all-precinct plan. "There will be people who die from this decision," he said. "As much as I'd like to help, but you know - life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness? You don't have the second two if you've lost the first." Others, like Karen Nitkin of Howard County, are coming forward for the first time, drawn by what they see as the urgency of the situation. "It is almost, literally, the least I could do," said Nitkin, whose daughter waited in line for three hours to vote in an understaffed Georgia precinct during the primary. When Nitkin filled out her absentee ballot application in Maryland, she checked the box asking if she was willing to be an election judge. She's concerned about the health risk, but she's confident in the precautions and willing to withstand it for one day, especially because other people are taking risks just as large on a daily basis just to earn a paycheck. "I wouldn't want to do it every day," she said. "But there are people who work at Target every day, and I wouldn't want to do that either. If there's ever an essential service, this is it." By PTI KOKRAJHAR (ASSAM): A rape-accused coronavirus positive prisoner, who had managed to escape from a hospital in Assam's Kokrajhar district, was arrested on Sunday from Lungshun area along the Indo-Bhutan border, police said. The prisoner had escaped from Kokrajhar's RNB Civil Hospital on Tuesday night, Superintendent of Police Rakesh Roshan said. Sukla Murmu, hailing from neighbouring Chirang district, was charged with rape and lodged in Kokrajhar Jail since May 5. He was admitted to hospital after testing positive for COVID-19 on July 25, the SP said. Murmu had escaped from the hospital by breaking a window of the ward, he said. The prisoner is being brought to Kokrajhar, where he will be tested again for COVID-19 before a decision is taken on where to lodge him. Over 60 villages in the Bahraich district here have been inundated following the release of water by Nepal from its three barrages into rivers, a district administration official said on Sunday. The release of water has affected over 1.50 lakh people and damaged 171 houses, he said, adding National Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed in the area to rescue people. "Following the release of lakhs of cusec of water by Nepal, at least 61 villages in the district have been inundated. The administration is providing relief to the affected people," Additional District Magistrate Jai Chandra Pandey said. He added that 61 villages located in Kaisarganj, Mahsi and Mihipurva tehsils, with a population of over 1.50 lakh, have been affected. "The condition is very bad in seven villages. As many as 131 kutcha houses have been damaged. Twenty-three flood posts have been made. Apart from this, one motorboat, 179 boats, one platoon of flood PAC and NDRF have also been pressed into service," Pandey said. He also said 48 medical teams along with veterinary teams have also been deployed for relief work. Medical facilities, vaccination of animals, tarpaulin sheets and food packets are being distributed, he added. "About 3.15 lakh cusec water was released into rivers from Sharda, Girijapuri and Saryu barrages. The levels of rivers at these places were below the danger mark, but Ghagara was flowing 108 centimetres above the danger mark at Elgin bridge. Along with the barrages, the embankments are also being constantly monitored," said Executive Engineer (Flood) Shobit Kushwaha. POLITICAL analysts have blamed a combination of poor planning and the escalating infighting consuming the countrys main opposition for Fridays failed anti-government protests, the Daily News On Sunday reports. However, MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti vowed yesterday that the opposition would mount more potent protests going forward, in a bid to oust President Emmerson Mnangagwa from power. Analysts who spoke to the Daily News On Sunday yesterday said there was no running away from the fact that the failed protests had been undermined by poor strategy and disorganisation. Respected University of Zimbabwe (UZ) politics expert, Eldred Masunungure, said this necessarily meant that opposition parties needed to re-think their strategies to outwit the ruling Zanu PF and its government. The problem is that our opposition parties are hopelessly divided. They need to go back and re-strategise, and also speak with one voice. They have to reconfigure. Zanu PF has not changed and is still using the same tools that it always deploys, and the opposition parties are also using the same strategies. The planning was poor and the demonstration was announced nearly a month ago, thus giving authorities ample time to prepare. This enabled the authorities to continue with their repression, Masunungure said. Unfortunately, Fridays events only work to embolden the authorities and to give them more confidence. The opposition parties are speaking with different voices and are not united. So, it will be difficult for them to confront the government. Look at Zanu PF before the demonstrations. All its party wings were speaking with one voice. Zanu PF is also very skilful in utilising opportunities. They used the Covid-19 lockdown to their advantage, to the fullest, Masunungure further told the Daily News On Sunday. Professor of World Politics at the London School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Stephen Chan, also accused opposition parties of lacking a meaningful strategy. As for the opposition, it has no plan either. But I am glad people were not put at risk of brutality. There is enough suffering in Zimbabwe, he said. Former Cabinet minister in the 2009 stability-inducing government of national unity (GNU), Tapiwa Mashakada, also blamed his colleagues in the brawling MDC for lacking the courage to organise successful protests. The much-touted 31st July demo failed to take off, not because the people do not have a genuine cause, but because of fear and lack of courageous leaders who are prepared to sacrifice their luxurious lives. The social media activists are good for nothing they just incite other people to be cannon fodder while they are hiding in safe places, he wrote on social media in the aftermath of the demo. Apart from Job Sikhaka and Tendai Biti, I see a lot of cowards in the rank and file of those who chose the demonstration route. But even then, with the Covid-19 pandemic, demos were not ideal because of public health reasons. It was ill-timed. Meanwhile the suffering continues while we in the opposition are experimenting with tired methods of removing the government, Mashakada wrote further. Let us try dialogue and national convergence in order to find each other. We must not use the people to satisfy our ego. Dialogue must be tried and given a chance otherwise we are all contributing to the burning of the house. The twitter activists are hiding and hoping that the innocent poor can come out to confront the regime, Mashakada added. Former deputy Justice minister in the GNU, Obert Gutu, echoed Mashakadas sentiments. Fundamentally, it (Fridays mass action) lacked thought leadership. There was neither focus nor strategy. At one point, the organisers told the nation that it was an anti-corruption demonstration, whilst on the other hand the same organisers pronounced that the demonstration was targeted at felling the Zanu PF government. Daily News Japan has ordered another 105 F-35 stealth fighters. This will cost $23 billion and include spare parts, including 110 engines and additional electronic and other accessories. With earlier purchases this new order will give Japan 147 F-35s. That large force of stealth fighters wont be in service until the mid-2020s because of growing demand for F-35s and limited production capability. Japan will help by manufacturing some components and assembling their F-35s in Japan. All this Japanese F-35 news was not welcome in China. Combined with South Korean F-35s, China now has to deal with over 300 F-35s operating near its northern borders. In the 1990s Chinese support for an aggressive and unpredictable North Korea prompted South Korea to become a major developer, manufacturer and exporter of modern weapons. Now Japan, with a larger population and industrial base than South Korea has followed South Korean in an arms race with China. Most (63) of the new fighters will be the land-based F-35A model but 42 will be F-35Bs, the VTOL (vertical takeoff and landing) version that can operate from carriers. Japan already had 42 F-35As on order to replace 73 F-4 interceptors. The new F-35As on order are to replace a hundred older F-15J fighter-bombers. At this point Japan is the largest export customer for the F-35. Japan also asked to have its status as a F-35 upgraded from buyer to partner. That will mean Japan will build more components for F-35s, not just its own but for other customers as well. Japan can and has built modern jet fighters. Before Japan increased its F-35 orders it decided to cancel its plans to build a locally designed F-2 maritime attack aircraft. This move was in recognition of the high production costs and uncertain performance of the maritime F-2. Japan also sought to design and build a stealthy replacement for the 1990s era F-2 fighters but concluded it would be too expensive for just a hundred aircraft and such an X-2 aircraft could not compete against the American F-35 in export markets, assuming Japan changed its constitution to allow weapons exports. The F-2 was an enlarged Japanese version of the American F-16. Now Japan seeks to eventually replace the F-2 with F-35s. Japan imports a lot of foreign warplanes but usually assembles them locally under license, which it will do with the F-35s. For most of the last two decades Japan has been undecided about how to proceed with updating its many warplanes. At the end of the Cold War (1991) Japan had a small but well equipped and trained air force. But since 1991 there was not a lot of enthusiasm in parliament or among voters to spend what was needed to keep the air force up to date. After 2000 it became obvious that China was building a modern, and threatening, air force. Russia was becoming more hostile as well and North Korea remained a problem. Gradually Japan accepted the fact, and cost, of upgrading its air force. A recent example of this was the 2019 decision to act on long-delayed plans to upgrade 98 of its heavily used F-15J interceptors. The parliament was reluctant to spend the billions of dollars this would cost. For some legislatures it was an economic decision, for others it was feared upgrading would anger China and Russia. But as incursions by Chinese and Russia military aircraft increased fivefold over the last decade, to over a thousand a year, parliament changed its mind. The upgrades will cost $4.5 billion and be carried out in Japan using American made electronics. This includes an AESA radar, new computers and EW (Electronic Warfare) equipment. This includes a jam-resistant GPS device. There will also be new communications including jam-resistant digital data links. The growing presence of Russian and (mostly) Chinese military aircraft has also persuaded legislators to spend a lot of money replacing older aircraft. The Japanese Air Force has about 50,000 personnel and 775 aircraft, 39 percent of them fighters. The air force is usually the first responder when any potentially hostile ships or aircraft come near any of the islands. Most of the 302 fighters need upgrades or replacement. The 73 F-4s were built in Japan during the 1970s and are very much in need of replacement despite light use, some upgrades and careful maintenance. The new F-35s were initially replacements for retiring F-4s. The 155 F-15Js were also built in Japan during the 1980s and 90s. These are the most heavily used warplanes as most serve as interceptors. There have already been some upgrades, but the newly ordered upgrades are the most extensive in a while. The 62 F-2s were developed and built in Japan between 1995 and 2011. There are currently 12 F-35s in service. Ordering some F-35Bs makes it clear that Japan is going to experiment with some of these aircraft aboard the existing Japanese helicopter carriers. Since 2017 Japan has had operational two 27,000 ton destroyers (DDH type ships) that look exactly like an aircraft carrier. These Izumo class ships can carry up to 28 helicopters or up to ten vertical takeoff aircraft. The carriers are armed only and two 20mm Phalanx anti-missile cannon and sixteen ESSM missiles for anti-missile and aircraft defense. The DDH have powerful engines capable of destroyer-like speeds of over fifty-four kilometers an hour. There are also more medical facilities than one would expect for a ship of this size. Izumo does have considerable cargo capacity for moving disaster relief supplies quickly to where they are needed. Apparently some of these cargo spaces can be converted to berthing spaces for troops, disaster relief personnel, or people rescued from disasters, as well as additional weapons and equipment needed to support F-35B fighter-bombers. Izumo could carry and operate at least ten of the F-35Bs once modifications were made to the flight deck to handle the extremely high temperatures the F-35B generates when taking off or landing vertically (like a helicopter). When the first DDH entered service in 2015 Japan made no mention of buying F-35Bs or modifying the LPH flight decks to handle the very high temperatures generated by the F-35B. The Izumos already have an elevator (to the hanger deck under the flight deck) large and powerful enough to handle an F-35B. These new Japanese F-35 plans make it clear that Japan agrees with pilots who have many F-35 flight hours. The F-35 software and the degree of automation built in is spectacular, easy to use and very effective. The F-35 has many sensors (receivers for electronic signals, six cameras and a very capable radar) and the fusion of all that data and presentation to the pilot based on the current situation makes the F-35 much easier to fly, despite all the additional capabilities it has. This sort of thing is not a new idea. By the 1990s it was recognized that this new technology (called data fusion) would be a key capability for combat aircraft, as well as ships and ground combat vehicles. Put simply, it's all about taking real-time vidcam, radar and other sensor data (sensor fusion) along with non-sensor information about the battlefield situation (all sorts of databases and reports), and combining them to provide commanders or pilots with a better understanding of current operations, preferably in real time if you are a fighter pilot. Pilots agree that the heart of the F-35 superior capabilities is its software and digital communications with other aircraft and troops on the ground. The F-35 is apparently the best working example of this so far and what is learned from the F-35 software has become the basis for updated software for older aircraft. But beyond the data fusion (and automatic sharing with other aircraft or systems on the surface), the pilots were impressed about how effective the pilot assistant software was. This is another concept that has been around for decades and more frequently installed in new aircraft. These minor advances get reported but never make headlines. But given the F-35's stealth, maneuverability and sensor/data fusion, most pilots quickly become enthusiastic proponents of the aircraft. F-35 software is more complex and omnipresent throughout the aircraft than in any previous warplane. Its a major effort to carry out and test any changes. Some major upgrades are needed in how F-35 software changes are made and how quickly. In wartime this would be essential as otherwise servicable aircraft would be grounded when needed most. As of early 2020 500 F-35s had been delivered, mostly to the U.S. Air Force and Marine Corps. Over 4,000 F-35s are expected to be delivered by the mid-2030s with more than 70 percent going to the United States. The 31-ton F-35 is armed with an internal 25mm cannon and, before the SDB (GPS guided Small Diameter Bomb) arrived, four internal air-to-air missiles (or two missiles and two smart bombs) plus four external smart bombs and two missiles. A new bomb rack allows the F-35 to carry eight SDBs internally. All sensors are carried internally, and max weapon load is 6.8 tons. The aircraft is very stealthy when just carrying only internal weapons. Four days after the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court denied bail to former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba, who wanted to meet his ailing mother, she succumbed to cancer in Hyderabad on Saturday. Saibaba who is wheelchair-bound with over 90% physical disability is currently serving time for Naxal links at the Nagpur Central Jail. His lawyer Akash Sorde stated that in the last attempt on Friday, they tried to arrange a video call of Saibaba with his 74-year-old mother named Gokarakonda Suryavathi after the doctors said the cancer patient would not survive more than 48 hours. We tried to contact Anupkumar Kumre, the Superintendent of the Nagpur Central Prison, where Saibaba is lodged so that his mother could see him as her last wish. But there was no response to the calls, Sorde told Indian Express. Saibabas wife Vasantha living in Delhi told the media house that Suryavathi passed away in the afternoon, and she could not be with her due to the flying restrictions. I feel extremely saddened by the loss of the kind and caring woman and even deeply disappointed in myself that I could not fulfil her final wish, she said. Along with his wish to see his ailing mother, Saibaba in his bail application had cited his weak health, along with comorbidities which made him vulnerable to contract Covid-19 in jail. He also said that he was not getting proper medical treatment in prison. Arguing on Saibabas bail application, the public prosecutor, Prashant Sathanathan said that Saibabas brother was with his mother and she lived in a Covid-19 containment zone, where Saibaba could have contracted the viral infection. Saibabas lawyer Nihal Singh Rathod had argued that the Nagpur prison had recently witnessed many coronavirus cases which makes the professor vulnerable to infection. Citing Saibabas mothers condition, Rathod added, You cannot deny the mother the right to see her son when she is on a deathbed. However, the bench comprising Justices Atul Chandurkar and Amit Borkar denied the bail and stated, we are not inclined to grant bail. In March 2017, Saibaba along with four others was convicted in a sessions court in Maharashtras Gadchiroli district for Maoist links and engaging in activities amounting to waging war against the country. Professor has now challenged the order in the Bombay High Court. A police inspector has been suspended here after a 40 year-old man he allegedly roughed up died after setting himself ablaze, police said on Sunday. The victim, a painter, was jobless due to the lockdown and could not pay rent to his landlord for about three months following which the latter filed a police complaint. The inspector from Puzhal police limits during inquiry allegedly harassed and roughed up the victim Srinivasan in front of his family following which he attempted self-immolation on Saturday, police said. He was rushed to a city government hospital but succumbed to the injuries today, they said. The inspector has since been placed under suspension. PMK founder S Ramadoss slammed the incident and demanded the arrest of the policeman concerned. Many landlords were compassionate with tenants unable to pay their rent due to the lockdown-triggered job-loss but the house owner in this case making a police complaint was 'inhuman' and so was the response of the suspended policeman, he said in a statement. The PMK leader, whose party is an ally of the ruling AIADMK, demanded the state government pay Rs 25 lakh as compensation to the family of the victim and bear theeducation expenses of his children. Seoul, Aug 2 : North Korean outlets on Sunday lashed out at South Korea over a recent US decision to lift restrictions on Seoul's use of solid fuel for its space rockets, slamming the move as being contrary to the South's calls for peace. Seoul and Washington revised the missile guidelines between the two countries on July 28 to lift a decades-old ban on the South from using solid fuel for space rockets, a move expected to lead to the country developing space rockets and launching spy satellites to monitor North Korea, reports Yonhap News Agency. Meari, one of the North's websites, denounced the revised guidelines, saying Seoul "has revealed its evil intentions for contention, saying the solid fuel-propelled space rockets allow the launch of low-orbit reconnaissance satellites, or that it will talk with the US on lifting restrictions on the range of ballistic missiles". South Korea is still prohibited from firing solid-fuel ballistic missiles with the range of over 800 km under the alliance accord first signed in 1979. On July 29, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said the country will make continued efforts to "secure complete missile sovereignty". Another North Korean outlet, Uriminzokkiri TV, criticized South Korea's move as a "contradictory attitude". The articles mark the first time North Korean media outlets have reacted to the South's revised missile guidelines, but media reports still remain limited to propaganda outlets and official state media, such as the Korean Central News Agency or the Rodong Sinmun remaining silent on the issue. The North has toned down its criticism of the South on state media since it announced plans to suspend military action against Seoul in June, after blowing up the inter-Korean liaison office building in the border town of Kaesong. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday claimed that the Delhi University Professor Hany Babu M T had links with Manipur based insurgent group - Kangkeipak Communist Party-Military Council (KCP-MC). The agency also said that it has retrieved several communications of the DU professor with other Manipur-based outfits. Based on Hany Babus questioning, the NIA team also searched his residence in Noida on Sunday morning. His wife Jenny Rowena, who teaches at Miranda House, was present during the raid, which she has termed as harassment. Babu is currently being interrogated by NIA after he was arrested last week in Bhima-Koregaon case. KCP is a banned north east based insurgent group which indulges in extortion from government offices on the pretext of taking protection money and is involved in several violent incidents over the years, a counter-insurgency official, who didnt wish to be named, said. The banned outfit is active and has a solid base in Manipur, Myanmar and Nepal. They also have strong links with the Naxals as they exchange arms and ammunition with them. It has several factions but the parent organization is KCP itself, this official said. Also Read: NIA arrests DU professor Hany Babu in Bhima Koregaon case Sharing Hany Babus links with KCP-MC, a NIA statement said on Sunday Hany Babu M T was found to be a co-conspirator along with other accused persons propagating Naxal activities and Maoist ideology. The investigation also revealed that Hany Babu was in contact with Paikhomba Meitei, Secretary Information and Publicity, Military Affairs of Kangkeipak Communist Party (MC), an organisation banned under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. An interview of Ganapathy, General Secretary of CPI (Maoist) was shared by Paikhomba Meitei with the accused Hany Babu. Communications of Hany Babu with other Maoists of Manipur have also been retrieved, the agency added. It further alleged that after the release of CPI (Maoist) leader Pallath Govindankutty, Hany Babu, along with co-accused Rona Wilson, took the initiative to help him financially by raising funds. Hany Babu, along with other accused persons namely Rona Wilson, Anand Teltumbde, P Varavara Rao and Surendra Gadling formed a Committee for the release of G N Saibaba who was sentenced to life imprisonment for his links with CPI (Maoist), NIA statement said. During the raid on Sunday, the agency team recovered one account ledger, one receipt book of the Committee for the Defence and Release of Dr G N Saibaba and several documents, it added. The agency has alleged that the Elgar-Parishad even at Pune on December 31, 2017, promoted enmity between various caste groups and led to violence resulting in loss of life and property and state-wide agitation in Maharashtra. The investigation revealed that the Elgar Parishad along with Maoist leaders used the incident to spread the ideology of Maoism/Naxalism and encourage unlawful activities on the instructions of the leaders of CPI (Maoist), a banned organization, it said. Jenny Rowena said I was alone with my daughter so I did not let them enter my house till I called a friend. They cannot barge into my house without any prior notice. Its so unsafe. Rowena said that they were looking for some specific things. They did not search the whole house. They asked for some specific things like receipts of donations received for the Saibaba defence committee. Babu has a drawer in which he keeps all the receipts. I gave them the recipients and they left, she said. Babus bail application is going to be heard the day after tomorrow and immediately before that they are running for things to show (in the court), she added. Delhi University Teachers Association (DUTA) president Rajib Ray said, I strongly protest and urge the government to desist from these illegal, strong-arm tactics and immediately stop this witch hunt against academics and scholars. Bereaved families are being stung by thousands of pounds in hidden fees for selling a deceased relative's retirement home because a Government crackdown has been delayed. Many retirement property firms are taking between 1 per cent and 30 per cent of the sale proceeds. The Government had in March 2019 said it would force firms to come clean on the charges which can be buried in the small print. The crackdown was recommended by the Law Commission after it found 'major problems' with these so-called event fees. Many retirement property firms are taking between 1% and 30% of the sale proceeds But Ministers have failed to act. Now charity Age UK is calling for the fees to be scrapped altogether. Chris Brooks, senior policy manager for Age UK said: 'Exit fees are often hidden in the small print. It's effectively a just a hidden charge for no real benefit or service.' Later-life living in retirement villages had become increasingly popular in the UK before the pandemic, with over-55s attracted by the sense of community and 24-hour staff as well as facilities which often include pools, gyms, libraries, social activities and even cinemas. Owners of retirement properties typically pay a monthly service charge, an annual ground rent and, most controversially, event fees. These were previously called exit fees and apply as a percentage of the property's value, payable when the flat is sold. The fees can increase the longer the owner has lived in the property. Some operators such as McCarthy & Stone charge 1 per cent in event fees. Others charge as much as 30 per cent, according to Which?. Have you been stung? Has your family been hit by fees on a retirement property? Get in touch: Sarah.Bridge@MailonSunday.co.uk Audley Villages, one of the UK's biggest operators, for example, charges either a higher annual service charge and a 1 per cent event fee per year up to 15 per cent, or a lower service charge and double the event fee, up to 30 per cent. This means a house sold for 600,000 after 15 years could attract fees of 180,000. There is no suggestion Audley's fees are hidden. The industry says these deferred fees make the initial purchase more affordable. Michael Voges, of trade body The Associated Retirement Community Operators, said they 'allow a new generation of operators to spread out the cost of higher service levels and more extensive facilities'. He added: 'We are calling for the Government to implement the Law Commission's recommendations so consumers can make informed assessments.' Nick Sanderson, Audley Group chief executive, said: 'We are committed to providing both current and prospective owners full transparency on fees.' The hope? To break down male resistance to safety measures across all cultures. The men who think a mask makes them look weak. The men who think they are too powerful to be taken down by a virus. The men who don't want to be told what to do. The men who think their wives worry too much. Darren DeLone is a 6-foot-7, 340-pound former offensive tackle and father of four. He always gathers up his hand sanitizer, gloves and mask when he ventures out. He was happy to lend his voice to the chorus. Just lead by example, he said. Its important to wear a mask no matter how big or small you are. What you do could help out the community. The men in the video are real dads, Dania DeLone said. These are our dads, right here, because right now our pandemic is on the rise. Theres too much that is on the line. Partnership for a Healthy Lincoln, MilkWorks and others have shared the video on their social media platforms. Its been viewed more than 1,000 times on YouTube in two weeks. European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen marked Roma Holocaust Memorial Day on Sunday with an appeal to EU member states to protect today's minorities from discrimination and racism. And she paid tribute to Raymond Gureme, a French Roma survivor of the internment camps, who died in May, aged 94. "We consider it a moral duty to acknowledge and remember all those who suffered under the Nazi regime: among those people were the Roma," Von der Leyen said in a joint statement with Commission Vice President Vera Jourova and Equality Commissioner Helena Dalli. In addition to more than six million Jews who died at the hands of the Nazis during World War II, half a million Roma -- about a quarter of their population -- suffered the same fate. "Remembering their persecution reminds us of the need to tackle the challenges they still face today and which are too often overlooked," the statement said. "Europe has a duty to protect its minorities from racism and discrimination," von der Leyen said. "As the number of survivors and witnesses of these atrocities is dwindling, it is our duty, now more than ever, to continue their work of memory and to pass on their testimonies," their statement added. - Discrimination continues - "We must replace anti-gypsyism with openness and acceptance, hate speech and hate crime with tolerance and respect for human dignity, and bullying with education about the Holocaust," it said. For his part, European Parliament president David Sassoli marked the day with a call for active remembrance, saying in a Tweet: "Remembering must never become a hollow act, it requires constant effort and will." Echoing von der Leyen, he said anti-Roma prejudice should be fought "at every level", and urged Europeans to "continue to protect the values that underpin EU integration". Von der Leyen, in her tribute to Gureme, described him as "a historical figure of the French Gypsy community". "He will be remembered for fighting to the very end for the rights and dignity of Roma, for his combat against all forms of racism; and for his struggle for the recognition of the Romani Holocaust," she added. To this day, Roma children are segregated in mainstream schools in several central and eastern European countries, the UN educational agency UNESCO said in a report in June. In Hungary, segregation of pupils on ethnic grounds is illegal but the practice is widespread, particularly in areas with large populations of Roma, the country's largest ethnic minority at around seven percent of the 9.7 million population. August 2 was designated the European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day in 2015. The Roma and Sinti murdered during the Holocaust are honoured at a memorial site in the former Nazi concentration camp Buchenwald in eastern Germany BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 2 By Fidan Babayeva Trend: The biggest volume of fruits and vegetables from Azerbaijan from January through May 2020 was exported to Russia, Head of the Azerbaijani Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association Bashir Guliyev told Trend on July 3. Guliyev reminded that tomatoes, hazelnuts and potatoes were mainly exported from Azerbaijan since the beginning of the year. "Fruits and vegetables worth $236.5 million have been exported from Azerbaijan since the beginning of 2020," head of the association said. "The revenues from the export of tomatoes amounted to $123.1 million, which is 18.1 percent more than in the same period of last year. Hazelnuts worth $51 million and potatoes worth $23.2 million were exported during the reporting period." Guliyev stressed that the export of products from Azerbaijan did not cease, but temporarily decreased. "A decrease in export volume is primarily unprofitable for farmers as they incur losses," head of the association added. "The main foreign markets importing Azerbaijani fruits and vegetables are Russia and Belarus." The Azerbaijani Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association was established on September 16, 2016, to coordinate the activity of entrepreneurs engaged in the production and export of fruits and vegetables in the country, expand cooperation among them, increase the total production volume of fruits and vegetables and expand the country's export opportunities. Currently, there are 60 members of the association. ---- Follow the author on Twitter: Fidan_Babaeva Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 22:05:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANOI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported 34 new cases of COVID-19 infection on Sunday, bringing its total confirmed cases to 620, as well as two more deaths from the disease, according to its Ministry of Health. Vietnam's central city of Da Nang, the country's epicenter at the moment, reported 16 new cases on Sunday while its central Quang Nam province confirmed nine new cases, including a 100-year-old female patient, according to the health ministry. The country's southern Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai province, central Quang Ngai province, central highlands Dak Lak province and northern Ha Nam province reported six new cases in total. The other three new cases have all recently entered the country from abroad, including two from Russia and one from the United States, according to the ministry. The ministry also confirmed on Sunday that two more COVID-19 patients died in the country, bringing the death toll to five, noting that both patients were aged over 80 with underlying medical conditions. A total of 373 COVID-19 patients have recovered in Vietnam while there are over 94,200 people being quarantined and monitored in the country as of Sunday, according to the ministry. Enditem The governments official data on the coronavirus outbreak is startling: More than 4.6 million cases in the U.S. More than 440,000 in Texas. More than 70,000 in Harris County. But those numbers dont include all positive COVID-19 patients. Texas, unlike 27 other states, excludes the results of increasingly popular, rapid COVID-19 tests from the numbers it reports publicly obscuring the scope of the pandemic, records and interviews show. The antigen tests are used in doctors offices, hospitals and stand-alone clinics and deliver results in less than 30 minutes. But conflicting guidance from the Texas Department of State Health Services created confusion among local health departments about what test results to report. A reliance on faxed test results has created a paper backlog that makes it impossible for the state to do its own tally. And while there is no way to independently estimate the scope of the undercount, based on the 11 Texas counties that publish antigen tests results separately of their own accord, the states tally is short by at least tens of thousands of cases but likely far more, a Houston Chronicle analysis found. And the undercount is about to get worse. The federal government is rolling out a program to use thousands of antigen tests in nursing homes across the country including Texas. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa, D-Austin, who serves as vice-chair of the House committee that oversees the states public health agencies, said the lack of reliable data is hindering the overall COVID-19 response effort in Texas. The only way people will be inspired to act right without government mandates is if they have the information they need to make smart choices, Hinojosa told the Chronicle. And that has been just impossible to come by. The antigen test was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May under an emergency authorization. They are considered to be less reliable than the molecular polymerase chain reaction, or PCR tests which are highly accurate but typically have to be shipped out to laboratories for analysis. With the current backlogs, those tests can take a week or more for results. Marie D. De Jesus, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer But according to the FDA, the risk is not that the antigen tests will result in false positives indicating someone has COVID-19 when they do not. The concern is that they are more likely to result in a false negative meaning they fail to detect when someone has COVID-19. The state, following U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention instructions, considers people with a positive antigen test to be a probable case of COVID-19. And DSHS policy is to report only confirmed cases to the public, although that may soon change, said Chris Van Deusen, the agencys spokesman. Were doing things weve never had to do before, Van Deusen said. Were doing the best we can. Local health departments fax case reports to the state for each positive coronavirus test result, documenting on the form which kind of test was administered. But with hundreds of thousands of reports coming in from across Texas, DSHS staff cant tally up the results in time to report them daily to the public. Instead, the agency relies on its own regional offices and county websites for its daily update of coronavirus statistics. Since most counties arent reporting the number of positive antigen tests results on their websites, the state has no way to report the number publicly yet. The tests are becoming an increasingly larger part of the surveillance effort for the coronavirus. BD, one of the major producers of antigen tests in the U.S., has distributed more than 750,000 of the tests so far. The company expects to manufacture 2 million tests a week by the end of September. Without better data, the state cannot communicate to the public a clear picture of the pandemics scope, experts said. Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist with UTHealth School of Public Health in Houston, said the number of both kinds of tests should be reported publicly. It gives you a better idea of whats happening in the community, she said. In early May, DSHS sent new instructions to county health departments on how to report coronavirus cases to the state. It explicitly told counties to note probable cases and the type of test done on the form so the state could send that data to the CDC. But the agency did not want those results published for the public. On July 16, DSHS removed almost 3,500 cases from Bexar Countys case totals, saying the cases were probable and not confirmed because they were from antigen test results. San Antonio officials pushed back. To be clear, this is not an error in Metro Healths reporting, said Colleen Bridger, San Antonios interim director of public health, in a press release. This is a disagreement over what should be reported in total counts. We will continue to align our definitions with those from the CDC and the Texas Department of State Health Services, while honoring the states request to separate probable cases. Bexar County was not alone. Ten other counties include antigen positives in its public reports. Nueces County is also reporting antigen positive results in the totals it sends to the state. About 2,500 of its 12,478 cases come from antigen tests, according to Annette Rodriguez, the health director for the Corpus Christi Nueces County Public Health District. Rodriguez said the decision was discussed with the state and local officials. Were trying to be as transparent as we can, Rodriguez said. Problems at the state level also affect the national tally of COVID-19 cases. The CDC requires states to report antigen test results, but an official with the agency confirmed to the Chronicle that Texas has not done so. The exclusion of antigen test results is the latest example of the states struggle with data collection and reporting. It took months for the state to include cases from prisons in its tally. Antibody test results, which show whether someone once had the virus, not whether they are actively sick, were included for weeks against the guidance of epidemiologists. Last week, the state started using death certificate data only for its coronavirus death statistics, increasing its total death number by 700. The critical data gaps worry lawmakers, hospital administrators and emergency responders who are on the front lines of an outbreak spinning out of control. I spend all my time trying to figure out what are the facts on the ground and if Im struggling to understand that, given the access to information that I have, then I can guarantee you that the average person just trying to make it through this with their family doesnt understand how bad things are, Hinojosa added. matt.dempsey@chron.com stephanie.lamm@chron.com jordan.rubio@chron.com Robin Swann has admitted that the draconian lockdown regulations were hard for his two children. Speaking to Interim Mental Health Champion Professor Siobhan ONeil, the Health Minister said his family had struggled during the pandemic. He insisted, however, the restrictions were essential to protect the public and people like his son Ewan (7), who was born with a heart defect. All the measures we used were draconian they are not in my political DNA. Theyre not what I wanted to do, but it was the right thing. My wee boy has heart disease he was 13 months old before he got out of hospital, so the NHS means a lot to me. It wasnt just important to me as Health Minister to get it right it was as a father, as a husband, as a son. Theres a big responsibility there, but one of the things that I found was that people were taking it personally... they were understanding what it meant to their loved ones. Mr Swann was previously criticised for saying that, in the worst-case scenario, the virus could kill 15,000 people in Northern Ireland. It later emerged that, in the interests of public safety, he had decided against making the best-case scenario public. But the Health Minister defended his decision in the interview, saying: It was important to get (the 15,000 figure) out there so that people could understand that if we didnt get this right, if the people of Northern Ireland didnt follow the guidance, thats where we could have ended up. He stressed that with the virus still present in the community, his biggest fear was complacency. Mr Swann also touched on the risks faced by teachers and kids as they prepare to go back to school. He said he believed the emotional impact of lockdown had children had been huge. At that age, it is (about) social interaction, the minister said. Its not so much about what they learn in the classroom, it is that interaction with friends. We have a seven-year-old and a nine-year-old and I can see it starting. Zoom calls with friends are now starting to last longer. In the background you can hear, I miss you. Its hard as a father to hear that. I think there are children out there looking to get back to their friends, especially those at critical ages. Donald Trump has hit out at America's tech billionaires, saying there is 'too much income disparity' in the US, as he shared a video clip on Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos's multibillion-dollar fortune. Trump on Saturday said 'changes must be made soon', after tweeting a Business Insider video showing how the country's richest tech execs have only grown richer during the coronavirus pandemic. Meanwhile, 40million Americans have filed for unemployment. Trump on Saturday said there was 'too much income disparity' in America after tweeting a video on Jeff Bezos's enormous wealth The president shared a Business Insider report which showed how Bezos and other tech billionaires have increased their profits during the coronavirus pandemic. Report showed Bezos's net worth (the yellow line) increased a whopping $48billion between March and June, while unemployment (the orange line) dropped The report showed Bezos, the world's richest man who is worth $117billion, raked in a whopping $48billion between March and June. At the same time, Zoom CEO Eric Yuan saw his income increase by $2.5billion, while former Microsoft chief and now LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer made an extra $15.7billion. Collectively, America's billionaires made a total of $637billion during the height of a global health crisis that has otherwise destroyed the economy, according to BI. 'I actually agree with this. Too much income disparity! Changes must be made, and soon!' Trump said on Twitter. The president's comments come days after a high-profile congressional hearing during which lawmakers accused Amazon, Facebook, Apple and Google of crushing rivals to boost profits. Bezos, the world's richest man, has been criticized over his immense wealth over the years America's largest tech firms have come under fire over the years due to their enormous power and wealth, prompting calls for government regulation. Bezos has also been criticized over his immense wealth, particularly when it comes to the issue of income disparity in America, with the billionaire being accused of greed after it was revealed Amazon had avoided paying income taxes in 2018. It also comes amid mounting pressure for Republicans and Democrats to finalize a deal for a fourth stimulus package after the government's $600-per-week unemployment benefits expired this week. Trump on Thursday promised he would push for Congress to include in the fourth COVID-19 stimulus package another round of checks for Americans similar to the $1,200 checks that were circulated, and signed by the president, earlier this year. Kabul, Aug 2 : Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security (NDS) has said that it had killed Assadullah Orakzai, the intelligence head for the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), it was reported. The NDS told TOLO News that the IS commander was killed on Saturday during an operation near Jalalabad city, the capial of Nangarhar province. "The Special Units of the NDS have eliminated Ziaurrahman known as Assadullah Orakzai, the native of Akhel Orakzai agency of Pakistan during a targeted operation," the agency said in a statement late Saturday night. According to the NDS, Orakzai was involved in plotting deadly attacks on a number of military and civilian targets in Afghanistan. The group carried out the March 25 Kabul gurdwara attack in which at least 25 Sikhs were massacred. On April 4, the NDS announced the arrest of Abdullah Orakzai, who is known as Aslam Farooqi, the leader of the ISKP and 19 other IS members. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text In fact, the EU has been one of Vietnam's leading trading partners for many years, with two-way trade revenue of US$56.4 billion in 2019, including revenue of US$41.5 billion from Vietnams exports to the EU and US$14.9 billion from Vietnams imports from the EU. Notably, the import-export structure between Vietnam and the EU is very complementary due to the difference in strengths and characteristics of exported goods from the two sides. Vietnam has strengths in exporting various goods to the EU such as phones and components; computers, electronic products and components; textiles, aquatic products, machinery, equipment and spare parts, while Vietnam imports products like machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts; medicine; computers, electronic products and components; chemicals; and others. Before the effectiveness of the EVFTA, the EU provided Vietnam with preferential import tariffs under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). To facilitate businesses, the EVFTA has regulations on the relationship between tax rates under the agreement and the tax rates under the GSP that the EU is giving to Vietnam. Specifically, the EVFTA stipulates that EU preferential tax rates in any case must not be higher than the rates applied to goods originating from Vietnam before the date of the EVFTA taking effect. At the same time, from when the EVFTA takes effect, nearly 100% of tariffs on Vietnams exports to the EU will be eliminated after a short roadmap (maximum of seven years). Thus, over the first seven years, Vietnamese goods exported to the EU will enjoy very preferential tax rates and then the import tax rates on goods from Vietnam will be basically cut to 0%. It can be said that this is the highest level of commitment that a partner has provided for our country in a signed free trade agreement. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the economic and trade situation in Vietnam. The country's total export revenue in the first half of 2020 decreased by 2.1% compared to the same period last year. In this context, the implementation of EVFTA is expected to create more motivation for domestic enterprises to recover and develop production and business activities. Under the EVFTA, Vietnamese businesses will have the opportunity to access a market of nearly 500 million people with an average GDP of over US$35,000 and a zero tax rate right from the moment the agreement takes effect for more than 85% of the tax lines. In addition, businesses can participate in new supply chains to replace traditional supply chains that have been disrupted or stalled due to the pandemic, while expanding and diversifying import and export markets, reducing the dependence on several specific markets. However, experts say that the Government and businesses still must make a lot of preparations to realise the opportunities. Concerned ministries, branches and agencies need to quickly complete the implementation plan of the deal as well as issuing the necessary legal documents and strengthening dialogues and exchanges with the business community to remove obstacles in production and business activities. Meanwhile, businesses should actively study the content of the agreement and fully prepare human resources, finances, and other necessary conditions to be able to meet the requirements of the agreement and the whole EU market. A BSF constable and two others were arrested in a cross-border drugs and weapons smuggling racket, the Punjab police said on Sunday. A 30-bore, made-in-China pistol, five live cartridges and Rs 24.5 lakh were recovered from the accused, identified as Border Security Force (BSF) constable Rajendra Prashad and two locals, Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh, said Punjab director general of police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta. The BSF constable is a resident of Rajasthan and was posted at a border outpost at Chhina village in Taran Tarn district. DGP Gupta said the police are working on getting the kingpin of the racket, Satnam Singh alias Satta, extradited from Muscat, Oman, where he had fled after being declared a proclaimed offender in two smuggling cases. Satta had used a fake passport and Aadhar card issued in the name of Gurmeet Singh to escape, said the DGP. Sattas ill-gotten property, which he had purchased in the name of his relative Maninder Kaur, at Sandhu Colony Amritsar, has been frozen, he added. HOW THEY WERE CAUGHT As per information, the Jalandhar police had apprehended Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh on July 26 following a tip-off. They were coming in a Verna car from Delhi at the time and police had recovered 25-gm heroin from their possession. During questioning, the duo had revealed that they worked with a cross-border smuggler Satnam Singh, who was closely linked with Pak-based heroin and weapons smugglers. They also disclosed that BSF constable Rajendra Prashad was part of the smuggling racket. On July 28, the police nabbed BSF constable Prashad from his residence in Rawala Mandi in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan. During questioning, the BSF constable revealed that he had been roped into the drug smuggling racket by Satnam Singh, who promised him money for ignoring the smuggling of arms and narcotics consignment through his border post. He then allowed the gang to bring in a consignment of 17 kg heroin and two foreign-made pistols in May. This time again, Satnam Singh, in connivance with Rajendra Prashad, Surmail Singh and Gurjant Singh, was to bring in another consignment of heroin and arms from his Pakistan-based handlers. Satnam had allegedly given Rs 5 lakh and a mobile phone to Prashad in advance for receiving this composite consignment. Prashad is the second BSF constable to be arrested by the Punjab police in a cross-border smuggling racket in the past few days. The police had recently arrested another BSF constable, Sumit Kumar, posted at Sambha in Jammu and Kashmir, in another cross-border smuggling case. With PTI inputs Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty Look alive, America: What happened to Stacey Abrams is about to happen nationally. If you recall, the 2018 Georgia gubernatorial race was rife with voter suppression, voter disinformation, and finally the downright theft of an election by Brian Kemp, the secretary of state and Republican candidate. Kemp used his authority as secretary of state to control the allocation of resources, ballots, and election day procedures in one of the most egregious abuses of electoral power this side of Bush v. Gore. What Kemp did to Abrams in November of 2018 laid out a winning dirty playbook that the GOP is about to roll out nationwide, with partisan officials charged with running state elections using voter suppression and disenfranchisement tactics to chip away at Democratic votes and the electoral process itself. As weve seen in primaries over the last few months, expect long lines, inadequate numbers of poll workers and ballots in certain (Democratic) areas, and white nationalists serving as de facto security guards at select polling sites throughout the South and Midwest. All this is happening as many voters will be casting absentee ballots for the first time because of the coronavirus, overwhelming the capabilities of often underfunded and partisan elected officials and creating a treasure trove of opportunities for lawyers and party activists to delay and legally contest results. Stacey Abrams Is the Only Vice Presidential Pick for Joe Biden. Heres Why. The possibility of a New York debaclewhere it takes weeks to determine winners, and many votes are wasted or spoiled thanks to the failures of the voting system, voter confusion and issues with the mail as each state has its own rules for when ballots must be submitted to be countedis quite real. What Americans need and deserve are electoral systems throughout the country that are run by competent and nonpartisan individuals who respect the rule of law and the will of the people. But thats not what we have. Story continues One of the dark and dishonest talking points the president often returns to, most recently in his tweet Thursday musing about just rain-checking the election, is the idea that Americans cheat at the polls (and specifically that they cheat against him). Although most members of his administration (and family) routinely vote by mail, the president has insisted that the use of the U.S. Postal Service is a means of increasing voter fraud. In fact, not only did the president and vice president vote by mail, so did the presidents wife and daughter Ivanka, Attorney General Bill Barr, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, and roughly a dozen other inner Trump circle officials. Essentially, Republicans voting by mail is deemed safe and acceptable, but Democrats voting by mail is cheating and a version of voter fraud, according to the president. His attacks on voting by mail along with his efforts to drastically defund the U.S. Postal Service are clearly a way of setting up a scapegoat in advance should he lose the electoral vote along with the popular vote this timeand to increase his legal and political options if he should lose narrowly in a handful of key states. In order for Biden to solidify his current lead and win by an undisputable margin, he will need to keep a close eye on the referees running our election. If he wins, restoring the systems intended to protect the integrity of our elections should be one of his first priorities. The stakes couldnt be higher: Past the presidency, this years statewide election results will affect the Census, the redrawing of political lines in each state and the allocation of resources and political power for the next decade. Georgias example shows that Republicans are comfortable disenfranchising voters to win that fight; it remains to be seen if Democrats are willing to fight to protect democracy. It is not necessary for the Biden team to reinvent the wheel; it is crucial that they keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes focused. During the 2018 campaign, Abrams and her team built an extensive grassroots campaign strategy that extended across the 159 counties in Georgia. After the election was taken from her, Abrams and her team launched Fair Fight, an organization dedicated to litigation, legislation, and advocacy in order to support voter protection programs at state parties around the country. Whoever Biden picks for his running mate, he should lean on Abrams and other policy-makers who know and understand the real threat of voter disenfranchisement and how to combat it. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wished speedy recovery of Union Home Secretary who has tested positive for COVID-19. "Heard about the Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji being tested positive for #COVID-19. Wishing him a speedy recovery. My prayers are with him and his family," Banerjee tweeted. Earlier in the day, Shah said he has tested positive for and is getting admitted to a hospital following the advice of doctors. (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.) Up to 60 healthcare professionals will be part of a team based in the territorys first makeshift hospital. Healthcare workers and experts from mainland China are in Hong Kong for the first time to help battle its coronavirus outbreak. Up to 60 healthcare professionals will be part of a team based in the territorys first makeshift hospital. Hospitals and testing centres were already reaching capacity, before plans were announced to test all 7.5 million people living there. But, as Al Jazeeras Divya Gopalan reports, their arrival is also causing concern. Bali has reopened its borders to tourists, but Australians won't be allowed in. The famous holiday island opened its doors for Indonesian locals on July 31 to save the tourist-driven economy from complete collapse amid COVID-19 lockdowns. While the local government plans to allow foreigners in from September 11, Bali's borders won't be open to Australians - as the nation battles through a second wave. Tourists from Australia represented the largest group to visit the resort island in previous years, with 1.3 million people flying to its famous beaches in 2019. Australian residents now need permission from the federal government to leave the country on the limited number of international flights, as the number of infections soars beyond 17,000 - the highest number since the initial outbreak in March. Bali opened its doors for Indonesian locals on July 31. Pictured: A woman in a medical mask walks along a beach in Lombok Tourists from Australia represented the largest group to visit the resort island in previous years. Pictured: A tourist wearing face mask lies on a beach in Bali on July 27, 2020 The global pandemic costs the holiday island about $950million for every month the borders are closed, according to head of the Bali government's tourism department, Putu Astawa. 'With the re-opening we have not set a target yet. We aim to get the trust of international visitors. We need to ensure those who will come are healthy tourists and that they stay healthy while holidaying in Bali,' he said. Balinese business owners desperate to rekindle sales say they will adjust to a new market without international visitors. Rizky Nuari, the regional manager for the Johnny Rockets restaurant in Seminyak, told WA Today people use to queue out the door for a seat, but now it's lucky to get ten customers. Balinese business owners desperate to rekindle sales say they will adjust to a new market without international visitors. Pictured: People in face masks on Kuta Beach in March Airport officers line up as they welcome passengers at Bali airport on Friday July 31, 2020 'Our market is mostly international tourists, about 80 per cent, and out of that 80 per cent about 60 to 75 per cent were Australians. We will have to adjust to a new market if Australians and international tourists are not coming back soon.' The establishment was forced to cut its staff from 60 people to 15 and paused the construction of three new restaurants. Made Merta, the general manager of the five star Inaya Putri Bali hotel in Nusa Dua, said occupancy has plunged by 84 per cent. 'Now in July we are down to just two per cent occupancy rate,' he said, 'we have operated with just a skeleton staff, we used to employ 475 workers, now we have only around 200 staff.' Business in Bali lose about $950million per month while the borders are closed. Pictured: A nearly empty beach in Kuta, Bali Empty chairs line Kuta Beach as tourism on the resort island has dropped due to the coronavirus outbreak in Bali The hotel is now offering the 270 million potential visitors from Indonesia discounts of up to 50 per cent. Despite initial low case numbers in Bali, positive test results have risen in recent weeks and 47 new cases were reported on Friday - bringing the island's total to 3,360 infections with 48 deaths. Indonesia has recorded a total of 108,376 cases with 5,131 deaths, and has suffered about 1,600 new cases each day over the last month. Passengers arrives as Bali's tourism reopen for domestic visitors at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia on July 31 Within the past week, the Asian nation recorded 2,000 new infections per day twice. Locals visiting the resort will need to take coronavirus test before travel, and wear a face mask and wash their hands on arrival. Holiday makers will also have to abide by social distancing protocols during their stay and provide their details to the Love Bali website or app in the event of an outbreak. The Indonesian government is also considering opening a travel bubble with neighbouring countries, such as the Philippines, to reestablish tourism. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 00:49:52|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Various sectors in Hong Kong have shown support for the decision, made by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) in Council, to postpone the 2020 Legislative Council (LegCo) election of the HKSAR. Chief Executive of the HKSAR Carrie Lam announced on Friday the postponement of the election, originally scheduled for Sept. 6, 2020, for one year due to the current COVID-19 outbreak. The Police Force Council Staff Associations of Hong Kong issued a statement, saying that in order to protect public health and ensure the orderly conduct of the election, the associations understand and support the HKSAR government in postponing the election. At this difficult time, the health of the public is the primary consideration, according to the associations, expressing the hope that everyone can work together to combat the COVID-19 outbreak so that the society can restore stability as soon as possible. The Government Employee Association of Hong Kong said in a statement that in the face of the pandemic, the HKSAR government must give priority to public health and public health. The LegCo election is a large-scale public event, which will increase the risk of transmission of the virus and pose a threat to public health. It is imperative to prevent and control the outbreak, especially to reduce social contact and reduce the risk of transmission. President of the Friends of Hong Kong Association Henry Tang Ying-yen said that it is important for the Hong Kong society to concentrate on combating the COVID-19 outbreak. Postponing the election can reduce the risk of transmitting the disease through group gathering. If the LegCo election, which involves millions of voters, is held as scheduled, it is unlikely that it can be held in a fair and just environment, while the risk of the public being infected will also be increased, Tang said, adding that the decision of the HKSAR government is an expression of responsibility. Lam Shuk Yee, honorary president of the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, said the decision of the HKSAR government to postpone the election is legal, reasonable and necessary in the face of the severe situation of COVID-19. She believed that it is a sensible way to protect people's health, which will be understood by most people in Hong Kong. Pansy Ho, chairperson of the Hong Kong Federation of Women, expressed her understanding of the HKSAR government's decision to postpone the election as it prioritizes fighting the outbreak and safeguarding public health. Anthony Wu, former chairman of Hong Kong's Hospital Authority, said that Hong Kong has faced a new wave of outbreak since early July, and the number of new confirmed cases exceeded 100 each day, making it necessary to postpone the election. Raymond Tam Chi-yuen, former Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs of the HKSAR government, said that as the epidemic continues to be severe, the decision of the HKSAR government is understandable as it will safeguard the health and safety of the public. Vincent Lee Kwan-ho, a former independent non-executive director of the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited, said the postponement of the election is conducive to ensuring the safety and health of the public, as it avoids mass gatherings and reduces the risk of the spread of the virus. It also enables the HKSAR government and the society to focus their efforts and resources on the epidemic prevention and fight against the virus. It is an expression of responsibility for the health of the public, Lee added. Enditem Muslims across the country yesterday chose to celebrate this years Eid Adha in smaller groups rather than the large congregation of worshippers that usually characterise the morning prayers held to commemorate the Festival of Sacrifice. Rather than going to the various regional prayer grounds that characterised previous celebrations, many worshippers (beautifully dressed celebrants) congregated at their respective community mosques to pray as agreed upon and directed by the various regional Imams. This year, the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible for them to gather to celebrate the Eid-ul-Fitr, the first festival after the Ramadan, due to the restriction on social and religious gatherings, thus many took advantage of the eased restrictions to come together to pray and celebrate, Though restrictions imposed in March to curb the spread of COVID-19 have been eased to have a number of worshippers at the place of worship for two hours, the leaders in the various communities in adherence to the safety protocols, kept the prayers. Many of the regional Chief Imams used the occasion to preach peace and pray for peaceful general elections in December The worshippers said they were happy to be able to come together to pray as the day also fell on Friday, their normal day for Jummah. It is indeed not in normal times and we all know that the pandemic is still with us, so we are happy and grateful that we could come together to pray at our mosque as during the Eid El Fitr we were restricted to our homes, Alhaji Rabiu Tanko, a Muslim at Bolgatanga, told the Daily Graphic. Sunyani At the Sunyani Zongo, where most of the activities were concentrated, sacrificial animals such as bulls, sheep and goats were tied at the entrances of almost all the houses for the occasion, reports Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah. Those animals were sacrificed after the morning prayers which were held at the community mosque. After the prayers, a number of the Muslim youth, dressed in their festive clothes, were seen parading from one end of the community to the other. In an interview, a Muslim opinion leader, Alhaji Baba Gausu, called on the youth in the various Zongo communities not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to cause mayhem before, during and after the 2020 general election. "Islam is a religion of peace and we should, therefore, exhibit our faith as such", he stated and called on them to comport themselves while celebrating the occasion. Bolgatanga From Bolgatanga, Vincent Amenuveve reports that Muslims did not gather at the Bolgatanga Crafts Village park for their usual congregational prayers and sacrifice to mark the occasion. Led by the Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Adam, Muslims at their various mosques prayed for peaceful elections this year as well as for the leadership of the country for Allah to grant them wisdom to be able steer the affairs of the country in the face of the COVID-19 challenges. After the prayers, some Muslims shared food with their neighbours, while others reached out to the needy as well to mark the occasion. Tamale Eid prayers were not held yesterday at the Jubilee Park in Tamale, the Northern Regional capital, to mark this year's Eid-ul-Adha celebration, which has been the venue for the annual Eid prayers, reports Samuel Duodu. In a message to mark the celebration, the Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Ahmed, urged Muslims in the region to continue to observe the COVID-19 safety protocols including all the hygiene practices to help curb the spread of the virus. A heavy downpour in Tamale did not prevent the people from attending the prayers in the various satellite mosques. The Ambariya Sunni Community, however, held congregational prayers at a park at Nashegu, a suburb of Tamale, amid strict adherence to the COVID-19 protocols. Ho From Ho, Bright Selase Afavi reports that the acting Volta Regional Chief Imam, Alfa Anas Hamidu, advised the Muslim community, especially the youth, to desist from causing trouble before, during after the forthcoming December 7 general election and rather conduct themselves peacefully. "Always they say the Zongo people are trouble causers so I urge you to disengage yourselves from any group of people that will influence you to cause trouble so that we can live in peace and harmony during the election", he added. Koforidua From the Koforidua Zongo in the New Juaben South Municipality of the Eastern Region, the Eastern Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Yussif Amudani Sulemana, led the prayers and urged Muslim youth in the Zongo communities in the region to shun political vigilantism since that would tarnish the image of Islam, reports Haruna Wumpuni. He also advised them to say no to politicians who would want to use them to foment trouble at this year's elections. According to him, Islam meant peace and submission to the will of Allah, saying that all Muslims must bear in mind to live with it at all times. "We need absolute peace before, during and after the December polls,he said. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for New Juaben South, Mr Isaac Appaw-Gyasi, who joined the prayers, entreated the worshippers to continue to pray for the nation so that the December elections would be conducted peacefully devoid of acrimony and rancour. Prayers despite rains From Wa, Emmanuel Modey reports that in spite of heavy rains earlier in the morning, Muslims gathered at the Wa Central Mosque where the sermon was preached by the new Regional Chief Imam, Alhaji Yahaya Ahmed Nanjo. In wishing them Allah's blessings and peace upon their homes and families, Alhaji Nanjo urged the worshippers not to live out the significance of the celebration. So just as Abraham did in obedience to Allah, he admonished them to be obedient to authority and patriotic in life. Source: Graphiconline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video By Tina Bellon (Reuters) - Tesla Inc Chief Executive Elon Musk said in a podcast released on Friday that demand for the company's electric vehicles remained strong throughout the coronavirus pandemic, with consumers preferring to shop online. Musk, talking to Automotive News' Daily Drive podcast, said having a traditional dealer network - something he considered in the past - appears increasingly unnecessary. "We saw strong orders through the whole pandemic, we still had a good order volume," Musk said. "I guess people are less inclined to want to go to a dealership, do the test drive and hang out in the lobby and that kind of thing." Asked about a 2020 meteoric stock rally that has pushed Tesla shares up more than 240% from the start of the year and made the company the world's most highly-valued carmaker, Musk said the market would eventually sort itself out. He added that as long as Tesla made great cars, investors would be happy. In a May 1 tweet, Musk said Tesla's share price was "too high," at a time when shares where trading at around $700 - roughly half of where they are now. Shares on Friday were down 2.2% at $1,454. In the podcast interview, Musk also praised the Chinese work ethic and criticized U.S. attitudes. "China rocks in my opinion," Musk said. "There are a lot of smart, hard-working people and ... they're not entitled, they're not complacent, whereas I see in the United States increasingly much more complacency and entitlement." Tesla has built a factory in Shanghai and seen a sharp increase in Chinese demand for its Model 3 sedans. The company recently has also launched a hiring spree in Shanghai as it ramps up production and prepares to manufacture its new Model Y sport utility vehicle at the plant. (Reporting by Tina Bellon in New York; Editing by David Gregorio and Paul Simao) Nigeria Parents Forum, NPF, has taken note of the concerns of Nigeria Medical Association predicting doom for the country should schools resume on 4th August, 2020 as announced by the Federal Government of Nigeria. To further buttress the position of NMA, the association's National President, Prof. Innocent Ujah in an interview the NMA President granted to a national daily, made references to South Africa and Ghana which opened schools but had to close them down because of Covid-19 spike. Prof. Ujah in a later part of the interview admitted that "... some have made reference to the fact that it (Ghana) has re-opened (schools)". The NMA boss advised that "the circumstances that led to re-opening (of schools) in Ghana should be studied because it is not enough to import cut-and paste ideas." Prof. Ujah's interview on the proposed school resumption; and roles of the Nigeria Medical Association over the years especially NMA's responses so far to the Corona virus pandemic and the development of the Nigerian healthcare sector smack of abdication of duties and intellectual complacency. Without prejudice to the patriotic efforts of some members of Nigeria Medical Association, Nigeria Parents Forum is worried that a frontline professional association like NMA expected to exploit scientific methods to set precedents and break all barriers to Nigerians' healthcare have abandoned these roles and taken up roles of prophets of doom and alarmists. Nigeria Parents Forum recalls that since the Covid-19 pandemic, the Nigerian Medical Association has not generated any autochthonous or home-made scientific response to the pandemic. All we have had from NMA are alarms, prophecies of impending doom and robotic application of foreign templates to Nigerians even when it is clear that the strain of Covid-19 in Africa, nay Nigeria, is different from that in Europe; and in spite of the fact that Africans who are generally negroids are not as vulnerable to respiratory diseases as caucasians, mongoloids and other peoples of the world. It is also sad that NMA never showed sufficient interests in the efforts of local researchers in search of panaceas to the pandemic. Prof. Ujah and the NMA need to tell Nigerians what local content the professional body has generated or infused in the global bid to contain the virus. At least, the entire world saw the creative efforts of medical professionals and researchers in Ghana, Madagascar et cetera which were beyond the routine frontline professional duties at the isolation centres. It is also disheartening that the statistics of Covid-19 cases which in Nigeria which Prof. Ujah taunted in the interview contained the number of Covid-19 deaths in Nigeria and excluded the number of Covid-19 recoveries and the drugs used to treat them. What is the position of NMA on the recent revelations of Nigerian-trained Dr. Immanuel at Washington DC over Covid-19 cure and prevention? Prof. Ujah should steer the Nigerian Medical Association out of stereotype and intellectual complacency and the tradition of passing blames to Government. NMA and Nigerian researchers should emulate the courage and intiatives of scientists of the Research And Production agency of the defunct Republic of Biafra who in the face of the civil war emergency broke routine barriers of science and technology and made useful inventions which sustained the young but now defunct Republic without Government assistance. Nigeria Parents Forum hereby rejects the faulty and unorthodox opinion of NMA on the planned resumption of schools as stated by Prof. Innocent Ujah and frowns at the fact that NMA has ignored the danger of ignorance to humanity. If markets and worship places have opened in Nigeria and there were no spikes, schools which run on a near-regimental administrative set-up should resume without extra-curricular activities especially for examination classes which include primary 6, junior secondary 3 and senior secondary 3 classes. Covid-19 is injurious to humanity, but ignorance is far more injurious to humanity. Our responses to the pandemic should not promote ignorance by locking down schools perpetually over a virus that has no timeline. Nigeria Parents Forum stands by the Federal Government of Nigeria and indeed other State Governments; and encourages them in their bid to unlock schools for the education of Nigeria's future generations on 4th August, 2020. Man is a purpose-oriented creature whose life is not meant to be kept in the safe but to spent in utilitarian interactions. Nigeria Parents Forum is also seeing the emerging light at the end of the tunnel of Covid-19 pandemic; and prays God to stoke that light into full dazzle for the benefit of mankind and the glory of His name. (Monday Eze is the National Coordinator of Nigeria Parents Forum) She endured multiple failed IVF attempts before welcoming her miracle baby, a daughter named Ruby, with her husband Trent in 2018. And Australian Ninja Warrior host Rebecca Maddern, 42, has reflected upon her battle with infertility, which she says left her feeling 'alone and overwhelmed'. 'For many years, I subconsciously [implied to reporters] that I didn't want children. Little did they know I was having a very private battle,' she told The Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday. 'You feel very alone and overwhelmed': Rebecca Maddern, 42, (left) has revealed she felt 'alone and overwhelmed' during her painful fertility battle, before finally welcoming daughter Ruby (right) 'I remember leaving the [IVF] clinic one day feeling like I was living in a different universe to everyone else,' she later continued. Rebecca recalled one instance where she had to inject fertility medication while working as a journalist reporting at a remote location. After giving herself the injection, she sat in the car and cried. Struggles: 'For many years, I subconsciously [implied to reporters] that I didn't want children. Little did they know I was having a very private battle,' she told The Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday 'You feel very alone and overwhelmed,' Channel Nine's Weekend Today personality admitted. Rebecca, also described her painful experience living with endometriosis, a condition where tissue that usually lines the uterus grows outside the uterus. After suffering with the condition since her teenage years, Rebecca finally decided to go under the knife to have her excess endometrial tissue removed after starting IVF. Parents: Rebecca endured two years of trying to have a baby with husband Trent (right) before multiple rounds of IVF failed Heartbreaking: Rebecca recalled one instance where she had to inject fertility medication while working as a journalist reporting at a remote location. After giving herself the injection, she sat in the car and cried Not long after this procedure, the presenter was overjoyed to discover that she had finally fallen pregnant naturally. The star previously told The Australian Women's Weekly that women needed to be aware that 'IVF is not a plan B, it's a last resort', and warned it wasn't a 'sure thing'. 'While the technology is amazing and can work for some women, it's not a sure-thing and doesn't work for everyone,' she said. Former GOP presidential hopeful Herman Cain dies of COVID-19 Herman Cain, former Republican presidential candidate and former CEO of a major pizza chain who went on to become an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump, died Thursday of complications from the coronavirus. He was 74. Dan Calabrese, who authored a post on Cains website announcing the death, told The Associated Press that Cain died at an Atlanta hospital early Thursday morning. Cain had been ill with the virus for several weeks. Its not clear when or where he was infected, but he was hospitalized less than two weeks after attending Trumps campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on June 20. Cain had been co-chair of Black Voices for Trump. ADVERTISEMENT A photo taken at the rally showed Cain, without a mask, sitting closely to other people who also were not wearing any face coverings. A statement on his Twitter account said he tested positive for COVID on June 29 and was hospitalized July 1 because his symptoms were serious. We knew when he was first hospitalized with COVID-19 that this was going to be a rough fight, Calabrese wrote in the website post Thursday. Trump offered his condolences in a tweet on Thursday in which he said he had also spoken by telephone to Cains family. He later started his news conference at the White House with a mention of Cains death. He was a very special person and unfortunately he passed away from a thing called the China virus, Trump said, using the moniker he often ascribes to the new coronavirus, which was first detected in China. He added, We send out prayers to Hermans great wife, Gloria And I have to say, America grieves for all of the 150,000 Americans that had their lives taken by this horrible, invisible enemy. Cain, who had hoped to become the first Black politician to win the GOP nomination, was initially considered a long-shot candidate. His bid was propelled forward in September 2011 when he won a straw poll vote in Florida, instantly becoming an alternative candidate for Republican voters concerned that former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was not conservative enough. ADVERTISEMENT But Cain struggled to respond to accusations that he had sexually harassed several women and in a video that went viral on the internet rambled uncomfortably when asked whether he supported or opposed President Barack Obamas policies in Libya. There were also gaffes on abortion and torture that led Cains critics to question whether he was ready for the White House. Just as Cain started surging in the polls, Politico reported that the National Restaurant Association paid settlements to two former employees who claimed Cain sexually harassed them while he was CEO and president of the lobbying group from 1996 to 1999. Another woman, Sharon Bialek, said that Cain, an acquaintance, groped her in a car in July 1997 after theyd had dinner in Washington. Bialek, who was then unemployed, said she had contacted Cain seeking job advice. Cain said he could not remember Bialek and denied sexually harassing anyone, but polls conducted in the weeks afterward showed his popularity slipping considerably. Cain honed his speaking skills in the corporate world, then hosted a radio talk show in Atlanta that introduced his political views and up-by-the-bootstraps life story to many tea party supporters and other conservatives. He first ventured into national politics in 1994 when he publicly challenged President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, on his proposal to force employers to buy health insurance for their employees. For many, many businesses like mine, the cost of your plan is simply a cost that will cause us to eliminate jobs, Cain told Clinton. What will I tell those people whose jobs I will have to eliminate? Afterward, the restaurant industry used Cain as a spokesman as it campaigned against Clintons plan, which ultimately failed. Cain served as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City from 1992 to 1996. After moving back to his native Georgia, he ran for U.S. Senate as a Republican in 2004. He lost to Rep. Johnny Isakson in the primary. Less than two years later, Cain was diagnosed with late-stage cancer in his colon that had spread to his liver. He recovered and later credited God with persuading him to run for president after Obama, a Democrat, took office in early 2009. Thats when I prayed and prayed and prayed, Cain told an audience of young Republicans in Atlanta. And when I finally realized that it was God saying that this is what I needed to do, I was like Moses. Youve got the wrong man, Lord. Are you sure? Cain projected a self-confident image that at times bordered on arrogance. He referred to himself in the third person, and his motivational speaking company was named T.H.E. New Voice Inc. The acronym stood for The Hermanator Experience. Cains run for the presidency was unlikely considering his origins. Born in the segregated South, his father worked three jobs as a janitor, barber and chauffeur, while his mother was a servant. He graduated from Morehouse College, a historically Black college for men in Atlanta, received a masters degree from Purdue University and worked as a civilian mathematician in the U.S. Navy. While it was a good job, Cain said his ambitions were in the corporate world. He wanted to be president of something somewhere, he later wrote. He worked first for Coca-Cola, became a vice president with Pillsbury, then was appointed to run its struggling Burger King unit in the Philadelphia area. His success prompted Pillsbury officials to ask Cain to take over its floundering Godfathers Pizza chain. Cain said he returned the franchise to profitability. The centerpiece of Cains presidential campaign was his 9-9-9 plan, which would have replaced the current tax code with a 9% tax on personal and corporate income and a 9% national sales tax. Cain said the plans simplicity would stimulate the economy by giving investors certainty. If 10% is good enough for God, 9% ought to be good enough for the federal government, he told crowds. Numerous Republican politicians, party activists and conservative political commentators mourned Cains death on social media Thursday. Romney tweeted, Saddened that Herman Caina formidable champion of business, politics and policyhas lost his battle with Covid. St. Peter will soon hear 999! Keep up the fight, my friend. Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina tweeted that Cain was a fierce advocate for conservative principles across the board, while Republican U.S. Sen. David Perdue of Georgia, referring to Cain as one of his closest friends, remarked that Herman lived the American dream and aspired to share his success with others. Cain is survived by his wife, Gloria Etchison, their children and grandchildren. ___ Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 22:13:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW DELHI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Banwarilal Purohit, governor of India's southern state of Tamil Nadu, tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, confirmed an official at his office. He was taken to a local hospital after some employees of his office had tested positive for the virus a couple of days ago. Media reports also quoted a statement from the hospital as saying that Purohit has tested positive for COVID-19. "The governor's condition is mild, asymptomatic and he is clinically stable," a hospital official reportedly said. Purohit is the second senior leader in India to have tested positive for COVID-19. Home Minister Amit Shah tested positive also on Sunday. Earlier on Sunday, a lady minister in northern state of Uttar Pradesh died of COVID-19. Enditem The foreign ministers of longstanding regional foes Iran and the United Arab Emirates agreed on Sunday that they would strive to cooperate during the Covid-19 pandemic. In a video call during which they also exchanged greetings for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan told his Iranian counterpart that strengthening bilateral cooperation was important element in tackling the coronavirus, UAE state news agency WAM said. Irans foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a tweet that it was a very substantive, frank and friendly video conversation on Covid-19 as well as bilateral, regional and global situations. We agreed to continue dialogue on theme of hopeespecially as region faces tough challenges, and tougher choices ahead, he wrote. Shiite Muslim Iran has long been at odds with U.S. Gulf Sunni Arab allies the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Tensions between Iran and the United States have been on the rise since 2018, when U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from Irans 2015 nuclear deal with six powers and reimposed sanctions. Washington blamed a series of attacks against oil interests in the Gulf last year on Iran, while the UAE did not publicly hold a particular country responsible. The two ministers held a telephone call in March in which Sheikh Abdullah expressed the UAEs support for Iran during the coronavirus outbreak. The Police in Nasarawa State have vowed that it will fish out the killers of Amos Obere, the District Head of Odu Village in Nasarawa Local Government Area. Mr Obere was murdered by unknown gunmen on Friday. Nansel Ramhan, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, made the vow while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lafia. According to him, the command will not rest on its oars until the killers were identified, arrested and prosecuted. He said an investigation to unravel the circumstances and those behind the attack had since commenced. Mr Ramhan also urged members of the public to supply the police with useful information that would aid the arrest of the perpetrators of the crime. The police spokesperson said the force received information about the attack on Friday at about 10 p.m. Upon the receipt of the information, a detachment of police personnel comprising Special Anti Robbery Squad, Police Mobile Force, personnel of Operation Puff Adder and Vigilante led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) raced to the scene and discovered that the victim was shot. He was rushed to the hospital but died while receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Mararaba Udege, he said. Mr Obere, until his demise, was the district head of Odu Village in Udege Development Area of Nasarawa Local Government. (NAN). Piled high in Detective Leading Senior Constable Chris Elzink's Heidelberg office is 17 years of police paperwork on the mystery disappearance of Paul Wright. Stacked inside folder upon folder are written and typed statements from Mr Wright's family, from his former associates and from those who called him a close friend. Numerous officers have tried to find out how or why the much-loved brother and son vanished without a trace from Rosanna one September day in 2003, aged 27, leaving behind his heartbroken parents Nick and Jenny, younger brother Hayden and prized rottweiler Georgia. Missing Melbourne man Paul Wright. His blue 1991 Nissan Pintara sedan, with number plates EMI 944, has also never been found. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 00:09:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in South Sudan has gone up from 1,188 to 2,429 since April 5 due to expanded testing, officials said on Sunday. Matthew Tut, manager of emergency operation centre at the public health emergency centre, said that increased testing has seen a spike in the reported COVID-19 cases in the country. "If we try to compare this week and last week, we registered only 82 cases last week but starting from July 26 to yesterday, the centers in the country have tested 755 samples and out this number 143 tested positive for COVID-19," Tut said during a briefing in Juba. He said that Central Equatoria state which hosts the capital Juba is one of the most affected in South Sudan with more than 2,000 cases followed by Eastern Equatoria state with more than 84 cases. He said South Sudan had 46 COVID-19 fatalities, adding that adherence to containment measures like social distancing, wearing of masks and hygiene was key to save lives. Thuou Loi, a spokesperson in the Ministry of Health, said Juba had partnered with the World Health Organization to ensure proper public communication on COVID-19 preventive measures after the lifting of a partial lockdown in March. Enditem MELBOURNEVictorian anaesthetists are calling on the state government to enforce fit testing for personal protective equipment, citing concerns that not enough is being done to protect health workers from COVID-19. Three doctors are reportedly among those in intensive care as the state struggles to contain the virus. And as hospitalisations grow in the state, the level of infection risk and the effectiveness of PPE is worrying many. Anaesthetists are commonly called on to intubate patients needing help to breathe, and so they are among that face-to-face with the most severe COVID-19 cases. The Australian Society of Anaesthetists says it has made numerous approaches to federal and state health departments asking that fit testing of PPE become mandatory in all hospitals. Related Coverage Aged Care Crisis in Victoria Sparks Federal Response Fit testing involves checking whether airborne particles can penetrate an N95 mask and other safety gear. One method involves spraying a solution at the face, which is able to be smelled or tasted, means the mask has failed. A healthcare worker who has fit-tested their PPE knows exactly how they have to put it on to ensure maximum protection. Ideally, they can fit test with a variety of different sizes and brands of PPE so that they can safely work in any setting. The ASA did some of its own fit testings and found that one-third of the masks failed the first time. Many anaesthetists in Victoria are currently seeking and paying for their own fit testing, the ASA said. ASA president Suzi Nou said federal and state health authorities had not been receptive to her recommendations for mandatory fit testing, despite the practice being widespread in other states. Theyd say we dont have the resources, Nou said. She likened the lack of fit testing to former attitudes to seatbelts, which are now universal. Some have questioned whether N95 and standard PPE is enough, or whether hazmat suits and powered air-purifying respirators should become standard. Melbourne anaesthetist Bob Cox told AAP the astronaut-like suits seen on doctors fighting the pandemic overseas are better because they dont obstruct vision and are more comfortable. At the moment were using equipment that is totally disposable but it has its limitations in that it may not be as safe, Cox said. To have doctors ending up in intensive care on ventilators is not good, let alone anyone else. Nou calls the hazmat suit the body condom or the full Wuhan because thats what doctors were seen wearing where the virus first emerged in China. She said every Victorian health service appears to be doing its own thing when it comes to those suits. Some hospitals have them while others do not. The concern that I have is that the guidance thats coming out doesnt recommend anywhere near that kind of gear, Nou said. She is critical of the Infection Control Expert Group the body advising chief health officers and federal and state health decision-making. A lot of the medical profession really question some of the advice thats coming out, Nou said. Premier Daniel Andrews said he understood it was a significant issue for healthcare workers who are putting themselves in harms way every shift. He said he would raise the issue with Victorias Chief Medical Officer Andrew Wilson. Victorias Department of Health and Human Services told AAP, mandatory fit testing would involve various masks being tested by every healthcare worker and that every tested mask would have to be discarded. Fit testing is an important part of healthcare worker safety and we advise health services to do it, a DHHS spokesperson said. By Andi Yu UK Casinos To Remain Closed Until At Least August 15 Published August 2, 2020 by Sol FH The UK government has decided to extend its lockdown measures for casinos until at least August 15, much to the dismay of the Betting and Gaming Council (BGC). Tensions are high between the UK Government, the BGC, and casinos that operate therein. The UK government has delayed the planned relaxation of social distancing measures on large indoor venues, which must now remain closed for at least another two weeks, and maybe longer. COVID-19 has been surging in parts of northern England, Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and parts of West Yorkshire are no longer able to meet with anyone inside of their homes, which is the strictest lockdown procedures in the UK, to date. Land-based casinos were planned to open on August 1, but the UK government made its decision to delay, on July 29. Casinos have been closed since March 20, but smaller vendors including betting shops and bingo halls were able to reopen on July 4. We simply cannot take the risk; we will continue to study the data carefully and move forward with our intention to open up as soon as we can, Prime Minister Boris Johnson commented. BGC Upset by Decision The UK Betting and Gaming Council is adamantly opposed to the governments decision and Michael Dugher, the Council's chief executive stated that there is no evidence that points to casinos being a high-risk venue, especially with the safety precautions in place. In a Twitter post, Dugher posted, What happened to the governments local lockdown strategy. Why should a casino business remain closed in Bristol in the southwest, where Covid-19 is low because theres a spike in Greater Manchester? A big threat to jobs. The North of the UK has been hit very hard, and even the Scottish government has warned its citizens about travel to the region, saying that all non-essential travel should be postponed. Scotland has set a tentative date of August 24 for its casinos to reopen, while the Welsh government has yet to announce a date for reopening. A 33-year-old man was seriously injured in a Saturday night motorcycle crash in Dudley. Police, firefighters and EMTs were called to Charlton Road around 11:50 p.m. Saturday for a report of a motorcycle crash. The crash was near Tomahawk Drive. The 33-year-old man was riding east on Charlton Road on a Kawasaki motorcycle when he lost control and crashed, police said. The motorcycle rider may have been with other riders at the time of the crash, authorities said. The injured man was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center University Campus in Worcester with serious injuries. As of Sunday morning, the man was in the intensive care unit, police said. Members of the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Councils Accident Reconstruction Team and Dudley police continue to investigate the crash. Principals and specialist staff told an investigation into behaviour policies in NSW public schools that they wanted better alternatives to suspensions, or more options to try before they sent students home. They also said school counsellors and psychologists provided a valuable service but were often unavailable when needed because there was not enough of them. Principals want more alternatives to suspension, says report. Credit:Janie Barrett The NSW Department of Education commissioned the Telethon Kids Institute to review evidence on behaviour management and look at how teachers and student support staff felt about the way discipline was being handled in schools. The findings will influence a new behaviour and discipline strategy, due later this year. Hong Kong will prioritise testing groups deemed at high risk of contracting the coronavirus, including the elderly, as the first group of medical experts arrived from mainland China to help with free screening of every resident in the city. The assistance comes as local authorities battle the most severe wave of infections yet, with another 115 emerging on Sunday and two elderly men dying, taking the number of fatalities to 35. But none of the latest cases came from outside the city, a first in six weeks. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po warned the really worrying surge in infections was taking a toll on the economy, which was already suffering after slipping into its first recession in a decade last year and contracting sharply during the first six months of 2020, against the previous first half. Get the latest insights and analysis from our Global Impact newsletter on the big stories originating in China. Officials would continue to work hard to support people struggling amid the downturn, while the government could take lessons from mainland authorities in successfully handling the health crisis, he said. The mainlands epidemic control and prevention strategies have achieved remarkable results, Chan wrote on his blog. Many cities have cleared all confirmed cases, asymptomatic infections and close contacts requiring medical supervision, allowing people to resume their daily lives. The mainland team comprising seven experts was greeted by health minister Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee and mainland affairs chief Erick Tsang Kwok-wai at the Metropark Hotel in Kowloon where they will be staying. Another 60 medical staff are scheduled to follow. All were selected by the Guangdong Provincial Health Commission from over 20 public hospitals, according to state broadcaster CCTV. They will help local authorities carry out a pledge made by Beijing to test all 7.5 million residents and bolster processing capabilities, as well as build another makeshift hospital. Work on establishing a new laboratory would begin on Monday, according to a government spokesman. Story continues He dismissed fears mainland personnel would send residents DNA information to the mainland. We condemn those who deliberately spread false rumours to attack the governments anti-epidemic work, he said. As to whether it would constitute a crime for spreading false rumours, relevant government departments will carefully study and collect evidence for follow-up. Sophia Chan, Hong Kongs health minister. Photo: Edmond So Sophia Chan said testing priority needed to be carefully researched. For example, we are worried about the staff and elderly in care home centres in which there may be a need for a second test, she said. Health authorities earlier introduced targeted testing for four high-risk groups, including taxi drivers and elderly care home employees. Since the measure was introduced last month, more than 100,000 samples had been collected, according to Chan. With the assistance of mainland authorities, the government is planning to carry out more than 400,000 additional tests focusing on people with jobs that put them in frequent contact with the public, such as supermarket staff, workers with social welfare groups and others employed in public transport, according to a source. Hong Kong has confirmed triple-digit daily increases for 12 straight days, with the latest cases pushing the total to 3,511. Of the latest infections, 36 were untraced, while none were imported, the first time arrivals have not contributed to new infections since June 16. Under measures that took effect last Wednesday, aircrew must take a virus test before they fly and have proof of a negative result, while ships without any cargo trade via the city are no longer allowed to make crew changes during their stop. The new infections were mostly related to gatherings of friends and families, while a cluster tied to a store operated by Star Global, an online retailer with physical outlets across the city, grew to 32. Health authorities registered four cases at a general ward at the Caritas Medical Centre, but preliminary investigation found the patients were not infected within the hospital. The two fatalities were a 94-year-old patient with chronic diseases and a 88-year-old man who died last week but whose preliminary positive result was only just confirmed. The city is planning the construction of a second temporary hospital with the help of a six-member team from Wuhan, where the first Covid-19 cases emerged in December, due to arrive soon. The facility, which can provide up to 2,000 beds, will be similar to the fangcang hospitals rapidly constructed to handle Covid-19 patients when the Hubei province capital was struggling with the pandemic. That team will consist of four medics and two construction specialists, including the president and vice-president of a fangcang hospital in Wuchang district. Mainland media said the team might stay in the city for half a year, mainly assisting with building the facility and not treating patients. Chan said the temporary facility would be build from scratch to complement a makeshift facility at AsiaWorld-Expo to cope with jump in infections, which has stretched health care facilities to the limit. Facilities at the newly converted AsiaWorld-Expo in Chek Lap Kok. Photo: Dickson Lee It was not clear how long construction would take, she said. Officials must confirm the location and discuss planning with the team from Wuhan. The experts will start working at the makeshift hospital set up at AsiaWorld-Expo, which is now admitting patients with mild symptoms. About 31 patients arrived on Sunday. But on its second day of operation, one woman was mistakenly admitted to the facility, despite never testing positive for the coronavirus. Throughout the stay, she was in her own ward and did not have contact with other patients, the Hospital Authority said. Did you know that among the world's top five health care markets, China is the only one growing at double digits? Get a comprehensive industry review and insights on Covid-19 induced market shifts with the China Healthcare Report, brought to you by SCMP Research. Sign up for our 50% early bird discount now. You will also receive access to 6 closed-door webinars led by China healthcares most influential C-suite executives. Offer Valid until August 12th 2020. More from South China Morning Post: This article Hong Kong third wave: officials to prioritise next round of testing for Covid-19 as first experts from mainland China arrive to help with fight first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. By Mark Peterson I usually object to the saying that certain words or phrases are untranslatable. I like to think that if one is clever enough, every word and phrase can be translated well. But I have to admit that some translations simply don't work. Such is the case for the slogan I saw on a Korean government website "correct history." The translation doesn't appear to be a problem, but it really is. And the problem is cultural. Many Koreans have no problem with the term. When I've mentioned it to my Korean friends, there is no negative response, but rather an understanding that, yes, there is "incorrect history" and yes, there is "correct history." Such is not the case at all for Americans. If you say "We need to have correct history," to an American, inevitably, you get an uncomfortable response, a response of "should I say what I'm thinking" because an American inevitably thinks, "'correct' according to whom?" Americans want to make that judgment; they want to decide whether it is "correct" or not. And an American thinks, "Correct history? What authority is trying to tell me what I need to believe?" If you don't believe what I'm saying, try it. Ask an American if they are teaching history correctly in the school they or their children attend. Note the response they'll likely tell you that's an odd question, and ask you what you mean by it. Ask a Korean, and they might have criticism of what's being taught, but they will expect that the school teaches correct history; there is such a thing! Koreans expect history to be taught correctly because in bygone times it definitely was not taught correctly. During the 1910-45 Japanese occupation, in addition to forcing Koreans to take Japanese names, and to speak Japanese and forbidding the use of Korean, they also rewrote Korea's history with the intent of taking the good parts out and incorporating Korea into a dominantly Japanese history. Toward the end of the Japanese occupation, the Japanese even denigrated Korean history by mixing Manchu history with Korean history, and calling it "Manseon" (Manchu-Joseon) history. Unbelievable! But the Japanese authorities actually did that. So when a Korean says they want the history taught correctly, they have a good reason for saying so. One of the current debates in historical circles in Korea these days, to achieve "correct history," is a matter of left and right, or that of supporting the political party in power. I got dragged into it. During the Park Geun-hye administration, she proposed that the eight textbooks available be replaced with one government-written textbook. My first involvement with The Korea Times, in recent years, was an interview I did that was on the front page, below the fold. Thereafter, The Korea Times and I negotiated this weekly column. In my interview back in 2015 (Nov. 17), I said that the Park Geun-hye proposal was a step backward. To have one government-published textbook in the place of eight privately published textbooks certainly would have been a giant step backward, but fortunately, there was enough of an outcry that her plan never got off the ground. Now, in the Moon Jae-in administration, it appears we have almost the same problem from the other side of the aisle. Korean textbooks are being criticized in the press for their tilting to the left. There is also criticism that the textbooks praise Moon and his political positions without appropriate historical context. The problem with the Park Geun-hye approach to the history textbooks was that she wanted to see her father, past President Park Chung-hee, portrayed in a positive light. It's the issue of "correct" history. Correct according to whom? And the "correct" position is going to be that which is on the college entrance exam, which is the whole point of education (said sarcastically). And therein lies the next issue that should be addressed in regard to the teaching of history, and that is that it should not be taught as if there is only one correct answer to fit on a bubble sheet test form. History, more than being "correct" needs to be analyzed and discussed. For example, was Park Chung-hee the driving force behind Korea's economic miracle? Yes. But he was also the president that suppressed human rights and democratic development. A test question about him and the coverage in the textbook cannot be one-sided. It should be an essay question, not a bubble-sheet, multiple-choice, pick-the-right-answer question. And so it is with "correct" history. It should not be tilted to the left or the right. It should be objective, as far as possible, politically neutral, and should be a discussion of multiple dimensions or aspects of the historical event, issue, or personality. History cannot be taught as if it will be tested on a bubble sheet. That's not "correct" history. Mark Peterson (markpeterson@byu.edu) is professor emeritus of Korean, Asian and Near Eastern languages at Brigham Young University in Utah. Two women from Africa, who are studying in the University of Limerick, are aiming to amplify Black voices in Ireland with a documentary project that highlights racism in the country. A total of 20 personal testimonies are showcased in the Unsilencing Black Voices Documentary, created by Contemporary African Literature PhD student Sandrine Ndahiro and fifth year architecture student Cathy Osikoya, who are from Rwanda and Nigeria respectively. After the death of George Floyd in the US, the two women decided to raise awareness of racism in Ireland and issued a plea on social media for those interested in taking part in a documentary to send a voice note or a one minute long clip discussing their own experiences. The creators themselves have experienced racism and Ms Osikoya recalls how her first memory of racism was while she was in secondary school. Expand Close Cathy Osikoyo / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cathy Osikoyo There were kids that would come up to me and call me dirty monkey. You should go wash yourself. You smell, she said. In the documentary, a Mayo native who now lives in Limerick says that she is tired of being praised on her ability to speak English. We as black people are tired, tired of being complimented on how well we speak English. Even though a lot of us have been here all our lives. Testimonies come from Limerick, Mayo, Galway, Carlow and Kilkenny and are divided into five categories - primary, secondary, third level, professional and daily life. The categories were created to show how some Black individuals experience racism from as early as primary school, and this continues, it never stops as it seeps its way from generation to generation. There is an ignorance that racism happens in isolated moments, but our documentary would debunk this ignorance, Ms Ndahiro said. We hope that by watching our documentary you stop and actively listen to the pain in the black individuals who are sharing their stories, she added. It will be released for free viewing on Friday, August 7 and will be available on Youtube. The mid-day meals provided to students in government or aided schools should be supplemented by breakfast, the new National Education Policy (NEP) has proposed. The policy which was approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this week has noted that morning hours after a nutritious breakfast can be particularly productive for the study of cognitively more demanding subjects and hence recommended expansion of the mid-day meal scheme to include provisions for breakfast in schools. Children are unable to learn optimally when they are undernourished or unwell. Hence, the nutrition and health (including mental health) of children will be addressed, through healthy meals and the introduction of well-trained social workers, counsellors, and community involvement into the schooling system, the policy said. Furthermore, research shows that the morning hours after a nutritious breakfast can be particularly productive for the study of cognitively more demanding subjects and hence these hours may be leveraged by providing a simple but energizing breakfast in addition to mid-day meals, it added. In locations where hot meals are not possible, a simple but nutritious meal-- groundnuts or chana mixed with jaggery and local fruits may be provided. All school children shall undergo regular health check-ups especially for 100 pc immunization in schools and health cards will be issued to monitor the same, the policy said. The revised policy has proposed that prior to the age of 5 every child will move to a preparatory class or balavatika. Read More| NEP 2020 Highlights: Major changes in school and higher education to be seen The learning in the preparatory class shall be based primarily on play-based learning with a focus on developing cognitive, affective, and psychomotor abilities and early literacy and numeracy. The mid-day meal programme shall also be extended to the preparatory Classes in primary schools. Health check-ups and growth monitoring that are available in the anganwadi system shall also be made available to preparatory Class students of anganwadi as well as of primary schools, the policy document said. The National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools, popularly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), is an on-going centrally-sponsored scheme which covers all school children studying in Classes 1 to 8 of government, government-aided schools, special training centres including Madarsas supported under Samagra Shiksha. As per the provisions of National Food Security Act, 2013, children studying in classes 1 to 8 or within the age group of 6-14 years are entitled to one mid day meal free of charge, every day except on school holidays, in all schools run by local bodies, government and government aided schools so as to meet nutritional standards specified in the Act, a senior HRD Ministry official said. However, some States and Union Territories provide additional items such as milk, egg and fruits to students from their own resources, the official added. At least 11.59 crore elementary school students are beneficiaries under the mid-day meal scheme of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, while nearly 26 lakh cook-cum helpers are employed for the same. The Ministry also advised states during lockdown to provide mid-day meals or food security allowance to students till schools are closed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. The NEP replaces the 34-year-old National Policy on Education framed in 1986 and is aimed at paving the way for transformational reforms in school and higher education systems to make India a global knowledge superpower. Cows imported from Australia being transported to Vinamilk's farms in Thanh Hoa Province. Shares of Vinamilk (VNM) dropped 1.8 per cent on Friday. - Photo courtesy of Vinamilk The benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) lost 0.34 per cent to end trading at 798.39 points. Nearly 250 million shares were traded on the southern bourse, worth VND3.9 trillion (US$168 million). Market breadth was negative with 255 shares falling and 115 gaining. The southern market index had gained 1.30 per cent to end Thursday at 801.13 points. Viet Nam confirmed 45 new COVID-19 patients Friday morning, all linked to hospitals in Da Nang, now Viet Nams biggest outbreak, raising the nations active cases to 140. With the 45 new cases, the largest number of domestic infections reported in one day in Viet Nam since the first cases were detected in the country in February, as well as 37 cases on Friday evening, the nation now has 546 COVID-19 patients. Of these, 369 have recovered. A 70-year-old COVID-19 patient with multiple comorbidities died on Friday, the first fatality ever recorded in Viet Nam so far. According to Thanh Cong Securities Co (TCSC), the short-term trend of the VN-Index is still unpredictable as investors are quite sensitive to the COVID-19 movements. TCSC recommended investors maintain a safe rate of stocks in portfolios at 30-40 per cent for medium and long-term goals. The large-cap VN30-Index, tracking the performance of the 30 largest stocks by market capitalisation and liquidity on HoSE, dropped 0.71 per cent to close Friday at 740.73 points. In the VN30 basket, notable decliners were insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Vietinbank (CTG), Vingroup (VIC), Techcombank (TCB), Vinamilk (VNM), Sabeco (SAB), PVPower (POW), Hoa Phat Group (HPG), PetroVietnam Gas JSC (GAS), Military Bank (MBB) and FPT Corporation (FPT). On a sector basis, 15 out of 25 sectors on the stock market decreased, including food and beverage, banking, insurance, securities, healthcare, information and technology, rubber production, seafood processing, construction and construction materials. Real estate, agriculture, and logistics were among the losers. Foreign investors net sold VND129.55 billion on the HOSE. They were net buyers on the HNX with a value of VND4.54 billion On the Ha Noi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index slumped 0.55 per cent to end at 107.51 points. It had risen 1.17 per cent to end Thursday at 108.10 points. Nearly 37 million shares were traded on the northern exchange, worth VND375 billion. IT has the ability to help change how New Zealanders view the collection of their personal data online. Thats according to Digital Identity NZ Chief Executive Andrew Weaver, who says that the public have adopted a begrudging acceptance when it comes to giving away their information. In an online survey of 1,011 people released by Digital Identity NZ during Techweek in late July 2020, it found that 34% of respondents believe that businesses have the opportunity to deliver leadership in personal data use and protection. At the same time, there was a drop in the number of people who had made changes to how they use online services because of concerns around privacy and personal data use. For example, 29% made changes to the websites they visited in 2020, compared to 42% in 2019. [ Keep up on the latest thought leadership, insights, how-to, and analysis on IT through Computerworlds newsletters. ] From the raw reading of some of the results from the research, it almost looks like customer apathy, but as you push into that and look at some of the qualitative aspects of the interviews and the quotes given, it shows its not apathy. Its that begrudging acceptance that comes from being worn down and not having better options presented to them, Weaver says. Weaver says IT has a role to play in helping organisations to improve the experience for New Zealand consumers. While IT is generally responsible for data security, it can also play an active role in ensuring data privacy too. There is that opportunity to bring that voice when it comes to the custodian and management of data and personal information in particular. Having that different perspective coming in, that has a deeper technical understanding as well as the integrity to call out poor behaviour in terms of the potential exploitation of that data, Weaver says. Yaounde, Aug 2 (UNI) At least 18 people were killed while 11 others suffered grievous injuries when terrorist group Boko Haram attacked a a camp for displaced people in northern Cameroon, local media reported on Sunday. As per the reports, the attack took place on Saturday night near Nguetchewe. Boko Haram, which has pledged allegiance to the ISIS, have caused havoc in Africa's most populous country through a wave of bombings, assassinations and abductions and is fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state. The group's official name is Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means "People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad". Cameroon like Nigeria, Niger and Chad is engaged in military operations for combating these militants. UNI XC RKM JAL 1710 BRASILIA LATAM Airlines will fire at least" 2,700 workers in Brazil, including pilots, its Brazilian arm said on Saturday, as the bankrupt carrier struggles to cut costs and cope with an industry collapse due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, LATAM Brasil said it opened a voluntary redundancy process on Friday which will run through Aug. 4, after which a further minimum 2,700 jobs will be cut. The announcement followed the breakdown in talks with the SNA union over workers pay, the statement said. O Globo and O Estado de S. Paulo newspapers had reported the redundancies earlier on Saturday. LATAM said it pays its pilots and crew more than its rivals in Brazil, and the pandemic has forced it to match industry practices. The layoffs are the latest in efforts to downsize Latin Americas largest airline. Before the novel coronavirus outbreak, the airline had 43,000 workers worldwide, with most of them in Brazil and Chile. LATAM is seeking to restructure $18 billion in debt. When it filed for U.S. bankruptcy protection in May, it was the worlds largest airline to date to seek an emergency reorganization due to the pandemic. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor With the upcoming Aug. 13 San Antonio City Council vote on the compromise ballot initiatives, one gets the impression that all has been neatly put to bed, with Mayor Ron Nirenberg and the council agreeing to split the baby by dividing the -cent sales tax to fund Pre-K 4 SA, workforce development and VIA Metropolitan Transit. Nothing could be further from the truth. Since 2000, San Antonio voters have made their intentions emphatically clear by dedicating a portion of the 1/8-cent sales tax to protecting our unsurpassed local gift of nature, the Edwards Aquifer, one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world. On ExpressNews.com: River authority and property owners reach compromise on aging dams In addition to buying land and conservation easements (more than 160,330 acres) to protect the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, voters have consistently endorsed the aligned Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails System more than 80 miles of trails and linear parks designed to offer relief to city dwellers from the increasing urban disarray of noise, pollution and overcrowding. Anyone driving west on Interstate 10 can clearly see where the majority of growth and development in our city has advanced the past few decades over our citys drinking water. To now defund the consistent, needed work that has, at a minimum, kept the Edwards Aquifer contributing zone from turning into one vast strip mall/apartment complex/gas station-convenience store is not only a slap in the face to San Antonio voters but extremely harmful and negligent governance. On ExpressNews.com: More than 5K fish died in the San Antonio River after ammonia gas leak at meatpacking plant No one can deny the importance of overhauling VIA, and Pre-K 4 SA has a much-needed and desirable place in our citys future. But one as well cannot simply ignore the loud and clear voices of San Antonio voters for the past 20 years to protect and secure our citys main water supply. We live on the edge of the vast American Southwestern desert. Climate change is reality. No matter how many exorbitantly profligate Vista Ridge pipelines are constructed that San Antonio residents are forced to pay for through their never-diminishing water bills the Edwards Aquifer will remain our primary and precious source of life-giving subsistence. Now is not the time to turn our backs on the steady, necessary progress we have diligently achieved. A fair and reasonable solution is this: Why cant we equitably split the full -cent sales tax across all important initiatives: Edwards Aquifer protection, greenway trails, VIA, workforce development and Pre-K 4 SA? Nirenberg and City Council, I urge you to include the successful and necessary Edwards Aquifer protection and greenway trails programs in the proposition that voters will consider this November. William Sibley is a board member of the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 11:59:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai reported one newly imported COVID-19 case and no increase in domestically transmitted cases Saturday, the municipal health commission said Sunday. The imported case was a Chinese national who left Brazil on July 28 and arrived at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport via Germany on July 30. The passenger was put under quarantine upon arrival and showed symptoms during the isolated observation period, before being diagnosed as a confirmed case, according to the commission. A total of 29 close contacts of the patient on the flight have been put under quarantine. Shanghai had reported 407 confirmed imported cases from March 5 to Saturday. As of Saturday, the city had also registered a total of 342 locally transmitted cases. Enditem Africa's fragile health care systems are coming under increased pressure, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said as the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases on the continent passed 893,000 cases on Thursday and the death toll edged towards 19,000. In the two weeks through Thursday, the number of new cases increased by 50 per cent and the death toll by 22 per cent - to 4,376 - from the previous fortnight, and both figures are set to rise as countries relax travel restrictions and reopen their borders, it said. "Coming up to the first million confirmed Covid-19 cases in the African continent, countries have averted what could have been a much worse decision by taking some very courageous decisions," WHO regional director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said. "As Africa approaches one million cases, the continent is at a pivotal point," she said. "We are seeing in Africa and other parts of the world that when measures to suppress Covid-19 transmission are eased, cases creep up, so it is important that authorities and all communities have the capacities in place to react quickly with strong surveillance, testing, isolation and contact tracing." An excavator digs graves in South Africa, where the death toll from Covid-19 has passed 7,800. Photo: Reuters alt=An excavator digs graves in South Africa, where the death toll from Covid-19 has passed 7,800. Photo: Reuters South Africa, Algeria, Egypt, Ghana and Nigeria have emerged as the main infection hotspots, accounting for three-quarters of all cases on the continent. South Africa alone has reported more than 482,000 cases and over 7,800 deaths, and local authorities say they expect the situation to get worse in the next two months. Seven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa saw a 20 per cent jump in cases in the two weeks after easing lockdown measures, and four of them - Republic of the Congo, Morocco, Kenya and South Africa - subsequently re-implemented partial restrictions. Story continues Of the people to have died from Covid-19 in Africa, almost 14,000 were health workers. Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO regional director for the eastern Mediterranean, said that as borders started to reopen and with the Islamic holiday, Eid al-Adha, set to start on Friday there were concerns the spread of the coronavirus might widen, including to areas as yet unaffected. The WHO said that as Africa was behind the global average in terms of testing for Covid-19 - about 8.3 million tests have been performed since February - the continent was probably suffering from under-reporting of cases. Health workers carry out Covid-19 tests at a screening centre in Cairo. Photo: AP alt=Health workers carry out Covid-19 tests at a screening centre in Cairo. Photo: AP John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said if the continent wanted to keep pace with the rest of the world, "we should be testing about 13 million people, because we are a continent of 1.3 billion people". "There is a lot of work to be done," he said. Nkengasong said he was also concerned about the growing pressure on hospitals. "I have always said that you don't build your health systems when you need them, we build health systems before we need them," he said. "I don't think we have the resources as a continent to build a 1,000-bed hospital in two weeks, as China did." 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. Last year, shale driller Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA) made waves after it sacked one of the most iconic CEOs in the shale patch, Steven Keenan. Keenan was reportedly shown the door after disappointing early results at Apaches Suriname offshore field adjacent to Exxon Mobil Corp.s (NYSE: XOM) historic discovery. Keenan is a shale expert who was handpicked by Apaches management in 2014 to replicate his shale exploits at EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG) in the Eagle Ford. But maybe Apache acted in haste back then, and a mea culpa is now in order. APA was up 17.3% on Thursdays session and another 14.3% in aftermarket trading despite posting weak Q2 earnings (that still beat expectations) after the company announced a major oil discovery at its 1.4-million-acre offshore Suriname tract. Source: CNN Money Major Discovery Apache said it had made a world-class discovery at the Kwaskwasi-1 well located in the prolific Guyana-Suriname Basin, where it encountered 278 meters (912 feet) of net oil and volatile oil/gas condensate pay. The samples taken indicate that the API oil gravities are between 34 and 43 degrees. Related: Ocasio-Cortez Could Deal A Fatal Blow To U.S. Oil Pipelines We are thrilled with the results from the Kwaskwasi-1 exploration well. This is the best well weve drilled in the basin to date, with the highest net pay in the best quality reservoirs, Apache CEO and President, John J. Christmann, gushed. While we have a lot more work to do, a discovery of this quality and magnitude merits a pace of evaluation that enables the option of accelerated first production. Last year, Bank of America Merrill Lynch touted the Suriname prospect as a potential game-changer for Apache: Suriname has the potential to reset the investment case, Merrill Lynchs veteran oil-industry analyst Doug Leggate said. The major discovery has proven a big bonus for Apaches shareholders who have been glossing over the companys weak Q2 results. Apache reported Q2 revenue of $752M, down 53.0% Y/Y, but that was $43.4M better than Wall Streets expectations. GAAP net loss of $386 million or $1.02 per diluted common share missed by $0.05 while non-GAAP net loss of $281 million or $0.74 per share beat by $0.28. As expected, production volumes were markedly lower than during the prior quarter: Crude oil volume slipped 7% to 221.3K bbl/day, natural gas production was down 8% to 850.3K Mcf/day while natural gas liquids output climbed 12% to 72.4K bbl/day. Apache said that its average realized oil price (including hedges) plunged 60% to $25.77/bbl, natural gas liquids fell 42% to $8.28/bbl, and natural gas climbed 19% to $1.68/Mcf. Related: The World Is Facing A Solar Panel Waste Problem Perhaps the only positive highlight in that earnings report was that the companys production (including noncontrolling interests) of 435M boe/day surpassed Wall Streets consensus of 417.3 Mboe/day. It also looked rather better than the lineup of dismal earnings from others in the shale patch. Capital Discipline While many investors will be focussing on the Suriname hit, others will probably be just as thrilled at Apaches continuing capital discipline. Apache was among the first shale companies to undertake deep spending cuts after oil prices crashed in March. Apache lowered 2020 capex to $1B-$1.2B from its previous guidance of $1.6B-$1.9B. But it did not stop there: The company also cut the dividend by 90% to $0.025/share from $0.25. Apache has revealed that its 2020 capex is tracking towards the lower end of its guidance. Its capital-light structure appears to be paying off. During the earnings call, Apaches management said that the company would be running cash flow positive as long as WTI prices remain above $30/barrel (current WTI is $40.14). Further, the company said it would use any excess cash to pay down its debt. However, should prices hit $50 or more, Apache said it would undertake very measured capex increases with the first column of that incremental free cash flow returned to investors, maybe through a dividend increase or share buybacks. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The report said the U.N. had recorded 17 attacks by IS that caused civilian casualties during the first six months of 2020, down from 97 attacks in the same period last year. Overall, the U.N. said 1,282 people were killed in violence in the first six months of 2020 in Afghanistan and 2,176 were wounded. As New Jersey awaits the arrival of a weakened Tropical Storm Isaias in the early part of the week, were in store for a scorcher on Sunday with high humidity making it feel as hot as 105 in some areas and strong thunderstorms possible this afternoon. AccuWeather.com says our area will get 2 to 4 inches of rain and potentially some coastal flooding and damaging winds from Isaias as we begin getting rain from the storms outer bands as early as Monday. The National Weather Service is also offering a 2 to 4 inch forecast for Isaias through Wednesday, adding that swells and rip currents will be strong beginning Sunday. Tropical storm force winds between 39 and 73 mph are possible along the coast, especially Tuesday night. In the meantime, the weekend will wrap up Sunday with what forecasters say will turn be a mostly cloudy day with temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s. A heat advisory is in effect for most of the state with a heat index of up to 104 possible. The advisory runs from noon to 8 p.m. for Somerset, Middlesex, western Monmouth, Mercer, Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington and Ocean counties. Its in effect from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m in Bergen, Essex , Hudson, Union and Passaic counties. Tropical storm force winds might impact New Jersey on Tuesday as Isaias threatens the mid-Atlantic region.National Weather Service Scattered thunderstorms that pack damaging winds of 60 mph are possible this afternoon and evening, the National Weather Service says. While a round of storms is expected around mid-morning, the bigger threats comes after 4 p.m. with the northwestern part of New Jersey more likely to see heavy rain. An isolated tornado and hail also cant be ruled out. On Saturday, the U.S Coast Guard urged commercial and recreational boaters in New Jersey and New York to prepare for possible high surf, dangerous rip currents and heavy win from Isaias. Storms such as this can be unpredictable, and it is important that both commercial mariners and recreational boaters prepare accordingly, said Capt. Jason Tama, Sector Commander for Sector New York, in a written statement. As of 8 a.m. Sunday, Isaias was centered about 40 miles east-southeast of Palm Beach, Florida packing maximum winds of 65 mph. The storm is moving northwest at 8 mph but it expected to turn north and northeast in Monday and and Tuesday and pick up speed. The good news is that forecasters dont anticipate the storm will gain intensity, though tropical storm force winds extend about 115 miles from the center. Florida authorities on Saturday closed beaches, parks and virus testing sites, attaching signs to palm trees so they wouldnt blow away. Gov. Ron DeSantis warned residents to expect power outages and asked to have a weeks supply of water and food on hand. Officials wrestled with how to prepare shelters for people to seek refuge, if need be, while safely social distancing because of the virus. Authorities in North Carolina ordered the evacuation of Ocracoke Island, which was slammed last year by Hurricane Dorian. Meanwhile, officials in the Bahamas opened shelters for people in Abaco island to help those who have been living in temporary structures since Dorian devastated the area, killing at least 70 people. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Telstra has had to backtrack on its claims a major outage that upset home internet services was caused by a "malicious" cyber attack on its servers. Telstra reported there was a "denial of service" attack on Sunday that led to widespread internet issues in Australia's eastern states. A denial of service attack floods a network with traffic or information to trigger a crash, denying legitimate users access. Thousands of Australian Telstra customers have been left without internet after a cyber attack on the telco. Pictured above are the cities most impacted by the malicious attack Telstra insisted customers' private information was safe despite the cyber attack Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane were the main outage hotspots. Other internet providers did not report connectivity issues, despite reports of NBN problems spiking just before 11am. Soon after, the telecommunications giant said it was confident it had blocked the "malicious traffic" and was trying to get users back online. But a few hours later, Telstra said the issue was caused by a relatively mild case of domain name server issues. When this happens, users are told they've lost their network connection or internet access when they try to send data by connecting to an Internet Protocol (IP) address. "The massive messaging storm that presented as a denial of service cyber-attack has been investigated by our security teams and we now believe that it was not malicious, but a domain name server issue," Telstra posted on Twitter. "We're really sorry for getting in the way of your weekend plans." The issue was resolved about 2.30pm. Earlier furious customers took to Twitter to slam Australia's largest internet provider. 'Being in lockdown on a Sunday with Telstra internet not working is peak 2020 despair,' tweeted one Melburnian. 'My internet has paralysed the last 2 hours, arguably to a massive DNS attach on Telstra,' tweeted another unhappy customer. Another Telstra customer said the outage was a good chance to get his kids off Fortnite and out playing in the garden. 'Telstra are thinking about our quality of life, by switching off the Internet, all their customers get to go outside, enjoy this glorious winter morning with a coffee and a good book, kids playing in the garden. How is that for customer focus,' he tweeted. With China's rising expansionist threat, we, as a liberal, peace-loving democracy, are faced with choices of great importance. Do we allow China to continue down this path, only offering tepid denouncements and vague issuances of toughness, or do we actually do something about it? Do we prepare for military action, or do we repeat the Cold War? I believe it is peace for our time. 30 September, 1938. British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, in the now infamous Munich Agreement, cedes the Czechoslovakian Sudetenland to Adolf Hitler. The hope, though in vain, was quite clear; appease the Germans to avoid a war. The Munich Agreement was celebrated across Europe. Not one year later, Europe was, for the second time since the turn of the century, the site of brutal internecine barbarism. The year is 2020, and we are barreling towards another Munich. In the wake of Chinese expansionism, were faced with the same choice destiny gave Prime Minister Chamberlain; appease or fight, cower or rise. The consequences of his choice are writ large, in the blood of innocents, across historys pages for all to see. There are three perspectives on China, prevalent in the modern world. Firstly, a pacifist perspective, trenchantly detached from reality, exuding naivete beyond comprehension. If history has taught us any one thing, it is that tyrannical autocracies do not much care to follow negotiated peace treaties. The second perspective, much more worth our time, seeks to cast Chinas threat to the liberal democratic order, in terms of the Soviet conflict; a Cold War. Also Read: Punjab Hooch Case: Kejriwal asks Punjab Government to hand over case to CBI Also Read: In a first, Mumbai traffic signals display women pedestrians Trade restrictions, espionage, self-dependency, and mutually assured destruction are the law in this game. Aatmanirbhar, as Prime Minster Modi puts it. Hes exactly right to do so; we must stop relying on the Chinese economy if we are to have any hope of emerging as a world leader. This argument, while essentially correct, falters on two counts. It misunderstands how the Cold War was won, and acts as a misnomer for what lies ahead. Ronald Reagan and the United States were instrumental in bringing about the downfall of the Soviet Union (at a time when India, along with a multiplicity of other nations was dodging the same responsibility, I might add). But the view that they alone won the Cold War is incorrect. They share that honor, with Mikhail Gorbachev. Glasnost and Perestroika (freedom and openness) and Gorbachevs (albeit somewhat reluctant) commitment to both is what ended the Soviet Union. While his predecessors sought to violently repress the freedoms of their countrymen, Gorbachev allowed for western culture, and the concomitant liberalism, to be introduced into the U.S.S.R. Though disagreeing with the reforms taking place all across the Eastern Bloc of the Soviet Union, Secretary Gorbachev sought not to repress them. When Germany voted for unification, he allowed it to happen. Though very late, and perhaps unhappily, he heeded President Reagans call. He tore down that wall. Confronted with mounting public pressure for free elections, he relented, and allowed candidates not officially endorsed by the Communist Party to stand. It is true that the economic collapse and near total bankruptcy of the Soviet Union were key factors in Gorbachevs decisions, nudging him away from totalitarianism, and towards better things. However, we must realize that his restraint against the violent suppression of revolution, and his rational approach to a failing economy, are rarities in the annals of autocratic rule. Dictatorships nearly always end in violent revolution. Gorbachevs didnt. He could have traced the footsteps of despots past, foregoing any notions of liberalism and freedom. The world may have seen another Russian Revolution, had he not taken the measures he did. Regardless though, China, our primary subject of discussion, is highly unlikely to suffer that same weakness. Theyve engineered an extremely productive and efficient economy, while still following a largely communist model. By depriving their citizens of basic human rights and freedoms, theyve managed to cheat economics. Unlike the Soviets, they will not fall to rancor over economic tensions. I say all of this, to make clear that the Cold War ended the way it did, not because of smartly crafted policies, but because of pure happenstance. The world was lucky in that Gorbachev had more respect for freedom and liberalism than his predecessors. It would be unwise to bank our China policy on the improbable hope that Xi Jinping is replaced by a similar figure. Secondly, for India, allusions to a Cold War with China miss the point; for the countries bordering the U.S.S.R, the war was most decidedly not Cold. Mentioning The Cold War, at its worst, conjures up images of global panic, brought on by the threat of military conflict between two superpowers. What we tend to ignore, is that there was, in fact, military conflict; it just wasnt on American shores. There was conflict in Africa, in the Middle East, in South East Asia. There was conflict on the borders of the Soviet Union. If a war with China begins, it wont be Cold; at least not for us. The third, and in my opinion, only realist perspective, is a gearing up for militarism. As liberal, peace-loving democracies, we must not start a war. The faint glimmer of peaceful resolution should limit us. I would not endorse the policy of a first strike. But when attacked, we must respond in kind. When China escalates, we must escalate. When China attempts territorial grabs in the South China Sea, we must stand with our ASEAN allies. When China colonizes Hong Kong, we, along with the entire liberal democratic order, must take a hard stand against them. We cannot afford to continue with the doctrine of vague denouncements and obligatory shows of strength. India cannot take Chinas abuse lying down. If the choice is to appease or to fight, she must fight. If the choice is to cower or to rise, she must rise. India will get through this, but only if she makes the right choice. Also Read: Sushants sim cards registered under Siddharth Pithanis name, tracking call records: Bihar Police Mumbai, Aug 2 : Aditi Rao Hydari has appeared in several South Indian films over the past couple of years but her release count in Bollywood has been rather low. The actress insists says it is not the language or film industry, but the film that matters most to her. "More than often I am told that now I am focusing on my career in South and have left Mumbai. But I have not gone anywhere. Scripts and opportunities took me everywhere. Why should I say no to a film if the story is exciting? I think we are a generation of actor for whom the length of the role does not matter but substance does," Aditi told IANS. Her last assignments in Bollywood were a supporting role in "Padmaavat" and a starring role "Daas Dev". Both films released in 2018. In roughly the same amount of time, she had done five films down South, across Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam languages. Her upcoming Hindi film is "The Girl On A Train", starring Parineeti Chopra, while she has two Tamil and one Telugu film lined up for release. "I look for something in which I am artistically challenged while trying out something new. For instance, look at my role in the film 'Padmaavat'. When Sanjay (Leela Bhansali) sir called me, he told me that among all the four characters in the film, my role would be smallest. 'But he promise you, the story will be incomplete without your character', he added. Eventually, when I started receiving good words for the character of Mehrunisa, I was happy. For me, the impact of my character matters," she claimed. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 16:15:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on July 23, 2020 shows the White House in Washington D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) "We launch a series of unknown events that could be very, very dangerous. I think this is a huge mistake," Senior Senator Dianne Feinstein said recently. WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Allowing U.S. citizens to sue China over the COVID-19 pandemic would be a "huge mistake," a Californian senator has said. "We launch a series of unknown events that could be very, very dangerous. I think this is a huge mistake," said Senior Senator Dianne Feinstein recently during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Ma Huihuang (L), leader of the poverty relief team of Shibadong Village, together with villager Shi Linjiao, promotes local products via live streaming at Shibadong Village of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province, May 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Noting that China has pulled tens of millions of people out of poverty in a short period of time, Feinstein regarded China as a country "growing into a respectable nation among other nations" and a "potential trading partner." Feinstein also said that other countries, including China, could use the new legal precedent against the United States, resulting in global chaos, according to Fox News. Her comments came three months after Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit demanding that the Chinese government take responsibility and make compensations for the global pandemic. Profile review: social science to business analytics [ #permalink Hi all, I am transitioning from social work to business analytics and I would appreciate some profile evaluation here. Thanks in advance! -Background and nationality: I would like to apply for business analytics. I am a Chinese (speaks Mandarin and Canto) but I've been in the US since high school where I graduated with a national honor roll. -Education Information: Went to UC Irvine for undergrad and studied sociology (took 3 stats classes and a game theory class, cumulative GPA was 2.8); then to USC for master and studied gerontology (took leadership/consumer marketing classes, cumulative GPA was 3.55). During school I also assisted in 3 academic researches, one of them was published. I interviewed participants and analyzed qualitative data using excel, NVivo and Visio. -GMAT/GRE: to be taken, I am studying for GMAT with , 2020OG and our beloved gmatclub:) -Work experience and leadership: I worked at a nonprofit for 1.5 years, made assessment on resources delivery and implemented quality assurance; coordinated events with community partners; designed surveys and analyzed data. I have 2 more work experiences--a month in movie development research and one year in school as project assistant -Community and others: Besides the nonprofit when I worked as a social worker and coordinator, I also volunteered for different organizations such as Red Cross and Autism Speaks. I have been playing the piano since I was 4 and I am on level 8. -Post Master goals: I'd like to work as a business analyst. I am interested in the "analyst" role. -Anything else? I know I don't have a strong quant background, my undergrad gpa is low, I didn't study any business/data major, I don't have skills in analytics tools(python, R, etc) yet, and my gmat is scheduled for early December. Would it still be possible to apply for UCLA next year (2011)? How should I plan and convince the admission office? Also, I want to stay in California and I plan to apply to multiple schools (USC, UC Irvine, Cal State U's..) is there anything I should pay attention to? Thank you so much for your help. WEST CHESTER Election officials in Chester County are preparing for a large number of vote-by-mail ballots arriving at the offices of the county Voter Services prior to Election Day this November. The county commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of a Relia-Vote ballot sorting machine and its coordinated software, just a few days after the county Board of Elections approved a plan to pay the return postage on any absentee or mail-in ballots for the Nov. 3 presidential election. County Administrator Bobby Kagel in an interview following the commissioners vote called the sorter an impressive machine designed to ease the work previously done by Voter Services staffers in processing the completed ballots that come in the weeks and days prior the election. It will strengthen the process for us, Kagel said of the $503,860 system from Blue Crest, a division of DMT Solutions Global Corp. Its a really, really impressive machine. Anything that would streamline the process of counting ballots on Nov. 3 will be welcome. If the countys experience in the June Primary Election is a fair indicator of what is to come, county election workers in offices at the Government Services Center are liable to see an onslaught of mail-in ballots. In June, of the 122,780 ballots cast for president, U.S. House of Representative, and state Senate and House seats across the county, 77,062 of them or 62 percent came by mail or dropbox. It marked the first election that voters did not need an excuse to vote by mail, such as being absent or hospitalized on Election Day, and the option proved popular during the still hot stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the voters choosing the mail-in option, far more were registered Democrats than Republicans 56,341 to 20,661. (GOP turnout was depressed in the primary as there were no meaningful contested races on the ballot for those candidates.) Should the pandemic continue to vex county residents, the mail-in numbers could swell. In the 2016 presidential election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, in the county there were 274,877 votes cast. A 62 percent mail-in rate come November would see approximately 171,000 ballots come into Voter Services. The Relia-Vote machine will record the car code scan on the ballots envelope, recording it as cast in the state election offices records, Kagel said. It also timestamps the ballot and records what precinct it was cast for. On any given day, there could be hundreds or thousands of the mail-in ballots arriving. The machine, however, will not open, extract and count the votes on the ballot, he said. That will still need to be done by hand by county election staff beginning at 7 a.m. on Nov. 3. That will continue to be a manual process that we will have to throw a lot of human capital at in a safe and secure process, said Kagel. The only way that votes could be recorded sooner would be a change in state election law. It is our hope that the legislature will fix that and allow the county to open and scan the ballots prior to Election Day, he said. The Relia-Vote machine system will also be used in Montgomery and Allegheny counties, he said. The Board of Elections which consists of the three commissioners, two Democrats and one Republican made its decision to pay for the return postage on all mail-in ballots at the urging of several organizations concerned with voting, including the Chester County League of Women Voters, Kagel said. It would eliminate one more obstacle in casting a ballot during the pandemic the purchase of a postage stamp. (A 2018 article in Business Insider reported that elections officials in Virginia said millennials who had requested a mail-in ballot failed to return them because they did not know where to buy a stamp.) But the boards decision came several days before it was announced that the postage for all mail-in ballots in November would be paid by the state, a move that Gov. Tom Wolf has made a priority as the coronavirus pandemic unexpectedly fueled high interest in voting by mail under a new state law. The administration plans to use money from federal emergency coronavirus aid to foot the bill, which could run to several million dollars to cover 55 cents for millions of ballots. Wolfs top elections official, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, said paying for the postage is a way to make voting more accessible, safer and easier during the pandemic. Advocates also said it should help people get their ballots in faster and on time. Under the plan, voters who apply for and receive a mail-in or absentee ballot in the mail will also get a postage-paid ballot-return envelope. Each county will have options on how to carry that out, whether using stamps, a metered machine or a business-reply mail account linked to the states, Boockvar said. The step by Wolf, a Democrat, comes as his administration and lawmakers discuss legislation to help counties deal with the expected avalanche of mailed-in ballots in a premier presidential battleground state. It also comes as the push to expand voting by mail ahead of the November presidential election has become increasingly partisan. President Donald Trump has made it clear he believes widespread mail-in voting would benefit Democrats. He has alleged without citing evidence that it will lead to massive fraud, and the Republican National Committee has budgeted $20 million to fight Democratic lawsuits in at least 18 states aimed at expanding voting by mail. The Associated Press contributed to this story. To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544. Your browser does not support the audio element. Hundreds of police officers showcased their strength, tenacity, and combat skills at the opening ceremony of this years Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi on Saturday morning. The campaign is among a series of activities marking the 75th anniversary of the Traditional Day of Public Security Forces (August 19). The event includes 13 categories with the participation of 1,484 police officers from 122 units throughout Vietnam. Although the campaign was officially kick-started on Saturday, competitions of eight out of 13 categories have been organized since August 2019. Following the opening ceremony, the remaining five categories were organized. General To Lam, Minister of Public Security, lights a torch to commence the 'Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi, August 1, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre Speaking at the opening ceremony, Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Thanh, Deputy Minister of Public Security, affirmed the peoples police force has been required to fulfill many difficult tasks and missions for the cause of protecting national security and ensuring social order and safety in the new situation. Each police officer must develop comprehensively in terms of political and legal knowledge, foreign languages, and social knowledge, while training for good physical strength, Thanh stated. Through physical exercises and sports, the people's police officers are able to improve their health, physical strength, and spirit, as well as sharpening their political and professional skills, thus contributing to solidarity and the protection of national security, he added. A police officer displays excellent physical strength during the opening ceremony of the Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi, August 1, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre A female police officer displays excellent physical strength during the opening ceremony of the Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi, August 1, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre Female traffic police officers march during the opening ceremony of the Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi, August 1, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre Firefighting police officers are pictured at the opening ceremony of the Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi, August 1, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre Police officers march during the opening ceremony of the Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi, August 1, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre Police officers march during the opening ceremony of the Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi, August 1, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre Police officers display their gun skills at the opening ceremony of the Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi, August 1, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre The mounted police force marches at the opening ceremony of the Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi, August 1, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre Mounted police officers show their skills at the opening ceremony of the Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi, August 1, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre Police officers display their gun skills at the opening ceremony of the Stay Fit for National Security campaign in Hanoi, August 1, 2020. Photo: Danh Trong / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Kamal Rani, who was undergoing treatment for coronavirus at a Lucknow hospital, died on Sunday morning. She was 62. Kamal Rani, minister of technical education in the state government, was admitted to a Rajdhani Covid hospital on July 18. The condition of minister deteriorated after infection in lungs. She was put on life support system. Despite the best efforts of doctors she passed away on Sunday, said Director PGI professor Radha Krishna Dheeman. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed grief over the demise of the minister. The CM, who was set to review today preparations for Ram temple bhoomi pujan ceremony on August 5, has cancelled his Ayodhya visit after the news of the ministers death. Rani was an MLA from Ghatampur constituency in Kanpur. Rani was also a member of the 11th and 12th Lok Sabha. Kamal Rani Varun respected public aspirations as a minister. As a minister, she made commendable contribution in efficiently discharging departmental functions, tweeted UP chief ministers office. Her death is an irreparable loss to the society and the government. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, while paying a humble tribute, expressed his deepest condolences to the bereaved family, read another tweet from the CMs office. Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is being treated for Covid-19 in a hospital, tweeted his condolence message for the minister. Sad news of untimely demise of cabinet minister Kamal Rani ji in Uttar Pradesh government. I pray to God for the peace of the departed soul and the strength of the family to bear this profound sorrow, tweeted Chouhan. New Delhi: On the festival of Rakhi 2020, India has given a huge blow to China-made rakhis causing a massive loss to the tune of Rs 4,000 crores. With this India has broken the myth that it cannot successfully boycott Chinese goods. On June 10, the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) had given a call for celebrating Rakhi as "Hindustani Rakhi" this year which turned out to be a success. With the cooperation of CAIT around 1 crore Rakhis were made across thh country using Indian goods and made by women working in the commercial sectors, at homes and in Anganwadis. A variety of new-designer Rakhis were made from Indian goods, this year not a single rakhi was imported from China. The National President of CAIT, BC Bhartia and National General Secretary Praveen Khandelwal said that according to an estimate around 50 crore rakhis are sold every year at about Rs 6000 crores while for the past many years around Rs 4000 crore worth China-made Rakhis or products were being imported. Talking about the next step to boycott Chinese goods, Bhartia and Khandelwal said that on August 9, traders from all over the country will start the "China Quit India" campaign. On this day, traders will gather at more than 800 locations across the country and shout slogan of 'China Quit India'. On the other hand, after a long wait of 500 years, on the foundation laying ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya on August 5, traders all over the country will light a lamp, or clatter bells in their shops and homes. Queensland's coronavirus crisis is continuing to get worse after an infectious man flew in on a domestic flight from Sydney after returning from overseas. There are now 13 active COVID-19 cases in Queensland, with more than 13,700 tests done in the 24 hours to Sunday morning. The man, in his 20s, is currently in quarantine after flying into Maroochydore, on the Sunshine Coast, on July 31 on Jetstar flight JQ790. He was infectious on the flight and health authorities are tracing people who sat near him, Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young said on Sunday. Queensland's coronavirus crisis is continuing to get worse after an infectious man flew in on a domestic flight from Sydney after returning from overseas (pictured: Passengers queuing at Sydney Domestic Airport on July 31) He was infectious on the flight and health authorities are tracing people who sat near him, Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young (pictured) said on Sunday Dr Young said the man is a consular staff member who was allowed to take the domestic flight and quarantine at home as part of a select group of exemptions. The man flew from Afghanistan's capital of Kabul to Sydney and was given an exemption from the mandatory 14-day quarantine for returned travellers, ABC reported. 'One of those exemptions is consulate staff so they are able to on-travel to their home and to quarantine in their home,' Dr Young said. 'He got tested immediately then and went into quarantine and has now tested positive in the last 24 hours.' The man acquired the infection while he was overseas and was Queensland's only new case of COVID-19 on Sunday. 'He did everything that he should have done ... but it does mean that this is a risk,' Dr Young said. 'The next week will really be telling. It's the next week we have to be so absolutely cautious.' Dr Young said the man is a consular staff member who was allowed to take the domestic flight and quarantine at home as part of a select group of exemptions (People at Sydney airport on Friday) People line up in their cars and on foot to get COVID-19 tested at the Parklands Christian College on Wednesday A man delivers cleaning equipment to a COVID-19 screening clinic at the Parklands Christian College in Logan Meanwhile, 104 residents at a Brisbane nursing home have returned negative results after being tested. It was confirmed on Saturday a woman who works at the Bolton Clarke aged care facility at Pinjarra Hills had tested positive. One resident was unable to be tested but Dr Young said it was no cause for concern. The resident will be quarantined for a fortnight and monitored, she said. It comes after two consecutive days of community transmission after three young women sparked panic in the state by travelling from Melbourne. Diana Lasu, 21, and Olivia Winnie Muranga, 19, allegedly lied on their border declarations about where they had been when they arrived in Brisbane from Melbourne via Sydney on July 21. Haja Timbo (pictured) has been identified as the third woman, who allegedly provided misleading documents at the Queensland border after visiting Melbourne Diana Lasu (right), 21, and Olivia Winnie Muranga (left), 19, allegedly lied on their border declarations about where they had been when they arrived in Brisbane from Melbourne via Sydney on July 21 Days later they felt sick but carried on working, socialising and visiting restaurants and cocktail bars while waiting for their test results - which came back positive. The pair travelled along with 21-year-old Haja Timbo. The trio have been charged with one count each of providing false or misleading documents and fraud over their alleged lies to authorities when they arrived in Brisbane. Lasu's mother denied her daughter did anything wrong, instead pointing the blame at Muranga. 'She didn't go to Melbourne, she went to Sydney,' she told Nine News on Thursday. 'I don't have any apologies for anyone - believe me.' The mother, who is in hotel quarantine as a close contact, said her daughter's friend had been in Melbourne. 'If you know, yourself, you have the virus - why didn't you directly go to the doctor?' she said, referring to Muranga. Lasu and Muranga remain in Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital under police guard, partly for their own protection. Footage has emerged of Muranga casually entering the Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar on Brisbane's Southbank with a friend and ordering a drink Between them the pair visited 11 different venues in Brisbane while infected with COVID-19 Meanwhile, footage has emerged showing Muranga casually ordering a drink at the Cowch Dessert Cocktail Bar on Brisbane's Southbank with a friend in the hours after she was tested for the virus on Monday. The venue is one of 11 visited by the women while infectious. 'Two cocktails hardly seems worth all this pain,' Arif Mendes, who owns a restaurant Muranga visited, told A Current Affair. 'People say we're in this together... well clearly not for some people, that's disappointing.' Before that, Muranga had allegedly gone to work for two days at Parklands Christian College in Park Ridge, south of the city before calling in sick. She went to the doctor on Saturday and was told to get tested immediately, but she allegedly waited until Monday to do so. Queensland Police on Thursday afternoon said three women had been charged for allegedly providing false information on their border declarations. A 19-year-old Heritage Park woman, a 21-year-old Acacia Ridge woman and a 21-year-old Algester woman were all charged with one count each of providing false or misleading documents and fraud. The women could be fined $13,345 or sent to jail for a maximum of five years. Police said the trio are now cooperating with officers and Queensland Health officials. A police source has meanwhile alleged the teenagers threw a party (people leaving the party are pictured) for about 20 people at their accommodation in Melbourne earlier this month Victoria Police issued infringement notices to all in attendance at the party after being called to reports of a 'disturbance' The women will appear at Brisbane Magistrates Court on September 28. Additional restrictions are being placed on aged care homes in southeast Queensland as a precaution. Visitors will no longer be allowed at facilities in Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Redland, Gold Coast and the Scenic Rim, with exemptions for end-of-life. The Bolton Clarke home had been locked down after the worker's husband tested positive on Friday. He is believed to have contracted the virus at Sunnybank's Madtongsan IV Korean restaurant on July 23. The venue was attended by one of the infected women who allegedly failed to declare a recent visit to Melbourne when returning to Queensland. On August 6, 2015, I knelt on the banks of the Motoyasu River in Hiroshima and floated a paper lantern on the dark water. Following the current, it joined the stream of thousands of others, decorated with peace signs, flowers, globes, and prayers for peace in many languages, flowing past the skeletal ruins of the iconic A-Bomb Dome and under the Aioi Bridge, which had served as the target for the atom bomb, 70 years before. School children pose for a group photo with the Atomic Bomb Dome as a backdrop in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Credit:Shuji Kajiyama On the night of August 6, 1945, victims of the bombing gathered by that same river in numb shock and horror as their city burned. They took refuge in the water, hoping to soothe their wounds. Some people's skin hung in strips or slipped off in sheets. The dead floated beside the living. Many of the injured cried out for water. Still, many survivors later remembered the eerie quiet of that night. Before setting my lantern in the water, I slid a photograph of my grandfather into its corner. It flickered ghostlike in front of the candle flame. I wanted him to bear witness to what I don't think he had ever fully faced in his lifetime: that his work in a top-secret laboratory in the south-eastern United States had contributed to this atrocity. Oak Ridge, Tennessee, code-named Site X, was a secret city built by the Manhattan Project to house production facilities and workers needed to enrich the uranium bound for the Hiroshima bomb. As a mid-level chemist, my grandfather, George Strasser, was probably not told the ultimate purpose of his work for security reasons. He died before I was born, so I could never ask him. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden said he will pick a woman as his running mate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden has promised to soon reveal his running mate. And as the suspense builds over who Biden will choose to be on the ticket for November's election, this much is known -- it will be a woman. About a dozen names have been bandied about by pundits and the press but the favorite for the vice president slot appears to be California Senator Kamala Harris. The speculation that the 55-year-old Harris would be the choice was fueled further last week when Biden appeared at an event clutching a notepad with her name on it. Written on the pad under Harris's name were several complimentary remarks including "Talented," "Great help to campaign" and "Great respect for her." California Senator Kamala Harris is considered a favorite to be selected as Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's running mate The November 3 election is shaping up to be one of the most consequential in recent US history and comes amid a health emergency, an economic crisis and a national reckoning over racial injustice. The choice of a running mate is always one of the most important decisions a White House hopeful makes but it has added significance this year because of Biden's age. Biden turns 78 years old on November 20 and he would be the oldest man ever to assume the office if he defeats President Donald Trump in November. Ronald Reagan was nearly 74 years old when he was inaugurated in January 1985 for his second term in the White House. "The vice-presidential pick this year is so much more important than it normally is because people expect Biden to only serve one term," said David Barker, a professor of government at American University. "And so whomever he picks as vice president is likely to be the next Democratic candidate for president in four years," Barker said. Besides Harris, three other senators are believed to be under consideration -- Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin. No caption Two other lawmakers also appear to be in the running -- Florida congresswoman Val Demings and California representative Karen Bass -- and two governors -- Michigan's Gretchen Whitmer and New Mexico's Michelle Lujan Grisham. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has also been mentioned along with Susan Rice, who served as national security advisor under president Barack Obama. - 'Do not hold grudges' - Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice is believed to be on the short-list of vice presidential candidates Harris challenged Biden for the Democratic nomination but dropped out of the race in December 2019 and threw her support behind Biden, the former vice president and senator from Delaware, in March. Biden and Harris clashed during an early Democratic primary debate but he appears not to hold it against her. One of the remarks on the notepad. "Do not hold grudges." The daughter of a Jamaican-born father and Indian-born mother, Harris served as a district attorney in San Francisco before becoming attorney general of California, the first woman to hold the post in the most populous US state. She was elected to the Senate in 2016, just the second black woman elected to the body and the first woman of South Asian heritage. While Harris would be the first black woman on the ticket of a major party, she failed to excite black voters during the primaries, in part, perhaps, because of her reputation for being a tough prosecutor. Rep. Karen Bass of California is under consideration to be Democrat Joe Biden's running mate Two other black women -- Rice and Bass -- have emerged as potential running mates for an election that comes amid a backdrop of nationwide "Black Lives Matter" protests sparked by the death of George Floyd. Rice, 55, has never run for office but she does have extensive foreign policy experience and worked closely with Biden when he was Obama's vice president and she was national security advisor. "He has a great relationship with her," Barker said. "I think that's going to weigh heavily into his decision." Bass, 66, heads the Congressional Black Caucus and is the author of a police reform bill named after Floyd. "She's an interesting pick," Barker said of Bass, and could potentially help Biden's standing with "young activists, black and white." "Even though right now nobody knows who she is, once somebody becomes the vice presidential running mate then everybody learns who they are rather quickly," he said. Warren, the 71-year-old senator from Massachusetts, is much better known but is "extremely polarizing," Barker said. Senator Elizabeth Warren challenged Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination and is now under consideration as his running mate He said he considered it unlikely Biden would make such a "high risk, high reward" choice when the polls show him leading Trump by a comfortable margin, including in the swing states. While Biden said he would make his vice presidential selection this week, he may not actually announce it until the following week. In any event, he is likely to reveal his choice ahead of the Democratic nominating convention, which is to begin on August 17 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and has been scaled down because of the coronavirus outbreak. On any given day, most of our email inboxes are flooded with a barrage of automated email newsletters that do little else besides giving us another task to do on our commutes to work -- namely, marking them all as unread without reading or unsubscribing altogether. It may not seem like a good idea to add to all the noise. However, according to Constant Contact, the average ROI for email marketing is $42 for every $1 spent. Needless to say, email is an important component of a marketing strategy, and its success relies largely on how well you craft your email campaigns. What Is an Email Marketing Campaign? An email marketing campaign is a series of emails a business uses to communicate with current and potential customers. This planned content is distributed via email with the goal of accomplishing a specific goal for the organization such as nurturing leads or encouraging engagement. Email campaigns are an important part of inbound marketing, an ongoing process where marketers meet buyers in whatever stage of the journey they're in. Inbound marketing acknowledges that not everyone is ready to buy from you at this exact moment. That's why email is such an important channel. Through email, you're able to stay top-of-mind by providing communication to their personal inbox, and you can do it at scale with marketing automation software. It's important that an email campaign's recipients have opted in to receive this content and that each piece offers something valuable. Here are some examples of different purposes your email campaign may set out to accomplish: Traffic generation - Email can be an effective promotion channel for the high-value content you create on your website. - Email can be an effective promotion channel for the high-value content you create on your website. Awareness - Not everyone who opts into your email list is ready for a purchasing decision. You can use email marketing to stay top of mind while providing the educational content that is most relevant to them. - Not everyone who opts into your email list is ready for a purchasing decision. You can use email marketing to stay top of mind while providing the educational content that is most relevant to them. Lead nurturing - As you stay top of mind, you may also consider ways to identify the leads you have with the highest purchase intent and provide conversion-focused content that "nurtures" them toward a sale (or at least toward becoming sales-ready). - As you stay top of mind, you may also consider ways to identify the leads you have with the highest purchase intent and provide conversion-focused content that "nurtures" them toward a sale (or at least toward becoming sales-ready). Revenue generation - You can create email marketing campaigns for your existing customers to promote upsell and cross-sell opportunities. You can also create campaigns to capture a sales conversion from leads who are close to a purchasing decision. (One example might be creating "abandon cart" campaigns for recovering lost sales conversions.) The options for effective email marketing are endless. Check out these 10 email marketing tips in 60 seconds: Ready to take a deeper dive? Effective email marketing campaigns need to be cleverly written to attract attention in busy inboxes. Let's get into how to create an effective email marketing campaign of your own. How to Execute an Email Marketing Campaign Use an email planning template. Identify your goal for the campaign. Understand who you're emailing. Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer persona. Build a targeted list and define enrollment criteria. Determine the timeline you want the campaign to run. Plan your emails and follow-ups. Write click-worthy subject lines. Write copy that's suited for them. Create your brand assets. Put it all together with a comprehensive email builder. Include clear calls to action. Include personalization elements. Always provide a way for them to opt out. Test your emails and make sure they work on all devices. Monitor your metrics. 1. Use an email planning template. Download This Planning Template It's imperative to make a plan before you start emailing your entire customer database. That's why HubSpot created this free email planning template to help you iron out who you're emailing, who you're suppressing from your contact list, and what the email's message is. Download the template now to get your email campaign planning organized. 2. Identify your goal for the campaign. Figure out the outcome that you want: Is it to clean up your list? Promote a new product? Follow-up from an abandoned cart event? Stay top of mind with your audience? Different email campaigns will have different outcomes, requiring different tactics to get there. Once you determine the purpose of your campaign, you can then create the targets you want to hit. Include specific metrics in your goal so that you can determine if your campaign was a success based on quantitative data. 3. Understand who you're emailing. Have you ever heard the saying from Meredith Hill, "When you speak to everyone, you speak to no one"? What Hill is getting at here is that if you're watering down your message to apply to your entire audience, you're leaving opportunity on the table -- opportunity for creating high-value, specific, relevant content that speaks directly to the recipient. With this in mind, the key to a great email marketing campaign is identifying your audience and using email segmentation to ensure you're delivering to the right people at the right time. If you can accomplish this and build it into your strategy, you can get more creative and specific with your messaging. 4. Put yourself in the shoes of the buyer persona. After you've identified the outcome and the goals you want to hit, you now need to strategize how to provide value to your buyer persona so that they convert, engage, or take the action you want them to take. Some things to ask yourself might include: How did they subscribe in the first place? What matters to them? What can I provide that will engage and delight them? 5. Build a targeted list and define enrollment criteria. You know who you're targeting and what you want them to do. From there, you must build the segment. Thinking about your buyer persona, what properties do they all have in common? How does your CRM describe those properties? Your software is smart, but it's not smart enough to automatically know which recipients you're sending to. Will the recipients receive the emails at the same time, or is there certain criteria they have to meet before they are enrolled in the sequence or campaign? 6. Determine the timeline you want the campaign to run. You may be running a seasonal campaign that only requires one or two emails, or you might be building a long-term top-of-mind nurturing campaign. Tailor the length of your email sequence to the length of the buying cycle and stage the persona is at in the buyer's journey. In other words, deliver the right message at the right time. 7. Plan your emails and follow-ups. Once you know who you're emailing and why, it's time to strategize how to move them from A (where they are) to B (where you want them to be, the goal of the campaign). Over the course of the campaign's timeline, you may want multiple touchpoints. You may also even consider follow-ups based on the actions that each recipient takes. Plan these emails out, outlining the core message and take-away for each email. Keep in mind that you can't expect a single email to do everything. Your email campaign can be made up of multiple emails, so consider taking your email recipients on a journey with each email serving a single purpose. This will increase the odds of each email being successful in its role toward reaching your goal. For example, if you're doing a lead nurturing campaign, you might have a few educational emails to take them from the awareness stage to the consideration stage before providing more conversion-focused content. The longer the buying process and sales cycle, the more emails you'll need. 8. Write click-worthy subject lines. The subject line is the gate keeper of the rest of your email. Your buyer persona will not be exposed to your content unless they first click the subject line. With that in mind, use this precious real estate for copy that compels them to read further. You can do that by: Piquing their interest Promising value Opening a loop (that will be closed in the body of the email) Using your unique voice to start the conversation Using personalization 9. Write copy that's suited for them. Once you know the purpose of each email you're sending and you have the subject lines, you can write the copy that will engage your list. Consider where your audience is in their buying journey and provide the type of content that they'll find useful. For example, it doesn't make sense to promote products if you're emailing a segment of subscribers who are largely in the awareness stage of the buying journey. 10. Create your brand assets. Few people want to read an email that simply gives them a wall of text. Visuals help your recipients quickly understand the point of the email. In fact, intentional and well-placed imagery can increase click-through rates, so put thought into not just what you want to say but how you want to say it, using visuals to support your message. 11. Put it all together with a comprehensive email builder. Once you've written the copy for your emails, you'll want to build them out in the email software client you're intending to use. There are several options depending on your needs, including HubSpot, MailChimp, Pabbly Email Marketing and Constant Contact. With a comprehensive email builder, you can create, optimize, and personalize your own email campaigns without needing any technical or graphic design experience. 12. Include clear calls to action. Remember, if you're taking up your audience's time -- and inbox space -- with another email, your message must have a point to it. Consider what you want your email recipients to take away from the email. In most cases, you'll want to add a call-to-action (CTA) for them to take further action. Don't confuse your email contacts by providing too many options. For each email you send, there should be a single action that you want the reader to take. Then, instruct them to take that action and set expectations for what will happen when they do. Your goal behind the CTA may vary depending on the audience's buyer's journey stage and what you want to accomplish with your email campaign. For example, you may simply want to engage them further with another piece of content, or you might want to get them to make a purchase. Regardless of what it is, you should follow CTA best practices such as making the ask with clear language and emphasizing it with contrasting design elements. 13. Include personalization elements. Consider the experience. Do your email recipients want to feel like one among hundreds of other people in your database? Or do they want a personalized experience as though you're talking directly with them? Automation helps save time, but it should never be at the cost of the experience. Marketing emails need to be personalized to the reader and contain information that is relevant to them. At the very least, swap out the "Dear Sir/Madam" in favor of their name using personalization tokens. 14. Always provide a way for them to opt out. People who don't want to read your emails don't belong on your list. Keeping them only skews your open rates down and increases the number of people marketing your emails as spam. Besides, according to CAN-SPAM guidelines, you should always provide a way for them to opt out of email if they no longer want to receive communications from you. Typically, this opt-out link lives in the footer of each email you send. 15. Test your emails and make sure they work on all devices. Once your emails are built out, check them over before hitting the send button. Effective email marketing campaigns are designed for all devices on which users can read their emails -- desktop, tablet, and mobile. Consider sending them as a test to a colleague and checking them across multiple devices and email clients. 16. Monitor your metrics. As the campaign runs, take notes. Are your open rates and click rates what you expected? What went well vs. not well? Are you on track to hitting your goals with the campaign? The more you pay attention to the data, the more you can understand what's working and what's not for your audience, leading to more effective campaigns in the future. Want a quick refresher on how to master marketing email? Check out this helpful video: Now that you know how to responsibly wield email marketing, grab some inspiration from the masterful email marketing campaigns below. Free Guide Email Newsletter Lookbook Tell us a little about yourself below to gain access today: Best Email Marketing Campaign Examples If you're reading this, you probably have an email address (or two, or three ...). In fact, you've probably been sending and receiving emails for years, and you've definitely received some questionable deliveries in your inbox. Whether they were unexpected, uninformative, or had a subject line tHaT wAs fOrmAtTeD liKe tHiS, we bet you didn't hesitate to direct them towards the trash, right? While email has managed to stand the test of time, many marketers have failed to update their strategies since its inception. So to ensure you're sending modern emails that warrant some of your recipients' precious time and attention, we've compiled a list of effective email examples to inspire your next campaign. 1. ModCloth Marketing Campaign: Email Preferences Great companies are always evolving, and your customers expect to experience change. What they don't expect (because too many companies haven't lived up to this end of the bargain) is to be told about those changes. That said, this email from ModCloth serves as a refreshing change of pace. If you're going to change the way you communicate with a lead or customer, give them clear, fair warning so, if they aren't on board, they can make the necessary adjustments to keep their inbox clean. Why It Works It sets expectations for communication moving forward so that the buyer persona can choose what's best for them. 2. Tory Burch Marketing Campaign: Promotion Did you see that? Did you see it move? Pretty cool, right? This small bit of animation helps to separate this email from Tory Burch from all of the immobile emails in their recipient's inboxes. They also leverage exclusivity by framing the promotion as a "private" sale. Oftentimes, this type of positioning makes the recipient feel like they're specially chosen, which encourages them to take advantage of the special opportunity they've been presented with. Why It Works Emails can get static, boring, and impersonal. This email subverts those expectations without going overboard. 3. RunKeeper Marketing Campaign: Re-Engagement Campaign RunKeeper makes an effort to reengage lost users with this friendly, informational email. By highlighting their app's most recent changes and benefits, the copy works to entice recipients to give the app another chance. It also discusses benefits that the recipient may not know about since the last time they used the service. Why It Works Small inclusions like the "Hi friend" greeting and the "You rock" closing makes the content feel welcoming and less aggressive. 4. Litmus Marketing Campaign: Promotion Here's another great example of animation being used to create a more interesting email marketing design. Unlike static text, the swipe motion used to provide recipients with a look "under the hood" of their email tool is eye-catching and encourages you to take a deeper dive into the rest of the content. Not to mention the header does an excellent job of explicitly stating what this email is about. Why It Works The animation is subtle, and it's executed in a way that serves to enhance the email's body copy. Even better, it works well with the design of the email, creating a matching but contrasting focal point before the reader dives into the rest of the copy below. 5. Loft Marketing Campaign: Email Preferences This email from Loft aims to demonstrate their understanding of your crazy, mixed-value inbox. In an effort to provide you with emails that you actually want to open, Loft asks that their recipients update their preferences to help them deliver a more personalized experience. This customer-focused email is super effective in making the recipient feel like their likes, dislikes, and opinions actually matter. Why It Works It centers the recipient's needs with the slogan "Happy Inbox, Happy Life." Paired with a low-friction CTA, the copy is simple and effective. 6. UncommonGoods Marketing Campaign: Promotion You've heard it a million times (and a few thousand of those times may have been from us): You should create a sense of urgency with your calls-to-action. That's what makes a lead take action, right? Well, this email from UncommonGoods succeeds in creating a sense of urgency by focusing on the value of acting now. Why It Works Instead of saying, "Order your Mother's Day gift NOW before Preferred Shipping ends!", this email asks, "Don't you think Mom would've liked a faster delivery?" Why yes, she would. Thank you for reminding me before it's too late -- I don't want to be in the dog house because my gift arrived after Mother's Day. 7. JetBlue Marketing Campaign: Customer Delight Confession: We have a serious email marketing crush on JetBlue. And they continue to deliver their lovable marketing in this cheeky email campaign that aims to humorously reengage customers. Every element from the header, to the three witty points, to the actionable, contrasting CTA work together to create a lovable campaign that's promotional without being pushy. Why It Works This copy is bursting with friendly personality and airline jokes. The email is relatable and reads as though it comes from a friend, which will help earn a positive reaction. (Newser) Portland protests heated up again Saturday night after a relatively peaceful stint following the departure of federal officers earlier in the week, USA Today reports. In fact, Portland police declared an unlawful assembly in southeast Portland after some protesters allegedly aimed lasers at officers and tossed things at them. Two arrests were made. For more, including a struggle over a burning flag: Hit in the head: Saturday's flashpoint was miles away from the federal courthouse where protesters had clashed with officers, News Channel 8 Portland reports. On the 4700 block of East Burnside Street, police say, people with "press" written on their clothing "repeatedly threw objects at officers," including a "glass bottle or can full of paint" that hit an officer in the head. The officer was apparently unhurt. story continues below Overreaction? Some protesters called the arrests an overreaction by a police force with a long and troubled relationship with Portland's minority groups. "Some protesters make the argument that if we were all just peaceful, the police would stop messing with us," Kevin, 22, tells the Washington Post. "But some nights we are peaceful, and they still mess with us!" Some protesters called the arrests an overreaction by a police force with a long and troubled relationship with Portland's minority groups. "Some protesters make the argument that if we were all just peaceful, the police would stop messing with us," Kevin, 22, tells the Washington Post. "But some nights we are peaceful, and they still mess with us!" Crowd dispersal : Tweeted videos show police violently rushing a crowd and, in riot gear, peacefully pushing back a crowd that was chanting "black lives matter." As that group backed up, people chanted, "Why are you in riot gear, I don't see no riot here?" : Tweeted videos show police violently rushing a crowd and, in riot gear, peacefully pushing back a crowd that was chanting "black lives matter." As that group backed up, people chanted, "Why are you in riot gear, I don't see no riot here?" 'De-escalate' : Yet protests outside the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthousewhere protesters had been hurling bombs and getting arrested and tear-gassedremained peaceful again Saturday, the third night since federal officers disbanded. "The energy has definitely changed," Capt. Travis Gullberg of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office tells Oregon Live. "We're very appreciative. We're all trying to de-escalate." : Yet protests outside the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthousewhere protesters had been hurling bombs and getting arrested and tear-gassedremained peaceful again Saturday, the third night since federal officers disbanded. "The energy has definitely changed," Capt. Travis Gullberg of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office tells Oregon Live. "We're very appreciative. We're all trying to de-escalate." NAACP : With federal officers gone, protest leaders tried shifting crowds away from the courthouse and refocusing on the issues. The NAACP's Portland chapter held an event called "Re-centering Why We're Here," where Sen. Jeff Merkley talked about his proposal to limit federal officers by requiring them to identify themselves and not use unmarked vehicles when arresting civilians, per OregonLive. : With federal officers gone, protest leaders tried shifting crowds away from the courthouse and refocusing on the issues. The NAACP's Portland chapter held an event called "Re-centering Why We're Here," where Sen. Jeff Merkley talked about his proposal to limit federal officers by requiring them to identify themselves and not use unmarked vehicles when arresting civilians, per OregonLive. Burning flag : But the shifting tone sparked conflict between protesters on Friday night about whether to keep using force, the Post reports. When some protesters set an American flag ablaze, a group of moms rushed to put out the flames. "You're on the same side!" shouted a nearby protester. : But the shifting tone sparked conflict between protesters on Friday night about whether to keep using force, the Post reports. When some protesters set an American flag ablaze, a group of moms rushed to put out the flames. "You're on the same side!" shouted a nearby protester. Wall of Moms: The Wall of Moms group that recently made headlinesand filed paperwork to become a nonprofit organizationhas announced that co-founder and president Bev Barnum has been kicked out, the Portland Tribune reports. "I'm sorry for not being transparent," she wrote on her Facebook page. "I'm sorry for not including you in the decision-making process." Tensions in the group also led to the forming of another group called Moms United for Black Lives. (Read more Portland stories.) The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) have called for improved access to skilled counselling to help nursing mothers build their confidence throughout the duration. The international agencies made the call on Saturday in a joint statement released via its website to commemorate the 2020 World Breastfeeding Week which runs from August 1 to August 7. The theme of World Breastfeeding Week 2020 is Support breastfeeding for a healthier planet. The health agencies said it is important for governments to protect and promote womens access to skilled breastfeeding counselling a critical component of breastfeeding support. The agencies noted that skilled counselling services can ensure mothers and families receive this support, along with the information, advice, and reassurance they need to nourish their babies in the best way. Breastfeeding counselling can help mothers to build confidence while respecting their individual circumstances and choices. Counselling can empower women to overcome challenges and prevent feeding and care practices that may interfere with optimal breastfeeding, such as the provision of unnecessary liquids, foods, and breast milk substitutes to infants and young children, said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, and WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, in their joint statement. Exclusive Breastfeeding The top officials noted that exclusive breastfeeding could save more lives and generate additional income. Indeed, analysis indicates that increasing rates of exclusive breastfeeding could save the lives of 820,000 children every year, generating $302 billion in additional income. Exclusive breastfeeding is when a child is only fed with breast milk without water, infant formula, any other liquid or food. Breast milk contains antibodies and lymphocytes from the mother that helps the baby resist infections. Health experts say breast milk gives infants a good start to life because it contains all the vitamins and nutrients needed in the first six months of their life. WHO and UNICEF recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years or beyond. Exclusive Breastfeeding has an important role in the prevention of different forms of childhood malnutrition, including wasting, stunting, over- and underweight and micronutrient deficiencies. The Nigerian case Sadly, despite the whole benefits associated with it, most mothers in Nigeria do not practice exclusive breastfeeding. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2016/2017 disclosed that Nigerias breastfeeding rate remains low overall. Only 23.7 per cent of babies born in the country are breastfed exclusively. According to the survey, women in Northern Nigeria rank lowest in breastfeeding their babies exclusively, while women in the South-west zone lead in the practice. The survey also found that 60 per cent of child deaths are attributed directly and indirectly to under-nutrition while two-thirds of the deaths are attributed to improper feeding during the first year of existence. Portland police officers arrest a protester after dispersing a crowd of about 200 people from in front of a precinct for the Portland Police Bureau and Multonomah County Sheriff's Office in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 1, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) Portland Rioters, Including Press, Assault Police Officers Demonstrators in Portland, Oregon, hurled glass bottles and pointed lasers at police officers late on Aug. 1, prompting the declaration of an unlawful assembly and two arrests. The city has been the scene of nightly unrest since May. A group of about 200 people gathered on Aug. 1 in Laurelhurst Park, several miles east of downtown, where the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse and the Justice Center have repeatedly been targeted during riots. The crowd marched, blocking traffic, about a mile east to the Penumbra Kelly Building, which houses law enforcement offices, before using vehicles to block East Burnside Street while shining bright lights, including lasers, at Portland police officers standing outside the building. Eventually, the group began hurling glass bottles at the officers. A person in the crowd threw a glass jar or bottle filled with paint, which struck a Portland Police officer in the head. The officer was not injured, the Portland Police Bureau said in an incident summary. Because the mob declined to disperse, continuing to hurl projectiles, police declared an unlawful assembly and forced rioters to disperse. Police officers pursue a crowd of about 200 after forcing the group to disperse from a law enforcement precinct in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 1, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) Police officers pursue a crowd of about 200 after forcing the group to disperse from a law enforcement precinct in Portland, Ore., on Aug. 1, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) People continued to throw glass and plastic bottles at police. People with press written on their outer garments [indicating journalists] repeatedly threw objects at officers, the bureau said. An attempt to interfere with law enforcement operations by driving a car slowly in front of officers ended after officers deflated the vehicles tires. Two Portland residents were arrested, including one who identifies as an Antifa member. One allegedly assaulted an officer, interfered with an officer, and engaged in disorderly conduct, while the other was accused of interfering with the police, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and harassment. When the crowd was dispersed away from the building, police disengaged and returned to the Penumbra Kelly Building, but a large portion of the mob circled back toward the building. Police met the crowd again and began dispersing it. During this time, individuals with press written on their clothes again joined rioters in hurling projectiles at police. Police dispersed the crowd again, and the mob didnt return to the building. A separate march that started at the federal courthouse, and took approximately two hours, was peaceful, police said, and officers didnt interact with that crowd. A crowd of a few hundred protesters march past the Edith GreenWendell Wyatt Federal Building in Portland, Ore., early on Aug. 2, 2020. A separate crowd was dispersed from the Penumbra Kelly Building after assaulting police officers. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) Federal officers guard the interior of the Edith GreenWendell Wyatt Federal Building in Portland, Ore., early Aug. 2, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) Federal officers work to put out a fire that protesters started near the rear entrance to the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse in Portland, Ore., early on Aug. 2, 2020. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) The unrest came several days after city and state officials reached an agreement with the Trump administration that Oregon troopers would help quell the rioting. State and city officials failed to end the violence for weeks, and rioters started damaging the courthouse in early July. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent assets to the city to help protect the courthouse and other federal properties, eventually erecting a fence around the building that has mostly stymied rioters. Hours after the agreement was negotiated, federal officers declared an unlawful assembly and used tear gas to disperse demonstrators outside the courthouse. The following evening, little law enforcement presence was seen. Demonstrators set fires and tried to take down the fence, but mostly milled about and listened to speeches. After weeks of violent rioting and nightly attacks, federal officers in Portland saw their first night of state and local law enforcement support and relative peace, DHS said in a statement. In the early hours on Aug. 1, demonstrators damaged property and set fires, burning American flags and Bibles. Again, little law enforcement presence was visible, and no arrests were made. The police bureau described the crowd as subdued. DHS said activity around the courthouse continued in an overall trend of diminishing violence as a result of the increased cooperation between state and federal law enforcement. While the violence is abating, DHSs enhanced presence on the ground will remain for the time being until the Department determines that the courthouse and other federal property are safe, it said in a summary of the nightly activity. On recent nights, crowd size has dwindled from the thousands who gathered on some nights last month. Produced by Marcelena Spencer and Susan Mallie [This story previously aired on November 23, 2019. It was updated on August 1, 2020.] Patrick Frazee sits in a grim Cripple Creek, Colorado, jail put there by his former girlfriend Krystal Lee for the murder of his fiancee Kelsey Berreth. "There was blood on the wall here, there was blood on the wall here, and there was blood right here," Lee points out to investigators in video obtained by "48 Hours." In disturbing evidence -- the heart of the prosecution's case against Frazee at his trial -- Lee tells her story about a crime scene cleanup, a plan to transport a body and her help in making sure there would be no trace of it left behind. "So, the things that were thrown into the fire by me were the belongings from Kelsey's house, the curtains, the pillows," she tells investigators in the video. The tale begins with the haunting images of a mother in the grocery store shopping with her baby. Thanksgiving Day, 2018 the last time Kelsey Berreth was seen in public. Surveillance image of Kelsey Berreth on November 22, 2018, at the Woodland Park, Colorado, Safeway grocery store. / Credit: Woodland Park Police CHERYL BERRETH [to reporters]: She's not the kind that runs off. This is completely out of character. Kelsey loves her God, she loves her family and friends and she loves her job. It was Cheryl Berreth who reported her 29-year-old daughter missing after trying to reach her for days. CHERYL BERRETH [to reporters]: Kelsey we just want you home. Call us if you can. We won't quit looking [emotional]. At that time in early December Woodland Park Police had not publicly named a suspect. POLICE CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG [to reporters]: We are treating Kelsey's disappearance as a missing person's case at this time. Her mother still had hope of finding Kelsey alive. Cheryl Berreth: You can't eat, and you can't sleep and the stress won't end until we find her. Nikki Battiste | CBS News correspondent: Did any of you text her or try to call her? Story continues Amanda Smith: I did. I told her that I hoped that she was OK and that I loved her. Nikki Battiste: None of you received any responses? Amanda Smith: No Nicole Haywood: No. Ashley Cogburn: It does feel a little bit incomplete without Kelsey, because usually it was us four all together all the time. Ashley Cogburn, Amanda Smith and Nicole Haywood had an unbreakable bond with Kelsey. They grew up together in Moses Lake, Washington. Kelsey Berreth Nicole Haywood: From the pictures she's gorgeous, obviously, and very put together and so you might think that she's this prissy girl, but she was not. She was raised on a hay farm and very much a tomboy. Nikki Battiste: A country girl? Nicole Haywood: Yeah, she was out their driving tractors and bucking bales. And she was flying planes. She was a flight instructor. Nikki Battiste: Do you remember Kelsey talking about wanting to be a pilot? Amanda Smith: Yeah I actually got to go up with her one time and that was pretty amazing, I was terrified at first. Nikki Battiste: Was she a good pilot? Amanda Smith: Oh, yeah [laughs]. She was really good. Nicole Haywood: She wasn't afraid to challenge the typical boundaries. So, it wasn't a surprise when a Colorado cowboy named Patrick Frazee caught Kelsey's eye on a dating website in 2016. Nikki Battiste: Did Kelsey say what was it she liked about Patrick? Ashley Cogburn: You know, he was, like, a country boy and that's what she was used to. That's what she liked. Patrick Frazee and Kelsey Berreth / Credit: Cheryl Berreth They started a long-distance relationship. Patrick Frazee lived on a 35-acre ranch in rural Florrisant, Colorado, where he trained cattle dogs, shoed horses and groomed donkeys. Clint Cline has known Frazee for seven years. Clint Cline: Patrick is the farrier for the donkeys people call 'em horseshoers and all that, but our donkeys don't have shoes. Nikki Battiste: So, he trims their feet? Clint Cline: He trims their feet. He gives 'em, as we call it, donkey manicures. Cline says Frazee was quiet and dedicated to his work. Clint Cline: He's kind of laid back, you know, kind of stays to himself. He had his ranch to take care of. Nikki Battiste: Had you ever met Kelsey? Clint Cline: I did. I met her one day, she came out during one of the trimmings and spent the day. Nikki Battiste: Were they affectionate at all? Clint Cline: Well, this isn't the most affectionate place in the world [laughs], so I'd say that day, no. Eventually Kelsey moved to Colorado from Washington State to be closer to Frazee and they were expecting a child. Her mother Cheryl says they were engaged. Nikki Battiste: Did she have a dress yet? Cheryl Berreth: No. I don't think she cared about the big wedding kind of thing. It was between them and God. Even after their daughter Kaylee was born in October 2017, the couple still didn't live together but shared parenting duties. Ashley Cogburn: He never came to see her, but she would, like on her days off, she would go back and be with him. Friends say Kelsey was struggling to balance the baby, her job and a long commute. Her relationship with Frazee seemed strained. Ashley Cogburn: she seemed to be kind of stressed out from the whole thing that she couldn't make him happy. Nikki Battiste: Was Patrick emotionally abusive? Ashley Cogburn: It appeared that way from what I saw And it seemed like it was just knocking her spirit down. Nikki Battiste: Did Kelsey ever say he was physically abusive? Ashley Cogburn: No. Cogburn says Kelsey once mentioned there may have been another woman in Frazee's life. Ashley Cogburn: I think Kelsey had mentioned one time about an ex-girlfriend who still kinda wanted to be with Patrick Kelsey wasn't worried about it. I don't know if it's 'cause she knew she lived far away. Kelsey didn't seem all that worried about it. After Kelsey was reported missing police talked to Frazee. He told them that the day before Thanksgiving, Kelsey said she wanted to end their relationship. Ashley Franco | KKTV reporter: He said that Kelsey wanted to go their separate ways and things weren't working out between them. They wanted to split custody fifty/fifty and they were just not meshing anymore. Patrick Frazee told police he and Kelsey met to exchange the baby on Thanksgiving Day. He also returned Kelsey's belongings. Ashley Franco: A purse, keys to the car, keys to the townhome and then a gun that Kelsey owned. It was a gun Frazee says he had once taken from Kelsey for her own protection. Police say Frazee told them Kelsey struggled with depression hinting that she may be suicidal. Nikki Battiste: When you hear that Patrick said Kelsey was unstable that she was maybe suicidal. Ashley Cogburn: No. Amanda Smith: No, not at all. Ashley Cogburn: It doesn't match up with Kelsey. Police searched Kelsey's home but turned up no signs of foul play. Then Cheryl Berreth and her son went to the house to check it out. Ashley Franco: They want to find Kelsey, they want to know what happened to her, so they're staying in Kelsey's townhome and things kind of get a little odd there was a mat like a rug of some sort in the bathroom. And it's gone. and she had also noticed that the refrigerator looked like it had been wiped down recently, you could see streaks. Later, her son is in the bathroom and notices blood on the base of the toilet. Nikki Battiste: And the alarms go off in their minds? Ashley Franco: Alarms go off. Kelsey's mother Cheryl alerted investigators who returned to the house. This time they used chemicals to detect the presence of blood. Ashley Franco: They found trace amounts of blood everywhere in the bathroom. Nikki Battiste: Do we know whose blood? Ashley Franco: DNA results showed it was Kelsey's. Investigators believed Kelsey had been murdered, but they needed more evidence. A closer look at Kelsey and her fiance's cell phone activity Thanksgiving weekend would lead them to her suspected killer. WHERE'S KELSEY? Nearly a month after Kelsey Berreth vanished, Woodland Park Police Chief Miles De Young made this grim announcement: CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG | WOODLAND PARK POLICE [to reporters]: Patrick Frazee was taken into custody this morning in Florrisant, Colorado, just after 7 o'clock this morning Mountain Standard Time. CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG [to reporters]: Today we arrested Patrick Frazee on charges of first-degree murder of Kelsey Berreth As a reminder Patrick Frazee is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Patrick Frazee was arrested on charges of first-degree murder in the death of Kelsey Berreth. Her body has not been found. / Credit: Woodland Park Police Dept Despite the murder charge, Kelsey's body had not been found. CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG [to reporters]: As you can tell from the arrest, sadly, we do not believe Kelsey is still alive. Kelsey's daughter Kaylee is in protective custody and will be reunited with Kelsey's family. Patrick Frazee entered a plea of not guilty, but from the beginning, investigators had questions about Patrick Frazee's story starting with his initial claim that the day before Thanksgiving, Kelsey told him she wanted to break up and "go their separate ways." Yet, there she was shopping the next day for the family dinner. Nikki Battiste: And the surveillance video here at Safeway becomes central to this case? Ashley Franco | KKTV reporter: Right the last day she's seen publicly. A surveillance image from November 22, 2018 shows the last time Kelsey Berreth was seen in public. / Credit: Woodland Park Police Dept. Ashley Franco: You see her grab a cart and put Kaylee in the cart and then go off, and that's the last time publicly anyone has seen Kelsey Berreth. Nikki Battiste: What does she buy here at Safeway? Ashley Franco: She buys ingredients for a sweet potato casserole. Investigators wondered, if Kelsey had broken up with Frazee why would she send him this text: "I bought some sweet potatoes in case you wanted sweet potato casserole ..." Kelsey didn't tell her mother she and Frazee were breaking up when she spoke with her Thanksgiving morning. Nikki Battiste: Did she sound normal? Did she sound Cheryl Berreth: Definitely, she sounded happy and Nikki Battiste Normal mom-daughter talk. Cheryl Berreth: Yeah, yeah. Another big question investigators had was when Frazee said he last saw Kelsey. CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG [to reporters]: Patrick told officers that he hadn't seen her since Thanksgiving, November 22nd when he exchanged their daughter Kaylee Berreth. In images from a neighbor's security camera on that Thanksgiving Day, Patrick Frazee and Kelsey are seen at her door with a baby carrier after Kelsey returned from the store. She can be seen holding a poinsettia. Later, Frazee is seen at that same location alone. On November 22, 2018 at 1:23 p.m., a neighbor's surveillance camera captures Kelsey Berreth, Patrick Frazee and their daughter Kaylee entering Berreth's home. Berreth is carrying a poinsettia plant she had just purchased at Safeway. This image was captured shortly before her murder. / Credit: Teller County DA's Office Aya Gruber: We don't know whether if he's coming or going. He doesn't have Kaylee and he's not with Kelsey. And then that's it. University of Colorado law professor Aya Gruber has followed the case. Aya Gruber: The critical question is what happened in between around 1:30, 1:45 and 3:30 when they get that picture of him. Police say this is likely when Frazee killed her: CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG [to reporters]: investigators have recovered a number of items that make us suspicious that the crime did occur at Kelsey's residence. Frazee told authorities he drove their daughter Kaylee to his ranch for Thanksgiving dinner. He said Kelsey wasn't with them, but investigators discovered that her cell phone was. Ashley Franco: They pulled cell phone records and found that on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, all of a sudden Kelsey's phone and Patrick's phone started traveling together But Patrick and Kelsey were not together. Text messages between Kelsey Berreth and Patrick Frazee Investigators say Frazee took Kelsey's cell phone after he killed her as part of a scheme to cover his tracks. They believe he faked 19 calls between the two phones over Thanksgiving weekend and was sending texts between them including this one from Kelsey's phone: KELSEY BERRETH: I'm going running I'll call you guys when I get home. PATRICK FRAZEE: "Ok. Be safe" Aya Gruber: The theory that the prosecution is going to put forward is that that was Patrick with her phone and he's texting, pretending to be Kelsey. Two days after Thanksgiving, authorities believe Patrick concocted this conversation: PATRICK FRAZEE: Are you awake? KELSEY BERRETH: Sorry I didn't hear my phone. Going to jump in the shower. I'll call you guys when I get out. PATRICK FRAZEE: Ok. Then, investigators believe, to keep up his ruse that Kelsey wanted the breakup, Frazee sent this message: PATRICK FRAZEE: If this is truly what you want, I'll respect your wishes and give you space On Sunday three days after Thanksgiving there was a bizarre development that would send this case in a very different direction. Phone records show while Frazee's cell stayed near his ranch, Kelsey's phone was on the move heading west out of Colorado. Ashley Franco: there was a text from Kelsey's phone to her supervisor at Doss Aviation saying "I won't be at work." So, people had thought maybe they heard from Kelsey. The next text from Kelsey's phone read: "Do you even love me?" That text pinged off a cell phone tower 800 miles away. CHIEF MILES DE YOUNG [to reporters]: Reports are correct that Kelsey's phone gave a location near Gooding, Idaho, on November 25. Ashley Franco: When that came out, I think everyone was was just shocked. Nikki Battiste: And where's Kelsey? Ashley Franco: And where's Kelsey? No one knows where Kelsey is. So how did her phone end up in Idaho? One woman may have the answer. A DISTURBING CONVERSATION It was startling news when investigators revealed that three days after Kelsey Berreth was last seen, her cell phone had pinged in Gooding, Idaho 800 miles from her home. KMVT ANCHOR: Tonight, we have new information about a 32-year-old Twin Falls woman that may have helped Patrick Frazee cover up the disappearance and alleged murder of his fiancee, Kelsey Berreth. At the time of Kelsey's disappearance, phone records show that Patrick Frazee was in touch with Krystal Kenney Lee a nurse and avid horsewoman who grew up here. Nikki Battiste [on horseback]: Is this Krystal's world? Horses, open spaces? Kade Atwood [on horesback]: This is Krystal's world. Kade Atwood is KMVT's news director and a weekend cowboy. Kade Atwood: This is what we do. We, in the Magic Valley, we work hard to be able to do this on the weekends. Kade Atwood: Krystal and her family are a big part of the rodeo community. A very prominent family. Michelle Stein is Lee's best friend. Stein spoke with Nikki Battiste on March 23. Michelle Stein: You talk horses and that's you're speaking her love language, you know. Horses are her life, she loved horses. Krystal Lee She was a cowgirl who liked to have fun. And in Idaho, where rodeo rules, Lee was royalty. In 2008, she was crowned queen of the Magic Valley Rodeo. Laura Stutzman has known Lee since she was a teenager. Laura Stutzman: Krystal was so kind with everybody that it was just so difficult to turn her down in any way. Nikki Battiste: Krystal had a reputation of getting what she wanted? Laura Stutzman: No, I wouldn't say it was a reputation of getting what she wanted Krystal worked so hard at everything she did to try to do everything completely correct. Authorities believed that it was Krystal Lee who travelled to Idaho with Kelsey's phone. But when the FBI made their initial call to Lee, she said she had "no idea" who Kelsey Berreth was. She also denied knowing Patrick Frazee. Then, she changed her story. Ashley Franco: They asked her, "when was the last time you talked to him?" And she said, "I don't know. I'd have to look at my phone." And then says, "Oh, in the last month." And investigators are thinking, OK, but we already know that your phone has called his phone multiple times in the last few weeks. Ashley Franco: She says, "I don't have a personal relationship with Patrick Frazee. I've gone to Colorado and looked at a few of his horses, and that's the extent of our relationship." Nikki Battiste: She lies. Ashley Franco: She lies. Turns out Krystal Lee and Patrick Frazee had a long history. They met after high school. Then, eight months before Kelsey disappeared, Lee and Frazee's relationship heated up. Lee was recently divorced with two children. Ashley Franco: She had been out here multiple times to see him and it was type a type of affair. Nikki Battiste: What did Krystal say about Patrick? Was she in love with him? Michelle Stein: I think that she was to a point. Nikki Battiste: Were they in a sexual relationship? Michelle Stein: I don't know when she would go to Colorado, it wasn't just to see Patrick. She has family in Colorado. Patrick Frazee / Credit: Teller County DA's Office During the investigation, the FBI got a tip that Michelle Stein had explosive information about the case. She says Lee called and confided in her about a disturbing conversation she and Frazee had a month before Kelsey disappeared. Michelle Stein: She was very, very upset, very distraught she had told me that he had asked her to "take care of his baby mama." Nikki Battiste: And you took that to mean? Michelle Stein: And, so, I was like Well I was in shock at first because who says that? Nobody says that. so, I was like. "Wait, what?" And she said, "Yeah he asked me if I would kill the mother of his baby." Nikki Battiste: What are you thinking at that point? Michelle Stein: I was just in shock and disbelief Nikki Battiste: What was Krystal's tone when she was telling you this? Michelle Stein: She was bawling. She was crying she was extremely upset and scared. Stein says she asked Lee why Frazee wanted to kill Kelsey. Nikki Battiste: What'd she say? Michelle Stein: And she said that he had told her it was because she wanted to take him back to court to get custody of the baby and he was in fear that she was going to harm the baby. Investigators found no proof Kelsey had harmed her daughter but did find evidence that Frazee had planned to challenge Kelsey for custody and believe that may have been his motive for murder. Nikki Battiste: Do you regret now not calling the police? Michelle Stein: Well this is the thing people need to understand. What was I supposed to do? Stein claims she didn't know the full names of either Frazee or Berreth. Michelle Stein: So, I was supposed to call somewhere in Colorado and say, hey there's some guy in Colorado that wants to kill some girl. I don't know their names and I don't know where they live. But you know good luck finding them. I guess that's what people think I should have done. Stein says she pushed Lee to call the police. Michelle Stein: This is the thing. I kept telling her to call and tell somebody. See, you got to understand, I'm trusting her to do the right thing. Nikki Battiste: But, I think, Michelle, people watching will say "call the police." Say, "you need to talk to my friend. Someone is asking her to kill someone." Michelle Stein: You're right Of course, the viewers are going to think that. Nikki Battiste: But do you have regret? Michelle Stein: Of course, I regret it. I regret it every day. Oh, my God. I would do anything to have stopped that somehow. Kelsey had been gone about a month before Stein talked to the FBI. And when the FBI went back at Lee a second time, she too was ready to talk. Ashley Franco: I think at that point she kind of knows, "I have to come clean." But first, Lee wanted a deal. In exchange for her testimony against Frazee, she agreed to plead guilty to evidence tampering. She admitted to getting rid of the gun, to tossing Kelsey's keys in a canyon and destroying her phone. Aya Gruber: It's a tampering with evidence charge, which is a minor charge compared to murder, or you know, accessory to murder or attempted murder. Nikki Battiste: She only faces at max, three years in prison. Aya Gruber: This is a pretty good deal that she gets. What Lee revealed to investigators would become the center of the prosecution's case against Patrick Frazee. PLOTTING A MURDER When Krystal Lee finally started talking, she didn't stop for four-and-a-half hours. Her story was stunning: she claimed Patrick Frazee tried to get her to kill Kelsey Berreth three different times. Nikki Battiste: And the first idea on how to kill Kelsey was what? Ashley Franco: The first idea was to get a Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks, Kelsey's favorite drink and put poison in it. Two months before Kelsey went missing, Lee says she drove 12 hours from Idaho to a Starbucks near Kelsey's home in Colorado. Lee, a nurse, told investigators she suggested the perfect potion: a lethal dose of Ambien and Valium. Aya Gruber | University of Colorado law professor: She says "I'll get the drugs. I'll poison the coffee." Nikki Battiste: So, Krystal brings this Starbucks Caramel Macchiato right here [to Kelsey's house]. Ashley Franco: Waits in the alleyway, walks up to Kelsey's door, knocks on the door, and tells Nikki Battiste: Kelsey opens it? Ashley Franco: Kelsey opens it, tells Kelsey this elaborate story. She says, "I'm new to the neighborhood, someone had told me that you had helped get my dogs out of trouble" and Kelsey says, "no, I didn't do that." Nikki Battiste: Does Kelsey take the coffee? Ashley Franco: Allegedly, Kelsey takes the coffee inside and closes the door, and from there we don't we don't know what Kelsey does with the coffee. But Lee says she couldn't do it. She didn't poison the coffee and when Frazee found out he was angry. Ashley Franco: He was furious. He was not happy that she didn't go through with it. Michelle Stein | Krystal Lee's best friend: He would play head games with her a lot he just had a way of manipulating her into doing things. After Lee said she couldn't go through with the poison plan, she told investigators Frazee came up with a different idea. Ashley Franco: He calls her back and says, OK, I'll give you a second chance. You can come out here and I'll give you a new way to to kill her. Nikki Battiste: What does he say? Ashley Franco: He says I have a metal pipe that I'll leave outside my property that you can come pick up, and I want you to go wait for Kelsey at her townhome. And when she comes, hit her on the back of the head. The way Krystal Lee tells it, she drove to Kelsey's house with that metal pipe, but didn't attack her and drove back to Idaho. A week later she says Frazee called with a new murder plan. Once again, Lee drove from Idaho to Kelsey's Colorado townhouse. Lee claims she waited for Kelsey outside her home. This time, with an aluminum baseball bat. But just like her earlier attempts, she says she chickened out. Aya Gruber: It's just hard to believe these stories. They seem outlandish and wild. Phone records show Frazee called Lee in Idaho around 4:30 on Thanksgiving Day. Krystal said he told her, "You need to get out here now, you got a mess to clean up." Ashley Franco: And at that point Krystal knows something has happened to Kelsey. Nikki Battiste: What does Krystal do next? Ashley Franco: Krystal says that she can't come out that same day, but will come out a few days later She's in Idaho loads up the car with cleaning supplies, bleach, hair nets, you know, gloves, trash bags Aya Gruber: she basically brought the equivalent of a hazmat suit and every sort of cleaning product that one might see in one of those TV shows about how to clean up a crime scene. Two days later, on Saturday morning, Lee says she drove 800 miles to Frazee's ranch to pick up a set of Kelsey's keys he left for her outside. Then, she says, she drove to Kelsey's home. Ashley Franco: Krystal tells authorities she opens a door and the scene is horrific. There's blood everywhere. There's bloody footprints every inch of the townhome is covered in blood. According to Lee, Kelsey's body was not inside. Ashley Franco: and then spends, you know, three to four hours cleaning and scrubbing the murder scene. Nikki Battiste: And she throws away a few items that she says she can't get clean. Ashley Franco: Right, you know there's baby toys, there's books And she takes some of the things that she couldn't clean and puts them into trash bags and loads them in the back of the car she was driving. Lee claims Frazee was back at his ranch during the cleanup. Ashley Franco: There was a point in time when Patrick Frazee had told Krystal Lee, when you go to clean up her townhome, there is possibly a tooth somewhere. Aya Gruber: So, one of the things Krystal says is that after she does about three to four hours of cleaning she goes and gets a Sonic burger. Nikki Battiste: Who goes to get a Sonic burger after cleaning up what she describes as a horrific bloody scene for three to four hours? Aya Gruber: Yeah, that is you know just something that feels really unbelievable. Lee told investigators after the cleanup she met with Frazee. She described to them how he said he lured Kelsey to her death. Lee claims Frazee invited his fiancee to play a guessing game with candles. Ashley Franco: She says that he takes a sweater from Kelsey's room and blindfolds her with the sweater and has candles sitting out in front of Kelsey and is telling Kelsey to guess the scent of each candle. During her interview with investigators, Lee said Frazee told her while baby Kaylee was in another room, he took a baseball bat and "he went to swinging." After killing Kelsey with that baseball bat on Thanksgiving Day, Lee says Frazee told her he put her body in a black tote. Surveillance image shows Frazee at an ATM earlier that day with a black tote in his truck. Patrick Frazee, seen on surveillance video at a drive-through ATM on November 22, 2018, was on his way to Kelsey Berreth's home just before her murder. In the back of his truck, pictured right, is the black tote that prosecutors say he soon used to transport Berreth's body after beating her to death with a baseball bat. / Credit: Teller County District Attorney's Office Lee went with investigators to Frazee's ranch. She told them that she and Patrick went to the ranch together, and that she watched him burn that tote along with other evidence. KRYSTAL LEE: He poured gasoline in the bucket and then pitched it into the fire. AGENT: I believe yesterday you said that you also collected wood and put it into the burn pit? KRYSTAL LEE: Yes, I did Police later examined the spot where they believe Kelsey's body was burned. Lee also went with investigators to Kelsey's home she's wearing a police jacket and hat. AGENT GREGG SLATER |COLORADO BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION: Can you point, if you remember, where the tooth was? AGENT: Use the broom. KRYSTAL LEE [she points] AGENT GREGG SLATER: Around the tooth, what was there, if anything? KRYSTAL LEE: Blood There was blood on this chair, there was blood on the table. There was blood on the Hobby Lobby bag that was sitting there She pointed out where she claims she intentionally left blood for them to find. AGENT: Can you show me where you left those? KRYSTAL LEE [points to fireplace]: Right there. On December 21, 2018, Frazee was arrested at his ranch and charged with Kelsey Berreth's murder. Aya Gruber: This is a case without a body. This is a case without a lot of physical evidence. So, what we mainly have connecting Patrick Frazee to an incredibly brutal and violent crime is Krystal Lee's testimony. Lee, who had cut that deal with prosecutors, seemed shaken when she appeared in court after she turned herself in to authorities. Laura Stutzman | Krystal Lee's friend: The Krystal I knew could do no wrong but the Krystal that has done the things that came out of her mouth is somebody I don't know. And that leaves Laura Stutzman with one question: Why? CONVICTING KELSEY'S KILLER Almost a year after Kelsey Berreth's disappearance, there was a long line to get a seat in the courtroom at Patrick Frazee's murder trial. Clint Cline: I think a lot of people that knew Patrick they don't think that the candle story adds up. Frazee's friend, Clint Cline, was there almost every day. Clint Cline: I don't know of any guys that would've thought of going out and buying candles and having their girlfriend be blindfolded and then smell the candles Nikki Battiste: You think that had to be a woman's idea? Clint Cline: I think so. Frazee was driven from the jail in a black SUV. He entered the courthouse through a white tent -- out of sight from the media. Security was tight. No cameras in the courtroom. DA Dan May | Teller County, Colorado: I gotta tell you, it's one of the most emotional trials I have ever been through and I've been through a lot of trials in my career. Prosecutor Beth Reed painted a picture of Patrick Frazee. Prosecutor Beth Reed | Teller County DA's Office: Very charming, very manipulative, and controlling, all traits consistent with being a sociopath. KKTV reporter Ashley Franco summed up the defense case: no body, no murder weapon, and no clear motive. Ashley Franco: They had said, you know, Patrick wasn't involved. There's no evidence to show he was involved. And Krystal Lee had already lied to law enforcement, so she's the one to blame for this. On day four, the prosecution's star witness, Krystal Lee took the stand. Her credibility was on the line. Prosecutor Jennifer Viehman | Teller County DA's Office: I don't think we would have known what happened to Kelsey without Krystal Lee. For two days, prosecutor Jennifer Viehman asked Lee to describe Frazee's plan to kill Kelsey Berreth. They bolstered their case with surveillance videos and photos, including one of the black tote in the back of Frazee's truck that Lee says he would use to dispose of her body. Most disturbing, prosecutors played that video of Lee inside Kelsey's home showing investigators how she said she cleaned up the crime scene. AGENT GREGG SLATER: When you came in what did you see? KRYSTAL LEE: blood all over the floor. I saw blood up the wall. Saw blood on this wall. AGENT GREGG SLATER: Did you say, correct me if I'm wrong, did you say that you cleaned off some of the appliances? KRYSTAL LEE: I did. I wiped the there was blood on the front of the dishwasher. There was blood on the front of the stove. There was that cinnamon roll pan had blood on the tin foil. They had pulled up the floor boards where they found Kelsey's blood. They showed video of a hay barn where Lee says Frazee hid Kelsey's body in that tote. A cadaver dog alerted to the area. On November 24, 2018, Patrick Frazee is captured on a Conoco gas station surveillance camera filling up a gas can. Prosecutors say he later used this gas to burn Kelsey Berreth's body at his ranch. / Credit: Teller County DA's Office A surveillance image shows Frazee at a gas station. Lee says he was buying gas to start a fire: KRYSTAL LEE: We brought the tote here. AGENT: OK. KRYSTAL LEE: We unloaded the tote. AGENT: OK. Kelsey's body was moved to Frazee's ranch: AGENT: Were your present when he started the fire? KRYSTAL LEE: Yes, I was. AGENT: OK. Video shows how Lee says she helped Frazee burn Kelsey's body in that black tote: AGENT: What about the accelerant? KRYSTAL LEE: Gas. AGENT: OK. And burned evidence, including Kaylee's toys and Kelsey's blood-stained Bible: AGENT: Do you remember what the books were -- KRYSTAL LEE: One of them was her, I would imagine it was her Bible. Experts say a human female tooth fragment was recovered from Frazee's ranch near the burn site, but there wasn't enough DNA to determine a profile. At the end of her testimony, Lee told the jury Kelsey's chilling last words: "Please stop." But he didn't. What Kelsey Berreth's last words have to say about her character DA Dan May: He keeps, beating her, and beating her, and beating her. The jury needed to hear that, they needed to hear how brutal this was, how uncaring he was. How senseless this was. Why would Lee help Frazee? She claimed she feared for herself and her children. Prosecutor Jennifer Viehman: She was in love with Patrick Frazee and has been for a long time as the trial went on and we saw some of that dark side of Patrick Frazee, that Krystal saw, that Kelsey saw, I think you can understand some of that fear. I don't know we'll ever understand entirely why she did what she did. It's fairly inexplicable. Perhaps the most shocking testimony came from a surprise prosecution witness. Nikki Battiste: Your last witness, I think jaws dropped when he started testifying. Tell me about him. Prosecutor Beth Reed: We didn't know about him. Prosecutor Beth Reed says the surprise witness was an inmate at the same jail where Patrick Frazee was being held. Prosecutor Beth Reed: He actually had started calling our office while we were in the middle of trial. The former inmate had watched a "48 Hours" episode on Kelsey Berreth's murder. Turns out, he says, Frazee gave him a hit list -- some of the names handwritten on paper towels he was instructed to flush. Nikki Battiste: Describe to me what was in the 16 notes passed between Patrick and the former inmate. Prosecutor Beth Reed: Well, they were requests that a certain number of witnesses needed to disappear, but it was very specific as to Krystal Lee, graphic descriptions of what needed to happen to Krystal Lee he described putting a bullet in her head. Also on Frazee's hit list: Krystal Lee's best friend, Michelle Stein, and Kelsey's mother Cheryl Berreth. Nikki Battiste: What does that say about Patrick Frazee? Beth Reed: It says that Patrick will do whatever he wants to get whatever he wants. The defense called no witnesses. Frazee chose not to testify. The case went to the jury. After three-and-a-half hours of deliberations, there was a verdict. Frazee was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison plus 156 years. Patrick Frazee, seen in court before his trial for the murder of Kelsey Berreth, was sentenced to life in prison plus 156 years. / Credit: KKTV Nikki Battiste: Do you think if Patrick hadn't involved Krystal, he would've gotten away with Kelsey's murder? Prosecutor Jennifer Viehman: Yeah, I do. I think it's very possible he would have gotten away with that. Involving Krystal was -- it was a stupid plan. The whole plan was stupid. but he wanted Krystal Lee to pin it on. As for Krystal Lee, she's facing a maximum of up to three years in prison. Nikki Battiste: I think a lot of our viewers are probably thinking, "Krystal Lee, given what she's admitted to, got a really good deal." DA Dan May: She did. And it's just not right. And I'm not going to try to justify it in any way. It's unfortunately a part of my profession that sometimes in order to solve a case we have to give a deal to the devil. That's exactly what we did here. Nikki Battiste: If you could sentence Krystal Lee, what would it be? DA Dan May: A heck of a lot more time than three years. She could have saved Kelsey so many times over so many months, and it's totally inexcusable. Nikki Battiste: Is there justice for Kelsey and Kaylee? Can there ever be justice? DA Dan May: Justice in this case? Kelsey would be sitting here talking to you, not us. I excuse me [in tears]. We certainly see a certain amount of justice but not the justice this case deserves. After Kelsey Berreth's death, her parents took over the care of her toddler, Kaylee. A murder suspect's daughter speaks out Persons of interest surface in Texas mom's disappearance Coronavirus infections skyrocket in South Africa The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday warned that the coronavirus pandemic is likely to be lengthy. During the emergency committee meeting, the members 'highlighted the anticipated lengthy duration of the COVID-19 pandemic' and warned of the risk of 'response fatigue' given the socio-economic pressures on countries, WHO said in its statement. The emergency committee panel gathered for the fourth time in Geneva to evaluate the crisis situation six months after sounding the international alarm- public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) which is WHOs highest level of alarm. According to WHO the global risk level of COVID-19 to be very high as it is continuously monitoring the situation. Further, the panel comprising of 18 members and 12 advisers, also unanimously agreed that the pandemic still constituted a PHEIC. READ | WHO chief wishes blessed Eid and praises Saudi Arabia Emergency committee warns against fatigue crisis In a bid to contain the deadly coronavirus, several countries around the world have imposed strict lockdowns that have adversely affected the economies. The committee requested the WHO to provide practical guidance on COVID-19 reactions to reduce the risk of response fatigue in the context of socio-economic pressures. It also urged the WHO to support countries in preparing for the rollout of proven vaccines and therapeutics. The emergency committee also appealed to the agency to expedite research into the remaining crucial unknowns of the virus, like the animal source and potential animal reservoirs. READ | WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus calls COVID-19 pandemic 'once-in-a-century' crisis Pandemic effects felt for decades- Dr Tedros WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus further called the COVID-19 pandemic a once-in-a-century health crisis and said that its effects would be long-lasting. Ghebreyesus said that it is sobering to think that six months ago when the world recommended declaring a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), there were less than 100 cases and no death outside China. Meanwhile, the WHO has been heavily criticized for the delay to declare an international emergency. The United States has also accused the organization of being too close to China and has officially withdrawn from the WHO in July. It has been also criticized for recommendations considered late or contradictory, in particular on wearing masks, or the modes of transmission of the virus. READ | SRH skipper David Warner takes a dig at a fan who reckons RCB will win the IPL 2020 READ | Kerala govt assures strict action against those who violate COVID-19 guidelines By George F. Will WASHINGTON Campaigning to become leader of Britains parliamentary Conservative Party, and hence prime minister, Boris Johnson, the populist from Eton and Oxford, brandished a fish. Mixing hilarity with indignation, he regaled an audience by ridiculing the gnomes of Brussels whose European Union regulations torment British producers of smoked kippers by requiring the fish to be shipped on plastic ice pillows. The problem with Johnsons vaudevillian performance was that this regulation was written by the British government. This fact was, however, no problem for Johnson, who became prime minister. As Anne Applebaum says in her book Twilight of Democracy, Johnson has a penchant for fabrication he was fired from the Times of London for concocting quotes, and from a Conservative shadow cabinet for lying. This is part of what her books subtitle calls the seductive lure of authoritarianism, which delivers delightful liberation from the tyranny of facts. Applebaum is a much-honored historian and a longtime columnist for The Washington Post, now with the Atlantic. She lives in Europe, where Plato pioneered Western political philosophy, warning that demagogues could make democracy a springboard to tyranny. Today, the European Unions 27 nations include two authoritarian regimes, Polands and especially Hungarys, which has closed an entire university, and which operates, directly or through regime-linked companies, 90% of the nations media. Writing in the National Endowment for Democracys Journal of Democracy (Reclaiming the Politics of Emotion), Jaroslaw Kuisz and Karolina Wigura, both Poles, note that populists have sensed that a feeling of loss is today the dominant collective emotion. This is particularly so in Eastern Europe, where tumultuous change followed the cracking of the concrete that communism had poured over society. But even in Britains open society, which has experienced no comparable social disjunction, nostalgia akin to personal grief has fueled a populist politics of resentment. Nostalgia, wrote the sociologist and philosopher Robert Nisbet, is at best a rust of memory, which picks a vanished historic epoch and bathes it in sentimentality. Paradoxically, populist authoritarianism derives indispensable fuel from discontented intellectuals who believe, as Applebaum says, that the wrong people have influence in the realm of ideas. But as she says, authoritarianism is a frame of mind, not a set of ideas. Today it seduces the radically lonely individual who finds a sheltering home in an immersive political movement or environment that rejects the hateful notions of meritocracy, political competition, and the free market, principles that, by definition, have never benefited the less successful. Authoritarianism offers not careers open to talents, but rather the populist promise of upward mobility for those whose political connections and conformity spares them the need for competition, or for exams, or for a resume bristling with achievements. Authoritarianism is a temptation for people recoiling against complexity and intellectual pluralism, and yearning for social homogeneity. Applebaum says, The noise of argument, the constant hum of disagreement these can irritate people who prefer to live in a society tied together by a single narrative. In todays United States, such authoritarianism flourishes most conspicuously on the left, in the cancel cultures attempts to extinguish rival voices. The current president is Americas misfortune; Americas good fortune has been that his mental fidgets disqualify him from mastering the means for authoritarian ends, means that, in any case, would be blocked by the nations judiciary. Authoritarianism is, however, incubated on Americas right among conservatives in the grip of cultural despair. Applebaum notes that until recently the most apocalyptic visions of American civilization festered on the left, among people convinced that capitalism must breed unlovely opulence among the few, immiseration of the many, and alienation of everyone from the dignity of work. Today, however, there is a pandemic of right-wing pessimism, predictions of Americas doom unless unambiguously unconstitutional measures are taken to combat secularism. So far, authoritarian impulses on the left and right are confined to the fever swamps of social media, where, as Applebaum says, readers and writers feel distant from one another and from the issues they describe, where everyone can be anonymous and no one needs to take responsibility for what they say. History, says Applebaum, suddenly feels circular in various European regions: Given the right conditions, any society can turn against democracy. Indeed, if history is anything to go by, all of our societies eventually will. The good news, such as it is, is that a necessary although not sufficient precondition for authoritarianisms defeat is what Applebaums book trenchantly argues for: disbelief in the defeats inevitability. Will is a columnist for the Tribune Content Agency. On November 30, 2013, Paul Walker died from injuries he sustained when the car he was in struck a light pole and burst into flames. The accident was a shock to everyone. The fact that Walker was on his way home from a charity event that was raising money for hurricane relief seemed to make the event even more heartbreaking. Within hours of his death, people learned that Paul Walker did more than simply show up at fundraising events. He was also willing to dip into his own pocket to brighten other peoples day. Paul Walker | F. Seefried/Getty Images A couples suspicions about Paul Walker confirmed Way back in 2004, Kyle Upham entered a Santa Barbara jewelry store. Kyle was about to leave for Iraq where he would start his second tour of duty. The couple hoped to find the perfect engagement ring before he shipped out. Another shopper took an interest in the couple and started urging Upham and his fiancee to look at bigger rings. After a few moments of banter, Upham put a name to the face and realized that he was joking around with Fast and Furious star, Paul Walker. Uphams wife, Kristen loves telling the story. According to CBS Los Angeles, she said: I noticed there was someone else in there, but didnt give it much thought, and we started looking at rings and whatnot, and he kept saying, Go bigger and I kept saying, No, look at the prices.' During the conversation, the couple revealed Uphams upcoming deployment. The couple says that they ultimately decided that their budget wouldnt extend to a $9,000 ring. They left the store without an engagement ring. They didnt get far. As they made their way along the sidewalk, the salesperson whod been helping them popped her head out the stores door and called them back. She handed them a bag that contained the ring. While the couple always suspected that the ring was a gift from Paul Walker, they werent able to confirm their suspicions until after the stars death. They learned the truth when the same saleswoman who had given them the ring was interviewed by CBS. Its the thought that counts RELATED: Paul Walker: What Was The Fast and the Furious Actors Net Worth at the Time of His Death? For most of us, $9,000 is a lot of money. Considering that Walker was worth an estimated $25 million at the time of his death, he probably didnt even notice the bill from the jewelry store, but that doesnt mean that buying the engagement ring wasnt an act of generosity. His actions meant the world to the Uphams and helped cement Walkers legacy as a good guy. The fact that he took the time to actively interact with the couple also shows that he was genuinely interested and sought out a real connection. The gift that keeps on giving The incredible thing about Paul Walker is that even though he has been gone for several years, good deeds are still being done in his name. During his life, Paul Walker was determined to make the world a better place. In addition to doing things like spontaneously buying engagement rings, he also created the Reach Out WorldWide foundation. According to KSDK, he didnt just create the foundation but was active in it. There are stories about him going to Haiti to help pass out water, and making the trip to Alabama where he helped with clean-up efforts following a hurricane. His legacy lives on through his daughter, Meadow, who is actively involved with the Paul Walker Foundation, an organization that continues to bestow acts of goodwill on the world. Bishop Oyedepo of Living Faith Church has backed Doctor Stella Immanuel and her claim that coronavirus has a cure. Immanuel appeared in a viral video alongside some doctors in which she claimed to have cured over 350 coronavirus patients with hydroxychloroquine without losing any to death. The video was immediately pulled down from almost every social media platform and labelled as misinformation. Speaking during the Covenant Hour of Prayer programme of his church, Oyedepo stated that opinions which are contrary to what is held by those behind the pandemic are getting shut down. I watched something yesterday on the Frontline Doctors in the US. Its a noise from hell and there is nothing hidden that is not known by God. Nothing! Every positive report contrary to that demonic propaganda is doused, it is not allowed to have expression because of the evil machinations of the perpetrators. Now, they will know that Gods greatest interest on the earth are the souls of men and everyone that is out to destroy them, my God will destroy them, he said. The clergyman revealed that the church has been curing coronavirus patients and that social media has been censoring their claim. its like fever. There is nothing there, its like fever! Evil intentions, evil scheming. What is coronavirus? We have found a cure they say it is not relevant. They got it off YouTube, got it off all the various platforms just to keep their propaganda going. But I can tell you this, God is in the midst of His people. Everyone that is after the souls of men to destroy them, they shall all be destroyed in the name of Jesus Christ. Whatever they have as intention is falling on their heads, on their families, their generations in the name of Jesus! If somebody comes out and say we have treated 350 people with this drug and none died, they say, No, thats not necessary. So, whats necessary? To kill them is necessary or to force your demonic vaccines on human race? Who knows what you have inside it? To turn human beings to properties for wealth sake, for political reasons? The same way Pharaoh perished because he wont let people go, these evil men will disappear into shame and ignominy, wherever they may be and whatever forces are behind them. Its mere noise. The Bible calls it noisome pestilence. It just came with noise, zero. Ebola came, we didnt shut down. Zero. It didnt make the first 20 of the worst viruses that visited the earth, so whats the noise about? Well, the world will discover that they have been deceived, he added. Oyedepo stated that the world will soon realize that they have been deceived with the coronavirus pandemic. I refuse to be deceived. I refuse forever! Jesus is the resurrection and the life, what is coronavirus that everybody is making nonsense? Noise-making all kinds of demonic money. The good news is, Christ is still strong in the midst of His people. Our rescue is here! Those who wont let others live, they will not live. Those who want to instil fear for their selfish reasons, my God will deal with them, he said. Source: mynigeria.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video "Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." Abraham Lincoln Abubakar Idris, popularly known as Dadiyata is a fierce critic of the Buhari/APC administration. He is a strong voice to be reckoned with, on and off the social media. He also commands deep respect among the young Kwankwasiyya movement, which he is also a strong part of. A soft spoken unassuming young man with a great sense of humor. Dadiyata is married with kids. On the 2nd of August 2019, about a year ago, this brilliant mind with a very prospective future was abducted in his Kaduna home at Barnawa while attempting to gain access into his house. Before his sudden disappearance, Dadiyata was a lecturer at the Federal University Dutsinma, Katsina State. He was 34 years old. In an account given by the police, Mr. Abubakar Idris (Dadiyata) was returning home at about 1 a.m. when some armed men, breached his houses security, and took him away in his BMW car. One year after, he is yet to be found. The trauma a wife experiences for not knowing the whereabout of her husband is very grievous. The uneasiness in the heart of children not seeing their loving father like they usually do is pretty much disheartening. The excruciating pain of a parent not having a single clue about the situation of their "missing" son is obviously disturbing. I have watched and read several interviews granted by his Dad and Wife; honestly, mere words cannot properly elucidate what that family is currently going through. Is there a recurring pattern here? Absolutely, yes. Recall, Mr. Jones Abiri was "disappeared" in June 2016 and held captive for over two years without access to family or legal representation. The department of state service (DSS) delibrately provided no information about Mr. Jones Abiri, and speculation swirled that he was dead. Surprisingly, around August 2018, after human rights groups repeatedly raised his case vociferously with the Government, Mr. Jones Abiri was brought to a magistrate's court in Abuja. This was to the amazement of many. Articles 1 and 2 of the United Nations' Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance states that: 1. "Any act of enforced disappearance is an offence to human dignity. It is condemned as a denial of the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations and as a grave and flagrant violation of the human rights and fundamental freedoms proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reaffirmed and developed in international instruments in this field. 2. Any act of enforced disappearance places the persons subjected thereto outside the protection of the law and inflicts severe suffering on them and their families. It constitutes a violation of the rules of international law guaranteeing, inter alia , the right to recognition as a person before the law, the right to liberty and security of the person and the right not to be subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. It also violates or constitutes a grave threat to the right to life. Article 2 1. No State shall practise, permit or tolerate enforced disappearances. 2. States shall act at the national and regional levels and in cooperation with the United Nations to contribute by all means to the prevention and eradication of enforced disappearance." Certainly, if Dadiyata's sudden dissaperance has any connection to the usual kidnapping for money, which has gradually become a norm in the Nigerian state, his abductors would have by now established contact with his family. Since for them, it is purely transactional. So, if they don't have him, this means... Well, any recondite can easily provide an answer to that. Where is Dadiyata? Who has Dadiyata? Who dissapeared him? What are his offenses? Who should we hold to account? Will Dadiyata ever return? Who can we beg? The unbearably distressing state his family is currently in can at best be imagined. I feel a great deal of pain as I write this. It weighs me down so much. A young man suddenly disappeared and none of the Country's security apparatus has been able to provide any definitive information or inquiry made by Nigerians. Most assuredly, Nigeria has failed the family of Dadiyata. In Country governed by law and order, Dadiyata went missing without trace. We must be genuinely worried as a people. Who will be the next victim? Me? You? Who knows! The events surrounding Dadiyata's predicament is suspect. As I have always done, I reiterate this clarion call on the Federal Government, Kaduna State Government and other relevant security agencies to either have him released unconditionally or charge him to a law court with competent jurisdiction as constitutionally enshrined or fish out the perpetrators of this shamefully disgusting act! People should not mysteriously disappear and held incommunicado for promulgating contrary views or for criticising leadership. Such an heartless act against Citizens is preposterous, it stands condemned. Have you no sympathy? Have you no feelings? Where is your humanity? Have we become monsters because of politics? His wife needs him! His Children misses their father! His parents and siblings wants him back! Just like Mr. Jones Abiri, will Dadiyata also "reappear"? Will he ever be found? Deeply in my heart, I pray so. Free Dadiyata, Now! Oyewole Michael, a public analyst and political commentator can be reached via [email protected] . He tweets via @Rolex7Michael On Sunday morning (Aug. 2), Knutsson Trotting announced that Sebastian K has passed away suddenly at the age of 14. He arrived in Melbourne, Australia, on Tuesday morning (July 28) to stand stud and he had seemingly taken the flight from the United States well. The next few days, he ate and drank as normal, but on Saturday (Aug. 1), he developed colic. While every effort was made at the Mickleham Quarantine and Veterinary Centre to save his life, the attending physicians were unsuccessful in their endeavours. Given the time elapsed since the flight, it is unlikely the colic was caused by air travel, but the exact cause of the colic will most likely never be known. Sebastian K won numerous Group I and Group II races around the world, but he will most probably be best remembered for his command performance at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in July 2014, when he shattered the existing all-age world record in a blistering 1:49. It is still the fastest mile ever recorded by a trotter on a five-eighths-mile track. He was voted Horse of the Year in Sweden in 2012 and won Dan Patch Trotter of the Year in 2014. Sebastian K was bred and owned throughout his career by Knutsson Trotting, who also bred his dam Gabriella K. Upon retiring from racing in 2015, he stood at Hanover Shoe Farms for four years before relocating to Abby Stables in Ohio for the 2020 North American breeding season. From his first North American crop, the filly Next Level Stuff (out of Nantab) will compete in the Hambletonian Oaks from post 2 on Aug. 8 at The Meadowlands. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Sebastian K. (Knutsson Trotting) During the current military-level talks with the Chinese, India emphasizes mostly on the Finger area and other sensitive areas in Eastern Ladakh where the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is pursuing full disengagement. During the ongoing talks with the Chinese at the military level, India is focusing only on the Finger area and other friction points in Eastern Ladakh seeking complete disengagement by the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) there. A meeting of Corps commanders of India and China including Lt Gen Harinder Singh and Maj Gen Liu Lin respectively currently underway at Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) to focus on disengagement. The talks are being conducted only on the disengagement by the Chinese side from the Finger area and the other friction points in the Eastern Ladakh area. Depsang plains are not on agenda for the meeting, government sources told ANI. Sources said India is clear that disengagement should first take place before both sides get to discuss larger issues of de-escalating from front and depth areas along the LAC. In Depsang, India is in the position of strength after the Chinese started to build up there in the month of April and May, sources said. The direction and guidance from the Indian side for the talks at Corps Commander-level were given by the China Study Group (CSG)which had met on July 28. India is now firm on the point that it will first seek complete disengagement by Chinese from all friction points including the Finger area. The CSG is one of the topmost bodies in the government which provides directions to the military and diplomats on the stand to be taken during talks with the Chinese and also take a stand on the points and demands raised by the Chinese side. After the massive build-up by China on the Indian border, the Indian Army has also moved its mountain divisions from two locations along with armoured columns deployed around Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana, sources said. With its own deployments matching the Chinese deployments, India is now not in a hurry to deescalate and wants that the Chinese should honour their commitments made during the Corps Commander-level talks held on July 14-15 and go back to their permanent locations. In the Finger area, the Chinese side had started disengagement after the last talks but the process was completely stopped after 2-3 days there. The four friction points include Patrolling Point-14, PP-15, PP-17-PP-17A and Finger area. India is preparing for the long haul as it has started stocking for the harsh winters approaching the Ladakh area. For winter deployment, the Army already has a sizeable stock of clothes and habitat for troops as the Indian army deploys troops at the worlds highest battlefield Siachen glacier and is prepared. For additional requirements, the force is in the process of placing orders for additional tents and shelters from indigenous as well as foreign vendors. The time for summer stocking is on and we are going to get the additional cabins and tents by that time, the sources. Months of June, July, and August are considered to be the best time for stocking winter rations and ammunition. The snowfall is expected to start soon in the Eastern Ladakh area where the temperature is already low. Firefighters watch as flames flare at the Apple Fire in Cherry Valley, California - AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu Nearly 8,000 residents of Riverside County in Southern California were forced to evacuate their homes on Saturday as a wildfire spread uncontained across more than 4,000 acres, the County fire department said. The fire - dubbed the Apple Fire by local firefighters, who routinely give blazes identifying names - was reported on Friday in Cherry Valley, a community about 75 miles east of Los Angeles. It had destroyed at least one family home as of Saturday evening (Sunday morning UK time). Photographs shared by the Riverside County fire department on Twitter on Saturday showed thick plumes of smoke filling the sky over the mountainous region. Residents of 2,586 homes, totalling around 7,800 people, were told to evacuate, the department said. CAL FIRE/ Riverside County Fire Department is activly fighting the #AppleFire. Please use caution in the area as fire resources continue to work in the area. pic.twitter.com/ruK0Z2RJDJ CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) August 1, 2020 The fire had grown from 700 acres on Friday evening to 4,125 acres by Saturday evening and was not contained, according to the County fire department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday night and has been hospitalised. The 77-year-old leader, though asymptomatic, was rushed to Manipal Hospital as per his doctors' advice. In a late-night tweet on Sunday, Yeddyurappa said: "I am tested positive for coronavirus. I am healthy and admitted to hospital as per doctors advice. I request all who have come to contact with me to exercise self quarantine." Earlier last month, the chief minister's personal assistant, driver and chef had tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing him to restrict his movement between his official residence Kaveri and home office Krishna. In Karnataka, two ministers C T Ravi and B C Patil have tested positive for coronavirus, and two MLCs M K Paramesh and Ivan D Souza. Higher education minister Sudhakar and a few other ministers have undergone quarantine after coming into contact with COVID-19 patients. AFTER four years of attempting to walk down the aisle, Priscilla McLaughlin was not going to let a global pandemic stand in her way in 2020. The South African native married Peter McLaughlin from Shannon in a civil ceremony in the Woodlands House Hotel in Adare - the first at the hotel post-Covid lockdown. We have been together since 2008 and we have tried to walk down the aisle for the last four years and every year something would crop up and this year it was Covid and we thought, oh no! said Priscilla. Im delighted I went ahead with it. I think if Id waited another year, I dont think there would have been any joy in planning it any more because I have been trying four years to go ahead and every year it was cancelled for various reasons. The ceremony was performed on Monday of last week by Geraldine McCarthy, the superintendent registrar and there were 40 guests at the wedding. Sadly, Priscillas family in South Africa couldnt attend due to the pandemic. There were a number of limitations on the day due to Covid-19 but the couple made the most of it. We put people into family units at the ceremony and at the reception as well. Families sat with their own. Peter and I danced our first dance but there wasnt really much dancing. It was relaxed, she explained. Priscilla is a stay-at-home mum of four children - Edu, 16, Lebo, 13, Conor 8, and Lilyrose, 6 - while Peter works for UPS. The couple, who reside in Shannon, met through work in Ireland in 2008. They were due to fly out to Malta on their honeymoon on July 22 but we couldnt - we didnt want to take the chance because my little daughter has asthma so we said it wasnt worth it, said Priscilla. We decided to stay in the Woodlands for two more nights. They made it really special. It was just a peaceful, and perfect day and we were blessed with very good weather. We also are very grateful to Mary OConnell, the senior executive registrar, Louise Morris and Geraldine McCarthy for making it happen. They all went out of their way especially in this difficult time. As part of the wedding, the couple performed a sand ceremony which is a type of unity ceremony which saw the groom and then the bride pour their favourite coloured sand into the one clear vessel. It is carried out to express the coming together of two people or two families into one new family. It came out as a rainbow - what it means is that no-one can separate sand so we just want to be like that for the rest of our lives, nobody will be able to separate us, said Priscilla. Relatively unscathed by the coronavirus until now, the African continent now has nearly one million confirmed cases, over half of which are in South Africa. Africas most industrialised nation recorded 10,107 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Saturday, pushing the death toll past the half million mark, the health ministry said. More than a third of all infections have been reported in Gauteng-- South Africa's financial hub--which has quickly become the epicenter of the national outbreak. Local hospitals have been struggling to cope, and health experts say the country could reach the peak of its outbreak in late August or early September. Gravediggers have been told to prepare dozens of graves to accommodate the spike in Covid deaths. Corruption slowing response Health authorities had been expecting a surge in cases after the gradual loosening of a strict lockdown that was imposed on 27 March. The five-week lockdown helped to keep numbers low, but it choked the economy and cost three million South Africans their jobs. Allegations of corruption have also slowed down the country's response. This week, the top health official in Gauteng province was forced to step down over a scandal related to government contracts for Covid-19 personal protective equipment. President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that now, more than ever, South Africa's persistent problem with widespread graft is endangering people's lives. Stretched Cases in South Africa, which has the fifth highest total in the world behind the US, Brazil and Russia, have overwhelmed an already stretched healthcare system. Experts say the true toll of the pandemic may be higher than confirmed in Africa because of limited testing and the stigma attached to people infected with the disease. A patient from Uganda told the Associated Press that he was treated badly at a healthcare facility despite testing negative three times. On one occasion, a medical team took a woman suspected of having the virus from her room and sprayed her with disinfectant, the patient said. Story continues Meanwhile, a 61-year-old Ugandan woman became the fourth person to die from the coronavirus on Saturday, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 1,176. Lockdown easing Further west in Nigeria, the country recorded its lowest number of confirmed coronavirus infections in at least two weeks on Saturday with 386 new infections. The new figures brings the number of coronavirus infections in Africas biggest economy to 43, 537, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Nigerian authorities have announced plans to ease a lockdown in the commercial capital Lagos, allowing churches and mosques to reopen next week. THIS should have been peak wedding season. But the clinking glasses and tinkling laughter no longer echo from packed drinks receptions as brides, grooms, photographers, florists, cake makers and all involved in this previously booming industry have been forced to take stock. Even with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, there has been a trend towards micro-weddings. For many, it has meant eloping is now more popular and desirable than ever before. Gretna Green the Scottish destination synonymous with the phenomenon has become one of the most popular search terms online in recent weeks. But it was to Kerry that Margherita Frezza and Fechin Heery eloped to say "I do" on Tuesday, in a non-religious ceremony in Muckross Abbey, in Killarney National Park. Margherita Frezza and Fechin Heery. PICTURES: EMILY DORAN There was no fear of overcrowding as all that was present was the couple, their celebrant Garrett Ledwith, their photographer Emily Doran and their friends Lavanya Gowda and Kevin Brody who were maid of honour and best man. Margherita, originally from Tuscany, Italy, and Fechin, from Ballinacree, Co Meath, said elopement was always part of their wedding plan. We wanted a very intimate ceremony. The ideal would have been an elopement abroad, to have wedding and honeymoon in one go. But in these times, Kerry is a good alternative, said the bride. We just had ourselves and our two best friends at the ceremony. Their plus ones were waiting for us for a small celebration at the Muckross Park Hotel after the wedding, but for the ceremony itself, we wanted to keep it as small as it can be. The current climate made it easier to hold an intimate wedding. People just understand and dont question our choice. It was actually a blessing, said Margherita. Our first idea was to go to Seychelles, Mauritius or somewhere tropical and getting married barefoot on a beach. When we realised we wouldn't be able to travel for a long time, we changed our plans. Luckily we didn't book anything abroad. The newlyweds, who will reside in Ashford, Co Meath, first met on Tinder, less than two years ago. Margherita, who works in IT, and Fechin, a physics teacher, got engaged in March, the day before Covid-19 restrictions commenced. Fechin had got the ring on the last day the stores were open. He was planning to go to the mountains during the weekend and propose there, but on Thursday we went for a walk on the Vartry reserve in Wicklow and we stopped looking at the lake. It was such a romantic moment he proposed there, kneeling in the mud, said Margherita. Opting for a wedding planning service from Eloping in Ireland made organising the celebration easier. Because of all the uncertainty, we decided it was the smart thing to do, said the bride. In normal times, we would have planned it all, but now we saved ourselves a lot of stress. Weddings are likely to look quite different to what were used to for some time to come. Margherita Frezza and Fechin Heery. PICTURES: EMILY DORAN If your nuptials are taking place within the next 12-18 months be aware there could still be restrictions in place, advises longtime wedding planner Tara Fay. At the moment, the Irish Hotels Federation are working towards getting the maximum number for weddings increased; however, it currently stands at 100 people including staff. If this does not work for you, consider some creative ways to include your guest numbers, for example, can you host your wedding over two days? Could you have a small intimate wedding this year and a larger wedding celebration party next year? And the current climate can, for many, ease the pressure to please. Some couples are saying the numbers are giving them more freedom to do exactly what they want, said Tara. I even had one person say to me they are having the wedding of their dreams now, with only the people that they want at it. A bride and groom-to-be who were completely unfazed by the sweeping change in circumstances were Naas-based Cathy Mooney and Ash McCrave. Cathy, an office manager, and Ash, a security engineer, say they now have an extra year to save up for their dream home. Cathy Mooney and Ash McCrave. Picture: Stephen O'Sullivan They were to tie the knot on June 25, 2020, but had to reschedule to May 20, 2021. To be honest we had planned all of our wedding before Covid-19 hit, said Cathy. We are getting married in the beautiful Tankardstown House, in Slane, Co Meath. We both wanted our wedding to include all our family and friends (approximately 130 guests) so we both knew we had to change the date. Of course, this was after a lot of buts and what-ifs. My brother Andy who is also Ashs best friend and best man and my niece Sorcha (flower girl) are both living in Perth Australia, so when their flight was cancelled we knew the only option was to reschedule the big day. The swap-over was very smooth, thank God. All our original suppliers were all free on our new date so this was a straight swap and completely stress-free for us. We have now, of course, come to terms with it all and are both very happy with our new date. It actually worked out better for us as it gives us another year of saving for our dream home. It also means I can have another hen party next year and Ash can finally have the stag party he missed out on. Meanwhile, the drive towards smaller weddings has also seen people witnessing and celebrating marriages via livestream on Zoom or FaceTime. Photographer Emily Doran and her husband, videographer Aodhagan ORiordan (onelove.ie) say live-streaming is a good way for people to be present in the moment. Ive been working with couples to put together this new service. An unlimited number of guests will be able to follow the day on their phone from the comfort of home, she said. Like many wedding suppliers, Emily and Aodhagan watched what would have been their busy season evaporate in the last few months. The predominant concern from our clients was the feeling of uncertainty. How could they look forward to their wedding day when it could be swept away in a wave of regulations? said Emily. Most couples had planned for a wedding with over a hundred people. Of course, the bigger picture is that the health and wellbeing of everyone should be protected. Couples want to celebrate the occasion with all their friends and family but they dont want to put them at risk either. Long-time wedding photographer Evelyn Woodard also watched with dismay as weddings as we knew them underwent a dramatic change. To watch an industry you are so connected to, get wiped out overnight was very upsetting. This is on top of wondering how to stay safe from this unknown virus, she said. It has been very straightforward for me with rearranging weddings because I have scaled back weddings over the past few years and unlike other wedding photographers, I would not have had many dates already booked for 2021 so I was able to accommodate my existing clients. For me, this was the priority and not new bookings. Phase 4 of Ireland's Roadmap for reopening society and business is due to commence on 10 August 10, subject to government approval. This could see gatherings of up to 100 people indoors being permissible. Galway-based bride and groom-to-be Deirdre Kelly and Liam Heverin have their fingers crossed this will work in their favour when they exchange vows on Friday, August 14, in the Prince of Peace Church in Fossa, Killarney but if it doesnt they are still looking forward to welcoming 50 guests to their wedding, complete with reception in the Killarney Great Southern. Deirdre Kelly and Liam Heverin. Picture: Evelyn Woodard Deirdre, an accountant, and Liam, a civil engineer, were originally due to be married on Friday, July 10, but were able to change their plans. Our wedding will be very similar to what we had originally planned, only a lot smaller. The main change we had to make is surrounding the number of guests. We originally had a guest list of about 270-280 and this has now dropped to adhere to the new government guidelines. Dublin-based wedding photographer Stephen OSullivan said looking for the positives is key in these pandemic times. Planning a wedding is stressful, re-planning (or re-re-planning!) a wedding takes it to another level, he said. At the start of the lockdown there was a lack of information so I made a video and a cheat-sheet on wedding postponement. One of the most popular tips was to use the postponement to revise the invitation list your circle of friends might well have changed in the meantime. Look for the positives. Syracuse, N.Y. The National Weather Service has issued a tornado watch for parts of Upstate New York, as strong thunderstorms capable of producing fierce winds, isolated hail and even a tornado develop. Parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Vermont also are under the tornado watch until 10 p.m. Sunday. In Upstate New York, the tornado watch spans north and east of Syracuse, including in the cities of Watertown, Utica and Albany. Strong thunderstorms swept through Oneida County Sunday afternoon and could lead to minor flooding, according to the weather service. Around 2:30 p.m., doppler radar tracked small hail and wind gusts around 35 mph in parts of the county. A few small tornadoes are possible in the watch areas. Isolated hail also could grow to the size of a ping pong ball, the National Weather Service said. Scattered wind gusts up to 70 mph are possible in areas affected by the tornado watch. A tornado watch has been issued for parts of CT, MA, NJ, NY, PA, VT until 10 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/Es4EfpQ70E NWS Binghamton (@NWSBinghamton) August 2, 2020 Have a tip or a story idea? Contact Catie OToole: cotoole@syracuse.com | text/call 315-470-2134 | Twitter | Facebook Advertisement Dozens of adoring fans gathered for a vigil honoring Naya Rivera on Saturday night at the lake where the Glee star tragically drowned last month on a boating trip with her young son. The event organized on the Twitter fan page 'Naya Army' was held at an overlook above Lake Piru outside Los Angeles that was decorated with photos of the 33-year-old actress and hundreds of tiny mementos. It offered fans a chance to say their goodbyes to Rivera by sharing stories of how she affected their lives. Many praised Rivera's breakout role as Santana Lopez on Glee, saying that her portrayal of the lesbian character inspired them to come out. 'Without Glee, I swear I would not be here. I would not be alive,' one fan said. 'After seeing them on TV, I was like it is okay to be different,' another added. Fans gathered for a vigil honoring Naya Rivera on Saturday at Lake Piru, where the Glee star tragically drowned last month Fans shared stories about how Rivera touched their lives as they stood in front of the massive makeshift memorial Attendees practiced social distancing as they waited in line for a turn to speak at the vigil and leave mementos Fans are seen releasing balloons over the lake where Rivera tragically lost her life last month Fans brought a variety of different tributes to place on the fence overlooking Lake Piru, where Naya lost her life on July 8 Fans line up and listen as a speaker shares how Rivera personally impacted his life through her acting A pile of dried flowers is seen next to a photo of Rivera and a few drawings left by fans Rivera drowned on July 8 while out on a pontoon boat with her four-year-old son Josey (pictured together in 2019) The vigil drew fans from around the US, with some people driving all the way from Oregon and Indiana to pay their respects. Attendees practiced social distancing as they lined up and waited for their chance to take the microphone on a makeshift stage surrounded by flowers, candles and crosses. Many fans spoke about how Rivera inspired them with her breakout role as Santana Lopez on Glee (pictured) At the center of the stage a life-size poster of Rivera smiled down at the fans who left behind even more mementos than were already there. Despite the tragic circumstances that brought them together, the fans kept things light and honored Rivera by dancing to some of her favorite songs. Liset Ortiz, who organized the event, said: 'It's terribly sad but we wanted to celebrate her life and her talent. 'We want to show how much love there is for her.' The vigil was held just over a week after Rivera was buried on July 24 at the famous Forest Lawn Memorial Park cemetery in the Hollywood Hills. New details about the actress' fatal accident were revealed in a death certificate on Thursday which said she drowned within minutes of falling into the lake nearly four weeks ago. Rivera went missing on July 8 during a visit to Lake Piru with her four-year-old son Josey. Authorities began searching for the star that night after they found Josey asleep in his life jacket on the pontoon boat his mother had rented. Her body was recovered four days later in the lake. An autopsy determined that her death was accidental, with no underlying causes or ailments. No drugs or alcohol were present in her system either. The vigil drew fans from around the US, with some people driving all the way from Oregon and Indiana to pay their respects An older woman speaks about how she was personally impacted by Rivera Fans line up to write messages that the vigil organizers plan to deliver to Rivera's family Many of the attendees wore matching tee shirts with an infinity sign, butterflies and the words: 'In loving memory of Naya' A poster lists out powerful adjectives describing Rivera alongside hundreds of names of fans Fans signed a Mexico gay pride flag that was fashioned to the fence alongside other touching tributes According to authorities, Rivera's last moments were spent saving her son. Police said it appeared Rivera 'mustered enough energy to get her son back on the boat, but not enough to save herself'. Rivera's family family shared a statement about her death last week, saying: 'Heaven gained our sassy angel.' 'We are so grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers for Naya, Josey and our family over the past week. 'While we grieve the loss of our beautiful legend, we are blessed to honor her everlasting legacy and magnetic spirit. Naya was an amazing talent, but was an even greater person, mother, daughter and sister.' The organizers of Saturday night's vigil said they will collect most of the tributes posted at the overlook and present them to Rivera's family, but some of the items will stay at the site as a memorial. A woman poses next to a stack of boxes spelling out Rivera's name on the edge of the overlook A fan pauses to place his hand on a fence covered with messages dedicated to Rivera In the document issued on July 31, EC President Ursula von der Leyen said the European economy now needs every opportunity to recover its strength after the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Trade agreements such as the EVFTA will provide European companies opportunities to access emerging markets, and create jobs for Europeans, she added. She expressed her strong belief that the trade pact will also create a chance for Vietnamese to enjoy a more prosperous economy and gain more benefits. EU Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan stated that Vietnam is currently in the group of 77 countries having trade relations with the EU under bilateral preferential terms. EVFTA helps further promote economic linkage between the EU and dynamic regions in Southeast Asia and contributes to economic recovery after the COVID-19 crisis, he said. The agreement also shows that trade policies can bring about many social benefits, he said, adding that Vietnam has made great efforts to improve its labourers' rights through trade negotiations. EVFTA is expected to eliminate 99 percent of tariffs on goods traded between the EU and Vietnam, and make it easier for European companies to invest in the Southeast Asian nation. As the University of Montana continues to plan on a return to in-person learning in the fall, the most recent enrollment indicators at the campus show total applicant numbers up 7% and total registration numbers holding. However, numbers for freshman registration show a drop of 17%, likely, in large part, due to coronavirus-inspired uncertainty. "We believe student decision-making is occurring later than in a normal year," said UM spokesperson Paula Short in a recent interview. The coronavirus pandemic has been called a moment of reckoning for Americas colleges and universities, with some of the leading voices saying it could be a death knell for struggling tuition-dependent institutions. UM may face an added challenge in losing Vice President of Enrollment and Communications Cathy Cole, who took a job in Iowa that started Aug. 1. But as students across the country have expressed dissatisfaction and anger at being forced into online classes by the pandemic, rather than the traditional experience they signed up for, UM has announced it is a campus in a state that is wide open. Earlier this summer, UM released a detailed plan for how to manage instruction and campus life in person. In a mailer sent to prospective students in the Missoula area, UM told students in bold lettering, YOUR DREAMS ARE TOO BIG TO BE DELAYED, hoping to attract students considering a pandemic-prompted gap year. With Montana being among the states least impacted by the coronavirus in terms of the number of infected people per capita, UM President Seth Bodnar and others said the university may be able to attract more students looking for a safe place to attend in-person classes. "The university has been thoughtful and thorough in our planning around working, learning, living and visiting our campus," said Short. "We encourage students to keep learning through the uncertainty and challenges presented by COVID-19, and were here to offer the support and guidance they need." MSUs numbers showed relatively little change in the numbers of students applying, accepted and registering for classes, with applicants and out-of-state student registrations up somewhat. UM's most recent numbers are similarly up slightly, according to data provided by Short. UM reported the total number of applicants is up 7% compared to the same date last year, from 5,311 in 2019 to 5,683 in 2020. The number of total students who have registered for classes in the fall is down 0.25% at MSU, according to registration data compared to the same time last year. At UM, as of July 22, total student registration was down 1.1%, with 7,692 students registered now in 2020 compared to 7,779 students registered at this date in 2019. Freshman registration dropped to 793 in 2020 from 957 in 2019. Short said that at least part of the current drop in freshman registration is thought to be attributable to coronavirus, as uncertainty about the status of in-person classes pushes back final decision dates. She said making year-to-year comparisons of early admission numbers would be difficult due to the extraordinary circumstances of the pandemic. Out-of-state registration at UM is currently down about 5%, from 1,749 non-Montana residents registered last year, to 1,663 registered so far this year. Students applying through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program, a tuition agreement among multiple western states to lower college costs, are up a bit at UM this year, from 676 in 2019 to 686 as of July 22, 2020. Out-of-state students, who pay a premium to attend Montana schools, bring in far more money for the university than in-state students. MSU has capitalized on this in recent years, albeit with President Waded Cruzado saying she is not happy having to balance the books by enrolling more out-of-staters than Montanans, which the school did for the first time this past year. MSU reported a rise in out-of-state applicants of 5% for fall 2020, up to 5,089 in 2020 from 4,842 at the same time in 2019. In-state registrations at MSU are down more than 4%, sitting at 6,993 in 2020, compared to 7,302 in 2019. The Chronicle of Higher Education has published a slew of opinion pieces from university professors, presidents and consultants, trying to predict what will happen, what should happen, and what must happen this fall. Some have said universities who say they will be open in fall are doing nothing more than bluffing, in hopes of capturing students before eventually reneging and going online amid a resurgence of the virus. UM released the final draft of its reopening plan July 10, with administrators acknowledging the plan would be changing with the newest information and guidelines. Dorms have been outfitted with quarantine spaces, masks will be required although administrators are still discussing enforcement measures and classrooms will be socially distant, along with many other protective measures. Health kits will be provided to each student at the beginning of the semester, complete with two reusable masks, hand sanitizer and surface disinfectant spray. *** In February just before the pandemic's effect began to become apparent in the United States Madeleine Rhyneer, higher education advising firm EAB's chief enrollment consultant, spoke with the Missoulian about UM's update enrollment strategy, and said it sounded like UM was doing everything right. Rhyneer has compared the pandemic to the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs, and in a round-up of predictions from five leading enrollment experts published by the Chronicle of Higher Education, Rhyneer said that only the most nimble of universities would come out alive. "Decision-making must shift to light speed for institutions with declining demand, no cash reserve, and modest endowments," she wrote. "Sadly, colleges that faced serious financial challenges before the coronavirus are dead institutions walking." The University of Montana Foundation, a nonprofit fundraising group that supports UM, recently saw success in its Campaign Montana fundraiser, where the foundation passed its goal of $400 million. Campaign Montana has been seen as an ongoing triumph, with current funds resting at $431 million. The initiative, which launched in 2018, is set to run through 2020. As for cash reserves, according to the University of Montana's most recent budget approved by the Board of Regents, the school planned to have $316,064 left in its enrollment contingency account when the fiscal year ends this month. By comparison, MSU budgeted to have $7.3 million at the end of this year. Marissa Perry, Gov. Steve Bullock's communications director, said the $1.25 billion in funding Montana received through the federal CARES Act is not allowed to be used for filling lost revenue, and therefore could not be used to bail out a state university if its enrollment declined by more than it could handle. Perry noted that universities had received separate CARES Act funding, though Deputy Commissioner of Higher Education Tyler Trevor earlier told the Missoulian those funds were essentially exhausted already. With the fall semester shifted about a week and a half early and ending at Thanksgiving, former Provost Jon Harbor whose departure from UM for a job as provost for Purdue Global University was announced in May notified professors that the change at UM would result in about 70 minutes of lost class time. In an email to faculty, he encouraged professors to find ways to creatively add in the lost time throughout the semester. "Together with the campus-specific guidance that will be released next week, we will have a thoughtful and intentional plan for safely welcoming students to campus in August while mitigating risk for all members of the UM family," he wrote then. Short told the Missoulian there was not yet an official timeline for replacing the vice president for enrollment and communications, but that in the meantime, Vice Provost Sarah Swager will take over enrollment. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 3 Sad 0 Angry 0 China's consulate in Germany has reacted on German suspension of Hong Kong extradition treaty over jarring accusations of erosion of democracy and autonomy in the region after the passage of the contentious national security legislation, called suspicion 'erroneous', 'breach of international law' and slammed Germany to be interfering in its internal affairs. China has condemned Germanys decision to suspend extradition agreement with Hong Kong after the territorial government delayed the local polls. The Chinese Embassy in Germany expresses its strong indignation and firm opposition to the wrong remarks of German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas regarding Hong Kong affairs on July 31th, Chinese Embassy said in a statement. It stated the Hong Kong SAR governments decision to postpone the Legislative Council election due to the severe COVID-19 epidemic situation is a responsible move to protect the lives and health of Hong Kong residents. Hong Kong affairs are Chinas internal affairs. The German sides erroneous remarks on Hong Kong and the suspension of the extradition treaty with Hong Kong are a serious breach of international law and basic norms governing international relations and gross violation of Chinas internal affairs. We firmly oppose them and reserve the right to react further, said the Chinese consulate Also read: US house committee expresses deep concerns on arrest of HK activists Also read: US cracks the whip on Chinese Companies, imposes sanctions on companies in Xinjiang for rights violations Germany has decided to suspend its extradition treaty with Hong Kong, Foreign Minister, Heiko Mass, said on Friday (local time) after the erstwhile British colony decided to postpone legislative council elections. The decision by the Hong Kong Government to disqualify 12 opposition candidates and to postpone the elections to the Legislative Council represents a further infringement of the rights of Hong Kongs citizens, Mass said. The German Foreign Minister said this move comes after the detention of four activists by the newly established National Security Department, which fills us with concern. In view of these latest developments, we have decided to suspend our extradition agreement with Hong Kong, he said. Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced on Friday that the Legislative Council elections scheduled for September 6 will be postponed over the COVID-19 threat. We have repeatedly made clear our expectation that China abide by its obligations under international law. This includes ensuring the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Basic Law of Hong Kong. In particular, it includes the right to free and fair elections, which the people of Hong Kong must enjoy, said Mass. The developments come in the wake of imposition of draconian national security law in Hong Kong, aimed at crushing dissent in the erstwhile British colony which saw massive pro-democracy protests last year. Also read: After UK, Canada and others, Germany suspends extradition treaty with Hong Kong Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-03 03:09:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Sunday welcomed a letter signed by the European Union diplomats to protest against Israel's construction plans in an East Jerusalem area, urging the EU's "actionable decisions." On July 31, representatives of the EU and ambassadors of 15 European countries sent a protest letter to the Israeli Foreign Ministry on the Israeli government's decision to start the construction in the settlement of Givat Hamatos. Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee, urged the European diplomats to "adopt actionable decisions" in order to deter Israel. "We believe that the EU, as well as the governments of these 15 states, should adopt actionable decisions that would deter Israel from persisting on the path of illegality, impunity, and de facto annexation," Ashrawi said in a statement. "Rhetorical opposition has not deterred Israel. In fact, Israel is emboldened to escalate its criminal actions precisely because it is confident that opposition will not move from the verbal to the practical," she added. "If implemented, these Israeli plans would completely sever occupied Jerusalem from its natural Palestinian surrounding and cut the occupied West Bank in half," she warned. Palestinians also said that Israeli plans to expand settlements in the area around Maale Adumim settlement poses serious threats on the territorial and geopolitical integrity of their future state. Israeli settlements in the occupied territory is deemed illegal by most world powers. Enditem A further eight people who tested positive for Covid-19 have died in Britain today while 744 people have been diagnosed with the bug. The total number of confirmed deaths in hospitals, care homes and the wider community during the pandemic has hit 46,201 following the rise. Figures released on Sunday are usually smaller due to a delay in processing over the weekend. The cases recorded today - as well as a further 771 yesterday and 880 on Friday - bring the country's total to 304,695. Five people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in England. Patients were aged between 52 and 86 years old, and all had known underlying health conditions. Two of the patients died in the Midlands, one in the north east and Yorkshire, one in the North West and one in the south west. Wales reported a further three coronavirus deaths in care homes and hospitals and 37 more cases. The total number of confirmed deaths in hospitals, care homes and the wider community during the pandemic has hit 46,201 The cases recorded today - as well as a further 771 yesterday and 880 on Friday - bring the country's total to 304,695 Scotland has reported no new deaths - although it points out that register offices are now generally closed at weekends. A total of 31 people tested positive for the bug. Northern Ireland stopped reporting its data on the virus at weekends so the daily figures for positive cases are for Britain only. The figures follow the news that millions of overs 50s could be given orders to stay at home as part of Boris Johnson's 'nuclear plans' to avoid another national lockdown. A large number of overs 50s could be given orders to stay at home as part of Boris Johnson's 'nuclear plans' to avoid another national lockdown The Prime Minister was forced to announce a slow down of the lockdown easing on Friday, with planned relaxations for the leisure and beauty sectors delayed after a rise in Covid-19 cases. Earlier this week, around 4.5million people in Greater Manchester, East Lancashire and West Yorkshire were hit with fresh lockdown restrictions. The PM is thought to have held a 'war game' session with Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday to run through possible options for averting another nationwide lockdown that could put the brakes on a potential economic recovery. Under the proposals, a greater number of people would be asked to take part in the shielding programme, based on their age or particular risk factors that have been identified since March, said the Telegraph. It could even see those aged between 50 and 70 given 'personalised risk ratings', said the Times, in a move that would add to the 2.2 million who were deemed most vulnerable and asked to shield themselves from society during the spring peak. The plans could prove controversial as the factors under which the elderly could be asked to self-isolate might be more heavily influenced by age than clinical vulnerabilities. Also being considered under the proposals is a city-wide lockdown in London which would include restricting travel beyond the M25, as reported by The Sunday Times. Any 'close contact' services, such as going to the hairdresser, would also be stopped if the capital sees a sudden surge in cases. The advice for shielding was only lifted on Saturday for those in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and remains in place until August 16 for those shielding in Wales. What restrictions could the government put in place to try and avoid a second wave? A much larger number of people would be asked to take part in the shielding programme, based on their age or particular risk factors. Those aged between 50 and 70 given 'personalised risk ratings',in a move that would add to the 2.2 million who were deemed most vulnerable and asked to shield themselves from society during the spring peak. The 'green list' of countries that allow you to visit would be scrapped, meaning people arriving back in the UK would have to quarantine for 14 days. A city-wide lockdown in London banning overnight visits and any close-contact services such as hairdressing. People would also not be able to move into and out of London, with possible restrictions on the M25. Ministers could also ban mixing of households indoors (including overnight stays) Advertisement 'At the moment, shielding is binary, you're either on this list or off it,' a source told the Sunday Times. 'But we know there isn't a simple cut-off at age 70. People would get a personalised risk assessment. The risk rises after 50, quite gently to start with, and then accelerates after age 70.' It is believed Mr Johnson last week compared the prospect of a full national lockdown to a 'nuclear deterrent' to be as a last resort, but aides now say he is wants smaller 'tactical' nuclear weapons with which to fight covid-19. Along with the head of the Covid-19 taskforce, Simon Case, Mr Sunak and other senior figures, the group held an hour-long discussion on three outbreak scenarios; one in northwestern England, one in London and finally a general increase across the country. A significant proposal in the national model was reimposing the shielding programme, based on their age or particular risk factors that have been identified since March. And in a move that would burst the public's figurative 'bubbles', ministers could ban mixing of households indoors (including overnight stays), as has happened in the nine local authorities under a partial lockdown in north west England. The move could have been inspired by test and trace data seen by Health Secretary Matt Hancock just before the meeting which showed that the top two ways the virus was transmitted were by an infected person visiting the subject's house, and by that person visiting an infected friend. Going to work was only third on the list and going out shopping lower still. But Downing Street sources distanced themselves from the detail in the reports, calling them 'speculative'. In a more 'segmented approach' to dealing with future lockdowns, people aged between 50 and 70 would be given personalised risk ratings - taking into accounts factors like their age and conditions - and asked to shield in the event of an outbreak CASES ARE ON THE UP... AND THE R RATE MAY BE ABOVE ONE Coronavirus cases in England are now at the highest levels since May and government scientists are 'no longer confident' the crucial R rate is below the dreaded level of one. Government statisticians yesterday admitted there is 'now enough evidence' to prove Covid-19 infections are on the up, calculating that 4,200 people are now catching the virus each day in England alone. The estimate by the Office for National Statistics, which tracks the size of the outbreak by swabbing thousands of people, has doubled since the end of June and is 68 per cent up on the 2,500 figure given a fortnight ago. One in 1,500 people currently have the coronavirus - 0.07 per cent of the population. But experts believe the rate is twice as high in London and still rising. The figure does not include care homes and hospitals. Number 10's scientific advisers also upped the R rate in the UK, saying they now believe it stands between 0.8 and 0.9. It had been as low as 0.7 since May. SAGE also revealed the growth rate - the average number of people each Covid-19 patient infects - may have jumped to above one in the South West, home to the stay-cation hotspots of Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. And they said it was likely to be equally high in the North West. Matt Hancock last night announced tough new lockdown measures in Greater Manchester and parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire. Advertisement On top of the alleged lockdown avoidance preparations, experts have speculated that ministers might have to order the closure of pubs, which were permitted to start serving again on July 4, if schools are to reopen fully in September. Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said earlier a 'trade off' could be required if the Prime Minister's pledge is to be met. His comments followed chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty's remarks that the country was 'near the limit' for opening up society following the coronavirus lockdown. The moves in Whitehall are seen as a clear indication that ministers are prepared to dial down social interactions to ensure that schools can open again next month and shops can keep doing business. Boris Johnson previously pledged that all pupils at both primary and secondary schools in England will return in September, following months of closures for most students. But leading scientists and the head of a major teaching union last night amid signs that cases of Covid-19 are increasing again at an alarming rate. Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT teaching union, said the Government will need to provide 'clarification' to schools. He told the Observer: 'In light of recent changes to plans for relaxing lockdown measures, the Government needs to provide greater clarity to school leaders, teachers and parents about what this will mean for the reopening of schools in September.' A warning from chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty that the country is 'near the limit' for opening up society will prompt questions for parents as well as teachers, Mr Roach told the newspaper. 'If schools are to reopen safely, the government will need to give them clarification about what they need to do to take account of the latest scientific evidence and advice, as well as sufficient time to review and, if necessary, adjust their reopening plans,' he added. Meanwhile, Dr Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, told the Observer that although risks to children and teachers are likely to be low, this transmission would increase infection rates. The Prime Minister held a 'war game' session with Chancellor Rishi Sunak on Wednesday to run through possible options for averting another nationwide lockdown that could stall any potential economic recovery 'Would reopening schools increase the spread of Covid-19 in the population? Yes. I think it would very probably do that,' he told the newspaper. Meanwhile, former England midfielder Paul Scholes has been accused of holding a party at his Oldham home to celebrate his son's 21st on the same day lockdown measures were reimposed across parts of England's north-west. The Sun cited phone footage as showing revellers ignoring social distancing 'as they drank and danced' at the seven-hour party, with the paper citing Tory MP Andrew Bridgen criticising Mr Scholes for 'reckless behaviour'. Greater Manchester Police have been approached for comment over the alleged incident. It comes after a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) said ministers might have to consider closing pubs in England in order for lessons to start again next month. Professor Graham Medley, who chairs the Sage sub-group on pandemic modelling, said this scenario was 'quite possible'. Sage member warns England should consider closing pubs to open schools next month Professor Graham Medley, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said England could have to consider closing pubs in order to reopen schools next month. When asked about the chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty's prediction that the country was 'near the limits' of opening up society, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine academic told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think that's quite possible. 'I think we're in a situation whereby most people think that opening schools is a priority for the health and wellbeing of children and that when we do that we are going to reconnect lots of households. 'And so actually, closing some of the other networks, some of the other activities may well be required to enable us to open schools. 'It might come down to a question of which do you trade off against each other and then that's a matter of prioritising, do we think pubs are more important than schools?' Advertisement 'I think we're in a situation whereby most people think that opening schools is a priority for the health and wellbeing of children and that when we do that we are going to reconnect lots of households,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'And so actually, closing some of the other networks, some of the other activities may well be required to enable us to open schools. 'It might come down to a question of which do you trade off against each other and then that's a matter of prioritising, do we think pubs are more important than schools?' Meanwhile, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) was forced to deny that it had abandoned its pledge to regularly test care home residents through the summer following a leaked memo from Professor Jane Cummings, the Government's adult social care testing director. The Tory administration has come in for criticism for failing to do more to prevent Covid-19 infections from reaching care homes, where some of the country's most vulnerable population reside, during the initial spring peak. According to the Times, Prof Cummings wrote to local authority leaders to inform them that 'previously advised timelines for rolling out regular testing in care homes' were being altered because of 'unexpected delays'. Regular testing of residents and staff was meant to have started on July 6 but will now be pushed back until September 7 for older people and those with dementia, PA news agency understands. A department spokeswoman confirmed there were issues with 'asymptomatic re-testing'. The problems relate to a combination of factors, including a restraint on the ability to build testing kits, already announced issues with Randox swab kits, overall lab capacity, and greater than anticipated return rate of care home test kits. The DHSC spokeswoman said: 'It is completely wrong to suggest care homes were deliberately deprived of testing resources and any care home resident or member of staff with symptoms can immediately access a free test. 'We continue to issue at least 50,000 tests a day to care homes across the country and prioritise tests for higher-risk outbreak areas. 'A combination of factors have meant that a more limited number of testing kits, predominantly used in care homes, are currently available for asymptomatic re-testing and we are working round the clock with providers to restore capacity.' DHSC said it would not comment on leaked documents when asked about Prof Cummings' memo. After Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput's friend Smita revealed on Republic TV's The Debate on Saturday that the late actor had another roommate - Samuel Haokip - false reports of his death started making the rounds on the Internet. However, another one of Sushant's close friends Kushal Zaveri, a filmmaker as stated on his Instagram bio, has reassured their followers by posting a note in his latest Instagram update that Samuel Haokip is safe and secure. Then, Samuel Haokip conducted a live Instagram session to interact with his fans and revealed that their venture, Pro team, designed to help Sushant achieve his dreams, is now inactive. Further, he said that Siddharth Pithani, his other roommate had been closer to Rhea Chakraborty than him (Samuel). He also revealed that he had only been Sushant's roommate until last year and he thanked his followers asking him to support Sushant's case. Samuel Haokip also exclaimed that he believed in karma and is doing everything necessary to help authorities come up with a fair report on Sushant's death. Samuel, along with Kushal Zaveri, Siddharth Gupta and Dipesh, had allegedly formed 'Pro Team' to help Sushant's career. He also revealed that there is another 'Samuel' - Samuel Miranda who was Sushant's housekeeping manager. Samuel Haokip is alive today he came live on insta pic.twitter.com/6WFvcJFp0L Varisha (@justice_4_sush) August 2, 2020 On Saturday evening, Sushant Singh Rajput's friend Smita in interaction with Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami claimed that the actor was 'scared for his life' after Disha Salian's (Sushant's ex-manager) death. While Smita rubbished Rhea Chakraborty and Siddharth Pithani's theory on Sushant's depression, she also raised a question about another friend of Sushant Samuel Haokip. Smita told Republic TV on the 9 PM debate, "There was also one more person Samuel Haokip, who was staying with Sushant throughout. He used to handle all the artificial intelligence work he was doing. Where is he?" "Also his manager Shruti has the same theory as Rhea and Siddharth Pithani. Why are only these three people talking about these things? In April, Sushant texted a friend saying he was in touch with scientists and doctors to fight COVID-19. He was attending Zoom calls for the same. He wasn't dull. A man who was working on technology to fight COVID-19 in April suddenly dies in June. He was excited about his plans," Smita told Republic TV. Siddharth Pithani had surfaced on Friday evening, making a number of claims and becoming the subject of even more. He admitted he was giving Sushant two tablets per day, though he couldn't specify what they were for, while he was also alleged to have brought down Sushant's body and placed it on the floor of his room after opening it to find that Sushant had allegedly hanged himself. Rhea Chakraborty had also uploaded at least 2 photos on her Instagram where she had credited Pithani. Media are no longer allowed to attend the Republican National Convention in North Carolina later this month, reports revealed this weekend. At the convention, which is usually riddled with reporters, delegates will officially vote to nominate President Donald Trump as the party's candidate in November and he will formally receive his party's nomination in a speech. Trump initially pressured the Republican National Committee to move the main events from Charlotte, North Carolina to Jacksonville, Florida so he could give his acceptance speech to a full arena in an area with looser coronavirus restrictions. The still-soaring coronavirus cases forced Trump to cancel in July the part of the convention planned for Florida, and move the venue back to North Carolina. 'We are planning for all of the Charlotte activities to be closed press: Friday, August 21-Monday, 24th given the health restrictions and limitations in place in the state,' the convention spokesperson told the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. Reporters and media will no longer be permitted to attend and cover in-person the Republican National Convention later this month but the vote to officially make Trump the Republican nominee will still be live-streamed The RNC moved the location back to North Carolina after Trump's desire to have a large crowd in Florida was foiled by case surges there With North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper restricting the number of attendees permitted, the RNC decided to take media out of the mix of those attending the events in-person 'We are working within the parameters set before us by state and local guidelines regarding the number of people who can attend events,' the spokesperson continued. The vote to formally nominate Trump will be live-streamed, according to CNN, which cited a Republican official. An RNC official, according to the president of the White House Correspondents' Association and Associated Press Reporter Zeke Miller, said the move is not set in stone. 'An RNC official now says that the decision is not final and that they are still working through press coverage options,' Miller tweeted Saturday. The idea to ban members of the press, Republican officials claim, is in response to attendance limitations imposed by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. 'This is an ill-advised decision that the @GOP @GOPconvention should reconsider,' Miller posted in his duo of tweets. 'The nomination of a major party presidential candidate is very much the business of the American people.' Trump has been forced to scrap his signature rallies because of the coronavirus epidemic, which is killing more than 1,000 Americans a day Published on 2020/08/02 | Source /Newsis Two out of three older people want to work until they turn 73 to make a living but it is increasingly difficult for them to find jobs. Advertisement Statistics Korea on Tuesday said a survey in May revealed that 67.4 percent of the country's 14.21 million elderly want to keep working, an increase of 2.5 percentage points compared to last year. Some 58.8 percent cited the need to earn money to cover their living expenses. More and more elderly people are looking for work as life expectancy has increased, requiring many to stretch out their retirement savings. Most hope to earn at least W1.5 million a month, but there are few jobs available for them out there (US$1=W1,200). Data shows the employment rate for people between 55 and 64 fell 0.6 percentage point on-year to 55.3 percent in May, the biggest decline since 2009. The figure for senior citizens aged 65 to 79 increased just 0.3 percentage point. People aged 55 to 64 are not eligible for government-funded sinecures for senior citizens, while the coronavirus epidemic has led to another sharp decline in the available jobs. HONG KONG, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Leung Chun-ying on Saturday lashed out at Hong Kong opposition for placing politics above public health as they criticized the postponement of the 2020 Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election of the HKSAR. Hong Kong is being hit by the third round of COVID-19 outbreak, with the daily new cases exceeding 100 for over 10 days and the source of infection of many cases remaining unknown, Leung said on social media, noting that all large group events have been postponed or canceled as a result. Under such circumstances, the election campaign will not be able to proceed normally in the coming month, nor will the vote casting and counting, said Leung. The priority of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the whole community for a period of time ahead must be curbing the spread of the epidemic and reducing COVID-19 infections to zero, Leung said. While protecting public health, Hong Kong also needs to resume normal economic activities as soon as possible, so as to prevent economy from further declining and unemployment from further worsening, he added. Thirty-one local infections of COVID-19 and two deaths were registered in Vietnam on Sunday, according to the Ministry of Health. Sixteen of the new patients were recorded in Da Nang, a coastal city and a national outbreak epicenter at the moment. Three virus-related fatalities were announced the same day, two women in their eighties and one 53-year-old woman who all had suffered several underlying medical problems. The health ministry also confirmed three imported cases on Sunday, two Vietnamese returnees from Russia and one overseas Vietnamese student from the U.S. Vietnam has detected 620 imported and local COVID-19 infections as of Sunday evening, with six deaths who were old and had pre-existing conditions. New community-based cases have been logged in Da Nang, Quang Nam Province, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Quang Ngai Province, Thai Binh Province, Dak Lak Province, Dong Nai Province, and Ha Nam Province since last month. A total of 173 locally-transmitted cases have been traced to Da Nang since July 25, after 99 days of no documented community transmission of the virus in the Southeast Asian nation. Vietnam is quarantining 94,216 people who were in close contact with infected patients or entered the country from outbreak-stricken regions at the time of writing. The country has closed its borders to foreigners since March to prevent COVID-19 spread. However, foreign experts and skilled workers have been allowed to make an entry, subject to government approval and mandatory quarantine. The national government has also sent aircraft to bring back citizens stranded in other countries over the health crisis. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! WEST CHESTER Even as the numbers of new positive coronavirus cases increase across the Delaware Valley region and Chester County itself, the head of the countys Health Department said Saturday that she remains optimistic that the county and the nation will weather the pandemic storm. What drives that for me is that even as this has evolved, the basic tenets of our response still remain consistent, said Director Jeanne Casner. We are still seeing how they work, she said of the individual and systemic practices social distancing, wearing masks, proper hygiene, contact tracing and continued testing. But we have to remain consistent and persistent, Casner said in an interview. These are things that take time to sort themselves out. But the time is worth it, because the outcome is worth it. According to figures provided by the Health Department, there have been 860 positive cases of COVID-19 in the county in three weeks since July 10, when the county began to see an uptick in positive cases following the decision by the state to move the county to the green level of community restrictions. There were 240 new cases between July 10 and July 16; 316 new cases between July 17 and July 23; and 304 new cases between July 24 and July 30. That is an average of about 40 new cases a day for those three weeks. Prior to the July 4 holiday weekend, the number of daily positives was far less than that, dipping into the teens and 20s. The countys Past 7-Day Percent Positivity rate is between 5 and 6 percent. The 20 to 29 age group now has the highest number of positive cases at 887, and the 20-39 age group now represents nearly 1/3 of the total number of positive cases in Chester County, according to county figures. In acknowledging that the county was trending in increased COVID-19 positive cases, the county stressed that those new cases were still not at the level of increase experienced by other counties in the region. The county continues to have the fewest number of positive cases in suburban Philadelphia: Montgomery County had 9,761 on Friday, Delaware County 8,669, Bucks County had 6,902 cases and Chester County had 4,863, according to the state Health Department. The number of deaths reported by the County Health Department on the same day is 349. According to the county Health Departments numbers, the two biggest factors that are contributing to the increase in unknown cause numbers are travel outside the state most notably to beach locations in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and even through to the Carolinas and a general lack of wearing masks. Asked if the lack of proper facial protection cited dismayed her, Casner demurred. I am not sure dismay is the right word. I know that there is some fatigue about that, and I appreciate what people are having to do. But we are coming down to personal accountability, at the individual, household level. Casner stressed that the majority of positive cases have been seen in instances where there was a known contact between an uninfected person and a positive case. Instances could be a person in a work setting who unwittingly came in contact with a COVID-19 positive carrier who might themselves have been unaware of their condition or in a household setting. We know this because we are doing contact tracing, and we are doing it well, she said. Casner said she had no confirmed reports of people developing the virus after attending so-called COVID parties, where people actively put themselves at risk of infection, or purposefully large gatherings that violate the state green standards of fewer than 250 people. They are accidental contacts, she said. Not purposeful. This is not unanticipated, she said of the increase in positive cases. We expected it to trend as we moved forward in the year and people wanted to take advantage of the summer months. She also predicted that the county could see another uptick after Labor Day when residents begin back to school activities and settle back into routines that bring them indoors and in contact with others. Part of our plan to confidently move to green back in June included preparation to handle inevitable increases in numbers and areas of outbreak as restrictions loosened, Casner said in disputing a sense that the county might be regressing back towards the more restrictive yellow phase. We remain focused on investigation of cases, contact tracing and testing, and the combination of these three has helped us adapt our approach to this pandemic as it changes as it goes up and down. So it isnt really a matter of going back to what we knew as yellow. It is more about reading the data and making decisions as needed; standing alongside our schools, businesses and community groups as well as our neighboring counties and the state to enhance our guidance accordingly. We cannot stress enough how important it is to keep socially distant, wear a mask when you leave your home, and wash or sanitize your hands regularly, she emphasized. This, and avoiding large gatherings, will help us all control the spread of this virus. To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544. F or the first time in modern history, the Republican Party will consider whether to renominate Donald Trump as their presidential candidate from behind closed doors. The Republican National Convention said voting for their 2020 election nominee will be held in private without members of the press present. Nominating conventions are traditionally meant to be media bonanzas, where political parties seek to leverage the attention the events draw to spread their message to as many voters as possible. It comes after Mr Trump called off public entry at a convention in Florida last month - where delegates were scheduled to vote for a presidential nominee - citing rising cases of coronavirus across the country. A previous Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, in 2016 / REUTERS Given the health restrictions and limitations in place within the state of North Carolina, we are planning for the Charlotte activities to be closed press, a convention spokeswoman said. We are happy to let you know if this changes, but we are working within the parameters set before us by state and local guidelines regarding the number of people who can attend events. If the Republican Party's decision stands, it will mark the first nominating convention in modern history to be closed to reporters. Privately, some delegations have raised logistical issues, citing the increasing number of jurisdictions imposing mandatory quarantine orders on travellers returning from states experiencing surges in the virus. The party will decide on their next presidential candidate / AFP via Getty Images The subset of delegates in Charlotte will be casting proxy votes on behalf of the more than 2,500 official delegates to the convention. Alternate delegates and guests have already been prohibited. India reports dip in Covid infections with 2,38,018 new cases, positivity rate at 14.43% Failure to vaccinate everyone will give rise to new variants, says UN chief Faith vs safety in burials: COVID-19 remains in dead bodies for 9 days says Centre Odisha allows COVID-19 tests in private labs India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Bhubaneswar, Aug 02: In a bid to augment the testing facilities, Odisha government on Saturday allowed private hospitals, nursing homes and laboratories to conduct COVID-19 tests through Rapid Antigen and RT-PCR methods, a notification issued by the health and family welfare department said. The department issued a separate set of guidelines for conducting sample tests both under Rapid Antigen and RT-PCR. The private health establishments have to abide by the ICMR norms. COVID-19: Is Delhi beating the curve? The sample test results should first be informed to the state authorities before being released to the person whose test was conducted, the notification said. For Rapid Antigen tests, the private bodies can charge a maximum of Rs 450 while the price for RT-PCR tests is fixed at Rs 2,200 per test. The nursing homes, hospitals and laboratories should be mandatorily registered under the Odisha Clinical Establishment (control & regulation) Act, 1990. LK Advani, MM Joshi to attend Ayodhya ceremony via video confrencing|Oneindia News The manpower to be deployed for the purpose must be trained properly in consultation with the chief district medical and public health officers, the notification said. "The result of testing shall be intimated to the authorities of the State in the first instance and the person concerned shall be intimated subsequently after 24 hours," it said. For conducting RT-PCT tests, the private testing laboratories must be accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). Odisha has so far conducted 5,28,708 sample tests of which 33,479 are found COVID-19 positive. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 2, 2020, 9:48 [IST] Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin exchanged Friendship Day greetings on Sunday, hoping that the relations between the two nations will grow even stronger in the times to come. "Happy Friendship Day to our dear friends in India," tweeted President Rivlin in English as well as in Hindi. He also shared a picture of him with Modi, apparently taken at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. The Israeli president had visited India in November, 2016. Modi responded by thanking Rivlin. "Greetings to you as well as to the wonderful people of Israel. May the India-Israel friendship grow even stronger in the times to come," the prime minister said in a tweet. Kareena Kapoor Khan has shared a stunning picture from a magazine shoot that she did when she was pregnant with son Taimur in 2016. In the picture, she is seen wearing a loose white one-shoulder top with a black skirt. The picture was originally shared on Instagram stories by stylist and talk show host Anaita Shroff Adajania, who wrote, Uff! @kareenakapoorkhan def a fav shoot! Sharing the picture on her own Instagram stories, Kareena wrote, God I remember this Tim was in my tummy. Kareena worked throughout her pregnancy, from walking the ramp to shooting for magazine covers and more. In an earlier interview with Hindustan Times, she said that she would not take any maternity break and asked the media to not treat her pregnancy like a national casualty. Im pregnant, not a corpse. And what maternity break? Its the most normal thing on earth to produce a child. It is high time the media back off, and stop treating me any different than I ever was. Anybody who is bothered shouldnt work with me... but my work goes on as is, like always. Stop making it a national casualty. We are in 2016, not in the 1800s. Probably, even at that time, people were way more civilised and normal than the way the media is behaving and speculating now, she said. Also read | Ankita Lokhande on why she didnt go to Sushant Singh Rajputs funeral: I knew if I see him like that, I will never be able to forget Kareena completed two decades in the film industry in June this year. Sharing a behind-the-scenes photo of her first shot for her debut film, JP Duttas Refugee, she said that doing the film was the best decision I could have ever taken. Meanwhile, Kareena will be seen next in Advait Chandans Laal Singh Chaddha, which marks her onscreen reunion with Aamir Khan after eight years. The two actors were last seen together in Reema Kagtis Talaash: The Answer Lies Within, which came out in 2012. Kareena was also supposed to begin shooting for Karan Johars period epic Takht earlier this year. However, the shoot was stalled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The film also stars Vicky Kaushal, Ranveer Singh, Janhvi Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Bhumi Pednekar and Anil Kapoor. . Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Iranian intelligence minister Mahmoud Alavi waves during a campaign meeting in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 23, 2016. (Behrouz Mehri/AFP via Getty Images) Iran Says Its Detained Leader of California-Based Exile Group TEHRAN, IranIran on Saturday said it detained an Iranian-American leader of a little-known California-based militant opposition group for allegedly planning a 2008 attack on a mosque that killed 14 people and wounded over 200 others. Irans Intelligence Ministry also alleged Jamshid Sharmahd of the Kingdom Assembly of Iran planned other attacks around the Islamic Republic amid heightened tensions between Tehran and the United States over its collapsing 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. It was unclear how the 65-year-old Sharmahd, whom Iran accused of running the opposition groups Tondar militant wing, ended up detained by intelligence officials. The Intelligence Ministry called it a complex operation, without elaborating. It published a purported picture of Sharmahd, blindfolded, on its website. Iranian Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi later appeared on state TV, saying Sharmahd had been arrested in Iran, without elaborating. Requests for comment sent by email to the Glendora-based Kingdom Assembly of Iran were not immediately answered and a telephone number for the group no longer worked. The U.S. State Department, which mentioned how Sharmahd earlier had been targeted for assassination in a recent report called Outlaw Regime: A Chronicle of Irans Destructive Activities, acknowledged reports of his detention. The Iranian regime has a long history of detaining Iranians and foreign nationals on spurious charges, the State Department said in a statement. We urge Iran to be fully transparent and abide by all international legal standards. Iranian state television broadcast a report on Sharmahds arrest, linking him to the 2008 bombing of the Hosseynieh Seyed al-Shohada Mosque in Shiraz. It also said his group was behind a 2010 bombing at Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeinis mausoleum in Tehran that wounded several people. The report also alleged without providing evidence that Tondar, or Thunder in Farsi, plotted attacks on a dam and planned to use cyanide bombs at Tehrans annual book fair. State TV later aired footage of Sharmahd interspersed with footage from the moment of the 2008 explosion at the Shiraz mosque. Sharmahds face appeared swollen and the style of the footage resembled one of what a rights group has identified as over 350 coerced confessions aired by the broadcaster over the last decade. The Intelligence Ministry has not said what charges Sharmahd will face. Prisoners earlier accused in the same attack were sentenced to death and executed. The Kingdom Assembly of Iran, known in Farsi as Anjoman-e Padeshahi-e Iran, and Tondar seek to restore Irans monarchy, which ended when the fatally ill Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi fled the country in 1979 just before its Islamic Revolution. The groups founder disappeared in the mid-2000s. Iranian intelligence operatives in the past have used family members and other tricks to lure targets back to Iran or friendly countries to be captured. An alleged Iranian government operative who allegedly tried to hire a hit man to kill Sharmahd disappeared in 2010 before facing trial in California, likely having returned to Iran. A 2010 U.S. diplomatic cable from London later published by WikiLeaks shows that a Voice of America commentator said that same operative earlier had been in contact with him. British anti-terror police later warned the commentator that he had been targeted by the Iranian regime, the cable said. The two cases marked a clear escalation in the regimes attempts to intimidate critics outside its borders, and could have a chilling effect on journalists, academics and others in the West who until recently felt little physical threat from the regime, the cable said. By Amir Vahdat and Jon Gambrell South Carolina will once again offer a break on taxes on a bevy of back-to-school items from clothing and computers to pencils and printers. But the usual crowds might not be in the stores this year to take advantage of the three-day, tax-free weekend from Friday through Sunday. The threat from the coronavirus has affected just about every facet of life this year, including shopping habits. Kenyetta Doctor and husband Eddie of Summerville usually participate in the annual event, now in its 21st year in the Palmetto State, but they don't plan to be among those trying to save a few bucks next weekend. "A lot of people might be out, and we don't want to be in that," she said from behind a mask after helping her daughter, Victoria, a rising sophomore at Ashley Ridge High School, pick out some back-to-school items from a local Walmart. Erin Gobel of West Ashley reiterated Doctor's remarks, saying she won't be out shopping next weekend either. "I don't want to be in the crowds," Gobel said, also wearing a face covering while looking over binders and other school supplies at Target at Citadel Mall with her daughter, Ellison, who's going into the seventh grade at First Baptist School of Charleston. Susie Schaffer of Wadmalaw won't be out among those trying to save a few dollars either. "I generally like it like this calm," the face-covered Schaffer said while her sixth-grade daughter, Grace, who goes to Charleston Collegiate School on Johns Island, stocked a cart with binders, notebooks, glue, paper and assorted other school-related items. Online shift They are not alone in their wariness to venture into big promotional events during a pandemic. In-store shopping is expected to be down in every category, be it department, discount or outlet stores, according to a recent survey sanctioned by the National Retail Federation. About half of all shoppers plan to buy more items online, and clothing sales are expected to dip slightly this year, the study found. "With consumers cautious about how much time they spend out in public, there is likely to be less going store to store to comparison shop this year, said Phil Rist, executive vice president of strategy at Prosper Insights, which conducted the survey for the trade group. "College shoppers, in particular, may be planning to choose just one or two places to pick up the items they need rather than browsing at multiple locations," Rist said. "And college students beyond their first year may already have most of the big purchases that they need." Shoppers' physical absence during tax-free weekend doesn't mean sales will be down. Those like Gobel and Schaffer plan to do some shopping online, either with retailers with local brick-and-mortar locations or with those out-of-state, especially for items such as uniforms. The federation projects spending will be higher than ever, with parents reaching for computers and electronic gadgets as they anticipate some classes may be held online from home during the pandemic. For the first time, combined K-12 and college spending is expected to top $100 billion, up from last year's nearly $81 billion. Parents with children in elementary school through high school say they plan to spend an average $789 per family, topping the previous record of $697 they said they would spend last year. Spending is expected to approach $34 billion, up from $26.2 billion last year and breaking the record of $30.3 billion set in 2012. The Doctors, from Summerville, don't plan to shell out anywhere near the projected average outlay of close to $800, saying this year's spending may be less than half that amount. Schaffer, too, said she doesn't expect to spend a great deal, unless she decides to buy a computer for herself for work. She has a son who is a sophomore at Clemson University, but she said he already has most of what he needs for the new school year. For the average family with college students, the National Retail Federation's survey found spending will be about $1,059 on education supplies, which would top last years record of $977. In all, college spending is expected to total $67.7 billion, up from $54.5 billion last year and breaking the record of $55.3 billion set in 2018. "By any measure, this is an unprecedented year with great uncertainty, including how students will get their education this fall, whether they are in kindergarten or college," said Matthew Shay, the group's CEO. "Most parents dont know whether their children will be sitting in a classroom or in front of a computer in the dining room, or a combination of the two," Shay said. "But they do know the value of an education and are navigating uncertainty and unknowns so that students are prepared." The group, in its annual survey, found 55 percent of shoppers believe students of all ages will take at least some of their classes at home this fall. And for those expecting students to be home, 72 percent believe they will need to buy computers, home furnishings and other school supplies. Laptops, speakers, headphones, flash drives, printers, calculators and furnishings such as desks and chairs could be big sellers this year, the retail trade group said. Sales gimmick? The sales tax holiday generally saves taxpayers between $2 million and $3 million, and with many turning to click-and-order purchases to avoid being around a lot of people during the coronavirus pandemic, sales on qualified online items also will receive the tax credit, according to the South Carolina Department of Revenue. The state agency is aware of the shift in shopping and appears to be encouraging purchases through the click of a button this year. "In these difficult times, tax-free weekend is a great way for South Carolina shoppers to save money, and even more, it's a time to support our South Carolina businesses," DOR director Hartley Powell said in a statement announcing this year's event. He went on to add, "Don't forget, online purchases of eligible items are tax-free too, so check out your favorite local retailer's website." But not everyone is on board with the "benefits" of a tax-free weekend, still held in 16 states, 14 of them participating in August. The Washington-based Tax Foundation calls it "a political gimmick" that shifts shopping patterns and helps high-end shoppers more than those who really need it. "Sales tax holidays do not promote economic growth or significantly increase consumer purchases," according to a new report by the nonprofit group's policy analyst Janelle Cammenga. "The evidence (including a 2017 study by Federal Reserve researchers) shows that they simply shift the timing of purchases." French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin kicked off his first trip abroad this weekend in Italy that was dominated by questions over migration and security. Darmanin, who is also in charge of religious affairs, took advantage of his stay to meet with members of France's Catholic community. Darmanin's two-day trip got off to an early start on Friday with talks alongside his counterpart Luciana Lamorgese. On the menu were negotiations on how to curb illegal immigration. France and Italy have agreed to team up to dismantle smuggler networks into Europe by merging their joint patrols under one single command, the two ministers announced. This is an extremely important step in the fight against illegal border crossings by immigrant populations, Darmanin said, referring to the flow of migrants from the region of Ventimiglia on the Italian side to the region of Menton on the French side. Countries like France and Italy are grappling with how to let migrants move again once the coronavirus is vanquished. Immigration however, was not the only issue topping Darmanin's list of concerns. Courting Catholics The French interior minister, whose portfolio also includes religious affairs, took advantage of his trip to meet with the Catholic community. He paid a visit to French priests at the Church of St. Louis, the national church in Rome of France that was built in the 16th century. The meeting comes less than a week after Darmanin's first official encounter with French Catholics. On 26 July, the interior minister took part in a tribute ceremony to slain priest Father Jacques Hamel, who was knifed to death in 2016 at his church altar in an attack claimed by the Islamic State. Darmanin's overtures to French Catholics in Italy, the second such visit in two months since that of Foreign Affairs Minister Jean Yves Le Drian in June, comes at a time when relations between the state and the Catholic Church are strained. Parenthood bill Story continues French bishops have notably criticised the parliament's decision to pass a controversial bioethics law that would allow lesbian couples and single women to have access to medically assisted reproductive treatments such as in-vitro fertilisation. The bill was finally passed late on Friday night after lengthy debate. "Just because we do not agree does not mean we should not talk," Father Sebastien Moine, a chaplain at the Church of St. Louis told French daily La Croix. Christians are citizens like everyone else; when we see social violence in France, we recognise the importance of having such opportunities to talk," he was quoted as saying. Tribute Later on Friday afternoon, the French interior minister headed to the Vatican for talks behind closed doors with the secretary of the department for integral development, Bruno-Marie Duffe. Their long exchange focussed on the challenges of welcoming migrants. Pope Francis has insisted that helping migrants remains a "moral duty". Darmanin concluded his trip on Saturday with a visit to the French military cemetery in Rome. There, he paid tribute to colonial troops from Morocco and Algeria who fought in France's liberation campaign. Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of Bank CenterCredit Global Credit Research - 31 Jul 2020 London, 31 July 2020 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of Bank CenterCredit 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. Bank CenterCredit's (BCC's) B2 local and foreign currency deposit ratings are based on its Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) of caa1 and Moody's assessment of a high probability of support from the government of Kazakhstan (Baa3), which results in a two-notch uplift above the bank's BCA. BCC's BCA is constrained by its substantialshare of problem loans and modestloan-loss reserve coverage. The BCA is underpinned by the recent capital replenishment, solid profit generation and sizeable liquidity cushion. 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. Story continues 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. Svetlana Pavlova, CFA Asst Vice President - Analyst Financial Institutions Group Moody's Investors Service Limited, Russian Branch 7th floor, Four Winds Plaza 21 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya St. Moscow 125047 Russia JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Yaroslav Sovgyra, CFA Associate Managing Director 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. CREDIT RATINGS ISSUED BY MOODY'S INVESTORS SERVICE, INC. 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There have been no further deaths and 53 more confirmed cases of Covid-19 confirmed in Ireland. The death toll remains at 1,763 from a total of 26,162 cases. Of the cases notified on Sunday: 27 are men and 26 are women. 80% are among people under 45. 45 are associated with outbreaks or close contacts of a confirmed case while four have been identified as community transmission. 25 are in Dublin, 19 in Laois, six in Kildare and the remaining three are spread across two other counties. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said the source of transmission for more than 90% of cases reported on Sunday has been identified. This is a positive development in light of the number of cases reported over the past few days. However, our five-day average for cases reported is now 47. We all need to continue to adopt a prevention mindset and continue making good choices to protect ourselves and others while trying to live safely with Covid-19. People are still susceptible, this virus has not changed. Earlier, the Minister for Health said the Government is to introduce random testing at airports. Stephen Donnelly said the international situation is becoming more volatile and the Government is taking a cautious approach to foreign travel. Remember these key messages to help stop transmission of Covid-19. Limit your number of contacts Keep physical distance Wear face coverings as advised If youve cold/flu-like symptoms self-isolate & contact GP Wash hands regularly Meet up outside if possible Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) August 2, 2020 Were introducing random testing at the airports and an increased public health presence, and we are examining other options as well for further restrictions on non-essential travel, he told RTE radio. The international situation is becoming more volatile, were looking at what has been happening in the United States and Latin America and even closer to home Spain, Germany, France and parts of England and Australia. Were taking a cautious approach and were continuing to take a cautious approach. Asked about whether the reopening of wet pubs on August 10 will go ahead, Mr Donnelly said the Government will make a decision based on advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). The Cabinet is to meet on Tuesday to decide whether the country can proceed to Phase 4, which will allow pubs that do not serve food to reopen and for gatherings of more than 50 people. Mr Donnelly said he did not want to pre-judge what NPHET advises, and the Government is focused on reopening schools. I dont want to make any comments on that because that is something for NPHET to come to me with a view on on Tuesday, but it is certainly the case that decisions could be made if NPHET deemed necessary in order to keep the opening of schools on track, he said. We have closely followed public health advice, both the previous government and this government, and that has served the country very well. I dont want to prejudge what NPHET may decide. Certainly, the number one focus is getting the schools reopened. Mr Donnelly said he was sympathetic to the plight of publicans and he could not say whether they should order stock with a view to reopening on August 10. Source: Xinhua| 2020-08-02 13:23:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LA PAZ, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Almost five months after the first COVID-19 cases was detected in Bolivia, the country is now facing a sustained increase in deaths due to community transmission, with an average of more than 60 deaths per day recorded over the last week, a Bolivian health official said Saturday. "We have considerable concern about the numbers that are reported every day, in addition to the 'out-of-hospital' bodies that are brought in. August will be very difficult because a sustained increase in the deaths from COVID-19 is expected," Virgilio Prieto, head of the Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health, told Xinhua. On July 21, the country's Forensic Investigations Institute said that in the last three months, 3,016 "out-of-hospital" bodies were removed from streets and homes, many of whom were suspected to have died from the virus. So far, Bolivia has reported 76,789 cases and 2,977 deaths from the disease. According to Prieto, people were worried about an increased number of protests against the postponement of elections originally scheduled for Sept. 6, but have been postponed to Oct. 18 due to the pandemic. "We want to tell the people that, if we do not assume personal or social responsibility, unfortunately, in August, we will have to count many more deaths," he added. The government announced earlier that the quarantine measures in the country would continue until Aug. 31 due to the increase in community contagion and positive cases of the virus, according to Prieto. "Given the increase in community infections, the unstoppable rise in positive cases of COVID-19, and the daily increase in deaths in Bolivian territory, it is necessary to continue mitigation, prevention, and containment measures," said the expert. Adrian Avila, president of the Bolivian Society of Critical Medicine and Intensive Care, told Xinhua on Saturday that the situation in the country was a calamity due to various factors, including overextended hospitals and a lack of staff. Avila said Bolivia is now one of the countries that has suffered most from the pandemic. Rene Sahonero, adviser of the Ministry of Health, said that in recent weeks, Bolivia has entered an "explosive pandemic." The country is in the midst of an increasingly complicated situation, as there is an excessive amount of "disobedience," with citizens participating in hunger strikes and protest marches without following appropriate health measures, he added. Enditem Egyptian experts have hit back at Elon Musk after the SpaceX founder tweeted about a conspiracy theory that aliens built the pyramids. "Aliens built the pyramids obv," Musk wrote. He then tweeted again: "The Great Pyramid was the tallest structure made by humans for 3,800 years. Three thousand, eight hundred years." His initial tweet was liked by more than 500,000 people. Scientists are still unsure how the Egyptian pyramids were constructed before modern technology, given that the millions of stones used would be hard to move without cranes. This has helped to fuel the unproven conspiracy theory that aliens had a hand in their construction. But experts say there is plenty of evidence the pyramids were built by human hands, even if it is not clear how. Egypt's minister of international co-operation, Rania al Mashat, has invited Musk to visit the tombs of the pyramid builders to see for himself. "I follow your work with a lot of admiration. I invite you and Space X to explore the writings about how the pyramids were built and also to check out the tombs of the pyramid builders," she said. "Mr Musk, we are waiting for you." The billionaire tech mogul's remark was also refuted by Egyptologist Zahi Hawass, who dismissed the claim as "complete hallucination". Musk has at times posted erratic and controversial tweets, some of which have got him into hot water. The pyramids were built as tombs for the pharaohs who ruled over ancient Egypt. Peter Navarro, a trade adviser to US President Donald Trump, has described Ireland as a "tax haven". Navarro, director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, was speaking in an interview on Fox Business News, regarding Trump's announcement that the US government will loan Eastman Kodak $765m to develop ingredients for generic drugs. The loan will help Kodak, better known for selling cameras, launch Kodak Pharmaceuticals, which will make ingredients used in pharmaceutical products. When asked by show host Maria Bartiromo about the move by the Trump administration, Navarro said that it would be "the beginning of American independence from our pharmaceutical dependence on foreign countries". Navarro said Trump had told his office the US needed to bring pharmaceutical supply chains back to the US "months ago". He said Trump followed this up by signing an executive order allowing the Development Finance Corporation, which provides financing for private development projects, to finance bringing pharmaceutical supply chains back to the US. Explaining the supply chain, and where Ireland fits into it, Navarro said: "So the way this whole thing came together is, we have on our board in our office, there are three columns. One is what companies can make the key starting materials for pharmaceuticals. Thats the ones were most heavily dependent on. And then theres the pharmaceutical ingredients. Then theres the finished dosage form. And the problem is that, for the key starting materials, the pollution havens around the world, like China and India, get those. The API [active pharmaceutical ingredient] is labour intensive, so we have got sweatshops. And then for the finished dosage form, tax havens like Ireland grab them. In May, Trump singled out Ireland as he vowed to bring global pharmaceutical production back to the US. Asked about what kind of financial incentives he would offer US pharmaceutical companies to re-shore so the country was no longer dependent on China for supplies, Trump said: Its not only China, you take a look at Ireland. They make our drugs. Everybody makes our drugs except us. Were bringing that whole supply chain back. Nobody has to tell me to do it, Ive been talking about that for years. A Telegraph investigation can today reveal that Hezbollah has trained thousands of Iran-backed social media activists The three-storey run-down building on the outskirts of Beirut blended in among the nondescript apartment blocks and businesses lining the busy street. But when Mohammed stepped through the door he was greeted by an opulent interior filled with advanced technology and the blinking lights of specialist computer equipment. The young Iraqi had entered a 10-day fake news training camp run by Iran-backed militant group Hizbollah which would equip him to spread fear and division around the Middle East. It would teach him how to build up networks of false social media profiles that he would later use to spread propaganda and disinformation online, sowing confusion and sometimes death in his home country. His experience is not unique. A Telegraph investigation can today reveal that Hizbollah has trained thousands of Iran-backed social media activists, helping create so-called electronic armies across the region. Hezbollah fighters parade during the inauguration of a new cemetery This newspaper can disclose that since at least 2012, Hizbollah has been flying individuals into Lebanon for courses teaching participants how to digitally manipulate photographs, manage large numbers of fake social media accounts, make videos, avoid Facebooks censorship, and effectively spread disinformation online. Students have come from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Syria, according to interviewees that spoke to The Telegraph on the condition of anonymity. The camp highlights Iran's malign influence in the region, and the lengths it is willing to go to spread its revolutionary ideology around an increasingly fractured Middle East, analysts say. The portrait of Hizbollahs digital training operations is based on more than 20 interviews with politicians, analysts, social media specialists, a member of Iraqs military psychological operations unit, a member of the Iraqi secret service, and several former members of electronic armies. These included two detailed interviews with people who had been directly involved with the logistics of sending people on Hizbollah courses in Lebanon over multiple years and had an intimate knowledge of how they operated. Story continues Before arriving in Lebanon, Mohammed had been told that he was not allowed to talk to anyone about his trip to Beirut, and during the whole ten-day course the students were monitored by CCTV. When I landed I was nervous because of all the secrecy involved, he said, adding that he was greeted at the camp by an elderly Hizbollah imam dressed in traditional religious clothes. Both Mohammed and Abdullah's names have been changed to protect their identities. A Hezbollah supporter chant slogans and hold posters of the late Hezbollah military commander Imad Mughniyeh The following day he met the specialists that would teach the different parts of the course, who were dressed casually or in suits and mostly did not have beards. Some of the trainers did not join the staff and students as they took place in regular communal prayer sessions during the day. When I met the specialist trainers and realised how technical and in-depth the course was I became very enthusiastic," he told The Telegraph from Iraq, where he continues to pass on his training to new recruits. During the years that followed his first course in 2015, Mohammed would go on to send dozens of other people to receive training in Beirut in a variety of areas as he helped to create new teams of social media specialists and hackers. It is the illusion industry. Hizbollah is making millions of dollars from running these courses, but for the clients it is worth spending the money," he said. Abdullah, who asked to withhold his full name, is a senior politician in one of Iraqs biggest political parties and has personally been involved in sending individuals to Beirut for training on how to create and run fake social media profiles. It became a business for Hizbollah. The people we sent developed their skills in Beirut and when they returned they started training activists inside Iraq, he said. Similar training was being offered in Iran but not nearly as popular and easy to access, Abdullah said. Hizbollah is listed as a terrorist organisation by eighteen countries, including the UK and the US, as well as the EU and the Arab League. In a US report prepared for members of congress in 2011, Hizbollahs training and liaison activities with Shiite insurgents in Iraq was cited as a key reason behind its continued listing as a terrorist organisation. Among the groups to access the training is Kata'ib Hizbollah, a powerful Iraqi paramilitary group with close ties to Hizbollah in Lebanon. The group has run large-scale, ruthless social media campaigns over 2019 using its social media networks to distribute high quality videos that aggressively target public figures perceived as enemies to its expansion. A common technique used by all of the electronic armies is creating large networks of fake accounts that amplify certain messages by liking, commenting, and sharing each others posts. Hezbollah fighter stands at a watchtower at the site where clashes erupted between Hezbollah and al-Qaida-linked fighters Mohanad al-Semawee is the head of Iraqs Digital Media Centre (DMC) an independent media monitoring and analysis centre, believes that the impact of social media misinformation in Middle East countries like Iraq, which lack strong governmental and journalistic institutions, is far greater than in Europe and the US. "The overall effect of the surge in fake profiles that are spreading false information is hugely damaging to Iraq - and it is getting worse all of the time. "False statements and messages inciting violence, which spread online can easily lead directly to deadly violence in real life in Iraq," he said. The killing of the Iraqi security expert Hisham al-Hashimi on July 6 sparked outcry on social media with thousands of Iraqis reposting messages saying that US companies Facebook and Twitter should take some responsibility for his death. Al-Hashimi was subjected to an online smear campaign via social media for months before his death, accusing him of ordered the assassination of Shia Muslims. His death prompted calls for social media platforms to do more to control the spread of disinformation. In May this year, Facebook removed a network of 324 pages, 71 accounts, five groups and 31 Instagram accounts, which had spent a total of $270,000 (213,000) on Facebook ads. The pages were followed by about 4.4 million accounts and had been exhibiting signs of coordinated inauthentic behaviour, according to Facebook. This network, which focused on Iraqi Kurdistan, used fake accounts to post online, impersonate local politicians and parties as well as managing pages that masqueraded as news outlets. In Iraq, false news stories published on social media for political ends regularly result in serious consequences, including violent clashes and loss of life. Joel Gulhane, Middle East and North Africa analyst at The Risk Advisory Group, said: "[Hizbollah] has demonstrated its ability to provide support for ideologically aligned groups in the region in other ways for years, so that it would also share this approach in the region does fit with its previous behaviour." "The use of disinformation to disrupt and erode the truth is largely aimed at making people lose confidence in the truth as well as energising negative sentiment around particular issues." Efforts to combat the surge in disinformation online failed to materialise last year when legislation stalled. There has been no movement since early 2019, said Aro Omar, an associate at the Iraqi law firm Al-Tamimi and Company. The Iraqi parliament, when it has convened, has been focused on more pressing issues such as protests, government debt and the drop in oil prices. It has been a secondary concern. This story was developed with the support of the Money Trail Project. The VFI believe the Government is trying to send a Covid safety message by delaying the reopening of pubs that do not serve food. Pubs which serve food were permitted to reopen on June 29th, while the remaining pubs were originally set to open their doors on July 20th. However, the reopening of pubs not serving food was delayed following an announcement by Taoiseach Micheal Martin to delay the further easing of Covid restrictions until August 10th due to fears that there would be a second surge of the virus The VFI says that some of its members have been closed for 5 months and they need to get back in business. The National Public Health Emergency Team will decide on Tuesday, whether to reopen pubs on August 10th. VFI Chief Executive, Padraig Cribben feels pubs that don't serve food have been unfairly targeted by the state. Advertisement "Just before July 20th, there was a spike in numbers, which was down to house parties and travel and the Government decided then to keep pubs closed as a means of sending a message to the public. "We believe that is unfair. It's using pubs as almost collateral damage to send a message when they should be tackling the issues that are there." Elsewhere, a Dublin pub has introduced a Covid-19 charge because it has not raised prices despite turnover being half usual levels. A picture, which has since been deleted, emerged on twitter of the extra fee added to customer's total in Mulligan's in Sandymount. Management of the pub say there is a sign at the front door warning customers of the charge, which is 1 per person. The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says pragmatic social intervention policies introduced by the government of President Akufo-Addo has contributed significantly to building an inclusive nation, which is leaving no one behind. Addressing Muslims and Ghanaians during the National Virtual Eid ul Adha Prayer at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in Accra on Friday, Dr. Bawumia said governments social intervention initiatives, such as Free SHS, One Village One Dam, One District One Factory, Zongo Development Fund, One Constituency One Million Dollars, Planting for Food and Jobs, among others, are designed to carry along the poor and deprived members of society, who largely live in rural areas, zongos and inner cities. "Building an inclusive society requires pragmatic government policies to ensure everyone is covered. This has been the focus of the Akufo-Addo government, and this thinking is evidently clear in broader social intervention policies of our government," Dr. Bawumia said. "The poor and deprived in Ghana largely live in rural, inner-city and zongo communities; and have historically been excluded in many aspects of governance and access to opportunities and government services in this country." The Vice President said prior to the government of President Akufo-Addo assuming office three years ago, it identified that apart from limited opportunities to access education due to cost and under development, the poor, deprived, rural, innercity and zongo dwellers generally faced a number of common problems such as poor identity documentation, poor residential addresses, lack of TIN numbers and bank accounts, no ambulances, declining agriculture, unemployment, whom you know syndrome, etc., which entrenched their exclusion from many aspect of governance. "These problems mean that the excluded, by and large, are forced to operate in the informal sector of the economy. "President Nana Akufo-Addo thus promised to build an inclusive society where no one is left behind regardless of tribe, geographical location, gender, religion or income status." "The poor and deprived in Ghana have for far too long been fodder for flowery and sugar-coated speeches by politicians, especially at election time. For Nana Akufo-Addo, what matters is not what you say you are going to do for the poor and deprived, but what you actually do when you are given the opportunity to serve." "All that Ghanaians want, especially the poor and the less privileged, is to be able to have good drinking water, toilet facilities, fertilizer, insecticides, good roads, ability to send their children to school, good healthcare, stable and affordable electricity, telephone network, and so on." Coronavirus outbreak and government's care Ghanaians Dr. Bawumia noted that the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic has further exposed the difficulties of the less privileged in society, adding that the pandemic has reinforced the Akufo-Addo governments belief and determination to build an inclusive society, which cares for the poor and deprived in our country. "This is the reason why apart from governments sustained efforts at curbing the spread of the virus, it has also made it a topmost priority to alleviate the effects of the pandemic on businesses and Ghanaians, especially the poor and the less privileged," he said. "Since the outbreak of the pandemic in March, Government has taken bold steps such as the distribution of hot meals and water to the less privileged during the lockdown, free electricity to lifeline consumers and 50% reduction for others, 100% subsidy on water bill, 600 million Cedis stimulus package to small enterprises." "A government that cares, is a government that alleviates the suffering of its citizens during crisis and that is exactly what the government of President Akufo-Addo has done, and will continue to do during this Coronavirus crisis and beyond" Government committed to Zongo Development Having established a Ministry for Zongo and Inner City Development, and the Zongo Development Fund which are ensuring inclusive, sustainable development in Zongos. The Vice President said through the Ministry and ZDF, development initiatives such as building and renovation of classrooms, clinics, ICT centres, toilet facilities, roads, bridges, water, multi-purpose astro and green parks, drainage systems, vocational training, entrepreneurial training and support, provision of 40 scholarships from brilliant but needy students from Zongos to study medicine in Cuba have all taken place in the past three and half years in Zongos and inner cities. 16 MODEL SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN ZONGOS IN EACH REGION While assuring the people of Zongo of President Akufo-Addo's commitment to their welfare and development, especially in the area of infrastructure and education, Dr. Bawumia revealed that God willing, n the next term of President Akufo-Addo, his government will build sixteen model senior high schools in Zongos in each of the sixteen regions. "President Akufo-Addo is more committed to uplifting education in Zongo communities. As a result, he has decided that Insha Allah, his next government will build 16 model secondary schools in Zongo communities in each of the sixteen regions," Dr. Bawumia said. "This will be a special senior high school, which will focus on educating children within Zongo communities." The Virtual National Eid -ul Adha prayer was observed by a limited number of people at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in line with COVID-19 restrictions. The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, who led the prayers which was broadcast live on television, prayed for Ghana, the President and his Vice, as well as the people of Ghana. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Union Minister, V Muraleedharan has seized CM Pinrayi Vijayan and his government in Kerala by the neck, called the allgeations over illegal gold smuggling scandal an "unheard-of incident" in Kerala's history, "economic terrorism", demanding CM to take moral responsibility and tender resignation. Union Minister V Muraleedharan launched a protest demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan on the issue of alleged smuggling of gold by misusing diplomatic channels. Speaking to ANI, Muraleedharan said, It is an unheard-of incident in this country. Especially for Kerala. That people would be involved in the smuggling of gold misusing diplomatic channels. He termed the smuggling as an anti-national act saying that it destabilises the economy. This particular case was so serious that the National Investigation Agency(NIA) had charged the perpetrators of the offence under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act(UAPA), he pointed out. It was tantamount to being one of economic terrorism, the Minister added. Also read: UP Minister Kamal Rani Varun dies of Covid-19 Also read: Pensions at doorstep amid Covid19 time in Andhra Pradesh The most surprising thing is that the Principal Secretary of the Chief Minister of Kerala has been found to have very close links to the people involved in this smuggling issue. But in spite of all these pieces of evidence coming out, the Chief Minister is still pretending that he and his office had no role or knowledge in the smuggling acts, he said. He said that the BJP wanted the Chief Minister to take moral responsibility for these acts and thereby resign. The BJP had, yesterday, launched an 18-day long satyagraha demanding the resignation of Kerala Chief Minister. The matter had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crores, smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage, was busted by customs in Thiruvananthapuram. The case is being probed by the NIA. Also read: Vizag crane mishap: Rajnath Singh institutes inquiry committee As the mystery of Sushant Singh Rajput's death gets murkier with new revelations leaping out of the dark everyday, two probe teams have been trying to get a foot-hold -- the Mumbai Police who have been at it for over 45 days and the recent new entrant their Bihar counterparts post July 25. Allegation were raised that a four-member police team from Patna, which went to Mumbai to probe in to the alleged suicide of the 34-year-old actor who belonged to Bihar's Purnea, has not been getting cooperation from their Marathi counterparts. Bihar Director General of Police Gupteshwar Pandey spoke to the media about the alleged non-cooperation by Mumbai Police in their investigation and said, "There is a problem as we haven't yet received even the basic documents related to Sushant Singh Rajput death case. We don't have post-mortem report details, CCTV footage or any information that has been collected by Mumbai Police during probe till now." There is a problem as we haven't yet received even the basic documents related to #SushantSinghRajputDeathCase. We don't ve post-mortem report details, CCTV footage or any information that has been collected by Mumbai Police during probe till now: Bihar DGP Gupteshwar Pandey. pic.twitter.com/skYqDL0juh ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2020 Sushant had died on June 14 in his Bandra residence and Mumbai Police is yet to register an FIR. It was on July 25, that the late actor's father registered the first FIR in the case at Rajiv Nagar police station in Patna. Sushant's father KK Singh registered a case against Rhea Chakraborty and six others, including her family members for abetting his son to commit suicide. After the case was registered, Bihar Police reached Mumbai and started investigating the case. Rhea Chakraborty has, however, approached the Supreme Court to shift the case to Mumbai. A decision in this regard is to be made on August 5 in the top court. (With inputs from IANS) In early 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced they had decided to step down from being senior members of the royal family. The couple shared that, among other things, they would work to become financially independent and spend more time in North America. The move shocked fans and critics alike, but looking back, there were many signs that both Meghan and Harry were unhappy in the royal family. However, there actually was an arrangement Queen Elizabeth could have made to allow Meghan and Harry to stay. Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry | Chris Jackson/Getty Images Why did Meghan Markle and Prince Harry step down from their position in the royal family? Although the Sussexes did not reveal exactly what led them to step down from their position, royal fans and experts believe there was a mix of factors. For one thing, Meghan and Harry were subjected to a lot of negative press on a daily basis. Since the royal family are usually expected to never complain, never explain even in the face of slanderous news, Meghan and Harry had to remain quiet as well. In court documents for their ongoing lawsuit against British tabloid newspapers, Meghan revealed she felt unprotected by the royal family. Some people also believe Meghan and Harry had tension with Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. In the fall of 2019, Harry admitted he and his brother are no longer close like before. Additionally, fans also noticed the ice cold interaction between the Sussexes and the Cambridge in March 2020 as a sign that there was, indeed, friction between the pairs. Expert says Meghan and Harrys popularity was also a lot for the royal family to handle RELATED: Some People Believe Prince Harry Married Meghan Markle Precisely Because He Wanted to Leave the Royal Family After Meghan married Harry in 2018, their combined popularity skyrocketed. Despite Harry being a spare prince, their wedding attracted numerous viewers around the world, and it ended up being one of the most popular royal weddings of all time. There was a lot of attention on Meghan herself as well. At times, she even had the ability to outshine Harry. Royal history Kate Williams believes the royal family had a hard time dealing with the couples immense popularity. According to Express.co.uk, Williams said, The Royal Family has a very strict hierarchy and what they would like to be the case is that the public attention goes to the more senior royals, not to the more junior royals. The simple fact is that you cant direct public attention, she continued. People are more interested in what Prince Harry and Meghan have to say than other more senior royals such as the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall. No matter what they do it does seem that Harry and Meghan get this greater attention. Meghan and Harry seemed to be eager to use their popularity to promote themselves and causes they care about, but what they could have done was rather limited. What arrangement could Queen Elizabeth have made for the Sussexes to stay? RELATED: Prince Harry Reportedly Tried to Make Sure Meghan Markle Did Not Show Off During Her First Christmas With the Royal Family Ultimately, it is likely Meghan and Harry felt restricted in their role in the royal family. They were subjected to the same limitations on what they were allowed to do as William, Kate, and the higher-up royals. However, unlike other royals, Meghan and Harry did not have much prospect for ascending the throne. According to Williams, instead of having Meghan and Harry leave the royal family, they could have been allowed to be half in, half out royals. This means that, being in the spare position, Meghan and Harry would have fewer restrictions than other royals. They could also get jobs outside of the royal family. Why not? Why cant we try it? Williams said. The European royals do it, Swedens younger royals do it. They have this relationship of half in and half out so why cant we try it? I have never really got an explicit or clear answer of why it cant be done. She also added, In the book the writers are saying that you would have to have a committee to oversee half in half out so we could not have it because we would have to have a committee. I think that is an odd excuse really because we are a country full of committees. Of course, it is not clear if Queen Elizabeth would have authorized for Meghan and Harry to be part-time royals or not. We also do not know for sure if the Sussexes would have taken up that offer. However, both sides seem to just be working hard to move forward as best as they can. Record low moisture in the vegetation, low humidity and high temperatures are fuelling the Apple Fire Record low moisture in the vegetation, low humidity and high temperatures are fuelling the Apple Fire (AFP Photo/DAVID MCNEW) Los Angeles (AFP) - More than 2,200 firefighters were battling a blaze that was burning out of control Monday in southern California, threatening thousands of people and homes east of Los Angeles. The Apple Fire, which broke out Friday near the city of San Bernardino, has so far burnt more than 20,000 acres (8,000 hectares), sending up columns of smoke visible for miles. Record low moisture in the vegetation, low humidity and high temperatures are fuelling the blaze, the United States Forest Service said. At least 2,600 homes and nearly 7,800 people were evacuated. Officials said it was not clear when they might be able to return. By early Monday about 2,260 firefighters backed by helicopters, water-dumping planes and trucks were working to put out the fire. Crews managed to contain five percent of the fire by Monday, after losing control of the blaze during Sunday afternoon. There were no reports of casualties, and the only damage so far has been to two buildings and one home. The edges of the fire are burning on rugged hills hard for crews to reach, authorities said. Dense vegetation fueled the blaze near homes, said Fernando Herrera, fire chief in Riverside County, while hot and dry conditions Monday will help the flames keep alive. Officials said the fire may have been set deliberately and a probe is underway. On Friday night, supporters of Joe Biden received an urgent message from his campaign email address. But it wasnt from the Democrat presidential nominee. It was from Kamala Harris. Underneath a picture of herself, the California senator wrote: I know Joes heart, and Ive seen first-hand his compassion and dedication to public service. Hell be a president for all of us, and Im giving everything Ive got to help him succeed this year. It was a further signal, if one were needed, that Ms Harris, 55, is now a clear favourite to become Mr Bidens running mate. He has said he will make a decision next week. But the message was also clearly intended to defuse a vicious behind-the-scenes battle that has reached fever pitch in recent days. With so much on the line, the knives have been out for Ms Harris within the Democratic party. Anonymous briefings, some emanating from people in 77-year-old Mr Bidens own camp, have attempted to portray her as disloyal, ruthlessly ambitious, opportunistic, untrustworthy and intent on becoming president herself. As one Democrat donor put it: She would be running for president the day of the [Biden] inauguration. For me, loyalty and friendship should mean something. Read more: Who will be Joe Biden's running mate? The runners and riders Susan Rice, Barack Obama's former national security adviser, is a popular candidate among Democrats - REUTERS Simultaneously, some Democrats have been furiously talking up the chances of other candidates including Susan Rice, Barack Obamas former national security adviser, congresswoman Karen Bass, chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and senator Tammy Duckworth, a military veteran. Much of the internal doubt over Ms Harris goes back to the verbal attacks on Mr Biden she gave when campaigning for the presidential nomination. During a televised Democrat debate a year ago, and despite having been close to his late son Beau, Ms Harris unleashed on Mr Biden. She accused him of having opposed busing, a policy from the Seventies that was used to desegregate education by transporting black children to mostly white schools. Story continues Ms Harris said she, as a young black girl, had benefited from the policy, but Mr Biden had joined with segregationist senators in an attempt to stop it. Kamala Harris attacked Joe Biden's record on race during the campaign for the Democrat presidential nomination - REUTERS I do not believe you are a racist, Ms Harris told Mr Biden, looking him in the eye. [But] there was a little girl in California... she was bused to school every day. And that little girl was me. Mr Biden was visibly stunned. I thought we were friends... he said later. Observers wondered whether the pair would ever speak again. Nevertheless, Ms Harris has been in pole position to be Mr Bidens running mate for some time. When a photographer caught sight of Mr Bidens handwritten speaking notes (below) at an event this week, the top entry was Kamala Harris do not hold grudges. Joe Biden's speaking notes at a campaign event last week included Kamala Harris - REUTERS Ms Harris would be the first black woman to become a vice-presidential nominee. She is the daughter of academics who immigrated to America. Her Jamaican-born father is a Stanford University economist, and her mother was a Tamil cancer research scientist. After studying at the predominantly black Howard University, in Washington, she became a prosecutor, rising to be the first female, and first black, attorney general of California. Ironically, her decades as a prosecutor may appeal to Republican voters; she has been accused by some Democrats of keeping innocent people on death row, despite her personal opposition to capital punishment. She also once threatened to prosecute parents if their children did not go to school. Ms Harris has been a rising star in the Democrat firmament for some time. In 2013, Barack Obama said of her: She is brilliant and she is dedicated, and she is tough. She also happens to be, by far, the best looking attorney general in the country. Kamala Harris has been portrayed by Democrats as ruthlessly ambitious - GETTY IMAGES The comment ignited a brief political firestorm in which the president was widely accused of sexism. Mr Obama called his friend to apologise. As a senator sitting on the senate committee investigating Russian election interference, she criticised Jeff Sessions, Donald Trumps attorney general, live on television, and then targeted Brett Kavanaugh, his Supreme Court nominee. Mr Trump called her nasty. Democrats called her the female Obama. Ms Harris then entered the Democrat presidential race to great fanfare, on Martin Luther King Jr day, in January. However, her campaign failed to catch fire. After the initial ambush on Mr Biden, several debate performances fell flat, money dried up and poll numbers plummeted. Ideologically, Ms Harris did not appeal to the more Left-wing activist base of the party that supported Bernie Sanders. Her centrist background and scandal-free personal life, means she is the candidate Republicans may fear most. Ms Rice and Mr Biden worked closely together in the Obama administration. And Ms Bass is seen as a consensus candidate, who would not overshadow Mr Biden. He will speak to each candidate individually next week. Whoever he picks will have their key campaign moment in the vice-presidential debate. On Friday, Ms Harris rounded on those criticising her. Speaking at a virtual conference for young black women, Ms Harris said her entire career she had been told to wait her turn, but she eats no for breakfast. Urging listeners to embrace their black girl magic, she said: There will be a resistance to your ambition. There will be people who say to you You are out of your lane. You know how many times Ive been told it cant be done? [That] nobody like you has done it before. I want you to be ambitious. So far, the suspects have been delivering contradictory testimony. Several members of the Russian Private Miltary Company Wagner, whom Belarusian law enforcers earlier detained just outside Minsk amid a tense presidential election campaign have told detectives they had allegedly been transiting via Minsk to to Istanbul, where they planned to "check out Hagia Sophia", that's per the chair of Belarus Investigation Committee Ivan Noskevich. "I must say that during interrogations they offer the most contradictory testimony, in particular, that the group allegedly intended to fly from Minsk to Istanbul, claim less than half of the group, the rest note completely different final destinations in other countries. As for those who allegedly were supposed to fly to Turkey, they also claimed varying purposes of visit. Someone said they planned to sunbathe, some said they planned to have a vacation, some supposedly to guard some facilities, and some said they were intending to check out Hagia Sophia," the official said. At the same time, Noskevich referred to the group's alleged Turkey trip as a pre-planned alibi, since the group never came to the airport, although they did have tickets on them. Read also"Little green men" in Belarus: Dozens of militants detained near Minsk part of Russia's PMC Wagner media (Video) Instead, they first checked into the IVV Hotel in Minsk, where they'd prebooked rooms. When they were checking out, they notified staff they were leaving for the airport, while in fact moving to the Belorusochka resort facility, where they were eventually detained. Another detail revealed is that the mercenaries had been using a group chat in one of the messengers where their senior coordinated his subordinates in matters like their daily routine, roll calls, also reporting general assembly time. Also, they received an order there to burn their old tickets at the resort facility. As UNIAN reported earlier, on June 29, thirty-two Russian militants with the Wagner PMC were detained outside Minsk, while another suspect was nabbed in the south of Belarus. Among the suspects were those who are believed to have fought against Ukrainian government forces in the Donbas warzone. Belarus law enforcement said they had been tipped about the arrival of over 200 militants to destabilize the country during the election campaign. Belarus has asked the Ukrainian authorities to verify information on the involvement of the detainees in crimes committed on Ukraine territory. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Mayor Garcetti's mansion Saturday afternoon to call for the cancellation of rent during the pandemic. The timing of the event -- the first of August -- was intentional, with some protesters pointing out it was the fifth "rent day" since stay-at-home orders put many people out of jobs and behind on the rent. The protest planned by the People's City Council, was without major incident until the event ended nearly three hours later, when dozens of police started to clear out the street outside the Getty House. After LAPD grabbed a teenager to be cited for being a pedestrian in a roadway, tensions escalated quickly, as protesters promised to help the teen get out of police custody. LAPD said officers arrested three people on suspicion of battery on a police officer; on suspicion of resisting arrest; and suspicion of trying to free an arrestee. I spoke too soon situation has quickly deteriorated pic.twitter.com/DUSGdaH8lK Josie Huang (@josie_huang) August 2, 2020 The day had started playfully with a mariachi band blaring out bouncy tunes, even as protesters spoke urgently about the need to cancel rent. A faux eviction notice was taped to the front gate of Getty House, telling the mayor that "you are hereby notified that you will be evicted from your mansion if you do not cancel rent within 3 days of receipt of this notice." (Getty House is the city-owned official residence for the mayor.) During lulls in the music, people would take turns speaking, with some such as protester R.J. Dawson predicting a swell of evictions once the city's temporary moratorium lifts. "Then we're going to be asking for them to house us because now we're part of the unhoused population," Dawson said. Landlord groups have sounded the alarm that cancelling rent would bankrupt apartment owners. But Nicole Donanian-Blandon with the People's City Council and the L.A. Tenants Union said renters need to be protected from landlords pressuring them into predatory agreements that force them "to hand over their stimulus checks (and) set up these really impossible rent payback programs, which is all illegal." Donanian-Blandon and other protesters also called on Garcetti and other officials to create more homeless housing in vacant hotel rooms. As of mid-July, L.A. County had housed fewer than 4,000 homeless people in hotels, short of its 15,000 person goal. Meant to post b4 everything went down. I asked @nicole_d14 of @LATenantsUnion & @PplsCityCouncil why protesters are pushing for cancelling rent during the pandemic. She says some landlords are pressuring tenants into predatory payback agreements. pic.twitter.com/9VngRXjmmg Josie Huang (@josie_huang) August 2, 2020 "We know that the only cure for this right now is to be able to shelter in place and be able to have a home,"Donanian-Blandon said. "And they can't do that if they're on the street and then also being swept up by the city." Protesters moved from the mayor's office to the intersection of Wilshire Boulevard and Crenshaw Boulevard for about a half hour, as police watched from street corners. A cluster of protesters jeered at some of the officers. On a street corner, a Black LAPD commander verbally sparred with protesters. The LAPD commander says: Youve never been Black, you never will be to a protester who identifies as Mexican & indigenous. She responds shes a f*cking woman, she understands oppression. pic.twitter.com/67N3IHPwIH Josie Huang (@josie_huang) August 1, 2020 But the situation stayed calm until the protest began to break up around 4:40 p.m. Protesters promise to bail Elliot out and ask his birthdate and emergency contact pic.twitter.com/FlUbTYTiqn Josie Huang (@josie_huang) August 2, 2020 The Mayor's residence received another visit early Sunday morning. This time it was Black Lives Matter-LA protesters speaking out on LAPD reforms and defunding the police.